​MONROE COUNTY, FL – Recently, a group of Monroe County and City of Key West staff, along with local Florida Keys environmental advocates, visited Reuter’s Recycling Facility on the mainland in Pembroke Pines. The tour provided valuable insights into the single-stream recycling process used for Monroe County’s recyclables.
 
The visit provided a deeper understanding of the county’s recycling system and the challenges involved in processing materials. Attendees were surprised by the complexity of the sorting and processing to prepare recyclable materials for the commodity market. The tour emphasized the importance of proper recycling practices and the detrimental impact of contamination on the system's efficiency.
 
“I think there is still a large portion of the population that does not understand the process, specifically WHAT can be recycled,” said Kacey Hunt, executive assistant for Commissioner Michelle Lincoln. “I left that experience wishing I could take everyone to Reuter’s because it is so eye-opening and informative.”
 
DID YOU KNOW: Reuter’s is building a new recycling facility expected to open by 2026. The new facility will process materials more efficiently, doubling its capacity from 35 to 70 tons per hour. Additionally, research is underway to expand the types of plastics that can be accepted for processing.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Board of County Commissioners has been seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval to eliminate decades-old requirements and restrictions on the amount of square footage that can be enclosed for storage under stilted homes. After providing written documentation of regulatory efforts the county has pursued to assure FEMA the county is following federal regulations by requiring property owners to build all habitable space above the minimum required elevation to prevent flood impacts, Monroe County received a letter from FEMA supporting the elimination of the county’s 2004 remedial plan for flood inspection and compliance. This decision allows the county to move forward with key code amendments, enabling property owners to have additional enclosed storage space below the required flood elevation under their house while maintaining compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
 
With FEMA’s approval, Monroe County can now proceed with eliminating:

• The maximum square footage limit for enclosed storage space below flood, which is currently 299 square feet.
• The requirement for an inspection at the time of a sale.

 
Code amendments will take eight months to a year to process.
 
The downstairs storage enclosures must remain limited to storage, parking, or building access and CANNOT be used as habitable space. The prohibition against habitable living space in downstairs storage enclosures is based on federal regulations. A property owner who seeks a permit to expand their storage enclosure must sign and record a non-conversion agreement, which will document the types of improvements permitted so future buyers can see what is legal and compare it to existing conditions when they purchase a home. This will allow purchasers to know whether there have been illegal improvements before they buy the house. 
 
“This is a major step forward for Monroe County residents,” said County Administrator Christine Hurley. “The county has worked diligently to meet and exceed NFIP compliance standards over the past decade, and FEMA’s support now allows us to update our codes to serve the community better and be on par with the cities.”
 
The county agreed to the 299-square-foot limitation to avoid being suspended from the NFIP. The NFIP was enacted to provide affordable flood insurance to property owners at risk for flooding, and there are approximately 11,110 NFIP-backed policies in Monroe County. FEMA's minimum elevation standards were adopted to minimize the loss of life, property, and costs of cleanup that would be incurred if homeowners were allowed to convert their downstairs enclosures into habitable living spaces. 
 
As part of FEMA’s ongoing oversight, its floodplain management team will conduct compliance reviews through Community Assistance Visits for a random sample of structures at six-month intervals throughout the year to ensure enclosures remain compliant.  

On Wednesday, April 16th, the History of Diving Museum will host Dr. Cori Convertito for Following the Fish: Hemingway in the Keys at 7 p.m. In this presentation, Dr. Convertito will take you through Ernest Hemingway’s life in the Florida Keys and his involvement in the local sport fishing scene.
 
Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer in Key West throughout the 1930s, immersed himself in Florida Keys game fishing and did much to popularize it among fellow writers, readers, and sportsmen. This talk will discuss Hemingway's angling exploits and spotlight his conservation activities.
 
Dr. Cori Convertito is the chief curator and historian at the Key West Art and Historical Society. She has 25 years of experience in the museum and archives sector, and also serves as an adjunct educator in history at the College of the Florida Keys. Cori holds a Ph. D. in British Naval History from the University of Exeter, U.K. Her thesis is titled "The Health of British Seamen in the West Indies, 1770-1806' and was awarded the Boydell & Brewer Prize for the best doctoral thesis in maritime history, 2011-12.
 
April 16th will also be the last day to catch the History of Diving Museum’s featured exhibit Dive Into Art: Fintastic Fish of Florida. Be sure to come early before Immerse Yourself to see this vibrant celebration of fishing, aquaculture, and sustainable seafood in the Florida Keys. Students from local schools crafted sculptures, plush toys, paintings, and paper mache creations. Their work is displayed alongside art from the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, as well as interpretive provided by local organizations committed to ocean conservation.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture either in-person or online via Zoom, visit 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 sponsor: The Surgery Center.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 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, Fla. – Lower Keys Medical Center welcomes Leandro Perez, M.D., and Julian Javier, M.D., board-certified interventional cardiologists. They join Cesar Jara, M.D. in the Lower Keys Medical Center cardiac catheterization lab, providing 24/7 STEMI coverage and performing procedures to diagnose and treat cardiac conditions, including heart attacks.
 
Dr. Perez received his medical degree at Madre and Maestra Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Dominican Republic and completed his internal medicine residency and a Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology and Endovascular Therapy at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.  He completed a Fellowship in Cardiology at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
 
Perez’ additional board certifications include American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular medicine; American Board of Vascular Medicine in vascular medicine and endovascular medicine; National Board of Echocardiography in adult echocardiography; and Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology in nuclear cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Society for Vascular Medicine, American Society of Echocardiography, and Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
 
Javier is a graduate of Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in Dominican Republic. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, where he also completed Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases. He completed Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in Little Rock, AR.
 
