Skip to main content

1905: Sheriff Frank Knight took Simon Reyes to the state prison. Reyes had been found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend and was sentenced to hang but the governor commuted his sentence to life.

Around the Keys

Summer Reading programs

The Summer Reading programs are returning to all five branches of the Monroe County Public Library in June and July. Each branch has designed its own playful theme to spark curiosity while engaging with reading and learning over the summer. Information about Summer Reading can be found at keyslibraries.org.

Toastmasters

Key West Toastmasters meets at noon, for one hour, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is Tuesday, May 27. Visitors are welcome to come and observe. For information as to location, call 305-304-8009.

Farmers Market

The Farmers Market will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, in Truman Waterfront Park. For information, visit facebook.com/kwfarmersmarket or kwfarmersmarket.com.

Ingham Happy Hour

The USCGC Ingham, located in Truman Waterfront Park at the end of Southard Street, is open for Friday sunset celebrations, depending on weather conditions. The events will last from one hour before sunset to one hour after each Friday. For information, call 305-292-5072 or visit uscgcingham.org

Trim coconuts

The City of Key West wants to remind the community to be sure coconut trees are free of coconuts and trimming is the responsibility of the homeowner. Coconuts and even mangoes can become dangerous projectiles in even a mild storm. The city’s Community Services Department is working to ensure that all coconuts on public property are properly trimmed for the safety of the community.

Animal Farm

The MCSO Animal Farm welcomes contributions of produce such as zucchini, yellow squash, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, heads of romaine lettuce, kale, and collards and eggs. The farm is open to the public from 1 to 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

Fantasy Fest Royalty call

The Florida Keys SPCA is seeking candidates ready to embark on a six-week adventure of excitement, fundraising and friendly competition for Fest King and Queen titles. A preliminary informational meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m: Wednesday, June 25, and a mandatory information meeting will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23. Both events will be held in the FKSPCA building at 5711 College Road. For information, email jennifer@fkspca.org.

Business Re-entry

The application period for Monroe County Emergency Management’s 2025 Business Placard Early Re-entry Program is open through Friday, May 30, at 5 p.m. There will be no exceptions after this time to apply for the 2025 business placard. The program allows essential businesses and non-profits based in Monroe County timely access to the Florida Keys to assist in restoring community lifelines more quickly and efficiently after a hurricane. Read and compile the required documentation at monroecountyem.com/placardprogram.

HHW Collection

The City of Key West will provide a free dropoff of household hazardous waste for Key West residents from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 7. For information, call 305-809-3776, email recycle@cityofkeywest-fl.gov or visit KeyWestRecycles.com.

Pets available for adoption at the Florida Keys SPCA

Adopt a Pet

The Florida Keys SPCA is located at 5711 College Road, Stock Island. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For low-cost spay/neuter appointment, call 305-294-4857. For information, call 305-294-4857, or go to www.fkspca.org. Contact information for the Marathon shelter on Aviation Boulevard.: 305-743-4800. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays

Curtiss Carter moved to Key West nearly 10 years ago from Washington state. A little more than two years ago, the retired U.S. Navy chief married the love of his life, Dr. Karen Neely, who celebrated her birthday on May 23. Exclaimed Carter: ‘Happy birthday week, darling!’

Dianne DiBlasi was born in Brooklyn, New York, and fled the grey skies of the north for Key West five years ago. DiBlasi owns Duetto Pizza and Gelato on Greene Street and is also farm assistant at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm. When not providing sustenance for man or beast,…

Zoe Gehin was born and raised in Key West and is currently studying architecture at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Gehin, who has had a tennis racket in her hand since age 5, is a member of the FAU Club Tennis Team and said other than tennis, she loves spending time at the beach.

1905: Sheriff Frank Knight took Simon Reyes to the state prison. Reyes had been found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend and was sentenced to hang but the governor commuted his sentence to life.

