Scout builds new home

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Coral Shores senior and Boy Scout Keegan Wittke, 17, worked to create a new bird enclosure at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center with help from fellow volunteers in order to achieve Eagle Scout status. CINDY SMITH/Contributed

A NATURAL LEADER

Tavernier Eagle Scout candidate rallies community for bird center repairs

CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

On March 11, Tavernier resident Keegan Wittke stood with a clipboard and watched as volunteers dismantled an old enclosure at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. The group was building a new home for Ruby the broad-winged hawk and Junior the great horned owl. Keegan looked at his long to-do list: make the new enclosure compatible with the center’s standards; install new wooden posts on the old footprint to avoid permit issues; cover the enclosure with wire caging, recruit more volunteers; and, probably most importantly, fundraising to cover the project’s cost. For those who are wondering: No, Keegan is not a general contractor or an engineer. Nor is he an architect or a construction worker. The 17-year-old Coral Shores High school junior is a Boy Scout who created the bird enclosure project in order to earn Eagle Scout status. Keegan has been in the local scout program for years, moving up from Cub Scout to Boy Scout. With an eye on becoming an Eagle Scout, he first thought of building a new bird enclosure years ago. “As a kid, I went to the bird center a lot,” he told Keys Weekly. “It’s a place that’s very dear to me. One of the workers mentioned an Eagle Scout project done there a while before, so I considered that a good idea. Late last year, I emailed the center’s executive director, Jordan Budnik, and we made a plan to take down that old bird enclosure.” Budnik is thrilled with Keegan’s project. “His work on the enclosure is beautiful,” she said. “He has been diligent in leading his peers and we can all tell he is putting his heart into it.” Bayleigh MacHaffie, assistant director of the bird center, is helping Keegan manage the project. “When we found out that Keegan was interested in restoring one of our sanctuary’s enclosures, we were thrilled,” she said, explaining that Ruby and Junior’s permanent home was old and in need of repair. “The project has proven to be more difficult than anticipated. Keegan has risen to the challenge. He and his crew have worked tirelessly.” Leaders from Scout Troop 914 are delighted with Keegan’s project. “We are all proud of Keegan’s hard work and dedication, and his many years of scouting,” said Jason Swensson, committee chair member for the troop. “We couldn’t be happier. It’s very close to completion. … An Eagle Scout project is the pinnacle of scouting and has to be completed by age 18. It has to be something that a Boy Scout comes up with on his own. In a nutshell, it helps them develop life skills.” In his attempt to become an Eagle Scout, Keegan is following in some big footsteps. Other Eagle Scouts include such high achievers as film director Steven Spielberg, astronaut Neil Armstrong, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Nobel Prize winner for chemistry William Moerner. If he chooses, the sky is the limit for Keegan. Local charitable humanitarian Cindy Smith has also watched Keegan’s project with pride and has been inspired to photograph his progress. “He was always a very polite and kind young man,” she said, explaining that she has been a family friend for years. “His project is near and dear to my heart. The bird sanctuary needs all the help it can get. Since COVID, they have been hurting.” But perhaps no one is more proud than Keegan’s mom, Paula Wittke. “Scouting has taught Keegan many skills,” she said. “It has helped him grow as an individual, to be a good leader and follower, work as a team to accomplish goals and to persevere. We feel blessed to have the leadership and community behind us. But more than that, the friendships that have been made through scouting are priceless. … I could not be more proud of my son.” For families who are interested in signing up a young man for the local Boy Scout troop, email tim.stanfill@scouting.org for more information. For readers who would like to support Keegan’s Eagle Scout project, go to gofundme.com/f/eagle-scout-project-wildbird-rehab-center.

ISLAND VIBES

Sand castles, a mermaid and more return to Founders Park Beach

Island tunes, sand sculptures and art galleries galore graced Founders Park Beach for the return of Island Fest on April 2-3. Organized by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, the 30th annual event saw festival-goers enjoying a pristine day on the beach as they listened to reggae music by Toko Irie and beach tunes by I Land Vibes. Not far away, a row of art galleries and craft tents had people checking out paintings, photographs and more. With entertainment and art came food and drinks offered by a number of vendors. Races on the water, a car show and the Taste of Islamorada food contest highlighted an action-packed weekend at the beach. — Jim McCarthy

1. Mermaid Bubbles sits in her chair by the water.

2. The crew at Florida Keys Brewing Co. spend the day dishing out some of the best island brews.

3. Art tents line the path near Founders Park Beach.

4. Island Fest-goers enjoy the water, a hula hoop and drinks.

5. Italian Food Company owner Tony Wright puts the fi nishing touches on a pizza fresh out of the oven.

6. Anthony puts on an art apron to paint a dolphin.

Photos by Jim McCarthy. Visit keysweekly. com for a full gallery.

JABRA ENHANCE SERIES ENHANCE THE SOUND. NOT THE NOISE.

The Jabra Enhance Plus is specifically for people who have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss who are looking to improve their hearing ability in certain social settings while still enjoying the many benefits of a connected wireless earbud.

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Scan this on your phone to connect directly with CALL TO START YOUR HEARING JOURNEY!

