Upper Keys Weekly –12/12/19

COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Tis the sea-sun.

SIGNS OF THE TIDE Confronting rising waters | P. 14 + 24

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

A parade and a tree lighting | P. 30 + 39

ICONIC REEFS

NOAA’s restoration collaborative| P. 10

Home for the Holidays!

From coastal ornaments to comfy couches, outdoor audio systems to sea life serving ware—D’Asign Source is your one-stop shop this holiday season.

11500 Overseas Hwy, Marathon | MM 53 305-743-7130 | DAsignSource.com |

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

MARATHON, FL Custom Estate on Tingler Island 5 BD, 4.5 BA | $3,495,000 | Listing ID: 587143

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PLANTATION KEY, FL Architecturally Modern Tavernier Residence 3 BD, 2.5 BA | $1,650,000 | Listing ID: 587978

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KEY LARGO, FL Pamela Villa Property 5 BD, 5 BA | $675,000 | Listing ID: 588491

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ISLAMORADA

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

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91760 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070 Office: 305.363.2957 www.keysweekly.com

That’s the number of locations Santa Claus and his holiday carolers will be stopping or driving by with Islamorada fire rescuers on Dec. 15. So, be good for goodness sake!

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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation’s Capt. David Dipre speaks during the Oct. 7 meeting at Coral Shores High School auditorium. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

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THE UPPER KEYS WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.

KEEP PUBLIC ACCESS, MORE MONEY FOR FWC Village crafts response to blueprint proposal JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

L

ike Monroe County, the village of Islamorada is also encouraging that the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary maintain public access to the waters. The resolution is up for vote at the council meeting Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center.

During the Islamorada Council meeting Nov. 21, discussion ensued

over the proposed Restoration Blueprint for the sanctuary and a resolution from the dais that mirrored the one county commissioners approved during their meeting a day before.

Like the county, a proposed resolution before council urges the sanctuary to be attentive to comments and suggestions from stakeholders while not limiting public access unnecessarily. The Restoration Blueprint, which proposes changes to marine zones and boundaries, was released in August. For months, the public has been able to comment in person during meetings or online before the Jan. 31, 2020 cutoff.

While a majority of the resolution

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ON THE COVER Tom Moore, coral reef restoration program manager with NOAA, swims the blue waters at Coral Restoration Foundation’s Coral Nursery Tree in Tavernier.

TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

echoes county commission’s comments, the proposed resolution from the village encourages the sanctuary to secure additional funds from the federal government and state of Florida to supplement Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for enforcement of marine regulation.

“Even in the waters today, we don’t have the proper enforcement,” said Vice Mayor Mike Forster during last month’s meeting.

“That should be added, because right now, FWC has taken over all the enforcement of the National Marine Sanctuary, where they used to have their own boats and patrol officers.”

The topic of enforcement came up during a Restoration Blueprint forum Oct. 7 at Coral Shores High School, where more than 200 people from the community showed to hear from Sarah Fangman, sanctuary superintendent, and ask questions related to specific proposals.

On enforcement, one attendee asked why more zones should be added when the sanctuary “can’t enforce what you already got.” Comments regarding enforcement also came up during the Dec. 10 Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting at the Islander Conference Center.

Councilman Ken Davis said that, without enforcement, “these laws mean nothing.”

In other matters, council will consider a resolution in support of a request for the Monroe County set-aside of $150 million in CDBG funds for hurricane recovery. The state will receive just over $630 million for mitigation projects.

The county is requesting that village council support the request through resolution.

If funding is designated for Monroe County, the village would preliminarily obtain up to $10 million for use on projects to raise roads and streets within the village and provide shoreline stabilization measures.

More on the slate of agenda items is at Islamorada.fl.us.

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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COMMUNITY NEWS

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

SAVE THE DATE

BRIEFLY

Thursday, Dec. 12 • Regular village council meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center, Islamorada.

Winter family craft hour Make winter crafts, such as Christmas and Hanukkah ornaments and seasonal decor, at Islamorada Library on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. All ages are welcome, though children should be accompanied by an adult. Led by staff members Ms. Charlotte and Ms. Annie, this free event is perfect for families. Limit is 12, so please register.

‘Suite Dreams’ concert at Founders If you’re looking for a break from the holiday bustle, head to Founders Park this Saturday, Dec. 14, for the free Pops in the Park Suite Dreams concert from 4 to 5 p.m. The concert will include the “Twas the Night Before Christmas” story with sound effects, a special visit from Santa with gifts for the kids and guest performers the Burton Hand Bell Ringers. The show also will include “Sleigh Ride,” pop sing-along, Hanukkah favorites and loads of jingles to jangle along with the Florida Keys Concert Band. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic basket, grab the dog and the family for an afternoon of music. For more information, call 305-451-4530.

Keys Quilters meet at Key Largo, Islamorada The Florida Keys Quilters meet every Friday at the Key Largo Public Library in the Tradewinds Plaza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an informal “sit and sew.” Anyone interested in the sewing arts is welcome to attend. More information is available from the library at 305-451-2396 or Audrey at 516-425-9054.

The Florida Keys Quilters also meet at the Islamorada Library, MM 101, bayside, Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available from the library at 305664-4645 or Loretta at 305-393-4043.

Card Sound Road annual pass available The Card Sound Toll Annual Pass is available for purchase at the Monroe County Building Department Office in the Visitor’s Center at the Ocean Reef Club on Tuesdays through Thursdays through Dec. 18 and then from Dec. 30 through Jan. 30. The pass is also available at the Murray Nelson Building in Suite 220 on Mondays and Fridays through Dec. 13 and then from Dec. 30 until Jan. 31. Offices are open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The annual pass allows unlimited trips for the registered two-axle vehicle through the toll plaza. The pass can be used from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, and the cost for the 2020 calendar year is $370 payable by check or credit/ debit card. Credit cards will include a $7.50 convenience fee. More information on the two Card Sound Toll discount programs and the Card Sound Toll Annual Pass application is at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/cardsoundtoll. For questions, call the Card Sound toll superintendent, Don Crouch, at 305-797-1702 or 305-453-8761.

Pennekamp becomes a reality/JERRY WILKINSON COLLECTION

JOHN D. PENNEKAMP UPPER KEYS HISTORY BRAD BERTELLI

J

www.keysweekly.com

ohn D. Pennekamp was born in Ohio on Jan. 1, 1897. By 14, he was working as a copy boy for the Cincinnati Post. At 28, he packed his bags and left Ohio to cover one of the big news stories of the day, the Miami land bust, and relocated to the eastern edge of Florida’s swampland. Pennekamp went on to work for the Miami Herald for more than 50 years in various capacities that included editor, daily columnist and managing editor. He wrote in depth about the dismantling of the Florida Reef as queen conch shells and corals were being ripped and scoured from the Atlantic bottom, loaded onto barges and shipped off on a daily basis.

A plan was devised to create a sanctuary to help protect at least a small segment of the coral reef system. In 1959, the Coral Reef Reserve was proposed. In order to make the park a reality, Gov. Leroy Collins released the state’s control of the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the three-mile limit.

The federal government followed suit and relinquished its water rights from the state’s three mile jurisdiction to the 300-foot depth line.

The Coral Reef Reserve set a record for the fastest park ever to germinate from proposal to opening day. The world’s first underwater park was officially dedicated at Tavernier’s Harry Harris Park on Dec. 10, 1960. During the course of the ceremony, Collins took the liberty of changing the park’s name to the John D. Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in honor of the man who had shown himself a champion of South Florida’s natural resources.

Brad Bertelli is curator of the Keys History & Discovery Center.

Dec. 13-14 • Household hazardous waste drop-off for Islamorada residents from 9 a.m. to noon near the south Founders Park entrance behind the Administrative Center parking lot, Islamorada.

Friday, Dec. 13 • MarrVelous Pet Rescue’s Doggy Training 101 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Key Largo Lion’s Club, 209 Ocean Bay Drive, Key Largo.

• Cindy Claus Lighted Bike Ride from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning at The Catch, MM 102, Oceanside, Key Largo.

Dec. 14-15 • Annual Keys Kritters Pets and Pina Coladas from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Keys Kritters, MM 100.5, Key Largo. $5 donation.

Saturday, Dec. 14 • Toys for Tots Run for Fun from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning at Gilbert’s Resort in Key Largo and ending at Founders Park, Islamorada.

• Santa’s Wonderland at 11 a.m. at Bass Pro Shops – World Wide Sportsman, Islamorada.

• Pops In the Park: Suite Dreams from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at ICE Amphitheater at Founders Park, Islamorada.

Sunday, Dec. 15 • Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon at Islamorada Fish Company, MM 81.5, bayside, Islamorada.

• Santa Claus and carolers come to town from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in Islamorada.

Tuesday, Dec. 17 • Garden Club of the Upper Keys monthly meeting at 11 a.m. at Francis Tracy Garden Center, MM 94, bayside, Key Largo.

Wednesday, Dec. 18 • Coral Restoration Foundation’s Sips & Science: “Stony Coral Tissue Loss and Disease,” from 6 to 7 p.m. at CRF’s Exploration Center, 5 Seagate Blvd., Key Largo.

• Immerse Yourself: “Slavery and the Sea” lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. at History of Diving Museum, Islamorada.

Thursday, Dec. 19 • Third Thursday Art Walk at 6 p.m. at Morada Way Arts District, Islamorada.

ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

TIFFANY DUONG

tiffany@keysweekly.com

RESTORATION BLUEPRINT Stakeholders weigh in on Sanctuary proposal NOAA’s Restoration Blueprint was introduced at the Sanctuary Advisory Council’s meeting in August, and the community has been buzzing about it since.

The proposal seeks to balance the need to bring our marine environments back to health while still promoting the economies and industries depending on those resources.

Four alternatives were presented, but constituents were invited to comment upon as much or as little of the proposals as they wanted – whether that be a specific reef, certain regulations, or an entire alternative. Alternative 3, the sanctuary’s preferred plan, would result in major changes in terms of expanded boundaries, additional zoning, tighter regulation and a new management plan.

Keys Weekly spoke with environmentalists and stakeholders in affected industries about NOAA’s Restoration Blueprint.

Here’s what the community has to say:

The Restoration Blueprint is available at floridakeys.noaa. gov/blueprint. NOAA is taking public comment on the proposals through Jan. 31, 2020.

Comments may be submitted online at www.regulations. gov (docket number NOAANOS-2019-0094).

In 1989-90, a large commercial transport ship attempted to save time and fuel by hugging the Keys and staying out of the Gulfstream. It ran aground and destroyed a large area of our coral reef. I, along with a group of community leaders, asked our U.S. Representative, Dante Fascell, to pass a law requiring a navigational buffer to protect the reef. What came back from Congress on Jan. 23, 1990 was the “Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act”.

What the Act addresses as “nationally significant” are … “seagrass meadows, mangrove islands and extensive living coral reefs.” The Act required the Sanctuary and State of Florida to implement a “comprehensive program” to reduce pollution in the waters offshore the Florida Keys, to protect and restore the water quality, coral reefs and other living marine resources of the Florida Keys environment” (Section 2(9) of the Act).

It has been nearly 30 years! There has never been a “comprehensive program” to reduce Florida Bay pollution. The proposed “Sanctuary Restoration Blueprint” fails to address the fact that water pollution was then (and still is) the primary danger to the Keys environment. Restrictions on access to the reef and back country have nothing to do with our water quality. The term “water quality” appears 10 times in the Act! The proposed “Restoration Blueprint” only contains restrictions on our use of Florida Keys resources that are being lost to our deteriorating water quality.

One of the most contentious subjects is the fact that the FKNMS Act never addresses commercially and recreationally important fishery resources, but the “Restoration Blueprint” goes to great lengths to “enhance the spawning, nursery or permanent resident areas of fish.”

The State of Florida has designated the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as the exclusive fishery management authority over Florida’s fishery resources and the Federal (Magnuson Act) Fishery Management Councils are doing their job. The Sanctuary must stay out of fishery management.

Under the “Restoration Blueprint,” ecological reserves are set out to specifically “limit consumptive activities.” If either the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Federal Fishery Management think “limiting consumptive activities” was necessary, they are able and willing to implement regulations when required. For the Sanctuary to try to do someone else’s job is a reach far-too-far.

Section 5 of the FKNMS Act defines the “Area Included” in the Sanctuary. It specifically covers “all submerged lands and waters … from the mean high water mark to the boundary.” The islands in the back country are not part of, nor controlled by, the Sanctuary.

The idea of making all of the back country islands “no access” has no foundation in theory or fact. There is no data showing that the islands or wildlife on the islands have been adversely impacted in the last 30 years of the Sanctuary. It is regulation for the sake of regulation.

Finally, the very idea that our testimony and letters are going to be “considered” in the final Sanctuary Restoration Plan is a “pipe dream.” A thousand Keys residents appeared at the initial Key West public hearing. It nearly turned into a lynching of Sanctuary staff. At the next Key West public hearing, there were 59 presentations; 57 were opposed to the new regulations. The City of Marathon and the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce have come out in opposition to further Sanctuary Regulations. It is hard to find any person who can argue persuasively that these new regulations are necessary. The feeling we have is: “They have to let us talk, but they don’t have to listen, and they will do what they planned to do years ago.”

Only Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Trustees can stop them. Until the pollution elephant in the room is addressed, the problem will persist and our water quality will continue to decline. Putting more regulations on us will not help.

In the NOAA “Preferred” Alternative, Sand Key/Sombrero Key are “Blue Star Operators” only. Under such immense public outcry, Sarah Fangman has repeatedly stated that it was never the Sanctuary’s “intent” to limit public use. Really? Can we trust them?

