Upper Keys Weekly 21-0624

1¢

Florida summer: A season lasting six months twice a year.

Funds needed for resiliency | P. 4

PROBLEM AT SUNSET POINT Overuse closes Key Largo park | P. 13

FUN ON THE FOURTH Fireworks throughout the island chain | P. 13

! ’ r a e H ‘ s i r e m Sum

Summer is here, and that means more fun in the sun with the people you care most about!

Scan this on your phone to connect directly with CALL TO START YOUR HEARING JOURNEY!

But if you’re struggling to hear clearly, even simply spending time with your loved ones can feel like a chore.

MIAMI 17670 NW 78th Avenue #201

(305) 403-9325

Where can you go to get qualified hearing healthcare?

Schedule your appointment with Dr. Michelle and her team today!

A comprehensive hearing evaluation is essential in promoting healthy hearing. It can help detect hearing loss early enough to treat it successfully!

www.hear4uaudiology.com www.heardrmichelle.com

KEY WEST 513 Fleming Street, Suite 11 (2nd floor accessible via elevator)

(305) 809-6041

MARATHON 11400 Overseas Highway - Suite 209 Town Square Mall

(305) 747-7750

HOMESTEAD Towers Professional Plaza 151 NW 11th St., Ste. W-301

(305) 809-7663

TAVERNIER 93911 Overseas Hwy., Ste. 5 (2nd Floor) Tavernier, FL 33070

(305) 247-8227

2

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

REGISTER FOR EVENTS ONLINE!

SCHEDULE DETAILS @KEYLIMEFESTIVAL.COM

2021 EVENTS THURSDAY, JULY 1 ST Key Lime Kick Off & Cookbook Signing

FRIDAY, JULY 2 ND Key Lime Rum Sampling & Distillery Tour Key Lime Scavenger Hunt

SATURDAY, JULY 3 RD The Key Lime Pie Drop Key Lime Sip n’ Stroll

SUNDAY, JULY 4 TH World Key Lime Pie Eating Championship & Key Lime Pie Hop

MONDAY, JULY 5 TH NEW!

4TH OF JULY WEEKEND

KEY WEST, FLORIDA | KEYLIMEFESTIVAL.COM

3

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

PARADISE AWAITS

Welcome to Casa del Sol! This property is the ultimate bayfront private luxury estate offering excellent open water views and painted sky sunsets. Complete with a 75 ft. concrete deepwater dock just a stone's throw from Snake Creek.

This home has a freshly painted interior and stunning state of the art finishes, including a gourmet kitchen, whole-home generator, air purifier, LED lighting, lighted and low-maintenance landscaping. The finishing touches such as the outdoor sound system make this the turn-key home you've been waiting for!

TAVERNIER | $5,300,000 | Listing ID: 592762

305.712.8888 | oceansir.com

4

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

ON THE COVER

Nearly 2.6 million Floridians are forecast to take a trip during the upcoming July 4 weekend, according to AAA. That’s the second-most on record, and 36% more than the 2020 holiday period. “Travel is back this summer, as Americans eagerly pursue vacations they’ve deferred for the last year-and-a-half,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group.

A Monroe County employee pumps water from the road on Sexton Way in Stillwright Point, Key Largo to the other side of the barrier toward the mangroves in October 2020. EMILIE STEWART/ Contributed

2.6 M

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

Publisher

Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner

Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Editor

Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Account Executive

Gabriela Tejeda gabby@keysweekly.com

Staff Writers

Charlotte Twine charlotte@keysweekly.com Sara Matthis sara@keysweekly.com Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

Copy Editor

Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

Office/Circulation Manager Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Director of Digital Media

Chanice Dos Santos chanice@keysweekly.com

Production Manager

Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Design / Pre-Press

Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com

Design / Web Master

Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com

Classifieds

Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844

FLOODED RESIDENTS PUT PRESSURE ON BOCC Monroe County applying for state grant money to raise roads CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

T

he Board of County Commissioners has voted to go after a pot of state grant money to pay for raising roads in Monroe County neighborhoods that face constant flooding, such as Key Largo’s Twin Lakes and Stillwright Point.

The county commissioners and staff are under pressure from residents who are frustrated about driving through saltwater to get into their homes.

Several public speakers from those neighborhoods stood up to vent about their situation. “It’s time to take action,” said Emilie Stewart of Stillwright Point, the MM 105 neighborhood in Key Largo. She said that in 2019, the streets around her home were under water for 94 consecutive days.

The Resilient Florida Grant Program, just approved by the state, authorizes the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide funds to local governments to protect communities from high tides and

flooding issues. The state has set aside about $126 million annually for five years to be divvied up among Florida’s 67 counties, and the Monroe County commissioners have decided that they have a good shot at winning a part of that grant.

These matters were discussed at a special June 21 special meeting that was specifically scheduled to hear presentations on sea level rise and how it affects Monroe County neighborhoods.

Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed data that suggests the seas will rise about a foot in the next century, or an inch every eight years.

To apply for the Resilient Florida Grant Program, counties have to use the NOAA data in order to show how vulnerable their neighborhoods are to rising water over the next few decades.

Judith Clarke, director of engineering for Monroe County, and engineering consultant Emilio Corrales, also showed a presentation with detailed maps using NOAA data with sea level rise plus king-tide level predictions for Monroe County neighborhoods for up to the year 2045. The data shows that 60 neighborhoods up and down the Keys, with 120 miles of road, will have flooding issues and become potential

Se habla español

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. All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.

POSTMASTER:

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050.

News Deadline

Tuesday Noon

Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m.

Key Largo’s Twin Lakes neighborhood is flooded in the fall of 2019.

KEY LARGO COMMUNITY SWAMP FACEBOOK/Contributed

engineering projects. The breakdown of potential projects was as follows: 68.7 percent in the Lower Keys, 25.86 percent in the Upper Keys and 5.4 percent in the Middle Keys.

And, Clarke said, making just one street flood-resilient is expensive. Raising the roads and installing a pump station and injection wells in the Twin Lakes MM 103 neighborhood will cost $7.9 million.

This is where the Resilient Florida Grant Program comes in. The state will be accepting applications from July 1 through Sept. 1, and Monroe County will have to provide a 50 percent match of funds as well as vulnerability studies using NOAA data and other paperwork.

The $126 million in grant money is actually divided in different pots, and the FDEP decides which pot the project the counties are applying for go in.

For example, one pot has $100 million for infrastructure projects that are shovel-ready with engineering designs and paperwork already completed, while another smaller pot is designed for projects that are still in planning phases. Such a pot might be more appropriate for the Stillwright Point road-raising project, which still needs to be designed.

“I’m disappointed in that $100 million a year because I thought it was more than that,” said Commissioner David Rice. “We have 67 counties in Florida. What we could expect to pull down from $100 million is not expected to be a significant percentage.”

County Administrator Roman Gastesi replied, “To put it in perspective, just 10 years ago, just five years ago, the state wasn’t having these conversations (about grants) at all. As time goes on, maybe they’ll fund it more.”

Whitney Gray, administrator of the Florida Resilient Coastlines Program in the FDEP, added, “Within those 67 counties, there are also local governments at significantly varying degrees of readiness” to apply for these grants.

Mayor Michelle Coldiron agreed, and said the county has a great shot at getting approval for its grant applications because it already has done adaptation-areas and vulnerability studies and being shovel-ready with specific projects, like Twin Lakes.

“We are already ahead of the game,” she said.

5

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

$

$

25

10

10

CARD

MARIJUANA WISE Informing students about the facts, risks, and consequences of using marijuana. Lasts 1 hour.

$

25

$

· FOR GRADES 9-12

$

75

10

· FOR GRADES 6-12

· FOR GRADES 6-12

$

10

· FOR GRADES 9-12

· FOR GRADES 9-12

$

$

25

6

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

Outside the fence at Harry Harris Park, in front of a No Parking sign, this man attempted to avoid any penalty by putting a boot on his tire. Officers gave this man a $20 parking ticket anyways. He accepted the $20 ticket and spent all day in the water on his boat.

These are the types of situations that the county would like to avoid by raising the fee to $200. MONROE COUNTY BOCC/Contributed

PARKING FINES ON COUNTY ROADS INCREASE TO $200 BOCC decision takes aim on parking congestion in Upper Keys residential neighborhoods with public beaches CHARLOTTE TWINE

I

charlotte@keysweekly.com

t’s no secret: Locals know that parking is at a premium on Monroe County roads to tourist-crammed public-access parks and beaches, especially in Key Largo. Often, a driver who is anxious to get on the water will park willy-nilly on a residential road in front of a no parking sign close to a beach or boat ramp and accept the $20 fine.

To deter this illegal parking, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) increased the fines from $20 to $200 at its June 16 meeting. The fines are a noncriminal civil penalty, and the increase took effect immediately.

At another recent BOCC meeting, Commissioner Mike Forster showed various pictures and videos of areas where parking violations with No Parking signs on county roads regularly occur. Many violators are happy to accept a relatively cheap $20 ticket in exchange for a day of parking and guilt-free boating and/or fishing. For example, per timeout.com, parking in Miami Beach costs $4 an hour.

Forster showed photos of a man parked outside the fence at Key Largo’s Harry Harris Park, in front of a no parking sign. The man had attempted to avoid any penalty by putting a boot on

his tire. Officers gave this man a $20 parking ticket anyway. He accepted the $20 ticket and spent all day on the water on his boat. These are the types of situations that the county would like to avoid by raising the no parking fee to $200.

Keys Weekly requested a record search by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to provide the total number of parking tickets that were given out so far in 2021.

The total number of parking tickets given out by deputies for all parking offenses in unincorporated Monroe County — including such violations as parking in handicap spots or in front of a driveway, etc. — was 673.

The total number of tickets given to violators in front of signs on county roads close to a park or a beach — the type of ticket that will now cost $200 — was 388. This number is more than half of the total amount of parking tickets that were given out in Monroe County in 2021.

Forster said the hotspots for parking fines are Harry Harris Park, Sunset Point Park 2 and Card Sound Road. “We have to put teeth into it and change the culture of acceptance,” he said.

“And it’s a burden on the sheriff’s office,” he said. He’s been told that, for example, a deputy will give a ticket to someone on Card Sound Road, the violator will leave, then the deputy will see another car pulling right in.

To level out this burden, Forster said he would like to see parks and recreation employees get trained to hand out parking tickets.

“It’s something we deal with in the Upper Keys — we are a day-tripper destination,” he said.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

7

8

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

VILLAGE SEEKS SOLUTION FOR PROPERTIES NOT CONNECTED TO WASTEWATER SYSTEM Amnesty program extended 30 days JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

A

lien amnesty program in the village that gave residences and businesses more time to connect to the area wastewater system was set to expire at the end of June. An agreement was reached to extend the program another 30 days, however, following a fiery discussion on the dais at a recent meeting.

Twenty-seven properties within the village remain unconnected to the wastewater system — 15 are accruing daily penalties. For some, fines are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In total, around $5 million in fines have accumulated.

Notices to connect to the wastewater system started in 2015. Assisting property and business owners who had not connected goes back to May 4, 2017, when then-council members approved a code lien amnesty program. Through the program, an opportunity was given to obtain a reduction and release of outstanding wastewater code compliance fines and liens on their properties. Eligible residential property owners could settle by paying 2% of outstanding fines and liens, and eligible commercial property owners would pay 3%.

With properties still unconnected, a new dais unanimously agreed to extend the program on Dec. 17, 2020 to the end of June 2021. Seventeen residential properties and 10 commercial properties remain unconnected, and some council members say they want to do more to solve that. Eight additional properties are connected, but have not paid their accrued fines. Since October 2020, 15 wastewater amnesty applications have been approved and processed.

Mayor Buddy Pinder, who brought forth discussion, said he did a little investigating into the issue. He said he couldn’t sleep when he received a list of the properties that weren't connected and the fines they were accruing. “$484,250. $426,000. $484,000. $393,000. $484,000. $214,000. I could go on and on,” he said. “I didn’t have this report at the last meeting.

