Statewide “safer-at-home” order issued

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a statewide “safer-at-home” order, limiting Floridians’ movement and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services.

Essential services include going to the grocery store, gas station, health care facilities, pharmacies, veterinarian and child care centers, among others.

People can also participate in recreational activities such as biking and walking. The order goes into effect tomorrow at midnight (end of day Thursday) and goes for 30 days.

Stay tuned for further clarifications.

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.