The second of two 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays, which provides residents with the opportunity to purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies tax-free, takes place Saturday, Aug. 26 through Friday, Sept. 8.
Eligible items include: • Pet leashes, collars and muzzles costing $20 or less; • Common household items such as paper towel, toilet paper and soap costing $30 or less; • Flashlights, lanterns and pet beds costing $40 or less; • Batteries and weather radios costing $50 or less; • Coolers costing $60 or less; • Smoke Detectors costing $70 or less; • Tarps costing $100 or less; and • Generators costing $3,000 or less. A full list of tax-free items is available at FloridaRevenue.com/DisasterPrep. The Florida Division of Emergency Management encourages residents to stock a disaster supply kit that can last the entire household, including pets, for at least seven days. The Division’s complete disaster supply kit checklist is available for download at FloridaDisaster.org/Kit. Follow the Florida Division of Emergency Management on social media for more preparedness tips.
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August 22, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). On Sunday, September 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., join the staff of the Fort East Martello Museum, located at 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard, to explore one of the island’s Civil War-era forts and its exhibits which encompass our rich and diverse history. Dubbed “Family Museum Day,” the program is designed to coincide with the Society’s wildly popular Community Day, a day offering free museum admission for Monroe County residents the first Sunday of each month.
While on the property, families are invited to take a self-guided tour of the fort and citadel, explore the outdoor sculpture garden, and view artwork created by celebrated Keys folk artist Stanley Papio. In addition to free admission, adults and children are welcome to explore the history of Florida’s indigenous people in the air-conditioned Lee Garrison Classroom by joining Society education specialist, Kassandra Collett, and art educator, Jenni Franke to create art inspired by South Florida’s first people. “Known as the “Shell Indians” due to their large shell mounds and creative use in tool making, the Calusa also carved and painted masks and animal figurines from wood such as the Gumbo Limbo, Cypress, and Buttonwood,” says Collett. “We welcome all families to the museum to study the tools, beads, sherds, and a dugout canoe on display at the museum and then create art inspired by objects found at Calusa sites around South Florida.” The Family Museum Day program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and all supplies will be provided by the Key West Art & Historical Society. For additional information about the program, visit kwahs.org/upcoming-events. You can also contact Collett at 305-295-6616 x504 or kcollett@kwahs.org. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, with additional support provided by The Helmerich Trust. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. “Clear Havanas: Key West’s Cigar Industry” to be next KWAHS Happy Hour with the Historian Event8/22/2023 August 22, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). Raise a toast to Florida Keys art and history with Key West Art & Historical Society Curator and Historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., on Thursday, September 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during her popular “Happy Hour with the Historian” program at Comedy Key West, 218 Whitehead Street. Enjoy a complimentary draft beer, glass of house wine or a soft drink while Convertito presents on the evening’s topic, “Clear Havanas: Key West’s Cigar Industry” which will explore the many facets of the once-burgeoning industry that was the principal economic backbone for the island. The early nineteenth century witnessed the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, a time of dramatic economic change when small cottage industries were replaced with large-scale factory production. On the heels of the Industrial Revolution, Cuba’s cigar making industry blossomed. With Cuba’s cigar economy booming, people sought opportunities outside the country looking to make financial gains. Key West’s neighboring proximity to Cuba and its tobacco plantations, a mere 90 miles away, was the ideal place to establish cigar making factories. Cuban immigrants arrived by the thousands to seek employment in Key West’s expanding cigar industry. “By 1876, Key West’s 29 cigar factories were producing a staggering 62 million cigars annually,” says Convertito. “With a population of more than 18,000 people in 1890, Key West became the largest and wealthiest city in the state of Florida and one of the most influential in the nation. That year, more than 100 million cigars were handmade in Key West. Aside from the warm, humid climate, ideal for maintaining a pliable tobacco leaf, factory owners were able to lure immigrants with affordable housing, a neighborhood environment and gainful employment in the cigar trade.” Despite the financial success of the cigar industry on the island, the inescapable progression to the unionization of workers and opposition from factory owners eventually drove many of the largest cigar makers to Tampa. The industry began manufacturing machine-made cigars that could be sold for a nickel, then the Great Depression hit in the 1930s. The expensive Cuban cigar simply could not compete. The heyday of the island’s cigar making was over, although the legacy and cultural impact of the cigar industry and its workers remains a vibrant part of modern Key West. Happy Hour with the Historian is limited to 70 attendees; reserve your spot now at kwahs.org/hh-cigars - $12 for KWAHS members, $15 for non-members. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, with additional support provided by The Helmerich Trust and Comedy Key West. For more information, contact Cori Convertito, Ph.D. at 305-295-6616 x507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island. KEY WEST, FL – On Monday, U.S. Congressman Carlos Gimenez and his wife Lourdes joined Monroe County Mayor Craig Cates, Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein, Commissioners David Rice, Michelle Lincoln, and Jim Scholl, County Administrator Roman Gastesi, Assistant County Attorney Pedro Mercado, and Airport Director Richard Strickland at the Key West International Airport to see the recently repaired Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). Hurricane Ian severely damaged the EMAS, and Gimenez urged the federal government to approve FEMA emergency Individual Assistance for Monroe County.
