Island Currents January 28, 2011

A little girl posing for a photo - Social group

Fun in the sun
These Home School PE girls were enjoying the sun and being outdoors at the Home School PE program that meets each Tuesday at 1 pm at the Community Park. The Home School PE group is participating in the Family Fun Fest at Community Park Saturday, Jan. 29 from 11 am to 3 pm, by serving FREE lemonade at their booth. The PE program is run weekly by the City of Marathon Parks and Recreation Department. Photo by Amy Troisi

 

 

 

“If Wall Street were an NBA team, it would be the one that, every year, drafted only high school seniors who look great on paper.”

“Wall Street: Yes, it’s Become a Big Casino – But Here’s the Silver Lining.”

On Wall Street the holding time for a stick is 22 seconds.

A time frame which has expanded since 2009!

Islamorada Investment’s Cale Smith joined Key West Sunrise Rotarians this week to educate them on the market, market practices, and to share with them his own philosophy. He believes if you read company filings and put in time when reviewing their financials, and you can think ahead more than 22 seconds, you stand a chance of beating many of the guys with Ivy League educations on Wall Street.

Smith built his firm on analyzing companies and applies 90 percent of the same philosophies as Warren Buffet. He is vested into the same companies as his clients and own family members, and does not own any other stocks, bonds, or mutual funds touting the principal, “We’re all in this together.”

Slept in?

To read Smith’s sunrise presentation visit http://www.caleinthekeys.com.

Islamorada Investment Management’s Cale Smith is pictured with Sunrise Rotary President Matt Babich (left). If Wall Street were an NBA team, it would be the one that, every year, drafted only high school seniors who look great on paper. Wall Street: Yes, it’s Become a Big Casino – But Here’s the Silver Lining.On Wall Street the holding time for a stick is 22 seconds.A time frame which has expanded since 2009! Islamorada Investment’s Cale Smith joined Key West Sunrise Rotarians this week to educate them on the market, market practices, and to share with them his own philosophy. He believes if you read company filings and put in time when reviewing their financials, and you can think ahead more than 22 seconds, you stand a chance of beating many of the guys with Ivy League educations on Wall Street. Smith built his firm on analyzing companies and applies 90 percent of the same philosophies as Warren Buffet. He is vested into the same companies as his clients and own family members, and does not own any other stocks, bonds, or mutual funds touting the principal, We’re all in this together. width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I work well with people. I don’t push my own agenda and the ‘my way or the highway’ mindset. If someone comes up with a better idea that’s good. There are a lot of smart people who want to be involved.


Mayor Craig Cates Out Collecting John Hancocks
qualification begins August 15, ends August 19

The new year brings new ambitions. For many, that may mean political. This year Commissioners Barry Gibson (District IV), Teri Johnston (District V), and Mark Rossi (District II) and the mayor’s seat are up for grabs. Mayor Cates has gained momentum and has three projects he wants accomplished before he leaves office. He wants to see Glynn Archer Elementary become the new city hall, the homeless situation rectified, and the Truman Waterfront developed. The city has reached a point where the decisions can be made and work can hopefully begin. There are many integral parts of a potential plan; Cates believes the most important aspects of a new park are going to be fields for the citizens, an amphitheatre, trees, and possibly a museum.

“A Turtle Hospital could be a good fit in there. Whatever we do build, we have to realize we have to maintain, and maintenance can cost a fortune.”

Mayor Cates is also working with Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers to find a solution to the homeless issue facing the city.

“We can’t just run them out of town, or put them in jail. That is not reality. We’ve put another committee together of 12 important people such as Roger McVeigh, so they can pool their resources. I feel like as a city we are making a difference right now and we have a lot of people in the community coming together. People are involved, and that’s good.”
Mayor Cates registered for re-election last week, and is now waiting to see who comes forward as his opponent(s). 

Mayor Cates on the campaign trail in 2009. He’s pictured with his wife Cheryl, son-in-law Alex Canelejo, daughter Nicole, and granddaughter Riley. Craig’s daughter Crystal is not pictured and his oldest, Tammy, lives in Tampa with her husband and three children.

 

Caputo becomes Chief of Law Enforcement
Sheriff announces other promotions and transfers

In a special ceremony held last Friday in Marathon, Sheriff Bob Peryam announced he was promoting Captain Lou Caputo to Chief of his Law Enforcement Bureau. He takes the place of Chief Ken Dugger, who retired in November.

Caputo has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since September of 1991, most recently holding the rank of Captain and the post of District 7 Commander, running the Upper Keys district which covers the area from Tavernier to Key Largo. Captain Don Fanelli will be transferred to District 7 from Islamorada to fill the vacancy left by Caputo.

