37 minute read
Sanctuary proposal aims to save vital resources
9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050 Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com
Publisher Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com
Publishing Partner Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com
Marathon Editor Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Staff Writers Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
Copy Editor Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com
Account Executive Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com
Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com
Office/Circulation Manager Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com
Design / Pre-Press Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com
Design / Web Master Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com
Director of Digital Media Chanice Dos Santos chanice@keysweekly.com
Classifieds Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844
Se habla español THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050
News Deadline
Tuesday Noon
Advertising Deadline
Tuesday 2 p.m. 40,000 President Joe Biden announced that student debt for more than 40,000 borrowers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program will be erased. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said student loans were never meant to be a life sentence … “but it’s certainly felt that way for borrowers locked out of debt relief they’re eligible for.” In addition, millions of borrowers who paused their payments due to financial troubles will receive credit. Lady Fin Elena Eubank takes a swing at a pitch against the Coral Shores Hurricanes on April 18. Marathon lost an early lead before rallying for a 12-11 win on Senior Night. See page 21. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly.
UPDATED RESTORATION BLUEPRINT NEARS
Sanctuary seeks to curb resource decline
JIM McCARTHY
jim@keysweekly.com
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary resources are under threat and facing continued deterioration. With threats of hurricanes and a stony coral tissue loss disease also came a boating boom during the COVID-19 pandemic that’s bringing more human interaction with the marine environment.
In a bid to counteract further resource decline, sanctuary officials are preparing to release an updated version of regulatory and management measures — through what’s known as the Restoration Blueprint — in June.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council members received an update on the blueprint during a virtual meeting on April 19. Beth Dieveney, policy analyst for the sanctuary, said proposed boundaries and sanctuary-wide regulations are under review by agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Offices of the National Marine Sanctuaries. Once that’s complete, a proposal will go out to the public for review and comment for a period of 90 days.
“We still do not have a definite date for release,” Dieveney said. “Our intent is to release it at a Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting.”
Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman said other agencies are reviewing the proposals relative to their own activities and regulations. She said the sanctuary is basically in a “wait-and-see” mode, but there’s hope that proposed rule changes will be released at the June 21 SAC meeting.
“They can raise questions or make suggestions. What they do or do not choose to offer at this stage is totally out of our control,” Fangman said regarding the current review by other agencies. “That is why we are unable to be more explicit about timing. We have no idea what they may raise and what kind of consequences that could have to the timeline.”
Once updated regulations are released, sanctuary officials say they will host additional meetings, in-person and virtual — similar to a process that saw public input from the blueprint’s release in August 2019 to a public comment deadline in January 2020. There also will be opportunities to email input through regulations.gov.
In addition, Fangman said there will be some interactive tools on the sanctuary’s website to further understand what’s proposed.
Once released to the public, Fangman said nothing within the updated proposal will be changed during the feedback period.
“There’s no opportunity to slide something in while someone is out of town and not looking,” she said. “It is static and will stay exactly the same.”
Congress designated the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on Nov. 16, 1990. Encompassing 3,800 square miles, the sanctuary protects open ocean, offshore reef tract and nearshore patch reefs, as well as seagrass meadows and fringing mangroves. The sanctuary is also home to maritime heritage resources that encompass a broad historical period.
A 2011 condition report on the sanctuary detailed declining water quality, habitats and key species due to coastal development, overfishing, vessel groundings and marine debris, among other factors. Since that report, the Keys experienced Hurricane Irma and an increase in boaters. A recent study by Bonefish & Tarpon Trust analyzed 93 South Florida bonefish for an average of seven pharmaceuticals in their systems. One fish had 17 pharmaceuticals.
It’s the first in-depth review of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's regulations and marine zoning approach since they were established in 1997. In the two decades since, the sanctuary said a lot has been learned about what management tools work and where improvements can be made.
With the release of the Restoration Blueprint in 2019 came a document with four alternatives. They proposed expanding several protected areas and revising restrictions for several others. Several new marine zones were also included in the proposals.
Concerns were relayed over some proposed regulations and boundaries following the blueprint’s release. In Key West, concerns were raised during
Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman, responds to over 2 hours’ worth of questions from the audience on Oct. 7, 2019 at Coral Shores High School auditorium. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
from page 4
UPDATED RESTORATION BLUEPRINT NEARS
an October 2019 forum regarding changes to popular recreational areas such as Snipe Point and Marvin Key. The sanctuary emphasized in an informational brochure that “NOAA is not proposing to limit access to backcountry shallows and sandbars where there is historical recreational use, such as at Snipe Point and Marvin Key.”
