Can You Hear That?

By Bill Yanger

They’re back. Here's another in a continuing series of imagined conversations over coffee at the Rod & Reel Pier. Any resemblance to persons or personalities, real or imagined, is entirely coincidental and mostly unintended.


Good morning.

Hey, mornin’. Mmmmm, can you feel that?

Feel what?

That…you know, that feeling.

Can I feel a feeling? Are you on that blood thinner again?

No, man. Come on, close your eyes.

Is this a joke?

Not a joke. Just close ‘em…good. Now what do you feel?

Stupid.

Get over it. No one’s looking except that waitress but anyway she thinks you’re twisted.

She thinks I’m sexy.

Some Positive Signs for Amendment 4 But Keep Talking It Up

Poll indicates good chance for passage of Amendment 4

Statement by Lesley Blackner, president of Florida Hometown Democracy:

" Mason-Dixon polling results show that a strong 2-1 majority support Amendment 4 Hometown Democracy, which would give voters the seat at the table they deserve when it comes to making important development decisions.

"We are especially heartened by the analysis of pollster Brad Coker, who said the majority shown bodes well for our measure's passage (according to a St. Petersburg Times article) and that late-deciding voters (21 percent of the population in the poll) could put Amendment 4 over the 60 percent threshold (according to an Orlando Sentinel article).

"I must point out just how far our opponents, fueled by their millions of dollars in campaign contributions from industry and special interests (some of whom got millions in federal tax bailout dollars), have gone to skew this election and attempt to thwart the will of the voters. By ramming through a change years ago to require a 60 percent margin of victory in citizen referenda, our opponents show their total contempt for the majority of Floridians who want more control over development and want a vote on land-use plan changes that would raise their property taxes.

What Does Amendment 4 Mean to Anna Marians?

The link below is to a New York TImes story about Amendment 4, which will be on the ballot in November. 

After you read it, you'll know exactly why those responsible for Florida being paved over--developers, builders, chambers of commerce, county commissioners, and mayors of cities craving more tax revenue--are out there in force to convince you how Amendment 4 is BAD for you. They think putting development matters up for referendum is not only troublesome, but that you aren't smart enough to make decisions on such matters! (Not to mention the fact it will cut deeply into their contributions from development interests!)

Fortunate for us, Anna Maria has never had any changes made to its Comp Plan, with the exception of minor alterations during the recent state-mandated review process that was completed in 2007. Those changes STRENGTHENED residents' desires to preserve what we've got.

Near the completion of that review, your commission put on the ballot to amend our charter to require a 4-1 super majority vote to make changes to the Plan's Future Land Use Map. You voted overwhelmingly in favor.

If Amendment 4 passes, it will add another level of protection to your Comprehensive Plan. It means that if a change is voted on by a super majority of your commissioners, it will still have to be approved in a referendum by voters. 

Now that's insurance we can afford!! The only cost is a YES vote!

Do pass it on.

CLICK HERE for the NY Times story.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want, But All You Want’s The Truth

The recall furor is over but the agenda remains the same.

In her never ending quest to stroke the hand that feeds her, Bonner Joy, the editor and publisher of The Islander, has purposefully deceived you again. And this time there’s no hiding it.

It wasn’t enough to embarrass herself and her staff when she promoted the results of her sham popcorn “straw vote” last fall with front page fervor announcing winners who turned out to get the fewest, by far, real votes of five commission candidates.

It wasn’t enough when, after dishonoring Commission Chairman John Quam’s quiet strength with the gavel, she claimed to have endorsed him when she’d done nothing of the sort.

It wasn’t enough to report that several more people had been targeted for public records requests by her pet “government watchdog” Michael Barfield but conveniently leave out the fact that her reporter too was targeted.

It wasn’t enough when she allowed her reporter to make up quotes from thin air and to completely ignore a commission meeting speaker meltdown so egregious that two commissioners and the mayor found it necessary to shout the speaker back to order.

Sun: Mayor Breaks A Tie Vote. Uh, Wrong.

With interest in the November 2nd mayor's race increasing, one topic of discussion inevitably is what happens in a tie city commission vote. Gene Aubry has promised to abstain from PAR votes, though what that means has yet to be defined. But assuming it happens, assuming Aubry does honor his pre-election pledge that some voters may have relied upon in voting for him, and he declines to vote on, say, a PAR site plan and the vote goes 2 - 2? What then?