1888: A carrier pigeon message service was established by the signal office at Key West. The purpose of the new service was to bring the island into better communication with the Bahamas. Gen. Greely ordered the necessary loft fixtures and training baskets for 500 birds.

1887: Key West was home to 182 cigar manufacturers that had shipped over 52 million cigars and generated $300,000 in internal revenue taxes over the previous fiscal year.

1829: Charles Hawkins shot William A. McRea, as he walked on Whitehead Street, in the back with both barrels of a shotgun. McRea died two hours later. The two men had fought a duel in February over Hawkins finding McRea leaving his wife’s bedroom via the window. Both men were wounded in the …

1828: After six years of dispute with other claimants of the island, John W. Simonton was declared Key West’s legal owner. Simonton bought Key West from Havana resident Juan P. Salas in December 1821 for $2,000.

1893: A traveler through the Florida Keys wrote, “Long Key is but little known at present. It is not a resort; but if the tourists and health seekers ever go beyond Bay Biscayne and stop anywhere this side of Key West, it will be at Long Key, the most beautiful of this chain of islands.”

1851: Key West wreckers recovered several slightly-burnt cotton bales from the water, but no wreck was evident. The thinking was that a cotton vessel had caught fire and hit a reef off Cuba or burned at sea.

In Port

Today

No ships


Wednesday

Margaritaville Paradise

Pier B - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Thursday

No ships

Roadwork

FDOT projects

• Construction continues on State Road A1A/South Roosevelt Boulevard, from Bertha Street to east end of Smathers Beach. All stairways and the Promenade are open. Pump station work and crosswalk signalization are ongoing.

• Installation of signage and guardrail continues along S.R. 5/U.S. 1/Overseas Highway, from Mile Marker 19.4 to MM 19.8, from MM 20.6 to MM 23.1, and from MM 26.2 to MM 27.

• Repair activities continue under the Channel 5 Bridge, MM 71.

• Roadwork continues on SR 5/US 1/Overseas Highway from Jewfish Creek Bridge (MM 108.4) to the Miami-Dade County Line (MM 112.8), along the 18-Mile Stretch. A traffic shift is in place on the southbound side of SR 5/US 1/Overseas Highway for roadway reconstruction. This schedule may change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, so check the project webpage for the most current information at southFLroads.com, call FDOT at 786-510-3921 or email psummers@mrgmiami.com.

FKAA projects

• All lanes at the north end of the Tavernier Creek Bridge project, Mile Marker 91, are now open. The crew at the south end of the project is continuing to install the new drinking water pipe along US 1 via open-cut trench.

Information

For traffic information, consult 511 or 305-849-1847 or go to fl511.com. For questions, call FDOT at 786-510-3921 or email psummers@mrgmiami.com.

More Weeks in the Keys

As the winds die down and ocean temperature starts to rise, it is time to go play on the water. Capt. Sheri, who has run ‘Wild About Dolphins’ for past 25 years, recently took a group of sightseers to the ‘dolphin playground’ in Key West recently. It is a popular area for seeing dolphins yea…

Save a Tree/Key West board member Mimi McCoy, left, and board president Karen Ludwig-O’Leary, wore red to honor the memory of Merili McCoy, known as ‘The Original Tree Lady of Key West’ during the Royal Poincianna Tree Dedication Ceremony held Friday, May 16, at the Key West Lighthouse and K…

On Friday, May 16, the community paid tribute to the brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. The annual Law Enforcement Day Memorial Service was hosted by the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park. T…

Doctors Doug Mader and Geri Diethelm welcome friends to Forks and Sticks restaurant on Big Pine Key on Saturday night to celebrate Dr. Mader’s Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, the University of California-Davis. The triple board-certified veterinarian continues to lecture worl…

A crowd of well over 100 brightly costumed friends of Bruce Mitchell pack the William Weech American Legion Post 168 on Saturday, May 9, for a Celebration of Life for the well-known Key West resident.