Filed at April 29, 2009 under Florida Keys by Keys
Swine flu has forced a change in vacation plans for at least three South Florida tourists: Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Al Roker.
The Today show scrapped plans to broadcast from Key West next week as part of the ”Today Takes a Vacation” series (which was to include a live Jimmy Buffett concert).
Producers said they needed the full team of hosts in New York to cover the ongoing swine-flu crisis. A press release said Today plans to reschedule the Key West episode.
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Filed at April 27, 2009 under Florida Keys and Tourism by Keys
Racers are to run across as many as 40 bridges and through the Florida Keys island chain beside the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico during the second annual Keys Ultra-Marathons set for Saturday, May 17.
Racers can choose from three competitions on a route stretching down the Keys’ renowned Overseas Highway: a 100-mile individual race from Key Largo to Key West, a 50-mile individual race from Marathon to Key West and a 100-mile team relay race from Key Largo to Key West. All races are to end at the same finish line at the south end of Key West’s Smathers Beach.
Organizers expect more than 200 runners to compete along the scenic course — more than twice as many as the inaugural event in 2008. “The ‘buzz’ about the race has been very positive, and will translate to a lot of fun for the racers with the additional competition,” said race director Bob Becker. “We have many states represented already, and a runner from England too.” Read more »
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Filed at April 26, 2009 under Florida Keys and Middle Keys and Marathon and Florida Keys and Upper Keys and Tavernier by Keys
Summit Development, a diversified real estate development company with offices in North Palm Beach, said today that it has acquired two prominent marina properties in the Florida Keys – Mangrove Marina in Tavernier and The Sombrero Resort and Marina in Marathon. Summit said it will undertake extensive renovations to upgrade both properties.
Robert Charney, who overseas Summit’s Florida operations, noted that Summit recognizes the importance both locations play in the Keys. “It is obvious that the deterioration of these two properties has been a cause for concern. We are well-financed and are confident that we can accomplish a repositioning of the two sites that will once again make them the valuable component of the Keys business community that they can and should be.”
Summit acquired the two sites from Sun Vest Communities, the successor to Cay Clubs. Robert Charney said: “We want to assure the Keys community and our visitors that under Summit’s ownership the two properties will be properly renovated so that they can regain their prominence in the community.”
• Mangrove Marina has 130 boat slips as well as rack storage, boat yard facilities, a fuel dock, boat launching ramp and a ships’ store. It is situated on the Inter-coastal Waterway and is protected on three sides by mangrove islands. Tavernier is about 12 miles south of Key Largo a 30-minute drive from the mainland.
•Sombrero Resort and Marina is midway between Key Largo and Key West. It includes a 54-slip marina as well as 124 one-bedroom condo-style suites and eight detached villas, “The Latitudes,” a full-service restaurant, tennis courts and a poolside tiki bar.
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Filed at April 19, 2009 under Florida Keys by Keys
Bauer Financial, a banking analysis firm, uses information supplied by banks to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to assign the “stars” to banks depending on their financial health. Although the financial data is consistently reliable, its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Bauer Financial.
Below are the ratings of some Florida Keys banks.
TIB Bank
Naples, FL | FDIC Number: 21435
Stars in December 2008: 3
Stars in September 2008: 3
Year-to-date income: $-11.142 million
Tangible assets: $1,500.360 million
Nonperforming assets ratio: 3.209
First State Bank of the Florida Keys
Key West, FL | FDIC Number: 17509
Stars in December 2008: 3
Stars in September 2008: 3
Year-to-date income: $8.132 million
Tangible assets: $822.903 million
Nonperforming assets ratio: 2.899
Key West Bank
Key West, FL | FDIC Number: 34684
Stars in December 2008: Zero
Stars in September 2008: 2
Year-to-date income: $-1.755 million
Tangible assets: $104.567 million
Nonperforming assets ratio: 9.998
Orion Bank
Naples, FL | FDIC Number: 22427
Stars in December 2008: Zero
Stars in September 2008: 2
Year-to-date income: $4.956 million
Tangible assets: $2,852.127 million
Nonperforming assets ratio: 7.877
Community Bank of Florida
Homestead, FL | FDIC Number: 21258
Stars in December 2008: 4
Stars in September 2008: 4
Year-to-date income: $3.295 million
Tangible assets: $552.858 million
Nonperforming assets ratio: 1.361
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Filed at April 17, 2009 under Accomodations and Florida Keys and Upper Keys and Islamorada and Resorts by Keys
The main building at Cheeca Lodge Resort and Spa in Islamorada caught fire for the second time this year around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Keys fire officials. Islamorada Fire Chief William Wagner, who was in Key West but was monitoring the situation by radio, said three firefighters were transported to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier during the response – one for a sprained ankle, one for a cardiac issue and another for possible smoke inhalation. All were reported to be OK later that day.
The cause of the fire appeared to be accidental, according to assistant Islamorada Fire Chief Bruce Stoll. He reported that the fire started on the outside of the building and spread into a stairwell. Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sergio Garcia said firefighters had the fire under control by 1 p.m. but were checking the building for flare-ups and were removing part of a stairwell. Fire and rescue crews from Key Largo to Big Pine Key responded.
Jim Costello, resort manager at Cheeca, said a demolition crew accidentally started the fire while cutting into a metal roof with a cutting torch. Sparks from the torch flew and accidentally caught the old thatch roof on fire, Costello said. Costello said the fire was contained quickly and won’t impact the resort’s plans to reopen by the end of the year.
Zirkelbach said the fire started somewhere along the northeast corner of the building opposite the starting point of the New Year’s Eve fire that severely damaged the structure and closed the resort. Zirkelbach said he heard reports that a welder’s torch ignited the fire somewhere on the fourth floor, but fire officials would not confirm it. Wagner said it appeared the fire could have started on a long thatch roof overhanging what used to be an outside dining area on the side of the building facing the ocean.
A thatched overhang on the north side of the building was the source of the first fire that is believed to have been sparked by an ember. The main building housed administrative offices, a lobby, two restaurants, bars, a conference center and 49 guest rooms.
“I’m just really distraught, how it could catch fire again,” said Wagner, who since the first fire has worked with other Keys fire officials to push for more stringent permit requirements for fire retardant on thatched structures. Wagner said his department hadn’t pushed for Cheeca to check its retardant on the ocean-side thatch, which was partially burned in the first fire, because Cheeca had planned to demolish and rebuild the structure. “They were going to demolish the building, so there was no reason to push the issue,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of a big mess and drama.”
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