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Perez and Dr. Javier to the team of experienced interventional cardiologists providing round the clock, lifesaving cardiac care,” said Gregory Repetti, FACHE, interim chief executive officer at Lower Keys Medical Center.

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has confirmed Emily Schemper as its new Growth Management director, where she will oversee the county’s Building, Code Compliance, Artificial Reefs, and Planning and Environmental Resources departments. She begins in the new position on April 6.
 
“This strategic move will enhance coordination between the related departments and provide additional resources to serve the community better,” said Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley.
 
With Monroe County’s complex regulatory structure, Schemper will ensure streamlined processes for residents and the construction industry. As a Certified Floodplain Manager, she will also lead FEMA coordination efforts and oversee the enforcement of mandatory floodplain management programs.
 
Schemper has been a dedicated member of Monroe County’s Planning and Environmental Resources department since 2012, where she has been the senior director of the department for the past seven years. She has a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Urban Design and has previous experience in the private sector in Chicago and the United Kingdom.
 
“Through years of experience and collaboration across departments, I look forward to using this knowledge to help coordinate services to better serve our community while preserving the unique character of the Florida Keys,” said Schemper. 

From April 30 – May 4, 2025, music makers and lovers will converge in Key West, Florida, for the 29th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival. The largest festival of its kind in the world, the gathering has kicked off the careers of numerous household names, and this year will spotlight more than 230 multi-genre creators, from veteran songwriters and hit-makers to up-and-coming artists, with performances ranging from acoustic story-telling sessions in the round at theaters, bars and beaches, to full band, full-throttle performances on concert stages.
​
Artists leading the 2025 lineup include Nate Smith, Chase Matthew, LoCash, Dylan Altman, Ronnie Bowman, Chuck Cannon, Bob DePiero, Thomas Edwards, Marti Frederiksen, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Raul Malo, Liz Rose, Tommy Sims, James Slater, and Jeffrey Steele.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 29th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival is presented by BMI with Rams Head Presents, with support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Many performances are free and ticketed events can be purchased individually or as a package. For tickets, information and a downloadable schedule app, visit www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com.

From Wednesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 6, Key West, Florida’s annual Key Lime Festival celebrates the world’s most sensational citrus with a spectacular lineup of festivities taking place across the very island where Key lime pie was conceived.
​
Events, activities, and competitions are to include a kick-off cookbook signing and champagne reception with Festival co-founder and “Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook” author David Sloan; delicious Key lime-centric dinner and brunch events; a wild and world famous Key lime pie eating contest; a gravity-defying Key lime pie drop competition – from the top of the Key West Lighthouse; a Key lime pie hop, mini Key lime pie making classes; a 4th of July 5K; and for those with a taste for limey libations, Key lime rum tastings and a bar Sip & Stroll. There’s much more, including numerous family-friendly activities. The Key Lime Festival 2025 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. For a full calendar of events, visit http://www.keylimefestival.com.

​At the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, starting at 9 a.m., at the Marathon Government Center, the Monroe County Land Authority is providing information to the commissioners and the community regarding the closeout of the Voluntary Home Buyout Program. 
 
Members of the public may attend in person or via Zoom webinar.  More information, including ADA accommodations, is available at https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/695/BOCC-Meetings-Agendas.
 
To learn more about the program, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/homebuyout. 

Key West, FL – Get ready, Key West! The World-Famous MINI KISS is bringing their high-energy, KISS-inspired rock spectacle to Key West Theater for an unforgettable night of music and entertainment. This electrifying group of talented little people has taken the world by storm, performing at some of the most prestigious venues and events worldwide. Now, they’re set to light up the stage right here in Key West!

MINI KISS has made waves with show-stopping appearances on hit television programs like Lip Sync Battle, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, The George Lopez Show, HBO Live Sessions, and even Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. Their star power skyrocketed when they appeared in the iconic KISS Dr. Pepper Super Bowl Commercial in 2010.
Sharing the stage with legendary artists including Snoop Dogg, Jackyl, Blue Öyster Cult, Perfect Circle, Air Supply, Peter Frampton, and more, MINI KISS has proven that their talent and energy know no limits. In 2023, the band made history by breaking a Guinness World Record on Lo Show Dei Record in Milan, Italy, officially holding the title for the “World’s Shortest Band.”

Performing at arenas, casinos, theme parks, cruises, and private events across the globe, MINI KISS delivers a rock show unlike any other. Their unmatched energy, charisma, and musical prowess make for an unforgettable live performance. This is your chance to experience the smallest band in the world—live in action!

Show Info:

• Date: May 18, 2025
• Venue: Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St., Key West FL 33040
• Tickets On Sale: Wed., April 2, 2025
• Tickets can be purchased at thekeywesttheater.com and ranchorelaxoproductions.com.

About Rancho Relaxo Productions:

Rancho Relaxo Productions specializes in creating memorable events that bring people together. From booking top-tier talent to managing seamless productions, we’re passionate about making every event meaningful. Whether it’s a wedding, a festival, or an event to support nonprofit organizations, we combine creativity, professionalism, and the unique charm of the Florida Keys to make it extraordinary. With a commitment to quality and community, Rancho Relaxo Productions is your trusted partner for concerts, special celebrations, and everything in between.