Florida Keys host LaCrosse Tournament

Ever wonder what the game of LaCrosse is all about and how it is played? Well, you have a chance to see it first hand this weekend, April 12th, at Founders Park here in Islamorada. The Plantation Key LaCrosse team is hosting the first ever tournament for thier league.  The first game is at 10:00 am and the play should go on until 3:00pm. There will be a concession stand and plenty of excitement. Bring your lawn chair and come enjoy a day at the park.

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

The Predictions are changing

The annual hurricane conference took place this past week in the Bahamas and not to anyone's real surprise the number of hurricanes predicted for the upcoming season have been revised - and not downward. Each category increased, two only by one, but still it makes one start to think about the first of June and the possibilities.  Now is the time to review/update insurance coverages, trim palm trees, and stock up on pantry items by taking advantage of weekly sales.  Another list to update is the one which accounts for household furnishings - you the contents of your home - make additions, deletions, update photos and place with your insurance documents so everything will be in one and accessible should the need arise.

Starting to prepare now will save time and money later.

 "PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

The other side of the story

Below is a letter received by our offices from the other canidate, Jim Rhyne, in the upcoming runoff election - as I always say it is best to be informed when making any decision - whether it be buying/selling a home or casting a vote.

Just prior to the March 11 elections there was a flurry of last minute emails circulated around the village by various sources"warning" voters of impending doom should they choose to consider one candidate over another. As the victim of a few of those publications, I would like to take this opportunity to "speak" for myself rather than have other less informed sources interpret for you what they believe to be my positions or affiliations. Since it is the issue that divides my opponent and me the most, and since the scare tactics last time revolved around the issue, I will address first the wastewater issue.

I am not looking to institute a huge tax or assessment on our residents and businesses to pay for a sewer system. I am also not going to stick my head in the sand and ignore state law and our responsibility to our environment. I know we are in a difficult situation that is not of our own making. I also understand too well the potential to adversely affect our village by continuing down the current "wait and see" path or placing too heavy a burden on our citizens. In between the two extremes lies an area that will allow us to move toward compliance and clean water, and not break the bank.

Both Key Largo and Marathon have recently instituted heavily researched and thoroughly vetted financing plans that I believe principally would be appropriate for Islamorada. Since both those communities have different costs to build and different starting points as to prior grant funding allocations, (we spent all of our allotted grants on the Upper Plantation Key area, while Key Largo and Marathon have spread theirs out over their entire service areas) we could expect slightly different assessments than what they have projected. Key Largo's wastewater board is looking at a settled cost to its residents of $90- $95/month for residents with businesses paying a slightly lower cost per EDU. Marathon is projecting a settled cost of $110- $115/ resident and a similar slightly discounted plan for their businesses. Both these charges include capital cost recovery as well as operation and maintenance fees. These numbers are not out of line with the current charges NPK homeowners are paying. Hold that thought a moment.

The impetus for all of this is, of course, clean water and a healthy environment. It's interesting to note that some of our village is now paying the same fees we are so afraid of. What's the difference? A few years ago there was a bit of grant money bestowed on us. We used our freebies to make it palatable (over 50% grant funded) for one area to have a system installed. Now with no grant funding coming down the pipe, the vast majority of our village will be left to fend off the wolves. Why? Because our leaders have not recognized that their policy toward wastewater funding has to change. Those that sermonize that we should "wait and see" or "hold the states feet to the fire" are ignoring fiscal reality, state law and continued environmental degradation.

There has also been a lot made out of the fact that I have a business in Marathon. A good business decision is not one that considers emotion as one of its factors. My choice to acquire and run my business in Marathon was and continues to be driven by availability and simple cost/benefit analysis. I would even argue that it gives me a more Keys-wide view of the issues affecting us and our neighboring communities and exposes me to solutions others have found to be successful. Plus, I can be more objective regarding the business issues here in Islamorada without having a bias or personal business interests to further. Residency is, unlike business, an emotional choice. Where we live, love and laugh with our family and friends is a choice we make and don't take lightly. I have chosen this village to live in and raise my young family just as all of you have. My decision to seek a council seat is one that I made based on a keen desire to make a positive difference in all of our lives.

