http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/21/assignment_america/main6604513.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2

Even though we had a pep rally of sorts to get us all in the fighting spirit to ward off any oil coming onto our shores, I feel totally sickened by the news about Pensacola beaches today. I am dreading the possible changes we might see here in Florida in the coming months...

But right now, Key West and the Florida Keys are still absolutely clear of any oil, tar balls or sheen...we are blessed for the moment and there are many hotels and restuarants here that need your business...so take a vacation if you can...it is still a fabulous place to be!!!!

My heart goes out to the rest of the Gulf coast that is being inundated with this terrible tragedy...keep them in your thoughts and prayers and lets hope for a miracle!!!

To all my friends who will be visiting Key West in July...I will be gone from June 30 though July 17...I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to the Middle East and Italy...I leave next Wed and am very excited about this trip...!! But I am sorry that I will miss so many of my good friends who will be here in Key West for the July 4th weekend...celebrate well and enjoy the fireworks!!

I am working hard in the studio on my new songs which will be available soon!!!

I have a new version of a song that I wrote 20 years ago "Save Paradise"...soon to be re-released with my other new songs....

This song will premiere this Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the
"Hands Across the Sand" event which is now in the International spotlight...come and join us for that if you are here in Key West...!!!

So stay tuned and stay cool...

Looking forward to sharing the tales from my journey when I get back....

hugs,

Lenore

Heather Corruthers, one of our county commissioners, wants people to know that we are still open for business. She was a part of a Good Morning America video getting the word out about this so tourists keep their plans to visit us here in the Florida Keys. Check out this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQVeL493xp4

Other links to check out with important information are the following:

http://www.fla-keys.com/news/news.cfm?sid=7729

http://www.keysspill.com/

http://www.keysnet.com/2010/06/02/224880/bp-opening-two-keys-claims-centers.html

Again, our hearts go out to all of those suffering from this tragedy, and we are all praying that some kind of solution can occur before having to wait months before relief wells are implemented.

If anything, come and enjoy the Keys now and all summer long as we really don't know what the future holds...

Hope to see many of you soon!!!

Lenore  

Check out the photos of the citizens of Key West peacefully protesting back in March 2010 about not allowing off shore drilling. The Miami Herald sent a helicopter to take ariel photos of this moment which was entitled “Hands Across the Beach”.

 We all participated in creating this human  Chain “NO DRILLING” moment…

We can only hope that the oil will not impact the Florida Keys, and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones on the rig that exploded, and all the people in the Gulf of Mexico that are being and will continue to be impacted by this horrible disaster.

 I will keep you posted...Lenore

Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is pleased that a Resolution she authored regarding the Florida Keys stretch of US1 was approved by the House today, Wednesday. The Resolution recognizes the designation of the stretch of US1 in the Florida Keys as an “All-American Road.”

 This is the first “All American Road” designation in Florida and one of only 30 in the entire nation.  Thus, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen found it appropriate to have the US House on record as recognizing this great and well deserved designation for US1 in the Florida Keys. The Resolution had the full support of the entire Florida Congressional Delegation.

The 100 plus mile stretch of US 1, from Key Largo to Key West, was designated an “All-American Road” this past October 2009. This designation culminated years of hard work by local groups and residents who recognized the historical significance of US1 in the Keys. The Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance, which includes different Chambers of Commerce throughout the Florida Keys, other organizations and Keys residents, was instrumental in getting this designation; therefore they must share the credit for today’s vote in the US House. 

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “Today’s vote to approve this Resolution places the House on record as supporting this important designation for our very own US 1 road.  Anyone who has been on this stretch of US 1 is impressed by the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, not to mention the history going back to Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. I thank my colleagues for their overwhelming support of this Resolution.”

And of course many of you are really suffering through the freezing cold up north, so I am wishing you warmth and a speedy spring...

