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Archive of Kudos & Whiners
 August 2004

Vote!


Tuesday
August 31
2004

BAHIA HONDA state park has suddenly become the best place around to poach!!! I was at the beach this weekend and to my surprise people were diving for lobster and what ever else they could find. So I politely told them it is illegal to take anything living from the park. I was trying to avoid them a nasty ticket. Well they got totally rude and said they were from Pinellas county and they had a license and told me to go screw myself . I also noticed all their undersized lobster and CONCHS in their bags! Well, being a good Samaritan I told a ranger that these people were taking Conchs and lobster from the park. The ranger not only didn't search their vehicle, measure any lobsters or bother to look for the conchs which they threw in the front seat when the ranger came. If this was me I would have been on the Keysso website by now. So Ranger "BUD" tells me he is going to call the police because I am the problem and am causing a disturbance. He instead walked over to the trash can to see how full it was, asked me if I had been drinking and let the Poachers ride off without even looking in the cooler. I was so put off by this. Isn't that why we have parks, so people can't rape the earth? So off they went with undersized lobsters and 4 or five conchs. Once again our tax dollars at work. I Asked another ranger on the way out if you could dive in the park he said you can't take anything living. Well I guess lobsters are Zombies or something because you can take those according to ranger Bud. Does this disgust anyone else?
31 OBNOXIOUS VAN: I think everyone with a junk car they want to get rid of should leave them in that area. Hey, there is lots of room, and then when one us locals that drives a heap needs a part, we'd just go and get it. After wonderful Hurricane GEORGES, remember the feeling of social unity? Just look at you now quibbling over the littlest of details and infractions of Code rulings. Hey, you don't like the last of  the Florida Keys Island lifestyle? Then move your primpy little butt on down the road, up to BOCA RATON. I'm sure you'd fit right in that constipated way of life and living. Me,  I stick to my Island way of life, stretched out in a hammock amongst my glorious Island treasures you may view as Junk.
31
Windstorm insurance rates went up AGAIN, substantially, effective 7/1/04.I haven't gotten my renewal bill yet...my policy expires in November. I do know that shutters still get a credit, but the credit might be eaten up by the rate increase. By the way, I am also an insurance agent and can vouch for the fact that wind & flood rates are the same with every agency.  Same info in...same rate out. If you are getting a lower rate on wind & flood please be sure you are comparing "apples for apples."
31
Wow, has any one tried the pizza at the Big Pine House of Music? (the old Sharks Reef) The best pizza in town bar none. Kudos to the new owners. The place is starting to look better. Keep up the good work . You have a new regular customer!
31 MIMES EVERYWHERE -- UNITE Against the horrifying noise of blank tapes . There should be a law!
pm

I saw a couple of trucks backed up to Pepperoni’s on Summerland. Does anyone know if there is anything happening with that building? Another restaurant perhaps?

pm

If you boink someone down here, in this small community, you have to remember at least two things: Everyone will find out eventually; and you have to be especially nice to that person for the rest of your life; because if you’re not always nice, she’ll end up hating you and letting everyone know how rotten you are.

pm I was glad to see the nice words about Duncan Mathewson. I don't know if he's a professor or not, but I've known him for a bit and I like what he does. I think he's got the right idea; like few of those other school board members do.
pm

Tomorrow is the elections. The only race that I see as contentious is the School Superintendent & School Board members contest.  The rest aren’t so immediate to me. We don’t have any kids, so I’m not personally involved, but I’ve always been fascinated with John Padget. He was put here by the governor for some reason; and has been the consummate outsider ever since. I hear he’s arrogant and imperious and other words like that. This really peeves the bubba-teachers a lot.

Monday
August 30
2004

John Padget is an original thinker and “outsider” whose ideas can turn around our failing school system. The School Board has treated almost all of his ideas with hostility and derision because those ideas are so different than the status quo and the Board can’t handle that. The status quo is what’s hurting our schools. Failure isn’t in John Padget’s vocabulary; and our school district is surely failing. We need him now.
Duncan Mathewson is an experienced educator who embraces new thinking and is committed to making this school district one of the best. Prof. Mathewson is the only candidate who looks forward to serving with Superintendent Padget in order to implement his vision. It’s time to revamp the School Board, get rid of the entrenched bubbas and move this district into the future.

30

I was looking at the handy Business directory on this website and it looks like Big Pine’s major businesses have to do with houses. The Construction page and the Real estate page are the fullest!

30

Last night I played a blank tape at full blast. The mime next door went nuts.