I would have never voted for this if I had this.

“I know I'm getting emotional, but I don't want to take somebody’s house,” Pinder continued. “I don’t want to take their business. I want to give them an opportunity. We’re going to come up with a plan to try to help these people to try and encourage them.”

Councilman David Webb opposed a program extension for several reasons. He said every other resident and business in the village went through extraordinary circumstances and expenses to get connected. Those who remain unconnected are causing “measurable damage” to the environment, he said.

“If there’s extraordinary circumstances for residences and businesses, they can go to the

Geo Toth, left, captain; Jason Lyman, assistant fire chief; Mayor Buddy Pinder; Robert Burley, retiring captain; Chief Terry Abel and Walter Mason, retiring captain. CONTRIBUTED

TWO LONGTIME FIRE RESCUERS SET TO RETIRE Council members David Webb and Mark Gregg talk to new Village Manager Gregory Oravec. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

magistrate and present their case,” Webb said.

“The magistrate can forward that to us and we can review it here. There's the ability for residents and businesses to get some kind of relief, if they bring a legitimate reason forward.”

Councilman Henry Rosenthal said he believes a little consideration and a bit of humility is needed to assist properties still not connected.

“I'm not walking around handing out a bunch of money, but I will help them in some fashion to help make some accommodation,” he said.

Village Attorney Roget Bryan helped formulate the amnesty program in 2017. He said based on council direction at that time, connection assistance and time extensions were offered. In addition, the magistrate process gave extra deference to people who didn’t have the resources to get connected immediately or who needed extra time to get a plumber.

“The entire lens of the amnesty program was to grant additional relief,” he said. “That’s how it was proposed to give residences and businesses incentive to connect knowing relief was at the finish line.”

Councilman Pete Bacheler said the village should take the time and try to help property owners. He said there needs to be a “legitimate time” on the program’s end.

“We don't threaten people, not in our village,” he said. “There has to be something that’s stronger than saying, ‘We’re going to let you keep on going.’”

New Village Manager Gregory Oravec told council that he’d like 30 days to work with staff, council members and the public to bring back a solution.

“We know there’s a lot of passion on this issue,” he said. “We can extend this and buy some time to have an informed debate on this where we can put the pieces in place.”

The dais agreed to Oravec’s recommendation for another month to consider the next step in dealing with unconnected properties.

Islamorada Village Council’s next scheduled meeting is Thursday, July 1 at 5:30 p.m. inside the Founders Park Community Center.

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

T

wo members of the Islamorada Fire Rescue who served since the beginning are headed to retirement in the next few months. During a recent village council meeting, Capts. Robert Burley and Walter Mason were recognized for their many years serving the village and its residents.

Burley was one of 12 original firefighters hired in the village in 1999. He came to the village with over a decade of experience, which included working in public safety at Ocean Reef and the Tavernier Fire Department.

In addition to his duties with Islamorada Fire Rescue, Burley served as emergency vehicle technician for over 20 years and ensured the fleet of apparatus was ready to respond.

Burley earned a paramedic certificate in 2006. As the department grew, he rose to lieutenant and then to captain as he served as shift A supervisor for more than two years.

“He’s regarded as one of the finest tactical experts in the fire service, and his knowledge of incident command and apparatus operation is unparalleled,” said Mayor Buddy Pinder, who led the recognition during the meeting.

Mason began his career as a volunteer with the village fire department in September 1994. Already an established charter boat captain, he continued volunteering for the next 10 years until opting to become a full-time firefighter and EMT in 2004. He earned his paramedic certification in 2012 and received a promotion to captain of prevention in 2013.

Mason performed fire inspections of commercial structures and vacation rentals in the village. He was instrumental in growing the prevention division and ensuring business owners and guests of the village operated and enjoyed a stay in a safe structure.

A mentor to new firefighters, Mason shared his knowledge and life experiences so others could learn.

Pinder said he had a “larger than life” personality.”

“I hit the fire academy at the age of 47. It was the hardest thing I ever did but I was blessed to do it,” Mason said.

In addition to the retirements, the village recognized Geo Toth, shift captain, for reaching 20 years of service within the fire department.

The Islamorada Fire Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization operating from three fire stations; Station No. 19 on Lower Matecumbe, Station No. 20 on Upper Matecumbe and Station No. 21 on Plantation Key.

9

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

By Charlotte Twine and Mandy Miles

THIRD-GRADE READING SCORES DOWN; COVID PROBABLE CAUSE ‘ROBUST’ SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS TO GET KIDS BACK ON TRACK

T

he state has released its 2020-21 school year reading scores for Monroe County third graders, and they indicated a “decrease in achievement,” according to a presentation from Dave Murphy, executive director of assessment & accountability, at the school board meeting on June 22. But the board members and staff are not surprised, taking into account the disruptions that COVID caused in the school year.

School board member Mindy Conn said, “It’s not great, but it’s not horrible considering what these kids went through the prior years.”

Third grade reading scores are an important benchmark. Until third grade, students are learning to read. After third grade, they must read to learn, and if they can’t read satisfactorily by the end of third grade, they’re at risk of falling progressively further behind each year.

Students who can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade can be required by the state to repeat third grade unless they can demonstrate they are capable of being successful in the fourth grade.

In Monroe County schools, including charter schools, the number of third graders who can read at or above their grade level dropped by 11.4% compared to 2019 scores, Murphy reported.

In addition, the number of third graders reading at the lowest level increased by 6%.

“But some of the data, when you look at the percentages, can be misleading,” he said, explaining that large percentage drops in small schools are the result of a very small number of students changing performance levels.

In addition, board member Sue Woltanski told Keys Weekly that the reading scores that are being compared are from 2019 and 2021, two very different groups of children, with the pandemic obviously being at least one huge difference.

But Horace O’Bryant School and Sigsbee Charter School were two bright spots that saw an increase in the number of third graders who were reading at or above their

In Monroe County schools, including charter schools, the number of third graders who can read at or above their grade level dropped by 11.4% during COVID disruptions. CONTRIBUTED

grade level despite the COVID disruptions, said Murphy.

As for the students who are not reading at their grade level, Woltanski said state officials are not strictly demanding proof that students can handle fourth grade as they would in a normal year.

This year, because of COVID, “Mandatory retention will be on a child-by-child basis with discussion with parent and teacher,” she said. “I don’t know how many kids will fall into that. We have a robust summer school program. Ideally, we’ll have the supports for the kids to get caught up. We’d prefer not to retain kids.”

In addition, the board discussed that the district had been doing progress monitoring throughout the year that accurately predicted these reading scores, so staff members were prepared for the drop. Thus, officials had planned a more extensive summer school.

Woltanski said more kids than ever are participating in summer school, and they are having a great time.

“I walked into a fourth-grade class at Plantation Key School, and they were reading ‘Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.’ And they said, ‘This is the best day I’ve had in school.’ I hope that carries over into the school year. That’s what school should be like,” she said.

EMPLOYEE HOUSING Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted to ask the city of Key West to set aside 237 building permits for employee housing at the school district’s headquarters on Trumbo Road.

City, school district and housing authority officials had met on June 8 to tour the property and discuss how to move forward on the long-discussed housing.

The building permits and an exception to the city’s height restrictions emerged as two of the top priorities.

Buildings are being crunched between FEMA’s new floodplain rules that mandate higher building elevations, and the city’s height restrictions, losing usable space without a loosening of height limits.

“I spoke with (Key West) Mayor Teri Johnston today, and I met with the Key West Chamber’s economic affairs committee,” Superintendent Theresa Axford told the board.

“They are 100% behind on this, so I don’t think we’ll meet with any resistance, but we need to be sure we have our ducks in a row.”

10

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

MEAD, SPIRITS & HONEY PRODUCTS Complete Decorating Services STAGING Stage your home to rent or sell

Taffy k is bac

BUILDERS & REALTORS Let us help you with your clients!

EVENT PLANNING & WEDDINGS WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU ARE A

WINDOW

CUSTOM CREATIONS Shades, cornices, sheers, fine draperies bedspreads, cushions, upholstery

99411 Overseas Hwy. Unit 6 Key Largo 305-204-4596 www.keysmeads.com

Exclusive designer fabrics, trims, hardware Hunter Douglas window treatments Carpet, tile, cabinets Taffy Robinson | Decorator/Consultant 305-896-3563 | TaffysInteriors@gmail.com

More than a restaurant...

Full Menu Take Out Available

Great Food • Cool Cocktails • Spectacular Sunsets • Nightly Music • Cruisin’ Tikis

305-453-5004 • www.snooks.com • Key Largo MM 99.8 Southbound Lane at Traffic Light • Behind the Sandal Factory Outlet

11

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

GRAVY TRAIN

The bed tax dollars keep pouring into post-pandemic coffers

By Sara Matthis, Jimmy McCarthy and Mandy Miles

H

oteliers are highlighting two columns on the four-penny tax spreadsheet — 2019, when the Keys was almost fully recovered from Hurricane Irma and the economy was humming along, and 2021. The trend looks really good.

Consider: in 2019, Monroe County collected $39.8 million in bed taxes; and, in the first six months of 2021, it has already collected $24.9 million.

Bed tax collection is one of the best indicators of the Keys tourismbased economy and represents the amount of taxes collected on Keys hotel rooms or vacation rentals that stays local. In a normal year — without a hurricane or a pandemic — The Tourist Development Council uses the funds to advertise the Keys as a vacation destination or finance brick-and-mortar facilities or local event advertising.

Most are comparing 2021’s monthly numbers to 2019, and completely skipping over the dismal pandemic year of 2020 when tourism ground to a halt. Even when compared against 2019, the Keys’ best year ever for tax collection, the numbers are still up.

Way up: As high as 58% in the Lower Keys to a 40% increase in Islamorada for the month of March.

Sean Bacon, director of revenue management for Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, said the Florida Keys have always been fortunate to enjoy nearly year-round vacation interest from domestic travelers seeking a Caribbean experience inside the United States. Historically, both market rates and occupancy trend lower during the summer season as the demographic is primarily south Florida drive-in guests.

FOUR-PENNY REPORT FOR MARCH Bed taxes are collected on hotel rooms and vacation rentals in the Florida Keys to fund the Tourism Development Council’s efforts to promote the islands as a tourist destination.

2019 2021 % increase District 1 (Key West) $2,782,351 $3,213,120 15.4% District 2 (Lower Keys) $339,689 $539,628 58.8% District 3 (Middle Keys) $878,995 $1,347,630 53.8% District 4 (Islamorada) $570,213 $802,786 40.7% District 5 (Upper Keys) $888,541 $1,177,618 32.5% This summer, however, he said destination resorts in the Florida Keys such as Cheeca Lodge & Spa and Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort are seeing stronger demand.

“COVID-19 test requirements continue for travelers re-entering the United States following a trip abroad, as well as the Florida Keys being a popular alternative to those who have historically taken a cruise as their annual summer vacation,” he said. “The increase in demand for the Florida Keys together with an increase in demand for destination style resorts is yielding much stronger rates and at higher occupancies than in years past.”

Bacon said this increase in demand is even extending into the historically low season periods of late summer August and September, which carry the burden of school returning to session and being peak hurricane season.

Visit keysweekly.com for more.

Visitors to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo prepare for an afternoon on the water. Tourism is recovering in leaps and bounds in the Florida Keys. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed

BRIEFLY ‘Steady Bats’ program builds players skills The Upper Keys Baseball Development Foundation presents Steady Bats, a program focused on teaching the game of baseball, skills, strength and leadership to players ages 10-18.

Players will have the opportunity to develop and learn from the Coral Shores High School coaching staff, including a Major League Baseball World Series champion and Olympic Gold Medal winner. Development sessions will run Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Founders Park Field. The first session will be June 28 running through December of 2021.

Team Steady Bats is in the process of filing to be a tax-exempt organization.

