Nelson Government and Cultural Center: On March 25, 2011 a group of approximately twenty-five interested citizens met with Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, County Administrator Roman Gastesi and Project Engineer Kevin G. Nelson Government and Cultural Center’s theater/auditorium could be enhanced and improved to include much needed dressing rooms and bathroom facilities for performing artists and event
participants. This theater was built as part of the government center in January of 2009 but never fully completed. It is the intention of the new “Friends of the Key Largo Cultural Center” to apply to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) for available capital improvement monies to help fund this project. The TDC funding will help smooth the progress of completing the Murray Nelson Cultural Center. Although the Nelson Cultural Center commenced operation in January 2009 subsequent cultural events have been disadvantaged by high operating fees. Consequently, the theater/auditorium remained primarily underutilized since inception. The County has recently reduced these fees which now make the cultural center a viable and affordable alternative for hosting cultural events. The members of the new group organized themselves into a committee which they named the “Friends of the Key Largo Cultural Center”, and now this group has elected a Board of Directors. The New Board of Directors is; President Kay Thacker, Vice President, Linda Kaplan, Secretary, Pauline Klein, Treasurer, Dave Andrews, Director, Nola Acker, Director, Moe Saah, Artistic Director, Debra Ginsberg. Other committee members included representatives from a variety of local organizations such as the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, The Keys Players, Key Largo Rotary, YMCA, First State Bank, Bank of America, TIB, Pirates on the Water, Island of Key Largo Federation of Homeowner Associations, Inc., GLEE, Key Largo Civic Club, Sons and Daughters of Italy, Protect e2, Kiwanis Club of the Upper Keys, Bob Gintel, Debra Ginsberg, friends from Ocean Reef, along with caring and concerned citizens of the community.