David Paul Horan was assistant Monroe County attorney in the early 1970s. He litigated Critical Concern constitutionality for the City of Key West (won in the Florida Supreme Court), filed the federal suit that started the “Conch Rebellion,” and won the Mel Fisher case (U.S. Supreme Court, 1990).

Horan opposed the designation of the Florida Keys as a National Marine Sanctuary. He has been practicing law for 47 years in Key West.

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ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

TIME TO SPEAK UP

Community argues for, against Restoration Blueprint JIM McCARTHY

I

jim@keysweekly.com

nside the Islander Conference Center on Dec. 10, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman and advisory council members listened intently as captains, conservation stakeholders and homeowners shared passionate testimony over the state of the waters and their opinions during the final comment period on the proposed Restoration Blueprint.

“A lot of things you talk about doing would put me out of business,” said Capt. Brandon Jimenez, who runs the Sea Spirit out of Key Largo. “There has to be some happy medium for us.”

“Not acting is not an option,” said Jessica Levy, reef restoration program manager for Coral Restoration Foundation. “Good, strong management helps build resilience to pressures, and it helps our environment be resilient to bigger challenges that are much more difficult to address.”

Public comment as it relates to proposed changes to marine zones, regulations and management is approaching the Jan. 31, 2020 cutoff. The Restoration Blueprint was unveiled to the public in August with four alternatives.

Since then, meetings have been held up and down the islands with information on certain zones and proposals. Feedback has also been gathered via oral and written comment.

So far, a little over 600 comments on the plan have been submitted to regulations.gov. During the Sanctuary Advisory Council’s meeting Dec. 10, members passed a resolution strongly encouraging the public to voice their feedback.

Per sanctuary officials, a high number of comments submitted support the status quo, alternative 1 in the Restoration Blueprint.

However, they say that many

Capt. Steve Friedman, commodore of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, issues comments to the Restoration Blueprint during the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting Dec. 10 inside the Islander Conference Center. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

identify other specific actions related to water quality, enforcement and education.

Capt. Spencer Slate, of Slate Scuba Adventures in Tavernier, emphasized water quality and enforcement in his comments to Fangman and the advisory council. Slate, a former SAC member, urged the public to write letters to legislators in Tallahassee and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“Everyone in this room, write 50 letters to every one (in the) legislature and DeSantis and bitch about water quality coming out of Lake O,” he said.

“All we want to do out here will come to nothing if we do not fight water quality all the way to Tallahassee.”

Fisherman Tim Klein attested to the poor water quality as he spoke to officials. He said he’s been talking about water quality for many years and numerous meetings.

“Where I fish in shallow water, it’s disgusting,” he said. “It’s brown water with a peculiar moss that’s brown and green. When I throw a cast net in a spot, it’s loaded with green moss.”

Islamorada resident Charles Causey said people generally don’t like change. But without a healthy resource, he said, people won’t come and visit.

“We got a sanctuary that’s deteriorating. We have twice as many fishermen, four times as many boaters than 30 years ago,” he said. “There’s a huge amount of pressure on our resources.

In order to have some sort of future, we gotta protect it. “ A few relayed their objection to a

“Everyone in this room, write 50 letters to every one (in the) legislature and (Gov. Ron) DeSantis and bitch about water quality coming out of Lake O. All we want to do out here will come to nothing if we do not fight water quality all the way to Tallahassee.”

— Capt. Spencer Slate, of Slate Scuba Adventures in Tavernier

no-anchoring proposal to an existing, 132-square-mile management area in Key Largo adjacent to other protected areas that include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. This zone encompasses a network of habitat types, including seagrass beds, shallow hardbottom and coral reefs. The zone includes areas that prohibit spearfishing, marine life collecting and harvest of lobster, as well as recreational and commercial fishing.

Key Largo resident Steven Leonard said the no-anchor proposal is “not fair to residents” and puts a huge strain on bait and tackle shops. He proposed

making the zone off limits during mini lobster season. He also recommended a course to teach boaters how to anchor in the area.

Comment periods typically run for 30 to 60 days. But due to the complex nature of the document and the desire to inform and provide opportunity to as many stakeholders as possible, the Restoration Blueprint public comment period was expanded to 165 days.

NOAA officials say they will carefully review and consider all official comments. While NOAA has a preferred alternative, elements of all alternatives will be considered and, based on public input, scientific data and subsequent changes to resource conditions, a single proposal will be released for additional public comment. While the Restoration Blueprint, in its current state, includes concepts for consideration, the refined proposal will include definitive language.

For sanctuary management to succeed, according to Keys Marine Lab deputy director Cindy Lewis, it should protect 20% to 30% of the habitats and ecosystems as no-take areas. As it stands today, special preservation areas constitute less than 1% of the entire Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Lewis expressed her support for the expansion of SPAs into deeper waters.

“These are America’s reefs and it’s our responsibility to be good stewards of them,” she said.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

The coral restoration mission aims to increase the percentage of coral cover from the 1% to 2% it currently sits at to historical coverage rates of 25%. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

MISSION: ICONIC REEFS NOAA Launches $97 Million Targeted Mission to Save Florida Reef Tract TIFFANY DUONG tiffany@keysweekly.com

O

n Dec. 9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an ambitious plan to restore seven reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). The effort is one of the largest investments in coral restoration in the world.

The concept to focus on is coral cover, or how much live stony coral covers the reef surface.

Florida traditionally enjoyed 25% to 40% coral coverage, but this number has catastrophically fallen to just 1% to 2% today. Andy Bruckner, FKNMS research coordinator, explained, “We’re at a time where we have so little coral cover that we’re starting to lose the reef framework and we’re starting to lose some of the functions the reef plays.”

No one thing can be blamed for corals’ precipitous decline in Florida. Once world-renowned for their expansive structures and rich ecosystem functions, they’ve been suffering a slow death of a thousand cuts. From sewage leaks and agricultural pollution to overfishing and overuse, the reefs have been slowly degrading. More recently, hurricanes and unprecedented disease events like the stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) .

Sanctuary superintendent Sarah Fangman said, “Here in the Keys, our economy is tied to our ocean and the resources on these reefs.” Showing a picture of a thriving reef and then a dead one,

she added, “Frankly, we cannot afford to let these declines continue. These reefs are at a state that without our direct help, they cannot come back.”

Rather than throw in the towel, NOAA and its partners have doubled down on reefs. “Mission: Iconic Reefs” is an aggressive coral restoration plan targeting seven well-known, “iconic” reef sites throughout the Keys. The ultimate goal is to bring these reefs back to historic 25% coral cover through three phases of “bold local action” and coral restoration, said Fangman.

Within each phase and on each reef, the unique partnership will leverage the distinct expertise of local partner nonprofits and universities that have been doing this work for years. That means NOAA and its partners will access each reef with a clean slate.

“The plan articulates a vision for how to get mature corals back onto the reef. Now, how we get a mature coral doesn’t have to be one-sizefits-all,” said Tom Moore, the NOAA coral restoration team lead. “One spur might get CRF’s approach, and another might get Mote’s.”

Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), one partner, has been perfecting coral propagation for years and will draw on its experience outplanting over 100,000 staghorn and elkhorn to help build up reef structure, fast. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, another partner, uses microfragmentation to grow corals 40 times faster than in the wild. Outplanting fragmented corals back onto reefs allows them to grow to much larger sizes, faster.

Caitlin Lustic, the South Florida marine conservation manager at The Nature Conservancy, called the partnership truly one-of-a-kind. She noted that the collaboration allowed the group to dream bigger and think about restoration in terms of the entire Florida Reef Tract.

“We’ve all been working together for years, but now we’ve been given the freedom to think about what it would take to do this on a larger scale,” she said. “Now we can think without boundaries.”

While the excitement was fresh, several in the room were quick to inquire about the one particular boundary — the money. Phase 1 of the mission aims to raise coral cover to 15% within 10 years. The work is predicted to take 5 to 7 years and cost $97 million. Fangman said no one has written a check yet, but they’re working with agencies and officials to bring resources.”

Moore added, “We were never gonna get anything if we didn’t start articulating what we need.

This is that plan.”

Phase 2 will last another 10 to 12 years and does not yet have a cost assessment. Moore assured concerned audience members that the announcement was not premature. “Today is the call to action. We have to get people excited before they’ll commit.”

PADI social media correspondent Allison Albritton, better known as “Ocean Allison,” chimed in from the audience. Albritton said, “The global diving community wants to help. If you tell them there’s a problem, they will come here and help.”

“Coral restoration is about buying time and stabilizing system to give it a chance to restore itself,” said Moore. “We still have global challenges we have to address, but if we just wait for those global challenges, we won’t have reefs left. So, this is our part in making sure we still have reefs left in the Florida Keys in the next 100 years.”

More information is at www.fisheries.noaa. gov/iconic-reefs.

A map showing the location of the seven iconic reef sites proposed as focal areas for large-scale restoration. NOAA/Contributed

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

Our Doctors Are Local and Here for You For physicians you can rely on, turn to Baptist Health’s team of highly trained and experienced medical specialists.

Soni Chousleb, M.D.

Barry Mills, M.D.

Alan Netzman, D.O.

Derek Papp, M.D.

Dan Ruiz, M.D.

General Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Robotic Surgery

Gastroenterology

General Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Colorectal Surgery General Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery

Ronald Samess, M.D.

Steven Smith, M.D.

Barbara Socha, M.D.

Abraham Wolfenzon, M.D.

Family Medicine

General Surgery

Internal Medicine

Cardiology

Affiliated With Mariners Hospital and Fishermen’s Community Hospital To schedule an appointment with any of our physicians, call 305-434-1444 for the Upper Keys or 305-743-4577 for Marathon.

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STUDENT OF THE WEEK

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

Have Your Cake & Eat It Too!

Switch to FREE Checking with CASH BACK and FREE Nationwide ATMs!* PLUS, get a weekly chance to WIN a $100 Publix Gift Card when you open your Keys Totally FREE CASH BACK Checking!^ Call 305-294-6622

Go to KeysFCU.org

Visit us in Key West, Big Pine or Marathon *E-statements, e-receipts, Debit Mastercard, savings and S15 checking account required.

Restrictions may apply. See us for details. ^Open a new S15 checking account to be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 Publix Gift Card each week from 11/18/19 through 12/28/19. No purchase necessary. NCUA Insured. Membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the Florida Keys.

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LILY BOVILL FIRST GRADE

The Upper Keys Weekly is proud to partner with Ocean Studies Charter School faculty and staff in choosing “The Student of the Week.” Recipients are chosen on qualifications including academic standing, athletics, outstanding achievements, community involvement, individuality, and moral fortitude.

We thank our future leaders and Ocean Studies for allowing us to share in a weekly dose of school pride and for giving us a glimpse into their world.

Who is your favorite teacher and why? I like Ms. Emelia. We do a lot of fun stuff in her class.

What is your favorite subject and why? I like math. I like learning subtraction.

What is the best rule at school? The best rule is follow directions quickly.

What’s one of your favorite things to do at school? I like to go out to recess. I like to play with my friends.

What’s your favorite food for lunch? Dominos pizza.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I’m not too sure yet.

What is one favorite way you like to spend your spare time?

I like to draw and playing with friends on the weekend.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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1. Stillwright Point residents fill the Nelson Government Center to ask for help from the county commissioners. They donned shirts and brought posters printed with images of the roads to their homes flooded. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly 2. Stillwright Point residents stand on North Blackwater Lane once filled with water for close to 90 days. The water receded Nov. 26 to the delight of residents. Pictured, from left, are Debbie and Bill Marlow, Mary Kay Magrath, Emilie Stewart, Laurie Richardson and George Smythe. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly 3. Following impassioned pleas for action from the Stillwright community at the BOCC meeting, county commissioners voted unanimously to expedite studies for the neighborhood. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

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4. North Blackwater Lane looking down Sexton Way, left, during the flood on Oct. 12 and after water levels receded in November. EMILIE STEWART/Contributed 5. From North Blackwater Lane looking down Stillwright Way during the flood last month, top, and on a December morning.

EMILIE STEWART/Contributed 6. Water covers a portion of an empty lot at 56 North Blackwater Lane in November, left, and a week later. EMILIE STEWART/ Contributed (left photo) and TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

FLOOD-FREE & FUTURE-FOCUSED

Stillwright community rejoices following nearly 90 days underwater

T

By JIM McCARTHY & TIFFANY DUONG

hat’s the word Bill Marlow used after the murky waters finally subsided on Nov. 26. It all began as a king tide rolled in months earlier, covering roads and streets inside the Stillwright Point community at MM 105, bayside, in Key Largo.

“It really impacted life here,” said the full-time resident as he looked back at one of the more trying times for the neighborhood. “I would ride my bike every morning in the water. I’d come home and have this giant stripe going up my back — the water just kept kicking up.”

How long were residents dealing with wet roads when a king tide came? Just over 90 days, said Emilie Stewart, who bought her home on North Blackwater Lane in 1995. Stewart documented the roads from when flooding began in early September to when it went away in late November.

“There were people who were coming over here parking on a grassy area on the side of the road to walk the dog because this section wasn’t flooded,” she said. “There was no other place to walk your dog.”

Residents like Stewart and Mary Kathleen Magrath say they’ve dealt with flooded roads in the past with king tides, but nothing like they experienced this fall.

What’s to blame? It’s the offshore storms that impacted the Gulf Stream, which caused the Florida Bay to fill. Magrath bought her home 25 years ago on Middle Street, one of the lower spots next to the mangrove, and Sexton Way. “I was just enjoying riding my bike just now going ‘Wow,’” Magrath said with elation as she visited with fellow neighbors at Stewart’s residence.

Despite their relief, the neighbors were quick to point out that the respite from flood waters couldn’t detract from the overall message: 91 days underwater was too long. They would plead their case before the county commissioners, calling for studies to stop and action to start to prevent another flood like this the next king tide.