Residential concerns were raised over proposed no-motor zones on the oceanside of Marathon, which runs from Vaca Cut to Tingler Island and is bisected by 10 channels.
In the Upper Keys, boaters expressed their displeasure during a forum over the idea of closing Carysfort and Sombrero reefs. Fangman admitted in her presentation that the original proposal was not clear about what “limited entry” meant with regard to local access. She said the absence of that language led people to conclude that “we meant to ban local people. And that’s not what we want at all. That’s not our intention.”
In addition to regulations and boundaries, there’s the sanctuary’s non-regulatory management plan. A separate document that’s independent of the proposals relative to boundaries, zones and regulations, Fangman said, the management plan contains a suite of activities from research to stewardship. She noted, however, that the plan is dependent on resources — namely funding — to make it happen.
In her remarks to the SAC, Fangman expressed excitement over President Joe Biden’s budget proposal, which includes $86.7 million for the Office of Marine Sanctuaries. That’s up from the $61 million the office received during the current fiscal year.
“The president is recognizing that the sanctuary system has been underfunded for some time now and additional resources are needed,” she said. “It goes a long way to make up for the shortfall we’ve had for many years.”
Fangman said priorities within the management plan represent some comments they heard time and time again during public input sessions after the blueprint’s release. They include enhancing law enforcement capabilities and tackling water quality issues.
Restoration, visitor use management, stewardship and engagement and management effectiveness were among the other priorities within the management plan.
Following comments from Fangman on the non-regulatory management plan, Capt. Will Benson, SAC member, said the management plan reflects “some good, careful listening” from comments made in previous meetings with the public.
ALL IN THE ACCESSORIES
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TACKLES LAND USE ON VACANT SHORELINE PARCELS
Monroe County’s Fire Rescue should see some of its staffing shortages alleviated with the addition of 27 new firefighter EMTs and paramedics. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
The April 20 meeting of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners in Marathon saw what some expected to be a brief agenda point morph into a much larger conversation about property rights and land use.
The bulk of the meeting’s morning session was dominated by a discussion of various possible accessory uses for vacant shoreline parcels from which development rights have been removed. Such uses may include docking facilities; vehicle and trailer parking; water and electrical utilities; storage structures like sheds and garages; pools; gardens; homeowners’ parks; play structures and sitting areas; or accessory workshops, bedrooms or habitable spaces.
Under the current Land Development Code, most accessory structures may be placed on vacant lots sharing an entire property line with a principal structure such as the owner’s home (contiguous lots). However, docking facilities may also be placed on lots or parcels across the street from, or cornerto-corner with, residences (adjacent lots).
Discussion revolved around the use of vacant lots owned by residents living further down the street or on dry lots in nearby neighborhoods. The vacant lots would be used primarily for dockage, parking and storage.
“We don’t want to create situations under people’s noses who don’t own that property, but they’re next door and it detracts from their quality of life,” said Monroe County mayor David Rice. “I have far less concern about how far away a person’s home may be than what activity takes place on that property.”
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates suggested that accessory uses be allowed on vacant parcels within the neighborhood of a resident’s primary home, while allowing for requests for variances on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Holly Raschein similarly advocated a “relatively narrow” approach to initial accessory use permissions, to be broadened later as needed. “I don’t know that (a distance requirement) is unreasonable,” she said. “It is kind of a slippery slope, and I think we need to be diligent on what happens.”
The board eventually thanked and directed the county’s senior director of planning and environmental resources, Emily Schemper, to pursue a draft of changes to the Land Development Code allowing for docking facilities as well as active parking, electric and water utilities, and non-habitable storage spaces to be used for this purpose.
Under the proposed draft, the vacant lot must be located on the same island as the primary residence, clearing of habitat would not be permitted, and accessory use would only be allowed on land that is less environmentally sensitive than the lot of the primary residence. All components of the proposed draft will be subject to further discussion and change as well as eventual public hearings.