To cover the costs of the program, a donation of $25 is requested from each player for each session attended.

The foundation continues to look for community donations and grants, which should relieve the players from the requested donation per session.

Please email at Jmolin7166@yahoo. com to sign up.

Hemingway Days to celebrate literary legend July 20-25 Fans of Ernest Hemingway’s literary greatness and vigorous life, including scores of bearded Hemingway look-alikes, will converge on Key West Tuesday through Sunday, July 20-25, for Hemingway Days 2021. The annual celebration salutes the Nobel Prizewinning author’s writing achievements, sporting pursuits and enjoyment of the island’s easy-going lifestyle.

The festival’s undisputed highlight is the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St., a frequent hangout for the writer during his 1930s residence in Key West.

While coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 contest, “Ernest” entrants will return this summer to parade their “Papa” personas before a judging panel of previous winners during Thursday and Friday’s preliminary rounds and the finale, set for Saturday, July 24.

At noon Saturday, the look-alikes plan to stage “Photos with Papas” outside Sloppy Joe’s and then spearhead the annual “Running of the Bulls” — a wacky takeoff on Spain’s renowned run that features the bearded brethren promenading with fake bulls on Key West’s Duval Street.

The festival’s literary events include the announcement and reading of the winning entry in the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, coordinated by Ernest’s author granddaughter. The announcement is paired with the Key West Poetry Guild’s reading of “Papa’s Poems” and guild members’ work, set for the evening of

Wednesday, July 21 — the 122nd anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s birth.

Baptist Health president-CEO Keeley announces plans to retire Brian E. Keeley, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health South Florida, the region’s largest healthcare organization, plans to retire in 2022.

Keeley began his career as an administrative resident with Baptist Hospital in 1969. After serving four years as an officer of the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps, he was named assistant administrator of the hospital in 1973, chief operating officer in 1979 and CEO in 1986. He oversaw Baptist Hospital’s mergers with South Miami Hospital and Homestead Hospital in 1995, subsequently becoming the President and CEO of the newly formed Baptist Health South Florida.

The board has unanimously selected Albert “Bo” Boulenger, current executive vice president and chief operating officer, to succeed Keeley.

Boulenger began his career with Baptist Health in 1985 at South Miami Hospital. In 1994, he was named CEO of Homestead Hospital, and in 2006 he became CEO of Baptist Hospital. In 2018, he assumed his current role.

“It has been my privilege and honor to serve our community alongside some of the most dedicated, compassionate, and brilliant people that I have ever met,” Keeley said. “Our people are what make Baptist Health so special, and I know they will carry our organization into the future and continue to work tirelessly to care for our patients, families, and each other.”

Keeley spearheaded the additional growth of the health system that now includes 11 hospitals and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Under his leadership, Baptist Health has become the largest and most preferred healthcare organization in the region with an operating budget of $4 billion, providing $380 million in charity care and community benefit last year.

Among his proudest accomplishments, Keeley notes Baptist Health being named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune magazine; one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; and achieving top ranking in U.S. News & World Report year after year.

12

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

1912: THE ARRIVAL OF HENRY FLAGLER, KEY LIME PIE, AND THE COMPLETION OF THE OVER-SEA RAILROAD

BRAD BERTELLI ... is the curator for Islamorada’s Keys History & Discovery Center.

A published author of six books, his favorite subjects are Indian Key and skunk apes.

Henry Flagler arrives by rail in Key West on Jan. 22, 1912. CONTRIBUTED

H

istory is interesting. Well, history can be interesting. Indeed, some people find it more interesting than others. Reading a list of dates associated with specific, generally notable events is not very interesting. However, garnish those dates like a Michelin star-rated chef presents a perfectly toasted grilled cheese sandwich, and that list of dates is going to appear as something of note. Sprinkling in a few facts helps. Pictures add something. Connect a date with an event in the context of a larger story, and it might elicit a few historical oohs and aahs.

That’s what we’re going to do here. The date will be 1912, a year when several notable historical events occurred. The Boston Red Sox’s home field, Fenway Park, was just opened. The Girl Scouts of America were founded, the Titanic sank after it struck an iceberg on April 14, the Dixie Cup was invented and Zane Grey published “Riders of the Purple Sage.” However, fans of the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway might recognize 1912 as the first time Flagler rode his train from mainland Florida to Key West.

The Jan. 22, 1912 event is well-documented, with newspaper accounts and pictures showing thousands of people gathered around the train tracks to celebrate.

Flagler’s arrival on that Monday morning is undoubtedly the most celebrated event in the history of the train line.

One of the people in attendance that day was 12-yearold Marvin Thompson, the son of the man who founded Key West’s Thompson Cigar Company. The company, established in 1915, remains today the oldest mail-order cigar company in the world.

Marvin would record his memories of that day in a story called “The First and Last Trains” that appeared in the Key West Citizen’s March 6, 1967 edition. His observation about the food that was served that day provides some interesting details about the culinary history of the Keys. He wrote, “Many tents had been erected on the man-made desert that was Trumbo for the comfort of the thirsty and hungry throngs. Baked ham and pork sandwiches were consumed as fast as the church ladies could turn them out. Wooden wine barrels filled with Key lime juice mixed with sugar, syrup and cooled with chunks of ice made a limeade that could not be equaled.

Guava pie and fresh coconut ice cream also hit the spot.

Other raters on the menu were turtle stew, crawfish enchiladas and conch chowder, topped off with genuine Key lime pie.”

Focusing, for a moment, on his mention of Key lime pie, in 1912, the sweetly tart dessert synonymous with the Florida Keys would have simply been called lime pie.

The addition of “Key” to modify the lime’s identification was essentially a marketing ploy established in 1939 to draw attention to limes grown along the island chain. By 1969, when Thompson wrote the article, the common term for the pie had become Key lime pie. Whatever it was called, the lime pie was a popular staple in the Florida Keys that dates back, at the very least, to 1912.

Stella Parks questioned the origins of the quintessential Florida Keys dessert in her 2017 book “BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts.” She claims the Conch Republic’s national pie was invented in 1931. Her more outrageous claim was that Key lime pie was created in a New York test kitchen! Clearly, she was mistaken. However, the Key lime narrative, engaging as it seems (at least to me), is not the reason to focus on the arrival of Henry Flagler aboard his private rail car in Key West on Jan. 22, 1912.

At first glance, the 1912 arrival date seems to indicate the completion of what had been dubbed “Flagler’s Folly” by his detractors. However, when Flagler arrived on that Monday morning, the Over-Sea Railroad was still not technically finished. Because his health was failing, there was a push to finish enough of the railroad for him to be able to experience the dream ride of his life aboard his train from the mainland to the southernmost terminus at Key West.

However, in 1912, the train used several temporary bridges, including the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges that connected Lower Matecumbe to Craig Key. When the Flagler Special rocked, rolled, clicked and clacked over these two wooden trestle bridges, the permanent concrete Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges were still under construction. Though the train continued to travel back and forth between Key West and the mainland daily, it would not be until 1916 that the last of the permanent bridges were completed and the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway was officially completed. Henry Flagler would pass away at the age of 83, on May 20, 1913.

13

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

No parking signs are posted at the Sunset Point Park in Key Largo. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

ROCKETS’ RED GLARE Keys communities plan for Fourth of July celebration

OVERUSE COMPLAINTS SHUT DOWN KEY LARGO PARK No crowds to be seen on the Fourth at Sunset Point

A

small county-owned park in a Key Largo residential neighborhood is closing to the public immediately, following complaints surrounding its overuse. Sunset Point Park will stay closed for the Fourth of July as county officials work on a management plan that addresses parking, among other issues.

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners earlier this week approved a resolution to prohibit parking on county rights-of-way in the Bay Harbor and Sunset Point subdivisions surrounding the park that takes effect immediately. The board also closed the area between Bay Harbor Drive and the waterline while alternatives are investigated for safe use of the park following its eventual reopening.

South Bay Harbor and North Bay Harbor drives in the Bay Harbor subdivision, Sunset Road and Sunset Court in the Sunset Point subdivision are located in a residential neighborhood that contains a small county-owned park. The changes were implemented at the request of dozens of neighborhood residents.

Users frequently exceed the limited parking for the neighborhood park by parking vehicles and boat trailers on the shoulder of the narrow neighborhood roads, which causes traffic problems, safety issues and difficulty for residents entering and leaving driveways.

The roads in the Bay Harbor and Sunset Point subdivisions are now designated as a no-parking, -standing, or -stopping area. “No Parking” signs are being posted that will include the noncriminal civil penalty set at $200.

“It’s a short-term solution for a long-term problem that needs to be addressed,” County Commissioner Mike Forster told the Weekly. “For now, these no parking signs on the right-of-way will definitely stem the amount of traffic and quantity of boat trailers and trucks.”

A once hidden gem in Sunset Point Park is no longer, as it’s become a popular spot for visitors and daytrippers. It’s located next to a larger private park that members of the local homeowners association use.

Forster said he’d like to offer a long-term lease to that group, but some kickback is being seen among locals who say they’re taxpayers who like to use that park. Only a few cars fit in the small parking area in front of the park.

“The question is where are you going to park?” Forster said.

At the Bay Drive park, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and his deputies are authorized to issue trespass warnings and can arrest any person who is found at the park. The board asked the sheriff also to consider providing enhanced law enforcement during the first weeks.

The area will remain closed until an alternative management plan is approved at a future board meeting. The board closed the area immediately to prevent the huge crowds that were expected to overwhelm the facility and surrounding neighborhood during the July 4 weekend.

Forster said he intends to bring up Sunset Point Park at the July 21 meeting. ­— Keys Weekly staff

G

uess who’s pitching in for local firework shows in 2021? The answer is the Key West International Airport enterprise revenue fund.

(Yeah, we didn’t see that coming either.) It will be used to sponsor Independence Day celebrations and fireworks displays throughout the Florida Keys.

“Coming out of COVID-19, our local rotaries and chambers had difficulties fundraising for firework displays, and this is one way for everyone to enjoy Florida Keys displays and celebrate our independence,” said Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron. Locally, many clubs are also funding the fireworks in addition to resources from the enterprise fund.

The enterprise revenue funds are paid for by user fees at the airport and are set aside specifically for promotional activities.

KEY WEST Fireworks start: Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m.

Fireworks visible from: Oceanside, near Higgs Beach Earlier in the day: There’ll be food and music at Edward B. Knight Pier beginning at 4 p.m.

A VIP Fireworks Dinner will also be taking place at the Indigenous Park on White Street with music, a private bar and a special view of the fireworks (tickets are $100) starting at 6 p.m.

For more details: keywestrotary.com or 305-304-5181 BIG PINE KEY Fireworks start: Saturday, July 3 at 9 p.m.

Fireworks visible from: Gulfside near Big Pine Community Park, MM 31 Earlier in the day: Festivities start on Saturday, July 3 at 5 p.m. at the park with vendors, food, beverages, games, family activities and entertainment. Admission is free. No pets, coolers or personal fireworks.

MARATHON Fireworks start: Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m.

Fireworks visible from: Oceanside, near Sombrero Beach Earlier in the day: A full day of beachside activities begins with a patriotic parade from Marathon High School to Sombrero Beach starting at about 10:30 a.m. Food, games, and entertainment are planned. Boaters like to line up outside the swim line in front of Sombrero to get a unique water view of the fireworks. Admission is free.

ISLAMORADA Fireworks start: Sunday, July 4 after sunset Fireworks visible from: Gulfside, near MM 87 The Upper Keys Rotary Club and the Village of Islamorada will be holding a 4th of July celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. at Founders Park.

Parking will be available with a suggested donation of $10; viewers are encouraged to bring their own seating. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. No outside food, glass bottles or coolers will be permitted.

KEY LARGO Fireworks start: Sunday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m.

Fireworks visible from: Gulfside, near MM 104 at Rowell’s Waterfront Park The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce will host its annual July 4 parade starting at 10 a.m.

