R.I.P., John Glenn 1¢ The Mistletones performed at the Trade Winds Plaza for locals attending the third annual Customer Appreciation Party. The all- student a cappella group is gearing up for their inaugural Christmas show on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Coral Shores High School Performing Arts Center. GABRIEL SANCHEZ/Keys Weekly 2 UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 9 2016 UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 9, 2016 LOCAL CHATTER 3 GABRIEL SANCHEZ [email protected] When the final slice of pumpkin pie has been consumed, and the Black Friday shoppers have spent their last dime, that’s the signal to cue up the Christmas music. Roasting chestnuts over an open fire, while listening to Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with your sweetie is what the holidays are all about. There are a few songs, however, that after a few decades of listen- ing to over and over, have lost their luster. Holiday DJs, listen up; the Weekly asked locals … What song could you do without this holiday season? Chelsea White, of Diver’s Direct, said, “All of them.” “’Jingle Bells;’ it gets old. Enough with the bells already,” said Carice Walker, of Subway. “’Silent Night;’ it’s overplayed,” said Michelle Newton, of Key Largo Floral and Gifts. Now open TO THE PUBLIC! 18-Hole Tennis “’I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,’” Golf Course Courts said Peter Gomez of Office Depot. Hippos are responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than any other large animal, FYI. Harbor View Café & Bar NOW SERVING BREAKFAST DAILY FROM 7 AM. Photographer Ron Spodnik said, “Adam LUNCH: 7 DAYS Sandler’s Christmas song.” DINNER: MON - FRI Café: 305-809-7210 Pro Shop: 305-743-3433 4000 Sombrero Blvd floridakeyscc.com 4 BUSINESS UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 9 2016 the Tortugas and Sand Key are free with the download, while others need to be purchased. So far the company has a handful of downloads for dif- 91831 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070 ferent locations, but plan on merging Office: 305.743.0844 them on to one platform. www.keysweekly.com Their exploration team spent 10 hours a day, for three weeks, canvas- Publisher Jason Koler ing sites and collecting data in the [email protected] Keys. The team used side scan sonar and remote operated vehicles to Publishing Partner Britt Myers gather information. They dove, took [email protected] The remote operated vehicle, or dive pictures and captured data on sites robot, aids Ocean Maps in charting from Key Largo to Key West to build Editor dive sites with accurate underwater Sara Matthis the 3-D models. [email protected] topographical data. “Right now divers rely on memory or hand drawn maps. Our app gives Director, Sales & Marketing you actual geographic data that is to Lesley Aaron [email protected] scale,” said Tyrell. “We hope to increase safety by making the experience less Account Executives overwhelming. If you have some idea Hollie Will of what you’ll encounter, it’ll be easier [email protected] See under the Sea to orient yourself once you’re in.” Anneke Patterson The next features Ocean Maps [email protected] New app charts Keys’ underwater terrain plans to introduce are a customizable GABRIEL SANCHEZ route feature, and a virtual community Classifieds [email protected] Lynda Sheaks to shares photos, hotspots, and cus- [email protected] ustrian diver Thomas tom routes with other users. Custom Nemetz was out sailing routes allow users to make their own Staff Writers Kristen Livengood when he had an epiphany. tracks or remap wrecks if a storm [email protected] “Why don’t they have maps reorients the site, for example. ofA the ocean floor?” he wondered. Ocean Maps debuted the product Hays Blinckmann Previously, companies like at the Dive Equipment and Marketing [email protected] Google attempted ocean mapping, Association (DEMA) event in Las Vegas Gabriel Sanchez but featured only general terrain this past November. That was where [email protected] charting, according to Paige Tyrell, Capt. Tuck Hall, of Ocean Divers in Theresa Java marketing assistant of Ocean Maps. Key Largo, first stumbled across the [email protected] That was then, this is now. booth and saw possibilities in the new “Ocean Maps allows users to technology. Office Manager see color coordinated depth lines, “I think there’s lot of potential Lynn Ritli [email protected] hotspot with photos, toggle various there. The map of the wrecks were views, read overall site descriptions, pretty well done and I think as a tool Design / Web Master obtain temperature and visibility, for briefing dives it holds promise,” Head of exploration Stefan Zadny, right, Travis Cready and read about ocean life present,” said Capt. Hall. [email protected] looks over data collected from a testing said Tyrell. “Perhaps the coolest site on Attersee Lake, Austria. However, Hall says the app still has feature is Dive Mode, which virtu- a