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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

Another lobster mini-season down. Betsy remains safe at the Rain Barrel.

TACKLING TRAFFIC

What’s the solution? | P. 25

SWEET HANDOFF

Factory sees new chocolatiers | P. 10

WELCOME MANG Planting the future | P. 22

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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Lobsters caught out of season by four Miami men on July 18 on the waters near Islamorada. FWC/Contributed

LOBSTER ARRESTS MADE IN THE KEYS BEFORE MINI-SEASON BEGINS

aw enforcement remained busy well before the lobster miniseason kickoff in the Keys, as they made several arrests for a number of violations. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers patrolling off Lower Matecumbe on July 18 arrested and charged four individuals for catching a number of spiny lobsters out of season. FWC reports that Lt. Paul Hein and officers Josh Stallings and Jessica Diaz were patrolling the waters on the bayside near Lower Matecumbe. They saw four individuals near the shore — two of them started to climb up a sea wall. Officers proceeded to the shore and noticed two individuals in the water acting nervous and leaving the area quickly. Hein gave multiple commands for the individuals to stop and come back. Two of the men, later identified as Elmer Xiquita Tzay, of Miami, and Hector Manuel Xiquita Tzay, of Miami, didn’t listen and fled. Hein and Diaz chased them down and arrested them. The other two individuals who stayed by the shoreline, later identified as Jose Thomas Segovia-Mena, of Miami, and David Solorzano-Ayala, of Coral Gables, were checked by Stallings.

ON THE COVER Vehicles travel over Jewfish Creek Bridge into the Florida Keys during Labor Day weekend in 2020. Busy holidays and weekends bring heavy traffic into the Keys. Now, officials are seeking potential solutions to mitigate the vehicle volume. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

FWC officers’ investigation showed that the four were in possession of nine lobsters out of season. Three of those lobsters measured less than the legally required length of 3-inch carapace size. In addition to the lobster violations, officers found Mena reportedly in possession of two mangrove snapper that measured less than the legally required minimum size of 10 inches. All men were taken to the Plantation Key Jail without incident. Four days later, a Miami man was arrested and charged after he was allegedly in possession of a wrung lobster tail in his shorts pocket. Monroe County Marine Deputy Willie Guerra was patrolling near Grassy Key when he saw Rogelio Crespo, 43, diving without a dive flag in the water off the 59000 block of Paradise Place. Guerra saw two lobsters in his possession and a wrung lobster tail in his shorts pocket. He was arrested and charged with possession of undersized lobster, out-of-season lobster, wrung lobster tail in the water and harvesting lobster without a measuring device. — Keys Weekly staff

A wrung lobster tail allegedly found on Rogelio Crespo, of Miami, during an investigation by Monroe County Marine Deputy Willie Guerra. MCSO/Contributed

Law enforcement remained busy before the lobster mini-season kickoff in the Keys, as they made several arrests for a number of violations.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

NOTABLE KEY LARGO PARK CLOSED THROUGH LABOR DAY Action aims to mitigate chaos in residential community

No-parking signs posted outside the small park on Bay Drive in Key Largo. The park remains closed to the public. WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

small bayside park in Key Largo remains closed through Labor Day as county commissioners seek solutions to parking and overuse issues. At a July 22 meeting, Monroe County Board of County Commissioners decided to keep the park on Bay Drive closed through at least Labor Day while alternative options are still being discussed. Complaints by residents of the Bay Harbor and Sunset Point subdivisions, which surround the county-owned park, led to the park’s closure before the Fourth of July weekend. During a special meeting in June, the board approved a resolution to prohibit parking on county rights-of-way in the subdivisions. They also closed the area between Bay Harbor Drive and the water while alternatives are investigated for safe use of the park and its eventual reopening. Users frequently exceed the limited parking by leaving 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. To mitigate some of the issues, roads in the Bay Harbor and Sunset Point subdivisions are designated as a no-parking, -standing, or -stopping area. “No Parking” signs were

posted that will include the noncriminal civil penalty set at $200. At the Bay Drive property, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is authorized to issue trespass warnings and can arrest any person who is found at the park. The area will remain closed until the commission approves an alternative management plan for the site at a future board meeting. Sunset Point Park remains open with limited parking. Commissioners do not plan on divesting the property, as it allows all residents access to the water. However, limiting access to weekdays or implementing user fees are being considered as possible solutions. A once hidden gem, the park on Bay Drive has evolved into a popular spot, known by visitors and day-trippers. It’s located next to a larger private park that members of the local homeowners association use. “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.” — Keys Weekly staff

TAMPA OFFICIAL NAMED DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND BEACHES

he Monroe County Board of County Commissioners named John Allen from the City of Tampa as the new Monroe County Parks and Beaches director at a July 22 special meeting in Key West. The parks and beaches director is a new position, responsible for developing plans and programs for existing and future parks, coordinating recreational needs of the community, handling public inquiries regarding county parks and beaches, monitoring agreements with sports leagues, and overseeing park maintenance and staff. At Tampa, Allen oversaw 27 community centers, four art studios and two senior centers. He has developed and implemented senior, teen, youth and anti-bullying programs and created new special events. He holds a bachelor’s degree in health, leisure, and sports from the University of West Florida.

“His background in staff training, internship and volunteer programs, creating partnerships, and grant writing appear to be the perfect match of what we are looking for in this new position,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. The county received 94 applications, with 39 qualified applicants. — Contributed

COUNTY HIRES FOUR FIREFIGHTERS

onroe County Fire Rescue has four new professional firefighters. Three are graduates of Monroe County’s Hot Shot program — Morgan Anderson, Alexis Reyes, and Nicolas Rangel — and the fourth, Ignacio Vargas, was a Tavernier Volunteer Firefighter. THE NEW HIRES • Reyes is originally from Key Largo. She has a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and helps children with disabilities when she is not exercising. • Rangel is the brother of a Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighter and lives in Key Largo. He recently completed the paramedic program at Barry University and is an avid fisherman, hunter and mechanic. • Anderson has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and enjoys water sports like snorkeling and kayaking. • Vargas was born in Bolivia but grew up in Miami. He is a paramedic and working on his Associate in

Four new professional firefighters receive their pins at a county commission meeting. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

Fire Science at Miami Dade College. He has volunteered in Tavernier since 2018 and spends his free time with animals, working outside and BMX biking. There is a waitlist for the upcoming Hot Shot program in September. More information is at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/hotshots. — Contributed

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

THE LEGENDARY STORY OF BLACK CAESAR, PART 2

John Black Caesar, land pirate. TWISTEDHISTORY.NET.AU/Contributed

early 100 years after the African chieftain who became the original Black Caesar was hanged for piracy, allegedly, he returned. Well, he returned in name. This second Black Caesar is generally identified as either Henri Caesar or Henri Arnaut. Henri was a slave owned by the Arnaut family who lived in Haiti. Stories suggest Henri was born circa 1765. He grew up to be a strong plantation worker, a natural leader who rose to power during the Haitian slave revolt (1791-1803ish). According to his legendary story, it was circa 1805 when he stole a Spanish ship, sailed away, and embarked on a piratical career using the name Black Caesar. He operated from a lair on Elliott Key. The original Black Caesar is said to have dangled at the end of a hangman’s noose after he was apprehended by Lt. Maynard’s British forces in the November 22, 1718 raid on Blackbeard’s sloop Adventure. The demise of the Henri Caesar version of Black Caesar is decidedly less apparent. Several stories suggest he abandoned Elliott Key because of increased naval patrols in the area due to the War of 1812. From Elliott Key, most of the stories say Black Caesar set sail for the Gulf of Mexico where he organized his pirate operation on Southwest Florida’s Sanibel Island. Unlike his predecessor, this Black Caesar pirate story has many endings. One account is that the pirate was killed when he attempted to board a disguised Navy ship. Another says that in 1817 the pirate Jose Gaspar and Black Caesar began feuding when Black Caesar stole one of Gaspar’s women. Subsequently, Black Caesar was vanquished from Sanibel. From there, he either a.) sailed off into the Gulf of Mexico and disappeared; b.) was killed by a woman after he boarded a ship out in the Gulf of Mexico; or c.) sailed for Australia. There is an Australian Black Caesar story. John Black Caesar was found guilty of theft while living in England and sentenced to seven years in an Australian penal colony. He was transported aboard the Alexander, part of the First Fleet of convicts shipped to penal colonies established in Australia. Caesar arrived in Botany Bay in January 1788. A newspaper account dated seven years later, on March 25, 1795, reads: “Bushranger on the loose! Born in Madagascar in 1770, notorious Black Caesar is the first so-called ‘bushranger’ (an outlaw or highwayman) to inhabit this Great South Land. He robs people because he claims not to have enough to eat. He is a tall, strong, negro who wears convict clothing. Five gallons of rum will be the reward to the person who gives information leading to the capture of Black Caesar.”

While John Black Caesar was not a pirate, his actions were certainly piratical. It should be noted that of all the Black Caesars thus far mentioned, John Black Caesar is the only one with contemporary stories written about him to supBRAD port his authenticity. BERTELLI Back in the Florida Keys, if anyone were going ... is the curator to tell a 19th century Black for Islamorada’s Keys History & Caesar story, it would have Discovery Center. been Temple Pent. One of A published authe early pioneers to settle thor of six books, in South Florida, Pent arhis favorite subrived in the Coconut Grove jects are Indian Key and skunk area as early as 1810. Had a apes. pirate as notorious as Black Caesar been conducting raids in the Northern Keys from an Elliott Key lair, Pent would have had firsthand knowledge of the pirate’s shenanigans. When Commodore David Porter of the West Indies Squadron, the anti-piracy unit, arrived in 1823, Pent became his pilot. Porter, whose job was to rid the West Indies of pirates, makes no contemporary record of a pirate named Black Caesar, dead or alive. The same can be said of Temple Pent. There is, however, a Pent who allegedly talked about Black Caesar. Boe Pent is attributed with a compelling story. He is said to have been born in 1810, on Key West, where he lived to be 105 years old. As a boy, Boe Pent claimed to have met Black Caesar. In his account, the pirate had been an African chieftain captured by slave traders who survived a hurricane and washed up on Elliott Key. His story describes the Black Caesar who landed in the early 18th century and was captured aboard Blackbeard’s sloop. Upon closer inspection, Boe Pent’s account is a blending of both Black Caesars associated with Elliott Key, though 100 years separate the two. Boe Pent, himself, is a challenging character. Beyond a second-hand retelling of an overheard story, there seems to be no documentation of a man named Boe Pent. The only Pent born in 1810 was James Edward Anthony Pent who died, in Key West, on May 19, 1864. What makes the Black Caesar story such a legendary tale is not just that it spans more than a century but that it has been retold so many times that it has rooted itself quite snugly into the lore of the Keys. More than 200 years of time, tide, hurricanes and archaeological exploration have yet to reveal any evidence of a pirate encampment or the treasure each of these two pirates is alleged to have buried on Elliott Key — but it is a great story.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

CUTOFF SWITCH NOW REQUIRED

Law aims to reduce runaway boats and propeller strikes

CARELESS ANCHORING HURTS REEF Many ocean lovers anchor to pursue their favorite pastime. While some are careful anchoring, others aren’t. Carelessly or maliciously dropping anchors onto reefs causes serious harm to the reef below. Boat anchors, chains and lines break coral, as well as basket sponges and marine life. Pulling it up drags the anchor, chain and line over the reef, destroying large areas of living coral. Divers in the Florida Keys see it all too often. Of course, it is against the law with penalties in place for damaging coral with anchors, but it’s no easy task to enforce. Therefore, it’s important the individual take personal responsibility for safe anchoring in sand away from the reef. Modern technology with depth finders that show bottom profiles make it easy to anchor off reefs. Not every boat has sophisticated bottom profilers, however. Those boats must then use mooring balls to tie off. Once thought to be infinite, coral reefs today are in peril. Coral disease, turbid water, increased ocean temperatures and coral bleaching with acid rain have all contributed to coral death. In the Keys alone, one of the world’s largest reef systems, scientists have reported that live coral coverage amounts to only 3% to 5%. In the 1970s live coral coverage was 50% to 70%. Human activity is changing the land and ocean environment throughout the world and in places like Florida. Under a couple of inches of trucked-in topsoil and sod, sand and limestone substrate receive everything that is put on the soil above. The percolation ends up in the marine environment. Agricultural runoff with high nitrogen content has destroyed vast reaches in not only Florida Bay, but also the ocean environment. Evaporation of chemicals and animal waste along with sewage and stormwater runoff have created favorable conditions for algae, which eventually choke coral and deplete oxygen in the water when they die and sink to the bottom. Life in the oceans depends on coral reefs to spawn, nurture and live. Add to that significant coral damage from careless anchoring and the problem becomes critical. Be sure to anchor securely off and away from coral reefs. Be mindful of chains and lines that will destroy vast underwater areas when an anchor is pulled. Do not let anchors slip and get pulled into reef areas. Use mooring balls that are provided almost everywhere to prevent anchor damage. Educate friends and family about safe anchoring. Every little bit helps. — John Christopher Fine, an avid Florida Keys diver