Themed “Celebrating Freedom,” the parade will begin at mile marker 98.2 in front of Anthony’s Clothing Store. Rowell’s Waterfront Park opens at 6:30 p.m., at MM 104.5, for fireworks viewing. Visit web. keylargochamber.org/events or call 305-451-1414 for more details.

14

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021 SARA MATTHIS

sara@keysweekly.com

WHY ARE WE CHANGING FLORIDA VOTING LAW?

‘IF IT’S NOT BROKE, DON’T FIX IT’ F

lorida’s 67 supervisors of elections, including Monroe County’s Joyce Griffin, objected to SB 90 before it passed and was signed into law

by Gov. Ron Desantis. Immediately after, supervisors from all Florida counties convened in Tampa this past week to raise questions not only about implementing the law, but how to implement it, given there are four separate legal challenges.

Griffin was present.

Broadly speaking, she said, the changes don’t make sense.

“These changes are being suggested by people who have run for office, but never run an election. They may perceive there’s a problem, but there’s not,” Griffin said. “Listen, people are angry with Georgia and other states, but they are not angry at Florida. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

Griffin said former President Donald Trump praised the state’s election process after the general election and said that all states should follow Florida’s lead.

“Governor Ron DeSantis said after the general election in November, look at us; we did it right,” she said. “So now the election law is being changed and it just doesn’t make sense.”

Much of the new law pertains to registering voters; how the volunteers need to communicate the process and when they need to deliver the voter registrations to the office. In other words they must not promise a guaranteed voter registration, then not deliver by deadline, and sow confusion and distrust among voters.

There are also criminal penalties for election officers — $25,000, for example, for leaving a vote drop box unattended.

Here are a few of the changes to the election law that are currently proposed.

However, the legislation is facing legal challenges and Griffin said many procedures won’t be set in stone until the cases are heard.

Both the cities of Marathon and Layton have elections scheduled for November 2021.

New law: Limits the use of drop boxes to early voting hours; i.e. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the prescribed days of early voting.

Previously: In some counties using drop boxes, voters could cast a ballot 24 hours a day. Some boxes had video surveillance; others were watched by law enforcement.

What it means for the Keys: No change. Last year, Monroe County had wheeled boxes that were moved just outside the three election offices at the beginning of the work day, and brought in before the close of business. The boxes were located at all three offices, plus two early-voting locations.

New law: Requires voters to annually renew their request for vote-by-mail ballots and provide more identification information like the last four digits of a social security number or a driver’s license number to get one. (Voters who have already requested absentee ballots for 2022 are grandfathered under the old law.)

Previously: Voters requested and received voteby-mail ballots to cover two general election cycles, or four years. In order to receive a vote-by-mail ballot, voters answered questions about previous addresses and requests.

What it means for the Keys: Because voters must renew vote-by-mail ballot requests every year, instead of every four years, it will increase labor and mailing costs for the elections office.

New law: Requires voting drop boxes be monitored in person.

Previously: In Florida, every supervisor of elections handled it differently.

Some had workers watching the boxes, others used video surveillance, and some even hired law enforcement to watch the boxes around the clock.

What it means for the Keys: No change. Employees of the supervisor of elections office monitored the boxes that were only available during business hours in 2020.

New law: Limits the number of ballots individuals can possess to turn in to the supervisor of elections office to two ballots per election, plus his or her own, plus those belonging to an immediate family member — wife, husband, sister, brother, child, grandchild, grandparent.

Previously: Individuals could drop off any number of vote-by-mail ballots.

What it means for the Keys: Generally, there are not mass drops of ballots in the Keys. However, the new law doesn’t specify how to identify a family member. For example, how do you prove a sibling’s relationship if they have a different, married surname?

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Chapman & Cardwell Capital Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.

15

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

One geek in the Keys is worth two suits in the city YOUR LOCAL, INDEPENDENT, VETERAN-OWNED FIDUCIARY SINCE 2008 • INVESTMENT AND RETIREMENT PLANS • NO ANNUITIES • NO COMMISSIONS • NO CONFLICTS Download our free 2021 401(k) rollover guide at www.islainvest.com CALE SMITH, MBA Managing Partner 305.522.1333 www.islainvest.com

Million$ & Million$ in Inventory!

Coastal

CHIC

IN STOCK & READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! Lexington’s Collection

Call 305-481-1790 to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, or stop by any of our three stores:

www.RoyalFurnitureAndDesign.com

KEY LARGO

MARATHON

KEY WEST

305-451-5700

305-743-4397

305-295-6400

MM 99 Median

MM 50 Oceanside

Searstown by Publix

16

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

SPOTTED UNDERWATER Summer seas and sights

S

ummers in the Florida Keys are known for calm waters and clear visibility. The diving is world-class: coral reefs, colorful sponges, swarming fish, and endless blue. The richness and the conditions entice visitors and locals alike. This June, diver Kurt Tidd documented the life and beauty around him. Temperatures hovered around the low 80s with generally nice visibility when the winds cooperated. Out with Key Dives, Tidd photographed everything from wrecks to wrasses, from maze reefs to moray eels. Here’s what diving in Islamorada is like right now.

— Weekly staff report

1

2

3

KURT TIDD/Contributed 1. It’s easy to spot beautiful but invasive lionfish on the reefs by their billowy spines.

2. A large nurse shark swims up to inspect a passing photographer.

3. Remora fish are often found catching a ride and stuck on sharks, whales and even divers who pass by.

4. Divers drift together at Recovery Room Reef.

5. Flamingo tongues are small marine snails that live on tropical coral reefs.

6. Beautiful corals and sponges dot Florida Keys reefs and add structure for fish.

4

5 6

THE SORRY-BUT -WE’LL-HAVE-TO-CHARGE-YOU-FIVEBUCKS-A-MONTH-AND-YOU’LL-HAVE-TO-WAIT -THREEPAINFULLY-LONG-WEEKS-TO-GET -IT -EVEN-THOUGHYOU-COULD-REALLY-USE-IT -TODAY-DEBIT -CARD.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

SPONSORED BY: Healthy corals and seagrasses support animals like sea turtles.

ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

Unlike other banks, Centennial Bank doesn’t charge a monthly fee for our debit card. Just stop by one of our convenient locations, and we’ll give you a personal instant-issue debit card that’s ready before you walk out the door. Get it today. Use it today. How convenient is that? At Centennial Bank, we make banking easy.

Even when it comes to changing banks. Call or visit any branch for complete details.

* If you lose your card, replacement fee applies.

‘NOT SMOOTH, BUT COMFORTABLE’

H

ere in the Keys, we’re spoiled with yearround diving and a tropical coral reef as our playground. There’s so much to see and do, so we wanted to highlight some of the most important things going on each week.

ERIC BILLIPS is the owner, captain and instructor at Islamorada Dive Center and Florida Keys Dive Center.

He specializes in scuba, rebreather, spearfishing and captaining in the Florida Keys.

THIS WEEK’S DIVE REPORT This past week, conditions were decent. Winds were moderate and there was no rain, so we were able to enjoy this beautiful place that we live in.

We enjoyed a fun drift dive on the Conch Wall. It’s so interesting to explore this reef and then see the underwater lab, Aquarius. This research center sits at the bottom of the sea. As recreational divers, we make sure not to enter into the “Aquarius Zone.”

NEXT WEEK’S DIVE REPORT This week’s diving forecast looks fair. Winds will stay around 12 knots, which translates to roughly 2-foot seas. I’d call this “not smooth, but comfortable.”

It’s important to remember safety protocols when diving in conditions you find challenging. When waiting to get back on the dive boat, hang onto the tag line, especially if there is a current. Let the diver in front of you get all the way on the platform before you start coming up, in case a big wave comes that knocks them backwards. Keep your regulator in your mouth as you climb up the ladder for the same reason.

CONSERVATION UPDATE I.CARE continues to draw divers from around the world. It’s a very special thing to participate in the active restoration of Florida’s Coral Reef, and we are so glad to be a part. Last week, we took 20 new “coral planting” divers out and planted 40 endangered corals back on the reef.

This week, the I.CARE dives will be hosted by Key Dives.

Stingrays and many other animals travel between seagrasses and coral reefs. ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

CONSERVATION TIP Remember: seagrass plays a vital role in the ocean’s ecosystem.

Numerous critters rely on seagrass for survival. So, watch your GPS and stay clear of shallow seagrass beds when boating.

Props do a lot of damage to seagrass, and it’s a hefty fine!

Along with seagrasses and corals, mangroves are another critical nearshore habitat. We must all do our part to protect our coasts.

Proud supporters of conservation efforts across the beautiful Florida Keys

17

18

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

PAPA’S COMING BACK Property acquisition to revitalize an Islamorada waterfront destination

A

An aerial of the property where Papa Joe’s once sat at MM 79 in Islamorada. CONTRIBUTED

local family has purchased the former Papa Joe’s property in Islamorada at MM 79. The Hertel family, together with partners Bob Lee and Mica Perry, plan to bring the historic piece of waterfront property back to life with a restaurant, boat slips and Florida Keys nostalgia.

“This property was originally developed in 1938 to serve as Fowler’s Fish Camp, one of Islamorada’s first marinas,” said co-owner and local Charles Hertel. “We look forward to making Papa Joe’s Waterfront a beloved and sought-after destination once again.”

The Papa Joe’s Waterfront group will work with local companies to rebuild. Located at Tea Table Channel across from Bud N’ Mary’s Marina, the property offers immediate ocean and bay access, and will encompass all Islamorada has to offer.

As the founding owners of Islamorada Fish Company, George and Dorothy Hertel raised their son, Charles, in the restaurant business. Now a successful charter boat captain with a degree in business from University of Central Florida, Charles and family are partnering with Lee and Perry to create Papa Joe’s Waterfront.

Lee and Perry, successful entrepreneurs in the retail and restaurant industry as well as numerous other businesses, now call Islamorada home. Since a backcountry fishing trip in Islamorada for Lee’s birthday 15 years ago, the couple has been hooked on the area.

More information is at www.papajoeswaterfront.com.

—Contributed

Injured in the Keys? www.InjuredInTheKeys.com

NOW

IS THE TIME TO POWER YOUR BUSINESS WITH BROADWAVE

Jeff D. Vastola, Esq.

JVastola@VastolaLegal.com

Please call us today.

We want to help.

833-VASTOLA 91495 Overseas Highway, Suite C | Tavernier, Florida 33070 | 305.705.6788

TWO MONTHS FREE

INTERNET WHEN YOU SWITCH YOUR BUSINESS TO BROADWAVE

INTERNET | WIFI | PHONES | CAMERAS CALL OR EMAIL TODAY: 305.767.1467 - INFO@BROADWAVE.COM WWW.BROADWAVE.COM

19

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

THU JUNE 24 Webb & Davidson 6-10p FRI JUNE 25 Steve Venini Band 6-10p Michael Trixx @ Sunset SAT JUNE 26 SPECIAL EVENT GYPSY LANE 6-10p SUN JUNE 27 Naked Pete 11-3 Webb & Davidson 6-10p MON JUNE 28 The Carousers 6-10p Michael Trixx @ Sunset

305.664.2692 www.loreleicabanabar.com

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY | LUNCH 11-2:30 | DINNER 5 -10

TUE JUNE 29 Dennis Holmes 6–10p WED JUNE 30 Webb & Davidson 6-10p Michael Trixx @ Sunset

July 17. & 18, 2021 .

