June 2015

Volume 1, Issue 14
June 2015
Southernmost Coconut Castaways
Tales in a Tropical Key
From the President’s Perch
Inside This Issue
From the President’s
Perch
Editor’s Corner Tiki
Office
Southernmost
Gopher Droppings
The Bored Notes
Welcome to our new
members
National Volunteer
Week
I Like the Islands
Moment with an Artist
MMITK 2015
In the Spotlight
Serving Community
Roles with Caribbean
Souls
Castaways By the
Numbers
Birthday Wishes
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired! We just
wrapped up our most successful Meet me in
the Keys ever. (Read all about that throughout
this newsletter.) Now we’re shifting gears and
getting into summer mode. Howie and the boys
take the summer off so that means our club
schedule slows down considerably and we all get to “go slow”. Our
July Jump Up is still in the planning stages but we’ll for sure have
our annual school supply drive and we’ll collect sneakers for Kids
Come First. Be watching for exact details. In August we’ll have a
fun potluck pool party at the home of our Associate Bored Member
Nira Tocco. The date will be announced soon. It’s going to be a fun
summer of cookouts, pool parties and hanging out with friends.
As you know, Howie is in Nashville working on his new CD and we
are so excited to hear it! Castaways will once again be coming to
town from everywhere on October 17th to celebrate at the CD release party. It’s going to be a great time and there just may be a pre
-party in the works. Keep an eye on your email and the Facebook
page for details.
We’re going to take some time to recover from MMITK 2015 but soon
we’ll be looking for volunteers to help some of the planning committees. I really hope that you’ll consider getting involved. It’s going to
take a lot of work to top this year’s event and the money that was
raised, but I’m confident we can do it!
Poetry Corner
Recipes in Paradise
Club Apparel
Events Calendar
Did You Know?
FEMA Emergency Kit
Club Info
Enjoy your summer and all that comes with it. Hit the beach, hit
the lake, fire up the grills and spend all the time you can with
friends and family. That’s what it’s all about.
Love you guys!
Tammy
Page 2
Tales in a Tropical Key
Editor’s Corner Tiki Office
Greetings to all my Southernmost Coconut Castaways family!
I write this on the ride home from our second camping trip of the season to Tybee Island, Georgia. This has become sort of a rite of passage
to start the summer off with our self-adopted children & grandson.
Tybee Island is about 20 miles from Savannah, Georgia and has a
beautiful beach that stretches for miles around the island, there’s a
cool campground (Rivers End) that we always pull our 1966 Appleby
Pop-up Camper that belonged to Pam’s grandparents before they both
passed away. There’s also one of my top 10 restaurants located there called, The Crab Shack. Their
steamer pot for two is killer, you get crawfish, shrimp, mussels, king crab legs, dungeons crab,
smoked sausage, corn on the cob, and potatoes; and for an appetizers you have to get the she-crabsoup—it’s to die for.
With much thought I’ve decided to take an early retirement from the Dept. of Homeland Security
coming up on my 59th birthday this October 19, 2015. This is a job that I still love and I will miss
the comradery between officers. Way back on 09/08/2002 I took an oath of office that I would support & defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and I
will uphold this oath until the day I die. It’s really got me to thinking a lot about life and the things
that are the most important in my life. It’s not how many toys you have, or how much money you
make, it’s the family and friends that really and truly care about you, that’s what really matters! If
you’re doing a job that really stresses you out, and it’s affecting your health and family life… You
might need to make a change before you lose it all.
MMITK2015 will be over when you guys read this, but Pam & I always look forward to spending
quality time with our extended Keys family, and also our Southernmost Coconut Castaways family
that come in from all over the United States. You guys are one of the big things in life that really
matter. We love this club and the many charitable things it does. It takes on that Spring Break feeling of fun in the sun with your friends, great Trop-rock music, and an endless supply of liquid libations. It always makes me feel so truly blessed to do the things we do with all of YOU VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS THE SMCC!!! May you all be blessed until our paths cross again, may you always
be in great health & spirits, and Karma always bring life’s many blessings your way for I know you
will pass it on without a thought to someone who’s in need of helping hand at that moment in life!
Peace, Love & Grits to Yawl,
Mickey English, Editor
mickeyenglish@carolina.rr.com
(704)906-4515
PAGE 3
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Southernmost Gopher Droppings
Whew, it’s over, it’s over, it’s come and gone…Whew, it’s over…Holy cow, my mind is
still mush and along with my body is so tired and achy and sore…It’s over, it’s over,
it’s come and gone!
MMITK 2015, what can I say but I am amazed what this has become! I can’t wrap
my thoughts and feelings around it quite yet, so I’m just going to start and go day
by day with the 1st thoughts that come to mind:
Monday, June 8th, all of the Castaways who came to our home to gather up all of
the stuff…We never imagined everything would be at the Doubletree by that day’s
end, but that’s what happened, so a big thank you who were a part of that!
Tuesday June 9th, and all who helped get things set up, picked up and delivered to Hogfish and all who attended to see/hear Roger, CW, Terry, Dani, Capt. Ron, KW Chris, and Howard, what an amazing “Pre-PreParty”! You asked for more local music, and we gave it to ya! What a NEAT night!
Wednesday June 10th, the “It’s Always Saturday Night In KW” Party at the OFFICIAL Home bar of our Club,
Smokin’ Tuna and, again, thanks to those who helped load up, load in, load out, and PARTY with friends
Thom & Coley…Our “Pre-Party”!
