Keys Life Magazine

01/13/2026

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Please say a prayer for those in this accident 💔🙏

01/12/2026

What are your thoughts??

The search for the next Miami Dolphins head coach is officially heating up.

Following the dismissal of Mike McDaniel, owner Stephen Ross and new General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan are looking for a leader who can finally break the franchise’s long playoff drought. With the front office finalized, the is pivoting toward who offer a mix of veteran stability, offense, and defensive grit.

Here are the top three picks for the Dolphins' next head coach:

1. John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh is currently the most coveted free agent on the market after a legendary 18-year tenure with the Baltimore . During his time in Baltimore, he amassed 180 regular-season wins, a XLVII title, and turned the Ravens into a perennial contender known for toughness and discipline. He was let go earlier this month as looked to reset, but his track record speaks for itself. The Dolphins should consider Harbaugh because he is a "CEO-style" leader who can immediately fix the culture of a team that has struggled with late-season collapses. His deep connection to Stephen Ross—both are of alumni—and his ability to build elite special teams and disciplined rosters make him the ultimate "win-now" candidate for Miami.

2. Klint Kubiak
Klint is the hottest young name in this coaching cycle, currently serving as the offensive coordinator for the . This past season, he transformed Seattle into the NFC’s number-one seed and the third-ranked scoring offense in the league, showcasing a perfectly balanced attack with nearly identical rush and pass attempts. The son of Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak, Klint has a that includes successful stints with the 49ers and . The Dolphins already completed an interview with him this past weekend, signaling he is a top priority. Miami should consider Kubiak if they want to maintain their offensive identity while adding the physical, power-run principles that were missing under the previous regime. He is the ideal choice to maximize the talents of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle while stabilizing the quarterback position.

3. Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley is the defensive mastermind currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay . Since joining Green Bay in 2024, he has led one of the most dramatic defensive turnarounds in the NFL, taking the unit to top-10 rankings in scoring, total defense, and takeaways. Before his success in the pros, he gained head coaching experience at College, where he was known as a premier developer of talent. The Dolphins should consider Hafley because of his "Packers connection" with new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan. As Sullivan looks to build a roster modeled after Green Bay’s success, Hafley is the natural choice to implement a fast, aggressive defensive scheme. He provides a fresh, high-energy defensive perspective for a team that desperately needs to stop the high-powered offenses of the East.

01/12/2026

01/12/2026

Pigeon Key, a five-acre island in the Florida Keys, has a rich history that dates back to the early 1900s:

The island was originally called "Cayo Paloma", which translates to "Pigeon Key" in Spanish. The name comes from the large flocks of white-crowned pigeons that once roosted there.

Pigeon Key was a work camp for the men building the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. The island was home to over 400 workers who built the Old Seven-Mile Bridge, which connects Knight's Key and Little Duck Key. The island had a post office, commissary, school, dormitories, mess hall, warehouse, and infirmary tent.

Many buildings from the Flagler era remain on the island and are part of the Pigeon Key Historic District. One of the original buildings houses a museum that showcases the island's history.

Pigeon Key was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

Pigeon Key has been featured in several movies and TV shows, including:
* Hunters of the Reef (1978)
* Flipper (1995)
* The Amazing Race 18 (2011)

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Historical Pictures

01/12/2026

The Flagler Overseas Railroad, an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, was a monumental vision that connected the Florida mainland to Key West.

Conceived by industrialist Henry Flagler in the early 1900s, it aimed to capitalize on the trade opportunities offered by the upcoming Panama Canal and establish Key West as a major deep-water port.

Construction began in 1905, deemed "Flagler's Folly" by skeptics who believed spanning over 100 miles of open water and islands was impossible. It required immense resources, over $50 million (over a billion in modern value), and thousands of laborers who toiled under harsh conditions and hurricane threats.

The ambitious project was completed in 1912, marking an unprecedented feat of engineering. Flagler himself rode the inaugural train into Key West, celebrating what was immediately hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The railroad, sometimes called the "Key West Extension," revolutionized access to the Keys, fostering tourism and development.

However, its life was tragically short. On Labor Day in 1935, the most intense hurricane to ever strike the U.S. made landfall in the Keys. The catastrophic storm—estimated to have winds up to 200 mph—severely damaged or destroyed significant sections of the line, including nearly 40 miles of track.

