“Key Biscayne is changing.

Growth and change are evident almost everywhere on our small island. New shops, businesses, homes and lovely apartments continue to make their appearance.

In a situation such as this an island-wide publication has become a definite necessity. Not only is there a need to welcome our visitors and to inform them of community facilities, shops, sales, special events, but also a local information sheet is essential to help us maintain our own identity as a community.”

That was published on the cover of the first Islander News back on November 2, 1966. It also went to say:

“Key Biscayne is an island of unlimited potential. We have our tropical beauty and our charm.”

Those words still ring true today, 59 years later.

So, what does thankful look like on Key Biscayne?

Easy. It looks like YOU.

I’m thankful for the people who make this island what it is, residents, families, shop and restaurant owners, the volunteers, the familiar faces you run into at the beach club, the grocery store or walking down Crandon, and the community groups that keep showing up and helping us stay connected.

I’m thankful for the support this community gives us as your local newspaper. At Islander News, we still see our mission much like the founders did in 1966:

To Build Community.

To be a bridge that connects neighbors, local businesses and organizations by sharing their accomplishments and stories. To help maintain the sense of identity that makes Key Biscayne feel like home. To report true “hometown news.”

Our work is made easier by the fact that so many of you understand what a blessing it is to live, work and play on this Island Paradise.

Even in a world where anyone can get “news” in a social media channel or chat, a local newspaper still offers something different: everything in one place, curated for you, meaningful to you, and worth clipping out for the refrigerator or a scrapbook. That’s what I call “refrigerator journalism,” and I’m thankful it still matters to you.

I’m also thankful for our Islander team. Words can’t capture my gratitude for their week-in-week-out work. They are dedicated, focused and committed to making this newspaper better for you, our readers, our community, our clients.

Thanksgiving is today, and I’m trying to hold onto a little more gratitude for the people I know and care about, including YOU. Thank you for reading our work, in print and online, and for allowing the Islander to remain a part of this island’s story.

Happy Thanksgiving to the entire Key Biscayne community. Enjoy the holiday, be safe and eat hearty.