Saturday 11am- 10pm Sunday noon 5pm

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY 4:20 -11

Mouth watering BBQ Amateur BBQ Competition Live Entertainment Kids Activities Shopping

M a r at h o n C o m m u n i t y P a r k 200 OCEAN, 36TH ST, MARATHON

WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY | LUNCH 11- 2:30 | DINNER 5 -10 LUNCH | BRUNCH SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11- 2:30

Presented by

PARADE Grand Marshal Holly Raschein 10:00 AM JULY4th Begins at Anthony’s Clothing Store MM 98.2 & ends at Laguna Dr

FIREWORKS Rowell’s Waterfront Park Opens at 6:30 PM - Fireworks on Blackwater Sound 9:30 PM Food & Beverages For Sale - Overflow Parking Key Largo School MM104.9

Allen Beyer Funeral Home-Bayside Plumbing-Florida Keys Elks Lodge 1872-Key Largo Chocolates & Cream Key Largo Community Preservation-Keys Roofing Inc.-Markey Marine Services Inc.-Royal Furniture-Sue Woltanski School Board

Sign up for the Parade at www.keylargochamber.org Event Page or Call 305.451.1414

20

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

IN THEIR WORDS From small town Indiana boy to broker in the Florida Keys JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

“He encourages everyone that the sky’s the limit. I felt that and I know the agents do. You can make anything happen if you have the drive and the integrity. That’s what I take from him.”

— Lauren Varney, Ocean Sotheby’s director of operations and marketing director

Russell Post is founding principal and managing broker/owner of Russell Post Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

R

ussell Post grew up in a small Indiana town identical to the one seen in the movie “Hoosiers.” He attended the University of Evansville. He enlisted in the Army for two years and spent a year in Vietnam before returning home.

Post didn’t envision spending his days working on farms or inside factories in Indiana. Instead, he looked for places likely to experience growth in 30 years. Arizona, California and Florida were the choices, and Post decided on the Sunshine State. A career would be the next big decision upon his arrival to the Florida Keys.

He ended up serving as director and president of the Ocean Reef Community Association from 1977 to 1985. He was also president and director of Ocean Reef Club from 1980 to 1992. A year later, Post established his own brokerage firm to help the Ocean Reef community with real estate needs.

Founding principal and managing broker/owner of Russell Post Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty, Post discussed his journey from Indiana to the Keys and the successes and stories along the way.

When I came to the Keys, I worked five or six days. I’d take Wednesdays off and put on a suit and tie and go interview for various jobs. I’d set up the interview not really looking for the job but seeing what different businesses were like and try to find one that turned me on.

I focused on resort development, real estate and heard about a job here at Ocean Reef with management. I interviewed for it. It had already been promised

when I got there. But the guy who interviewed me spent a lot of time with me and convinced me that ownership was good and management was terrible. I said I’ll take anything you got.

I started midnight to 8 in the morning at $2.10 an hour, which was less than I made since I think I was 12 and had paper routes. Ten months later I was running the place. I made a major commitment obviously.

In my mind, I said, ‘You know, I’m not going to drink, smoke, dance, play cards or swear. I'm just going to work my butt off and see how far I go. I had a couple promotions and then 10 months later the owner grabbed me and said let’s have a drink.

Everything was done over drinks in those days. He said ‘My manager is drunk by 3 in the afternoon drinking my whiskey.’

He says, ‘You’re making those decisions, it’s like you’re running the place. Why wouldn’t I pay you to do it instead of him?’ I said ‘Well, hopefully you're a little patient. But I’ll do it. I’ll figure it out.’ And he bet on me. I ran the place for about 18 years.

In the early ’90s, I started what I called Russell Post Properties and Real Estate Sales. And we were blessed within three years, we had over 50% market share and then grew that over time. Eventually I sold that business to Ocean Reef Club, which would have been three years ago, and I’m on a four-year deal to run it. I’ll still have a license and be able to sell and list here. But I’ll give it up. I’ll spend a lot more time in the Keys and helping Lauren Varney grow the business.

21

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

Russell Post looks through a picture book of his children from when they were young with Lauren Varney, marketing director and director of operations with Ocean Sothebys. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

There was a guy named Harper Sibley, a visionary who owned Ocean Reef from the late ’60s to the 1990s. He had tremendous people skills. He was a guy who was crazy enough to hire me and give me a shot.

In any business, you have to have a plan.

You have to have a commitment and total focus.

Sometimes you can overcook that total focus and never take any time off, which I’m pretty good at.

And I’m pretty good at screwing that up. I think it doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, race, none of that matters. … If someone has the attributes and attitude, you can get anywhere.

I learned a lot about water, and Ocean Reef pioneered the reverse osmosis desalination process in the early ’70s. We were the only plant in the world producing over 50 thousand gallons a day. We were 1.1 million (gallons). Through the ’70s, the Israelis, the Arabs, and everyone were over looking at our plants. We had two plants from two companies. They competed with each other. King Faisal, when he was prince, came here for an international water association meeting.

He opened the meeting by saying, ‘Gentlemen, I have $12 billion I'll be spending in your industry in the next 10 years.’ This was in the ’70s when $12 billion was a lot of money. Every time we’d tell them that Prince Faisal or a group of Israelis were coming, they’d make their plants like new because they were selling out of here.

About 11 years ago, I liked the Islamorada market a lot, so I opened an office there. It’s grown into the top office in the village area. Then I expanded into Key West and then Marathon.

Key West was with Bob Cardenas. He has a great reputation. Solid. We started there on Fleming Street and now we’re over on Duval Street — it’s probably the best location in town. I wanted to be in Marathon, and Bob introduced me to Jo Ann Cook. In Marathon, she’d be like Michael Jordan to what he was in Chicago. She’s the franchise. She’s

a great human being. A great professional. Now we’re in all three markets.

I have no interest in retiring. I don’t know what the hell I would do. I get more pleasure out of seeing agents have their kids go to college and make a good living.

I thought I was going to be a Boston Celtic, but really didn’t grow into that role physically. I just loved their style of ball with Bob Cousy and then Larry Bird. I actually know the guy who owns the Celtics. I never would have thought that when I was growing up in this tiny little town.

When COVID hit, we prepared for the worst. But then certainly for six to eight weeks, it became clear we were going to be the beneficiary. I don’t think that’s going to stop in the Florida Keys. The Keys are very undervalued. I think people will want to come down here. There’s so much.

In all my years I‘ve never seen so much wealth around. Stock markets are hot and people who had $5 million on the market 10 years ago have $10 or $15 million now. It’s extraordinary what’s around. I think the Keys are going to continue to benefit from that.

I think the density in the Keys, everyone complains about the traffic.

I think hopefully over time, all the properties will be occupied by residents who are willing to pay a pretty price to get them and are committed to the environment.

The thing that has changed the most that needs to be fixed is the reefs. What I saw when I came here in the ’70s, if that was 10 on a 10 scale, what’s out there right now is .5. It’s something we’ve gotta fix. The whole economy of the Keys and many jobs relate to the reefs.

I always have at least three books going. I like novels based on history. That’s a fun way to get your history. I usually love this guy named Daniel Silva. He writes about the Israeli Mossad agent who eventually becomes the director of Mossad.

A lot of people can show houses better than I can. But I can do a pretty good job finding out and convincing people if the Keys are the right place for them. Once philosophically that’s accomplished, then they're going to buy something. It's a matter of what and we’ve got plenty of people who can help them with that.

There’s a perception that real estate is not an honorable trade and they are looked on like used car dealers. I think the misconception comes in when you find a company, like ours, full of very committed professionals with high ethics. That’s where we try to differentiate.

College is where you learn. Your job isn’t too much more than learning what you enjoy and what you’re good at. Once you’ve figured that out, then everything is out there for you. Figure out what you’re good at and what you like.

My younger self would be surprised I've done as well as I've done. I think if it was the old self, me sitting here looking back I would say, ‘Jeez, I could have done a lot better at this and that.’ But that’s just life.

Post is the father to Alex, Caroline and Lilly, all of whom are in college. Post said he’s planning to take his kids to Israel next year. When he’s not working, Post is out on the course enjoying a round of golf.

Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty’s Marathon office with Russell Post and Lauren Varney. CONTRIBUTED

22

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of PopeScarbrough Architects located at 610 White Street, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Thomas E. Pope, President on behalf Thomas E. Pope, P.A., a Florida for profit company Publish: June 17, 2021 and June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of MARC located at PO Box 428, Key West, FL 33041 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Monroe Association For Retarded Citizens, Inc. Publish: June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Stone Crab Outlet located at 38 Coco Plum Drive, in the County of Monroe, in the City of Marathon, Florida 33050 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated on this 28th day of May, 2021 at Marathon, FL. By: D & D Seafood Corporation Publish: June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of The Jerk located at 508 Southard Street, Suite 101, Monroe County in the City of Key West, Florida 33040-6989 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated at Key West, Florida this 23rd day of June, 2021.

By: Munchie Factory Llc Publish:

LEGAL NOTICES June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING: MONROE COUNTY CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Notice is Hereby Given To Whom it may concern, that on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 the Monroe County Contractors Examining Board (CEB) will hold a scheduled meeting at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Second Floor, BOCC Room, Marathon, Florida commencing at 9:30 A.M. This meeting is to hear the following: any person(s) to come before the board; any reports from Monroe County Assistant Attorney; any reports from Monroe County Building Official; any reports from Staff.

The Monroe County Contractors Examining Board (“CEB”) will review Certificate of Competency Trade Applications and public participation in this meeting may be conducted via Communications Media Technology (“CMT”) using Zoom Webinar platform, during the scheduled meeting.

Zoom Webinar information will be made available on the Monroe County Web Calendar.

PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE SECTION 286.0105, be advised that, if a person decides to appeal the decision made by the Contractors’ Examining Board with respect to any matter considered at today’s hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special recommendations in order to participate in this proceeding, 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”.

NOTICE: It shall be the responsibility of each

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Respondent or other person addressing the Board to have an interpreter if the party is not able to understand or speak the English language.

Rick Griffin, Building Official/ Board Secretary Maria Partington, Senior Coordinator – CEB Board Monroe County Building Department Publish: June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH Publish: June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

FLORIDA DIVISION: PROBATE CASE NO.: 2020-CP-000198-K IN RE: ESTATE OF NIDIA FUENTES BORDERS, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of NIDIA FUENTES BORDERS, deceased, whose date of death was April 30, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 302 Fleming 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 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: June 24, 2021.

Co-Personal Representatives: Athena Skellion Borders 11005 Pete Carr Ridge Road Silver Point, TN 38582 Joanna Hoffman Borders 9507 SW 118th Court Miami, FL 33186 Attorney for Personal Representative: IRAMA VALDES, P.A. IRAMA VALDES, ESQUIRE Florida Bar No. 85543 11020 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 204 Miami, FL 33176 T (305) 477-1111 (786) 4414404 ivaldes@probatelawmiami. com Publish:

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF VARIANCE HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning & Zoning Board of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday July 21, 2021 at 9:30 A.M., Key Colony Beach City Hall commission room, to hear a Variance Request from Michael & Elizabeth Raymond owners of 261 11th Street.

Social distancing and other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health (FDOH) guidelines pertaining to COVID-19 will be followed and observed. This meeting will be available virtually via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web. zoom.us/j/82313476504.

Applicant requests a Variance to Code of Ordinance Chapter 5, Section 50 and 51 for the installation of a new sheet pile seawall in front of existing collapsing seawall.

Interested parties may appear at the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

If you are unable to attend the Hearing on Wednesday July 21, 2021 but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Commission, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@keycolonybeach. net and your comments will be entered into the record.

Randy Fink, MD, practicing at 8700 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 208, Miami, FL and 103301 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL will be ending his medical practice in Florida effective July 3, 2021. Patients of the practice are invited to continue their care with other providers at these locations, and records will continue to be stored there.

Medical records can also be transferred to any provider of your choosing upon request. For information, please contact 305-515-5425 or email info@miamiobgyns.com.

Publish: June 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

305.743.0844

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF VARIANCE HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday July 22, 2021 at 9:30 A.M., Key Colony Beach City Hall commission room, to hear a Variance Request from Michael & Elizabeth Raymond owners of 261 11th Street. Social distancing and other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health (FDOH) guidelines pertaining to COVID-19 will be followed and observed. This meeting will also be available virtually via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web. zoom.us/j/84166388095.