Thursday June 11th, the OFFICIAL “start” of MMITK 2015 and The Boat Drunks really brought it, didn’t
they!!?? Waterfront Brewery, wow!! Again, like I said that evening, NO ONE can ever say that they were at the
very 1st Event ever at The Waterfront Brewery except those registered attendees for MMITK 2015 and those
who volunteered and staffed that night! Was that photo booth cool or what!!??
Friday June 12th, our biggest Hangover Classic Walk ever!! That sea of turquoise tees in Conch Flyer Lounge
was an amazing sight and, as usual, Captain Josh brought his A Game! Continuing that Friday, The Pool
Party with Sunny Jim, Eric Stone Trio, and Jimi Pappas was awesome as expected, then when Howard joined
in, along with Dani and KW Chris, the “All Star Coconut jam” is one of my personal highlights each year!
Saturday June 13th, and all of the great Terrible Tammy’s and Mini Marc’s along with many others who
stepped right up and helped get all the food and drink set up! What a memorable night as the all time highest
margarita ever auctioned off happened right then and there that night! BIG hearts, THAT’S what Castaways
have, I tell ya…BIG HEARTS!
Sunday’ Beach Bash at Higg’s Beach and all that yummy food provided by Salute (and later donated to us we
found out afterwards!) and drink and all those who helped get set up, stepped up and helped serve, then
helped tear down, y’all continue to make me so proud to be a Castaway! Last Mangos, man, they sounded
great!
What about the weather y’all enjoyed!!?? You kidding me? If you would have told me we would have NO rain
during the weeklong event schedule, I would have laughed! Granted Monday most of the numerous trips back
to Casa De Hollander to get everything back was in a Keys “Monsoon” but hey, that’s okay!
Again, I REALLY want to thank all of you who helped out all week long, to make this MMITK 2015 our biggest
(and best?) ever!! Lotsa love and work and sweat and thoughts and planning and meetings and sleepless
nights and yes, even “some” disagreements”, but the love of my life Tammy…I’d say you have amazed me
again, but I am not amazed, it’s what I have come to expect, as each year you put on one HELLUVA PARTY
and I love you so much!
Should we do it again next year!!??
“Castaway Life Is My Life”
Marc
PAGE 4
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
The Bored Notes
Southernmost Coconut Castaways…. June Newsletter “Bored
Notes”
Holy Forecastle! What a voyage our ship has had. Several minor
changes in Board structure and By-Laws have given us opportunities
to do some things differently. And, with Jump Ups, volunteer events,
and MMITK 2015 behind us…..there is “Still a Lot of Magic in Key West”! Magic that sends
children with cancer on a week’s adventure at camp. A chance to help them forget, for just
a while, that they are ill. A chance to just act like a regular kid at summer camp…..Wow,
it’s magic….and our club’s efforts, and help from the other two Coconut Castaway clubs,
help to send them there! What a Community Role that is!
Club structure and by-law changes have resulted in my “Bored” position of Secretary being
modified to include the Treasurer function as well. So, now that MMITK is behind us, I am
ready to not only record and report meeting minutes and track volunteer hour totals, but I
must also start keeping track of our clubs financial transactions as well! The Ol’ Pirate is
gonna get a little busier, so de mermaid chasin’, treasure huntin’, and rum swiggin’ will be
slowed down a bit but “knot” fer naught! I shall contin-yea to be the same Ol’ Crusty Pirate that I be….thar shall just be more of me…Duty bound, true to de cause, and guard de
treasures as I be charged!
Speaking of the treasures, I am sure you have heard the final numbers we raised for Kids
Care Camp…..UNBELIEVABLE! Thanks to our sponsors and the most awesome club members on earth, we have topped last year’s donations by approximately 56%! That is
“Huge”……that is heart…that is Love!
Planning has already begun for MMITK 2016. We “Bored” members will be anything but,
and that is how we roll! Can’t wait for another awesome event next year. So, batten down
de hatches, set de sails, chart de course, an give no quarter… it’s Nelson’s Folly fer all and
let de voyage take speed!