"Congressman Gimenez continues to show up for Monroe County residents," said Cates. "His quick action at the federal level helped our locals affected by Ian get much-needed financial help, and the hurricane damage repairs at the airport move along faster." An EMAS is used to slow down an airplane if it cannot stop in time. The EMAS is a unique block system that can stop an aircraft from overrunning the runway at approximately 80 miles per hour. "Thanks to the Congressman's efforts, we were able to get the EMAS fixed and continue operations as usual," said Strickland. August 22, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum has fully reopened following four months of intermittent closures due to restoration work spearheaded by Monroe County Project Management. The popular local historic landmark and tourist attraction, operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society and owned by Monroe County, welcomes visitors every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Located at 938 Whitehead Street, the property allows guests to experience stories about Florida Keys lighthouses and the families that operated the tower while residing on the grounds.
During the closure, the lighthouse tower, which originally opened in 1848, underwent a series of repairs including much needed metalwork, painting, and sealing of the original wrought iron staircase and viewing platform. Safety gates were also installed at the top of the structure to prevent accidental damage to the Third Order Fresnel Lens that was mounted in 1858. Adjacent to the tower, the modest oil storage shed also benefited from repairs and upgrades and will now form part of the museum’s display space. Plans also call for three replica 100-gallon oil butts to be positioned in the oil house, providing visitors with an enhanced understanding of how difficult the lighthouse keeper’s job was to keep the light fueled at night and during powerful storms. “The Key West Art and Historical Society is grateful to the county, TDC and contractors for completing the much-needed restoration of the tower,” says Michael Gieda, Executive Director of the Society. “We’re also excited to expand the museum display area to include the original oil house, allowing us to foster a better understanding of how the tower and property operated over time.” The Society would like to thank the various entities involved in this significant preservation effort including the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County Project Management, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council for providing the funding, Marino Construction, Specialized Property Services, Messery Painting, Check Electric, Kubi Custom Metals, Alex Klahm and Bender & Associates Architects. Information about the Museum’s opening hours, special events, and the exclusive Lighthouse Sunset Experience is found online at www.kwahs.org/lighthouse. The Hellings Curry Museum unveiled their new logo. The beautiful historic building located in the heart of old town Key West was painted by local artist Fran Decker. The museum is currently under renovation as the front porch is being restored and made safe. To make a donation to assist with the preservation of this important historic structure please send a check to The Woman’s Club of Key West, 319 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040. Attention “saving Eleanor through Diane”.
MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Year 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Comprehensive Plan) and Land Development Code (LDC) require that all proposed development and redevelopment taking place within unincorporated Monroe County do not result in a reduction of the implemented level of service requirements. The Comprehensive Plan and LDC have established minimum level of service (LOS) standards for roads, particularly U.S. 1, which is part of the Florida Department of Transportation State Highway System.
The LOS standard is implemented through a review of development proposals ensuring that the transportation facilities needed to serve development will be in place when the development impacts occur. The U.S. 1 Arterial Travel Time and Delay Study (study) is done by the County’s professional traffic engineering consultant who conducts an established systematic traffic monitoring program to monitor traffic volumes and travel speeds of U.S. 1 as well as on each of the 24 study segments on U.S. 1. This review has been conducted annually since 1992 and every two years since 2013. Over the years, there have been timeframes where certain segments of U.S. 1 have experienced a slowing of traffic speeds but normally not for U.S. 1’s overall entire arterial length. In 2019 the draft study indicated that the overall LOS for the entire length of U.S. 1 had fallen from a C to a D grade, but the County’s professional traffic engineering consultant had concerns over portions of the methodology that were outdated and asserted should be updated. As a result, the Monroe County BOCC did not adopt the 2019 draft study and re-engaged the U.S. 1 LOS Task Force to evaluate the County’s professional traffic engineering consultant’s considerations. The task force recommended several updates to the methodology, which the BOCC adopted in February 2021 (Reso. No. 064-2021). The updated methodology was used to complete the 2021 study, which was adopted and incorporated and is used by Monroe County for development review. The 2023 draft study has been completed utilizing the updated methodology and indicates that the overall LOS for the entire length of U.S. Highway 1 has fallen from LOS C to LOS D, and there is no reserve capacity for additional trips. According to the approved policies and regulations in the Comprehensive Plan and LDC, this would mean that the County may not permit new development, other than single-family homes, unless the proposed development’s traffic impact is mitigated. Staff confirmed with the County traffic engineering consultant that the FKAA water main breaks and repairs that occurred during the dates of data collection were accounted for in the study calculations and results. The data is collected during the same timespan each time. With the draft study indicating an overall LOS D on U.S. 1 with a median speed of 44.7 miles-per-hour, an applicant would need to work with the County and FDOT to identify mitigation and improvement projects to achieve and maintain compliance with the implemented LOS, represented by a median speed of 45 mph. The 2023 draft study requires approval by the Monroe County BOCC, after which professional staff will incorporate it into the Biennial Assessment of Public Facilities Capacity Report, which is usually presented for adoption at the October or November BOCC meeting, and would then be used for development review. The Monroe County BOCC will discuss the 2023 draft study at the regularly scheduled Sept. 20, 2023, BOCC meeting. Monroe County Responds to FEMA Regarding National Flood Insurance Program National Violation Tracker8/18/2023 MONROE COUNTY, FL – On Aug. 7, Monroe County received a letter from FEMA regarding its finding for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Assistance Visit (CAV). The visit aimed to determine the effectiveness of Monroe County's floodplain management program as required for participation in the NFIP. Monroe County is currently a Class 3 in the Community Rating System (CRS), which shows the County's dedication to higher standards and reflects a deep discount in flood insurance rates for unincorporated Monroe County NFIP flood insurance policyholders.