Sunday
August 29
2004
The only wind insurance available here in the keys is Citizens, which was supposed to have a cap on increases. The first year Habitat (for Humanity) installed the hurricane shutters they gave me a rebate of $200.00, and was told my insurance will be less. Well, guess what? I'm paying the same amount as someone without shutters and was told because the insurance is rated differently now, I'm not seeing the reduction, that I have. How do you like that double talk? I would like to hear some prices out there.  $140.000.00 policy=$1,400.00 per yr.
29 My windstorm insurance is: $90,000=$1,243 premium
29 WIND AND FLOOD Insurance tip: I shopped insurance last year and found Paradise Insurance to be the best deal I could find for all three (wind, flood, homeowners). Don't listen to anyone, even me! Shop it around. I can say that the people (Crystal, etc..) have been real cool to deal with.
29

It’s only been about a year that the Florida smoking ban went into effect; and already it seems odd that they even allowed smoking in public buildings in the first place.

29 You're right - NAPA will be moving into the newly painted "blue" building previously known as Marshall Automotive.  However, the Marshall Building is still intact and where you can find 2 For $20 Pizza, the Internet Cafe, Nextel, US1 radio and the dental laboratory.  The Marshall Building has also had a 'teal' paint job on its roof and a bit of landscaping done.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.
29 Gangplank: I remember the Laundromat and Jacks sub shack. I dont remember a dive shop.
29 In answer to "the problems" with the Cracked Egg.  There is a troll in the kitchen.
Saturday
August 28
2004
Was the guy that started Napa auto parts depressed? That ugly deep puke blue color he paints his buildings is the ugliest. Ever notice the old Marshall building ,now the new Napa building? It is the ugliest thing on Big Pine. And you all talk about the century 21 sign. Take a look at the new Napa auto parts building. 
28 (ED: The web cam is working again. I forgot to renew our Dynamic DNS service subscription...duh! Sorry for the inconvenience.)
28

This week, the Gov't. broadcast, for the first time, TV Marti, from a plane flying over Cuba (or near enough to it to piss off Castro). We’ve been funding TV Marti for many years to the tune of 13 to 20 million dollars a year and to this day, no Cuban has seen it because Castro jams the signal. Another example of the Miami Cubans’ influence on Bush.

28 RE Wrist watches: I'm with you completely!  I came to Big Pine more than 25 years ago for vacation, never left . I symbolically threw my stainless Rolex to the Reef Gods and haven't worn one since. Especially now when there are clocks of one kind or another everywhere. Besides , who really gives a s**t what time it is anyway? Hungry-time to eat, thirsty-time to drink, tired-time to sleep, horny-time to...well, you get the idea. Your body and the Moon and Tides are the worlds clock. Besides, never been late yet!  Its 5:00 somewhere!
28
If your hibiscus are getting munched overnight, might that be the deer?  If so, there's a harmless spray to discourage that, or Irish Spring soap on a stake works pretty well.
28
Re: Our Lady of Key Deer Blvd - As a suggestion: Perhaps a donation cup to put money toward a nice meal from the Piners or maybe get one of the restaurants to do something similar. 
28 Unedited ramblings
28
OK, I'll try again.  I asked this about a week ago and no one responded.  Does anyone notice the obnoxious van parked in the vacant lot next to Winn-Dixie on Wilder?
Does anyone else care that that piece of crap stays parked there and now displays "SH_T" on the side? How does it get removed?
28 Call, Johnson's Insurance Company on Big Pine Key.  You will get the best service there and the best deals on insurance.
28
To answer the questioner looking for a good insurance company. I strongly recommend Bill Danaher at Johnson's Insurance Agency in Marathon.  When I moved to the Keys 7 years ago I stumbled into him and he has always been there to answer my questions, save me money, and make sure I was paid after Hurricane Georges.  His office number is: 294-5248.
28 WIND AND FLOOD Insurance tip: If feasible self-insure, or don't get any. A new modular runs around $70,000. So let your house blow away and get another one. After all we live in a disposable society. Insurance companies are rip-off artists. Always have been, always will be. Think of your house as if it were a BIC lighter. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
28
Regarding the asked for advice on low wind, homeowners and flood insurance.  As a homeowner I suggest you ask your mortgage holder.  Then buy what is required.  Then put the extra money into making your home more wind resistant. That would entail making sure your roof is tied down more than is required.  Hurricane shutters are key and are available at all price ranges.  If you can't, or won't, buy extruded aluminum panels then Habitat for Humanity may be able to help you.  It is not if we will be hit again, but when.  Good luck to you as you sound like a newcomer.  Oh, I almost forgot the generator. A MUST-have.
Friday
August 27
2004
Just a big thank you to the Lady of Key Deer Blvd. She is out there every day in this heat-wave picking up trash. I think the community should give her some sort of citation for her good efforts. What are your thoughts out there?
27
Requesting Local Advice Please. What Company is the Best Wind Insurance for the money? Best Homeowners?
Best Flood Insurance Company? Thanks for all the good referrals we get here on Kudos!
27 Unedited ramblings
27
The Gang Plank was most certainly a Laundromat.  It was never a dive shop.