At the Dec. 11 BOCC meeting, discussions between the county commissoners and residents were solution-driven and future-focused. Kim Sikora, another Stillwright neighbor, spoke to the commission and news cameras in the room. “We will not be retreating. We understand it’s challenging, but we need your help and we urge you to start.”

Resident Pam Shockey urged the commissioners to take swift action. She said, “Governments have a way of postponing things. And what I know from living life is it’s always better to get ahead of things rather than chase it.” Shockey gave the examples of a small cut left untreated becoming infected and a small leak flooding your house. She added, “possibly, if global warming had been addressed 30 years ago, we wouldn’t even need a meeting to talk about what we’re doing.

I’m asking you to be forward-thinking and get ahead of what we’re doing.”

George Smythe, speaking for the neighborhood, said, “We’re the canary in the coal mine. We need to get moving on elevating our roads, providing mitigation to those who can’t move, and to cope with the rising ride. Are we up to the challenge to do that? Can we find the funding?”

Mayor Heather Carruthers agreed that the issue is much bigger than Stillwright Point or even the Keys. “Frankly, this is a global issue. And what we’re dealing with right now are difficult decisions that governments and communities around the world will have to start dealing with.”

Carruthers noted there would be solutions that no one has thought of yet and that the overall fix would include much more than just elevating roads. Remaining hopeful and realistic, she brainstormed, “Is elevation the only solution?

Have we considered in certain areas how to grant access? Pontoon bridges?” Met with gasps and some laughter from the crowd, Carruthers interjected. “No, I’m serious. It might not work in your neighborhood, but in others, it just might.”

Rhonda Haag, the county’s chief resiliency officer, agreed, noting that no single

solution would work for every road in the county. Rather, each will need its own, tailored solution based on the unique situation of that section of road. And, Haag added, elevating roads is just one of the tools the county can consider to keep the community intact. “We’re looking at 2100 to see what the Keys will look like.

This isn’t just roads elevation, this is a holistic view of the Keys and how we will live with water.”

“Because we can’t keep it away,” said Commissioner Michelle Coldiron. Heads in the room nodded, acknowledging this “new normal” for the Keys. Coldiron added, “We can’t stop the seawater from rising, so how can we help our residents keep living here and have quality of life?”

Commissioner David Rice chimed in.

“We’re faced with unprecedented issues.

It’s happening faster than anticipated, but we’re problem-solving at an unprecedented level too,” he said. “There are no bad ideas – like when everyone laughed at the pontoon bridges. That might be a good idea! We need creativity.”

The proactive mindset toward resiliency against sea level rise comes on the heels of the recent Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit. The summit and new sea level projections catalyzed the BOCC to act now.

Rather than accept and resign the community to a soggy future, the commissioners used Stillwright to set the tone for future climate adaptations in the county. Carruthers instructed staff, “Expedite the analysis so we can expedite the solution.”

The commissioners voted unanimously to prioritize the modeling of the Stillwright neighborhood to determine recommended road adaptations, cost and related policy decisions in the Road Vulnerability Analysis. These findings will be presented at the April/May 2020 BOCC meeting, where the BOCC will determine if and how to proceed with Stillwright as a pilot project for adaptation.

Updates on the sustainability efforts of Monroe County are available at www. monroecounty-FL.gov/sustainability and www.keysroadplan.com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

The Winn-Dixie Community Bag Program, which launched in February 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. CONTRIBUTED Scott Fowler, manager of hyperbaric medicine at Mariners Hospital, and Kathi Merriman, registered nurse, review results. CONTRIBUTED

HEALING POWER Mariners hyperbaric chamber

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fter enduring four years of chronic pain and swelling and multiple surgeries and therapy sessions to treat his foot injury, Keys resident and Mariners Hospital’s imaging director, J.C. Holmes, is finally getting relief, thanks to hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions at Mariners Hospital.

While receiving treatment in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, patients like Holmes are completely immersed in 100% oxygen delivered at high pressure. The process greatly increases the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, which speeds healing, helps fight infection, eliminates toxic substances and provides other health benefits.

Mariners Hospital has the only hospital-based hyperbaric chamber in the Florida Keys. The clinical team often uses the therapy to treat decompression sickness — a hazard of scuba diving also known as “the bends” — as well as other conditions such as serious infections, bubbles of air in the blood vessels and wounds that won’t heal as a result of diabetes or radiation injury.

“When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen than normal to heal and survive,” said Scott Fowler, manager of hyperbaric medicine at Mariners Hospital. “We

The hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Mariners Hospital. CONTRIBUTED

Kathi Merriman, registered nurse, monitors patient J.C. Holmes. CONTRIBUTED

take over when traditional wound care doesn’t work.”

The treatment protocol for Holmes’ L-shaped foot injury consisted of 30 two-hour sessions in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The chamber’s large size enabled Holmes to relax, sleep, watch TV or talk with his hyperbaric therapist while receiving treatment.

“The team at Mariners Hospital was wonderful,” he said. “You are in a very intimate setting, and they put you at ease. They helped with any questions or anxiety I had and walked me through every step.”

Within the first 10 days of treatment, Holmes noticed a decrease in pain and swelling.

“This is the first year out of the last five that I have lived relatively painfree,” he said. “Now, every time I pedal a bike pain-free, I think of how thankful I am to the hyperbaric medicine team.”

— Contributed

COMMUNITY BAG PROGRAM F lorida Keys History and Discovery Foundation (FKHDF) has been selected as a beneficiary of the Community Bag Program for the month of December.

The Winn-Dixie Community Bag Program, which launched in February 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work.

The foundation was selected as the December beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the WinnDixie in Tavernier, located at MM 91.5. The foundation will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at this location during December, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag.

“We are honored to have been chosen by our local WinnDixie market,” said Jill Miranda Baker, executive director of the Foundation. “Every dollar helps us to further our goal of preserving and sharing the tremendous history and unique ecology of the Florida Keys.”

The foundation, a not-forprofit based in Islamorada, operates Keys History & Discovery Center. Founded in 2013, the foundation has created a history and discovery center which accurately reflects the Florida Keys in a multifaceted and interactive environment.

More information is at www. keysdiscovery.com.

More information on the Community Bag Program is at seg.bags4mycause.com.

— Contributed

SEEN AROUND TOWN

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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RUNNING THE ISLANDS

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unners welcomed warmer climes at Islamorada’s annual Half Marathon, 10K & Beach N’ Beer Mile last weekend. The main half-marathon and 10K events on Dec. 8 ended at Robbie’s Marina.

Some 1,500 registered for the entire weekend slate of events, while 1,200 participated in the half marathon and 10K. — Contributed

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DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly 1. Race participants chug a single beer during the start of the Islamorada Half Marathon & 10K Beach & Beer Mile event at Robbie’s on Dec. 7.

2. A race participant chugs a beer during the Islamorada Half Marathon & 10K Beach & Beer Mile.

3. A runner poses for a picture as she runs in the half marathon and 10K. 4. Runners make their way south on U.S. 1 on Dec. 8 for the half marathon and 10K. 5. This Beach & Beer participant prepares for the race, and he will run for the beer.

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KEYS PEOPLE

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

Judy Hull, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce executive director and Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance vice president, receives the 2019 Garry Balogh Inspiring Excellence Award. Pictured from left are Michael Palozzi, senior project manager for the state scenic highways program; Hull; Bill Doxey, president of the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance; Jeff Caster, program coordinator for the state scenic highways program; and Kevin Schot, state scenic highway coordinator. CONTRIBUTED

ENHANCING THE HIGHWAY Efforts to make Overseas ‘All-American’ recognized JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

T

raversing the bridges overlooking the blue waters of the Florida Keys never gets old, especially for Islamorada Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, Judy Hull.

“I think my favorite part is driving to work or to meetings and looking out the window at the gorgeous view and just thinking how incredibly lucky we are to be living, working and playing here,” she said.

Hull’s role in enhancing the scenic image of Overseas Highway is certainly one to be recognized. Sure enough,

it was, as her leadership and efforts were rewarded in early November as she received the 2019 Garry Balogh Inspiring Excellence Award during a Florida Scenic Highways meeting in DeBary.

The award honors the late Balogh, a state Department of Transportation employee who was responsible for the designation and successful implementation of many Florida scenic highways.

Hull was a key player in resurrecting the byway organization in the Keys and achieving All-American Road status for Overseas Highway.

“Judy is the one and only Floridian to get a road recognized nationally

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as an All-American Road, the highest designation possible by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,” said Jeff Caster, program coordinator for the Florida Scenic Highways Program. “And 10 years later, it remains the state’s only All-American Road, one of only 31 nationally.”

The Florida Keys Scenic Highway was designated as a Florida Scenic Highway in 2001. The byway was managed by Clean Florida Keys, but after two years, the organization disbanded.

That’s when Hull stepped in to bring life back to the group, establishing the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance that assumed management and

responsibility.

Once established, Hull worked to reestablish long-neglected partnerships up and down the Keys. From the chambers of commerce to Monroe County and Florida Department of Transportation, she led updates to an outdated corridor management plan while guiding the organization and its mission into the future.

That vision led to All-American Highway status for the 110 miles of road from Key Largo to Key West. Designated by the Federal Highway Administration in 2009, Overseas Highway is the only All-American Road in Florida.

The designation brought significant research and coordination, and Hull said the application filled a three-ring binder. To achieve All-American Road status, the thoroughfare must possess characteristics of national significance that don’t exist elsewhere — making it a visitor destination in and of itself.

“I have known Judy for seven years. She is one of the most organized, positive and community-focused leaders I have ever had the opportunity to meet,” said Bill Doxey, Florida Keys Scenic Highway Alliance president. “I’m proud to call Judy my friend and enjoy serving with her on the board.”

With 110 miles of road, Hull said, she wanted to get a letter of support for every mile, from clubs and government organizations to the Tourism Development Council. Hull said Jackie Harder and Carol Ann Sharkey were also instrumental in getting the AllAmerican Road designation.

“We had a scenic highway, but we felt we ought to have an All-American Road,” Hull said. “Visitors who drive on that highway are going to see some of the most scenic and historic places in the nation. It’s the roadway that goes to the seaway.”

Hull said she’s extremely pleased to have been selected for the Balogh award, which she received in a room full of members representing 25-plus scenic highways in the state.

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019 ED

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After completing his residency at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Botelho started his practice in the Florida Keys in 1993. He now has three office locations throughout Florida, including an office in Marathon. Dr. Botelho has operating privileges at Mariner’s Hospital as well as numerous outpatient surgical centers. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a member of the North American Spine Society.

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KEYS EATS

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

Front, from left, seared alloumi cheese; Moroccan carrots; beets and labneh; and ground lamb and beef koftka. Back, from left, pita bread and zhug, red pepper and baba ghanoush spreads.

TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

CREATIVE CUISINE Enjoy spreads, pita bread, skewers at Meze Morada

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

S

crumptious hummus spreads fill a serving dish as Dave Kirsammer serves up fresh pita bread, while six ground lamb koftka meatballs line a plate ready for testing.

At Meze Morada in Islamorada, enjoy an evening with friends or family with sharable plates, kebabs grilled over hot coals and an array of vegetable dishes. With “meze” translating to “small plates,” Kirsammer said people can come and munch on a selection of hot and cold dishes.

“A couple can come in and order skewers and some fried cauliflower,” he said. “Or, a group can enjoy our spreads, some seared halloumi cheese and beets and labneh. Here at Meze, they can sit down and enjoy different things with our selection of beer and wine.”

Kirsammer and Callie Lecakes are the owners who opened the restaurant at MM 80.9, oceanside, earlier in March. The two met 13 years ago in Washington, D.C. and decided to come to the Keys three years ago. Callie, who’s traveled all over the world, spent some time in Key West. Kirsammer, who grew up in Detroit, worked in the corporate world with ConAgra and

Nature Made Vitamins.

Kirsammer remembers turning down a sous chef job some 20 years ago, but that never stopped his passion for cooking. As for the cuisine that he’s brought to the Upper Keys, he said Detroit had a large Middle Eastern population.

“I was exposed to the cuisine during my younger life,” he said. “Over the past five years, there’s been a resurgence and you’re seeing a lot more restaurants with our type of food opening up.”

Kirsammer and Lecakes make all the cuisine patrons will eat at Meze Morada. Lecakes crafts the hand-rolled grape leaves. Kirsammer says she’s also the expert taster and is exceptional at plating food. She says vegan and vegetarian dishes like the ones at Meze Morada were missing in the area. All dishes are made with the freshest ingredients and the finest herbs and spices.

“We avoid shortcuts,” Kirsammer said.

For those going to Meze Morada, try a selection of spreads with some fresh pita bread. The roasted red pepper hummus is a must-get if you want a little kick. There’s also the zhug hum-

mus and baba ghanoush.

On the hot dish menu, there’s no going wrong with the seared halloumi cheese, made with caramelized pear, date and walnut paste. The cheese is warm and salty, and the pears and dates complement it quite well for mouth-watering satisfaction. There’s also fried cauliflower, not battered, that’s dusted with hawayej and served with herb labneh, a cheese made from salted strained yogurt.

Meze’s herb-marinated chicken skewer won a best entrée award during the Taste of Islamorada in the spring. The ground lamb and beef koftka and the shawarma spiced tender steak are also worth ordering up.

For dessert, try a house-made ice cream with pistachio cardamom the signature flavor.

“We do a lot of traditional stuff, but branch to nontraditional foods inspired by the palate,” Kirsammer said. “On Sundays, we’re doing wings with either zatar, a wild oregano with sesame, and harissa, a north African chili paste. We’re also working on a fish cake with snapper.”

Meze Morada is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. More information is at mezemorada.com.

