KEY WEST FOURTH OF JULY Fireworks to light up the sky Photo by Bryan Buckley summer camp scholarships Studios staff celebrates Ashe Street Cottages Keys events for junior marine biology, lit- groundbreaking with Affiliated construction team (left help celebrate eracy initiatives and sports to right):Top row, Cesar Moran, Elier Paiz, Doug Ney, Alex programs. The 5K run is expected to Necessary, Jason Settar,Norm Figueredo, Tomas Bartak, Independence start at 9:45 a.m. Participants Alban Mora, Guillermo Orozco,Rosi Ware,Daniel Ryan, L’Attitudes Staff can pre-register — packets Jay Scott and Yuniel Gonzalez. Bottom row,Martha are available at the YMCA Barnes, Teri Johnston,Dar Castillo, Elena Devers and In L’Attitudes office in Key Largo’s “ . the rocket’s red Community Park and at the Lauren McAloon. glare, bombs bursting in air” Key Largo branch of etc. Centennial Bank — or enter While most folks associ- the day of the race between ate July 4 fireworks with 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. For more Studios breaks Frances Scott Key’s memo- information, contact Joyia rable depiction of the 1812 Montanez at 896-4956. ground on artist-in- British bombardment of Fort McHenry, we have to thank an earlier patriot for the Key Largo Fourth of July tradition of Blackwater Sound in Key residence expansion Largo provides a great set- There are plenty of July Fourth fireworks, bombast and celebration. Cottages will adjoining lot to be “devel- It was this nation’s sec- ting for aerial fireworks. The oped into a beautifully ond president, John Adams, show is scheduled on the become suites, landscaped nature center who gets the credit. bayfront at 9 p.m. July 4. filled with rotating sculp- In a letter to his wife, The best seating can be studio spaces ture installations,” he said. written in 1776, Adams found at the Sundowners and “The community has Senior Frijoles restaurants, The Studios of Key wrote of solemnizing shown tremendous support Independence Day “with the Caribbean Club and parades and picnics lighting up the Keys. West has broken ground on and enthusiasm for Pomp and Parade, with Marriott Key Largo Bay a renovation project that TSKW’s next stage of Resort, all around mile will expand facilities for Shews, Games, Sports, development, with almost Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and marker 104. Reservations are visiting artists. fifty individuals, families, suggested because seating is Known as the Ashe Illuminations from one End and foundations stepping of this Continent to the limited. Street Cottages, both prop- up to help us meet our erties are located at 607 other...” goal. And so we do to this day. Islamorada Story, and 608 Ashe St., just “These cottages will Aerial spectaculars dot the night sky at fireworks displays Founders Park at mile behind the Armory. Here in the Keys, patriots give visiting artists the and patrons are ready to ooh planned in Key Largo,Islamorada,Marathon,Sugarloaf marker 87 on Plantation Key Jay Scott, executive time and space to grow is the site of Spirit of 6B and aah with aerial displays, Key and Key West. director of The Studios, and to discover Key West, Islamorada, an old-fashioned said a fund drive was suc- parades, picnics and foot and their presence will races to mark Independence tumed portrayal of railroad best nonprofit and best busi- annual Fourth of July cele- cessfully completed earlier greatly enhance quality magnate Henry Flagler. ness parade entrants. For bration hosted by the village this year, enabling the ren- Day celebrations held The and diversity of the work- throughout the Keys. The parade gets rolling at more details, call of Islamorada and the Upper ovation plan to proceed. shops, exhibitions and Reporter 10 a.m., kicking off from the Reporter at 852-3216 or the Keys Rotary Club. The cottages will be The Upper Keys events TSKW can give sponsors its 36th annual July parking lot at Anthony’s Key Largo Chamber at 451- Entertainment and activi- renovated to include three back to the community.” Clothing Store, mile marker 1414. ties for kids, teens, parents artist suites with two 4 parade in partnership this Plans call for The year with this Key Largo 98.2. Entrants must assemble Before the parade, a Stay and dogs highlight the event attached working studios. Studios to offer month- in the parking lot between Ahead of the Parade 5K Run from 6 to 9:30 p.m. A fire- A large covered back deck Chamber of Commerce. The long residencies for up to 2011 Parade theme: 8:30 and 9 a.m. is planned. Sponsored by the works show follows. will provide an indoor/out- 40 artists each year. Awards will be presented Upper Keys Reporter, Key Attractions include contests for small gath- “Flagler’s Railroad to the “This spring, TSKW Sea.” The grand marshal will for floats and entries in cate- Largo Conch House, for best apple pie and potato received nearly one hun- be Jerry Wilkinson, gories including best emer- Doghouse Pizza, Docksider, salad, and a Nathan’s hot- ls from peo- Tavernier historian, who gency vehicle, best musical, Key Largo Baptist Church dog eating contest. most original, most beautiful, and Centennial Bank, the prises his famous cos- G Hot fun in the summertime best portrayal of the theme, race is to benefit YMCA See Celebration,8B There’s still plenty of opportunities to sign up your kids for Keys summer camp. Story, 3B WWW.KEYSNET.COM MARATHON Long odds seenSATURDAY,JULY 2,2011 VOLUME 58, NO. 53 for casino idea KEY LARGO ● 25 CENTS By RYAN McCARTHY [email protected] Marathon council “lukewarm” as The odds of a gambling casino at Florida Keys questions arise over license, location Marathon Airport appear much longer after County “If it’s answered in the Even Vice Mayor Dick Commissioner George affirmative we allow the vot- Ramsay, who said he was Neugent made his pitch to ers to voice their opinion on City Council to move it for- “shocked” to hear Neugent the Marathon City Council the subject,” Neugent said. ward. Without their support pitch gambling in the Middle Tuesday. “I know this is something for this it would be a futile Keys, said he has no problem Neugent pitched the casi- that could be politically effort and I’ve got better with a referendum but would no idea, he said, to help reju- charged, but I think it needs things to do,” Neugent told oppose the airport location. venate a struggling economy to be discussed.” the Keynoter “I believe it will be needed and raise money for Keys . Neugent later described Neugent said his idea - for expanded operations in The croc’s remaining eggs have been moved to Broward sewer projects. the council’s response as admittedly in the infant the future that could include County. One has already hatched. Research on whether “lukewarm” and said he may stages - would be to con- port of entry or commercial gambling could be allowed at postpone putting the idea up struct a casino over top of air service,” Ramsay said. the casino and whether prof- for discussion at the July 20 the airport’s parking lot. His Councilman Pete Worth- its could be used to fund local county commission meeting rough estimation is that a ington said the idea has many construction projects still in Key West. He said he’ll two-story facility, with as potential pros and cons. He Nesting croc needs to be done, he said. But likely wait until September, much as 240,000 square feet said crime and “how people added that he was seeking when the commission next of floor space, could be built. support their gambling habits” local approval before taking meets in Marathon, to resur- Polled by the are concerns, while benefits any further steps. rect the idea. following Tuesday’s meeting, found in yard’s Keynoter could include increased prop- “For this to move for- council members seemed erty values and an additional ward, it’s up to the Marathon apprehensive about the plan. tourist attraction. INDEPENDENCE DAY But none were opposed to a “If the community comes mulch pile non-binding referendum. out not in support of it, it’s ● See Casino, 3A Expert remove the eggs, hope since hatched in captivity and seems to be doing well, Hord for the best said. The future of the remain- ing half-dozen eggs was By KEVIN WADLOW uncertain at press time Friday. Senior Staff Writer Two hatchings died in [email protected] Key Largo soon after they hatched Wednesday. State wildlife officers “It could have been stress- took a clutch of crocodile related or fire-ant bites,” Hord eggs from Key Largo into said. “Just a few ant bites can protective custody this week. kill a hatchling, and there American crocodiles can were fire ants in the nest.” make good mothers —- but The homeowner on Upper one made a poor nesting Matecumbe Road, off mile choice in the front yard of a marker 106, recently alerted Lake Surprise subdivision the FWC that a sizable croc- home, Florida Fish and odile “was scratching Wildlife Conservation around” a mulch pile in his Commission reptile specialist front yard in what he correct- Lindsey Hord said. ly perceived as nesting activ- “It was not good spot for a ity, Hord said. When the croc nest,” Hord said. “If the owner was moving the mulch eggs hatched, the babies pile earlier this week, he dis- would have been right there covered the nest. on the street.” Monroe County Sheriff’s One baby crocodile has Office deputies later observed ENVIRONMENT ● See Croc, 3A A group of mostly international students made red, white and blue tie-dyed shirts Thursday for the Fourth of July.