A 47-year-old Key West man was arrested for robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Late Thursday afternoon, the Key West Police Department received multiple 911 calls around 4:16 p.m. about a man with a firearm inside of the Lime Tree Food Mart located at 1816 Flagler Avenue. Osmel Garcia was known to frequent Lime Tree Food Mart and had been kicked out numerous times by the store employees. On Thursday, Garcia went into the store and brandished a semi-automatic .32 caliber handgun. Video evidence showed Garcia in the store pointing the loaded firearm at customers and employees, and eventually turning the gun on himself. Garcia never fired the gun, but he took a beer from the establishment and drank it while waving the gun in the air during the chaos. As Key West Police Officers and Detectives began arriving on scene, Garcia was seen locking the entrance/exit door of Lime Tree Food Mart while customers and employees hid throughout the store. Key West Police gave multiple commands to Garcia to drop the gun and exit the store. Garcia ultimately tossed the gun outside before exiting the store. Garcia was taken into custody shortly thereafter. No one was injured during the incident. Key West Police Department Detectives took over the investigation and Garcia was arrested on multiple charges and transported to the Monroe County Detention Center.
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This year’s Key West Veterans Day parade will begin at 4 p.m. on November 11, starting at the intersection of Duval and Virginia Streets. Coast Guard Sector Key West, located at NAS Key West Trumbo Annex, is this year’s Parade coordinator.
The mayor will join senior military leaders from the community on the dignitaries’ viewing platform near the corner of Fleming and Duval. The public is invited to cheer along the parade participants and pay tribute to the service members. Over 20 organizations have signed up to march in this year’s parade, according to U.S. Coast Master Chief Petty Officer Matthew Jordan, CG Sector Key West’s Command Master Chief (CMC). “We are amazed at the number of organizations that are willing to participate in this year’s event. This parade is an excellent tradition in Key West because of the support the Lower Keys Community shows our veterans during the parade and throughout the year,” CMC Jordan says. “It is truly an honor to be a part of the coordination this year and we are looking forward to another great event to honor all veterans – past and present.” Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission have proclaimed the month of November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined. The 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is less than 60 percent, yet only fewer than 24 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed at this stage. Screening for lung cancer for high-risk individuals can lead to the earlier detection and save lives. Funding for lung cancer research trials falls far behind funding for research of many other cancers, according to the proclamation, and additional research is needed in early diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Each year more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer and by 2035, more women will die from lung cancer than men. In addition, the proclamation notes, “African Americans have the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality of all races, and disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality are characterized among African Americans and other racial minorities.” Additionally, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in people who never smoked is increasing in the US. Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer deaths, and radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among individuals who never smoked. “Organizations working in Monroe County and Florida, such as the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative and Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, are committed to educating about lung cancer and lung cancer screening and working to increase lung cancer screening rates in Key West.” Monroe County Judge Peary Fowler, President of the Lions Club and Mechelle Burgohy, Senior Human Services Program Specialist with the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County accepted the proclamation. The public is invited to attend a workshop on Thursday, November 10th at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1300 White Street. The purpose of this public meeting is to provide the public and policy makers a second opportunity to discuss the goals of short-term rental regulations. This second workshop is aimed at giving citizens who might not have attended the first workshop a chance to weigh in on this important issue. The goal of the Commission is to address the impacts stemming from short term rental activity in Key West. Specifically, the workshop is intended to explore key issues that municipalities need to manage that are a result of short -term rentals. These include the following:
This week Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission commended outgoing City Commission Gregory Davila for his valuable contributions to the Key West City Commission and for his honorable and dedicated service to the people of Key West.
Davila, who represents District IV, did not run for reelection after serving four years on the dais. Davila said it was a difficult decision, but he has two sons in school that he needs more time with. In fact, he pointed out, as he was accepting the honor, Key West High School was holding its homecoming parade. Elected in 2018, Davila has remained a dedicated commissioner, business owner and family man. “Commissioner Davila has served his community by volunteering and supporting our youth working as a parent-volunteer and coach spending countless hours on our baseball diamonds, football and soccer fields and public parks,” reads the commendation. In addition, he has organized community events through the Mason organizations as well as the Boy Scouts of America, as well as, with his wife Heidi, hosted many community cleanups. The commendation continues, mentioning Commissioner Davila’s accomplishments during his tenure. He “sponsored and co-sponsored over 50 commendations, proclamations, resolutions and City ordinances.” He sponsored efforts including “Expressing support for the citizens of Cuba,” “Accepting the Key West Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan,” and “Establishing a free bus pass program for City bus routes for Senior Citizens and Disabled Veterans who reside in the City of Key West. Davila was given a hearty standing ovation as he accepted the commendation Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission on Tuesday issued a proclamation recognizing Friday, November 11th as Veteran’s Day.