Obviously there may still be rumors and misrepresentations circulated about me (or my opponent) over these final days of the campaign. I encourage you to question those that come from sources other than the candidate themselves and, if in doubt at all, to contact the candidate. My contact phone and email is listed on my website at www.jimrhyne.com.

With your help, we can turn an unproductive past into a bright future.

Now you have both side's viewpoint - remember get out and vote on April 8th and in all the upcoming elections this year -

Time to Buy!!!

The TIME TO BUY in the fabulous Florida Keys is now and I have found that a lot of buyers this year are realizing that!  Properties are really starting to sell this year!  Many great deals are out there for real buyers to get in on that piece of paradise!  In the past 60 days there have been 45 sales generating $31,000,000 as a result of said sales.  Any buyer purchasing in today's market has a wonderful investment to hold on to that will tremendously blossom in the next three to five years. The buyers will look back and say "Wow, I am glad I bought when I did!"  The inventory is large and the prices are not going to get much better. I am finding that sellers are listing their homes at prices that are more realistic in today's market, leaving less negotiation room so they are getting the activity and getting the property SOLD!

So, while it the market in your court, Mr. Buyer, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY...large inventory, low prices, low interest rates in pure paradise!

PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisainfrins@florida-keys-homes.com

LaCrosse - Alive and growing in the Florida Keys

Did you know LaCrosse was first played by Native American Indians? The game was sometimes used to resolve territory disputes and at times there would be hundreds of participants. The English adopted the game and the sport has evolved to the game we have today. It is also one of the fastest growing youth sports in the Nation. Here in the Upper Keys we have four teams, Coral Shores High School Boys and Girls team (our girl's team is top ranked in the district this year), and for 6th, 7th and 8th graders the PKS Panthers team and the Key Largo Tornados. We are at the end of the season. It has been exciting and all of the kids have really improved since the beginning of practices. I should know, my oldest son participates in the sport. The game has been compared to a cross between football and hockey so the action can be intense.

Hopefully, next year Coral Shores High School will divide the Boy's team into JV and Varisty teams so that the younger freshmen players will have a chance to compete. Rumor has it - this sport is becoming bigger than football in our little community.

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

Real Estate News in the Florida Keys

Follow the link to our most recent newsletter to see how the market in the Keys is being impacted by the changes in our economy.

http://www.freewheeler-realty.com/newsletter/

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

Florida's New Portability of "Save our homes"

Portability is the new, Florida Amendment 1 , which has recently passed.  It allows homesteaded property owners

to transfer up to $500,000. of their "Save our Homes" benefits to the new home or next homestead.

The transfer of benefits for  Homestead property owners will be available, within one year,  and not more

than two years,  after selling their previous Homestead.  If the new homestead,  has a higher value,

than the previous one, the accumulated benefit can be transferred. If the new homestead has a lower just

value, the amount of benefit transferred will be reduced.  The transferred benefit  may not exceed $500,000.

This provision applies to all taxes. 

In Florida, the tax assessed value for homestead property can't go up more than 3 percent per year. We

call this a "cap".  This limitation or cap only applies to the premises you own and occupy.  The cap is

not the icing on the cake here.  The part we want is the benefit.  Okay, you own your home. Just you!

The property appraiser's office estimates that the market value of your home is $400,000. Thanks

to Save our homes cap, the taxable value of your home is only only $175,000.  The benefit is $225,000.

That is $400,000. minus $175,000. This $225,000.  you will be able to take with you, to the next

home you buy , in Florida, anywhere in Florida.  A good decision is to take that

portability and use it to purchase a home in the Florida Keys, where the prices are now realistic,

and Amendment 1 benefits allow us ,to move up, without being penalized.  Portability and prices

make the time to buy in Paradise now!

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

The Reality on Wastewater and 2010 Compliance

The political climate is heating up as we come down to the runoff election for a prominent Village Council seat - just to keep voters, property owners and residents abreast of the issues I am posting a letter recently received via email by the Florida Keys Board of Realtors from candidate David Boerner, Mayor of Islamorada, Village of Islands. Wastewater is a pressing issue here in the Keys as we try to meet State and Federal mandates.