21

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

The Upper Keys Weekly is proud to partner with the Coral Shores athletic department in choosing “The Male and Female Athlete of the Week.” Recipients are chosen on qualifications of academic excellence, academic standing and community involvement. We thank our future leaders and the CSHS athletic department for allowing us to share a little “Hurricane Pride.”

EMMA LOVELL

RICKY PLACENCIA

Emma Lovell, a senior standout at Coral Shores, is this week’s Upper Keys Weekly Female Athlete of the Week. Lovell is currently excelling in two winter sports, soccer and weightlifting. Last week, she executed a lifting combination that vaulted her to first place among District 16-1A Florida schools; she also scored four goals and added an assist in Coral Shores’ 8-0 soccer win over Marathon and its 1-1 tie with Key West.

Weightlifting coach Erin Hamilton commented, “Emma always gives us a great effort during practices and meets.

She recently hit personal records on both her bench and clean and jerk, which added 20 pounds to her total.”

Pat Fazio, head coach of Coral Shores varsity soccer team, said, “Emma has great leadership qualities and works very hard to be her best. Her positive attitude and warm smile are always a great inspiration to her team She has tremendous foot skills with the soccer ball and is well respected by her teammates. Her through ball passes to her teammates are some of the most amazing to watch.

Emma is having a tremendous senior year.”

Lovell also performs well academically, where she possesses a 3.861 weighted grade point average. She has been very active in a number of The Upper Keys Foundation’s community service projects, including lead roles in both the Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Irma relief missions.

Ricky Placencia, a junior standout in boys’ basketball at Coral Shores, is this week’s recipient of the Upper Keys Weekly’s Male Athlete of the Week recognition. Placencia, who had dealt with both a sore back and a sprained ankle during the pre-season tournaments, averaged 13 points and eight rebounds in the Hurricanes games against Archbishop Carroll and Key West.

Coral Shores head boys basketball coach, Jarrod Mandozzi, commented, “Against a big, strong, and athletic Key West team — where Ricky was routinely going against players much bigger than him — he scored 18 points and had eight rebounds including two three pointers.

You can just watch Ricky progressing on a daily basis. He has worked extremely hard on his game over the off-season, and it’s paying dividends now.”

Mandozzi added, “Placencia is also a very fine young man. He does a lot for us on the court, obviously, but he is a fantastic leader and teammate off the court. I think you are going to hear a lot of good things about Ricky Placencia in the future.”

Placencia has also been very active in various Upper Keys Foundation community service initiatives. Last year, he and his varsity and JV basketball teammates sang Christmas carols and threw a party for residents of the Plantation Key Nursing Center. Placencia also participated in UKF’s Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Irma relief missions.

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

By JIM McCARTHY, SARA MATTHIS and MANDY MILES

RISE WITH THE TIDE R

epresentatives from various governmental entities convened with leaders in the fields of public works, infrastructure development, and thinkers from business and higher education for the 11th annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Key West last week.

Out of the summit came national exposure on sea level rise and the exorbitant amount of money that it would take to raise roads in the Keys — namely a 3-mile stretch of road on Sugarloaf Key that may or may not be able to be saved, given rising water levels.

Despite the doom and gloom that appeared in the headlines, municipalities up and down the islands have been hard at work planning and implementing resilient strategies. Much work lies ahead, but here’s what the Keys have done to rise with the tide.

THE SEA LEVEL DATA One of the most useful pieces of historical data is NOAA’s tide and currents data.

Among other information, users can see a 50-year sea level measurement for Key West.

“Key West is unique in that we have data that goes back into the early 1900s,” said Jon Rizzo, of the National Weather Service office in Key West. “When you try to take measurements year by year, there’s a lot of ‘noise’ — or variation.”

What the chart shows is average sea level rise over a 50-year period extending on either side of a fixed point. For example, the sea level rise for 1940 (but spanning the years from 1915 to 1965) was 2.43 millimeters a year. That trend held very steady until 1950 when it started falling, and those lower levels of average sea level rise persisted through the 1970s.

“Remember the Time Magazine headlines about the next ice age?” asked Rizzo.

“The sea levels were lower in that period because of the cooling trend. When it was over, sea level rises recommenced a gradual rise.”

The most recent 50-year calculation was

MUNICIPALITIES PROACTIVE ON FLOODING, SEA LEVEL RISE

for 1990, and it shows a 2.76 millimeter rise per year. (Again, this covers 1965 to 2015.)

“The rate of rise is increasing,” Rizzo said.

He said NOAA’s current sea level rise shows an increase of about 11 inches over a century. That’s compared to the 9 inches over the previous century.

Rizzo emphasizes, however, that tides and weather play a much bigger role in flooded neighborhoods than sea level rise.

He said the recent king tides were severe and said it may be a few more years before we see that type of residential flooding again. He also said he believes that tidal and weather phenomena will continue to interact more frequently in the coming years, and the affects will be worse because of the incremental sea rise.

One of the most confusing aspects of this data is when it is recalculated. Every 20 years or so, when the moon completes an orbit, called a tidal epoch, NOAA recalculates the average sea level. Rizzo said this doesn’t affect the sea level trend data, which calculates only the rate of rise, not the actual height itself.

MARATHON The City of Marathon is already actively engaged in meeting the terms of the Perils of Flood legislation signed in 2015 by thenGov. Rick Scott. It requires local governments to consider future flood risk from storm surge, nuisance flooding and sea level rise in its comprehensive plan. The city is using sea-level rise projections from the Southeast Florida Regional Compact on Climate Change.

For Marathon, that means a sea level rise of 6 to 10 inches by 2030, 14 to 26 inches in 2060 and 31 to 61 inches in 2100.

City officials said they would take the information and start thinking about some immediate solutions — like raising roads affected by nuisance flooding. Or considering what a 2-foot sea level rise would mean to infrastructure, ranging from mechanical (like a sewage plant) to natural (like an undevel-

oped shoreline).

There are five areas in Marathon that habitually flood — “the rock” between 39th and 42nd streets, 92nd Street, parts of Flamingo Isle, near the country club, and the boat ramp on Harbor Drive.

The city has two types of deep injection wells used to handle flooding. The first is gravity-fed — the pressure of the water on top of the street is greater than the pressure in the well, forcing it down. The second uses electric pumps, placed on platforms out of the flood zone.

The worst is the area known as “the rock,” where the floors of the ground-level homes are, in some cases, just inches above the streets. When the area floods, so do the homes. Raising the road levels would exacerbate the flooding of homes, said Carlos Solis, Marathon’s utility director.

The city has installed an injection well powered by a pump in that neighborhood.

The system was recently retrofitted at a cost of about $340,000. Solis said the system isn’t perfect and isn’t capable of handling every rainfall or storm, but has improved the situation.

“Where the water used to sit for weeks, now a big event can be cleared up in a matter of days,” he said.

“The problem with some of the gravity wells is that they also utilize what is essentially a French drain which doesn’t help the situation,” he said. “The water trickles out of the pipes back into the area that was already flooded.”

Water moves the other direction, too.

There is no clear answer for the flooding that happens near the boat ramp at Harbor Drive. Even if the city were to install some type of gate system, the porous nature of the ground would defeat the effort, Solis said.

“This is coral rock. Water is going to come up through it when there is a high tide and a gate won’t stop the problem,” Solis said.

ENVIRONMENT

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

An aerial view of the lower Keys. ANDY NEWMAN/ Florida Keys News Bureau

Recently, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority replaced aging infrastructure along Sombrero Beach Road and Sombrero Beach Boulevard. In order to “de-water” the trenches and make the installation, the water utility applied, and was approved for, the creation of temporary injection wells. Normally, the water utility would have filled in the wells when the construction was complete. But the City of Marathon saw an opportunity to preserve the injection wells and eventually turn them into a gravity or pump-operated injection well.

“There were four along Sombrero Beach Road and two along Sombrero Beach Boulevard. Through some interagency cooperation, we were able to negotiate the right to those wells. We’ll install equipment when we can, but at least we don’t have the cost of digging the well in the first place. That probably saved us about $250,000,” Solis said.

A typical pump-driven injection well is about 120 feet deep. The first 70 feet are “capped” with a PVC pipe, and so water doesn’t actually enter the ground until the uncapped part of the well at 70 feet or deeper.

ISLAMORADA Taking a proactive approach to address flooding and sea level rise, the village conducted the Islamorada Matters plan.

Officially launched in 2014, the plan is the culmination of a project intended to begin the process of addressing these challenges while furthering existing efforts to make the village more resilient long-term.

The plan looks at ways to address sealevel rise impacts with planning and implementing adaptation measures, in addition to building adaptive capacity based on knowledge gained from a vulnerability assessment for 2030 and 2060 scenarios.

“It’s a comprehensive plan with adaptation and sea-level rise action plans,” said Peter Frezza, village environmental resources manager. “We defined steps that would be

An aerial view of Islamorada. Taking a proactive approach to address flooding and sea level rise, the village conducted the Islamorada Matters Plan. Officially launched in 2014, the plan is the culmination of a project intended to begin the process of addressing these challenges while furthering existing efforts to make the village more resilient long-term. ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau

taken in the short, middle and long term to adapt to sea level rise. There’s policy in there we’re starting to implement.”

The vulnerability assessment within the plan includes a comprehensive evaluation of ground elevation relative to current and future tidewater heights for roads, public buildings and other critical infrastructure.

Based on results of the vulnerability analysis, two facilities were found to be vulnerable to the highest sea level rise scenarios modeled for 2030: the wastewater pump station located at 142 Sunshine Blvd. and Fire Station 19 located at 74070 Overseas Highway.

The vulnerability assessment results suggest that future sea level rise not only has the potential to expose the Fire Station 19 structure to extreme event flooding, but also that the site is located on a low grade with potential susceptibility to future nuisance-level flooding in transport corridors.

Also, because U.S. 1 is built to a low grade between White Marlin Boulevard and Palm Drive, long-term flood resilience and sea level rise adaptation planning for Fire Station 19 should be closely coordinated with drainage improvements and increased grade elevation of U.S. 1 within this corridor.

HARDENING SEA OATS BEACH Frezza said the shoreline hardening of Sea Oats Beach in Lower Matecumbe is a big, difficult project on a 1.3-mile segment of critically eroded beach in Islamorada.

Erosion threatens recreational interests and U.S. 1 along Sea Oats Beach.

Hurricanes Rita and Wilma in 2005 caused moderate beach and dune erosion and flooding in this segment. The Florida Department of Transportation constructed a road shoulder stabilization project in 2008. Hurricane Irma in 2017 severely affected this area.

“As long as the road is where it is, there will never be a beach there again because there’s no room for the beach to migrate,” he said. “That’s how far up the water levels have come.”

Work is progressing on the Venetian Shores installation of stormwater drainage. Crews work on Villa Bella Drive. DAVID GROSS/Contributed

Frezza said he’s pushing to work in some kind of living shoreline as part of the hardening project with the Army Corps of Engineers.

“Of course, projects are very expensive — in the millions of dollars,” he said. “When a federal agency comes in and pays for a mitigation project, we’re not going to tell them ‘no,’ but we may not have as much say as we like.”

In addition, Frezza said the Florida Department of Transpiration is looking to complete shoreline stabilization at Sea Oats, the rest of Lower Matecumbe and the Fills starting a year from now.

ADDRESSING WATER INUNDATION The village is actively participating in storm water projects in vulnerable neighborhoods susceptible to flooding, including Venetian Shores on Plantation Key. In January, village council approved a project that would establish a system for stormwater for the Venetian Shores community specifically at the bottom of the bay.

The project is phase 1 and addresses two streets, Bayview Isle Drive and Villa Bella Drive, and the portion of Venetian Blvd. between the two streets. The project addresses drainage issues after rainfall and now collects stormwater through inlets and treats it before going through exfiltration.

Project cost is less than $1.7 million, said A.J. Engelmeyer, Public Works director.

In addition, the village is looking into a project to elevate the breakwater and jetty at Plantation Yacht Harbor at Founders Park.

Frezza said it’s being inundated by king tide and nuisance flooding. Per a report, the breakwater is no longer performing as needed due to decades of erosion. Two design options were presented, with one protecting existing mangroves and building breakwater at the bayside, at $1.6 million, and raising the height of the breakwater to provide higher level of protection, at $3.3 million.

“It’s in the design phase,” he said.

25

26

ENVIRONMENT

The City of Key West has spent tens of millions of dollars and nearly a decade improving its drainage issues and tide-related flooding with a carefully managed and budgeted stormwater master plan that aims to remove standing water from streets while improving nearshore water quality.

ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau

Peter Rosasco, general manager of the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, said installing drainage improvements can improve flooding situations, but for whatever reason, “the water is higher, it’s staying longer and it’s appearing in places we’ve never seen it before.”

“Having stormwater systems in place will help, but only to a degree,” he said. “In Key Largo, when sewers were installed, the stormwater system was not done. And in some cases with this flooding, these places have always flooded, but again, the water is higher, it’s staying longer and it’s also appearing in places it hasn’t previously been.

Stormwater systems are an effective tool, plus it’s the law, but when the islands overflow, there’s not much you can do.”

KEY WEST The City of Key West has spent tens of millions of dollars and nearly a decade improving its drainage issues and tide-related flooding with a carefully managed and budgeted stormwater master plan that aims to remove standing water from streets while improving nearshore water quality.

Twenty years ago, before the city tore up miles of streets to begin installing the new system, the owners of Front Street restaurants stored their own sandbags alongside the building and grew accustomed to mopping up their bar and dining rooms during unusually high tides such as those that occur during a full moon.

That was also when rainwater runoff carried pollutants into storm drains, where they were released through 63 outfalls into near shore waters with very little filtration or treatment.