 

27

 


I Just don't know how they can train the Dolphins to jump as high as the Cows!!! Its absolutly amazing. I thought Dolphins were protected from this sort of thing.

27
Two things to say: The OOH so cute pizza boy from 2 for $20 Got into a car accident. Someone just ran through a stop sign and killed his front bumper. Please help me help him fix it - and tip well!
 
#2: To the anyone that was posting arrest logs - thats what www.keysso.net is for.  Please help keep    BigPineKey.com  Clean!
27

 

 

Today's mugshot arrest of Tussa Hatton. Failure to appear for a felony arrest.

 

27
No one said the Raptors would kill all the iguanas--just thin them out.  You sound like one of those people that move to the wilderness and then want to take the wilderness out of the picture.  By the way, I hope I don't catch you shooting one.  Unless you are a perfect shot and kill with one shot, you could go to jail for cruelty to animals.
 
Yes, evidently you do have a different kind of hibiscus. It sounds like it needs fertilizing or watering or something if you haven't seen a flower in over a year.  The iguanas don't eat at night (go to bed with the sun and get up with the sun), so unless you don't get out of bed until mid day, you would have flowers in the morning, before they get a chance to eat them.   And by the way, SHE has about six hibiscus plants, all loaded with flowers every morning!
27
Hey, those iguanas go for big bucks in the mainland pet shops!  Maybe local gov't. can work out a fund raising project.
Thurs. pm

Raptors, baloney! We won’t have enough raptors to kill all the iguanas. That’s bull. A pellet gun's for them and then into the trash (let that other fella roast ‘em). That’s the most practical way to get rid of them. Traps work, but then you’ve still got to kill them.
And he also said that his hibiscus is doing well because the lizards eats the flowers; thus stimulating growth. I must have a different kind of hibiscus because I haven’t seen a flower in over a year. That guy didn’t say a thing about how many flowers he had blooming.

Thurs. pm I haven’t worn a watch in over thirty years. I now have on my wife’s watch that she just found (a cheap twenty dollar kind) in the hotel where she works. I thought I’d give her a laugh by wearing it. The thing is, the watch has weight! I can feel it’s weight. Every time I move my wrist I feel it. It swung around ,now where it sits upsidedown. I don’t think I’ll be wearing one again. Why should we wear a watch? We’re surrounded by the time. The time is in my car and on my cell phone and on my computer, stove, radio, etc. Why do I need to have this weight that I have to put on and take off every day and keep stuff from underneath? What an obsolete practice wearing a watch is. The last time a watch was fashionable (by the way, I like the Fashion Police contributor to this site) was when James Bond wore one.
Thurs. pm

It shouldn’t be “beheading”, it should be “deheading”. If the head was left on it would “be”.

Thursday
August 26
2004
I'm so tired of people complaining about so many petty things...realtor signs, barking dogs, con artists...now the iguanas come up again.  Leave the iguanas alone!  I guarantee that most of those plants that you say they are eating are EXOTIC plants you planted...so let's see, you're talking about an exotic animal eating an exotic plant...so, what's your point?
 
We planted native trees, shrubs, etc., in our yard.  I guarantee that at any time of the day, you could count one to two dozen iguanas around our yard, and we have a beautiful yard full of plants and trees.  If you plant a young tree, just put a wire "cage" around and over it, until it gets big enough that they will leave it alone.  They like the fresh young shoots coming out and young plants.  We actually planted some hibiscus in the yard for the iguanas, and the more flowers they eat, the more flowers spring out the next day.
 
Don't worry...within the next month, you will see the numbers diminish, as the raptors (hawks) will start their migration through the Keys, and iguanas are on the menu...Mother Nature taking care of herself.
26 Viking sent me a letter offering almost anything I need for FREE if my business was damaged in hurricane Charley. That's something!
26
Good procedure with the "unedited ramblings".  It lets the curious check it out till they figure out what a waste of time it is. Spares those who already know, yet gives the 'author' a vent.  Sometimes I think it's too bad they made computers so easy and affordable.
26
Ed, kudos to you for putting insane ramblings in their own category. Some people have been on the rock too long! If he thinks things are bad here just go someplace else and see if they got it any better.
26 Another reason not to evacuate: They won’t let you back, sometimes, for a week.
26
Before the Gangplank it was a dive shop, but it was actually built to be a Laundromat (never opened as such.)
Wednesday
August 25
2004

 

The Big Pine Key Moose has also done their part in the Hurricane Charley recovery process. Thanks to my Brothers and Sisters at the Moose.

