Florence City Officials Don't Want Gitmo Detainees At Supermax

The CBS Channel 4 (Denver) cameras were in Florence today. And tonight a news story was run on that channel. It can be viewed at: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/02/24/florence-guantanamo-bay-detainees-supermax/

I would not have known that the Supermax/Gitmo controversy was being covered again, except that I was working in a ye olde antique store and spotted a man outside. He was walking literally in the road, seemingly talking to himself, complete with hand gestures.

Even though Florence is a great and friendly burg--I've seen this type of activity before. My first thought was--poor guy. My second thought was: It's a news reporter. But I saw no news camera or cameraman initially. So I stepped outside to see what was happening. It turns out the camera was at ground level at first.

I got a glimpse of his jacket and saw it was Channel 4 in Denver--but later checked our more local Colorado Springs stations and didn't see any Gitmo coverage around Florence. Then I went online and viewed the Channel 4 story. It seems the city officials interviewed, mayor Keith Ore, and city manager, Mike Patterson, are both opposed. As were local residents that were interviewed.

I recall we had local (and not-so-local) cameras in Florence last Oct. on the Gitmo subject. In fact, I mentioned it on this blog. One of our local antique dealers, who is a colorful character and owner of Florence Antiques, Larry Nelson, was featured on the Denver FOX channel. Nelson gave his opinion on Gitmo, but also used the opportunity to promote not only his shop--but Florence, as the antiques capital of Colorado.

You can read my blog post, Who Says GITMO & Antiques Can't Be Funny? here: http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2015/10/florence-colorado-who-says-gitmo.html

No, I don't think GITMO is a funny subject. I just found it amusing that Nelson turned it into a promotional opportunity for this fair burg and that a Denver FOX station did a good job of balancing the town's quaint antiques reputation with a serious subject. And I occasionally run blog posts with a theme of: Who Says Antiques Can't Be Fun?

                                                     Florence, Colorado's Main St.
                                                   
Today's Channel 4 story just stuck to the GITMO angle. We did see a glimpse of Wood Grain On Main and Barn & Barrel--two antiques stores-- and a few shots of the main street showing the general atmosphere of our shops and eateries.

Last October, right after the GITMO stories ran, not just in Denver, but in the Colorado Springs area--I noticed an increase in people coming through town. Of course, local people are delighted to welcome visitors here. We are the antiques capital of Colorado. Officially. We also have art galleries and other unique businesses.

I'd prefer to see the town know for that, more than the semi-looming threat of housing more terrorists at Supermax. But that's just me. What do you think?

Florence, Colorado: Who Says GITMO & Antiques Can't Be Funny?

Who says GITMO and antiques can't be funny? Come on, I can't make this stuff up. But this week, someone I am acquainted with DID make Guantanamo Bay AND antiques funny--right here in Florence, Colorado.

We noted a few days ago that Florence made the national FOX news, reporting on Pentagon officials touring Supermax in Florence and the state penitentiary in nearby Canon City as possible places to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees. I happened to be watching from a Japanese restaurant on Florence's Main St. when one news camera crew was packing its gear. I had no idea what it was all about until I saw the FOX national news the next day. And someone told me it was also on a local (Colorado Springs) NBC channel.

Ah, but they reported the straight news. Boy, was I in for a treat today when I discovered there was yet another news report that was delicious. Yes, it's the one that proves Gitmo AND antiques can be funny.

I was casually strolling down Main. St. when Larry Nelson, owner of Florence Antiques, informed me that Florence had been on the news. I said I knew and I had done a little mention of it on my blog.

No, I was told--Larry Nelson himself was on the news. Larry escorted me and my unsuspecting spouse inside Florence Antiques to Larry's computer where he showed us the news video.

For our local readers (and our readers out of the area) below is a picture of Larry I took last year when we were doing steampunk events for the steampunk festival last April. Yes, that's a steam gauge in Larry's mouth. And yes, I am giving you a hint, that FOX 31 News of Denver was in for a journalistic roller coaster of a ride.

Yes, Mr. Nelson is wearing overalls. But that's besides the point.

