“Local Matters.”
It’s not just what we cover, it’s what we truly believe at the Keys Weekly.
With offices, editors and editions in Key West, Marathon and the Upper Keys, our team continued its unwavering commitment to local news, people and the Keys community in 2022.
Whether we’re in the Keys Weekly booths at local seafood festivals, or driving decorated golf carts in our hometown holiday parades, the Keys Weekly is your local newspaper and we thank you for trusting us with…local matters.
KEY WEST
The past year saw an unprecedented number of breaking news stories, social media engagement, fun local events in which we proudly took part and some new bylines for the Key West Weekly.
We welcomed freelance writers Cricket Desmarais and Amy Patton, whose profiles, theater reviews, fun features and news stories have added new voices and fresh perspectives to the Key West Weekly. Columnist and author Janice Gary now pays tribute to our four-legged fur babies with her monthly column Paws in Paradise, while Ray West covers the local live music scene with his twice-monthly Hip to the Scene column.
Publisher and owner Britt Myers continued the success of the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast Show, scoring interviews with the likes of musical legend Warren Haynes, Major League pitcher — and surgery namesake — Tommy John, as well as Queen front man and singing sensation Adam Lambert.
Our annual Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards drew 400,000 online votes from all continents except Antarctica. The awards gala in July packed Key West Theater with humor and high honors while raising more than $30,000 for the Bahama Village Music Program.
And as always, our team had a great time at countless community events, fundraisers and political forums.
It’s been an exciting year at the Keys Weekly. Watch what happens next — onward and upward for 2023 in the Florida Keys.
MARATHON
The heart of the Florida Keys kept new blood pumping in 2022. Our year began with a new partnership with the Florida Keys SPCA, working to bring furry companions in shelters to our pages every week. As the months progressed, we welcomed contributions from talented freelancer Abigail Haddock, and closed the year by debuting a brand-new health and wellness column by Jennifer Boltz-Harvey along with Joel Brandenburg’s Captain Joel’s Fishin’ Holes.
The year was not without loss, as we bid fair winds and following seas to beloved columnist Mike Barber, who passed away in March following a battle against aggressive pneumonia.
The return of the Marathon Meltdown saw 39 Middle Keys residents shave off an astounding 437.8 pounds in total, with one contestant losing 18.2% of her body weight – and we’re sure they’ve all kept it off.
Our 14th annual Best of Marathon awards brought nearly 300 guests to a phenomenal evening honoring the standout businesses and individuals in our city – even when nasty weather necessitated a last-minute venue change to Million Air’s hangar.
With the new school year, the Marathon office spearheaded a new partnership with Sean and Tracy McDonald to produce the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap, the only locally-owned sports section covering Monroe County athletics – AND a fantastic podcast taking intricate dives into Keys sports history. We cannot thank them enough for the way they’ve transformed our sports coverage and reaffirmed our commitment to celebrating local athletes’ accomplishments.
UPPER KEYS
The Upper Keys Office in Tavernier bolstered its team to start 2022 by welcoming Jill Miranda Baker as business development officer. A 25-year resident of Plantation Key, Miranda Baker elevated new relationships with the business and nonprofit sectors while maintaining strong connections with longstanding clients.
Months later, the Keys Weekly added more talent to its roster, this time bringing in Manuela Carrillo Mobley as director of sales. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, she spent several years with AT&T in the Florida Keys before joining the Key Weekly team.
New bylines hit the papers as the year progressed. Earlier in the year, the Upper Keys added former TV reporter Kellie Butler Farrell to its talented freelance team. Coral Shores student Zack Woltanski and Upper Keys resident Carolyn DePaula also joined as freelancers.
New features debuted, including Pet of the Week and Joyful Keys Living, which highlighted some local residents making a difference in their communities. The Upper Keys Weekly closed out the year with the new “Artist’s Corner” column by local artist William DePaula.
A people’s choice awards event, which we dubbed Best of Upper Keys, debuted in the fall. People had the opportunity to submit their favorite businesses, places, people and more. Finalists were chosen by the people in roughly 50 categories. On Nov. 5, winners were crowned at Whale Harbor Events in Islamorada, and more than $19,000 was raised for the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter.
A young deputy editor arrived at the Upper Keys Weekly. His name? Lucas Matthew McCarthy. Upper Keys Weekly editor Jim McCarthy and his beautiful other half, Brie Conway, welcomed an 8.8-pound boy into the world on Oct. 4.
