Trails in the Sand by Peter Traciet, the Street Detective
Ol’ Pete was beyond excited and kicked up lots of sand to hear that former Broward superintendent, Robert Runcie is free from the shackles of charges that he lied to a Grand Jury. It has been almost two years since he was arrested and his mug shot graced the cover of newspapers nationwide. If you google Runcie’s name (The Detective just did.), the first photo to appear is his mugshot and stories detailing his arrest are not far behind. Runcie had a decade long run as superintendent of Broward and had it not been for the Parkland school shooting, he may have had a decade longer. Up to the day of his arrest, Runcie enjoyed the support of the majority of the Broward School Board. But the Detective has sleuthed the response of superintendents all over the country prior to and since February 14, 2018. Within a year of similar shootings, the superintendents left to allow healing via new leadership. Runcie’s refusal to leave by choice led to a perjury charge that forced him out.
Nonetheless, Runcie, a Harvard graduate, currently serves as Chief in Residence at Chiefs for Change and serves on the Board of Director for Knowledgeworks and Code.org.
Ol’ Pete is happy that the Runcie is free and wishes him nothing but the best to come.
Detective Traceit took some time off from dragging the dirt and decided to revel in the entertainment across Broward county this weekend.
First stop was Carter Park on Friday night for the Summer Jams. Ol’ Pete noticed that the protege’ of former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Robert McKinzie is continuing the tradition of a great family-oriented community event. Pam Beasley Pittman put out all the stops with entertainment, free hotdogs and water. South Florida vendors were on full display showcasing their specialty foods to the public. Beasley Pittman is off to a great start in rallying the support of her constituents. Though a month late, Ol’ Pete tips his hat to honor Beasley Pittman for Women’s History Month. Fort Lauderdale’s first Black female commissioner is working hard for the people.
The Detective’s next stop was Central Park over by the old Kmart on 441. That Kmart was a staple in the community and folk like Ol’ Pete are wondering if there will ever be another supermarket or department store there for the public to enjoy. The property has been uninhabited since Kmart closed probably two decades ago.
But Pete slid behind the Kmart property on Saturday night and the event sponsored by City of Lauderhill in conjunction with the Broward County Commission left no dirt unsettled. The music was not too hot, not too cold, but simply just right. The artists were both unfamiliar and well known, yet they all gave a show that kept attendees singing along, snapping their fingers and on their feet dancing to the rhythm. The artists represented the diversity of South Broward with Caribbean, Latin and good ol’ R&B. There were hits from today and the old school funk from yesterday and yester-year.
Ol’ Pete was tempted to compare the festivities to Jazz in the Garden (JITG) but stopped short. It was BETTER than JITG. Over time JITG has lost much of its flair. It has been a great run, but after 16 years, it desperately needs a makeover. It has become more expensive without new artists. JITG saw its 16th season and Charlie Wilson has been a show stopping performer for at least a dozen of them. Wilson never disappoints. He gives God the praise for his addiction recovery, but There Goes My Baby at Macy’s always leaves the audience feigning for more. Even so, JITG needs a different twist as shown by its dismal attendance this past March. Ol’ Pete swore it was the last time Peter Traceit would put on a good linen suit and gators to tread through dirt for an outside concert. Then here comes Broward County and the city of Lauderhill giving Pete new terrain to explore and enjoy. Here’s hoping that this inaugural event becomes an annual one.
On Sunday, Pete headed north to Pompano’s Seafood Festival. Pete felt like Bubba from Forest Gump with all the seafood choices, especially shrimp. Shrimp dishes were like the fruit of the sea. They had BBQ shrimp, baked shrimp, boiled shrimp, broiled shrimp, sautéed shrimp, shrimp kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan fried shrimp, refried shrimp, stir fried shrimp, pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp burger, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes and shrimp salad.
The Street Detective is still in search of that pickled shrimp and shrimp souse.
Ol’ Pete has finally shaken free of good food and soulful music and is headed back to the trails of sand in search of news you can use
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