​MONROE COUNTY, FL – Christopher White, Solid Waste Environmental Specialist, is named Monroe County’s Employee of the Fourth Quarter for 2023 for exceeding job expectations, noteworthy performance, and his positive impact on his co-workers and community. He started with the County in April 2022 and was recognized by the Board of County Commissioners at their meeting.
 
White was nominated for the recognition by two of his co-workers. Transfer Station Operator Kevin Kopp said his attitude is excellent, and he always goes out of his way to help customers during hazardous household waste collection. Another co-worker, Bob Henry, said White goes above and beyond inspecting for leaky hazardous waste containers, regularly helps out during storms to drive clam trucks to remove downed trees, and works the scale when needed. “He often gives useful tips and tricks to properly dispose of waste in the safest possible way without spilling or getting it on the ground,” said Henry. 

KEY WEST, Florida Keys – The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden offers “Nature is Art” Workshop Series with a 3-part photography workshop with noted wildlife photographer Kristie Killam. Kristie has a long history with nature in the Keys, as a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ranger at the National Key Deer Refuge, a biologist, a photographer and a teacher.

Workshop I: 9AM, Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the historic Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Toppino Nature chapel. Introduction, equipment review, techniques and ‘in the Garden’ field work with Kristie Killam.
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Workshop II: 9AM, Saturday March 9, 2024, individual photo reviews, one on one mentorship session with Kristie to transfer pictures into a final art product (in person and/or zoom).
III: Art Gallery Showing, April 20-30, 2024. Finished art will be on display to the public at the Toppino Nature Chapel.
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Registration required: $25 pp. Registration limited to 25 people. The Garden is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island. For more information call 305-296-1504 or visit www.keywest.garden

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, is set to present six descendants of U.S. presidents who will engage in a moderated panel discussion on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, Florida. An annual ticketed event that takes place before a live audience, the “Presidential Descendants Forum” is the largest Presidents’ Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country.
 
Scheduled to discuss the topic, "Political Maneuvering: The Powerful Influence of the Presidency,” are James Carter, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland; and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of 27TH U.S. President William H. Taft.
 
Dr. Kurt Graham, Director of Independence, Missouri’s federally operated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, will serve as moderator.
 
The Harry S. Truman Little White House, where President Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration, is Florida’s only presidential museum. In the past, the property has also hosted presidents Jimmy Carter, Dwight Eisenhower, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.
 
Forum tickets are $40 each for Harry S. Truman Foundation members, $60 for non-members. The forum discussion begins at 4:30pm, with doors and cash bar opening at 4:00pm. Following the forum, winners of the inaugural Monroe County student essay competition will be announced, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.
 
Other Presidents’ Day Weekend events at the Little White House take place from Feb. 15 through Feb. 19 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” a cocktails and presidential trivia competition evening, two live performances of the highly acclaimed stage production, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”, a presentation by renowned artist Tom Corbin, creator of the monumental Harry S Truman bronze sculpture on display in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C., and a traditional Presidents’ Day Cookout.
 
Presidents’ Day Weekend events at the Harry S. Truman Little White House are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.

While Tom Corbin’s highly coveted art works can be found in a veritable “Who’s Who” of public, private, and corporate collections and even spotted adorning the walls of fictional collectors in television and film stories, it’s probably safe to say his most outstanding accomplishment is his larger-than-life bronze statue of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman, which was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., in late September of 2022.

On Sunday, February 18, from 10:00am until noon, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation will host the master artist for a special presentation to be held on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, during which he will discuss the tools, research and processes he employed for his monumental undertaking, answer audience questions, and share insights on where he finds his inspiration. His presentation is a feature of this year’s “Presidential Families Weekend” events, and also launches the Foundation’s new TRU-ly Amazing Art series.

Based in Rosedale, Kansas, Corbin’s studio and gallery are housed in a historic 1912 firehouse with a compelling history of its own, reflected in preserved artifacts and fixtures that include a brass fire pole, a bank safe, and a jail cell. But art was not his first career, advertising was, and he reports that he came to art via “more serendipity than calculation.” Ahead of his Key West appearance, the artist agreed to answer a few questions about how he got from “there” to “here.”
 
Q: Can you describe what motivated you to explore your artistic potential?
Growing up with a mother who taught elementary school art, I was exposed to a number of art disciplines at an early age. Continually drawing for my own pleasure through high school and college, I never considered art seriously as a vocation. I assumed it would be a nice hobby to have. 
A variety of traditional sales jobs followed college graduation. My yearning for more creative employment eventually led me into the advertising business as an account executive. A friend at the agency introduced me to a bronze sculptor who was holding classes out of her home on Wednesday nights. Just for something different, I decided to attend her class. 
 
Q: Was there a turning point moment that caused you to make the leap from advertising executive to full-time artist?
From a practical standpoint, I realized there were few bronze sculptors in the Midwest. With my growing passion for casting and with the marketing knowledge I was gaining at the agency, I sensed that a career in art, sculpture specifically, might be possible. So, in 1986, I quit my ad job, rented a loft space and never looked back. 
 
Q: Your Harry S. Truman bronze statue is 8’ tall – 11’ if you count the pedestal. Had you ever created a human sculpture prior to this undertaking, and one of this scale?
I have done a number of life size and monumental human sculptures during my 37-year career. Soldiers, firemen, dancers, you name it. But I have never been involved with a commission of this significance and social impact. It has been such an honor to be involved with this project.
 
