2 HOUSEHOLDS FILE 35 COMPLAINTS AGAINST FENCE POSTS | P. 8 WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HAITIAN RESIDENTS?
SHERIFF SAYS FEDS DENY RUMORS OF A KEY WEST ICE RAID | P. 12 FIRE DESTROYS HOME, UNITES COMMUNITY NEIGHBORS SUPPORT LOWER KEYS FAMILY | P. 6
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5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5
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It was unlike anything anyone ever watched. American climber Alex Honnold scaled the 1,667foot Taipei 101 skyscraper — with no harness, rope or safety equipment — on Jan. 24. The climb was witnessed by many in person and watchers on Netflix. He climbed the building in one hour and 31 minutes.
Key West’s historic preservation board and City Commissioner Sam Kaufman are working to find a way to allow rainbow-painted fence posts in the city’s historic district. See page 8.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Really? Key West residents, especially ones who live in Old Town, did NOT immediately embrace the construction of a new, multi-level parking garage? Residents who live near the proposed garage worried about traffic entering and exiting the garage? Homeowners who deal with floodwaters on that corner after every downpour would prefer that the city do something to mitigate the flooding in that neighborhood before spending $4 million to $6 million on the parking structure? Shocking.
Thirty or so residents attended a Jan. 27 meeting about a parking structure being proposed for the existing paid public parking lot that’s behind the fire station at the corner of Angela and Simonton streets.
The proposed $4.2 million structure would offer three levels of parking, including the ground level, with a total of 150 spots, more than doubling the 64 spaces there now.
Hosting the Jan. 27 public meeting, City Manager Brian L. Barroso, city engineer Doug Bradshaw and parking director John Wilkins emphasized that the proposed structure is shorter than the fire station located on the same lot that faces Simonton Street. They also assured the attendees that the city commission has not yet approved any version of the new parking structure and emphasized that there will be plenty of opportunity for public input.
But there was no shortage of such input at the initial meeting this week. Parking structures are rarely popular, standing, as they do, as a stark reminder of space we no longer have for cars we can’t seem to live without.
Residents suggested adding solar panels to the plans to help offset electricity costs.
When other residents in the neighborhood complained about flooding issues at that corner, Bradshaw and Barroso acknowledged that they know flooding is an issue in that area and it will be addressed, but by a different department and at different meetings.
“When? Why not fix the flooding first, before spending $4 to $6 million on a giant parking garage in a floodprone area?” several residents asked.
Kate Miano, who owns the luxury Gardens Hotel directly across the street from the proposed parking structure, also opposes the construction, and suggested longer-term planning by city officials, as well as a potential parking garage on Stock Island rather than Old Town.
Part of the city officials’ presentation outlined the need for the proposed structure, which Barroso described as “the best option.”
The city’s presentation states small shops need more parking for customers, employees must pay a regular price to park near their place of employment, revenue is needed to fund loss of grants for transit and for affordable housing, and electric charging stations are needed to support the city’s sustainability goals.
The presentation also examines potential business impacts in the area, saying that a larger parking structure would increase foot traffic to local
retail shops, and that Key West’s parking price of $6 an hour is the highest in Florida and more expensive than New York City, which charges $5 an hour. More parking supply could slow the rate of inflation that keeps driving parking prices up, the presentation said, also noting the central downtown location is ideal.
Additional benefits, according to city staff, include:
• Reduced congestion in the area caused by vehicles searching for parking. Customers would choose this location because it is well known and offers almost guaranteed available parking including permit parking for locals and employees.
• Revenue could be earmarked to support the city’s transit goals of improving and increasing public transit to encourage less trips by private vehicle. This additional revenue could provide a funding source for transit.
• If employee parking permits are expanded to this new parking structure, fewer employees will park in the blocks surrounding the commercial core and the demand for parking spaces in the historic neighborhoods will be reduced.
• The city could dedicate some spaces in the new parking structure for the Employee Lot permit program, as there is at Truman Waterfront Park and the Old Town Garage.
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
It took a jury about four hours to find Preston Brewer guilty of first-degree murder on Jan. 21 at the Key West courthouse. Judge Mark Jones scheduled a sentencing hearing for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Florida law states that a firstdegree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In the case of Brewer, who was convicted of first-degree murder for the February 2023 fatal shooting of Garrett Hughes, prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, so Brewer faces life without parole.
Brewer has 30 days from the date of his conviction to file a notice of appeal, which is expected, said prosecutor Colleen Dunne. Then the case winds its way through what can be a lengthy appellate process.
Witness testimony and closing arguments in the murder trial wrapped up around lunchtime on Jan. 21, when Jones sent the jurors into deliberations with specific instructions about their verdict options. The jurors could find Brewer guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder or not guilty of either crime.
Three days of witness testimony began after the jury was seated on Jan. 15 and wrapped up on Jan. 20, when prosecutors Colleen Dunne and Joe Mansfield rested their case. Defense attorneys Jerome Ballarotto and Mark Catanzaro declined to call any witnesses. Brewer, 60, declined to testify.
Video evidence played a significant role during testimony of witnesses, who helped narrate security footage from the bar parking lot that detailed the moments up to and including the fatal shooting.
Witnesses included Garrett Hughes’ brother, Carson Hughes, and friends Blake Arencibia and Logan Pellecier. The jury also saw footage from inside the bar before the shooting, as well as police body-cam footage from the parking lot that night and during police interviews with Brewer after the shooting.
The morning of Jan. 21, the jury heard closing arguments from both sides.
Ballarotto’s often-meandering closing argument stunned some courtroom observers, who accused him of “victim blaming” as he pointed to security footage of Hughes just moments before his death, saying derisively, “That’s how drunk he is. Look at him. Totally drunk.”
Ballarotto said in his closing that Hughes demonstrated “an attitude of entitlement.”
The prosecutors used that same inebriated condition that Ballarotto pointed out to emphasize that Garrett Hughes did not pose a deadly threat to Brewer the night of the shooting – he was shirtless, drunk, unarmed and had been urinating in a parking lot behind a bar when Brewer approached him.
“Garrett Hughes lost his life due to a grossly disproportionate and deadly response to a minor act,” Dunne said in her closing. “The defendant was irritated, annoyed, rude and upset because Garrett Hughes peed on the wall of a building outside. The confrontation went from mere words to the defendant grabbing his gun, aiming it at Garrett and ultimately shooting him.”
In his closing, Mansfield reminded the jury of the testimony of witness Melssa Roberts, who happened to be in the parking lot smoking a cigarette at the time of the shooting.
“Melissa Roberts testified, ‘That kid didn’t stand a chance,’” Mansfield said.
A Jan. 19 fire destroyed a house at 36 Blue Water Dr., near MM 14. All people and pets got out with no injuries. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
ALower Keys family that lost everything they own in a Jan. 19 fire is now finding something else — the compassion of the Keys community and its commitment to making things better for a neighbor in need.
Monday, Jan. 19 was a holiday, and Jason Wooter, a single father who works at Square Grouper Bar & Grill, was home with his two boys, a thirdgrader and an eighth-grader at Sugarloaf School. Wooter’s mother, Patricia Ellison, owns the home at 36 Blue Water Dr., where the four of them or lived with their dog, Bandit.
Ellison was out of the house and at work when the fire started around 10:30 a.m. on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Five houses down, Trevor Tyler, the principal of Sugarloaf School, was at his own house, working on a project with his friend, Tim Tedesco, the deputy who works as Sugarloaf’s school resource officer, and Tedesco’s brother-in-law, Kenny.
“We were downwind and the smoke was so bad, at first we were convinced my house was on fire,” Tyler told the Keys Weekly last week.
The trio quickly traced the source of the smoke to a house five doors away, where another neighbor, Sean Caggiano, was already on the scene fighting the smoke and flames to find out if anyone was inside.
“Thankfully, the boys know me from school, so I was able to convince
them to come out and come to me,” Tyler said. “I was somehow able to grab the dog, Bandit’s, collar and get him to safety. He was so scared. The kids were in shock.”
With firefighters en route, everyone in the neighborhood was knocking on doors, warning people in nearby houses in case the fire spread.
“Once I had the kids and the dog accounted for, Tim went up into the house to make sure no one else was inside,” Tyler said. “He came out with Jason, who assured us his mom hadn’t been home, and no one else was inside.”
The flames were 20 to 30 feet high by the time the firefighters arrived, Tyler said, refusing to take any credit for what he did.
“We’re just glad we were there and we and all the other neighbors did what anyone would,” he said.
In the immediate aftermath, volunteers with the American Red Cross’s Disaster Action Team took, well, action. They arranged for hotel rooms, food, clothing and immediate needs.
And then the community came together. Lynn Bell, owner of the Square Grouper, launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family that as of Jan. 27 was $8,000 shy of its $28,000 goal.
“Jason, his two boys and their dog are OK, but they have lost everything,” Bell wrote in the online fundraiser description. “When I got there, Jason was literally barefoot with no shoes to his name. They have nowhere to stay locally and need our help with monetary donations at this time, as they have no place to store donated items. Please find it in your heart to help this family, a local, one of our own.”
Baptist Health Cancer Care is now welcoming patients at its newly renovated facility at 3426 North Roosevelt Boulevard, bringing advanced treatment, expert providers and compassionate support to the Lower Keys.
The new center offers chemotherapy, radiation therapy with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, CT simulation for precise planning, and on-site physicians, all in one convenient, patient-centered location.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Two Key West households have filed a total of 35 complaints against Old Town homeowners who have painted seven or so of their fenceposts rainbow colors — colors not specifically permitted under the historic preservation guidelines that regulate the exterior appearance of buildings in the city’s historic district.
