​ISLAMORADA, Fla. — The History of Diving Museum and local performing artist Adrienne Z, in collaboration with students from Coral Shores and Marathon High Schools, is set to celebrate “Art Builds Community” with three February musical performances.
 
Beginning Friday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m., the Blue Marlin Stage at mile marker 81.5 oceanside in Islamorada, is to debut original songs performed by Adrienne Z and students, followed by an inspirational reading of several blackout poems created from pages of the novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.” Lyrics and music will showcase how the project was brought to life.
 
Blackout poetry is a form of found or erasure poetry that transforms an existing text by blacking out words to reveal a new poem, often offering satirical, personal or playful commentary on the original source.
 
After the event, the Florida Keys Brewing Co. has “Dive Into Art & Music” on tap, featuring an art exhibit/sale and musical tribute to Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead. The concert is to feature Rainbow Full of Sound, taking stage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Created in 2012, when several “Dead Head” musicians decided to replicate the band’s 1980 Radio City Music Hall run, they have played ever since with a rotating cast of members. The evening is to include limited-edition Jerry Garcia art and merchandise, a food truck, and a Key Westys’ hippie van as well as raffles and silent auctions. The benefit concert is to support the “Dive Into Art: Stories From the Sea” featured exhibit at the History of Diving Museum, located at MM 83, bayside, in Islamorada.
 
On Wednesday, Feb, 11, the 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Marathon Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours,” is to include a performance by Adrienne Z and blackout poem readings by students from Marathon High. The event is to take place at Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, MM 50 Gulfside.
 
The final celebration is to take place on Friday, Feb. 19, at the Eco-Discovery Center, 35 Quay Road, in Key West, again with a performance by Adrienne Z, a poetry reading and other program highlights from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 
These events are made possible by the History of Diving Museum's sponsors and partners, including the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, Blue Marlin Jewelry, the Carolan Foundation, Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, Florida Art and Culture, Grateful Diver, the Jerry Garcia Foundation, Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Key West Art and Historical Society, Key Westys, NOAA, Silent World Dive Center, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and Wire Sculpture Live.

KEY WEST, FL, January 30, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) is offering a three-part, hands-on fused glass workshop led by artist Gail Harrison. The workshop will take place at CFK’s Key West Campus on Mondays from February 16 through March 2 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. each week.

Harrison will teach the basics of glass slumping and guide students in creating their own glass bowl creations. Participants will explore simple design ideas, safety practices, and the slumping process while working directly with glass to make a unique finished piece.

The fee is $135 and seats are limited. To learn more and register, visit: https://www.cfk.edu/academics/continuing-education/, or call Melissa Hertzog at 305-809-3156. Anyone interested may also visit the Enrollment Office in Building A on CFK’s Key West Campus at 5901 College Road on Stock Island.
​
CFK’s Continuing Education programs offer a wide range of non-credit classes and seminars designed for lifelong students to fulfill their potential, both personally and professionally.

PLANTATION KEY, FL – In response to forecasted extreme cold temperatures for the Upper Florida Keys, Monroe County Emergency Management is opening a warming center to provide warmth to those in need at the Plantation Key Community Center, located at 53 High Point Rd, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The center will open Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. and remain open overnight until 7 a.m. The warming center will reopen on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. through 7 a.m.  The center will only provide a warm place to stay for the cold night with a cot and a blanket.
​
Important Information:

• The warming center will not include meals.
• Crated pets will be accepted in the warming center. Limited crates are available.
• Center rules apply.

  
Prepare for Cold Weather:

• Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures may result in hypothermia, particularly for individuals spending extended periods outdoors. Residents should remain indoors when possible, bring pets inside, and cover or relocate cold-sensitive plants. Pets should not be left outdoors during cold weather.
• Please monitor local media outlets and the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/key/ for the most current weather information. Residents and visitors can also follow the NWS Key West and Monroe County Emergency Management on Facebook. The Emergency Operations Center is not currently activated, but Monroe County Emergency Management is monitoring the situation.

Tropic Cinema celebrates Black History Month with a special spotlight series proudly underwritten by the Florida Council of the Arts, and the Monroe County Tourism Council helping shine a light on stories that matter.

