BIG PINE KEY – Monroe County has received inquiries regarding proposed activity at the former Big Pine Key Prison site. Monroe County’s role in this matter is limited. The county is serving solely as the Unit of General Local Government and Responsible Entity for purposes of the federally required environmental review process associated with the federal grant. County staff are reviewing the environmental assessment for completeness and accuracy, as required by federal regulations. Part of this role included the county advertising a public notice; the inquiries and opinions sent in will be provided to the college for use with the federal grant.
 
The property is owned by the State of Florida and is leased by The College of the Florida Keys. The Florida Department of Corrections facility on Big Pine Key was declared state surplus in February 2020, and the property was then leased to The College of the Florida Keys in November 2021. In 2021, county representatives met with college leadership and attended college-hosted community meetings in Big Pine Key. During those discussions, potential long-term community amenities were explored. The college identified the site for various future educational and workforce training uses.
 
In 2023, the college was awarded a $2 million federal community project funding grant to improve the former prison site. The proposed project may include site cleanup and construction of facilities and infrastructure to support workforce training and educational programs.
 
The project is intended to support economic recovery and diversification by repurposing long-vacant state land for educational use. The college has stated that the initial phase of work will focus on site cleanup and may include the demolition of deteriorating structures that have been an eyesore for the community for many years.
 
Questions regarding the proposed use of the property should be directed to The College of the Florida Keys at [email protected]. Monroe County will continue to fulfill its limited regulatory responsibilities related to environmental review in accordance with federal requirements.

The Sons and Daughters of Italy Key West Lodge #2436 has partnered with the Tropic Cinema to present “Italian Night at the Movies,” a monthly film series to raise funds for the organization’s 2026 scholarship fund benefiting area High School seniors of Italian descent. Screenings take place the first Wednesday of each month through May 2026.

The next installment takes place Wednesday, Jan. 7 with the 1968 romantic comedy “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell,” directed by Melvin Frank and starring Gina Lollobridida.  

Lollobrigida plays Carla Campbell, a once-frightened girl who has reinvented herself as one of San Forino, Italy's leading citizens. For years she has received support checks from three American GIs she met during WWII—each of whom believe he's the father of her daughter Gia (Janet Margolin). Trouble brews when the 23rd Regiment schedules a 20-year reunion in San Forino and all three “fathers” are on their way to town, eager to meet their daughter—to Mrs. Campbell’s mounting panic and Gia’s eager anticipation.

With its excellent cast that includes Telly Savalas, Phil Silvers, Peter Lawford, Shelley Winters and Lee Grant, “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell” is a fun, friendly and very entertaining comedy widely credited as an inspiration for the hit musical, “Mama Mia!”

Sponsored in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the evening includes a “taste of Italy” in the form of complimentary Duetto’s Pizza served before the film. Doors open at 5:30 pm; the film begins at 6:15. Guests can also participate in a 50/50 chance drawing and a raffle for a set of 4 Italian plates and bowls. Italian wines will be available for purchase at the Tropic Cinema concession. 
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Tickets are $20 per person and are available online at TropicCinema.com or day of at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St., Key West. Series tickets are also available: purchase 4 films and receive the fifth at half price, for a total $90.

The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation announces a special two-evening celebration of American First Ladies, presented in partnership with America250, the organization leading the commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial. Taking place January 23 and 24, 2026, on the elegant tropical grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., Key West, FL, the events will explore the vital roles of America’s First Ladies through panel discussions, personal stories and expert insights.
 
The weekend events begin on Friday, Jan. 23, with a moderated panel discussion featuring the three co-authors of “Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.” Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith will explore the influential roles of America’s First Ladies throughout history in a conversation that brings their groundbreaking scholarship to life. The panel discussion begins at 5:00pm and will be preceded by a book signing with all the authors.
 
Lauded by Smithsonian Magazine as “a timely consideration of the often overlooked, yet influential ways in which presidential spouses have shaped America,” “Remember the First Ladies” examines the impact of first ladies on civil rights, political campaigns, key speeches and life in the White House throughout the nation’s history.
 
The book’s authors bring diverse expertise to the conversation: Diana B. Carlin is Professor Emerita of Communication Studies at the Saint Louis University and a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). Anita B. McBride is author/co-author of three books about American First Ladies, served as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, is Executive-in-Residence at American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, and a founding member of FLARE; and Nancy Kegan Smith, FLARE’s Immediate Past President, is a distinguished historian who has written extensively about presidential history and served as director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration.
 