Jolly Mon…
Yer Crusty Ol’ Pirate Secretary/Treasurer
PAGE 5
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Welcome to Our New Members
First name
Jennifer
Ryan
Bill
Susie
Bill
Roger
Linda
Randall
Joy
Rick
Bonnie
John
Diana
Julie
Stuart
Sharon
Timothy
Christi
Mark
Freddy
Bill
Sue
Michelle
Bobbi
Denise
Dyanne
Jerry
Kevin
Rebecca
Stephen
Jane
Steve
Tracy
Ryan
Frank
Marianna
Jon
Janine
Stacie
Thomas
Anita
Scott
Terry
Bob
Last name
Gaskill
Gaskill
Lanier
Lanier
Schimpf
Jokela
Kessler
Stone
Bollinger
Pearson
Pearson
Fasanella
O’Rear
Schaffer
Shaffer
Woodman
Woodman
Gilbert
Ives
Leaycraft
Officer
Taylor
Birnbaum
McElroy
Raymond
Lathan
McElroy
Roseberry
Blanchard
Witmer
Witmer
Belew
Belew
O’Rear
Martin
Martin
Seibert
Seibert
Litsenberger
Brown
Polkoski
Ballantyne
Cassidy
Ballantyne
City
Anna
Anna
Panama City
Panama City
Shelton
Big Pine Key
Hamilton
Sugarloaf Key
Sugarloaf Key
Waban
Waban
Key West
Ramrod Key
Sugarloaf Key
Sugarloaf Key
Brookline
Brookline
Key West
Big Pine Key
Key West
Ocala
Enfield
Smyrna
Big Pine Key
Ocala
Key West
Key West
Gas City
Gas City
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Scout Key
Big Pine Key
Ramrod Key
Cocoa
Cocoa
Key West
Key West
Fairview
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
Fleetwood
Big Pine Key
Gilbertsville
State
TX
TX
FL
FL
CT
FL
OH
FL
FL
MA
MA
FL
FL
FL
FL
NH
NH
FL
FL
FL
FL
CT
GA
FL
FL
FL
FL
IN
IN
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
FL
NC
FL
FL
PA
FL
PA
Member since
3/5/15
3/6/15
3/6/15
3/6/15
3/9/15
3/10/15
3/13/15
3/25/15
3/25/15
3/29/15
3/29/15
4/3/15
4/15/15
4/19/15
4/19/15
4/20/15
4/20/15
4/21/15
4/21/15
4/21/15
4/21/15
4/22/15
4/22/15
4/22/15
4/22/15
4/23/15
4/23/15
4/27/15
4/28/15
4/29/15
4/29/15
4/29/15
4/29/15
4/29/15
5/5/15
5/5/15
5/6/15
5/6/15
5/7/15
5/9/15
5/9/15
5/22/15
5/24/15
5/28/15
PAGE 6
Kudos to our volunteers!
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
PAGE 7
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
I Like the Islands…
Ahoy there Castaways & welcome to our 13th stop as we make our
way on this virtual journey we call, “I Like the Islands.” So grab your
drinks and let’s enjoy the ride. Actually for this one let’s pack a suitcase, we’ll need it! For this trip we’ll need transportation: Yep, we’re
going to Havana, Cuba which is 90 miles from Key West.
Habana is a must see. Sitting pretty as the Caribbean’s largest and most vivacious city, its romantic atmosphere and infectious energy are the stuff of legend. Where else do you find vintage American cars running off Russian Lada engines, ration shops juxtaposed against gleaming colonial palaces, and revolutionary sloganeering drowned out by all-night parties? Habaneros (inhabitants of
Habana) love their city and it’s not difficult to see why. Amid the warm crystalline waters of the
sparkling Caribbean, over 500 years of roller-coaster history have conspired to create one of Latin
America’s most electric and culturally unique societies.
The stomping ground for swashbuckling pirates, a heavily fortified slave port for the Spanish and
a lucrative gambling capital for the North American Mafia, Habana has survived everything that
has been thrown at it and still found time to innovate. At the forefront of modern Latino culture,
Habana has spawned salsa and mambo, Havana Club rum and Cohiba cigars, mural painting and
Che Guevara iconography… And the list goes on. But with its crumbling tenements and increasingly traffic-clogged streets, Habana is no conventional beauty. Despite boasting colonial edifices
to rival Buenos Aires and a dramatic coastline to match California, the city lacks the jaw-dropping
magnificence of Paris or the spectacular physical setting of Rio de Janeiro. Instead, a large part of
Habana’s attraction lies in the visceral and the abstract.
Walk the mildewed neighborhoods of Centro Habana or Vedado and you’ll soon pick up the scent –
here a mysterious Santeria ritual, there a couple of drummers pounding out a rumba beat. The
ins and outs are often hard to define and the contradictions endlessly confusing – perhaps this is
why Habana’s real essence is so difficult to pin down. Plenty of writers have had a try, though; Cuban intellectual Alejo Carpentier nicknamed Habana the ‘city of columns,’ Federico Lorca declared
that he had spent the best days of his life there and Graham Greene concluded that Habana was a
city where ‘anything was possible.’ But thorn or flower, Habana’s mesmerizing powers will quickly
lure you in. The opportunities to lose yourself in the melee are limitless – take a guided tour
around Habana Vieja’s enchanting colonial monuments, experience the pizzazz of a late-night cabaret show, stroll along the Malecón (Av de Maceo) as the waves crash over the sidewalk, or admire
the skillful reconstruction job on a sleek, streamlined 1956 Cadillac.
Traditional sights aside, Habana’s greatest attraction is its earthy authenticity. This is no trussedup tourist resort or cynically concocted amusement park. There are museums here, of course,
along with beautifully preserved palaces, top-notch hotels and rather tasty restaurants. But walk
a couple of blocks north of leafy Parque Central and you’ll suddenly find yourself on the set of a
real-life Elia Kazan movie, a dusty 1950s time warp where working-class mothers still go shopping
with their hair in rollers and young kids play baseball in the street with sticks and rolled-up balls
of plastic.
While 50 years of Socialism have taken their toll on Habana’s fragile social and economic fabric,
the indomitable spirit of its citizens is a constant source of inspiration. In a society that invented
camel buses, stretch Ladas and steaks made from grapefruit skin, survival is second nature and
personal sacrifice almost a rite of passage. But how ever much you fall in love with this flawed yet
utterly seductive city, capturing it in a sentence will always be a conundrum. ‘Habana is very
much like a rose,’ said Fico Fellove in the movie The Lost City, ‘it has petals and it has thorns…so
it depends on how you grab it. But in the end it always grabs you.’
