KEY WEST, FL, October 13, 2023—The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites prospective students to learn about its Apprenticeships in Construction Technologies at a virtual information session on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m. CFK is offering Plumbing and HVAC programs in Key West and the Upper Keys this upcoming spring semester, which begins January 5. The deadline to apply is November 1.
The virtual information session will help prospective students learn about the trade professions, career outlooks, and CFK’s tuition-free “earn while you learn” programs. Attendees will receive a code to waive the $30 application fee. Registration for the event is required. Visit the College’s website at CFK.edu/apprenticeships to learn more and to register. To schedule a personal information session, contact Marissa Owens, CFK Director of Recruitment, at recruiter@cfk.edu or call 305-809-3207. About CFK’s Apprenticeships in Construction Technologies: CFK’s Apprenticeships in Construction Technologies offer opportunities to help individuals train and advance in high-wage, high-demand construction careers throughout the Florida Keys. In collaboration with local construction businesses, CFK’s apprenticeship programs provide education and training in all aspects of the respective trades—from conceptual to practical skills. Through its “learn while you earn” model, students are employed (and paid) full-time with a sponsoring employer that is partnered with CFK. They attend classes, which are tuition-free, while developing their skills through on-the-job training with their sponsor. As apprentice students advance through the program, their progress is rewarded with periodic wage increases. Upon successful program completion, an apprentice will be considered a “journey worker” and will receive a four-level certification by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) as well as a nationally recognized Completion of Apprenticeship certificate by the State of Florida.
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MONROE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE’S JAKE WERNER TO HONOR THE LATE HERVE THOMAS IN THE BROTHERHOOD RIDE10/12/2023 MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue Firefighter Jake Werner will honor Monroe County Fire Rescue’s fallen brother, Herve Thomas, in the 2023 Brotherhood Ride on Oct. 27, 2023. The Brotherhood Ride consists of firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel who ride bicycles to honor emergency first responders who have died in the line of duty. Thomas passed away while on duty in May 2021. The organization’s mission is to provide emotional and financial support to the families of fallen heroes. The 2023 ride is dedicated to Florida’s 27 fallen heroes who died in the line of duty in 2022. Werner and others on the team will pedal nine days from Naples to Miami, covering 600 miles, averaging 70-90 miles daily. Werner also rode in the 2022 ride in honor of Thomas.
“Firefighter Werner continues to represent Monroe County Fire Rescue in this ride to remember our fallen heroes across the state and our fallen brother Herve Thomas,” said Monroe County Deputy Fire Chief RL Colina. “We thank Jake for his willingness to participate and represent the Florida Keys in this annual event.” Werner, of Key Largo, knew Thomas and worked with him for more than 10 years and wanted to do this to honor his memory. He has been riding his bike daily, averaging 20-25 miles daily to prepare. To learn more about the Brotherhood Ride, a nonprofit organization, or to contribute to Werner’s fundraising efforts, visit www.brotherhoodride.co When you think of Sloppy Joe’s, the Duval Street landmark known around the world, it may bring to mind fun, live music and street-packed events. Now the owners of Sloppy Joe’s are making history in 2023 as philanthropists, with the establishment of the Sloppy Joe’s Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.
The organization’s commitment to giving back to the residents of Key West and the Florida Keys will include grantmaking to benefit local youth, individuals and families, civic organizations, art, cultural and environmental preservation. “Since 1937, the Sloppy Joe’s legacy has been a cornerstone built on tradition and giving back by supporting our island community, said Jeffrey E. Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Sloppy Joe's Enterprises. “When creating a formal giving program, it made sense to partner with the Community Foundation so we can leverage the Foundation’s 27 years of established processes, knowledge of local nonprofit needs, and connections within the community.” Community Foundation board chair Will Langley said that the Sloppy Joe’s Foundation Fund will empower Sloppy Joe’s to take a more strategic and impactful approach to its philanthropy. “By consolidating its giving and having the Foundation’s help in identifying and addressing pressing needs, Sloppy Joe’s will have a lasting and substantial impact on the Key West community,” he said. Corporate advised funds offer greater flexibility, scalability, and potential for long-term sustainability compared to making individual gifts directly to charities. “Visitors are drawn to destinations that emphasize community involvement and sustainability. A well-publicized partnership can set a business apart, attracting tourists who want to support local businesses that contribute to the well-being of the community they are visiting,” added Jodi Weinhofer, Community Foundation board member and president of The Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West. Sloppy Joe’s and the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys have already partnered for decades on the Hemingway Look-Alike Society Fund. The 42nd Annual Look-Alike contest held at Sloppy Joe’s in July was a record-breaker, and to date more than $400,000 has been awarded for scholarships for Key West High School graduating seniors and College of the Florida Keys students. Over the coming season, Sloppy Joe’s will be rolling out giving opportunities for its patrons from around the world and launching special perks to recognize Sloppy Joe’s Foundation donors. To make a charitable contribution to the fund, visit cffk.org/sloppyjoes. Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, has granted over $32 million to benefit every resident from Key Largo to Key West, supporting arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, disaster relief, scholarships, and youth programs. The Community Foundation helps individuals and families leave a legacy in the Keys by inspiring giving and by connecting people, resources and needs through philanthropy, The Foundation is well-known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event which honors nonprofit volunteers. For more information, call 305-292-1502 or visit cffk.org. KEY WEST, FL, October 4, 2023—The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the community to attend its CFK Poetics event on October 12 at 6 p.m. at the Tennessee Willliams Theatre on the Key West Campus. The annual visiting poets activity will feature a live reading from acclaimed poet James Davis May. He will read some of his works and take questions from the audience. The event is free for all attendees.
