MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Opened in March 2022, Sandbar Books is the only bookstore in the Upper Keys and employs five locals. Shoppers will find the latest bestsellers, books written by local authors, books featuring the Keys as the setting, as well as thousands of titles in a variety of genres. An extensive children's section includes books, games and toys for the youngest of book lovers. Gift cards are also available. Shoppers can expect personal service and care to ensure they obtain their next great book or perfect gift.

“When you step through our doors, we strive to delight all of your senses. Smell the unique scent of newly printed books, touch the pages, stand back and browse while relaxing music plays in the background,” said Owner Becky Washam. “Grab a cup of complimentary coffee or tea. Get a suggestion from a friendly bookseller. Walk out with something fantastic!”

Sandbar Books hosts several book clubs, book signings and other fun events. “We offer high-quality goods unique to our area,” Washam said. “No need to wait a week for your next read. No need to give yet another gift card at the next birthday party your child attends. We are here to take care of all of that for you with immediate gratification.”

91272 Overseas Highway, Tavernier Towne (between post office and theater) 786-640-1401 info@Sandbarbookstore.com

WWW.SANDBARBOOKS.COM

LEGENDARY KEY LARGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & FLORIDA KEYS VISITOR CENTER

info@keylargochamber org

106000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 WWW.KEYLARGOCHAMBER.ORG

Releasing The Tension

Maintaining balance and posture through yoga

EMILY STEELE www.keysweekly.com

On Wednesday mornings between 9:30 and 10 a.m., people begin to fill the community room at St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church for the JOY Center yoga class led by Kat Wheatley. Each picks their spot and lays out their yoga mat. Some then sit on the mat stretching while others talk quietly among themselves until Wheatley enters the room.

When she enters, quiet attention is directed her way. She lays out her mat, surveys the room, speaking softly to those who greet her, answering questions, then naturally flowing into an explanation of yoga philosophy. As Wheatley speaks she continues to survey the room, noticing which students are on mats and which are in chairs, mentally setting the stage for the class.

The room becomes still as each participant focuses on their yoga practice. Wheatley leads them through stretching, mountain pose, downward dog, warrior one and two. She then demonstrates warrior three pose for those who want to challenge themselves. Between poses she encourages the participants to shake out tension before moving to the next.

“When I look around the room watching how students are completing asanas (poses) I am assessing strengths and areas for improvement, I am noticing which students are favoring a hip, arm or other body part. It is important to assess, not assume the level of my students’ practice,” she said.

Wheatley, a long-time resident of Key Largo, has been a teacher and healer in the Upper Keys yoga community for 10 years. She has a broad range of teaching experience from gentle chair yoga to power yoga.

“I am a firm believer that everyone can do yoga. Your yoga practice will change over the years; I know mine has. We don’t have to stop doing yoga because our bodies have changed. It is important to understand that yoga helps us to maintain our balance, posture and manage our lives,” Wheatley said.

“As I age I see the gap between myself and older people narrowing,” she said. “By teaching at the JOY Center I am involved with a diverse group who are having a strong, fulfilling yoga experience as we age and continue to improve our yoga practice.”

The last pose during class at the JOY Center is Savasana. The participants lie on their back, and as Wheatley softly guides them, the atmosphere of the room calms into quiet breathing as each student relaxes. As one student said, “During Savasana the sounds of the outside seem to quietly slip away. But, as you are lying there, quiet and still, you realize it is not the outside world becoming quieter. It is you.”

Facts From The Tax Collector

Sam Steele monroetaxcollector.com

305.295.5055

February

• In observance of Presidents’ Day, all of our offices will be closed on Monday, February 20

• Taxes paid in February will receive a 1% discount

• 2022 real estate and personal property tax reminder bills for unpaid taxes will be mailed out

• Delinquent local business tax reminder bills will be mailed out

• Reminder that mobile home registrations expired on December 31 and are required to be renewed

• As of February 1, 2023, the tax roll is 85% collected, or $312,153,746

• Any property that is being rented for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account

• As a reminder, online rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) DO NOT remit the 5% tourist development tax to our office. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the tax has been remitted.

• All rental properties must also have a local business tax, regardless of how long they are being rented

• Please visit our website and follow us on Facebook for helpful information, forms, applications, and important announcements!

Follow us on for more important tax information

Tour Spectacular Private Gardens

Presented by Garden Club of the Upper Keys

Saturday, Feb. 18 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Rain or Shine!

When you hear the term line dancing, does your brain automatically think country-western? Mine does. Even when you Google line dancing, several well-known dictionaries say it’s a country-western dance.

However, after meeting with accomplished line dancing professional and instructor Carlene Jarboe, I learned line dancing is much more than some popular country songs.

Jarboe has been teaching line dancing at the JOY Center in the Upper Keys since last fall. The JOY

Center (Just Older Youth Inc.) is a nonprofit founded in 2017 by a group of local visionaries as a space for creative and innovative programs. The JOY Center does not discriminate; however, it was created for people 50 and older. It provides programs where people can make friendships, learn and grow and have a sense of purpose.

“The JOY Center is primarily based at St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church. However, space was a challenge for the line dancing. So, when Annie Onsgard, programs manager at Founders Park, reached out to see how we can work together, it was a great opportunity to move the line dancing to Founders in January,” said Kali Evans, program facilitator at the JOY Center. And each week, the turnout has increased.

Jarboe kicks off our conversation by saying, “My motto is if the music is good, you dance. I don’t care how people dance, they can freestyle in the corner, and I try to gear the class to the level of the student. I start with the basic dance, then I try to build on that dance, learning a new step with the next dance.”

Jarboe adds, “When a new student is beginning, you must also teach them the terms. And everybody makes mistakes, and I emphasize that to everyone. So mistakes are no big deal.”

There’s a wide variety of line dancing music, and Jarboe teaches all types.

“The line dance scene nowadays is only about 15% country. There are pockets of Florida that don’t do any country at all; Latin, tango, couples, waltz, lyrical and more. I like all types of music but I am pickier about rap.”

It was fascinating to learn that the Bunny Hop, circa the early 1950s, is one of the original line dances, and the Electric Slide (still very popular at weddings) is from 1976.

In addition to weekly classes with the JOY Center, Jarboe is constantly learning new steps. “I started line dancing in 2014 up in Pinecrest. I take three hours of dance class every Tuesday, and the workshops are in Orlando.”

Jarboe and her husband, Capt. Larry, moved back to the Keys in 2013. They originally lived here in 1977 but then moved to Maryland in 1981 to raise their children. Now retired, Jarboe’s husband is a local musician and runs sunset and eco charter trips on his pontoon boat.

Jarboe has always been into dance and even gymnastics. She started dancing in first grade. “Tap, ballet, jazz, acrobats, ballroom — you name it,” she said. “I was also a gymnast in college and taught 27 years of tap dancing as an adult at a studio in Maryland.”

With so many options, how does she conduct the weekly classes? “Sometimes I go with the flow, but today I made a list; however, I didn’t get to all the dances. The class was 45 minutes, and we got to do five dances.”

How does she remember? “You have to practice. The teacher I learn from is in Pinecrest. She learns them ahead of time, and then we have already learned them when we go to Orlando.”

“In Orlando, I am trying to learn two new dances.” How do you pick? “The choreographer or the teacher comes out and does the dance, so you get to see the dance and hear the music. You get a preview. If I don’t like the music, I will not waste my brain cells. There is a list, and you circle the ones you like. The workshops last all day, and there are three rooms to host the lessons.”

Read full story at keysweekly.com