Duck Key, FL Events and More

Marathon’s new mayor apologizes for vulgar comment

Marathon Mayor Debra Struyf has posted an apology for a vulgar comment she made in council chambers about a resident who approached the dais after the conclusion of Tuesday’s Marathon City Council meeting. Marathon resident Wendy Bonilla said she asked the newly-appointed mayor about some paperwork that she had requested in an email, which she said Struyf told her wouldn’t be available until December. As Bonilla walked away, the meeting’s live mic captured Vice Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo asking, “Is she starting already?” To which Strufy responded, “That’s Wendy, she’s a f------ c---.” Bonilla later posted about the incident on Facebook. “This is so unethical and an embarrassment to our city that these two are our mayor and vice mayor,” she wrote. “I am very disappointed in this whole situation.” Struyf responded on Facebook with an apology. “I want to apologize for the way I spoke after Tuesday night’s council meeting,” she posted. “While I may not have liked what was said to me, I should have handled myself better. In this position, more is expected of me, and I am sorry to this community that I love so much.”

Marathon, FL · 11h

keysweekly.com

Marathon broadens building rights investigation as Struyf earns mayor’s gavel

Marathon’s planned third-party audit of its development and permitting practices is expanding, as city council members agreed on Nov. 10 to broaden the scope of the investigation beyond transfers of building rights to include determinations of those rights and code enforcement practices. New mayor and attorney. Before diving into...

Marathon, FL · 1d

The Key West Citizen

Walking on Eggshells: City of Key West looks for solution for chickens that have 'grown out of control'

The city of Key West is scrambling to find a solution for the ubiquitous chickens that roam its streets after the Key West Wildlife Center began winding down a 17-year program that took in the island's sick, injured and trapped chickens and relocated them to the mainland. According to a memo from Assistant City Manager Michael Turner, the Wildlife Center was told by state and federal officials that keeping feral chickens and wild birds on the same property carries a high risk of disease spread, citing the increased prevalence of avian flu and New World screwworm. The center was “strongly advised” the treatment program should not continue there, the memo states, and it had been tapering down chicken operations in line with requests from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Thomas Sweets, executive director of the Key West Wildlife Center, told commissioners Oct. 1 that the direction came from the FWC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which both inspect the center. “This is not our decision to stop it,” Sweets said. In a written statement provided to the Keys Citizen, dated October, Sweets said the decision followed a review with the center's permitting organizations, including the FWC and

Key West, FL · 2d

travelmag.com

This Florida Keys Diner Draws Crowds With Fried Fish, Hearty Breakfasts And Homestyle Plates From A Roadside Kitchen

License plates on the walls, signed dollar bills on the ceiling, and a waffle that thinks it’s key lime pie. Welcome to a Florida Keys diner where decorating rules clearly took a vacation. The license plates come from all over, turning the walls into a giant road trip scrapbook....

Florida Keys, FL · 3d

The Key West Citizen

The Island Hopper arrives Nov. 30. It’s a good start.

Key West Rides launched on Nov. 30, 2022. Four years later, nearly to the day, it makes its last trip. It and the Workforce Express end Sunday, Nov. 29, and on Monday, Nov. 30 the new Island Hopper takes over. Better yet, the City Commission voted 7-0 on Nov. 5 to make the first week free, through Dec. 6. I wasn’t shy about my concerns this summer. When the Hopper was first pitched at the July budget meeting, the bus would have come once an hour. By budget adoption in September, it was every 45 minutes. The schedule rolling out on the 30th? Every 40. That’s transit staff listening to riders, and they deserve credit. Mayor Sam Kaufman told me he’s excited about the more frequent service, calling it “an important first step toward the expanded, more reliable service we want for our community.” That’s the point I want to drive home. The Island Hopper is a foundation. Get it right, and more frequency, longer hours and wider coverage can be built on top of it. One Big Loop, Two Directions Think of the Hopper as one big loop around the island, running in both directions. Every 40 minutes, seven

Key West, FL · 2d

Click10.com

Dirty 30! Roaches, flying insects, raw meat stored over ready-to-eat food and temperature abuse

The Dirty 30 shines a spotlight on restaurants across South Florida where recent health inspections uncovered a troubling number of violations. Some of these establishments were ordered shut by state inspectors, while others were allowed to remain open. But make no mistake: when inspectors document this many problems whether involving roaches, flying insects, improper food temperatures, cross-contamination or unsanitary conditions, it raises serious questions about food safety and management.