Already struggling financially, the bankrupt Florida East Coast Railway decided not to rebuild. The remaining roadbed and bridges were sold to the State of Florida for a fraction of the cost, forming the basis for the Overseas Highway, which opened in 1938.

* The photos in this post were found online using "Flagler Railroad Florida Keys" in google search. Unfortunately no one on our staff was alive during the timeline of Flagler Railroad, so we do not have original photos.

You might be interested in the article written by Keys Life Magazine. The link to the article is in the comment section below.
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01/11/2026

Check out this month's Keys Connections, offering a wide range of local Keys services!
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01/11/2026

While Tavernier is known today for its quiet charm and stunning waterfronts, its history is rooted in the essential machinery that made modern life in the Florida Keys possible.

In 1940, Tavernier stood as the industrial center for the installation of the region's first electric and water systems. Before this era, residents relied on cisterns for rainwater and kerosene for light. The shift toward modernization began right here, in a community that would become the blueprint for island infrastructure.

​In those early days, Tavernier housed a small but vital generating plant—the precursor to today’s Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC). This plant, powered by a 50-horsepower diesel generator, provided the first reliable electricity to the Upper Keys. Though service was initially limited to specific hours in the morning and evening, it marked the end of the "lantern era."

By 1942, the Tavernier plant had expanded its reach, eventually linking power lines all the way to Marathon and unifying the isolated pockets of the Keys under one reliable grid.

​Simultaneously, the quest for fresh water was transforming the landscape. In 1941, as World War II intensified the need for resources at the Key West Naval Base, a massive project began to lay an 18-inch pipeline from the mainland to the islands. Tavernier served as a strategic headquarters for these activities.

By September 1942, the first flow of fresh water reached the Keys through this aqueduct, forever changing the islands from a frontier outpost into a sustainable community.

​Today, the humble generating plant of 1940 has evolved into a sophisticated network. The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) now manages a 130-mile pipeline that delivers millions of gallons of water daily, while the FKEC has grown into a member-owned cooperative serving over 30,000 accounts.

As we look at the Tavernier of 2026, we see a community that has successfully balanced its historical role as a utility pioneer with its modern identity as a tropical sanctuary. The pipes and wires may be hidden now, but the legacy of those 1940s pioneers continues to power every home and quench every thirst in the Keys.

Big thanks to Jerry Wilkinson and Florida Keys History & Discovery Center for some photos in this post.

01/10/2026

Tavernier’s Legacy of Power and Water.

​While Tavernier is known today for its quiet charm and stunning waterfronts, its history is rooted in the essential machinery that made modern life in the Florida Keys possible.

In 1940, Tavernier stood as the industrial center for the installation of the region's first electric and water systems. Before this era, residents relied on cisterns for rainwater and kerosene for light. The shift toward modernization began right here, in a community that would become the blueprint for island infrastructure.

​In those early days, Tavernier housed a small but vital generating plant—the precursor to today’s Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC). This plant, powered by a 50-horsepower diesel generator, provided the first reliable electricity to the Upper Keys. Though service was initially limited to specific hours in the morning and evening, it marked the end of the "lantern era."

By 1942, the Tavernier plant had expanded its reach, eventually linking power lines all the way to Marathon and unifying the isolated pockets of the Keys under one reliable grid.

​Simultaneously, the quest for fresh water was transforming the landscape. In 1941, as World War II intensified the need for resources at the Key West Naval Base, a massive project began to lay an 18-inch pipeline from the mainland to the islands. Tavernier served as a strategic headquarters for these activities.

By September 1942, the first flow of fresh water reached the Keys through this aqueduct, forever changing the islands from a frontier outpost into a sustainable community.

​Today, the humble generating plant of 1940 has evolved into a sophisticated network. The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) now manages a 130-mile pipeline that delivers millions of gallons of water daily, while the FKEC has grown into a member-owned cooperative serving over 30,000 accounts.

As we look at the Tavernier of 2026, we see a community that has successfully balanced its historical role as a utility pioneer with its modern identity as a tropical sanctuary. The pipes and wires may be hidden now, but the legacy of those 1940s pioneers continues to power every home and quench every thirst in the Keys.

Big thanks to Jerry Wilkinson and Florida Keys History & Discovery Center for some photos in this post.

01/10/2026

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01/10/2026

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01/10/2026

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