KEY WEST, Fla. – MARCH 31, 2026 – Lower Keys Medical Center employees participated in the fourth annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive through the month of March, collecting more than 150 jars of peanut butter for the SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry.  

In Monroe County, nearly 50% of students quality for free or reduced lunches, making access to nutritious foods critical. The SOS Foundation's mission is to foster a healthier community by increasing equitable food access through food distribution, food recovery, and nutrition education.  

"Hunger and poor nutrition affect overall physical, mental, and long-term health and it is important for us to help fight food insecurity in our region. I appreciate our employees for their support of this program that will help families served by the Food Pantry," said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center. 

Morgan Barber, executive director of SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry said, "We're so grateful to Lower Keys Medical Center for rallying their teams and the community each year to help ensure our children and families have consistent access to food."  

The Jars of Love were collected throughout March and donated to SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry just before National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, April 2nd.  
​
L-R: Alissa Trabbold, UWCK; Rosanna Mullen, LKMC; Drew Bigby, LKMC; Morgan Barber, SOS Foundation; Tiffany Pellicier, UWCK; Janis Adams, LKMC; Tiffani Mensch, UWCK; Natali Acosta, SOS Foundation. 

KEY WEST, Fla. — National Park Service archeologists have identified the original burial site of Private George Tupper, a 22-year-old U.S. Army soldier and the only known service member buried within the walls of Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. 
​
“Locating Private Tupper’s original grave allows us to honor him and the service members who lived and served at Dry Tortugas,” said Josh Marano, NPS archeologist and field director for the project. “It is also a great reminder of why careful survey work before projects is essential.” 

Tupper served in Battery M, 1st U.S. Artillery, and enlisted in Boston on Oct. 16, 1872. Army records describe him as 5 feet 8 inches tall, with gray eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He listed his occupation as a “book binder,” though a commanding officer later described him as an actor. Tupper died of yellow fever at Fort Jefferson on Oct. 6, 1873, just weeks before completing his first year of service. 

His death occurred during a yellow fever outbreak that claimed multiple lives at the remote island fort and coincided with an approaching hurricane that prevented burial in the post cemetery. Historical records state he was buried in a “lime pit, near the parade, being the only remains buried within the fort limits.” While civilians may also have been buried within the parade grounds, Tupper is the only documented service member interred inside the fort. He was later exhumed and likely reinterred at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. 

During the survey, archeologists also recovered artifacts including buttons, marbles, bullets and clay smoking pipes that provide information about daily life at Fort Jefferson in the 19th century. 

In June 2024, archeologists with the park’s cultural resources team, assisted by the NPS Southeast Archeological Center, discovered Private Tupper’s burial site while surveying potential locations for a new radio tower. The team used ground-penetrating radar as part of compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal agencies to consider effects on historic properties before undertaking projects. 

The discovery supports ongoing research into the fort’s post cemetery, located on a nearby submerged island. While U.S. Army records document at least 83 deaths at Fort Jefferson, park archeologists have since identified more than 200 individuals who died there, many previously listed as unknown. 


To learn more about Private Tupper and the work to identify his original burial site, visit: Private George Tupper.
To learn more about the Fort Jefferson post cemetery, visit: Underwater Hospital and Cemetery.

KEY WEST, FL, March 31, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) is offering three summer terms designed to support students with flexibility and momentum to achieve their degrees or certificates. New and returning students looking to accelerate their progress can apply and register for CFK’s Summer 2026 terms by May 1.

Students can choose from three summer terms:

• Accelerated Six-Week Term: May 18 to June 29
  For students who want to move fast and focus deeply, the six-week term offers on-campus, online, and hybrid course formats. In less than two months, students can complete full credit hours and stay on track or get ahead.

• 100% Online 12-Week Term: May 18 to August 10
  Spanning most of the summer, this fully virtual term is built for students who need flexibility without sacrificing progress. Students can balance work, family, summer activities, and coursework on their own schedule while earning credits toward their goals.

• Summer Kickstart Program - Eight-Week Head Start for New Students: June 3 to August 10
  Designed specifically for students new to college, the eight-week Summer Kickstart Program offers three foundational courses: English Composition I, Preparing for Student Success, and Introduction to the Teaching Profession. Available in a hybrid-flexible format, students can participate in person at the Key West Campus or join virtually, an ideal launchpad for arriving at the first full semester confident, prepared, and with credits already in hand.

Students can apply and register online or visit CFK’s “One Stop Summer Shop” in person. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Key West Campus on Wednesday, April 29, and at the Upper Keys Center in Key Largo on Thursday, April 30. Attendees can meet with CFK staff, explore degree and certificate programs, and get personalized guidance on financial aid, payment plans, and scholarships. Plus, the application process can be handled on the spot. New students who attend will have their $30 application fee waived and receive a $100 Kickstarter Scholarship.
To learn more or begin the application process, visit www.cfk.edu/futurestudents/.

