The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is accepting letters of interest for one opening on the Cultural Umbrella Committee of the Tourist Development Council. The TDC District 1 (I) appointee must live within the city limits of Key West. 

The committee member serves a three-year term beginning on October 1st.

he sitting committee member for that district may re-apply for the position. The District 1 seat is currently held by Scott Burau who is stepping down and will not re-apply. 

The Cultural Umbrella Committee is composed of five persons representing the 5 TDC districts of the Florida Keys and is administered by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. The committee works with the TDC’s advertising and public relations agencies to promote the Keys as an arts and cultural destination and makes recommendations for the funding of cultural events. 

To be eligible to serve on the Committee of the Cultural Umbrella, a person must: 

1. Currently reside in the Tourist Development Committee District to which appointed for a minimum of two years. (Boundaries described above). 

2. Have demonstrated significant support and advocacy for art and culture or work as an artist (visual, performing, literary, historic). 

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the prime importance of art and culture to the economy and to the quality of life of Monroe County citizens and guests. 

4. Receive no income in an administrative capacity from an entity or individual that was awarded Cultural Umbrella event funding in the past fiscal year or that applies in the current year. 
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Persons wishing to be considered may send a letter of interest and brief resume by January 1, 2026, to Elizabeth Young, Executive Director, Florida Keys Council of the Arts, by email to: [email protected] Please call with questions; 305-295-4369

MONROE COUNTY, FL – In an effort to preserve county roads and prolong pavement life, Monroe County is continuing the pavement preservation program it initiated in spring 2020. On Dec. 2, Pavement Technology, Inc. will begin treating roads in Cudjoe, Summerland, Ramrod, and Little Torch Key that were previously treated in 2020. In addition, roads in Tavernier that were paved in 2020 by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority as part of a sewer project will also be treated. The project should take approximately three weeks to complete, weather permitting. The road preservation treatment needs to be applied roughly every five years to remain effective and extend the pavement's life. The project will not take place on U.S. 1 and will not affect traffic along U.S. 1.
 
During the treatment period, the road will not be accessible to vehicular traffic for approximately 30 minutes. Access for emergency vehicles will remain available, and the contractor will work to minimize inconvenience to residents. To help residents prepare, the contractor will place signs the day before in the neighborhoods scheduled for treatment.
 
The process involves applying a liquid rejuvenator to recently paved roads early in the pavement lifecycle to extend the life and minimize more costly repairs, such as milling and resurfacing. The rejuvenator is sprayed onto the road and allowed to fully penetrate the asphalt before a light coating of manufactured sand is applied to provide short-term friction and act as a blotting agent. The following day, all treated roads are swept with a vacuum sweeper to remove the sand. The product is environmentally safe, washes off vehicles with soap and water, and is applied to prevent any runoff into the ocean.

KEY WEST, Fla. — The numbers are in and the results speak for themselves. The 4th Annual Tats for Ta-Tas fundraiser, hosted by Tattoos & Scars, raised $495,597.68 in support of Womankind, the Florida Keys nonprofit women’s health clinic.

Greene Street turned pink as sponsors, volunteers, performers and donors rallied for accessible care. Raffles, auctions, business sponsorships and individual contributions pushed the event to a record-breaking total.

“This was a true community effort,” said Womankind Executive Director Cali Roberts. “Volunteers, sponsors, vendors, bartenders, DJs and donors all stood up for women’s health, confirming how important it is to so many people here in the Keys.”

What began as a grassroots idea led by Maria Gonzalez of Key Lime Bike Tours and Casey Vinall of Tattoos & Scars has grown into one of Key West’s most impactful fundraisers, strengthening health care access across the Keys.
“To everyone who donated, volunteered, performed, poured, sponsored and showed up — you made this possible,” Gonzalez said. “Key West cares, and it shows.”

Tats for Ta-Tas continues to show what can happen when a community stands together for health.
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Womankind is a nonprofit medical and wellness center providing affordable care for women, men and teens in the Florida Keys. Services include gynecology, family planning, primary care and support for the uninsured and underinsured. Learn more at womankindkeywest.org.

Key West, FL — The Key West Artisan Market continues its 2025–26 season on Sunday, November 30, from 10 am to 2 pm at Indigenous Park at Higgs Beach with the “Rock the Red Ribbon” Edition, featuring the Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial. This week’s market brings the community together to honor lives lost, support those affected, and raise awareness ahead of World AIDS Day, which will be observed the following day, December 1, at the AIDS Memorial located directly across the street.
 
Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial will be onsite offering free red ribbons, sharing the history and significance of the Memorial and accepting donations. Guests are invited to visit the waterfront monument during the event to reflect and pay tribute to those memorialized there.
 