PAGE 8
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
I Like the Islands Continued
During the Republican Period, from 1902 to 1959, the city saw a new
era of development. All endeavors of industry and commerce grew
very rapidly. Cuba recovered from the devastation of war to become a
well-off country, with the third largest middle class in the hemisphere, and Havana, the Capital of the country, became known as the
Paris of the Caribbean. Construction was an important industry.
Apartment buildings to accommodate the new middle class, as well as
mansions for the Cuban tycoons, were built at a fast pace.
Numerous luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs were constructed during the 1930s to serve
Havana's burgeoning tourist industry, strongly rivaling Miami. In the thirties, organized crime
characters were not unaware of Havana's nightclub and casino life, and they made their inroads in the city. Santo Traffic ante, Jr. took the roulette wheel at the Sans Souci, Meyer Lansky directed the Hotel Habana Riviera, with Lucky Luciano at the Hotel Nacional Casino.
The Havana Hilton owned by the Hospitality Workers Retirement Fund was Latin America's
tallest, largest hotel. At the time, Havana became an exotic capital of appeal and numerous
activities ranging from marinas, grand prix car racing, musical shows and parks. The development and opportunity offered by Cuba in general, and Havana in particular, made the island a magnet for immigration. Cuba received millions of immigrants during the Republic. It
received so many Spaniards that, today, it is estimated that one quarter of the Cuban population descends from Spanish immigrants. Havana achieved the title of being the Latin American city with the biggest middle class population per-capita, simultaneously accompanied by
gambling and corruption where gangsters and stars were known to mix socially.
During this era, Havana was generally producing more revenue than Las Vegas, Nevada. A
gallery of black and white portraits from the era still adorn the walls of the bar at the Hotel
National, including pictures of Frank Sinatra with Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich and Gary
Cooper. In 1958, about 300,000 American tourists visited the city. One of the most wellknown visitors and resident to the area was the American author Ernest Hemingway (1899–
1961), who quoted, "In terms of beauty, only Venice and Paris surpassed Havana". Hemingway wrote several of his famous novels in Cuba and lived there the last 22 years of his life.
Havana had 135 cinemas at that time — more than Paris or New York City. After the revolution of 1959, the new regime promised to improve social services, public housing, and official
buildings; nevertheless, shortages that affected Cuba after Castro's abrupt expropriation of all
private property and industry under a strong communist model backed by the Soviet Union
followed by the U.S. embargo, hit Havana especially hard.
As a result, today much of Havana is in a dilapidated state. By 1966-68, the Cuban government had nationalized all privately owned business entities in Cuba, down to "certain kinds of
small retail forms of commerce" (law No. 1076). Most of these laws and economic restrictions
still remain today. Havana and Cuba in general transformed from an
immigrant receiver, to one of the largest emigration generators in the
world. Today almost 15% of the total Cuban population lives abroad,
even despite the fact that free travel is banned by the regime.
PAGE 9
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
I Like the Islands Continued
There was a severe economic downturn after the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. With it, subsidies ended, losing billions of dollars
which the Soviet Union gave the Cuban government, with many believing Havana's soviet-backed regime would soon vanish, as happened to the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe. However, contrary to the soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe, Havana's communist regime prevailed during the 1990s. The worsening situation
has been illustrated by the favorite joke in the summer of 1991.
Soon after Fidel Castro came to power, the signs in the Havana Zoo were changed from "don't
feed the animals" to "don't eat the animal's food". During the Special Period, the signs begged
visitors not to eat the animals. Indeed, the peacocks, the buffalo and even the rhea reportedly
disappeared from the Havana zoo After 50 years of prohibition, the communist government
increasingly turned to tourism for new financial revenue, and has allowed foreign investors to
build new hotels and develop hospitality industry. Paradoxically, while foreign investment is
welcome, Cubans are forbidden to participate. The Cuban population is only allowed to work
as cooks, gardeners and taxi-drivers, but not to become owners or investors of any property.
For these reason among others, the tourism industry during the socialist revolution has failed
to generate the projected revenues. After a decline in the early 2000s, Cuban tourism hit an
all-time high of 2.7 billion dollars (USD) in 2008. In Old Havana, effort has also gone into rebuilding for tourist purposes, and a number of streets and squares have been rehabilitated.
But Old Havana is a large city, and the restoration efforts concentrate in all but less than
10% of its area.
"Our change in policy toward Cuba has the potential to wipe out a legacy of distrust in the
hemisphere, remove false excuses for restrictions in Cuba, defend democratic values and extend the hand of friendship to the Cuban people," Obama said in his speech. Across the Cuban capital, increased engagement between the two countries can't come quick enough. Many
hope that increased ties will bring more U.S. products and people to the island, improve their
economic outlook and better their lives. Americans hoping to jet down to Cuba could soon
have the option of going by ferry instead. And if one company has its way, travelers will ride
in style on a vessel filled with gambling, restaurants and other amenities. Two Florida companies — Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale and Baja Ferries USA of Miami — said that
they have received approval from the U.S. government to start offering commercial service to
the communist island nation, the Sun Sentinel first reported.
