The City of Marathon has issued a call to artists to submit renderings for the wall on the new Fitness Court being installed at Marathon Community Park. We’ve received additional information that the National Fitness Campaign is offering a $5,000 grant to the artist whose art is chosen for display. In addition to this grant, the artist will have a bio wall on the side of the structure. This opportunity is open to any artist in the Keys that is interested in submitting a rendering for voting. After judging, the top three designs will be presented to City Council at October’s Council...
The Upper Keys League of Women Voters (UKLWV) announces the 2021 Constitution Day Contest for middle and high school students from Marathon north to the county line, including public, private, charter and home schooled students. The theme is how the constitution affects their daily life.
In past years, the UKLWV sponsored an essay contest for Constitution Day. This year, UKLWV is giving the students an opportunity to be creative in more ways. There are two sets of prizes and two categories to choose from. For a written entry, you may submit an essay, story or poem. For a visual entry, you may...
Expect heavy rains and some possible tropical storm-force winds in the Keys this weekend.
Tropical Storm Fred approached the Dominican Republic on Wednesday morning, as Keys officials gathered for a storm call via Zoom. Fred is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later today as the core passes through Hispaniola, said Jon Rizzo, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service out of Key West. There’s uncertainty, however, over the storm’s organization after it emerges to the northwest of Haiti.
Rizzo expressed confidence that the storm will likely approach Florida...
Increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Keys have some stores and municipalities bringing back mask requirements. Some are issuing messages strongly encouraging their use, while others continue to operate normally since a local mask mandate was lifted in Monroe County.
Masks must be worn by staff and visitors frequenting city of Key West facilities. The decision was announced on Monday morning in an abundance of caution over the current COVID-19 surge in Florida and the Keys.
“We want to be sure that our staff and our citizens stay healthy,” City Manager Patti McLauchlin said in a statement....
On May 11, there was a surprise on the Marathon City Council agenda. All of the department reports — such as the building and wastewater — were marked with an asterisk, which indicates consent, or no discussion. This is an abrupt turnaround from the council’s most recent decision to hear from every department, every month. (Prior to that, departments only prepared reports every other month on a rotating basis.) When the Building Department’s Noe Martinez was called to the podium, he opened with the standard statement about the report and then started speaking spontaneously about the city’s...
Naturally, the brand-new hospital is equipped with brand new equipment. In fact, many of the machines still have the cling of blue film to keep them from being scratched when the Weekly toured the hospital on May 10. .ugb-0c15cf4 hr.ugb-divider__hr{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important} The 3D mammography machine will be operating as soon as the hospital opens the doors. CONTRIBUTED 3D MammographyThe Hologic 3D Mammography technology is more accurate than conventional 2D mammograms, detecting 20%-65% more invasive breast cancers. X-raysThe YSIO X.pree, is a ceiling-mounted...
On April 19, Marathon’s Planning Board voted down a hotel project proposed for Crawl Key between Marathon and Grassy Key. For the board, it was a first look at a very detailed, very upscale project called Valhalla Resort, put forward by Johnny Morris Signature Resorts. Morris is the founder of Bass Pro Shops, which also owns Cabela’s sporting stores.
Although the board voted 4-1 to deny the project (see opposite page), some of the board members were nevertheless impressed with the project.
“It’s a magnificent project,” said Planning Board member Mike Leonard. “I love this project, it’s like...
It was a “no,” but not a “hard no.
On April 19, Marathon’s Planning Board voted down a hotel project proposed for Crawl Key between Marathon and Grassy Key. For the board, it was a first look at a very detailed, very upscale project called Valhalla Resort, put forward by Johnny Morris Signature Resorts. Morris is the founder of Bass Pro Shops, which also owns Cabela’s sporting stores.
Although the board voted 4-1 to deny the project, some of the board members were nevertheless impressed with the project.
“It’s a magnificent project,” said Planning Board member Mike Leonard. “I love this project,...
In late February, Lee Brice, one of country music’s most transcendent stars, performed live at Hawks Cay Resort’s “Keys To Country Live Music Series.” Just over 200 fans sat in lawn chairs under a picturesque island sky, as moonlight bounced across the glassy waters of Tom’s Harbor on Duck Key.
But for Hawks Cay, and much of the Middle Keys, hearing one of the biggest stars in the nation was more than just a memorable evening. It was proof that Marathon and the Middle Keys can, and do, showcase world-class music in the Florida Keys.
Brice’s performance was the second installment of “Keys To...
On the morning of April 12, a sailboat struck the 7 Mile Bridge and a Keys Energy Service tieline about a half-mile from the north end. The fault triggered a system-wide power outage for all 30,000 KEYS customers in the Lower Keys and Key West.
“My officer is still investigating, but it seems several boats in Boot Key Harbor broke loose and dragged anchor. It’s possible that’s what happened here,” said Fish and Wildlife Capt. David Dipre.
Officers from the U.S. Coast Guard and Fish and Wildlife Commission were able to launch a rescue mission immediately, requesting that the utility not be...