KEY WEST, FL, May 8, 2024— The College of the Florida Keys held its sixty-eighth Commencement Exercises for the spring class of 2024 on Friday, May 3 in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Ninety-four graduates donned blue and orange graduation attire to receive their diplomas. The College expects to award a combined total of approximately 116 credentials, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and college credit certificates, to spring graduates.
U.S. Army veteran Garrett Wills, who earned associate degrees in Marine Environmental Technology and Diving Business and Technology, presented the Student Address. He also presented the Instructor of the Year award to History instructor Charles Goulding. The College bestowed the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Monroe County School Board member Andy Griffiths. Griffiths earned his Associate in Arts degree at CFK in 1979 before becoming a successful fishing charter business owner and the longest serving elected official in Monroe County. Senator Doug Broxson delivered the Keynote Address and received the 2024 President’s Award for his legislative support of CFK and the Keys. The full ceremony can be viewed on the College’s Facebook page at facebook.com/TheCollegeoftheFloridaKeys. Following Commencement, the College held a nursing ceremony for students who completed their Associate of Science in Nursing this spring semester. Upon passing the national NCLEX-RN licensure exam, each will become a registered nurse. CFK’s summer semester begins May 14 and fall semester begins August 19. Information about academic programs, steps to become a student, and ways to pay for college can be viewed on the College’s website at CFK.edu/FutureStudents.
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By David Clay, CEO, Lower Keys Medical Center National Hospital Week is May 13 - 18 this year. A national celebration of hospitals was initiated as a day of recognition in 1921, following the aftermath of the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918. National Hospital Week was established in 1953, coinciding with Florence Nightingale's birthday in honor of her role in revolutionizing hospital care. Hospital Week also complements National Nurses Week each year. At Lower Keys Medical Center, we recognize the impact that each of our team members makes in our community every day. Twenty four hours a day, weekends and holidays, our people stand ready to serve you and our mission to "help people get well and live healthier by providing safe, quality healthcare, building enduring relationships with our patients and providing value for the people and communities we serve". The theme for National Hospital Week 2024 is "We are healthcare" and that applies to every discipline and job responsibility in our hospital. Each role serves a meaningful purpose and supports the individuals providing hands-on, life-saving care to our friends and neighbors in need. On a team of 500+ employees, each member applies his or her knowledge, skill and compassion to ensure that services are available for our patients. Last year, our team cared for patients during 23,300 emergency room visits, 3,500 inpatient admissions, 400 deliveries, 4,400 surgeries, and 101,000 clinic visits, for a total of more than 132,000 patient encounters. Please join me in recognizing these extraordinary individuals during Hospital Week. STOCK ISLAND, FL — Last week, Monroe County Commissioner Craig Cates and Parks and Beaches Recreational Team Lead Mike Piekenbrock met with Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe)’s Public Information Officer Jennifer Lefelar to install a new commercial refrigerator and commercial freezer at Bernstein Park on Stock Island. This generous contribution marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to support the community’s well-being and address food security and social engagement initiatives. The donation is made possible through a minority health grant.
“The provision of these refrigeration units will be a great added feature to the amenities of Bernstein Park,” said Cates, whose district includes Stock Island. “By providing residents access to these amenities, we aim to create a hub where neighbors can come together, share meals, and foster meaningful connections.” The refrigerator and freezer will be available to community members who book the community room at Bernstein Park. “These refrigeration units represent more than just appliances; they symbolize our collective commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities,” said Lefelar. For further information on this initiative and other community health programs, contact the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County at DOHMonroe@flhealth.gov. Offshore Sailing School President and CEO, Doris Colgate, announced several major initiatives to kick off a year-long celebration of the company’s 60th Anniversary. “We hosted a media reception on the first night of the 2023 U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD, in October, and want to share our many exciting plans for the coming year,” said Doris Colgate. Colgate continued, “We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a