But dispite the unusual temperatures, it hasn't stopped the throngs of tourists visiting the island. It was wonderful to see Sandy and Vicki from Detroit and meet their good friend Cindy who joined me in song at the piano at La Te Da...also Randy and Cheryl found me at the Gardens, La Te Da and then joined me in crashing a private event in Islamorada at the beautiful Pierres Restuarant...also there were Laurie and Jerry who I had not seen for quite a while...thanks to Bob White and his lovely wife for inviting me up to play for their friends...also good to see Kate and Kathy from New Hope as well as Geri and Marilyn and other friends from the area...and as always all my great local friends who come and support what I do...I am grateful for all the love...!

This month I will be hosting and performing in a show I put together called "Hot Havana Nights" at the beautiful Botanical Gardens, helping out my good friend Mojito Sharky aka Carol Ann. We had schemed doing a mini Tropicana show after our trip to Cuba, so this should really be fun. I am bringing down some salsa stars from Miami as well as including some Key West stars, musicians, dancers and singers.

Also, I will be the musical director for the Womens Hope concert at the Tennessee Williams Theatre Caberet. This show also includes an all star cast and is sure to be a memorable event for a great cause.

So... I am hoping tomorrow when I sing "Suntime" I can back it up with some real sunshine and warmer weather around here! I know it's still one of the warmest places in the country, but the 70's would be nice!

Wherever you are, I hope you are warm, and hope to see you soon!!

Lenore

And...so is my schedule! In addition to La Te Da, Aqua and the Gardens Hotel, I was asked to play at two other venues. One is the beautiful, and relatively new, Beachside Marriott "Tavern 'n Town". You can find me there on Saturdays from 5-9 PM. The other is the most popular piano bar in town, and every Tuesday I will be tinkling the ivories at the "Keys" on Duval Street, also 5-9 PM.

My full schedule is listed at the "SCHEDULE" link above.

For those of you visiting or already living here, now you know where to find me...

Here is a little extra for you....if you want a glimpse of the beauty of flying over the Florida Keys, check out this link for a real visual treat: http://www.edtruthan.com/tileproxy/keys/floridakeys.htm

Hope to see you soon!

LT

For me, it is always something to marvel at...when there is great need through tragedy, human beings rise to the call and help people in the most profound ways... 

I have struggled with my ability to help others because I am often gripped with fear which keeps me from moving quickly, and I have missed opportunities in fulfilling my capacity to help others. This is why I admire the people and the side of human nature that responds quickly and gives so much to helping others. The worldwide effort to rescue Haiti is human behavior at its finest...

Although we have nations, borders and individual cultures, the human race is connected by its ability to give.

I am hoping that the Haitian crisis will become the event that seeps into our conscienceness, reminding us that our true purpose in life is giving to others. When we cross our borders and experience the oneness of our existence, we are living at our fullest potential...and I believe it is what is considered unconditional love...

For me, that is where hope truely lies...and it inspires me to do better...

GIVE!!!

LT

I really didn’t expect New Years Eve at La Te Da to be such a momentous occasion…I guess the emotions behind our farewell to 2009 snuck up on all of us, and it was coupled with the one year anniversary of La Te Da’s colorful owners’ passing, Mark Barouk.  Of course so much has changed in the last year with this famous (or should I say infamous) establishment in Key West, but its history still lingers, and I would have to say, was repeated on this New Years Eve. The high energy on the crowded dance floor brought back the spirit of “the old days” as many had commented during the moments leading up to the midnight hour. But most agreed that it had been a tough year and were very glad to bid good riddance to 2009…

I was joined by the fabulous Christopher Peterson and together we sang Donna Summers “Last Dance” before bringing in the New Year. As part of a tradition, I also had the wonderful JC Costello blowing harp all night and helping me rock the house until the wee hours… and Sassy and King Ralph, behind the bar, finally shot me a look that said “please stop the music Lenore so we can get out of here!!!” But what a great crowd was there and I thank all of you who joined the party with us that night…!

