The contractor plans to start the milling & paving operation on Bertha Tuesday 1/3/23. They will start on Bertha Street at South Roosevelt and work their way toward Flagler. From South Roosevelt to Atlantic Ave, Bertha will only have one way traffic southbound between 7 AM to 6 PM from Jan 3 to Jan 9. There will not be any Northbound traffic on Bertha from South Roosevelt to Atlantic Ave between 7 AM to 6 PM Jan 3 through 9.

On Bertha from Atlantic Ave to Flagler there will be a flagging operation alternating one lane traffic thought the work zone in both directions starting Jan 3 to Jan 9 from 7 AM to 6 PM.

Flager Ave from George Street to Second Street will be closed to all traffic from Jan 9 at 8 PM to 6 AM Tuesday 1/10. Detours will be set up, see the attached Flagler Full Closure Map for details.
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The milling & resurfacing on First Street from Flagler Ave to South Roosevelt begins Jan 12 to Feb 10. There will be a flagging operation alternating one lane traffic thought the work zone in both directions 

​The first Cemetery Stroll to be offered at the Historic Key West Cemetery this season will take place on Sunday January 8th, 2023. During the stroll, small groups of visitors will be escorted to gravesites where interpreters will tell the stories of the deceased in brief monologues. The groups are scheduled for departures at 9:30, 9:50, and 10:10 a.m. Reservations are necessary, and can be made by calling or texting 305-304-1453 or by emailing at [email protected].
 
Among the gravesites to be visited are those of the Knight Family, Sloppy Joe Russell, B’Nai Zion Jewish Cemetery, Gladys Bates, Captain Outrageous, the Otto Family, and Figueredo Plot.  
 
The tour will take approximately 90 minutes. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and plan to walk over a mile on uneven ground. Bottled water will be provided.
 
This is an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about some of the fascinating people who have given Key West its colorful and significant character. Space is limited for the tours and pre-registration is required. A donation of $20 (cash or check) per person to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation is recommended, with all proceeds devoted to cemetery restoration.  Participants may enter the cemetery by either the Windsor Street or Frances Street gate and go to the registration table on Palm Avenue.
 
Additional strolls featuring other gravesites will take place on February 12th and March 5th.
 
The cemetery strolls are sponsored by the City of Key West and the Historic Florida Keys Foundation.  

​The consultant for the new city manager position has vetted nine finalists for the position.
The candidates's applications and the finalist summary are listed on the City's website at www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov. Just click on the "City Manager Search" button.

California topped the list with 37 restaurants.By 
Rachel Chang
 Outdoor dining is more than just a treat these days, it's also become a pandemic-era necessity, with OpenTable reporting that the number of restaurants offering alfresco tables has risen 54% since 2019, making the company's newly released 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining for 2022 more important than ever.
After studying 13.6 million verified reviews on the platform, the restaurant reviews and reservation site released its list (in no particular order) with venues in 25 states making the list, all of which have amazing views, delicious food, and an overall fabulous experience for eating outside.

Sunny states had the most restaurants on the list — which was last released in 2019 — with California snagging 37 spots in cities ranging from Palm Springs (with three spots: Copley's on Palm Canyon, FARM, and Spencer's Restaurant) to Sonoma (El Dorado Kitchen), while Florida came in second with 11 in cities like Naples (with two restaurants: Mediterrano and Continental Naples) and Key West (Latitudes). A number of cities made the list for the first time this year, including Austin, Texas; Atlanta; Greensboro, North Carolina; and San Antonio, Texas.

Also among the highlights of OpenTable's top 100 outdoor restaurants were 1906 at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; Barca Wine Bar & Pier in Alexandria, Virginia; Boat House Waterfront Dining in Tiverton, Rhode Island; Coastal Fish Company in Memphis; Duke's Beach House Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii; Girl & the Goat L.A. in Los Angeles; L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, Virginia; Le Diplomate in Washington, D.C.; RH Rooftop Restaurant in New York City; Ruthie's All-Day in Arlington, Virginia; Salty's on the Columbia in Portland, Oregon; Sunset Terrace at Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina; Tavern on the Green in Manhattan; and Zaytinya in D.C. For the complete list, click here. 


"Outdoor dining played a major role in buoying the restaurant industry over the last few years, and restaurants took note — whether adding, expanding or elevating their offerings," OpenTable's chief growth officer said in a statement sent to Travel + Leisure. "Offering outdoor dining is now a key part of restaurants' business, and we're happy to see that diners continue to embrace it."


OpenTable also noted that the cities with the greatest increases in outdoor dining were mostly urban areas, with New York rising 141%, San Francisco 126%, Las Vegas 108%, Boston 92%, Beverly Hills 83%, Brooklyn 89%, Philadelphia 74%, Pittsburgh 77%, and Nashville 70%.


To come up with the rankings, OpenTable looked at reviews between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, considering all restaurants with a minimum overall score that included diner ratings, user klout, total number of reviews, and regional overall rating. They were then scored and sorted by the percentage of reviews in which "outdoor dining" was selected by the diners as a feature.
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Published on July 18, 2022

​Making new year’s resolutions is a common tradition, but 77% of people who make them, break them within just a few weeks. This year, focus on long-term lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on overall health and longevity.
 