25
Hey ED: I got you beat. You forgot about it being a laundermat and then Jacks Sub Shack before it became the GANGPLANK. Then it became the ect.
25

What a coincidence someone else mentioned the iguanas. I just bought a pellet gun to protect my garden from those pesky iguanas. Anyone for roasted iguana tail? That’s the only solution to this infestation.

25 Maybe you could place shock collars on all of the Keys iguanas who, by the way, live outdoors.  Maybe you could put out iguana food and the starving realtors and Tussa could also grab a bite. 
25

Fashion Police: Facial hair should not be longer than your head hair.

25 Unedited ramblings
25 Is the head of that County Commission candidate Kim Wiginton a joke? That can't be real.  It looks like she should be on Saturday night live.
(Ed: the photo was of Edith Head)
25
Restaurant review: Anyone out there know if the Cracked Egg is under new owners? Went there for lunch and was very disappointed my sandwich was terrible. It seemed like all new people were there too.
Tuesday
August 24
2004
VOLUNTEER Fire Rescue Dept. and Parmers Resort:   Our special thanks to some of the Keys finest for giving their time helping those in need at Pine Island. I,for one, am proud to know that we have such dedicated individuals within our surrounding area.  Accolades and applause. This, my friends, is what the Keys is all about.
24
Once again Big Pine fire house has come to the rescue. I'm sure the people of Pine Island are ever so grateful to them and Parmers Place. I'm proud to be part of such a giving community.
24 Kudos to Martha for giving.  To Jay, and anyone else who went to Pine Island, Thank You.  My children live in Bokeelia. It is an out-of-the-way place; and I  know it was very much appreciated.
24
Kit O'Connor made allegations against someone else not too long ago, of miss-appropriation of funding that were audited and proven false.  The new board of the Chamber is attempting to straighten out the Chamber, and O'Connor was hired to help. She was hired by the Board and she has to work with the board to help improve issues at the Chamber.  If she quit over this little squabble with the board then she is not the best person for the job. She can't handle it.  If you read what O'Connor said in the article, you would notice that her statements contradicted themselves, as to the fact she was ok with the board's decision, but didn't like the fact that the overpaid women didn't offer to pay the money back.  Seems to me that she had a few cocktails and then called the reporter and gave her story.  When she was hired at the Chamber I knew she was the worst person for the job.
24 I do not find the Century 21 sign to be ugly or a monstrosity.  I think it is one of the more acceptable signs in town. It is simple, clean and nicely landscaped.  If you want to complain about signage here, just look at the decrepit vehicles that are parked near the right-aways in front of businesses.
24
CENTURY 21'S sign is probably smaller than it is allowed to be.  The counties sign ordinance allows a signs square footage to be based on how much street frontage there is for the property.  So since they are fronted along US-1 and Wilder Rd. they can have a huge sign if they wanted, and probably larger and uglier too.  Also seeing as how I have been here since the 70's I remember the old sign being just as large except that it was a painted sign, that always seemed to be peeling... now talk about ugly.
24

 

Fashion Police: County Commission candidate Kim WIGington's name really reflects her hair-do. She must have been influenced by Edith Head.

24 Thanks for publishing the "Scream". It makes a really freaky desktop background on my machine
24
Hokey Pokey forever!  Where is the Big Pine Music Bar? Better yet, what was it before?
(Ed: Dockside, Black Swan, Capt. Annies, Shark Reef, etc. Now the House of Music)
24
Re: electric dog collar. When Tussa or a Burglar come prowling on your property in the middle of the night, your dog won't bark because it doesn't want to get shocked / beaten.  At least there will be some Karma.
24
Barking Dogs.  How about the squawking birds that live in cages outdoors?  Shall the owners shock them too?  What about when my significant other starts barking, is there a shock collar for this person? 
 
So, where are we supposed to walk our dogs when we go down our street and it "sets off" seven barkers, except the dogs who get shocked?  I am open to your reasonable suggestions.  Do you see many folks dog-walking down Key Deer?  No. 
 
My dog only barks when someone is at the door and it is not a chain-link-fence-yard-dog who is bored without toys and walks.
 
