FFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFF · 11/29/2018 · FFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFF Florida Keys 3-10 • Upper Keys 11-12 • What's Happening 13 •

NOV. 29 - DEC. 5,2018

TheHilariously

Colorful Spiritof ChristmasBrings Love

and Laughter“WITH BELLS ON”

at Red BarnTheatre!

TheHilariously

Colorful Spiritof ChristmasBrings Love

and Laughter“WITH BELLS ON”

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Photo: Larry Blackburn • Cover: JT Thompson

Florida Keys 3-10 • Upper Keys 11-12 • What's Happening 13 • Real Estate 26

2www.konklife.com • NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 5, 2018

L E T T E R T O T H E E D I T O R

X Continued on page 4

Making America Worse again (Mawa)BY ROGER C. KOSTMAYER

In a matter of hours three his-toric events confirmed a terrible mistake. Russian President Putin and a cast of incompetent political opponents helped make someone who is un-American, anti-democ-racy, anti-US Constitution & the rule of law, and anti anything or anybody who doesn’t praise and please him - President of the Unit-ed States.

The first event is the shocking presidential repudiation of Amer-ican values established over 242 years by backing the Saudi crown

prince who is responsible for bru-tally murdering an American resi-dent and journalist who was guilty of - telling the truth; a second news event exposed an American Presi-dent abusing his power by order-ing the federal government and the DOJ to prosecute and persecute his rivals - which is illegal, unconstitu-tional, impeachable and typical of all dictators; and the final event was the lesser but flagrant hubris and hypocrisy of the President’s reac-tion to his daughter’s illegal use of a private server - especially in light of the continuing blood thirsty attacks against Hillary Clinton for a similar

offense. Once again this shows the President’s belief that he, his family and cronies are above the law.

Any solution begins with Con-gress meeting its Constitutional responsibilities and investigating alleged presidential abuses of pow-er. The US should get out of the Yemen war and refuse to deal with Saudi prince MBS in any way. The law must hold all public servants and advisors equally accountable -even relatives of a president. And, final-ly, the American people must speak out about American values and their “shining city on the hill”, or accept dictatorship. n

Let’s Transition NancyBY ROGER C. KOSTMAYER

The next two years in Washington, leading up to the 2020 Presidential elec-tion, are going to be fraught and delicate. The Republican power monopoly was bro-ken and the Democrats will retake control of the House of Representatives in Janu-ary. The congressional objective for the Democrats now is two fold: work across the aisle to produce important bipartisan

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Key West votes to accept new workforce housing units from stateBY PRU SOWERSKONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Despite some concerns about poten-tial traffic congestion and hurricane evacu-ation challenges, Key

West City Commissioners unani-mously voted Nov. 20 to accept 300 new affordable housing units allocated by the state.

The acceptance still has to receive a second and final vote at the next com-mission meeting but it seems like a done deal. With the affordable hous-ing shortage problem in Key West

an acute concern, the 300 new units will help the city leapfrog existing state-mandated development restric-tions due to the island’s small size and the fact there is only one road, U.S. 1, leading to the mainland. Those restrictions limit the amount of new residential and commercial develop-ment in the Florida Keys based on the amount of time it would take to evac-uate residents in the event of a hurri-cane or other major storm.

The 300 units are part of a package offered to Key West by state hous-ing officials to help replace housing lost to Hurricane Irma. In Monroe County, 1,300 new housing units

have been offered up by the state, 300 to each community, focusing on creating new affordable housing specifically for resident workers and their families.

The units are aimed at multi-unit housing developments, meaning in-dividual property owners hoping to build one or two apartments with reduced rents for working people are unlikely to qualify for the allocations. And there are other restrictions for the state-issued units, including requiring tenants to evacuate at least 48 hours before a storm, double the time cur-rently mandated under regional devel-opment rules.

But while significantly boosting the amount of new development al-lowed in Key West, there are concerns about adding 300 new households worth of people to the area. Mark Songer, speaking for Last Stand, the local environmental organization, said already-severe traffic congestion will become worse with new devel-opment. And, he said, fast-moving hurricanes may not allow for a 48-hour evacuation.

“These additional 300 units, and potentially [over] 1,000 throughout the county, will overcrowd the roads

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n o v e m b e r 29 - d e c e m b e r 05, 2 0 1 8

Published Weekly

Vol. 8 No. 48

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Guy deBoer

NEWS WRITERSPru Sowers

Terry Schmida

PHOTOGRAPHERSLarry E. Blackburn, Ralph De Palma

DESIGN Nand K. Pandey, [email protected]

PIXEL WRANGLER JT Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Johnson &Paula Forman Short AnswersIan Brockway

Tropic SprocketsTammy Fox-RoyerFlorida Keys SPCA

Sylvia Bogart Astrologically Yours

Joanna BradyReviewer

INTERNDivya Navani

ADVERTISING RESTAURANT GUIDE & KONK KOUPONS

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KONK Life is published weekly by KONK Communications Network in Key West, Fla. Editorial materials may not be reproduced without written permission from the network.

KONK Communications Network(305) 296-1630 • Key West, Florida

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Key West votes... X Continued from page 3

Let’s Transition.... X Continued from page 2

L E T T E R T O T H E E D I T O R n F L O R I D A K E Y S

if [residents] don’t follow their lease requirements. But even if they try to comply, with a timeline like Hurricane Harvey, we cannot all get out safely,” Songer said. Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston, Texas, area in 2017 causing massive flooding and billions in damage. There were 107 confirmed deaths in its five landfalls stretching from Barba-dos to Louisiana.

Key West resident Tom Milone echoed Songer’s concerns. But he urged commission-ers to pass the resolution accepting the 300 new housing units.

“The city of Key West should do everything in its power to help people finding housing,” he said.

Commissioner Sam Kaufman said that adding 300 new units of housing may not increase the lo-cal population as much as feared. Many Key West residents are currently living with multiple room-mates, he said, and some of them would move into their own apartments if more affordable housing was available.

“I just don’t see how we can reject 300 units from the state when we’ve been talking for years about building housing,” Kaufman said.

Commissioner Greg Davila pointed out that

the 300 new units would be put into a separate pool from the current Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS), the available units of residential and commercial housing the city has to allocate each year based on state development restrictions. In addition to the 48-hour evacuation require-ment, the new pool requirements include a need to have an on-site property manager and be desig-nated as multi-unit workforce housing. And while City Manager Jim Scholl said the city’s planned housing development on College Road has pre-viously applied to the state for BPAS units sepa-rate from the new 300-unit pool, there are several other multi-unit housing developments being dis-cussed, including on county-owned property on Trumbo Road and 3.2 acres of city-owned land in Bahama Village next to the new Truman Water-front Park.

“There’s going to be plenty of opportunities for allocations of [the 300] units,” he said.

Hurricane Irma, which hit the Keys on Sept. 10, 2017, destroyed 1,179 homes in Monroe Coun-ty. Another 2,977 homes suffered major damage. There are a total of 55,000 housing units in the Keys, according to county records. n

solutions, and aggressively stick to their principles that benefit all Americans. If handled skillfully, these goals are difficult but not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The House needs a strong, smart, ef-fective and experienced leader; a Speaker who will fight for and unite the majority. The number of qualified candidates who fit this profile today is exactly one: 78 year old Nancy Pelosi. Therefor, why not allow Speaker Pelosi to mentor young, well prepared leaders (like Hakeem Jef-fries and others) while she transitions into retirement in two years ?

The last thing either the American people, or the incoming House majori-ty, need today is a circular firing squad or family squabble in the Democratic caucus. n

Key West Poetry Guild monthly meeting on Sunday December 2ndThe Key West Poetry Guild monthly meeting will be held Sunday December 2nd at the Library at 7pm.The featured Poet is Ray McNiece. McNeice is a per-formance poet, and musician, his dynamic personality is guaranteed to dazzle all . All are welcome to come and listen, or join in with original poetry of their own. Info 305 292 3595 n

F L O R I D A K E Y S


Key West good Samaritan asks help relocating Osprey nestsBY PRU SOWERSKONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Joe Hall wouldn’t exactly call himself a bird lover or a “tree hugger,” as he says, but something about Ospreys touched his heart.

The long-time Key West res-ident was moved recently when he heard about an Osprey nest being taken down from a mobile cell tower unit in Key West. Two Ospreys had made a bad decision on where to build their new nest, since the mobile unit installed af-ter Hurricane Irma isn’t going to stay in place forever. Because no eggs had been laid yet, Hall said, the company received permission to remove the nest.

But that got him thinking about the birds, which mate for life and return each year to the same nest to raise their chicks. Os-prey are actually a species of hawk and are known for building their nests on tall structures, including telephone poles, channel markers and nest platforms designed espe-cially for the birds. These three-by-three-foot wooden platforms have become an important tool

in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared due to pesticide use.

