Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission have proclaimed May as Haitian Heritage Month.

“Haitian Heritage Month salutes Haitian and Haitian-American contributions,” reads the proclamation, “which have immeasurably enriched the lives of the people of this city and the United States.”

Haitian Americans have made their mark as educators, authors, community leaders, activists, athletes, artists, musicians, and politicians, in our society and have contributed to the of this city. They are an important part of Key West’s culturally diverse community.

Pastor Jean of Key West Church of God of Prophecy thanked the commission for the recognition and reminded them that the Haitian community relies on their continued attention to affordable workforce housing.

Got a question or suggestion for the Mayor? Join Mayor Teri Johnston on Tuesday, May 17th at the Green Pineapple, 1130 Duval Street from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a conversation about our community.
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Mayor Johnston looks forward to seeing you there!

Lower Keys Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification.

Lower Keys Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on March 25, 2022. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
 
“Advanced Primary Stroke Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Lower Keys Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”
 
“We congratulate Lower Keys Medical Center for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”
 
Lower Keys Medical Center CEO, David Clay, said, “Accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center acknowledges the commitment our team has made to employing best practices and providing the best care possible for our patients. I thank all of our employees for their dedication to continuous quality improvement.”
 
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.

Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission have named “Tortuga” Jack Hackett the 2022 Poet Laureate of Key West.

Hackett, a well-known poet and storyteller, has been in Key West for over 30 years, spinning yarns at poetry slams, story slams, and during guided tours. He earned the nickname Tortuga Jack through years of guided tours he gave aboard the Yankee Freedom trips to the Dry Tortugas. He is a poet, a storyteller, a sailor and a naturalist.
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A fervent advocate of public poetry and storytelling, he organized programs like the Song and Story Festival, the Poem-A-Day at the Green Parrot and Blue Heaven, and the Poems for Public Project. He has won the Hemingway Storytelling Contest several times and has published his work in a local anthology.

Key West has been home to some of the most important poets of the past century including Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and Richard Wilbur.

Hackett follows in the footsteps of several other well-known poets who have served as the city’s official poet including Kirby Congdon, Flower Conroy, and Arlo Haskell.
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“I am honored, humbled and joyous to receive this,” said Hackett. Then he treated the audience by reciting one of his poems.

The Key West Ambassadors Academy graduated its 36th class during last week’s City Commission meeting. Seventeen enthusiastic citizens participated in the class. They join more than 600 citizens who now have a better insight to the workings of City government. Each class of the Key West Ambassadors Academy has been a special blend of dedicated, involved citizens.
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During the City Commission meeting, City Manager Patti McLauchlin congratulated Class 36, noting the dedication it takes to volunteer their time for 12 weeks of delving into the inner workings of city government.

“The Ambassadors play an important role in helping us better understand and serve the community,” she told them. “I look forward to seeing you as you stay involved in your City government. Thank you, again, for your dedication.”

Two current city leaders -- Commissioners Clayton Lopez and Sam Kauffman – were elected after finishing this program. Other alumni have served as commissioners as well as sitting on a variety of other City boards.
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The Key West Ambassadors Academy was established in 2003 by then City Manager Julio Avael. Class 37 is slated to begin in mid-July. Applications will be available the first week in June.

Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission, during a recent commission meeting, proclaimed the week of May 16th through the 22nd as National Emergency Medical Services Week.

The official theme for the 2022 National Emergency Medical Services Week is EMS Strong: Beyond the Call.

“Emergency medical services provide vital lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” reads the proclamation, “dramatically improving the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.”
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The designation is a way of reaching out and thanking all of those first responders who ensure that the community has the best and fastest medical emergency response possible each and every day.

Lower Keys Medical Center plays an integral role in the Lower Keys and Key West thanks to the knowledgeable and compassionate people who work inside. During Hospital Week, May 8 – 14, 2022, we recognize and celebrate our caregivers for the difference they make each day. We are health care and our team members are energized by their work to fight illness and promote wellness for patients and our community.
 
Around the clock every day of the year, the hospital offers a safe environment for care thanks to our physical plant and environmental services staff who work to keep the building clean and comfortable.
 
To help you live healthier, our primary care physicians, imaging and lab workers deliver screening and diagnostics to keep your health on track.
 
When you are ill, our nurses, physicians and other providers work to help you get better with the treatment you need, whether surgery, physical therapy or inpatient care.
 
As your family is growing, our labor and delivery team helps you welcome new members with childbirth services.
 
In a medical emergency, our emergency room physicians, nurses and other team members address your injuries or intervene with timely treatment of heart attack and stroke.
 
In times of pandemic, natural disaster or major accidents, we coordinate with first responders, the health department and other area providers to protect our community and support recovery.
 
Helping people get well and live healthier is our purpose at Lower Keys Medical Center. I am proud to recognize all of our team members who are here for you and look forward to serving you.

​The Florida Keys Council of the Arts announces a grant opportunity, Art Builds Community (ABC), to support arts and culture projects that spark conversations, spur social change, generate cultural equity and make our community stronger. Grant funding is offered at $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 for projects that support, build and broaden access to the arts and specifically address civic challenges and community issues through the arts.  New for this round, some funds will be distributed as start-up resources for outstanding project ideas.
 
Florida Keys artists, arts organizations and civic/community-based organizations are encouraged to form alliances and partnerships to strengthen communities through projects that connect the arts with local issues and opportunities for all people. The ABC grant deadline is May 20th at midnight. The online application and more information are available at www.keysarts.com.  
 
“The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has equal access to the arts and the fundamental right to express their culture through the arts,” said executive director Elizabeth Young. “Many of our resident’s experience vast disparities in terms of access to and participation in arts and culture activities. We believe the arts have the power to change hearts and minds, and inspire social change.”  
 
Art Builds Community is funded in part by The Helmerich Trust, Ocean Sotheby’s, Louis Wolfson III and private donations. To support the Art Builds Community grant program, help build cultural equity and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Florida Keys, please contact: Executive Director Elizabeth Young, director@keysarts.com.  

​On Friday, April 29, the 9th Annual Youth Making Ripples Film Festival revealed this year's winners online.  Kara Norman, of Key West, won the high school division of the 2022 international film festival.   
 
On April 22 (Earth Day), Mote Marine Laboratory hosted the inaugural Key West Youth Making Ripples Film Festival at the Tropic Cinema in front of a sold out crowd. Film festival attendees were able to watch past years' winners; they also were able to view Norman's film entry.  Kara was invited to introduce her film titled 'The Life and Death of Florida's Coral Reef,' where she spoke in front of the audience about her love of the ocean and coral reefs.  Dr. Michael Crosby, Mote's President and CEO, was onsite for the festival. In his opening remarks, he urged the young attendees of the festival to "seek out ways to make an impact locally that will ripple globally."
 
Kara Norman lives in Key West and attends Somerset Island Prep Charter High School. She's an avid scientific diver and is involved with local non-profit, DiveN2Life.  DiveN2Life is an academic extracurricular STEM and scientific research diving program for adolescents and young adults.  Norman is a champion for conservation of the local ecosystem and often speaks at city & county commission meetings on critical issues facing the local waters.  
 
The 2022 Youth Making Ripples Film Festival is available to view online via their website.  Youth Making Ripples Film Competition is a non-profit focused on giving K-12 students the opportunity to use their creative talents and serve as a voice for our oceans.  Films must be less than five minutes and can focus on any interesting marine topic or call to action for ocean conservation.  Mote Marine Laboratory has supported the festival in past years at its Sarasota campus. This was the first year Mote brought the festival to the Florida Keys. Mote plans to bring the festival back to the Keys in future years.