For a sleepy little fishing town, Marathon can sure generate its share of headlines. While there was no local election drama, this Middle Keys city had lots of things happen aside from the pandemic. For example, many locals received their very own shipment of “China seeds” — the story ended up being a harmless marketing scam. Read on for more highlights of Marathon’s news in 2020.
SHARK BITE AT SOMBRERO LIGHT
This was the only story of the year from Marathon to grab international headlines. On Sept. 20, Andrew Charles Eddy jumped in the water at Sombrero Lighthouse to do some snorkeling and was immediately bitten by a large shark, believed to be a bull shark. That’s never happened before in this sanctuary preservation area, where even fishing is prohibited. Then, his pregnant wife dived off the boat to save him. Then some photos of Eddy’s injuries leaked on social media, and many locals began to question whether or not the bite was a propellor strike. But, it wasn’t a hoax.
“He looked me in the face. He told me it was the scariest thing that has ever happened to him. I could see the fear in him,” said Capt. Joe Forcine of Marathon Fire Rescue who accompanied him in the ambulance to the trauma flight hangar for treatment on the mainland.
The news was recounted in British newspapers, on television broadcasts and national papers.
PANDEMIC BRINGS OUT OUR BEST
From the very beginning, Middle Keys locals swung into action to help those in need. Making masks to hand out for free. Check. Weekly food drives (hot food and groceries). Check. Free hotel rooms for front line healthcare personnel shipped in to help cope with the surge in hospital cases. Check. It was also a chance for creative types to finish big projects. Michael Pettit, a graduate of Marathon High School, shared the story of a feature-length comedy he wrote and produced that’s sure to put him (and us) on the map. Local attorney Richard Warner released “Marathon After Midnight” — a gothic comedic film starring a cast of locals — after four or five years of work. And plenty of other residents found ways and time to doll up their residences during quarantine. Dawn Reams finished her outdoor oasis with a painted fence, RC car track and statuary.
GM MOSQUITO TRIAL & ‘THE 1,300’ ARE APPROVED
Two long standing, controversial programs were approved in 2020.
On Aug. 18, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board voted 4-1 in favor of a genetically modified mosquito trial by Oxitec for the Florida Keys. The controversy dates back to 2016, when voters from Key Haven near Key West — the proposed site of the trial for the company’s first-generation technology — rejected the experiment in their neighborhood. Voters in other areas of the Keys embraced the idea. In 2020, Oxitec received federal and state approvals to go ahead with the trial. In August, the local mosquito board also endorsed it.
The second controversy was also settled over the summer. Known as “the 1,300,” it refers to “extra” building rights for affordable housing granted to the Florida Keys after 2017’s Hurricane Irma by then Gov. Rick Scott. The intent was to replace affordable housing destroyed by the storm, but the move was opposed by some citizens who believed the addition of new housing would extend hurricane evacuation times and lead to unsafe conditions. The protest went before an administrative judge in Tallahassee who deemed the 1,300 building rights legal but asked the municipalities for clarification on how the units would be evacuated early if a hurricane approached.
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
Marathon’s Brass Monkey, along with all the other bars in Florida, was shuttered during the quarantine in 2020. When it finally reopened in June, it had been completely refurbished and an important rule was announced: no smoking. Locals eagerly flocked back to the landmark bar, one of Marathon’s favorite watering holes and agreed the new setup was just right.
FARO BLANCO SELLS FOR $40 MILLION
After weeks of whispers, EOS Hospitality confirmed the purchase of Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club from the Spottswood Companies in late October. The resort reportedly sold for $40 million. It has 125 rooms and 70 slips. EOS also owns Isla Bella Beach Resort and Spa, also in Marathon, as well as Ocean Edge Resort and Marina in Key West. The portfolio includes high-end hotels and inns in Washington, D.C., Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Kennebunkport, Maine.
STICKER SHOCK: RAISING ROADS FOR SEA LEVEL RISE
Monroe County revealed the cost of raising roads and moving utilities to meet the projected sea level rise in 2045: $1.8 billion. Yes, billion with a “b.” In a November meeting, Monroe County’s Board of Commissioners heard a variety of proposals on how to pay for the improvements: adding a penny to the sales tax, issuing a public bond, property assessments and, finally, grants and loans. The Keys’ municipalities, including Marathon, will be watching the county’s lobbying efforts in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. carefully to see which method has the best traction before deciding on a course of action.