The featured poet, May, is the author of two poetry collections, both published by Louisiana State University Press. Unquiet Things was released in 2016 and Unusually Grand Ideas was released in 2023. His poems and essays have appeared in 32 Poems, The Georgia Review, Literary Hub, New England Review, The Southern Review, The Sun, and other journals. May has received fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Originally from Pittsburgh, he now lives in Macon, Georgia, where he directs the creative writing program at Mercer University. CFK Poetics is a series that aims to develop awareness of and immersion in the humanities landscape by connecting students and the community with poetry on the national level in a way that is immediate to their own experiences. Since 2019, visiting poets have come to CFK or appeared virtually to share their work and have conversations with the student body as well as the community at large. Formerly featured poets include B.H. Fairchild, Chelsea Rathburn, Richard Blanco, and Ross Gay. Key West, FL - SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 - Over the past few years, some people postponed or missed routine health screenings or appointments. Simple screenings can detect conditions like hypertension and pre-diabetes which can be effectively treated and managed when identified early. On October 18, 2023, health screenings will be offered at Lower Keys Medical Center, from 1 - 3 pm, at no cost to all participants. The event, "It's Scary To Not Know Your Numbers", will offer blood glucose testing and blood pressure screenings by Lower Keys Medical Center. The Florida Department of Health will offer HIV testing, immunizations, STD testing, and bicycle helmet fittings. No registration is required. KEY WEST, Florida Keys – The native plant Nursery at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden will be holding its monthly native plant sale from 9am to noon Saturday, October 21, 2023. Master Gardeners will be on site to answer any plant questions and plants that are available for sale are listed on the Garden’s website.
The Nursery contains 160 species of native plants available including Native & Cuban palms, Tomato and Pepper plants. The total nursery inventory totals more than 2,000 plants which attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators in 1-gallon to 15-gallon pots. Key West Botanical Garden members receive a 15% discount. The Garden is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation and all proceeds directly benefit the Garden’s conservation program. The Garden is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island. For more information call 305-296-1504 or visit www.keywest.garden. Florida fiddlewood # # On Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, the 75th anniversary of back-to-back historic moments in United States presidential history are to be celebrated at Florida’s Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, and at the Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum in Key West: Nov. 3, the day that the Chicago Daily Tribune released its famously erroneous 1948 “Dewey Defeats Truman” banner headline, and Nov. 4, the day that photographers immortalized the moment that a victorious Harry S. Truman stood on the rear platform of the “Ferdinand Magellan” railcar in St. Louis, MO, and laughingly held the newspaper aloft.
On Nov. 3, the public is invited to participate in a re-enactment of the dramatic 1948 “Ferdinand Magellan” railcar scene with Harry S. Truman’s grandson, actor Clifton Truman Daniel of “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” fame representing the 33rd president. Held at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 12450 SW 152nd St., Miami, FL, where the historic railcar is housed and on display, the ticketed event is from 6:00-7:30pm, with doors opening at 6:00pm, and includes a presentation by Truman expert and award winning author Dr. Robert Watson. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Nov 4, from noon-2:00pm, the public is invited to a free event on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., Key West, where light refreshments and desserts will be served, photo op’s with the “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” “Ferdinand Magellan” set prop can be enjoyed, and artifacts from the iconic railcar in the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation collection can be viewed. In Harry S. Truman tradition and spirit, guests at both events are encouraged to wear the 33rd president’s preferred Key West attire of Hawaiian shirts. The 75th anniversary “Dewey Defeats Truman” celebration is presented by the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, The Society of Presidential Descendants, and the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, and sponsored by Historic Tours of America and the National Fire Sprinkler Association. For tickets and information, visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events. October 3, 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, October 19, 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, “Collecting Key West: The Sketches of Mario Sanchez” which will explore the techniques, places, and recurring characters that feature in the Cuban American artist’s famed works.
