KEY WEST, FL, February 25, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) named the Ocean Reef Community Foundation (ORCF) as the inaugural honoree of its new tradition to recognize an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to the College and the broader community. ORCF was selected for its exceptional partnership, dedicated community service, and commitment to expanding educational opportunities in the Florida Keys.

ORCF has provided vital support for several initiatives that have expanded CFK’s capacity to serve the Upper Keys community. Beyond help in funding construction of the Upper Keys Center (UKC), ORCF has backed everything from CFK-led COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the county to the establishment of a "last dollar” scholarship program, the ORCF Building Bridges Scholarship.

ORCF support enabled CFK to launch an annual Community Day at the UKC in 2025, modeling it after the longstanding tradition at the Key West Campus. The 2026 event grew to welcome more than 35 community organizations, student clubs, and academic programs. Recent ORCF grant funding enhanced the UKC student experience through the purchase of a Public Address System, refrigerator, and ice maker for the student lounge to provide comfort and convenience for students during long days of studying and extracurricular involvement.

“As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we are especially grateful for exceptional partners like the Ocean Reef Community Foundation,” said Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, CFK President and CEO. “Their contributions have been essential to expanding the educational, workforce, and economic development opportunities available to our community.”
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For more information about partnering with CFK or donating to the CFK Foundation, contact Dr. Lana Gaspari, Vice President of Advancement and CFK Foundation Executive Director, at 305-809-3214 or [email protected].

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is accepting letters of interest for an opening on the Cultural Umbrella Committee of the Tourist Development Council. The TDC District for the TDC District 4 (IV), the appointee must live between the Long Key Bridge and mile marker 90.939. The committee member will serve a partial term beginning immediately upon approval and will go through September 30, 2028. The sitting committee member for the district has stepped down for personal reasons. 

The Cultural Umbrella Committee is composed of five persons representing the 5 TDC districts of the Florida Keys and is administered by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. The committee works with the TDC’s advertising and public relations agencies to promote the Keys as an arts and cultural destination and makes recommendations for the funding of promoting cultural events. 

To be eligible to serve on the Committee of the Cultural Umbrella, a person must: 

 1. Currently reside in the Tourist Development Committee District to which appointed for a minimum of two years. (Boundaries described above). 
 2. Have demonstrated significant support and advocacy for art and culture or work as an artist (visual, performing, literary, historic). 
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the prime importance of art and culture to the economy and to the quality of life of Monroe County citizens and guests. 
4. Receive no income in an administrative capacity from an entity or individual that was awarded Cultural Umbrella event funding in the past fiscal year or that applies in the current year. 
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Persons wishing to be considered may send a letter of interest and brief bio by March 15, 2026, to Elizabeth Young, Executive Director, Florida Keys Council of the Arts, by email to: [email protected] 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Tubby’s Creek Bridge on Card Sound Road, built in 1969, is scheduled for replacement starting March 2. Construction crews will be on-site to perform preliminary project work consisting of clearing vegetation from roadway shoulders and widening the pavement at Tubby’s Creek Bridge on Card Sound Road. The contractor will close the westbound lane to traffic and set up temporary traffic signals to alternate bi-directional traffic to one lane. The bridge will remain one lane with alternating traffic for the duration of the project. Traffic signal timing will be altered in the morning and afternoon to accommodate the additional traffic heading to and from the Ocean Reef community.

Updates will be provided throughout the project's construction phases. This project has a construction duration of approximately 18 months, weather dependent.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Community Services Director and Veteran Cathy Crane was honored with the prestigious Impact Award from the Wounded Warrior Project, recognizing her commitment to supporting wounded service members, especially during the annual event held in January throughout the Florida Keys. 

The Impact Award is presented annually to those who make a meaningful difference by raising awareness and advancing support for wounded Veterans. Crane was recognized for her leadership and long-standing involvement with the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride in the Florida Keys, a nationally recognized rehabilitative cycling event that brings wounded Veterans to Monroe County for physical recovery, mental wellness, and camaraderie.