"In the recent days my opponent has sent out letters to, and visited with, Realtors, Condominium Managers and Package Plant Operators in an attempt to frighten them into wavering from our steady course of action to fund and construct wastewater facilities for Islamorada through discussions of impending fines, liens and orders to quit operations.  This has included statements that go against the actions and efforts that the Village has been undertaking to achieve an affordable solution to our wastewater problems, including ignoring the significant steps that have been taken in the last few months and the gains achieved.

·       Gains such as the turning around of the attitude from the Corps of Engineers on resisting a local sewer project to actively participating in a reef restoration project with the $100 million appropriated by the Federal Government for this purpose after our joint trip by the mayors and wastewater managers from all the Keys to Washington last October;

·       Or the designation of the Council also last October of our next phase of our Village wide wastewater program to Indian Waterways, Indian Mound, and Lower Matecumbe;

·       Or the $3.8 million grant for the 75% EPA funded "decentralized" alternative system we are currently underway with on Lower Matecumbe;

·       Or the projected discussion for late April to define the process for achieving the final phases of our plans in Upper Matecumbe, Windley and lower Plantation Keys;

·       Or the county-wide schedule of all wastewater projects with costs and completion schedules, including Islamorada, that was submitted as requested on January 31^st to Representative Stan Mayfield of the Environmental Resources Committee of the State Legislature memorializing our commitment to achieving the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Standard in a timely manner;

·       Or the release of a $500,000 federal grant to Islamorada in March for our system at Indian Mound/Indian Waterways on Plantation Key now in the planning stage;

·       Or the progress of the joint efforts by all the wastewater entities in the County including Islamorada as a proactive participant at the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program meeting on March 7^th with the Army Corps of Engineers to set the stage for the next series of Federal grants;

·       Or that Islamorada has already provided "pipes in the ground" to over 1,300 homes and businesses with Phases 1 and 2 of the North Plantation Key project, which is now operating successfully in the initial phase and ready to be expanded soon.

Rhetoric is easy, but it must be founded in fact, and the facts are that it takes a lot of hard work on the part of many participants to work together instead of trying to destroy by conjecture.  Islamorada is working on the solutions to our wastewater issues - and in doing so we are working on cost effective solutions that provide a timely response in a manner we can afford, instead of just simple "knee-jerk" reactions to our problems.

I don't think there is any real disagreement that the water quality surrounding the Keys has declined significantly and it is necessary to act to protect our waters, reefs and back country before the decline is irreversible.  As a long time diver and angler in the Keys, I as well as many others have watched this decline with great concern, and it is documented by several noted scientific studies.  A significant contributor to that decline is from pollution, specifically Nitrogen and Phosphorous.  There are many identified sources of the pollution affecting us: drainage from the Mississippi and other major rivers draining in to the Gulf; the outfall from the heavily fertilized sugar operations above the Everglades which pour vast quantities of Nitrogen and Phosphorous into Florida Bay that was to have been corrected by the now stymied Everglades Restoration program; stormwater runoff after rain events that wash Nitrogen and Phosphorous laden fertilizers, organic compounds and animal fecal matter into the bay and ocean; and one which we can control, partially treated effluent discharges from cesspits, septic tanks and package plants throughout the Keys.  It is this last item which has brought us to the installation of central sewers and treatment plants as a proposed cost effective method of removing pollutants generated by our residents and visitors from our near shore waters.

To meet the extra level of treatment required to remove the Nitrogen and Phosphorous compounds from our effluent, the state and federal governments have ordered the Florida Keys to treat our wastewater to a standard double the rest of the country. This "Advanced Wastewater Treatment" (AWT) standard was mandated because we are surrounded by some of the most pristine water in the country and a living reef protected by a National Marine Sanctuary.  Throughout the rest of the country the standard level of treatment required is a "20-20" standard; that is 20 mg/l of suspended solids and 20 mg/l of Biological Oxygen Demand (organics), with no requirement for Nitrogen of Phosphorous removal.  For the Keys, the AWT standard is "5-5-3-1": 5 mg/l suspended solids, 5 mg/l BOD (organics), plus 3 mg/l nitrogen and 1 mg/l phosphorous.  Unfortunately this special designation and level of treatment adds between 25% and 40% to the cost of treatment and is compounded by the unique additional costs of collection systems cut into our coral rock islands.  In recognition of these exceptional costs, Tallahassee and Washington promised to assist us through grant funding - grant funding which paid for 59% of the cost of our first wastewater project on Plantation Key.