In other news:
• The board directed county attorney Bob Shillinger to pursue an update to the county’s Nonconsensual Private Towing Services Ordinance, increasing the rates paid to towing companies for services for the first time since 2006. • The county was presented with a plaque to commemorate its Class 3 status in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System. Under this status, residents of unincorporated Monroe County enjoy a 35% discount on flood insurance premiums. • The Monroe County Fire Rescue celebrated a badge pinning and oath presentation for 27 new firefighter EMTs and firefighter paramedics. • The board unanimously voted to observe the Juneteenth federal holiday.
HISTORIC FISHING BRIDGES FALLING DOWN
SHARK CHANNEL BRIDGE CLOSED AFTER PARTIAL COLLAPSE
A large section of the historic Shark Channel Bridge collapsed into the water on or around April 15, one day after officials closed the bridge, which was only open to pedestrians and fishermen. CONTRIBUTED
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
For 112 years, time, tide and travel have taken their toll on the 23 historic bridges that make up the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Once crucial to Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway, but long closed to all vehicles, the bridges that exist alongside U.S. 1 have been used for decades by pedestrians, cyclists and fishermen.
They’re listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but they’re falling apart, quite literally.
A large chunk of the historic Shark Channel Bridge at MM 11 fell into the ocean on April 15, one day after officials had closed it and implored people to heed the barricades and stay away. Dean Richardson, a field inspector for the Florida Department of Transportation, put up the barricades and secured both ends of the bridge on April 14, after confirming reports of significant cracks in the concrete. He notified the U.S. Coast Guard, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Keys Weekly to publicize the safety alert.
The very next day, Facebook users posted photos of the bridge with a large segment of railing and bridge deck having fallen into the ocean below — damage that was not present the day before.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and its Office of Greenways and Trails manages the car-free Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail and its 23 historic bridges as part of a 2001 agreement between the state and Monroe County. The FDEP announced the closure of Shark Channel Bridge on its website Monday, April 18.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West began on April 14 issuing a broadcast notice to mariners regarding the Shark Channel Bridge, said USCG Lt. Christopher Papas, chief of the inspections division. “The notice will continue to be broadcast for the foreseeable future. Additionally, all pedestrian bridges running parallel to U.S. 1 in the area have signage warning boaters of potential falling debris. While these signs are not posted or maintained by the Coast Guard, we encourage boaters to heed all warnings regarding hazards on the water,” Papas added.
The Keys Weekly has requested inspection reports for all 23 historic Keys bridges from the FDEP press office, but had not received them as of presstime Wednesday.
COSTLY REPAIRS
In 2016, a DEP report estimated that restoring all 23 historic bridges would cost $184 million. The report said portions of deck overhangs threatened to collapse into the water, and that that already had happened to the Niles Channel Bridge in 2011.
Following the 2011 closure of Niles Channel Bridge, the FDEP in March 2014 announced the closure of four more historic fishing bridges for safety purposes: the OhioMissouri, Ohio-Bahia Honda, Missouri-Little Duck and Lower Sugarloaf.
The department noted that the bridges were part of the Florida East Coast Railway, built around the turn of the last century. While not used for transportation, they are evaluated for safety concerns based on a 2001 memorandum between the state and Monroe County.
Barricades block access to both ends of Shark Channel Bridge, one of 23 historic pedestrian bridges that are part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
charlotte@keysweekly.com
KEYS OFFICIALS AND PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH TEEN USE
Champions for Change, a drug and alcohol prevention club for students based out of Marathon High School, conducted an educational event to teach local parents where their children are potentially hiding evidence of their substance abuse. The club set up a sample teen bedroom at MHS, and parents were invited to look for clues, seen here. CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE/Contributed
The national trend of teens vaping nicotine or marijuana has hit the Keys en masse, officials say. Monroe County children have some of the highest rates of vaping in the state. And many parents are concerned. Students as young as 10 have tried vaping, according to state statistics.
However, when Keys Weekly reached out to local parents and officials to discuss this issue, many refused to go on the record. The high prevalence of Keys children concealing and vaping on the sly, even on school district property, is a very delicate topic.
The use of e-cigarettes is often called “vaping,” per CDC.gov. The website states that e-cigarettes may contain either nicotine or marijuana and “The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults. … (It) can harm adolescent brain development.”
Alison Kerr, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, provided 2020 statistics proving the high local student vaping rate.
“In 2020, 9.8% of (Monroe County) youth used (tobacco) electronic vapors on school property,” she said. “The state’s average for this was 6.6%.”
These numbers are from the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, which tracks tobacco use among public middle and high school students for the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Prevention and Control.