No one knows exactly how many Ospreys live in the Flori-da Keys. Mark Hadden from the Key West Audubon Society did an informal survey after Hurricane Irma and estimated there were about 20 Osprey platforms in the Keys, about 10 of those in the middle and Lower Keys.

“About half of them were dam-aged or completely knocked down by Irma. We’re working towards putting some of them back up, but it’s difficult trying to find out exactly who owns which pieces of land and what kinds of permis-sions you need to rebuilt them,” Hadden said. “But we are working towards getting as many of them as we can restored.”

Enter Joe Hall, who has been talking to anyone he thinks might be willing to help put up a nest platform, either by putting it on their property or helping with the installation. He contacted the Key West City Public Works Depart-ment and Keys Energy Services about using their bucket trucks to

lift the heavy platforms and install it on a pole. He also talked to the Key West Wild-life Center, which has five nest platforms ready to go for free to a new home.

“We just have to find the people,” said Peggy Coontz, animal care director at the center. “Anyone can put up a pole and an Osprey platform as long as it’s not blocking any electrical lines.”

“You have to agree to leave the pole there a couple of years because they do come back to their nest,” Hall said.

Osprey have a wingspan up to six feet and, in addition to their unusual nesting

habits, are unique birds of prey because they are the only raptor to exclusively eat fish. They can swoop into the water from high above, diving up to three feet below the surface to grab a fish. After their chicks are strong enough to live on their own, Osprey mates migrate individually as far south as South America. Mates won’t see each other until they return to their origi-nal nest to hatch a new brood.

Ospreys are particular when it comes to nest location. Ideally, the pole should be be-




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Brandenburg prepares to step into the top job at the Key West Police DepartmentBY TERRY SCHMIDAKONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Key West’s new police chief is a well-rounded captain with experience in a variety of positions in the depart-ment he joined in 2002 after discover-ing the Keys on a vacation.

Capt. Sean Brandenburg will take the reins of the Key West Police De-partment when current Chief Donie Lee officially retires in December.

“My relatives have all been very sup-portive,” [of his promotion] Branden-burg said of his kin, several of whom have also served in law enforcement. “I’ve heard many words of encourage-

ment and wisdom from them.” Bran-denburg is married, with no children.

The decision to promote him, which was made by City Manager Jim Scholl, may reflect Brandenburg’s pre-Key West policing experience in places with similarities to the Southernmost City.

As a child he lived in numerous locales, but ended up settling in North Manches-ter, Ind., his mother’s hometown, where his stepfather worked as the assistant chief of police. With two of his three brothers also working in law enforcement at vari-ous levels, Brandenburg decided early on that he too wanted to work in the field, and by 1990, he did, first in Blooming-ton, Ind., and then in North Manchester.

“I like small town policing,” Bran-denburg said. “It’s a larger agency here, but I still feel that we have a small town feel. I also enjoy the challenges we find with so many visitors.”

Over the course of his career with the KWPD, Brandenburg has worked in the Special Response Team, and the Mount-ed and K-9 units. He was promoted to the rank of captain of the Department’s Administrative Bureau in 2014, and by 2016, had graduated from the FBI’s Na-tional Academy in Virginia.

He’s also served as the night shift Op-erations Lieutenant, and as the Detec-tive Sergeant in the Special Ops division, where he experienced some of his most memorable moments on the force.

Asked about his “hairiest” experiences as a Key West cop Brandenburg replied, “Well, I was on the Special Response team for the two aircraft hijackings from Cuba. That was an experience.”

Outside of work, Brandenburg serves as a member of the Key West

Rotary, ande mentors in the Keys to be the Change program. His hobbies include traveling with his wife and dog, biking, running 5K races, and woodworking.

Brandenburg is aware of the turmoil which roiled the top level of KWPD leadership prior to Lee’s years of stabili-ty as chief, and has no plans to institute major changes to department policy.

“There’s really nothing major that needs changing right now,” Branden-burg said. “[Lee] has done a great job.”

He is, however, aware of the chal-lenges facing the people who serve in the KWPD, as the island itself contin-ues to evolve into a very different place from the one he arrived in all those years ago. At the top of his list: Afford-able housing for his officers.

“That’s always been a problem for the department,” Brandenburg said. “Affordable housing for our people has to be one of our top challenges.”

[email protected] n

Key West Police Department Capt. Sean Brandenburg becomes Chief of the Key West Police Department on Dec. 3.




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Eli Morris started selling bottles of water (“Zombie Water”) during the Zombie Bike Ride when he was 7 years old. He is now celebrating his 5th year! This year Eli has chosen “Project Light-house”, Florida Keys Children’s Shel-ter, for his annual donation, which was $1000. this year!

Neighbors and Zombie Riders have shown amazing support every year. Bike riding Zombies now look for Eli’s booth selling his “Zombie Water” and supporting Key West & Florida Keys organizations.

The first year was a big hit and Eli de-cided he wanted to donate to a local char-ity and chose “Aids Help”. For his second year donation Eli chose “MARC House”, the third year “Kids Come First” and the 4th year, he chose the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys - “Irma Recovery”.

Eli is young man who enjoys helping people. His family and school, work to-gether encouraging him and nurturing his awareness of giving back to his communi-ty to make a positive difference.

Eli is a 6th grader at Sigsbee Charter School. He is a swimmer on the Bone Is-land Club and also enjoys piano. n

Eli Morris celebrating his 5th year of annual donation

Bring the whole family and kick off your holidays at the Woman’s Club

Come enjoy holiday desserts and Amsterdam eggnog, the Bahama Village Children’s Choir, the Key West Commu-nity Orchestra, official lighting of the tree by our new Mayor Teri Johnston,

and, of course, Santa! Please bring an

unwrapped item of clothing for children

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When: Sunday, December 2, Time:

5-7pm, Where: 319 Duval Street n



tween 20 and 100-feet high and with-in one mile of open water. The nest pole should be in an open area with no overhead canopy or interfering veg-etation. If there are electrical lines in the space, simply build the pole higher than the power lines.

Keys Energy Services does have an in-kind service policy for installing Osprey platforms. Unfortunately, the policy only applies to publicly-owned land of non-profit wildlife groups and government entities, not private land because of liability concerns. It will

also not help relocate a nest, only in-stall a new platform. The service ap-plication can be found on the utility’s website at www.keysenergy.com.

Julio Torrado, director of human resources and communications at Keys Energy, said the most recent Osprey platform the company’s crews helped install was behind the Sigsbee Charter School, where one Osprey nest was destroyed by Irma. While the utility company is still busy with the post-Ir-ma clean-up, it will try to schedule a platform installation quickly – possi-bly within a few weeks – once the ap-plication has been submitted.

“We have a form. We have a policy.

We are happy to help if it’s within our purview,” Torrado said.

If you are a generous sort interest-ed in putting up an Osprey platform, contact the Wildlife Center at 305-292-1008 about the wooden platform. Then touch base with the Audubon Society at 305-771-5807 or email [email protected]. The hard part may be get-ting a bucket truck to help with the installation. If Keys Energy cannot do it, it will be up to the property owner to hire a truck, which can be expensive. But it would be well worth it. Ospreys can live up to 20 years and having baby birds in your back yard every year would be the gift of life.

“The physical work of this will be the easiest part. And we already have a bunch of platforms ready to replace dam-aged ones and people lined up to help us do the installation,” said the Audubon Society’s Hadden. “Both Florida Keys Audubon and the Key West Wildlife Center are both small organizations and donations big and small go a long way in helping us complete this kind of work. And gosh, if there’s a volunteer out there who has the kind of research skills that would help us figure out which agencies manage the various tracts of land that the nests are on, and what kind of per-missions we’d need to rebuild them, that would be amazing.” n

Key West good Samaritan... X Continued from page 5



Holiday Historic Inn Tours 2018 Offer Romantic Enchantment

Key West, Nov 22

During two enchanted Friday evenings, December 7 and 14, the an-nual Historic Holiday Inn Tours offer an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to immerse in the unique architec-ture and history of some of Key West’s most charming inns while making mer-ry with tasty holiday treats and libation samplings. From 6:00pm to 8:00pm revelers may avail themselves of free trolley transportation or use their own bikes, trikes and motorized vehicles to travel to the various properties, enjoy self-guided tours, and delight in the is-land’s warm tropical holiday ambience.

Participating December 7 destina-tions are The Gardens Hotel, Island City House Hotel, Amsterdam’s Cur-ry Mansion Inn, The Weather Station Inn, and Key West Butterfly and Na-ture Conservatory.

December 14 destinations are Hem-ingway Rum Company Distillery, Old Town Manor, Wicker Guesthouse, The Mermaid & The Alligator, Suite Dreams Inn, and Santa Maria Suites Resort.

