What’s going on across the Keys…

Friday, Feb. 3

Family Fun Night at The Kirk

Family Fun Night will be held on Friday, Feb. 3 from 5:30-7:30. Enjoy free food and fun for families of all ages. We will be making “love notes” to share. Contact Gay Ann Tangen for more information at Kirkdce@gmail.com or (305) 743-4256. KIRK of the Keys is located at 8877 Overseas Hwy. in Marathon.

MLKAR Relay for Life Auction

The annual Relay for Life Auction, sponsored by the Marathon and Lower Keys Association of Realtors, will be held Friday, Feb. 3, beginning at 6 pm, at the Sombrero Country Club.

This year’s auction will be dedicated to the memory of Brigid Moyer.

There will be a silent as well as live auction. Items in the past years have included resort stays, fishing charter trips, restaurant and spa gift certificates, fishing equipment, power tools, and too many items to list! In addition, this year each of the real estate companies are competing to create themed coolers packed with goodies that will be auctioned.

This year’s theme for the Middle Keys Relay is “Survivor Island.” The Realtors are following suit by declaring, “THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN -WE’VE VOTED CANCER OFF THE ISLANDS” theme.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is $10 and includes appetizers and an adult beverage. For more information, contact Tammy or Lynn at MLKAR (305) 743-2485.

Sunday, Feb. 5

Calling All Poetry Lovers

In a radical, perhaps unique departure from its long-established original-poetry-only format, the Key West Poetry Guild invites all poetry-lovers to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Favorite Poet Readings – reading poems each member or visitor loves by any poet, living or dead, at the Guild’s Sunday, Feb. 5 meeting, 7 pm upstairs in the old bordello at Blue Heaven, Thomas and Petronia streets. For additional information please call Connie Gilbert at (305) 295-9466.

Friday, Feb. 10

Valentine Dinner and Dance

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Marathon Shrine Club is hosting a Valentine Dinner and Dance to benefit The Shriner’s Hospitals on Friday, Feb. 10 from 6-10 pm Marble Hall on Key Colony Beach. The event will feature a buffet by Karmichaels Catering and music by Rick and Dayno Lieder. Tickets are $35 each and may be obtained by contacting Sally Flagg at (305) 743-2073.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Valentine’s Tea and Fashion Show

The Keyettes Women’s Auxiliary of the Marathon Shrine Club is hosting a Valentine’s Tea and Style Show featuring fashions from “Addictions” of Pompano Beach. Delectable desserts and tantalizing teas will be served from 2-4 pm at Marble Hall, Key Colony Beach. All proceeds from this event benefit Shriners Hospitals. Guests will receive a 10 percent discount on retail purchases following the show. Tickets are $20. For more information, call Sally Flagg at (305) 743-2073.


Monday, Feb. 13

Save-A-Turtle Monthly Meeting

Save-A-Turtle is excited to have Justin Gould with Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP) speak at their Monday, Feb. 13 meeting at 7:30 pm at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP) nighttime survey volunteers monitor sea turtle nests in Broward County. STOP counts the number of hatchlings that emerge from each nest in real-time on the beach as it happens. This requires many months of long nights on the beach.

In 2011, STOP volunteers rescued more hatchlings than the previous three years combined. Since 2007, STOP has rescued more than 25,000 sea turtle hatchlings from illegal lighting in Broward County.

Friday, Feb. 17

Marathon Garden Club Monthly Meeting

“The Ten Commandments for Growing Herbs & Veggies in the Florida Keys” by Dean and Carolyn Coppolo of Redland Organic Herb Farm will be presented at the monthly meeting of the Marathon Garden Club on Friday, Feb. 17 at 1 pm. These meetings are open to the public, free of charge. Club membership is available at a very reasonable rate.

There will be a plant clinic at the Club on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 9 am-12 noon. Monroe County Extension Master Gardeners will be on staff to identify plants, problems and proper care.

The garden club is located at 5270 Overseas Highway (MM50 Bayside) in Marathon. For additional information call (305) 743-4971 or visit our website at www.marathongardenclub.org.