Applicant requests a Variance to Code of Ordinance Chapter 5, Section 50 and 51 for the installation of a new sheet pile seawall in front of existing collapsing seawall.

Interested parties may appear at the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

If you are unable to attend the Hearing on Thursday July 22, 2021 but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Commission, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net and your comments will be entered into the record.

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH Publish: June 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY,

LEGAL NOTICES June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2021-CP-000044-M IN RE: THE ESTATE OF FRANCES J. GOHEEN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the Estate of FRANCES J. GOHEEN, deceased, whose date of death was June 27, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, File No.: 2021-CP-000044-M, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE 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 the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served 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 June 24, 2021.

Co-Personal Representatives: Howard M. Goheen, III David L. Goheen Angela D. Goheen Estate of Frances J. Goheen c/o Cynthia F. Civil, Esq. CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, P.A.

Meeting Notice Monroe County Land Authority The Monroe County Land Authority Advisory Committee will meet in the Monroe Regional Service Center (State Building) located at 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 104, Marathon, Florida on June 30, 2021 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The agenda is available online at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or by contacting the Monroe County Land Authority office at 305-295-5180.

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”.

LEGAL NOTICES 5196 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050 (305) 743-5884 cfc@ccivillaw.com Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives: CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 0082988 CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, P.A. 5196 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050 305-743-5884 Email: cfc@ccivillaw.com Publish: June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2021-CP-000119-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF LOUISE M. EDWARDS, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the Estate of LOUISE M. EDWARDS, deceased, whose date of death was February 24, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, File No.: 2021-CP-000119-K, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 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 decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE 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 the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served 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 June 24, 2021.

Personal Representative: Cindy Baker Estate of Louise M. Edwards c/o Cynthia F. Civil, Esq. CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, P.A. 5196 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050 (305) 743-5884 cfc@ccivillaw.com Attorney for Personal Representative: CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 0082988 CYNTHIA F. CIVIL, P.A. 5196 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050 305-743-5884 Email: cfc@ccivillaw.com Publish:

23

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021 TIFFANY DUONG tiffany@keysweekly.com

V

anessa Pelaez is something special. She’s determined, hard working, charming and humble. She’s ready to take on the world, and she's only 18. The recent Coral Shores High School graduate and valedictorian moved and inspired many with her graduation night speech. Now, she’s off to college with hope and a plan to make the world a better place.

Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, Pelaez immigrated with her family to Key Largo eight years ago, speaking “zero english” and having no idea what life would be like. She missed the warm culture of her old home in Colombia and Latin America. She found the Keys scary at first, because of their spaciousness, newness and tidiness; her new life was very different from what she had always known.

“In Colombia, back then, we weren't using phones or devices yet, we were just always playing in the street. I didn't watch TV except for a single show at 7 p.m.,” she said. “When I moved here, everyone was into video games. I didn't know how to play video games. I felt really alone.”

At school, the star student felt overwhelmed by her new surroundings, peers and language. So much so that it made her question much of her identity.

“I didn’t understand my classes. I took ESL for a few months and had to repeat half of the fourth grade,” she said, smiling even as she remembered her struggles. “I remember just sitting in class and hearing gibberish. It was a down low blow to literally not understand anything.

I felt so dumb all the time.”

While logically she knew that “moving here didn’t mean I wasn’t smart any more,” the Key Largo resident lost confidence in herself to the point where she tried to “just go on unperceived,” to blend in and “be average.” Luckily, instead of letting the language barrier keep her down, she learned to channel her frustration into her schoolwork, asking for extra credit, doubling down on her studies and remembering who she really was.

“I’m most proud of not giving up.

It’s a guarantee that I will create the life I want for me,” she said.

As for what that life looks like, Pelaez already has a clear and cogent idea of what she wants to do: help others and pay it forward.

“I am an immigrant here. My cousins where I am from will have a different life. I came here by luck of the draw, not by anything special I did,” she said. “I don't think it's fair that there's someone way better than me that might never be able to demonstrate it because they don't have the opportunity.”

With her keen understanding of her place in life, Pelaez will leave the Keys to attend The Burnett Honors College of the University of Central Florida, in Orlando and plans to study mechanical engineering. Her goal is to bring developmental businesses to her home country of Colombia and other developing nations like Tanzania, Bolivia and Indonesia.

“I want to do projects that help people that are suffering. I remember where I come from, and I know where I want to go. My dream is to give people more opportunities as a way to demonstrate that I am grateful for the opportunities that were given to me. This will be my way of making the balance fair.”

Full Name? Nickname?

Vanessa Pelaez. My family calls me Vane.

Age: 18 Where did you grow up? In Cartagena, Colombia.

When did you move to the Keys? I moved here 8 years ago. I was 10.

What was most challenging? I think it was the confidence that I lost in myself and my own capabilities (because) I was used to having a really good understanding of what I was doing — with school, home, my friends.

Then, suddenly, I really didn't know anything. I moved from the mindset of trying really hard to be the best to just getting by — to be average, to not draw attention.

NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR CSHS Valedictorian is ready to change the world

Favorite subject in school?

Math — when I moved and everything was gibberish, that was a universal language. It was a safe haven in school. During the 30 minutes there, I was like, “Oh my God, things make sense again.”

What's your favorite thing to do in the Keys? Hanging out with my friends. I like going to their houses, watching movies, walking in the park and going out to eat.

Literally, anything is fun with them.

Shout out to Ali, Jessie and Zareska!

What’s your favorite food?

A dish my grandma makes — chicken stuffed with ground meat, passion fruit and bechamel sauce.

She made it for my graduation!

What's something people don't know about you? I’m really good at singing, and I play the piano. My favorite song to sing is “Podemos'' by Violeta. It’s silly, but it’s not a song you hear on the radio. That's actually the theme song from a childhood TV show, the show I used to watch at 7 p.m. on the T.V. in Colombia.

Who has been your biggest inspiration? My grandma. I want people to know she is an inspiration to me every day of my life.

You just graduated from CSHS — how does that feel? It felt like I did something good, like I accomplished something good.

What was your graduation speech about? It was just about how taking an opportunity is sometimes hard but really rewarding.

And it's a beautiful thing to do. We are in a place that requires us to recognize we're lucky to have this opportunity in the first place. I was encouraging me and the rest of my class to use those opportunities to make the world we live in a better place.

How would you like to be remembered by your friends at Coral Shores? Just as someone who is happy and hardworking.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Change people’s minds.

Do you have a “senior quote” for your Keys community? Thank you to all those who have supported me. I am a mosaic of all the things I've lived with all the people I've encountered in my life. Thank you for all the experiences and lessons you've taught me.

Finish these sentences: Keys life is ... memorable.

Being a senior during coronavirus was ... an experience.

The world needs ... less apathy.

I am ... the product of all those that came before me.

24

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO. 21-CP-000069-K JUDGE KOENIG IN RE: ESTATE OF GORDON FRIIS-PETTITT, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Gordon Friis-Pettitt, deceased, whose date of death was February 15, 2021, and the last four digits of whose social security number are -8797, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 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 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 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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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: June 24, 2021.

Personal Representative: Debra Friis-Pettitt Attorney for Personal Representative: Amy C. Kelley, Esq. Fla. Bar No. 119148 KELLEY & KELLEY, P.L. 43 Cincinnati Avenue St. Augustine, FL 32084 Tel: (904) 819-9706 Fax: (904) 819-9707 sean@kelleyandkelley.com amy@kelleyandkelley.com pleadings@kelleyandkelley. com Publish: June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-000019-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF FELIPE JESUS DIAZ, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of FELIPE JESUS DIAZ, deceased, whose date of death was April 21, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, FL 33070. 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 the first publication of this notice is June 24, 2021.

Personal Representative: EVELIN MELTZ 157 NE 104 Street Miami Shores, Florida 33138 Attorney for Personal Representative: RODOLFO SUAREZ, JR., ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 013201 Suarez Law 2950 SW 27th Avenue, Suite 100 Miami, FL 33133 Telephone: (305) 448-244 E-Mail: rudy@suarezlawyers. com Secondary E-Mail: eca@ suarezlawyers.com Publish: June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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: June 24, 2021.

Personal Representative: Curtis M. Pesanka 4001 Fairfield Avenue Munhall, PA 15120 Attorney for Personal Representative: Anthony A. Velardi, Esq. Florida Bar No. 113917 Patricia Gessel, Esq. Florida Bar No. 84328 Patricia Gessel, PL 99530 Overseas Hwy., Suite 2 Key Largo, FL 33037 Tel: (305) 453-5277 Fax: (305) 453-4985 E-Mail: anthony@keylargolaw. com & alonso.at12@aol.com Publish: June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

FOREVER BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: June 17, 2021.

Person Giving Notice: R. Thomas Ward P.O. Box 2954 Aspen, CO 81612 Attorney for Person Giving Notice: James J. Dorl, Esq. Florida Bar No. 618403 JAMES J. DORL, P.A. 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 12 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: 305-743-6565 Publish: June 17 & 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA DIVISION: PROBATE FILE NO.: 21-CP-000064-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ANITA PESANKA, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of ANITA PESANKA, deceased, whose date of death was December 12, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Hwy., Tavernier, FL 33070. 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2021-CP-043-M IN RE: ESTATE OF DAVID ALAN WARD, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS (SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION) TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: You are hereby notified that an Order of Summary Administration has been entered in the estate of DAVID ALAN WARD, deceased, File Number 2021-CP-043-M, by the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050; that the total cash value of the estate is $12,545.00, and that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such Order are: R. Thomas Ward P.O. Box 2954 Aspen, CO 81612 ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is served within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice 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 DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-53-P DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF HELEN M. BRAGASSA Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Helen M. Bragassa, deceased, whose date of death was May 5, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. 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: June 17, 2021.

Personal Representative: Robert C. Wagner P.O. Box 1422 Islamorada, FL 33036 Attorney for Personal Representative: RICHARD E. WARNER Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134 RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6022 Fax: (305) 743-6216 E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw. com Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com Publish: June 17 & 24, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 21-DR-372-K Division: Family IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF JUDY KAY SMITH, Petitioner/Wife, And FRANTISEK FRYSTACKY, Respondent/Husband.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT_ - CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE TO: FRANTISEK FRYSTACKY Whose Last Known Address Is: 11117 N. Wolverine Road, Palmer, Alaska 99645 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 Judy Kay Smith, whose address is 604 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040, on or before July 12, 2021, and file the original with the Clerk of this Court at 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: June 1, 2021 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Riza Hall Deputy Clerk Publish: June 10, 17, 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AMENDED 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 July, 2021, 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: LOT 7 AND THE WEST ½

LEGAL NOTICES

BOATS FOR SALE

OF LOT 8, BLOCK 13, OF PLANTATION KEY COLONY ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 3, PAGE 182 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. Pursuant to ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO RESCHEDULE FORECLOSURE SALE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 12th day of April 2021 Style of which is: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-OC4, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006OC4 Plaintiff VS. JOSE COTO, et. al Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 44-2019-CA64-P WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23rd day of June, 2021.

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Riza Hall 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: June 24 & July 1, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

1999 World Cat 27' with twin 175 Suzuki motors.

Runs good.

Dual stations. Located on Duck Key. $40,000 OBO 305-481-1316

AUTOS WANTED ALL YEARS! Junk or Used.

Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483 AUTOS FOR SALE 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport, Silver, 90,000 miles, runs great, cold A/C. Located in Marathon. $2,300 OBO 305-417-0871 SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

Place your Car For Sale ad here. Only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your Car!!

BOATS FOR SALE 2004 Pro Kat CC twin 115 hp Yamaha hard T top re powered 2011 then low hours out of water since 2017 outriggers electronics radar 2 gps 400 + local fishing marks fish finder with side scan and down imaging.

Needs minor repairs and TLC to bring boat back to fantastic fishing boat it used to be. Looking for offers over $15,000.

Email for more details and viewing in Marathon. rdngd@aol.com.

