MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue, Chief R.L. Colina, and Mayor Michelle Lincoln proudly welcomed 19 new firefighters during a pinning ceremony held today at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center on Thursday. Family and friends of the newly pinned firefighters also attended.

The ceremony marked an important milestone for the newest members of Monroe County Fire Rescue as they begin their careers dedicated to protecting the residents and visitors of the Florida Keys. Some of the new firefighters start their first shift on Friday.

Please welcome:

FF/EMT Blake Angulo
FF/EMT Inkhnaton Brown
FF/EMT Luis Cordova
FF/EMT Darryl Cozier
FF/EMT Emmanuel Fernandez
FF/EMT Mark Forman
FF/EMT Andrew Gallo
FF/EMT Mylan Henriquez
FF/EMT Nicholas Jimenez
FF/EMT Lucas Lezcano
FF/EMT Cristobal Martinez
FF/EMT Domenic Mata
FF/EMT Michael Rilo
FF/EMT Tyler Rodriguez
FF/EMT Sean Salazar
FF/EMT Giovanni Santiago
FF/EMT Brandon Shuman
FF/EMT George Sigler
FF/PM Timothy Sotomayor

The pinning ceremony recognizes the dedication, training, and commitment required to serve as a member of Monroe County Fire Rescue. These new firefighters and emergency medical professionals will join the department in providing fire suppression, emergency medical care, rescue services, and emergency response throughout Monroe County.

“Today represents more than receiving a badge and a pin,” said Colina. “It represents a commitment to serve our community, to be there for people during some of their most difficult moments, and to uphold the high standards expected of Monroe County Fire Rescue.”

KEY WEST, FL, September 3, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys invites the community to its annual Constitution Day event on Thursday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. in the library on the Key West Campus. Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, establishing the legal framework of the United States and ensuring the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

Judge Scales will present "The U.S. Constitution: A Product of Brilliance." He will give an overview of the United States Constitution and how it impacts the daily lives of every American along with an historical component describing how prescient the framers were. 
Judge Scales serves as the Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, having been appointed to the Court in 2013. Originally from Lakeland, FL, he is the first Judge in the history of the Court to come from Monroe County. Judge Scales is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Florida College of Law. While attending UF, he was elected President of the student body, was selected as the University’s outstanding male graduate and was named to the UF Hall of Fame.

The College’s Constitution Day activities aim to educate the public on their rights under the Constitutional Amendments and promote civic engagement and awareness. Participants will receive Pocket Constitutions, flags, and learn how to register to vote with the help of representatives from the League of Women Voters.

The event is free and open to the public. Those who cannot attend in person, can watch it live on CFK’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheCollegeoftheFloridaKeys/.

Information about CFK’s Constitution Day available at: https://www.cfk.edu/constitution-day/

KEY WEST, FL, September 2, 2026 — The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the community to attend a CFK Poetics event on Wednesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Willliams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Blas Falconer, a poet, author, editor, and educator from San Diego, California, will present a live reading of his work and take questions from the audience. The event is free for all attendees.

Blas Falconer is the author of four poetry collections, including “Rara Avis” (Four Way Books, 2024), for which he received the 2025 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry, and “Forgive the Body This Failure” (Four Way Books, 2018). He is also the coeditor of two anthologies: “The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity” (The University of Arizona Press, 2011), with Lorraine M. López, and “Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets” (Southern Illinois University Press, 2010), with Beth Martinelli and Helena Mesa.

Falconer is the recipient of a poetry fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award from Poets & Writers. He teaches in the MFA program at San Diego State University and is the editor-in-chief at Poetry International Online.

CFK Poetics is a series that aims to develop awareness of an immersion in the humanities landscape by connecting students and the community with poetry on the national level in a way that is immediate to their own experiences. Since 2019, visiting poets have come to Key West or appeared virtually to share their work and have conversations with the student body as well as the community at large. Formerly featured poets include Maria Zoccola, B.H. Fairchild, Chelsea Rathburn, Richard Blanco, and Ross Gay, Barbara Hamby, David Kirby, Adrian Matejka, Lauren K. Alleyne, and Kim Addonizio.

Additional information about CFK Poetics can be found on the College’s website at www.cfk.edu/poetics.

An exciting new season of “Walk on White” art stroll evenings kick off Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, and continue every third Thursday through May 2027, from 6:00-9:00pm.

Launched in 1999 to promote and celebrate Key West’s mid-town gallery district, Walk on White (WOW) grew into an established signature tradition on Key West’s arts calendar, with a variety of White St. galleries, businesses, and destinations opening their doors to the arts loving public.

Those strolling through the WOW district—radiating from a central hub in Fausto’s parking lot, stretching along White Street and spilling into some neighboring streets—can wander among more than a dozen participating locations, discovering a vibrant mix of visual and performing arts along the way. Offerings include the works of painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, mixed-media artists, artisan jewelers, and writers, along with exhibit openings, artist demos, live music, readings, and complimentary refreshments.

