Anyone with a Monroe County Public Library card has access to a tremendous resource for online learning – for free! It’s called LinkedIn Learning – people may remember it as Lynda.com – and there are more than 4,000 online courses available on almost any subject you can imagine. That ranges from business courses, including leadership, data management, financial and accounting, human resources and more. There’s also software training (tutorials and certifications) for a range of platforms and programs, including cloud computing, database management, Microsoft programs and web development. On the creative side, there are courses about graphic design, music, drawing, writing, photography and much more. You have access to all these courses for free, with your library card, via https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/keyslibs. If you have any questions, you can email info@keyslibraries.org - or visit or call your local branch. You can find their locations, hours and phone numbers at https://keyslibraries.org/locations/. You can even sign up for a card online: https://keyslibraries.polarislibrary.com/polaris/patronaccount/selfregister.aspx? and start looking into the courses right away. You just need to come into one of the library branches within three months and confirm that you live here. Feel free to share this information with your friends and family -- anyone with questions can email info@keyslibraries.org.
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MONROE COUNTY, FL – On Saturday, the Historic Florida Keys Foundation presented two ceramic star awards to Monroe County Project Management for its preservation work of the Pigeon Key Honeymoon Cottage and Commissary buildings. Hurricane Irma heavily damaged both buildings in 2017, knocking them off their foundations. This is Project Management’s sixth preservation award in three years.
“This was an incredibly complex and challenging project considering its size and numerous historic hurdles,” said Project Management Director Cary Knight. “Additionally, the project started during COVID, and all the construction materials had to be brought to the island via boat.” Pigeon Key, located off Marathon and connected by the Old 7 Mile Bridge, is best known for its significant role in the construction and operation of the Florida East Coast Railway. Both wood-frame buildings were initially supposed to be temporary and are excellent examples of construction on the island during that time. The commissary building construction started in 1913, and the Honeymoon Cottage, directly adjacent to it, began in 1942. Surviving historical materials, such as doors, windows, flooring, and porch components, were salvaged and reused wherever possible. When required, new material was selected to match the existing historical details, including the original profiles and dimensions. The work also involved removing or replacing non-historic features added over the years. To learn more about Pigeon Key, visit www.pigeonkey.net. March 6, 2023 - This weekend Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg was honored by the Coral City Elk’s Lodge #610 for his leadership and dedication to the citizens of Key West. Due to conflicting schedules, Chief Brandenburg’s Executive Administrative Assistant Floyd Jenkins accepted the award on his behalf. Jenkins thanked the Lodge for the recognition and gave impassioned testimony of his own personal experience working alongside Chief Brandenburg. March 6, 2023 – (Key West, FL). The Key West Art & Historical Society invites the community to attend a free lecture by Dr. Sharika Crawford titled, “The Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Labor, Conservation and Boundary Making from the Cayman Island to Key West.” The lecture will be held at Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street, on Friday, March 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The program is free of charge, but advance registration is required to ensure seating. To register online visit www.kwahs.org/dss-crawford.
In her talk, Dr. Crawford will discuss the entangled histories of peoples and commodities that circulated across the greater Caribbean, which connected places like Key West to the Cayman Islands and further south toward Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The story of the humble turtle and its hunter, Crawford argues, came to play a significant role in shaping the maritime boundaries of the modern Caribbean. Focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, she traces and connects the expansion of turtle hunting to matters of race, labor, political, and economic change, and the natural environment. Crawford is associate professor of history at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Her scholarship focuses on Latin America, the circum-Caribbean, and the West African nation of Ghana. Recently, her book “The Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean: Labor, Conservation, and Boundary Making” was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2020. This program is free and is limited to 150 attendees; registration is required kwahs.org/dss-crawford. Support for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support was provided by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, The Helmerich Trust, Aloys & Carol Metty, and The John & Marilyn Rintamaki Family Charitable Fund. For more information, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. The History of Diving Museum is hosting “Dive Into Art & Music” on March 31st, from 5:30-9:00 pm, under the stars at Safe Harbor Angler House in Islamorada. Celebrating Jerry’s love of diving and protecting our oceans, the Jerry Garcia Foundation donated limited-edition museum quality giclees of his art to the History of Diving Museum. A JGF Edition Certificate of Authenticity is included with each piece of fine art, each hand-signed by Jerry's daughter, Keelin, and his wife, Manasha. We will be offering these fine art pieces for sale at the event.
Enjoy dancing to live music featuring Waynard Scheller and Rainbow Full of Sound, which will provide a special musical tribute experience with many of Jerry Garcia’s favorite tunes. The opening performance will feature the Schells & Vine Trio, with special music set by guests Tony Saunders and Jair-Rohm Parker Wells. Dead fans will also be treated to treated to a special appearance by Peter Agelasto, Jerry Garcia Archivist. Seating will be limited, with several options available: Poolside access, dinner by Mona’s Reggae Catering, and admission to the History of Diving Museum is $100 per person. For $3,000, you will receive your very own signed giclee, VIP reserved seating, dinner for four, poolside access, and a family pass to the History of Diving Museum. There will be a limited number of general admission tickets available at $35 per person. Purchase tickets on-line: https://divingmuseum.org/events-calendar.The event will be held, rain or shine, and if unable to attend, you can view remaining art available for purchase at the museum. The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member, or shop online. March 3, 2023 - Miami Marlin’s mascot Billy the Marlin came to Key West today to let the citizens know that there will be another Key West Day this coming August.