“The start of a new year symbolizes a time for change, but adopting new, healthy habits isn’t limited to just one time of year,” says Courtney Bonner, DO, board certified internal medicine physician with Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown. “Even small, incremental changes in lifestyle can make a big difference in overall health.”
 
Dr. Bonner suggests adopting these seven habits for long-term healthy living:
 
●        Eat well: Incorporate nutrient dense whole foods into your diet like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish. Limit processed foods and sugar-sweetened drinks which are linked to obesity and heart disease.
●        Exercise regularly: Only 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise can prevent strokes, heart disease and help manage stress. Exercise can come in many forms like walking, biking, gardening and more. This year, find an activity you enjoy and look forward to that also increases your heart rate.
●        Get better sleep: Low quality sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity, weight gain and can negatively impact brain function. To improve the quality of your sleep, avoid caffeine at night, reducing screen time before bed and keep a consistent sleep schedule.
●        Decrease stress: Stress can cause serious health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. Practice self care with your favorite activities and mindfulness techniques like meditation. But, if stress becomes overwhelming or chronic, consider talking with a mental health professional.
 
●        Cut down on alcohol: After the holidays, the new year is a great time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. Drinking over the recommended limit, one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, is associated with short and long term health risks including impaired judgment, high blood pressure, heart disease and some cancers. To cut back, set a drink limit when out with friends or designate days of the week to completely abstain.
●        Stop smoking: If you smoke, stop. Over 16 million Americans live with chronic diseases caused by smoking like lung disease and cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of premature death and exposes loved ones to second-hand smoke. Increase your life expectancy by as much as 10 years by giving up the habit.
●        Visit your doctor: A study published by The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) found adults with primary care providers are more likely to fill prescriptions and to receive health screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies. Kickoff the year with a visit to your primary care physician for a wellness exam or to catch up on vaccinations.
 
To find a primary care physician or to learn more healthy habits, visit KeysMedicalGroup.com.
 
About Keys Medical Group:
Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice of board-certified physicians and providers in Primary Care, General and Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, and Psychiatry.
 

​The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride takes place Friday, Jan. 6, and Saturday, Jan. 7, in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys. Residents and visitors are encouraged to cheer on and support the warriors while they cycle through the Florida Keys or join them for the community ride on Saturday in Key West.
 
“The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride is an opportunity for those who honorably serve or have served our nation to build confidence and strength from wounds incurred in service,” said Monroe County Veterans Affairs Director Cathy Crane, who is also a coordinator of the event. “We enthusiastically welcome these warriors as they ride through the Florida Keys.”
 
Motorists should take extra time to get to their destination during the ride times. U.S. 1 will remain open for the Soldier Ride, but motorists should be patient, use caution, and note that there may be rolling lane shifts in traffic.
 
Friday, Jan. 6

• 8:30 a.m. The ride will start at Key Largo VFW Post 10211 with a 9:30 a.m. water stop at Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, ending around 10:30 a.m. at Post Card Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada.
• 1:30 p.m. The ride will head south from the Marathon fire station over the Seven Mile Bridge ending at Veterans Memorial Beach on the south end of the bridge around 2:30 p.m.

 
Saturday, Jan. 7

• 10:30 a.m. The ride departs the U.S. Naval Air Station Key West at Boca Chica Key to Bayview Park in Key West.
• Noon: Welcome ceremony at Bayview Park.
• 12:45 p.m. Community Ride from Bayview Park until 2 p.m. ends at Bayview Park. The public is invited to ride with the warriors to historic Key West military sites. Patriotic bike decorations are encouraged. Suggested donation: $20.

 

​The Second Survey in the Mallory Square Visioning Process is live. This is a NEW survey to gather feedback about concepts for the future of the square. If you took the first survey back in September of this year, we hope you will take this one as well and make your voice heard once again!
Go to: Mallorysquare.engage.sasaki.com to take the survey
Please share the survey with your friends, co-workers, and family so everyone has an opportunity to provide input. The Survey will close on January 2 at midnight.
 

​Keeping with tradition, the City of Key West offices will be closed on Christmas Eve, Friday December 23rd  and Monday December 25th as well as Monday, January 2nd.
There will be no bus service on Christmas Day or on New Year’s Day to allow our drivers to be home with their families.
There will be no change in the scheduled pickup of trash and recycling.

Key West Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission proclaimed Dec. 21st National Homeless Persons Memorial Day during the December City Commission meeting.

For the past 24 years, the community has gathered to remember those men, women and children who have died homeless in Monroe County with this proclamation, joining the nation in setting aside the longest night of the year to memorialize those people who have died homeless.

On Friday, December 16th  at 3 p.m., the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition will coordinate a ceremony in honor of those who have died in Monroe County. The ceremony will be held at the Key West Cemetery. According to FKOC Executive Director Jeanette McLernon, the remains of those who died homeless this past year will be interred in the FKOC vault in the cemetery.
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“The spirit of the holiday season of goodwill toward all provides an opportunity for the affirmation and renewal regarding our commitment to end homelessness,” reads the proclamation.

​The community is invited to Bayview Park on Thursday, December 18th at 5 p.m. for the lighting of the menorah.
Rabbi Shimon Dudai from Congregation B’Nai Zion and Rabbi Jacob Zucker from Chabad of the Florida Keys will say the blessings.