Baja Ferries is looking to provide rides out of Miami, Key West and Port Manatee in Tampa
Bay, with Havana as the main destination, President Joseph Hinson told NBC News. The
company, which has operations in Mexico and Puerto Rico, still needs to hold formal talks
with Cuba. To remove obstacles to legal sales of United States agricultural commodities to
Cuba and to end travel restrictions on all Americans to Cuba. Passed
Committee by a roll call vote of 25 to 20 and ordered to be reported
favorably to the House, but Bill H.R. 4645 is stuck in Congress as everything else they do. “So we need to email all your states Congressmen
and let them know it’s time to pass this bill, which will allow Americans to travel to Cuba.”
PAGE 10
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Moment with an Artist
In this edition of Moment with an Artist we take a look at
another Castaways favorite, “Sunny Jim,” who’s laid back
style of Trop-Rock music seems to put you in that Key
West state of mind. Plus you might remember he kept us
entertained at this year’s Meet Me In The Keys pool party,
if you didn’t have to many of those Voodoo Bucket drinks
at the Doubletree pool bar like someone we know…… “Lol”
Eight time Trop Rock Music Award winner James "Sunny
Jim" White writes what he knows - his original songs are
about love, life and the people who inspire him. He enjoys performing for purveyors of
the island lifestyle. A versatile entertainer and musician, he is available as a solo act
or with a full band, for events large and small. From wild Parrot Head parties to intimate backyard concerts, he is “living what he loves and loving what he lives.” James
has earned a loyal following across the U.S. and the Caribbean with his original music and laidback style. Fans and friends alike enjoy his real-life experience and lighthearted approach.
Sunny Jim has been a regular on Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, broadcasted
on Sirius Satellite radio, since 1998. Sunny Jim is a four-time Trop Rock Music
award winner; Vocalist of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was named 2010 Musician of the Year. Sunny Jim's music is distributed by his own publishing company
Laidback Lane Productions, Inc.
James White was born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in California where he
picked up a guitar as a teenager and discovered a love of music and songwriting. After graduating from college at Chico State University in Chico, California, James
launched a music career that landed him in the Cayman Islands by way of Nashville
in 1989. A one-year gig turned into a 12-year stay. It was during this time that he
picked up the moniker "Sunny Jim" from a former bandmate. James was the muchvalued artist-in-residence at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean and the entire Hyatt chain. A crossroads for travelers from all
corners of the world, James met real characters who have ended up in his songs. His
first fans were the regular customers of the Hyatt Resort, and many of them still stay
in touch.
When singer / songwriter James “Sunny Jim” White is not on the road, he performs
regularly at local venues such as Capt. Curt’s Backroom Saloon on Siesta Key, Farlow’s on the Water in Englewood and The Nav-a-gator in Lake Suzy. Visit
www.sunnyjim.com for more.
PAGE 11
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Meet Me in the Keys 2015
Meet me in the Keys 2015 was a great success. THANKS to all the generous donations made by all
you kind-hearted Castaways from all three club clubs spread out all over this United States. The
final total raised was $52,823. Wow that’s incredible, and when this is added to the amount Howard and Cyndy have raised since Meet me in the Keys 2014, it brings their final annual total to
$120,000. That will be donated to KOA Care Camps, and that will make a lot of dreams come true
for these kids that might have never been able to experience summer camp due to cancer.
Once again I have to give a big shout out to all the Unsung Heroes behind the scenes that made this
years event so fantastic. You gals & guys busted your butts right up till that last drink was served
out at Higgs Beach, THANK YOU… THANK YOU… THANK YOU! And lets not forget all of the
great sponsors that funded certain venues. “You All Rock!” And last but not least how about a big
ole round of applause for all the artist that kept us entertained with GREAT TROP-ROCK MUSIC
at all of our many fantastic venues this year. Yawl da’ best's’ don’t ya’ know!!! So if you all had a
great time like I did, go ahead and mark your calendar for MMITK2016 (June 9—12, 2016).
PAGE 12
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
In the Spotlight
Lucy Buffett
This edition’s Member In the Spotlight is non other than Lulu herself, Luc
y
Buffett, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few of years ago at Meeting of the Minds where I bought a
copy of her cookbook and we talked food while she autographed my cookbook, which I must say has
some mighty good recipes for those of us who like to eat.
Once upon a time, a Gulf Coast darling, born and raised in one L.A. (Lower Alabama) found herself living
in another L.A. (Los Angeles, California). Lucy Buffett had just about enough of the pace of Hollywood
and yearned for the sweet comfort of home and a way of life that is more about living life than "lifestyle."
The memories of a childhood scented by magnolias in the spring, crab boils in the summer, tire swings,
and the glories of Mobile Bay, were calling her back home.
With many failures in her back pocket, but many triumphs in her heart, "LuLu" packed her bags and
headed south to parts "known"-- back to the place where her roots had grown. Anyone who knows LuLu,
knows she can COOK! They know she loves life, and not unlike her brother Jimmy, “yes that would be
Jimmy Buffett,” she is a passionate host and entertainer. She found a little dream harbor, and moved
into a beautiful spot on Weeks Bay, Alabama, where the original LuLu's Sunset Grill was born. It was a
place that Fish River locals quickly called their own …a place "Where life is good and lunch lasts forever."
The first LuLu's was little more than a bait shop, an outdoor burger joint and bar, situated on the edge of
a nationally protected bird estuary, in the very same spot Lucy's father used to take her and her sister
and brother fishing as children. "When I first opened LuLu's Sunset Grill, I thought…hey, a little place on
the water to get a cold beer and a good burger, just like my daddy would have loved. How hard could it
be? After working for some of the meanest folks in Hollywood, I thought this would be a piece of cake,
right? Wrong! It's one of the toughest things I've ever done. The restaurant biz is not for the faint of
heart." LuLu's Sunset Grill enjoyed 5 precious and fun-filled years, and countless perfect sunsets on the
northern edge of Week's Bay where Fish and Magnolia rivers meet.