Place your Boat For Sale ad here. Only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your Boat!

1993 Hewes Redfish 18' - 115 hp - newly rewired Yamaha 2-stroke, Lowrance HDS8 Chart Plotter, Minn Kota remote trolling motor and Trailer.

Located in Marathon. $14,000 OBO 970-331-4511 SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

BOAT SLIP FOR SALE

Indoor / Dry Boat Storage Rack / 155 Wind Code The Boat House Marina Condo - Marathon, FL. 36.5L X 12.7W X 16.2H Max Boat Size. $225K / FSBO/ No Realtors / Avail.

Now. RGC2RGC@yahoo. com (M) 412-848-1272

EMPLOYMENT The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a Fulltime and Part-time Office Assistant.

Computer and people skills required.

Accounting/ Bookkeeping experience desired. Please call for an interview appointment 8 4 3 - 6 9 6 - 5 2 1 7

Help wanted - Big Time Discount Bait and Tackle in Marathon- competitive wages and working 2535 hrs a week. Contact George 305-289-0199 Immediate openings for experienced plumbers and helpers (with or without experience - we will train the right person).

Must have a valid driver's license & clean driving record. Please apply in person at 10700 5th Avenue Gulf, Marathon or email resume to: eerpinc@gmail.com Experienced Electricians & Low Voltage Techs wanted i m m e d i a t e l y TOP PAY! Email: admin@ checkelectricllc.com Call: 305-292-3369 The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club, is seeking a part time line cook. Club is open 10am - 7pm daily. Located in Key Colony Beach.

Hourly pay commensurate with experience. Beautiful environment, small friendly staff, open year round. Apply in person, email resume or call 305 393-0631 ask for April

25

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

HOUSING FOR RENT

Charter Captain/Mate Busy fishing charter business in Marathon looking for experienced fishing Captain/Mate.

Busy boats and location.

Offshore, Inshore, Reef/ Wreck. Also part-time Boat Cleaner needed for afternoons. Send text or call 305-481-3259

tips. Apply in person at Cabana Club, 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call April (305) 393-0631.

MM96 Buttonwood Bay 2BR/2.5BA furn. townhome. $2750/mo F/L/S app fee $60. No pets/smoking.

Tropic Homes year lease. Debbie Taylor 305-394-9787 RENTED IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!!

Come Join Our Family and Have Fun At Work!

Hiring: Host, Hostess & Servers - Full &/or parttime. AM & PM Shifts.

Apply in person at Castaway Restaurant, end of 15th Street, Oceanside, Marathon or email: lobstercrawl@gmail.com.

Place your Employment ad here. Only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy.

Call 305-743-0844 today and get the job filled!

NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for all shifts. Please apply in person at 8919 Overseas Highway in Marathon.

LOT FOR SALE

Fl Keys Diesel - Marathon now hiring: Diesel Technician -Competitive compensation package.

Exp in the marine field preferred but not necessary. Exp w/ Caterpillar and Cummins Marine Engines a plus.

Diesel Mechanic Assistant position available.

Motivated candidate willing to learn a new trade or expand current skills.

Company willing to train.

Qualified applicants please call 305-2892070 or email resume to neil@allkeysdiesel.com . Drug Free and valid Drivers License a must.

Full-time Construction Workers needed.

Superintendents, Carpenters, Painters and Laborers. Top dollar for the right individuals.

Start tomorrow. Apply in person, Dooley Construction, MM 88.5 Oceanside or call 305-852-8000 Serve/Bartend on the ocean FT/PT Ocean front private swim club is seeking customer service oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/or bar lounge. Open year round, 10am-7pm daily.

Full time/Part time.

Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus

Help WantedLawn Maintenance Drug-Free, Apply in Person at Dot Palm 5200 Overseas Hwy, Marathon FL 33050 305743-3090 HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

Pool service hiring PT 4/days a week cleaning pools & water testing. Marathon area.

Call 305-395-0000 HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

HOBBIES/COLLECT. PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches.

Call 305-743-4578 HOUSING FOR RENT Place your Housing For Rent ad here. Only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

2 BR / 1 BA Unfurnished home available in Marathon. Long term. $2,200.00/month First/ Last 305-417-0346 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!

LOT FOR SALE 100' x 100' - Venetian Shores, MM 86, Snake Creek Bridge views.

Asking $1.3 Million. Call 5 6 1 - 5 7 9 - 8 3 9 9

305.743.0844

Senior Male Looking for Studio/1 Bedroom apartment in the Key Largo - Tavernier area for Jan., Feb. and March 2022. No Kids, No Pets, Non-Smoker, No Visitors, Quiet Guy. Contact Dick at 607-624-3570 or dfroiseth@gmail.com

OFFICE SPACE Beautiful Office Space available for rent now on US1 in Tavernier @MM92.

Call 305-394-0530 1,082 SF office space.

Renovated Corner Unit for rent in Islamorada. $ 3 , 0 0 0 / m o n t h Call 305.712.8888 Place your Office Space For Rent ad here. Only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

YARD SALES

FULL TIME OPENING CUS TOMER S ERV I CE RE PRE S ENT A T I V E Coordinate aircraft transactions with customers and the line service technicians

HOUSEKEEPER WANTED

Professional customer service skills and the ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and overtime as needed, are required

Full-time reliable housekeeper needed for household in Key Colony Beach. Permanent employment – 6 days/week.

Must have transportation.

Hablamos Espanol.

Pay rate $17-$19/hr depending on experience, excellent benefits, and a fun work environment

Call 305-731-1133

Contact Will Zimdars will@marathonaviation.com EOE/Drug-free workplace

Fri,June 25 & Sat, June 26 from 9am-2pm. Furniture, various household items, counter-top kitchen appliances, clothing and misc. items. Everything must go! 1250 A 25th Street Ocean, Marathon Rain or Shine Saturday, June 26, 2021 8:00am to 3:00pm 116 Avenue E Marathon, FL 33050 (off Coco Plum Drive) Place your YARD SALE ad here. Only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your Stuff!

PT CASHIER PT DOCKHAND Apply in person Pancho’s Fuel 1280 Oceanview Avenue, Marathon

305-743-2281

SUDOKU DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY The Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea is looking for someone who will continue to ignite the hearts of parishioners with the fire of Christ's love through the gift of music. The Music Minister performs all duties and responsibilities in alignment with the mission, vision and values of the Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.

Requirements for Candidates: Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Music or equivalent. Previous employment as part or full-time Director of Music Ministries preferred.

Experience as a part-time or volunteer musician may be considered. Fluency in Spanish is preferred. For complete job description go to: www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Job_Openings To apply: Send resume with cover letter to Rev. John Baker, Pastor, at stmary@stmarykeywest.com.

Subject line should read: Parish Director of Music Ministry.

Deadline to apply: July 8, 2021.

SOLUTION

FULL TIME OPENING L I NE SERV I CE P E RSONNE L Greet and fuel aircraft Prior aviation experience preferred Clean driving record required Pay rate $17-$19/hr depending on experience, excellent benefits, and a fun work environment

Contact Will Zimdars will@marathonaviation.com EOE/Drug-free workplace

26

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

MORE THAN 200 FISH CAUGHT IN LADIES TOURNAMENT

A

1

2 3

4 1. Second-place offshore and junior angler Anabelle Goulart with a mutton snapper aboard the Costa Morada. CONTRIBUTED 2. First-place offshore winner Debbie Decker with a red grouper aboard the Costa Morada.

3. Anglers hold up their catch aboard the Costa Morada. Pictured are Vicki Hogan, Marathon; Andrea Mills, Ft. Lauderdale; Paul Doehring and Tamara Doehring, Naples; and Pamela Ford, Weston.

4. Tamara Doehring, of Naples, with a snook.

nglers from all over Florida came to compete in the “Fishing Screamin’ Reels” tournament June 11-13 in Islamorada. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the tournament offered two days of inshore or offshore fishing.

In total, 225 fish were caught by 26 participants fishing from nine offshore and inshore boats. Men were also welcome to participate.

Prizes for the two-day tournament were awarded to individual anglers, including Penn rod/reel combos, art prints and other fishing items with a total value of $1,800.

Winners in the top offshore category were Debbie Decker, of Rotunda West, who caught a red grouper on Costa Morada with Capt. Claude Tristram. Second place went to Anabelle Goulart, of Belle Isle, who caught a mutton snapper on Costa Morada with Tristram.

First-place winner in the inshore category was Linda Harrell, of Oakland Park, who caught a trout on Scales 2 Tales with Capt. Chris Hanson. Second place went to Paul Doehring, of Naples, who caught a sea trout on Scales 2 Tales with Hanson.

The junior angler winner was Anabelle Goulart, of Belle Isle, who caught a mutton snapper on Costa Morada with Tristram.

Many ladies caught their first fish species ever, with several also entering their catches in the CCA Florida STAR tournament to vie for additional awards from the Coastal Conservation Association.

Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt trailers, Shearwater Boats, Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Lowrance and Fish Florida.

Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite and Future Angler Foundation. Local sponsors include Breezy Palms Resort and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Class-specific contributors are listed on the website.

The next Ladies Let’s Go Fishing event is the Keys Saltwater Weekend seminar and fishing on Oct. 15-17 in Islamorada.

— Contributed

159 S BAHAMA DRIVE

SOLD BY:

20 Locally Brewed on Draft Authentic Mexican Food Truck Live Music Huge Outdoor Beer Garden Open Daily 11-11 11pm 11 81611 Old Hwy,, Islamorada MM81.5

KEITH ALLEN

Each Office is Individually Owned and Operated

305-481-5544 realkeys@bellsouth.net www.TheRealKeys.com

27

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

CES KEY WEST & MARATHON

NOW HIRING

Is hiring for all FULL-TIME positions:

Warehouse / Driver Counter Sales Branch and Operation Managers with Electrical/Distribution Experience

To apply please contact us or email resume to: CES Key West Ph. (305) 783-5135 Em. Keywest0628@Cityelectricsupply.Com CES Marathon Ph. (786) 652-2542 Em. Marathon0542@Cityelectricsupply.Com

BE A PART OF KEYS HISTORY Pigeon Key Foundation seeks part time historic tour guide. Upbeat, friendly and confident professional with ability to multi task and work outdoors in all seasons. Pigeon Key is a drug free work place. Please complete application at pigeonkey.net or email chris@pigeonkey.net.

SEEKING SECURITY GUARDS IN MARATHON Ralons Security 786-615-5522

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc. www.dynastymarine.net Currently seeking a qualified SALES REPRESENTATIVE to fill a new full time position. This is an excellent opportunity to grow with an existing business in an interesting field. The successful applicant will have sales experience to build on existing accounts. A background in marine biology, or a working knowledge of marine animals, would be preferred. This position will primarily consist of in-house sales to existing and new wholesale customers around the world. Methods of customer communication will mainly be email but phone calls and the occasional site visit are also required. Compensation will be a combination of hourly and commission. A major bonus opportunity will exist by growing current and new accounts. Dynasty Marine will guarantee a higher hourly rate for the first 39 weeks to allow time for the representative to progress into their new position. Benefits package including vacation, sick days, holidays and 401K PSP retirement plan. Email resume to sales@dynastymarine.net No phone calls please.

Apply in person at Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, 7 Knight’s Key Blvd, Marathon

Please apply in person at

Aquarium Encounters 11710 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

NOW HIRING:

Apply in Person, Start Today!

Courtyard Marriott Marathon 2146 Overseas Hwy • 305-289-2100

Lic# B1500167

Hosts Waitstaff Bartenders Bar Backs Bussers Line Cooks Dishwashers

Responsible for safely guiding guests through in-water encounters.

Must enjoy working with people and have a passion for marine life.

F/T and P/T Bartenders & Servers for BlueWaters Pool Bar and Wedding Event Bartenders $10/hour Great Tips Health Benefits & Room Discounts Sign-on bonus Poolside setting with Gulf View

FT & PT avail. $16-$18/hr Must have D License

NOW HIRING:

Full or Part Time Dive Instructor

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Sweet Savannah’s Bake Shop

is now hiring for Afternoon & Evening Shifts.

