MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, and Growth Management Director Emily Schemper recently proclaimed March 9–15 as Monroe County Flood Awareness Week. The week is recognized statewide by the Florida Floodplain Managers Association to encourage residents to learn about flood risks, flood insurance, and steps they can take to protect their homes and families.

Flooding can impact homes and buildings across the county. Understanding flood hazards and taking steps to prepare can significantly reduce damage and improve community resilience.

“Flood awareness is especially important in coastal communities like the Florida Keys,” said Lincoln. “Staff works year-round to maintain floodplain management standards, help residents understand their flood risk, and provide guidance on building and mitigation practices that improve safety and resilience.”

Throughout Flood Awareness Week, Monroe County encourages residents to take simple, important steps, such as checking FEMA flood maps to understand their property’s risk, reviewing whether they have flood insurance, creating disaster-preparedness plans, and learning ways to reduce potential damage to homes and property. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, but planning and investing in mitigation measures can reduce impacts.

Residents can learn more about flood risks, preparedness resources, and flood insurance at monroecounty-fl.gov/flood, fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program, and floridadisaster.org/planprepare.

​Key West, Florida Keys - The Key West Ladies Golf Association holds a Fund Raiser/Scramble each year to help support one of the local non-profits in our community. This year’s beneficiary was the Key West Wildlife Center. The league raised $4,100 which was presented on March 5, 2026 to Wildlife Center Executive Director Thomas Sweets and Animal Care Director, Peggy Coontz by league members Deb Tenney and Elisabeth Hayes. The Mission of The Key West Wildlife Center is to “Ensure the future of our diverse native wildlife by providing timely rescues and quality rehabilitation with the hope of release back to the wild.”

March 9, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Key West Art & Historical Society, Great Events Catering, and Unity Table at Williams Hall have teamed up to present their annual picnic-style heritage dinner prepared by acclaimed chefs Martha Hubbard and Dave Fuhrman.  This year’s Conch Revival Picnic takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 18 in Clinton Place Park, located just outside the Key West Museum of Art & History at 281 Front Street.

The new location complements the museum’s recently opened Smithsonian-backed regional FOOD: Celebrating Conch Cuisine exhibition, offering guests the opportunity to experience the island’s culinary heritage both inside the museum galleries and outdoors through a communal dining celebration.  The picnic pays homage to the island’s Bahamian and Cuban culture through food, music, and a convivial community atmosphere.

This year’s menu begins with butler-passed hors d’oeuvres including bollos, conch salad, picadillo empanadas, and yuca frita croquetas.  The buffet dinner features whole roasted pig, whole roasted local fish, braised oxtail (rabo encendido), curried chicken, rice and pigeon peas, Jamaican jerk vegetable stew, Cuban foo foo, peel-and-eat Key West pink shrimp, tomato, avocado and pickled onion salad, hearts of palm with roasted pepper salad, and Lighthouse picnic salad.

Desserts include chocolate tres leches with coconut custard, Queen of All Puddings, guava cheesecake empanadas, and date cake with dulce de leche.

Inspired by Society board member and island native the late Dianne Zolotow, the Conch Revival Picnic tradition was launched in 2016 to increase awareness of Key West/Conch culture by preserving and promoting historic recipes created and consumed by Conch families for generations but which have, over time, been disappearing from memory and tables.  Many of the recipes are inspired by the postwar Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook edited by original Conch and first Florida Keys woman mayor Wilhelmina Harvey, as well as recipes from other historic cookbooks in the Society and Key West Public Library collections.

“Key West Art & Historical Society is honored to partner with Great Events and Williams Hall to celebrate our local Bahamian and Cuban communities for this year’s picnic,” says Society Executive Director Michael F. Gieda.  “Hosting the event beside the Key West Museum of Art & History also allows us to connect this living culinary tradition with the stories and foodways explored in our new Smithsonian-affiliated exhibition.”

Visit kwahs.org/whats-on to purchase your tickets.  Children under 12 admitted free with adults.  For more information and to access the full menu, contact Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507.  Sponsored by Great Events Catering and Williams Hall.

Join the History of Diving Museum on Sunday, March 15 at 11 AM or 2 PM for a special guided tour of the exhibits! These tours are included in your admission price, and will feature special highlights of treasure divers and stories of salvaging sunken gold in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Come learn about the most valuable shipwrecks ever discovered, and what divers went through to retrieve such treasures.
 
Free admission is offered to active duty members of the military, and discounts are available for veterans, Florida Keys locals and seniors. Be sure to come see the Museum’s current featured exhibit Dive Into Art: Stories from the Sea before it closes on April 15th.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

On Wednesday, March 18th, the History of Diving Museum will host a Member Mingle, as well as a lecture by Florida Keys historian and PhD, Dr. Corey Malcom. Learn about upcoming programs at the Museum and the benefits of membership before you learn the fascinating history behind German Navy forces in the Florida Keys during World War II.
 