According to this data, Monroe County’s youth aged 11-17 scored consistently higher than the state average for the following factors in the latest available data (2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020): youth who have ever tried electronic vaping, youth who currently use electronic vaping and youth who are exposed to secondhand electronic vapor smoke.
The 2020 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey stated that the proportion of Monroe County youth — as young as age 10 — who reported having vaped marijuana is 5.7 percent of middle schoolers and 17.5 percent of high schoolers.
A concerned mom of students who are attending schools in the Monroe County School District said — on condition of anonymity — that teens have told her, “Everybody vapes. You can tell when you go in the school bathrooms by the smell.”
“Parents are concerned,” she continued. “And the school district is in a hard position. They don’t know how to stop it. It’s an uphill battle.”
One of the reasons it’s an “uphill battle” for the schools is that students are able to hide their vaping very easily on school property. Amazon sells vaping paraphernalia, such as a container designed to look like a thick black Sharpie.
But Keys officials have been working on solutions for the teen vaping problem in the Keys. “Teen vaping is a deeply concerning problem for the school district,” said superintendent Theresa Axford. “We are using a three-pronged approach to combat it. First, we have installed vaping sensors in bathrooms that are used most frequently. With these sensors, we can determine how extensive vaping is and discover students who are using vapes. Next, we are giving consequences to students who are caught vaping. Lastly, we are making education regarding the harmful effects of vaping as part of the consequence. Education of students on the hazards of vaping is the most important part of our work. Schools are also doing a public service announcement on the serious health threats that vaping causes and having a proactive stance on getting the word out that vaping is not good for anyone.”
Maureen Dunleavy, regional vice president of Monroe County’s Guidance/Care Center, said her organization is providing vaping prevention services at high schools and middle schools. “We are working with several local agencies in partnership, including the school district, Department of Health, Tobacco-free Florida and the Monroe County Coalition,” she said. “It is truly a group effort.”
Champions for Change, a drug and alcohol prevention club for students based out of Marathon High School, has gotten creative with educating parents about the issue. The club conducted an educational event, called “Hidden in Plain Sight,” to teach where children are potentially hiding evidence of substance abuse. A typical teen bedroom was recreated at MHS, and parents were invited to look around the faux room display for clues.
MHS educators Christina Belotti and Tina Belotti spearhead Champions for Change. Tina said her students explained to her the reason that vaping may be so popular among Keys youth. “They say they grew up in a culture where drinking, drugging, vaping and smoking is the social norm,” she said. “‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.’”
For more information about teen vaping and solutions for prevention, go to monroecountycoalition.com.
Thanks to funds from the American Rescue Plan of 2021, repairs on the deteriorating Coco Plum Bridge will begin immediately. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
MARATHON SECURES FUNDS TO FIX COCO PLUM BRIDGE IMMEDIATELY
The City of Marathon recently secured just over $1 million from a federal fund to fix Coco Plum Bridge. The federal funding means the city will be able to replace the bridge immediately, rather than make temporary fixes while waiting for other funding cycles from the state Department of Transportation.
“This is wonderful news,” said John Bartus, mayor of Marathon.
Coco Plum Bridge is currently one lane only; cars alternate passage over the span.
The repairs are made possible by the $350 billion American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARPA). After distributions to the states, approximately $130 billion is divided among cities and counties.
Eligible uses of the funds include revenue replacement for government services affected by the COVID-19 health emergency such as pay for essential municipal employees and – as is the case for the bridge – investments in infrastructure.
“The good news is that we have already started the process,” said Carlos Solis, public works director for the city of Marathon, referencing the city’s work to determine the status of the bridge. “Our consultants are already under contract.”
The federal grant will pay for the replacement of the bridge superstructure, the decking; according to recent appraisals of the bridge, the abutments (supporting structure) of the bridges are in good condition.
Solis said designs for the new bridge “deck” should be available soon and the project to start soon after. The city hopes to complete the reconstruction by the end of 2022.
Coco Plum resident Jean Tarlton thanked the council and city staff for their efforts.
“This is exciting and a big relief,” she said. “I want to thank everyone who worked on this project and moving it forward by thinking outside the box.”