At the Artisan Market, visitors can shop a curated outdoor event showcasing fine crafts and art from talented Florida Keys makers, festive food and libations, local authors signing books, and beautiful ocean views. This edition welcomes new vendor, Fish Tales Seafood Market from Marathon, offering fresh local seafood, prime steaks, sausages, fish dip, homemade pies, and a variety of gourmet specialties—an exciting addition for both locals and visitors preparing for holiday meals and gatherings.
 
The Market continues to grow as one of the island’s premier shopping experiences, featuring handcrafted jewelry, original artwork, home décor, apparel, specialty foods, artisan breads and cheeses, fresh produce, and authentic dishes from the Mediterranean, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, and the Caribbean. Great Events Catering offers a full-service bar with Bloody Marys, mimosas, beer and wine, or enjoy  fresh-brewed coffee, nitrogen infused teas, pressed juices, ice cream or boozy popsicles.
 
Keys Yacht Rock Station 93.7 will broadcast live from the market throughout the day, sharing island tunes, interviews, and community highlights. This week’s musical entertainment features The Shanty Hounds, performing live on-air and adding their signature island sound to the festivities. Guests can also meet local authors signing books, watch artists at work, and explore the newly remodeled Key West Wildlife Center located onsite at Indigenous Park.
 
The Key West Artisan Market blends community spirit with local creativity and entrepreneurship, pairing nonprofit partners with a vibrant open-air shopping experience by the sea. Each edition supports a different charitable organization working to strengthen the island community.
 
Admission and parking are free, and guests are encouraged to BYOB — bring your own shopping bags or purchase a branded bag at the Artisan Market info tent.
 
The Key West Artisan Market takes place select Sundays at Indigenous Park at Higgs Beach, offering a rotating lineup of themes and nonprofit partners throughout the season. Next Market: Sunday, December 14 — Key West Artisan Market: Preserve Paradise Edition featuring the Old Island Restoration Foundation. For updates and upcoming editions, visit https://www.facebook.com/KWArtisanMarket. For vendor information, email [email protected] or apply online at https://bit.ly/KWAMVENDORS.

KEY WEST, FL (NOVEMBER 21, 2025) – Keys Medical Group Psychiatry welcomes Lynda Woods, LCSW. Lynda is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience in counseling. She obtained her Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, New York, NY.  
 
Lynda provides outpatient services, including individual, marital and family counseling and works with patients with mental illness and substance abuse issues. She works closely with community organizations such as referral sources, social services and community providers.
 
Lynda joins Kristie Santana, APRN, PMHNP-BC, and Angela Holbrook, APRN, PMHNP-BC, in Keys Medical Group Psychiatry at 1200 Kennedy Drive, Suite 1041, First Floor, Key West, FL. Appointments may be requested at (305)293-1299 or at KeysMedicalGroup.com.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice offering primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, otolaryngology, psychiatry and pulmonology.

Monroe County, FL — Monroe County and the City of Key West are teaming up with Home Depot in Marathon and Key West this holiday season to help residents responsibly recycle old or broken holiday string lights. Through Jan. 15, holiday lights can be dropped off to bins located at Home Depot stores in Key West and Marathon for recycling.
 
String lights, rope lights, and holiday light strands often contain materials that can be recycled, but they do not belong in curbside recycling carts. The seasonal collection bins at both Home Depot locations offer a convenient way to keep these items out of the landfill and ensure they’re processed properly.
 
Monroe County and the City of Key West remind the community that small actions, like diverting old, broken light strands, collectively make a big difference in reducing unnecessary waste.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County is proposing to expand its existing Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) program in unincorporated Monroe County to allow property owners to initiate and fund neighborhood improvement projects. This new program will broaden the scope of possible improvements beyond those aimed at addressing flooding, based on various requests the county receives from residents.
 
Many neighborhood residents are facing challenges from sea-level rise or sunny-day flooding. The county created several pilot projects to develop planning, design, and construction projects to elevate roads and adjust drainage to address the flooding. After several projects were designed and bid out, the cost of these improvements exceeded the grant funding available to construct them. Between 40 and 90 neighborhoods are expected to need some type of drainage improvement over the next several years. It became evident that using ad valorem tax, also known as property tax, collected countywide to fund these specific neighborhood projects would be cost-prohibitive and also raised a fairness issue, as taxpayers were asked to fund improvements that benefit only those in lower-lying areas.
 
“This program provides neighborhoods an opportunity to request neighborhood improvements, while also placing the responsibility for funding them on the properties benefiting from them,” said Rhonda Haag, Chief Resilience Officer. “The county can partner with residents to make targeted investments that enhance safety, resilience, and quality of life and avoid overall countywide tax increases.”
 
