40 minute read
Park gets its point back
Local residents celebrate a soft opening of Wilkinson Point at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier. SUZI RUBIO/Contributed
JIM McCARTHY
jim@keysweekly.com
WELCOME BACK, WILKINSON POINT
Acounty-owned park in Tavernier saw a long-awaited celebration among residents of the Harry Harris community on April 13. Standing out on Wilkinson Point, people raised glasses of champagne during a soft opening to welcome back the park amenity, closed since Hurricane Irma. Sept. 10, 2022 will mark five years since the Category 4 storm struck the Florida Keys with 132-mph winds and an 8-foot storm surge. Middle and Lower Keys communities were hardest hit by the storm, with its eye making landfall over Cudjoe Key, but areas in the Upper Keys like Harry Harris Park also felt Irma’s wrath. Residents were gut-wrenched as they returned to their Harry Harris neighborhood, where damage and debris were visible. Seagrass dangled from the front gate while sand blew from the beach to the parking lot. Debris filled the grounds as residents united to organize a cleanup. Limbs lined the side of the road. “Everybody’s stuff ended up on the road or near the park,” said Nola Acker, longtime resident of the neighborhood. Harry Harris Park re-opened Feb. 9, 2018, but more work awaited. Thanks to a Hurricane Irma repair grant, repairs to Wilkinson Point began in February 2022. While the project is mostly complete, cars aren’t allowed on the newly-paved surface just yet as the asphalt must cure at the end of the point. But foot traffic, bikes and golf carts are allowed on the path. Work is now underway to repair a beach jetty damaged by the 2017 storm. Suzi Rubio serves as project manager for the Harry Harris Park repairs. A resident of the neighborhood, she stood on Wilkinson Point with neighbors. Rubio felt elated by the reception from local residents who couldn’t wait to walk out to the point. “I kind of had a soft spot in my heart,” she said. “Just like all the parks within Monroe County, the local residents love them very much and take high pride in the parks themselves.” Rubio started with Monroe County in May 2019 after spending time with the village of Islamorada. Assigned to conduct windshield inspections following Irma, she witnessed the storm’s destruction and couldn’t help but feel what happened to neighbors on her street. In September 2019, Rubio asked Kevin Wilson, assistant county administrator, and Cary Knight, director of project management, if she could work on the project located around the corner from her house. Sure enough, she received her wish. “When I had the opportunity to come and fix this, I chose to do so,” Rubio said. Wilkinson Point is named for Katharine “K” Wilkinson, (no relation to the famed Upper Keys historian Jerry Wilkinson). She moved to an area of Key Largo in the 1930s that, at the turn of the century, had been a farming community known as Planter, the precursor to Tavernier. Her husband, Jack, moved there first from Miami. As newlyweds, they squatted along the Atlantic Coast in a makeshift tent and lived largely off of what the ocean could provide. She wrote the book “It Had To Be You” about her time there with her husband before there was running water, electricity or mosquito control. The book was locally published in 1996. “When the two were married, K had been living in Miami with her mother and family, then she joined Jack and later the two kids were born. The point is really named for both of them, but K was more communityminded and helped to have the Coral Shores School built,” said historian Brad Bertelli. With Wilkinson Point mostly complete, construction crews are now working on the beach jetty. Rubio said it’s a bigger project than Wilkinson Point. Rubio said it entails the removal of concrete, breaking apart the existing structure where it was routed many years ago, placing berm, backfilling and placing new rocks and asphalt on top to allow for foot traffic. Julie Austin closed on her home inside the Harry Harris neighborhood on April 4, 2002. She recalls all the times looking out at the ocean while sitting on the rocks at Wilkinson Point. She also remembers dropping her kids off at school and taking a moment to herself on the way home before heading off to work. “Having the repairs finally being made to our park means the world to us,” she said. John Allen, Monroe County Parks & Beaches director, said the repair project at Harry Harris Park is moving ahead of schedule with completion around summertime. If everything goes as planned, Rubio said the project could be completed by the end of May or first part of June. A grand opening will take place once the beach jetty’s complete. “It’s a beautiful park. There’s a lot of amenities there,” Allen said. “You’ve got youth baseball players playing. You got adult softball. You got one of the best boat ramps in the Upper Keys. And of course, the beach and being able to swim and have access to something like that is phenomenal and a huge asset to the community.” Access to the beach, jetty and lagoon are closed with active construction in that area. The boat ramp will remain open throughout the project. Last year, the ballfields at Harry Harris Park underwent refurbishing following damage from Irma. Overall, Rubio said, the park’s repaired amenities will bring excitement among her neighbors and the community. “It’s not just the people who live in the Harry Harris park neighborhood, but everybody in this area who uses the boat ramp and beach,” Rubio said. “I think everybody is tickled pink that the county has done this amount of work and we’ll finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Wilkinson Point, located at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, is open to foot traffic, bikes and golf carts. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
SCHOOL BOARD HEARS FROM PARENTS WHO BACK NEW LEGISLATION
RULES REQUIRE AUDITS OF ALL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Seven Florida Keys parents on April 12 put the county school board and administration on notice that they will be monitoring the school district’s implementation of two new education bills that will become law on July 1. Representing the Keys chapter of Moms for Liberty, Tia Kollars told the board that she is a “big proponent” of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the two bills, including the Parental Rights in Education bill, which its critics nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Kollars and others also spoke in support of the bill that requires school districts to audit all instructional materials available to students, and to allow parents to object to any of those materials. “I’m excited to see how the district handles this monumental task by July,” Kollars said. “Our first step is to audit all schools to see where we stand in each location. Schools often interpret policies differently and individual school administrators make different decisions, often with no oversight. We need to ensure that teachers aren’t sharing personal opinions. We need someone watching all the schools to avoid lawsuits.” The Parental Rights in Education bill does not ban the word “gay,” and the word gay does not appear in the bill text. Instead, the bill bans “classroom disscussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” It allows parents to sue a school district for violating the bill. Another speaker criticized the school district for airing CNN10, a news program targeting middle school students, during homeroom each morning.
“Are you just taking the word of CNN 10 that it’s age appropriate?” the speaker asked the board. “On March 30, there was a selection of subjects that ranged from the war in Ukraine to a wardrobe malfunction of Katy Perry. The nature of the malfunction was a rip in the derriere of her extremely tight pants.” The speaker’s phone call was then disconnected and attempts to reconnect were unsuccessful. Another speaker told the board “the bills are wonderful because they address a real issue.” She praised the new transparency rules that “allow parents to make choices about whether they’re comfortable having their child attend public school at all. Now is a very tumultuous time and parents don’t trust schools.” Multiple speakers suggested the Monroe County School District consider assembling school-based committees with parental advisers and watchdogs. Following the public comment period, board member Andy Griffiths told his colleagues, “I’m sensing in this, my 30th year on the school board, that we’ve got a group forming that’s very interested in what we’re doing. They don’t always have their facts right because they don’t always know much about what we do, but we’d better listen to them, because this is a movement that’s starting Keyswide. I think this is an opportunity for us.”
Nine undersized red grouper, one undersized black grouper and one undersized yellowtail snapper were found by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers during a patrol on Channel 5 Bridge on April 10. FWC/Contributed
FWC PATROL Two men reportedly found with a number of underLEADS TO ARREST FOR UNDERSIZED sized grouper in Islamorada were arrested by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers. The incident occured on GROUPER April 10 when FWC Officers Brett Swensson and Officer Courtney Carroll were on routine water patrol near Channel 5 Bridge. At about 1 p.m., the two officers stopped a 14-foot aluminum vessel with two men who were actively fishing at the time. Upon inspection, officers discovered that the two, Edward Cruz, 54, of Fort Lauderdale, and Carlos Javier Santiago Rivera, 49, of Long Key, were in possession of nine undersized red Edward Cruz grouper, one undersized black grouper and one undersized yellowtail snapper. FWC officers said the two men admitted to catching the fish and knew that they were grouper. The two were arrested and taken to Plantation Key Jail. Both men were cited for out-of-season grouper, undersized red grouper, undersized black grouper, undersized yellowtail snapper and a violation of the Atlantic grouper aggregate bag limit.
