Kellie Butler Farrell
Kellie Butler Farrell is a journalist who calls Islamorada home. Kellie spent two decades in television news and also taught journalism at Barry University in Miami and Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She loves being outside, whether spending time on the water or zipping down the Old Highway on her electric bike, Kellie is always soaking up the island lifestyle. Kellie and her husband own an electric bike rental company, Keys Ebikes.
UPPER KEYS SAILORS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS ON THE WATER
In 1973, a small group of sailing enthusiasts hoisted their sails in the Upper Keys, testing their skills in grueling oceanside regattas as well as offering instruction for novice sailors.
Fifty years later, a lot has changed at the Upper Keys Sailing Club, and a lot has remained the same.
"The...
LUCKY TO BE ALIVE: KEYS WOMAN INVOLVED IN 2015 CRASH TELLS STORY OF FAITH
By all accounts, the fact that 63-year-old Karol Harrelson is alive is nothing short of a miracle.
"My heart stopped twice," she recalled. "They resuscitated me twice, once in the helicopter and once at the hospital."
Seven years ago, this former nurse's life changed in a blink of an eye. Harrelson...
ISLAMORADA MAN CONQUERS 500TH RACE
In October 1993, Robert Brown turned to running while in the middle of a divorce.
"I thought to myself, ‘I better work on this package and get in shape so that if I'm going to meet somebody else, at least I'm not all out of shape and sloppy,’" said the...
WING FOILING CRAZE SAILS INTO THE UPPER KEYS
Along the shore of Key Largo's Buttonwood Sound, sailing instructor Mari Perez explains the fine details of wing foiling. The equipment is straightforward; an inflatable sail and a board equipped with a hydrofoil.
Clutching the handles of the sail, or wing as it is called, the 21-year-old demonstrates to sailors...
KEY LARGO WOMAN RAISES THOUSANDS FOR ALZHEIMER’S IN HONOR OF MOTHER
It's been more than two and a half years since Kim Hamilton's mother passed away, but this Key Largo woman still gets choked up remembering the devastation caused by Alzheimer's disease.
"It's a horrible, horrible disease," said Hamilton. "It's heart-wrenching, when your mother looks at you and says 'Who's your...
UPPER KEYS WRESTLERS RUMBLE IN HONOR OF MIKE FORSTER
Isle Style club wrestlers went toe-to-toe inside the Coral Shores High School gymnasium during a well-attended rumble on Nov. 5. Roughly 40 young wrestlers, ages 5 to 17, spent two hours learning wrestling techniques, followed by another two-hour live wrestling session.
"I'm not sure an event like this has ever...
UPPER KEYS CLINIC ON TRACK TO SPAY & NEUTER 1,000 CATS
Inside this Key Largo spay and neuter clinic, a devoted team of volunteers works tirelessly to humanely control the feral cat population in the Upper Keys.
"We average about 30 cats a clinic," said Margie Schwartz. "The males are fast, zip … zip. The females take a little bit longer."
Schwartz...
TAKING A SHINE TO SOLAR; FLA. KEYS UTILITY LEADS THE CHARGE
The largest producer of solar energy in Monroe County isn't the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative or Keys Energy Services; it's the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, according to its general manager, Peter Rosasco.
"It's absolutely a no-brainer," said Rosasco of the decision to install 1,985 solar panels at eight KLWTD...
KEY LARGO WOMAN CHANGES BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS’ LIVES
A cozy Key Largo skin care studio was the ideal setting for an unfiltered talk about regaining a sense of self, after breast cancer.
"I lost my hair from chemotherapy. I had loss of hair everywhere and then I lost my breasts," said cancer survivor and permanent makeup artist Paula...
THE KEY PLAYERS PREPARE TO WOW AUDIENCES WITH ‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’
Inside the Murray E. Nelson center, the cast and crew of Little Shop of Horrors runs through a dress rehearsal. With opening night Thursday, Oct. 27, this is crunch time.
"We're always ready,” said actor DJ Mills. "We're going to have to be, there's no other option," added castmate Jordan...
NEW TAVERNIER PIZZA SHOP IS OLD SCHOOL
The doors to Tavernier's newest pizzeria open to customers at noon, but the food preparation begins much, much earlier, usually at 6:30 in the morning. And that's just the beginning of the process.
"It takes me three days to make the dough," said chef and owner Joe McDevitt. "I do...
UPPER KEYS SCOUTS COLLECT SUPPLIES FOR HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS
Hundreds of 24-packs of water, Gatorade, dozens of boxes of baby diapers and wipes, cans of non-perishables, bleach; that was the show of generosity outside the Tavernier Winn Dixie Saturday afternoon as piles of donated hurricane relief supplies continued to multiply.
"It’s been overwhelming, it’s been amazing," said Jason Swensson,...