Unfortunately the government bodies that mandated the higher standards and agreed to partner with the Village to meet those standards seem to have developed a memory loss on their financial commitments to us as their own financial conditions have fallen onto troubled waters with the reduced state taxes from the collapsing real estate market in Florida and the exorbitant cost of the war on Iraq.

It has been my job through traveling to Washington with the other mayors and managers of the wastewater entities in the county and working with our state representatives to remind our "partners" of their promises of much needed grant funds.  Because of meetings I attended in Washington with our federal congressmen and women, and our strong relationship with State Representative Saunders and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, we are benefiting from a renewed commitment to share the financial burden... This is evidenced by a 75% EPA funded demonstration grant on Lower Matecumbe Key and the $500,000 Corps of Engineers participation we received in March for our next wastewater project on Plantation Key.

We are also continuing our efforts to obtain the original $100 million Corps of Engineers appropriation.  Washington now recognizes Keys wastewater project as the reef protection and restoration mission that it is, rather than just another local sewer project.  With the pending submission of our Project Cooperative Agreement to the Corps of Engineers, and the direct involvement this year by Senators Martinez and Nelson as well as Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, there is for the first time real movement in releasing the appropriated funds to the Keys.  In addition Representative Saunders continues to seek a $200 million state bond to assist us even through the lean times in the State budget by directing a continuing annual revenue stream to support the bond recognizing the commitment to participate in the protection of the state waters of Florida that are a treasure to the entire state and visited by over 4 million visitors every year.  At the same time we must work with our representatives in Washington and Tallahassee as they have requested to help them keep the pressure on their respective legislative bodies to fund these projects.  It would be easy for Congress and the Legislature to walk away from these commitments if we were to say "never-mind, we'll take care of this ourselves".  It is too easy for them to view the residents of the Keys as all being wealthy, living in million dollar homes, and this as a local problem rather than a state of federal issue.  As our representatives have pointed out, if we seek too early waivers on the commitment to the AWT standards in 2010, or relax from our efforts to obtain the assistance already committed and fund this ourselves, our requests would be easily disposed of.

There will still be a share carried by the citizens as it was on the North Plantation Key project.  And we need to be ready to continue the installation of wastewater facilities by the mid 2010 mandate.  However, a $115 million bond put on the backs of our citizens without beneficial use to fund the entire cost, including the significant additional cost to achieve those Advanced Wastewater Treatment standards, at an exorbitant cost is not the answer.  Maybe because my opponent's business and personal interests are in Marathon which is decidedly denser and has a significantly lower construction cost per EDU than Islamorada, he seems to have not considered the harmful impacts such a scheme will have on our friends and neighbors, or considered the efforts already underway by all of the wastewater entities working together in Monroe County to achieve equitable wastewater funding.

Furthermore, unlike the rosy projections that were incorrectly put forth on this bond issue, our Village Financial Director and our Rate Consultants advised Council the lowest expected interest rate on the proposed 30 year municipal bond is 5.5%, not 4%.  And such a bond also includes an initial $3,405,000 issuance cost, resulting in a projected $1,095 annual assessment ($91.25/month) and a total repayment of $24,360,952; not the $878 assessment ($73.20/month) unfairly shown to the Water Quality Committee. 

 In any event, the bond idea would result in almost 2-1/2 times the $447.51 annual assessment our residents are paying in the original North Plantation Key service area.  When you combine the bonded capital costs with the additional costs of connecting to the sewers and abandoning existing septic tanks or package plants, and the monthly utility bill to operate the system that is already in the range of $60/month (and is projected to rise significantly), you end up with an irrational undertaking. The idea of a bond to fund 100% of the cost of sewers totally on the backs of the rate payers is unreasonable and defeats the concept that it is cheaper to provide central sewer than having our residents and businesses meeting the Best Alternative Treatment (BAT) requirements on their own.

