COMMUNITY PLANS GARRETT HUGHES BENEFIT CONCERT

April 8 Event To Raise Funds In Memory Of Shooting Victim

Garrett Hughes’ friends and family want to ensure that his tragic death on Feb. 13 — the result of a shooting at a Key West bar — was not in vain.

A scholarship fund has been established in Hughes’ name.

An April 8 benefit concert at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater will raise money for that fund.

“Mike Stack is headlining the show and is a major force behind the organizing of this,” said Amber Acevedo, former principal of Key West High School and a close friend of the Hughes family. “Other local performers and supporters include D-Lew, DJ Sanaris, Homegrown, Southernmost Trell, Sharese and Luff Kid.”

The family-friendly concert and party will feature food, drinks, T-shirt sales and raffle prizes, all to raise money for the GH Memorial Scholarship Fund for local kids.

Garrett Hughes’ family thanks community:

“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to say thank you for your support, compassion and sympathy during this difficult time. The countless acts of kindness and caring from friends and the community, far and near, have provided comfort and strength to our family. We are humbled by the outpouring of love for Garrett and his family. It is truly heartwarming to see how many lives he touched in such a short time.”

Forever grateful, the Family of Garrett Hughes

“The community has been absolutely amazing,” Acevedo said. “We have dozens of sponsors at all levels, as so many people are willing and eager to help and volunteer. This will be a wonderful celebration of Garrett with all the things he loved the most — his family, his friends, and his hometown.”

Hughes died in the early-morning hours of Feb. 13 after being shot outside Conch Town Liquor & Lounge on North Roosevelt Boulevard. Hughes was unarmed and shirtless when he was shot while urinating on the wall of the building after Super Bowl Sunday. Lloyd Preston Brewer, 57, was arrested and is being held in jail without bond and faces multiple felony charges, including murder.

Gates for the benefit event open at 6 p.m, on Saturday, April 8. Admission is $20 for people 12 and older. Kids under 12 are free. Visit thekeywestamp.com for tickets and information.

— Contributed

Old Dominion shows canceled this weekend

• Old Dominion regrets that the March 31, April 1 & 2 shows in Key West are postponed by a year due to an accident with frontman Matthew Ramsey. The rescheduled dates are March 22, 23, and 24 of 2024. Friday, March 31, 2023 tickets will be honored on Friday, March 22, 2024. April 1, 2023 tickets will be honored on Saturday, March 23, 2024 April 2, 2023 tickets will be honored on Sunday, March 24, 2024

Thursday, March 30

• The College of the Florida Keys continues its VIP lecture series with “Truckin’ — a Grateful Look at Cooking,” at 7 p.m. in the Tennessee Williams Theatre, Key West, featuring chef Stephan Juliusburger, of the faculty of culinary arts at CFK. In his 20s, he was the tour chef for the Grateful Dead for six years and later wrote his master’s thesis on the sociology of food. Tickets are $5 at the door. Admission is free for CFK and Monroe County students. For information, call 305-296-9081 or visit the College’s website at CFK.edu/VIP.

Saturday, April 1

• Migration Mania at Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is the garden’s only fundraiser that keeps its state standardaligned field trips free for local students. The day features two age-level egg hunts with 6,000 eggs, environmental education booths, kids playground, games, crafts, and face painting.

Friday, April 14

• Application deadline for May Sands Montessori School in Key West. The free, public charter school serves students in Pre-K through eighth grade. Application packets and instructions are at maysandsmontessori.com or at the school’s front office. The public admissions lottery drawing will be held on May 5. For more information, call 305-293-1400 ext. 53418.

April 15 & 16

• Blue Angels return for the Southernmost Air Spectacular at Naval Air Station Key West at MM 8. Admission is free both days. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the show starts at 11 a.m.

April 21-30

•Conch Republic Days commemorate the Florida Keys’ symbolic 1982 secession from the United States and formation of the independent republic. Visit conchrepublic.com for schedule and details.

Saturday, April 22

• Papio Kinetic Sculpture and Art Bike Parade kicks off at noon from the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front St. Mobile sculptures and art bikes will travel the length of Duval Street to the Southernmost Pocket Park, where a block party and awards ceremony celebration will take place from 1 to 3 p.m.

June 30-July 4

• Key West’s Key Lime Festival will celebrate the world’s most sensational citrus with a bountiful array of festivities across the very island where Key lime pie was conceived.