Because Key West’s Old Town area is a designated historic district, boasting one of the largest collections of historic wooden buildings in the country, homeowners there are bound by preservation guidelines.
Key West’s preservation board is formally the Historic Architecture Review Commission, or HARC, whose members each are appointed by a city commissioner. The board has been trying since November to find a way to allow homeowners in the historic district to paint seven of their fence pickets, or a pedestrian-sized gate, the colors of the rainbow. But so far, the HARC commissioners have been getting pushback from the city’s legal staff.
The rainbow fence trend began last summer, after state officials forced Key West and other cities to remove their rainbow-painted crosswalks or lose state transportation funding.
Key West residents, with support from some, but not all, city officials, began brainstorming alternative ways to express the island’s official motto of One Human Family and its history as an accepting place for the LGBT community.
After the city commission voted not to stand up to the state’s crosswalk removal mandate, several homeowners began painting seven or so pickets of their fences in rainbow colors. The rainbow renaissance appeared on fences from Bahama Village to Flagler Avenue.
Then the complaints started.
Of the 35 complaints that have been filed against rainbow-painted fence posts in the historic district, 20 have come from Daniel Sujak, who lives on Georgia Street. The other 15 were filed by a couple who lives on Windsor Lane, Penny Walker Pourciau and her husband Jules Pourciau, whose social media pages include anti-gay posts.
Penny Walker Pourciau spoke at the December HARC meeting, and emphasized her love of the historic district and her commitment to the historic guidelines, asking, “If we’re not going to
enforce the rules, then why even have a historic commission?”
Sujak could not be reached for comment, as the listed phone number online was disconnected, and a message sent to his wife via Facebook was not returned as of press time.
At the November and December HARC meetings, the members each supported a limited number of painted fence posts in the historic district and discussed at length potential methods to make it allowable. They want to change the historic guidelines to allow owners to express themselves on up to seven fence posts or a gate. HARC chair Haven Burkee emphasized the new rules will allow all homeowners to paint anything on up to seven fence posts, or a pedestrian-wide gate, given free-speech rights.
“I’m all for preservation, but it’s not about freezing a city in time. Key West’s history of inclusion is worth preserving as much as the architecture,” resident Nicole Sohn said at the December HARC meeting.
On the HARC commission, Burkee, along with commissioners Joseph Moody and Bryan Green, were outspoken in their support for the painted fence posts. The commission initially agreed in December to have homeowners simply apply for a HARC fence-painting permit that the board would grant. But interim city attorney Mayanne Downs had concerns.
City Commissioner Sam Kaufman is hoping his fellow commissioners will join him in supporting their appointed HARC board members by finding a way to allow the fence painting.
After state officials forced Key West to remove its rainbow crosswalk last summer, homeowners throughout Key West launched a rainbow renaissance, adding pops of color to seven of their fence posts. Now, officials are working to find a way to allow the painted fence posts in the city’s historic district. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
“This was an opportunity for the city to carefully and proactively handle a sensitive matter of great public interest, and to support a part of our community that felt genuinely let down,” Kaufman wrote in a Jan. 27 email to city attorneys, the city manager and the HARC director. “Instead, the absence of clear and timely guidance has understandably created public confusion and risks further frustration and hurt feelings. I raise this not to cast blame, but to underscore the need for clarity, transparency and thoughtful handling going forward.”
Kaufman will raise the issue at the Feb. 3 city commission meeting, and wants to put a pause on enforcement of the code violations related to painted fence posts until officials can finalize the change in the guidelines.
Key West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art
Celebrating Cultural Resilience
CUBAN ART TOUR April 20-24, 2026
Artist’s Reception
Saturday, February 14th, 2026, 5-8 pm Works
With the muscular rhythm of Abstract Expressionism and the textured lyricism of thick palette strokes, Peter Vey carves his place among the greats of the American Scene. Echoing the legacy of Winslow Homer, Grant Wood, John Steuart Curry, Reginald Marsh, and Thomas Hart Benton, Vey reimagines Regionalism with a contemporary pulse—fresh, fearless, and unmistakably his own.
An island inspired treasure trove where fashion meets paradise. Nestled into the heart of Key West, we’re your go-to destination for splurge worthy finds and fashion forward essentials. Featuring the latest styles from Farm Rio, Alemais, Oliphant & many more.
February 1 - Dorian Wind Quintet Bach • Heindemith• Harbert
Tennessee Williams Theater• 4pm
$20 at door • all students FREE keywestimpromptu.org
ICE Agents can break down YOUR door without a Judge’s Warrant.
ICE Agents can then search YOUR home without a Judge’s Warrant.
ICE Agents can arrest YOU or anyone else without a Judge’s Warrant.
ICE Agents can put YOU in an unmarked van without Judge’s Warrant.
ICE Agents can lock YOU in a Detention Center without Judge’s Warrant.
Violating YOUR 4th Amendment Constitutional Right against warantless search and seizure does NOT make YOU or any other American safer.
Americans
Crowd Control Agents already wear full body SWAT armor.
Crowd Control Agents also have tear gas guns & pepper spray.
Crowd Control Agents also have flash bang & smoke grenades.
Crowd Control Agents also have gas masks, sheilds & batons.
Crowd Control Agents also have hundreds of backup agents.
Haitian community on edge as protected status ends Feb. 3
The federal government is preparing to send more than 300,000 Haitian immigrants back to a country it deems too dangerous to visit, and so violent that it urges insistent travelers to leave behind a will and DNA samples so their remains can be identified.
“Do not travel to Haiti for any reason … due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care. … Mob killings and public assaults are on the rise. … Violent crime is rampant in Haiti. … The expansion of gang, organized crime and terrorist activity has led to widespread violence, kidnappings and sexual assault. … There is a substantial risk of being struck by stray bullets. … There is a risk of terrorist violence. … There are gangs that are designated as terrorist organizations present in Haiti.”
— U.S. Department of State, Level 4 Travel Advisory
The same advisory, which was issued in July 2025, urges Americans who must travel to Haiti: “Draft a will and put your financial affairs in order. Discuss a plan for care and custody of children and pets. Leave DNA samples with your doctor so your family can identify your remains. Establish a proof-of-life protocol with questions (and answers) to ask hostage takers.”
Haitians to lose protected status on Feb. 3
The same month that the Department of State issued its Level 4 Travel Advisory for Haiti, a different federal agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced that immigration and deportation protections would end on Feb. 3, 2026 for the estimated 330,000 Haitian immigrants living in the United States. That protection, known as Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, prevents immigrants, for a period, from being deported back to countries that the United States deems unsafe for reasons such as ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, an epidemic or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Temporary Protected Status is often extended,
usually by six or 12 months per extension, “unless the Attorney General finds that permitting the aliens to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States,” states federal immigration law.
In July, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem “determined that there are no extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent Haitian nationals from returning in safety,” states an official notice filed in the Federal Register. “Moreover, even if the department found that there existed conditions that were extraordinary and temporary that prevented Haitian nationals from returning in safety, termination of Temporary Protected Status of Haiti is still required because it is contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States.”
South Florida braces for fallout
The ending of TPS for Haitian people living in the United States on Feb. 3 is expected to have an outsized effect on South Florida communities, including Key West, where several industries depend on Haitian workers. Locally, Haitian immigrants work for Waste Management, the city of Key West, as hotel housekeepers, restaurant kitchen staff, ride-share drivers, hospital nursing assistants, janitors, home health aides, retail cashiers, child care workers and more.
Of the estimated 330,000 Haitians with TPS in the United States, according to the National Immigration Forum, about 113,000 live and work in Florida, with the highest concentrations in South Florida.
Sheriff says ICE & Border agents deny rumors of Key West immigration raid
Rumors erupted on social media last week about a federal agency having booked a block of 40 hotel rooms, starting Feb. 2, at a North Roosevelt Boulevard hotel whose website touts its military and government group rates and amenities.
The rumors stoked fears within the Haitian community, fueling unconfirmed reports of
Haitian immigrants being afraid to go to work and of high absences of Haitian students from local schools.
But on Jan. 27, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay called the Keys Weekly from a conference in Jacksonville. He had heard the rumors of an influx of immigration agents, and had read the story in the Keys Weekly.
“I wanted to be proactive, and ensure we were prepared down here for anything that could possibly happen with any protests or other events,” Ramsay said. “So I called and spoke directly with my contacts at ICE, Border Patrol, DHS and Customs & Border Protection. I sent them your story, and they all told me they have not booked hotel rooms in Key West and have no operations planned in Key West. I would hope these guys don’t have any reason to lie to me, and if it turns out that they did, that will not be good.”
The Keys Weekly did not receive a return phone call last week seeking comment from hotel management about a block of rooms having been booked. But a longtime lodging industry professional had told the Keys Weekly
The U.S. Department of State travel advisory map labels Haiti as ‘Level 4 – Do Not Travel,’ the federal government’s highest risk category. CONTRIBUTED
about the reservation on Jan. 22. (Without confirmation, the Keys Weekly has chosen not to identify the hotel, although it has been named amid widespread social media speculation.)
Similar rumors of such reservations have circulated on local social media for more than a month, said Lucy Hawk, a local artist and activist who heads the Key West Immigrant Support Network on Facebook with resident Heather Shivo-Baptist, both of whom spoke with the Keys Weekly on Jan. 23.
“We have thus far been unable to confirm any of these rumors,” Hawk and Shivo-Baptist said. “Almost every hotel on the island has been the subject of a similar rumor at some point in these past months. But in our view, we don’t care where agents are staying. We just want everyone to be prepared as if immigration agents are definitely coming, and to know their rights when something happens.”
Helping immigrants prepare
Hawk and Shivo-Baptist were speaking with the Keys Weekly while waiting outside a church. The pastor had invited them to speak to the church’s large Haitian congregation about their rights and advance preparations they should make.