Advance tickets are recommend-ed and can be purchased by calling the Lodging Association at 305-296-4959 or at keystix.com. They will be available for pick-up after 5:00pm at each evenings first tour location – The Gardens Hotel on the 7th and the Hemingway Rum Company Distill-ery on the 14th. Presented by First State Bank, Historic Tours of Ameri-ca, Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, Ocean Key Resort, The Lodg-ing Association of the Florida Keys & Key West, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For more information, contact the Lodg-ing Association at 305-296-4959 or visit KeyWestHolidayFest.com. n

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy at 1316 Duval Street is one of the enchanting locations that will be visited and explored by revelers during the Friday, December 7, 2018 Holiday Historic Inn Tour. (Photo courtesy KeyWestHolidayFest.com)

Key West Garden Club Meeting on Dec 6thKey West, Nov 22

Master gardener Susie Reutling will be sharing her knowledge and ex-pertise of Florida Keys native plants at the December 6, 2018 Key West Gar-den Club meeting. The meeting will be held at 1:30 pm in the Pavilion in the Fort West Martello on Atlantic Blvd. next to Higgs Beach. The title of her presentation is Naturescape Your Land-scape: What, Why, How?

Susie and her husband, Karl, moved from very northern New York state. Gar-dening came naturally, having learned from a master, her mother. She became proficient in some areas of nursery care while working at several greenhouses and nurseries after her retirement. They have lived full time in the Keys since 2008. Susie has volunteered with Mote

Marine at the Eco-Discovery Center, as a nest surveyor and rescue & salvage for Save-a-Turtle, as Editor for the Big PineKey Botanical Society newsletter, and as a Master Naturalist. In Febru-ary of this year Susie retired as the Ex-ecutive Coordinator for Last Stand, an environmental watch dog group that works to protect the environment and quality of life in the Florida Keys. Now as a volunteer, Susie manages the Nurs-ery at the Key WestBotanical Garden & Tropical Forest and is presently active in the Monroe County Master Garden-er program.

The Key West Garden Club will have a variety of plants for sale including a nice selection of natives. Our meetings are free and open to the public. For fur-ther information contact Jane Tiede-man at 305-923-3820. n

I Love Stock Island call for volunteersKey West, Nov 20

I Love Stock Island needs volunteers for the island-wide cleanup on Decem-ber 1, 7 am to 1 pm meeting at Bern-stein Park as well as for the I Love Stock

Island Festival on December 8. For more information www.ILove-

StockIsland.org and to sign up http://bit.ly/ILSI-Volunteer or call Sean at 573.619.2200 n



City Commissioners Gregory Davila, Mary Lou Hoover and Jimmy Weekley, Mayor Teri Johnston, Mayor Emeritus Craig Cates, Commissioners Clayton Lopez and Billy Ward-low, Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman, and Mayor Emeritus Dennis Wardlow.

Key West, Nov 21

The Key West City Commission unan-imously voted last night to name Craig Cates as Mayor for Life – mayor emeritus.

Mayor Teri Johnston, reading from the plaque presented to Cates, noted that, during his tenure, Mayor Emeritus Cates “championed le-gal, environmental and social welfare concerns.

“He worked diligently,” she read, “to im-prove the city’s infrastructure and sought to improve the quality of life for all citizens.”

“You know how much this city means to me,” said Cates. “It will be an honor continu-ing to promote this city wherever I go.”

Cates becomes the city’s second mayor emeritus, along with Dennis Wardlow, under whom the Conch Republic was born. n

Craig Cates named Mayor for Life – mayor emeritus

Delta Air Lines to Launch Seasonal Service Between New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Key WestKey West, Nov 21

Delta Air Lines is to launch seasonal service between New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Key West on Saturdays from March 9 through Aug. 31, 2019.

The new flights are to be operated by Delta Connection carrier Republic Air-line on Embraer E-170 aircraft, with 69 seats including nine first-class seats.

“Delta’s announcement is excellent news for Key West International Air-port and the Lower Keys with new

weekend service from New York City, one of our strongest inbound domestic markets,” said Richard Strickland, di-rector of airports for the Florida Keys & Key West.

The Saturday flights are scheduled to leave LaGuardia at 9 a.m., arriving

in Key West at 12:43 p.m. Flights are to depart Key West at 1:13 p.m., arriv-ing at LaGuardia at 4:24 p.m.

For more information, visit Delta Air Lines at delta.com or call 800-221-1212, or visit Key West International Airport at eyw.com or call 305-809-5200. n

Harty and Whiteside on Birds and Conservation

Beryn Harty and Dr. Mark Whiteside, who will present a virtual boardwalk at Florida Keys Audubon’s December 5 meeting. Credit: Mark Hedden

Key West, Nov 20

The Florida Keys Audu-bon Society will hold the next edition of its monthly speaker series on Wednesday, Decem-ber 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Key West Garden Club, 1100 At-lantic Boulevard. The speakers will be Beryn Harty and Dr. Mark Whiteside who will give a presentation called “More Feathered Friends & Conser-vation Issues.” The talk will be structured like a virtual bird walk. Harty will surprise Wh-iteside with images of birds;

Whiteside will identify the species, talk abut their habits, where they can be seen, aspects of their life histories, and what conservation issues affect them.

Whiteside, a life-long bird-watcher, is president of the FKAS. He is also Medical Di-rector of the Florida Depart-ment of Health for Monroe County. Harty is broad-based naturalist, nature walk leader, and nature photographer.

For more information email [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 305-771-5807. n

U P P E R K E Y S


Enjoy Bluegrass on the Beach at Seventh Annual Baygrass Bluegrass Festival Jan. 18-20Islamorada, Nov 20

Three days of flavorful tradition-al bluegrass, old-time, “soulgrass” and Americana singing bands are to attract thousands of music lovers to theBay-grass Bluegrass Music Festival, set for Friday through Sunday, Jan. 18-20, in Islamorada.

Now in its seventh year, the three-day jam features satellite events at lo-cal spots and culminates in an all-day main event in a waterfront setting.

Friday, Jan. 18, a weekend warmup includes a Square Dancing in the Streets party at 6 p.m. inthe Morada Way Arts & Cultural District between mile markers (MMs) 81 and 82, com-plete with a South Florida Craft Beer Garden featuring several Florida craft

breweries and impromptu musical jam sessions.

Saturday, Jan. 19, a Pickin’ Party with performing musicians, barbecue and a craft beer tap takeover is scheduled at 4 p.m. at the same location. Amateur and professional pickers are encouraged to bring instruments and jam together at each of the two satellite events.

For Friday and Saturday events, a $10 donation per adult is suggested; music lovers age 17 and under are ad-mitted free.

Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Founders Park, MM 87 bayside on Plantation Key, theweekend’s main event is as much a craft beer festival as a musical one, with over 15 Florida breweries expected to be “on tap.”

Sunday’s impressive lineup includes

over 15 bands performing on two stag-es. Among the robust mix of return-ing festival phenoms are mandolin-ist Mike Compton, the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers,the Walker Brothers trio, the Copper Tones, Alligator Alley, the Short Straw Pickers, and Silas Powell and the Powell Family Band.

Festival anticipation builds with newcomer acts such as the Sons of Otis Malone; the Stillhouse Shakers; Hare o’ the Dog, whose multi-instrumen-talist members draw from old-time swing,bluegrass and gypsy jazz; Songs from the Road Band with Grammy Award–winner Charles Humphreys; the award-winning banjo plucking of the Barnes, Walsh & Gordy trio; and Grant Farm, featuring national flat-picking champion Tyler Grant.

Doors open Sunday at 10 a.m. Coolers are not permitted, although attendees can bring lawn chairs and blankets. Other attractions include artisan booths, food trucks and cool drinks, kids’ activities, festival souve-nir merchandise and a Sustainability Village that invites festivalgoers to ex-plore how to live a more naturally bal-anced lifestyle.

Advance general and VIP admission tickets to weekend events and Sunday’s all-day main event are available for ad-vance purchase online at baygrassblue-grass.com.

Festival proceeds fund high school art, music and dance programs and scholarships as well as Islamorada Community Entertainment’s commu-nity mission. n

Challenging Action and Cash Prizes Await Anglers in Key West Kingfish MayhemKey West, Nov 20

Sizeable king mackerel and action-packed competition are the attractions for angling teams during the 2019 Key West Kingfish Mayhem tournament. Thechallenge takes place Thurs-day through Sunday, Jan. 17-20, with two divisions whose partic-ipants fish on separate days.

While the pro division is open only to registrants in the elite four-leg Kingfish Mayhem Pro Series, the open division wel-comes all interested teams and offers attractive cash prizes.

