 Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission have proclaimed November 26th as Small Business Saturday to celebrate local small businesses and the contributions them make to the local economy and community.
Small Business Saturday is recognized across the country to encourage citizens to support small local shops and restaurants. “The City of Key West supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our local economy, and preserve our communities,” reads the proclamation. Kevin Theriault, Executive Director Key West Business Guild, and Mark Gambuzza of Shop Mom & Pop accepted the proclamation. Gambuzza said that the small business owners appreciate the City’s efforts to revitalize downtown. He appealed to the commission to take the effort a step further and find ways to work with the Tourist Development Council to promote small businesses as well as festivals. “I appeal to the business owners to invest in our employees,” he said. “And I appeal to our locals to get around the island, not just downtown and support small businesses. “These are the people who donate to your kids’ school and step up to the plate when someone needs to get fed. It takes everyone in this village to make this work. We appreciate all the efforts you guys are making.”
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 MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approved the County’s state legislative priorities for the 2023 session at today’s regularly scheduled meeting. Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson presented and explained Monroe County’s priorities for the upcoming session from March 7 through May 5, 2023. Highlights of the agenda include:
“Monroe County has seen many successes in the past due to the committed leadership at the state level that has protected our unique and fragile ecosystem and those living and visiting the Florida Keys,” Tennyson said. “We are optimistic we will continue to see success in the 2023 session.” More information about Monroe County’s legislative priorities can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/legislativeaffairs. THE FRIENDS OF THE KEY WEST LIBRARY DONATE $58,000 AND CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN THE KEY WEST COMMUNITY11/21/2022
The Friends of the Key West Library donated $58,000 to the Monroe County Public Library System Key West branch at Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. The mission of the Friends group is to support, improve, and promote the Key West branch through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy for the library.
Of the donation, $50,000 will help fund print and digital library collections, fees for performers and speakers, program supplies and refreshments, and staff participation in library training. The $8,000 was raised at the Speaker Series Gala with Sam Sifton and will be used to install professional lighting and a new sound system in the Palm Garden for outdoor performances and concerts. The Friends hold monthly book sales, volunteer at library programs, and organize and sponsor the popular Speaker Series, which attracts best-selling authors like Meg Cabot, Charlaine Harris, Tom Perrotta, Carl Hiaasen, and Judy Blume, to name a few. “We are truly humbled and grateful for the dedication of these community volunteers,” said Monroe County Director of Libraries Kimberly Matthews. “We thank the Friends of the Key West Library for their generous donation and for all they do for the library.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Friends of the Key West Library.
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the Friends will host an anniversary celebration from 4-6 p.m. at Key West library, 700 Fleming Street. The public is welcome to view new technology and learn more about the group and its 50 years of supporting the library. —30--
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners presented a 10 Years of Service pin to Lower Keys Roads and Bridges Heavy Equipment Operator Donald Baty at Tuesday’s meeting. Baty began working for the county in November 2012 as a Maintenance Worker II. Less than a year later, in July 2013, he was promoted to Heavy Equipment Operator.
“Donald is a reliable, hardworking member of the Lower Keys Road crew, and his personnel file contains numerous letters of thanks and commendations from residents he has assisted throughout the years,” said Judy Clarke, Director of Engineering. “One such letter referred to him as an artist for his equipment skills while repairing Hurricane Irma-damaged roads in Little Torch Key.” As part of the road crew, Baty addresses road problems in all types of weather, after hours, and on weekends, when necessary. “We are grateful for his dedication to Monroe County,” Clarke said. At Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board chose Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates to serve as Monroe County Mayor and Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the next year. Mayor Cates has been a commissioner since 2019, and Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein since 2021.
Mayor Cates and Mayor Pro Tem Merrill Raschein recognized outgoing Mayor David Rice for his mayoral duties for the past year. The mayor title is given to the chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners choose the designee based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting. A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over the Board of County Commissioners meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and cosigning documents with the County Clerk. In addition to the ceremonial passing of the gavel, four of the five commissioners, Michelle Lincoln, Holly Merrill Raschein, David Rice, and Jim Scholl, were re-elected to their seats and were sworn in by the Clerk of the Court Kevin Madok.
Last week Key West City Manager Patti McLauchlin was proud to attend the dedication of the first new Adopt-A-Spot sign. The spot was adopted by the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk.
McLauchlin presented Commander Andrew L. Pate, Commanding Officer of the Mohawk and all of the crew members with Extra Mile Challenge Coins in appreciation of their effort. The dedication was followed by a cleanup of the spot by 44 members of the Coast Guard and their families.
Saturday, December 3, from 11am to 2pm, bring your critters to Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon, 409 Caroline Street in Key West for pet pictures with The Grinch. For a $20 cash donation you’ll get a professional high-resolution digital photo of your favorite four-legged friend with the world famous furry green grump, photographed by ArJay Hasty. Organized by Bone Island Dog Spa and Niall Geoghegan, hosted by Hank’s and co-hosted by the fabulous Q-Mitch, all proceeds benefit River’s Wish, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit senior dog sanctuary founded by Key West’s beloved pet and people advocate, "Farmer" Jeanne Selander. Leashed pets can immerse in a multitude of aromas while their people bid on silent auction prizes, sip cocktails and mocktails from Hanks full bar and enjoy lunch selections from Garbo’s Food Truck. Hank’s proprietor, Linda Turek, has generously promised to match all funds raised. For more information on River’s Wish, Inc., visit www.riverswishinc.org. For more information on pet pictures with The Grinch contact Kate McDonnell at [email protected].
MONROE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE’S JAKE WERNER TO HONOR THE LATE HERVE THOMAS IN THE BROTHERHOOD RIDE11/8/2022 Monroe County Fire Rescue Firefighter Jake Werner will honor Monroe County Fire Rescue’s fallen brother Herve Thomas in the 2022 Brotherhood Ride on Jan. 21, 2023 (the event was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian). 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 mission of the organization is to provide emotional and financial support to the families of fallen heroes. The 2022 ride is dedicated to Florida’s 85 fallen heroes who died in the line of duty in 2021. Werner and others on the team will pedal for eight days from Fort Myers to Jacksonville, covering 550 miles averaging 70-100 miles daily.
“We are proud of Firefighter Werner’s efforts to honor our fallen brother Herve Thomas,” said Monroe County Fire Chief Steve Hudson. “We wish him a safe and successful ride.” 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 per day to prep for January. To learn more about the Brotherhood Ride, a nonprofit organization, or to contribute to Werner’s fundraising efforts, visit www.brotherhoodride.com.  Michaela Manning, Senior Coordinator of Permitting in the Building Department, is named Monroe County’s Employee of the Third Quarter for 2022 for her exemplary attitude, recognized in the community and by her co-workers. She started with the County in March 2017. Her primary duties include ensuring her team in the Marathon office is well-trained in their positions. With the implementation of the new all-online permitting system, she embraced the challenge of working to assist all employees through the testing of the new program.
“Michaela has been, and continues to be, a key employee in our progress with our new electronic permitting software,” said Permitting Administrative Director Ed Koconis. The system went live in October, and she helped ensure the program worked properly. “We continue to laud her work and look forward to her continuing professionalism, not only with electronic permitting but with everything she does.”  FEMA will be setting up a Mobile Registration Intake Center in Key West at the Nelson English Park, 1127 Thomas Street. The center will be open on Monday, November 7th through Thursday, November 10th, open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. This second round will allow anyone with FEMA claims from Hurricane Ian to get help from FEMA. You can register or find out the status of your application, or just get general information on FEMA disaster assistance. |
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