For more than eight months, the Key West Immigrant Support Network has been assembling and distributing ICE family preparedness packets and ICE business preparedness packets for residents and business owners in English, Spanish, Creole and Russian.
Since June, Hawk said, nearly 500 immigrants have been removed from Key West and Stock Island, with many more targeted in the Middle and Upper Keys.
Many of the people removed from Key West remain in detention centers, while others have already been deported. Most are Hispanic people from Latin American countries. And most of them had asylum cases pending with the federal government, meaning they were reporting for regular immigration hearings. The vast majority of detainees and deportees had no criminal history; were authorized to work; had gotten jobs; were paying taxes; opened bank accounts; bought cars; and were on a path to a green card, which grants an immigrant permanent legal residency.
“But the fact that they were following the requirements of the law, pursuing their asylum case, showing up to hearings and checking
in with the government means their compliance was used against them, because agents can more easily target them knowing exactly where they live and work,” Shivo-Baptist said.
The situation could be more dire for Haitian immigrants when TPS ends for them on Feb. 3.
“Starting Feb. 3, everything that’s been happening to Hispanic people will start happening to our Haitian community,” Hawk said. “But unlike most Hispanic residents, who have pending asylum cases, most Haitians only have TPS. So they don’t have any asylum hearings. They can’t apply for a monetary bond or ankle monitor. They have never been in contact with immigration attorneys or anything.
“We want people to be as prepared as possible, and we’d love to hear from anyone who is a citizen or who has permanent legal status and is able to help by volunteering to drive people to work so they’re not targeted by the license-plate software,” Hawk said, adding that preparation for immigrants involves planning and paperwork, especially legal documentation known as power of attorney that lets a person legally designate another individual to do things on their behalf.
For example, Hawk said, immigration agents are running license plates with software platforms that can discern the immigration status of the vehicle’s registered owner. If an immigrant owner of a car gets pulled over and detained, “no one else can get that car out of impound without a power of attorney — not the person’s spouse, child or parent.”
Also, Shivo-Baptist said, many young Latino couples have had a child in the United States, which makes the child a U.S. citizen. But if the husband gets detained and is facing deportation, many of the mothers want to leave and plan to join their husband back in their home country.
“But most of these mothers haven’t yet obtained a U.S. passport for their infant, toddler or elementary-aged child,” Hawk said. “And to get a passport for a child, if both parents are listed on the birth certificate, then both parents have to be present to sign the passport paperwork. If one parent is detained in Alligator Alcatraz or somewhere in Broward County, it’s nearly impossible for their spouse to get to them to get that document signed.
“So much of this preparedness involves family law, assets, access to bank accounts,
If immigration agents come to your home:
• You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions about where you were born, your immigration status or how you entered the United States.
• You do not have to open your door unless officers have a valid warrant signed by a judge. A valid warrant must be signed by a judge and list your correct name and address. You may ask officers to slide the warrant under the door or show it through a window.
• An ICE ‘administrative warrant’ is not enough. Only a warrant signed by a judge allows entry into your home.
• You do not have to sign anything without speaking to a lawyer. Do not sign papers you do not understand.
• You have the right to speak with an attorney. You may say, “I choose to remain silent and I want to speak to a lawyer.”
Source: Key West Immigrant Support Network
child custody, designating someone to pick up a child from school and guardianship issues.”
Lawmakers seek extension
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, on Jan. 22 announced a “discharge petition” that could compel the House to vote on a bill requiring the Trump Administration to extend TPS for Haiti for three years. The discharge petition will need 218 signatures in the House to move forward.
Pressley’s petition is supported by U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, whose district includes Orlando; U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke of New York, co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus; and other Democratic representatives.
“To send vulnerable families back to a country that is plagued with violence and a horrific humanitarian crisis is unconscionable. It is shameful, and again, it is dangerous,” Clarke said. “The effort to end TPS is a cruelty that this administration is leveling against those who have come to our shores, seeking refuge, seeking support, seeking protection.”
“Haiti is facing extraordinary instability, and forcing people back into crisis is indefensible, Frost said at a press conference. “This petition focuses on protecting people who have built their lives here and contribute in meaningful ways to our communities, and I hope our Republican colleagues who speak often about public safety choose to support it.”
Back when I was a 20-something hippie enchanted with my Key West home, my friends and I had a lot of time on our hands.
Around 1980, life was relatively simple on the island — a place we all regarded as outside the real world, and therefore not subject to the real world’s rules.
has lived in Key West for 40-plus years, witnessing and writing about the island’s renegade past, shipwreck salvage adventures and colorful presentday characters.
We worked just enough to pay the rent, buy a few necessities and pay our bar tabs (that is, if our bartender buddies wouldn’t give us credit or accept payment in lobster or other trade goods). No one tried to keep up with the Joneses — and besides, until the fabulous Fast Buck Freddie’s store opened, there was practically nowhere to buy high-end clothing or household items anyway.
We didn’t have much money, but we never felt poor. We rode beat-up bikes for transportation, swam in the Atlantic Ocean off the old Sands Beach Club, and hitched rides on friends’ boats to catch fish for dinner. Without cell phones or cable TV to distract us, we read books, relaxed and spent hours wrangling lazily over obscure topics.
I had another pastime. Because of my passion for Key West, I wanted to know as much about the place as possible. So I pedaled my bike around the narrow tree-shaded Old Town streets, learning their names and soaking up the atmosphere. I studied island history and famous residents and spent hours poring over old books in the beautifully shabby library.
Eventually, being cursed with a peculiar sense of humor, I developed a satirical narrative that blended street names, heritage and personalities into a mishmash that would make a historian cringe.
The narrative began, I decided, with railroad magnate Henry Flagler Avenue, who built the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. He was the father of President Harry Truman Avenue — not to be confused with President Theodore Roosevelt
Boulevard, President Dwight Eisenhower Drive or President John F. Kennedy Drive (who stopped by for the Cuban Missile Crisis).
In my absurdist chronicle, President Truman Avenue’s daughter Margaret married into the Launderette family, becoming the eccentric Margaret Truman Launderette.
The Street family, I figured, was among Key West’s early settlers — raising daughters that included Caroline Street, Emma Street, Catherine Street and Julia Street. (Della Street, famed in books and films as attorney Perry Mason’s assistant, was probably a black-sheep cousin.)
At some point, I shared the quirky chronology with friends over cocktails at the Full Moon Saloon. Either because they were polite or dazed by the Moon’s startlingly strong drinks, they seemed fascinated.
Of course that motivated me to continue, turning my attention to Key West’s history as a literary haven. In my skewed satire, it dated back to legendary writer Ernest Hemingway House — whose ancestors included the famous ornithologist and artist who visited the island in the 1830s: John James Audubon House.
In fact, I imagined Audubon House’s obsession with painting birds might have inspired Hemingway House’s messy tale, “The Old Man and the Seagull.”
Later, after becoming a part-time secretary for Key West’s resident troubadour Jimmy Buffett, I wove him into the narrative.
By that time, the offbeat parody had gone completely off the rails and I never mentioned it to Jimmy. That was probably wise, as it portrayed him pining for a sultry woman named Margarita and chronicling his love in the career-making song “Wasting Away in Margarita’s Villa.”
As my life evolved, however, I abandoned the satirical narrative and forgot all about it — until it turned up recently in an old folder.
Reading it recalled those early sun-drenched days, when our lives were simple and Key West was a drowsy end-of-the-road paradise … and for a moment, smiling at the memories, I could almost picture President Harry Truman Avenue strolling around Old Town.
the marriage of an ex? What could possibly go wrong?
WYATT SAMUELSON
www.keysweekly.com
Listen, we’ve all been there. Our ex invites us to their wedding, hoping we can congratulate them and be happy for their newfound relationship. Meanwhile, we’re still heartbroken, secretly hoping they’ll take us back, masking our pain with booze and other paraphernalia. OK, maybe we haven’t all been there. But for the characters in the Red Barn Theatre’s production of “At the Wedding,” that’s exactly what happens.
Written by Bryna Turner, “At the Wedding” follows Carlo, a snarky, hilarious and heartbroken lead who attends her ex-girlfriend’s wedding in hopes of winning her love back. Still longing for her old flame, and never refusing a drink, Carlo wrestles with her inner reflections on love, marriage and guilt from a failed relationship.
From the opening moments, audiences are thrown into the fast-paced, ear-catching dialogue masterfully employed by Turner. Add the dynamic acting of the Red Barn’s cast, and there’s never a dull moment. I found myself so drawn into the story that the play felt like one giant act, seamlessly broken up by scenes. I never thought it possible to squeeze 120 minutes out of a single wedding, but I suppose that’s why I write the articles and not the plays. This production also introduces two additions to the Red Barn crew: Jess Polak as Carlo, and Jody Orrigo as
Eli — the nerve-wracking but wildly philosophical man itching to pop the question in his own relationship. Director Joy Hawkins couldn’t have chosen better actors for these roles. Their chemistry felt natural, and their presence on stage was tantalizing yet effortless.
Alongside them are Red Barn veterans Marth Hooten-Hattingh (Carly), Jack Macdonald (Victor), Rita Troxel (Maria) and Susannah Wells (Leigh) who delivered a performance that kept the momentum alive from start to finish.
Polak hadn’t graced the stage in over a decade and was persuaded by a friend — three hours before auditions began — to throw her hat in the ring.
“I always said I wanted to do it again, and I had no excuses not to go. I work a day job, and life is solid now,” said Polak.
Her husband of 10 years, Oren — a musician in Key West — told me this was the first time he’d ever seen Polak perform. “I’ve never seen her do anything. I knew she did it in college, but I was blown away,” he said.