On Saturday, Jan. 24, programming continues with an intimate conversation titled, “Remembering the Boss: Bess Truman,” featuring Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of First Lady Bess and President Harry S. Truman and Anita B. McBride, author and internationally recognized expert on the legacies of America’s First Ladies and the workings of the White House. As the author of “Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman” and editor of “Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman 1919-1943,” Truman Daniel brings rare personal insight into the Truman family dynamic and his grandmother’s quiet yet formidable influence. Together, Daniel and McBride will offer a distinctive dialog that blends presidential family perspective with deep institutional knowledge. Gates open at 4:30pm; panel at 5:00pm.
 
Both evenings will be moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, President of the Adams Presidential Center and former Director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. Dr. Graham’s deep expertise in Truman History and presidential scholarship will guide conversations that illuminate both the public duties and private realities of life in the White House.
 
“The stories of America’s presidency cannot be told without understanding the First Ladies who shaped the role and supported their partners through moments of crisis and triumph,” said Clinton Curry, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We’re honored to welcome the authors who have documented these legacies and President Truman’s own grandson, who can share what Bess Truman was really like – not just as a First Lady, but as a grandmother, a partner, and the woman Harry called “The Boss.”
 
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, also known as America250, is a non-partisan congressional commission created in 2016 to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To learn more about the organization and its nationwide initiatives, visit www.america250.org.
 
The mission of The Harry S. Truman Foundation is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era.
 
A cash bar will be available on site. Tickets per evening are $40 for Foundation members and $60 for non-members, available at https://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events.

​FLORIDA KEYS, FL - The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride takes place Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10, in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys. Residents and visitors are encouraged to cheer on and support the warriors as they cycle through the Florida Keys, or to join them for the guided community ride on Saturday in Key West.
 
“Soldier Ride is a powerful reminder of the resilience and camaraderie that define our Veteran community,” said Community Services Director Cathy Crane, a combat Veteran and event coordinator. “We’re honored to welcome these Wounded Warriors to the Florida Keys. Their strength and determination inspire us all, and we encourage our residents and visitors to show their support to help make this a memorable experience for them.”
 
Motorists should allow extra time to reach 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 rolling lane shifts may occur.
 
Friday, Jan. 9
Key Largo to Islamorada
Start: 8:30 a.m. from VFW Post 10211
Break: 9:30 a.m. Coral Shores High School
End: 10:45 a.m. Theater of the Sea
Marathon to Big Pine Key
Start: 1:30 p.m. from Marathon Fire Station across the 7 Mile Bridge
End: 2:30 p.m. Veterans Memorial Beach
 
Saturday, Jan. 10
Key West and Boca Chica
Start: 10:30 a.m. from Boca Chica Naval Base
Military Affairs Committee Welcome Ceremony: Noon at Bayview Park, Key West
City of Key West
Guided Community Ride: 12:45 to 2 p.m. Start and end at Bayview Park

December 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Budding poets ages 7 to 12 are invited to explore the power of words and imagination at a free Youth Poetry Workshop, hosted by the Seawall Society of Young Poets in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society.  The workshop will take place on Saturday, January 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the historic Fort East Martello Museum.

Led by Key West Poet Laureate Emily Schulten Weekley and experienced facilitators, this interactive two-hour session will inspire young writers to discover big ideas hidden in small things.  Participants will explore Key West’s rich literary legacy through the children’s poems of John Ciardi and other playful, thought-provoking works.

The workshop will begin with reading and discussion of poems that celebrate imagination, curiosity, and observation.  Participants will then head outdoors to notice the tiny details in their surroundings, whether a seashell, a leaf, or a fleeting moment, and use them as inspiration to create their own poems.  The session encourages students to experiment with new poetic forms, develop their own voice, and share their work in a supportive, no-pressure environment.

As part of the Seawall Society’s mission to elevate youth voices, each participant will record their original work for inclusion in a video anthology, which will be featured on the Seawall Society website.

This event is free and open to all youth in the Key West area, regardless of background or writing experience.  All materials will be provided.  Space is limited and advance registration is required. Families can register at kwahs.org/whats-on.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

December 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  On Thursday, January 15, join meteorologist Jonathan Rizzo for an engaging exploration of the evolution of weather forecasting in the Florida Keys.  His lecture, titled “A History of Weather Forecasting in the Florida Keys,” is part of the Key West Art & Historical Society’s Distinguished Speaker Series.  The talk will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street.

The history of formal weather observing and forecasting in the Florida Keys began with the U.S. Lighthouse Board and the later establishment of Key West as one of the original 24 U.S. Signal Corps weather offices.  During this informative presentation, Rizzo will highlight critical milestones in the development of the nation’s operational weather services, from its early days as the U.S. Signal Corps to its modern role as the National Weather Service, and how these advancements specifically impacted the Florida Keys.

Using historical photographs and firsthand anecdotes from early U.S. Weather Bureau officials, the lecture will provide insight into the experiences of early forecasters and the methods they used to observe and predict weather in a region long shaped by extreme and rapidly changing conditions.