MIAMI 17670 NW 78th Avenue #201 (305) 403-9325

MARATHON 11400 Overseas Highway - Suite 209 Town Square Mall (305) 747-7750

HOMESTEAD Towers Professional Plaza 151 NW 11th St., Ste. W-301 (305) 809-7663

SUPPORTING CITIZENS

MORE FUNDS AIMED AT NONPROFITS PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Some $2 million is available to nonprofit organizations serving residents in the Florida Keys. With an application process beginning, members of the county’s Human Services Advisory Board convened inside the Marathon Government Center on March 30 to discuss the funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Grants provided by the advisory board are funded by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. Created in 1991, the advisory board funds community-based nonprofits that provide health and social services to citizens. The board reviews funding requests from non profit human services agencies and provides recommendations to the BOCC. The advisory board’s recommendations are based on the county’s needs, agency capability and past performance and an established set of guidelines. Since 2014, the county’s granted $17.5 million in funds to local nonprofits serving communities from Key Largo to Key West. In the current fiscal year, some 30 nonprofits were awarded $2,050,000 in funding. With a new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, grant applications are available to nonprofits. They’ll have until May 18 to submit applications. Board member Sandra Higgs, representing District 2, proposed that the advisory board break down funding allocations by percentage to nonprofits in health, core services and quality of life. Per her proposal, nonprofit agencies providing health services to citizens would get 40% of the available funds, while core services would also obtain 40%. The remaining 20% of funding would go to nonprofits providing quality of life services. In last year’s funding cycle, $525,000, or 26%, went to medical services, $1.2 million, or 62%, to core services and $255,000, or 12%, to quality of life services. “I’m trying to protect health care. That’s the main emphasis,” Higgs said. “Without health care, we have nothing.” Board member David Manz, representing District 4, said he had no disagreement with the philosophy, so long as it wasn’t a rigid guideline. Board members voted 3-0 to go with Higgs’ guideline for allocating funds to various agencies. With more funding for medical services available, it could help the likes of Florida Keys Area Health Education Center, or AHEC. The nonprofit was among several in the medical services category receiving county funds last year. Providing direct medical care and oral health services to medically vulnerable children, AHEC didn’t obtain the $650,000 it requested from the state legislature this year to run vital programs. And it completely blindsided Michael Cunningham, CEO of AHEC. It comes after Keys AHEC expanded its services to bring a mobile dental unit to Monroe County schools. AHEC said the dental van will be providing services to students this summer. Also hoping to obtain funding is Chapters Health System, which provides hospice services in the Florida Keys. Adam Stanfield, vice president of development and executive director, and Lisa Moeller, grants writer, offered brief comments to the board regarding their organization. Sheryl Schwab, executive director of the Domestic Abuse Shelter, and Diana Flenard, executive director of MARC House, also offered comments of appreciation to the board.

MY LISTING: 101 GULFVIEW DRIVE 311 JUST SOLD! KEITH ALLEN

Each Office is Individually Owned and Operated

305-481-5544 realkeys@bellsouth.net

www.TheRealKeys.com

Covering All The Keys From Key Largo To Key West

Upper Keys Weekly 91760 O/S Hwy, Ste 3 Tavernier, FL 33070 305.363.2957 Marathon Weekly 9709 O/S Hwy Marathon, FL 33050 305.743.0844

Key West Weekly 5450 MacDonald Ave, Ste 5 Key West, FL 33040 305.453.6928

FACTS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR

Sam Steele

monroetaxcollector.com 305.295.5000

APRIL

• Property tax installment applications for the 2022 tax roll are due by April 30.

• All unpaid property tax became delinquent as of April 1. Payments must be made in certified funds and must include 3% interest on the

March amount.

• All unpaid tangible personal property tax payments must include interest at a rate of 1.5% per month and a $10.00 collection fee.

• We now have an online appointment system for concealed weapon permits, passports, and road and written exams for driver license services. Please visit our website to schedule an appointment. • A property that is being rented out 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.

• A local business tax is required for

ALL property rentals, regardless of how long they are being rented.

• We now accept Apple Pay in all of our office lobbies, and we also accept PayPal for online transactions.

• Please visit our website for helpful information, forms, applications, and important announcements.

FKEC will install new, improved poles on the opposite side of U.S. 1 between the Overseas Highway and a small side road on the bayside. This project is necessary to further protect power delivery from the mainland to the 80,000-plus accounts south of MM 80. CONTRIBUTED

POLES SWITCHING SIDES

Relocation at Sea Oats Beach set for later in 2022

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative is starting the Sea Oats Beach storm-hardening pole relocation project in Islamorada. With severe beach erosion threatening the stability of this vital section of the transmission system, the project is necessary to protect power delivery from the mainland to the 80,000-plus accounts south of MM 80. Once surrounded by more beach, the poles are now being encroached on by the Atlantic Ocean. During Hurricane Irma, waves battered this equipment, nearly pushing over one pole, requiring emergency repairs. To significantly harden this section and avoid future vulnerability, FKEC will install new, improved poles on the opposite side of U.S. 1 between the Overseas Highway and a small side road on the bayside. In addition to increasing reliability, the relocation improves public safety by minimizing the potential for a pole to fall onto U.S. 1. It also reduces distribution lines crossing the highway, eliminating lane closures for future maintenance or repairs. There are also environmental benefits, which include removing the poles from the turtle nesting beach area and the wetland habitat near Sunset and Iroquois drives. Over the next several weeks, FKEC contractor Massey-Richards Surveying & Mapping will survey and mark the area. During all phases of the project, FKEC is committed to working with members directly affected by any construction or vegetation maintenance and keeping the public notified of the project’s progress. While installing the new poles, which is estimated to begin in the fall or winter of 2022, there should be no significant power service interruptions or lane closures on U.S. 1. FKEC and the utility contractor will work strategically to minimize any inconveniences in this area. To help pay for this multi-milliondollar storm-hardening improvement, FKEC worked diligently to obtain a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. In January 2022, FKEC officially received a FEMA hazard mitigation grant covering 75% of the project’s cost, which amounts to about $7.5 million. The grant comes from funds allotted by FEMA to Monroe County to further strengthen infrastructure. With FKEC’s transmission system responsible for delivering power from the mainland to its service territory and beyond to the Lower Keys, relocating and further storm hardening the system at Sea Oats beach was deemed a top priority project by the county, state and federal governments. This project is independent of FDOT’s work to raise the roadbed. For questions or concerns, call FKEC at 305-852-2431.