Jody Orrigo (Eli) brings a stage presence that can only come from immense passion for the craft and years of training. When asked whether his quirks, facial expressions and physical movements were planned ahead of time, he said, “Some of it’s planned and part of practice, but I leave enough open so I can improvise on stage.”
If you’re a sucker for rom-coms, buy a ticket ASAP. “At the Wedding” runs through Feb. 14.
In classic Red Barn Theatre opening-night fashion, food was catered for guests and cast to enjoy together at an after-party.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
“Innocent until proven guilty.”
It’s not just the title of a fictional legal thriller. It’s a fundamental right and a foundation of our legal system.
It’s also the reason the reminder appears on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office website — you know, the one we all check daily to see the latest batch of mugshots from arrests in the Florida Keys. The sheriff’s office website — keysso.net — states:
“The people shown on these pages have been arrested but have not been found guilty in a court of law. For case dispositions, and for detailed information on criminal and civil court cases, visit the Monroe County Clerk of the Courts website.”
Those case dispositions are essential, as they often show that a person’s arrest — and online mugshot — did not lead to a conviction. Many times, their arrest does not even lead to a trial, a plea bargain or an admission of guilt.
I got a call at the office two weeks ago that provided a stark admonition of my responsibility as a journalist and local news reporter in a small town.
In July, Gwendolyn L. Carter, 68, a Big Pine resident who had worked at the Big Pine Winn-Dixie, was fired for alleged theft, and a warrant was issued for her arrest, which occurred weeks later in northern Florida.
Carter’s mugshot appeared on the Clay County Sheriff’s Office website and still appears on the Monroe County site, but related to a 2022 arrest — a case that was dismissed by the courts.
Managers at the Big Pine Winn-Dixie did not return two phone calls seeking comment on Carter’s firing and alleged theft.
A search of the Monroe County Clerk of Court website (monroeclerk.com/) shows how both cases against Carter ended. The alleged theft from Winn Dixie was not prosecuted. The legal term is “Nolle Prosequi,” and the court document states that prosecutors declined to prosecute the theft because they could not prove it. In the case of Carter’s former arrest in 2022, when she had a physical altercation with her brother, the charges were dropped.
But a quick search of the sheriff’s office website shows mugshots and initial charges, but no outcomes.
“I haven’t lived a perfect life. I’ve had a tough life, but I’ve gotten it together,” Carter told the Keys Weekly. “And I never stole from Winn-Dixie. They had no security footage of me stealing anything. Even the company’s asset control manager knew he didn’t have footage of me stealing because it didn’t happen. I signed my dismissal form under duress. I loved my job there and honestly, would just love to get my job back.”
But in the meantime, Carter has been denied — and dismissed from — new jobs following a quick search of the local mugshots that show a DUI and a battery arrest. (The petit theft appears with her mugshot in Clay County, where she was arrested on the WinnDixie warrant.) A deeper search of online court records shows no criminal convictions for Gwendolyn L. Carter for anything more than reckless driving.
In the words of a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court decision, “The accused during a criminal prosecution has at stake interests of immense importance, both because of the possibility that he may lose his liberty upon conviction and because of the certainty that he would be stigmatized by the conviction. Accordingly, a society that values the good name and freedom of every individual should not condemn a man for commission of a crime when there is reasonable doubt about his guilt.”
PLEIN AIR: PAINTING WITH VIBRANT COLOR
3 DAY WORKSHOP WITH SARAH LORENTZ
Friday, February 27, 4-7pm
Saturday, February 28, 9am-12pm
Sunday, March 1, 9am-12pm
$275 for Non-Members
$250 for KWAC Members
OIL LANDSCAPE PAINTING WITH PATRICIA SWEET
Friday, March 6, 2026 10am-2pm
$120 for Non-Members
$95 for KWAC Members
LINE & WASH WATER COLOR BATIK ON KINWASHI RICE PAPER
2 DAY WORKSHOP WITH PETER STERLING TURNER
Wednesday March 11, 2026 10am-2pm
Thursday, March 12, 2026 10am-12pm
$85 for Non-Member
$75 for KWAC Members
WATERCOLOR MONDAYS WITH KAREN BEAUPRIE
Four Mondays in March 10am-1pm
March 9, 16, 23 & 30. All levels welcome
$40 Non-Members/$35 Members per class
Discount available for class bundles
DISASTER TO MASTERREVIVING OLD PAINTINGS
2 DAY WORKSHOP WITH NANCY VAN NESS
Friday, March 20, 2026 10am - 4pm
Saturday, March 21, 2026 10am-4pm
$300 for Non-Member
$275 for KWAC Members
By Jim McCarthy, Alex Rickert and Mandy Miles
Alarge contingent of Florida Keys officials will make the trek to Tallahassee to advocate on key issues and priorities for the island chain.
Dubbed Florida Keys Day, local leaders will visit the state capital Feb. 4-5 as they meet with department heads and legislators. There, they will sit down and explain their reasons for funding and policy change in areas such as water quality, transportation and affordable housing, among others.
“Historically, it’s the most popular advocacy day in Tallahassee,” said Kate DeLoach, lobbyist with the Southern Group, which helps organize Florida Keys Day alongside state Rep. Jim Mooney’s office. “It’s really our chance to get everybody thinking about us and our issues, hopefully right around the time they’re making budget and policy decisions.”
Erin Muir, who recently joined the Southern Group as a lobbyist, said the day is an opportunity to remind the state how vital the Keys are from an economic standpoint.
“A big driver is our tourism industry and the unique environmental resources we possess,” she said. “It’s really wonderful when the Keys community from Key West to Key Largo can all come together and show a united front.”
The Monroe County officials have a packed schedule as they meet with several departments, including FloridaCommerce, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission and Department of Environmental Protection. They’ll also talk to state legislators who make
discretionary decisions related to the
Lisa Tennyson, county legislative affairs director, said county officials will be advocating on a number of priorities, including the perennial $20 million for water quality projects via the Florida Keys Stewardship Act.
“Even though we’ve been successful annually, it’s never something we can take for granted, it requires significant advocacy every year,” Tennyson said.
On the policy side, Tennyson said they’ll be talking to state leaders about extending a special authorization in the Stewardship Act which sets aside $5 million for land acquisition. The provision within the act detailed a 10-year term that expires this year.
“We’re looking to extend authorization another 10 years. It’s a successful partnership between the state and entities in the Keys,” Tennyson said.
“Land buying in the Keys is part of an important formula with the limited allocations, and taking properties off private rolls works to limit liability takings claims. It also obviously helps to protect our natural resources.”
Fixing relationships and funding transportation projects are two priorities for the Key West contingent while in Tallahassee. Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez said she’s flying to Tallahassee with City Commissioner Aaron Castillo and City Manager Brian L. Barroso. Assistant city manager Rod Delostrinos will already be up there, she said. Delostrinos was previously head of the city’s transit department and as such has contacts and familiarity with the Florida Department of Transportation, which drew the island city’s ire last year when it forced Key West and other cities to remove rainbow-painted crosswalks.
“We had no choice when faced with the loss of state transportation funding if we didn’t remove it,” Henriquez said.
The FDOT funds the majority of most road and utility projects in Key West, with the city contributing a required local amount.
“We would have been on the hook for about $6.2 million, and that was just one project on Jose Marti Drive,” the mayor. “So we need to build those relationships and move forward.”
Transportation grants are another topic to be discussed, as the city recently had to discontinue the popular Duval Loop downtown bus service due to its financial losses and is paring back bus routes, cuts that typically affect low-income workers and senior citizens.
“So we’ll have our walking shoes on and will be heading to several meetings that we have scheduled with various state departments, agencies, elected officials and lobbyists,” Henriquez said. “And beyond Tallahassee, we’re also looking to strengthen our ties with our federal representatives and lobbyists.”
Islamorada officials will meet with several state departments during their
“Historically, it’s the most popular advocacy day in Tallahassee.”
—
Kate DeLoach, lobbyist for the Southern Group
visit. Among the village contingent traveling to Tallahassee are Village Manager Ron Saunders, Mayor Don Horton, councilwoman Anna Richards and planning director Jennifer DeBoisbriand.
The village has several requests for state funding on projects such as the North Plantation Key Pump Station. Islamorada officials are currently working through a consent order from the Department of Environmental Protection after the station experienced six sanitary sewer overflows and discharges, from May 2021 to March 2025. The incidents were in violation of state regulations which prohibit sewage, wastewater or biosolids from being disposed of without treatment. The
village is in the process of remediating the issue with its engineering firm, Wade Trim, and the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District by constructing an inline booster pump station.
Funding for a federally-mandated deep wastewater injection well sits firmly atop Marathon’s list of priorities. City Manager George Garrett and Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo said they will pursue a portion of the $20 million Florida Keys Stewardship Act, along with a $5 million special appropriation request to back the project.
In December, city officials said that even if pending grants are fully funded, at least $10 million of the deep well’s $60 million cost remains unfunded – a number that could wind up on tax rolls as Marathon works to meet its 2028 installation deadline.
Portions of 2025’s Senate Bill 180, already under the microscope, will also merit attention for Marathon and the Keys as a whole – in particular, a provision in the bill that restricts a crop of 900 new building rights to one right per buildable lot, handicapping future multifamily affordable housing developments.
“(Rep. Mooney) recognizes that you can’t do affordable housing with one unit per lot, and he said he has a fix in the works,” said Garrett. Thankfully, he said, the threat of takings cases won’t loom over proceedings the way it did last year, as a December meeting of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Cabinet fully greenlit the new batch of building allocations for distribution.
Finally, with relationships on the mend between Marathon and the Florida Department of Commerce, the city will look to rebalance its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which determines the types of building permits that must be sent up to Tallahassee for review before the city may issue them.
