The Keys Weekly Newspapers

10/29/2025

Join us in wishing one of our fearless (and feeble?! 😂) leaders, Jason Koler, a VERY happy 50TH birthday!! 🎂

The Keys Weekly Newspapers , the Best Ofs, and the Keys in general just wouldn’t be the same without him. His heart of gold and dedication to supporting both his team and our community are truly one of a kind.

Happy birthday Jason, here's to MANY more! 🍻

10/29/2025

A construction company dug up an old mortar near the former Thai Island location in Key West. Palm Avenue is closed in both directions between Eisenhower and N. Roosevelt Blvd.

10/28/2025

Local politics are heating up across the Keys. Commissioner Sam Kaufman has officially entered the race for mayor in Key West, while two others have joined the ballot for city commission. More coverage to come today on the additional candidates. Full story on Kaufman in link below:

Come August 2026, Key West voters will be asked to choose a mayor and a couple of city commissioners in three nonpartisan races that could be decided in the Aug. 18 primary. Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, who plans to seek reelection to her second term, drew a challenger on Oct. 27, when City Commissioner...

10/24/2025

DEVELOPING: Immigration & Border Patrol agents have been stationed at Lower Keys Medical Center, after a woman went into labor aboard a boat that was coming from Cuba . Sources have confirmed she was detained after giving birth. More in comments.

10/23/2025

Fun fact: there’s a reason the Florida Keys keep showing up in travel magazines as one of the top U.S. vacation destinations...

Spoiler alert: it’s YOU (and you, and you...)! 🫵

Because as locals, we already know that it's the local spots, musicians, and businesses that make the Keys so special. So how about we give them a plaque to show for it?!

Show some love to your favorites in the Best of Upper Keys 2025, now through November 2.
Vote daily, vote often ➡️ keysweekly.com/buk2

10/20/2025

MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife is seeking information after an American crocodile was spotted near Key Largo with a spear lodged in its head. Full story below.

State wildlife officers are seeking information after a crocodile was spotted in the nearshore waters of Key Largo with a spear lodged in its head. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers were notified of an injured American crocodile at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arriva....

10/16/2025

🚨 THE TIME HAS COME…for the last, but certainly not least, BIGGEST (and most official) POPULARITY CONTEST IN THE UPPER KEYS! 🎉

We’re thrilled to share the top 3 nominees in each category - a huge congratulations to everyone that made it to this round, welcome to the elite club of Upper Keys businesses that SLAYED in 2025!

Check out all the nominees here 👉 keysweekly.com/buk25/
…and cast your vote to crown the Best of the Upper Keys 2025!

Let’s be honest - everyone’s got opinions in the Keys. Talk is cheap. Now it’s time to make it official.

🗳️ Voting is THE BEST is OPEN! Nominate your favorites through November 2nd.

Vote daily. Vote often. And don’t forget - at least 75% of your ballot needs to be filled for your vote to count.

READY? SET? VOTE! 🔥

10/15/2025

Let the 10 days of BEDTIME STORIES & MAGICAL begin!! 🎉 💭 👹

The Official Fantasy Fest Program is HERE ⤵️
https://keysweekly.com/fantasy-fest-guide-2025/

This 2025 digital magazine is your ultimate guide to all things Fantasy Fest . Inside, you’ll find the full event schedule, parade details, street closures, merch, maps, and insider tips from the locals who make it happen.

Tell us which events you're attending (or watching via webcam!) in the comments! 👇

10/09/2025

Holly Raschein, the 2024 Best Elected Official of the , is here with a VERY important message…

LETS HEAR IT FOR THE BEST OF UPPER KEYS SPONSORS! 🎉🙌

She’s traveling high and low (and apparently even underwater 😂), across the Florida Keys to shine a spotlight on EIGHT amazing sponsors making the 2025 awards possible:

• Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection (our fabulous venue host!)
• Baptist Health Mariners Hospital
• Ocean Sotheby's International Realty
• Going-Aire Air Conditioning Service Key Largo
• First Horizon Bank
• H&R Block
• HNO Productions
• Overseas Media Group

Thanks to these sponsors, we get to celebrate the BEST businesses and organizations in the Upper Keys!

🗳️ Voting for your top 3 favorites opens Oct. 16 at noon - save the date and get ready to VOTE!

10/05/2025

Love a business in the Upper Keys?
𝗪𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪! 🙌

Heading into our 4th year, the awards have already highlighted hundreds of incredible restaurants, organizations, and community members.

Here’s the thing: 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘! This shows the businesses and community your support while putting them in the elite top tier of the Upper Keys community.

Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or a business competing for a plaque, we already know you LOVE sharing your opinion on the the best of the best.

Now it's time to put your 'Best Of 'nominations where your mouth is. 😉

Today is your 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 to nominate your favorites. On 10/16, the top 3 nominees will be revealed, and voting for the winners opens!

Nominate your favorites before midnight at keysweekly.com/buk25 (don't forget to fill out at least 75% of your ballot for your vote to count) and show the some love!

10/03/2025

Need some smiles? We have you covered.

The Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea held their annual Blessing of the Animals for parents, students, furry family members (and some with with beaks, wings scutes and scales) on campus today. Father Christopher Marino led the blessing, which are common at Catholic and Christian churches and typically take place on or around Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Christian patron saint of animals and the environment.

10/02/2025

For this week's feature, we take a look back at one of 's most ICONIC covers:

Hurricane Irma made landfall in the on the morning of Sept. 10, 2017. The storm ravaged much of the middle and lower Keys, leaving many without power and water for weeks, and causing an estimated $50 billion in property damage across Florida.

In the aftermath of the storm, the Florida Keys rallied to rebuild and restore our way of life. This photo of the
iconic 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐨𝐲, captured by The Keys Weekly Newspapers' Britt Myers, became a 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 — symbolizing the resilience and unity of the .

“There were no Republicans or Democrats after the storm,” said Myers. "It was just residents looking out for one another, as many looked for water, food and a working phone to call loved ones."

"In the wake of a tragedy, it was a reminder of what really matters — and how powerful our belief in can be when we come together.”