In it's editorial out today, The Sun wants you to believe the mayor casts the deciding vote. But that would be wrong.

A cursory review of Sec. 3.08 of the City Charter reveals that “No action of the Commission … shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of three (3) or more of the Commissioners.” A tie vote is just that, a tie, and the subject of the vote therefore fails. The mayor has veto power but that's an entirely different discussion for another day (maybe soon).

Hey, it could be an honest mistake and, if so, Sun publisher Mike Field will say so, publicly.

Or maybe not.

Stay informed.

Bill Yanger

Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Jesus had no particular quarrel with Rome and did not violate Roman law. And yet he was punished by the Romans in accordance with Roman law, and executed by a means exclusively reserved for those guilty of crimes against the empire. The only crime Jesus committed was to question authority. Those in authority were not acting in accordance with God’s way about bestowing authority. Think of it like his LDR’s. But, the Romans knew if the people were made aware of their self proclaimed authority they would be out of a job. So they had to get rid of Jesus.

Aubry’s Opportunity, Lingering Questions and Strategic Expediency: We’ll See

By Wednesday Gene Aubry will be sworn in as an Anna Maria city commissioner. After months of hearing the recallers’ and their lawyers’ cry of “Let the voters decide!” the voters did decide, by a 16 ballot swing of the 693 cast. Not exactly a mandate but, hey, a win is a win is a win. Aubry is now the commissioner. And though many questions have been answered in the frenzied last few weeks, just as many remain.

Will Mr. Aubry honor his published pledge “to recuse himself from any votes that have to do with” PAR?

Does the law even allow him to do so? If not, how does he abide such a pre-election promise?

If he can lawfully abstain, how will he and, we suppose, the City Attorney determine which votes “have to do with” PAR?

The answers will reveal themselves as Mr. Aubry’s tenure unfolds. We urge him to take this opportunity to analyze what is at stake, distance himself from the ever-circling undesirable elements of division and feculence and consider that Anna Maria is so much more than a five block stretch of Pine Avenue. If he brings the class and savvy he exhibited in his career to his work on the commission, then a few surprises may be in store for those who have come to doubt his intentions, or more meaningfully, for those who may expect a quid pro quo. We’ll see.

There are, however, other questions surfacing in the wake of this turbulent summer.

Amendment 4 And The "Bubble-Builders"

Nearly $2 million of the $5 million raised by the opponents of Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 since April comes from Wall Street’s biggest construction corporations,

corporations that recently received billions in federal bailout money. Another $2.5 million funneled to the Political Committee opposing Amendment 4 during the past four months

came from a who’s who of lobbying groups that represent the over-builders/speculators.

These publicly traded construction companies engaged in reckless speculation, over-built many communities, and crashed Florida’s economy. Yet they received huge taxpayer

bailouts this year and are now using them to try to deny Floridians the right to vote by funding the opposition to Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4.

Lessons In The Rule Of Law, Due Process and Tiny Olives

It is a profound understatement to say yesterday’s ruling from the Second District Court of Appeal turned every Tom, Dick and Former Inmate into a legal scholar, braying I-told-ya-so’s and citing the “rule of law” as if it were a concept they discovered on the back of a cereal box this morning. Granted, at least one of them has spent far more time in courtrooms than any of the lawyers in this case and perhaps has felt the impassioned thrust of due process far more personally than the rest of us. Another has provided the greatest form of flattery by attempting to parody this blog, your blog. We know parody, parody is a friend of ours. Trust us, the other blog is no parody. That’s not to say it is devoid of humor. With a user name like “tini-olives” one wonders whether it’s a hint at the blogger’s identity or an admission of physical prowess. Considering the blogger’s bold anonymity, one must assume the latter. To all of them we say “thank you” for logging on and reading, several times a day most days, so that you too can stay informed. Yes, we are here for you, too.

So, in deference to the zeal of the brayers, let’s at least attempt to analyze the Court’s order yesterday and its implications moving forward.

This Just In: Appeals Court Lifts Stay Of Certification

The Second District Court of Appeal has lifted the stay on certification of the recall election. You can read the order by clicking HERE.
Don't look to us to attempt an explanation on this one, at least not now. It is simply unexplainable.

More at some point we suppose.

