Monroe County welcomes James “Jim” Callahan as Monroe County Fire Chief. He will lead the organization and help recruit for the fire chief position. Chief Steve Hudson retired in December 2022.
“We are grateful for Chief Hudson’s hard work and dedication over the last 10 years in Monroe County and 39 years in career fire service,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. Callahan retired from Monroe County Fire Rescue in May 2021 after 15 years with Monroe County and 51 years in career fire service. While at the County, he made significant contributions to the Florida Keys community, including adding adequate fire hydrants and other water resources, increasing career service firefighters, advancing emergency communications, and upgrading equipment and fire apparatus. He coordinated with the County’s project management team to rebuild the fire stations in Conch Key, Stock Island, Big Pine Key, and Cudjoe Key and renovated Tavernier, Layton, and Sugarloaf. He created the “Hot Shots Program” and advocated for building the fire training facility on Grassy Key. His changes allowed the fire department to receive an improved ISO rating of 3/3X from a 5/9 rating, which helped to lower property insurance rates countywide. Callahan also consolidated airport fire services, giving airport firefighters access to state-mandated training, and he established a Fire Prevention Division to handle building plan reviews, construction inspections, commercial fire inspections, and public education. “Chief Callahan’s knowledge and experience in fire department administration and operations have advanced Monroe County Fire Rescue from a small combination department into the professional fire service organization it is today,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. “We welcome his institutional knowledge and leadership again as we prepare for the organization’s future.”
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The second Cemetery Stroll to be offered at the Historic Key West Cemetery this season will take place on Sunday February 12th, 2023. During the stroll, small groups of visitors will be escorted to gravesites where interpreters will tell the stories of the deceased in brief monologues. The groups are scheduled for departures at 9:30, 9:50, and 10:10 am. Reservations are necessary, and can be made by calling or texting (305) 304-1453 or by emailing at hfkf@bellsouth.net.
Among the gravesites we plan to visit are those of Carrie Pierce, William Kerr, Charles Dupont, John Bartlum, the Dade Lodge Plot, and the monument Los Martires De Cuba. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and plan to walk over a mile on uneven ground. Bottled water will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about some of the fascinating people who have given Key West its colorful and significant character. Space is limited for the tours and pre-registration is required. A donation of $20 (cash or check) per person to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation is recommended, with all proceeds devoted to cemetery restoration. Participants may enter the cemetery by either the Windsor Street or Frances Street gate and go to the registration table on Palm Avenue. The last stroll of the season will feature other gravesites and take place on March 5th. The cemetery strolls are sponsored by the City of Key West and the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg on Monday promoted Lt. Dave Black to the rank of Captain, an honor signifying his last day with the department after more than 25 years of dedicated service.
Capt. Black joined the department in May of 1998 after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2002 and to lieutenant in 2006, serving as the commander of the Special Operations bureau. In this role he oversaw the Marine Unit, the Motor Unit, the Special Response Team, the Dive Team, and the Mounted Unit. He served for many years as the lieutenant of the Detectives Division. Capt. Black’s dedicated commitment and work as an officer led to the formation of the K9 Unit as well as the Special Response Team. The crowd that turned out for his promotion ceremony was a testament to the close bonds Capt. Black has built with his colleagues and with the community. “It has truly been an honor to serve with Dave Black,” said Chief Brandenburg. “He is a dedicated leader who has mentored many officers in this department. He leads by example. We wish him well in his future endeavors, but he will be missed by the Key West Police Department.” At the first meeting of the year for the Key West Business Guild, Mayor Teri Johnston presented the Guild’s Executive Director Kevin Theriault the first-ever Rainbow Key to the City in honor of his amazing dedication to the city and the LGBTQ+ community.
Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission proclaimed the week of January 8th as Key West Elks Lodge 551 Commitment to Autism Week.
The members of Key West Elks Lodge 551 have served the veterans, youth, and the entire community of Key West for decades through scholarship programs, grants and volunteer service for individuals and non-profit groups. They support community organizations such as Take Stock in Children, Florida Keys Cancer Society, and the SOS Foundation with grants funded through the Grand Lodge Gratitude Grant program and their numerous local fundraisers. Most recently the Elks Lodge donated $10,000 to the Autism Society of the Keys (ASK.) “Autism is at a staggering statistic of one in 32 children in the US,” said Hope Haley, a member of ASK. “Together with our community, we have supplied over 300 sensory boxes to every police, fire, ambulance, school, day care, hospital, and airport in the Keys.” These sensory boxes contain comfort items that help people with autism during stressful situations. All of the agencies are trained in responding to emergencies with the aid of these tool kits. They contain items like white erase boards for non-verbal people, noise-canceling headphones, weighted pillows, and fidget spinners. “Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected with autism,” said Haley, “so they can have independent lives. Key West Mayor Emeritus Dennis Wardlow, a member of Key West Elks Lodge 551, said a special thanks to members of the community who made it possible to make this generous donation to ASK. Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln, as part of the Small County Coalition of Florida, presented appreciation plaques to six state representatives and senators in Tallahassee on Wednesday for their dedication to preserving small county initiatives. Commissioner Lincoln serves on the Coalition’s Executive Committee. The group stopped by the offices of Rep. Jim Mooney and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Monroe County’s delegation, to thank them for their support. As a bonus, they ran into former Florida Governor Jeb Bush at the capitol and were able to take a picture with him as well.