New students seeking personalized guidance are welcome to contact Marissa Owens, Manager of Recruitment, at [email protected] or 305-809-3207.

CARD SOUND ROAD – Starting on Wednesday, April 1, bicycles are forbidden from the Monroe County line near Alabama Jack’s Restaurant to County Road 905 for the Tubby’s Creek and Mosquito Creek bridge projects. Bicycles passing through work zones disrupt the timing of temporary traffic signals, causing traffic congestion. “No Bicycles Allowed” signs are posted ahead of the construction zones.  

The contractor will continue work on the Tubby’s Creek and Mosquito Creek bridges to clear vegetation, continue shoulder work, and temporarily widen pavement on Card Sound Road. Temporary traffic signals are alternating bi-directional traffic on the one remaining lane. The bridges will remain one lane with alternating traffic throughout the project. Traffic signal timing will be adjusted in the morning and afternoon to accommodate 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 18 months. 

KEY WEST, Florida Keys –  The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden will be hosting its monthly ‘Nature & Nurture Day from 9am to Noon on Saturday, April 18, 2026.  

The Native Plant Sale & Compost Drop Off & Demonstration is open 9am to Noon.  Take home a piece of the garden! Our Native Plant Sale features a curated selection of native species that support local wildlife, pollinators, and the island’s natural ecosystems.  Key West Botanical Garden members receive a 15% discount on plant purchases.  Memberships are available on site and on-line. 

Compost Drop off - Turn your Trash into Treasure at our Compost Village! Bring your compostable materials and learn how to start or improve your own compost system at home. We’ll walk through what to add, what to avoid, and how composting helps reduce waste and nourish the soil.  Acceptable items: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains (Pasta, Bread, Rice), Coffee grounds & Egg Shells.  No Meat or Dairy.

The Children’s Art Workshop runs from 10am to 12:00.  Cost of $10 includes all art materials needed; Members Free.  Kids are invited to explore the garden through creativity! This hands-on workshop uses leaves, flowers, and natural textures as inspiration for art-making. Introducing children to different artist and techniques. Perfect for young artists to connect with nature while they paint, draw, and collage. Partnered with Key West Art & Historical Society.  Reserve spots by emailing [email protected].

Prime of Life Yoga – (Yoga after 50) 10am–11:15am:  Classes are small and ideal for exploring yoga for the first time or getting back into your practice and benefiting from individual attention. A part of all class fees go to support the conservation work of KWBGS.    Cost: Drop-In $20 

The Garden is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation.  All proceeds directly benefit the Garden’s conservation program.  For more information call 305-296-1504 or visit www.keywest.garden.

Key West, FL — After a strong debut with more than 30 sellers, the Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale: Junk in the Trunk is back on Saturday, April 4 and Saturday, April 18 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Truman Waterfront Park.

What started as a simple idea — clean out the house, pull up, and sell — quickly turned into a lively morning of treasure hunting, neighbor-to-neighbor selling, and a great excuse to be out by the water early.

Expect a little bit of everything: household goods, vintage finds, collectibles, random treasures, and the kind of stuff you didn’t know you needed until you saw it. It’s part garage sale, part community hangout, and part “what’s in that trunk?”

April dates will also feature Over the Top Food Truck serving breakfast and lunch, along with hot and iced coffee and a classic hot dog cart to keep everyone fueled while they shop and browse.

Keep Key West Beautiful returns as the featured nonprofit, offering free reusable shopping bags while helping highlight the event’s focus on reuse and keeping good items out of the landfill.

If you’ve been thinking about clearing out a closet, garage, or storage unit, this is the easy way to do it. Sellers can show up the morning of and get placed as they arrive, or sign up in advance to save a few bucks. Bring your stuff, pop the trunk, and you’re in business.

Shoppers can come ready to dig for deals, meet locals, and enjoy a relaxed waterfront morning. Free parking is available with a residential sticker.

The Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale is planned to continue on the first and third Saturdays of each month, as long as participation keeps growing.

For more information or to pre-register as a seller, contact Sam Snodgrass at 573-694-9240 or visit https://bit.ly/garagesalekeywest or the facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/1384773450070525

KEY WEST, Fla. – MARCH 27, 2026 – In recognition of National Doctors' Day (March 30th), Lower Keys Medical Center made charitable contributions to three local organizations to honor their medical staff. For the ninth annual presentation, hospital medical staff members selected organizations that have a significant impact on the Lower Keys community. The recipients for 2026 are MARC House, Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, and Samuel's House.  
 
The Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens provides wrap around life services for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including adult day training, housing, supported employment, and supported living. 
 
Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, celebrating 90 years this year as Keeper of the Trees, is committed to historical significance, preservation and development, and environmental education.  
 
Samuel’s House supports long term, transitional and emergency housing to individuals and families in need in the community. 
National Doctors' Day is celebrated annually to acknowledge the contributions of doctors to patients and communities. In lieu of gifts for Doctors' Day, Lower Keys Medical Center donated $1,000 to each organization to support their work in the community. 
"I believe these donations are the best way to say thank you to our medical staff," said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center. "We are grateful for their contributions, sacrifices, and unwavering care for thousands of lives we touch in our community. Paying our gratitude forward to support these local organizations improves quality of life for all of us.

Walk on White’s next art stroll, set for Thursday, April 16, from 6:00——9:00 p.m., invites locals and visitors to explore one of Key West’s most popular ongoing art traditions. Held on the third Thursday of each month through May, WOW transforms White Street into a lively arts corridor where strollers can discover works by local painters, sculptors, artisan jewelry makers, and ceramic and mixed media artists, along with exhibit openings and creative demonstrations.

Each month, Walk on White (WOW) features an area nonprofit organization. April’s event recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month and supports Christina’s Courage, the Florida Keys’ only sexual-assault advocacy agency, which is currently raising funds for their “Every Image Counts” campaign. 
​
Sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Walk on White radiates from a central hub in the Fausto’s parking lot and extends to participating White Street locations between Southard and United streets. For a list of participating locations and more information, visit www.WalkOnWhiteKeyWest.com.

If you ever dreamed of diving like Lloyd Bridges or Zale Perry, the late actors who played the legendary Mike Nelson of “Sea Hunt” and his costar(as well as his diving trainer), or famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, plan to attend the 2026 Vintage Dive Day on Saturday, April 11, at Key Largo’s MarineLab Undersea Park. 

Organized by the History of Diving Museum and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), participants can gear up in a classic double-hose regulator and tour the MarineLab lagoon located at 51 Shoreland Drive in Key Largo. 

At noon, demonstrations using the classic U.S. Navy Mark V helmet and suit are scheduled. Attendees can see what diving looked like in the early 20th century, as Trident Surface Supplied Diving, LLC gears divers up in authentic World War II-era equipment weighing as much as 200 pounds. 

Brass Hat Divers will also demonstrate an open-bottom “Divinhood” made by the Miller-Dunn Company. These helmets was manufactured in Miami from 1915 through the 1940s and were used for early marine biology, ship husbandry, treasure hunting and underwater photography, allowing divers to explore Florida Keys coral reefs. 
Vintage dives are to take place every hour on the hour 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the exception of noon, when demonstrations with hard hat diving gear are scheduled. 

Divers, non-divers and landlubbers alike are invited to watch! Cost to dive with vintage gear is $50 per person and divers must be scuba certified. Other attendees are encouraged to give a $10 donation to help support the event. Representatives from the History of Diving Museum will be on-site for the day to share exciting Dive Into Art: Stories from the Sea programming and information on upcoming Museum events.   

Reserve dives at the store at DivingMuseum.org.  
​
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Dive in to venture through 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum is open daily from 10AM-5PM and has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Be sure to see Dive into Art: Stories from the Sea, open until April 15th, and filled with artwork from students across the Keys as well as from the Art Guild of the Purple Isles. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, or call (305) 664-9737.

Key West, FL — The Key West Artisan Market continues its 2026 season on Sunday, April 5, from 10 am to 2 pm at Indigenous Park at Higgs Beach with the Community Easter Egg Hunt Edition, featuring the Key West Canine Relief Fund. This festive, family-friendly market invites locals and visitors to shop local, connect with neighbors, and enjoy a free Easter egg hunt for children while supporting an organization dedicated to assisting working police and service dogs 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.

Children ages 12 and under are invited to participate in the free Easter egg hunt, with colorful eggs hidden throughout the park. Young hunters can gather up to five eggs and bring them to the Key West Canine Relief Fund booth to exchange for candy and prizes, making for a fun and rewarding adventure during the market.

This market highlights the Key West Canine Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement K-9 units and service dogs throughout the Florida Keys. The organization helps provide funding for training, medical care, equipment, and other needs that ensure these highly trained dogs can safely perform their duties protecting and serving the community. Representatives will be onsite to share information about their programs and how residents can support the important work these canine teams perform.

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, April 12 — Key West Artisan Market: Stop the Cycle
Edition featuring Wesley House Family Services.
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