A NIGHT OUT – Key Largo community meets with first responders

The Key Largo community was out in full force for the Aug. 6 National Night Out event at Key Largo Community Park. The evening, which featured food and fun, gave community members the opportunity to meet sheriff’s deputies, fire rescuers, and others in the public safety field in the Florida Keys and share a friendly conversation. Capt. Don Fanelli said turnout was spectacular with families and children enjoying the evening. Joining the Sheriff’s Office were Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Key Largo and Tavernier fire and EMS. Many organizations were also on hand to give out little treats and share information. 

Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.