The open division team that weighs in the heaviest kingfish,

also known as king mackerel, is to take home a $10,000 first prize. The second- and third-place finishers receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, and cash prizes are to be presented through fifth place. Prize struc-ture and award amounts are based on having a field of 40 registered boats.

Teams also can buy into op-tional entry categories to be eli-gible for additional cash awards.

Events kick off Thursday, Jan. 17, with a 4-6 p.m. final regis-tration for both the pro series and open division at Dante’s Key West, 951 Caroline St. A cap-tains meeting follows at 7 p.m.

Friday is to be a practice or “lay” day. Fishing is scheduled all day Saturday for pro series teams and all day Sunday for those in the open tournament.

Each boat team can weigh in one kingfish. Boats must check in at Conch Harbor Marina, the tournament headquarters located at 951 Caroline St., by 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday to be eligible to weigh their fish.

Awards are to be presented one hour after Sunday’s weigh-in is completed.

The entry fee for the open division is $500 per team plus sales tax. Any number of anglers can make up a team. n

Florida Keys Council of the Arts Request for Grant Proposals, Deadline Nov 30The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is seeking Monroe County artists of all genres (visual, music, dance, literary, etc.) to apply for two grant opportu-nities. The deadline for Artist in Schools and Special Project grants is November 30 at 5pm. Applications are accepted online, and can be found at www.keysarts.com

The Artists in Schools Grant program invites teach-ing artists in the performing, visual, literary or histor-


U P P E R K E Y S


Great American Smokeout Promoted at Naval Branch Clinic

Monroe County, Nov 21

Health Promotions and Wellness Coordinator ABE1(AW/SW) Ashawn Robertson and Tobacco Prevention Program Manager Priscilla Bennett (not pictured) arrange an informational display for employees and their families at Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West in observance of the Great AmericanSmokeout. The annual intervention event, which took place on November 15, raises awareness about the dangers of smoking and the many effective resources available to help smokers successfully quit. For more information about promoting tobacco free environments and worksites, call (305) 676-3856 or [email protected]. n

ical arts into the classroom. Teachers and teaching artists are encouraged to collaborate on creative projects togeth-er to enhance the existing curriculum or to teach a new topic integrating the arts. All Monroe County public and private schools, as well as other organizations that serve children ages 5-18, are eligible to be partners for the teaching artist. This application is for

the Spring 2019 semester. Artists in Schools grants are up to $2,000.

Special Project Grant is intended for arts organizations or individual artists in Monroe County. The grant is to provide short-term support to vital, creative projects that do not fit into the other grant categories. Special project funding is limited to once in three years, up to $2,000 per request. n

Florida Keys Council... X Continued from page 11

Keys residents Rachel Siegel, Jeff Small, and canine companion Char-lie Brown enjoyed the official lighting of the Walk of Lights at the Key West Historic Seaport on Wednesday evening. The ceremonial lighting of the Seaport’s Christmas trees, palm trees, ships, shops, restaurants and watering holes marks the beginning of Key West Holiday Fest, an annual island-wide celebration presented in part by the Lodging Asso-ciation of the Florida Keys & Key West and the Monroe Country Tourist Development Council that continues through December 31. Other high-lights include festive Holiday Historic Inn Tours, the annual Schooner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade and an abundance of uniquely Key West New Year’s Eve celebrations. Visit KeyWestHolidayFest.com for a full listing of events. (Photo courtesy Key West Holiday Fest)

W H A T ' S H A P P E N I N G


WITH BELLS ON: A Christmas Story with BallsKey West

Canadian playwright Darren Hagen doesn’t really like Christmas all that much. So he didn’t really mean to pen a Christmas play.

“Well, it’s not quite like a Christmas play,” Hagen said recently, “but yet it is…there’s Christmas music playing in the elevator.”

Wait, wait. Elevator?!? Okay…let’s rewind a minute and start at the be-ginning.

“With Bells On” is Hagen’s newest play, which will have its American Pre-miere at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West for a four week run, December 11 through January 5. It stars Trey Gerrald and Don Bearden and will be directed -- and maybe more anticipated – costumed by Key West’s unequaled man with a nee-dle and thread, Christopher Peterson.

The elevator is just that, and it’s the only thing on the stage. And it’s stuck be-tween floors. Ted (Bearden) appears to be a short, quiet, emotionally unassuming, dweeb accountant who has entered the el-evator in his not-so-luxurious apartment building, where he’s been living since his recent divorce. Standing next to him – or maybe “towering” over him would be more appropriate – is Natasha (Ger-rald), a six-foot-seven-inch (in heels) drag queen dressed like a Christmas Tree, who is completely beside herself because this stalled elevator will cause her to miss her chance to be crowned Christmas Queen at the Magic Crystal Palace downtown.

If you’re thinking this is a perfect set-up for some hilarity, you’d be correct. You’re going to laugh a lot. The juxta-positioning of two such opposite char-acters in such a situation is full of comic possibilities, and Hagen takes complete advantage of them all. The puns and comic lines fly fast and furious, as Ted and Natasha try to find a way to ex-tricate themselves from circumstances

neither of them is comfortable in.But the play is about more than that.

Because Ted is not the sadsack milque-toast we initially think him to be, nor is he a prig or homophobe. He actually grows curious about the exotic creature he’s met. And this interest begins to work some magic on an initially hostile Natasha.

Says Hagen: “It’s ultimately about creating a common ground among seemingly opposite strangers – not just between the two characters on stage, but across cultural and age barriers in the audience as well.”

Peterson agrees. “What appeals to me the most is that it brings together two of my most favorite things in Key West: nervous men and drag queens.” (Big laugh) “And how a friendship can come out of something as strange as two com-pletely different kinds of people thrown together in a weird situation.”

So, yeah, it’s a holiday show…there’s

the Christmas music in the elevator and all. And it’s a very funny premise, very funnily written. But “With Bells On” is so much more than that. As Peterson put it: “The play ultimately encompasses our motto here in Key West – One Human Family.” And the costume for Natasha?

“Oh, wait until you see it,” Peterson said, a note of pure joy in his voice. “She lights up like a Christmas tree – because she’ll be dressed like one, balls and all!”

Tickets for “With Bells On” are avail-able now at redbarntheatre.com/tickets or by calling 305-296-9911. There will be a Reduced-Price Preview on Mon-day, December 10 and Opening Night ticketholders on December 11 will be in-vited to the Opening Night Party in the courtyard of the Red Barn, where they can mingle with the cast and crew. For more information, visit redbarntheatre.com or the Red Barn’s FaceBook page, Red Barn Theatre KW. n

Making their debut performance at Viva’s, on November 30th, from 7-10 pm, the ultra-creative trio ensemble [of the CRZBs music family-], ‘the CRZBs Consort BassLess Trio’ will be featured, with the unique guitar stylings of Chris Burchard, the virtuosity of Mark Rose on flutes & saxes, & skippo on percussive co-lours. They will skillfully provide the sonic background for evening dining/drinking at this famed 903 Duval st., outdoor en-tertainment emporium. Music will range from Pat Metheny style jazzy Brazilian originals, to fusion, & American song-book jazz standards. This blended music & the wonderful outdoor patio right at the edge of the Duval buzz, will make for a memorable last evening of November. Call 414-8947 for more info. n

Viva’s - The CRZBs Consort Bassless Trio

Virgilio’s - “the Savage Beets”Appearing at Virgilio’s on Tues-day December 4th from 9 pm, ’Skip-per’s League of Crafty Musicians’ series will present the “SAVAGE BEETS”. This ‘funsome’ power island music trio includes the infamous Chris Case, (a.k.a. Lord Buckcyrus), on lead vocals, and wailing guitar. Come see why, on this first Tuesday fo December, at Vir-gilios, 524 Duval (in back of La Trat restaurant). Call 296-1075 for info. n

“Trey Gerrald (left) and Don Bearden (right) are directed by Christopher Peterson (center) in the hilarious holiday play, WITH BELLS ON, opening December 11 at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West.”



Schooner Wharf Bar 202 Williams St., (305) 292-3302SchoonerWharf.comnThursday 11/29Michael McCloudNoon - 5:00 pm

Michael McCloud & FriendsNoon - 5:00 pmStalwart Key West troubadour Michael McCloud delivers humorous repartée and original songs that exemplify life at this tropical latitude.

Cool Duo with Sam Ramos & Chris Case6:45 - 11:00 pmMotown, Detroit funk, classic rock, reggae and of course, all your island favorites.

Friday 11/30Michael McCloud & FriendsNoon - 5:00 pm

Bubba System6:45 pm - Midnight Dance and groove the night away to your favorites from Santana, The Beatles, Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and more. Bring your dancing feet!

Saturday 12/01Michael McCloud & FriendsNoon - 5:00 pm

Raven Cooper Band6:45 pm - MidnightEclectic mix of country, contemporary and classic rock covers and originals compositions.

