CHARITY SWIM IN ISLAMORADA SET FOR APRIL 15

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Swimmers of all ages and abilities will take to Founders Park beach on Saturday, April 15 to make waves in the fight against cancer.

Swim Across America - Florida

Keys Open Water Swim returns to Islamorada for the second straight year, as swimmers take to the bayside waters for a noncompetitive swim. Participants signing up for the half-mile or 1-mile swim aren’t seeking a gold medal or top honors. Before they don their swim caps and goggles, swimmers raise money for cancer research and patient care programs.

Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute (MCI) is the beneficiary for the second year in a row. Susan Latham, Islamorada resident and event organizer, said the money raised will support phase one of cancer research at MCI.

Raising $110,000 in its inaugural year, Latham said, the second annual swim hopes to raise $150,000. A little over $60,000 was raised as of April 4.

“Swim Across America has donated over $100 million across the country,” Latham said. “The funds will support initial research on ideas about medication and forms of treatment.”

Joining swimmers, volunteers and spectators at this year’s charity swim are several Olympians. Each Swim

Across America event sees some of the top U.S. swimmers who assist participants in the event and make themselves available for photo opportunities.

“They donate their time, which is very cool,” Latham said, adding that they’re awaiting confirmation on the Olympian swimmers slated to be at the event.

A local cancer survivor who was treated at MCI will speak to kick off the charity swim. Latham said a booth will be available for swimmers to write whom they’re swimming for this year. Boats and paddle boards will be situated alongside the course to ensure each swimmer’s safety.

Latham said the idea of bringing a charity swim to the Keys originated from a group of women tennis players who started swimming for additional exercise at the beach and jetty at Founders Park. The group eventually opened the swim opportunity to other people, and that’s when she met Bob Coakley. His involvement with Swim Across America goes back some 30 years.

“He joined us swimming and talked about Swim Across America. He’s been to a majority of the venues, and he said our venue would be the nicest by far,” Latham said.

Roughly 60 swimmers signed up for the second Swim Across America open water swim in Islamorada. Those wishing to swim or donate to the cause can visit swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys.

Swimmers will check in on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 a.m. The swim begins at 9:10 a.m. with a post-event celebration set for 10:15 a.m. Participants 18 years and older are asked to raise $500, while those under 18 are encouraged to raise $200.

Oil prices quickly shot up following this announcement. The U.S. price of oil traded just above $80 a barrel on April 2 – a benchmark that hasn’t been breached since early March. That’s an increase of nearly $5 or 6.5% more than the closing price on March 31. That price hike alone is equivalent to a 13-cent jump at the pump.

Orchids and Bromeliads at Key Largo Civic Club

Florida Keys Orchid Society will host Alex Bello, of award-winning Bello Tropicals, on Tuesday, April 11 at 6 p.m. at the Key Largo Civic Club. The South Florida grower will show growing techniques and bring a wide variety of exotics to sell. Everyone is welcome.

TVM Spring Fling set for April 17

Treasure Village Montessori, located at 86731 Overseas Highway in Islamorada, is welcoming the public to tour the campus and meet staff as part of its open enrollment kickoff, Spring Fling, on Monday, April 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers will be available. TVM is a tuition-free public charter school. Call 305-852-3482 for more information.

REEF ‘Fish & Friends’ welcomes FIU professor

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will hold its monthly ocean seminar series on Tuesday, April 11 with a lecture on fish ecology in the Keys by Drew Butkowski, professor with Florida International University. Learn how reefs and seagrasses are connected and why it is important to understand

The Florida Keys History and Discovery Center’s spring lecture series features Bob Rich, senior chairman of Rich Products Corp. and chairman emeritus of Cleveland Clinic, on Wednesday, April 12. Doors open at 5 p.m. Rich, of Islamorada, is the author of five books, “Fish Fights,” “The Fishing Club,” “The Right Angle,” “Secrets of the Delphi Café” and “Looking Through Water,” a novel being filmed now as a movie, “Blood Knot,” starring Michael Douglas. Tickets available at keysdiscovery.com/ lectures.

New bereavement group meets at St. James

Most people experience grief at some point in their lives. Support groups can provide much-needed emotional and practical help during those difficult times.

St. James the Fisherman, located at MM 87.5 in Islamorada, is offering an ongoing bereavement support group throughout the year, starting with a four-week pilot program to help determine the best format for bereavement groups in the Upper Keys. The classes take place each Wednesday in April from 5 to 6 p.m. Sessions will explore common myths about grief, develop an understanding of the grief process and strategies for coping with loss. Sympathetic listening to each other’s stories and concerns will be a part of each session. Participants can share as little or as much as they find helpful. By the end of the four weeks, group member feedback will look to aid the formation of a plan for future groups.

Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet April 18

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) will meet on Tuesday, April 18 at 9 a.m. at the Marathon city council chambers, 9805 Overseas Highway. The SAC will review and finalize updates to its charter, hear updates from working groups and discuss the recent decommissioning of local weather stations. An agenda and supporting materials are posted at floridakeys. noaa.gov/sac.