Each monthly event also spotlights a local non-profit organization while providing fun and creative fundraising opportunities for them. Walk on White is sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For more information and a list of participating locations, visit www.WalkOnWhiteKeyWest.com.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County is reminding residents and business owners to watch for a scam where an invoice appears to be from the Monroe County Building Department, Monroe County Planning Department, or Monroe County Planning Commission.

Monroe County and the Monroe County Planning Commission will NEVER ask anyone to make wire transfers to pay building permit fees.

The county will never send emails requesting that you do anything related to wire transfer instructions. We will not ask for wire transfers, and we will never tell you we can only communicate via email to ensure proper documentation, auditing, and inclusion on the Planning Commission’s agenda for review and discussion.
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If you are ever in doubt, please call us at the numbers listed on the county’s website to verify any information: www.monroecounty-fl.gov. Do not open attachments or respond to emails or numbers listed in the suspicious requests. Monroe County only sends emails that have this ending: [email protected] or [email protected].

KEY LARGO, FL – Another 640 pounds of debris has been removed from conservation lands in Key Largo through the ongoing partnership between the Monroe County Land Authority and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

The latest cleanup targeted an illegal encampment located deep within a hardwood hammock, requiring crews to carry debris a considerable distance through the forest for removal. While the site contained less material than some previous cleanups, crews faced challenging conditions, including heat, humidity, and mosquitoes.

With the latest removal, the cleanups have now removed a cumulative 32,960 pounds of debris from conservation lands in the Upper Keys. Monroe County Solid Waste helps remove the bulk items that are collected. 
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“These cleanups take a tremendous amount of physical effort, especially when sites are located far into the conservation areas,” said Assistant Land Steward Lawrence Lopez. “Every cleanup helps restore these sensitive hardwood hammocks while also improving conditions for the surrounding community.”

Leadership Monroe County (LMC), the Florida Keys’ premier educational non-profit community leadership organization, has announced the launch of its 34th year of programming with the selection of Class XXXIV.

Designed for residents in leadership roles across the private and public sectors, government, and community organizations, the LMC program produces a monthly series of intensive single and multi-day sessions held throughout Monroe County, as participants explore key sectors impacting the region—including tourism, the environment, education, government, healthcare, the military, judiciary, law enforcement, emergency management, the arts, and media.

Sessions begin October 2-3 in Key West and will continue monthly across the Keys. Each session is led by subject matter experts, policy makers, and regional leaders, offering participants deep insights, dialogue on current challenges, and unique networking opportunities.
Founded in 1992, LMC is a non-partisan, independent non-profit committed to building a network of informed, collaborative leaders to help guide the Keys toward a stronger future.

2026–2027 LMC Officers:
• President: George Garrett
• Vice-President: Cheryl Sullivan
• Secretary: Kathy McKinney
• Treasurer: Bruce Halle
• Program Coordinator: Michael Shields

For more information, visit www.leadershipmonroecounty.org or email
[email protected]

Class XXXIV members are:
Julie Brown, Community Outreach Specialist, Florida Department of Transportation
Wayne Bush, Investigating Officer, United States Coast Guard, Sector Key West
Wendy Carter, Project Manager, Monroe Co. Facilities Development
Natalie Danko, Owner, PhotoDesign by Natalie
Jennifer DeBoisbriand, Planning Director, Islamorada, Village of Islands
Randy Detrick, Market Manager, Mt. Sinai Medical Center of Florida
Arlen Dieguez, JIATFS Community Engagement and Development Officer
Robert Fowler, Case Manager Supervisor, Guidance Care Center
Christina Geer, Health Services Manager, Keys AHEC Health Centers
Greg Johnson, Lt., Station Commander, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Angie Kemmer, Regional Dir. Case Mgt., Mariners Hospital
Kris Kennedy, Physician, Ret., Medical Director, Treasurer, Womankind
Andrea Leal, Executive Director, Florida Keys Mosquito Control District
Katie Lindback, Community Engagement & Marketing Coord; Mote Marine
Adam Linhardt, Director of Media Relations, PIO, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Rose Littlejohn, Founder, Lead and Wellness Coach
Melina Miller, Owner, MKM Digital Marketing
Manuela Mobley, VP, Marketing & Partnerships, Keys Weekly
Veronica Ornelas, Director, Member Services, Florida Keys Electric Co-Op
Melinda Rice, V.P., Premier Relationship Manager, First State Bank of the Keys
Jared Rodriguez, Councilman, City of Layton
Melanie Rodriguez, Chef Storyteller, the Key West Cooking Show
Charlene White, Executive Director of Finance and Performance, Monroe County School District
Kelly Williams, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Schmitt; Pres., Marathon Rotary

BIG PINE KEY, FL – The Big Pine Key brush fire is 95 percent contained after burning approximately 35 acres. Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR), Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and U.S. Wildland Service continue to monitor the area as conditions remain dry. U.S. Wildland Service remains in the area, and MCFR and MCSO will continue nightly patrols and routine spot checks. A brush truck also remains ready to respond if needed.

The fire began Aug. 5 and is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. While there is currently no threat to nearby properties, the incident is a reminder of how quickly fire can develop in the dry vegetation found throughout the Lower Keys.