Sunday 12/02Michael McCloud & FriendsNoon - 5:00 pm

Last Mango Trio 6:45 pm - 11:00 pm Annual Tree Trimming and Toy Drive Island vibes and steel pan sounds of the Caribbean, reggae, soca and calypso

Monday 12/03RAVEN COOPERnoon - 5pm

Black & Skabuddah6:45 - 11:00 pmAcoustic classic rock and current favorites with an edge

Gary HempseyNoon - 5 pm. Classic acoustic Rock with a twist.

Tom Taylor6:45 - 11:00 pmGeneration X, new covers to favorite oldies from the ‘60s

Tuesday 12/04Allen “FrankenDread” HollandNoon - 5:00 pm Island vibes and steel pan sounds of the Caribbean, reggae, soca and calypso

Wednesday 12/05RAVEN COOPER7:00 - 11:00 pm Melodic mix of country, blues, pop favorites, originals and more. Humorous audience interaction!

9 pm - 1 am Wednesdays thru SundaysMagician Frank Everhart, Jr. - Up close and personal magic in the Sail Loft at Schooner Wharf.

Ralph De Palma Photography| 2018 Calendar

the Soul of Key West



Hog's BreathDave Coleman

Hog's BreathZack Seemiller

Hog's BreathJoel Nelson

The Smokin’ Tuna4 Charles St., (305) 517-6350smokintunasaloon.comn

Thursday 11/29Scott Kirby 5pmHigh South 9pm

Friday 11/30Scott Kirby 5pmCaffeine Carl and Friends 9:00pm

Saturday 12/01Scott Kirby 5pmCaffeine Carl and Friends 9:00pm

Sunday 12/02Andy Westcott &The Local Boyz 9pm

Monday 12/03Scott Kirby 5pmBlue Monday w/CC and The Buzz 9pm

Wednesday 12/04Scott Kirby 5pm

Wednesday 12/05Scott Kirby 5pm Ryan and The Fury Jam 9pm

Hog’s Breath Saloon400 Front St., (305) 296-4222 hogsbreath.comn

Joel NelsonNovember 29 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pmDecember 4 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pmDecember 5 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Dave ColemanNovember 29 @ 4:30 pm - 8:30 pmNovember 30 @ 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Biscuit MillerNovember 29 @ 9:00 pm - 1:00 amNovember 30 @ 9:00 pm - 1:00 amDecember 1 @ 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

Kenny & CudaNovember 30 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pmDecember 1 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zack SeemillerDecember 3 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Hog’s Breath is betterthan no breath at all

� Three live acts from 1 p.m. until 2 a.m.

� Full menu! Fresh seafood, sandwiches & classic island favorites.

� World famous t-shirts and merchandise.

� Private party and special events room.

Visit us at hogsbreath.com(305) 296-4222400 Front St. | Key West

Hog’s Breath Music Schedule for this week!Thur. 1129

Joel Nelson

(12- 4pm)

Dave Coleman

(4:30 - 8:30pm)

Sat. 1201

Mon. 1203

Wed. 1205

Fri. Tues. 1204

Sun. 12021130

Biscuit Miller

(9pm - 1am)

-

-

-

Joel Nelson

(12- 4pm)

Joel Nelson

(12- 4pm)

Zack

Seemiller

(12 - 4pm)

- - -

- -

-Kenny & Cuda

(12- 4pm)

Biscuit Miller

(9pm - 1am)

Dave Coleman

(4:30 - 8:30pm)

--Kenny & Cuda

(12- 4pm)

Biscuit Miller

(9pm - 1am)

- - - - - -

Hog's BreathBiscuit Miller

Whats Happening X Continued from page 14


T R O P I C S P R O C K E T S I A N B R O C K W A Y

Green Book

Mahershalah Ali (Moonlight) delivers another excellent performance as Dr. Don Shirley, a jazz musician in the real life drama directed by Peter Farrelly, “Green Book”. The film is heartfelt and powerful, even though it does gloss over the impact of the actu-al “Green Book”, a guide for “traveling while black” before the passage of The Civil Rights Act.

It is 1962 in New York City. The bouncer Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) is out of work due to unexpected renovations. He has difficulty finding work and pawns a prized watch. Then he gets a call from a friend. A doctor needs a driv-er and the address is Carnegie Hall. Tony is intrigued. What doctor could live there?

He finds the tall, slender Don Shir-ley surrounded by artifacts. He needs a driver to take him to his shows and also an assistant to do his laundry and shine his shoes. Tony says a firm “No thank you”.

Shirley explains that he was picked for his muscle and his gruff manner. Tony refuses; he won’t be a maid.

Shirley ups the wage and Tony agrees.

Shirley and Tony Vallelonga begin a road trip through a Jim Crow South.

At first Tony bristles and squirms. He eats the sandwich that his wife (Linda Cardellini) had made for the musician and makes racist remarks. Shirley is unfazed.

Through the course of the trip, the two share details of their lives and be-come friends. Tony, though filled with racist ideas, sees Shirley as a person. He is struck by his sophistication and asks him for assistance in writing let-ters to his wife.

Though the film does not shy away from racism or violence at all, this is essentially a feel good “Odd Couple” film between two people from differ-ent backgrounds who learn to listen and laugh with one another.

Tony Vallelonga is out of step and im-pacting, yet his coarse bluntness is played mostly for laughs. The man evolves and matures and the virtuoso piano player gains a protector. Tony the lovable lug never fails to protect his friend.

The main element that shows through “Green Book” is its heart and spirit. The film slickly manages to evade stereotypes (aside from the chicken reference) by its empathy, pa-tience and the strength of its charac-ters and despite an ending that feels a bit too “Hollywood”, this film will have you cheering for two friends who shared meaningful experiences with one another, in spite of racism’s sick stupidity.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Director David Yeats returns to J.K. Rowling territory in the se-quel to the first “Fantastic Beasts” film. This one titled “The Crimes of Grindelwald” has plenty of bowtruckles (sentient twigs), bluster and boom but it is dense, confusing and overstuffed with characters and references. This would be fine if it had some real drama or tension, but magically the pathos and suspense is inexplixably absent. In its place are

Tropic CinemaSCHEDULE FOR:

November 30th - December 6th

FANTASTIC BEASTS (1:00) 3:35 6:10 8:45

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 134 MINS (1:10) 3:50 6:30 9:10

THE GRINCH 90 MINS (1:30) 3:25 6:20 8:55

Except Monday 3rd and Thursday 6th(1:30) 3:25 8:55

GREEN BOOK (1:20) 3:55 6:35 9:15

Special Events:Monday Night Classics --

Miracle on 34th StreetMonday, December 3rd 6:30pm

Cinematheque Series -- What They Had Thursday, December 6th 6:30pm




X Continued from page 15

The Green Room501 Greene St., 741-7300greenroomkeywest.comn

Thursday 11/29MARJORY LEE1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

JASON LAMSON5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

KEN FAIRBROTHER10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Friday 11/30DAVID WARREN1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

OREN POLAK5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

DJ MOSES10:00 pm - 3:00 am

Saturday 12/01DREW GUNNING1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

MARJORY LEE5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

DJ GYVER10:00 pm - 3:00

Sunday 12/02SHELDON MCLELLAN1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

MARJORY LEE5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

ROSS BROWN10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Monday 12/03SHASTINA CHILES1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

SHELDON MCLELLAN5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

DREW GUNNING10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Tuesday 12/04MARJORY LEE1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

TURNER HARRISON5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

DAVID WARREN10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Wednesday 12/05JOE “THE SHOW” ENICH1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

JOAL RUSH5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

TURNER HARRISON10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Bottlecap / Blue Room1128 Simonton St., (305) 296-2807

bottlecapkeywest.comn

Thursdays-Fridays 7:30pm

Professional Standup Comedy—

doors open 7:30pm.

Blue Room available for private parties

The Salty Angler1114 Duval St., (305) 741-7071

thesaltyangler.comn

Thursday 11/29

Roger Jokela 1pm

The Happy Dog 8pm

Friday 11/30

Ben Taddiken 12pm

Saturday 12/01

Eric Paul (Levy) 12pm

Sunday 12/02

Ben Taddiken 12pm

KY Tim & Friends 6pm

Trivia and Game Night! 9pm

Monday 12/03

Dani Hoy 12pm

Monday 12/04

Roger Jokela 12pm

Josh and Dora 8pm n

Key West Holiday Fest 2018 kicked off Wednesday night, November 21, with the official lighting of the Walk of Lights at the Key West Historic Seaport. The annual island-wide celebration, presented in part by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West and the Monroe Country Tourist Development Council, continues through December 31 with an abundance of festivities, in-cluding the fabulously romantic Holiday Historic Inn Tours, the annual Schoo-ner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade, and many more. A full listing of events can be found at KeyWestHolidayFest.com. (Photo courtesy Key West Holiday Fest)


S H O R T A N S W E R S BY J E F F J O H N S O N n P A U L A F O R M A N

B U S I N E S S K E Y W E S T

Strings AttachedDear Short Answers:My niece recently became pregnant and decided to name her baby after me. I was thrilled at first since we were never really that close but now I realize that along with the “honor,” came a financial expecta-tion. My niece has asked me if I would buy a car seat, a stroller and a crib. She also wants me to host a baby shower for her. So far, I have done what my niece asked but I’m not sure what is coming next. I don’t have kids of my own so may-be my niece is just trying to get me involved. But is this kind of thing normal?Auntie

Dear Auntie:NORMAL? No such thing. How-ever, this does feel atypical. We suggest YOU decide what feels right to you and then have a con-versation with your niece before the baby is born. You need to know what she expects going for-ward. If it is more than you can handle say so now.

Cloudy, Change of SpitballsDear Short Answers:I have been dating a man for over a year and things are starting to get serious. When we first met I knew that he had been married before and that didn’t bother me. But I recently found out that he has been married FOUR times before. He swears that there were good reasons for all his failed marriages and that they weren’t all his fault. I want to believe him but it still concerns me that this guy just might not be able to sustain a long-term relationship. Do you think that a four-time loser can mend his ways?Hopin

Dear Hope:No, this guy does not sound like a good long-term bet. There is something very wonky in his decision-making.

Not a Hard OneDear Short Answers:

There is a regular group in the neighborhood that walks their dogs together every night around the same time. We don’t really know each other well but we en-joy the time together and it’s a relaxing way to spend a half an hour or so. A few months ago, one of the dogs was diagnosed with cancer and we all chipped in to help with the treatments because the dog’s own-er wasn’t currently employed. Unfortunately, the dog

died rather suddenly and the owner immediately bought a new puppy (a long-haired dachshund). I feel sorry for the owner’s loss, but if the owner had enough money for a new puppy, he had enough money for medical care for his dog. Or maybe he used the money we all gave him to buy a new puppy. I feel taken advantage of but also uncomfortable asking for more information. Should I keep my mouth shut and fume? Or ask the owner outright what happened to the money we gave him?

A Villager

Dear Villager:

Yeah, SHUT UP and fume.

Warranty Expired?Dear Short Answers:

How old should my children be before I allow them to get a tattoo?

Jill

Dear Jilly:

Our general rule is that at 18, when kids can vote or go to war, they then assume responsibility for their own bodies. However, if you are tattooed — it might be another story.

Life is complicated. “Short Answers” isn’t.

Send questions Konk [email protected] or go to shortanswers.net—a psychologist and sociologist will answer. A selection of the best questions will be printed every week in Konk Life.

P A U L A F O R M A N and J E F F J O H N S O N



f ine d in ing at the

Monday - Friday Locals Night

Two Course Menu $24.995 to 7PM

ONE DUVAL STREET | 305.295.3255 | PIERHOUSE.COM | Reservations Recommended

Womankind announces new medical director and nurse practitionerKey West, Nov 21

Womankind, a Key West medical center that provides high-qual-ity family planning and primary health care to people of all income levels, wel-comes Dr. Kris Kennedy, MD FACOG and ANCC Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Vernadette Fisher to their team. The two medical profes-sionals are passionate about women’s health and are actively caring for the center’s established patients while also welcoming new referrals.

“With Dr. Kennedy and Verna-dette joining our family, Womankind is embarking on a wonderful chapter,” says Executive Director Cali Roberts. “Our practitioners, both new and es-tablished, are here because they under-stand Womankind’s mission that ev-eryone deserves great health care. Our patients are the winners in the end. I’m thrilled about what’s to come.”

“I volunteered for Womankind 3 years ago, helping them with their computerized medical records,” says Dr. Kennedy. “When Dr. Forrest re-signed, Cali came knocking at my

door. I never thought I would come out of retirement but helping Woman-kind was irresistible.”

“I came to work for Womankind because I felt strongly about their mis-sion statement and goals set out for the women in the Key West community,” says Fisher. “Being a Conch myself, I want to make sure the women in this community are educated, comfortable, and secure, which is at the forefront of Womankind’s list and something I pas-sionately advocate for.”

“Helping women stay healthy is vi-tal to keeping our society healthy,” says Dr. Kennedy. “Until we fix our broken healthcare system, Womankind will re-main a vital part of the safety network for women.”

To learn more about these support-ive, nonjudgmental professionals and Womankind’s affordable, preventative care programs, contact Womankind at 305-294-4004 or visit Womankind-KeyWest.com. Womankind is located at 1511 Truman Avenue, across the street from Bayview Park, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. n

ANCC Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Vernadette Fisher and Dr. Kris Kennedy, MD, have recently joined the team at Womankind, a Key West medical center that provides high-quality family planning and pri-mary health care to people of all income levels. The two medical profes-sionals are actively caring for the center’s established patients while also welcoming new referrals. To make an appointment, contact Womankind at 305-294-4004 or visit WomankindKeyWest.com. Womankind is located at 1511 Truman Avenue, across the street from Bayview Park, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.


I N T H E K E Y S F L O R I D A K E Y S S P C A

n Rescue Tails

How Batman the Abused Became Bruce Wayne the BelovedBY TAMMY FOX-ROYERExecutive Director Florida Keys SPCA

In 2015 Animal Control Officers from our Marathon Campus received a disturbing phone call from the local Sheriff’s Office. At a local bar, an in-toxicated man dangled his Chihuahua by his collar and leash and repeatedly punched the frightened dog, choking him and threatening to throw him in the water. Horrified onlookers inter-vened, tackled the man and called the police. As his owner was taken away in handcuffs, the shaking Chihuahua was brought to our local emergency hospi-tal. The little dog’s name was Batman.

Although Batman did not suffer any life threatening injuries, we immedi-ately noticed his front right leg turned to the side creating a noticeable “L” shape. Some time in his past, he had suffered an untreated fracture to that leg that healed into this new shape. Lovingly referred to as his “fancy leg”” he thrived in our care and received love

and affection from every-one, perhaps for the first time in his life.

His owner was convict-ed of aggravated animal cruelty and Batman offi-cially became available to adopt through our Mar-athon Campus. He stole the heart of everyone he met and blossomed in a foster home. His over-sized ears and fancy leg gave him a unique look, and his charm was ab-solutely undeniable. Despite all he’d been through, he showed in-credible resilience and

trust with humans as only an animal can do. He relished attention, was playful with his canine companions and snuggled in a real bed with his foster mom every night. We knew it would be hard to let him go, but the perfect home was already waiting for him.

Renamed Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter ego, Chelsey, a young woman and friend of the shelter with a huge heart for Chihuahuas, was waiting for the day Bruce could join her family. She had followed his story, seen his photos and eagerly prepared for his arrival. Adoption day was beautiful as staff, volunteers, his foster mom and his new mom cried, hugged, laughed and said farewell to the toughest lit-tle Chihuahua they had ever known. Thankfully, over the years we’ve stayed close to Bruce Wayne and his family watching him continue to blossom and thrive as perhaps the most loved and spoiled any animal could ever hope to be. When his canine sister, a sweet senior Chihuahua, passed away last year, Bruce Wayne had the chance to give back to his mom, providing her the strength to deal with her devastat-ing loss.

Bruce Wayne now has a new canine sister, Beanie, and is about to become a real big brother to his mom and dad’s first human baby. Bruce Wayne has been an ambassador for the aban-doned, injured, frightened and un-wanted companion animals that en-ter our care. No matter the situation they came from, with love, patience and time the right family is always out there somewhere. Each time an ani-mal is adopted from the Florida Keys SPCA we know it’s their chance to ex-perience a loving, happy family life. To adopt an animal from the Florida Keys SPCA visit us at fkspca.org/adopt or contact me at [email protected].

INFO: FKSPCA.org n

I N C O M M U N I T Y


actors merely reading lines.In this chapter, the blonde

vampire-like Grindelwald (John-ny Depp) escapes from prison. Though he is a dark wizard, he feels indistinguishable from Count Dracula, vanishing in a ring of smoke and causing a huge malestrom, where he up-sets a carriage and forks a young man’s tongue, while sealing a blood pact. The carriage bounces around and around thousands of feet in the air only to tumble un-der water, with huge explosions.

Meanwhile, Newt (Eddie Red-mayne) argues to get his travel clearances re-instated (revoked in the first film). He meets up with his beloved Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz) who is engaged to Newt’s brother Theseus (Callum Turner). Newt also finds his old friend Jacob (Dan Fogler). It becomes clear that Grindelwald wants wizard-world domination, assuming fatherly au-thority with the abused and aban-doned Credence (Erza Miller).