Please Apply In Person 8919 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

Monroe County School District

Salary $17.15 – $24.15/hour Key West, Sugarloaf, Marathon and Upper Keys (4 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

CoCo’s General Store

NOW HIRING: Full-time & Part-time Deli and/or Retail Sales.

Must be available on weekends.

Apply in person at 50 Coco Plum Drive, Marathon 305-743-7743

28

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • •305.743.0844

D’Asign Source is seeking the following professionals.

Overtime and benefits are available.

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

We’re on a path to better healthcare.

Join us.

Landscape Designer Career Opportunities for:

Architects - All Levels Draftsperson Finish Carpenter Interior Designer Junior Interior Designer Landscape Designer Lead AV Technician Warehouse & Delivery Associate

An outdoor design specialist that works well with clients— producing designs, selections, and processing sales.

Registered Nurses (RN) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Lead AV Technician

AV and Home Automation installations. Knowledge of electrical/ electronic components.

$5,000 Sign-On Bonus for Full-Time RNs & LPNs!

New Enhanced Rates!be MustCompensation have reliable transportation,

Warehouse & Delivery Crew on time and organized. Must have a Full-Time, Part-Time valid driver’s license.

CDL a plus.and

PRN, Day and Night Shifts Available Apply online at: http://joinwellpath.com/keywest

Busy Key Largo Dive Center has immediate openings for Shell World Key Largo, seeking engaging, dependable, experienced person(s) to work with the team at Mile Marker 97.5, Full-time and part-time opportunities available, some weekend and evening hours. Opportunities for advancement, great benefits, competitive salary and flexible hours.

Please stop by and fill out application or Fax resume to 305-852-9639.

NOW HIRING Floor Manager Daytime Host Experienced Servers Experienced Bartenders High volume restaurant in Key Largo.

Apply in person at Snooks Bayside, 99470 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL

BOAT CAPTAINS $1,500 SIGNING BONUS

Experience Required. Paid per trip plus tips & sales commission.

Send resume to resumes@rainbowreef.com

NOW HIRING: Housekeeping Room Attendants – wages vary Cooks – wages vary

***Sign on bonus of $500 after 30 days of full-time employment & an additional $500 after 90 days Please apply online for our positions: islabellabeachresort.oasisrecruit.com or call # 786 638-8046 and ask for Human Resources 1 Knight’s Key Blvd (MM 47) Marathon, FL 33050

EOE • M/F/Vet/Disability

Part time & Full time Opportunities!

Engineer

General Maintenance

Valet Parking Attendant Front Desk Agent Housekeeping Room Attendant Laundry Attendant Line Cooks F & B Manager Food Runner/Barback Sunset Pier Server Reservations Agent Relief Night Security LMT, Nail Tech, Esthetician Sign on Bonus Offered!

Apply online at: www.noblehousehotels.com/careers Apply in person at: Zero Duval St.

Great pay, amazing benefits, & an awesome team!

Ocean Key Resort and Spa is EOE.

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

NOW HIRING! SIGN ON BONUS UP TO $ 1,500 NEEDED: INSTALLERS, APPRENTICES AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS PAY RANGE: $15  $30 PER HOUR BASED ON EXPERIENCE LOOKING FOR A LONGTERM CAREER? COME JOIN OUR TEAM, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING: Competitive pay | Work Life Balance Continued Training | Opportunity for advancement Paid time off | Medical | 401K Apply via email: Joey@ellingtonac .com Call to schedule a meeting for employment 321.482.3158

29

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC && LEGAL NOTICES • • 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN Location: Middle Keys – Lower Keys

NOW HIRING

Join the winning Technical Services Dept team at the FKAA for future growth opportunities and an excellent working environment

BOGIE & BACALL'S SEA SENOR

MUST HAVE an active Journeyman Electrician License. Duties: Install, inspect, test, repair, and maintain all new and existing generators, motors, transformers, motor controllers, and associated equipment throughout our system, with base location in the middle keys. Minimum qualifications: Journeyman’s License, emphasis on electronics, industrial electrical, pneumatics, controls, building automation, fire alarm and HVAC systems, load calculations, conduit requirements, thorough knowledge of NEC requirements, minimum 6 yrs experience.

Must be able to operate and use computers with various software applications, including Microsoft Office Suite. Must have a valid Florida driver’s license. Must be able to communicate and comprehend the English language. $55,876. - $88,506. DOQ

Restaurant Host Servers Bartender Food Runner

KITCHEN TEAM Sous Chef Line Cook Baker

HOUSEKEEPING TEAM Houseman Room Attendant Turndown Attendant

OPERATIONS TEAM Bellman Watersports Reservations Agents

Apply At: bungalowskeylargo.com/careers Bungalows Key Largo is an EOE

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning...Caring

Dolphin Research Center is Hiring!

Accounting Manager (Full-Time/Permanent)

Visual Communications Staff (Full-Time/Permanent)

Human Resources Manager (Full-Time/Permanent)

Human Resources Assistant (Part-Time/Permanent)

Guest Services Staff

(Full-Time/Part-Time, Temporary/Permanent)

Benefits include medical, life & disability insurance, 401(k) plan, paid vacation, sick time & holidays.

Full job descriptions available at

www.dolphins.org/career_opportunities

Email cover letter, DRC application & resume to drc-hr@dolphins.org EOE

The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of

“Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

IS HIRING! KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Counselor Substance Abuse Counselor (PT)

KEY WEST

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) Peer Support Specialist Crisis Counselor Case Manager (Adult, Forensic) Motivational Support Specialist (base location flexible) Substance Abuse Counselor Behavioral Health Counselor (Children) Engagement Specialist (Suicide Prevention) Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult) FL LCSW,LMHC, LMFT

MARATHON Care Coordinator

Maintenance Specialist Housekeeper Engagement Specialist (Suicide Prevention) Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) RNs and LPNs (3 shifts) (PT/FT & per diem) Advocate (PT) *Assisted Living Direct Care Worker (PT/FT) *Behavioral Health Technicians (3 shifts) (PT/FT & per diem) *No experience necessary. Will train.

A caring heart & helpful hands required.

Ability to work some evening or weekend shifts a plus.

If you’ve wanted to get into the medical field but don’t have the education, this is the job for you!

Background and drug screen req.

COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!

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

On-line app: http://www.fkaa.com/employment.htm Deadline: Open until filled. EEO, VPE, ADA

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.

TEMPORARY MARINE PUMPOUT WORKER  KEY WEST 40 hours per week • $27.00 per hour Monroe County BOCC is seeking an applicant with a dynamic personality and who is quick to adapt, a competent multi-tasker, and can communicate effectively for a new temporary position. Primary function is to assist marine captains with pump-out services for anchored vessels. Qualifications: Florida driver’s license, fluent in English (Spanish fluency helpful), and 1 to 2 years boating experience (USCG Captain’s License helpful). Must be able to swim. To apply, please contact Monroe County HR at: Careers@monroecounty-fl.gov. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT: WWW.MONROECOUNTY-FL.GOV. 305-292-4557. Veteran’s Preference Available; E.O.E

30

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

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

Licensed & Insured #SP33799

ALL KEYS GLASS

We Also Repair & Replace Patio Door Screens

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Windows • Doors

Authorized Dealer

305-743-7800

305-998-8953 Insured • Professional • Reliable

Precision Pavers Belgard Brick | Clean & Seals | Old Castle Coastal WE WILL MAKE YOUR DRIVEWAY LOOK NEW AGAIN Brick Driveway | Patios | Pool | Decks | Retaining Walls

Need 7” Gutters? We have 6” & 7” Seamless • Copper Specialists

Sales & Installation • Tub & Shower Enclosures Safety & Tempered Glass • Mirror & Mirror Walls Plexi-Glass & Lexan

OUT DOOR LIVING SPACES

Key West 305-292-2666

CALL US FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE

When it comes to solar and power storage for your home in the Florida Keys, turn to the Florida Keys Local Experts at SALT Energy.

A division of SALT Service, serving The Keys since 1989

305-289-1150

SP3102

Florida Solar Contractor CVC 56734 Florida Electrical Contractor EC13008657

MARATHON

305-743-0506

KEY LARGO

305-852-5356

rainsavergutters@gmail.com

SOLAR DONE RIGHT!

FREE ESTIMATES | WILL NOT BE UNDERBID

305.896.3599

When It Rains It Pours!

GENERAL CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS

SPALLING EXPERTS

Proud member of:

INTERNATIONAL

CONCRETE REPAIR INSTITUTE

www.saltenergy.net 2992 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050

Tewes ewes Mortgage

Your local, residential lending expert!

Call 305.495.6000 for a FREE Consultation

Brian Tewes

Customer service is my strength Brian@tewesmortgage.com

NMLS# 375025 Tewes Mortgage NMLS# 1453791 NMLSConsumerAccess.org

www.TewesMortgage.com

Sportfishing Adventures

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

info@johnnymaddoxcharters.com

Serving Monroe, Dade & Broward Including Airports & Ports.

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

305-743-7454

fkes2011@gmail.com floridakeysexpressshuttle.com

305-481-3259

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

Key Largo, FL 33037

24/7 Certified Caregiver Provided

Oceansideseniorcarekeys@gmail.com 305-930-0194

Only $50 Puts Your Business Card Here

Inspired Living Through Custom Design Finishes for Your Home!

Faux Finishes | Venetian Plaster & Repair| Gold Leafing CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION!

Floor & Wall Tiles Porcelain/Planks Marble Carpets Quartz & Granite Countertops

Oceanside Senior Care BEATRIZ MORENO OWNER

TLC Interiors & Exteriors, Inc. 305.803.5220 | tlcdesignfl@gmail.com tlcdesignstudio.net

Lic#SP-3562

The Weekly Newspapers www.KeysWeekly.com

305-743-0844

We Do Installations!

Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES U.S.1 & 109th St, Marathon (Across from Beall’s Outlet)

289-3019

31

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

Florida Keys Board of Realtors®

Realtor® Spotlight of the Month K. Shylon “Shy” Martin, Realtor® ENGEL & VÖLKERS Islamorada.

Shy is recognized for her countless volunteer hours to many local organizations in the Florida Keys such as The Girls of the Caribbean Club that host the Ralphie Cancer Poker/Walk and the Moose March Against Cancer each year. Funds from both events go to the Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys Most recently, Shy was selected as the Vice President of the Upper Keys Humane Society, the only “no- kill” shelter that is not part of the National Humane Society.

Her 20-year commitment with the Relay for Life and her team the Caped Cure-Saders, raises more than $1000 each year, as well as, her Moose and Florida Keys Elks Lodge 1872 raising funds for local high school scholarship recipients.

Shy’s newest and beloved endeavor is Pascal's Challenge, a non-profit organization whose purpose is funding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and competitions for middle and high school students. This group is mainly composed of people who have had successful technical, scientific, or similar careers who are interested in promoting STEM activities at the middle and high school level.

Thank you Shy for all you do for the Florida Keys community.

Our Realtor® Spotlight recognizes those who volunteer and give back to their community.

Florida Keys Board of Realtors Directors Sharon Kelly-Brown, 2021 President Michael Kanik, Immediate Past Pres.

Jennifer Miller, President-Elect Claire Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer Diana Fiddes, Director

Wendy Ives, Director Karen Wiliams deCastro, Director Kathe Kaile, Director Mykael Marinelli, Director Christine Garcia-Castellanos, Director Deb Bennett, Director

32

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JUNE 24, 2021

Graannd RRee--Op Opeenniningg July 1, 2021 • 5:30 -- 7:30 PM 9481 Overseas HIghway O/S Food Catered by Mangrove Mikes

Beer, Wine & Music

Compliments of Tiki Water Sports & TCB Boat Sales For more information call-- 305.852.9298 asK for Alex