In 2003, when the Alabama state government decided not to renew Lucy's lease on Week's Bay, a new
home was found for LuLu's on the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It was a bittersweet
move, but like any Buffett faced with a difficult decision, she decided to throw a party and move forward.
She enlisted the help of a buddy with a barge and, literally, moved the ENTIRE establishment to its new
locale by water. So, on a sunny and surreal day in the fall of 2003, friends, family, and the local community that loved LuLu's so much, literally loaded all of LuLu's that wasn't nailed down, including the infamous "boat stage," JD Buffett's one ton custom barbeque grill, and a few mature palm trees (to be replanted at the new site) onto a 150 foot barge and tug-boat. They headed south through Week's Bay,
dancing to the live, on-board, musical accompaniment of the Leaving' Brother's Band, and a few freeflowin' margarita machines!
Lucy was quoted as saying, "Why be normal, why do things the 'right' way? I keep this place and my
dreams going by riding out the storms and adjusting to the tides. It's a special place, and I know I can do
it again in a new location! LuLu's is a state of mind, really. It's a great escape, a great family spot. We're
all about good food, good folks, good music, and good times. A place to confirm that 'LIFE is good'....."
Amen, Sista!!! A few months and a few rain delays later, the new LuLu's at Homeport Marina (new beginning, new name…a tribute to the home Lucy's beloved parents, JD and Peets, shared on Mobile Bay the
last 30 years of their lives) opened its canal-facing, garage doors on Mardi Gras Day, Fat Tuesday, 2004!
PAGE 13
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
In the Spotlight Continued
Since then, LuLu's at Homeport has undergone constant changes. It first began as a restaurant with a
tiny gift shop, a little sand for the kids, and a gorgeous view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Now, a few
years later, the view is still unbeatable, but the restaurant is more than just that—it's become a true
family entertainment destination. LuLu's is known for adding something new and exciting to the complex
every year. Serving 4,000 people a day during the summer season is no easy task, and though there is
often a wait, we like to think we give everyone who comes to LuLu's something worth waiting for!!!
We've added new areas like the BAMA BREEZE bar to wet your whistle, the SUNSET GRILL, overlooking
the marina, for a little taste of the big kitchen, the FOUNTAIN FOR YOUTH to cool off the kids, the
MOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, a safe, three-story rope climbing apparatus for the adventurous kid within all of
us! With face-painting, hair-wraps, beach water activities, volleyball nets, LIVE MUSIC daily, a huge retail store, and a large sandy beach area equipped with pails, shovels and toys galore, LuLu's is a perfect
place for kids of ages to get their "play" time fix. Our newest addition is the LuLu’s FUN ARCADE filled
with awesome arcade games and fun prizes.
BUT IT'S THE FOOD LULU'S IS FAMOUS FOR…After climbing the Mountain of Youth or playing beach
volleyball with the kids, we expect you've surely worked up an appetite for LuLu's Crazy Sista specialties.
Be sure to indulge in our Cheeseburger in Paradise, a tasty bowl of our Famous Seafood Gumbo, or our
Fresh Snapper Sandwich! Got allergies? No worries! Check out our NEW ALLERGY MENU, which covers
six different types of allergies/diets: gluten-free, egg-free, seafood, shellfish, soy and dairy. Regardless of
your diet or taste, remember that everything here at LuLu's is made in-house, fresh to order. We know
that when you arrive at LuLu's you are ready to play and eat.
While we DON'T TAKE RESERVATIONS, we ask that you arrive early. In order to better serve you and
your family, we cap our waiting time at two hours. This not only ensures better service for you on our
end, but a better experience overall for everyone! If you still have that hankering for LuLu's food, though,
check out our SUNSET GRILL; it has a small-scale menu for a small-scale wait! As always, music is never lacking at LuLu's. There is live music every single night and it is always FREE. During lunches, we
have our state of the art sound system playing our own play lists of music that are quintessential to the
LuLu's atmosphere we all know and love. Here at LuLu's our commitment to you is providing a place we
would want to visit with our families, too!
There is no chain restaurant mentality here, and we hope that when you visit, whether on vacation with
family or just a night out with friends, you experience the essence that is LuLu's. When you leave, we
want you to leave with a full belly, a happy heart, the memory of a GREAT TIME (and if applicable, maybe even some content and sleepy kids). More than anything, we really want you to WANT to come back
and experience it again and again!!! Here at LuLu's, we are never satisfied with normal. LuLu's is proud
to be more than just a restaurant, which is why we are always looking to expand, evolve, or elaborate on
what we already have to make the experience even better for our visitors. And speaking of expansions,
LuLu’s has just open a new restaurant in Destin, FL in June 2015. We hope to spread the same GUMBO
LOVE to the Florida Panhandle and continue serving thousands of guests a day. Cheers to the FUTURE
OF LULU’S!
