Key Peninsula News

Forget Me Not

Something unexpected happened this summer: I stopped refilling my bird feeders. I’ve been keeping my backyard feeders stocked for years, only missing a day or two now and then. Nothing but … more

Joseph Pentheroudakis | 9/29/21

Planting for the Future

“Look here,” my wife said, pulling back the thick vines growing in our backyard garden. I saw a flash of red deep in the shadows. Reaching in, I gave a gentle tug and pulled out our first … more

Dan Whitmarsh | 9/29/21

Heat Wave

Graphic notes on local life more

José Alaniz | 9/29/21

Moving to Portugal

Back in March of 2020, I wrote a column here called “Moving to Reduce Medical Expenses” where I stated that my wife and I were going to be moving to Portugal, the cost of medical bills … more

Rob Vajko | 9/29/21

Moonshine Reflections

The night sky above the Key Peninsula isn’t always clear. We enjoy about 140 nights a year that are partly cloudy or better. The rest remind us that the KP isn’t West Texas and you … more

Dan Clouse | 9/1/21

Waiting

Recently I rediscovered a forgotten pleasure. I have come to believe that waiting is one of life’s under appreciated treasures. Unfortunately, societal norms have created the impression that … more

Carolyn Wiley | 9/1/21

Our New Columnist

We moved to the Key Peninsula from Seattle in 2019. We had and continue to have such vivid impressions of this place — so many stories, discoveries, wilderness encounters, new family members … more

José Alaniz | 9/1/21

Back to School

Before I was a mom, back when I used to see social media as fun rather than torture, I would roll my eyes at those captions accompanying photos of kids headed off to their first day of school. … more

Krisa Bruemmer | 9/1/21

Muddling Through

Sometimes I feel like that is how I live my life; just muddling through until I finally get somewhere. Some people seem to have a clear objective and a straightforward path that they do not veer from … more

Vicki Husted Biggs | 8/28/21

Earth's Energy Balance

You have probably noticed it is getting hotter, as if the weather is out of balance. Earth’s energy flow is always in balance, but the planet-wide thermostat is now set to keep more heat. The … more

Richard Gelinas | 8/28/21

Do Your Homework

I have been researching and writing about the history of our area for a few years now. The lives and adventures, the successes and low points of the people who managed to find their way to this … more

Joseph Pentheroudakis | 8/28/21

Promises, Salted and Pure

Promises are not written in stone, or even wet cement. They are soft and squishy and easily manipulated into shapes that only slightly resemble the original. When I Googled “promise,” the … more

Phyllis Henry | 8/28/21

Council Report

I first want to congratulate this year’s graduating seniors. The end of your time in high school was unlike others, and this probably wasn’t how you expected to experience these rites of … more

Derek Young | 6/30/21

Float

A few weeks ago I was teaching a weekly creativity class. This class is often focused not just on making art, but on how we take time and create space for the activities that fuel us creatively. I … more

Anna Brones | 6/30/21

History That Goes Untaught

My social media feeds were recently filled with people lamenting the fact they were just now learning about the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. Many of these friends were also publicly wondering how … more

Meredith Browand | 6/30/21

A Gift

On Sundays I rise early, enjoying a warm cup of coffee with my wife before heading out into the day. Driving toward Lakebay I experience little traffic; I tell myself that the few I pass are either … more

Dan Whitmarsh | 6/30/21

On Reading

“We read to know that we are not alone” is a quote by C. S. Lewis, the author of many books including the Narnia series. He’s right. I grew up, like many in my generation, … more

Rob Vajko | 5/26/21

A Pandemic Silver Lining: RNA Drugs

As vaccination rates against COVID-19 plateau in the U.S. or fall short of the number needed for herd immunity, it’s worth reminding ourselves how significant a breakthrough these vaccines are … more

Richard Gelinas | 5/26/21

De Gustibus for the Rest of Us

“There’s no accounting for taste” the saying goes. You could annoy someone with the Latin version, “de gustibus non disputandum est” (“In matters of taste, there … more

Dan Clouse | 5/26/21

Vice vs. Age

It seems eons ago that the pool closed, but we were finally back in the water and relearning the water aerobics routine. I was huffing and puffing through the moves when Chris, the lifeguard, … more

Carolyn Wiley | 5/26/21