Key West The Newspaper

March is a very busy month! See below for some great up and coming events!

Volunteers are needed for Earthday, Friday, April 22nd. Let us know if you can help!

March 26th (Sat) – Easter Egg Hunt, Key West Library, 1pm

Our 2nd biggest event is back with over 3,700 Easter eggs to find in the library! This event starts Saturday March 26th at 1pm. Visit us for games, candy and special guest the Easter Bunny! Donations such as: snacks, juice, and most importantly CANDY are much appreciated. For more information on how you can help with this program contact Patricia Blanco at 305-292-3595. https://www.facebook.com/KeyWestLibraryChildrens

March 31st (Thurs) – City Marina Walking Tour with Commissioner Sam Kaufman

Did you know that the City Marina at Garrison Bight has been a State Certified Clean Marina since 2009? Do you know that the new Dockmasters building will be Green Certified? Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live on a houseboat? Do you know why you shouldn’t clean your fish overboard? Learn about all of these things and ask your own questions during the City’s walking tour of the City Marina at Garrison Bight. Commissioner Sam Kaufman will be there to talk more about his quest for affordable housing and safe bicycling!

April 2nd (Sat) – Bahama Village History Bike Tour with Commissioner Clayton Lopez, 9-11am

On Saturday April 2nd from 9-11am, Commissioner Clayton Lopez will lead a 1.5 mile bicycle tour of historic sites in Bahama Village. Meet before 9am at the Martin Luther King Community Pool. The sites you will hear stories about include: Blue Heaven, Coral City Elks Lodge #610, the Historic Union Lodge #47, the Martin Luther King Community Pool, the South’s 1st electric plant, the Seminole Battery, Bishop McKee, the Cornish Memorial AME Zion Church, and a whore house!

April 2nd (Sat) – FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection, 8am-12pm

City of Key West contracts Waste Management to collect Household Chemicals and Electronics from the residents of Key West the first Saturday of each month from 8:00am to Noon at Indigenous Park. Free for the residents of Key West, no businesses material will be accepted.

Accepted: TV’s, computers, gaming systems, VCR’s, remote controls, radios, ear buds, and all other electronics. We are also taking chemicals: Up to 5 gallons of old gas, up to 5 gallons of oil, car fluids, batteries, household cleaners, poisons, fertilizers, pool chemicals, paints, etc. All items should be labeled if possible or bring a list with a inventory. These chemicals and electronics are very harmful to the environment and cause big problems with our drinking water when handled wrong. Never place in a garbage can or on the ground! Bring these products to a responsible waste facility!

April 2nd (Sat) Mote Marine Ocean Festival, 10am-6pm

A family filled day with lots to see and do. Start the day off with the 4th Annual Smokin’ Tuna Saloon Tuna Trot 5K, then stay to learn about how to protect our coral reefs. Kid’s free fishing clinic, kids rides, over 100 vendor, food and not for profit booths, live entertainment, huge silent auction and Kids Painting with Wyland and finish the day with Howard Livingston and the MM 24 Band! Free Admission & Free Parking http://keysoceanfest.org/

April 10th (Sun) – Cow Key Bridge Run

Feel like running across a bridge in the Florida Keys without waking up early or breaking a sweat? Join us for the 3rd Annual Cow Key Channel Bridge Run – The Only Zero K Bridge Run. Ever. Dress up or don’t. This is one of the shortest bridges in the Keys and there is a party with beer close to the finish line.

Register here: https://raceroster.com/events/2016/7737/cow-key-channel-bridge-run-2016-zero-k

April 15th (Fri) – Key West Art Garden, 10am

6th Annual Key West Art Garden exhibits original and unique local art that serves a sense of nature using natural or recycled materials, each nature friendly within the natural beauty and backdrop of the Historic Key West Botanical Garden at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. https://www.facebook.com/events/1665070867089556

April 16th (Sat) – Earth Day 5K Run/Walk

The 19th Annual Earth Day 5K begins at 8am on April 16th at McCoy Indigenous Park, 1801 White St. Edible, Earth-friendly awards are to be given to the top overall male and female, top masters male and female and first- and second-place runners in each age group ranging from 9 and under to 70-plus. Proceeds benefit Last Stand, a nonprofit organization that promotes, preserves and protects the quality of life in the Florida Keys and Key West, with particular emphasis on the natural environment. Info at: www.SouthernmostRunners.com

April 22nd (Fri) – Great American Cleanup for Earth Day, 8am-Noon

The City of Key West is looking for volunteers to help cleanup Key West! Pick a beach, canal, road or your neighborhood! We are also are also looking for volunteers to help with sorting and categorizing material and recording the data! If you have ever wanted to get involved in the science side of a cleanup this is your chance! There will be booths for local environmental groups they will be displaying and handing out information and other goodies!

Pre-register for cleanup by calling Dee Dee Green at 305-809-3776. Tell us the location of your cleanup, number of people, and if you need any supplies like bags or gloves and pick up supplies at event or the day before. We will pick up all pre-registered trash at cleanup site at 11:00 and take the material to the park to be sorted and categorized!

We will post all clean up locations closer to the date, after they all have registered!

April 22nd (Fri) – Earth Mama Fundraiser for WomanKind

Save the Date: Get ready to put on your funky duds and come out for the Earthday Fundraiser at the Bottlecap. More details soon. Volunteers wanted to help with a healthy appetizers contest: 305-809-3726

May 1st (Sun) – Kids StandUp Paddle Clinic with Milla Navarro, Paddling Rockstar, 8am-10am

For ages 6-16. Milla Navarro is an up and coming paddler hailing from Miami, Florida. Teaching the kids clinic for the past two years, Milla is excited to come back and continue spreading the stoke of Stand Up Paddling. Cost is $30 (includes Stand Up Paddle lesson, paddle board, paddle, life vest & homemade treat from Salute! Check in at Lazy Dog Tent by 8am the morning of. Fun Fast & Playful Paddle Course Run following Clinic – watch and cheer your kids as they show off their new skills! **Register in advance: 305-295-9898**

May 7th (Sat) – FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection, 8am-12pm

See details on April 2nd event.

May 14th (Sat) – Papio’s Kinetic Sculpture Parade 10am

Human Powered Art Sculptures Are Coming ! Papio’s Kinetic Sculpture Parade debuts in Downtown Key West in May 2016. The Key West Art & Historical Society presents this family friendly, art-inspired, human powered, float parade through downtown Key West. Bicycle celebrating, creative, funky and wild designs and engineering crafted by people of all ages. And you can enter your bike/art! Join the parade here: http://www.papioskineticparade.com/