Carlos Javier Santiago Rivera — Weekly staff report
jim@keysweekly.com
LAWMAKERS LET DESANTIS REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL MAP
SPECIAL SESSION SET FOR APRIL 19
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto on a new Florida congressional map is bringing lawmakers back to the state’s capital for a special session on Tuesday, April 19. Legislators approved the map well before the session concluded, despite statements by DeSantis that he’d likely reject what they proposed. Leaders in the Florida House and Senate say they’re now deferring the map redraw to DeSantis as they prepare for a short session. In a joint statement released on April 11, Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls said legislative reapportionment staff won’t be drafting or producing a map for introduction during special session. Instead, the two say they’ll wait for communication from the governor’s office with a map that he will support. “Our intention is to provide the governor’s office opportunities to present that information before House and Senate redistricting committees,” the two said in the joint statement. “We look forward to working with you next week as we complete our constitutional obligation for the 2022 redistricting process.” Following each decennial census, the legislature redraws districts by which Florida voters elect their state representatives, senators and members of the U.S. House. Through the redistricting process, legislators redraw congressional and legislative districts to adjust for uneven growth rates in different parts of the state. They also redistribute seats in the U.S. House based on the census. Florida’s population grew from 18.8 million in 2010 to 21.5 million in 2020. As a result, Florida gets one more representative to the U.S. House, for a total of 28. Florida’s 26th Congressional District currently includes all of Monroe County and a portion of south-west Miami Dade County. Per the legislative-approved Congressional map, those boundary lines largely remain the same, but it would become the 28th Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez would continue representing residents within the district. Elected in 2020, his two-year term is up this year. The main issue leading to DeSantis’ veto of the map on March 29 surrounded Florida’s 5th Congressional District in north Florida. A sevenpage memorandum by DeSantis and Ryan Newman, general counsel, states that Florida’s 5th Congressional District, in primary and secondary maps enacted by the legislature, violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. “It assigns voters primarily on the basis of race,” the memorandum says, “but is not narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling state interest.” Per Politico, the governor took aim at the seat held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a black Democrat from Tallahassee. Lawson’s north Florida district traverses roughly 200 miles and connects minority neighborhoods in Jacksonville with those in the state capital and in neighboring Gadsden County, the state’s only majority black county. “The court has interpreted the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to prohibit state legislatures from using race as the ‘predominant’ factor motivating (their) decision to place a significant number of voters within or without a particular district … unless they can prove that their ‘race-based sorting of voters’ serves a ‘compelling interest’ and is ‘narrowly tailored to that end,’” Newman wrote. DeSantis said in an April 12 press conference in Miami-Dade that the map will have north Florida drawn in a neutral manner. “We are not doing a 200-mile gerrymander that divvies up people based on the color of their skin. That is wrong,” he said. “That’s not the way we govern in the state of Florida. That will be litigated, but I can tell you the original district would absolutely have been litigated.” In a statement on April 11, Lawson said the Florida legislature is caving to the intimidation of DeSantis and his desire to create additional Republican seats in Congress by eliminating minority-access districts.
Gov. Ron DeSantis “Previously, the Florida Supreme Court scolded the Florida legislature for injecting partisan politics into the reapportionment process. Florida voters were hopeful that legislators would have learned their lesson. They did not,” he said. “Again, I am not surprised, but disappointed with the legislature’s inability to fulfill their constitutional duties as elected officials without political interference from DeSantis.” Time is ticking for state officials to get a new map in place to accommodate the additional congressional district in Florida. June 17 is the final day for a congressional candidate to qualify. The primary election is set for Aug. 23. As state lawmakers prepare for a return to Tallahassee, many are seeking a special session to deal with Florida’s property insurance crisis. Letters from Republicans and Democrats were sent to DeSantis in the past few days calling for the House and Senate to convene. “Florida is nearing a tipping point, and our neighborhoods are in danger of losing their viability,” said state Sen. Lauren Book, minority Democratic leader. Some insurance companies have been unable to reissue policies, are ceasing operations or are pricing renewals at unaffordable rates, leaving thousands of Floridians with the unsettling surprise that they’ve lost coverage and must scramble to protect their most valuable asset. All of these issues are clearly creating an affordability crisis for our constituents.” State Rep. Jim Mooney said he expects a special session on insurance. “I’m not sure when it’ll be, but my thoughts are prior to the election,” he said.