The city of Marathon will install temporary signals at the bridge to ease traffic congestion during the construction. — Contributed
COMMERCE CORNER
Established in 2018, Matie Photography provides photography services for weddings, engagements, families, couples and portraits. The photographer specializes in true-to-life color editing style, is experienced in full wedding coverage and operates with the highest quality gear to insure maximum quality images.
Marathon local Matie believes that her images capture the essence of the Florida Keys. “The sun sets every single night with beauty and color, and I want to capture that for my clients. I want them to be brought back to that sunshine they once had when they visited the Keys. I try to make sure that these memories I’m capturing for people all feel important, are all a milestone in their life, in their journey.”
Location: Available throughout the Keys and the U.S. for photography
Phone: 305-509-2364
Email: matiephotography@gmail.com
MARATHON, STATE OF FLORIDA APPROVE NEW PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OVERSIGHT AGREEMENT
The city of Marathon and the state of Florida have a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) approved by the Marathon City Council at the April 12 council meeting. It delineates the information the city is required to provide the state Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to validate planning approvals and building permits issued in Marathon.
In late February, the state rescinded its 17-year agreement with the city. The new MOU agreement requires that more types of development approvals be rendered to DEO than the original MOU. For example: • The MOU requires state review of building permits and associated plans for new residential homes and commercial projects, in addition to the conditional use permits, development agreements, and other planning type approvals that the city already provides. Such additional review would include any renovation of an existing home that expands beyond its current footprint. • The MOU also requires review of all development right transfers, variances and determinations of vested rights. • In addition, the MOU will require the review of all projects that were denied by the city’s Planning Commission and then subsequently approved by the Marathon City Council. • Through the MOU, the state will also oversee permits granting accessory uses – such as building a swimming pool or a tiki hut. • Under Florida statutes and the Administrative Code, all development orders must be submitted to the state unless otherwise specified in an MOU agreement. The city, Monroe County and other municipalities in the Keys all have slightly different MOUs with the state, as they are all part of the Florida Keys Area of Critical Concern.
Under current regulations for Marathon, all permits require 30 days before construction can begin. If, however, a permit requires state approval, that can mean a wait time of 75 days before a permit becomes effective.
There may be further mutual revision to the MOU, to limit the number and types of permits sent to the state and to minimize the overall time for permit review.
— Contributed
NO NUDITY, MORE CREATIVITY
KEY WEST OFFICIALS EXPECT CHANGES TO FANTASY FEST
Thousands of costumed revelers participate in a past Fantasy Fest Masquerade March. Key West offi cials are in the process of eliminating nudity to make the 10-day event more familyfriendly. ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
No nudity. No Fantasy Zone. Fines for inappropriate body-painting. “Family hours” during which inappropriate costumes are prohibited. More widespread economic benefits to businesses islandwide. Increase the focus on culture, history and natural resources of Key West.
Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest is about to change.
City leaders decided at a December 2021 Leadership Retreat they want to “transform the event into a positive, clean festival enjoyed by both residents and visitors.”
More recently, at the April 5 city commission meeting, officials authorized City Manager Patti McLauchlin to negotiate a new contract with the Tourist Development Association, which produces Fantasy Fest. (The TDA is the association that produces Fantasy Fest. It is not to be confused with the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, or TDC, a county government agency that uses bed tax dollars collected by hotels and lodging establishments to promote Key West tourism and fund large-scale projects and improvements that will benefit tourism.)
The April 5 agenda item initially directed McLauchlin to negotiate a one-year contract with the TDA, but TDA president Steve Robbins and Key West Chamber of Commerce director Robert Goltz told the commission that events the size and scale of Fantasy Fest require multi-year contracts because producers negotiate multi-year agreements with sponsors.
The commission voted unanimously on April 5 to leave the contract length up to McLauchlin.
Goltz had suggested a three-year contract with two one-year renewal options, but no details have been finalized.
Festival Director Nadene Grossman Orr met on April 12 with McLauchlin, and said the city manager understands the TDA’s need for a multi-year contract.
“There will be some changes to Fantasy Fest and we’re amenable to that,” Grossman Orr told the Keys Weekly. “There will definitely be a parade and a Masquerade March. Canceling the street fair on Duval Street is under consideration, but has not been officially voted on yet by the TDA board.”
The street fair was canceled last year due to COVID concerns, and many Duval Street business owners said they appreciated its absence, as it tends to keep people off the sidewalks and out of their businesses while they peruse the vendor booths in the street.