The Small County Coalition is a non-partisan statewide alliance of county commissions in Florida’s small and rural counties. The Small County Coalition’s primary mission is to help Florida’s small and rural counties address legislative issues from a small county/rural perspective and work effectively with state leadership. The Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce proudly introduces its board of directors and officers for 2023. Diane Schmidt, of Opal Key West Resort & Marina, will serve as President of the Board, succeeding Suzanne Moore of Suzanne Moore Real Estate Services who will hold the position of Immediate Past President. The executive officers will include Greg Sullivan of Waste Management as First Vice President, Patricia Neyra of Neyra Construction, LLC as Second Vice President, Karen Sharp of First State Bank of the Florida Keys as Treasurer, and Andrew Morawski of the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum as Secretary. Also serving on the board are the following individuals: Casey Arnold of Conch Republic Seafood Company, Joe Caso of Caso & Co., David Clay of Lower keys Medical Center, Travis Doll of A&B Marina, George Fernandez of Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Van Fischer of VDF Law, Cara Higgins of Cara Higgins Law, Melissa Kendrick of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, Bill Lay of La Trattoria Venezia, Mark Rossi of Rick’s/Durty Harry’s, Andrew Rosuck of Casa Marina Resort, Amber Shaffer of Ocean Blue Galleries, Dr. Brittany Snyder of The College of the Florida Keys, John Toppino of Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc., and Jim Wilson of Appraisal Company of Key West. The 2023 board of directors will focus on the mission of the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce works as a catalyst for business success, a convener of leaders, and a champion for a sustainable thriving community. “The 2023 board of directors is a diverse group of talented business and community leaders from all over Key West and the surrounding area, and from a variety of industries representing our business community,” stated Chamber Executive Vice President Robert Goltz. “I am looking forward to working with this group of community leaders to build a stronger business community here in Key West.” The Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce will continue to build upon over 100 years of service and advocacy in Key West in keeping with our mission Monroe County Fleet Management Department’s three maintenance shops obtained Blue Seal of Excellence certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The shops, located in Plantation Key, Marathon, and Rockland Key, are the first public or private auto repair facilities in Monroe County to achieve the certification. The department provides safety inspections, maintenance, and repairs to approximately 850 County vehicles, including 300 Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
Blue Seal of Excellence certifications require at least 75 percent of technicians performing diagnostics and repairs to be ASE-certified, and at least one ASE-certified technician must cover each area of service offered in the shop. Monroe County’s Fleet Management team has 15 technicians holding a total of 122 ASE certifications, with 11 Master certifications. “According to ASE, nearly 1,500 automotive repair shops across the country have the Blue Seal of Excellence certifications. Of that, there are approximately 175 government automotive repair shops with this certification,” said Fleet Director Daryl Greenlee. “This is a great achievement for our department and staff.” Key West Art & Historical Society is reviving its popular juried art exhibition, “From a Woman’s Hand,” and invites Florida Keys women to apply. The exhibit in the Key West Museum of Art & History’s Bumpus Gallery will feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, prints, textiles, and ceramics created by female artists. There will be a special opening reception for the artists and the public on February 24, 2023, with the show running from that date through April 16.
Drawn entirely from the Florida Keys community, the exhibit illuminates the remarkable achievements of women artists who have been marginalized for centuries. Gender bias is less obvious today, but contemporary women artists still face many barriers and disparities, as well as continual underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. Arts community leaders Jane Grannis, Martha Resk, Lois Songer and Cori Convertito, Ph.D. will jury the exhibit. The submission fee for artists is $10, which will offset the cost of the opening reception. Only one submission per artist, with a deadline of January 8; all mediums and themes will be considered but work must have been completed within the last three years and cannot have been displayed previously at the museum. Artist notification is January 23 with delivery dates February 13 to 15. Please note that Society policies strictly prohibit the sale of any artwork during the exhibit. Please visit www.kwahs.org/exhibits for important entry details and to submit your work. This exhibit is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, with additional support provided by The Helmerich Trust. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. Lower Keys Medical Center Nurse Meagan Becker Receives National Award for Nursing Excellence1/3/2023 Meagan Becker, a registered nurse at Lower Keys Medical Center for over six years, has received a national 2022 Nursing Excellence Award.
Becker is one of ten national winners selected across all hospitals affiliated with Community Health Systems, one of the leading operators of general acute-care hospitals and outpatient care centers in communities across the United States. The organization’s affiliates include Lower Keys Medical Center and 80 other hospitals in 16 states. Becker was surprised with the recognition during a reception with hospital leadership where she was presented with a crystal plaque and a symbolic check for the cash award she received, among other gifts. CEO David Clay said, “Meagan is often mentioned in our patient surveys because of her compassionate care and has been nominated for other awards by her peers and patients. A colleague describes her as ‘shining bright like a diamond’. Co-workers recognize Meagan as passionate, diligent, supportive, energetic and kind, with an insatiable desire for continuous learning to provide the best care possible for her patients.” The Nursing Excellence Award was created to honor the critical role nurses have played in treating patients throughout the pandemic. The peer-nominated award program was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence. These characteristics include outstanding care, compassion, service and innovation, and reflect the efforts of someone who is a demonstrated team player and/or mentor to others, is a leader in times of crises, and who regularly promotes health in the community. Becker joined Lower Keys Medical Center in June of 2016 caring for pediatric patients. She readily volunteered to help cover other units such as medical surgical, intensive care, postpartum and the emergency departments, giving her a broad base of knowledge and experience. She is now in the Labor and Delivery unit and serves as a Charge Nurse as well. In addition to receiving the Nursing Excellence Award itself, Becker received a cash award and a copy of “Shining the Light on All the Right – Celebrating the Art of Nursing Around the World” by Mark and Bonnie Barnes, co-founders of The DAISY Foundation, an international movement created to recognize and express gratitude for extraordinary nursing. |
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