TMCnet News
Sombrero Beach in the Middle Keys going live: New Webcam installed for tourists' viewsMar 25, 2009 (Florida Keys Keynoter - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Don't let the new Webcam at Sombrero Beach in Marathon foil those early-morning skinny-dipping plans you had. City and Tourist Development Council officials say the only view www.fla-keys.com users will be treated to is of the ocean waters off the Sister's Creek end of the beach. There are 29 other Keys Webcams listed on www.fla-keys.com , only one of which, at the Island Fish Company at mile marker 54, is in Marathon. Marathon Parks and Recreation Director Jimmy Schmidt said workers are hashing out kinks with the new beach video feed before it goes live. "You want to remain competitive with the other DACs and destinations," TDC Chairwoman Rita Irwin said. Marathon "can't fall behind and video is such a big thing right now." Schmidt said City Manager Clyde Burnett gave the OK for the camera as a way to promote the city. The camera was installed Friday. Irwin said startup costs for the Webcam, which was installed by www.fla-keys.com workers, are $15,000. The Web site's sales and marketing director, Clinton Barras, along with TDC Director Harold Wheeler and Middle Keys DAC Chairman Bob Moir, were unavailable for comment Tuesday. Some of the more popular Webcams in the Keys are at Sloppy Joe's and the La Concha in Key West, and the Robbie's Tarpon Cam in Islamorada. To see more of the Keynoter, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.keysnet.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |