There was no scarcity of massive information within the Higher Keys this yr. In Tavernier, a proposed grocery store and liquor retailer captured headlines all yr lengthy. In Key Largo, a multimillion-dollar undertaking lastly started to deal with nuisance king tide flooding in a single neighborhood. In Islamorada, neighborhood members rallied to assist a squirrel hit by a blow dart. A Florida Fish & Wildlife Dialog helicopter pilot prevented a tragedy throughout a serious swim occasion to an iconic lighthouse.
Publix undertaking will get approval and pushback
A developer’s proposal to assemble a Publix grocery store, liquor retailer and workforce housing on property that when housed concrete manufacturing cleared a number of hurdles in 2024. It got here regardless of pushback from native residents and the Tavernier Group Affiliation, in addition to county planning workers’s suggestion to disclaim the request.
In February, county commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a Tavernier Key Industrial Overlay District, which permits the builders to assemble a nonresidential construction past the ten,000-square-foot restrict. In Could, FloridaCommerce shot the authorized ordinance down, stating the event requirements exceed these relevant to the Tavernier neighborhood underneath the Monroe County Complete Plan, particularly these offered by the Livable CommuniKeys Grasp Plan for Tavernier Creek to MM 97.
However only a month later, FloridaCommerce flipped its choice and authorized the county ordinance for the overlay. “After receiving further enter from representatives of the county and the proposed growth, upon additional authorized and historic evaluation, it was clear that the proposed complete plan change was legally adequate and based mostly on historic precedent,” stated Emily Hetherington, FloridaCommerce deputy director of communications and exterior affairs.
FloridaCommerce’s choice put the onus of an attraction — and the related prices — on the Tavernier Group Affiliation. The TCA has since filed a petition in relation to an ordinance Monroe County commissioners authorized in February for a particular overlay. Richard Barreto, president of the TCA, stated he stays skeptical of the state’s actions and believes the state abrogated its accountability to supervise Monroe County, as an Space of Important State Concern.
County commissioners just lately voted to provide the builders 86 early evacuation constructing allow allocations to assemble workforce housing behind the proposed Publix grocery retailer.
“For us, if this does occur, I envision lots of people who work for the sheriff’s workplace or future staff who’re on the lookout for employment and need to come right here,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay informed Keys Weekly in February in relation to the proposed 86-unit workforce complicated in Tavernier.
The builders have since closed on the property.

Twin Lakes flood undertaking will get underway
A undertaking to deal with king tide flooding points within the Twin Lakes subdivision in Key Largo was years within the making. On Aug. 21, native officers and residents of the neighborhood celebrated an official groundbreaking of a $21 million undertaking.
Key Largo’s Twin Lakes neighborhood has typically skilled flooding from heavy rainfall, excessive tide and king tide occasions. With the assistance of a $5.4 million federal appropriation, native funds and cash from a state grant, the undertaking goals to raise roads and set up a brand new drainage and stormwater assortment system. In Could, county commissioners gave the thumbs-up for building, selecting Ferreira Development to steer the undertaking. The undertaking is Monroe County’s first pilot undertaking for street elevation, with the same undertaking deliberate simply up the street at Stillwright Level — one other neighborhood in danger for extended flooding.
Twin Lakes resident Stephanie Russo has advocated for the undertaking, attending county fee conferences and talking with commissioners on the necessity to relieve problems with flooding in her neighborhood. For years, Russo stated, her neighborhood of roughly 100 folks witnessed their high quality of life deteriorating and important providers fading with the rising waters. It even affected rubbish pickup, mail supply and emergency response.
“We’re extraordinarily grateful to the county commissioners, their workers, and our native state representatives for his or her continued help in advocating for this undertaking,” Russo informed Keys Weekly.
Initially proposed in 2016, the undertaking is scheduled to be accomplished by late July 2026.