A lanyard is looped around the wrist to stop the boat’s engine in the event the operator is thrown from the helm. U.S. COAST GUARD/Contributed

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

new federal law requiring use of engine cutoff switches is setting out to prevent runaway boats and injuries in instances when the operator is separated from the helm. The law that took effect a few months ago applies to recreational vessels, but not all. It specifically targets boats that are manufactured after January 2020, have 3 horsepower or more, and are less than 26 feet in length. Vessels with an enclosed cabin helm and those built before January 2020 aren’t required to have an engine cutoff switch. If vessels fit that category, operators must have an engine cut-off lanyard clipped to themselves. It’s usually a coiled bungee cord lanyard that’s looped around the wrist or attached to clothing. The cord is attached to the boat’s cut-off switch. Fines are $100, $250 and $500 for the first, second and third offenses of the new law, which applies to all navigable waters of the U.S. When an operator wears a link while underway, the engine will cut off if the operator is separated from the operating area, which can happen if the operator is tossed from the helm. Injuries and deaths stemming from operators being thrown have been seen on the Florida Keys waters. In July 2020, a 25-year-old was killed after he was thrown from his boat and struck by the vessel’s propellers. Last May, a 58-year-old Key Largo man traveling at high speed in Blackwater Sound was thrown from his vessel into the mangroves. He died from his injuries.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, shutting down the engine prevents the operator or others on the boat from being struck by a propeller in the event they’re thrown from the vessel. It also can assist the operator in safely returning to the drifting vessel. The new law comes following a 2020 recreational boating year that saw 804 boating accidents and 72 deaths in Florida. That’s up from 679 accidents and 62 deaths the previous year. Nationwide, accidents increased by 26 percent from 2019 to 2020 — a pandemic contributing to more activity on the water. The Coast Guard is urging boaters to be responsible on the water, and that includes wearing a life jacket, taking a boating safety course and attaching the engine cut-off switch. Verne Gifford, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, said Americans are injured and killed in boating accidents every year, and they could have easily been prevented. “This new rule is intended to make the use of these life-saving devices second nature for boaters, just as seat belt laws have for motorists,” he said. An earlier law, passed by Congress in 2018, required manufactures to install an emergency engine cut-off switch. Even though it is now a law, most U.S. boat manufacturers have voluntarily installed engine cutoff switches on their boats for decades.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a typical three-blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can inflict 160 impacts in one second, so it is critical that you are aware of what is going on around you.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021 Former Walgreens property at 81981 Overseas Highway is for sale. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

PRIME REAL ESTATE Village to submit bid for former Walgreens property JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

nter the village of Islamorada into the mix of potential buyers of vacant property on Upper Matecumbe Key. Council members voted unanimously during a special meeting July 21 to place a bid of $2.5 million for the former Walgreens property at 81981 Overseas Highway. Discussion dates back to April when village council members discussed traffic problems and directed staff to examine whether the Walgreens property was for sale. The idea was that the vacant property could alleviate traffic congestion and parking in an area with businesses nearby. Property in the heart of Islamorada came back for discussion during an earlier July meeting. Council members expressed interest in making an offer, but concerns were relayed over where the money would come from. Village Manager Greg Oravec proceeded to contact the listing agent earlier in July to relay the village’s potential interest in the property. The village was given until midnight on July 21 to present its offer. Zoned village center, the property is expected to garner offers from developers who could build a gas station and convenience store. Village officials have different ideas for the property, however. Oravec said the right project could move the village's stock up, and the wrong project could move the village’s stock down. Oravec said the village could control development of the property, if purchased, through a village project or public-private partnership. Oravec placed emphasis on the village’s ability to control property if it were the suitor.

“When you think about public purposes, obviously parking has been brought up, affordable has been brought up and the hosting of community events in a parking field,” he said. “You can use it for many purposes, even on a transitional basis like a farmer’s market and food truck invasions and all kinds of things that are important to the community.” In the absence of owning property, Oravec told council members they would only have the ability to regulate property through zoning code. And that doesn’t give absolute control. “There are all kinds of things that may be permitted but ideally you wouldn’t want to see,” he said. “I suspect if we would just let this go to market, this property might go under contract with major conditional type uses in the village center zoning code. That means like convenience stores with fuel stations. Is that the right use for this place?” In the near term, Oravec said, the vacant building on the property could be demolished in order to turn the site into a parking lot of about 100 spaces. He said parking could be the short-term use of property, should the village acquire it, until a plan is set with public discussions and meetings. Oravec said the village could take money from the unassigned fund balance in the village’s general fund, which currently sits at around $8 million. Funds could also come from discretionary sales tax. “There’s no need to dip into reserves,” he said. Following Oravec’s report, Councilman David Webb expressed his support to move ahead with a bid. Webb acknowledged comments submitted by the public about other competing issues that need to be addressed in the village. In his statements, he noted that the village has the fundamental resources in the community to address everything from affordable housing to greenspace and stormwater. “I’d hate to see us say, ‘Well, we don’t want to spend money on affordable housing because we have to spend money on stormwater,’” he said. “We need to find a way to address those issues long-term and short-term.” Councilman Henry Rosenthal said he feels comfortable that Walgreens officials are aware of the community's character. He said he hopes Walgreens' decision isn’t solely based on purchase price. “I think they have the inside track as to what Islamorada should look like as a community,” he said. “I think they will take that into consideration, hopefully, more so than the purchase price. If that’s what they’re doing, they should be commended on the way they’re handling this.” Mayor Buddy Pinder said he’s glad to see the village getting to this point. Pinder said the village could always sell property down the road.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 11AM-9:30PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 11AM-10PM 1

PROTECTING AND PRESERVING MILESTONE Florida Bay Forever celebrates five years

Florida Bay Forever staff and board of directors recently celebrated five years of protecting and preserving Florida Bay at their new home at Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve in Islamorada. More than 70 residents, members and elected officials joined the organization for an after-hours birthday celebration on July 16.More information is at www.floridabayforever.org. — Contributed

CONTRIBUTED 1. The Florida Bay Forever board. From left, Mark Gregg, Elizabeth Jolin, Capt. Steve Friedman, Vivian Morrison, Capt. Xavier Figueredo and Emma Haydocy. 2. Vivian Morrison holds a Florida Bay Forever license plate, which is now available for purchase, next to Jim Sutton, Florida National Parks Association executive director and Carma Sutton, wife. 3. Joining the five-year celebration were Islamorada Councilman Henry Rosenthal, Mary Barley, chair of the Everglades Trust, Islamorada Mayor Buddy Pinder and Cerise Pinder.

102770 OVERSEAS HWY, KEY LARGO 305.451.0565 | LAZYLOBSTERINTHEKEYS.COM

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

A SWEET MATCH Keys chocolate shop changes hands JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

renowned chocolate and ice cream shop in the Upper Keys has new chocolatiers leading the factory. With shops at MM 100.5 in Key Largo and MM 81.9 in Islamorada, many locals have seen Bob Thomas stocking shelves inside local stores or on U.S. 1 driving the chocolate truck. Meanwhile, his wife, Kris, would be whipping up chocolates and running the stores. The two are enjoying some traveling and their beautiful home in Key Largo, with their retirements now official after 11 years. Entering the chocolate factory is a couple who, like Bob and Kris Thomas, have chocolate and the community at the center of their hearts. Rich and Bronna Peterson have run Voice Chocolate in Lake Park, near North Palm Beach, for a number of years. They set out to grow the candy company by creating new products, but they also placed emphasis on shaping lives. Roughly six months ago, the two were seeking a business purchase. An opportunity to run another sweet shop came their way. Rich said they decided to add the Keys chocolate shops to the repertoire to build and grow both places with a mix of products. Not only that, what drew them to the opportunity was the involvement Bob and Kris Thomas had in the Keys community. “Their vision was kind of similar to what we were doing up there,” Bronna said. “It was a kind of a match. It felt right when we were down here.” Kris Thomas couldn’t help but look back on an exciting 10-plus years crafting chocolates and relationships in the community. “We built what we felt was a really super company, and we were able to be philanthropic in community, and enjoyed so many different things,” she said “It was a true work of love.” Along with running a chocolate shop, the Petersons also spent some

20 years running after-school programs and camps. They also have helped kids through tough times via the Little Smiles of Florida program. Once the workday at Voice Chocolate would end, the Petersons would head right to the after-school program. They’d also take kids on a school bus to places during summer camp. Bronna said the camp came to an end with the coronavirus pandemic emerging. “Most campers we’ve known since they were 5,” Bronna said.

Rich and Bronna Peterson, left, shake hands with Bob and Kris Thomas. CONTRIBUTED

Through Little Smiles, the Petersons would also send gifts to children who’ve gone through rough times. “Whether in or out of prison, homeless, parents died, drugs have been affecting the community in so many ways,” Rich said. “People don’t know where to go or who to reach out to and they fall through cracks.” The Petersons said the Thomases have been instrumental since they took over the chocolate and ice cream shop. Rich said the biggest difference between the stores in the Keys and the one in Palm Beach is the foot traffic. “This is a chocolate and ice cream store that sees a lot of tourist traffic. Our store up north has less foot traffic, more gift boxes, baskets, specialties, seasonal,” he said. “We’re kind of closed up there because we don’t get a lot of business in the summertime.” Kris Thomas said she’s pleased that Bob and her were able to find a couple who have the energy, ambition and knowledge to carry the business forward. “They’re going to carry on the same attitude as we had as far as the community,” Thomas said. Keys Chocolates and Ice Cream also has a full case of candies that range from salted caramels and dipped pretzels to Key lime macaroons to sugar-free chocolate. Key lime chocolate gift boxes are also available, as is the famous Key lime on a stick. WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021 C&C WOOD FIRE EATS in Key Largo, co-owned by Jill and Mike Atwell, is known for its Neapolitan pizza. The pie comes out of the restaurant’s nearly 1,000-degree oak-burning stove. “But people have been coming in for our oysters,” said Mike Atwell. Specifically, these 15-ingredient Calabrian chili butter oysters, which are also roasted in the oak-burning stove. The Italian chili has a different flavor profile than Mexican chilis. “But they do pack a punch,” Jill Atwell pointed out. “Not too spicy. People love it, love it, love it.”

FLORIDA KEYS TABLE T

he Florida Keys boast some of the most iconic eateries and bars in the world. Creative culinary minds elevate local seafood to new levels and celebrate contemporary fusion, Cuban, Caribbean, Asian, French and other international influences. Our chain of islands is one of the world’s top food and drink destinations. In addition to the eats, the skilled professionals who define our local hospitality industry do much more than mix unique cocktails and serve delicious meals. These men and women are also our ambassadors, social directors, travel advisors and unlicensed — but often effective — therapists. To celebrate our unique culinary culture, Keys Weekly brings you this bi-weekly feature to highlight the food, libations and local personalities that define our “must-try” destinations across the Florida Keys. Whether you’re a firsttime tourist or fifth-generation local, be sure to indulge in something new or revisit a familiar favorite. And above all, support the local owners and employees who are vital to our Keys communities. — Weekly staff report

For more, visit our Keys Table Magazines online at keysweekly.com/table. Our Florida Keys Table Magazines are published nine times a year in the Upper Keys, Marathon and Key West. For more information email: Stephanie@keysweekly.com.