Key West, FL · 13h

The Key West Citizen

Inaugural Oyster Fest brainchild of Half Shell's GM

Thousands of oysters will be shucked during the inaugural Key West Oyster Fest on Saturday, and when the celebration is over, the shells won’t be headed for the trash. They will be recycled for another use. The Key West Oyster Fest, presented by Half Shell Raw Bar and Everglades Oysters, will bring together regional oyster farmers, some of the Florida Keys’ most recognized chefs and restaurants, live music and a plethroa of oysters. The festival runs from 5-10 p.m., with a VIP hour from 5-6 p.m. The entry fee includes unlimited oysters and a premium open bar until 8 p.m., and live music by The Farm Boys, a swamp, country band from South Florida. The oyster event will be set up outside the iconic Key West restaurant in the circle parking lot with tents and more for food and beverage suppliers. A dozen restaurants are participating it the Key West Oyster Fest, including Half Shell Raw Bar, Schooner Wharf, Square Grouper, Café Marquesa, Casa Marina, and Conch Republic. Every oyster shell generated during the festival will be collected for recycling, an extension of an oyster-shell recycling program already operating at Half Shell Raw Bar in partnership with Everglades Oysters. The

The Key West Citizen

Hospital board prepares for demanding review of five operator proposals

The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District Board is heading into the most demanding part of its search for the next operator of Lower Keys Medical Center. During its Nov. 10 meeting at the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort, the board’s legal counsel encouraged members to work together as they prepare to review and score proposals, evaluate additional information, and interview the five health care organizations still competing to operate the hospital. Robert Slavkin, an attorney with Akerman LLP, the law firm advising the district, acknowledged the workload ahead. “We recognize you have taken on a herculean task reviewing all this information, scoring all this information, participating in the interviews,” said Slavkin. “It’s a lot, but it’s incumbent upon all of us to help you, and it’s incumbent upon you to get through the information.” The district received seven initial responses to its request for proposals (RFP), which closed Sept. 28. One response was deemed non-responsive, and HCA Healthcare has since withdrawn, leaving five potential operators. The remaining organizations are Sana Healthcare, Baptist Health, Community Health Systems (CHS), Larkin Health System, and Mount Sinai Healthcare. The board will now grade the written proposals, review and score responses to supplemental questions and evaluate

Florida Keys, FL · 1d

The Key West Citizen

A taste of the tropics

A tropical fruit oasis awaits foodies, families and curious minds alike in Big Pine Key, where 8-pound mangoes, chocolate-pudding fruit and breadfruit grow. Grimal Grove is a tropical fruit grove at 258 Cunningham Lane on Big Pine Key. It grows about 120 kinds of fruit trees, counting both species and varieties, from 25 countries. It is also home to what the grove calls the first breadfruit grove in the continental United States. Patrick Garvey, proprietor of Grimal Grove, said the goal is to have something fruiting and fruitful on the property every day of the year. Garvey, who has a degree in history, came to the grove through community work. While working for the Florida Department of Children and Families, he wrote a grant to plant edible gardens at food stamp outreach sites from Key West to Marathon. The grant called for one garden and 50 volunteers for $5,000. Garvey said the project ended up with 11 gardens and more than 500 volunteers. He found the grove in 2011 while doing that work. It was in bad shape. After its founder died in 1997, the property became an illegal dumpsite and a homeless camp, Garvey said. By the time he

Big Pine Key, FL · 1d

NBC Miami

Cold front to usher in lows in the 50s for parts of South Florida this weekend

South Florida is trading the warmth and humidity for a refreshing taste of fall this weekend. A cold front moving through early this afternoon will usher in cooler, drier air, with clouds gradually clearing by the evening. That will set the stage for a chilly Saturday morning, with forecast lows of 59 degrees at Miami International Airport, 57 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and 68 in Key West.