The February Spotlight Series celebrates Black History Month by pairing film with community impact. Each week, a Black-led organization is featured before the screening to share their mission, the work they do, and how the donation from that week’s ticket sales will support their efforts.
The first organization featured as part of the spotlight series the William Weech American Legion Post 168, continuing a powerful tradition of service, community, and advocacy. The film Deacons for Defense tells the true story of a group of ordinary Black men in the 1960s South who did something extraordinary: they organized, armed themselves, and stood guard to protect their communities and civil rights activists when the law wouldn’t. What begins as neighbors watching out for one another becomes a bold, strategic movement that helped the Civil Rights Movement survive some of its most dangerous moments. Part history lesson, part edge-of-your-seat story, this film proves that sometimes defending peace takes real backbone.
Each organization has selected a film that resonates with their values and history. Local leaders will introduce the films, providing unique insight and discussion on their themes. Tropic Cinema will donate ticket sale profits to each organization, directly benefiting their important work in the community. Each event will be on Sunday afternoon at 2 PM.  After the Sunday event, there will be additional screenings of the films throughout the following week. 
Sunday, February 1 – Deacons of Defense (2003), Hosted by William Weech American Legion Post 168.
Sunday, February 8 – Ain’t no back to a Merry Go Round (2024), Hosted by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration and Scholarship Committee
Sunday, February 15 – Sarah’s Oil (2025), Hosted by Coral Elks Club #610.
Sunday, February  22– 42 (2013), Hosted by Unkon Lodge #47 P.H.A.
For more information about this and other events at Tropic Cinema, please check the website at www.tropicicinema.com

KEY WEST, Fla. — On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, will welcome five distinguished presidential descendants who will engage in a panel discussion entitled “The Legacy of President Carter,” moderated by presidential historian Dr. Kurt Graham, and staged on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, Fla.

Recognized as one of the most distinctive civic and historical Presidents’ Weekend gatherings in the nation, this year’s Presidential Descendants Forum welcomes three Carter descendants: Amy Carter, daughter of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and grandsons James Earl Carter IV and Josh Carter, alongside Susan Ford Bales, daughter of 38th U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, and Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
Opening the event, presidential descendants will present cash prizes and certificates of achievement to the three winners of the 2026 Monroe County Student Essay Competition, whose works, reflecting this year’s topic, were judged by members of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Society of Presidential Descendants.

“The Presidential Descendants Forum presents audiences with a personal window into presidential history — not just through policy, but through family memory and lived experience,” said Clinton Curry, Executive Director of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation. “With the nation approaching its 250th anniversary, this year’s program also offers a timely opportunity to reflect on aspects of leadership, character, and service across generations.”

While the Forum centers on the Carter legacy, it also honors the broader continuum of presidential history represented by the panel. Susan Ford Bales brings the perspective of growing up in the White House in the period following Watergate, as well as her mother Betty Ford’s groundbreaking advocacy for women’s health and recovery. Clifton Truman Daniel offers reflections shaped by his grandfather’s leadership, as well as his own work promoting historical understanding, peace, and nuclear disarmament. 

Held at the site where President Truman spent 11 working vacations between 1945 and 1953, the Presidential Descendants Forum is the largest annual Presidents’ Day gathering of presidential descendants in the country. 

Forum tickets are $40 for Foundation members and $60 for non-members. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., with a cash bar; the Forum begins at 4:30 p.m. Additional Presidents’ Weekend events run February 12–16 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” performances of “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!”, and a traditional Presidents Day cookout.
​
Event proceeds benefit the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation whose mission is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and to provide programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era.
For tickets and information, visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County announces Keith Moriarity, Senior Project Administrator with Fleet Management, has been named Monroe County’s Employee of the Fourth Quarter 2025 for being an essential contributor to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Fleet Management Department, consistently providing timely, professional assistance to employees countywide, and frequently going above and beyond his assigned duties to ensure operations run smoothly.

He has played a key role in strengthening collaboration between Fleet Management, Risk Management, and the Clerk of the Court’s Office, establishing productive working relationships that significantly improved communication, coordination, and overall effectiveness. He manages critical accident-related processes, coordinates with body shops, oversees the receipt of new assets, and ensures accurate data entry, all of which contribute to operational efficiency and cost savings. He also conducts garage inspections to support a safe and secure work environment and serves on the Logistics Team in the Emergency Operations Center during activations.
“Keith is known for setting clear goals, following through on tasks to completion, and proactively identifying and correcting issues before they escalate,” said Fleet Management Director Daryl Greenlee. “His attention to detail, sound decision-making, and commitment to doing things the right way play a vital role in maintaining efficiency.”
​
Colleagues across multiple departments also praised Moriarity for his professionalism, responsiveness, and willingness to assist outside his normal scope of responsibilities. Several noted his positive attitude, knowledge, and availability make him a trusted resource and a role model for other county employees.

Key West, FL (January 29, 2026) — Tickets are now on sale for Taste of Key West and the Vintners Dinner, two signature fundraising events hosted by AH Monroe as part of its 40th year serving the Florida Keys community.
 