“As improvements are made at intersections throughout the city, our most effective means of pollutant reduction and water flow reduction is a well system,” city documents state. Underground treatment wells remove pollutants from storm water before releasing the runoff into near shore waters.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

Before the City of Marathon installed gravity wells powered by pumps, Washington Street was frequently underwater. CONTRIBUTED

“Key West’s efforts are intended to help improve stormwater drainage, thereby lessening the effects of flooding due to rain, although no stormwater system can mitigate the effects of a hurricane storm surge,” the city’s website states.

The city of Key West has also developed a stormwater capital plan to prioritize projects that will “prevent flooding, divert stormwater flow from outfalls, and reduce/ eliminate discharge of pollutants and contamination of near shore waters,” the capital plan states. It provides for a comprehensive management system and includes installation of five pump-assist injection wells, elimination and/or retrofit of 63 outfalls, installation of injection wells and retrofit of existing injection wells.

“Vertical French drains have already been designed and installed to address small areas of standing water in an affordable, cost effective way.”

RESPONSE TO NATIONAL COVERAGE ON SEA LEVEL RISE Heather Carruthers Monroe County Mayor “Obviously, on a global level, we should have been dealing with this 40 years ago,” said Carruthers. “But in Monroe County, we’ve already been addressing this: We’ve had the toughest building codes in the state for decades; we’ve made tough choices with regard to downstairs enclosures. We broke our own height restrictions to allow property owners to elevate their homes. The county is elevating our fire stations and other new facilities.”

“Let’s also remember that issues related to climate change are not specific to just sea level rise. There are drought, wildfires, and other issues.

“The fact that we are at least working to respond to these issues is a big step.”

Jim Mooney

Islamorada councilman “The climate summit really wasn’t doom and gloom. Actually to the contrary, it’s encouraging to know that this coalition exists between the counties in South Florida, and there’s a will to make this work,” he said. “Look, the Earth has been going through climate change long before we ever walked on it, and we just happen to be here to witness it.”

“I think several panel members said it best, that this is not about drawing a line in the sea. This isn’t Monroe County versus Palm Beach, or Palm Beach versus MiamiDade. This is going to affect us all. We have two options, we lead by example or we don’t.

I think the leadership is there. I feel comfortable there’s a lot of positive stuff coming out of here.”

THE MARKET Realtor and broker Brian Schmitt is nonplussed about the article that appeared in the New York Times on sea level rise.

“The story deals with the worst-possible case scenario and an inordinate amount of money to protect a limited amount of homes,” said Schmitt. “The only possible reason to start there is to create drama.”

He said he was raised in a house just two houses down from where he lives now.

He said the water is higher, but it is not the end of the Florida Keys and cited Venice, Italy, which deals with regular flooding.

“It’s my belief that we will be able to somehow deal with it. Not scare people, which is typically what the media tries to do. We’ve known about this for many, many years and, yes, it should be talked about in rational terms instead of choosing the worse-case scenario,” Schmitt said.

Another Realtor, who asked to remain anonymous, said two sellers read the story and called to adjust their asking price downward, but “they were overpriced anyway.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

SAILFISH APLENTY

27

Islamorada tourney winner catches 19

Archaeologist Corey Malcom, of Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, will speak about his organization’s efforts to document the history and archaeology of the transatlantic slave trade at the Dec. 18 “Immerse Yourself!” presentation series at the History of Diving Museum at 7 p.m. CONTRIBUTED

SITES AND STORIES Documenting the transatlantic slave trade

T

he History of Diving Museum’s year-end “Immerse Yourself!” presentation features archaeologist Corey Malcom of Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society. Malcom’s presentation, set for Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., is one of the last chances to see the museum’s featured exhibit, Diving With a Purpose, which closes on Dec. 31.

The Florida Keys were never a hub for the transatlantic slave trade, but because of their location as a gateway to the Caribbean, many significant associated events occurred here. Today, evidence of the slave trade can be found up and down the Keys, both on land and under the sea.

Malcom will speak about his organization’s efforts to document the history and archaeology of the transatlantic slave trade, ranging from the exploration of ancient underwater shipwreck sites to the discovery of a longforgotten beachfront cemetery for Africans rescued from slave ships. In looking at these sites and their stories, one of the most agonizing but significant chapters in American history can be a bit more clearly understood.

Malcom is the director of archaeology for the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West.

He has investigated the shipwrecks of the 1622 galleon “Nuestra Señora de Atocha,” the 1700 English slaver “Henrietta Marie,” the 1564 galleon “Santa Clara” and the Cuban pirateslaver “Guerrero,” among other sites. Malcom is a graduate of Indiana and Nova Southeastern universities and earned a doctorate at the University of Huddersfield, England.

This month’s sponsor is the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, Culture Builds Florida campaign. This campaign’s goal is to increase the public’s awareness of the benefits of arts and culture to Florida.

The past two months have been standing room only at the presentations; members may reserve seats early. To join or give a membership, visit the museum at MM83 in Islamorada, call 305-664-9737, or sign up online at divingmuseum.org.

The museum is a nonprofit which opened in 2005 and features the history of over 4,000 years of “man’s quest to explore under the sea”.

— Contributed

T

his week has blessed us with some chilly yet beautiful weather with light seas and variable winds making for some great fishing.

I was on the water three days this past week and fishing has seemed to stay pretty steady.

I talked to Capt. Ron Brack of Pirate for Hire charters and he mentioned that CAPT. DREW the mackerel and snapper bite in the Gulf NOBREGAS of Mexico has stayed excellent. Not only Born and raised that, but he also fished around Everin Islamorada, glades National Park and reported huge Capt. Drew Nonumbers of snook and redfish. He said bregas is a secthe snook aren’t getting too big just yet, ond-generation but any day now after another cold front captain of the blows through, we should start to see the Keys. His father big mommas come out of hiding. was a backcountry guide in Brack runs a 22-foot Mako bayboat Islamorada for out of the Bass Pro Shops and has a 15 years and has personality of gold. He has over 30 years instilled his love of knowledge fishing the Florida Keys and for fishing. More still absolutely loves to get out there and information on go fishing every day. If you’re looking for Nobregas and an all-around awesome fishing guide to Fishy Business Islamorada Char- put you on the fish, you can reach Brack at 305-393-7448 or Pirateforhirecharters. ters is at www. fishybusinessiscom. lamorada.com or Now, as for offshore fishing, things 305-393-2332. seem to be on fire. The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament took place this past weekend, and several boats caught over 10 fish in the three-day span, with the winner releasing 19 sailfish to take first place, which was KC Spaulding of Caribsea Charters. To win a big tournament like that makes known how good an offshore fisherman really is due to the extreme competition.

The patch reefs off Islamorada have held some very nice groupers, mutton snappers, mangrove snappers, porgies and yellowtails right now with most all the offshore boats focusing their attention on the sailfish. It doesn’t take much effort to putt out to the reef line with a block of chum and catch plenty of fish for dinner with just a few of the right tactics. It makes for a scenic view with steady action as all different kinds of fish find their way into the chum line. I catch myself mesmerized with all the incredible life that can pop up behind the boat at this time. It’s never a bad idea to throw a live ballyhoo way back with a piece of wire for a big mackerel or free-swimming sailfish that happens to make its way behind the boat either. Diversification is key when on the reef.

Remember, the tug is the drug and if you chum they will come!

28

HOLIDAYS

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

CLAUS, CAROLERS COME TO TOWN Get those wish lists together, because Santa and a group of cheery carolers are coming to town for an evening of greetings. Thanks to the Islamorada Firefighters Benevolent Association and Islamorada Fire Rescue, the big man and his convoy will meet with children and families at parks and community neighborhoods on Sunday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. U.S. Marines will also be on hand collecting trinkets and gifts for Toys for Tots.

—Weekly staff report TIME

LOCATION

STOPS

5:30

Islamorada Mobil - Lower Matecumbe

5 min. stop

5:45

Between Tiki Ln. & Robbies Marina

5 min. stop

5:55

Old US-1 & Mile Marker 80

(driving by)

6:00

Moose Lodge

10 min. stop

6:11

Hurricane Monument - Old US-1

5 min. stop

6:18

Southwinds Park - Old US-1

10 min. stop

6:30

End of Old Hwy at US-1 (Upper Matecumbe)

5 min. stop

6:38

Windley Key Trailer Park - Old US-1

5 min. stop

6:45

Venetian Shores

(driving by)

6:48

Venetian Shores Marina

10 min. stop

7:00

Palermo Dr. Venetian Shores

5 min. stop

7:11

Founders Park (and a Break)

15 min. stop

7:35

Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina

5 min. stop

7:42

Plantation Blvd. & Orange Ln.

10 min. stop

7:57

Monroe Dr. (Key Heights Sub-Division)

(driving by)

8:00

Key Heights Dr. & Sebring Dr.

5 min. stop

8:06

Key Heights Dr. & Ocala Dr.

(driving by)

8:10

High Point Rd./ Rolling Hills Rd.

(driving by)

8:15

Indian Mound Trail (Indian Harbor Sub-Division)

(driving by)

8:17

Sioux St.

10 min. stop

8:30

Seminole Blvd. (Indian Harbor Sub-Division)

(driving by)

8:35

Plantation Key Colony - Woods Ave.

(driving by)

8:37

Gardenia St. & Royal Poinciana Blvd.

(driving by)

8:47

Hibiscus St. & Royal Poinciana Blvd.

10 min. stop

9:00

S. Coconut Palm Blvd.

(driving by)

9:05

Sunshine Blvd.

(driving by)

9:06

Coral Ave.

(driving by)

9:08

Canal St. & Pearl Ave.

5 min. stop

9:17

Plantation Shores Dr.

(driving by)

9:19

Bee St.

Santa and holiday carolers arrive on Bee Street during the Islamorada Fire Rescue Santa Parade on Dec. 16, 2018.

The parade’s 30-stop route made its way north from Lower Matecumbe to its last stop on Bee Street. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly File Photo

Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Alberto Gomez talks with parade goers on Bee Street during the Islamorada Fire Rescue Santa Parade’s last stop of the night Dec. 16, 2018. At back children play in soap bubbles. DOUG FINGER/Weekly File Photo

29

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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SEEN AROUND TOWN

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

MAGICAL NIGHT Kids ice skate, meet Santa

A

nxiously waiting for a pair of skates, kids skidded around the rink as parents watched. During the 10th annual Light up Key Largo at the Murray Nelson Government & Cultural Center Park on Dec. 7, kids were busy decorating cookies while toddlers sat for some story time. Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children who gave them their wish lists while parents shopped vendor tents. —Weekly staff report

2

1

3 4

VIDEO DAVE/Contributed 1. Emily Kovacs, community outreach coordinator at History of Diving Museum, and Chris Morgan, Key Largo Library assistant, prepare to read a variety of books to kids.

2. Safety patrol officers at Key Largo School sell tickets to the annual fish fry. Proceeds go to support the opportunity for fifth graders to visit Washington, D.C., next May. The next safety patrol fundraiser is the Fish Fry, set for Jan. 24.

3. Santa and Mrs. Claus greet a little one during the 10th annual Light Up Key Largo at the Murray Nelson Government Center.

4. Jennifer Miller of Olive Morada showcases her goods underneath her tent.

 Â? Â? Â

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31

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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PHOTO CONTEST

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

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Emily Kovacs as Ms. Claus, with Hard Hat Diver Santa at the History of Diving Museum.

Nothing says the holidays like diving in the Keys! EMILY KOVACS/Contributed

TIFFANY DUONG

Call Andrew today.

305 304-9284 andrew@granderconstruction.com www.granderconstruction.com

tiffany@keysweekly.com

LAST CALL FOR KEYS HOLIDAY PHOTOS! Our Holiday Photo Contest closes THIS FRIDAY, Dec. 14.

K

305.664.2692 www.loreleicabanabar.com

Thurs Dec 12 Webb & Davidson 5-9PM Fri Dec 13 Steve Venini Band 5-9PM Magic by Michael Trixx @ Sunset Sat Dec 14 Bobbie Brown 11-3PM Bomb Shell 5-9PM Sun Dec 15 Webb & Davidson 5-9PM Mon Dec 16 The Carousers 5-9PM Magic by Michael Trixx @ Sunset Tues Dec 17 Closing @ 6PM for Staff Appreciation Party Wed Dec 18 Webb & Davidson 5-9PM

Chris istmas Movie ie Triv ivia Wednesday D ia ec. 18 7-9P M

OPEN 11-11 81611 OLD HWY ISL AMORADA MM 81

eys Weekly wants to see your photos that capture what the holidays and life in the Keys mean to you. Do you have cool holiday traditions that are distinctively Keysey? Take a picture and submit it!

The contest is open to everyone, and each entrant can submit up to 10 photos. The only requirement is that photos represent the winter holidays in the Keys. Think boat parades, stockings hung from sail masts and Santas out catching mahi.

Top 3 winners will have their photos featured in the Christmas week newspaper and will earn a surprise Keys swag bag.

To submit your photo, email it to tiffany@keysweekly.com with a short description of where you took it, what it is and why it represents the holidays in the Keys.

Photos will be posted on the Keys Weekly Facebook for voting and sharing.

By submitting to the photo contest, entrants certify that their participation is not illegal or in violation of any law or regulation and that they own all rights and copyrights to the image(s).

Elves and Santas in the Keys know the party doesn’t stop! This was taken at the after-party on Applerouth Lane for the Wesley House Bike Parade. Cindy Lou is the owner of Headlines Salon, and the elves are Johny Ortiz and Jesus Carrasquillo. JESUS CARRASQUILLO/Contributed

Priscilla Harriman’s dog Maggie found herself matching with a clown that happened to be passing by. For Harriman, the picture represents the fun quirkiness of Key West, where it was taken. PRISCILLA HARRIMAN/ Contributed

33

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of CHAPTERS HOSPICE OF SOUTH FLORIDA, located at 85994 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, ISLAMORADA, FL 33036, intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPICE, INC. Publish: December 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

Room 2-213, Key West, Florida.