Residents may notice the lingering smell of burned wood within the fire area. No significant smoke activity is currently being reported.

“Residents in the area should still remain vigilant and call in any smoke or fire they may see in the area,” said MCFR Deputy Chief Mark Hemeyer. “If you see something, say something. Our fire crews would rather investigate a report than have a potential fire go unchecked.”

Forecasted moisture associated with remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly is expected to help conditions, with rain chances increasing later this week. However, vegetation remains dry, and residents and visitors are asked to remain cautious with cigarettes, open flames, and other potential ignition sources.

Barring any significant change in fire activity or conditions, this will be Monroe County Emergency Management’s final update on the Big Pine Key brush fire.

KEY WEST, FL — More than half a century after a young Jimmy Buffett played the Chart Room for tips and drinks, acclaimed singer-songwriter and longtime Buffett collaborator Will Kimbrough will play the first official tribute concert ever staged inside the tiny Key West bar.

The show is a highlight of the 2026 Just a Few Friends festival marking the third anniversary of Buffett’s passing. Kimbrough will echo the way Buffett began: one songwriter, one guitar and a small group gathered within arm’s reach.

Live in the Chart Room with Will Kimbrough will take place on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Pier House Resort & Spa, 1 Duval Street. Due to the size of the room, capacity is limited to just 40 people, including the bartender. Guests will begin with brunch by the beach before moving inside the Chart Room for the intimate acoustic concert.

“This is not a show that could simply be moved to another venue and still be the same experience,” said Just a Few Friends organizer Jill Snodgrass. “Will is returning to the place where Jimmy started, bringing the story full circle.”

When Buffett arrived in Key West with gonzo songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker in November 1971, Walker was already famous for his hit “Mr. Bojangles.” Their first stop was the Chart Room at the then-new Pier House Motel. The funky, unpretentious gathering place soon became Buffett’s home base and the site of his first Key West gig.

It was there that bartender, author and later collaborator Tom Corcoran served Buffett his first Key West beer and Buffett spied Jane Slagsvol, his future wife, at a payphone in the lobby. He also befriended legendary bartender Phil Clark, whose tales of smuggling, sailing and Caribbean adventures helped inspire “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”

Little about the Chart Room itself has changed. Tucked inside the now-luxurious Pier House Resort & Spa, it remains small, weathered and wonderfully unpolished—a rare surviving piece of the Key West that Buffett first discovered.

That continuity took on new significance in July, when the 142-room Pier House sold for $190 million to a global investment firm. The price placed an extraordinary value on the five-acre oceanfront resort surrounding one of Key West’s smallest and most culturally significant bars.

General Manager Robert “Bob” Spoto, who will remain at the helm under the new ownership, stressed that the Chart Room would continue as a Key West institution.

“The Chart Room has never tried to clean up its act, and hopefully it never will,” Spoto said. “People’s ashes are buried in that bar. You shell your peanuts onto the floor. It’s gritty, funny, a little irreverent and full of ghosts—in the best possible way. That’s what we promise to protect.”

Kimbrough was one of Buffett’s most trusted creative collaborators during the final two decades of his recording career. His songwriting and session work appeared on every Buffett studio album released during that period, from License to Chill through Buffett’s final album, Equal Strain on All Parts.

Among their best-known collaborations is “Bubbles Up,” released posthumously as the first single from Buffett’s final album. Inspired by the diving practice of following bubbles toward the surface when disoriented underwater, the song became a message of hope, perseverance and finding one’s way home. Paul McCartney praised it as one of Buffett’s finest vocal performances.

Kimbrough also recently completed a tour with Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, helping carry the music forward to fans.

“I’ve played Jimmy’s songs on a lot of stages, but the Chart Room is different,” Kimbrough said. “That room is part of the reason those songs exist. Sitting in that little bar with a guitar, playing songs I wrote with Jimmy and sharing the stories behind them will be incredibly special.”

Live in the Chart Room is just one of the events to be held at the legendary water hole as part of Just a Few Friends, an annual Labor Day gathering taking place Sept. 2–7, 2026, throughout Key West. The festival celebrates Buffett’s life and legacy through the places, people, music and stories that shaped him, inviting guests to experience his Key West through historic locations, songwriter performances, walking tours, storytelling and community traditions.

For additional information and tickets, visit JustAFewFriendsKeyWest.com.
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Just a Few Friends is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.

​KEY WEST, FL - AUGUST 28, 2026 – Keys Medical Group Psychiatry welcomes Amanda DeBoer, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, effective September 1, 2026.
 
DeBoer is a graduate of Milwaukee School of Engineering where she earned her Masters of Science in Nursing specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health. She will provide diagnostic evaluation, individualized treatment plans, individual and family psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, family support services, crisis intervention and referrals to community resources.   
 
DeBoer joins Lynda Woods, licensed clinical social worker, at Keys Medical Group Psychiatry at 1200 Kennedy Drive, Suite 1041, First Floor in Key West. Appointments may be requested at 305-293-1299 or online 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