In recognition of the fifth anniversary of the Florida Keys COVID-19 lockdown, a group of photographers, journalists and filmmakers will discuss and reflect on the spring of 2020 and its effect on Key West and the Florida Keys. The event will take place Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St.
Sponsored by the Monroe County Public Library, and titled “Five Years Later: Looking Back at Key West’s COVID Lockdown,” the event was conceived by Michael Nelson, assistant director of libraries. It will focus on the period from March 1, 2020, when Florida’s first COVID-19 cases were announced, to June 1, 2020, the day after the Upper Keys quarantine checkpoint was dismantled.
Key West Weekly editor Mandy Miles will moderate the panel that includes Chris Sloan, producer of the short-film documentary, “Key West: 66 Days of Paradise Interrupted”; and Roberta DePiero, Corey Malcom, Rob O’Neal, Andy Newman and Carol Tedesco, all of whom were involved in creating the photo book “Isolated Island – The Key West COVID-19 Spring of 2020.” The collaboration of more than two dozen photographers not only documented an unprecedented moment in time, but also raised $60,000 for Sister Season Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides an emergency safety net for Key West hospitality and tourism workers.Admission is free; seating is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. More information is available from Nelson at nelson-michael@monroecounty-fl.gov.