I consider myself a thoughtful neighbor and was helping them during Charley & I walk the dog down my street and in my 'hood'.  It is out of my control that the other dogs bark when we walk by & this is no reason to stop taking walks which adds to the canine lifespan.
24 House-Hammered In Big Pine Key!  Don’t Trust Strangers!  Knowledge Is Power.  Buying or Selling Real Estate?  Bring an ATTORNEY with you to your Escrow Closing.  The unethical realtors will have their way with you unless you know everything about all of the Codes and Permits here in the Keys.  In fact, forget the realtors all together and use that commission money for an Attorney who is really on your side and will protect your rights and your biggest investment.  Most of these realtors and title companies will truly watch you walk the plank if you fail to bring your Attorney in before signing papers.  When they look at you, they have dollar signs in their eyes and will not protect you because it’s only about money and ugly metal car magnets.
24 I've had it. These damn iguanas have got to go.  They munch on all of my plants and shit on my dock and I haven't seen a nickel in rent money yet.  I understand that the county frowns on exterminating them, as does my wife so that's not really the best option, as tempting as it might be.  I want to know if anyone has any good ways of getting rid of these pests?  Traps don't seem like the answer as the SPCA people told me that they would simply release them in the upper keys.. I admit that would get rid of them from here but I don't really have anything against the upper keys people and that idea sounds incredibly stupid.  They're breeding out of control and something must be done, and soon. Ideas? 
24 Why doesn't everyone with a gripe about Winn Dixie log onto www.winndixie.com and submit a complaint as I did.  If enough do it maybe some action to make things better will be taken by the corporate office.  I was promised my complaint would be forwarded to the branch headquarters.  It may be worth the few minutes it'll take you. Take action citizens!
24
Don't forget the funraiser for Luther at Key Deer Inn. Anyone know what is wrong with Luther? I do miss him on the radio.
Monday
August 23
2004
Everybody wants to send kudos to some one who is doing something for the victims of hurricane Charley. Funny how no one dares mention that the Big Pine VOLUNTEER Fire Rescue Dept. and Parmers Resort took a strike team up to Pine Island and VOLUNTEERED their time and physical labor to help the victims of Pine Island recover from hurricane Charley. I think these guys and girls deserve our thanks and admiration.
23
An extra $100.00 a week. Are they hiring at the Chamber? It is ridiculous that someone would not notice that on their check.
23 With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of  a very important person which almost went unnoticed recently.
Larry La Prise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey", died peacefully at age 83. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. Then the trouble started.
23
The Big Pine House of Music got some bar tenders and the place is rockin'
23
I am sure the Century Twenty-One sign has been there longer than most you whiners have, my father built that building in the mid 70's it used to be Bareger & Gibson real estate. If you don't know who either was quit your bitching because the sign has been there since then, all it has done is changed names.
23 The old Century 21 sign was big and when they replaced it zoning should never have approved the larger replacement. It is non-conforming to our small community's standards and zoning laws.
23 So you think the Century 21 sign is ugly? Have you seen what is going tho be the new NAPA building? If that don't make you BLUE...nothing will!!
23 I find it outrageous that the Norway museum that housed Munch's paintings was so poorly guarded as to allow brazen thief's to walk in and rip two of the most famous paintings in the world off the wall and leave with them. It's more outrageous because the same thing happened 10 years ago! When will the Norwegians learn how to protect treasure?
23
To the arborist @ CoCo's Kitchen please go home and leave our, yes our, tropical fruits alone. I just shop there, eat there and rent movies there. Fruits grow naturally. Thieves are born.
23 If you want to know what DirecTV is all about.....check this out: http://www.directvdefense.org/
23 To the dog owner who states that dogs bark, of course they do and there are lots of inconsiderate people like him who think this is ok.  Well it is not. Dogs barking is one of the worst kind of noise pollution and cause stress.  Well done, to those who are considerate enough to think of their neighbors and train their dogs.

The dog collar trainer is an admirable way to stop unnecessary barking. People who use them on their animals soon have a well-behaved dog.
23 Whatever happened to "we don't negotiate with terrorists?"  Four times we've negotiated with Sadr. He's got to go and if that means the mosque, so be it. Mr. Bush, you have my vote if you get back to being tough and stop focusing about being re-elected.  Your  brother Jeb doesn't have time for the Republican convention cause he's got Hurricane Charley to deal with.  You have IRAQ!
23 Unedited ramblings from Saturday
23
Perry (McLain) had surgery on Aug. 16th  to have a small cancerous polyp removed from his colon.  The surgery was a great success.  He will have a full recovery in 4 to 6 weeks if we can keep him down that long.  Thanks for the Prayers.
23
All you morons and immature people who have a hard-on for this Tussa guy, get a life. Were sick of reading about him.
23
I See TUSSA had a story about him in the citizen's voice section Sunday. Way to go TUSSA! You've made the paper in the big city!
23
I wanted to say a special thanks to Big Pine Pizza for their back to school Special: 2 Pizza's 2 Top., 1 Lb. Wing's, 2 Lit. Pepsi for $21.48. Sure has saved me time in the kitchen.
6:46pm

 

 

 Aaaa! They've stolen me!

