Summerland Key, FL Local News and More

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

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

The Key West Citizen

AIDS Memorial vandalized by juveniles

The Key West AIDS Memorial at the foot of White Street Pier was found covered in eggs Wednesday morning. Police say the mess appears to have been left by high school students taking part in “Coffin Night.” A Key West Police officer reported the vandalism at 8:27 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to the department’s call log. The officer wrote that there were eggs everywhere and asked for Public Works, and a crew was sent to clean up. Police logged the call as criminal mischief and did not file a report. In an email Thursday, Key West Police public affairs liaison Shannon Perzel said the eggs near White Street Pier seem to have come from high school students taking part in Coffin Night. Students allegedly showed up at the pier again that night. At 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, a passerby called police about roughly 15 juveniles walking around the pier with eggs, according to a second call log. The caller said they were dressed all in black and wearing masks. Officers arrived three minutes later and reported many juveniles running. Some ran toward the African Cemetery at Higgs Beach, and others ran north on White Street. Officers stopped four or five

Key West, FL · 21h

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 · 2d

hoodline.com

Maria Parson Arrested After Reported Florida Keys Driving Incident

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Maria Parson, 73, on Tuesday on DUI charges, Tampa Free Press reported. The outlet said a test recorded her blood-alcohol content at .244, compared with Florida’s .08 legal threshold. Tampa Free Press reported that deputies observed Parson driving erratically near Tradewinds Plaza...

Florida Keys, FL · 21h

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

Key West, FL · 21h

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 · 21h

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.

mynews13.com

Monroe County Sheriff's Office announces new drone system to aid response to 911 calls

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is demonstrating how it is integrating drones into its first responder service. Deputies say the office's new drones will be used for active emergency responses to help coordinate police efforts. According to the MCSO, deputies have been using drones for years now, but this update...

Monroe County, FL · 2d

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.

The Key West Citizen

Mayor to halt further action on city manager

Mayor Sam Kaufman said Tuesday he has no plans to take further action against City Manager Brian Barroso after the City Commission rejected his proposal for an independent investigation on his performance and conduct. “I’ve done my part,” Kaufman said during his weekly press conference. “I have a clear conscience.” The commission voted 5-2 on Nov. 5 to deny Kaufman’s resolution. It would have spent up to $75,000 to hire outside counsel for a fact-finding investigation of concerns about Barroso’s conduct in his official duties, with a written report due to the commission within 90 days. Commissioner Lissette Carey made the motion to deny, and Commissioner Aaron Castillo seconded it. Kaufman and Commissioner Monica Haskell voted against the motion. Carey, Castillo, Vice Mayor Donie Lee and Commissioners Chris Massicotte and Mark Rossi voted in favor. Several commissioners objected to the cost. “I just can’t justify that money for an investigation,” Castillo said at the meeting. Carey said some commissioners viewed the repeated proposals as an attempt to embarrass Barroso. Massicotte said a review of the manager’s job performance would be “an audit rather than an investigation.” He noted the commission will evaluate the city manager in January. On Tuesday, Kaufman

Key West, FL · 2d

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

Former Islamorada pharmacy manager gets eight years’ probation in prescription fraud case

PLANTATION KEY — A former CVS pharmacy manager in Islamorada was sentenced to eight years of probation after pleading no contest in a prescription fraud case, according to the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office. Chandra Teerie, 60, of Homestead, entered the plea before Circuit Judge James Morgan. As part of her sentence, she is barred from working in pharmacies or the medical field and from having access to controlled substances or prescriptions. She was ordered to pay $1,883 in court, prosecution and investigative costs, plus a $50 supervision fee. The case began in Sept. 24, 2025, when CVS corporate asset protection officials reported suspected prescription fraud at the company’s Islamorada store, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Teerie created and filled fraudulent prescriptions for herself and family members, including her spouse and sister, over several years. Detectives said Teerie entered prescriptions in the CVS system under the names of licensed medical providers, falsely marking them as authorized by phone or voicemail. Three providers later confirmed they had not issued or approved the prescriptions. CVS corporate investigators determined the prescriptions were billed to third-party insurers and referred the findings to the sheriff’s office. No controlled substances were involved,

Islamorada, FL · 2d

The Key West Citizen

Mayor invites residents for coffee meetings

Key West Mayor Sam Kaufman is inviting residents to join him for a new series of informal community gatherings, “Coffee with Mayor Kaufman,” at Key West City Hall. The gatherings will take place on selected Wednesday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., providing an opportunity for residents to stop by, enjoy a cup of coffee, share ideas, raise concerns, ask questions, or simply catch up with their Mayor. The first three gatherings are scheduled for: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2026 All gatherings will be held at Key West City Hall, 1300 White Street. No appointment or advance registration is necessary. Residents are welcome to stop by at any time during the scheduled hours. “I want City Hall to be a welcoming place where residents feel comfortable coming in, sharing their thoughts, and talking about what’s happening in our community,” said Mayor Kaufman. “Whether you have an idea, a concern, a question, or just want to say hello, I’d love to see you. Sometimes the best conversations happen over a simple cup of coffee.” Mayor Kaufman emphasized that the gatherings are intended to be relaxed, informal, and accessible to everyone. “Good government starts with listening,”

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.”

Key West, FL · 23h

Click10.com

NYC man arrested for ‘fraudulent vacation rental scheme’ in Florida Keys, deputies say

BIG PINE KEY, Fla. — A New York City man is facing felony charges in the Florida Keys in connection with a “fraudulent vacation rental scheme,” sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday. Authorities said the case against Fawaz Shittu, 28, started with a 2024 investigation after a victim...

New York, NY · 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.

keysweekly.com