The legislature-approved Florida congressional districts that were vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. CONTRIBUTED
Rep. Al Lawson
INDIAN KEY CELEBRATION RETURNS
Event to showcase sinking of San Pedro, other history
The Florida Keys History and Discovery Center is hosting the return of the Indian Key Celebration on Saturday, April 30 on the grounds of the Islander Resort in Islamorada. The event is free and the museum will be open to the public with both indoor and outdoor activities. In 1971, the state of Florida purchased Indian Key and designated it a state historic site. The venue has changed this year as Indian Key’s dock needs repair, and proceeds will be shared between the Keys History & Discovery Foundation and the Friends of Islamorada Area State Parks. This free event honors a tradition that began in 1974 through the dedication and efforts of Irving R. Ester, former Dade County archaeologist and founder of the Upper Keys Historical Society, and president of the Matecumbe Historical Trust until his passing. The Discovery Center is partnering with the Friends of Islamorada Area State Parks to bring Indian Key’s history to life. Indian Key was designated the Dade County seat in 1836 and the small island had more than 20 homes, a hotel, bowling alley, billiard hall and general store. The island once boasted the largest population between Jacksonville and Key West. Naturalist John James Audubon sketched birds here and Dr. Henry Perrine, a botanist, attempted to demonstrate the area’s adaptability for growing plants that would be of economic benefit to the United States. This year’s Indian Key Celebration will showcase the 18th-century story of the sinking of the treasure laden Spanish galleon San Pedro in 1733; explore the fascinating story of Jacob Housman’s settlement of the 1830’s; and include the 20th-century depiction of life at a fishing camp, with highlights touching on hurricanes that affected the area and the building of the famed Overseas Railroad. Activities will be held on the Islander property focusing on entertainment for families and people of all ages. There will be educational presentations in the conference center, food trucks, reenactors, nonprofit education, and arts and crafts booths, live music and adult beverages for sale. It’s a fun-filled event for everyone. Only service animals will be allowed as there will be live animals on display. The Discovery Center says it could not do this event without the assistance of its sponsors, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, Holly Merrill Rashein, Bob Lodge, Phyllis Mitchell, the Islander Resort and a dedicated volunteer committee. For more information, to volunteer, or be involved in presentations or reenactments, call Megan Scallan at 305-922-2237, curator@keysdiscovery.com.
— Contributed
Sanctuary Advisory Council virtual meeting scheduled
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Council members will discuss an update from the Florida Keys and South Florida Ecosystem Connectivity Team, and consider a resolution in support of Everglades restoration. Also on the agenda are several updates from sanctuary staff in anticipation of the upcoming Restoration Blueprint draft rule release. The Florida Keys chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will also give an update. Public comment will be accepted via email to floridakeys@noaa. gov during the meeting. An agenda and supporting materials are posted at floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac. For questions or information prior to the meeting, please contact Liz Trueblood at elizabeth.trueblood@ noaa.gov).
Delicate Balance of Nature series focuses on Everglades
Florida Bay has been subject to devastating seagrass die-offs and algal blooms for over 40 years, which have harmed Florida Keys residents, businesses and communities. Emma Haydocy, executive director of Florida Bay Forever, will connect the plight of Florida Bay with ongoing Everglades restoration and efforts to restore the flow of clean water south to the bay. Her presentation, as part of the Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s Delicate Balance of Nature lecture series, will take place on Wednesday, April 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. It will include policy and legislation updates guiding the preservation of Florida Bay. Advanced registration is required for all lectures. Sign on Zoom a few minutes before the presentation begins. For additional information, email info@ pennekampparkfriends.org.
State House candidate Horton gets county endorsements
Daniel “Dan” Horton-Diaz, candidate for Florida House District 120, has announced multiple endorsements from elected officials, former Democratic candidates, and community leaders in the Florida Keys. Among those endorsing Horton-Diaz are Sam Kaufman, Key West vice mayor; Jimmy Weekley, Key West commissioner; Shirley Freeman, former Monroe County mayor; Clint Barras, 2020 Democratic nominee for state representative; Tommy Ryan, 2018 Democratic nominee for Monroe County Commission and LGBTQ community leader; and Jethon Williams, Bahama Village Community Redevelopment Advisory Committee member. “I am committed to fighting for the people of the Florida Keys in Tallahassee,” Horton-Diaz said. “We must protect our clean water, increase affordable housing and restore local control of government. I am prepared to lead that effort and I am grateful to have the support of many of our elected officials and community leaders. With their energy and support, we will flip this seat blue in November.”
