BEST OF UPPER KEYS AWARDS THE BEST IN TOWN

The gang at Wahoo’s hold up the Best Fish Sandwich award.

50 Best of Upper Keys award plaques were handed out to winners in three major categories, which included food and drink, community and business. Winners were chosen by the thousands of votes that poured in for the finalists. Visit page 25 in the Nov. 17 edition of the Upper Keys Weekly and keysweekly.com for the winners list.

Leah Maurer and Matt Hutchinson proudly display the Best Law Firm plaque, which went to Hershoff, Lupino & Yagel.
Islamorada Village Manager Ted Yates, middle, displays the Best Place to Take the Kids award, which went to Founders Park. Also pictured are Councilmen Buddy Pinder and David Webb.
MarrVelous Pet Rescue’s Suzi Youngberg and Joy Martin show off the Best Nonprofit Award.
Longtime Keys resident and volunteer extraordinaire Nola Acker wins Best Volunteer. Also pictured, from left, are Julie Johnson, Scott Acker and Henry Menendez.
Residents of Plantation Key Colony hold up the Best Neighborhood plaque.
The crew at Square Grouper Islamorada came away with three awards during the inaugural Best of Upper Keys.
Key Largo School teacher Tiffany Zepada wins Best Educator.
Jim McCarthy
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.