Slick, Yes. But Worth It? Your Call.

Okay, let's say you are running for Anna Maria City Commission in a special election. The election is contentious to say the least. Maybe the most contentious in memory. You never say anything bad about anybody, you claim, but you are clearly identified with one camp; heck you've worked for them, your wife works with them. You spend time shooting the breeze under their purple sign on their authentically faux '"Old Florida" front porch in their requisite faux front porch chairs, while waiting for someone, anyone, to actually show up looking for that certain Appenino Porcini Oil (real, not faux, at last!) to drizzle over a hard-to-find Taleggio cheese ("Wait guys, look, here comes someone, act natural, act like you live here, act...well...act like Old Floridians...come on, really, don't scare this one away too...").

Appeals Court Orders Response to Demand For Certification (**Updated)

If you are keeping score, earlier this week, the Second District Court of Appeal lifted the stay on the recall vote to the extent it allowed the vote to be counted. The count was conducted Monday. The stay on certification of the vote, the administative action that determines the legitimacy of the election, continues due to the pending appeal by Commissioner Stoltzfus.

But the Citizens For Sunshine folks, that being Michael Barfield's pal Andrea Mogensen, and Recaller Robert Carter have both filed requests that the stay on certification also be lifted. You can read those HERE and HERE. The court is obviously taking the requests under consideration because it has ordered Commissioner Stoltzfus to file a response to those requests by 3 p.m. this afternoon. You can read the order by clicking HERE.

308 PINE AVENUE - P & Z TONIGHT

Yet again PAR are attempting to get site plan approval on their lots at 308 Pine Avenue. Their latest plans will be presented at the P & Z meeting at 6.30 tonight (Tuesday 14th September).

Expect more of the same, a posse of lawyers arguing on their behalf, an engineer, their planner Alan Garrett (yes I did say their planner) accompanied by Bob Welch, a stenographer and maybe even a videographer thrown in although less likely tonight as its P & Z and they only show up with a videographer to apply pressure to Commissioner Stoltzfus.

Expect the same result too. With the Mayor having stacked the deck on P & Z with PAR supporters (with the obvious exception of Tom Turner and Margaret Jenkins who have my upmost respect for even going through this charade), we already know it will be given the thumbs up whatever the plans show, be they to code or not.

Recall Vote In; Results Below (**Update)

Were the recall election ever determined to be a legal election, it appears Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus would be recalled. By a vote of 362 to 331, voters selected the recall option on the ballot. By a nearly identical 363 to 332, voters selected Gene Aubry to serve out the term of office. You can view the uncertified results HERE.

We are not going to get into the significance - political or otherwise -  of this thin margin, at least not yet. Until the election is certified, and that means until the Second District Court issues a ruling allowing certification, if ever, the numbers are just numbers. And the inevitable noise and froth from anonymous heroes will drone on.

Thankfully, the rule of law is deaf. And this ain't even close to over.

Stay informed.

**Update 9/13/10 7:30 p.m. : Stoltzfus attorney Richard Harrison has released this statement:

There isn't much significance to be found in the "results" of an illegal election based on an invalid petition. The appeal will continue. No departure from the standard briefing schedule has yet been ordered by the 2 DCA. Our motion to continue the stay as to certification of the results for the duration of the appeal and our motion for expedited review will be filed later this week.

This Just In: Appeals Court Orders Ballots Unsealed; Certification Remains Stayed; **Votes Being Counted

The Second District Court of Appeal issued its order this afternoon unsealing the recall balloting. The order is limited in scope, lifting the stay "only to the extent that all ballots shall be unsealed...and open for public inspection." The order does not direct Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat to count the votes but Florida law addresses that responsibility separately. The court also does not directly address the stay on certification of the vote which apparently remains in place. You can read the order by clicking HERE.

**Update 3:45 p.m.: Sources tell us that Bob Sweat has been instructed by his counsel Jim Minix to immediately begin counting the votes and to release the ballots for public inspection at 4:30p.m. this afternoon.

So, by this evening we should know the results of the recall election. Was Harry Stoltzfus recalled? If so, did he retain his seat anyway? Was he not recalled after all? How close was the vote? We should know the answer to those and other questions in the coming hours.

So come back often. You’ll know as soon as we know.

Stay informed.