Saturday, Feb. 18

Fashion Show and Tea Party

The Episcopal Church Women at St. Columba Episcopal Church are hosting a fashion show and tea party on Saturday, Feb. 18 beginning at 3 pm. There will be door prizes, gift baskets and a 50/50 cash raffle. Tickets for the event at $15 and are available by calling (305) 743-6412 or (305) 743-7403. St. Columba is located at 451 W. 52nd Street, Gulf side in Marathon.

Keys Community Concert Band

For some February fun, come to Animal Fair, a musical tribute to our animal friends. This free concert by the Keys Community Concert Band takes place Saturday, Feb. 18 at 4 pm in Islamorada’s Founders Park at Mile Marker 87. Bring a blanket or lawn chair; leashed dogs are welcome! For more information, please call (305) 853-7294.

Friday, March 16

Artists in Paradise Fine Art Sale

Artists in Paradise, Big Pine Key, invites artists from up and down the Keys to participate in the first annual $99 fine art sale on Friday, March 16, from 7 to 9 pm. The juried show offers an opportunity to all artists in any media to show and sell their small works for $99. Registration for artists will take place at Artists in Paradise, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 27 – 28, from 11 am to 4 pm and a registration fee of $5 for each work submitted will be charged. Artists may register two pieces of art not larger than 11” x 14.” There is no commission charge to the artists for this new event.

This is the first ever gallery show in the Keys to offer quality fine art for $99 and allow artists to retain all profits from their work. In addition to the members of Artists in Paradise, other well-known artists including Jim Salem, William Welch, Fran Decker, Karen Beauprie, Pam Hobbs, and Maggie Ruley have agreed to participate.

Artwork will be on display at Artists in Paradise from Friday, March 2 during the Walk on Winn Dixie, until Friday, March 16, the evening of the sale. The reception is sponsored by the The Square Grouper Bar and Grill on Cudjoe Key and Summerland Wines and Spirits on Summerland. During the reception, four separate door prizes will be awarded to lucky winners, who do not have to be present to win.

Registration forms are available at Artists in Paradise or the website at www.artistsinparadise.com. For more information, call the gallery at 305 872-1828.

Ongoing

Free Wednesday Knitting Classes

Knitting classes continue each Wednesday at Iona Gallery, 451 W. 52nd Street, Gulfside in Marathon. Adult classes are at 1, and 5th through 8th-graders receive instruction from 2:30-4:30. Free yarn, needles and instruction are available from Grace Bailey. Call (305) 743-5066 or email keysbailey@comcast.net for more information.

Marathon Seafood Fest needs volunteers

The 36th Annual Original Marathon Seafood Festival being held March 10 – 11 at Marathon Community Park in the Islands of Marathon is looking for volunteers. Volunteers receive free admission to the festival and a volunteer T-shirt. Please call/email Leah Luckin at (305) 743-5417 or email her at leah@floridakeysmarathon.com.

Thank you, we could not put on the Florida Keys largest annual seafood festival without our amazing volunteers! More info about the Original Marathon Seafood Festival is available at www.marathonseafoodfestival.com.

Cyclepaths Club Seeking Like-minded Riders

If you would like to meet new friends while getting some exercise, “CYCLEPATHS” may be the club for you. A Marathon-based cycle club, rides on Sundays, anywhere from 8-10 miles per ride, with a little socializing afterwards.

Call Candy Kellner at (305) 289-2112 for information and to be put on the email list.

Key West Botanical Garden Building Archives

Attention photographers and local nostalgia buffs! The Key West Botanical Garden Society is seeking old photograph of the garden for its archives.

“We’re collecting pictures of the garden through anytime in its history,” said Misha McRae, general manager of the garden, which was established in 1934. “Anyone who has photos is urged to please send them, along with permission for their use, to KWBG, 5210 College Road, Key West 33040 or to email them to us at kwbgs@kwbgs.org. Originals will be returned, and of course contributors and/or photographers will be credited, he said. They would hope to have a selection of photos by early February.

The KWBG is located just off the intersection of College Road and U.S. Route One just before the Cow Key Channel Bridge on Stock Island and is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For additional information, or to inquire about membership, please phone McRae at (305) 296-1504.