Corey Malcom is the Lead Historian for the Florida Keys History Center, a section of the Monroe County Public Library tasked with the mission of exploring, preserving, promoting, and making accessible the history of Monroe County, Florida. Aside from historical research, Dr. Malcom has also conducted archaeological investigations of submerged historical sites throughout the Florida Keys. He was awarded a doctoral degree by the University of Huddersfield (England) for his research into the shipwrecked Spanish galleon Santa Clara, sunk in 1564.
 
During World War II, German U-boats terrorized shipping and tested homeland defenses throughout the greater Florida Keys. As significant as these events were, they were often kept out of the public eye and are not well remembered. Dr. Malcom’s presentation will explore the deadly activities of the submarines, the battles against them, and the reminders of their presence that remain today.
 
Are you already a member of the Museum or interested in becoming one? Before Immerse Yourself, the Museum’s Member Mingle will take place from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Members of the Museum who bring in new signups as well as new members who join that night will receive a free gift. Be sure to stop by and see featured exhibit Dive Into Art: Stories from the Sea before it closes on April 15th! This incredible art display showcases works from artists throughout the Keys, both from students and the Art Guild of the Purple Isles. Each piece was inspired by fantastic nautical tales from around the world, and many of these pieces are available for purchase.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture either in-person or online via Zoom, visit our homepage DivingMuseum.org to register. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. The History of Diving Museum would like to thank this month’s Immerse Yourself sponsors: Bill & Janne Wissel, and the Newton Family.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

KEY WEST, FL, March 6, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the community to its 60th Anniversary Gala on Friday, March 27, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the historic Fort East Martello in Key West. The “Infinite Horizons”-themed event will bring together employees, alumni, partners, supporters, and friends of the College to celebrate six decades of educational excellence, community collaboration, and service to the Florida Keys.

​Guests will enjoy Caribbean cuisine, cocktails, live music, and dancing, along with an Historical Exhibit showcasing the College’s journey from its 1965 beginnings to today’s thriving hub of learning and opportunity. The evening will also feature live and silent auctions offering adventure and travel experiences, dining, art, and more.
Proceeds from the 60th Anniversary Gala will benefit scholarships, academic and workforce programs, and vital initiatives that empower CFK to continue transforming lives and creating a lasting positive impact.

“Please join me and let’s celebrate our collective efforts to lift up our community over the past six decades,” said Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, CFK President and CEO. “CFK continues to train and educate the workforce that fuels our economy. We provide residents of every age with opportunities for education and growth. CFK has long served as a cornerstone for progress in the Florida Keys. Look to the future with us.  We remain inspired and our theme says it all – ‘Infinite Horizons.’  CFK is even more committed than ever to opening doors of opportunity for every resident of the Keys.”

More information, tickets, and sponsorship packages are available at: https://www.cfk.edu/60/60th-anniversary-events/. or contact Dr. Lana Gaspari, Vice President of Advancement and CFK Foundation Executive Director, at 305-809-3214 or [email protected].

KEY WEST, FL (MARCH 6, 2026) – Lower Keys Medical Center is working to fight hunger in the community by collecting peanut butter to donate to SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry. The fourth annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive starts on March 9, 2026 and will continue through March 25, 2026. Lower Keys Medical Center collects peanut butter because it is one of the least donated items even though it is high in nutritional value and is shelf stable.  
 
“Every year, Lower Keys Medical Center makes it a priority to give back to our community, and Jars of Love is one of our favorite ways to show that we care,” said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer, Lower Keys Medical Center. “According to United Way of Collier and the Keys, an estimated 50% of Monroe County residents live in ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Food insecurity can contribute to poor health. SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry and United Way of Collier and the Keys are working to address hunger in our area and we are proud to support their efforts, one jar of peanut butter at a time.”  
 
Morgan Tracey-Barber, chief executive officer at SOS Foundation Food Pantry, said, “Partnerships like Jars of Love remind us that small acts, even a single jar of peanut butter can make a big difference and keeping our pantry shelves stocked for local families is vital. We’re so grateful to Lower Keys Medical Center for rallying the community each year to help ensure our children and families have consistent access to food.”  
 
This year, Lower Keys Medical Center has a goal to collect 200 jars of peanut butter and other nut butters for SOS Foundation Stock Island Food Pantry. Donations from the public are welcome between March 9 – 25, 2026, Mondays through Saturdays, 7 am – 7 pm in the hospital main lobby.  
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center 
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center, the American College of Radiology – Mammography, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission - Echocardiography. The hospital is recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 4 Star quality rating.  
 