Just a few blocks down the street, CNN was broadcasting live, in front of Bourbon Street, Sushi being hoisted down in her Red Slipper at midnight…of course I only got to see it in the silence of the next day on my way in to play at Aqua on New Year’s Day…

And of course Sloppy’s was dropping a conch shell while Evalina was being dropped as a sea wench at Schooner Wharf…all the while tourists and locals were dropping lots of dollars on champagne and cocktails…

So I anxiously, although optimistically, look forward to what awaits all of us in this new year of 2010…it truly has been a transformative decade, and I am wishing you all peace, enjoyment and prosperity now and for the months throughout it…

Happy New Year…and hope to see you soon!

Lenore

Thanks to everyone who sent me the pictures included here!

Tracy Reynolds and Tony Staub from the Keys Piano Bar helped me out in spoofing the “Three Tenors” which got reduced to “One Tenor, One Alto and One Soprano” going from the sublime to the ridiculous with “God Rest Ye 'Mary' Gentlemen” to a Beach Boys Medley.

Teri Johnston (commissioner at large) stole the show as Grandma (Got Run Over By A Reindeer) and then transformed into Sarah Palin, ex-governor and hunter at large…and those granddaughters were just too adorable….

The dancing “presents” displayed an Alvin Ailey professionalism unmatched by any other dancing boxes south of US 1, and unwrapped in time to close the show with fun and frolic…

I was thrilled to see how many ornaments were created and donated to GLEE (Green Living Energy Education) which was part of the benefit for this show. Erica Biddle did an outstanding job and I believe it all helped in bringing more awareness to this program.

Thanks to Rebecca T. for the photos, and to all who participated in Mistletoe Madness; Spot, Magda, Martha, Sue, Naomi, Teri, Tracy Reynolds, Tony Staub, Postal Wendy and dancers, Michael Thomas, David Black, Nulita Loder, Laurie Breakwell, Charlie Lindberg, Green Queen Vicki, Erika Biddle and GLEE, the staff at La Te Da and friends who helped, Dar, Lisa, Betty,Glenda,Geri and Doug. Thanks to all who attended and....Happy Holidays!!!!

You can also check out video excerpts (thanks to Marty Stonely) under EXTRAS (above).

May you all enjoy this holiday with family and friends surrounding you….

Peace, Joy and Love to Everyone….

Lenore

Someone wrote a song claiming this is the most wonderful time of the year…I guess that depends on where you are….all I can say is that…it’s a bit cooler here in Key West which for us is wonderful…but those of you north of Georgia, that may not be so wonderful….

Anyway, speaking of cool, I have a really interesting cause behind my Mistletoe Madness Holiday show this year…part of the proceeds will be going to a local Florida Keys organization called GLEE, no not the hit TV series about talented high school kids, but rather Green Living Energy Education (think globally, act locally!). Erica Biddle, who heads up the Key West chapter is hoping to raise some much needed funds for this important organization. I thought a good way to raise money would be to have everyone make a tree ornament out of recyclable materials….so run to your recycle bin and see what you have to work with…I can’t wait to see what creative things people come up with!!

The Mistletoe Madness show will be held in the Chrystal Room at La Te Da on Monday Dec. 14th at 7:30 PM….it will be a mix of seasoned professional entertainers and a variety of amateurs as well. It has been a real local’s holiday party in the past and this year it is being brought back after a five year absence…so I hope some of you, although I know many of you are out of town, can be there.

I recently did a re-print of my Mistletoe Island Magic Holiday CD since they were sold out…so if you don’t already have a copy of it, you can order it at the following link either as a digital download or full packaged CD.

  It's a holiday in the islands! A tropical rythymn adds spice to those traditional favorites...plus an original song destined to become a seasonal classic! Spinkled with calypso, soca and reggae the island spirit is captured in this festive collection....a holiday delight!!

Happy shopping…. Lenore