LA ISLA TACO GRILL, MARATHON Oscar Solis, Chef/Manager How long have you been in the Keys? Since January 31, 2021. Then we opened the taco truck soon after. How long have you been in the restaurant business? About five years. Where are you from? I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in El Paso, Texas. What’s your favorite part of the job? That we create jobs. We have given opportunities to people from the U.S., Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. What’s the best advice that’s ever been given to you? To thank God for what you have, keep fighting for your dreams, work hard and be happy. What’s the last thing you bought on Amazon? Aprons. What’s the last thing you watched on Netflix? Virgin River. Talk about a Key West combination. WAHLBURGERS’ KEY Lime Margarita combines the best of both worlds — Key lime pie and margaritas. “It’s made with coconut tequila, KeKe Key lime liqueur and sour mix,” said Wahlburgers manager Austin Bokop. “And of course the glass is rimmed with graham cracker to add a little extra sweetness to this liquified pie.”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

BEHIND THE WALL

THE ARREST OF EL CHAPO? 300 METRIC TONS OF COCAINE? THE DIRECTOR OF JIATF SOUTH GAVE QUITE A PRESENTATION AT THE BOCC MEETING CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

he arrest of drug kingpin El Chapo. The interdiction of 300 metric tons of cocaine. Monitoring human smuggling and shipments of bulk cash and weapons. And plans for a quarter-billion-dollar facility. These are not the usual topics of discussion for a Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting. But they are all in a typical day’s work for Coast Guard Rear Admiral Doug Fears, the director of Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West. Fears came to the July 2021 BOCC session to announce plans for JIATF South’s headquarter’s renovation, raise awareness about its mission, and reveal a (tiny) bit about its covert operations. “We work behind the wall in Truman Annex,” Fears said, referring to the name of the headquarters. “We’ve got people in 21 different countries around the hemisphere, and we do detection and monitoring for illicit activities in the Western Hemisphere, principally cocaine coming to the United States. Just this past year, we were a party to the interdiction of just about 300 metric tons of cocaine coming towards the United States.” Fears emphasized JIATF South’s integral relationship with the Florida Keys, pointing out that the facility has 600 employees who live throughout the Lower Keys, including Marathon. Their salaries total more than $37 million. “So all those resources are in this community,” he said. Fears’ main presentation for the commissioners was the renovation of the Truman Annex, which received a lot of damage from Hurricane Irma. “The question was raised, ‘Should JIATF South continue to operate in Key West, Florida?’” he said. After exhaustive studies, Navy Admiral Craig Faller of U.S. Southern Command in Miami made the final decision in spring 2020 to

keep JIATF South in Key West. The interagency task force was started in 1989 by the Reagan administration as part of its anti-drug enforcement policy, and the headquarters was originally in Panama. Eventually, the facility was moved to Key West. JIATF South is a tenant of the U.S. Navy, but it also is part of an Army garrison, which means the Army pays for salaries and the facility. Fears described this running of the Truman Annex by different agencies as “peculiar but it works.” After the decision to keep JIATF South in Key West, he said, the Army committed $12 million to begin design of the command control facility, and they are “at the 35 percent point of designing the new facility.” The Army estimates that the renovation of the headquarters will cost $250 million or $300 million and that breaking ground may begin in fiscal year 2025 or 2026. “There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in there,” said Fears. When the time came for the commissioners to ask questions after Fears’ presentation about the renovations, they couldn’t resist asking about JIATF South’s actual covert activities and his own role. Commissioner Craig Cates said, “JIATF is a huge part of the community, a lot of great jobs and people who work there.” But, he asked, why are Coast Guard personnel usually picked to direct the agency? “I’ve been doing drug interdiction on the high seas for 35 years,” Fears explained. “And so, because the interdiction and apprehension is connected to the monitoring of what the joint interagency task force does, it gives us a kind of an intimate understanding of the enterprise.” Commissioner David Rice asked, “The mission has broadened considerably. Are you able to speak to some of those broader issues?” “Illicit trafficking is Illicit trafficking,” Fears said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s drugs, bulk cash, weapons, smuggling of humans. They’re all illicit activities. Illicit organizations are in-

volved in those.” JIATF South, he said, works with investigators from the DEA, FBI and Homeland Security. The drugs, once interdicted by the agency, give investigators an entrée into encountering international criminal organizations and drug kingpins — or what the Justice Department calls a Centralized Priority Organization Target, a.k.a. a “CPOT.” “So what happens is the investigation builds over time, and then many times these investigations lead to the takedowns of CPOTs. And so El Chapo is probably one of the more famous ones recently. There were maritime interdictions that contributed to the investigatory effort that ultimately resulted in the extradition and takedown of one of Mexico’s worst CPOTs.” With that, the commissioners thanked Rear Admiral Doug Fears both for his service and his presentation … then resumed with the more usual county topics. 1. Coast Guard crewmembers inspect a low-profile semi-submersible in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Aug. 14, 2020. Cocaine, worth an estimated $390 million, was seized in 13 suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America between late May and late August. U.S. COAST GUARD/Contributed 2. On June 14, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Doug Fears, JIATFS director, right hosted a visit from Brig. Godfrey Bess of the Guyana Defence Force. They are standing in front of Bigfoot, a confiscated semi-submersible vessel that was used to smuggle drugs and is on display at the JIATFS facility. JIATFS/Contributed 3. The Army, which works with JIATF South, estimates that the renovation of the Truman Annex headquarters will cost $250 million or $300 million and that breaking ground may begin in fiscal year 2025 or 2026. This is the proposed facility. JIATFS/Contributed

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

MIAMI FLOTILLA STOPS IN KEY WEST, THEN HEADS FOR CUBAN COAST

Five Cuban migrants were found aboard a makeshift vessel about 15 miles off the coast of Islamorada on July 24. U.S. COAST GUARD/ Contributed

27 MORE CUBANS SENT BACK

oast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton's crew repatriated 27 Cubans to Cuba on July 27, following two interdictions off Florida’s coast. In the first interdiction, a good Samaritan reported a 21-foot vessel with 22 people aboard, some 7 miles south of Key West, to Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders at about 3:45 p.m. on July 23. They were brought aboard Coast Guard Cutter William Trump and transferred to the Charles Sexton and reported in good health. In the second interdiction, Coast Guard Station Islamorada reported a makeshift raft with five people aboard, some 15 miles offshore of Islamorada to Sector Key West watchstanders at about 4 p.m. on July 24. A Station Islamorada boat crew picked up the five people and transferred them to the Charles Sexton. They were reported in good health. “Taking to the seas on unsafe vessels is dangerous and can result in loss of life,” said Capt. Adam Chamie, Coast Guard Sector Key West Commander. "We request all mariners to report any possible migrant voyages to help prevent loss of life at sea." Since Oct, 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 595 Cubans compared to: 5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016 1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017 259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018 313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019 49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020 Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. — Contributed

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

earing #SOSCUBA signs and flying Cuban and American flags, a flotilla of seven boats from Miami stopped for fuel in Key West Friday on July 23, then departed for international waters offshore of Havana, Cuba. The effort was said to be planned to “safely show support for the Cuban people.” Although the U.S. Coast Guard did not sanction the event, officers were closely monitoring it with boats and aircraft. Participating boats were planning to muster 12 nautical miles (about 15 miles) off Havana and remain in international waters to show support for the Cuban people in their recent demand for freedom from the oppressive communist regime that has ruled the island nation since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. Jim Gilleran, secretary of state of the Conch Republic, and a volunteer vessel safety inspector with the Power Squadron, conducted safety inspections of the departing boats, which initially had planned to launch Chinese lanterns and fireworks offshore at sunset so the Cuban people could see the support from their American neighbors. But fireworks were not permitted aboard the vessels, and Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Jose Hernandez reminded participants that flares are for emergency use only, and discharging them would likely attract the attention of Coast Guard or other

Boats from Miami bearing the #SOSCUBA signs refuel on July 23 at Key West’s Conch Harbor Marina before departing for international waters offshore of Havana, Cuba to show support for the Cuban people. ‘LOBSTER’ LEE STARLING/Contributed

Jim Gilleran of the mock Conch Republic Navy and a certified vessel safety inspector for the Power Squadronb is interviewed by Miami news channels while awaiting the arrival of the small flotilla bound for Cuba. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

The U.S. Coast Guard did not sanction the flotilla but is monitoring it. JIM GILLERAN/Contributed

law enforcement on the water. “These boats are within their legal rights to be in international waters, at least 12 nautical miles from Cuba,” Hernandez told the Keys Weekly before the flotilla’s arrival in Key West. “We’re neither escorting nor shadowing the flotilla. We’re simply aware of the event and are maintaining our current and continuing presence in the Florida Straits between here and Cuba.” Gilleran’s private boat, flying the Conch Republic and American flags, planned to escort the flotilla to Sand Key, about seven miles off Key West.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

DIGGING INTO THE TRASH

Council turns down rate increase for commercial pickups JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

proposed rate increase in commercial garbage pickup requested to the village of Islamorada was voted down by the dais following lengthy conversation at a July 22 meeting. Council members also didn’t agree with the company’s request for an earlier start time for commercial collection, but they did find some middle ground. Advanced Disposal, which was taken over by Waste Management last October, requested village officials in May to amend an agreement for a 7% rate increase for commercial collection. Requests were also made for use of the consumer price index for trash services and to allow garbage trucks to get on the road as early as 5 a.m. Issues surrounding Advanced Waste Disposal date back to July 2020, as then-council members discussed missed pickups and bins being left by the road for days. Advance Disposal provides trash, recycling and yard waste collection and disposal services for all residential and commercial properties in Islamorada through a contract with the village, which has been in place for several years. That contract for 2019-20 was valued at more than $4.5 million. Village Manager Greg Oravec told the dais that no specific evidence was provided that justified raising commercial rates. He said the contract as written provides annual increases of 3% based on the consumer price index. Increasing rates would result in franchise fees that the village receives on commercial collections, and that’s around $600,000. “We have a contract that goes through 2023. Waste Management acquired Advanced Disposal knowing what the contract was,” Oravec said. “The contract provides for a CPI annual adjustment, but no more than 3%. Therefore, they’re going to get a 3% increase already without action.” While voicing objection to the increase, Councilman David Webb said the islands don’t have 50 vendors vying for Islamorada’s business. “The service is generally very, very good. I’ve had that service in Port Antigua since I moved down here in 2013,” he said. “There are things that can be improved as always, but generally the trash gets picked up.” Webb asked if there was any justification for the commercial rate

hike. Greg Sullivan, local manager with Waste Management, said he’s facing labor issues. “I don't know where all the workers went but they’re gone,” he said. “When we took over, we instituted a housing allowance program. It doesn’t matter if folks come from the Homestead area. … We are fortunate to have some live in the Keys. It’s to help offset that.” Sullivan also noted that higher steel prices meant that while he could buy dumpsters a year ago for roughly $340, they now cost $600. “Steel prices just went up 68% in the last 10 months,” Sullivan said. “We're locked into rates set by the village. Any other business, if contractors, restaurant or private provide for dumpsters, that market is wide open. They can adjust rates every day if they want to or need to.” Councilman Mark Gregg acknowledged Waste Management’s $4-billion purchase to buy out what was the fourth-largest company in Advanced Disposal. “I have a hard time giving a company of that size a raise on the backs of ratepayers in Islamorada. I can’t do that.” Council members agreed to allow garbage trucks to get on the road for commercial pickup at 6 a.m. In other matters, village council members agreed to extend a wastewater code lien amnesty program by 60 more days to help 23 properties get connected to the sewer system. Oravec said he intends to meet with the remaining holdouts to advise the dais on their situations. Those who aren’t hooked up must have a permit by Oct. 31. Connection must be complete by Dec. 31. Council members approved a resolution to set a preliminary millage rate of 3.015 as they prepare for 202122 budget season. Oravec said he intends to propose a lower mileage rate as part of the proposed budget. Based on the 2021 valuations, the rolled-back rate is 2.849. A rate of 3.015 is 5.83% above the rolled-back rate. The 2021 gross taxable value provided by the Monroe County Property Appraiser’s Office is $4,280,333,438. For purposes of calculating the rolledback rate, an adjusted current year taxable value amounts to $4,221,442,364. The first budget hearing is set for Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. The final budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

BRIEFLY National Night Out set for Tuesday Meet local first responders, military and community partners for National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Key Largo Community Park and Founders Park in Islamorada. Visit vehicle displays, boats, equipment and learn from informational booths. The evening will also include food and fun. The evening is designed to promote community spirit and awareness to combat crime. United Way targets grants to help families United Way of Collier and the Keys focused its grantmaking for 2021-22 on helping working families recover from recession and build more secure financial futures. Nearly $370,000 will be invested in 16 programs at local nonprofits providing early-childhood education, afterschool programs, or summer camps for children. With these enhanced educational supports, UWCK is fostering a more prosperous and secure future for these children and our community. Providing safe, enriching childcare, these programs also represent an investment in parents, empowering them to pursue employment and professional opportunities to help their families achieve financial stability. More than $338,000 will be invested in 19 programs at local nonprofits that offer food, housing, transportation, and emergency utilities assistance. Providing these essentials is the first step in helping to stabilize struggling families so that they can find and secure employment and get back on their feet. Six programs will receive more than $80,000 to ensure children and adults with low incomes can access quality medical care, eye exams, prescriptions, and mental health services. A grant of $37,500 will help working families when they need civil legal services: protecting them from unscrupulous employers, illegal evictions, and offering them the advice and counsel they need to successfully launch small businesses. “We have spent the last three years focusing our funding on programs and services for individuals and families living paycheck-to-paycheck. Thanks to thousands of generous individual donors and local businesses, we continue to provide hardworking families the hand up they need to thrive,” shared Steve Sanderson, president and CEO of United Way of Collier and the Keys.