new location in Key West, Florida! Starting January 2024, we’ll have Colgate 26s and a new 40’ catamaran available for US Sailing certification courses from Stock Island Yacht Club & Marina.” In addition to the new location in Key West, the company has added a new Boat Handling & Docking course, offering Offshore Sailing School graduates and experienced sailors the opportunity to increase their skills and confidence with big boat maneuvering and docking aboard 40’-50’ catamaran and monohull yachts. This course will also satisfy clients’ desire to obtain US Sailing Catamaran Endorsement, if they originally learned to bareboat charter aboard a monohull. The company will host four new Colgate Sailing Adventures® flotilla vacations for its graduates and other experienced sailors in 2024 and already has three more new destinations set up for 2025. Colgate Sailing Adventures® Flotilla Cruise locations in 2024-2025 include Belize, the Greek Islands, Sicily, Italy, Croatia, St. Martin and St. Lucia. Winners of Offshore Sailing School’s 60th Anniversary Contest were selected by three esteemed judges. Herb McCormick, award-winning journalist and author of OFFSHORE High, the biography about Steve and Doris Colgate and Offshore Sailing School; Theresa Nicholson, Sr. Editor of Cruising World magazine; and Norwood Smith, Vice President, Director of Sales & Marketing for Mainsail Development (a resort developer, owner, and management company with hotels such as, Scrub Island Resort, The Luminary Hotel & Co., and Epicurean Hotels) unanimously chose Michelle Little’s submission, “Still Looking On,” as the Grand Prize winner of The Moorings charter vacation and Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI, gift certificate. Over twenty photographs and essays were submitted by Offshore Sailing School graduates and participants of Colgate Sailing Adventures® flotilla vacations, outlining how learning to sail with Offshore Sailing School changed and impacted their lives. Offshore Sailing School is located at 6338 Presidential Ct., Ste. 201, Fort Myers, Florida, 33919. The school offers every level of US Sailing and Powerboating* certification courses on Captiva Island, St. Petersburg, and Key West in Florida, on Scrub Island and Tortola* in the British Virgin Islands. To support Offshore Sailing School’s continued growth, the company has hired new instructors, a new maintenance manager, more sales associates, added an Operations Coordinator, and promoted several internal directors. The school has graduated more than 160,000 adults and families through its sailing, racing, bareboat cruising, navigation, and passage making courses. Visit https://www.offshoresailing.com/. On View at Jag Gallery Currently on view at Duval Square’s Jag Gallery, an exhibit featuring an all new body of work from one of Key West’s most recognized potters and painters, Adam Russell, best known as half of the inspired duo behind Key West Pottery founded in 2009 with creative partner and wife Kelly Lever. Adam began his artistic journey as a painter and once again returns to his roots with an exciting and bold new collection of which he says “is very bright and graphic, this group is stripped down and minimal…a unique challenge, inspirational and fun.” This new collection of acrylic paintings and brilliant cut out framed collage are commanding and compelling, exploding with color, literally jumping off the wall!
Get a dose of GOOD MEDICINE in person or online at jaggallery.art through May 12th. Considered a top destination for fine contemporary art, offering carefully curated exhibits of work by prominent artists from Key West and beyond, Jag Gallery is located at the Simonton Street entrance to Duval Square, 1075 Duval Street with ample, free parking. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Sunday noon to 5, Monday’s by appointment. For additional information call 305.407.6202 or email jaggallerykw@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. •CLUSIA HEDGE acrylic on canvas 48 x 96 in. •GOLDEN HOUR acrylic on canvas 72 x 48 in. •FRANGIPANI acrylic on canvas 18 x 24 in •CUTOUT #4 acrylic on archival paper 18.5 x 15.5 in. framed It’s Time to Put on Your Boogie Shoes and Register Your Entry for the 2024 Key West Pride Parade5/2/2024 Registration is now open for Key West’s Annual Pride Parade, taking place at 5pm on Sunday, June 9th. Parade entry is free, but the Key West Business Guilds requests a small $20 donation. Visit gaykeywestfl.com/pride for more information and to fill out the application. (Photo Credit: Key West Business Guild) April 30, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Business Guild is pleased to announce registration is now open for the highly anticipated Key West Pride 2024 Parade, this year celebrating the Golden Era of 1970s Disco. The parade will be held on Sunday, June 9th at 5:00 p.m., originating from the quayside at Truman Waterfront Park. Participants will then proceed up Whitehead Street toward the waterfront then working its way down Duval Street. Floats of all types will be accepted – cars, trailers, walking groups – with all participants encouraged to embrace the disco theme.