Jonathan Rizzo has served as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA’s National Weather Service office in Key West since May 2002.  In this role, he is responsible for planning, coordinating, and carrying out impact-based decision support services designed to protect life and property during severe weather events.  Rizzo has supported Monroe County, its municipalities, and the U.S. Navy during tropical cyclone emergency operations and major public events.  His professional background also includes winter and fire weather forecasting in eastern Washington State.  Originally from Lower Southern Maryland, Rizzo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Florida State University.

“Weather has shaped nearly every aspect of life in the Florida Keys, from how we prepare for storms to the way our homes are built and our community functions,” says Cori Convertito, curator for the Society.  “Jonathan Rizzo’s presentation offers a fascinating look at how forecasting evolved alongside our island history, helping us better understand the challenges, resilience, and ingenuity that define life in this unique environment.”

To reserve your spot at the lecture; visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  Tickets are $13 for KWAHS members, $17 for non-members.  Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.
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Beginning January 2nd, bus service for the Duval Loop route will be suspended. The existing bus stop locations will continue to be served by the Key West Rides on-demand service.

Key West Rides on-demand is an innovative form of transportation gets you to your destinations in the community without a need to transfer. It will also connect you with other transit routes, such as the Lower Keys Shuttle. The app-based technology matches multiple riders headed in a similar direction into a single vehicle, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips for just $2 a ride.

To download the app, just search for Key West Rides in your app store.

Duval Square’s Jag Gallery announces its first exhibit of the new year welcoming two widely recognized  and respected Key West artists Tory Mata and Carole Faye each with impressive collections of new work.  

Working primarily in ceramic, paper and natural materials, award winning Tory Mata’s practice is rooted in quiet observations and repetition.  New and recent work drawing from the visual language of landscape but without direct representation, distilling place into texture rhythm and form incorporating clay, wild grasses, handmade paper and other elemental materials to magical effect.

Carole Faye is a self described scavenger and regardless of where she has lived; New York City,  Shanghai or Key West her adventures in foraging have led to expressive creations of found objects and mesmerizing and evocative mixed media paintings inspired by the local landscape and its inhabitants incorporating oil paints and fragments of local quotidien marketing materials.

Join us for the opening of FROM HER STUDIO and celebrate Jag’s sixth year at a gallery reception on Wednesday  January 7th from 3:30 - 7:30.   The exhibit continues through January 25th.   Gallery events are free and all are welcome.

Considered a top destination featuring carefully curated exhibits of fine contemporary art from prominent, award winning and emerging artists from Key West and beyond, Jag Gallery is located at 1075 Duval street, Duval Square with ample free parking available at the Simonton Street entrance to Duval Square. For additional information contact the gallery at 305.407.6202 or [email protected].

Celebrate the flavors, stories, and spirit of the Keys at the Tropical Luncheon & Garden Party, a charming revival of a cherished 1950s tradition hosted by the Key West Woman’s Club. 
 
Presented in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society, the event also offers guests an insider preview of their Smithsonian-affiliated exhibition: FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine. Curator Dr. Cori Convertito will be on hand to share behind-the-scenes stories from the exhibit and insights into the culinary traditions that define Key West.
 
Enjoy an elegant buffet lunch prepared by acclaimed Chef Martha Hubbard, featuring the vibrant tropical fruits of South Florida, fresh local seafood, and select dishes inspired by the 1949 Key West Woman’s Club cookbook, a delicious nod to the event’s roots.
 
We’re thrilled to welcome bestselling mystery author Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib), who will share an intimate look at how she crafts the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series, drawing inspiration from real people, local landmarks, and iconic island recipes.
 
Elevated garden party attire is encouraged.  Think refined island elegance, breezy dresses, linen suits, and your most fabulous hat.
 
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of island flavors, fascinating tales, and festive garden-party charm.
 
Tickets available at KeysTix.com

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – A Monroe County Building Department unlicensed contractor investigator cited an unlicensed asphalt paver and the business owner who hired the unlicensed company this week. The asphalt company was from Ohio. Fines could be up to $2,000 for the violations.
 
“The public needs to know that there are people out there who will try to do work like this, and it is not legal without the proper permits,” said Monroe County Building Official Rick Griffin.
 
Monroe County requires all property owners or licensed contractors to pull a permit for contracting work such as paving and asphalt. The property owner could also incur additional fines from Code Compliance for unpermitted improvements to the property.
 
If you feel you are being targeted by an unlicensed contractor in unincorporated Monroe County, register your complaint at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/building under the “File A Contractor Complaint” tab, or call the Monroe County Building Department investigator at 305-289-2516.