Appeals Court Recall Election Ruling Imminent? (*9/13/10 Update)

We are not in the habit of raising expectations but rumblings out of the Second District Court of Appeals yesterday may indicate a decision on the recall election is imminent and we are not alone in our assessment. To review, Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas’ September 3rd order sealed last Tuesday’s recall election results and prevented Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat from counting and certifying the vote.

A subsequent emergency appeal (HERE) argued that the ballots are public record and must be opened and counted. And while there may not be agreement on the legal nuances, Richard Harrison and his client Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus, state in writing that they do not object to unsealing the vote (no matter what the courageously anonymous Facebook punks may spew with such adolescent sophistication). It is assumed that recall candidate Gene Aubry also has no objection. We talked about the possible scenarios HERE last week. Everyone, therefore, seems to be in agreement that the vote should be counted "in the sunshine."

*City Clerk Alice Baird has filed a response this morning. Read it after the break...

Mike Selby Wants To Be Your Mayor. Let's Meet Him...

Mike Selby

Your neighbor Mike Selby is one accomplished guy. From humble beginnings, through war-time military service and then nurturing a successful business from scratch to significant size and success, he’s a consummate “been there, done that” guy. And now he wants to be your next mayor and to lead Anna Maria out of its recent ugliness and back to where each of you fell in love with it in the first place. He answered a few questions about who he is and why he is running:



Hello Mike. Thanks for opening up and letting us know a little bit about you. It’s rumored you’re pretty tough and sort of a Horatio Alger type guy…

Oh no, tough is your word. I was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and grew up in a small town nearby called Littlestown. I don’t consider myself tough, but I do remember toting water from a spring, frogs and all, to the house. But we were kids. We were independent and made do. And we were happy. In the mid-fifties, that was not what I’d call privileged. We didn’t even have pickle ball back then!

More on that pickle ball thing later. So how’d you break away from that kind of upbringing?

When I graduated from Littlestown High School, I joined the Navy. See the world, you know? After spending time out in the fleet, a senior officer took me under his wing and recommended me for the Naval Academy and a senator was gracious enough to give me an appointment so I went to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. I didn’t bust out, but I just wasn’t that comfortable, so I opted out of the program.

Anna Maria Beachfront Development

9 September 2010

Dear Neighbors,

As you might have heard, we have sued the city of Anna Maria to try to prevent the development of the beachfront lots at Beach and Park Aves. The city has countered with a "back door" approach by trying to remove the clause "Preservation-no development allowed" from the Future Land Use Plan. A probable inadvertent consequence of the change would be to expanddevelopment along the west coast of the island. There is a third council meeting on Sept. 16^th to continue the discussion. I cannot attend the meeting but my attorney ( Stephen Thompson) and land use-planning expert. (Jim Farr) will be there. If you are interested in conservation and limiting development along the west coast beaches of Anna Maria, it would help if you would send letters or emails to the mayor and commissioners expressing your views. It is important to look at the big picture and consider what is best for the environment and all of the citizens of Anna Maria. Please urge your friends and neighbors to write as well.

Down the road there will probably be a council meeting to approve the changes. That will require a "super majority” to pass (4 out of five) and at that time I will ask you to attend and speak out against the proposal.

Thanks.

Rick and Pat Friday

104 Park Ave.

Commission Chairperson, John Quam amcommquam@cityofannamaria.com

Commissioner Jo Ann Mattick amcommmattick@cityofannamaria.com

Commissioner Charles H. Webb amcommwebb@cityofannamaria.com

Commissioner Dale Woodland amcommwoodland@cityofannamaria.com

Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus amcommstoltzfus@cityofannamaria.com

Mayor Fran Barford ammayor@cityofannamaria.com

If you have questions or just want to chat, don’t hesitate to call or email.

Rick and Pat Friday

1050 Woodrow St.

Madison, Wisconsin 53711

& 104 Park Ave., Anna Maria

rofriday@wisc.edu

608 335 1844 -cell

Little did we know....

When the OurAnnaMaria blog went on line in May of 2009, the idea was to simply provide a convenient, unfiltered outlet for Anna Marians who really care about the future of our city. At the time, that was especially important for three reasons: 1) our heritage was being threatened by developers; 2) there was an election on the horizon that could prove pivotal to our future; and 3) The Islander and The Sun tabloids shared a monopoly on opinion and information.