Much like sculptors employ maquettes, Mario Sanchez used his brown paper bag sketches to visualize and experiment with shapes and concepts without undertaking the effort of producing elaborate woodcarvings. Both his sketches and woodcarvings tell the story of Old Key West, melding art and history in a single scene. His abilities led to Sanchez being presented with the Florida Folk Heritage Award conferred by the Florida Secretary of State and the Florida Folklife Council in 1985. Today, he is still considered one of the nation’s greatest folk artists. “Key West is fortunate to have Mario Sanchez as a prominent figure in its rich artistic heritage,” says Dr. Convertito. “His sketches and woodcarvings are emblematic of our community, making him a local treasure. The sketches and woodcarvings appeal to a broad spectrum of people – locals, visitors, adults, and children –his storytelling is timeless.” Sanchez was a self-taught artist born in 1908 in Key West’s Gatoville neighborhood. Beginning with modest carvings of local fish in the 1930s, he cultivated his natural talent to create upwards of 600 intricate woodcarvings during his lifetime. His work is renowned for capturing familiar local characters amid the simple life and activities he recalled from his childhood—flying kites, spinning tops, parades, and passing the time rocking on front porches. The scenes reveal a valuable and colorful doorway into the cultural history of the island and its people. Happy Hour with the Historian is limited to 70 attendees; reserve your spot now at kwahs.org/hh-sanchez - $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. October 3, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL). The Key West Art & Historical Society is offering a three-day fall ArtCamp! at Fort East Martello Museum, 3501 S. Roosevelt Boulevard that takes inspiration from vintage traveling in the Florida Keys. Taking place from November 20-22, ArtCamp! will provide a full-day in-person camp for children aged 5 to 10. Registered campers will immerse themselves in museum exhibits, enjoy the recently upgraded adjacent parade grounds, engage in fun and creative art projects, and participate in hands-on STEAM activities.
The Society’s ArtCamp! program, which takes place during the students' Thanksgiving break, will spotlight the various ways that residents and visitors have traveled to the Florida Keys since the nineteenth century. Prior to the completion of the Overseas Highway, tourists went to great lengths to vacation in the island chain. Spending days on a train, flying in airplanes that landed on the water, and catching car ferries were just some of the obstacles that travelers experienced. During the three-day camp, students will discover more about these modes of transportation through hands-on learning, outdoor field games, and daily arts and crafts projects. “Traveling to Key West was complex and sluggish before the 1930s,” says Kassandra Collett, education specialist for the Society. “The Overseas Highway did not fully connect the Florida Keys until 1938, so people were forced to catch a car ferry in order to complete a road trip, or they traveled by plane, boat or train. This camp will not only allow us to share this history through various field games, but also by examining objects related to Florida Key’s tourism industry.” Registration for ArtCamp! is currently open. Camp runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day between November 20 and November 22. The cost is $120 for Society members and $150 for non-members and includes all supplies needed for hands-on projects. Supplies for each camp are provided by the organization. Space is limited, early registration is encouraged. For additional information about ArtCamp!, visit www.kwahs.org/childrens-programs, or contact Kassandra Collett on 305-295-6616 x504, kcollett@kwahs.org. ArtCamp! 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. KEY WEST, FL (October 2nd, 2023) — Rams Head Presents is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, Mac McAnally will be adding a third night to his Key West Theater performances on January 25th.
To ensure that local fans have a fair chance at experiencing this intimate performance, tickets will be sold exclusively at the Key West Theater Box Office on Friday, October 6th. This means that tickets will only be available for purchase in person, on a first come, first serve basis on that date. Any additional tickets will then be available online. The recently announced shows at the Key West Theater sold out in a remarkable 23 minutes. In an attempt to meet the demands of his dedicated fan base here on the island, both Mac and the Key West Theater felt this was an important way to show appreciation for those locally who either stood at the box office unsuccessfully or were unable to secure tickets online. Purchase Info: Tickets will go on-sale Friday, October 6th at 12PM in-person at 512 Eaton Street Four (4) ticket limit per customer. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees. |
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