FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2019 The Enchanting & Poignant ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL Graces The Red Barn Theatre Stage Florida Keys 3-10 • Upper Keys 11-12 • What's Happening 13 • Real Estate 26 Cover: JT Thompson LETTER TO THE EDITOR KEY NEWS Hate as a Defense of Volunteer Opportunity: Predatory Behavior Storm Drain Stenciling with BY ROGER C. KOSTMAYER Reef Relief ey West is a wonderfully KW pedestrians, and used Kopen and tolerant commu- hate speech on passers-by and Key West, Jan 28 Our day will begin with a meeting at our ed- nity that explicitly believes in the courageous local citizens ucational center where volunteers will be divid- “One Human Family” and in who are protesting and try- n Thursday, February 21st, Reef Relief will ed into small groups and given sections of Key free speech. ing to protect tourists. These Obe hosting a stenciling event where we will West to spray paint storm drains with the use of But a small number of bad actors have also violated be spray painting “NO DUMPING” above stencils. Volunteers will be given safety vests, red (allegedly non-Key West) KW code regulations. storm drains around the city of Key West to en- spray paint, stencils, and a map of their section people who own or operate Our terrific Mayor and courage healthy disposal of waste water. We will of the city with storm drains clearly labeled. a few cosmetic shops have: Commissioners must protect need about 12 volunteers for this event, and are If you are interested in helping out with fraudulently preyed on vul- our tourists, our legitimate always happy to have more help. This event will this volunteer opportunity or have any ques- nerable KW guests (for huge local businesses and our pre- run from 10:30am-12:30pm on February 21st. tions regarding the logistics of the event, amounts of money), aggres- cious reputation, by all means We will meet at the Reef Relief Environmental please contact Reef Relief at 305-294-3100 sively harassed and bullied available. Education Center at 631 Greene Street. or e-mail us at [email protected] FURNITURE • INTERIOR DESIGN • WINDOW TREATMENTS KITCHENS • BATHS • FLOORING Stunning design. KEY LARGO MARATHON KEY WEST Worry-free 305-451-5700 305-743-4397 305-295-6400 installation. MM 99 MM 50 Next to Publix, Amazing results! in the Median Oceanside Searstown All work performed by LOCAL, www.RoyalFurnitureAndDesign.com LICENSED & INSURED contractors. 2 www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 7-13, 2019 K E Y N E W S Compromise o ffered delaying proposed Key West sunscreen ban BY PRU SOWERS is not a surprise, concerns raised by sev- West Sustainability Board to look into dreds of tourists ferried out daily to the KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER eral local residents, charter boat captains the science behind the propose ban over reef by local snorkel and scuba charter and at least three city commissioners the next year and report back to com- boats. Another possible contributor to ith an unexpect- have put the passage of a resolution put missioners by Feb. 5, 2020. If then ap- the decline in reef health is chemical Wed surge of con- forth by Commissioner Jimmy Weekley proved by the commission, a ban would run-off from the Everglades caused by cerns from area residents in jeopardy. Weekley’s proposed ordi- go into effect Jan. 1, 2021. Kaufman said farm fertilizers and mainland industri- pushing back against a nance would ban the sale of all sunscreen he is hoping the delay in implementing a al company discharge. Two represen- proposed ban on sun- products containing oxybenzone and/or ban would help overcome his colleagues’ tatives from Personal Care Products screen products containing two ingre- octinoxate beginning a year from now. concerns so that a unanimous vote can Council (PCPC), a trade association dients thought to damage coral reefs, a While it passed unanimously on first be reached when and if a new ban reso- representing the cosmetics and person- compromise will be offered by Key West reading Jan. 15, Mayor Teri Johnston lution is introduced in a year. al care industry, spoke at the Jan. 15 City Commissioner Sam Kaufman at and commissioners Greg Davila and “A lot of good points are being made city commission meeting and blamed the commission’s Feb. 5 meeting. Clayton Lopez said they might not vote by those concerned about a lack of warming water temperatures. While protecting the barrier reef six yes on the second and final reading of the sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. I had “Those other causes may be the