Key Peninsula News

My two oldest children are 12 and 13, and until recently I had never cried at a school drop off; not the first day of preschool, not the start of full-day kindergarten, not when we moved to the … more

Meredith Browand | 3/31/21

Dirty Work at the Roundabout

One summer afternoon my friend Stony and I were leaning against an old boom log in the oyster shell gravel, squinting out at the water, when out of the blue he said, “When you’re at a … more

Dan Clouse | 3/31/21

Skeelos

It’s a small terra cotta dog, a curio really, barely 6 inches high, sitting on its haunches, head tilted back and cocked to the side, one ear pointing up and the other sideways, the front legs … more

Joseph Pentheroudakis | 3/31/21

Tearing Down to Build Again

The Lakebay Church is a mess. The church building is a mess, I mean. Not the people. The people are, all things considered, doing well. However, as I write this, the building is pretty torn … more

Dan Whitmarsh | 3/31/21

Another Time

When I Google “alone” I find a bunch of synonyms: single, friendless, solitary, lone, lonesome and more. I’m alone a lot these COVID-19 days. Today I spoke six words. Each time a … more

Phyllis Henry | 2/24/21

Cycles

This winter has been difficult, perhaps more so than I had anticipated, the result of a combination of winter blues, too much political news and the “endless endlessness” of an ongoing … more

Anna Brones | 2/24/21

Combatting Pandemic Boredom

Social distancing opened up blocks of unscheduled time and put the lie to my standard excuse: “I don’t have time to ____.” In the initial phase of isolation, I felt the need to … more

Carolyn Wiley | 2/24/21

The Price of Safety

I have had a great deal of time to think over the past year. These days, there’s not much to do on a Friday night once the dishes are done and the laundry is folded. So if I’ve got … more

Matthew Dean | 2/24/21

Renewable Energy is Real and Profitable

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden brought the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, revoked permits for the Keystone XL Pipeline and imposed a temporary moratorium on oil and gas … more

Richard Gelinas | 2/24/21

Lost Valentine

I was maybe 15 when I asked this gorgeous 17-year-old girl out on a date. I had no business doing that, but back then I had an abundance of courage and not much sense. I don’t remember how I … more

Ted Olinger | 1/27/21

All About Eva

“Run, Eva!” I tell her in an excited voice once we’re safely inside the gate and I’ve taken off her leash. “Eva, run!” And off she goes, zero to warp speed in … more

Joseph Pentheroudakis | 1/27/21

Mahaut

Last October found me in Indiana. My wife and I traveled there to say our final goodbyes to my dad, who was dying of mesothelioma. I returned in December for his funeral. Because of COVID-19, it was … more

Rob Vajko | 1/27/21

New Hard Times

One year ago I was on a sunny beach in Mexico with friends, enjoying the relaxed pace of small-town life, swimming in the ocean, sampling the local food and soaking up the sun. It was marvelous in … more

Vicki Husted Biggs | 1/27/21

By Any Other Name

Too bad there isn’t a superlative form for “unique.” If the grammar police let me say “unique-est,” I’d wear it out describing the KP. From above, the Key … more

Dan Clouse | 12/30/20

Re-history

I spent the best part of my 1960s childhood in a beach town outside L.A. We lived in a platted neighborhood that sloped down to the water, but it wasn’t fully developed. The road to the freeway … more

Ted Olinger | 12/30/20

Between Worlds

Like many families across the country, dogs hold a significant place in our family dynamic. Since before I was born, we’ve always had at least one dog in our pack. We’ve had a number … more

Caleb Galbreath | 12/30/20

Eureka

One afternoon back in the late ’70s, my husband Bill and I were resting on a little bench that used to be situated inside the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Through the big … more

Phyllis Henry | 12/30/20

Plague Parenting, Part III – Insomnia and Kitty Games

“Stop getting out of bed,” I tell Violet every night around 9 p.m. “You need to go to sleep so you’ll feel good and have power for your day tomorrow.” I tell her to … more

Krisa Bruemmer | 12/30/20

A Christmas Memory

It’s the early 1990s and we’ve gathered for dinner at Grandma’s house. Adults are talking in the kitchen while the teenagers lounge in the back room, debating whether there’s a Walkman amongst the presents under the tree. Somewhere, there’s a record player spinning carols by Andy Williams. more

Dan Whitmarsh | 12/2/20

Pandemic Distractions

As I entered the early stages of restless boredom, our modern conveniences conspired to provide distraction. Minor amusements were provided by the DIY restoration of the coffee grinder, a favorite chainsaw, the TV remote, a sewing machine and other malfunctioning amenities. more

Carolyn Wiley | 12/2/20