TWO WATER INCIDENTS RESULT IN FATALITIES

KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

Two on-the-water incidents resulted in fatalities last weekend in the Upper Keys. On the evening of April 2, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was notified of a single-boat accident in Key Largo. The accident happened on Dusenbury Creek near the northern entrance to Tarpon Basin. According to an FWC report, the boat was found in the mangroves on the bayside at MM 102. FWC reported that Roybel Lazaro Iturralde, 33, of Miami, died in the accident. Rael Eduardo Rodriguez, of Hialeah, suffered head, arm and leg injuries. He was taken to Jackson South Medical Center. His condition was unavailable. Per the FWC report, alcohol was a factor in the boating accident. Speed and darkness also played a role. “Our sincere condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time,” FWC said in a statement. The following day, a male tourist died after losing consciousness in the water off the Upper Keys. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, a man was diving with Captain Slate’s Scuba Adventures on April 3 at about 10:15 a.m. on Crocker Reef in approximately 20 feet of water. He was topside after a dive when he stated that he was not feeling well. He then lost consciousness. CPR began on the boat. The U.S. Coast Guard responded and took him to shore while they also performed CPR. He was taken to Mariners Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m. The investigation is ongoing. Foul play is not expected to be a factor in the incident. Autopsy results are pending. — Weekly staff report

CAPTURING THE KEYS THROUGH WATERCOLOR

Hermit Artist finds gallery, but catches fire again

This is the second in a two-part series on the Hermit Artist of Key Largo

It seemed that Harry Sonntag, the Hermit Artist of Key Largo, found his peace when he arrived on Key Largo. In 1952, Sonntag strolled into the office at the Key West Citizen and told his story to reporters. The impression he left behind was that “he has found greater happiness and satisfaction than he has ever known.” According to the newspaper story, Harry planned to “stop his wanderings.” When his Manhattan studio went up in flames, reportedly taking all his art with it, Sonntag left New York and hitchhiked down to the Florida Keys. In the late 1940s, circa 1949, he found a picturesque piece of oceanfront Key Largo property, set up camp, and built a shack from driftwood and tar paper. It overlooked a clear Atlantic cove where Harry bathed, fished, and soaked up the lights and colors of the sub-tropical mornings and sunsets. Sonntag used his watercolors to capture what he saw. At first, he displayed his growing collection on the walls of his oceanside shack, but as his collection of watercolors grew, his desire to show them outgrew the wall space of his tarpaper shack. Just up the highway a bit, in the area of MM 99, there was an abandoned fruit packing house.

The Key Largo Art Gallery. JIM HADLEY/Contributed Back when Flagler’s train was still steaming up and down the island chain, farmers brought their produce to packing houses built near the train’s right-of-way so that it could be crated, loaded into train cars and shipped to northern markets. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane put an end to train service in the Florida Keys and, apparently, the usefulness of the packing house that once stood at MM 99. By the time Sonntag arrived in the Florida Keys, the structure had fallen into disrepair. He approached the building’s owner and asked what he thought about the space being used as an art gallery. The owner either thought it was a great idea, or he could not have cared less. Either way, he agreed to let Sonntag use the old packing house free of charge. Sonntag’s Key Largo Art Gallery opened in 1951 and was advertised with two roadside signs. The hand- painted sign that read “Open” appeared at the front door when BRAD BERTELLI Harry was at the gallery. The second hand-painted sign read “Key Largo Art Gallery” and was displayed atop is an author, speaker, and Florthe old wooden roof of the packing house in hopes of capturing the eyes ida Keys historian. of passing motorists. His latest book, Hours of operation were at “The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files,” is a fun blend of two of his favorite the discretion of the artist. While Sonntag sold his work roadside, the paintings did not come with roadsubjects — Florida side prices and were not subject to Keys history and negotiations. His original watercolors the Skunk Ape. sold for between $55 and $65 each. Roadside patrons pitching lowball offers were ignored. And then, for the second time in his career, the Harry Sonntag Collection was allegedly lost in a fire. The May 26, 1955, headline of the Homestead News read: “Famous Art Gallery Destroyed by Fire Sunday.” The story reported that Sonntag left the building at about 7 p.m. Friday. The entire contents of the structure, including his paintings, were destroyed. Shortly after that, the Hermit Artist of Key Largo disappeared from the Florida Keys. Sonntag passed away in St. Petersburg, Florida, just a year before his collection was rediscovered in 1992. Frank McNall happened to be driving past a Kissimmee storage unit when he stopped to talk with a woman clearing out one of the units. He bought a couple of items from her, and before he drove away in his truck, she said, “You can take this old bag of art my husband and I found on St. Thomas if you want.” The old bag of art was saved twice that day. Later that afternoon, Frank’s friend Chuck Faulkner was visiting and suggested that Frank get the bag out of his truck in case it started to rain. A Florida afternoon deluge poured down an hour later. Thankfully, the bag filled with the lost collection of Harry Sonntag, including 170 original watercolors, photographs and newspaper articles that would have been otherwise destroyed in the shower and likely tossed into a Dumpster, was moved inside. Faulkner has worked to keep the Harry Sonntag Collection intact for three decades. He has always believed that the collection would become something lesser if it was sold off one painting at a time, and, for the last 30 years, Chuck has worked to keep the collection whole. The collection has not lived in the Florida Keys since 1955 and deserves to come home to stay. Patrons interested in this one-of-a-kind Florida Keys treasure can contact me at 305-395-9889 or whypanic@ aol.com. For more information about Harry and his art, visit www.harrysonntag.com.

alex@keysweekly.com

CALMING WATERS

Marathon’s Sombrero Beach drew the attention of local residents as it posted elevated bacteria levels throughout the month of March. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