Sunday
August 22
2004
Hey everybody! Go see Martha at Big Pine Unisex this week and get your nails done. She is donating all her profits to Hurricane Charley Relief!! Kudos to you Martha. And to all you Piners out there...go get pampered to help those who need our help so much. Remember, it could have well been our community that got hit.
22 THANK YOU: to whom ever is responsible for the highly creative effort in tree trimming of the PaPayas and Bananas out in front Of CoCo's Kitchen, and in your artistic license I feel you have immeasurably, enhanced the aesthetic qualities and tropical ambiance they afford the Big Pine Key Shopping plaza. Bravo and an encore please.
22 Re: Century 21 Sign:  I apologize for sounding like a whiner instead of a Piner. But the sign is mammoth and unconforming like the other person said and I just agreed.  Nothing against the business just the size of the sign. You are so correct. Positive is better than negative. 
22

So, by yesterday’s big-sign-defender, it’s all right to have an illegally oversized sign to blight our town if they put up Christmas decorations. Did I read that right?

22
Kudos to Catherine O'Connor for having the guts to bring this example of mismanagement at the Lower Keys Chamber to the public's attention!  Ms. Herlehy explained it away as not noticing the extra $400 a month because of having many payroll deductions.  However, didn't she notice her W-2 at the end of the year, which would show the gross wages of being $5000 more than they should be. Come on, Ms. Herlehy.
 
And in their typical fashion, whenever anyone dares to criticize the Chamber, they reciprocate with slander towards that person.  Carol Fisher, the previous exec. director, said that her replacement was "blowing smoke" to cover up the fact that she couldn't handle the job.  Pllluuueeeeezzzze!  It's because of Carol Fisher's rudeness that I quit participating at the Chamber's auction.
 
