Wednesday, May 23, 2012

KEY WEST

Watersports suit dismissed

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the city filed by a watersports operator who accused it of running him out of business.

Robert Krutko sued the city after his charter snorkel business went out of business in 2006. He and Laura Krutko used to operate Reef Snorkeling Adventures with their 45-foot catamaran, which was docked from July 2005 to June 2006 at Ocean Key Resort.

Robert Krutko claimed the city denied him his rightful number of passengers. He claimed he was entitled to 49, but the city granted him a license to carry only 24.

However, a federal judge Jose Martinez dismissed Krutko's lawsuit on Monday.

KEY WEST

Pop in to pop up on Friday

The Sister Season Fund will benefit from a portion of sales proceeds during a Pop Up Art Gallery event on Friday.

The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m. at 328 Simonton St., the former Sign of Sandford gallery.

It's a one-night-only gallery opening -- organizers claim it is the city's first-ever "pop up" -- and will feature original works by Key West artists Rick Fatica, Peter Polyak, Michael Gorman, Tim Marshall Curtis, Garth Holtkamp and the late Susie dePoo and Sandford Birdsey. International artists will include Paresh Nrshinga, Daniel Leonard, James Thorn, Muge Demir, Jeff Davies and Dave Hancock.

For biographies and more information, visit 8artists.com.

KEY WEST

Tourism storm workshop

Outgoing National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read will head this year's hurricane preparedness workshop for the Florida Keys tourism industry at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.

Read will focus on the evolution of forecasting, tracking accurately and predicting intensity. Other county and state officials also will speak.

The conference is geared to tourism-related businesses, but it is open to anyone in the business community.

Registration is $10 per person. Make reservations at 305-296-4959 or executiveoffice@keyslodging.org.