The new MSBU Neighborhood Improvement Plan program would allow property owners to initiate and fund projects such as

• road elevations and drainage improvements
• canal restorations
• beach renourishment and erosion control
• living shorelines
• new sidewalks
• additional lighting
• other infrastructure or services that benefit a specific area

 
The county will continue to implement and fund basic operations, such as regularly scheduled maintenance and repair or repavement of existing roadways and bridges; maintenance of existing drainage structures; roadway striping; right-of-way vegetation trimming; and required street lighting and signage. These basic infrastructure operations are available to neighborhoods, subject to available budgeted funding.
 
Projects must be requested by residents and approved by a majority of the property owners (50 percent plus one) who would benefit from the improvements.
 
The county may advance funds for research, design, permitting, construction management, and related project tasks, with the costs reimbursed to the county through a special assessment on the properties that benefit. This is allowed by state law. The county is also considering a hardship deferral program for eligible property owners who may not be able to afford the assessment. The county may also apply for grants to offset project costs when available.
 
The Board of County Commissioners discussed this new program on Nov. 12 and will hold another discussion item at its Dec. 10 regularly scheduled meeting in Key Largo and via Zoom. A public hearing on the program will occur on Jan. 28, 2026, in Marathon and via Zoom. The Board will be asked to adopt the updated MSBU ordinance and formally expand the program. Once adopted, the county will work with property owners on each project.
 
Residents interested in learning more about the process can review the proposed flowchart, presentation, and draft ordinance at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/msbu. 

Key West, FL — The Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza returns to Truman Waterfront Park on Friday, November 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering a distinctly Key West twist on the busiest shopping day of the year.
 
Presented by the Key West Artisan Market and the Truman Waterfront Farmers Market, the event transforms the waterfront into an open-air holiday marketplace filled with creativity, color, and local flavor.
 
Shoppers can stroll the waterfront, enjoy ocean views, and check off everyone on their holiday list — then treat themselves to something special too. From artisan creations to island-inspired indulgences, every purchase supports the local makers and mom-and-pop entrepreneurs who keep Key West creative and colorful.
 
Visitors will find an impressive array of goods, including Conch Republic–themed merchandise, original art, paintings, candles, apparel, swimwear, woodcraft, jewelry, Turkish towels, bath and body products, handmade cards, 3D printing creations, herbal tinctures, organics, orchids and plants, gourmet cheeses, local produce, honey, and an international selection of freshly prepared food. Every item reflects the originality and craftsmanship of Florida Keys artists, growers, and small businesses.
 
The Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza also gives regular marketgoers an extra opportunity to shop, as the Truman Waterfront Farmers Market will not be held on Thanksgiving Day.
 
Those looking to walk off their turkey with a side of sunshine and local charm will find the perfect destination at Truman Waterfront Park, Friday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
Walk, ride, or drive — there’s ample parking available (four hours free with a residential sticker) and free market bags will be offered while supplies last.
 
Brought to you by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Shop Mom & Pop Key West, the Key West Artisan Market, and the Truman Waterfront Farmers Market

November 21, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Key West, Fla. — The Key West Museum of Art & History is pleased to invite the community to the opening of its newest juried exhibition, “Shadow & Light: Island Contrast,” on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with a free public reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The celebration will take place in the museum’s Bryan Gallery and will feature the work of more than 40 Florida Keys artists, including Karen Beauprie of Key West, John David Hawver of Islamorada, Michael Palmer of Key West, and Kitty Rose of Key West, among many others.

Guests are encouraged to explore the exhibition, meet participating artists, and enjoy beverages available for purchase at the museum bar while taking in one of Key West’s most storied historic spaces. The evening marks the debut of an evocative collection that examines the profound relationship between illumination and darkness in the artistic process.  The exhibition features works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, fabric, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media, each one reflecting the artists’ individual interpretations of how light and shadow influence form, mood, and meaning.

“Shadow & Light” delves into the expressive possibilities of natural light, its ability to shape form, reveal texture, cast shadows, and transform everyday scenes into moments of striking beauty.  The resulting body of work is both visually dynamic and deeply introspective, offering viewers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and rediscover the world through the interplay of contrast.

“We wanted to create a space where artists could respond to the extraordinary quality of light that defines life in the Florida Keys,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Key West Museum of Art & History.  “Light shapes our experiences in ways we often overlook, and this exhibition invites visitors to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty in even the simplest moments.”
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“Shadow & Light: Island Contrast” will remain on view through February 15, 2026, at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front Street, Key West.  For more information, please contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected] or visit the museum’s website at kwahs.org/event/shadow-light.