Group rallies to save lots of squirrel hit with a blow dart
A neighborhood of animal lovers rallied to rescue and deal with a squirrel shot by a blow dart in Islamorada. The incident occurred in early August when Glenda Soler noticed the squirrel close to her Islamorada residence at MM 81, oceanside. Efforts to safe the squirrel had been unsuccessful at first.
Every week afterward Aug 10, the squirrel was captured because of the efforts of Brad Bryan, of Maritime Cell Welding, and sheriff’s deputy Nelson Sanchez. The squirrel, a feminine, was transported to Cell Pet Medical doctors and veterinarian Michael Claudio and vet tech Tanya Manchester. A process to take away the blow dart was profitable.
“It was nice to see folks come collectively,” Soler stated.

FWC pilot prevents tragedy throughout open water swim
Fast considering by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) helicopter pilot is credited with stopping tragedy in Islamorada.
On Sept. 7, officers with the U.S. Coast Guard, Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace and FWC noticed a middle console vessel navigating towards an space the place a whole bunch of swimmers had been competing in a charity swim to learn the Alligator Reef Lighthouse. Regardless of repeated requests from regulation enforcement, the vessel operator, Thomas Michael Reichert of Naples, didn’t change course.
Anticipating that the boat was minutes away from the swimmers, FWC pilot Chris Simons introduced his helicopter all the way down to hover about 20 toes in entrance of Reichert, forcing him to cease.
As soon as the vessel was stopped, FWC officers carried out a security and useful resource inspection. Reichert was reportedly discovered to be boating underneath the affect.
“They tried and tried to get the man to cease,” stated Rob Dixon, race organizer who was one in all 300-plus contributors who had been within the water on the time. “The helicopter got here all the way down to spray him to cease. It was fairly scary stuff.”

Largest pickleball complicated opens
Pickleball gamers all through the Higher Keys rejoiced as 10 new courts opened at Key Largo Group Park on Aug. 22. It was a serious improve for the pickleball neighborhood as there was a scarcity of courts to play. Gamers in Key Largo used to transform the basketball courts on the park for pickleball. Now, they’ve their very own devoted house.
“This state-of-the-art complicated will present extra neighborhood members with the chance to interact in pickleball and will pave the way in which for interleague competitions all through Monroe County,” stated county Parks and Seashores Director John Allen.
Along with common play in the course of the early mornings and weekends, the courts have been used for quite a few tournaments supporting numerous causes.

Key Largo residence reaches new heights
Keys Weekly’s Kellie Butler Farrell reported on one of many extra attention-grabbing tasks seen in Monroe County in 2024. Marketa and Jason Kendall’s three-bedroom, two-bathroom home positioned at a Key Largo bayside neighborhood was hydraulically lifted some 23 toes into the air. The explanation? The Kendalls stated they outgrew the house and wanted to increase.
Jason Kendall stated they couldn’t construct within the again or to the perimeters, so there was nothing to do however go up and construct beneath.
Jason says the associated fee to elevate the home, construct the partitions and put within the flooring will probably be about $160,000. When completed, the Kendalls’ residence, which was 1,300 sq. toes, will probably be 2,600 sq. toes.

Longtime choose retires
After 24 years on the bench, Circuit Decide Luis Garcia is placing down his gavel. On June 3, 2024, Garcia wrote a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, informing him of his intention to retire.
The Chicago native and graduate of Northeastern College of Legislation in Boston began out as a prosecutor in Miami in 1989 and shortly rose by way of the ranks, finally being tapped to grow to be a choose in Monroe County.
“I’ve been mainly working for the state of Florida as a prosecutor or a choose since 1989,
and it’s a very long time,” stated Garcia.
Garcia presided over hundreds of circumstances throughout his greater than 20 years on the bench in Monroe County and, alongside the way in which, modified the lives of those that appeared earlier than him. Garcia’s seat on the Plantation Key Courthouse was distinctive, presiding over a variety of circumstances from household regulation, to civil circumstances of every kind, juvenile circumstances, prison felonies, drug court docket, probate, guardianship, psychological well being, injunctions; he noticed all of it.
“All of them stick to you,” stated Garcia.