Gimenez introduces America Reopens Act
U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez recently introduced the America Reopens Act. The legislation ends all federal-level mandates of COVID-19 restrictions, including ending the federal mask mandate on systems of transportation such as U.S. airlines. “America has made remarkable progress combating COVID-19. Millions of Americans have resumed their everyday lives — yet far too many refuse to abide by the science and have remained persistent on keeping outdated COVID-19 mandates in place. It’s time for America to reopen,” Gimenez said upon introducing the legislation in the House of Representatives. The bill would prohibit any federal agency or entity that receives federal funding from imposing proof of COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 test, or face covering on American citizens or permanent residents at transportation hubs and when using any conveyance (aircraft, train, road vehicle, vessel, etc.) American citizens and permanent residents may travel domestically in the United States without having to show proof of COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 test, and wear face covering. Canadian and Mexican nationals who are seeking to temporarily enter the United States for business or are involved in interstate commerce may enter without showing proof of COVID-19 vaccine. This also includes commercial truck drivers.
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Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D.
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UPPER KEYS ROTARIANS BECOME PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS
Two Upper Keys Rotarians were recently given their Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Terry Abel, Upper Keys Rotary president, left, congratulates Neal Boyce, center, and Bette Brown for contributing $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage, and show appreciation for, substantial contributions to what was then the foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study. Paul Percy Harris was a Chicago attorney who founded the club, which became the humanitarian organization Rotary International in 1905. The Upper Keys Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Capt. Craig’s in Tavernier. For more information, visit keysrotary.org. CONTRIBUTED
RETIRED FWC OFFICER RECOGNIZED
Retired Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officer Bobby Dube received an award of appreciation from Capt. Bill Kelly, Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association’s executive director, at the annual Key West Seafood Festival. Dube retired in November 2021 following a 32-year career of patrolling the Florida Keys waters. His journey started in 1987. Two years later, he entered the academy and began his career as a Florida Marine Patrol officer in the Keys. (Florida Marine Patrol and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation merged in 1999). From left, Dube, Kelly and FWC Capt. David Dipre. RJ DUBE/Contributed
BIRDING & BAY BREAKFAST
Non-profit celebrates success of nature tours & programs
After opening the doors to the Florida Bay Eco-Center in early December, local non-profit Florida Bay Forever recently kicked off a slate of nature tours and environmental programming for their members and the public at the Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve. The organization has assembled a team of expert naturalists to lead tours and immerse participants in the wonder of Florida Keys’ ecosystems. “We are delighted to introduce educational programs at our new location,” said executive director Emma Haydocy. “We truly believe that education is key to cultivating a community of Florida Bay stewards and advocates for generations to come. The Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve is the perfect classroom for environmental learning, and we are so grateful for our partnership with the Village of Islamorada to carry out this important work.” The organization offers monthly birding tours and nature walks that explore the 11-acre conservation property. The most popular program so far is Breakfast by the Bay. The curated conservation breakfast, hosted on the porch of the historic Russell Cottage, features presentations on Florida Bay science, education and advocacy. Florida Bay Forever offers memberships to the Florida Bay Eco-Center that includes discounted programming rates. Advance reservations are requested for nature walks and bird tours and required for Breakfast by the Bay. Program sponsorships are also available. More information is at 305-509-7545 or via email to info@ floridabayforever.org.
— Contributed
Florida Bay Forever offers monthly birding tours and nature walks that explore the 11-acre Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve. CONTRIBUTED
Breakfast by the Bay is a popular program put on by Florida Bay Forever.
Volunteers collect a large amount of debris at Ocean Forest Estates. CONTRIBUTED
PLASTIC CRISIS NOT A FARAWAY ISSUE
Cleanup nets 1,550 pounds of debris
When many people think of the ocean plastic crisis and coastlines covered in plastic and discarded trash they often think of far-off beaches or unnamed communities. When people think of the Florida Keys, they think of clear beautiful waters or a night out in Key West. On March 27, it became apparent that these two worlds are one and the same. In three hours, volunteers removed 1,550 pounds of plastic and debris from a small section of coastline at Ocean Forest Estates in Key Largo as part of a cleanup by Coastlove. Ocean Forest is an undeveloped area of the John Pennekamp Complex that park staff, partner organizations and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are working to restore. With Coastlove’s marine debris data collection program, and hard-working citizen scientists, the group is able to identify the numbers of the most commonly used single-use plastics. This data is entered into a database where it can be shared with like-minded organizations, officials and researchers. — Contributed
In three hours, volunteers removed 1,550 pounds of plastic and debris from a small section of coastline.