Each year Key West Pride, a five-day event, celebrates the amazing contribution the LGBTQ community makes to our island’s diverse “One Human Family”. Disco was a defining era for the LGBTQ community, and the culture exploded with amazing style and pageantry. It wasn’t long until Disco became a worldwide sensation influencing every aspect of society. “Put on your Boogie Shoes, get the glitter balls ready, and dust off your bellbottoms for this year’s annual parade,” says Rob Dougherty, Executive Director of the Key West Business Guild. “Our goal for this year’s Pride Parade is to create a ‘Love Train’ as the parade floats travel down Duval Street and to see our community dancing in the street. Once the parade finishes on the 1300 block, we want everyone to head to LaTeDa for a Disco Tea Dance.” Entry for the Pride Parade is free, although the Business Guild requests a small donation of $20 to offset the cost of logistics. The registration application is easy – visit gaykeywestfl.com/pride or call the Key West Business Guild office on 305-294-4630. BIG COPPITT, FL — On Monday, Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln hosted a town hall meeting for the residents of Big Coppitt Key. Approximately 50 residents were in attendance or watched online, and she was joined by County staff from solid waste, engineering and roads, code compliance, and parks and beaches to give updates and answer questions. Acting County Administrator Kevin Wilson, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office staff, and Gregg Sullivan from Waste Management also attended the meeting.
The meeting opened with Parks and Beaches Director John Allen, who updated the residents about upgraded facilities in the Lower Keys, including the Volunteer Fire Department Park and Wilhelmina Harvey Park on the island. He also discussed updated signage at the Gulfview Boat Ramp and other nearby parks. To learn more about County parks and boat ramps, visit www.parksandbeaches.fun. The Sheriff, Solid Waste Director Cheryl Sullivan, and Code Compliance Director Cynthia McPherson discussed illegal dumping and parking in the neighborhood. “You’re the eyes and ears of the community,” said Ramsay. “If you see something happening, call the sheriff’s office. We aim to prevent things like this from happening and catch the people doing it.” To learn more about County solid waste, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/solidwaste, and to report an issue, call the non-emergency substation near your Key, or visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/codecompliance to make a report. Also discussed was the upcoming Big Coppitt Sea-Level Rise Road Adaptation Project. Engineering and Roads Director Judy Clarke informed the community members that the request for qualifications is out for the area and will include 19 neighborhood roads encompassing 4.5 miles. State and federal grants fund the project. Additional community meetings will be held to discuss the project in its design and engineering phases. In closing, Lincoln explained the robust public process regarding the upcoming hurricane evacuation modeling and ROGO discussions and workshops that will take place over the next several months. To learn more about this topic, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/rogo2024. BIG PINE KEY, FL— Monroe County Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, and the U.S. National Weather Service Key West Florida are co-hosting Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 4 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Big Pine Community Park, 31009 Atlantis Drive, Big Pine Key. These organizations partner with the National Fire Protection Association to promote simple tips to protect your home and community from wildfires.
The event will have free fire prevention materials and snow cones. Children can put out a house fire, tour a fire truck, and meet firefighters and forest rangers. MONROE COUNTY, FL—Monroe County Fire Rescue is proud to take delivery of a 2024 Pierce Enforcer 55-foot sky-boom aerial ladder truck. The truck officially went into service on Monday at its new home at Station 18, servicing the City of Layton, Long Key, Conch Key, Duck Key, and adjacent islands as needed, after being built and traveling from Michigan. The new truck can hold 30 gallons of foam, 720 gallons of water, and pumps 1,500 gallons per minute.
“Adding this ladder truck to our fleet enhances the fire protection services we provide to our citizens in the Florida Keys,” said Deputy Fire Chief R.L. Colina. “We are always looking for ways to make our residents and visitors safer, and this new ladder truck allows Monroe County Fire Rescue to respond faster and more safely to any dangerous situations.” KEY WEST, FL (APRIL 30, 2024) - Keys Medical Group Outpatient Psychiatric/Mental Health/Counseling offices are relocating from the Key West Professional Building, 1111 12th Street, Suite 205, Key West to Lower Keys Medical Center's Depoo Campus at 1200 Kennedy Drive, Suite 1041, first floor. The move will take place May 1, 2024 to May 3, 2024. Beginning May 6, 2024, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Kristie Santana, APRN; Erin Sheehan, DNP, ARNP; and Angela Halbrook, APRN, along with Licensed Clinical Social Worker John Borgens, will see patients by appointment at the new location. Office hours will remain Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm. Appointments may be requested online at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)293-1299. Patients should continue to park in the back lot of the Professional Building and enter through the front door of the Depoo campus on the Kennedy Drive side. Patients with physical challenges may use the front parking lot at the Depoo building. Spaces are limited. |
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