SAVE THE DATE Tuesday, Aug. 3 • Storytime at 10:30 a.m. at Key Largo Library • Tech tutor from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Key Largo Library • Islamorada Village Council budget workshop at 3 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. • Monroe County Sheriff’s Office hosts National Night Out from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the Keys. Wednesday, Aug. 4 • LEGO Lab for kids at 2 p.m at Key Largo Library Thursday, Aug. 5 • Storytime at 10:30 a.m. at Key Largo Library Aug. 9 • Local Planning Agency meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center Aug. 10 • Florida Keys Orchid Society meeting with guest Juanita Contreras at 6 p.m. at the Key Largo Civic Club. Aug. 12 • First day of school for students of Monroe County School District. Aug. 13 • From Legal Services of Greater Miami & Florida Keys, free, in-person civil legal clinics for those in need at the Key West Public Library. Aug. 16 • Islamorada Achievable Housing Citizens’ Committee meeting at 5 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. Aug. 19-20 • Leadership Success Academy, board training program for all Keys nonprofits by Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West. cffk.org/lsa Aug. 19 • Book signing with nonprofit management expert Alex Counts at 3:30 p.m. at Tennessee Williams Theater, Key West. Aug. 17 • Marathon Chamber luncheon at noon at Castaway Restaurant. Aug. 18 • From Legal Services of Greater Miami & Florida Keys, free, in-person civil legal clinics for those in need at the Key Largo Public Library. Aug. 19 • Islamorada Village Council regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. Aug. 21-22 • Vintage Dive Days with various activities, venues and times, hosted by the History of Diving Museum and NAUI, Islamorada. divingmuseum.org.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

CAN YOU PAINT WITHOUT A LICENSE? State says yes; local tradesmen worry it will put them out of business SARA MATTHIS

sara@keysweekly.com

hen Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill preempting the requirement of local occupational licensing in Florida, he set off a firestorm among Keys contractors and tradesmen. The bill deals with specialty licenses for people who paint buildings, or put down pavers and even landscapers — not general contractors or plumbers or electricians or any other tradesmen doing work with life safety implications, who are already licensed by the state. Currently, there are about 400 specialty licensed tradesmen registered in Monroe County. And, as of July 1, the county is no longer issuing any new licenses, as prescribed by the new state law. Existing specialty licenses will continue to be honored in Monroe County for two years, at which time they will expire. Many of those same 400 tradesmen who have a specialty license with Monroe County also pay a licensing fee in Key West, Marathon and Islamorada to do work in those jurisdictions. Florida Rep. Jim Mooney said the bill’s aim was to correct just that — redundant fees. “It enhances a businessman’s ability to do his job without jumping through a thousand hoops. Why do I need a license to be a painter? I can’t think of a reason. It doesn’t do anything for my career,” Mooney said. “Put it this way, in Hillsborough County there are 28 licensed painters. I’m pretty sure there are more than 28 painters doing work. In Broward County, you need a special license to hang a cabinet. Why? Anybody can screw a cabinet to a wall with a level and a screw gun.” Who can pull a permit? What the new law doesn’t address, though, is permitting. And that is causing much angst and confusion. It’s common practice in the Keys for specialty licensed tradesmen to pull permits for local homeowners for things like stucco work, flooring, interior decorating or cabinetry. When the specialty license expires, who can pull the permit? Unless a local general contractor (remember, they are still licensed by the state of Florida) agrees to pull the below-theirpay-grade permit, it must be the homeowner who does so. When the homeowner pulls the permit they must sign an owner/ builder affidavit. Among the promises they make is that they provide the labor and the materials, and that they will “not hire an unlicensed person to act as my contractor or to supervise the persons working on my building or residence.” The homeowner also must comply with laws requiring the withholding of federal income tax and social security contributions, and provide workers compensation for the employee; proof may be required. So, as it currently stands in Monroe County: non-licensed tradesmen can’t pull permits. And, if homeowners pull the permits, they have to supervise, pay and insure the tradesmen. Monroe County Building Official Rick Griffin said he allows owners of vacation homes, or properties that are not homesteaded,

to pull owner-builder permits in only very special circumstances, with heavy assurances that they will meet the criteria. “For the people who say, ‘Just get rid of that type of permit,’ well, it’s easier said than done,” said Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger. “Other parts of the state may scoff at us for requiring a permit to put up a fence. But in parts of the Keys where there are Key deer, there’s a good justification for that permit because it is required to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act. We’ve got higher law. If you issue permits that endanger these species … Monroe County could incur civil or criminal penalties from the federal government. We are caught between the medium-sized elephant (the state) and the giant-sized elephant (the federal government),” Shillinger said. The workaround The only way to circumvent the snarl of Monroe County and state of Florida licensing requirements is to level up. In other words, a painter could sit for the state’s contractor exam and get a license. Then, as a state-licensed general contractor, he or she could pull a permit for house painting. “Statewide, there are about 500,000 business people on a twoyear clock to get their state-issued contractor’s license. The licensing system is hopelessly logjammed. You can’t even get a seat at the test table,” said John Coffin, of Coffin Marine Services in Key West. Armand Messina, of AM Electric in Marathon, also installs aluminum shutters under his specialty license. “That puts me out of that business, along with my employees,” Messina said. “That, or getting a state (contractors) license and that will take a year of my life. It’s six months of school, two thousand dollars in books and the test is an eight-hour exam. It’s a big deal. This is not a simple, little task.” One contractor, speaking at a Monroe County Commission meeting said, “No painter is ever going to sit for their state general contractor license. It’s just not going to happen.”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

So, as it currently stands in Monroe County: non-licensed tradesmen can’t pull permits. And, if homeowners pull the permits, they have to supervise, pay and insure the tradesmen.

Consumer protection Monroe County government officials, local contractors and tradesmen agree on one thing: the homeowner needs protection. “I believe the governor thought he was doing something good, making it easier,” said Rudy Krause, who is a local general contractor. “But he didn’t hear the whole story. It could cost $30,000 to tile a house, or $20,000 to paint a house. But eight or nine months later, when the tiles pop up because the thin set wasn’t mixed correctly, or the paint starts peeling off the walls, there’s no recourse. The consumer needs to have protection too, because there are so many people out there who don’t know what they are doing.” Businesses that perform specialty services are still required to have workman’s comp for their employees, in case they are hurt on the job, and some may even have liability insurance, whether they are licensed or unlicensed. Asking for proof of insurance is just common sense, said Rep. Mooney. “If you’re going to hire someone, you just have to ask if they have insurance,” said Mooney. “A homeowner wouldn’t hire someone without insurance.” But Shillinger, the county attorney, said even something as simple as installing pavers requires experience. “If a person puts pavers down and it sheds water off the property onto a county road, and then it comes off the county road and onto a neighbor’s property, the neighbor can sue the county for a taking because we have flooded his property,” said Shillinger. “That’s why we have open space requirements, retention requirements, things like that.” What’s next? “We are going to have to take a look at our permits and decide which ones have gone overboard,” said Shillinger. “That’s going to take a little time. In removing permit requirements we should take a studied approach. “And we tie our planning permits to building permits. It’s just going to be a complicated mess,” Shillinger said. In addressing the elected county commissioners, Shillinger

said he has been in contact with other counties to see how they are handling this preemption by the state and warned the commissioners if they sought to drastically circumvent the new state law, the consequences could be even harsher. Monroe County Commissioner Mike Forster agreed. “We can come up with ideas for moving forward, but then the state can just preempt us again. We will get better traction with a bigger consensus of Florida counties to make sure it sticks,” Forster said. “Otherwise it’s just an exercise in futility.” Mooney said this is not a statewide concern. “Monroe County is the only county that has a problem with this bill. I’ve spoken to everyone — my friends in Jacksonville, my friends in Miami and my friends to the west in Fort Myers. No one else is having an issue with this bill,” Mooney said. Shillinger and Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron said the specialty license holders and their colleagues, general contractors, could be their own best advocates in Tallahassee when the next legislative session begins. “I’m optimistic (we can change the law). If the local contractors band together and go back to Tallahassee, maybe the legislators will hear their voices more clearly. We need to make sure we protect our specialty tradesmen and our homeowners,” Coldiron said.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021 CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

AN ARTIST PUTS DOWN HIS BRUSHES Iconic Keys painter Dan Lawler’s ultimate legacy may be love and kindness Artist Dan Lawler was known for his cheerfulness. CONTRIBUTED

rtist Dan Lawler’s workspace is still on the left upon entering Key Largo Art Gallery. Recently used paint tubes are in a pile in a plastic bin, and his black beret hangs from the easel’s wooden frame. Paint colors are splattered in a constellation across his chair, and brushes sit an arm’s length away. He looks like he’s coming back in just a moment. Perhaps he went out to get one of his favorite sandwiches from the Fish House. But Lawler passed away on the afternoon of July 14. He was 87 years old. And he leaves behind iconic paintings, a parade of refurbished boats and grieving family and friends who adored him. “My best friend and mentor has put down his brushes,” wrote Key Largo Art Gallery coowner Tere Kelley on Lawler’s Facebook page. “From here on out he will be painting beautiful sunsets and marvelous moonscapes on a much larger scale. Sailing through the skies and traveling to parts unknown. This kind and loving man taught me so much about art, about life, kindness and love.” “He was an incredible friend and father figure to me, and Tere’s best friend for the last 15 years,” Carmen Kelley told Keys Weekly. Carmen co-owns the gallery with her daughter Tere, and Lawler worked and displayed his art there. “He really was wonderful, wonderful,” said one of his best friends, Kyle Long. “Danny was always even-keeled, just always cheerful. Never got flustered. Never worried. And a great sense of humor.” “I now see clearly I took his icon status for granted,” said his son Tracy. “Dan always seemed to know everybody in town. Every time I would visit, wherever we went, he would always be running into current friends or some from back in the day. He was so well-liked, which is the ultimate legacy.” Lawler is well-known in the Florida Keys art scene for his oil paintings depicting gritty everyday life. His most famous works include “Busted,” where a man at a bar drinks beer with a smile on his face while, unbeknownst to him, his wife stands in the doorway behind him with her hands on her hips; and his “bail-drop paintings,” where bails of drugs are flung from planes flying low and a crew waits to gather them up. The viewer can practically hear the roar of the plane’s engine while looking at the scene.

Dan Lawler with his three sons, from left: Grant, Dan, Danny and Tracy Lawler, circa 2010.

But Lawler painted many other subjects, from Monet’s flower garden to street scenes in the Soviet Union. According to his son Tracy, Lawler would paint constantly, even as he was refurbishing boats — another lifelong passion. “My brothers and I — Danny, Grant and I — grew up in life jackets,” Tracy said half-jokingly. He remembers a childhood of living on one boat and then another, while his father worked on his latest “diamond in the rough,” whether it was a 48-foot Pacemaker Sportfisherman, a 46-foot Chris Craft or a 65-foot circa 1920s Canadian yacht. Dan Lawler was from Chicago and was bitten by the boating bug as a young man when he used a runabout in Fox Lake near McHenry, Illinois. But his artistic talent could not be denied. He received a scholarship to attend the Art Institute of Chicago. Afterward, he made his living as an ironworker for a time in Chicago and in New York, but South Florida always pulled him back. He built up an array of skills due to his constant boat refurbishing projects: carpentry, fiberglass work, boat writing, braiding rope and sewing sails. After a time of living on boats in locations in Miami, the family finally settled in the Keys in 1957. And he worked on his art all the while, often depicting wreckers, smugglers, seascapes and local characters. “Every morning, he used to smoke a cigarette, drink a pot of coffee and sketch on a steno pad,” remembered Tracy. Lawler gradually built up his reputation in the local art scene. As a member of the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, he won many ribbons

Artist Dan Lawler at his easel at Key Largo Art Gallery.

at juried shows, and he was commissioned to do a large piece depicting “Key West and the Florida Keys” for the State Fair, as well as murals for the Key Largo post office and the courthouse in Key West. Friends and family also speak fondly of his second wife Patty, who passed on a few years ago. “She was an absolute angel,” said son Tracy. “Patty and Dan were meant for each other.” Patty was also game for Lawler’s adventures with boats, oftening accompanying him on jaunts to the Bahamas. The couple went through an RV period in later years, traveling across America with their three cats, Butch, Tootsie and Taz. “He was always adventurous, with no fear,” said Tracy. And spiritual. In a biography for an art show, Lawler wrote, “It’s the search … the spiritual thing that I want others to feel and see in my work.” And as Tere wrote in the Facebook post on Dan Lawler’s page, “He would tell me time and again, ‘Honey, artists are creators. Remember you are God.’”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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CONSERVATION TIP This Week’s Dive Report Once again, conditions were amazing! This is the stuff summer Keys dreams are made of. The great viz remained, and the seas were flat and calm. It was a perfect way to ease through the week. We had two big dive shops with us: Scooba Shack and H2O Divers. We took them to the wreck of the Bibb and on a drift dive along Conch Wall. When conditions are as ideal as they have been, these dives are ERIC particularly amazing because there is so much to see. BILLIPS Details of wrecks come into view, even deep underwater. Drift dives are also fun because you get to see so is the owner, much of the reef. captain and This week is also lobster mini-season. Every year, instructor at this is a time when our waters swell with locals and Islamorada Dive Center and Florida visitors trying to get some bugs. When viz and weather Keys Dive Center. cooperate, those numbers just boom. Stay safe if He specializes in scuba, rebreather, you’re out there diving and enjoying. Next Week’s Dive Report spearfishing and This week keeps the good times rolling. It looks captaining in the Florida Keys. spectacular out there, with low winds and lots of sunshine. We are the Sunshine State, after all. Conservation Update We continue to help with I.CARE coral plantings on Islamorada reefs. It is a community effort, made light by many hands. The corals we plant help to restore critical reef habitat for animals like lobsters and fish. By building back the baseline, we help to ensure there will be more lobster mini-seasons, fish to catch, and critters to see underwater.

Coastal Realty OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

305.664.0077 | CoastalFloridaKeys.com PROUD SPONSORS OF I.CARE Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education

The wreck of the Eagle teems with life and color. ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

This is "Lee," our shop dog that goes on the boat and retrieves floating trash. He also helps as a deckhand. ERIC BILLIPS/ Contributed

Lobster mini-season is all about finding and catching these underwater bugs. ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

Carry a net with you on the boat so that you can pick up any trash you find floating on the surface. Secure it in the boat so it doesn’t fly away, and properly dispose of it when you get to shore.

I.CARE plantings will take place on Saturday at Islamorada Dive Center.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

DENTAL CARE YOU CAN

Key Largo Dentists, Dr. Travis Bennett and Dr. Sandy Brito are dedicated to quality dental care. At our beautiful offices we offer a wide array of dental procedures including CT scans, implant /gum surgery, implant prosthetics, full mouth restoration, same day in office crowns and bridges, fillings, orthodontics (braces and Invisalign), teeth whitening, smile makeovers and many other services. “No sell dentistry, state of art office with a staff that cares!”

Dr. Travis W. Bennett, D.M.D. Implant and General Dentistry

TAVERNIER 90290 Overseas Hwy. | 305.852.5099 Tuesdays and Thursday 9AM-5PM

www.everyonelovesagentledentist.com

Dr. George E. vonHilsheimer, MD

Dedicated to Patient Care

KEY LARGO 102965 Overseas Hwy. | 305.451.2616 Monday thru Friday 9AM-5PM

Total Skincare for the Keys!

Dr. Sandy M. Brito, D.M.D. Family and General Dentistry

IMPLANT COSMETIC FAMILY DENTISTRY

“They are very friendly and helpful. They care about their patients and want to make the experience there as pleasant as possible. Dr. V calls after your procedure to make sure that everything is okay. I have been very pleased with my experiences there.”- S.J.

Our Services: CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY:

• Skin Cancer Checks • Acne • MOHS Surgery • Sun Damage • Rosacea • Eczema

COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY:

• Chemical peels • Laser hair removal • Sciton Laser • Fillers • Botox

Schedule an Appointment Today! Florida Keys Mosquito Control kills millions of mosquito larvae before you get to work in the morning. To download our treatment notification app or to make a service request go to www.keysmosquito.org or call 305.292.7190.

Three Great Locations! 1010 Kennedy Dr. Ste. 304 1411 White St.

Key West 305-296-3334

82883 Overseas Hwy. Key West Islamorada 305-294-5400 305-664-8828

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

LETTING HOPE GROW

1,000 Mangroves Planted on Pigeon Key

TIFFANY DUONG

tiffany@keysweekly.com

3 4

1. The all-female ‘WOMangrove Team’ including Michelle Coldiron’s office, Audubon Society, Surfrider Florida Keys and Mote Marine Laboratory helped restore one entire shore of pigeon key. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly 2. Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron names each of her outplants. This one was “Seymour,” and she wished for him to “Grow, grow, grow.” TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly 3. Over 1,000 1-year old red mangrove seedlings originally collected from the Florida Keys were ‘returned home’ and planted along the coastline of Pigeon Key. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly 4. The ‘MANG Bros’ demonstrate how to properly plant a mangrove propagule in the sediment. IAN WILSON-NAVARRO/Keys Weekly 5. Multiple local and state agencies and nonprofits joined the restoration effort on Pigeon Key. IAN WILSON-NAVARRO/Keys Weekly

n the day after #WorldMangroveDay, a coalition of motivated and dedicated volunteers from all over the Keys joined forces on Pigeon Key to plant over 1,000 red mangrove seedlings. Mangroves protect coastlines from storm surge and erosion, sequester carbon, and absorb harmful nutrient runoff that can kill corals. Hurricane Irma destroyed almost all the critical mangrove habitat on the island, so the Pigeon Key Foundation and Marine Science Center worked to get native mangroves to the island and volunteers to plant them. Last October, the Conch Republic Marine Army collected thousands of mangrove propagules to help with this effort. Florida mangrove restoration organization MANG grew the propagules into year-old seedlings in its mainland nurseries and led restoration efforts for the day. “You’re going to have to dig deep and get a little dirty,” Mang co-founder Kyle Rossin told the crowd. Armed with buckets of “baby mangs” and tools to help dig on the rocky shores, volunteers from local schools and organizations took up his challenge. Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron even joined in the effort, naming each of her seedlings and wishing them well. “Thank you. As mayor of Monroe County, I thank you,” she said in earnest. The hope is that the mangroves will take root and revive this ecosystem.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

THU JULY 29 Webb & Davidson 6-10p

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FRI JULY 30 Andy Westcott Band 6-10p Michael Trixx @ Sunset SAT JULY 31 Ray Jaworski 11-3 Shadow Creek 6-10p SUN AUG 1 Webb & Davidson 6-10p MON AUG 2 The Carousers 6-10p TUE AUG 3 Dennis Holmes 6–10p

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WED AUG 4 Vic Kingsley & Billy Davidson 6–10p

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

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The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is seeking a professional facilitator for their 2021 Board of Directors’ Annual Meeting, scheduled for November 1, 2021. For more information on this opportunity and other postings, visit https://bit.ly/ELCVendor

JVastola@VastolaLegal.com

Injured in the Keys?

Please call us today. We want to help.

833-VASTOLA

www.InjuredInTheKeys.com

91495 Overseas Highway, Suite C | Tavernier, Florida 33070 | 305.705.6788

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

PEXELS/Contributed

MELINDA VAN FLEET Melinda Van Fleet is a confidence & peak performance coach, bestselling author of “Confidence Mastery for Couples,” and speaker, who works with businesswomen to believe in themselves, take action and get results.

ARE YOU EVALUATING WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR GOALS?

t’s time for a bit of a mid-year check. It’s mid-year. Can you believe it? A lot is going on, too many things to list. And then you end up reading about “revenge vacation” in a Forbes article. Not a big shocker, I guess, seeing the amount of traffic here in the Keys. But let’s take a moment to reflect: Are you at the place you desire to be in your life? Sit with that for a minute. Well, it may take longer, so give yourself grace. I feel good about where I am at midyear. But I would be lying if I didn’t say it took work to get here. Now I am at a place of editing and letting things go. And that took work too. Here are some examples of letting things go: • Email lists I am on that don’t serve me — unsubscribe. • Clubhouse rooms or Zoom calls where I am just sitting there — quietly leave. • People in my feed who post negative things all the time — don’t like or comment and your feed will shift. • Paid platforms that aren’t helpful — don’t renew. Can you add some of your examples? I had this happen last Saturday with a Clubhouse room. If you don’t know what Clubhouse is, it’s one of the latest social media platforms, and it’s audio only. You can join rooms based on various topics, come and go, as well as follow people. It started with Apple products last year but recently added Android. It’s been growing very fast. There are some excellent aspects to it, but also some time-wasting parts. In this example, a time-wasting aspect but good hindsight, shift and lesson. Here’s the story: Someone I was following on Instagram posted about a room she was hosting that day. The room title intrigued me and is something I am reading

“Make at least one definite move daily towards your goal.” — Bruce Lee

books on — eastern and western spiritual practices. So, I jumped into the room to find that nothing being shared was new to me or in line with the room topic to my expectations. So, after half an hour, I used the “leave quietly” function and went back to working on my business. Whew! I was relieved and grateful for the action I chose. I took a moment to be aware of how I was spending my time, shifted, left the scenario and chose a path that best suited my goals. This wasn’t the first time this happened, so I made some changes to who I was following and a mental note to not to make the same mistake again. “Success is easy to achieve once you set your mind on a specific goal.”—Aristotle. It feels good to cleanse some accounts and start anew with accounts that may help me move forward or learn something new. Finding new people to collaborate with, some new organizations to join and more free time to quiet my brain and let creative juices flow. Social media can work to our advantage and what we desire, or it can be a waste. Either way, it’s a choice, and it’s essential to think about it in conjunction with your goals. I heard a speaker recently say that only 3% of people establish goals. And out of that percentage, how many do the work necessary to achieve them? And then some people wonder why there is the “1%.” What actions are you taking today to get to that next level?

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

A NEW PLAN FOR U.S.1 Monroe County close to finalizing transportation goals ANTHONY GUNTERT

anthony@keysweekly.com

n July 14, Monroe County held a virtual, public meeting and data driven presentation curated by AECOM regarding the new “Transportation Master Plan” and the future of U.S. 1 throughout the county. The plan includes input from the public, law enforcement and state Department of Transportation officials. The findings of previous meetings were combined with additional feedback from locals on a myriad of short-term, mid-term and long-term transportation solutions. Possible solutions for roads, signals, signs, and improvements to traffic issues as well as the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit were addressed alongside sobering statistics that served to highlight the importance and urgency of the changes needed. Commissioner David Rice, who chaired the traffic task force for the county, said the findings have implications not just for traffic control, but also for staffing Florida Keys businesses. “The need to enhance our public transportation system, that’s gonna be a big one,” Rice said. “I think we’re all realizing that we are really hitting close to being out of affordable housing permits, which means we can’t build much more. The obvious alternative is what a lot of other isolated cities have to do, which is build a transportation system that’s comfortable, efficient, and attractive enough to bring (workers) from outside the area.” Based on the findings of the county task force, the AECOM presentation has provided insight into the wants and needs of the Florida Keys. Monroe County citizens have proposed ideas such as installing overhead safety lighting on dark stretches of highway, more turn lanes, reflectors to separate bike paths from the road, erosion protection for exposed oceanside roads and added signs for extra protection at frequent accident sites. According to public data from the presentation, the widening of U.S. 1 to four lanes seemed to be a popular request from

Updating our transportation infrastructure is the overarching goal of the next few years, to make driving safer and easier than ever before in the Florida Keys. ACEOM/ Contributed

many areas of the Keys public, specifically near Islamorada and the Lower Keys. The presentation outlined a few major goals: Public transportation A balanced transportation system would provide space and infrastructure for all means of travel, from buses and cars to bicycles and pedestrians. According to Key West Transit, one of the biggest challenges facing the Keys at the moment is a lack of bus drivers, due both to COVID-19 and and to a general lack of trained drivers with commercial drivers licenses. According to the task force, about 900 passengers per day ride the Miami-Dade-Keys bus to and from their jobs in the Keys. The presenters noted that while the Florida Job Fund is providing training and incentives are being drafted to recruit more drivers, more still needs to be done. Other additional strategies for improving public transportation include using smartphone apps for bus routes that include mapping, and the ability to request pickup at a bus stop. Extending Route 301 to the southern end of Marathon was also mentioned. Traffic safety The task force identified “hot spots” of accident clusters and suggested improved signs in problem areas. In the Keys, vehicular accidents tend to be clustered around certain sites where any combination of factors, from insufficient signs to blind turns, can be deadly. According to the data, the most dangerous part of U.S. 1 in the last six years is the 38-mile stretch from the Miami-Dade county line to Caloosa Cove: 2,666 crashes, 24 of them fatal. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office sent in its own safety recommendations, including adding street lights near bus stops, extra signal lights at critical intersections and putting in additional signs at the most common accident sites throughout the Keys. The task force also addressed causes of traffic congestion, citing areas of the Keys that are currently served by only two lanes and intersections whose

• Most fatal accidents in the Keys are due to head-on collisions. • Most commonly requested improvement: Adding additional signage and restrictions at places like intersections, pull-outs and community entrances • Most proposed form of infrastructure updates by officials: bridge repair and road resurfacing

signals need refining, such as Islamorada. Suggestions included working with the DOT to analyze the flow of traffic in order to add additional turn & acceleration lanes, roundabouts and frontage roads. Tourist-friendly roads A key finding of the task force addressed the importance of preserving the Keys’ “Scenic Byway’’ by introducing enhanced environmental protections for wildlife and defenses against natural events such as hurricanes and storm surges. One of the suggestions is to create pull-over rest areas where visitors can take in the view, without slowing down traffic. Additionally, the completion of our Overseas Heritage Trail has been popular with both visitors and locals alike. Funding The task force also discussed a myriad of funding possibilities with two major ideas leading the pack. One, implement a onecent transportation sales tax while creating a Florida Keys Transit Authority in the style of Aspen, Colorado that would likely require the cities to work with the county directly; or, two, join the South Florida Regional Transport Authority and extend their already established system down to us. The Monroe County Commission will hear the findings at its October meeting and deliberate next steps.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

HOSPITALIZATIONS REMAIN LOW IN MONROE COUNTY

COVID CREEPING BACK By Jim McCarthy and Sara Matthis

ealth officials growing concerned over COVID-19 case spikes in the U.S. are blaming a delta variant and a population of citizens who haven’t received a vaccine. No local policy changes are expected despite an uptick in new cases in Monroe County — doing so would take some serious justification to the state of Florida. And while local officials are monitoring the situation, they say there is no urgent concern. “As of (July 23), there were zero cases of the delta variant in Monroe County, according to a report from Shannon Weiner, our emergency manager,” said Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines on July 27 in lieu of the delta variant and surging cases nationwide. The CDC said people fully vaccinated can participate in many activities as they did before the pandemic. However, in areas where transmission and positive cases are rising, the CDC urges people — even those vaccinated — to wear a mask when indoors in public. A weekly report by the Florida Health Department showed new daily state cases on the downward trend in early June — 18,409 on June 5 to 10,459 on June 11. By July 16, however, that number ticked to nearly 73,200. New positive cases went from 3.3% on June 11 to 15.1% on July 16. A feature on the CDC website allows users to watch the recent spike of COVID-19 spill throughout Florida. Miami-Dade County turned “red” — or highest level of community transmission — on July 4. By July 11, Monroe County had the same status. By July 25, the entire state was categorized as high level. Data from the CDC shows the fall and now rise of new COVID-19 cases in the Florida Keys. In April, the Keys were averaging between 12 and 21 new cases a day. By May, those numbers had fallen to between 1 and 10 new cases a day. In June, fewer than six cases a day were reported in the Keys. In July, the numbers began to climb again. The most recent accounting reveals an average of 13 new cases a day.