On that day, ready the proclamation, “the citizens of the City of Key West will join together again this year to pay tribute day to the dedicated veterans who have served this great nation with such distinction, both in peace time and in war. “Our community has a continuing sense of gratitude to those who have given so much in the defense of the freedoms which we all continue to enjoy.” A ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial at Bayview Park and a Veteran’s Day Parade will honor the dedicated men and women. “We pledge our continued defense of our nation so that their sacrifice will stand before the entire world as a tribute to the spirit and determination of a people dedicated to the principles of freedom and democracy.” A search warrant led to the arrest of an alleged drug trafficker and the removal of a large amount of drugs from the streets. On October 28th, the Key West Police Department Special Investigations Unit arrested Thomas Scancarelli, 60, on multiple narcotics related charges, including trafficking in cocaine. A search warrant executed at Scancarelli’s residence led to detectives finding over 51 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of MDMA (Molly), 44 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, 27 grams of marijuana and over $6,000 in cash. Scancarelli remains incarcerated at the Monroe County Jail on $260,000 bond. The City of Key West is poised to move forward on the revitalization of the Duval Street corridor after the City Commission on Tuesday approved the proposal from the Stanec firm. City Manager Patti McLauchlin chose the top three proposals to present to the commission. Each firm presented their proposals and answered detailed questions. Mayor Teri Johnston commended all of the firms – Jacobs, WGI and Stanec – on their vision for revitalizing the island’s main street. “We’re very excited to move forward with Stanec,” said McLauchlin. “This is an overdue project, and it’s a complex one. Together I think the City can strive to attain a revitalized Duval Street that reflects the diversity of the corridor.” Communication with the community and the stakeholders is vital, she said, a point made clear by the Stanec representatives. The group will be reaching out in a variety of ways to understand the needs of the residents, the businesses, and the visitors whose opinions are vital to making a project like this successful. The last time downtown was truly revitalized was in the mid-1970s. Stanec’s Duval Street Economic Corridor Resiliency and Revitalization Plan takes into account the unique nature of the street from block to block. They will be taking into account the history, the economy, the reputation, and resiliency against sea level rise. The community is invited to join Mayor Teri Johnston, the City Commission, and City Manager Patti McLauchlin for a ribbon cutting ceremony to honor our One Human Family portico at Bayview Park. The ceremony is at 5:30 on Monday, November 7th at the west end of Bayview Park. The creator of the motto, JT Thompson will also be in attendance. In advance of the ribbon cutting, Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover and the family of Ainsley Nicole Tibbett invite the community to the dedication of the first suicide awareness bench in the City of Key West. This dedication will also be held at Bayview Park. Twenty two years ago, the Key West City Commission unanimously adopted “One Human Family” as our City’s official philosophy of unity, equality and diversity. The resolution read that “all people are our equals,” and urged "growing beyond the artificial limitations of racism, nationalism, sexism, classism, monotheism, prejudice, homophobia and every other illusion used to separate us from all being equal.” Our inclusive philosophy has spread around the world, thanks to JT Thompson, on over 4.7 million stickers and nearly 100,000 wristbands… always free. In 2020, the City Commission voted to officially name the Portico and Bandstand in Bayview Park with the motto. A sign was installed on the Bandstand, making it the “One Human Family Pavilion,” and now the Portico, too, sports the “One Human Family” name. Special thanks to City Commissioner Sam Kaufman for envisioning this as a symbol of unity for Key West. The bandstand was erected in 1990 by then-City Commissioner Sally Lewis, working with State Representative Ron Saunders and the Cultural Affairs Committee. It was never given a formal name until now. The small portico was built in 1924 by a chapter of the Stephen Mallory Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Confederate soldiers. The One Human Family Pavilion & Portico are adjacent to Bayview Park’s revered Military Memorials that include a large statue dedicated to Black Soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites prospective students to learn more about the various academic and career training opportunities available at CFK through a Future Students Virtual Event on Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Topics to be covered at the Future Student Virtual Event:
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