In February 2022, following a highly-publicized building rights case in Marathon, the state revoked a previous agreement that allowed the city to independently review and issue permits within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. The city approved a revised MOU two months later, but city officials told the Weekly the current scope of reviews causes unnecessary delays and extra work for city staff and local contractors and property owners.
“I’ve got a pickleball court where we’re basically doing nothing but putting in a concrete pad, and we have to send that permit up there,” Garrett said. “There are relatively simple permits that have no environmental impact, relatively little stormwater impact, no habitat impact, and we’re still sending that up. We think we can reduce that significantly.”
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society. MARK HEDDEN
My friend Sandra Williams sent me an Instagram video the other day of a wading bird in a pond somewhere in the Keys. Sandra lives in Nebraska, but I got to know her when she was here as an artist in residence at The Studios of Key West last summer. The video was made by someone you would, I guess, call a wildlife influencer. Sandra is more of a sea turtle/capybara person, so it was nice of her to send an avian-oriented link.
The bird in the pond was a dark morph reddish egret. In the video it was standing still in about four inches of water, facing into a strong breeze, the wind blowing the feathers on its head back like Peter Fonda’s hair in “Easy Rider.” The text over the video said, “Finding the rarest egret in North America.” Which made me snort. Then there was the longish caption, which just didn’t jibe with my understanding of the species.
Part of it said that, “Due to over-harvesting for their reddish plumage, they now are threatened, but are making a comeback.” Which is technically true, but it made it sound like they were “over-harvested” recently. The plume hunting era ended about 120 years ago. They’ve been illegal to hunt since the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was signed in 1918. Like several other wading bird species, their numbers have yet to fully recover from the plume hunters. After the plume hunting era, they were not recorded again in Florida until the late 1930s. But their populations have been slowly increasing ever since.
Their population status is a little complicated. The federal government does not consider the reddish egret to be endangered or threatened. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers them to be “near threatened,” largely due to habitat loss. The Florida Natural Areas Inventory considers them to be “apparently secure globally” but imperiled within the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considers them to be both imperiled and threatened.
The caption on the video ended with, “No, this location will not be shared publicly.”
I mean, I guess self-aggrandizement is part of being an influencer, and it apparently works, as the video has around 9,400 likes as I type this. But I found someone acting like they’ve got some secret knowledge about reddish egrets, that they’re going to withhold from the public, a little hard to take. Especially when I see reddish egrets pretty much any time I go up the Keys.
Then again, I’m old and cranky, and getting close to 10,000 people to appreciate the wonder that is the reddish egret is no doubt a good thing.
I sent Sandra a somewhat snarky message back about how the whole rarest egret in North America thing was a bunch of guff, then sent her
another message apologizing for being pedantic. Then I did some reading, and had to message her again.
Turns out the reddish egret is, in fact, the rarest egret in North America. Their range is coastal, in estuaries, marshes, salt ponds, sandbars, and other shallow saltwater habitats. It basically runs intermittently from the Florida/Georgia line, down the east coast of the state, back up the west coast, around the Gulf of Mexico, across the Caribbean, and along the northern coast of South America. Oh, and also around the edge of the Sea of Cortez and the western edge of Baja California.
There are two flavors of reddish egret: a dark phase which is, well, a reddish-mauve, and a light phase, which is white. There does not seem to be a lot of genetic difference between the two, and both phases breed with each other on the regular. The light phase is more common in the southern part of its range than it is in the more northerly parts.
There are thought to be about 5,000 to 10,000 adults in the world, with about 2,000 breeding pairs in the U.S., and between 350 and 400 breeding pairs in Florida. Which is not a lot.
Why was I ignorant about the fact that they were the rarest heron in North America? My only excuse is that two thirds of the population is thought to live in Florida Bay and the Keys, and they are what you’d call locally common. (Note: there is no taxonomic difference between a heron and an egret. The names have been attached somewhat haphazardly to different species across their genus. So the reddish is also the rarest egret in North America.)
I wasn’t thinking about any of this when I drove up the Keys with Spencer Tinkham the other day.
Spencer is a wildlife artist, primarily a sculptor, but also a maker of what he calls flat art. He started out carving decoys, but now carves more modernist forms, abstract or deconstructed at
times, but also true to the natural feel of things. He’s been a resident artist (properly called a Peyton Evans Artist in Residence, or PEAR) at The Studios of Key West this month.
We’d been trying to get out on some kind of adventure since he’d been here, but January in the Keys, as we all know, is a cultural juggernaut. The main point, I thought, once we turned left and drove past the Winn-Dixie, was to find him a Key Deer, which we did pretty quickly. After that we stopped at the salt pond down at the end of Watson Boulevard and got out of the car. We were greeted initially by the passionate rattle of a belted kingfisher as it flew off in a huff. Then by a tri-colored heron slow-stepping through the shallows.
It was Spencer who spotted the reddish, I believe, even though he’d never seen one before.
Reddish egrets do sometimes feed by standing stock still, or wading slowly, and stabbing at the fish they see, like most herons. But the majority of their feeding methods fall into the broad category of “disturb and chase,” where they run or fly around, executing an ever-changing combination of moves, such as wing flicking, head faking, bringing their wings forward over their head, foot stirring, leaping, pouncing and stabbing, all with the intent of spurring the fish they seek into making themselves visible and vulnerable. And the bird in the pond was doing all of that.
Spencer said something to the effect that he’d always wanted to see a reddish egret, and seemed to be in awe.
“Wow,” he said two or three times.
I had a slow dawning realization of what you lose when you get too inured to things, how you can short yourself when you decide you know something, or some bird, too well. It’s good to be prodded into trying to see the world with as fresh a set of eyes as you can manage.
“Wow,” Spencer said again. He was absolutely right.
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Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM-10PM
Monday Night Trivia: 6:30PM-8:30PM
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At Keys FCU, we’ve been here for our neighbors for 85 years!
Open your membership today.
Apply today at KeysFCU.org or any of our branches from Key West to Tavernier!
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William Weech American Legion Post 168 AT 803 EMMA STREET IN OLD TOWN INVITES EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR OUR BIG
Sunday, February 8 5pm $30 @ Door
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La Concha Key West, Autograph Collection, the hotel that has stood over the intersection of Duval and Fleming streets for a century, will celebrate its anniversary throughout 2026.
La Concha, which opened Jan. 22, 1926, has welcomed presidents, literary icons, entertainers and travelers from around the world — not to mention more than a few national news reporters who have set up shop there during hurricanes.
“For 100 years, La Concha has been more than a hotel — it’s been a gathering place, a storyteller and a cornerstone of Key West,” said Paul Pruitt, general manager. “As we celebrate this milestone, we’re proud to honor our past, unveil our newly renovated future and give back to the community and environment that make this destination so special.”
Shortly after opening, La Concha became a social and cultural hub for the island, earning its reputation as the “grande dame” of Key West hotels. Over the decades, the hotel has undergone renovations, ownership changes, hard times and economic booms.
Timed to coincide with its centennial, La Concha recently completed an extensive renovation to update the property for today’s travelers, offering enhanced guest rooms, dining options, meeting spaces and pool area.
On Jan. 22, the hotel hosted a 100th anniversary event. Community
partners, elected leaders, local media, hotel guests and employees toasted a century of milestones that closely mirrored Key West’s own history.
The event included the sealing of a time capsule to be opened at the hotel’s bicentennial, remarks from hotel management, the resort’s traditional “Conch Call” signifying the start of happy hour, cocktail demonstrations — and then, of course, cocktail consumption.
As part of the year-long anniversary celebration, La Concha has partnered with Reef Relief, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the Florida Keys’ coral reef ecosystems. The hotel debuted a new signature cocktail, the Grand Dame 1926. A portion of proceeds from every cocktail sold will be donated to Reef Relief to support its conservation efforts.
More information is at laconchakeywest.com.
— Contributed
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
5PM Artist Talk with ransome
6PM Kick-Off Reception
7PM Film Screening: Paradise Reflected
A locally rooted evening exploring identity, history, and community through visual art and a film set right here in Key West.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
3PM Curated Shorts by Roxbury Film Fest
An international selection of short films exploring migration, family, coming-of-age, belief, and resilience.
7PM Film Screening: Waiting for Superman
A closing night dedicated to education, equity, and the power of film to inspire change.
Presented in partnership with the Roxbury International Film Festival, the largest New England festival dedicated to films by, for, and about people of color around the world.
Contemporary art center, steps off Duval Street.
Always free to visit! Open Tue-Sun, 10am-4pm
Monroe County’s high school graduation rate increased by 5 percentage points from 2024 to 2025, the school district said. FILE PHOTO
The Monroe County School District recently reported an increase of 5 percentage points in graduation rates for the 20242025 school year, as calculated by the federal government.
“From 2023-24 to 2024-25, the district’s overall federal graduation rate rose by 5%, from 86.9% to 91.9%,” the district said in a press release. “This improvement outpaced statewide growth during the same period, as Florida’s statewide graduation rate increased by 2.5%, from 89.7% to 92.2%.”
“I am so proud of the increase in our district’s graduation rate, a milestone that reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, families and community partners,” Superintendent Edward Tierney said. “This achievement is more than a number — it represents countless hours of effort, perseverance and commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. Our focus on personalized learning, strong support systems and student success has made a real difference, and we will continue striving to provide the highest quality education for all. Together, we are building a brighter future for our graduates and our community.”
Principal Darren Pais & Assistant Principal Jacob Poelma also honored
KThe district also demonstrated progress among key student subgroups:
• Graduation rates for students with disabilities Increased from 82.1% to 90.4%, an 8.3-point gain.