Bob Eadie, top health officer in the Keys, said while there is “a great deal of transmission” in Florida and the U.S., hospitalizations locally are low. Eadie said the delta variant seems to be more communicable, with symptoms a little worse. “The good thing is the vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization or death, regardless of which variant it is,” he said. Lower Keys Medical Center remains in green status, with sufficient staffing, equipment and supplies, said CEO David Clay. The hospital was treating four COVID patients as of July 27. “We have seen an increase in patients presenting to the ER with cold and flu symptoms. Age ranges remain consistent,” he said. “Precautions and protocols continue as they have been throughout the pandemic and we remain committed to safely caring for our community. “ Right now, Monroe County has the third highest percentage of vaccinated residents, behind only Sumter County which includes The Villages, and Miami-Dade County. More than 99% of Keys seniors, ages 65 years old and up, have received at least one vaccine. “Only 25 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds have been vaccinated in the Keys,” according to a local health department spokesperson. Terri Axford, the Monroe County School District superintendent, said there were no COVID-19 cases reported during either summer school session. On July 27, the school district met with the health department to talk about the start of the school year in about two weeks for a “regular year” of in-person instruction. “Well, things are changing by the minute still. But for now, we’re just saying that masks are optional, but highly recommended, particularly for unvaccinated students and teachers,” said Axford, adding that the district is following the recommendations of local, state and federal governments. “Parents should be aware of the current situation and transmission rate in our county and make good decisions as it relates to their kids.”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

“Only 25 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds have been vaccinated in the Keys.”

Axford said that students who are exposed to a COVID-19 case, if they are unvaccinated and unmasked, will have to — local health department quarantine. The district spokesperson will continue to encourage hand-washing and discourage crowding in hallways or common areas. Axford also noted that the second half of the past school year (when instruction was offered in-person) saw an infection rate of students and teachers that was less than 3%. Vaccine demand in the Keys has precipitously decreased. Nearly 400 residents were vaccinated between July 16 and July 22, and that brings the total number vaccinated to 47,392 out of roughly 75,000 in the county. Recent data shows a number of younger residents in the state going for a COVID-19 vaccine. In the week of July 16-22, more than 57,000 Florida residents 29 and younger and just over 52,600 between the ages of 30 and 49 received a COVID-19 vaccine. Around 8,800 residents ages 60-64 received a vaccine, while nearly 13,400 in the 65-and-up age range were administered vaccines. “People are still getting vaccinated and it’s still available all over the Keys,” Eadie said. “Some are changing their minds and getting vaccinated, and that’s a good sign too.” Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said in a recent interview with “State of the Union” that the U.S. is going in the wrong direction with increasing cases, which he says are fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the delta variant. Talks over changes to the mask policy have occurred. Eadie said social distancing and mask requirements might go into place in certain parts of the U.S., but it won’t likely be seen in the Keys.

“I don’t think you’ll see an outbreak like we’ve seen earlier — part of that is because so many people have gotten vaccinated,” Eadie said. “I don’t know if we’re going to see numbers that you see in New York or Miami. And our hospitals are in good shape. If you get vaccinated, then the questions go away.” Any policy changes at a local level in relation to pandemics and public health emergencies would need some serious justification, per an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in early May. Ordinances or measures depriving a person of a right, liberty or property requires a governmental entity to prove that the measure is “narrowly tailored” and serves a “compelling governmental interest” through the “least intrusive means.” It also authorizes the governor or legislature to invalidate a city or county measure that “unnecessarily restricts a constitutional right, fundamental liberty or statutory right.” DeSantis cited the vaccines’ effectiveness for the order that ended local mandates, such as the one in Monroe County that required masks when entering inside public places. Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron said constituents have been silent on the rising cases in Florida. “I haven’t really heard from them, no. I think Monroe County is in a great place. My concern is for those that haven’t been vaccinated, especially if they are in the service industry,” she said. “I think it’s important to continue to wash our hands and stay home if you don’t feel well.” Coldiron also noted the strong continuation of public-private partnerships to offer free vaccinations for Monroe County residents. “You can get them at Publix, Winn-Dixie …” she said. Regardless of where someone is vaccinated, masks are still required when flying or on public transportation, per current guidance by the CDC.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

Mainstreaming

ots of people went into the water as soon as they could for the two-day lobster mini-season. Maybe it’s hard to believe, but not everyone who takes part is the finest example of a human being. Here are:

WAYS TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE “THAT PERSON” DURING LOBSTER MINI-SEASON (OR AM I THE ***HOLE?)

10. You refer to the FWC as the “Fun Police.” 9. Your lobster team filled 12 garbage cans in six days and that doesn’t even count all the styrofoam coolers, plastic ice bags, cans, bottles and jugs that blew or fell out of your boat during the week. 8. Your “numbers” or “spots” include the seawall on your vacation rental and all surrounding docks. 7. Dive certification on Tuesday. First miniseason dive at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. 6. Your tickle stick is a speargun.

5. You’ll spend $5,000 to fuel your four 425 hp outboards. And leave 10% for the bartender or server who puts up with your bs.

ow would it feel to be in a John Hughes movie? Here’s a writer who almost literally knows. And remember the Dumpster fire that was Woodstock ’99? Now check out the documentary that dissects what went wrong. Oh, and check out the song that may have played a role in the seismic events in Cuba. LISTEN | PATRIA Y VIDA This very well may be the song that started a revolution. Its beginnings were smuggled out of Cuba by two artists who have since been imprisoned. In Miami, rapper Yotuel teamed up with three other stateside musicians — the duo of Gente De Zona and Descember Bueno. “Patria y Vida” — which means “homeland and life,” is a flip on an oft-uttered phrase by the late Fidel Castro, who cried “Patria o Muerte” — ”country or death.” Watch the video — there’s a version with English subtitles — because it’s a powerful, powerful statement. READ | (RE)BORN IN THE USA Football (soccer) broadcaster and podcaster Roger Bennett recounts growing up in Liverpool, looking longingly toward the United States. He spends a 1980s summer in the Chicago suburb – literally – of a John Hughes movie, taking on the culture, from Starter jackets to Molly Ringwald to Drakkar Noir. This changes his life. His teen years will resonate with yours, if yours were filled with angst – and weren’t everyone’s? Underlying the hilarity and poignancy is, as Bennett says in a line buried in the epilogue, “a deep reverence for the idea of America.”

4. You constantly talk about how Maine lobster is better — in an exaggerated New England accent. 3. You believe everyone wants to hear your outdated Pitbull playlist at full volume as you enter and exit the canal. 2. You think the “No Wake” zone only applies to locals. 1. After traveling all the way from Hialeah you proclaim, “Limits? There are plenty of lobster for everyone.”

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

WATCH | WOODSTOCK ‘99 “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage” is the debut film in HBO’s new Music Box, a collection of documentaries exploring pivotal moments in the music world. The film tells the story of Woodstock ’99, a music festival promoted to echo unity and counterculture idealism of the original 1969 concert, but that instead devolved into riots, looting and sexual assaults. Unfolding over three days of intense heat and non-stop performances, the film examines how the festival eventually collapsed under the weight of its own misguided ambition and resulted in a grim outcome, earning the event the infamous distinction of “the day the nineties died.” HBO & HBO Max

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT FY 2022 COMMERCIAL RATES FOR COLLECTION, DISPOSAL, AND RECYCLING IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida, will conduct a public hearing to adopt the FY2022 Commercial Rates for collection, disposal, and recycling in Monroe County, Florida, as follows: The public hearing will be held at 1:30P.M., on August 18, 2021, and can be attended virtually by utilizing the following virtual address: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18, for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed rates. The Monroe County Commissioners will meet live at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL 33040. All affected property owners have a right to appear virtually, or in person, at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the date of this Notice. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate (virtually or in-person) in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator at (305) 292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, dial 711 for assistance. If you have any questions, please contact the County’s Solid Waste Department at: (305) 295-4323 or 305-295-4328, Monday through Friday, between 8:30A.M. and 5:00P.M. A link to the proposed rates for FY2022 is as follows: www. monroecounty-fl.gov/solidwasterates. To attend the public hearing virtually, use the following virtual address: https:// www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18.

Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805,,86059952597# or +16699006833,,86059952597# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 860 5995 2597 International numbers available: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/u/kcrFW723i1 If a person wishes to comment on a particular item on the public portion of the Agenda, when the webinar monitor and/or the Mayor calls for speakers on the item on which you wish to comment: a) If phoning in: Dial *9 to “raise your hand” to be recognized by the Zoom webinar monitor; b) If watching online: click on/open the live Zoom Webinar link: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/ BOCCMeetingAug18, which link appears in both the published Agenda and Agenda Packet. When prompted, enter your email address and name to join the webinar and then select the “Raised Hand” feature that appears at the bottom of the Zoom webinar screen to be recognized by the webinar monitor. The webinar monitor/meeting host will request the Agenda Item # on which you wish to speak and will enable your participation when the Mayor calls for public speakers on your item. To report problems with the broadcast, please call: (305) 872-8831. A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the BOCC meeting to: Lindsey Ballard, via email, to: ballard-lindsey@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by mail to: The County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040. The documents must be received by 3:00P.M. on Monday, August 16, 2021, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer. The following schedules reflect the proposed monthly rates for Commercial Waste Generators for:

Franchise Area’s 1,2,3, 4 Waste Management, Marathon Garbage, Key Sanitary, Ocean Reef 2021/22

a) CAN PICKUP RATE SCHEDULE

b) CONTAINERIZED PICKUP RATE SCHEDULE

No. of cans* Rate Element

Collection Increase 1.40% Disposal Increase 1.40% Number of Pickups Per Week 3 4 5 6

Container Size Rate Element

Number of Pickups Per Week 3 4 5

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

22.87 27.56 0.00 50.43

34.16 41.25 0.00 75.41

45.54 55.04 0.00 100.58

56.98 68.84 0.00 125.82

68.35 82.60 0.00 150.95

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

56.59 42.44 0.00 99.03

95.11 87.12 0.00 182.24

134.24 130.68 0.00 264.92

170.84 174.24 0.00 345.08

208.21 217.81 0.00 426.02

245.90 261.37 0.00 507.27

549.58 304.94 0.00 854.52

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

34.16 41.25 0.00 75.41

51.16 61.89 0.00 113.05

68.35 82.60 0.00 150.95

85.38 103.25 0.00 188.62

102.59 123.89 0.00 226.48

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

95.11 87.12 0.00 182.24

168.99 174.24 0.00 343.23

243.21 261.37 0.00 504.58

317.18 348.47 0.00 665.65

388.59 435.60 0.00 824.19

459.87 522.75 0.00 982.62

531.18 609.84 0.00 1141.02

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

45.54 55.04 0.00 100.58

68.35 82.60 0.00 150.95

91.17 110.59 0.00 201.76

113.95 138.25 0.00 252.20

136.81 165.87 0.00 302.68

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

134.24 130.68 0.00 264.92

243.21 261.37 0.00 504.58

353.03 392.04 0.00 745.08

459.81 522.74 0.00 982.55

566.80 653.43 0.00 1220.23

673.82 784.11 0.00 1457.93

780.65 914.79 0.00 1695.44

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

56.98 68.84 0.00 125.82

85.38 103.25 0.00 188.62

113.95 138.25 0.00 252.20

142.36 172.04 0.00 314.39

202.05 206.45 0.00 408.50

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

170.84 174.24 0.00 345.08

317.18 348.47 0.00 665.65

459.81 522.74 0.00 982.55

602.55 696.98 0.00 1299.53

637.82 871.23 0.00 1509.04

887.70 1,045.47 0.00 1933.17

1,030.43 1,219.72 0.00 2250.15

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

68.35 82.60 0.00 150.95

102.59 123.89 0.00 226.48

136.81 165.87 0.00 302.68

202.05 206.45 0.00 408.50

198.63 240.12 0.0 438.75

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

245.90 261.37 0.00 507.27

459.87 522.75 0.00 982.62

673.82 887.70 1,101.64 784.11 1,045.47 1,306.83 0.00 0.00 0.00 1457.93 1933.17 2408.47