My only regret is that Ms. O'Connor didn't stay in the position to clean things up, but I guess one person can't fight city hall (oops, that's what they wanted it to be after the incorporation battle).  I think further investigation is in order.
22 Shame on Carol Fisher for accusing Catherine O'Connor (whose astuteness found the $5,000 mistake in the employees' paycheck.) of not being able to handle her job. THAT was her job. The Chamber is in debt and that $5,000 could have gone towards that debt. And shame on the Board of Directors for rewarding the dishonest office manager for hiding the $5,000 over payment. What kind of manager can't even manage her own paycheck? What else has she mismanaged?
22 What happened to Perry Mclain?
22
I agree Pizza Works has gone down hill. The only one who can make a good pizza is Tony and I don't know if he is still working there. The pizza is always undercooked. This is a thriving business if you know how to work it. Apparently the new owners know nothing about the restaurant business.  You need a good cook, friendly wait staff, and fresh & tasty food .
22
Thank you Steve Miller. You are going to heaven for sure.
22 To the Key Wester about to move to BP...go with cable or Dish Satellite. Do not get DirecTV they are a VERY disreputable company/corporation that is currently suing over 24,000 people they claim tried to steal their
signal. First off, they don't investigate or even try to verify that accusation before they bring suit against you. They then tell you they will drop the case if you pay them $3500.00 and agree to not sue them in return (because a: It's extortion, b: They have zero evidence) I'd be happy to back-up my claim w/ evidence for anyone interested, much unlike Distortion TV and Rupert Murdock.
22
Stay away from Tussa and get a dish. I have one and was watching TV when Comcast went out 5 times this week.
22
What about ED?
Saturday
August 21
2004
Winn Dixie has donated there Sarasota warehouse to the Red Cross to be used as a distribution center. They also donated 90,000 cases of water. They are a leader in neighbor-helping-neighbor. Thank you Winn Dixie.
21 Something smells at the Chamber of commerce. An employee has been receiving an extra hundred bucks a week in her pay and when confronted with the fact said she hadn't noticed it. (If I get $20 more a week I notice it.) When the new director complained to the board of directors they said, Ok, let the employee keep the $5,000. This is from an organization of supposed business people. That's not the way things are done. My hat's off to Catherine O'Connor the alert director who resigned over this issue because of the shoddy way the organization is run.
21
Hi, you all. We are currently Key West residents getting ready to move to Big Pine.  I'm very excited about becoming a Piner!  I'm so glad that I found this website - now I know to look out for this Tussa guy!  Question: should we go ahead and get a dish or go with cable?  I know the cable down in Key West goes out all the time.  Whadya think?  Thanks in advance!
21 To the person commenting on Walton's Pet store.  I have always found Walton's Pet store to be a fair place to buy both cat and dog food.  The food is always fresh and not over priced.  I know that the employees are the best and most caring people on this planet and I find it hard to believe there are any sick animals in that store.  I understand that pet stores cannot be the happiest places for an animal to be, but I know that the employees at that store are the best and keep that place a clean and loving place for the pets for sale to be in. I think you are totally wrong because I go in there all the time.
21
My God,  Don't you people have anything better to worry about. The Century 21 sign has been there since they built the building.  Instead of bitching about the sign and how much you don't like it, why don't you think about the beautiful Christmas lights that they put up every year to the delight of all the children on Big Pine.  If you looked more at the positive sides of things instead of the negative you might become happier people!
21 What about that huge EXIT Realty sign?
21 Is it just me, or is TIB bank becoming more and more like an uncaring corporate bank and less and less like a friendly small town bank where they know you as a person and not as an acct number? The way they've been treating me lately I am seriously considering closing my accounts and moving them elsewhere.
21 Get Well Soon Perry!  You're a VERY nice guy and we all have you in our Prayers for a speedy recovery.  Hang in there, Donna & rest up Perry.  Love, Your Neighbors
21 Concerning Tussa, if he approaches you for work tell him okay then after he has half the job done & comes to collect- tell him you'll pay him later. Then give him a PB&J sandwich for the child he drags along. Or, here's a novel idea- just say NO.
21
Enough with the Tussa Hatten overkill already.  Has anyone of you thought of how his children must feel?  Does he have parents?  Come on Piners. We are not so unfeeling as to constantly harp to no end.  As for finding another village idiot to pick on please don't.  It most assuredly affects innocent people.  Why can't we have more Kudos and less Whiners?  Can't we all just get along?
21
Somebody needs to do something about the extremely rude manager (Debbie) at Pizza Works. Perhaps the new owner needs to screen her employees more carefully, or not leave town when she only has one delivery person.
Last night at 7:45 I called Pizza Works with a simple order: 1 chicken Parm sub and 1 chicken Philly w/mushrooms. Easy? Not! At about 9:00 I called back to find the destiny of my two sandwiches to find out that "they were on their way, and that they only had one driver". This has been happening a lot lately. Had I known about the sole driver I would have gladly driven the 3 miles to pick up my own sandwiches. I had hungry kids to feed and it was getting quite late.
At 9:45pm the sandwiches finally showed up. Cold and burnt. One of the sandwiches wasn't even what I had ordered. It was a regular Philly cheesesteak that looked just disgusting. I wouldn't have fed it to my dogs. Needless to say they got another phone call, this time from my very agitated boyfriend. He asked to speak with the manager. She (Debbie) became quite rude and said that "we're closed" and hung up. HUNG UP!
We called again. Now, nobody would pick up the phone. We have been ordering from Pizza Works for many years, sometimes twice a week. I have been a faithful customer and a good tipper. So, I must say "I'm sorry" to the delivery person for the $1 tip. It was not his fault, but the fault of mismanagement and poor customer services.
21
Take notice, Pizza Works,  please don't do as Winn Dixie and make your subs on day-old
bread. I had what could have been a delicious sub at your place yesterday, except for the
fact the bread was stale.  Feed the old bread to the chickens not the customers.
Friday
August 20
2004
Re: Remove that ugly Century 21 sign  ... Ditto ... My vote is to remove the sign.  It is way too big, does not do justice to the beauty of our community and should go!  I remember the 1st time I saw it ... I thought anyone who would clutter Big Pine Key with such a ridiculously large sign should not get my business. It's like littering.  Does not look good and brings the place down.  If a sign has to be there why not a shopping center sign instead?
20

I was just watching a 1954 movie where they struck oil and were jubilant at the fact of $2 a barrel. They never dreamed it would get to $48/barrel!