THE EDISON MIRACLE VINE
Inventor’s visit to small Key Inn ends with a gift
Thomas Edison is best remembered for his groundbreaking work with electricity and the phonograph. He is not so well remembered as an early Florida snowbird, which he was. Edison first ventured down from New Jersey and into Monroe County in 1885, when he purchased more than 13 acres along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River near the small community of Fort Myers. Two things happened the following year. First, Edison's home on the banks of the river finished construction. Second, on Aug. 12, Fort Myers and its 349 residents chose to incorporate, becoming only the second town in Monroe County to do so. In 1828, the county’s first city to incorporate was Key West. Monroe County became a little smaller the following year, in 1887 when Lee County was carved out of a southwest portion of the county. Fort Myers, the new county’s largest community, was named the county seat. After his home was built, Edison made Fort Myers his winter retreat for the next 60 years. Buying property in Fort Myers was not his only Monroe County dalliance. At the tail end of World War I, in 1918, he spent six months living at the Key West Naval Station, working to develop more than 40 weapons. Years later, when roads were built, and a bridge connecting the mainland to Key Largo opened to automobile traffic, he drove down to the Florida Keys. He came in search of rubber. Hoping to discover a viable domestic source of natural rubber, Edison, Henry Ford and Henry Firestone (namesake of Firestone Tires) formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation of Fort Myers. There, experiments on more than 15,000 plants were conducted to determine the quantity and quality of the rubber they produced. Plant experimentation was also conducted with another partner, John Kunkel Small, at the New York Botanical Garden. Between 1927 and 1929, investigators searched for plants to collect and bring back to test at the lab. Some of those researchers ventured down into the Florida Keys, and Edison, then in his early 80s, was among them. Accompanying him on these excursions was Small on some occasions and David Fairchild on others. One of the things that tied all of these Key Largo excursions together was that after driving across the Card Sound Bridge and over the coral rock artery that was developed as State Road 4A, nicknamed the Overseas Highway, they stopped at the Key Inn. By 1927, motels, restaurants and other roadside amenities had begun to pop up along the side of the road. One of those establishments was North Key Largo’s Key Inn, owned and operated by Ed and Fern Butters. Edison, his wife, and friends were frequent visitors to the small hotel and restaurant where Mr. Edison took 90-minute naps whenever the group stopped. Mrs. Edison would take off his shoes and rub his tired and achy feet. Fern Butters Captain Ed had built. According to Edison, the root would grow into a vine and begin flowering within months. The vine did its job and broke through the soil, and crept up the building’s wall. Eventually, it covered much of the rest of the building. What Mr. Edison’s vine failed to do, however, was bloom. In the meantime, as word spread about the superior fishing grounds accessible from the Florida Keys and the traffic driving past The Key Inn increased, demand began to exceed the limited facilities the Key Inn offered. Ed and Fern started talking about selling the inn and buying something bigger – that is a story for another day. All the while, Mr. Edison’s vine continued to grow and cover the building. What it never did, however, was bloom. And then, after a couple of years had passed, something remarkable happened. On Oct. 18, 1931, the day that Thomas Edison died, the vine erupted in lime-scented blooms for the first time since Fern had planted it. Because Fern never knew what kind of vine it was, she called it the Edison Miracle Vine, and that is what it has been remembered as ever since.
Ed and Fern Butters’ Key Inn. JERRY WILKINSON COLLECTION/Contributed
BRAD BERTELLI is an author, speaker, and Florida Keys historian. His latest book, “The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files,” is a fun blend of two of his favorite subjects — Florida Keys history and the Skunk Ape.
admired his silk socks. On one of Mr. Edison’s trips down the dirty, bumpy State Road 4A, he brought a gift for Fern Butters. After arriving for a nap and some of Fern’s fabulous cooking, he presented her with a root that resembled a sweet potato. “Plant this,” he said. “It will grow and has lime-scented flowers.” Fern planted the root at the edge of her small garden near the wall of a Spanish-style bungalow
Now Open!
