Local News in Monroe County
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Monroe County 209 storiesWiden to Greater Key West
Keys Weekly
Published August 31Just a Few Friends festival unveils Jimmy Buffett Look-Alike Contest
The first Bubba Look-Alike Showdown, presented by Hogfish Bar & Grill, will take over the 200 block of Duval Street on Friday, Sept. 4, before Gary Roland and the Landsharks return to recreate the spirit of the 1998 Meeting of the Minds street concert, when Jimmy Buffett…
Keys Weekly
Published August 31Nonprofit seeks 12 felines to star in upcoming ‘Catlender’
Casting for Cats is searching for the stars for its 2027 “Catlendar” and is inviting cat lovers throughout the Keys and beyond to submit photos of their favorite feline for a chance to be featured. The nonprofit organization will select 12 cats to appear in the 2027 calendar,…
Keys Weekly
Published August 31Culinary finale: Key West’s heritage desserts
The tradition of sharing sweet foodstuffs dates back to ancient times, when they were presented as offerings to the gods or served at the end of feasts. In the Middle Ages, sweet dishes were often made from dried fruits or honey. Although European sugar manufacturing began during…
Keys Weekly
Published August 31Marathon Neighbor of the Week: Heather Rouse
No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys…
Keys Weekly
Published August 31Playing it safe: Keys athletes have layers of protections before they take the field
Florida’s student-athletes may be focused on wins, times and personal bests, but behind every practice and competition is another priority: getting them home safely. Long before the first whistle blows, student-athletes and their families are introduced to that priority via an…
Keys Weekly
Published August 29County’s mooring field project secures permits; effort aims to reduce unmanaged anchoring
Monroe County recently received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for the Man of War Harbor Mooring Field, marking a major milestone toward construction of the county’s planned mooring field near Key West’s Wisteria…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28Lazy Days Islamorada wins annual Bartenders Dolphin Tournament
Fifty-four bar and restaurant employees competed in the fourth annual Bartenders Dolphin Tournament. The event started with a kickoff party and food at the Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Islamorada on Aug. 16, followed by 12 boats heading out Aug. 17 under light winds and sunny…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28Key West remembers the slave trade and its end
Few sites are more fitting for a remembrance of the atrocities of the African slave trade than Key West’s African Cemetery at Higgs Beach. And that’s precisely how the site was used on Aug. 23, the International Day of Remembrance for the Slave Trade and Its Abolition. This…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28Local immigrants face uncertainty; businesses struggle with staffing
Immigration agents with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have removed at least 65 people from Key West and Stock Island since Aug. 1 as enhanced enforcement efforts continue and additional agents are seen around town. “It actually could be as many as 75 or 80 people just this…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28Wastewater rates in Islamorada could increase in the years to come; here’s why
Islamorada residents can expect their wastewater bills to increase in the coming years amid rising operational costs and future expensive upgrades to the collection system. At a recent village council meeting, the firm in charge of providing the wastewater rate study, Raftelis,…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28In Their Own Words: Meet the new teachers at Stanley Switlik Elementary
There are new faces at the front of the class at Stanley Switlik Elementary School this year – but a few will be more than familiar to the Marathon community. Now that they’ve welcomed their students for the 2026-27 school year, the Keys Weekly is proud to introduce these…
Keys Weekly
Published August 28In Pictures: Hockey tournament comes to Key West
Hockey? In Key West? Yep. Well, roller hockey — because anything else would just be wading in skates. The Southernmost Hockey Club, 1713 Bertha St., hosted the Southernmost Buttery Cup hockey tournament Aug. 21-23, offering a free weekend of roller hockey to Key West. Fifty Key…