20 Welcome home to Big Pine, Daddy! I am so glad your recovery is going great! I love you. Thank you for posting this. It is meant for Perry McClain.
20 I was recently in Walton's pet store on Big Pine Key at Winn Dixie shopping center. As I walked around looking at dog toys I started looking at all the birds up front, from little ones to big ones and noticed they all looked very sick. There was a poor, big white parrot in a glass round aquarium surrounded by a smaller bird who barley had enough room to move or do anything. They all looked so unhappy. Two large parrots had eye problems. Do the people that work there not see this? I think Maya the bird lady or Friends of Animals should look into this. It was very disturbing.
20 Welcome to the continuing saga of the woodcutter creep
20
I'm getting bored with the exploits of the village woodcutter. The guy obviously has problems, so let's hope that he gets help and straightens out and flys right.  Surely there are other village idiots that we can pick on instead.  In a village this small, we really don't have a town drunk so everyone pitches in and takes their turn...Next!
20
That's the 4 different people you've called Tussa in 24 hours. Get it right if your gonna' show a picture. Those other people are in jail but don't condemn them to be Tussa, that's the ultimate disgrace.
20
There's a different picture every time I look at the mug shot that was placed the 18th changes every time I log on. What gives? The picture I sent you is right and so is the one on the 11th. 
20
Don't forgive TUSSA he's unforgivable. You give him an inch and he takes a mile.  Forgiveness is for those who are willing to make a change in their lives.  That's not TUSSA.
20
Based on the picture that showed up today, Tussa may have had a sex change operation.
20
Actually that was pretty funny to watch.  I checked back several times yesterday and Tussa was a blonde female, a black guy with dreds, an Hispanic older lady, and a couple different white guys.  I suspect your website was picking up a different photo every time the local smokeys added a new booking.
Thursday
August 19
2004
                              Welcome to the Tussa Hatton Web Site
19

 

 

                      This is Tussa. A waste of oxygen.

19
OOPS!  Don't know what happened, but the wrong picture got sent (Tussa Hatton).  Attached is the right picture.  Sorry.
19
I see local character Tussa can add "master of disguise" to his resume.
19 Tussa got a sunburn!
19
Which pix is the real Tussa the woodcutter? The one on 11 Aug '04 or the one on 16 Aug '04? You have to admit they look a little different.
19 That pix was not Tussa.
19 The mug shot posted on 8/18 is not the same person in the mug shot
posted on 8/11.
19 Hi, just discovered this site while looking for hurricane pictures on your web cam.  My in-laws have a place on Little Torch and I will be down the 22nd for a week plus- can't wait!  I love the gossip and the comments about the WD parking lot and the Keys being different are right on.  There is no way the guy in the mug shot was born in 1971. He sure doesn't look like the Tussa in the photo you posted on the 11th.
 
19
Ahh...Way wrong picture of Tussa, and I have to say enough picking on him. Yea he screwed us too, but I've made lots of mistakes in my life and FORGIVENESS is what helped me change. Leave him alone now. I think we all know not to use his services for a while!
19 ...but the text is right. Search the arrest date 8/16/2004 for the right picture!
19 I noted with interest the action taken against non-tippers. I am puzzled though.  What does publishing a photograph of the contributors best feature accomplish?
19
The picture of Tussa on August 18th is the wrong man.  The information is correct, but that is not him. The picture from August 11, 2004 is Tussa.
19 Who ever posted the latest TUSSA photo... it's not him.
19 They want us to evacuate during a hurricane, but they don't tell us where to evacuate too. Should we go to Punta Gorda or Homestead?
Instead of spending all those millions on widening the 18 mile stretch (and further ruining the Keys) they should spend that money on hurricane shelters all over the Keys. The accidents blocking the hurricane evacuation routes last week should be enough to prove that evacuation is impractical. Where are we supposed to go? And how are we supposed to go there if the roads are blocked?
19
Dear Dog Owners In Big Pine Key / Eden Pines,
Instead of placing Shock Collars on your "best friend" and HITTING your dogs when they bark as I walk down my street with my dog, perhaps you could keep them indoors and take them for walks once in awhile.  Doggies bark.  People have a right to walk their dogs down their streets at any time of the day or night.  
Maybe you Nazi-dog-owners could adopt a nice, quiet Pussycat at a local Shelter since your dogs natural instincts are so bothersome to you and causes you to Inflict legal (SADLY) physical and emotional PAIN upon your barking dog.  
BARK~BARK~BARK~BARK~BARK!
19 Does anyone know what's up with the abandoned ice cream truck in the vacant lot on Wilder St., next to Winn Dixie?  That trashed truck has been an eyesore for too long and now displays in large letters, "S**T" on the side.  Why doesn't the county remove it?
Wednesday
August 18
2004
PINERS and Keys Residents - St. Peters Church is planning to deliver much needed supplies and aid in the cleanup for Charley victims and we are in need of RV's or campers to house the workers (for the weekend). Anyone willing to assist please e-mail  kikikeys12@aol.com  or please call the church if you can help.  Let's make a real effort to help those who have helped us in the past.  God bless!
18 Tussa Update: Just saw on www.Keysso.net that Tussa has been arrested for driving with no license. Check it out. Mug shot and all is there. Maybe this time he won't get out.
18 Tussa  got bus