Community News: January 28, 2011

Community News Calendar

Friday, January 28
Stars Bingo for Challenged Adults

On Friday, January 28, from 7-9 pm, a Bingo Party will be held at the Kirk of the Keys Presbyterian Church, 8877 Overseas Highway, Marathon (across US 1 from the new Marathon Fire Department Facility). This fun event is for all challenged adults in our community, whether permanent or seasonal residents, and their care providers.

Stars Bingo has been organized by a group of local parents with the cooperation of MARC, the Monroe Association of ReMARCable Citizens, and the Kirk of the Keys Presbyterian Church has graciously agreed to host this fun event. Participants can play Bingo, win marvelous prizes, eat great desserts, and make new friends!

For more information, please contact Janet Oechsle at (607) 423-4346 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Saturday, January 29
SCC Announces 100 Plus Tennis Tourney

No, you do not have to be 100 years of age to play. Any two people whose combined ages add up to a minimum of 100 years can enter as a team. This formula has made for great excitement on the courts throughout the years when a 70 year old jock teams with a 30 year old high school has-been, or a pair of tennis loves born before color television compete against one another. It is fun and it is competitive. Start doing the math because on Jan. 29 and 30 the courts of Sombrero Country Club will be filled with youngsters and oldsters.

Events will include Mens, Womens and Mixed Doubles matches that will be best the two out of three sets with a consolation round. All players will have a minimum of two matches per event. Cost per team is $30, per event. Contact Richard Lorenzo at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (305) 849-0297 for entry form or further information. Entry deadline is Jan. 25, 2011.

Wednesday, February 2
Hernstadt to Speak

Marathon City Manager, Roger Hernstadt, will be the guest speaker at the Middle Keys Republican Club annual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at the Marathon Yacht Club, located at 825 33rd Street gulfside in Marathon.

The MKRC Annual Meeting will begin with fellowship (cash bar) at 5:30 pm immediately followed by a brief business session and election of officers. $25 membership dues may be paid at the meeting by bringing a check payable to: The Middle Keys Republican Club.

The general public is invited free of charge along with Republican Club Members. Finger food will be served, followed by Hernstadt’s presentation: “State of the City: A City Manager’s View.” He has agreed to take questions at the conclusion of his remarks.

Seating is limited. Please call Club President, Jim Pettorini at (305) 304-7982, or send email confirmation to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to reserve a seat.

Diabetes Self-Management Workshops Begin
Florida Keys AHEC in partnership with the Health Foundation of South Florida and the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative is sponsoring a six-week workshop for seniors that promote self-management of diabetes. A variety of subjects will be covered such as healthy eating, physical activity, meal planning, reading and understanding nutritional labels, relaxation, stress management, symptoms of low blood sugar, medication, foot care and much more.

This program is specifically designed for people who have diabetes or a family history of diabetes and for those who are partners or caretakers of diabetics. Learn how to take control and manage your condition while maintaining a high quality of life. This workshop series, developed by Stanford University, comes highly recommended by the Surgeon General.

A $20 deposit for materials will be refunded at the end of the workshop series, which is being offered at the following locations in Islamorada at Founders Park, MM 87 beginning Feb. 2 through March 9 from 10:30 am – 1 pm. In Marathon, the workshop will be available at Fishermen’s Hospital beginning Feb. 15 through March 22 from 1:30 – 4 pm.

To register, call Jeanne Somma, RN at Keys AHEC (305) 743-7111 X 208. Pre-registration is suggested, as space is limited.

Thursday, February 3
Marathon Library Series

The Friends of the Marathon Library cordially invite you to attend the winter 2011 Books and Coffee series. All programs will be held at the Parish Hall of St. Columba Episcopal Church, 451 52nd Street, behind the Panda House restaurant, on Thursday afternoons at 1:30 pm. Refreshments will be served. The talk begins at 2 pm. Admission is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale after the presentation.

On February 3, self made millionaire and a child exile from Cuba, Carlos A. Saladrigas, founder of The Cuban Study Group, was in the Little Havana house negotiating for a peaceful return when Janet Reno sent in the SWAT team to extract Elian Gonzalez.

Saturday, February 5
Adderley House Tour at Crane Point

Crane Point Museum and Nature Center is hosting a tour and presentation on the history of the Adderley House on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 11 am – 2 pm. The historical property is located at the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center located at 5550 Overseas Highway in Marathon. The Adderley House is the oldest house outside of Key West and is registered with the National Historical Society. Stephanie Vedros will be leading the tour and discussions.
The event is free for Crane Point members and the program is included in the price of an admission for non-members. Refreshments will be served.

Monday, February 7
Marathon AARP Meeting

Richard E. Warner, noted Marathon attorney will be the guest speaker at the Monday, February 7th, Marathon AARP 5 pm chapter meeting.

