Key West is accustomed to street flooding.
If a rain fall is heavy and it is high tide, the sewers cannot take the rain water. Intersections become lakes. Some as deep as two to three feet.
Hurricanes are no stranger to street flooding. Wilma comes to mind. Six and a half feet of water. Not just pouring over the streets. Into homes. Level six and a half feet, also.
On this date in 1919, Boston experienced a significant flooding. Twenty one killed. Dozens of horses, also.
Not water, however. Molasses.
The U.S. Industrial Alcohol Building contained a 58 foot high tank. The tank holding 2.5 million gallons of crude molasses. The tank exploded. Flowed into and flooded the streets.
Took two weeks to clean the streets. Not bad. It took one to two years to clean up the Wilma mess. I refer specifically to home damage.
Spent yesterday afternoon quietly reading. Stories involving U.S. forces in Europe during World War II.
Then at 4, the Syracuse/Boston college game. Syracuse won 96-81. Interesting since Boston College decisively defeated Syracuse in a game New Year’s Day.
Syracuse’s fabled zone defense was working yesterday. Made Boston College look terrible.
As Boeheim continues to say, Syracuse wins if it plays its special defense hard. If not, Syracuse loses.
What Syracuse needs is consistency. The big post season tournament is slipping away.
Dinner last night at Berlin’s. Decided on beef. A filet mignon. As good as any I have enjoyed at a New York City steak house.
The local community college has steadily grown during my many Key West years. First, a two year community school. Now a four year institution. Presently offering a bachelor’s degree in a certain business area. This summer, a four year nursing degree.
No more a community college. The Florida Keys Community College needed a new name consistent with its movement to four year degrees.
The front page of this morning’s Key West Citizen announces such. Beginning this summer, the name will change. To The College of the Florida Keys.
Congratulations to The College of the Florida Keys. Congratulations to the administrators and faculty who worked hard to make it so.
I have many times criticized the Key West City Commission. Bunglers. Know not what they do. Inept.
Today’s Key West Citizen editorial takes on the Commission and its many shortcomings. Its sins itemized.
The editorial titled: Why Doesn’t the Commission Listen?
The editorial one of the best written in the many years I have read the Citizen. It publicly admonishes the Commission to shape up.
I doubt it will help. Commission members are hard headed. Several times I have engaged one or another with a question, complaint, etc. In each instance, the reason for the particular Commission action was supported by a non-nonsensical reason.
They cannot see. Thinkers they are not.
William Healey continues to suggest a concern re a Florida Indian uprising in 1856.
He mentions several travelers came down to Key West from the Miami River and corroborated the news he had received one day earlier that the Indians might wage war again. He mentions ten Indians also arrived.
Ernest Hemingway’s grandson will appear at the San Carlos on January 26. John Hemingway will discuss Pamplona and running with the bulls. The setting of his grandfather’s The Sun Also Rises.
Ernest Hemingway never ran. His World War I leg injuries prevented his participation. His grandson John not so affected. John has made the run 16 times. Never gored!
John’s appearance is sponsored by the very active Key West Art and Historical Society.
Enjoy your Sunday!