Starting this blog was easy, with the help of Google, and it’s free. All that was needed was a title and a good sunset photo! So up it went.

The firestorm that ensued wasn’t expected. It started with the protestations of our mayor: “With all due respect...I wish you could find something positive to focus on to help the City and give us some encouragement as we try to move the city forward.” She didn’t say what she meant by “forward,” but right  then and there, we knew we had hit on something. Subsequently, the blog was blamed by both tabloids for creating a divisive atmosphere in the city; it was spawning a “We/They” environment that was not healthy. The nerve, the blog pointing out the glaring differences in the candidates!

The reactions to the blog, both positive and especially the negative, can be summed up in one word: Verification. Ain’t nothing like it. Overnight, the monopoly on opinion and information was no more. And every time the tabloids mentioned the blog, viewership grew, even among those who didn’t know what a blog was!

Readership of the blog has exceeded any expectations. The graph above is not a graph of our detractors’ blood pressure, rather, it’s a snapshot of the past 30 days’ readership. For a town our size, it’s impressive. (We don’t do the counting; Google provides an independent system for that.) Since the end of January, over 10,000 visitors have viewed over 40,000 pages! The numbers speak for themselves and show that more and more are relying on OurAnnaMaria for information more often.

As much as Bill Yanger doesn’t want to hear this, the blog’s success is primarily attributable to his editorial contributions. His journalistic acumen is at the heart of the increased readership, and for that we all are eternally grateful. The unique yet professional insights he proffers can be credited to the fact that he is both an accomplished attorney and a degreed journalist. Something you can’t get anywhere else--factual, professional, and at times very entertaining through his “Conversations” features.

Great job, Bill, and thanks from all of us. Kudos also to you, our readers and contributors; without your support, the blog wouldn’t be. “And,” as Bill says, “stay informed.”

Waiting To Step Through The Recall Looking Glass...Again

Here’s a twist right of Alice in Wonderland: City Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus and ex-con Michael Barfield’s comrade in lawsuits, attorney Andrea Mogensen, are actually taking the same position on a legal issue today.

In a saga with more knots than a mullet net, this one is actually not that surprising. Mogensen, known for teaming with Barfield to bully small towns for big dollars, often over insignificant issues, filed an emergency motion with the Second District Court of Appeal basically arguing that Judge Nicholas can stay certification of yesterday’s vote, he just can’t seal it altogether. Commissioner Stoltzfus happens to agree with the desired result if not the legal sufficiency of Mogensen’s argument. His attorney Richard Harrison has this morning filed a response to Mogensen’s emergency motion effectively saying just that. You can read Harrison’s response by clicking HERE. We recommend it.

So, what does this mean?

Hit the "Please Read More" link below to follow us:

Bradenton Herald Publishes Un-Biased Look

Alas, a source for objectivity, as close as your nearest news rack. Of course, you have to pay for it, but you know the old saying about getting what you pay for!

 Read all about it here.

Stayed Tuned: Major Recall News Developing

Word is emerging from several sources that significant recall news is imminent today. We will post what we can confirm as soon as we confirm it.

Return often and stay informed.

Elizabeth Moss: Anna Maria's Graceful, Tenacious Treasure

Elizabeth Moss, right, with her friend Lisa Losordo after voting this morning

Elizabeth Moss voted today.

If you been around Anna Maria for any time at all, you have heard of Elizabeth Moss. If you have been blessed to meet and share time with Mrs. Moss, your life is unquestionably better for it. The Bartow, Florida native first came to Anna Maria in 1921 and has never looked back. She and her late husband Gene bought the beach cottage at the gulf-end of Willow Avenue in 1943 and she lives there to this day.

Stay with us by clicking the "Please Read More" link below:

Rebuttal to Island Newspaper Editorials

This just in from a very concerned and interested citizen of Anna Maria who wanted it posted before the election tomorrow.

Some Election Perspectives....

With the vote approaching Tuesday, take a look at some personal perspectives on City Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus from the locals who know him best. Click HERE.

A Brief Change of Subject - A reprint from the Bradenton Times, Letters to the Editor:

Building boom dooms Manatee home values

Your home value decreases for each new house built. Manatee County’s booming home construction causes the destruction of your most important investment, your home.
Five years ago the average Bradenton home value was $283,800. Now it’s $157,700, a decrease of $126,100. Existing homes sales are down 50 percent from five years ago, and foreclosures are rising beyond 10,359. There are 300,000 vacant homes in Florida.