1,315.58 1,564.12 0.00 2879.70

1,529.47 1,829.59 0.00 3359.06

COLLECTION DISPOSAL RECYCLING** TOTAL

317.18 348.47 0.00 665.65

602.55 887.70 1,173.03 1,458.29 696.98 1,045.47 1,393.98 1,742.49 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1299.53 1933.17 2567.00 3200.78

1,707.63 2,090.97 0.00 3798.60

1,986.91 2,439.46 0.00 4426.37

*Based on 32 gallon cans

**Rates for recycling services are not reflected in these tables. Those charges are based on a collection fee of $8.39 per cubic yard and a processing fee of $1.09 per cubic yard; there is no disposal fee for recycling services. Monthly charges will depend on the specific level of service. Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 23rd day of July, 2021. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844 LEGAL NOTICES FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Islamorada Business Center located at 88101 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. By: Stephanie A. Russo Property, LLC Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FORCOLLECTION OF DUCK KEY SECURITY SERVICES SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida will conduct a public hearing to consider reimposing security services assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021, against certain improved and unimproved properties located within Duck Key, to fund the cost of security services provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill. The public hearing will be held at 1:30 P.M., on August 18, 2021, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040. The public can also attend the Public Hearing via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”)/Zoom at the following virtual address: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18 for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments. All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator at (305) 292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, dial “711” for assistance. The annual Duck Key security assessment is based on the number of improved or unimproved lots contained within the Duck Key Security District. The total annual assessment revenue to be collected within Duck Key for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $115,000. The annual assessment rates for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021 remain the same as the current year at $292 per improved lot and $28 per unimproved lot. Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request by contacting the County Attorney’s office at (305) 292-3470 Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the County at (305) 292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2021, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title. To attend the Public Hearing virtually, please click on the Zoom webinar link: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/86059952597 Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805,,86059952597# or +16699006833,,86059952597# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 860 5995 2597 If a person wishes to comment on a particular item on the public portion of the Agenda, when the webinar monitor and/or the Mayor calls for speakers on the item on which you wish to comment: a) If phoning in: Dial *9 to “raise your hand” to be recognized by the Zoom webinar monitor; b) If watching online: click on/open the live Zoom Webinar link, which link appears in both the published Agenda and Agenda Packet. When prompted, enter your email address and name to join the webinar and then select the “Raised Hand” feature that appears at the bottom of the Zoom webinar screen to be recognized by the webinar monitor. To report problems, please call (305)872-8831 A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the BOCC meeting to: Lindsey Ballard, via email, to: ballard-lindsey@monroecounty-fl.gov. The documents must be received by 3:00 PM on Monday, August 16, 2021, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer. Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 23rd day of July, 2021.

** Unincorporated areas, City of Marathon, Layton and Key Colony Beach

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida will conduct a public hearing to consider reimposing solid waste service assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021, against certain improved residential properties located within Monroe County and the City of Marathon, Layton and Key Colony Beach to fund the cost of solid waste collection services, facilities and programs provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill. The Public Hearing will be held at 1:30 P.M., on August 18, 2021 at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL 33040. The public can also attend the Public Hearing via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”)/Zoom at the following virtual address: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18, for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments. All affected property owners have a right to appear virtually or in person at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator at (305) 292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, contact the Florida Relay Service Number, by dialing “711” for assistance. The total annual solid waste assessment revenue to be collected within Monroe County and the City of Marathon, Layton and Key Colony Beach for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $14,008,547. The rate of assessment for the upcoming fiscal year shall be $413.00 per residential dwelling unit. The maximum rate of assessment that can be imposed in the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2021 and future fiscal years shall be $413.00 per residential dwelling unit. Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request by contacting the County Administrator’s office at (305)292-4441 Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the County at (305)-295-4323 or (305) 295-4328, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2021, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title. To attend the public hearing virtually, please click on the Zoom webinar link: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18. Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805,,86059952597# or +16699006833,,86059952597# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 669 900 6833, Webinar ID: 860 5995 2597 If a person wishes to comment on a particular item on the public portion of the Agenda, when the webinar monitor and/or the Mayor calls for speakers on the item on which you wish to comment: a) If phoning in: Dial *9 to “raise your hand” to be recognized by the Zoom webinar monitor; b) If watching online: click on/open the live Zoom Webinar link, which link appears in both the published Agenda and Agenda Packet. When prompted, enter your email address and name to join the webinar and then select the “Raised Hand” feature that appears at the bottom of the Zoom webinar screen to be recognized by the webinar monitor. To report problems, please call (305)872-8831 A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the BOCC meeting to: Lindsey Ballard, via email, to: ballard-lindsey@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by mail to: The County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040. The documents must be received by 3:00 PM on Monday, August 16, 2021, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer. Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida this 23rd day of July, 2021.

KEVIN MADOK, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Stand Up For Animals located at 11400 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. By: Linda Gottwald, Great Lakes Humane Society Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of True North Gourmet, LLC Dba Caribbean Traders located at 511 Greene St Unit 102, Monroe County in the City of Key West, Florida 33040-6632 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 27th day of July, 2021. By: Wills Frank Matthew Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers PUBLIC NOTICE NAVY AND NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST BEGIN FOURTH FIVEYEAR REVIEW The Department of the Navy (lead agency), in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), announce that the Fourth Five-Year Review for Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Florida is currently being conducted. The FiveYear Review will include Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) sites: Area of Concern (AOC) B, Installation Restoration (IR) 1, IR 3, IR 7, IR 8, IR 21, and IR 27. Corrective action effectiveness evaluations for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites, which consist of Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 will also be conducted and included in the Fourth Five-Year Review. A Five-Year Review is required by law for the CERCLA sites because contamination currently remains at the sites above levels that allow for unlimited use (e.g., residential). The purpose of the Five-Year Review is to evaluate the implemented remedy at each site and verify the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The review involves physically inspecting the sites and any cleanup technologies that are in place and examining records, such as monitoring reports and maintenance records. The process is repeated every five years. The findings of this review will be documented in the Fourth Five-Year Review Report. A similar notification will be published to let you know

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

when and where the findings are available. Community input for the review is encouraged. For more information about the Five-Year Review, comments on this notice, or environmental clean-up activities at NAS Key West, please contact: Mr. Ed Russell, Jr. IR/Munitions Response Programs Environmental Engineer Naval Air Station Key West Commanding Officer Code PR74 P.O. Box 9007 A Key West, FL 33040-9007 (305) 797-4461 edward.o.russell@nacy.mil Copies of previous FiveYear Review reports can be found in the NAS Key West administrative record available on-line at: http://go.usa. gov/KSDJ by selecting the Administrative Records link under Naval Air Station Key West. Individuals without a computer or internet access can use any Monroe County Library location for free internet access and computer resources or may request a copy of past documents by emailing or contacting Ed Russell at the information above. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

grant funding from the State of Florida in the amount of approximately $4M for mitigation of the seawall at City Marina located at 800 35th St Ocean, Marathon. Public comments on this project must be submitted in writing by August 15, 2021. Email address covellim@ci.marathon.fl.us The City Marina faces frequent tidally and storm influenced overflow of the existing seawalls causing severe inundation of the parking lot and access roads. This project combines seawall improvements with roadway repair and drainage improvements to alleviate the loss of roads, access, and floodwater inundation impact to the City Marina. The drainage system to be constructed with this grant consists of a gravity collection system with a network of swales and pipes discharging into injection wells. The drainage system includes inlets, manholes, above ground electrical pump station control and distribution panel and components, emergency generator, underground valve box, wet well, pollution treatment unit structure and a solids storage sump. The City of Marathon will complete the project over a period of approximately two years, including design, environmental review, permitting and construction. The City of Marathon is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the Marina. Staff will continue to maintain the facilities, including roadway, parking lots and drainage infrastructure. This project is considered a strategic investment to minimize risks and reduce losses to a service area with over 50% low to mid-income residents. Investing in mitigation projects like this will also improve the City’s resiliency by protecting our residents and will enhance the CDBG-MIT community lifelines of safety and security and transportation. Through the City Comprehensive Plan, the management has demonstrated a strong commitment to enforcing floodplain management strategies and taking action to reduce the impact of climate change into the City critical infrastructure. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

This project is considered a strategic investment to minimize risks and reduce losses to a service area with over 50% low to mid-income residents. Investing in mitigation projects like this will also improve the City’s resiliency by protecting our residents and will enhance the CDBG-MIT community lifelines of safety and security and transportation. Through the City Comprehensive Plan, the management has demonstrated a strong commitment to enforcing floodplain management strategies and taking action to reduce the impact of climate change into the City critical infrastructure. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Marathon is applying for CDBG-MIT General Infrastructure Program (GIP) grant funding from the State of Florida in the amount of approximately $4.5M for development of the Quay property located on Overseas Highway MM 53.5, Marathon FL 33050. Public comments on this project must be submitted in writing by August 15, 2021. Email address covellim@ ci.marathon.fl.us. Included in this grant proposal is shoreline mitigation and hardening, development of the property for community use and mitigation of flooding caused by sea level rise and global warming. The City of Marathon will complete the project over a period of approximately two years, including design, environmental review, permitting and construction. The City of Marathon is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the Quay Property. Staff will continue to maintain the facilities, including roadway, parking lots and drainage infrastructure. This project is considered a strategic investment to minimize risks and reduce losses to a service area with over 50% low to mid-income residents. Investing in mitigation projects like this will also improve the City’s resiliency by protecting our residents and will enhance the CDBG-MIT community lifelines of safety and security and transportation. Through the City Comprehensive Plan, the management has demonstrated a strong commitment to enforcing floodplain management strategies and taking action to reduce the impact of climate change into the City critical infrastructure. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Marathon is applying for CDBG-MIT General Infrastructure Program (GIP)

PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Marathon is applying for CDBG-MIT General Infrastructure Program (GIP) grant funding from the State of Florida in the amount of approximately $3M for acquisition of the property formerly known as “Salty’s” at 1090 and 1098 Overseas Highway, Marathon. Public comments on this project must be submitted in writing by August 15, 2021. Email address covellim@ci.marathon.fl.us The City of Marathon will purchase the project for future development as a working waterfront property with a passive park. Development of the project will commence once acquisition has been completed. The City of Marathon will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the “Salty’s” Property. Staff will continue to maintain the facilities, including roadway, parking lots and drainage infrastructure.

District I Advisory Committee (DAC I) (Encompasses the City Limits of Key West) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are dependent upon tourists) Any person wishing to participate on the District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application from the Administrative Office by calling (305) 296-1552 and submit an application to the address shown below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 Fax #: (305) 296-0788 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is Friday, August 27, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers District IV Advisory Committee (DAC IV) (Between the Long Key Bridge and mile marker 90.939) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has a vacancy for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are dependent upon tourists) Any person wishing to participate on the District IV Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application from the Administrative Office by calling (305) 296-1552 and submit an application to the address

LEGAL NOTICES shown below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 Fax #: (305) 296-0788 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is Friday, August 27, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: PROFESSIONAL SURVEYING CONTINUING SERVICES CONTRACT MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www. demandstar.com OR www. monroecountybids.com. The Public Record is available upon request. In response to Covid-19, the Monroe County Purchasing Department has implemented a new electronic process for reviewing and opening sealed bids. Monroe County is committed to continuing to receive and process competitive solicitations while maintaining the health and safety of our employees and those who attend bid openings. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposal/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00 P.M. on August 25, 2021. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows: Professional Surveying Continuing Services Contract 08/25/2021 Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB or otherwise be rejected or undeliverable to OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on August 25, 2021. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom.