Let's backtrack. I used to live in Denver, for a brief time, and I remember watching Justin Joseph on FOX 31 News. I always considered him as a journalist that stood out from the rest. And Joseph did not let me down. But I am fairly certain that when Joseph set out to report on the Pentagon officials in Florence AND the antiques scene in Florence (the antiques capital of Colorado) he had no idea he would inadvertently be shooting the next pilot for a new reality show about the Florence antiques scene, starring Larry Nelson.

Most of us in the antiques trade in Florence, already knew Larry would make a good reality TV star. We just didn't know how he'd play out on the telly, since we'd never seen him on the telly. I'll get to that later.

Here's a link to the FOX 31 News video, featuring Supermax AND Larry Nelson. I can ASSURE you that even though Supermax looms large in reality and in legend on the outskirts of Florence proper--Mr. Nelson's personality loomed larger that Supermax, Guantanamo or the Pentagon. Stinking Pentagon. We don't need no stinking Pentagon officials--Florence has Larry Nelson and that's enough, thank you very much!

http://kdvr.com/2015/10/13/pentagon-officials-look-at-colorado-prisons-as-possible-homes-for-guantanamo-detainees/

The news video starts with Larry narrating," Welcome to Florence, the capital of antiques."

The news package is actually a work of art--interspersing shots of inmates, barbed wire, Supermax and some really cool Toby mugs in Larry's antiques shop.

I really have to tip my vintage hat off to FOX news. Even on the national story, they balanced the Gitmo story and Supermax with the antiques culture in Florence. But FOX 31 in Denver, really did it up right.

There were a few interviews with folks (on the streets of Florence) who were not terribly happy about Gitmo folks potentially parking their felonious butts in Florence, along with the rest of the inmates.

Now, Larry Nelson of Florence Antiques--he has few qualms about that. "That's OK, they won't get out of there," he told the reporter with a hearty laugh.

OK, everyone knows deep down that we are much more interested in antiques in Florence and eccentrics like Larry Nelson, than we are in what goes on at Supermax. Most people agree that no one has ever escaped--and if they did, I pity them, because they really don't know what type of folks live in Florence. But they do now.

And what other antiques shop owners and dealers wanted to know (all of whom had NO idea Larry had been on the news until I told them) was if this brought a few more browsers and customers into Florence. Larry had told me that people actually told him they saw him on the news in Denver and drove to Denver to see what he and his store were about. Watch the video! Larry just got Florence, about a zillion dollars worth of free publicity. There we hoards of people browsing in Florence right after these multitude of stories played in Colorado Springs, Denver and nationally.

And how does Larry play on TV? You be the judge. But I can tell you--that's exactly the Larry most people know in Florence. He does translate to TV.

I told another dealer about the video. She and I went back to Larry's store and she saw the video and I watched it for the second delightful time. The other dealer insisted that Larry shop for his own reality TV show immediately. Actually she had told Larry that last year. I seconded the motion. Only time will tell. But I guarantee you--I don't know anyone besides Larry Nelson and Justin Joseph of FOX News 31 that could have made Gitmo AND antiques funny.

But what was really funny was that Larry didn't seem to understand what the other dealer and I were telling him about--that he plays well on TV and we were not joking when we said he needs to get his own TV show.

Florence, Colorado: Makes National FOX News

On Oct. 13, we and an out-of-town guest, were sitting in one of our favorite restaurants (ITO'S  Japanese) on Florence's Main St. when we noticed someone with a huge video camera. Being the nosy (um, curious person) that I am, I left my shrimp tempura bento box behind for a moment and ran to the window.

I saw the fellow pack up his camera in an unmarked SUV, so we couldn't figure who was in town.

Apparently he was part of FOX News, because this morning the story about Florence was all over the national FOX News channel, and then on the local evening news.

The story was about Pentagon officials coming to Florence to scout SuperMax (and the state penitentiary) in Canon City to possibly relocate Gitmo prisoners.

Interesting.

I won't comment on the wisdom, or folly, of that possible action.

I will comment on the fact that it was nice to see Florence's lovely Main St. in some of the shots. There were shots of people strolling down the street and some glimpses of Spirit Riders, The Iron Gate Antiques Mall and Florence Flower Shop.

Yes, we are home to Supermax. But we are also the antiques capital of Colorado and home to some wicked awesome eateries. And it was nice of FOX News to interview someone on the streets of Florence and also to give a balanced picture of this town. Supermax AND charming shops and eateries.