91272 OVERSEAS HWY, TAVERNIER TOWNE CENTER (NEAR CINEMA) 786-640-1401 WWW.SANDBARBOOKSTORE.COM F SANDBAR BOOKS dv @SANDBARBOOKS
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Bay Harbor & Coconut Bay Resort is your opportunity to experience a unique slice of paradise. The resort is an ole Florida gem o ering serenity and sunshine for a peaceful, relaxing vacation in the Florida Keys. With two-and-a-half acres of lush tropical landscape on the bay, this cozy boutique lodging option o ers a blend of suites, co ages, rooms and studios.
Step out the front door of your accommodations and bask in the sunshine while enjoying an array of complimentary amenities. Be enamored by the taste of Peg's Scones and enjoy dri ing through Florida Bay in a kayak or on a paddleboard. Stroll through our tropical gardens, read by the pool, or soak in the views of a beautiful sunset overlooking the Florida Bay.
“Our commitment is to provide our guests with an authentic Florida Keys tropical experience,” said Peg Laron, proprietress of Coconut Bay Resort since 1994 and Bay Harbor since 1997. “From our guest accommodations to our lush tropical landscaping, every inch of our resort is designed to make your experience memorable. The key to our success is the love and commitment we have to serving our guests with the utmost hospitality.”
For Peg, Bay Harbor & Coconut Bay Resort was always the dream. A er 28 years of ownership, it is her reality. “I am blessed to not only have a great team of 10 members to work with, but I’m inspired every day to welcome guests to our slice of paradise.”
A former school teacher and a community-minded business owner, Peg is involved with the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and the Key Largo Community Preservation Foundation, serves on the board of the Monroe County Education Foundation, mentors with Take Stock in Children and serves with the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
97702 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. 305-852-5695 info@bayharborkeylargo.com WWW.BAYHARBORKEYLARGO.COM
LEGENDARY KEY LARGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & FLORIDA KEYS VISITOR CENTER
Margie Smith of the Small Business Development Center describes the services her organization offers to business owners in Key West. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida International University helps small businesses learn and make changes so they can grow, leverage best practices, expertise, and data they have. As a consultant with SBDC in the Florida Keys, Margie Smith, business consultant with SBDC, advocates for diversifying the economy and taking on economic development that works for a fragile ecosystem. She considers herself a change agent supporting our small businesses.
My vast experience
provides me with the tools to have a business development slant. My husband, Cale, and I moved to The Keys from Washington, D.C. in 2005 with my first child, Corley. I have a bachelor’s in aviation management and a master’s in public administration with an aviation concentration. Cale received a new opportunity, which led us to move to the Keys, and his father lives in Key West. Cale is now the owner of Islamorada Investment Management.
Being a new mom in a new place, and especially after our second child Layne, I plugged into Keys Kids Play Group, which contributed to helping me connect with this wonderful community of women.
FIU took over the SBDC in 2014 in Miami first and then the Keys in 2018. I started with the SBDC at FIU in October 2018; shortly after that is when we expanded into the Keys and continued to grow our team. So now, we cover both the Keys and Miami.
My work experience here in the Keys with United Way, Center State Bank, and being involved in local organizations such as BPW, the Chambers and the Rotaries, help with getting the word out about SBDC at FIU.
The SBDC is a non-profit partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is a partner with the FIU College of Business. The SBDC was created as a free resource to provide boots on the ground for the SBA. The SBA doesn’t have the bandwidth to provide one-on-one assistance to the small businesses. Other areas of the country have other partners like veterans centers and women’s centers in addition to the SBDC; we don’t have that currently. Nationwide, there are 1,300 small business development centers.
SBDC at FIU has 26 consultants
who cover the Keys and Miami. Our financial management team alone has six to seven consultants. We’ve never had as much capacity to help as many businesses as we do now.
The businesses we help vary in size and how long they have existed. They can be anywhere from a startup to one that has been around for 10 years. Some of the areas we help businesses with are social media, branding, capital, federal contracting, 8a, import export, financial planning and business continuity. The service is free and it’s convenient to go to the SBDC at FIU website and use the request for consultation button on the home page. All consultations are kept confidential.
Business continuity is something I have been specifically trained in and it has been essential for business owners in the Keys. It covers the critical, timesensitive functions in the middle of a disaster. We help businesses come up with a plan to make sure they are able to keep their critical functions going in the middle of a disaster — hurricane, scandal and other situations — that can keep a business from scrambling or stopping. Businesses need to have a plan in place — back-up vendors, plans for essential functions. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses fail because they don’t have a plan.