All responses must be sealed and must be submitted to the Monroe County Purchasing Office.

Publish: December 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: December 5, 2019.

Personal Representative: Gail D. DelVecchio 735 Blackbeard Road Little Torch Key, Florida 33042 Attorney for Personal Representative: Seth E. Ellis, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 0060933 E-mail: seth@ellis-law.com Brett E. Halperin, Esq. Florida Bar No. 109695 E-Mail: brett@ellis-law.com ELLIS LAW GROUP PL 4755 Technology Way Suite 205 Boca Raton, Florida 33431 Telephone: (561) 910-7500 Fax: (561) 910-7501 Secondary E-Mail: service@ ellis-law.com Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

of Monette R. Traichal, deceased, whose date of death was July 6, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: December 12, 2019.

Personal Representative: Michael J. Geddes 5706 Revere Drive North Olmsted, OH 44070 Attorney for Personal Representative: Lauren N. Richardson Attorney Florida Bar Number: 0083119 2700 NW 43rd Street, Suite C Gainesville, FL 32606 Telephone: (352) 332-7688 E-mail: lrichardson@ boginmunns.com Secondary E-Mail: crowe@ boginmunns.com Publish: December 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF SEIZURE Tavernier Mini Storage, 135 Hood Ave, Tavernier, FL 33070, will sell or otherwise dispose of the contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.

All contents in: Containers: Yard 38 & Yard 39 – Patricia Morrow Unit: C-47 - Mark Dupre Sale of all Goods, December 22, 2019 at 10:00AM. Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Wheatons Towing gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 12/23/2019, 10:00 am at 101500 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. Wheatons Towing reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

WBAVA33598KX87782 2008 BMW Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Wheatons Towing gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 12/25/2019, 10:00 am at 101500 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. Wheatons Towing reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

JM3ER293980173023 2008 MAZDA Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Wheatons Towing gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 12/28/2019, 10:00 am at 101500 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. Wheatons Towing reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

1FTHX25H7PKA92568 1993 FORD 2FTRF17274CA37130 2004 FORD Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: UPPER KEYS ANIMAL CONTROL, SHELTER AND OPERATIONS MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3)(a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecountybids.com.

The Public Record is available at the Monroe County Purchasing Office located in the Gato Building, 1100 Simonton Street,

NOTICE OF ACCEPTING BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed Bids for the following: The Sale of Eleven (11) CountyOwned Non-Density Reduction Lots on Duck Key with a Deed Restriction Prohibiting the Construction of Habitable Space Parcel ID Minimum Bid RE00379720-000000 $19,600.00 RE00379800-000000 $19,600.00 RE00379820-000000 $19,900.00 RE00380240-000000 $18,800.00 RE00380440-000000 $24,100.00 RE00383270-000000 $19,200.00 RE00383380-000000 $21,600.00 RE00383390-000000 $18,800.00 RE00383780-000000 $19,700.00 RE00383850-000000 $19,800.00 RE00383860-000000 $19,800.00 The minimum bid is set for each parcel based on an appraisal. The detailed listing of the eleven parcels, bidding procedures, and the appraisals may be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/ duckkeybids.

Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3)(a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecountybids.com.

The Public Record is available at the Monroe County Purchasing Office located in the Gato Building, 1100 Simonton Street, Room 2-213, Key West, Florida. All Bids must be sealed and must be submitted to the Monroe County Purchasing Office before 3:00 p.m. on January 7, 2020.

Publish: December 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 19-CP-000198-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ROBERT M. DELVECCHIO, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Robert M. DelVecchio, deceased, whose date of death was March 5, 2019, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 19-CP-000203-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF EDITH NECKLES, DECEASED. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of EDITH NECKLES, deceased, whose date of death was September 4, 2019, and whose Social Security Number was XXXXX-XXXX, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE TIME OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: December 5, 2019.

Personal Representative: ROBIN J. HOYT 3421 Northwest 25th Way Boca Raton, Florida 33434 Attorney for Personal Representative: L. EDGAR BARNHILL III, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 338631 2799 Northwest Boca Raton Boulevard Suite 214 Boca Raton, Florida 33431 Telephone: 561-998-7999 Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 44-2019-CP-0065 IN RE: ESTATE OF MONETTE R. TRAICHAL, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 19-DR-985-K Division: CIVIL MARLEN HERRERA CABRAL, Petitioner, and RODRIGO A CARRASCO GONZALEZ Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: RODRIGO ALONSO CARRASCO GONZALEZ LOS CLAVELES 374 CERRIELOS SANTIAGE DE CHILE YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on: Marlen Herrera Cabral, 6709 Shrimp Road, Apt 209, Key West, FL 33040, USA, on or before December 28, 2019, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at Monroe County Clerk of Court, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: 11/18/2019 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jaquelyn Fonseca Deputy Clerk Publish: November 28, December 5, 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 19-DR-979-K Division: Family ANNE PIERMAN LOMONT, Petitioner and ARISTIDI DRAGHICI Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR PETITION OF PATERNITY TO: Aristidi Draghici Respondent’s last known address: Unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Petition of Paternity has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on: Anne Pierman Lomont, P.O. Box 5135, Key West, FL 33045, on or before December 21st, 2019, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at Monroe County Clerk of Court, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: 11/14/2019 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jaquelyn Fonseca Deputy Clerk Publish: November 21, 28, December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 19-DR-1018-K Division: Family LYUBOV BITEMIROVA, Petitioner and BAUYRZHAN BITEMIROV Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: BAUYRZHAN BITEMIROV Respondent’s last known address: MAYSKAYA ST. 5-5 TYULKUBAS RG. SASTOBE VILLAGE, KAZAKSTAN YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on: Lyubov Bitemirova, 1661 Dunlap Dr #2, Key West, FL 33040, on or before January 5, 2020, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at Monroe County Clerk of Court, 500 Whitehead

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: December 3, 2019 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jaquelyn Fonseca Deputy Clerk Publish: December 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

CIVIL ACTION Case No: 44-2018-CA-924-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 13th day of January, 2020 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5512, Week 50, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Pursuant to IN REM FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AFTER DEFAULT AS TO UNIT 5512, WEEK 50, AGAINST CARL E. DICK AND LINDA GIRL DICK entered in a case pending in said Court, the 19TH day of November, 2019 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff, VS. CARL E. DICK, et. al Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 44-2018-CA-924-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 20TH day of November, 2019.

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2019-DR-264-M Division: Family LAUREN BOHNEN, Mother, and CONSTANTINE FLORAKIS Father.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS Action files: Petition for Termination of Parental Rights TO: Constantine Florakis Respondent’s last known address: 3873 N. Ocean Drive, Riviera, FL 33404 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Termination of Parental Rights has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on: The Manz Law Firm at 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 7, Marathon, FL 33050, on or before January 13, 2020, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: December 4,2019 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shakira Mitchell Deputy Clerk Publish: December 12, 19, & 26, 2019 & January 2, 2020 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: CAK18720 DIVISION: CIVIL WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff, VS. STEPHANIE CAROL MILLER, et. al Defendants.

AMENDED NOTICE OF SALE AS TO COUNTS(S) II Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020 at 11:00AM, the below named Clerk of Court will offer for sale at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest: Unit 5613, Week 27, Even Year Biennial Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed.

The sale is being held pursuant to the Final Judgment of Foreclosure, entered on November 13, 2019, in Civil Case No. CAK18720, pending in the Circuit Court in Monroe County, Florida.

DATED this 11 day of December, 2019.

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

34

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Publish: December 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION Case No: 44-2018-CA-485-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 13th day of January, 2020 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit E31, Week 26, Beach House, Condominium, according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) I, UNIT E31, WEEK 26, AGAINST ROBERT LEON THOMAS, JR.; THE ESTATE OF AMANDA WYATT THOMAS; AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AGAINST AMANDA WYATT THOMAS, DECEASED entered in a case pending in said Court, the 19TH day of November, 2019 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, A FLORIDA Plaintiff, VS. ROBERT LEON THOMAS, JR, et. al Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 44-2018-CA-485-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 20TH day of November, 2019.

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2019-CA-597-K DIVISION: Civil Windward Pointe II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs.

Jannielisa Abreu, et al.

Defendants. ____________ / PUBLISH 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS NOTICE OF ACTION AS TO COUNT(S) COUNT XI AGAINST DEFENDANT RICHARD RAYMOND BOGERT To: RICHARD RAYMOND BOGERT 557 NORWICH ROAD PLAINFIELD, CT 06374 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and all parties claiming interest by, through, under or against Defendant(s) RICHARD RAYMOND BOGERT, and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property herein described; YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to enforce a lien on the following described property in Monroe County, Florida: COUNT XI

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Unit 5614, Week 29, Even Year Biennial Windward Pointe Condominium, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Contract No.: 2-20999 has been filed against you; and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on NICHOLAS A. WOO, Plaintiff’s attorney, P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 432165028, within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this Notice and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

WITNESS my hand and seal of this Court on the 19th day of November, 2019.

Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Civil Division By: Shonta Mcleod Deputy Clerk NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in court proceedings you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Not later than five working days prior to the proceeding, please contact the Court Administrator’s office, at the Freeman Justice Center, 302 St. 2nd Floor, Key West, FL 33040. Telephone: (305) 292-3423 or via the Florida Relay Center. To make calls through the Florida Relay Center, you may dial 7-1-1 or use the following toll free access numbers: 1-800-955-8771 (TTY); 1-877-955-8260 (VCO); 1-800955-8770 (Voice); 1-800-955-1339 (ASCII); 1-877-955-5334 (STS); 1-877-955-8707 (French Creole – available from 8 a.m. – 2a.m. daily) Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 106, a resubdivision of Lots 7 and 8 of Thompson and Adams Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 24, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, (Parcel A and Parcel B are referred to together as the “Property.”)

Pursuant to AGREED ORDER GRANTING AGREED MOTION TO CANCEL AND RESET FORECLOSURE SALET entered in a case pending in said Court, the 29TH day of October, 2019 Style of which is: CENTERSTATE BANK, N.A., F/K/A CENTERSTATE BANK OF FLORIDA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER WITH COMMUNITY BANK OF FLORIDA Plaintiff, VS. SIDNEY’S AT MARATHON, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, et.al Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 44-2017-CA-204-M WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 30TH day of October, 2019.

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

Publish: December 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale by sending certified funds to the Trustee payable to the Lienholder in the amount of $3,269.78. Said funds for cure or redemption must be received by the Trustee before the Certificate of Sale is issued.

Any person, other than the Obligor as of the date of recording this Notice of Sale, claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale of the above property, if any, must file a claim. The successful bidder may be responsible for any and all unpaid condominium assessments that come due up to the time of transfer of title, including those owed by the Obligor or prior owner.

If the successful bidder fails to pay the amounts due to the Trustee to certify the sale by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale, the second highest bidder at the sale may elect to purchase the timeshare ownership interest.

Nicholas A. Woo, Esq. Michael E. Carleton, Esq. as Trustee pursuant to Fla. Stat. §721.82 P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Telephone: 407-404-5266 Telecopier: 614-220-5613 Publish: December 12 & 19, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No: 44-2017-CA-204-M NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 7th day of January, 2020, at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: PARCEL A Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Block 2, VACA VILLAGE, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 106, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida.

ALSO Lots 1 and 2, PEARCE’S SUBDIVSION, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 161, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida.

Old State Road 4A contiguous to S’ly of Lots 1 and 2 VACA VILLAGE, a subdivision according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 106, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and lying S’ly of and contiguous to Lots 1 and 2, PEARCE’S SUBDIVISION, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 161, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida.

PARCEL B Lot 17, Block 2, VACA VILLAGE,

NONJUDICIAL PROCEEDING TO FORECLOSE CLAIM OF LIEN BY TRUSTEE FILE NO.: 18-001645 BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Lienholder, vs.

LOGAN E BLAKE; ROSETTA SMITH BLAKE Obligor ___________________/ TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TO: Logan E Blake, 3998 Northwest 33 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States of America Rosetta Smith Blake, 3998 Northwest 33 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States of America Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020, at 8:30 AM, in the offices of La Concha Hotel, 430 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040, the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest at Beach House Condominium will be offered for sale: Unit E13, Week 25, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

The default giving rise to the sale is the failure to pay assessments as set forth in the Claim(s) of Lien encumbering the Timeshare Ownership Interest as recorded in Official Records Book 2959 Page 547 of the public records of Monroe County, Florida.

The amount secured by the assessment lien is for unpaid assessments, accrued interest, plus interest accruing at a per diem rate of $0.00 together with the costs of this proceeding and sale and all other amounts secured by the Claim of Lien, for a total amount due as of the date of the sale of $3,269.78 (“Amount Secured by the Lien”).

The Obligor has the right to cure this default and any junior interestholder may redeem its interest up to the date the

NONJUDICIAL PROCEEDING TO FORECLOSE CLAIM OF LIEN BY TRUSTEE FILE NO.: 18-031429 WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FOR-PROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Lienholder, vs.

STEPHEN TYRRELL POWELL; BARBARA E. SHIRVIS Obligor _________________/ TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TO: Stephen Tyrrell Powell, 514 Beechwood Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Barbara E. Shirvis, 514 Beechwood Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020 at 9:30 AM in the offices of La Concha Hotel, 430 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040, the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest at Windward Pointe Condominium will be offered for sale: Unit 5621, Week 20, Annual Windward Pointe Condominium, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

The default giving rise to the sale is the failure to pay assessments as set forth in the Claim(s) of Lien encumbering the Timeshare Ownership Interest as recorded in Official Records Doc # 2215673 of the public records of Monroe County, Florida. The amount secured by the assessment lien is for unpaid assessments, accrued interest, plus interest accruing at a per diem rate of $0.00 together with the costs of this proceeding and sale and all other amounts secured by the Claim of Lien, for a total amount due as of the date of the sale of $5,059.86 (“Amount Secured by the Lien”).