Corey Bryan, who was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 1986, has been the Lieutenant in Ocean Reef since 2009 and was promoted Friday to Captain. He will be assigned to District 6 in Islamorada. Gene Thompson, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1993, has held the rank of Lieutenant in District 1 in the Lower Keys for three years. He was also promoted to Captain and will now be the Commander of the Lower Keys District.

“I am proud to announce these promotions. Lou, Corey and Gene have all proven themselves to be exceptional leaders and I have no doubt they will continue their dedicated service to the Community and to the Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Peryam said. “In addition, Captain Fanelli’s transfer to District 7 will ensure the citizens of that area continued exemplary service from our office.”

Pictured (l-r) are: Colonel Rick Ramsay, Chief Tommy Taylor, Captain Gene Thompson, Captain Corey Bryan, Chief Lou Caputo, Captain Don Fanelli and Sheriff Bob Peryam.

 

 

 

 

Electrician Ronnie Leonard Electrifies Art Arena

By Josie Koler

We have a journeyman wireman on the island who’s also a whirlwind with a paintbrush!

Roberts and Sons Electric owner Ronnie Leonard has a collection that rivals Peter Paul Rubens. Ok, so he’s not exactly the 17th ccentury Flemish Baroque painter, but this man’s talented, working with acrylics on canvas, on driftwood and woodcarvings.

“I would rather do carvings on wood than the canvas. It’s harder, but it’s more rewarding when you finish,” said Leonard.

  Inspiration from his work comes from the oceanic views by which we are all surrounded. The colors he uses are either energizing vibrant oranges or the calming blue hues reflected in our ocean and night sky. The essence of the paintings and carvings are captured in titles like “Smooth Curves,” “Done Deal” and “Nature’s Grace.”

According to his daughter-in-law, Amber, who encouraged him to name them, the works are always changing as Ronnie processes each piece.

“He’ll take a painting off the wall and add an element to the existing art. For instance, this painting didn’t have a dolphin when I first saw the work! They change during time. Evolving pieces of work.”

Ronnie’s better half, Debbie, is tearful when she tells the Key West Weekly she believes her husband is so talented, and she is lucky to be surrounded by his creation.

“I’m glad his work is being shown so everyone else can enjoy it. The pieces relax me. You can just go into some of them and be taken away.”

The walls in Ronnie and Debbie Leonard’s home are bare. All of the pieces in his collection, “Shrimp Docks and Seascapes,” are on display in the Florida Keys Community College library gallery until February 8. 

 

Artist and electrician Ron Leonard (right) and FKCC President Dr. Larry Tyree discuss “Done Deal” an acrylic on canvas. “My cousin came in and saw the boat and said, ‘It’s a done deal.’ The owner sank it down off of the sea buoys. That’s where the image and title came from,” supplied Leonard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Positive Growth Assured
Bunk joins Chapman & Cardwell Capital Management

By Blair Shiver

Veronika Bunk’s first international escapade occurred when the German-born brunette enrolled in the United Kingdom boarding school when she was 16. She completed undergraduate and post-graduate studies at Oxford University, earning both her Master’s and Ph.D. in Modern History.

So what’s a girl to do with all that knowledge?

In the Fall of 2006, Bunk headed to London and secured a position in the Bear Stearns graduate program. By the Spring of 2008, Bunk found herself on the front lines of the financial crisis.

“It was a real meltdown,” she remembered, recounting how when she and her co-workers left the office on Friday evening with uncertainty. Come Monday morning, the firm no longer existed.

“It was sad to see the demise of an established company that prided itself on being lean and mean, and suddenly it’s gone. Terrible to see people unbalanced like that.”

Stints at JP Morgan as a research associate and then with Albemarle Asset Management in London preceded her arrival at Chapman & Cardwell Capital Management in the Florida Keys.

In what she calls a natural progression from the “sell side” to the “buy side,” Bunk said in the midst of the crisis, she began to question big banking schemes and her focus shifted to how individual investments suited individual investors.

As she grows her client list in the southernmost city, Bunk said the community thus far has been “quite accepting.” Though she initially found the transition from a large, metropolitan city to the slower pace of island life an additional challenge, she found solace and stimulation taking a class at the Studios of Key West where some of her abstract acrylic works are currently on display.

So, what’s significant lessons did she learn in the midst of the financial meltdown?

“Don’t give up! Life closes one door and another opens. We’re not finished yet in terms of the financial crisis, and there’s still a lot to be learned.”

Chapman & Cardwell Capital Management has offices in Key Largo and Marathon. Veronika Bunk is extending the company’s services to Key West, and she can be reached at (305) 394-0297 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).