Lida Lopez Mancheva, a 23-year-old concert pianist from Havana, will present a free recital of Cuban compositions next Friday, Nov. 26, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 8 p.m. The evening is sponsored by Conchord Cayo Hueso, originally BASTA!, a local humanitarian aid organization. It has been transporting food and medicine to Cuba since 1992. The group's latest effort will be to carry 100 pianos to Havana by summer, utilizing a number of its humanitarian fleet of registered vessels in the Florida Keys.
The City is still looking for contributions to purchase holiday decorations. Samples of lighted candy cane and poinsettia decorations are now installed at the corner of Truman Avenue and Eisenhower Drive.
"Our hope for this holiday season is to hang similarly festive decorations around Bayview Park, along Jose Marti Drive and along Truman Avenue, creating a `winter wonderland,' to cheer residents and visitors alike as they enter Old Town," said City Manager Julio Avael.
City Electric has agreed to hang the decorations and light them at no charge. And arrangements have been made to store the durable decorations for use year after year. Each decoration costs approximately $400, and a total of $21,000 is necessary to reach the goal of placing decorations all the way to Duval Street.
Checks should be made out to "City of Key West," with a note on the check stating it is for the Holiday Decoration Fund. Donations should be sent to: City Managers Office, PO Box 1409, Key West, Florida, 33041.
It will be the bikers vs. the badges Sunday afternoon, Nov. 21, at the Bernstein Park softball field on Stock Island. The Lower Keys Chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) will take on the Sheriff's Dept. in a softball game to determine bragging rights for the year. Game time: 5:30 p.m. There will also be a K-9 demonstration. Admission is free, but you are asked to bring a toy to donate to the Sheriff's Toys for Tots program. A party at the Conch Republic Seafood Company at the Key West Bight follows the game. Info: Tim Grandy at 292-5795 or Dan Russell at 744-0219.
It's time to start planning for this year's holiday parade, scheduled for Sat., Dec. 4. Deadline for entering floats or marching groups is Dec. 1. Pick up an application at City Hall, or call the City Manager's office at 292-8100.