Findings from the CAV for the floodplain management program included no identifiable problems with the floodplain ordinance and that the current ordinance meets the minimum standards of the NFIP. Due to the County's high standards, there were no findings that revealed any recent violations of the floodplain regulations, but it did show more than 1,900 structures in unincorporated Monroe County listed on the National Violation Tracker that could have a potential compliance issue. These potential violations are made up of structures rated a foot or more below base flood elevation. FEMA initially raised its concerns with the NVT list when the County brought forward questions about changing rules in the floodplain ordinance, including eliminating the restriction that limits downstairs enclosures to no more than 299 square feet. Per FEMA's request, on Aug. 17, Monroe County submitted a plan of action to research the structures listed on the NVT list and determine if violations exist. "We have begun work to develop a comprehensive action plan with a commitment of resources and proposed schedule to address the outstanding potential floodplain concerns currently listed in FEMA's National Violation Tracker," said Monroe County Building Official and Floodplain Administrator Rick Griffin. "Our preliminary analysis shows the number of properties listed on the NVT can likely be substantially reduced with submission to FEMA of documentation and information showing compliant structures." The structures listed may comply due to being floodproofed (commercial), found in compliance with previously passed inspections, issued a Letter of Map Change, demolished, or located outside Monroe County's jurisdiction. In addition, some of the addresses could be on the list due to erroneous elevation certificates or inaccurate insurance reporting. The County will proceed with an action plan for properties not compliant with the NVT list. A more detailed action plan is expected to be submitted to FEMA by Sept. 30, 2023. Of the 1,913 properties on the list, property owners who think their property may be on the NVT list may see an indicator on their NFIP flood insurance bill if it shows a zero percent discount under the CRS discount. Unincorporated Monroe County NFIP flood insurance policyholders see a 35 percent discount on their policies (see attachment). If you see a zero, contact your insurance agent for more details on why a lesser discount is shown. This is only for unincorporated Monroe County and not for those who live within a city. The County is still developing the next steps, including seeing which properties can be removed from the list that are not in violation. Details for properties that may be in violation will be decided in the future. To learn more about the CRS and how it works, visit https://agents.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/fema-nfip-crs-guide-2023.pdf. KEY WEST, FL - XINSURANCE is excited to announce the return of their annual fall concert, Boats and Boots. This year’s event marks the second straight year the festival has been held and it will be taking place at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West, Florida. Boats and Boots features performances by the most talented and exciting musical acts on the scene today. The concert is an official event of Race World Offshore Championships, November 5-12, 2023, Key West, Florida.
The Boats and Boots concert is happening on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West. The line-up of artists set to perform at Boats and Boots is an incredible blend of genres and sounds from your favorite Key West artists, from the country stylings of Cliff Cody to the Americana-infused music of Sam Carlson, to the dynamic performances of the Key West Kings. The Wolf Love Band brings its unique brand of acoustic music to the event, featuring husband-wife duo Kari and Jack Wolf. “We’re thrilled to bring Boats and Boots back to Key West for another year of great music and unforgettable experiences,” said XINSURANCE CEO & President, Rick J. Lindsey. “With such an amazing line-up of talented musicians, we’re confident that this year’s show will be bigger and better than ever before.” XINSURANCE provides specialty liability insurance solutions for property, commercial auto, professional coverage, and hundreds of other business classes. For more information about Boats and Boots, including ticket information, visit www.fastboatsandboots.com and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Key Largo, FL – General Asphalt will begin resurfacing Card Sound Road from the east end of the Card Sound Bridge to the intersection of C.R. 905. The project consists of milling, paving, striping, shoulder gravel, and improved safety signing. Project construction will occur Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and is expected to be completed in the fall, weather permitting. Some construction activities will take place during daytime hours but will not require a lane closure. During evening construction hours, traffic will be reduced to one-lane, two-way alternating traffic, and the contractor will utilize illuminated nighttime flagging operations to direct traffic through the work zone. In the event of a hurricane evacuation, all lanes will be open, and construction will cease. |
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