As for nudity, “Nudity is illegal. We always emphasize creative costuming. As usual, it boils down to enforcement,” Grossman Orr said, adding that there’s “an unusual perception out there” that the TDA markets Fantasy Fest as a nudity-welcome event to people who participate in such events elsewhere.
“There is zero marketing to target that market,” Grossman Orr said. “All of our materials emphasize Fantasy Fest as a creative, costumed event. We market to next-generation festival goers, and to like-minded, affluent people who like music, art and costuming events.”
She said what the event really needs in order to bring about the desired transformation is participation.
“We challenge the city and the county and any individuals, businesses and government agencies with the means and the space to build floats and participate in the parade,” she said.
WITH AUTISM ON THE RISE, KEYS COMMUNITY RISES TO THE OCCASION
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EMBRACES TRAINING & TOOL BOXES
Donations from local organizations and individuals have enabled the Autism Society of the Keys to provide sensory boxes to all law enforcement, fire departments, schools and day care centers in the Keys. The boxes contain items that can comfort kids and adults on the autism spectrum and help people establish a rapport with them. CONTRIBUTED
When Jill Campbell first started speaking about autism to Keys community groups, only one or two people in the audience knew someone with the spectrum disorder. Today, the spectrum disorder is familiar to nearly everyone in a Rotary club or business organization, said Campbell, who founded the Autism Society of the Keys (ASK) with her husband, Craig, when their 2½-year-old son was diagnosed 17 years ago.
“We knew nothing about autism, other than the movie, ‘Rain Man,’” Campbell recalls. “The diagnosis was devastating and the prognosis was no better. We were told our son would never speak, play with other children or be potty trained. The doctor told us to be prepared for institutionalization.”
When the shock wore off and reality set in, the Campbells, who live in Tavernier, turned to prayer, research — and other parents of autistic children. The support they found among those with shared experiences prompted them to form ASK as a local resource, sounding board and community education program.
Increased awareness, research and early intervention strategies have vastly improved outcomes for millions of kids with autism. The Campbells’ son was never institutionalized. He drives a car, is in typical high school classes, speaks as much as anyone and has a girlfriend. “Despite some hiccups and a quirkiness about him, he’s leaps and bounds ahead of everything we were told to expect,” she said.
But there’s still work to be done, and the famously generous Florida Keys community has helped, she said.
Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg’s support has been unwavering and “amazing,” said Campbell, who is partners in ASK with Key West parents Hope and Key West police detective Matt Haley, whose daughter is autistic.
Brandenburg ensures that all his officers are equipped and trained to respond effectively and sensitively to situations involving people with autism. Sheriff Rick Ramsay also fully supports ASK and ensures training for all deputies, Campbell said.
ASK has been assembling and distributing “sensory boxes” to help officers, teachers, firefighters and others establish a rapport with autistic people and calm a situation.
The boxes contain headphones to muffle loud noises and dry-erase boards so non-verbal people can communicate their name, phone number or other information. There are also fidget and squishy toys for stress relief and weighted stuffed animals known to soothe anxiety and other items.
“The boxes can be useful for all kids and for anyone with special needs, but each item is also hand picked by ASK as a tool for autistic children,” Campbell said.
Donations by local individuals, Rotary clubs, Home Depot and other local businesses, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, the Key West Business Guild and others have funded 250 boxes in the Florida Keys for the police department, sheriff’s office, fire departments, EMTs, schools and day care centers. A recent Key West Business Guild lunch raised enough money to sponsor 32 boxes, Campbell said.
“This community and our law enforcement are amazing. KWPD has 60 or so boxes, and I’d love to give the sheriff’s office enough boxes to ensure there’s always one in a patrol car nearby, as spread out as those deputies have to be.”
The law enforcement training teaches officers to recognize behaviors of people on the autism spectrum, which often include unexpected, repetitive movements known as stimming. Officers also learn that many autistic kids bolt to escape stressful scenarios and very often seek out water.
“Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for kids with autism, and our island chain is surrounded by water,” Campbell said, so it’s a huge relief to know local law enforcement officers understand that tendency.
“Stimming behaviors — repetitive rocking, flailing or hitting themselves or others — can often be mistaken by police as drug-induced behavior,” Hope Haley told the Keys Weekly last year, which is why the police training is so essential and appreciated by ASK members.
Campbell recalled a police incident years ago, when an officer encountered an autistic person who kept saying he was stimming.