This is a basic Good vs Evil tale and there are a couple wonderful-ly vivid scenes: in one a huge sable sheet like a gigantic bat covers the entire city. In the second, there is

an epic projection of a German tank with Nazis marching over Paris, only to transform into a fi-ery mushroom cloud.

But for the most part the narra-tive lags with endless plot points, minutia and dialogue and the ac-tion lags. In its place are sideshows, carnivals and sour faces and not any of it is all that compelling.

Depp’s face in particular is a mask. He is more like a vid-eo-game persona and his voice has no inflection. The often wondrous actor is delivering his villain by rote, his sorcery is sedate.

The visual quirks and melodies of a Rowling universe feels cloud-ed and obscured by endless ca-cophony and infernos. Jude Law is present as Dumbledore but just barely so and the talented Erza Miller only glares at the camera, offering precious few lines.

The fun highlight of the film, de-spite his soporific state, is Depp as he utters his last line, “ I hate Paris!

Other than that there is very little that is suprising or numin-uous here. The only crimes that “The Crimes of Grindelwald” il-luminate are that the film is pe-destrian, over-long and tedious, despite its phantasmagoric trap-pings. nWrite Ian at [email protected].

Fantastic Beasts... X Continued from page 16 Comedy Key West at BottleCap

Comedy Key West presents profes-sional standup comedians Spencer James and Al Park. They will be performing after talented local comics warm up the stage at The BottleCap.

Spencer James performs Thursday and Friday, November 29th and 30th. Spen-cer is a regular performer in Las Vegas. He was a winner of the “World Series of Comedy”, won “Best of the Fest” Bur-bank Comedy Festival, and was a featured performer on the Fox TV show “Laughs”. Spencer tours the US and is a producer, writer, and performer of his own one-man comedy show.

Al Park performs Thursday and Friday, December 6th and 7th. Al recently won the Boston Comedy Festival and Cleveland Comedy Festival competitions and was a fi-nalist in the prestigious Seattle International Comedy Competition. Al was named Bos-ton’s Best Comedian of 2016 by Improper Bostonian magazine and he made his televi-sion debut on FOX TV’s “Laughs” in 2017.

Doors open at 7:30 PM and Showtime is at 8:30. For more information about the comedians and to purchase tickets ($15) visit www.comedykeywest.com. Bottlecap is at 1128 Simonton Street in Key West. n

Spencer James Al Park



Fundraiser For Gary Hempsey at BoondocksBy Ralph De Palma



Waterfront Playhouse “Carmen by Request” Opening Night PartyBy Larry Blackburn



Exhibit of Book Illustrations at New Lucky Street Gallery is a Tribute to Jon McIntoshThe original illustrations of eight Key West artists for the latest Angus and Edmond series of feline travelogues by Gunna Dickson will be on exhibit at Lucky Street Gallery December 4. The previous three volumes were illustrat-ed by Key West artist Jon McIntosh, co-owner of Lucky Street Gallery.

Dickson invited McIntosh’s artist friends to illustrate The Catalonia Ad-ventures of Angus and Edmond as a tribute to the talented and well-loved “Tosh” after he passed unexpectedly due to a short illness.

In this fourth book of the series, the Angora-mix brothers are back from their Italian adventure. Angus tries out for the Animal Olympics swim team and Edmond learns to speak Spanish. They help clean up post-hurricane Key West and take a celebratory trip to Barcelona.

New York City -based writer, ed-itor and translator Gunna Dickson was inspired by her adopted cats to write these travelogues for animal lovers. She collaborated on the three previous Adventures with McIntosh, whose work – from design to illustra-tion, comic strips to children’s books – received many awards.

The artists are well-known in Key West: Judi Bradford, Barb Feinberg, Suellen Crowley Weaver, Karen Beauprie, Lenny Addorisio, Sherry Sweet Tewell, Pam Hobbs and Eliz-abeth Chamberlain. The book in-cludes remembrances from the author and each artist of their friend Tosh.

This singular exhibit of original il-lustrations opens 6-8 pm December 4 with a reception at the Lucky Street Gallery, 408 Greene Street. Guests will meet the artists and see the new Lucky Street.

Copies of the book will be avail-able at Books and Books, 533 Eaton Street. Meet the author and the art-ists at a book signing there, 6 pm the following day, December 5. Proceeds from book sales at this event will be donated to the Anne McKee Artist’s Fund in Tosh’s name. n

Keys History & Discovery Center Presents…The 1733 Spanish Galleon TrailLecture is at Keys History & Discovery CenterIslamorada, Nov 19

Keys History & Discovery Center Presents…History is the Real Treasure: The 1733 Spanish Galleon Trail, a lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 5-7 p.m., at Keys History & Discovery Center on the property of the Island-er Resort, MM 82 oceanside, Islam-orada. Lectures are free for museum members. Cost for non-members is now only $10, thanks in part to grant funding and individual contributions. Reservations are recommended.

Join Archaeologist Della Scott-Ire-ton as she talks about the Spanish plate fleet of 1733 that wrecked in a violent hurricane along 80 miles of the Flori-da Keys. With the discovery of the first shipwreck in the late 1940s and the growth of scuba diving in the 1950s

and ‘60s enabling treasure hunters to locate most of the rest of the fleet, these wrecks suffered from haphazard digging and the loss of much infor-mation. Today, these shipwrecks are among the oldest artificial reefs in theKeys. This presentation describes a State of Florida project to record and interpret the 1733 fleet wrecks that resulted in the production of a book-let and website devoted to telling the story of the fleet disaster and to pro-moting the archaeological importance of the sunken ships as tangible remains of our maritime heritage.

Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Reservations should be made at 305-922-2237 [email protected].

For more information, call 305-922-2237 or go to www.keysdiscovery.com. n

Archaeologist Della Scott-Ireton works on a 1733 Spanish Fleet wreck.



Key West Art & Historical Society invites public to embark on a virtual journey aboard Flagler’s Overseas RailwayKey West, Nov 21

A year after Key West Art & Historical Society unveiled a newly renovated “Overseas to the Keys: Hen-ry Flagler’s Overseas Railway” per-manent exhibit at the Custom House Museum, its virtual counterpart is now available to researchers, students, historians, history buffs, and Flagler fans all over the world.

The Society’s new online exhibit, “Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway Timeline,” is a multi-media experience created by Annette Liggett, Brewster

Chamberlin, and Society Curator Cori Convertito, Ph.D. that details the con-struction process of the engineering feat that joined mainland Florida to Key West in 1912.

Visit kwahs.org/education/over-seas-railway-timeline to explore the “Eight Wonder of the World,” and check back for additional related on-line features and downloadable cur-riculum that will be launched over the coming six months. Supported by a grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust. n

KONK Life Real Estate • www.konklife.com • DECEMBER 2018KONK Life Real Estate • www.konklife.com • DECEMBER 2018

A beautifully restored Eyebrow house in the very heart of Old Town Key WestBY TERRY SCHMIDAKONK LIFE REAL ESTATE WRITER

As anyone who has ever at-tempted it will attest, it’s not an easy feat to completely restore a Key West Conch house from scratch.

Enthusiasts may see such an under-taking as an adventure, or a labor of love. Many would-be residents, how-ever, quite rightly prefer the idea of moving into a grand old home that someone else has taken the time and effort to restore to its original glory.

The gorgeous Eyebrow-style house at 906 Southard St. definitely fits into the latter category.

Solidly constructed in 1874, this exceptional residence is one of a few remaining original eyebrow houses in Key West. Completely restored in this century, this three-bedroom, three-bath home was recognized as a winner of a 2009 Old Island Restoration Founda-

tion plaque, and was featured on that organization’s home tour that year.

Boasting much sought-after Dade

County pine floors, walls and ceilings, the 2,188 square-foot residence also offers a truly gourmet kitchen that’s

perfect for events as intimate as a ro-mantic evening, or as ambitious as a large dinner party. With its six-burn-

This gorgeous home, at 906 Southard St., has been restored to its former glory by a previous owner. Photo contributed

KONK Life Real Estate • www.konklife.com • DECEMBER 2018KONK Life Real Estate • www.konklife.com • DECEMBER 2018

er Viking gas range and double oven, dual refrigerators, ice machine, wine cooler, cherry wood cabinets, Statu-ary Carrera marble slab countertops, and Blanco sink, this kitchen has all dining and/or entertaining possibili-ties, covered.

Each of the three large bedrooms feature luxurious ensuite Carrera mar-ble baths, and a convenient laundry

room offers a state-of-the-art, full-sized washer and dryer.

Unique touches to the home include gas entry lamps, and push-button light switches and dimmers.

Outside, the 4,596 square-foot lot is just as impressive.