Things to know by Lucy’s Parents: James Delaney “JD” & Mary Loraine “Peets” Buffett Peets' Philosophy
1. Read often, including the classics.
2. Accept everyone for who they are, not what they do.
3. Be well-travelled.
4. Learn to be a listener.
5. Live by the sea.
6. Listen to your spirit and find joy.
7. Education, like money, doesn't make you happy ~ but it sure helps.
8. Love and Family are the best things we have.
PAGE 14
Serving Community Roles with Caribbean Souls
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
PAGE 15
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Castaways by the numbers...
March:



Volunteering
 Key West Art & Historical Society—45 hours
New members—11
Jump Up
 17th at Mangrove Mama’s
 Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation—$550
April:



Volunteering
 Tuna Trot—41.25 hours
 Aids Help Taste of Key West—66 hours
 Cow Key Bridge Run—82 hours
 Aids Help Bed Races—42 hours
 American Cancer Society fundraiser—15 hours
New members—23
Jump Up
 21st at Kelly’s Caribbean
 Domestic Abuse Shelter—$485
May:



Volunteering
 Keystock—245 hours
 Key West Songwriter’s Festival—99 hours
New members—10
Jump Up
 No Jump Up
PAGE 16
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Summer Birthday Wishes
From each and every one of us, the Southernmost Coconut Castaways, we would like to
wish each one of you a very Happy Birthday filled with many tropical blessings to all!
May
1st—Terri Pattavina
3rd—Nick Caruso
3rd—Randy Hall
3rd—Tom Leonard
3rd—Phil Morris
4th—David Cooper
4th—Jim Skinner
6th—Bill Lanier
11th—Susan Dennis
23rd—James Pattavina
27th—Alfred Jordan
28th—Angela Crenshaw
28th—Linda Moorefield
29th—Steve Howard
31st—Jennifer Gaskill
June
3rd—Ryan Gaskill
4th—Cynthia Grant
6th—Roland Baird
6th—Carol Leonard
6th—John Sudia
7th—Skip Crowther
11th—Diana O’Rear
19th—Randall Stone
20th—Steven Gray
22nd—Craig Holmes
23rd—Jane Hollinger
27th—Ryan O’Rear
29th—Phil Stern
August
3rd—Erica Powell
4th—Judy Perkins
5th—Steve Belew
7th—Beth Schreier
8th—Cheryl Rollings
9th—Bill Bailey
10th—Fred Cooley
12th—Dale Hench
15th—Marc Hollander
16th—Terrie Garcia
16th—Doug Johnson
17th—Sue Taylor
19th—Patrick French
21st—Lisa Fasanella
22nd—Rick Haukness
24th—Jerry McElroy
24th—Kathy Russ
26th—Albert Waters
27th—Troy Pappas
28th—Ken Ro
July
1st—Terry Cassidy
1st—Diane Taylor
3rd—Stefanie Kindt
3rd—Dee Zieger
5th—John Tiersch
7th—Tina Moore
9th—Joe Cortner
10th—Rich Dugan
10th—Jeff Goins
10th—Bill Stewart
13th—Joe Weissner
14th—Cheryl Woodall
15th—Jim Stoner
17th—Pat Caruso
17th—Darlene Mitchell
18th—LaReta Morrison
20th—Arthur Miller
21st—Beryl Johnson
22nd—Perry Ballard
22nd—Jennifer Hulse
22nd—Gary Masteller
23rd—Richard Cooper
24th—Jim Fenstermacher
27th—Duane Kuhn
28th—Tammy Hollander
29th—Steve Boyce
29th—Jody Kuhn
30th—Diane Rutledge
31st—David Bowling
31st—Laurie Holmes
PAGE 17
Poetry Corner
Myrtle Beach 72
By: Mickey English for Pam English
Happy 38th Anniversary July 16, 1977
I’m sittin’ hear thinkin’ bout the first time I laid eyes on you….
I knew love was in the air that summer’s day in Myrtle Beach 72…
You walked across that parking lot… Damn girl you sure were hot…
In that halter top and them cutoff jeans…
That long hair blowing in that summer breeze…
And those beautiful green eyes looking down at me…
I was sittin’ out in front of the motel room…
When you walked up and said, “Hey boy what’s your name?”
I stuttered and sit there like a stump on a log the first time I spoke to you…
Back on that summer’s day in Myrtle Beach 72…
We sat there for quite a while, talking about everything we knew…
And I knew it was love at first sight, when I laid eyes on you…
Back on that first day we met in Myrtle Beach 72…
I asked if you’d like to go for a walk on the beach…
And you smiled and said yeah that sounds nice…
So we walked down the beach on the soft white sand…
Walking for hours hand in hand…
I knew at that moment I was in love with you…
Back on that summer’s day in Myrtle Beach 72…
We walked down to the boardwalk arcade to ride some rides and have some fun…
And I knew at that very minute girl, you were that special one…
My soul mate I met that very day, some 42 years ago…
Back on that summer’s day 72…
Yes my wife I’ll always love you and remember that beautiful summer’s day…
Down at Myrtle Beach where we were just 2 young kids at play…
I thanked the lord for that summer of 72…
Because that’s when he decided he’d let me meet you…
Now I sit back and think about some 42 years ago…
And I pray to the lord that you’ll always know…
My love for you will always stay true…
Because of that summer, Myrtle Beach 72…
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
PAGE 18
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Recipes in Paradise
Castaways “Killer Cocktail”
Recipe:
·
1/2
·
·
·
·
·
10 oz. Coco Real Cream of Coconut Plastic container
20 oz. Dole Pineapple Juice - 1/2 Can
5 oz. Orange Juice
5 oz. Blue Curacao
4 oz. Papa’s Pilar Dark (handled!)
