Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover and the Key West Planning Department want to hear from you regarding the future of North Roosevelt Blvd. We’ve worked with local business owners to brainstorm strategies to revitalize the area. And we want to hear from you!
In order to have a better idea of what the community would like to see of this important corridor, they’ve created a short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CMJRL2D We strongly encourage everyone to weigh in on this survey. Let us know what you want our community to look like!
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City Manager Patti McLauchlin, Fire Chief Alan Averette and the entire City Commission honored Capt. Robert Franco for his 20 years of service to the Key West Fire Department.
He came to the department in 2002 as a certified firefighter and EMT. During his tenure he obtained several additional certifications, including paramedic, fire inspector, hazmat technician, and fire instructor. He has served as a member of the Hazmat Team, The Search and Rescue Team, and the Dive Team. “Capt. Franco has demonstrated an unwavering dedication and strong work ethic since the day he was hired,” said Chief Averette. “He is a well-respected member of the Key West Fire Department. Congratulations on your 20 years of service.” McLauchlin presented Capt. Franco with a gold watch and a City challenge coin commemorating his 20 years with the City. The City of Key West wants to warn residents to beware of unlicensed contractors. As often is the case following a disaster, people come in offering to do repairs and mold remediation, but they are not licensed contractors. Some may even be using license number that belong to another contractor. We strongly urge everyone, before you let someone work on your property, call to verify that the individual doing the work is legally licensed. It will protect you from shoddy or uncompleted work. Contractors face a 3rd degree felony for working without a license. You can easily check on a license by calling the Key West Building Department at 305-809-3956. The City of Key West is asking the community to help us alleviate recent flooding. As our contractors work across the island clearing drains, the community can help. City Commissioners, at this week’s meeting, urged residents to sweep up the leaves and small bits left after debris pickup. Storm debris, coupled with a season of serious high tides and rain, have hindered the clearing of our storm drains. Some have had to be cleaned several times. Working together we can get back to clean streets more quickly. FEMA will be setting up a Mobile Registration Intake Center in Key West at the Nelson English Park, 1127 Thomas Street. The center will begin operation on Saturday, October 22nd, open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
According to the license agreement with the City, “FEMA will use the premises primarily as a Mobile Registration Intake Center where FEMA will receive members of the public for the purpose of registering applicants, providing information such as the status of applications, and general information on FEMA disaster assistance. Other Federal, State, local and voluntary organizations may also use the premises to provide similar information on their programs.” The City of Key West wants to hear ideas from the community regarding renovations to Bayview Park. Everyone is invited to the public workshop on Tuesday, October 25th from 3 to 5 p.m. The workshop will be convened in the commission chambers at City Hall, 1300 White Street.
The historic park is home to several war and veterans memorials, tennis and basketball courts, a ball field, a bandstand, and the Boys and Girls Club. This workshop will help the City with feedback from the community on the best ways to give the park a facelift. Two years ago, the Key West City Commission unanimously adopted “One Human Family” as our official philosophy. The resolution read that “all people are our equals,” and urged growing beyond “the artificial limitations of racism, nationalism, sexism, classism, monotheism, prejudice, homophobia and every other illusion used to separate us from all being equal.”
In conjunction, the commission later voted to officially name the portico and the bandstand in Bayview Park with the motto. A sign was installed on the Bandstand, and now the portico, too, sports the “One Human Family” motto. The bandstand was erected in 1990 by then-City Commissioner Sally Lewis, working with State Representative Ron Saunders and the Cultural Affairs Committee, but it was never given a formal name. The small portico was built in 1924 by a chapter of the Stephen Mallory Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Confederate soldiers. The One Human Family Pavilion is adjacent to Bayview Park’s beautiful Military Memorials that include a large statue dedicated to Black soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. It’s time to plan your float for the upcoming Key West Holiday Parade on December 3rd!
Floats can be of any length, but must be maneuverable and no more than 15 feet wide and 12 feet high. Each entry requires monitors. The number of entries is limited to 55. Entry forms must be received by no later than Monday, November 21st at 4 p.m. The parade takes place on Saturday, December 3rd beginning at 7 p.m. at the corner of White Street and Truman Avenue. Applications and details are available on the City’s web site at http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov under special events or you can call Maria at 305-809-3881. Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission proclaimed this week as Fire Prevention Week, and the Key West Fire Department calls all of October Fire Prevention Month.
Each year, the National Fire Protection Association focuses on a theme. For 2022 it’s “Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape.” “This year’s theme effectively reminds all of us of the importance of developing a fire escape plan for all members of your household and to practice your plan regularly,” said Capt Gregory Barroso, the City’s Division Chief of Fire Prevention and Fire Marshal. He noted that firefighters will be visiting schools and community gatherings sharing this safety message. “I would also like to remind the citizens of Key West that we receive a yearly donation of smoke/CO2 combination detectors which allows us to provide free smoke/co2 detectors for members of the community in need.” The detectors are available at the Central Fire Station #1 at 1600 North Roosevelt Blvd. “We want to thank Mrs. Diane Schmidt and D.J. McCarthy of Opal Key Resort as well as Andy Strunk of Strunk Ace Hardware for generously donating the detectors.” Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission proclaimed October 21st as Be Like Mike Day in conjunction with United Way of Collier and the Keys’ project honoring the late “Mangrove” Mike Forster.
Forster was a dedicated citizen of the Keys, stepping up and helping the community from one end to the other during disasters. He was a business owner and a former Islamorada counsel member. He was a sitting county commissioner when he passed away. But Mangrove Mike was much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he personally served food to communities up and down the Keys, dishing up hot meals to Key West residents and others in need in Monroe County. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, he reached out and provided meals to the people hard hit by the storm. “Forster worked tirelessly to protect and improve his community in any way he could,” reads the proclamation, “organizing food giveaways, hosting MARC clients for dinner and a dance at Mangrove Mikes, preparing lunches for the Boys and Girls Club for their annual trip to Miami, and through unwavering support for law enforcement and veterans.” Forster believed strongly in the idea of paying it forward, and United Way’s project focusses on performing random acts of kindness. Kicking off on October 17th, the non-profit is encouraging the community to reach out in a number of ways. Meaningful Monday is a chance to “give back to Keys kids.” The following days include, being kind to the ocean, helping our furry friends, and thanking veterans and law enforcement. The final day, October 21st, is Forster’s birthday. On this day United Way and the City of Key West encourage the community to “feed the Keys” by donating non-perishable food items to local food banks. |
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