• Graduation rates for English language learners (ELL) increased from 60.5% to 77.2%, a 16.7-point gain.
Here are individual high schools’ results:
• Marathon High School’s graduation rate increased from 83.1% to 93.8%, a 10.7-point gain. Its ESE graduation rate rose 16.9 points and ELL graduation rate increased 14.9 points.
• Coral Shores High School’s graduation rate increased from 91.1% to 96.7%, a 5.6-point gain.
• Key West High School’s graduation rate increased from 88.9% to 92.3%. Its ESE graduation rate reached 98% and its ELL rate rose by 15.8 points.
As a result of the improvements, the district rose 10 places in the state rankings for federal graduation rate from the 20232024 to the 2024-2025 school year.
— Contributed
ey West High School teacher Paula Mercer is the Monroe County School District’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Darren Pais of Key Largo School is the Principal of the Year and Jacob Poelma of Coral Shores High School is Assistant Principal of the Year.
Each year, every school in the district chooses a teacher of the year. A selection committee then reviews applications and classroom videos from each honoree to select the district’s teacher of the year.
Paula Mercer teaches AP government and economics at Key West High School, where she also created and coaches the school’s award-winning mock trial team that has competed at the state level. She serves as the senior class sponsor and volunteers with the Special Olympics.
“Selection committee members praised her instructional video for its evidence of high-quality teaching, strong student connections and the impressive focus and participation of senior students,” states a press release from the school district.
“Mrs. Mercer represents the very best of Monroe County,” said Superintendent Edward Tierney. “Her passion for civic education, her ability to reach every learner and her commitment to building a vibrant school community make her an extraordinary educator.”
Darren Pais, principal of the Arated Key Largo School, was honored for his connection with students and staff and his commitment to strengthening academic and extracurricular programs.
“Mr. Pais is known for being everywhere on campus — greeting families in the car line, reading to students, at-
tending nearly every school event, and walking the halls with a smile,” states the release. “His visibility and genuine care have made Key Largo School a place where students feel seen, teachers feel supported and families feel welcomed.”
Key Largo School achieved an A grade under his leadership. Pais has also revitalized athletics, strengthened community partnerships and launched popular performing arts programs. His commitment to students — academically, socially and emotionally — has transformed the school culture and increased student engagement.
Assistant Principal of the Year: Jacob Poelma
Jacob Poelma, assistant principal at Coral Shores High School, was honored for his ability to strengthen student performance and school culture.
Mr. Poelma is known for his strong relationships with students and unwavering support for teachers and families. He approaches every decision with a whole-school perspective, recognizing how each action influences student success.
A skilled data leader, Poelma creates clear, meaningful reports that help teachers and administrators make informed decisions. He supports schools across the district with data needs and develops tools that make complex information accessible and actionable.
He has also transformed Coral Shores’ testing systems, redesigning schedules, proctoring plans and testing environments to reduce disruptions and maximize instructional time.
Poelma shares resources, offers feedback, introduces new technologies and celebrates successes, fostering a culture where empowered teachers lead to empowered students.
“Jacob is the kind of leader who makes everyone around him better,” said Tierney.
— Contributed
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County officials tour neighborhoods, discuss challenges
A group of county officials, staff, law enforcement officers and business owners recently toured Stock Island to understand and address challenges such as blight, parking and abandoned vehicles. CONTRIBUTED
Monroe County officials recently toured Stock Island with local business and property owners to discuss ongoing challenges related to the redevelopment of existing nonresidential structures, parking constraints and long-term improvement opportunities.
The tour focused on the realities faced by property owners and businesses seeking to redevelop or expand and improve areas prone to illegal dumping and construction. County Commissioner Craig Cates has been working to elevate these issues and encourage a more focused approach to address quality-oflife concerns.
“There is a persistent challenge on Stock Island due to limited space, aging layouts and competing uses that complicate both redevelopment efforts and day-to-day operations,” Cates said. “We will
When I was a kid, I had an aunt who painstakingly wrote every single detail of her day in what I called a diary. I remember their “junk room” filled with boxes and boxes of these notebooks. As a kid, I couldn’t imagine what on earth an adult had so much to write about.
You’re a free woman, I thought. You can eat dessert for breakfast. You can drive a car. Go to the mall on a whim. Pick out your own clothes. What could possibly be worth filling boxes upon boxes of notebooks?
Then — whiplash — I became an adult. A writer, at that. And to this day, I still don’t actually know what my aunt was writing. Was it a line-by-line account of events? A play-by-play of her day? Or was it what I now recognize as journaling?
There’s a difference. A big one. And while it may seem obvious to some, it’s not to everyone.
Many people think journaling means sitting down at the end of the day and formally rehashing everything that happened. A tidy recap. A beginning, middle and end. A record meant to be saved, organized, maybe even re-read someday.
down. A small sense of order in what often feels like mental clutter.
continue working with property and business owners and law enforcement to identify practical solutions that support the long-term vitality of Stock Island.”
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Donny Barrios, who oversees patrols of Stock Island, discussed ongoing efforts to remove derelict and abandoned vehicles there. Law enforcement as well as the county’s code compliance and solid waste departments have worked for years to address blight, illegal dumping, safety concerns and parking issues across the island. Barrios indicated an excessive number of vehicles need to be processed for towing, and over the next couple of months, MCSO will develop a plan and request additional resources to address the issue, making room for legal use of the rights of way and visually improving the areas.
Contributed
That’s one option. But it’s not the only one.
Journaling doesn’t have to be structured. It doesn’t have to be thoughtful. It doesn’t have to be profound. And it definitely doesn’t have to be a full replay of the day, unless you enjoy reliving Publix insanity or the surprise “quick chat” from your accountant that somehow lasts 47 minutes.
Journaling can be … Whatever. You. Want.
It can be one sentence. It can be angry. It can be repetitive. It can be ugly. It can be written sideways, misspelled, dramatic or barely legible.
Some of the most helpful journaling never gets re-read. That’s the part no one tells you.
There’s this quiet pressure to make journaling meaningful. Insightful. Worth keeping. But the truth is, journaling isn’t about creating something beautiful – it’s about giving your thoughts somewhere to go besides looping endlessly in your head.
For the nervous system, this matters more than we realize. When thoughts stay internal, they tend to stay loud. Writing them down, even briefly, helps shift the brain out of a constant state of internal monitoring and into external processing. It creates a pause. A slow-
...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC.
Research shows that expressive writing can help regulate stress responses by reducing emotional overload and improving clarity. Not because it fixes anything, but because it organizes the noise just enough for the body to exhale. And here’s the key: It doesn’t work better when it’s polished. It works when it’s honest.
Journaling isn’t a performance. It’s not for personal growth points. It’s not a habit you have to keep up with or do “right.” It’s not meant to impress your future self or anyone else who might someday find the notebook tucked in a drawer.
It’s for you. Only.
Sometimes journaling is just a place to say the things you don’t want to say out loud. Sometimes it’s where frustration goes so it doesn’t spill into your sleep, your relationships or your patience. Sometimes it’s a way to re-regulate your nervous system without needing to analyze or explain a single thing. And sometimes, it’s just a few messy lines written near the water, then closed, then forgotten.
That still counts.
Maybe my aunt was documenting every detail of her day. Or maybe she was doing exactly what so many of us need now, giving her thoughts somewhere to land. Either way, I get it now. Because adulthood, it turns out, gives you plenty to write about. And not all of it needs to be remembered. Sometimes, it just needs to be released.
Birthday presents, just because gifts, or those special anniversary presents, Fast Buck’s is where you will find the MOST UNIQUE GIFTS ON THE ISLAND.
One-of-a-kind, hard-to-find gifts: unusual, thoughtful items that will impress even the hardest-to-shop-for people on your list.
www.keysweekly.com
More than 175 years ago, master shipbuilder John Bartlum moved to Key West from the Bahamas and needed a place to live. He already had a house on the Bahamas’ Green Turtle Cay — and after considering the logistics and costs of construction on his new island, Bartlum decided there was only one practical thing to do. He disassembled his Bahamas house, floated it by ship to Key West and reassembled it there.
The concept made so much sense to Bartlum’s fellow shipbuilder, Richard Roberts, that he too decided to float his Bahamas house to Key West.
Today the Bartlum and Roberts homes, successfully reassembled and located in the historic Old Town district, are a notable reminder of the vibrant Bahamian heritage that has flavored the island city for two centuries.
Bahamian shipwreck salvagers, also called wreckers, were among Key West’s earliest settlers. Braving high winds and waves in their sturdy sloops, wreckers often served as an unofficial Coast Guard as they raced to rescue crews and cargoes from sinking ships.
In 1828, after Congress ruled it illegal to take cargo from ships wrecked in U.S. jurisdictional waters to a foreign port, an Admiralty Court was established in Key West to handle salvage matters — causing scores of Caribbean wreckers to choose the island as their American base. They were followed by many of their countrymen, from fishermen and sponge divers to those eager to escape British rule and colonial taxation.
Today, countless Key West citizens proudly proclaim their Bahamian ancestry, and the island’s Bahama Village neighborhood remains a vibrant reminder of cultural ties. Green Turtle Cay and Key West have been sister cities for nearly 50 years.
Additional reminders of the bond across the waters can be found on plates and in cocktail glasses, since the local popularity of Bahamian cuisine and libations has only grown over the years. Their influence is spotlighted among the
Richard Roberts’ home, floated from the Bahamas to Key West in the early 1800s and reassembled on William Street, is shown in a 1960 photo. AMES WILLIAMS/Florida Keys History Center
Key West Cooking Show’s participatory adventures.
The secrets to preparing Bahamian culinary staples such as conch salad, conch fritters and fried plantains are demonstrated during entertaining “learn-anddine” experiences at the Cooking Show’s 291 Front St. venue. Other traditional dishes, including guava duff and the beloved “Queen of All Puddings,” are featured in the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook that’s available there.