Even without the extra financing costs of bond funding the $115M cost for central sewers spread over the remaining 7,500 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) would result in an assessment to each homeowner in excess of $15,000 without any grant funding.  This greatly exceeds the $5,676 assessment charged for each household in the North Plantation Key wastewater project that waited for grant funding.  With the approximately $6,000 per home connection fee for a plumber to hook your home to the system this even exceeds the typical cost of individually converting your home to a 2010 compliant Best Available Technology (BAT) system, let alone the additional $70-$100/month utility fee to the Village to operate the system.  This upside-down cost differential between individual compliance required by the 2010 mandate and a non-grant funded Village provided central sewer becomes even more lop-sided with businesses and condos that use package plants that can convert to 2010 compliance at a much lower cost than connecting to a 100% user funded central sewer system.

The question then becomes: if it's cheaper to meet the 2010 mandate individually than through a central sewer system constructed without any state and federal participation, why go with central sewers?  The answer becomes obvious that the expensive central sewer system required for Islamorada's relatively low density compared to areas north and south of us is only practical with grant funding; because only with the reduced cost through grant funding will such a system save residents and business money over individual compliance (A common misunderstanding is that Village government is responsible for compliance.   Under the state law the 2010 mandate is on the individual homeowners and businesses to meet the enhanced wastewater standard by 2010, not the Village government.  The Village's participation is only as a municipal service provider to help reduce this cost through the economy of scale and grant equalization.)

Instead we are investigating and using other tools already provided to us by the state and federal government.  Beside grants, which we continue to pursue, State Revolving Fund loans are available.  The SRF was put in place for this purpose and avoids the large upfront costs of municipal bonds as well as requirements to pay interest on the full amount borrowed from day one. More importantly, SRF loans are attained at the much lower state subsidized 2.25% rate. And that is significant.

Additionally, the Council has unanimously supported the idea of Commissioner Neugent for a voter approved penny sales tax to supplement the burden of wastewater funding. The penny tax would shift approximately 50% of the share onto the 4 million visitors to the Keys each year.

There are also other cost effective alternatives to traditional municipal central sewers that have already been enacted by the Village and remain available to solving our wastewater issues.  When one of Islamorada's largest motels went through a redevelopment several years ago the council imposed a requirement that not only would their package plant be brought into 2010 compliance, but it would also be sized large enough to serve the neighborhood around the motel.  The decentralized system planned for Lower Matecumbe combines a modular, central treatment of the effluent from basic treatment systems (septic tank) at each homeowner's property.  This concept has the possibility of being expanded to a similar interconnection of larger package plants.  There is no specific requirement that the Village must provide a central sewer system, only that the individual homeowner and businesses comply with the 2010 discharge requirements.  It is the job instead of the Village to provide a more cost effective system for compliance, and that is through the continued efforts of all that are involved throughout the county seeking supplemental funding and support for our residents.

The Village has also provided service to over 1,300 connections in Phases 1 and 2 of the North Plantation Key project, and with completion of Phase 3 in the Indian Waterways/Indian Mound area of Plantation Key with the current grant from the Corps of Engineers, will provide service to approximately 20% of Islamorada.  With the inclusion of the decentralized system now underway on Lower Matecumbe, and the designated next phase of our central system on the balance of Lower Matecumbe, over one third of the connections in Islamorada will be provided.  This compares to Marathon which is just now putting their own first pipes in the ground like we did several years ago at Plantation Key Colony, and Key Largo which has completed their first two phases of thirteen, and is still operating on a temporary plant which has had difficulties in meeting the 2010 discharge standards.

While it is fair to say that it is unlikely that Islamorada, Marathon, Key Largo or the unincorporated areas in the Lower Keys will be completed by the July 2010 deadline, significant progress is being shown by all parties, and Islamorada has participated with the other entities in the county to provide the county wide implementation schedule requested by the Florida Legislature.  The Florida Department of Health (DOH) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) are state agencies charged with enforcement of Fl Statute 99-395 which established the 2010 mandate, and are acting as required to provide notices of required compliance.  They do not have the authority to waive this requirement.  That remains with the state legislature, which meets two more times again in 2009 and 2010 before the July 2010 compliance date, and who through Representative Mayfield's Committee on Environmental Appropriations are monitoring our progress.  This is of course the same legislative body whose state agencies committed to grant funding towards the additional expense required to meet the higher AWT standard for protecting the state and federal waters surrounding the Keys, and has fallen short.  Our local representative continues to make them aware of this.  It is our part to continue our efforts towards compliance, to maintain our cooperation with the state and federal authorities on sharing project funding, and to continue to strive towards providing a cost effective wastewater system to our residents and businesses through this cooperation.  Alternatively, if the Village cannot provide this cost effective solution to wastewater compliance through these continuing efforts, the imposition of a 100% local assessment funded wastewater system at a higher cost than individual compliance makes little sense.

