​KEY LARGO, FL – The Tubby’s Creek and Mosquito Creek bridge replacement project consists of the replacement of two three-span concrete slab bridges located on Highway 905A (Card Sound Road) in Monroe County. For the preliminary design phase, there will be intermittent lane closures with flaggers to direct and assist motorists around the work zone on Tuesday, Jan. 8 through Jan. 10, starting at 9 a.m. each day to conduct an additional survey of the existing bridges and a geotechnical soil boring investigation. 
 
Work will only happen during daylight hours. Access for emergency vehicles will remain available, and the contractor will work to minimize inconvenience to motorists.

​KEY LARGO, FL – The Tubby’s Creek and Mosquito Creek bridge replacement project consists of the replacement of two three-span concrete slab bridges located on Highway 905A (Card Sound Road) in Monroe County. For the preliminary design phase, there will be intermittent lane closures with flaggers to direct and assist motorists around the work zone on Tuesday, Jan. 2 through Jan. 4, starting at 9 a.m. each day to conduct an additional survey of the existing bridges and a geotechnical soil boring investigation. 
 
Work will only happen during daylight hours. Access for emergency vehicles will remain available, and the contractor will work to minimize inconvenience to motorists. 

December 21, 2023 – (KEY WEST, FL).  On Sunday, January 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., join the staff of the Key West Museum of Art & History, located at 281 Front Street, to discover the drive and determination of Henry Flagler to bring a railroad all the way to Key West in the early twentieth century.  Dubbed “Family Museum Day,” the program is designed to coincide with the Society’s wildly popular Community Day, a day offering free museum admission for Monroe County residents the first Sunday of each month.

While on the property, families are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of the permanent exhibition “Overseas to the Keys: Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway”.  In addition to free admission, adults and children are welcome to create and take home a postcard of Flagler’s train traveling across an overwater bridge.  The free art project will be led by the Society’s Education Specialist Kassandra Collett and Art Educator Jenni Franke.
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“When Flagler’s Overseas Railway Extension connected Key West to Florida’s mainland for the first time in 1912, the island’s residents were overjoyed with the possibilities for travel the shipment of merchandise,” says Collett.  “Flagler’s trains whisked guests from northern urban areas to Key West in just over a day.  Passengers traveling in the train cars felt as though they were flying over water as they crossed the bridges in the Florida Keys.  It was certainly a surreal experience that was not found anywhere else.”

The monthly Family Museum Day program is free and open to the public.  Registration is not required, and all supplies will be provided by the Key West Art & Historical Society.  For additional information about the program, visit kwahs.org/upcoming-events.  You can also contact Collett at 305-295-6616 x504 or [email protected].  This project 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 – December 21, 2023 - Lower Keys Medical Center administration hosted an awards ceremony to announce the winner of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which recognizes nursing professionals for excellence in clinical care and for exceptional compassion. Erica Paulus, RN, nursing supervisor, was nominated by a family who experienced her emotional support, encouragement, empathy and compassion.
 
"We are very proud of Erica's clinical expertise and sensitivity and her ability to make meaningful connections with our patients and their families," said David Clay, CEO, Lower Keys Medical Center. Michael Hales, Chief Nursing Officer, and David Clay presented Erica with a hand-carved Healer's Touch Sculpture, a DAISY certificate and a signature bouquet of daisies.
 
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 from complications of an auto-immune disease. His family was inspired to create the Foundation to honor nurses who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families. 
 
Photo: left to right: Michael Hales, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer; Erica Paulus, RN; David Clay, CEO. 

​​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Fire Marshal’s Office wants everyone to have a fun and, most importantly, safe New Years. Please leave fireworks displays to the professionals.
 
“Discharge of fireworks can lead to loss of life and property,” said Monroe County Fire Marshal Craig Marston. “Fireworks can burn as hot as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, including sparklers, which can cause real damage when not handled properly.”
 
All professional fireworks in unincorporated Monroe County must be permitted through the Monroe County Fire Marshal’s Office. The Fire Marshal’s Office approved the following fireworks displays in unincorporated Monroe County (all times are approximate):

• Dec. 31 – Ocean Reef Club at 8:30 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
• Jan. 1 - Bungalows Key Largo Resort at midnight
• Jan. 1 – Bakers Cay Resort at midnight
• Jan. 1 – Hawks Cay Resort at midnight

 
There are additional displays in some municipalities.
 
**If you live near fireworks shows, you may want to soothe your pets and keep them indoors.
For more information on fireworks permitting, please visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/fireworks. Monroe County also lists other permitted fireworks displays on this page for reference, including for special events like weddings. 

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue graduated its sixth “Hot Shots” class on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Class 23-01 includes 22 qualified men and women on their way to becoming career or volunteer firefighters. The graduates successfully completed 456 hours of intensive classroom and rigorous practical training over the past 3.5 months.
 
Eighteen of the students are residents of Monroe County. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners continues to support the program that waives the $2,200 tuition fee for qualified Monroe County residents in exchange for a commitment to volunteer or work as a career firefighter anywhere in the Florida Keys for three years.
 
“We are excited to see these students graduate from our Monroe County Fire Academy Hot Shots Program and look forward to them serving in the Florida Keys community in the future,” said Deputy Fire Chief RL Colina.
 
The graduates completed the 17 performance objectives of the firefighter program and are prepared to take the State of Florida Firefighter II examination. To be hired at Monroe County Fire Rescue, a candidate must also complete EMT training.
 
Graduates include Jesus Acosta, Nathan Acosta, Brent Bishop, Dylan Boyd, Connor Burden, Jonathan Diaz, Isaac Duran, Neovaldys Duran, Mikaelle Fundora, Gavin Gonzalez, Fernando Kreitz, Mackenzie Laak, Yosvany Lorenzo, Cole McDaniel, Demetrius Miller, Paul Packert, Victor Pugliese, Ryan Ramos, Chad Rodriguez, Josiah Sisco, Richard Traybsza and Michael Venezia.
 
There are no new classes scheduled at this time at the training academy. More information about the “Hot Shots” program can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/hotshots or email [email protected].

KEY WEST, FL, December 14, 2023— The College of the Florida Keys held its sixty-seventh Commencement Exercises for the fall class of 2023 on Tuesday, December 12 in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Forty-four graduates donned blue and orange graduation attire to receive their diplomas. The College expects to award a combined total of approximately 72 credentials, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and college credit certificates, to fall graduates.  

Sara Squire, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, opened the ceremony with the Student Address that encouraged her fellow graduates to say “yes” to opportunities. Retired radio news journalist Bill Becker delivered the Keynote Address to the class, sharing advice and life perspective in his speech. The full ceremony can be viewed on the College’s Facebook page at facebook.com/TheCollegeoftheFloridaKeys. 

Following Commencement, the College held a nursing ceremony for students who completed their Associate of Science in Nursing this fall semester. Upon passing the national NCLEX-RN licensure exam, each will become a registered nurse.  

CFK’s spring semester begins January 5. The College will be closed for the holidays December 16 through January 1. Information about academic programs, steps to become a student, and ways to pay for college can be viewed on the College’s website at CFK.edu/FutureStudents. ​

​The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride takes place Friday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 6, 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 guided 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 and hope our residents and visitors will cheer them on while they ride through our communities.”
 
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. 5

• 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. 6

• 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.