By the start of 2021, most of the things that shocked Keys residents in 2020 had become the “new normal” we’re so tired of hearing about. But even still, there were a few stories that just made us shake our heads and say, “What?” From social media challenges that were more like criminal offenses to a decision to unexpectedly bulldoze an island in broad daylight, here are some of the year’s oddities.
What we’re missing in the pandemic
Move over, toilet paper and make room for pepper. Really. Pepper. The pandemic just keeps giving … or in this case, taking away. In the spring of 2020 we collectively lost our minds about toilet paper and hand sanitizer and bought everything on the shelf. Well, the global crisis is winding down, only to pour salt in our wounds with continued shortages.
Some of the shortages are being caused by supply chain disruptions — i.e., manufacturers that closed or scaled back during the pandemic and underestimated demand, such as the lumber and steel industries. Other markets are being affected by shipping; according to one industry report about 25% of the U.S. fleet is parked because there are not enough drivers.
So, what else? We polled business owners and managers and here’s what’s missing in the Keys:
Kate Koler: Cake cones.
Carolyn Anthony: Ketchup, horseradish.
Rachel Bowman: Liquor. (“Last week I couldn’t order Crown Royal. This week, it’s Patron. And Hennessy shortage is a big issue too.”)
Chef “Flavor” Stanton: Nitrile gloves (“The prices have gone from $7 a box to $34!”)
Dion Watson: Roofing supplies (“Some are not available for 60 to 90 days”).
Leanys Carlson: Yetis, fishing boots.
Mark Senmartin: Guns and ammo.
Rachel Daniels: Paint, fiberglass filters, AC filters, kitchen appliances.
Aaron Osters: Trap wire, aluminum, watersports gear, fish hooks, chlorine.
Scott Newton: Amplifiers, speakers, routers, cameras.
Todd Childress: PVC pipe.
Blair Shiver: Black pepper.
Chelsey Torres: Chlorine and rubber gloves.
Chris Bryk: Electrical meter cans.
Tiffany Duong: Dive regulator parts. (“Dive shops in the Keys couldn’t get parts to do regulator service for months.”)
Nicole Grego: Tires.
Shannon Gershowitz Silva: Boxes.
Elise Mucha Reid: Old Bay spice.
The takeaway here is that we should kiss all the truckers and share and amp up our kindness and understanding.
Schools, state attorney will prosecute online dares
“There will be no leniency.”
That’s the message Monroe County school officials are sending when it comes to criminal behavior associated with social media dares and stunts. The latest round of “TikTok Challenges,” which circulate on the popular smartphone app, dare students — typically in middle and high school — to commit certain offenses, including “smack a school staff member” and “jab a boob.” The challenge for December states, “Deck the halls and show your b*&ls in the school halls.”
“Slap a teacher, go to jail. Pretty simple,” State Attorney Dennis Ward told the Keys Weekly. “I’ll keep you in there for as long as I can keep you in there.”
In schools across the country, TikTok bathroom challenges have left floor tiles smashed, urinals stolen and soap dispensers missing.
But there is a bright side…
Sigsbee Charter School in Key West was the site of two bathroom vandalism incidents in the past month. But the school has turned the negativity and criminality of the TikTok challenges into a positive initiative while making parents aware of the concerns and potential consequences.
School officials spoke to students how the vandalism sends a hurtful message to members of the maintenance staff who work hard to keep the school clean and safe.
“The students then wrote notes, drew pictures or created banners to support and appreciate these staff members,” said Sigsbee Principal Eli Jannes.
The bulldozing of Fanny Key has destroyed what was once a thriving rookery for seabirds. CONTRIBUTED.
Vegetation removal from West Fanny Key sparks residents’ outcry
When Marathon resident Bob Williams set out on Sept. 19 for his daily swim around East and West Fanny Key, two small islands on the gulf side just off the south end of Marathon, he was met by a surprising and unavoidable obstacle: a barge and backhoe clearing vegetation off the center of the island.
“I’ve seen many examples of fringe clearing to improve a water view for new homes, but this incident was particularly egregious because of the density of birds,” Williams said. “Egrets, herons, frigate birds, pelicans and cormorants were all nesting there. This is devastating to a healthy and viable rookery.”
Upon learning of the incident, city manager George Garrett contacted both the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to establish separate but cooperative investigations and issue citations.
“They absolutely needed, and did not seek, a building or clearing permit,” Garrett confirmed. “That’s a permit that would have been difficult, or nearly impossible, to obtain. It was absolutely a violation of our code.”
According to Williams, he and many others fear that the fines resulting from the clearing may not be enough to deter similar actions in the future.
“After three decades of being here in the Keys, I’ve seen similar stuff on a much smaller scale. I’m tired of seeing the fines become a cost of doing business,” he said.
