SILENT RIDE<\/p>\n
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More than 500 bicycle enthusiasts participated in a Silent Ride along Hobie Beach last week to stress safety and remember those who have lost their lives in bicycle accidents. Key Biscayners participating in the ride included, from left, Jo Trippe, Kathy Klarrich, Michele Estevez-Hayes and Bill Durham.<\/p>\n
Property values up 30%<\/p>\n
Tentative numbers indicate the total assessed value of property in Key Biscayne will swell past 30 percent for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. That\u2019s good news for the Village as it enters budget season and anticipates 2020 Vision Plan projects.<\/p>\n
When Village Manager Jacqueline Menendez received the County’s estimate for the Village’s 2006 assessed property value, the number made even her look twice: $5.63 billion, or 31.3 percent more than last year’s $4.287 billion.<\/p>\n
“I was expecting it to be high but not this high,” she said. “We know that the Key is a very desirable place to live, and this just confirms it.”<\/p>\n
The Village Council recently approved the 2020 Vision Plan in concept, but acknowledged that more money is needed to pay for the tens of millions of dollars worth of projects outlined there-in. The plan makes recommendations for ways to improve the Key 5, 10 and 15 years down the road.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s Note: The 2026 Premilitary Taxable Value Estimated released last week by Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser shows Key Biscayne\u2019s cumulative value now at $12.2 billion, a 4.2% jump ($491,000) over 2025.<\/p>\n
Taste of Theatre on the Key<\/p>\n
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City Theatre honored residents Alan Fein and Gene Stearns and other theatre supporters during a Taste of Theatre in Key Biscayne at the Key Biscayne Community Center. Pictured are Alan Fein, Susie Westfall and Jake Fein.<\/p>\n
Esperanza y Caridad Gala<\/p>\n
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Esperanza y Caridad (Hope and Charity) hosted their Gala With a Destination: Peru. Their mission is to provide nutrition, health, education and general wellbeing to more than 750 children in the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Pictured are Sylvia Bennett, Patricia Villa and Patricia Romano.<\/p>\n
Council wants Crandon speed reduced from 30 to 25<\/p>\n
Slow down, this ain’t the mainland.<\/p>\n
The saying has always made for a popular bumper sticker in Key Biscayne, but now it means a whole lot more. The Village Council passed a resolution last week to formally ask Miami-Dade County to lower the speed limit on Crandon Boulevard from 30 mph to 25 mph.<\/p>\n
“The resolution obviously carries a lot of weight, so it’s good that we have this to take with us,” she said. “I\u2019ve already let them know this is coming, and now I’ll follow through with it.”<\/p>\n
The speed limit issue was first broached by Mayor Robert Oldakowski, and it was brought to the forefront when an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car and critically injured while riding his bike on Crandon. Council members will also soon consider lowering the speed limit on Harbor Drive from 30 to 25 mph. Harbor is a Village-owned road, so the decision is entirely up to local leaders.<\/p>\n
Complaint accuses Botanica of discriminating against families with children<\/p>\n
It all began with a married couple with two children and a third on the way purchasing a unit at Key Colony’s Botanica, a 293-unit building with an occupancy restriction of four people per apartment on the books.<\/p>\n
Shortly after they welcomed their fifth member into the world, the Ceballos family said they received a verbal go-ahead from the building manager to move into the 1,600-square-foot, three-bedroom unit they had purchased for $739,000. With less than a week remaining until their scheduled move, the family learned that, because of the addition to their family, their request for occupancy had been shot down by the condo association. It was a turn of events that left the family in a state of shock, especially when they realized that other families with five or more members were already living in the building, partly as a result of a clause in Botanica’s Declaration of Condominium that designates 70 units as exempt from any restriction of occupancy.<\/p>\n
The episode escalated in a maelstrom of accusations, finger-pointing and bad blood between neighbors that ultimately coalesced into a class-action complaint accusing Botanica of discriminatory practices against families with children.<\/p>\n
Represented by Matthew Dietz, an attorney with Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc. (HOPE), a nonprofit fair housing organization dedicated to fighting housing discrimination, parents Hector and Blanca Ceballos, along with two other families, filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court in Miami against Key Colony No. 4 Condominium Association, Inc., also known as Botanica.<\/p>\n
Along with the complaint, the plaintiffs also filed a motion for an emergency injunction asking the judge to order the condo association to allow the Ceballos to live in their unit pending the outcome of the suit. Botanica Board of Directors, meanwhile, represented in this case by the Law Office of Michael E. Rehr maintained that, since the condo was created in 1984, there has always been a clause in the condo’s declaration that clearly sets occupancy to four people per unit.<\/p>\n
The Aqua Party<\/p>\n
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The Key Biscayne Community Foundation hosted The Aqua Party at the Sonesta Beach Resort, Key Biscayne. More than $500,000 was raised during a raffle. Pictured are Dr. Jaime and Amy Zambrano and Leni and Tom Weber.<\/p>\n
Mardi Gras at St. Agnes<\/p>\n
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St. Agnes Catholic Church celebrated Mardi Gras in style with a party in the Parish Hall complete with beads. Pictured are Fernanda Domit, Brigitte Nachtigall and Ana Tootle.<\/p>\n
Meet and Greet for Florida State Senator Rod Smith<\/p>\n
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Dr. Leonard Smith, Jane Smith and Stacia Smith hosted a Meet and Greet for Florida State Senator Rod Smith at Dr. Smith’s home. Pictured are Winnie Pritchett, Winnie Anne Pritchett, Wes Pritchett, Allene Nicholson and Maryann Smith.<\/p>\n
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Chamber of Commerce induction of board<\/p>\n
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The Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce held a business card exchange and installation of newly-elected members of the Board and officers. The party was held at the home of Marilyn and Willy Borroto. Pictured are Jane Morris and Natalie Gailitis.<\/p>\n
Key Biscayne K-8 Center Quiz Night<\/p>\n
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The Quiz Night, held to raise funds to go towards starting a school supply store at the Key Biscayne K-8 Center next school year, was hosted by Hector and Marika Formoso-Murias. The event consisted of seven rounds of 10 questions each and featured long-time Key resident Tim Stickney as the Master of Ceremonies for the night. Pictured are Susan and Dr. Alberto Suarez.<\/p>\n
All-Island tennis tournament draw<\/p>\n
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The 32nd Annual Draw Party for the All-Island Tennis Tournament was held at Pats at the Commons, hosted by BankUnited. Pictured are Elaine Wingfield and Sean Rolland.<\/p>\n
WOMAN’S CLUB HELPS SERVICE CLUB<\/p>\n
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Eileen Senatore, outreach chair of the Key Biscayne Woman’s Club, presents a check for $250 to the Service Club of Key Biscayne K-8 Center. Senatore, at the far left, is joined in this photo by members of the Service Club, as well as Dr. Ana Rasco, principal of the school; Barbara Khan, PTA corresponding secretary, along with her husband, Alan; Jackie Radice, a Service Club parent-volunteer, and Sara Yaker, the guidance counselor who supervises the Service Club.<\/p>\n
Annual Beach Club barbecue<\/p>\n
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Members of the Key Biscayne Beach Club held their annual barbecue. Pictured are David Adams and Ines Lozano.<\/p>\n