Friday, July 30, 2010

FLORIDA KEYS

Free plant clinics offered

Get plant problems correctly diagnosed before using pesticides or other chemicals by bringing experts your tired, diseased, insect-infested vegetation yearning to be free of problems.

The free clinics will be held:

• In Key West from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday and Aug. 16 at the Monroe County Extension Office in the Gato Building, 1100 Simonton St., Suite 2-260; and

• In Key Largo from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday and Aug. 18 at the Extension Office in the Murray E. Nelson Government & Cultural Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Suite 244, Mile Marker 102, Bayside.

For more information call 305-292-4501 or go to http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu.

MARATHON

Power outages expected

The Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) on Monday will start an eight-week project to replace failing conductor wire along Sombrero Boulevard and warns that the work will cause brief, scheduled power outages for residents of that street.

Affected residents will be notified 24 hours ahead of time, FKEC says. Kint Power is contracted to replace about 2½ miles of old, failing conductor wire and insulators.

The upgrade is part of FKEC's ongoing storm-hardening program, the utility says. For more information, call 305-852-2431.

FLORIDA KEYS

Advisory council seats open

Twenty primary and alternate seats are open on the Sanctuary Advisory Council, which reports to NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

"Advisory Council members play a vital role in the sanctuary, acting as conduits to community stakeholders and helping inform management decisions," said Sean Morton, acting sanctuary superintendent. Seats require representatives of various aspects of the marine industry -- including charter sports fishing, commercial fishing, tourism -- from the Upper, Middle and Lower keys.

For applications, which are due by Aug. 6, go to http://floridakeys.noaa.gov, call 305-292-0311, ext. 245 or e-mail Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov.