There were migrant landings and controversial projects in the Upper Keys. A familiar strip club said “goodbye” while a no-name storm said “hello.” Major milestones were witnessed for one World War II veteran and a local sailing club. 2023 possessed no shortage of stories to chase in Islamorada, Tavernier and Key Largo.
January
Migrants reach Key Largo shore
Migrant flows continued during the early parts of 2023 in the Florida Keys, as 138 Haitians aboard a dilapidated and grounded vessel swam to shore near Ocean Cay Drive in Key Largo. It was the first major landing of 2023 as local law enforcement assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Mass migrations among Cubans and Haitians drew Gov. Ron DeSantis to activate state resources to assist local authorities. U.S Sen. Rick Scott visited the Keys on Jan. 19. In a press conference, he called the migrant events “heartbreaking.”
Sailing club turns 50
A small group of sailing enthusiasts hoisted their sails in the Upper Keys in 1973, testing their skills in grueling oceanside regattas as well as offering instruction for novice sailors. Fifty years later, a lot has changed at the Upper Keys Sailing Club, wrote Kellie Butler Farrell. And a lot has remained the same. Festivities kicked off Jan. 6 with a gathering of past members. Celebrations concluded Nov. 18 as past commodores gathered to reminisce and celebrate the club’s progression.
February
Haitian migrants land near Tavernier
Oleander Street resident Mike Diaz took out his phone and went to his balcony to record video of a breathtaking Florida Keys sunrise the morning of Feb. 9. He slowly panned his camera to the left and noticed a large sailboat carrying what appeared to be migrants. The boat grounded just off the shore of Tavernier around 7 a.m. A total of 114 Haitian migrants jumped ship and swam to a private residence at the end of Oleander Drive.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection agents were assisted at the scene by the U.S. Coast Guard and multiple law enforcement agencies. By 9 a.m., a U.S. Homeland Security bus arrived to load the Haitian migrants, most of them men, for processing.
March
New water pipe project begins
FKAA contractors began a $42 million project to replace roughly four miles of transmission main through Islamorada from Tea Table Key at MM 79 to Whale Harbor at MM 84. So far, crews have installed more than 19,000 feet of new 36-inch water main.
A series of water pipe breaks in the Upper Keys left many residents from Tavernier to Key West with little water. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority crews descended upon a break across from Islamorada’s Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina on March 8. Just as they were finishing hours of repairs, another major pipe burst was reported roughly eight miles north at MM 92 in Tavernier the evening of March 8. Three days later, another water pipe burst occurred near the first water transmission break across from Postcard Inn.
April
Protect Center opens in Islamorada
Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder announced the new Protect Center at the former Latitude 25 building in Islamorada on April 4. The new hospital will take in marine mammals in need of critical care. The center will also serve as an education center complete with guided tours, a 3,000-square-foot museum themed around marine conservation and retail space.
May
7-Eleven a no-go in Key Largo
Plans for a 7-Eleven gas station at the current Anthony’s clothing store in Key Largo were shut down by the Monroe County Planning Commission at an April 28 meeting. Concerns over traffic and public safety led commissioners to a 4-1 vote to deny the applicant’s request.
Developers were seeking to construct a 4,730-square-foot gas station with 11 fueling stations and a 24/7 convenience store in the median at MM 98.2. Residents said a 7-Eleven could mean more accidents on a portion of U.S. 1 that’s prone to bad crashes.
Islamorada’s Dick Barnes turns 100
Retired U.S. Navy captain Dick Barnes has always found a way to make things work, and on May 10, the Islamorada resident turned 100 with a full recall of the important milestones that defined his amazing life. He repurposed military aircraft and Coast Guard cutters to suit his needs and, after moving to the Florida Keys, he turned a hurricane-ravaged tackle shop into the first Mercury service center in the county. An avid diver, he needed a place to fill his air tanks — so he built one of the first filling stations.
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 18-year-old electrical engineering student enlisted in the Navy. Not having enough college credits to qualify for flight school, he earned himself a spot in the Navy’s cadet program by scoring in the top 10 percent of the college equivalency exam.
June
Sewer line breaks in Tavernier
Motorists traveling north in the Upper Keys on June 18 experienced heavy traffic backups after a sewer line break in Tavernier closed one road lane. Crews arrived to conduct repairs, leaving only one northbound lane open to vehicles on a busy Father’s Day and three-day weekend with the federal holiday Juneteenth celebrated June 19. This isn’t the first time a sewer line broke in the area. In March 2019, a 20-foot sewer line broke at MM 92.5. Repairs took roughly 12 hours to complete.
July
Woody’s strip club closes
One can say it’s the end of an era for a longstanding strip club. Keys Weekly’s Charlotte Twine visited Woody’s Adult Entertainment during its final weekend. “I feel like my left arm has been cut off,” said owner Michaeal Pinter, who sold his business to a trio of owners.
August
The queen of St. James Children’s Center in Islamorada called it career after 39 years. SueEllen Bennett built up the school from having just two teachers and 15 students in the 1980s to the current staff of four teachers and two aides who oversee 44 students. Over the years, she has taught, among others, two West Point graduates, a pilot instructor, a Tampa hospital director of infectious diseases and many local business owners.
September
Keys Weekly celebrates 20 years
Twenty years of local media coverage and counting: Keys Weekly celebrated its 20th year on Sept. 14.
October
Chinese come by sea but are caught
U.S. Border Patrol agents and Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to a vessel landing in Key Largo. According to U.S Customs & Border Protection, 19 Chinese nationals and three adult Ecuadorians were aboard the vessel. Dave Kerner, Florida Department of Transportation executive director, issued a statement Oct. 24 on the incident in Key Largo, blasting the Biden Administration for what he called its failed border security.
“This detention of Chinese nationals shows how an open border allows individuals from enemy nations to enter our communities,” he said.
November
The ‘No Name’ storm
A strong storm system pounded the Florida Keys on Nov. 15 as rains left many roads and streets under water. Powerful winds cut power lines and snapped large limbs, leaving many residents surprised by the storm’s severity. According to the National Weather Service, Key Largo received the most rain with 19.07 inches. Tavernier received 15.58 inches, while parts of Islamorada had 15.30 inches of rain. The highest wind gust of 66 mph was recorded at Ocean Reef airport.
December
TowBoatU.S. captain recognized
TowBoatU.S. Capt. Carlos Galindo’s life-saving efforts saved a man bleeding out at sea. Keys Weekly’s Kellie Butler Farrell reported that Wisconsin couple Tony and Shawna Polkoski were on a fishing trip off Islamorada when Tony tried to cut zip-ties. His razor-sharp knife ended up cutting his left arm and severing an artery. Galindo heard the call and made the trip to help Polkoski. Galindo received a life-saving award from TowBoatU.S., as well as a new friendship with the Polkoskis.
