Sailfish City - Stuart Florida Community Site

It’s almost time for lobster mini-season to begin - it starts this Wednesday, July 30th at 12:01 AM and goes until midnight on the 31st of July (Thursday for those of you not paying attention).  If you are planning on doing any tank diving, I hope you have your equipment already ready to go, the line for visual inspections is out the door in most places and you have a good chance on not making it in time if you aren’t already in line.

The limit for mini-season in Martin County is 12 lobsters per person per day in the water.  On land it is 12 the first day and 24 the second.  Only people who carry a valid salt water fishing license with a crawfish stamp are allowed to harvest lobster.  The bag limit only counts officially to those people harvesting lobster, in other words you cannot have a non-diver get a license and have someone else harvest lobster for them.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen parents take their young children on the boats and get them licensed and catch extra for them.  Just last year, I was talking to an officer from Florida Fish and Game as he was inspecting a boat.  They had 24 lobster and it was a man and his young son.  The son was licensed and the officer asked the boy, “How many lobster did you catch?”.  The boy answered honestly, unfortunately for the dad.  Don’t know what happened to him, I was to busy cracking up at the honesty of children.

If you go, be smart and dive safe.  Don’t dive alone!  Use the buddy system and make sure you check your equipment BEFORE you get on the boat.  And don’t forget your dive flag.

The Martin County

  Defender

The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 64

$$$$$ for commission candidates involved in primary races

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION / (-EXPENDITURE) TOTALS AS OF 7/18/08

District 1

Doug Smith (R) -  $108,191 / (-$55,217)

Henry Copeland (R) -  $49,962 / (-$15,955)

Tom Fullman (D) -  $5,727 / (-$3,634)

Eric Brent (D) -  $4,590 / (-$4,516)

District 3

Lee Weberman (R) -  $101,505 / (-$70,127)

Patrick Hayes (R) -  $16,550 / (-$6,698)

District 5

Ian Pollack (R) -  $51,510 / (-$11,631)

Edward Ciampi (R) -  $47,129 / (-$23,191)

John Born (R) -  $6,700 / (-$7,887)

John Hockey (R) -  $5,314 / (-$13,055)

[Editor's Personal Note to Pollack, Born and Hockey:  You are all wise enough to know that your campaign can not be won with only a pittance of funding. It's fine to present your positions in person at forums, but it takes money to reach the 49,000 other Republican voters not in attendance. Since so many of your views are similar - especially preventing western rural lands from being spotted dark with cluster housing - it would be heroic for you to support, for the good of the county, one candidate capable of winning.]

Analysis of largest campaign treasuries

Are developer-related interests trying to buy the election? Let’s examine the make-up of the contributions. The numbers will speak for themselves.

Doug Smith in District 1 had 388 contributors, of which 38% gave the maximum allowed of $500, 25% gave $200 to $499, and 37% gave under $200. Of the $500 donors, at least 44% were developer or real estate related. This includes such occupational titles as contractor, realtor, property management, land planner, architect, etc. Undoubtedly the number actually development-connected is higher, but it is not possible to determine by title alone if, say, an attorney or investor is deeply involved in development. Most of the $55,217 paid out is for forthcoming newspaper and direct mail ads.

Lee Weberman in District 3 had 295 contributors, of which 53% gave the maximum allowed of $500, 28% gave $200 to $499, and only 19% gave under $200. Of the $500 donors, at least 42% were developer or real estate related. This includes such occupational titles as contractor, realtor, property management, land planner, architect, etc. Undoubtedly the number actually development-connected is higher. Most of the $70,127 paid out is for a big TV ad campaign later.

Ian Pollack in District 5 had 231 contributors, of which 27% gave $500, 21% gave $200 to $499, and a majority of 52% gave under $200. None of the $500 donors had a recognizable connection with development.

Henry Copeland in District 1 had 237 contributors, of which 26% gave $500, 22% gave $200 to $499, and a majority of 52% gave under $200. None of the $500 donors had a recognizable connection with development.

Edward Ciampi in District 5 had 195 contributors, of which 38% gave the maximum allowed of $500, 14% gave $200 to $499, and 48% gave under $200. Of the $500 donors, at least 12% were developer or real estate related.

Rating the Stuart News

THEY GET MOSTLY “A”, BUT ONE DISAPPOINTING “F”

Diverse Views: Few newspapers present as wide a range of viewpoints as the News. There is hardly a belief or attitude that you can not find in the columns (including staff columnists), letters and online blog. Rating A.  Wide scope of online election content also earns an A.

Reader Access:  The thoughtful and the idiotic all get a chance to express themselves in print and online. The News is almost unique here in the number of reader guest columns they run, covering many important topics. Rating A.

