With native tropical flora of the Florida Keys being impacted by a growing population and urban development, the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center has begun sponsoring a conservation lecture series, “Wings N’ Things.” The next presentation will feature guest speaker Lynn Miller, Ph.D., wildlife education director at the South Florida Wildlife Center, which is … Read more
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center has been approved for $67,500 in capital resources grant money from the Monroe County Tourist Development Center to improve its pelican pond. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has OK’d the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center request for $67,500 in capital resources grant funds to improve its pelican pond. … Read more
Hurricane Irma Message from Monroe County BOCC – Monroe County will open re-entry into the Keys for residents and business owners in Key Largo, Tavernier and Islamorada at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Entry requires a yellow re-entry sticker or proof of residency or business ownership in those three cities. A roadblock will be put around Mile Marker … Read more
For the past few months, Kenneth Lohmann has been building markers and placing them on rocks in the waters outside his bayside home in the Hammer Point neighborhood of Tavernier. The markers are to safely guide boaters away from the dangerously shallow water next to the area’s canals. The longtime Florida Keys resident turned 90 … Read more
The owner of the Old Tavernier Hotel at mile marker 91.8 recently received approval to transform the former lodging into affordable housing. The Monroe County Development Review Committee gave the final go-ahead on the minor conditional use permit requesting the change at its Aug. 30 meeting. These type of requests do not require public hearings after … Read more
The storied Tavernier Hotel at mile marker 91.8, around since the early 1930s when it was used as a movie theater, has closed its doors for good to overnight visitors. But the owner of the pink and green building hopes to revamp it into something the Florida Keys seems to be in desperate need of … Read more
A calm-weather weekend turns the Harry Harris Park Boat Ramp into one of the busiest spots in the Upper Keys. In a waterfront community with limited public access to open water, the two ramps at the Monroe County public park in Tavernier lead straight to the beckoning expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. “Monday through Friday, … Read more
Monroe County last week completed a $33,828 project to repair the dock next to the boat ramp at Harry Harris Park. They stripped the dock down to the pylons. Removing and repairing the old decking and the support structure. A new structural plastic decking, which is slip resistant and low maintenance, was installed. More … Read more
Tavernier-raised Donya Fiorentino was booked to shoot a Budweiser commercial being filmed at an Islamorada resort after a casting director saw her water-skiing down a ramp at 50 mph when she was 12 years old. And from there, it seemed her life as a sought-after professional model and photographer came at her just as fast. … Read more
SOUTH REGION B – MONROE COUNTY Lieutenant Payne along with Officers Piekenbrock and Martino were on routine water patrol in Waltz Key Basin north of Key West. Shortly after sunset the officers noticed a small skiff returning from offshore with no running lights. The officers followed undetected until they were in close proximity of the skiff. … Read more
A Miami man reeled in a lobster at Tavernier Creek, leading to a Wednesday case filed by the FWC. Robert R. Harden, 21, was booked on three conservation counts. FWC Officer Chris Mattson was on road patrol at Tavernier Creek at mile marker 91 when he “observed a man fishing in an unorthodox method,” Dube … Read more