Community partnerships help homeowners
Habitat for Humanity’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program partners Habitat’s construction staff with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who volunteer to make repairs to Lower Keys homes with funding from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. Pictured, from top, are
Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy Linda Nixon (top), Habitat for Humanity’s Curtis Barlow and Deputy Wendy Negron, repairing the steps of a Big Coppitt home. CONTRIBUTED
Anne McKee Artists Fund awards grants to 11
An excited group of artists gathered last week at The Gardens Hotel to receive project grants from the Anne McKee Artist’s Fund.
The fund awarded 11 project-based grants to Florida Keys visual, performing and literary artists. The awards support specific creative projects proposed by each recipient.
The 2022 grant recipients are Jill Benado, Lynn Bentley-Kemp, Benjamin Fauquenot, Victoria Mata, Jennifer Juniper, Kyla Piskopink, Vivien Segel, Katlin Spain, Patricia Tiffany, Arida Wright and Key West High School student Elsie Warwick.
Since its inception in 1994, the fund has awarded over $350,000 to visual artists, writers and performing artists who live in Monroe County.
Williams Museum expands exhibits
The Tennessee Williams Museum, 513 Truman Ave., Key West, has expanded its historical exhibits that provide detailed material about two major gifts given by Tennessee Williams to the city of Key West.
The expanded exhibits showcase information about Williams’ writing, filming and premiering “The Rose Tattoo” in Key West during the 1950s. Also, in 1981 Williams gave the use of his name to the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center, now called the Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys. These are two of the many cultural and philanthropic contributions made by the playwright during his 34-year residency that helped place Key West on the cultural and literary map.
The museum is open for self-guided tours Thursday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30. p.m. Dennis Beaver, the museum curator, offers private day-time tours for four or more guests. Prior arrangements must be made by visiting kwahs.org.
Waterfront celebrates Pride with Joe Posa as Joan Rivers
Celebrating Key West Pride, the historic Waterfront Playhouse on Mallory Square will present a limited engagement of Joe Posa as Joan Rivers.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 3-4 and ticket prices are $30. Tickets can be purchased by calling 305-294-5015 or at waterfrontplayhouse.org.
Having performed alongside Rivers on two separate occasions, Posa has taken her “very-naughty-but-SO-much-fun” act on the road with sold-out shows throughout
the United States and Mexico.
Hurricane conference focuses on long-term recovery
Long-term recovery will be the focus of the annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop for the Florida Keys Tourism Industry, which starts at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 26.
The free three-hour virtual event is being organized by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council in partnership with the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West.
National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham will discuss recent hurricane activity highlighting several “gotchas.” Kevin Guthrie, Florida’s state emergency management director, will brief attendees on planned state efforts to aid the Keys after a storm.
Other presenters include Monroe County Emergency Management Director Shannon Weiner and Jon Rizzo, the warning coordination meteorologist for the Florida Keys National Weather Service Office.
To register for the virtual conference, email your name, business name and email address to hurricaneconference@fla-keys.com. Type “May 26 Hurricane Conference Registration” in the subject line.