On the agenda will be wills, estates, probate and trusts. Richard will address big changes in estate taxes and planning and update us on all the December 2010 changes just passed in Washington.

Richard E. Warner, PA graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami Law School and has practiced law in Marathon since 1979. Since 1983, he has served on the Executive Council and as Circuit Representative of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.

Warner has contributed many articles to legal journals and law reviews, education programs and is a frequent speaker on legal matters in the Keys and around the state. He was appointed in 2010 as Court Magistrate for the 16th Judicial Circuit in and for Monroe County.

This meeting is free and open to the public. You don’t have to be an AARP member to attend. Members are asked to bring a snack for our 4:30pm reception before the 5pm meeting start. To get to the Marathon Senior Center turn towards the bay at the light by Fisherman’s Hospital and it’s the second building on the left.

For more information call (305) 853-0907.

Save-A-Turtle Monthly Meeting
Save-A-Turtle’s guest speaker for the Feb. 7 meeting will be Dr. Doug Mader of Marathon Veterinary Hospital; he will discuss “Iguanas in the Florida Keys” and will be available for turtle questions.  Mader is the consulting veterinarian for the Key West Aquarium, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon and the Monroe County (Sheriff Animal Farm) Zoo. He is an internationally acclaimed expert in Veterinary Medicine and travels over 50,000 miles every year teaching at veterinary conferences, veterinary schools and specialty courses. Mader is also on the review boards of several scientific journals and has published numerous articles in scientific and veterinary journals, national magazines, newspapers, book chapters and is the author/editor of the Saunder’s publication Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Mader is a Fellow in the Royal Society of Medicine.

Bonnie J. Doerr, author of “Stakeout” a book inspired by both The Turtle Hospital and Save-A-Turtle will also present.

Additional questions can be found at http://www.save-a-turtle.org.  Everyone is welcome to come to our monthly meetings.  They are the first Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Wednesday, February 9
Marathon Community Theatre Seeking Volunteers

Marathon Community Theatre (MCT) will host a Volunteer School on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 pm at the theatre located at 5101 Overseas Highway in Marathon.

“There are numerous ways to get involved with the theatre without being on-stage,” according to Loretta Geotis, Executive Director. “We need a lot of people to help build sets, paint, sew costumes, do mending, serve as ushers, work in concessions, help decorate for parties, make brownies or cookies, distribute posters and brochures and various other tasks.”

As a volunteer, you may choose to work as often or as little as you like. For insurance purposes, volunteers must be members of MCT. Membership fee is $10 for a single member or $15 for the entire family, annually. All members are entitled to free dance classes, chorus, workshops, or other activities held at the theatre. In addition, members are invited to quarterly general membership meetings and the awards party at the end of the season.

Bring a friend to the training and sign up to have some fun this season.  RSVP to 743-0408 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

For more information about Marathon Community Theatre, contact Loretta Geotis, Executive Director, at 305-743-0408 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Visit our website at http://www.marathontheater.org for complete details of events and opportunities at MCT.

Saturday, February 12
Rotary Big Band Concert

The Marathon Rotary Club is proud to announce the return of their annual Big Band Concert to support the Rotary International Foundation that aims to globally eradicate polio.

Beginning at 6 pm in the Stanley Switlik Elementary Cafetorium, The Southernmost Brass Band will perform for Middle Keys audiences until 9:30.

Tickets are $25 and available at Advantage Rehab in Town Square Mall; the UPS Store in the Publix Plaza; or Food for Though in Gulfside Village.

The brainchild of seasoned Rotarian Bud Kreh, the Rotary Big Band Concert is the Marathon club’s annual fundraiser with all monies matched with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help end polio.

Sunday, February 13
Children’s Miracle Network Chicken Roast

Each year in February, RE/MAX Keys to the Key Real Estate sponsors the “Children’s Miracle Network Chicken Roast.” All proceeds will go directly to the Miami Children’s Hospital where children may go regardless of their ability to pay. In the past, Marathon has sent several children to Miami Children’s Hospital.

This year, the 18th Annual Chicken Roast is scheduled for Sunday, February 13 and will be held at the American Legion Post 154 in Marathon from 5-8 pm. Along with the chicken, there will be homemade black beans and yellow rice and cookies for dessert.

There will be raffles for surprise items and Mitch Mathot has donated a trip aboard the Jersey Devil. John Bartus has volunteered to entertain the crowd, so come join the fun!

Tickets are available at the American Legion Post 154 or at RE/MAX Keys to the Key Real Estate at 47th Street and U.S. 1 for $10.

Thursday, February 17
Fishermen’s Lunch and Learn

The Fishermen’s Hospital Lunch and Learn monthly series will hold it’s second event of 2011 on Thursday, Jan. 20. Nola Theiss will lead the discussion –Human Trafficking – Not just a national problem.

Lunch and Learns are from 11-1 in the Education Room at the hospital. Please RSVP to Dianne Weitz at (305) 289-6207.