Fun, Funny & Fascinating Moments
Only at Ocean Reef

Ocean Reef Club’s well-known descriptor “A Unique Way of Life,” is often equated to the array of amenities, offerings and experiences that generations of families enjoy. It can also be related to the unusual, special and sometimes even quirky moments that take place. We took a look at some of the ORP stories from the past few months that illustrate ORC’s uniqueness.

Cracking the Coconut Case
Not many, if any, articles in the Ocean Reef Press begin with “We opened up the Ocean Reef Cold Case file…”. However, if you glanced at the collection of hand-painted coconuts in the photo and read the caption, “Not Cracking: Anonymous artists began leaving theme-changing painted coconuts around The Reef during Covid to bring cheer during uncertainty. Four years later, they are still popular,” you would soon realize all was still safe at ORC. Felicia Koretsky wrote in the March 29 edition, “Exactly four years ago, when Covid-19 changed the course of the world as we knew it, an anonymous artist(s) began leaving coconuts painted with colorful faces all around The Reef. These happy nuts popped up in trees, on house patios, public walkways, in planters, and outside retail stores. Despite published pleas for the artist(s) to make themselves known so they could be thanked for these gifts given in an uncertain time, their silence brought intrigue.” It also brought hope and happiness.

Koretsky clearly knew the culprits but at the request of both the artists and the ORP, she did not reveal any clues. “Like the adage says, Blessed Are Those Who Plant Trees Under Whose Shade He Will Never Sit.”

Rooster Ruckus
Harold Brewer has delighted Members for years by sharing his incredible photographs and immense knowledge of birds with the Ocean Reef Press. His focus has primarily been on birds found at Ocean Reef and the Everglades, existing in their natural habitats. Brewer’s February 23 feature would provide quite a different look at some of our local feathered friends. “While on a recent visit to the Tradewinds Plaza in Key Largo, I was confronted by a couple of very large and indignant roosters. They had noticed my large camera and strutted over to protest my attempts to photograph them without compensation. Between crows, struts and scratching, they shared their strong opinion that the famous Key West chickens were getting all the free food and attention while in Key Largo almost no one paid any attention to the local flock. One even declared that he had the longest and sharpest spurs in Monroe County and would be delighted to challenge any Key West bird to a duel. I pointed out that chicken fighting was outlawed yearsago and I was having no part of this feathered scheme.” The article wasn’t all fun and games, Harold also managed to educate and enlighten us on these oft overlooked residents of our community.

A Whale of a Tale
The Ocean Reef Press regularly celebrates “only at Ocean Reef” moments through the weekly OR See photo corner on page 2 highlighting the nature that surrounds us. For the February 16 edition, the OR See moment became a front page “Wow, at Ocean Reef?!” moment.“Gardiner Bridge and his family finished a day of snorkeling at Carysfort Reef. Thinking the beautiful waters of the reef were to be the most exciting part of their day, they headed for home when they happened upon the greatest surprise of all. They spotted three whales – twoadults and one calf – traveling in the 30 to 40 feet of water. Shay Bridge managed tocapture a few photos and on the same day, John Doud, Captain at The Dive Shop at The Reef, also happened upon these whales, capturing video footage of them in 30 feet of water.” A sighting so close to shore during their January – March migration is said to be very rare.