Jim McCarthy
Jim McCarthy is a 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 3-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, mixed martial arts and golf. He loves to hit the links and play some softball with his Make A Play team. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.
180+ MIGRANTS SENT BACK TO HAITI AFTER VESSEL RAN AGROUND OFF THE FLORIDA KEYS
An American flag waves to the Atlantic Ocean breeze at one of the more popular Florida Keys sandbars. Located at Whale Harbor in Islamorada, hundreds of boats usually line the shallow, sandy bottoms during holidays and busy weekends for a day of sunshine, drinks and lounging.
For the past week,...
FLORIDA KEYS COMMISSIONER SYLVIA MURPHY REMEMBERED AS THE ‘ULTIMATE PUBLIC SERVANT’
Former Monroe County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy was instrumental in brokering a deal for Rowell’s Park in Key Largo. She also played a pivotal role in saving lives during her career as an EMT.
A Keys resident dating back to her late teenage years, Murphy passed away during the morning hours...
ISLAMORADA COUNCIL APPROVES DWINDLING SUPPLY OF BUILDING PERMITS
An outgoing Islamorada council approved a schedule to hand out the village’s remaining building permits at a Nov. 17 meeting. A new council seated in December will face the tough task of figuring out what comes next with no more permits available despite many still waiting to build on...
STATE GRANT COULD HELP EXPAND RIDESHARE SERVICE IN ISLAMORADA
A ridesharing service that transports locals and guests to and from locations in Islamorada could expand with help from a state grant.
During the early portion of the Nov. 17 village council meeting, Maria Bassett, finance director, informed the dais that she was able to secure a Florida Department of...
FORMER FLORIDA KEYS COMMISSIONER SYLVIA MURPHY PASSES AWAY AT 86
Longtime Upper Keys resident and former Monroe County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy passed away on Saturday morning. She was 86.
Murphy spent much of her life serving the public between her years as an EMT with Monroe County Emergency Medical Services, where she retired in 1996, and two decades with the...
SICK OF THE FLOODS: KEY LARGO COMMUNITY AWAITS SOLUTION
Seven years have passed since Monroe County officials initiated a pilot project to address flooding at Key Largo’s Twin Lakes community. For resident Stephanie Russo, it’s been a long seven years.
On Nov. 15, Monroe County commissioners authorized County Administrator Roman Gastesi to execute a $3.9-million grant agreement with the...
OCEAN STUDIES STUDENTS OFFER THANKSGIVING MESSAGES
Wielding crayons, Ocean Studies Charter School’s Sea Stars class were hard at work on some Thanksgiving crafts last week. Not only did they color in the turkey feathers, but they also penciled in some things they’re thankful for, which spanned from family to food. Upper Keys Weekly recently stopped...
VESSEL SPOTTED CARRYING HAITIANS IN KEY LARGO RUNS AGROUND OFF ISLAMORADA
An overloaded vessel initially sighted in Key Largo carrying a large number of Haitian migrants on rough waters ran aground at the sandbar south of Whale Harbor in Islamorada around 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 21. Eighteen people were found in the water as multiple agencies rushed to rescue them...
ISLAMORADA DISTILLERY DEVELOPMENT UP FOR DISCUSSION NEXT MONTH
A new Islamorada council seated Dec. 6 will consider whether development of a distillery moves forward at the former BB&T Bank building on Plantation Key.
Specifically, council members will consider approval of a major conditional use to redevelop the building’s first floor into a distillery, restaurant and brewpub with outdoor...
KEY LARGO TREE LIGHTING TO RING IN THE HOLIDAYS
Several helpers unpacked the branches and strung new lights on a 45-foot illuminated Christmas tree outside the Murray Nelson Government Center last week. With help from Wire Nuts and Florida Keys Electric Cooperative, the tree, now known as “Holly,” was assembled and the star placed just in time for...
TWO COUNCILMEN BID FAREWELL IN FINAL ISLAMORADA COUNCIL MEETING
An Islamorada council that shut down construction of a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 1 and grappled with hirings and resignations of top staff convened for a final meeting on Nov. 17.
Come December, a new council will take their seats.
The meeting, with 17 agenda items up for consideration, was the...
RUNNERS CONQUER KEY LARGO BRIDGE RUN
Around 350 runners and walkers scaled Jewfish Creek Bridge — the gateway to the Florida Keys — for the 12th annual First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run on Nov. 12. Upper Keys runners were well represented on the podium between the overall 5K winner Anthony Pallaria, 37, of...