The Obligor has the right to cure this default and any junior interestholder may redeem its interest up to the date the Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale by sending certified funds to the Trustee payable to the Lienholder in the amount of $5,059.86. Said funds for cure or redemption must be received by the Trustee before the Certificate of Sale is issued.

Any person, other than the Obligor as of the date of

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES recording this Notice of Sale, claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale of the above property, if any, must file a claim. The successful bidder may be responsible for any and all unpaid condominium assessments that come due up to the time of transfer of title, including those owed by the Obligor or prior owner.

If the successful bidder fails to pay the amounts due to the Trustee to certify the sale by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale, the second highest bidder at the sale may elect to purchase the timeshare ownership interest.

Nicholas A. Woo, Esq. Michael E. Carleton, Esq. as Trustee pursuant to Fla. Stat. §721.82 P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Telephone: 407-404-5266 Telecopier: 614-220-5613 Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NONJUDICIAL PROCEEDING TO FORECLOSE CLAIM OF LIEN BY TRUSTEE FILE NO.: 18-031716 BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Lienholder, vs.

BRUCE DAVID RUMBLE; DEBORAH LEE RUMBLE Obligor ________________/ TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TO: Bruce David Rumble, 27171 Bear Drive, Willits, CA 95490 and Deborah Lee Rumble, 27171 Bear Drive, Willits, CA 95490 Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020 at 9:30AM in La Concha Hotel, 430 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040, the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest at Beach House Condominium will be offered for sale: Unit B14, Week 24, Beach House Condominium, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

The default giving rise to the sale is the failure to pay assessments as set forth in the Claim(s) of Lien encumbering the Timeshare Ownership Interest as recorded in Official Records Book 2959 Page 547 of the public records of Monroe County, Florida.

The amount secured by the assessment lien is for unpaid assessments, accrued interest, plus interest accruing at a per diem rate of $0.00 together with the costs of this proceeding and sale and all other amounts secured by the Claim of Lien, for a total amount due as of the date of the sale of $4,932.62 (“Amount Secured by the Lien”).

The Obligor has the right to cure this default and any junior interestholder may redeem its interest up to the date the Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale by sending certified funds to the Trustee payable to the Lienholder in the amount of $4,932.62. Said funds for cure or redemption must be received by the Trustee before the Certificate of Sale is issued.

Any person, other than the Obligor as of the date of recording this Notice of Sale, claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale of the above property, if any, must file a claim. The successful bidder may be responsible for any and all unpaid condominium assessments that come due up to the time of transfer of title, including those owed by

LEGAL NOTICES the Obligor or prior owner.

If the successful bidder fails to pay the amounts due to the Trustee to certify the sale by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale, the second highest bidder at the sale may elect to purchase the timeshare ownership interest.

Nicholas A. Woo, Esq. Michael E. Carleton, Esq. as Trustee pursuant to Fla. Stat. §721.82 P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Telephone: 407-404-5266 Telecopier: 614-220-5613 Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NONJUDICIAL PROCEEDING TO FORECLOSE CLAIM OF LIEN BY TRUSTEE FILE NO.: 18-031734 BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Lienholder, vs.

STEVEN GLEN BROWN; HEATHER LEE BROWN Obligor ________________/ TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TO: Steven Glen Brown, 20110 Poplar Hill Creek Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and Heather Lee Brown, 20110 Poplar Hill Creek Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020 at 9:30AM in La Concha Hotel, 430 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040, the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest at Beach House Condominium will be offered for sale: Unit D24, Week 48, Beach House Condominium, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

The default giving rise to the sale is the failure to pay assessments as set forth in the Claim(s) of Lien encumbering the Timeshare Ownership Interest as recorded in Official Records Book 2959 Page 547 of the public records of Monroe County, Florida.

The amount secured by the assessment lien is for unpaid assessments, accrued interest, plus interest accruing at a per diem rate of $0.00 together with the costs of this proceeding and sale and all other amounts secured by the Claim of Lien, for a total amount due as of the date of the sale of $3,764.23 (“Amount Secured by the Lien”).

The Obligor has the right to cure this default and any junior interestholder may redeem its interest up to the date the Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale by sending certified funds to the Trustee payable to the Lienholder in the amount of $3,764.23. Said funds for cure or redemption must be received by the Trustee before the Certificate of Sale is issued.

Any person, other than the Obligor as of the date of recording this Notice of Sale, claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale of the above property, if any, must file a claim. The successful bidder may be responsible for any and all unpaid condominium assessments that come due up to the time of transfer of title, including those owed by the Obligor or prior owner.

If the successful bidder fails to pay the amounts due to the Trustee to certify the sale by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale, the second highest bidder at the sale may elect to purchase the timeshare ownership interest.

Nicholas A. Woo, Esq. Michael E. Carleton, Esq.

LEGAL NOTICES as Trustee pursuant to Fla. Stat. §721.82 P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Telephone: 407-404-5266 Telecopier: 614-220-5613 Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers NONJUDICIAL PROCEEDING TO FORECLOSE CLAIM OF LIEN BY TRUSTEE FILE NO.: 18-031741 BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, Lienholder, vs.

CARLOS CALIXTE CHARLES; MARCIA ALEXIS CHARLES Obligor ________________/ TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE TO: Carlos Calixte Charles, 112-30 Northern Boulevard, Apartment 6F, Corona, NY 11368 and Marcia Alexis Charles, 112-30 Northern Boulevard, Apartment 6F, Corona, NY 11368 Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2020 at 9:30AM in La Concha Hotel, 430 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040, the following described Timeshare Ownership Interest at Beach House Condominium will be offered for sale: Unit B11, Week 45, Beach House Condominium, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

The default giving rise to the sale is the failure to pay assessments as set forth in the Claim(s) of Lien encumbering the Timeshare Ownership Interest as recorded in Official Records Book 2959 Page 547 of the public records of Monroe County, Florida.

The amount secured by the assessment lien is for unpaid assessments, accrued interest, plus interest accruing at a per diem rate of $0.00 together with the costs of this proceeding and sale and all other amounts secured by the Claim of Lien, for a total amount due as of the date of the sale of $2,439.78 (“Amount Secured by the Lien”).

The Obligor has the right to cure this default and any junior interestholder may redeem its interest up to the date the Trustee issues the Certificate of Sale by sending certified funds to the Trustee payable to the Lienholder in the amount of $2,439.78. Said funds for cure or redemption must be received by the Trustee before the Certificate of Sale is issued.

Any person, other than the Obligor as of the date of recording this Notice of Sale, claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale of the above property, if any, must file a claim. The successful bidder may be responsible for any and all unpaid condominium assessments that come due up to the time of transfer of title, including those owed by the Obligor or prior owner.

If the successful bidder fails to pay the amounts due to the Trustee to certify the sale by 5:00 p.m. the day after the sale, the second highest bidder at the sale may elect to purchase the timeshare ownership interest.

Nicholas A. Woo, Esq. Michael E. Carleton, Esq. as Trustee pursuant to Fla. Stat. §721.82 P. O. Box 165028, Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Telephone: 407-404-5266 Telecopier: 614-220-5613 Publish: December 5 & 12, 2019 The Weekly Newspapers

35

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

305.743.0844

Meeting Notice Monroe County Land Authority The Monroe County Land Authority Advisory Committee will meet in the Monroe Regional Service Center located at 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 104, Marathon, Florida on December 18, 2019 beginning at 9:00 AM. The agenda is available online at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or by contacting the Land Authority office at 295-5180.

ADA ASSISTANCE If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in these proceedings, please contact the County Administrator's Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call "711".

SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA LOWER KEYS (Key West)

AUTOS WANTED

County ID

Fleet ID

Description

VIN/Serial No.

Estimated Value

Location

Contact

2085

0970/222

2005 Sterling Clam Truck

2FZACGDC85AU13968

$4995.00

Cudjoe Key

Mike Basham

Phone

305-797-0879

2010

0976/055

1995 John Deere Loader

T6244ED000303

$4750.00

Cudjoe Key

Mike Basham

305-797-0879

1999

0940/258

1990 New Holland Tractor

BC33615

$2850.00

Cudjoe Key

Mike Basham

305-797-0879

2016

0976/066

2004 Sterling Clam Truck

2FZACGAK24AM17976

$4750.00

Key West

Jay Knostman

305-292-3571

2109

0940/354

1993 Ford 4630 Tractor

BD42571

$3250.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

7061

3200/7061

2011 Ford F150

1FTMF1CM0BKD31690

$1750.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5924

3200/5924

2007 Ford F150

1FTRF12227NA39700

$1250.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5364

0920/5364

2006 Ford F150

1FTRF12276NA92682

$1175.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5536

0903/5536

2006 Dixie Chopper Mower

6057506

$100.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

1470

0920/543

1996 John Deere Bunker

TC1200A140392

$100.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5385

0940/5385

2006 EZ-Liner Paint Striper

505935

$100.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

4845

0920/4845

2005 Scag Mower

A5100015

$100.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5866

0903/5866

2007 Ford F150

1FTRF12207NA37797

$1250.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5030

0903/5030

1995 Great Dane Box Trailer

1S12E9538SE381002

$750.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

1169

0940/384

1995 L8000 Dump Truck

1FD2W82E9SVA42777

$750.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

1136

3200/123

2003 Torino Open Trailer

121LP16214M011816

$200.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

2128

0940/363

1994 Ford L8000 Dump Truck

1FDZW82E8RVA50251

$650.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

2149

0940/353

1993 Ford 4630 Tractor

BD42570

$3250.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

1707

0903/1707

2005 Ford F150

1FTRF12215NB00581

$1025.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

2097

1001/2097

2005 Ford F150

1FTRF122X5NB00577

$1025.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5475

1002/5475

2006 Ford F150

1FTRF12216NB14790

$1175.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

5362

0940/5362

2006 Ford F150

1FTRF122X6NA92689

$1175.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

2127

0940/531

1999 GMC 3500 Dump

1GDJC34J8XF097001

$850.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

1706

0910/1706

2005 Ford F150 w/ Kennel

1FTRF12285NB00576

$850.00

Plantation Key

Ron Redding

305-852-7158

All Equipment Listed Below Sustained Damage from Hurricane Irma and Is Being Sold for Scrap Parts Only 5842

0940/5842

2006 New Holland Tractor

B61169M

7588

0940/7588

2013 New Holland Tractor

8236148

8594

0903/8594

2016 Kubota Mower

15715

4477

1808/4477

1994 Kohler 15KW Generator

339634

1345

0903/990

2002 Spectrum 40KW Generator

705898

6018

0920/6018

2007 Smithco 3 Wheel Bunker

J1802011

9193

0903/9193

2017 Kubota Mower

22558

5537

0920/5537

2006 Dixie Chopper Mower

6057512

5538

0920/5538

2006 Dixie Chopper Mower

6057504

ALL YEARS! Junk or Used. Cars - Vans - Trucks- Running or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483 BOAT SLIPS FOR RENT

Boat Slips for rent in Marathon. Up to 50’ - 20’ wide. Starting at $750.

Please call 305-304-3610 Liveaboard Boat Slips available in Marathon.

Protected dockage, parking, bathrooms, laundry on premises, pool. $1,200/month incl. utilities. 305-393-1999 BOATS FOR SALE

‘95 Intrepid CC 28’ ‘98 Yamahas X225 low hours. Too many options to list. Appraisal was $72,400 w/trailer.

Asking $55,000 OBO. Located in Marathon.

Please call after 1pm (305) 743-6505

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Great Business Opportunity!

Proven invention needs $5,000 investor. 248-330-4124

EMPLOYMENT UPPER KEYS

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

UPPER KEYS

MIDDLE KEYS

Project Manager -Upper Keys. Must have ability to schedule & organize multiple people & trades. and pass background check.

Send resume to admin@ cbtconstruct.com 3058 5 2 - 3 0 0 2 EMPLOYMENT MIDDLE KEYS

SWEET SAVANNAH’S is now hiring part-time or full-time positions. Must be available for weekend shifts and have a clean driving record for event deliveries. Position will be crossed trained for FOH, baking and deliveries.

Other positions available are day-time sales clerk and part-time baker. Please apply in person at 8919 overseas Hwy, Marathon Fl. NO CALLS. We are looking for some Bartenders.

Apply in person at American Legion Post 0154, 4115 Overseas Highway, Marathon Winchman for lobster & crab boats. Conch Key mm63. Must me motivated and of good character. $200.00 $250.00 per day based on experience. Full time year round position. Call Gary at 305-393-1415

Pursuant to Florida Statute § 50.0211(3)(a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www.monro The Gato Building, 1100 Simonton Street, Room 2-213, Key West, Florida.

Administrative A s s i s t a n t / R eceptionist.

Local real estate office looking for a responsible person to handle a variety of office tasks.

Full time position available immediately.

Contact Amy at 3056 6 4 - 4 4 4 4 .

Help wanted - Big Time Bait and Tackle - competitive wages and working 30-40 hrs a week. Contact manager Erich Yankovich 239-910-0878

IMMEDIATELY HIRING: Hideaway Cafe on Grassy Key: Food Runner, Busser, Dishwasher & Prep. Call for appointment 3052 8 9 - 1 5 5 4 Experienced Diesel Technician wanted.

Tools and experience is a must. Electronic engine diagnostic experience preferred. Opportunity for growth and training available for qualified applicants.

Florida Keys Diesel Repair, 531 107th Street, Marathon.