Among the classic Bahamian cocktails served at Bar 1, next to the Cooking Show’s demonstration dining room, is the Goombay Smash. Originally created on Green Turtle Cay, the sweet and refreshing rum-based drink is a perfect “ambassador” for the nation of islands with links to Key West.
Drink of the month: Rum swizzle. This quintessential tiki bar favorite is enjoyed throughout the Caribbean. It’s typically made with multiple types of rum, adding complexity and flavor, as well as fruit juices and a sweetener such as grenadine. The mixture is “swizzled,” strained and served with a fruit garnish.
Helpful bar hack: The rum swizzle is named for the swizzle stick typically used in its preparation. Traditionally a stem snapped off a Caribbean tree, today swizzle sticks are often made of metal or plastic — and when inserted into a cold cocktail and spun, they “frost” the outside of the glass.
Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingshow.com or call 305-294COOK.
The second Cemetery Stroll of 2026 will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at the historic Key West Cemetery. During the stroll, small groups of visitors will be escorted to notable Key Westers’ gravesites, where volunteer guides will tell their stories. Tours will depart from the main cemetery entrance at 9:30, 9:50, and 10:10 a.m. Reservations are necessary, and can be made by calling or texting 305-304-1453 or by emailing at hfkf@bellsouth.net.
Featured gravesites include those of Charles Dupont, William Kerr, Jefferson B. Browne, May Douglas, Manuel Cabeza and the USS Maine memorial.
The tours last about 90 minutes. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and plan to walk over a mile on uneven ground. Bottled water will be provided.
The strolls offer personal accounts of some of the people who have given Key West its colorful and significant character. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. A donation of $20 (cash or check) per person to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation is recommended, with all proceeds devoted to cemetery restoration and education. Participants may enter the cemetery by either the main gate at 701 Passover Lane or the Frances Street gate and go to the registration table.
The last cemetery stroll of the season, featuring different gravesites, will take place Sunday, March 15.
The strolls are sponsored by the city and the foundation.
— Contributed
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
This week marks a momentous shift in our collective beliefs, shared ideals and the illusions we fall prey to. Since 2011, Neptune has been moving through the sign of Pisces. On Monday, Feb. 2, however, this planet of dissolution, hallucination and symbolism made its move into the sign of Aries, representing a marked shift from contemplation into action. We have had 14 years to build up our structure of core beliefs through inspiration and introspection, and now we are moving into an era where we must put those beliefs to the test. What do you stand for? What are you willing to fight for? Out of all of your heroes, whom will you be channeling in the years to come? We are moving into the era of inspired action, so get ready to fight for the world that you have been dreaming of. Can you feel the sea change? This energy will be drawn out over the next 12 years, so be patient with the process. As Neptune makes this big change, Mars forms a conjunction with Pluto, a particularly volatile combination. Mars is the planet of action, anger and courage and Pluto is the planet of death, rebirth, evolution and shadow. When these planets come together, you can be sure something explosive will create lasting change. In our personal lives, we would do best to breathe and direct this energy with purpose, rather than getting caught up in chaos. Here are your horoscopes for Neptune’s ingress into Aries and the Mars-Pluto conjunction. Read for your rising and sun signs.
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
You are being given a punchy burst of energy to spark some long-term changes in your life, Aquarius. You may feel particularly touchy or volatile, so be mindful about directing this energy into constructive ventures. But if you have to lay down the hammer, it is yours to wield. You are stepping into a period of life in which you can have faith in what’s familiar, so take the time to look around with a fresh perspective.
Feb. 19 - March 20
You are moving out of a long period of dreamy self-reflection and into a time where your dreams can produce real-world results. How can your spiritual values support your financial security? Take what you’ve learned about yourself and start to put it into practice. You may need to take some time alone to let out some rage. There’s a lot to be angry about now, so go ahead and howl at the moon.
March 21 - April 19
You are entering a long period of beautiful self-dissolution. We are always evolving and changing, and you get to let go of the parts of yourself that do not serve you and double down on the parts that you truly believe in. You may experience some conflict with friends or coworkers, but use that energy to identify the people who truly have your back.
April 20 - May 20
There is a lot of energy churning at work, and it appears there is potential for conflict. Rather than stewing or fighting, ask yourself where you have been giving away your power, and take it back. Can you turn chaos into confidence? You are entering a period of quiet, personal spirituality. Engage with a philosophical or spiritual framework that gives you purpose.
May 21 - June 20
It is time to start finding a community that aligns with your ideals. There are folks out there who share your dreams of activism and shared vision. Find them and share your insights. You may have a very sudden personal realization or an argument with another person that alters your personal worldview. Trust the change.
June 21 - July 22
You are a leader, Cancer. You get to show up and practice your values in public. Going through the motions is not going to cut it any more, so check in to see that your career or other leadership roles are in alignment with your beliefs. There may be some conflict around shared resources, but use this moment to address accountability.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
What you believe and the world view that you subscribe to are about to undergo a major shift, Leo. Start looking into scientific, philosophical or spiritual studies that can expand the way you understand how everything fits together. Get curious. You may experience some profound conflict with a loved one, but conflict can allow for even greater closeness.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
You may be experiencing some high pressure in your daily work or health routines. Be careful not to burn out, but rather use this energy to restructure a bit so your labor supports your vitality. You are entering a long period of
sharing resources with others based on collective values. If you believe in something, it is time to put your money or your energy where your mouth is.
Sept. 23 - Oct. 22
You have a burst of energy around your personal, creative projects. Channel that, and try your best to avoid getting into conflict with collaborators because they do not have your same zeal. How can you get your work done while allowing others to be on their own schedules? Discover the spiritual practice in your most important relationships. Be brave in partnership.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
How can you bring a spiritual perspective into your daily routines and habitual practices? Learn what it means to be intentional with your time. Start to notice how even your smallest choices have a big impact. There may be some conflict at home or with family. See if you can be truthful without exacerbating the tension.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
In the coming years, the things and activities that bring you joy will also bring you spiritual satisfaction. You get to participate in this process, so start seeking more meaningful and substantial experiences of happiness. We’re not looking for the quick high here. Be mindful of your words right now because you have the capacity to cut deep, whether you mean to or not.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
Be mindful about how you are spending your time, talent and treasure right now, and be careful not to be wasteful. Be sure that your energetic output is reflecting your values. How can you connect with your roots in a more meaningful way beyond just the mundane facts?
Our community recently witnessed the closing of the Little Jazz Room, one of the last bastions of pure, unadulterated jazz for 150 miles or more. On any given night you could wander up those steps and hear unfamiliar strains of complex melodies and intricate rhythms.
There is a joke among musicians: “A rock player plays three chords for 3,000 people, and a jazz player plays 3,000 chords for three people.”
There is, of course, a lot more to jazz than a series of chords played quickly. According to Jeff Dalton, owner and instructor at Sunrise Studios in Marathon, “In jazz, they use chord extensions. Jazz songs usually go beyond ‘standard chords’ like C, G7 and D, and accentuate the use of 9ths, 11ths and 13ths.” It’s as if you took a chord and stretched it
out, filling in the open spaces with other notes that create different color and texture, and adding some notes on top to create a larger canvas for the soloist.
... a professional musician, singer, actor and executive director of the Key West Music Awards, is known to sacrifice his comfort for that of his cat.
Which brings us to another facet of jazz: virtuosity. “Many styles prioritize vocals, groove and constant rhythms throughout, but what sets jazz songs apart is the way the players prioritize virtuosity, with the best players using the entire range of their instrument,” Dalton said. He said chord extensions allow the soloist to use more notes and different combinations of notes when playing in a more restrictive pop or rock setting. Perhaps the one genre that steps away from this trend is heavy
metal. The complex patterns, often consisting of two-note chords, allow the soloist to use exotic scales and intricate patterns.
And then there’s the execution of those patterns. How is the song performed? And how does it sound? “Jazz songs are often just outlines of songs (‘lead sheets’) leaving the details of how the song is played to the players. The greatest ones do this as a unit, like a hive mind, working together as the music happens to make it a great song.” As Dalton was saying this, I pictured two maps. The “rock” map, if you will, shows the exact route from beginning to end, hitting every important moment. The jazz map shows the beginning, a few points you need to hit, and the end, leaving the rest up to the whim of the traveler, or group of travelers.
To the trained ear the differences between jazz and popular music are akin to the differences between a Ferrari and a Mack truck. Though each is a vehicle, they have two extremely different functions and just because you can drive one doesn’t mean you can drive the other.
As with models of cars, there are many jazz flavors. From jazzy versions of familiar favorites to what some describe as “a flock of geese and shoes in a dryer,” the genre encompasses a wide range of sounds.
There are still a few places on the island where jazz is king, including the Gardens Hotel on Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m. and the William Weech American Legion Post 168 & Cultural Center, 803 Emma St., which has jazz several nights a week.
By Sadeqa Johnson
In 1965, Sophia Clark is a young girl living on a farm in Maryland. She and her siblings work their fingers to the bone. They are dirt poor, and when Sophia is selected to attend a prestigious private boarding school on a scholarship, she knows her life is about to change. As one of only a few Black students, Sophia begins questioning her life and her genealogy. Why does she have recurring nightmares of escaping a fire? Why do German words slip off her tongue when she doesn’t speak the language? In 1948, Ozzie Philips is a handsome young Black man in the Army. He is stationed in Germany as reparations are well underway. Ozzie is determined to prove himself capable, even as the Army suppresses its Black soldiers. He becomes involved with a desperate German woman and finds himself caught between two worlds – to do the right thing while also meeting the demands of military life. Narrated through two timelines that unexpectedly collide, this novel reveals the heartbreaking story of the “Brown Babies” orphaned in postwar Germany, alongside the ongoing struggles for civil rights in America. Releases Feb. 10.
