The 2008 hurricane season has been a busy one thus far. The Keys have been marginally affected, with 3 named storms coming within striking distance of Key West.
Key West did sustain a direct landfall from Tropical Storm Fay late in the afternoon on August 18th. Mainly a rain event, the storm did force the evacuation of tourists and residents alike. Fay went on to affect the entire state of Florida, dumping over 20 inches of rain around Cape Canaveral, resulting in much flooding of that area.
Other, much stronger storms Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, were close but fortunately passed to the south of Cuba as they made their way into the Gulf of Mexico. Each storm forced precautionary evacuations and preparations and rain bands from each lashed the Keys with some strong storms.
One other affect, from Ike specifically, was the disruption of fuel supplies to the Keys. Some stations ran out and others inflated their price as a result of Hurricane Ike and its eventual landfall around Texas oil fields and refineries as a Category 3 storm.
The good news is that we’ve made it past the peak of the season in the first part of September. And the tropics are quiet right now so let’s hope it stays that way!
Join one of the biggest street parties in the United States when you’re staying at the Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast anytime between October 17th and October 26th.
This year’s theme, “Pirates, Pundits, and Political Party Animals” coincides well with the U.S. presidential election. Zany spoofs and costumes will abound nightly in Key West, with many events over the 10 day span, from the Homemade Bikini Contest or the Pet Masquerade & Parade to Sloppy Joe’s Annual Toga party to name a few.
Fantasy Fest was created in 1979 to draw visitors and business to the Keys during the slowest month of the year. Joe Liszka, founding member of Fantasy Fest, remembers in October of 1978 seeing Duval Street and Key West nearly deserted so he wanted to create a party that would tell people that October is a beautiful time to be in the Keys..
Thus, Fantasy Fest was born but it didn’t become a mainstay of Key West life until 1982, when the island seceded from the United States, becoming what is casually known as the ConchRepublic for a short time.
This year’s festival will culminate with Captain Morgan’s Fantasy Fest parade on Saturday night, October 25th. But, as the old saying goes, “It ain’t over ‘till the fat lady sings” so the Fat Lady tea dance closes out the festival on October 26th.
So, this maybe a good time to make your reservation for Key West’s quaint bed & breakfast, the Tropical Inn. It’s conveniently located to all of Fantasy Fest events, which will certainly fill your evenings with lively entertainment.
If you’ve been to Key West before, especially in the cooler months, you’ve probably seen these small green reptiles sunning on a fence post, or maybe even on a car. But they have become quite the nuisance in Key West, tearing up and feasting on gardens and leaving droppings.
“I live it and see it every day,” Mayor Mario Di Gennaro said of their droppings. “It’s very powerful and strong and it’s not healthy.”
With the exploding number of iguanas, the Monroe County Commission passed a resolution which asks the state to“enact regulations governing the possession, distribution or release of iguanas within the state.”
State wildlife officials concede iguanas are not only a problem in Key West but across south Florida. But, they also point out that their numbers are already too high and they’re reproducing faster than the state can control them.
Some counties have already taken action. Palm BeachCounty listed the green beasts as a “species of concern” and in 2006, LeeCounty created a special taxing district to raise money to eradicate them. A new state law went into effect July 1st that allows individuals to humanely kill iguanas. One popular method is to trap and freeze the animal.
So when you’re walking around Key West or the luscious grounds of the Tropical Inn, be on the lookout for these interesting green creatures!