Q: You were one of multiple artists invited to submit sculpture proposals, and then later as a finalist, a preliminary model, or maquette. What are one or two features of yours that you feel were key to you winning the commission?
Through my research of Truman, I discovered that he truly considered himself a common man. He lacked pretense, was quick to shake your hand and relished a brisk walk around the White House or his home in Independence, MO. In addition to studying Harry, I also examined the existing sculptures in Statuary Hall, many of which seemed stoic and unapproachable. I wanted my Truman model to display just the opposite: relaxed and in motion, as if to greet you. To accomplish this, I have the President descending a set of stairs with his smile intact.
 
Q: How long did it take for you to create the monument, from beginning to end and what was your biggest challenge?
From being awarded the commission to unveiling Harry took four years. The actual time I spent sculpting the 8-foot Harry was about a year. The remaining time included molding, casting and waiting for approvals at each stage of development both on the state and federal level. The biggest challenge was the ability to please all the individuals involved whose approval was required. Also...patience was a necessity. 
 

Corbin’s Truman Statue, situated between George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant, is the tenth presidential statue to be installed in the Capitol Rotunda. It was commissioned by the Truman Library Institute for the State of Missouri, and funded through the support of Truman Statue sponsors. Much of Corbin’s research for the project was conducted at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
The “Presidential Families Weekend” and Tom Corbin’s “TRU-ly Amazing Art” event are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.  For tickets and more information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/

​On Thursday, January 18, Key West Wildlife Center staff and board members welcomed guests who’d come to learn more about the organization’s “Raising the Roof … Building our Future” capital campaign, now underway to raise funds to replace its badly deteriorating clinic building and conduct significant refurbishing to its reconditioning aviary.
 
The dedicated team behind the KWWC have been rescuing and rehabilitating Key West and lower Keys wildlife for more than 25 years, to the tune of more than 1,500 annually. Pelicans entangled in fishing lines, turtles in the wrong place at the wrong time, hurricane-battered hawks, disoriented bats, and a long list of others have been retrieved and treated at the wildlife center located within the 7-acre Indigenous Park property off of White Street near Atlantic Blvd.
 
According to board president Jennifer Lopes, the current building, a modular unit, has far exceeded its useful life. “The roof leaks, the exterior is crumbling, the interior walls are weak and soft, and the mechanical systems consistently fail,” she said. “Our reconditioning aviary has great structural bones but is suffering from years of humid, salt air and storms which have resulted in the need for extensive repairs and maintenance.” Lopes says that the new clinic structure will be a hurricane-hardened modular clinic building and visitor welcome center with 25% more patient care space than currently exists. It will also be elevated to meet newly established FEMA flood level guidelines.
 
The KWWC is a A 501(C) (3) charitable tax-exempt organization that provides 24/7 rescue services, along with medical and rehabilitation care from experienced personnel, associated veterinarians, and dedicated volunteers. It is open to the public every day except Wednesday, with visiting hours from 11:00am to 4:00pm. The Center also works closely with other local and regional rescue groups to provide rehabilitation for non-avian species.
 
Those interested in supporting the capital campaign or volunteering at the KWWC can call 305-292-1008. For more information visit keywestwildlifecenter.org.

​KEY LARGO, FL –The Card Sound Road Resurfacing Project includes the installation of “ground-in” rumble strips along the centerline and outside edges of the lanes to reduce lane departure accidents. The installation process uses large equipment that will sometimes extend into both lanes of traffic.
 
To complete the work safely, Card Sound Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5 and Tuesday, Feb. 6 into the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 7, from the intersection of C.R. 905 at the south/east end to just west of the Monroe County toll plaza on the north/west end near the Monroe County line. The closures will not impact the Miami-Dade section of CR 905.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will consider a proposal to begin the process of adding to the existing Slow Speed Minimum Wake (SSMW) zone in Tavernier Creek at their Jan. 31, 2024, meeting based on safety concerns raised by the Village of Islamorada. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Marathon Government Center and via Zoom conference.
 
The existing SSMW zone encompasses approximately 70 percent of Tavernier Creek. The Village of Islamorada approached the County to extend this zone to cover the remainder of the creek, including two blind bends and two blind corners.
 
A recent survey conducted by the County observed that the navigable portion of the waterway in the new area to be covered is approximately 100 feet wide. The challenging conditions of swift currents, limited visibility, and increased vessel traffic, as highlighted by the Village’s request, indicate a potential safety hazard.
 
“We saw multiple kayaks, two boats fishing at anchor, a 50-foot charter vessel, and various pleasure craft in just a short transit of the creek,” said Brittany Burtner, Monroe County Marine Resources Senior Administrator. “The safety concerns are evident, and the Village’s proposal aligns with the need for reduced vessel speed in this area.”
 
The existing caution buoys marking the blind bends in the area emphasize the need for precaution. The Village’s request is grounded in safety considerations and aligns with the criteria outlined in Florida Administrative Code Rule 68D-21.004(2)(b), addressing bends or obstructions affecting visibility in narrow channels. If the BOCC directs staff to move forward, Marine Resources will pursue permitting a zone to cover the remainder of the creek, which includes a local ordinance and review by state officials.
 
To see the BOCC agenda or watch the meeting, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/meetings.

On Sunday, February 18, from 10:00am until noon, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation welcomes master artist Tom Corbin, creator of the larger-than-life Harry S. Truman bronze memorial sculpture that was installed and unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in September of 2022.
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Corbin’s presentation, which will take place at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, is a special feature of this year’s “Presidential Families Weekend” events, and also launches the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation’s new TRU-ly Amazing Art series. The artist will discuss the tools, research and processes he employed for his monumental undertaking, answer audience questions, and share insights on where he finds his inspiration.
​
The “Presidential Families Weekend” and Tom Corbin “TRU-ly Amazing Art” events are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.