big- miles off-shore from Key West is ev- ordinance until they have more scientific the same concerns,” Kaufman said. ger factor” as opposed to sunscreen en- eryone’s ultimate goal, how to achieve proof confirming the two ingredients are During the debate over the pro- tering the ocean after being applied by that has become a subject of controver- indeed a threat to the reef. posed ban, information came forth swimmers and divers, Kaufman said, sy. While the resistance from sunscreen Kaufman plans on offering a compro- about other possible coral threats, manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson mise resolution that would ask the Key including damage caused by the hun- X Continued on page 4 Some Things Just Keep Getting Better HAND-ROLLED CUBAN LEAF CIGARS Come In and See for Yourself: New Treatments, Facilities, Products and More. 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But PUBLISHER/EDITOR Hawaii’s ban is 2021,” he said, referring to a ban Guy deBoer adding that a one-year delay in any proposed ban passed by Hawaiian legislators that will prohibit would give manufacturers more time to develop the sale of sunscreen products containing oxyben- NEWS WRITERS more alternatives to oxybenzone and octinoxate. zone and octinoxate beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Pru Sowers “Hopefully this would give the industry, give Two separate manufacturers of mineral-based Terry Schmida dermatologists, give consumers that time to have sunscreen spoke at the Jan. 15 meeting, saying there more information and hopefully more UVA filters are plenty of alternative products currently available PHOTOGRAPHERS in the marketplace,” he said. that do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate and Larry E. Blackburn, Ralph De Palma Ultraviolet A rays from the sun are what cause are just as effective at protecting against UVA rays. And while Monroe County has twice the incidence DESIGN skin cancer. While oxybenzone and octinoxate ar- Nand K. Pandey, [email protected] en’t particularly better at blocking UVA rays, they of skin cancer as the statewide average, according do make sunscreen application easier because they to the PCPC, Weekley pointed out that skin can- allow the cream to be absorbed into the skin, as op- cer rates have risen dramatically over the past several PIXEL WRANGLER posed to zinc oxide, which covers the skin in a white years even with the prevalence of sunscreen products JT Thompson paste that is effective but not esthetically pleasing. containing the two disputed ingredients. He said he recently received a letter from the Panama Jack com- CONTRIBUTORS Commissioner Weekley, reached by phone be- fore the meeting, pointed out that the sustainabil- pany, a sunscreen and sun protection manufacturer Jeff Johnson & founded by local resident Jack Katz. Paula Forman ity board earlier passed a resolution backing the Short Answers proposed ban. And Weekley said he was concerned “Panama Jack would like to take a moment to Ian Brockway over what Kaufman wants to task those board acknowledge and applaud your efforts in Key West Tropic Sprockets members to do: research the sunscreen ingredient to help preserve the coral reef. This matter is im- Tammy Fox-Royer science by themselves or hire an outside consultant portant to us, and as such, we have developed a Florida Keys SPCA line of sunscreen products with new reef-friendly Sylvia Bogart to do that work. However, Weekley said he “would Astrologically Yours probably support” a delay in implementing a ban. formulas,” the letter from Kim Manna, Panama Joanna Brady “You have to give the [sunscreen] industry time Jack CEO, read. Reviewer INTERN Divya Navani ADVERTISING RESTAURANT GUIDE & KONK KOUPONS 305.296.1630 Advertising Deadline Every Friday PRINT-READY advertising materials due by Friday every week for next issue of KONK Life. Ad Dimensions Horizontal and Vertical: Full, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8 page, bizcard Ad Submissions JPG, TIFF, PDF — digital formats only Send to [email protected] CIRCULATION Kavon Desilus ASSISTANT Ben Neff ASSISTANT KONK Life is published weekly by KONK Communications Network in Key West, Fla. Editorial materials may not be reproduced without written permission from the network. KONK Communications Network (305) 296-1630 • Key West, Florida www.konklife.com By W. Timothy Carrico Weaver, Ph.D. Co-Owner 4 www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 7-13, 2019 FLORIDA KEYS Academic Team Takes Home 1st BY EMILY BRACHER AND MAISIE SHAW and fifteen point round, it came back a KONK LIFE STUDENT WRITERS little bit.