Key West, FL — The Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale: Junk in the Trunk returns for two final dates before taking a summer break: Saturday, June 6 and Saturday, June 20 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Truman Waterfront Park.

Since launching earlier this year, the community garage sale has become a popular gathering place for bargain hunters, collectors, and residents looking to turn unwanted items into cash. From household goods and vintage finds to collectibles, décor, tools, and unexpected treasures, every market offers a different mix of discoveries and deals.

Designed as a simple alternative to hosting a garage sale at home, Junk in the Trunk allows residents to sell directly from their vehicles in a relaxed waterfront setting. Sellers can register in advance to save on fees or simply show up the morning of the event and be placed as space allows.

Shoppers are encouraged to come early, grab a beverage, browse the trunks, and enjoy a Saturday morning treasure hunt along the Quay at Truman Waterfront Park. The event brings together local residents, vendors, nonprofits, and visitors in a fun, informal atmosphere where one person's clutter quickly becomes another person's treasure.

With summer temperatures approaching and many seasonal residents heading north, these June dates will be the final Junk in the Trunk markets until the fall. The market is expected to return in October with a special Community Costume Swap Edition designed to help locals prepare for Fantasy Fest. Residents are encouraged to start digging out costumes, accessories, props, wigs, masks, and decorations that may be tucked away in closets and storage bins. The themed market will provide an opportunity to buy, sell, swap, and repurpose Fantasy Fest gear, giving old costumes a second life while helping inspire new creations for one of Key West's most beloved annual traditions.

Whether you're looking to clear out a closet, find a hidden gem, furnish a home, or simply enjoy a waterfront morning with neighbors, the Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale offers a fun and affordable way to spend a Saturday in Key West.

Free parking is available with a residential sticker.
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For more information or to pre-register as a seller, visit https://bit.ly/garagesalekeywest or contact Sam Snodgrass at 573-694-9240.

KEY WEST, FL, June 2, 2026— CFK Academy, the A-rated public charter high school of The College of the Florida Keys (CFK), held its Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony on May 28 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre on CFK’s Key West Campus. The ceremony honored two exceptional graduates: Jarrett Miller and Emily Nolasco-Ferrufino.

Jarrett Miller distinguished himself through his contributions to the school’s journalism department, nearly 100 hours of work experience in the local hospitality industry, and community service ranging from beach clean-ups to correspondence with overseas military personnel. The recipient of the Hemingway Look-Alike Society Kermit “Shine” Forbes Scholarship, Miller will enter the Welding program at CFK this fall.

Emily Nolasco-Ferrufino graduates a year early after earning her Associate in Arts degree at age 17 while maintaining the Principal’s List, leading the school’s Interact Club as president, competing in wrestling, and participating in an international studies program across Europe. A first-generation, bilingual college student, she is the recipient of the Key West Women’s Club scholarship and the Take Stock in Children scholarship, which will cover her tuition, housing, and books as she pursues a Psychology degree at Florida International University with the goal of earning a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology.

“These graduates have shown us what’s possible when determination meets opportunity,” said Dr. Ja-Ronika Veldheer, Principal of CFK Academy and CFK Vice President of Secondary Education. “We couldn’t be prouder of Jarrett and Emily and we can’t wait to see where their journeys take them.”

The ceremony was attended by CFK President and CEO Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, Monroe County School District Superintendent Ed Tierney, School Board Member Yvette Mira-Talbott, and other College and district leaders.
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CFK Academy serves students in Monroe County as a tuition-free public charter high school offering a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with dual enrollment opportunities at The College of the Florida Keys.
For more information about CFK Academy, visit: https://www.cfk.edu/cfkacademy/

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed June 2026 as Automotive Service Professionals Month, recognizing the dedicated employees in Fleet Management whose work keeps county vehicles and equipment operating safely and reliably.

Fleet Management technicians and staff maintain more than 900 vehicles and pieces of equipment used for essential services, including more than 300 Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and approximately 70 generators.

“Whether responding to emergencies, maintaining infrastructure, or providing services across our island chain, county employees rely on safe and reliable vehicles and equipment,” said Mayor Michelle Lincoln. “Fleet Management works behind the scenes every day to keep those vehicles on the road and ready when needed.”

June 1, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Tennessee Williams Museum is proud to celebrate Pride Month by offering Buy One, Get One Free admission to all visitors throughout the month of June.

