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.
This week’s neighbor is CT Trzcinski, who gives history tours at Pigeon Key. She is a gifted historian who tells stories of what life was like on the island when Henry Flagler was developing the railway through the Keys back in the 1920s.
CT TRZCINSKI
Tour Guide, Pigeon Key
How long have you been doing tours for Pigeon Key? What did you do before this? I started right after Irma in 2017 when several employees had to relocate from the Keys. The ones who were still in Marathon often had to take time off to deal with contractors and roofers. I had an annual pass for several years, and they asked if I would be interested in filling in “occasionally,” so here I am.
Back in “the real world” – that is, anywhere other than the Keys – I was an X-ray tech. The tour takers often assume I was a teacher. I assure them that all I ever said before this gig was, “Take a deep breath, hold it, and let it out!”
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? We came to the Keys for the first time in the early ’80s. We were snowbirds here until about two years ago. The weather brought us here. The beautiful water, scenery and laid-back ambiance made us stay.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I love live theater and music. Mostly, though, it’s the connection to nature like the bird watching, sunrises and sunsets and the night sky. The plant life is so different from up north. I like collecting sea beans and the sounds of nature.
Who is the one person from history that you have a crush on and why? As I often tell my tours, I have a crush on Henry Flagler. He was an incredible visionary who experienced every high and low that life could throw at him. He handled it all with great grace. He was neither an angel nor a devil, just in between like all of us, trying to find our way.
What is the strangest food combination you have tried and liked? I have become obsessed with Tajin seasoning sprinkled on any melon. Who would have imagined a spicy chili, lime and salt seasoning would be great on melon?
If someone gave you a shark, what would you do with it? If presented with a shark I would gently release it back into the ocean – unless, of course, it was a blacktip, then it would be “fire up the grill” time.
What is your favorite board game and why? I love backgammon. It’s such an interesting balance of skill and chance. A skillful player will win in the long run, but chance can make anyone win a hand.
Sausage or bacon for breakfast and why? Bacon! Have you ever seen them make sausage? Gross!
How would you sell ice to an eskimo? I would sell blocks of ice as DIY igloo kits. Why spend hours chopping out ice blocks when we can deliver them to you all ready to go?
What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I’ve been Smokey the Bear (the costume character).
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email: keysweeklyjen@gmail.com
