CORAL RESTORATION

Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) celebrated a coral planting milestone while raising money for continued restoration during a gala last week at North Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club. Raise the Reef 2023, a plasticfree event featuring an environmentally responsible menu, saw a new digital bidding platform and record attendance. The gala raised money for coral restoration, just as Coral Restoration Foundation surpasses 35,000 square meters of reef restored in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary — progress that contributes to the ambitious goals of the Mission: Iconic Reefs plan.

R. Scott Winters, Coral Restoration Foundation CEO, gave the keynote speech that revealed the numerous and immediate ways coral restoration efforts benefit the local economy. The link between environmental health and economic prosperity motivated the guests to dig deep in support of this vital work. The live auction included a surprise visit from Captain Coral, the organization’s edutainment mascot. But the evening’s climax was the sale of the last available Carysfort Reef Gold Limited Edition timepiece from Oris – one of three timepieces produced by the famous Swiss watchmakers in support of the Coral Restoration Foundation mission.

“CRF is responsible for completing a significant portion of the coral restoration work as outlined by the Mission: Iconic Reefs plan, and so we are scaling our impact year on year,” says Martha Roesler, chief development officer for CRF. “Restoring ecological functionality to Florida’s Coral Reef is a tremendous undertaking and so every dollar counts. We are thrilled with the success of Raise the Reef 2023 and touched by the overwhelming support. This community continues to provide hope, fueling the mission to ensure a thriving future for generations to come.”

CRF expresses gratitude to all attendees, sponsors and partners who contributed to Raise the Reef 2023’s unprecedented success, including Ocean Reef Club, Ocean Reef Conservation Association, Ovie Logistics Express, The Dive Shop at Ocean Reef, American Spirits Exchange and Tom Thumb Food Stores. Money raised will contribute to the restoration of the marine ecosystems that underpin our way of life in the Florida Keys and around the world.

— Contributed

A gourmet speciality store established in 2010, Keys Chocolate and Ice Cream has been locally owned and operated since its founding. Visitors to the shop are greeted with delightful smells and tastes including 36 flavors of ice cream, key lime pies and pie bars, chocolate tru es, fudge, carmels and so much more!

Owned by Key Largo residents Rich and Bronna Peterson, they pride themselves on using the best ingredients in their products, employing locals, including trained chocolatiers. The tru es are handmade with the finest Belgian chocolate and natural flavors.

“Our best selling product is by far the chocolate covered tru es,” Bronna said. “Each day we o er a variety of flavors that are made in the Key Largo shop. We have the only chocolate factory in the Keys.”

In addition to their membership with Key Largo Chamber, they are members of Ocean Reef Chamber and Islamorada Chamber of Commerce.

With 19 employees in two locals, don’t drive though the Upper Keys without a stop of Keys Chocolates and Ice Cream.

Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Key

Islamorada

305-440-3178 keylargochocolates@gmail.com

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com