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Duval Square’s Jag Gallery announces its latest exhibit as the venerable artist and Key West favorite John Martini returns with a vivid and commanding new collection of his signature polychrome steel sculpture along with an inspired selection of Monoprints produced this past summer in the artist’s Burgundy, France studio.  WILD KINGDOM opens with a gala gallery reception on Wednesday March 11th from 5:30-7:30.  Gallery events are free and all are welcome.  WILD KINGDOM continues through April 5th.

For further information visit jaggallery.art or contact the gallery at [email protected] or by phone at 305.407.6202.

Considered a top Key West destination offering carefully curated exhibits of fine contemporary art by prominent and emerging artists from Key West and beyond, Jag Gallery is located at 1075 Duval Street, Duval Square with ample free parking through the Simonton Street entrance to the Square.

Key West, FL — The countdown to Labor Day Weekend begins March 15 when confirmed programming for the 2026 Just a Few Friends Key West festival is released and Event Badges and the festival Latitude Adjustment Hotel Packages go on sale. 

Returning for its third year, the island-wide celebration continues to grow while staying rooted in the storytelling, music, and community spirit that define the legacy it honors. Over Labor Day Weekend, visitors and locals alike will gather across Key West for concerts, culinary events, tours, and cultural experiences, culminating with the Second Line Memorial Parade winding down Duval Street to Truman Waterfront Park for the free Party in the Park and concert.

Organizers hint the event will be headlined by a longtime collaborator, songwriter, and onstage sidekick who spent decades sharing stages and stories. The official announcement will be made March 15.

Souvenir collectible badges will be available at the March 15 launch for $35 ($45 after June 1), and serve as the festival’s official credential and a charitable contribution supporting its community mission. Wearing one around town during the long weekend signals you’re part of the tribe.

Badge holders receive special access to the Party in the Park viewing area, invitations to badge-holder gatherings, advance announcements and early purchase opportunities for select ticketed events, and a QR code linking to exclusive offers from participating Key West businesses. (Note: Badge isn’t admission to ticketed events offered separately).

In 2025, badge holders helped generate $45,447 for local charities. Proceeds from 2026 badge sales will benefit Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program, and scholarships for local high school students pursuing continuing education in music, music production and technical arts, or marine science and conservation. Funds are administered through the Florida Keys Community Foundation.

Friday night will debut a throwback street party featuring Gary and the Landsharks Band, hosted on Duval Street by Sloppy Joe’s and Irish Kevin’s. The celebration nods to a legendary moment in island music history — the 1998 Meeting of the Minds “impromptu” street concert. Gary and the Landsharks served as the backing band for that historic performance and went on to become the house band for Margaritaville venues worldwide. Nearly three decades later, the street stage returns and you’re invited to experience — or re-experience — it all.

Also launching March 15 are the festival’s Latitude Adjustment Hotel Packages, designed to simplify the weekend for visitors traveling to Key West. Rather than simply booking a room, guests can reserve curated experiences that bundle accommodation at official partner hotels with VIP access, early event entry, reserved seating and private gatherings available only to package guests.

The packages are intentionally limited in number and offer preferred hotel rates during one of the busiest weekends of the year in Key West. Guests also receive direct concierge support from the festival team to help plan their itinerary and secure tickets to high-demand events before the general public.

Three tiers will be available: the Ultimate Friend VIP experience at Pier House Resort & Spa, Best Friend VIP packages at La Concha Key West, Margaritaville Beach House Key West, and Ocean Key Resort & Spa, and Loyal Friend packages offering preferred access with additional partner hotels throughout the island.

Organizers say the packages have quickly become one of the easiest ways to experience the festival, providing guaranteed access, reserved seating, and exclusive programming while eliminating the uncertainty that can come with navigating a busy holiday weekend in Key West.

More performances, collaborations, and experiences will be announced in phases as the festival approaches.
Event badges and hotel packages go on sale March 15 at www.justafewfriendskeywest.com.
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“All events not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.”

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Construction crews will be on-site at two Card Sound Road bridges to continue work on Tubby’s Creek Bridge and start the preliminary work of clearing vegetation from roadway shoulders and widening the pavement at Mosquito Creek Bridge. The Mosquito Creek Bridge construction project will begin on March 12. The small bridges are about 3,500 feet apart.

The contractor will close the westbound lane to traffic and set up temporary traffic signals to alternate bi-directional traffic to one lane on both bridges. (This is currently happening on Tubby’s Creek Bridge already and will start happening on Mosquito Creek Bridge on March 12.) The bridges will remain one lane with alternating traffic throughout the project. Traffic signal timing will be adjusted in the morning and afternoon to accommodate additional traffic to and from the Ocean Reef community.

Updates will be provided throughout the project's construction phases. This project has an estimated construction duration of approximately 18 months, weather-dependent.