We cannot burden our residents and businesses with carrying the entire cost of the wastewater funding, especially if financing comes in at a higher cost than what residents would pay to put in their own systems or businesses to upgrade their existing package plants.

Most importantly, we must continue our cooperation with Tallahassee and Washington to find reasonable methods to share and reduce this burden so we can achieve the higher level of treatment required to protect our waters.  With continued hard work, we can meet the mandate and still afford to live and run our businesses in the village.  I will continue my work with our state and federal representatives to make this happen."

Stay Informed on all the issues and learn about all the candidates - be sure to get out, be heard and VOTE.

(This is not an endorsement of any one candidate) 

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

First cold front ushers in the start of the Holiday season

Well, we have had our first cold front make its way all the way down the Florida penisula this past weekend. Air conditioners have been shut off and windows in homes opened to let the breeze from the North control our indoor climate. Temperatures have been in the low 80's during the day and high 60's at night, but soon, with the second front coming we should settle into days with highs in the 70's and cool evenings hovering around the low 60's. With the cooler temps comes the annual ceremonies honoring our Veterans, the arrival of the "big boats" in Key West for the races, the Island Christain School Christmas Festival and other festivities which announce the arrival of the Holidays and our winter season.

This Sunday, Nov 11th at 1p.m., there will be a ceremony honoring veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces at the Hurricane Monument in Islamorada. The passive park at the monument was recently renovated to enhance the monument; the new landscaping and sitting areas provide a great place to hold such ceremonies. 

The boat races are being held this weekend, Nov 9th to the 11th, in Key West. Travelers on the Overseas Highway have been able to view some of the boats as they are transported to the event. Last weekend the Budweiser Clydesdale's were in town to kick off the week long pre-race events.

The annual ICS Christmas Festival will take place on November 17th. It kicks off with the $5 all you can eat pancake breakfast starting at 7 am and will last until around 4 pm. There is always alot to see and do at the festival. Local and other craftsman/artists will have thier items on display and for sale, the rummage sale tent will be packed with bargain goods, and the auction is sure to be a big hit as always. This event is free and always a great way to start your holiday shopping.

"PLEASE CONTACT LISA FRINS AT 305-522-1479 OR EMAIL ME AT lisafrins@florida-keys-homes.com"

Halloween, Fantasy Fest and other Holiday offerings

Hurricane season is winding down and the Keys are starting to kick off various festivites and fun things to do for children of all ages. This weekend marks the end of the week long activites of Fantasy Fest. Saturday night Duval street in Key West will be filled with party-goers and parade watchers as the event comes to an end. Hopefully, the rain we have been having over the past few days will be well out of the forecast by the time the parade begins at 7pm. The next big event is being hosted next week, Nov. 1st thru the 4th as Parrotheads come to the island to hold thier annual convention.

Throughout the Keys, various events will be held over the next few days to help provide safe and fun activites for the kids as they dress up for Halloween. Here in the upper keys, Burton Memorial Church will have thier annual pumpkin patch and host a costume contest, bounce house, hayrides and other activites. The Kiwanis are hosting a halloween party for kids from age 3 to 12 and Founders Park will have a "trick n' flick" this Friday night. Underwater pumpkin carving contests have been held and local bars are having costumes contests for the adults on Oct 31st.

This weekend, Jill Hayes Photography will be at Islamorada Fishing Company, Bass Pro Shops taking pictures of "man's best friend" from 10am to 4pm. This is her first time at the Fishing Company and is being done to kick off the new line of dog/pet accessories now being carried at the Bass Pro Shop. 

The fishing is good and there is always something for everyone, as evidenced by this picture of a great catch of his first tarpon by a young local angler named DJ

My husband's secretary watches DJ on the weekends while his mother his at work. According to her, DJ is quite the angler having recently won the kid's day fishing tournament at the Fishing Company with his impressive catch of a 14lb Red Snapper.

With cooler weather on the way, the Keys are starting to gear up for the Holidays and welcome back our seasonal residents.