People also look to us for advice
in selling their business. It’s important to be prepared to have something to sell besides your name. Your business needs to be self-contained — in other words it can run without you. For example, there needs to be clear branding and a standard operating procedure. These aspects increase the value of the business. Most commonly people say to us, “I need to understand my finances. BUILDING BUSINESSES I am getting bigger but not more profitable, so I need to understand how to improve.” And sometimes it’s marketing but it could end up being they need help in their financials. Therefore, being a consultant with SBDC at FIU is a very flexible and intuitive role. Keys consultant Another thing when it comes to business development is social capital. Margie Smith makes a difference It’s important to build social capital as part of your brand. You often have to be actively involved in your business
MELINDA VAN FLEET www.keysweekly.com and the community to get the word out.
In addition to my role as an SBDC consultant, I work on encompassing marketing and training; all the things to get the word out about the services we offer. And the biggest opportunity continues to be letting people know what we offer.
For the Keys, from October 2018 thru the end of 2021 we provided 3,461 hours of consulting, assisted 356 businesses, launched 14 new businesses, accessed $19.1M in capital and secured $2.2M in government contracts.
I have found it super motivating to be part of something that is providing help for dire circumstances and provide support on so many levels. There is a need in our community and our goal is to make you smarter.
For further information and to apply for assistance check out www.sbdc.fiu. edu or contact Margie Smith with questions at Margie.smith@floridasbdc.org. .
TIFFANY DUONG
tiff any@keysweekly.com
PROTECTING PARADISE In the Florida Keys, we’re surrounded by natural beauty. We also take protecting all of our rich ecosystems seriously. In honor of Earth Day (Friday, Apr. 22), we’ve got events across the islands focused on protecting our paradise. EARTH DAY EVENTS DAY EVENTS EARTH DAY EVENTS DAY EVENTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 22 - SUNDAY, APRIL 24
Keyswide: REEF Environmental Education Foundation will host its 9th annual Key Largo Lionfish Derby. Teams of up to four people can compete for prizes in two divisions: Apex Predators and Reef Defenders. Registration is $100/ team up until 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 22. Mandatory captains’ meeting will be held virtually and in-person at the REEF campus on Friday, Apr. 22. Teams can fish on Saturday from sunrise to sundown in Keyswide waters. Sunday is fish drop-off day and the awards ceremony. For more info, email rrdcconservation@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Key Largo: Rainbow Reef is hosting two conservation dive trips (coral restoration dives or Dives Against Debris) followed by an Earth Day Bash at Sharkey’s Pub and Restaurant. Conservation, eco-gear and educational vendors will be on hand. Check-in for the dives at 8 a.m. The bash begins at 4 p.m. and includes “Earth Day” drinks that support conservation.
Islamorada: Help clean up Cotton Key with Shoreline Restoration Services and Islamorada Resort Collection. Meet at Postcard Inn Marina at 7:45 a.m. Two boats will act as water taxis and bring volunteers to Cotton Key, where they will gather trash to be barged out. Water taxi will be available from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon. For more info call 305-570-8578.
Islamorada: I.CARE and Key Dives will be running their first public coral maintenance/ monitoring trip for locals. The program includes a certain number of free dives for locals. To reserve a spot, email info@icareaboutcoral.org.
Marathon: The Turtle Hospital will release a rehabilitated sea turtle off Sombrero Beach. Follow The Turtle Hospital’s social media for timing and more information.
Key West: Join the Second Annual Luau Fundraiser at Lagerheads Beach Bar to benefit Reef Relief’s conservation efforts. Enjoy live music, games, a silent auction, raffle drawings and great tropical food and drink specials. For more info, call 305-294-3100 or email reefrelief@gmail.com.
Virtual: Monroe County Extension Service will host a free Plant It Proper lunch-and-learn. Join from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom to learn more about how to set your trees and plants up for success at the time of planting. To register, call 305-292-4501 or email monroe@ifas.ufl. edu.
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
Key West: Mote Marine Laboratory’s 10th Ocean Fest is a free, family-friendly celebration of our marine environment. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Truman Waterfront Park, near the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Attendees will enjoy live music, environmental art, fun activities and conservation and environmental exhibits. For more info, visit mote.org/oceanfest.