Billy met with a group of May Sands Montessori students at City Hall, then dropped by the Southernmost Point for an iconic photo. Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman has worked with local radio producer Rick Lopez and the Marlin’s organization over the past few years to make Key West Day a reality. It provides a special day for Key Westers and raised funds for the Police Athletic League. The event has included specially priced tickets for locals and a chance to come out on the field. Police Chief Sean Brandenburg threw out the first pitch last year, and Mayor Teri Johnston did it the year before. Visitors at the Southernmost Buoy has a pleasant surprise today when Billy showed up with a group of City dignitaries as escorts.
LOWER KEYS, FL – The Monroe County Engineering Department recently completed two projects in the Lower Keys. The first project was the completion of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Connection at Cudjoe Gardens, an asphalt shared-use path connecting Drost Drive to the U.S. 1 crosswalk of the trail. The project was funded by grants from the Florida Department of Transportation, TDC, and District 1 Transportation Impact Fees.
“The contracting team did an excellent job finishing early and within budget,” said Debra London, Monroe County Project Manager. “The project is a good example of government working with the community to improve neighborhoods.” Cudjoe Gardens resident the late David Img championed the connection of the trail. He requested pedestrian and bicycle access safety improvements, and Monroe County worked with the FDOT and others to move it to fruition. His wife attended the opening ceremony of the pathway in his honor. Commissioner Michelle Lincoln and Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay also attended. --- Commissioner Michelle Lincoln, whose district falls in the Lower Keys, also visited a project completed in late 2022 in the Koehn subdivision of Big Pine Key. The neighborhood had a roadway and drainage project done, and a nearby street, Loma Lane, was also resurfaced. “The Koehn project included drainage culverts and swales and rehabilitation of over 2.5 miles of neighborhood streets,” said Debra London, Monroe County project manager. The Koehn project was also completed on time and under budget and was partially funded with a FDOT Small County Outreach Program grant. “I am so happy because I can now take my granddaughter roller skating and bike riding on a great street, and the kids down the street put up a basketball hoop. These are all things we couldn’t have done before,” said Andrea Thrasher, who has lived in the neighborhood for the past 24 years. MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Contractors Examining Board (CEB) was created in 1975. This board was established to interpret and make rules and regulations and to hear public complaints and code compliance violations. County staff regularly attend the meetings to give updates or answer questions. “The CEB is a conduit between the public and the building department,” said Mayor Craig Cates. “The board wants to help local contractors address any issues.” To learn more about the board or view CEB agendas and minutes, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/ceb. The public is invited to the CEB meetings, which take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Monroe County Government Center in Marathon. The meetings are available in-person and via Zoom webinar. Upcoming 2023 dates are:
Dates are subject to change. Dates marked with an asterisk (*) are tentatively reserved as overflow meeting dates, and are only held when needed. Please visit the County meetings calendar at www.monroecounty-fl.gov for up-to-date information. March 1, 2023 - The City of Key West Art in Public Places Board presents a Call for Proposals for outdoor sculpture, on loan, for Ramos Lopez Pedestrian Park & Sculpture Garden. The application deadline is March 30, 2023 online, by 3:00 p.m. Apply online at www.keysarts.com.
This is round two of the Sculpture on Loan projects for the “pocket park” at the end of Duval Street at the Atlantic Ocean. The new name of the park is Ramos Lopez Pedestrian Park & Sculpture Garden located at 1400 Duval St. Key West. The City of Key West Art in Public Places Board requests proposals for the 2nd round of sculptures on loan in the Ramos Lopez Pedestrian and Sculpture Garden that was established in 2019. There are 6 concrete pads measuring 30” square to support local sculpture for the public to enjoy and celebrate our historic and creative community. Located in Old Town Key West, Florida, the park offers undulating planters filled with indigenous plants, shrubs and trees and a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. Art in Public Places is seeking proposals for 6 sculptures to be sited on loan (and may be for sale) in the Park for 18 months. The selected artists must propose completed work that will complement, enhance and are appropriate for the public space. Project Budget: $1,500 per artist honorarium – Selected Monroe County resident artists will receive $1,500 each as an honorarium for the loan of their sculpture. The AIPP Board may provide transportation and installation assistance to each artist as needed. Please visit the Florida Keys Council of the Arts website at www.keysarts.com for more information and the online application. February 28, 2023 - On Monday, the City of Key West and Mayor Teri Johnston were proud to host a presentation about the island city with an elite group of students.
Fifty-one members of the Naval Command College’s Class of 2023 came to City Hall to garner insight into local government. The Naval Command College is part of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island where future military leaders from all over the world learn about various aspects of American life and culture. Mayor Teri Johnston greeted the group, noting that sea level rise and sustainability are top priorities for our city. She outlined the island’s vulnerability and the ways in which the City is tackling these issues. Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton gave the group an overview of Key West’s historic significance and its interconnectedness with the military. He highlighted the fact that Key West is now an official U.S. Coast Guard City. “Our group of international students, representing 48 different countries, is composed of senior officers, many of whom will be the Chief of their country's military,” said Naval Command College representative Ty Lemerande. “Our goal to educate them about the United States, exposing and enlightening them to as many elements/aspects of our culture as possible.” At the end of the presentation, the group presented Mayor Johnston with a plaque featuring each of the class members and their nation’s flag. |
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