First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.
By Tonya Bolden
Sarah Rector is a Black girl in early1900s Oklahoma who received a Muscogee Freedmen land allotment, just under 159 acres. It looked like worthless scrub until one day, oil erupted – around 2,500 barrels a day. At 11 years old, Sarah was suddenly famous, rich and in danger. Jim Crow America didn’t know what to do with Black people with money. Newspapers wrote about her, judges imposed white guardians, and swindlers and oil men had their eye on the prize. What makes this even more fascinating is the history that led up to it. In 1902, Sarah was born near Indian Territory, to parents who were Creek Freedmen. They were descendants of slaves kept by the Muscogee Nation. Sarah’s family was entitled to allotments under a post-Civil War treaty. In 1911, Sarah’s father leased the land to Standard Oil, and in 1913 a gusher changed their lives. When public attention became too much, there was an effort to label her an “honorary white.” Historian and author Tonya Bolden shines a light on Sarah’s incredible story. This deeply moving read is an Amazon Original short story (free with Prime). A quick easy read to celebrate Black History Month.
By Percival Everett
plantation with his wife and daughter, whom he loves dearly.
As he performs his tasks for Miss Watson, he overhears that he will be sold to a man in New Orleans. Devastated that he will be separated from his family, Jim hides out on nearby Jackson Island. At the same time, Huck Finn, a young man Miss Watson looks after, is terrified when his drunkard father returns to town. Faking his own death, he tracks down Jim and insists they run off together. They travel down the Mississippi on a raft and canoe, getting themselves in and out of all sorts of trouble. Jim is well spoken and reads and writes better than most white folks. In front of everyone but Huck, he speaks “slave language” while keeping his eyes on the ground. The dream of earning money in the north to buy his wife and daughter back keeps hope alive. This remake of Mark Twain’s classic “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is astounding. Everett’s voice — sharp, fearless and deeply human — reminds us why Black storytellers are essential to how we understand our past, our language and ourselves, especially as we celebrate Black History Month.
Recently released, “Sarah’s Oil” brings the fascinating true story of Sarah Rector to the big screen. An uplifting biopic with a terrific young actress, it keeps the story moving without losing the historical punch. Available on Prime Video.
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The Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus.
From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.
Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.
Meet Gerri, a 2-year-old pup with a gentle nature who’s looking for a patient family to help him feel secure. He may be shy at first, but once he warms up, his sweet personality shines. Gerri has a close bond with his brother, Dante, who’s also available for adoption, but he’s also able to settle into a home on his own. Are you ready to help a softhearted dog build confidence?
Meet Garland, a small grey kitty who’s ready to find his new family. Just over 4 years old, he’s a gentle, easygoing cat who loves nothing more than curling up with his cat friends and settling in for a good snuggle. If you’re looking to add a sweet companion to your home, especially one who enjoys the company of others, Garland might be the purrfect match.
Dante is a kind and quiet 2-year-old dog. He shares a strong bond with his brother, Gerri, who’s also available for adoption, but he’s fully capable of thriving in a home of his own. Once he feels comfortable, Dante’s affectionate side comes forward, making him a wonderful match for someone who appreciates a gentle companion.
Meet Newton, an adult cat with a calm presence that makes him easy to love. He’s a friendly cat who enjoys the company of other felines and fits in well wherever he goes. Newton has a gentle way about him, never demanding and always appreciative of a quiet moment shared with someone he trusts.
Meet Coriander, a young adult bunny with adorable pointy ears. He enjoys being petted, happily takes treats by hand and loves spending time with people. Coriander’s friendly personality makes him a wonderful companion for anyone looking to add a sweet rabbit to their home.
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
A troubling number of cigarette butts and plastic bags have been included in recent hauls. Please remember your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plastic off the streets, parking lots and, most importantly, out of the water. And dispose of cigarette butts in any receptacle rather than the street or sidewalk, as from there, they easily end up in the ocean.
The city of Key West and its residents ask everyone to do their part to help keep Key West beautiful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before putting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and making sure the lids on Dumpsters are closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.
Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.
Week three of the 2026 weekly cleanups set a new record of 128 volunteers showing up for a Keep Key West Beautiful morning cleanup. In one hour, they picked up 303 pounds of trash, 34 pounds of recycling and 5 gallons of cigarette butts from the Meadows neighborhood. Special thanks to Metropolitan Community Church for hosting the event as part of the 30th anniversary of its Cooking with Love program, which delivers hot meals to residents in need. The Jan. 30 cleanup will take place at First State Bank on North Roosevelt Boulevard. CONTRIBUTED
Batteries can be dangerous if damaged or disposed of improperly. Never put batteries in trash or recycle bins. Drop off batteries at Key West’s household hazardous waste collection, the first Saturday of each month at 1800 White St.
Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 30: North Roosevelt and Toppino Drive. Meet behind First State Bank, 3406 N. Roosevelt Blvd., which is hosting.
Feb. 6: White and Eaton streets. Meet in the front parking lot of Strunk Ace Hardware, 1101 Eaton St. Hosted by Chris Sloan and Caleb and Calder Sloan’s Awesome Foundation.
Feb. 13: Front and Caroline streets. Meet at Truman Little White House, which is hosting.
Feb. 20: Smathers Beach. Meet in the parking lot next to Margaritaville Hotel. Special fentanyl awareness event.
Feb. 27: Duval and South streets. Meet in the parking lot between Simonton and Duval on South Street, near Le Mar and Dewey Guesthouses. Hosted by the Southernmost Beach Resort.
Founded by Betty Debnam
Nebraska, a midwestern state, was the 37th state admitted to the Union, on March 1, 1867. On its eastern edge, Nebraska is mostly bordered by the Missouri River.
Native American tribes, including the Omaha, Ponca, Pawnee and Sioux, lived in the area for thousands of years. Europeans traded with the native people through the 1700s, and in the mid-1800s, the United States established the Nebraska Territory, which included parts of what is now Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.
Nebraska is the only state that has a unicameral legislature, which means it has just one house. Legislators are called senators, and they are officially nonpartisan. In other words, when they run for office, they have no party affiliation with Democrats or Republicans.
Nebraska is known as the Cornhusker State. The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team has a loyal fan base, with Memorial Stadium selling out all its 85,000 seats for every game since 1962.
• William Cody, or Buffalo Bill, started his famous Wild West Show near his home in North Platte. Experts believe this was the first true rodeo in America.
He got his nickname because he was so skilled at hunting buffalo. He also rode for the Pony Express, drove horses for wagon trains and later helped found Cody, Wyoming.
Later, Native Americans were forced to give up their land and move to reservations, opening up the region for American settlement.
When African Americans started moving north in the late 1800s, Nebraska offered jobs in railroads, meat-packing and other industries. Since then, it has been a center for civil rights activism.
Farming is important to the state, with people raising beef, pork, wheat, corn (maize), soybeans and sorghum. Many large companies are also headquartered in Nebraska, including Cabela’s, Union Pacific Railroad and insurance company Mutual of Omaha.
Nebraskans also love to explore the state’s natural wonders, such as the Sandhills, a large area of sand dunes in north-central Nebraska. Others enjoy canoeing on the rivers crossing the state or visiting Chimney Rock, a landmark that weary travelers watched for as they navigated the Oregon and Mormon Trails. When they sighted this sandstone hill, they knew they were about halfway through their 2,000-mile journey. Sandhills as seen from space.
Words that remind us of Nebraska are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
ACTIVISM, BUFFALO BILL, CHIMNEY, CORNHUSKER, FARM, FOOTBALL, KOOLAID, LINCOLN, MIDWEST, NEBRASKA, NONPARTISAN, OMAHA, RED CLOUD, RESERVATION, SANDHILLS, SIOUX, UNICAMERAL
• Red Cloud was the chief of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe that followed the buffalo across the Great Plains. He won important treaties protecting his people’s land. He later became an important diplomat from the Lakota to the U.S. government. Unfortunately, the U.S. later broke many of their treaties. This proud leader died on a reservation.
• Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in 1927 in Hastings. He changed his soft drink syrup, Fruit Smack, into a powder to make it easier to ship. Today, Kool-Aid is Nebraska’s state soft drink.
ON THE WEB
• bit.ly/48PhMhK
AT THE LIBRARY
• “Buffalo Bill: Boy of the Plains” by Augusta Stevenson
A new study finds that the giant seaweed bloom stretching across the Atlantic Ocean near the equator has surged in mass to about 42 million tons, a 40% jump from 2022, while a centuries-old sargassum patch farther north is rapidly shrinking. Researchers say shifting climate conditions are driving the change, with warming seas, Amazon River floods, African dust and wildfire smoke acting as fertilizers. The expanding Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt continues to foul beaches in the Caribbean, Mexico and parts of Florida. Meanwhile, the northern Sargasso Sea patch has declined since 2015, as marine heat waves push water temperatures too high for healthy growth.
BENMONT TENCH
OF TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS
FEB. 3, KEY WEST THEATER
GARRISON KEILLOR & ERICA RHODES
FEB. 22, KEY WEST THEATER
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS
APR. 2, KEY WEST THEATER
DON’T READ THE COMMENTS TOUR FEB. 15, KEY WEST THEATER
YACHTLY CREW
FEB. 18, KEY WEST THEATER
TOMMY EMMANUEL MAR. 22, KEY WEST THEATER
MAR. 29, KEY WEST THEATER
APR. 23, KEY WEST AMPHITHEATER
GRAHAM NASH
APR. 25 & 26 KEY WEST THEATER