Together, the events invite residents and visitors alike to gather through exceptional food, drink, and shared purpose —supporting AH Monroe’s mission of providing health, housing, and hope throughout the Keys.
 
Taste of Key West returns on Monday, March 23, 2026, transforming Truman Waterfront Park into a lively evening celebration of the Keys’ culinary community. The event is free and open to the public, with tasting tickets available for purchase for those who wish to sample food and beverages from participating restaurants and partners.
 
Guests can choose from several ticket options, including the popular Two for Taste Pass, designed for couples and friends to share the experience. A limited number of VIP Passes are also available, offering an elevated experience with exclusive tent access, unlimited tastings, sommelier-led moments, butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, commemorative keepsakes, and flexible VIP seating.
 
The Vintners Dinner offers a distinct and more intimate experience. An iconic event returning this year, the limited-capacity evening takes place at the beautiful and historic Williams Hall in Key West and is guided by The Art of Tasting — a chef-curated approach to food and wine in support of AH Monroe’s work. While different in scale and setting, the dinner shares the same purpose as Taste of Key West — strengthening the health and wellbeing of the Keys community. 
 
“As we mark 40 years of caring for the Florida Keys community, these events are about inviting people into that story,” said Scott Pridgen, Executive Director of AH Monroe. “Whether you join us at Taste of Key West or the Vintners Dinner, your participation helps sustain the work that shows up for our community every day.”
 
Founded in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, AH Monroe has grown over four decades to provide a broad range of health and housing services for individuals and families across Monroe County. While the organization’s work has evolved, its commitment to inclusive, community-centered care has remained constant.
 
Taste of Key West is made possible with the support of community partners, including the Tourist Development Council, Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), local restaurants, sponsors, volunteers, and vendors who help bring the event to life each year.
 
Event Details
Vintners Dinner
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026 
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 
Location: Williams Hall, Key West
Capacity: Limited; advance ticket purchase required
 
Early ticket purchase is encouraged, as the Vintners Dinner is expected to sell out. 
 
Taste of Key West
Date: Monday, March 23, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Truman Waterfront Park, Key West
Access: Free general admission; tasting tickets available for purchase
 
Ticket Options:

• Pay-as-you-go tasting tickets
• Two for Taste Pass (ideal for couples and friends)
• VIP Pass (limited quantity available)

 
Tickets, volunteer opportunities, participating restaurants and vendors, and sponsorship or partnership information can be found at tasteofkeywest.org.

KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County has amended the rental rate for a one-bedroom/one-bathroom Southcliff Estates housing units for workers in the tourism industry, located at 95295 Overseas Highway (MM 95) in Key Largo to $1900/month.  The units are only available to those employed in Monroe County’s private-sector tourism-related industries, including arts, entertainment, recreation, fishing and diving, hotels, restaurants, food services, and sightseeing. Applicants must work in a qualifying business located in the Florida Keys and fall under maximum income requirements.
 
To qualify, applicants must:

• Be 18 years old or older.

• Maximum income:
  • One person: $109,560
  • Two people: $125,040
  • Two people (married/domestic partners): $166,720
• Rent includes water, sewer, and trash.
• Tenants pay for electricity. Tenants pay for cable and internet, if desired.
• A maximum of two people only in a unit.
• Show proof of income and employment in an eligible tourism-related business.
• Meet additional eligibility requirements outlined in the application.

 
Additional requirements include background checks, landlord verification, and submission of all required documents through the online application portal. No paper applications will be accepted. The units will be rented on a first-come, first-qualified basis.
 
These units were purchased as part of a $35 million TDC surplus, for which the Florida Legislature passed a bill explicitly authorizing Monroe County to use the surplus funds for affordable housing for employees of private-sector tourism-related businesses. Southcliff Estates is the first project funded through this initiative. Additional projects are being set for each TDC district in the Florida Keys.
 
For more information or to apply, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/southcliff or contact [email protected]. The Monroe County Housing Authority also has available units for individuals of different and lower income levels throughout the Florida Keys. For information on the housing authority, visit https://www.kwha.org/mcha/. 

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance that authorizes the temporary use of county conservation lands that do not detrimentally impact native vegetation or endangered species. The ordinance was crafted to ensure environmental protections remain in place while allowing the county to respond efficiently to unique, time-sensitive requests. Commissioners also approved two license agreements with Proximity Productions, LLC, for the temporary use of county property in Big Pine Key related to the production of “Bad Monkey.”
 
Commissioners emphasized the importance of maintaining flexibility in county policies to accommodate future filming opportunities, noting that these approvals do not establish permanent use rights or limit the county’s ability to evaluate future requests on a case-by-case basis. The board also highlighted that allowing temporary uses for film production helps the county capitalize on economic and promotional opportunities.