For more than a decade, Crane has helped support Soldier Ride locally as a Veteran herself and by working with Monroe County Veterans Affairs, community partners, and volunteers to ensure a welcoming and impactful experience for participating warriors. 

“Impact is never the work of one person; it belongs to a community of people who show up for our warriors,” she said during her award acceptance in Miami. “We do not honor warriors by what we say about their service; we honor them by how we stand with them after it.”

The Wounded Warrior Project, founded in 2003, provides life-changing programs and services for veterans who sustained physical or mental injuries during their military service, along with support for their families and caregivers.

To learn more about Monroe County Veterans Affairs, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/va.

Duval Square’s Jag Gallery partners with award winning writer, composer and sculptor Bill Lorraine for a special two day event, BEHIND GARDEN WALLS …Sculpture By Bill Lorraine on Saturday February 28th and Sunday March 1st.  Step into the glorious, lush tropical garden of Bill and artist wife Ann, a labor of love for almost three decades and discover the magic of Bill’s exquisite contemporary stone sculpture.  

Masterfully carved from Miami Oolite, reclaimed and collected for years by Bill and sourced from home demolition or renovations, this beautifully textured deep quarried, historic stone formerly used for cornerstones and foundations has found new life through Lorraines’s unique creative process.  

Perfect for any garden, pool area or interior setting, Lorraine adds, “the whiteness of these stones is one of their biggest assets…I love the way the surface texture of the stones causes the light to diffuse into a soft glow”.

All are welcome to visit this free event and discover something just right for one’s own magical space
from noon to 5 on both Saturday and Sunday with refreshments offered and with gallery staff on hand to offer any assistance regarding moving or installation.  1028 Catherine Street, Key West.  More information at jaggallery.art.

Considered a top destination offering carefully curated exhibits of fine contemporary art by prominent and emerging artists from Key West and beyond, Jag Gallery is located at Duval Square, 1075 Duval Street with ample no fee parking available through the Simonton Street entrance to The Square.  Follow us on Facebook/Meta and Instagram.  

For additional information, contact the gallery at 305.407.6202 or email to [email protected]

Key West, FL — The Key West Artisan Market continues its 2026 season on Sunday, March 1, from 10 am to 2 pm at Indigenous Park at Higgs Beach with the ReMARCable Edition, featuring MARC House. This community-centered market invites locals and visitors to shop local, connect with neighbors, and support an organization that enriches the lives of adults with developmental disabilities in the Florida Keys.

At the Artisan Market, guests are invited to experience a thoughtfully designed open-air showcase featuring fine crafts and art by accomplished Florida Keys makers, elevated food and libations, and sweeping ocean views. The market offers an inspired mix of handcrafted jewelry, original artwork spanning acrylics, watercolor, papercuts, ceramics, and turned wood, bespoke home décor, carefully selected apparel and textiles, artisan breads and cheeses, fresh seasonal produce, local seafood and premium butcher selections, slow-smoked barbecue, indulgent desserts, and authentic global flavors from the Mediterranean, France, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and the Caribbean. Great Events Catering offers a full-service bar featuring handcrafted, next-level Bloody Marys and mimosas, while guests may also enjoy fresh-brewed coffee, nitrogen-infused teas, pressed fruit juices, artisanal ice cream, and tropically flavored boozy popsicles.

This market highlights MARC House, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities through employment, education, and life-enriching programs. Representatives will be onsite sharing information about their work and accepting donations of leftover Fantasy Fest beads, which are reused in MARC programs and fundraising efforts. Guests are encouraged to bring gently used beads to give them new life while supporting a meaningful local cause. MARC House will also be offering unique air plants for sale, showcasing their public nursery and green house, which is staffed by the clients they serve.

Keys Yacht Rock Station 93.7 will broadcast live from the market throughout the day, sharing island tunes, interviews, and community highlights. Guests can meet local authors signing books, watch artists at work, and explore the newly remodeled Key West Wildlife Center located onsite at Indigenous Park.

The Key West Artisan Market blends community spirit with local creativity and entrepreneurship, pairing nonprofit partners with a vibrant open-air shopping experience by the sea. Each edition supports a different charitable organization working to strengthen the island community. Admission and parking are free, and guests are encouraged to BYOB — bring your own shopping bags or pick up a branded bag at the Artisan Market info tent.