As one of America's most influential playwrights and a pioneering LGBTQ+ cultural figure, Tennessee Williams helped shape modern theater through works that explored identity, desire, and the human experience with remarkable honesty and compassion.  His enduring legacy continues to inspire audiences around the world and remains especially meaningful during Pride Month.

Located in the heart of Key West, where Williams lived and wrote for more than three decades, the Tennessee Williams Museum invites guests to explore the life and work of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author through exhibits, artifacts, photographs, and personal memorabilia that illuminate his extraordinary career and lasting impact on American literature.

“Key West provided Tennessee Williams with a creative refuge and a place where he could live authentically,” said Dennis Beaver, founder of the museum.  “Pride Month offers a wonderful opportunity to honor his contributions to both the arts and LGBTQ+ history while welcoming visitors to discover his story.”

The Buy One, Get One Free admission offer is valid throughout June 2026. To receive the discount, visitors must mention "Pride 2026" when purchasing museum admission in person or enter the code PRIDE2026 when purchasing tickets online.

The Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Avenue, is open daily for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information about the museum, admission, and upcoming programs, contact the Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org.

Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

KEY WEST, FL, May 28, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys Foundation (CFK Foundation) awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to 24 Monroe County high school graduates this week, presenting awards at three separate ceremonies across the Keys.

Twenty scholarships were presented on May 26 at Marathon High School Class Night, including four Board of Trustees Scholarships and 16 Nextgen Opportunity Workforce (NOW) Scholarships. Three scholarships were awarded May 27 at Key West High School Class Night, including two Board of Trustees Scholarships and one Hemingway Look-Alike Society Kermit “Shine” Forbes Scholarship. One additional Hemingway Look-Alike Society Kermit “Shine” Forbes Scholarship was presented May 28 at the CFK Academy graduation.

“Awarding over $250,000 in scholarships to local high school graduates is more than an investment in education - it is an investment in the future of our community,” said Dr. Lana Gaspari, CFK Vice President of Advancement and CFK Foundation Executive Director. “These scholarships ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of education and opportunity. With NOW Scholarship applications open through August 11, even more students will have the chance to pursue their dreams close to home and build a brighter future for themselves and the Keys.”

“Every dollar invested in education results in a $5 return for students and a $7 return for society,” said Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, CFK President and CEO. “But this is about more than smart investing, it’s about lifting up the lives and futures of our students and our community.”

About the Scholarships

The Board of Trustees Scholarship is awarded to Monroe County high school graduates who have earned a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated leadership and commitment to higher education. The scholarship covers full tuition for an associate degree.

The Nextgen Opportunity Workforce (NOW) Scholarship, now in its second year, supports students from the Middle and Upper Keys pursuing career technical education and workforce training programs. The full-cost scholarship covers tuition, fees, and related educational expenses. Recipients have demonstrated a long-term commitment to serving the Florida Keys community.

The Hemingway Look-Alike Society Kermit “Shine” Forbes Scholarship is funded by one of the College’s most enduring supporters. The Hemingway Look-Alike Society (HLAS) members include competitors in Key West’s famous Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, their spouses, and aspiring Papas. HLAS has built the largest endowment in CFK history, totaling $750,000, and has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships over 27 years. Named in memory of the legendary Key West boxer who sparred with Ernest Hemingway himself, the scholarship provides $2,500 to graduating seniors enrolling at CFK.

Applicants must be admitted to the College first to be eligible to apply for scholarships

The College of the Florida Keys has served Monroe County for 60 years, offering bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates, workforce programs, and community enrichment courses from Key Largo to Key West. With help from the CFK Foundation, the College also provides financial support to help students achieve their educational goals.

For scholarship information, contact Shania Duarte-Vera, Coordinator of Scholarships and Donor Relations, at [email protected] or 305-809-3153. Information on financial aid, federal ad, and tuition payment plans is available at cfk.edu/paying-for-college.
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To support CFK students and programs through the CFK Foundation, contact Dr. Lana Gaspari, CFK Vice President of Advancement and CFK Foundation Executive Director, at 305-809-3214 or [email protected].

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Commissioners leaned into the Federal and State-recommended government efficiency effort last year. They examined county services and trimmed almost $19 million in non-core services, while increasing starting and overall pay for sheriff and fire employees. This was a direct action to save taxpayers' money, while increasing public safety. 