The covered outdoor dining area offers a great view of the large heated pool, which is surrounded by a flag-

stone deck and river rock. The porches have been wired for sound, to facilitate that perfect outdoor Key West party.

Heliconia and Royal Cuban palms are among the mature landscaping in the garden, and are served by a zoned irrigation system.

Throw in the complete security system, three-zone central air-condi-tioning system, rare gated off street

parking, and the covered carport and rear storage shed, and you’ve got the complete package that is 906 South-ard St.

There’s even a powerful Briggs and Stratton whole house generator to ensure that the owner will always have power, regardless of what nature throws at Key West..

X Continued on next page

The expansive rear yard offers too many features to list! Photo contributed

The spacious interior of the home offers plenty of Dade County pine. Photo contributed

Each of the three large bedrooms has a beautiful ensuite bathroom. Photo contributed

A covered outdoor dining area is the perfect place to have a Key West-style dinner party. Photo contributed

KONK Life Real Estate • www.konklife.com • DECEMBER 2018

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Don’t delay. Make an appointment to see this fantastic house today!The elegant and desirable home at 906

Southard St. is being offered for just $2,745,000.

To schedule a showing, call Listing Agent Frank Kirwin, of Preferred Properties Key West, at 305-304-5253, or email

him [email protected]@aol.com

High ceilings and plenty of storage space are hallmarks of this fantastic house. Photo contributed

The true gourmet kitchen is bright and airy. Photo contributed

Another view of the kitchen. Photo contributed


Featured Homes – Viewed by Appointment

Map # Address #BR/BA Listing Agent Phone Number

165 Cutlass Ln., Cudjoe Key 4BR/3BA ChelleBe Blades, Realty Executives Key West 305-394-4750

Sandra Tuttle, American Caribbean Real Estate 305-923-9161

1604 Duncan St., Key West 1BR/1BA Michelle Clauson Kirby, ReMax Keys Connection 305-849-1276

916 White St., Key West 2BR/1BA Jon Seibert, Century 21 Schwartz Realty 305-433-0552

Janine Seibert, Century 21 Schwartz Realty 305-433-1911

259 Golf Club Dr., Key West 3BR/2.5BA Erik Lemon, Elegant Florida Living & Key West Business Brokers 305-395-1067

216 Fleming St, Key West, FL33040 3BR/2.5BA Mike Caron, Keller Williams Key West Compass Realty 508-269-8565

305-296-7078

Featured Home Locations

Key Haven

Stock Island

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Cudjoe Key

15


Key West Association of REALTORS®

keywestrealtors.orgPhone (305) 296-8259 Fax (305) 296-2701


Listing Office Selling Office Sold Date List Price Sold Price Street # Street Name Year Built Style Total Beds Wtrfrnt MM

Key West

BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty 31/10/18 $5,95,000.00 $5,60,000.00 1001 17th St 1968 Single Fam 3 No 4

Richard Padron And Assoc Century 21 Schwartz 08/11/18 $5,39,000.00 $5,25,000.00 181 Golf Club Dr 1996 Townhouse 3 No 4

Old Town Realty Buy The Keys 01/11/18 $3,25,000.00 $3,20,000.00 3635 Seaside Dr, #207 2000 Condo 2 No 3

Conch Realty Preferred Properties 05/11/18 $3,80,000.00 $3,70,000.00 3930 Roosevelt Blvd, #405 1991 Condo 3 No 3

Keller Williams KW Compass Ocean Sotheby's International 07/11/18 $8,94,000.00 $8,62,500.00 2907 Seidenberg Ave 1958 Single Fam 4 No 3

Truman & Co. Truman & Co. 31/10/18 $7,29,000.00 $7,10,000.00 2824 Flagler Ave 2016 Single Fam 3 No 2

Truman & Co. Truman & Co. 31/10/18 $11,95,000.00 $11,50,000.00 1500 Atlantic Blvd, #110 1986 Condo 2 Yes 2

Truman & Co. Bascom Grooms Real Estate 05/11/18 $7,19,000.00 $7,10,000.00 2836 Flagler Ave 2016 Single Fam 3 No 2

Truman & Co. Truman & Co. 31/10/18 $37,50,000.00 $34,00,000.00 626 William St 1938 Single Fam 6 No 1

BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty 01/11/18 $900.00 $10,200.00 626 Josephine Parker Dr, #208 1996 Commercial 0 No 1

Preferred Properties Preferred Properties 01/11/18 $11,80,000.00 $10,34,000.00 1523 Washington St 1963 Single Fam 4 No 1

BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty 01/11/18 $700.00 $15,600.00 626 Josephine Parker Dr, #206 1996 Commercial 0 No 1

Banyan Resort Realty Keys Commercial 05/11/18 $9,20,000.00 $8,87,500.00 726 Poor House Ln 1938 Single Fam 3 No 1

Coldwell Banker Schmitt Coldwell Banker Schmitt 09/11/18 $8,28,900.00 $7,62,500.00 5603 College Rd, A101 2000 Condo 2 Yes 5

At Home in Key West Keller Williams KW Compass 14/11/18 $5,29,000.00 $5,10,000.00 55 Spoonbill Way 1998 Townhouse 3 No 4

Ocean Sotheby's International Location 3 Real Estate 08/11/18 $2,74,900.00 $2,65,000.00 3255 Flagler Ave, #405 1997 Condo 2 No 3

Key West Luxury Real Estate BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty 09/11/18 $12,73,000.00 $12,10,000.00 520 William St 1933 Single Fam 3 No 1

Century 21 Schwartz Coldwell Banker Schmitt 09/11/18 $8,95,000.00 $8,60,000.00 1111 Watson St 1889 Single Fam 2 No 1

Keller Williams KW Compass Truman & Co. 13/11/18 $5,95,000.00 $5,50,000.00 1123 Whitehead St 1928 Duplex 2 No 1

Ocean Sotheby's International Ocean Sotheby's International 09/11/18 $4,75,000.00 $3,77,500.00 2240 Las Casitas Dr 1987 Townhouse 3 Yes 0

Coldwell Banker Schmitt Office Coastal Collection Real Estate Inc. 16/11/18 $2,69,000.00 $2,50,000.00 3228 Eagle 1988 Townhouse 2 No 4

Beach Club Brokers Truman & Co. 19/11/18 $5,75,000.00 $5,60,000.00 3410 Eagle 1953 Single Fam 3 No 4

BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty 15/11/18 $2,99,000.00 $2,97,000.00 3144 Northside Dr 1991 Commercial 0 No 3

Barbara A. Anderson Realty Key West Properties 15/11/18 $5,49,000.00 $5,10,000.00 1413 12th St 1982 Single Fam 2 No 3

The K Company Realty LLC The K Company Realty LLC 19/11/18 $4,50,000.00 $4,50,000.00 2827 Staples 1958 Single Fam 4 No 3

Ocean Sotheby's International Key West Luxury Real Estate 20/11/18 $5,09,900.00 $4,99,000.00 1518 5Th 1968 Single Fam 3 No 3

BHHS Knight & Gardner Realty Outside Of MLS 21/11/18 $4,10,000.00 $3,65,000.00 3314 Northside Dr, #11 1985 Condo 3 No 3

Keller Williams KW Compass Coldwell Banker Schmitt 15/11/18 $4,99,000.00 $4,71,000.00 1901 Roosevelt Blvd, #103 N 1984 Condo 2 Yes 2

Coldwell Banker Schmitt Bascom Grooms Real Estate 21/11/18 $9,20,000.00 $8,90,000.00 1800 Atlantic Blvd, A303 1985 Condo 2 Yes 2

Coastal Collection Real Estate Inc. Keller Williams KW Compass 15/11/18 $4,99,000.00 $4,75,000.00 717 Fort 1933 Duplex 2 No 1

Preferred Properties Outside Of MLS 19/11/18 $10,99,000.00 $9,80,000.00 912 Truman Ave., #1 1899 Single Fam 4 No 1

Richard Padron And Associates Royal Palms Realty 19/11/18 $22,95,000.00 $20,00,000.00 908 Seminary 1943 Single Fam 4 No 1

Keller Williams KW Compass Keller Williams KW Compass 15/11/18 $23,95,000.00 $21,75,000.00 518 Emma 1995 Single Fam 4 No 0

Based on information from the KWAR MLS for Nov 8th, 2018 thru November 23rd, 2018

305.296.9911 • RedBarnTheatre.com • 319 Duval • Old Town Key West

REDBARNTHEATRE

A Hysterical & Heartwarming Christmas StoryDecember 11,2018 thru January 5,2109

Starring Trey Gerrald and Don BeardenCostumes by Christopher Peterson

“It’s Flat-OutWonderful!”

-The Calgary Herald

Written byDarrinHagen

Directed byChristopher

Peterson

Documents

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