No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Megan Hughes. By day she works full-time at the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority – 20 years this month. By night, and most weekends, she runs a cat nonprofit called Forgotten Felines where she wrangles colony cats and raises money to feed hundreds of them. She also won “Best Volunteer” in the Best of Marathon awards back in 2022 and 2024.
MEGAN HUGHES
FKAA/Forgotten Felines
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I’ve lived in the Keys on and off my entire life, but I moved back for good at 17 after graduating high school in North Carolina. My grandparents moved here in the 1940s and actually started the old Holiday Inn in Marathon. It’s in my blood, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? Honestly, I work a lot. Between my full-time job and running a nonprofit, free time is a luxury. But when I do get a break, I spend it with my kids and close friends. We’re either out on the water soaking up the beauty of the Keys or lounging by the pool (shout-out to my two amazing friends with a backyard oasis).
If you were a cat, what breed of cat would you be and why? A colony cat, of course. Resilient, resourceful and community-minded, just like me.
What is one song that makes you get up and dance? All of them. I love to dance! Ask anyone who’s seen me out. My favorite is “Love Man” by Otis Redding.
What was the last gift you gave someone? Concert tickets.
What advice would you give to your previous boss if you could? Remember that life is short, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. If something happened to you, you’d be replaced almost immediately, so don’t forget to treat people with respect while they’re here.
Describe your most bizarre life experience thus far. One day I was just out trapping cats to help with local efforts, and the next thing I knew, I was running a full-blown nonprofit. It’s definitely not something I saw coming, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
If you had a time machine, would you travel to the past or the future? Why? Oh, I’d absolutely go back in time to track down the one human who thought letting their cat roam unaltered was a good idea.
What is one issue that is affecting the people of Marathon that you would like fixed right away? The unchecked growth of vacation rentals and luxury developments is pushing locals out of Marathon. We need to prioritize the people who actually live, work and give back here, not just those passing through for profit.
What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I’m obsessed with “Family Guy” and quote it way more than I probably should.
Know someone that would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?”
Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