3 0 5 - 2 8 9 - 2 0 7 0 City of Marathon - Job Openings: Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee , Public Works Maintenance Worker.

EOE, FULL BENEFITS www.ci.marathon.fl.us The Island Gift Shops (Marooned In Marathon 1 & 2) are looking for happy responsible employees to complement our current staff. PART TIME HOURS in a fun environment (good fit for second job and retirees are welcome! Apply in person at Marooned In Marathon, 11528 Overseas Highway.

Key Colony Inn NOW HIRING AM/ PM SERVERS. Apply in person: 700 Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, FL or call for details: (305) 743-0100 Experienced help only needed for all positions.

Apply in person MonFri 10-11am at Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, Knights Key Blvd. Marathon

36

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • •305.743.0844 EMPLOYMENT LOWER KEYS

Busy title agency on Big Pine Key seeking a highly organized, detail and customer service oriented individual, who is computer savvy and can handle a fast paced environment.

Duties include managing closing files, coordination with Realtors, sellers, buyers, and lenders, regularly updating all involved parties. Salary, health insurance. Fax resume to 305-872-4041.

HIRED!!

HOBBIES /COLLECT.

BASEBALL AND SPORTS MEMORABILIA WANTED. Private collector buying pre1980 sports cards, old programs, pennants, a u t o g r a p h s , photographs, ticket stubs, bobbin’ head dolls, etc. Dec. 18-26 only.

Alan 503-4810 7 1 9 PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & W a t c h e s .

Call 305-743-4578 HOMES FOR SALE MIDDLE KEYS

Oceanview 3BR/2BA Stilted Frame home for sale on Grassy Key. New roof & A/C. $565,000 (3% to realtors) Email: gliders@bellsouth.net Bay Front 2BR/2BA 4th Floor Unit for sale by owner in Marathon.

Million dollar view – you can see 7 Mile Bridge, Ocean & Gulf. 32’ Boat Dockage.

Covered Parking. $535,000 (305)916-0536 HOUSING FOR RENT MIDDLE KEYS

2BR/2BA Large Apt for Rent. 10828 5th Avenue Gulf, Marathon. $1,850/month plus utilities. F/L/S. Taking applications.

Call (305) 394-4545 2BR/2BA Single Family Waterfront Home for rent in Marathon. Fully furnished. $3,100/ month includes utilities. Available for 3 months - Jan/Feb/ March.

727-278-1105

HOUSING FOR RENT MIDDLE KEYS

House for rent in Marathon – Efficiency with 2 rooms/Kitchen/ Bath - fully furn. incl all utilities inc. cable for $1,400/month. No pets.

F/L/S 305-610-8002 1/2 Duplex Studio Apartment for rent.

Centrally located in Marathon, private backyard. $1,400/ month includes utilities.

F/L/$500 Deposit. 305-731-5588 A F F O R D A B L E HOUSING IN MARATHON: Rooms available for short or long term rentals.

Single: $720/month; Double $1,150/month; Plus tax; F/L/S. Units provide an ideal option to temporary or long term housing. Furnished with bunk beds, full kitchen with all utensils, tables, desks, coin operated washer & dryer. Residents share the kitchen, bathroom and dining areas. Linens, towels ,consumables, not provided.

For information: Bob Brayman 305-7435929 bbrayman@ hallsdiving.com 3BR/2BA New Construction Duplex on stilts in Key Colony Beach. Annual lease.

Call 786-970-4905 3BR / 2 1/2 BA Townhome in Marathon - Sister’s Creek. Available Jan. 1, 2020. $2,200/ month 618-559-9143 Short term rental in Key Colony Beach, 4BR/4BA - 2 story home with pool, on large canal w/deep dockage.

Call 305-743-3338 RENTED!!

Long-term rental available in Marathon.

1BR/1BA unfurnished 1/2 Duplex. $1,500/ month + utilities.

F/L/S 305-481-6887!

RENTED!!

HOUSING FOR RENT UPPER KEYS

LONG TERM RENTAL in Plantation Lake Estates, Private community, two story 3BR/3BA unfurn. concrete block home, large carport & back yard, homeowners park w/boat ramp/ dock, new A/C, W/D, screened in patio. Avail. end of Jan. $2,500/ mo. Best to email: slgrisham@icloud.com to set up time to see the house or use WhatAp or FaceTime to call: 011+501+614-1234 HOUSING WANTED MIDDLE KEYS

Local small independent contractor looking to share house in KCB or Marathon.

Willing to pay 1st/2nd/ last and small sec. deposit.

References available. Call Brian 6109 6 1 - 1 9 5 7 OFFICE SPACE

FOR RENT in Marathon: Office/Retail Space, 1500sf w/additional 2 covered porches incl.

Open water views, US-1 frontage, $2700/month.

Also small Office Space $500/month. Wifi & Utilities included. Onsite storage & or yard space available - prices by size.

Call 305-743-7277 Small office space available for rent. Great location on U.S. 1 in Tavernier. Conveniently located to everything.

305 -39 4 - 0530 ROGO LOTS FOR SALE

FOR SALE: 2 Marathon ROGO lots with letters. 4 ROGO points. $30,000 Text LOTS to 305-3932515 and leave name & n u m b e r .

The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of

“Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

KEY WEST

OCEAN KEY RESORT & SPA IS HIRING! Sous Chef Front Desk Agent Bell/Valet Attendant Retail Sales Associate Apply online at:

www.noblehousehotels.com/careers

Apply in person at: Zero Duval St. Come see why our employees love to call Ocean Key home!

Great pay, amazing benefits, & an awesome team!

EOE

Immediate opening for a HVAC Service Technician Upper & Middle Keys.

Great Pay • Paid Holidays • Sick Pay • Medical Insurance • Paid Vacation

Apply in person 171 Hood Ave • MM 91.5 • Tavernier p 305-852-2960 • f 305-852-0656

Sweet Savannah’s Bake Shop

We Buy Gold Locally!

is now hiring for Afternoon & Evening Shifts.

Cash Flow Jewelry and Pawn

RV LOTS FOR RENT

Large RV Lot for Rent in Marathon. Full hook up. $800/month plus utilities. 305-943-0789 YARD SALES

A BIG Treasures & Trash Yard Sale - Rain or shine - This Saturday, Dec. 14 from 8am3pm. Something for everybody. Everything must go! 419 Sombrero Beach Road, Marathon

Please Apply In Person 8919 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

Townsquare Mall Marathon

Behavior Health Therapist (Children/Adult) PT/FT Case Manager Crisis Counselor Data Clerk Front Desk Specialist (Bilingual a +) Care Coordinator

MARATHON

RNs and LPNs (3 shifts) (PT& FT) (Lead) & Behavioral Health Technicians (3 shifts) Peer Support Specialist (2), (base location flexible) Driver CDL (base location flexible) Crisis Counselor Assisted Living Night Monitor (free housing!)

Assisted Living Direct Care Worker (PT/FT) Drop In Technician Care Coordinator (Family)

KEY LARGO

Community Action Team Leader (base location flexible) Behavioral Health Counselor Peer Support Specialist

Background and drug screen req.

GREAT BENEFITS! Check out all available positions at: www.westcare.com EEOC/DFWP

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE We are now hiring for the following positions:

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

WE ARE HIRING FOR HIGH SEASON! If you have experience in Hospitality, like to interact with our Guests and be part of an amazing Team, come and join us.

Please apply online for some of our open positions: islabellabeachresort.oasisrecruit.com 1 Knight’s Key Blvd (MM 47) Marathon

37

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC && LEGAL NOTICES • • 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH HAS THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. THESE POSITIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

NOW HIRING

Marathon, Big Pine Key & Stock Island Locations $15 per hour to start FT Employees are eligible to participate in our health, dental, vision, Life Insurance. PTO and Profit Sharing is available to every member of our team (conditions apply).

HOW TO APPLY: Go to mytomthumb.com or call Cleveland (786) 295-5307.

D’Asign Source is seeking the following professionals.

Overtime and benefits are available.

For full details & additional openings, please visit DAsignSource.com/careers

Architects

We have openings for Intern Architects, Emerging Professionals, and Production Architects.

Experience in High End Residential design is a plus.

Junior Interior Designer

1+ year experience with basic interior architecture detailing. Strong knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, and 20/20 a plus.

Warehouse & Delivery Crew D’Asign Source is looking for a hardworking Warehouse & Delivery Crew member. Must have reliable transportation, be on time and organized. Must have a valid driver’s license. CDL a plus.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Monroe County School District Salary $15.80- $23.20/hour Key West, Sugarloaf and Upper Keys (3 work locations) • No Experience Required • Benefits • CDL Training Provided work as a Bus Aide while training • Full Time or Flexible Part Time Hours 6 to 9 am or 1 or 2 to 5 pm Apply online: www.keysschools.com

NOW HIRING Front Desk Agent Chief Steward Maitre D’ Houseman Room Attendants Engineering Pizza Cook Host – AM/P M Overnight Prep Cook Bartenders Servers Line Cooks Bellman Reservations Sales Agent Spa Attendant Spa Coordinator

FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER This position will consist of Marine Patrol/Code Enforcement and Shift Patrol Coverage. Applicants must possess a current Florida certification as a police officer. Applicants will undergo a thorough background investigation, including drug screening, medical, polygraph and psychological exams. Salary range $52,500 - $55,000 depending on qualifications. The City is an EOE Employer.

Mail resume to: Chief of Police, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL. 33051 Or call for additional information (305) 289-1212.

FULL-TIME PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR Responsible for planning, developing, managing, directing, and implementing the yearly maintenance and operations of the City’s public water system, parks, streets, Stormwater system, vehicle equipment/maintenance, and City Facilities.

Minimum of 5 years of general construction/municipal experience with at least 3 years of lead/supervisory experience.

FULL-TIME PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE WORKER Responsible for city building, street and property maintenance, and improvements. Minimum of two years’ experience in building and grounds maintenance, machinery operation & maintenance or equivalent.

Heavy manual labor required.

Successful applicants must successfully complete a drug screening, criminal background check, and FDMV record review.

Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license or within 30 days if moving from out-of-state. It is the duty of every employee to deal courteously with the public.

Favorable impressions created by courteous public relations develop citizen goodwill and support for the employee and the city as a whole.

The City provides a competitive wage and robust benefits package.

The City is an EOE Employer. Submit resume and application to cmoonis@keycolonybeach.net Find application at www.keycolonybeach.net City Government/Forms/Miscellaneous Forms/Employment Application

Both full or part time positions available at Hyatt Place at Faro Blanco Resort.

Line Cook, Servers, Host, Housekeepers, Night Auditor, Front Desk Agent and Food Runners.

Excellent Benefit Package Apply in person at 1996 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email resume to hr@spottswood.com EOE/m/f/d/v

JOB OPENINGS GUEST SERVICE AGENT TELEPHONE AGENT NIGHT AUDITOR BELLMAN

If you have a passion for guest service and hospitality, please apply

Excellent Benefit Package EOE M/F/D/V

careers@bungalowskeylargo.com

Bungalows Key Largo is an EOE

EOE m/f/d/v

SCAN FOR JOB

Please email resume to hr@spottswood.com

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.363.2957 y’s www.KeysSlidingGlassDoorRepair.com And Sliding Glass Door Repair Roller Maintenance Track Maintenance Door Alignment Security Pins Safety Locks Handles

We Also Repair & Replace Patio Door Screens

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Design, Decorating, Drafting, & More…

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(954) 801-7883 interiordesignbyliz@gmail.com

Marathon, FL 33050

Tewes Mortgage

Your local, residential lending expert!

Call 305.495.6000 for a FREE Consultation

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SUV, Van & Limousine options available Call us for special events.

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SOLAR DONE RIGHT! CALL US FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE

We also service and sell: Marine A/C, Refrigeration, Watermakers, Batteries, Solar Systems, Anything Electrical!

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Only $50 Puts Your Business Card Here

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Customer service is my strength Brian@tewesmortgage.com

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Let our 40+ years of experience go to work for you!

For professional, competitive travel planning Call Debbie or Lani at 305 743 7575 Business hours: MON-TUE-THU-FRI 9am to 4pm Appointments by request.

Sportfishing Adventures

Dolphin-Tuna-Wahoo-Billfish-Snapper-Grouper-Shark Deep Sea –Off Shore-Reef-Wrecks-Gulf

info@johnnymaddoxcharters.com

305-481-3259

Keys Fisheries Market & Marina Mile Marker 48.5, Marathon End of 35th Street Bayside

The Weekly Newspapers www.KeysWeekly.com

305-743-0844

METAL ROOFING

SPECIALIST 305-664-1010 www.roofer.pro

SEEN AROUND TOWN

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019

HolidayLights Floats parade Founders as Santa comes to town

E

agerly awaiting the tossing of candy, kids lined the road inside Founders Park as parade floats lit the night during the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce’s 15th annual Islamorada Holiday Festival on Dec. 6. More than 20 floats were decked out in lights and holiday grandeur. Others were decorated to the “Caring and Sharing Around the World” theme, which recognized grand marshal Tony Hammon for his years assisting the communities near and far. The village of Islamorada won best float with its magical toy display.

—Weekly staff report

1 2

DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly 1. Santa Claus greets the crowd of parade spectators.

2. Mrs. Claus waves to parade spectators as she walks in the Holiday Parade at Founders Park.

3. Islamorada Vice Mayor Mike Forster, left, sisters Harper and Stella Bennett and mother Michelle Bennett ride in the parade.

4

4. Parade participants Christina Neel and Alicia Mote from the village of Islamorada greet people in their toy costumes. The village of Islamorada won best float with their magical toy display.

5. Rebekah Susa and fellow parade participants walk the parade route.

6. Parade participants throw candy to the delight of kids.

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 12, 2019