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| Vol. 1, No. 10 | Special Edition |
Visitors After Hurricane Dennis Brushes By
By
Andy Newman KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Following resident and visitor evacuations for Hurricane Dennis, the Florida Keys — including Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West — are now open to visitors. The Keys escaped sustained hurricane-force winds, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service Office in Key West. “The destructive core missed us,” said Matt Strahan, meteorologist in charge of the Key West National Weather Service office. “We’re so lucky.” Maximum sustained winds at Key West International Airport were 61 mph, with gusts to 74 mph, according to Strahan. The closest the eye of the storm came to Key West was about 89 miles, weather officials said. Vacationers to the Upper and Middle Keys began returning Sunday. Monday, the Lower Keys and Key West began welcoming tourists again.
U.S. Highway 1, the Overseas Highway from Florida City to Key West, is in good shape without damage, said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth. Both Florida Keys Marathon and Key West International Airports have resumed operations. Utility companies have restored 98 percent of electrical service. Authorities said there was no serious impact on structures. Most damage was associated with downed trees and a few power poles, primarily in Key West. Tidal surge water has receded from some flooded Key West streets including South Roosevelt Boulevard and the lower end of Duval Street. Higgs Beach, between White and Reynolds Streets, is closed until further notice. | ||||||||||||
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Debris removal crews in Key West are concentrating on removing downed foliage and seaweed from several coastal roads affected by tidal surge. South Roosevelt Boulevard and Smathers Beach seemed most impacted.
“We should have all the debris picked up and Smathers Beach cleaned up by Wednesday afternoon,” said Key West City Manager Julio Avael. “By Friday, the entire city should be spic n’ span and you will have never known Dennis paid us a visit.” Virtually all accommodations have resumed operations. Those that are not opened, said they would finish necessary repairs by Friday. Most Keys attractions have reopened or will be opening Tuesday. All state parks, with the exception of Bahia Honda and Fort Taylor, are back in operation. Bahia Honda and Fort Taylor are to reopen Wednesday. Fort Jefferson National Monument in the Dry Tortugas National Park is to open again for visitors Wednesday. Several events scheduled this past weekend were postponed including the annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, now set for Saturday, July 16, and the Geiger Key Dolphin Tournament, slated for July 16-17. More details are available on the Florida Keys Web site at fla-keys.com or by calling toll-free in the U.S. or Canada, 1-800-FLA-KEYS. |
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| Photo by Andy Newman |
| Former Hemingway Look-Alike Contest winners surround
last year's winner, John Stubbings. A new "Papa" look-alike is
to be crowned at the July 19-24 Hemingway Days festival.
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By
Bob Serata
Florida Keys News Bureau
After emerging relatively unscathed from the passing of Hurricane Dennis, organizers of several upcoming July Florida Keys special events announced new dates or affirmed that their event would occur as scheduled.
The Lower Keys' Underwater Music Festival, originally scheduled for Looe Key Reef on July 9, was rescheduled to Saturday, July 16, and all activities are ready to go. The Geiger Key Dolphin (mahi-mahi) Tournament was also postponed to July 16-17.
The 20th anniversary of shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher's discovery of the sunken Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha is to be commemorated Sunday through Saturday, July 17-23, during a Mel Fisher Days celebration in Key West. Headquartered at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, 200 Greene St., the event is to include the debut of approximately 50 never-before-seen Atocha artifacts in a museum exhibition spotlighting the $400 million shipwreck. Fisher and his crew uncovered the "main pile" of the Atocha's treasure and artifacts July 20, 1985, after an exhaustive 16-year search. The galleon was wrecked during a 1622 hurricane in approximately 55 feet of water 35 miles southwest of Key West.
Hemingway Days, running from July 19-24 in Key West, is on schedule. Now in its 25th year, the celebration features a popular look-alike contest, authors' readings and book signings, the unveiling of a life-size Hemingway bronze statue July 21, the 106th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize winner's birth, a one-man theatrical showcase, a Latin-themed gala on the grounds of Hemingway's Key West home, an offbeat "Running of the Bulls" and the culmination of a short story contest recognizing deserving writers.
The Drambuie Key West Marlin tournament, held in conjunction with Hemingway Days and slated for July 20-23, will run as scheduled.
Also unaffected by the storm are the Reel at the Reef seminars and tournament at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, hosted by Ladies Let's Go Fishing on July 23 and 24, and the Islamorada Fishing Club's Redghost Stalk, set for July 24-25.
A day-long music and film festival that pays homage to the ocean environment is set for Key Largo beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at Rowell's Marina at mile marker 104.5 bayside. The Celebration of the Sea is to feature international recording artists, underwater films and environmental awareness experiences.
The July 29-Aug. 7 Key West Summer Food & Wine Festival is set to showcase the talents of Key West's master chefs and the quality and diversity of the island's culinary offerings.
More information on the Keys is available by exploring the Keys Web site at fla-keys.com or by calling 1-800-FLA-KEYS.
For more travel information on the Florida Keys:
www.fla-keys.com
Florida Keys Tourist Development Council
1201 White Street, Key West, FL 33040
1-800-FLA-KEYS
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