“Just the recognition of that one word could have de-escalated a situation,” Campbell said. “Our officers are also trained to realize that strobe lights can cause panic or even seizures in some people with autism.”
Brandenburg last year created a system in which parents can register their address and alert police to the presence of an autistic child or special-needs person at an address.
“It’s entirely voluntary,” Brandenburg said, but for parents who want to participate, the KWPD can “flag” their address in its dispatch software and include notes about a child’s triggers. “That way, if a 911 call comes for that address, the responding officers will see specific notes about the child, and the police can perhaps approach without sirens and flashing lights.”
The sheriff’s office is now offering the same service, Campbell said.
To donate or sponsor a sensory box for $150, visit AutismSocietyof- theKeys.com.
KEYS WEEKLY INTERVIEWS ADAM LAMBERT
THE HUGELY LIKABLE SUPERSTAR PERFORMS IN KEY WEST APRIL 28
BRITT MYERS
britt@keysweekly.com
If you’ve simply categorized Adam Lambert into a box labeled “former reality competition stars,” you owe yourself an apology. The 2009 “American Idol” runner-up didn’t just cash in on a few minutes of fame with a one-and-done record deal and some random reunion tours.
Instead, he conquered the world with passion, courage and a humble approach to his craft, and we have the interview to prove it — right before Lambert’s arrival and performance in Key West on Thursday, April 28.
The full podcast interview can be found here and at keysweekly.com. But before we send you off into the digital cosmos, let us explain why Adam Lambert might just be the coolest artist on the planet that you’ve been too naive to love — until now.
For starters, imagine launching just your second album in 2011, and having it land atop Billboard’s Top 200. That feat alone signaled Lambert’s lasting star power, but he was also the first openly gay artist to do it. The first. Ever. Let that sink in for a moment. Of all the musicians, singers and performers, ever. He was first.
A.L.: “When that happened, when I was told that milestone had been reached, I thought surely someone had done it before, and I was so shocked that they hadn’t,” Lambert said. “I was honored, and right after I was finished with the TV show and started doing my own music and touring, I very quickly came to find out how many amazing people out there were looking for some sort of inspiration, some guidance and bravery. When I first got into the music industry, it was selfish, but I just wanted to sing and perform. Once this all happened, I realized what opportunity there was to make a change in the world and to help people. All of a sudden, the whole career meant more to me than I had thought.”
In addition, by the time Rami Malek reminded the world of Freddie Mercury’s genius in 2018 with the hit film “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Lambert had been living the dream, performing and touring with Queen since 2011. He contributed lead vocals in the
Keys Weekly’s Britt Myers interviews superstar Adam Lambert before his live show at Key West’s Coff ee Butler Amphitheater on Thursday, April 28. CONTRIBUTED
coveted position that the late Mercury once commanded. Not only was Mercury an idol to Lambert, the role allowed the world to see another side of Lambert’s talented prism.
A.L.: “Pardon the cliche, but it’s a dream come true. I auditioned for ‘American Idol’ with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ Then the movie got people excited again and shifted the people we have in the audience at the shows. … When I get on stage with them, in the arenas, it’s such a rush. The music is so fun to sing.”
Touring with Queen took Lambert across the globe, injecting his stardom into diverse pockets of fans spanning many ages and genres. In 2012, he and Queen performed in Kyiv, Ukraine, resulting in an estimated 400,000 fans watching live from Ukraine’s main square — a moment that has become increasingly surreal for him, given today’s events in that city and country.
A.L.: “There’s definitely a soft spot in my heart for that show and that place. … We split the bill with Elton John, and I was so nervous. But the audience was so warm … and to see what’s going on there now, and what else has happened there, even before now, but since that show, my heart goes out to anyone who’s affected by this senseless violence. … The world is a tricky place and nothing is permanent. I hope it ends very soon and I hope we can all keep raising awareness and humanitarian aid.”
Lambert is so much more than the front man for Queen, a runner-up in “American Idol” or a 2009 Grammy nominee for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his song, “Whataya Want from Me.”
He is self-aware in the moment, able to remain grounded on the grinding wave of stardom.
His approach to his craft remains humble, which he attributes to finding commercial success later in life.
And when he speaks to you, it comes from a place of sincere interest and reflection, as we can attest to in the full interview, which also includes a few questions submitted by our social media followers in Key West and around the globe.