ELEVATED BACTERIA LEVELS AT KEYS BEACHES DROP SIGNIFICANTLY IN LATEST DOH WATER QUALITY TESTS

High levels of bacteria found in nearshore waters off several Keys beaches during water quality tests throughout the month of March have significantly subsided, according to new samples collected on March 30. Conducted by the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, the routine biweekly tests look for the presence of enteric bacteria (enterococci) in the waters off 11 Keys beaches. As bacteria typically inhabiting the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, its presence generally indicates fecal pollution caused by a variety of potential factors including runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage. When present in high numbers, the bacteria have the potential to cause infections, rashes and other diseases in humans. The U.S. EPA’s recommended standards classify water containing 0-35 enterococcus bacteria per 100 milliliters of water as “good,” 36-70 as “moderate” and 71 or greater as “poor.” Though a “poor” water quality test may not close a beach, the department issues an advisory for potential health risks in areas with water in the “poor” range. During the March 16 tests, five Keys beaches tested with “poor” water quality, triggering or continuing warnings at Key Largo’s Harry Harris County Park (150), Islamorada’s Founders Park (124), Big Pine Key’s Bahia Honda Oceanside (87) and Key West’s South Beach (99). Marathon’s Sombrero Beach, with a count of 1184 – more than 16 times the threshold for “poor” water quality, and nearly eight times higher than any other Keys beach – drew the ire of local residents on social media, with some suggesting that overuse of Marathon’s beaches and Boot Key Harbor were to blame for the high bacterial counts. Sombrero’s water earned a “moderate” rating on Feb. 1 and progressed to “poor” ratings during the Feb. 15 and March 1 tests. Other than a single test in October 2021, it was the first time the beach had earned a “poor” rating since July 2020. The story was largely the same at other beaches, several of which were labeled as “poor” throughout March. But just two weeks later, tests on March 30 revealed “good” water quality at 10 of 11 Keys beaches, including all five previously labeled as “poor.” Five of the 11 beaches tested with a bacterial count of 1, including Sombrero Beach. Only Smathers Beach in Key West (42) earned a “moderate” rating. James Rachal is the environmental manager for the DOH in Monroe County. While he said the bacterial counts like Sombrero’s made him do “a double take,” he would be far more concerned if other Keys beaches hadn’t had elevated counts all at the same time. He noted that the simultaneous decline in water quality for Upper Keys beaches, which typically yield cleaner samples, is an indicator that environmental factors throughout the island chain might be at play. “It would be more typical this time of year, just because you have more opportunities when the water is warming up, which is conducive to bacterial growth,” said Rachal. “At this time last year, I didn’t see any of these kinds of numbers. … But there’s no way to say that it wasn’t birds, that it wasn’t entirely natural, or that it wasn’t a boat that just happened to dump.” Cold and windy stretches, as well as heavy human traffic in the water, may stir up sediment on the seafloor where bacteria live and multiply. Rachal says this turbid water may yield high counts, but so could several other chance events, including something as simple as a flock of birds vacating the area before a sampling team’s arrival. “We try to be very pristine and collect our sample with good clear water if it’s there,” Rachal said. “But as far as what happened before we got there, we can’t say. You’ll have people that have all kinds of theories, and I have theories too, but nothing I can officially point my finger at. There’s just no way to pinpoint it.” For updated water quality test results, visit www.tinyurl.com/monroebeaches.

Rotary Interact club members from Coral Shores High School collect food and monetary donations during a food drive in November 2021. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

FILL THE PANTRY

Interact club hosts spring food drive

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Rotary Interact club members at Coral Shores High School are hoping to stock the shelves of a food pantry throughout the summer for fellow students. The community is invited to help them achieve their goal this weekend outside Winn-Dixie in Tavernier. Senior Mya Rodriguez and fellow Interact students will gather food and donations to stock the high school pantry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10. Rodriguez, the Interact fundraising chair, said index cards placed throughout the store will let shoppers know the items the club is looking to obtain to benefit students when school’s out for the summer. Items include everything from canned products, like soup and Chef Boyardee, to chips and popcorn. “If people see the index card and are feeling like they want to help, they can grab something and leave it by the table with a sign explaining what we are and what we are doing,” she said. “Following the food drive, student volunteers will drive the items to the school.” The school’s food pantry supports students who are in need of items that they otherwise might not be able to get. The pantry served those in need following Hurricane Irma in 2017 and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Interact members, with help from the community, have worked to keep the shelves stocked throughout the school year. And they’re hoping to keep the pantry plentiful when school’s out in late May. Last November, Interact students stationed outside Winn-Dixie collected shopping carts full of grocery items thanks to generous community members. “You wouldn’t think about it that much, but kids go to school from 7 in the morning until 3,” Rodriguez said. “Students have to wait 11 to 12 to get breakfast, so most of the kids stop by the pantry and grab a bag of chips or a can of soup. They can eat it in school when they’re hungry before or after lunch.” Students also stop by the food pantry after school and grab some items to eat. “It’s little by little,” she said. “It’s not someone who takes a little bit of everything, but it’s someone who takes something.” Those wishing to donate food or monetary donations can also contact the school office at 305-853-3222.

Lecture on Caribbean king crabs and the reef

The Florida Keys History & Discovery Center presents “How Caribbean king crabs might help save Florida’s coral reef” a lecture on Wednesday, April 13, with Jason Spadaro, Mote postdoctoral research fellow. Spadaro researched the “cascading effects” of the Caribbean king crab on coral reef communities. The crabs, which are native to Florida and the Caribbean, act as “reef goats” that eat almost any type of seaweed, and they eat a lot of it. When introduced to experimental plots on coral reefs, the crabs reduced the seaweed cover by 50% to 80%, resulting in a three- to five-fold increase in coral recruitment and reef fish community abundance and diversity. Spadaro and his fellow researchers believe that boosting the presence of these crabs in the wild could help combat the seaweed problem and ultimately restore the reefs. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the lecture begins at 6 p.m. The lecture is at the Keys History & Discovery Center and Islander Resort Conference Center, MM 82. Lectures are free for members and $10 for non-members. Secure your seat with an advance registration at 305-922-2237 or https:// www.tickettailor.com/events/floridakeyshistorydiscoverycenter/665511.

Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet April 19

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will meet virtually from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19. Council members will discuss an update from the Florida Keys and South Florida ecosystem connectivity team, and consider a resolution in support of Everglades restoration. Also on the agenda are several updates from sanctuary staff in anticipation of the upcoming Restoration Blueprint draft rule release. The Florida Keys Chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will also give an update. Public comment will be accepted via email to floridakeys@noaa.gov during the meeting. An agenda and supporting materials are posted at https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac. For questions or information prior to the meeting, please contact Liz Trueblood (elizabeth.trueblood@noaa.gov).