The Key West Artisan Market takes place select Sundays at Indigenous Park at Higgs Beach, offering a rotating lineup of themes and nonprofit partners throughout the season.

Next Market: Sunday, March 8 — Key West Artisan Market: Wheels & Heels Edition featuring Car Free Key West.

For updates and upcoming editions, visit https://www.facebook.com/KWArtisanMarket. For vendor information, email [email protected] or apply online at https://bit.ly/KWAMVENDOR

KEY WEST, FL, February 19, 2026— Registration is open for The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) six-week continuing education course, Rock through the Ages: History of Rock and Roll. All are welcome to join as Andrew Riddles guides students through a musical journey over the decades that shaped America's most historic genre - Rock & Roll. The course will be held on Wednesdays from March 4 through April 15, 2026 (no class March 18) at 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

The course will highlight a journey through time to explore the evolution of rock and roll from the 1950’s to today. Topics will cover a look behind the hits at the tales behind legendary tracks and artists. Students will experience the music, discover what set rock and roll apart, and discuss how rock mirrored and influenced society.

The fee is $142 and seats are limited. To register today, visit the Enrollment Office in Building A on CFK’s Key West Campus at 5901 College Road on Stock Island. To learn more, visit: https://www.cfk.edu/academics/continuing-education/, or call Melissa Hertzog at 305-809-3156.

CFK’s Continuing Education department offers a wide range of non-credit classes and seminars designed to help lifelong students fulfill their potential, both personally and professionally.

KEY WEST, Fla. – February 19, 2026 – Lower Keys Medical Center has invested in the Florida Keys Council of the Arts "Art in Public Buildings" program and has purchased five original works from local artists for display in the hospital's main lobby. Prints of the originals will also be hung in newly renovated patient rooms.
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"The works chosen by a hospital committee highlight the unique beauty and character of Key West. Interacting with art can promote healing and well-being. We are delighted to collaborate with Lower Keys Medical Center and our talented Key West artists on this project," said Elizabeth Young, executive director of Florida Keys Council of the Arts.
 
The art featured includes "Palms at Fort Zachary" and "Key West Sky" by Maggie Ruley, "Starlight on Olivia Street" by Erin Nelson, "Sunrise at Saddlebunch Keys" by Jim Salem, and "Old Town Bakery" by Andy Thurber. 
 
"We are proud to feature local artists for our patients, visitors and employees to enjoy, and thank the Florida Keys Council of the Arts for their assistance in curating this installation," said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center. 
 
Pictured: Drew Bigby, CEO, Lower Keys Medical Center; Artist Erin Nelson; Eric Anderson, treasurer, Florida Keys Council of the Arts; Marianne Finizio, board member, Florida Keys Council of the Arts; Artist Maggie Ruley; Elizabeth Young, executive director, Florida Keys Council of the Arts; and Artist Jim Salem. 

HOMESTEAD, Fla. —  On March 7, the National Park Service invites the public to Everglades National Park for the Nike Site Festival at the historic Nike Hercules Missile Base. The free public event highlights the site’s role in the Cold War era and the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

“Events like the Nike Site Festival help us connect with the park’s local communities by sharing and preserving the stories of HM-69,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park. “It’s a chance to honor those who served and to learn about South Florida’s vital role in this important chapter of our nation’s history.” 

Ranger-led programs and guest speakers will provide insight into the site’s history and significance. Local museums and educational organizations will showcase exhibits on South Florida’s military and cultural heritage. 

Festival activities include a vintage auto show, live music, family-friendly programs, food trucks and K-9 demonstrations. Young visitors can participate in hands-on science and history activities, such as building and launching water rockets or completing the new Junior Nike Cadet activity book. 
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For a detailed schedule, event descriptions or to register for the auto show, visit the Nike Site Festival webpage. 
Images from last year’s event can be found on Everglades' Flickr page. 

To learn more about the base's history, visit the HM-69 Nike Missile Base webpage.