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Summer Ends As School Begins

Editorial by: Tom Oosterhoudt

It was another extremely interesting week that kept me busy and my mind open about so many things going on simultaneously. Former Conch graduate Paul dePoo was in town for a few days and he managed to squeeze in lunch with me. His amazing story of triumph led to this week's cover story. Paul just graduated 3 years ago and many of us knew him as the popular high school magician who stunned everyone when he starred in the high school production of "The King And I" with beautiful fellow student, Cierra Walker. The pair blew our socks off... to say the least. Paul has also achieved an incredible physical transition in college, becoming such a workaholic that he managed to work off all his baby fat and become a stunning young man... just check out the cover.

Paul confounded many of us when he decided to study the high tech side of theater with today's incredible productions, like Cirque du Soleil, now the most progressive high tech entertainment in the world. Paul is now a senior at Boston University but already spent last summer in a training job with one of the world's top production companies in London. He has the chance to become a consultant on tone of Cirque's new shows, now in the planning stages for Dubai. The show has a budget of $150 million for the Arabic desert themed production. In the meantime, Paul is back in school in Boston but he is also working at an exciting new opera production set for a New York company. Obviously his cutting edge creativity is in demand. Paul gives full credit for his creative instincts to being raised in Key West in an environment full of diversity and inspiring stimulus, cultivated while attending Key West High School.

In a related Key West story of how our environment has inspired amazing success stories, former Mallory Square performer, Guy Laliberte, was a fire eater at the daily celebration back in 1984. Guy, a "busker," went on to found Cirque du Soleil, "the novelle experience" which became a worldwide phenomena in the nineties, Guy is now a billionaire and still helps oversee the world's largest entertainment phenomena. There are currently six different touring shows all over the world, as well as "O", "Love", "Zumanity", "Mystere", and "Ka" in Las Vegas. Obviously the magic of Cirque du Soleil is to tap the young creative forces of brilliant new creative minds, like our own Paul dePoo.

It was once again my pleasure to attend Clear Channel's annual "Kids Show" at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort last week and get to meet so many of our knee-high citizens. This event is a perfect place to start the wheels of creativity turning by experiencing so many things in the "Kid Show" array of activities. Check out the youngsters' faces and how they are fascinated by everything the Keys have to offer. The Keys have something to offer for all ages. Many thanks go out to Clear Channel's Nancy D'Amato for keeping Conch Color involved with this wonderful opportunity for local children.

A the Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, I got to watch the "pre-season" opener football game from the sidelines with Key West High School Athletic Director Peter Fraga last Friday night. Tailback Michael Sohi racked up for touchdowns right before my eyes. J.P. Mallot nailed an impressive interception further keeping my rapt attention. These bays can play the game! I was also blown away with Devin Barber, a master f defense, who managed to block a number of the opponents' attempts to score. Devin may not be the tallest defense player on the team, but he sure is on of the best! He kept me astounded and he zoomed from one end of the field to the other. Devin is on helluva football player.

It was great to see a full cheerleading team on the field under the direction of my good friend, Mindy Vinson. And my pal, Jennifer Walker, has managed to bring the Conchettes back in force, with the biggest group in years. All the girls looked great and in full form. The state competitions are looming!

Finally, I played host to our incredible Congresswoman when she came to town Monday. We enjoyed lunch at Hogfish with Regional passport director, Ryan Dooley, Mayor Morgan McPherson, and Interim Monroe County School Superintendent, Joseph Burke. Life continues to be fascinating in the southernmost island city, and this was yet another day. In next week's Conch Color I will elaborate on my new friends from this lunch encounter. And, of course, I took lots of photos. The Congresswomain and I are now in our ninth year as best friends and our friendship only gets better with age. She never fails to make me proud of her.

As school starts in the Keys, I look at yet another crop of amazing young students ready to learn and embrace everything that an eduction in the Keys has to offer. And again, Conch Color is happy to report that "life is good!"

Tom Oosterhoudt
Editor & Publisher

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