AAA: Gas prices declining after oil price drop

Florida gas prices are declining again after jumping 13 cents early last week. The state average briefly reached $4.24 per gallon on March 29. However, Florida gas prices have since declined a total of 7 cents in the past five days, and that downward trend is likely to continue this week, unless oil prices rebound. On April 3, the average price for gasoline in Florida was $4.17 per gallon.

Young musician opportunities and scholarships

Young musicians of the Florida Keys can practice and perform with the Keys Community Concert Band "Pops in the Park." The experience could include a music scholarship to spend on "anything musical" and community service points for high school students. Participants must be able to read notes and play a band instrument. Beginners and advanced musicians are welcome. Rehearsals are Monday, April 11 and Monday, April 18 at Key Largo School band room at MM 105. Beginners play from 6 to 7 p.m. (conducted by "Miss Kat" from PKS). Advanced musicians play from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (conducted by Eric Tindle, musician from Miami). Learn and love the music from patriotic marches to Disney performed at the free concert on Saturday, April 23 at Founders Park at 4 p.m. To register, contact your band director or call/text 305-394-1123 for more information.

Look out for manatees when boating

Manatees are leaving their winter refuges and are more likely to be in rivers, canals and nearshore waters. Florida boaters are also enjoying the season, so it is crucial to stay alert and avoid manatees while traveling through Florida’s waterways. From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercraft. Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions. Manatees can be difficult to detect when they are underwater, so it is important for operators of boats and personal watercrafts to be vigilant. You can help protect manatees by following these simple guidelines: Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees; avoid boating in shallow areas where manatees graze on seagrass; look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below; never push a stranded manatee back into the water; and report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888404-FWCC (3922) or by dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone so trained responders can assist.

NEW LOCALS DIVE PROGRAM

I.CARE and partners secure funding to take locals coral planting for free

TIFFANY DUONG

tiffany@keysweekly.com

I.CARE – Islamorada’s coral restoration program run out of Bud ‘N Mary’s Marina – has exciting news for local divers. Thanks to new funding, you can come learn about current coral planting efforts and dive for free. Funding for the locals dive program is made possible through partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory, which informs many of the coral nursery and planting techniques being employed by I.CARE citizen-scientists. Generous donations from Bass Pro/ Worldwide Sportsman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grants and individuals and local businesses also helped. “We are so excited about being able to offer this to the community,” said Mike Goldberg, co-founder of I.CARE and owner of Key Dives, one of the nonprofit’s core community partners. Here are the details: • Participating dive shops: Key Dives, Islamorada Dive Center and Conch Republic Divers, alternating each week • Every Friday at 10:30 am: “Continuing Education Courses - Monitoring and Maintenance” Local divers train on coral monitoring and maintenance techniques at a participating dive shop before making two dives in the afternoon to assist I.CARE monitoring or maintenance. There are two separate trainings. All workshops and diving are free. Tanks and weights included. No training necessary for repeat trips. Limited to six local divers each week. • Every Saturday at 8:30 am: “Coral Reefs and Restoration Basics - Everything You Need to Know” Local divers attend a coral workshop at Bud ‘N Mary’s Marina (open to the public, including non-divers). The workshop includes an overview of the local coral reef system, its health, the science behind I.CARE’s methods and a tour of the Islamorada land-based nursery. Note: there are 1,000s of coral babies. Cost: $25 donation to I.CARE. The afternoon session will include two dives on local reefs with a participating dive shop to help with coral restoration. Dives are free. Tanks and weights included. Limited to eight local divers each week. • Every third Sunday: same as Saturdays. • This program will continue through April 2024. Since the start, I.CARE has functioned as a community-led, -run, -funded and -focused endeavor. Its mission is to restore Islamorada’s coral reef ecosystem, and, by proxy, the local Keys economy that relies on it. Community engagement and education are critical pillars in the efforts. This new funding will allow the nonprofit to take that message further and to involve more locals. “Who better to restore our reefs than a local diver?” asked Goldberg. “Anyone that lives here knows that our economy is dependent on a living coral reef. So, our goal is to create an army of local divers to help restore what is essentially their own back yard.” Local divers who participate will assist with monitoring, maintenance and actual coral plantings on local Islamorada reefs. They will also come to understand what kind of data I.CARE scientists are collecting and how that data is used to assess reef health. For more information and to reserve your seat, email info@icareaboutcoral.org with your name, phone number and dive experience. Every Monday, you will receive a text message telling you which dive shop has space and the contact number to sign up.

Goldberg concluded, “Let’s face it: we’ve lost 95% of our corals, so for us to win this war, we need the help of our Keys divers.”

Local divers can dive for free to help I.CARE restore the reef. KYLIE SMITH/Contributed

Pictured left, a baby elkhorn coral on its outplant day. Pictured right, the same coral 10 months later. MIKE PAPISH/ Underwater Exploring

Outplanted corals eventually grow onto the reef and reattach. KYLIE SMITH/Contributed

Clean material is delivered to the staging site, then placed onto a barge and spread out through the length of the canal. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

RESTORE AT CANAL 84

More than 30 truckloads of decaying material removed

Monroe County is underway with its water quality improvement and restoration project on canal No. 84 in Rock Harbor in Key Largo. The restoration project is funded by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Keys Stewardship grant. Canal No. 84 is rated as a poor water quality canal that does not meet the state's minimum thresholds for dissolved oxygen levels in the canal. For this project, 32 truckloads of decaying organic vegetation were removed during the past 60 days. The organic removal process removes the decaying material on the canal's bottom that affects oxygen and can also cause a strong sulfur (rotten egg) odor. Backfilling of the canal areas that are too deep started earlier this month, with 235 truckloads of fill material anticipated to be deposited into the canal before it is finished. Backfilling raises the canal bottom to an optimum depth (about 7 feet) to allow maximum flushing and tidal flow in and out of the canal. These restoration techniques will increase the amount of oxygen in the canal, increasing its health and the amount of marine life in it. The project is scheduled to be completed in June. In addition to the project, the residents will be installing and maintaining an air curtain to keep seaweed from re-entering the canal once the project is complete. The county also received a Hurricane Irma grant from the state Department of Economic Opportunity for breakwater repairs outside of this canal, which are scheduled to begin this year. "This canal restoration project has been five years in the making. The residents have been extremely helpful partners every step of the way," said Rhonda Haag, Monroe County chief resilience officer. "These improvements are anticipated to restore the impaired waters of the canal and bring the dissolved oxygen levels up to meet marine water quality standards." Additional restoration projects for other poor and fair water quality canals in the Florida Keys will come forward as additional funding allows. Canal restoration improves the overall health of nearshore waters. To learn more about canal restoration, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/canals. — Contributed

