Iguanas on Frances Street

At Monday's July 20th Meeting of the Frances Street Neighborhood Association we had Kim Gabel of the Monroe County Extension Service discuss the services available to us from her organization, and to fill us in on the Iguana situation.

Kim indicated that we can turn to the Extension service for any horticultural problems we might have by calling her at 305-292-4501, or dropping by her office in the County building on Simonton Street.

She then discussed the Iguana situation. Not only do iguanas destroy people’s gardens and treasured plants, but they can make quite a mess, and are not welcome visitors in most people’s yards.

Unfortunately as Iguanas have no natural predators in the Keys there is not too much that can be done.

• On a personal basis you can have your pest iguana removed by a Wildlife Control Officer (more on that to follow).


• Do not feed the iguanas as that will encourage them to stay in your yard and breed there, producing more iguanas to torment your neighbors.


• You can plant shrubs and trees that iguanas do not like to eat. Most native plants are not high on an iguana’s list. They love orchids, impatiens, and hibiscus, but milkweed, pentas, oleanders, plumbago, porterweed, wild coffee, lantana, croton and citrus are not preferred food choices. Trees that are not desirable to iguanas are Buttonwood, Ironwood, Gumbo Limbo, and Jamaican Caper. They will avoid toxic and thick-leaved plants.


• If you find their nests destroy their eggs. One study recommended by the University of Florida Museum of Natural History is to create nest boxes to trap them during the nesting season (December-May). To learn more about nest boxes visit their website .
  

Chris Guinto, a Florida Keys Wildlife Control Operator also spoke to the group. He is available to capture unwanted iguanas. Contact him at 305-896-5572 or by email at whiteapeman@gmail.com. Chris said the three areas in Key West that have the most iguanas are College Road, The Salt Marsh area, and the Key West Cemetery. Chris said the old caved in graves in the southwest quadrant of the cemetery are ideal nesting sites for the iguanas, and due to the nature of the graves, it is almost impossible to catch the iguanas and stop them from nesting. Therefore we have a major breeding ground in our neighborhood, producing hundreds of iguanas. The only real solution – get a dog.

Haitian Art Company Building Welcomes New Owners To Key West

You may be wondering what is going on at the corner of Frances and Southard at the Haitian Art Company Building at 600 Frances Street. Well, I have the inside scoop.

The property in under contract for sale and will close in a few weeks. I am representing the buyers in this transaction. The buyers have given me permission to share some details:

The two gentlemen who are purchasing the property are from the Netherlands. They are a married couple (yes, they have same sex marriage over there...hopefully soon here! ) and have a very successful interior design business in Belgium.

"The Boys" as I call them (Jan and George) have been visiting Key West for several years and have fallen in love with our Island. They will be opening a high-end interior design studio in the commercial space and will live upstairs in the apartment. They are planning to do a beautiful renovation of the building that will only improve the neighborhood. These guys are a class act and will be great neighbors and new friends!

Jan and George will be moving full time to Key West to pursue their own version of the "American Dream". I will introduce them to you in the future. Take a minute and drop in to their studio after they open. They will be renovating and are scheduled to open in time for season.

Welcome To Frances Street Boys!

More Violent crime in the Neighborhood!

From the Key West Citizen: City Commission candidate airlifted after assault

Tom Milone, a Key West City Commission candidate for District 1, was brutally attacked near the city cemetery late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. (reportedly on Angela Street near Frances, alongside the cemetery around 11pm and they took off up Francis then west on Truman)

Milone was airlifted to Miami with a broken jaw and other injuries. This was the second attack in two weeks in the same area, but the victims' descriptions of the suspects do not match, police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said Tuesday. Police are continuing an investigation.

UPDATE From the Keynoter: Here is a link to the latest update on Tom. He is facing overwhelming medical bills and you can help him by sending a check to The Thomas Milone Benefit Fund, Centennial bank, 1229 SimontonSt, Key West, FL 33040.

See the Keynoter



UPDATE: Tom is scheduled to return to Key west at 8pm tonight. Due to injuries to his jaw he can't talk at this time so you should probably email your thoughts rather than calling him.

UPDATE From Key West Citizen 7/15/09:

Four teenagers arrested in connection with Old Town muggings

Key West police late Tuesday arrested four teenagers who allegedly beat and robbed two men in Old Town Monday night. The local suspects include 18-year-old Jonathan Bien-Aime, along with juveniles: Christopher Harris, Cornelius Jones and Thomas Reza.

One of the two victims, Caroline Street resident and City Commission candidate Tom Milone, was airlifted to a Miami hospital with a broken jaw and other injuries.

UPDATE From KWPD: A potential candidate for the Key West City Commission was one of two victims of two separate attacks that occurred minutes apart Monday evening.

Tom Milone, 63, was assaulted on Frances Street just after 10 p.m. Just minutes before that, the Key West Police Department received a call that Don Sullivan, 65, was attacked on Elizabeth Street.

Investigators believe the two attacks may be linked. However, they do not believe the attacks are related to a brutal assault that occurred on July 8 on Fleming Street.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest these crimes are based on anyone's sexual orientation.

Milone, who has filed to run for the District I commission seat, was airlifted to Jackson South Hospital in Miami as a result of the injuries. Sullivan was treated by Key West Rescue.

Criminal investigations is currently interviewing people of interest and pursuing all leads.

"We're working round the clock until these suspects are apprehended," said Police Chief Donie Lee. "Once they're arrested, we will seek full prosecution of the law for these vicious attacks."

Crime in Our Neighborhood: Public asked to help find violent robbers

KEY WEST (Key West Citizen Crime Report) -- Detectives are asking the public's help in finding two robbers who assaulted a tourist last Wednesday night.

Two young men stole the man's wallet after one of them hit him, knocking him to the ground about 10:15 p.m. at Grinnell and Fleming streets, reports say. The assailants took off toward the cemetery. The tourist later was airlifted to Miami for medical care.

The robbers were both described as in their late teens or early 20s, between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches tall, clean-shaven, with short hair. The victim said one of them was thin, and the other had "a bit of a beer belly."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday should call the Key West Police Department at 305-809-1111. To make an anonymous report, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-346-TIPS. If a Crime Stoppers tip leads to an arrest, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward.

Tipsters can also call the Key West Police Department, Detectives Division at 305-809-1015.

If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Keys, call Crime Stoppers, (800) 346-TIPS.

AN UPDATE 07/13/09: Chief Lee told me by email yesterday that " The victim is recovering and apparently doing better. We have an ongoing investigation but no arrest(s) have been made so far."

Tosh Comes Through with our New Logo!

Thanks to Jon McIntosh we have a new logo for the association!! Enjoy and leave a thank you comment for him here for this terrific contribution!

Phil