Political Endorsements: This is less than perfect. The News picks up an easy A when it endorses someone like Laurel Kelly, who has been doing a fine job as Tax Assessor for many years. The News also has been bold and wise in refusing to endorse either candidate when one may be only a little less-bad. Some party stalwarts may say you are obligated to endorse, but your primary obligation is to tell the truth. So another A for not endorsing either Eric Brent or Tom Fullman in District 1.

To show how fair they are, the editorial board even videotapes endorsement interviews, and shows them on their website. A reader should be able to see why the editorial board supports a candidate. That’s brave.

Unfortunately, in the case of the endorsement of District 1 Republican candidate Doug Smith, they let preconceived bias make their decision instead of the interview answers. Watch the video and compare Henry Copeland’s sharp, understandable replies with Smith’s vague mumbles, late arrival and disconcerting body language.

Any objective person watching the video clearly saw that it was Copeland who, by far, had a superior understanding of the issues, a clearer insight of what should be done, and a much better approach to making the Commission a more effective and responsive body. The News endorsement editorial almost implied as much.

It almost seems as if the criterion for endorsement requires adopting the business boosting positions held by the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Council. No fair. Some of the views of those organizations are excellent, but other positions would benefit their members primarily, and place burdens on residents. So Copeland didn’t pass that filter, and did not get the endorsement that his interview deserved. Endorsing Smith makes other more sensible endorsements less credible. Regrettable rating F.

STUART NEWS DISTRICT 1 REPUBLICAN POLL

The newspaper’s online poll of reader voting preference makes no claim to being scientific, but its results are interesting food for thought. As of July 25, 286 votes had been cast as follows for the candidates:

Henry Copeland - 58%

Doug Smith - 39%

Undecided - 1%

www.MartinCountyDefender.com

The Defender’s website is up and running, though still under construction. It contains an archive of all past issues. Attached to this Issue No. 64 is a copy of our  website Home Page in pdf format. It is worth saving because, in addition to the archive link, it has the links to 20 websites containing much useful information related to Martin County. (To open a pdf file, the very widely used Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed. Latest version 9 may be downloaded free at www.Adobe.com.)

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Al

Al Forman, Editor                                  7/28/08

The Martin County Defender is published and Copyright 2008 by WordsmithAmerica,

. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for public or private use, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. NOTICE:  All correspondence not bearing legal copyright notice which is sent to the Defender or its editor is subject to being edited and published.

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  Al Forman

  mc_defender@fastmail.net

21^st Annual of Dancin’ in the Street is just around the corner!

What:               Stuart Main Street has had twenty great years of Dancin’ in the Street and is looking forward to another 20 with this year’s 21^st celebration.   Save the date, mark your calendar for Saturday August 23 for an evening of great entertainment, music and dancing.  A success for many years, Dancin’ in the Street has brought thousands upon thousands of Treasure Coast residents and visitors to Stuarts charming and historic downtown area to experience all the fabulous shopping, fine dining and entertainment that this unique riverfront district has to offer.  The Treasure Coast’s largest music festival only happens once a year and should not be missed.

                        This big summer event tradition is a family affair featuring seven musical stages and over five straight hours of great music, food and children’s entertainment.          The Kidz Zone will once again be along SW Flagler Avenue and will feature live entertainment by Brother Judah, rides, clowns, face painting and pony rides.

                        Unlike many other events and attractions today, Stuart Main Street will not be raising the price of admission and will keep the cost of admission the same as it has been for many years, $10 for adults and children under 12 are FREE. All proceeds go to Stuart Main Street and its programs. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted without an adult or guardian.

When:              Saturday August 23 2008

§  Gates open at 6 p.m. and close at midnight

Where:             Historic Downtown Stuart

The event itself takes place on SW Flagler Street and Osceola Street between St. Lucie Street and Colorado Avenue.

§  Gate one is located at the intersection of SW Flagler Avenue and Confusion Corner

§  Gate two is located at the intersection of St. Lucie Street and SW Flagler Avenue by Sailfish Circle

§  Gate three is located at the intersection of Colorado Street and Seminole Street

§  Gate four is located on Osceola Street between Haney Circle and Denver Ave

Who:                Stuart Main Street, a 501 C3 not for profit organization is dedicated to improving the appearance and economic stability of historic downtown Stuart. Their mission is to create and market a positive image of downtown through special events, retail sales, effective advertising and public relations often working with the public, private sector and community leaders to develop and coordinate resources to downtown Stuart’s success.

Public Info:      For more information regarding Dancin’ in the Street or Stuart Main Street, please contact Bernie Malone at Stuart Main Street, 772-286-2848 or Jim Chrulski at 772-288-5383.