The canal's depth is checked before the clean material is placed into the canal. The depth will be brought to a healthy 7 feet to promote the best oxygen levels.

JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ONE OF FLORIDA’S LARGEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc., is seeking private sector and/or nonpro t board members to ll three board seats. One member from either Miami-Dade or Monroe county to be appointed by the Governor and two members from Monroe county to be appointed by the local governing board. To quality members must meet the following statutory requirements, as de ned is Chapter 1002.83, Florida statutes.

Private sector business members, either for-pro t or nonpro t, who do not have, and none of whose relatives as de ned in s. 112.3143 has, a substantial nancial interest in the design or delivery of the

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (1002.51 – 79, Florida Statutes) or the School Readiness

Program (1002.81 – 995, Florida Statutes).

To complete an application please visit https://bit.ly/ELCMDM_BOD or scan the QR code.

For more information contact Kristine Gregory 305-646-7220 kgregory@elcmdm.org

About the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe: Established by the Florida Legislature to administer and provide access to Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and School Readiness Program at the local level in all 67 counties. Board members include: a Department of Children and Families regional administrator or his or her permanent designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the department; a district superintendent of schools or his or her permanent designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the district; a local workforce development board executive director or his or her permanent designee; a county health department director or his or her designee; a children’s services council or juvenile welfare board chair or executive director from each county, if applicable; a Department of Children and Families child care regulation representative or an agency head of a local licensing agency as defined in s. 402.302, where applicable; a president of a Florida College System institution or his or her permanent designee; one member appointed by a board of county commissioners or the governing board of a municipality; a Head Start/Early Head Start director; a representative of private for-profit child care providers, including private for-profit family day care homes; a representative of faith-based child care providers; a representative of programs for children with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; additional members who must be private sector business members, either for-profit or nonprofit. The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring high-quality early education for children in Miami-Dade and Monroe. Through a community-based collaborative approach, we are committed to promoting high-quality early learning, advocating on behalf of children, and preparing every child for success in both school and life.

MONITORING CORAL HEALTH

CONSERVATION TIP

Always be mindful of your ocean environment. Keep the trash in the boat and your hands off the reef.

This weekend, get your coral outplanting fi x with Key Dives.

A large stand of elkhorn corals on Horseshoe Reef is home to many marine animals. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

THIS WEEK’S DIVE REPORT

Thank goodness things began to die down this week. The winds weren’t bad, but it did take a bit to get our stellar visibility back. Winds can often create currents and churn, which can stir up the bottom and make the water look “milky.” We had the good luck to take the University of Miami out again. They were conducting a coral research dive to study the health of corals at certain sites. For us, it’s really rewarding not only to plant endangered corals with I.CARE, but also to facilitate cutting-edge research with groups like U.Miami. Healthy corals on the reef is good news for the entire ecosystem. As we’ve witnessed, as we lose corals and the structure they provide, tiny benthic fishes lose their habitat and feeding grounds. Without the little fish, we soon lose our bigger fish that bring our fishermen to town. It’s a slippery slope, and it all relies on healthy corals. That’s why we do what we do with I.CARE. One strange thing this week: we did have to worry about schools of Portuguese man-o-wars that blew in on Sunday. These blueish, jelly-like animals are often confused with

jellyfish, even though they aren’t classified in the same family. Man-o-wars are actually colonies of organisms working together and living as a single organism. In this way, they’re a lot like the corals that we all love.

NEXT WEEK’S DIVE REPORT

ERIC BILLIPS Conditions through next week look favorable for diving and snorkeling. We’ll have mild winds that is the owner, captain and produce 2-foot seas throughout the week. That’s still very enjoyable, and, instructor at as a bonus, the “A/C” will be on. Islamorada Dive Center and Florida CONSERVATION UPDATE Keys Dive Center. He specializes in scuba, rebreather, We had another successful coral planting this weekend. I cannot emspearfi shing and phasize enough how much each little captaining in the bit matters. At last count (at the end Florida Keys. of February), we were sitting at 3,755 corals planted by 721 divers. That’s a lot of love and care for our coral reef.

PROUD SPONSORS OF I.CARE Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education

24

Party Time

Indian Mound neighborhood celebrates life and community

Every year, the neighborhood of Indian Mound hosts a huge block party in late March. While the event began as a celebration of life for a friend lost too soon, it’s continued as a tribute to living and enjoying the good life here in the Keys. It’s no wonder: this neighborhood is known as one of the most familyfriendly communities to live in. This past weekend, the festivities included live music from the Carousers, a crawfish boil, and so many pounds of Lou’s conch fritters and Jerry’s smoked beef jerky. As the sun went down and the band went on, kids and couples danced in the streets. Neighbors met each other and came together as a community. The evening went on well past 2 a.m. with revelers still going strong under the moonlight. — Weekly staff report

1. The annual block party brings the entire neighborhood together.

2. Neighborhood kids listened to the Carousers play all night.

3. At the head of the potluck table, a traditional crawfish boil rounded out the offerings.

4. A couple dances at the Indian Mound party.

5. Festivities lasted well past 2 a.m.

6. Everybody in the neighborhood brought a delicious plate for all to share.

7. Visitors and locals gather to eat, drink and be merry in the streets together.

8. Beloved local band the Carousers played all night.

Photos by TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

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4 5

6 7 2 3

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MORE FUR BANS

Ireland became the latest country to ban mink farming. PIXABAY/Contributed Ireland and Massachusetts town take action

Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” There’s a lot of news to report on regarding the world of fur. On March 29, Ireland became the latest country to ban mink farming. The president of Ireland, Michael Higgins, signed it into law on April 4. The last three farms operating in the country will automatically have their licenses revoked when the REEF bill becomes law. How amazing is that? THE FOX Then, on April 2 during a Saturday evening town meeting in Plymouth, Massachusetts, officials voted Reef is a red fox that was saved to ban the sale of new fur. We are on a roll now. Cities, towns, states and their citizens are all jumping from a fur farm. on board and fighting to see an end to the sale of fur He now lives in here in the United States. State by state, it will hap-Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro. pen. It makes this little fox boy happy. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: We need to implement a ban on new fur sales in Monroe County. Not because fur sales are a problem here. But so we stand in solidarity with the other communities across the United States who are taking a stand and putting their foot down to defend animals. Plus, wouldn’t it be cool to be able to say that Monroe County was the first county in Florida to do it? I think so. In other news, my mom did a really cool thing for our birthday. She posted online that she would donate $2 of her own money for every birthday card that was sent to Coral and I. Fourteen people sent us cards and one card had $10 cash inside for the charity mom chose, so last Saturday evening mom made a $40 donation to I.CARE. It was only fitting that a donation be made to a coral reef restoration organization, don’t you think? And last but not least: I have my own Reef Report merchandise now. Go ahead, take it all in. It’s a lot to handle all at once. Mom launched a bunch of designs on our online fox shop, so go take a look and see if anything catches your eye. A portion of proceeds all comes back to the foxes here, so your purchase will definitely make a difference. You can go to pawsitivebeginnings.org then head to the merchandise tab and shop away. That’s all for this week. Don’t forget you can always email me at reef@pawsitivebeginning.org with any questions you may have for your favorite fox. Reef, over and out!

SOPHIA FINDS A HOME

Keys Weekly is happy to report that thanks to this column, Sophia, an 8-year-old gray tiger tabby from the Upper Keys Humane Society, has been adopted. UKHS staff members revealed that Key Largo’s Pam Stutzman, seen here, used to volunteer for the organization and wanted to adopt an older cat for companionship for her and her dog. Congratulations, Pam. CONTRIBUTED

SAVE THE DATE

April 7-9

• Key Players “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” at 7:30 p.m. at Murray Nelson Government & Cultural Center, Key Largo.

Thursday, April 7

• Great Discussion series considers Putin’s Russia from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Key Largo library.

Friday, April 8

• National Library Week Outdoor Community Concert at 6 p.m. at Key Largo library. Visit the library website or Facebook page for additional information.

April 8-10

• Redbone Tarpon Tournament in Islamorada. Redbone.org.

Saturday, April 9

• Scale the Whale Bridge Run at 10 a.m. at Whale Harbor, Islamorada. • Swim Across America’s Florida Keys Open Water Swim. • Fundraiser for Good Health Clinic from 5 to 8 p.m. at Our Place in Paradise, MM 88.7, oceanside, Islamorada.

Monday, April 11

• Homeschool parents meet-andgreet networking event at 4 p.m. at Key Largo library. • TVM Middle School presents “Honk” at 6 p.m. at Island Community Church, Islamorada.

Wednesday, April 13

• Lecture on Caribbean king crabs and Florida’s coral reef by Jason Spadaro, of Mote Marine Laboratory, at 6 p.m. at Keys History & Discovery, Islamorada. Doors open at 5 p.m. • TVM Middle School Presents “Honk” at 6 p.m. at Island Community Church, Islamorada.

Thursday, April 14

• Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys' "Liars & Cheaters” golf tournament at 10 a.m. at Redlands Golf & Country Club, Homestead. Sign up at habitatupperkeys.org/golf/

Saturday, April 16

• Spring Fest from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Founders Park. • Full Moon Yoga with Coral Restoration Foundation from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina, Islamorada.

HOPPIN’ INTO THE EASTER EVENTS

In the Upper Keys, egg hunts and a bunny “hopstacle” course approach as Easter draws near. From egg decorating to brunches, a basket full of events for children and families are coming up in Key Largo and Tavernier.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

• Egg-Stravaganza at First Baptist Church Key Largo on Saturday, April 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For kids 12 and under. There will also be egg decorating, petting zoo and more.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

• Meet the Easter bunny at 10 a.m. at Plantation Yacht Harbor at Founders Park. Put on by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, there will be an Easter egg hunt, crafts and snacks under the pavilion at Founders Park beach.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

• Islamorada Village Parks presents Spring Fest from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Founders Park. For kids 12 and under. Activities include DJ and dance party, airbrush tattoos, face painting, kids’ coloring area and bunny “hopstacle” course. Snowcones, mini doughnuts, popcorn, drinks and more available for purchase. The Easter bunny arrives at 9:30 a.m. with an egg hung beginning at 11:30 a.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

• First Baptist Church Key Largo sunrise service at John Pennekamp State Park at 6:45 a.m. • Island Community Church sunrise service at 6:45 a.m. on Whale Harbor Beach, Islamorada. • Burton Memorial United Methodist church sunrise service at 6:45 a.m. at Harry Harris Park, Tavernier. • First Baptist Church Key Largo Easter Resurrection Sunday service at 9 a.m. • Brunch at Amara Cay Resort on Sunday, April 17 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (available to resort guests and locals seeking a staycation) • Brunch at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina on Sunday, April 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. (available to resort guests and locals seeking a staycation) • Easter dinner at Ciao Hound from 8 a.m. to noon and 2 to 9 p.m. • Easter dinner ReelCatch at Amara Cay from 2 to 9 p.m.