The county continues its efforts to streamline local government services and, where legally possible, shift expenses to visitor-paid revenue sources to help locals in the Florida Keys with affordability. 

This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new bill (SJR 2-F) that threatens not only to decrease revenue but also to remove funding for non-core services. The bill would provide relief to homeowners who claim a homestead exemption (meaning they live in the home as their primary residence); however, as written, it outlines specific items the county can fund with ad valorem (property) tax revenue while omitting many mandated services and is not comprehensive. The omissions include:

• Medicaid and juvenile justice cost shares
• Support for public health and mental health services
• Planning and environmental regulation under the State-mandated Area of Critical State Concern
framework
• Veterans services
• Flood resilience and disaster recovery
• Affordable housing initiatives
• Code compliance to ensure structural safety
• Core government functions such as budgeting, procurement, grants administration, communications,
and legal services
• Libraries and parks
• Information technology systems supporting 911 and emergency operations
• Facilities and fleet maintenance
• Guardian Ad Litem support for abused and neglected children
• Constitutional offices responsible for elections, court operations, property assessment, tax collection, judicial administration, and legal proceedings.

On Friday, Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln sent a letter to members of the Florida Legislature expressing concerns about the proposed property tax changes and their impact on the county’s ability to fund these items and the constitutional offices.

The legislature will meet in Tallahassee for a special session on Monday to discuss the proposal. County commissioners were unable to meet before the special session, but each commissioner and the constitutional officers were given an opportunity to review the letter before it was sent. The county will also discuss the bill at the Wednesday, June 10 meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo or via Zoom.

Monroe County already takes ad valorem (property) tax very seriously. Approximately 91 percent of Monroe County’s ad valorem (property) tax levy funds public safety operations and constitutional officers. Public safety services alone account for roughly 69 percent of the levy, supporting the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Trauma Star Air Ambulance, Emergency Management, detention operations, and emergency communications. Constitutional officers account for another 22 percent.

“Monroe County supports thoughtful discussions about tax relief, and the commission wants to provide tax relief to full-time residents, but any proposal must recognize the realities of providing legally mandated essential services in a geographically unique and hurricane-prone community,” said Lincoln. “Our residents depend on public safety personnel, emergency response capabilities, constitutional offices, and numerous other services that are required 

​BIG PINE KEY, FL – Mayor Michelle Lincoln and Monroe County staff hosted a community meeting on Big Pine Key on Thursday, May 28, to explain upcoming changes to the review process for development applications on Big Pine and No Name Keys beginning July 1, 2026, due to the expiration of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP). Commissioner Jim Scholl was also present.
 
Many community members attended the meeting and had the opportunity to review information on the existing and future processes, speak informally with staff about questions and concerns, and provide comments and questions to the group.
 
Based on requests by the public for additional discussion on the topic of species protections on Big Pine and No Name Keys, Lincoln plans to hold future quarterly meetings with the Big Pine and No Name Key community on Big Pine Key regarding how the county can continue to improve protections of endangered species and quality of life for Lower Keys residents.

The BOCC will also discuss the HCP/ITP and take public comment at their June 10 Board of County Commissioners’ meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo and via Zoom. An approximate time will be announced.
 
BACKGROUND

The county received confirmation this week from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that the current protections specific to Big Pine and No Name Keys for Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake species, which have been in place through the HCP and ITP since 2006, will be carried over and maintained going forward in the FWS-issued Biological Opinion (BO).
 
“Residents should know that all environmental protections in the HCP/ITP are not going away,” said Monroe County Growth Management Director Emily Schemper. “Those protections have been incorporated into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion and will continue to guide conservation efforts and development reviews on Big Pine Key and No Name Key." 
 
Beginning July 1, the three species will be reviewed on Big Pine and No Name Keys through the county’s Permit Referral Process, which applies countywide to these three species as well as six additional species. The Permit Referral Process (which implements the BO requirements) does not have an expiration date, so the protections will remain in perpetuity.
 
In addition to the countywide requirements of the Permit Referral Process, properties on Big Pine and No Name Keys will remain subject to the existing special protections originally established in the HCP/ITP for Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake species, including but not limited to:

• A cumulative maximum limit on impacts to the species and their habitat.
• A requirement for mitigation of impacts through the county’s acquisition of conservation land.
• All special protection requirements listed in “Condition G” of the ITP (includes restrictions on fencing, land uses, etc.).