little more to go before it becomes a Design / Pre-Press Javier Reyes ally simulates the dive.” Florida Keys. necessity. “The reef maps and resolu- [email protected] The app has four views: terrain, Starting in September, the Ocean tion are not as polished as the wrecks, underwater, depth, and dive mode. Maps team mapped 70 sites in the and the description and positional ac- Se habla español Keys Weekly Newspapers Only a year old, the small Aus- Keys, including Hens and Chickens, curacy of wrecks needs a little adjust- (ISSN 1944-0812) are a trian-based company has charted Alligator Reef, Sand Key, Spiegel Grove, ment.” community newspaper group 120 sites in the Red Sea, along with the Christ of the Abyss, Duane and Ocean Maps is available on both published every Friday by Keys Weekly Newspapers, Attersee Lake in Austria and Kreide- Bibb. Google Play and the iTunes store for 9709 Overseas Highway see Lake in Germany, and now, the On the app, simulation dives like free, and is seeking more feedback Marathon, FL 33050. Subscription rates are $100.00 from locals. per year outside of Monroe County. Please call for all other subscription rates including over- seas mail. Periodicals postage pending at Marathon, FL and additional mailing offices. All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Did You Know? Keys Weekly Newspapers DAsign 9709 Overseas Highway Our Showroom is full of Holiday Gifts for the Home! Marathon, FL 33050. (decorative pillows, candles, hammocks, coasters, linens & much more) News Deadline Tuesday Noon 11500 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 | MM 53 Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m. 305-743-7130 | DAsignSource.com UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 9, 2016 COMMUNITY NEWS 5 BOCC accepts affordable housing recommendations he Monroe County Board of • Continue the inclusionary hous- County Commissioners held ing study for non-residential develop- a special meeting Tuesday in ment to supply affordable housing for Marathon to focus on the af- the employees it needs to operate Tfordable/workforce housing shortage • Direct staff to review legal, in the land-limited County. financial and legislative issues on the The BOCC was presented with development of a property tax incen- 33 recommendations established by tive for homeowners who rent a law- a 14-member Affordable Housing fully established existing market rate Advisory Committee (AHAC) that also unit to a member of the workforce included Commissioner Sylvia Murphy within the very low, low and median and Commissioner Heather Car- affordable housing income limits and ruthers. The Committee was estab- rental rates. lished by County ordinance in 2015 While many places have problems and met monthly for a year. with affordable housing, Monroe The BOCC approved or sup- County has the unique challenge of ported most of the 33 recommenda- its geography and environment. The tions, which addressed financing, state limits growth in Monroe County monitoring, illegal rentals, community because the island chain has been outreach and the County’s unique designated an Area of Critical State dilemma of having limited affordable Concern. The County only has 692 allocation units to provide to builders affordable allocations remaining. under state mandate. Already in the pipeline are more than While the BOCC commissioners 15 projects whose developers have agreed that trying to “solve” the com- applied for or have indicated they will plex problem would take a concerted apply for affordable allocation units. community wide effort, Commis- If all the projects in the pipeline sioner Carruthers said: “We did make are developed, only 162 affordable progress.” allocations would be left, said Mayte Among the recommendations Santamaria, Monroe County Direc- that the BOCC approved or sup- tor of Planning and Environmental ported: Resources. • Amend the definition of work- “There are no easy solutions,” force housing in the Land Develop- Santamaria said. “The Board took ment Code to mean individuals time today to review, debate and or families who derive at least 70 listen to the community on various percent of their income from work strategies and incentives. The Board done in Monroe County or who are then directed staff to move forward gainfully employed supplying goods with the ones they think could provide and or services to county residents more affordable housing in the Keys.” and visitors. -Contributed District surveys on school start times In response to parents’ concerns, well. The online version is available in School Board members have pro- English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. If posed that the district conduct a sur- you are unable to complete the sur- vey to get input on school start times. vey at home, you may go to the Par- It is important that parents complete ent Education Center at each school the survey to express their thoughts to complete the survey on a comput- on this important topic.