Meeting Notes of the Frances Street Neighborhood Association

December 27, 2010 - Notes by Margaret Schaeffer

A big Thank You to John Padget and Jacob Dekker for hosting our December Meeting!

And to Jon Allen for moderating the meeting!!

There were a number of topics discussed at this meeting:

• Florida Keys Mosquito Control District : Dengue Fever

Coleen Fitzsimmons of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (http://www.keysmosquito.org/) discussed the serious situation Key West faces from Dengue Fever. In 2010 there were 62 reported cased, most of which occurred in the Old Town area. The Dengue virus is transmitted by Aedes aegypti, the most common container breeding mosquito (it breeds in all kinds of open containers, pools, fountains and birdbaths with still water, bromeliads - really anything that could hold standing water). There are 4 types of Dengue Fever, and if you get one you will not be immune to the other three types. And your second exposure to Dengue can be very serious, possibly resulting in the hemorrhagic form.

The mosquito lays its eggs in an open container, and the eggs lay dormant waiting for water to be introduced. The larvae can hatch in 5 days in the summer, and 2 weeks in the winter – therefore they have a very rapid developmental cycle. These mosquitoes are active day biters, preferring to bite humans. Coleen recommends not wearing perfumes and skin creams or any type of makeup that has perfumes added as these will attract the mosquitoes.

The Mosquito Control District has been working on educating the citizens of Key West to make sure they do not have containers with standing water around their home as this is really the only way to rid Key West of the Dengue threat. Brazil accomplished this by fining individuals that did not comply, but the Key West Mosquito Control District does not want to resort to this tactic. In addition they are spraying from a helicopter with Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a very safe larvacide that should kill breeding larvae before the summer rains. Once a month Mosquito Control District agents also walk through the Cemetery to put pellets in the open containers at each gravesite to prevent larvae from breeding there.

At home you should not allow water to accumulate in open containers, you should flush your bromeliads once a week with fresh water, you should apply repellents with DEET if you will be spending time outside, and avoid perfumes, etc that might attract the mosquitoes.

If you have a mosquito problem in your yard or from a neighboring yard and need help please feel free to call Coleen at 305-292-7190.


• Waste Management : New Recycling Rules

Margaret Lara of Waste Management discussed the new recycling rules and the Master Plan that will increase city wide recycling (go to Keywestcity.com for more information). You can now recycle plastics #1-#7, including lids (but lids should be loose); “gable-top” milk and juice containers; “aseptic containers” used for soups, milk and juices; clean aluminum foil and foil containers. Household batteries can be recycled – they should be placed in clear zip-lock type plastic bags, and taped to the outside of the recycling container (in order to be seen by the Waste Management driver). Paints, household cleaning products, pesticides and fertilizers, and electronics must still be brought to the Hazardous Waste Collection Site on Rockland Key (behind Waste Management/ Toppinos) the last Thursday of every quarter (March, June, September and December). For further information on how to dispose of non-recyclables visit the Waste Management website at www.thinkgreenfromhome.com


• The Studios of Key West

Jay Scott, the Executive Director of The Studios of Key West (http://www.tskw.org/) discussed the exciting array of programs, workshops, concerts, etc for the upcoming year at the Studios of Key West. He also gave us an overview of the new Capital Campaign to convert the two houses on Ashe Street (607/609 Ashe Street) donated to the Studios of Key West by the Rodel Foundation into “Artist in Residence” suites and studios. This will enhance the residency program and continue the Studio’s goal to make Key West “a community that is serious about being involved in the creation of art on a national and international level”.

The next Meeting of the Frances Street Neighborhood Association will be on
Monday, January 24th at 5:30pm at the home of Dick and Norma Klein, 524 Frances Street.