Fort Lauderdale, FL · 17h

The Key West Citizen

Coffee with the City Manager

Have something on your mind about the city? Key West City Manager Brian L. Barroso wants to hear from you. Introducing “Coffee with the City Manager,” an opportunity for residents to sit down with the city manager to ask questions, share ideas, or discuss issues important to our community. These informal, one-on-one conversations are a great way to connect directly with the city manager over a cup of coffee. Meetings are held every other Tuesday, 8-10 a.m., by appointment at City Hall, 1300 White St. Visit the city of Key West website to request an appointment with the city manager.

Key West, FL · 11h

keysweekly.com

Key West officials weigh new welcome sign & much more at marathon meeting

Key West officials can’t agree on what the island’s new welcome sign should look like. But they all agreed the exploding chicken and iguana populations are NOT welcome. Both topics were part of the discussions that unfolded during the Nov. 5 city commission meeting that lasted about eight hours, given one resident’s decision to sign up to speak on every single agenda item.

keysweekly.com

Key West World War II pilots turns 105

Justin Kawaler’s movie date with a girlfriend was interrupted on Dec. 7, 1941: The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States was at war. Kawaler, then 20 and living in his native Brooklyn, told his girlfriend while still in the theater, “I’ve got to get into this, and I’m going to fly.”

speedonthewater.com

Speed On The Water Supporters Raise $37,000-Plus For Samuel’s House

Launched 13 years ago in a tiny BurgerFi restaurant on Duval Street, the Speed On The Water Key West Bash has become a good-time tradition during the annual Key West Offshore World Championships and Florida Powerboat Club events in early November. And this year was no exception as an estimated 3,000 guests passed through last Thursday night’s affair at Pickle’s Pub on Greene Street.

Key West, FL · 19h

The Key West Citizen

Three Key West baseball players sign to continue careers at next level

Even with Key West High School closed for Veterans Day, the school’s auditorium remained busy Wednesday, Nov. 11, as three Conchs celebrated the next step in their baseball careers, signing to continue playing at the collegiate level. Roman Garcia, Auggy Davila and Kristian Masters each made their college commitments official during a signing day ceremony, giving the Key West baseball program three more players moving on to the next level. Garcia signed with Florida International University, Davila committed to Stetson University, and Masters will continue his career at Warner University. The signings recognize the work each player has put in to reach the collegiate ranks, along with the support of the families, teammates and coaches who helped make the opportunity possible. The Conchs celebrated the milestone by reminding the three players that while their baseball careers will take them beyond Key West, they will always be part of the program. The baseball program also indicated that more college commitments could be announced in the coming weeks.

Key West, FL · 2d

The Key West Citizen

Hurricanes claim SSAA South championship, punch ticket to state title game

A dominant ground game and a defense that delivered when it mattered most carried the Coral Shores High football team to the Sunshine State Athletic Association South bracket championship Thursday, Nov. 12, as the Hurricanes defeated North Broward Prep 25-21 in Coconut Creek to earn a spot in the state championship game. The Hurricanes piled up 475 yards of total offense, relying on a three-headed rushing attack to overcome a second-half deficit and hold off a late Eagles rally. Coral Shores established its intentions on the opening possession, marching 85 yards on 12 plays. The Royals gained 55 yards on the drive, and David Beltran added 30, including the final three yards for the touchdown. The Hurricanes extended their lead after Kevin Williams picked off a pass, setting up Beltran’s 28-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 advantage. North Broward Prep answered before halftime, recovering a fumble and converting it into a touchdown pass. Sean Connolly blocked the extra-point attempt, however, keeping the Hurricanes ahead 14-6 at the break. The Eagles struck three plays into the second half, but a mishandled snap on the point-after attempt kept Coral Shores in front, 14-12. North Broward eventually took its first lead late in

Tavernier, FL · 1d

keysweekly.com

Hurricanes football beats Bayside; Key West earns No. 7 seed in FHSAA playoffs

Coral Shores made the long haul to Bayside High School on Nov. 6 to take on a formidable Bears team in the quarterfinals of the SSAA Atlantic BOUND Championship bracket. Just days earlier, the Palm Bay community had been inundated with more than 20 inches of rain, causing destructive flooding throughout the area.