The Cooler

South Florida's mainstream media is all over Crist's totally expected announcement yesterday so guess what you won't see in the Cooler this morning? Here's what did catch my eye...

A- Herald: Slideshow, Miami Corporate Run.

B- Herald: It never seems to be just right.

Lake Okeechobee, hammered by drought-driven lows over the last decade, brimmed Thursday with more than 15 feet of water. It will continue going up for several more days.

Problem is, South Florida's hurricane and rainy seasons are right around the corner. The big lake is rising when it ought to be falling.

That's not a good scenario for its aging dike or aquatic life in the lake and river systems that will soon be getting big doses of dirty lake water. By next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has been slowly trying to lower Lake O for months, will likely crank open the flood gates a lot wider.

``We would expect this during the wet season, but we're seeing it during the dry season, said Luis Alejandro, Lake Okeechobee basin manager for the Corps. ``We are in the high end of the range we would like to see.''

C- Herald: Will it snow in Miami again?

North Miami's former Superfund site has already been the Bermuda Triangle of failed dreams, but that isn't stopping another group of dreamers from trying again.

Anyone for downhill snow skiing in South Florida?

The latest idea calls for transforming the site once planned for the luxury community of Biscayne Landing into an entertainment park with an indoor ski slope and a winter playground.

The Solar Mountain project would be powered largely by renewable energy, and the centerpiece would be a ski slope, similar to Ski Dubai.

[...]

Plans call for other amenities at Solar Mountain beyond the ski slope. Among the possibilities being debated are an indoor ice skating rink, winter kid's playground, snowboarding, indoor tennis center, white-water rafting, surfing, electric car racing, shops, restaurants and more.

D- Herald: They write letters.

Second thoughts on drilling

America has had the divine fortune that when her brightest can't get the ball rolling, a catastrophe does. Just when the Democrats were giving way on offshore drilling, British Petroleum comes to the rescue. The only thing it didn't have was a bugle.

ROALD GARCIA, Hollywood

E- Sun-Sentinel: Broward Critical Mass takes off and The Miami Bike Scene gets a mention.

Catching the tailwind of a nationwide movement, a group of cyclists will pedal down Las Olas Boulevard at its busiest time, to draw attention to bicycling.

The Broward Critical Mass ride leaves from a downtown Fort Lauderdale coffee shop Saturday night and is linked to similar events that have been going on for 18 years — even though some bicyclists say the rides do more harm than good with the public.

"I'm aware there's some negative connotations when you use the words ‘Critical Mass,' but the goal here is to have a positive experience and increase bicycling awareness," said Jesse Scanlon, 21, of Boca Raton.

[...]

"For the most part, there's been little to no altercations aside from the occasional tap on the horn from an impatient motorist," said Rydel Deed, who organizes the ride via his http://www.themiamibikescene.com.

F- Sun-Sentinel: The Hollywood Trolley is a go.

The city is launching a year-round trolley service that will run every 30 minutes between beach hotels, downtown and West Lake Park.

"I do a lot of walking, but sometimes it's tough to turn around and go back," Rinamato said with a laugh. "That's where the trolley will come in handy."

The city is leasing three, 22-passenger trolleys from Limousines of South Florida to provide the service. The orange- and-green trolleys are equipped with bicycle racks, are air-conditioned and are accessible for the handicapped.

The city Community Redevelopment Agency is providing $300,000 for operating costs. The Florida Department of Transportation is matching that for one year.

The state money will allow the service to expand from seasonal to year-round, city spokeswoman Raelin Storey said.

G- Sun-Sentinel: Good riddance.

The Davie police officer declared a fugitive after skipping court two days in a row has fled the country, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.

Vally Getejanc, a rookie with the Davie Police Department, flew into a Rome airport Tuesday to avoid two separate trials on assault and battery charges, said agency spokeswoman Dani Moschella.

"We'll work with our federal investigators to continue to investigate until he is apprehended," she said.

The Davie Police Department fired Getejanc on Thursday, said Sgt. Robert Choquette.

While Getejanc made his getaway on Tuesday, a jury acquitted him of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on his then-fiancee, who was pregnant at the time.

Getejanc, 26, came to court Monday for the trial, but was a no-show Tuesday.

H- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

I- WSVN: Remember, it's not the breed.

According to Sunrise Police, Julie Lovelle was standing outside her apartment located at 7649 NW 42 Place, when a neighbor walking a pitbull came up to Lovelle to introduce himself. He then went to shake her hand, when the pitbull, who was on a leash, allegedly bit Lovelle in the abdominal area. "Deep puncher wounds, I mean it's very deep. I'm having radiating pain," said Lovelle.

Pictures were released of Lovelle injures. "He grabbed me by my waist and he took his jaws and locked onto my stomach, and I had to take my elbow to knock the dog off of me," said Lovell.

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