 
At the June meeting, the board will be asked to adopt a resolution accepting the FWS letter and utilizing the USFWS letter to review permits beginning July 1, 2026.
 
All presentation materials and handouts, including the USFWS letter, are available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.

STOCK ISLAND, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recently discussed ongoing efforts to address abandoned and derelict vehicles on Stock Island, highlighting code compliance’s continued partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to improve public safety and neighborhood conditions.

MCSO’s Lt. Donny Barrios outlined ongoing concerns regarding abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unpermitted activity, and deteriorating conditions across several areas of unincorporated Stock Island. Commissioner Craig Cates and staff visited the area in January with Barrios to develop a plan to remove 76 vehicles identified as derelict, including trailers, boats, trucks, and cars. The process is lengthy; so far, eight of the 76 vehicles have been tagged for towing and removal. “This will be an ongoing process,” said Barrios.

Commissioners expressed support for continuing proactive enforcement efforts by the MCSO and code compliance.

“Stock Island is a unique and hardworking community, and our residents deserve clean, safe neighborhoods,” said Cates, whose district includes Stock Island. “This effort is about improving quality of life, addressing ongoing problem areas, and continuing to work together to make sure our community remains a place people are proud to live and work.”

County officials noted that cleanup and enforcement efforts are ongoing and encouraged residents and property owners to work with the county to help address unsafe or blighted conditions throughout the community.

POTENTIAL ABANDONED OR DERELICT VEHICLE OR TRAILER? County officials are encouraging owners of potentially derelict vehicles, boat trailers, or utility trailers to act now. Residents who remove, register, or repair their vehicles before enforcement actions begin could avoid potential fines, towing fees, and other associated costs. The right-of-way cannot be used as a storage area for vehicles and trailers.

BIG PINE KEY, FL – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a letter confirming the transition of endangered species review for three species on Big Pine Key and No Name Keys from the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to the county’s Permit Referral Process under the 2010 Biological Opinion (BO) associated with FEMA’s administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The letter is available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.

The ITP allows limited impacts to the Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake endangered species/habitat, with associated mitigation, and will expire on June 30, 2026. The associated HCP expired in 2023.

Staff has been working with the USFWS and FEMA to determine how the permit review process will change on July 1, and how impacts to these three species will be reviewed and mitigated to maintain compliance with the Endangered Species Act and continue protecting the species.

For the three species, development permits outside of Big Pine and No Name Keys are reviewed through what is commonly referred to as the “Permit Referral Process.” This process was developed to implement the BO's requirements for FEMA’s administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The BO also covers six additional endangered species throughout the rest of Monroe County.
Per the requirements in the BO, the expiration of the HCP/ITP means permits on Big Pine and No Name Keys will now be reviewed through the same Permit Referral Process for the three species in question. 

USFWS has updated the Species Assessment Guides for the three species covered by the HCP/ITP for Big Pine and No Name Keys and has confirmed that key protections developed for the HCP/ITP will remain in effect and will continue to be tracked and reported to FEMA and USFWS in the BO annual reports.

Key Protections Confirmed in the Letter:

• The cumulative cap on species impacts that was established in the HCP/ITP will continue to apply under the BO (total of “1.1 H-impact”).
• The 3:1 H mitigation-to-impact ratio requirement will also remain the same under the BO.
• There is currently a surplus mitigation credit that will remain available to permittees under the BO.
• To accommodate additional ROGO units from the State of Florida, Monroe County will increase the maximum number of new residential units from 200 to 236, provided the total impact shall not exceed “H” = 1.1.
• Both the H-impact and the cap of 236 new residential permits will be tracked independently from the “take” associated with projects outside of BPK and NNK and reported as part of the Permit Referral Process annual report.
• Other than the increase in allowed units, the protection measures of the ITP and the associated County Ordinances that were established to implement the HCP/ITP will remain in place to ensure that “take” of covered species is minimized and mitigated.

At this evening’s community meeting, (Thursday, May 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Big Pine Academy), and again at the June 10 BOCC meeting, staff will be reviewing this letter and the new process set to begin July 1, the current status of impacts and mitigation, and provide a comparison chart showing how the protections of the HCP/ITP will be carried over to the BO review process. All presentation materials and handouts, including the USFWS letter, are available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.