CONNECTING THE PUBLIC WITH MARINE MAMMALS

Annual gala supports ongoing efforts at DPMMR

Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder – the only nonprofit organization responsible for the rescue of sick and injured whales and dolphins throughout the Florida Keys – is making a return to in-person events with its third annual Connect to Protect gala on Saturday, May 7. DPMMR hosted its last Connect to Protect gala in February 2020. Event organizers are looking forward to bringing DPMMR’s flagship fundraiser back to life. “Coming off such a long break, we knew we had to plan an event that would make up for lost time. In our planning meetings, we kept circling back to one word which has become a central theme. That word is ‘re-imagined,’” said Hunter Kinney, one of the event organizers. From venue to the program lineup, Kinney said, the team has evaluated every detail and aims to elevate this year’s event, while keeping the same “hometown” feel of DPMMR’s historic events. This year’s event will be held at Playa Largo Resort in the Tavernier Ballroom and will once again feature a three-course dinner, raffles and auctions, live music, DJs, and entertainment and an open bar for the duration of the event. Kayla Lucero, a senior marine mammal specialist at DPMMR who has taken on a leadership role with this year’s gala, says she is excited about all the new “small” details being added this year, but is happy to see that the “bones” of the event aren’t changing. “There are a few elements like the all-inclusive ticket price, the DJ and dancing, and great auction item lineup that remain constant – and that is how we are ensuring that the event stays true to its brand,” she said. The second annual gala helped the organization raise over $80,000 for marine mammal conservation — specifically for initiatives to bring a marine mammal rehabilitation hospital to the Florida Keys. Nancy Cooper, president of DPMMR, wants guests who attended that gala to know, “We still have all the money we raised for the marine mammal hospital earmarked in an account and ready to go when the time comes to move forward with developing the (rehabilitation) facilities.” DPMMR had plans to begin construction on a marine mammal rehabilitation facility, which would have allowed the organization to provide long-term care to sick and injured marine mammals. These plans had to be postponed due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 shutdown. DPMMR has not lost sight of its goals, but took the opportunity to re-evaluate the steps it will take. “Like many nonprofit organizations navigating a pandemic for the first time, we had to sit down and draw up a new strategic plan, re-allocate and diversify resources, and re-align with our mission. During this process, we effectively developed a new strategic roadmap for how we can accomplish our mission to protect whales and dolphins,” Cooper said. That includes steps to continually improve the welfare of the resident animals and increase income from daily programming. Throughout the pandemic, DPMMR has continued to respond to stranded whales and dolphins and conduct research on local populations of wild dolphins, initiatives that were funded by proceeds from guest programs and donations at the facility headquarters in Key Largo. “The gala name ‘Connect to Protect’ is also our motto at DPMMR. Our goal is to connect the public with our resident marine mammals and teach them about marine conservation so that they will be inspired to help us protect marine life in the wild, all-thewhile generating the funds necessary to support field conservation work with local populations, ” Cooper said. The 2022 Connect to Protect gala is slated for Saturday, May 7, with doors opening for VIP guests at 5 p.m. and general admission at 6 p.m. Some ticket options include a year-long membership to DPMMR and access to the VIP cocktail hour and lounge during the event. More information is at www.dpmmr.org/gala. The organization is still filling sponsorship opportunities with local businesses. Ticket prices increase on April 15. — Contributed

The annual Connect to Protect Gala supports the conservation of dolphins and whales. CONTRIBUTED

JERRY WILKINSON’S LIVING LEGACY

Local historian captures history to inform our present

EMILE STEELE

www.keysweekly.com

For decades, Jerry Wilkinson and his wife, Mary Lou, have chased history — capturing it before it disappears. His interest in the history of places he has been and his association with K Wilkinson led him to become president of the Upper Keys Historical Preservation Society board of trustees. As Wilkinson explains it, “History is my teacher. Things do not occur by happenstance; history tells us why things happen today.” Wilkinson’s first trip to the Keys, on a second-hand motorcycle, when he was 19 landed him in Key West. There he found the U.S. Navy a prominent presence and decided to join. However, his eyesight kept him from doing so and he joined the Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force. He served 23 years in the Air Force supervising the installation and maintenance of radar stations. He was stationed in Guam during the Korean War; Spain, where he landed in Madrid the night Castro took over Cuba; and various bases in the United States. In 1970, he retired from his last station, Homestead Air Force Base. While in Homestead he met and married his wife, Mary Lou. For the next several years the Wilkinsons traveled a circuit that included California, teaching windsurfing; and Colorado, where they rafted the rivers, hiked mountains, and worked in stained glass. They settled in the Keys, first on Lake Surprise and then on the Atlantic, near Harry Harris Park. Wilkinson’s passion for history grew and blossomed into preserving historical artifacts, presenting, publishing and reenactments. His reenactments of Henry Flagler, James Audubon and Dr. Perrine are well known. His published works include History Talks, the society’s quarterly publication; A Bit of Keys History for The Reporter and five Images of America books titled “Key Largo” and “Islamorada” with Brad Bertelli; “Key West’s Duval Street”; “Marathon — The Middle Keys” and “Hidden History of the Florida Keys” with Laura Albritton. Many of the primary source artifacts the Wilkinsons gathered are now housed in the Jerry Wilkinson Research Library at the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center. In 2017, Wilkinson became involved with the founding of Just Older Youth Inc. and the JOY Center. He attended the open forum community meetings conducted by Betsy Baste and colleagues. When it came time to form an advisory board to pursue the mission of creating a center, Wilkinson volunteered and was selected as a board member where he served multiple terms. He is designated as a lifetime board member in honor of all the time, insight and support he has given the nonprofit. Wilkinson said history is what kept him in the Keys, but when asked what keeps him young, Wilkinson chuckles and says, “Why, having a wife 25 years younger than you.” Followed by, “Having younger people around keeps you thinking young.”

The JOY Center offers vibrant programs and lifelong learning experiences for people over 50 every Wednesday, both virtual and on-site. This bi-weekly column will feature the many dedicated people who are working to achieve this goal. For more information contact Justolderyouthinc@gmail.com.