Enjoy Adam Lambert, in our interview and live in Key West this Friday. We can’t promise that any seats remain, but if they do, reward yourself now at thekeywestamp. com.
Scan for the full interview.
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners honors MHS senior Rylan Chapa at its April 20 meeting. Pictured, from left: commissioner Michelle Coldiron, Chapa, Mayor David Rice, Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates, commissioner Holly Raschein. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
STATEWIDE EXCELLENCE
Rylan Chapa puts a bow on MHS athletic career with Academic All-State honors
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
As if a state championship in her weight class wasn’t enough to cap off her senior season for Marathon High School weightlifter Rylan Chapa, her most recent accomplishment will certainly put an exclamation point on it.
On April 6, Chapa was announced as one of the 24 members of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) 28th annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team. While Marathon High School has been well-represented on recent teams, with three athletes honored in the last two years, Chapa joins a group of only six MHS students ever to earn the lofty distinction.
The Academic All-State team is made up of 12 male and 12 female graduating seniors around the state and recognizes excellence in the classroom paired with elite athletic performance. Eligible students must carry a 3.5 GPA and must earn varsity letters in a minimum of two sports over the course of their junior and senior years. This year, the program considered 51 male nominees and 69 female nominees.
Recipients will be recognized with a $1,700 scholarship at a banquet on Monday, June 6, where one male and one female athlete will also be crowned the Ronald N. Davis ScholarAthletes of the Year. As the most prestigious honor bestowed on a Florida high school student-athlete, the award carries an additional $4,600 in scholarship funds for each winner, for a total of $6,300.
Although Chapa was tipped off about her award a bit early through her involvement in the FHSAA Student Athletic Advisory Committee, she told Keys Weekly she was still surprised and thankful for the support of her coaches, family and community on her way to such a massive accomplishment.
“The coaches here are just awesome,” said Chapa. “They’re very flexible with you in knowing that you have priorities. The teachers, the coaches, my parents, they’re all always helpful. I always sit in my coach’s classroom during study hall, and he helps me with anything I have to do.
“The Kucks at Keys Strength have also done a lot for me, and my parents definitely help me as they let me wander around and do all the things I have to do,” she added. “And of course, I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without God. I definitely lean on him for a lot of things.”
Though Chapa is modest about her achievements, her resume blows away the minimum requirements for the award. She sports a 4.0 GPA, and though she describes weightlifting and volleyball as her “main sports,” through the years she also competed on the school’s soccer, tennis, track and field and softball teams – and lettered in all of them. Outside of the weight room, she is involved in diverse clubs including the Interact Club, the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.
“She won the award for the best athlete last year as a junior, and she lettered in five sports. That’s insane,” said Lance Martin, MHS athletic director. “She’s just well-rounded, and there’s nothing else you can say. She’s a great kid.”
FROM DOLPHIN TO BOBCAT
Standout senior pitcher Kayla Sipe signs letter of intent with St. Thomas University
School officials and coaches celebrate Kayla’s signing. Seated, from left: Tom Bottomley, Sipe, Mike Puto. Standing, from left: Lance Martin, Luis Leal, Trevor Tyler, John Dick, Wendy McPherson, Teresa Konrath, Toni Appell, Randi Sokolosky, Syndi Barrera.
Kayla Sipe’s softball teammates celebrate the next step in her athletic career.
Family, friends and teammates gather to support Sipe as she commits to play for the St. Thomas University Bobcats. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly.
On April 15, the Marathon High School softball team celebrated the next step in senior Kayla Sipe’s athletic career as she signed her letter of intent with Miami’s St. Thomas University.
As a member of the softball team since sixth grade, Sipe developed into a well-rounded student athlete, posting a 3.7 GPA while serving as a leadership pillar for younger players.
“Kayla, she’s the leader of the team,” said Lance Martin, head coach and MHS athletic director. “She organizes all the team activities, and she’s done a great job of holding this together.”
Off the field, Sipe is a Monroe County Youth Coalition leader, a Monroe County Sheriff’s Explorer and Cadet, the president of the National Art Society at MHS, a National Honor Society member, and a member of the Champions for Change, Students Against Destructive Decisions organization, SAVE the Promise Club and Student Government Association.
With her senior season nearly in the books, Sipe will turn her attention to the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as she prepares to take the field for the Bobcats. — Alex Rickert