4 oz. Papa’s Pilar Blonde (handled!)
Makes 6 cups or 48 oz. or 6 drinks at 8 oz. each. (Size of a standard
blender). Drink is always better made in batches and then add rum to
mix as needed.
Papa’s Pilar Hemingway Daiquiri
Recipe:
-
1.5oz Papa’s Pilar Blonde
.75oz Fresh Lime Juice
.5oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1 tsp of Maraschino Liquor
1 tsp Granulated Sugar
Mixing Instructions: Combine ingredients into mixing glass with ice. Shake well. Raise glass and toast.
Club merchandise!
Women’s tank Tops
$15 each
Ladies Tees Available in Coral,
Turquoise, Leaf green, Raspberry &
Sea foam Sizes Small—2X
$15 each
Women’s V-neck Tee White
only—sizes Small—2X
$15 each
Tie Dye Tee Shirt
$18 each
Men’s sleeveless shirts
Sizes L & 2X
$15 each
Men’s Tees Available in Coral,
Sea foam, Leaf Green & Ocean
Sizes L—2X
$15 each
Club merchandise cont.
Club Burgee Flag for
your boat or Tiki Bar
$20 each
Covo Cup Tumblers w/lid
$20 each
Castaways Koozie $3
or 2 / $5
Castaways Backpacks
$5 each
We also have club window stickers
and silicone bracelets—$2 each
PAGE 21
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
July 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
28 JUNE
29
30
1
2
3
4
Volunteer!
5
6
12
13
7
14
8
“Bored”
meeting
9
15
16
10
11
Volunteer!
17
18
Volunteer!
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1 August
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS





July 4—Key Lime Pie Festival—volunteer opportunity
July 8—Bored Meeting
July 11—Mel Fisher Days Street Fest—volunteer opportunity
July 17—KW Art & Historical Society—volunteer opportunity
Jump Up—TBD—school supply drive & Kids Come First sneaker drive
PAGE 22
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
August 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
25 JULY
26
27
28
29
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1 SEPT.
2
3
4
5
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS




Howard & MM24 Band have no scheduled shows
Jump Ups—Pool party—date TBD
Volunteering—Dates to be determined
Bored Meeting—Date to be determined
PAGE 23
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
Did You Know?
Did you know we have a members only section on our website—
www.southernmostcoconutcastaways.com
You can see our Castaways Calendar, Online Directory, Share Your Thoughts on our
Chats & Discussions, and check out past issues of our newsletter, “Tales in a Tropical
Key.”
Did you know that you its easy to renew or change your membership level on our club
website?
You just login to our club website the hit View Profile and then hit Renew or Change
Membership Level.
Did you know that KOA Care Camps has a very special place in the our club members’
hearts, and especially our own Howard Livingston? This is why:
When kids with cancer need help, KOA Care Camps is there for them. At KOA Care
Camps, we say “yes.” And more importantly, we do something about it. Our mission is
to allow these amazing children to enjoy the joy, healing and freedom that comes from
attending specialized summer camps where they can just be themselves. Surrounded by
other kids just like them, they swim, go on hikes, sing songs and create memories that
help get them through the tough times. They heal physically and emotionally, and hope
flourishes.
If you could make a difference in the life of a child with cancer, would you? Would you
look for a way to bring them hope and help them heal? Would you find ways where they
could feel “normal” again?
The KOA Care Camps Trust was created in 1984 with a single purpose: to help kids diagnosed with cancer attend specialized summer camps at no cost to their family. The
first year, $7,100 was raised by KOA owners. By 2013, the organization was receiving
nearly a half a million dollars a year in donations and helping to support 52 cancer
camps across North America. With funding by other cancer organizations declining,
however, they knew they needed to find a way to expand their message and drive additional fundraising.
The average cost to send a child to camp ranges from $500 to $1500 depending on the
child’s needs.
PAGE 24
TALES IN A TROPICAL KEY
FEMA EMERGENCY KIT
Note from the Editor: With the probability that over half the readers of this
newsletter live on, or very close to, the ocean I wanted to share some very
important information that just might help save your life, or someone else.
Below is a list of items that would be very important to your survival in the
event of a catastrophic storm.
Southernmost Coconut Castaways
PO Box 431497
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
info@southernmostcoconutcastaways.com
The Southernmost Coconut Castaways is a
national “friend” club of Howard Livingston
and the Mile Marker 24 Band. We are also a
community service organization made up of
members that believe strongly in giving back to
their communities.
talesinatropicalkey@gmail.com
We have monthly social gatherings which we
call Jump Ups, where club members and their
www.southernmostcoconutcastaways.com
friends get together to relax and socialize.
Send story ideas and/or photos
If you have suggestions regarding
things you’d like to see in the
next newsletter, please send
them to Mickey English at:
mickeyenglish@carolina.rr.com
Additionally, if you take pictures
at club events, volunteer outings
or Howard’s concerts, please
send them to Tammy to use in
the newsletter, on the website or
on the club’s Facebook page.
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/southernmostcoconutcastaways.com
ATTENTION CLUB MEMBERS!!!! Our Discussion Board on the Club Website is a great
Forum for Posting Information, Chats and Discussions! “CHECK IT OUT!!!!”