For immediate release, March 15, 2002

Contact Hal Howland, 305-295-4369

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is excited about the businesses that have joined together to help support artistic excellence in the Florida Keys: Art Lovers, Inc., First State Bank of Islamorada, Guttenmacher & Bohatch, PA, Islamorada Fish Restaurant, Island Villa General Contractors, Island Villa Properties, Key West Brewery, Lazy Days Restaurant, Mull & Associates Financial Center, LLC, and Outback Steakhouse Restaurant.

All these firms are sponsoring a special party for new and renewing members of the arts council on Saturday, March 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the beautifully landscaped home of Patricia Mull, Villa Maria, MM 92, bayside, in Tavernier.

Called Swing Barefoot on the Beach, the party will feature the exciting and popular Paradise Big Band. Winner of an ArtReach grant from the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the PBB is an eighteen-piece repertory group that travels Keyswide performing the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and other jazz greats.

[Photo caption: Islamorada artist and gallery owner Stacie Krupa with students of her 2001-02 Arts Access residency in Upper Keys schools, sponsored by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts]

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