GENE AUBRY, PAR, SUNSHINE LAWS AND YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!

Some months ago an email that had been sent to Commissioner Stoltzfus from Janet Aubry and had become part of the public records was posted on this blog.

It was revealing to say the least.  Very revealing.  PAR and their lawyers had accused Commissioner Stoltzfus of running a shadow government and breaking Sunshine Laws.   How ironic is it then that the wife of the man who decides to run against Commissioner Stoltzfus in the recall election, Eugene Aubry, sends the email that you can read HERE.

A lawyer then followed up on this and his letter to the Mayor and Commissioners can be read HERE.

Of course our Mayor, who has openly endorsed PAR, did not act on what appears to be a clear breach of the Sunshine Laws with Ms. Aubry appearing to act as a conduit between Commissioners. 

This Just In: JUDGE SEALS RECALL VOTE; ORDER ISSUED**

Judge Edward Nicholas ruled this morning that Tuesday's recall election will proceed and the results will be sealed until at least September 24th. Attorneys for both Stoltzfus and Carter were instructed to request expedited review by the Second District Court of Appeals.

**Update 4:00 p.m. - You can view Judge Nicholas' "Order On Motion For Stay" by clicking HERE.

More on details and possible scenarios later. So come back often.

And stay informed.

Recall Absentee Voters Responding

Sources tell us this morning that 315 recall election absentee ballots were requested by and forwarded to voters by the Supervisor of Elections Office. Yesterday was the last day to request an absentee ballot for Tuesday's scheduled election.

As of this morning 201 of those ballots have been returned to the elections office and accepted by the canvassing board. If you are still holding on to yours, send it in today. It must be received by Tuesday to be counted and REMEMBER MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY.

Stay informed.

But Wait...The City Is Not A Party To The Recall Lawsuit, So...

So, assuming it happened, was this evening's closed door session regarding the recall litigation proper?

The applicable portion of the Sunshine Law, Florida Statute 286.011(8), says in pertinent part:

“…any board or commission of any…municipal corporation… and the chief administrative or executive officer of the governmental entity, may meet in private with the entity’s attorney to discuss pending litigation to which the entity is presently a party before a court…” (emphasis added).

Neither The City of Anna Maria, it's commission nor its mayor are "presently a party" to the recall lawsuit.

But, you say, City Clerk Alice Baird is a party to the lawsuit and she works for and represents the city so it must be okay, correct? Courts have historically interpreted Florida's sunshine laws very strictly. So, strictly speaking the answer is no, it is not okay. The question will be what are the consequences, if any?

We're sure to find out. Soon.

(**Update: 11:00 p.m. - No consequence if no "action" was taken in the closed meeting.)

Stay informed.

This Just In: Dye Calls 6pm Closed Door Meeting Regarding Friday's Recall Election Hearing

City Attorney Jim Dye has called a closed door session of the City Commission immediately preceding its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. tonight. You can view the agenda HERE.

With the hearing regarding attorney Richard Harrison's motion to stay the September 7th recall election looming tomorrow at 11 a.m. Dye is expected to discuss the position the City will take regarding the requested election delay.

Should be interesting. Another Friday surprise?

Stay informed.

Accountability

Finished reading this weeks "I Slander” and Sun Newspapers editorials. For the past ten months the articles about Harry Stoltzfus have been regurgitated week after week, with various inflammatory headlines. I don't mind his picture in every issue or in the border of the online edition; he is eye candy for me. He appears as often as ads for the Sand Bar, Mar Vista, The Beach House and PAR. They're paying; Harry gets in for free.

I will begin with the “I Slander”. I've included direct quotes from the current edition.

This week’s editorial is reckless, libelous, slanderous, irresponsible and without any factual basis. Given the tone it is not a stretch to know who is responsible for writing it, easy to figure out who is behind it. I think of a wooden puppet with an ever growing nose, the strings controlled by a few whose goal is clear: get rid of Harry Stoltzfus.

In fact, at a recent city meeting, a rather rotund bald man, wearing flip flops and toying with his ever present cell phone, leaned in to his attorney and was overheard saying, "Get rid of that son of a bitch! The man, Micheal Coleman.

Hit the "Please Read More" link below...