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156 One tap mobile: +16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,, 4509326156# US (San Jose) Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

US (San Jose) Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

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: July 22, 2021. Personal Representative: Elizabeth Albrecht Scibilia 106 Bruce Court Marathon, Florida 33050 Attorney for Personal Representative: RICHARD E. WARNER 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: July 22 & 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 5:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive sealed responses for the following: FY 2022 BRICK and MORTAR CAPITAL PROJECTS-2nd Round MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS II, IV, and V Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www. demandstar.com OR www. monroecountybids.com. The Public Record is available upon request. In response to Covid-19, the Monroe County Purchasing Department has implemented a new electronic process for reviewing and opening sealed bids. Monroe County is committed to continuing to receive and process competitive solicitations while maintaining the health and safety of our employees and those who attend bid openings. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposal/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 5:00 P.M. on September 21, 2021. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows: FY 2022 BRICK & MORTAR CAPITAL PROJECTS-2ND ROUND 09/21/2021 Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB or otherwise be rejected or undeliverable to OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 9:00 A.M., on September 22, 2021. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156 One tap mobile: +16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,, 4509326156#

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-62-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF CHARLES T. ALFERES aka CARLOS TAVARES ALFERES Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Charles T. Alferes aka Carlos Tavares Alferes, deceased, whose date of death was May 26, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: July 29, 2021. Personal Representative: John C. Alferes 1149 SE Cambridge Drive Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952 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: July 29 & August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-74-P DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF CANDICE LYNN BUNTEN AKA CANDICE LYNN THURMAN Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Candice Lynn Bunten aka Candice Lynn Thurman, deceased, whose date of death was May 4, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-59-M IN RE: ESTATE OF EDWARD G. MCGRAW, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Edward G. McGraw, deceased, whose date of death was April 10, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES 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: July 29, 2021. Personal Representative: Susan McGraw 1398 Henning Drive Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124 Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428

LEGAL NOTICES Fax: (305) 743-8800 E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw. com Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: July 29 & August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-000063-P IN RE: ESTATE OF NANCY TOMPKINS BROLL, also known as, NANCY T. BROLL, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

of NANCY TOMPKINS BROLL, also known as, NANCY T. BROLL, deceased, whose date of death was April 25, 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 PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: July 29, 2021. Signed on this 26th day of July, 7/26/2021.

Personal Representative: CAROLYN B. OVERTON KELLY Attorney for Personal Representative: CHARLES IAN NASH, ESQUIRE Florida Bar No. 296619 NASH & KROMASH, LLP Attorneys for Petitioner 440 South Babcock Street Melbourne, FL 32901 Telephone: 321-984-2440 Primary e-mail: cinefile@n-law. com Secondary e-mail: Charlie@nlaw.com Publish: July 29 & August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA FAMILY LAW DIVISION CASE NO.: 21-DR-008215 DIVISION: I IN RE: THE PROPOSED ADOPTION BY STEPPARENT OF: R.W.A.L. DOB: JULY 16, 2009 NOTICE OF ACTION, NOTICE OF PETITION, AND NOTICE OF HEARING TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS PENDING ADOPTION TO: CHRISTOPHER DAGGETT Caucasion Male DOB: August, 1969 Current Residence: UNKNOWIN Last Known Address: 1040 Cape May Ave., Cape May, NJ 08204 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Termination of Parental Rights Pursuant to

an Adoption has been filed, and you are required to serve a copy of your written response, if any, to it on Mary Greenwood McDermott, Esq., 1038 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, Florida 33511, Petitioner’s attorney, within 30 days after the date of first publication of this notice. You must file our original response with the Clerk of this court, at the address below, either before service on Petitioner’s attorney, or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Petition. Clerk of the Court 800 E. Twiggs Street Tampa, Florida 33602 NOTICE OF PETITION AND HEARING TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS PENDING ADOPTION A petition to terminate parental rights pending adoption has been filed. A copy of the petition is being served with this notice. There will be a hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights pending adoption which will take place on August 26, 2021, at 3:15 P.M., in front of the Honorable Denise A. Pomponio, Circuit Judge, of the Hillsborough County Courthouse, via ZOOM, https:// zoom.us/j/3704372256 Meeting ID 370 437 2256. The ZOOM App is available for free for IOS and Android devices, and it may also be accessed via desktop computer. No account or fee is required. Please visit ZOOM Help Center at https://support/ zoom.us to familiarize yourself with the service. If you are unable to use the ZOOM link, to appear telephonically, you may call (301) 715-8592 and enter the ZOOM Meeting ID of 370 437 2256. The Court has set aside fifteen (15) minutes for this hearing. UNDER SECTION 63.089, FLORIDA STATUTES, FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE AND THE PETITION WITH THE COURT AND TO APPEAR AT THIS HEARING CONSTITUTES GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE COURT SHALL END ANY PARENTAL RIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE OR ASSERT REGARDING THE MINOR CHILD. PARA TRADUCCION DE ESTE FORMULARIO AL ESPANOL LLAME A LA OFICINA DE INTERPRETES DE LA CORTE, AL 813-272-5947 DE LUNES A VIERNES DE 3:00 P.M. Y 5:00 P.M. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provisions of certain assistance. Please contact the Clerk of Circuit Court, Circuit Civil Division, Hillsborough County Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida 33602, Telephone No. 813-2768100, within 2 working days of your receipt of this document; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8771. WITNESS my hand a seal of said Court on this 6th day of July 2021. CINDY STUART CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT Hillsborough County, Florida By: Samantha Herrmann Deputy Clerk Publish: July 15, 22 & 29 and August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ANNUAL RATE RESOLUTION -- CANALS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on August 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as may be heard, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key West, FL 33040, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, will hold a public hearing to consider approval of the following County resolution: Monroe County, Florida Canal Restoration Program Annual Rate Resolution

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY RESOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on August 18, 2021, at 1:30 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key West, Florida, 33040, Monroe County, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the adoption of the following County resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE CANAL RESTORATION PROGRAM; IMPOSING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CANAL RESTORATION MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT; APPROVING THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENTS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The figure below depicts the Assessment Areas within the Canal Restoration Municipal Service Benefit Unit subject to the assessments: The public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments and collection of the assessment on the ad valorem tax bills. All affected property owners have the right to appear and provide input at the hearing, and may file written objections with the County Administrator at any time prior to the public meeting or within twenty (20) days following publication of this notice, whichever is greater.

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONTINUING THE ASSESSMENTS OF WASTEWATER SERVICE TO PROPERTIES IN THE BIG COPPITT, DUCK KEY, STOCK ISLAND, CUDJOE REGIONAL CENTRALIZED INNER AND OUTER ISLAND SERVICE AREAS, EAST/WEST LONG KEY, NO NAME KEY, MIDDLE/BIG TORCH KEY, AND EXPANDED PARCELS WITHIN THE CUDJOE REGIONAL SERVICE AREA FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The August 18, 2021, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL will be in a hybrid format. The public will be able to participate live or via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”) using a Zoom Webinar platform at https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/BOCCMeetingAug18. The public is strongly encouraged to watch the meeting on Monroe County’s MCTV on Comcast Channel 76 or AT&T UVerse Channel 99. Also, if a citizen has a Roku device, they can search for and add “MCTV” to their personal lineup. Monroe County’s “MCTV” is also provided via the Monroe County mobile apps for iOS and Android and through our streaming web portal @ https://monroefl.vod.castus.tv/vod/?live=ch1&nav=live. Citizens can listen to audio only from their phone by dialing (646) 518-9805 or (669) 900-6833 and, when prompted, enter the Webinar ID# 860 5995 2597. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he 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 accommodations 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”. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 20th day of July, 2021. Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

Canal 266, Big Pine Key, FL

The Assessments have been adopted to fund ongoing annual maintenance costs for the canals, including but not limited to cost of electricity to run air curtains, vegetation removal and related services. The assessment for each parcel of property is based upon the number of Tax Parcels in the Assessment Area. A more specific description is set forth in the Initial Assessment Resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 17, 2019. Copies of the Initial Assessment Resolution, the plans and specifications for the Maintenance Activities, and the preliminary Assessment Roll are available for inspection at the Monroe County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton St., Suite 2-268, Key West Florida 33040, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The annual assessment rates are: $1,247.95 per Tax Parcel in the Assessment Area The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill, commencing with the tax bill to be mailed in November 2021, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes and in future fiscal years. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the real property which may result in a loss of title. If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Haag at (305) 453-8774, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, F.S., if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. ADA Assistance: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator's office at (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call ‘711.’ KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: July 29, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

AUTOS WANTED

BOAT SLIP FOR SALE

EMPLOYMENT

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

OFFICE SPACE

RV FOR SALE

ALL YEARS! Junk or Used. Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483

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. Reduced to $199,998 / FSBO/ No Realtors / Avail. Now. RGC2RGC@yahoo. com (M) 412-848-1272 SALE PENDING!!

Diversion Court, Family Treatment Court, and Juvenile Diversion Court - in each geographic region/courthouse location in Monroe County, specifically Key West, Marathon, and Plantation Key. For further inquiries, please visit keyscourts. net or contact Duane Triplett at duane. tr i pl e t t @ keysco ur t s. net/(305)292-3549.

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

PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578

Beautiful Office Space available for rent now on US1 in Tavernier @ M M 9 2 . Call 305-394-0530

REDUCED PRICE! 38'6" 2016 Wildwood Lodge FVWW RV Unit located in Bluefin RV Park in Key Largo. 2 Bedroom. $18,500 863-660-9065

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

12' Aluminum boat w/ 6 hp Nissan motor, 60 lb. thrust electric motor, and trailer. Located in Marathon. $2,000 305-395-1015 1999 World Cat 27' with twin 175 Suzuki motors. Runs good. Dual stations. Located on Duck Key. $40,000 OBO 305-481-1316 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 MISC FOR SALE

Rhodan GPS Anchor trolling motor, 24V, 80lb, 54” shaft, white, Line-X, Model # BW8054LX Brand new in unopened carton. Won at a CCA auction. SELL: $1000 CASH. Located in Key Colony Beach. Phone: 804-731-3070 SOLD IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!! Place your Boat Misc. For Sale ad here. Only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your Boat Stuff! BOAT SLIP FOR SALE

BUILDING RIGHTS

BUILDING RIGHTS WANTED - CITY & COUNTY. No realtors please. 305-2409882 info@lpscontracting.com

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Lobster Business For Sale. Includes 45' #1, 892TI, 2400 Trap Cer tificates-$150.0 0 each, 1300 Traps, 100 5X6 pallets, 2016 Cat 6K Diesel Fork Lift, Live Wells & much more. $450,000 305-289-0792 Leave message if no answer.

EMPLOYMENT

CENTENNIAL BANK IS HIRING! MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR MARATHON/KEY WEST G E N E R A L DESCRIPTION:Solicits residential first mortgages through contacts with Realtors, builders, and developers. Interview loan applicants and makes credit decisions. EDUCATION AND E X P E R I E N C E REQUIRED:Broad knowledge of such fields as accounting, marketing, business administration, finance, etc. Equivalent to a four year college degree, plus 4 years related experience and/or training, and 2 years related management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. To apply, please visit our careers page: w w w.my100bank . c o m / c a r e e r s

The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a Line Cook. Please call us at 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview. Night Monitor - The Heron. FREE HOUSING/ food stipend vs. salary. Must be onsite 10p8a. Sleep OK. 5 days on 5 days off. Drug screen required. we s tc a re. co m Support Worker for group home. Aid residents w/ Meals, Meds, Shopping. No Exp req. 3 shifts (PT/ FT) $16 + eve or weekend differentials. we s tc a re. co m NOW HIRING TOP PAY & BENEFITS Experienced Electricians & Low Voltage Techs E m a i l : c h e c k @ checkelec tricllc.com Call: 305-292-3369 Jill of All Trades hiring PT cleaners Key Largo thru Islamorada. Great pay + bonus for weekends! Please message/call Sheri 786.649.9337 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

Marathon Auto looking

for full-time general laborer. Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon.

The 16th Judicial Circuit is seeking licensed substance abuse professionals/ practitioners to provide outpatient clinical and support services on a contractual basis to clients admitted into the Circuit’s three (3) drug courts - Adult

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

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 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@ g m a i l . c o m . Fl Keys Diesel Marathon now hiring: Diesel Technician - C o m p e t i t i v e 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. 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 tips. Apply in person at Cabana Club, 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call April (305) 393-0631.

HOMES FOR SALE FOR SALE: 1BR Mobile

Home on canal in Marathon. Newly remodeled, on 50' X 75' lot, raised out of flood zone. Has tiki hut and covered car port. $525,000 NO Realtors. Call Norman 305-393-3439

RV FOR SALE

HOUSING FOR RENT

Lower Sugarloaf 2BR/2BA w/den stilt home w/dock on oceanside, paved parking under home, open living roomdining-kitchen w/ vaulted ceiling and tile floors. Access to large balcony. W/D No Pets. $3500/mo + util. F/L/S 305-747-1700 1 Person Small Efficiency for rent in Key Largo. No Pets. First/Last $850/month includes water & electric. 954-214-4970 RENTED IN LESS THAN A MONTH!!

LOTS FOR SALE

LOT FOR SALE 100' x 100' - Venetian Shores, MM 86, Snake Creek Bridge views. Asking $1.3 Million. Call 561-579-8399

MISC. FOR SALE

Gently used major appliances from renovated condos in Key West. Dishwashers, Stoves/Ovens, Microwaves, Sinks/ Faucets, Garbage Disposals, and more. Prices starting at $25. 305- 747- 170 0

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

BASEBALL AND SPORTS MEMORABILIA WANTED. Private collector buying sports cards, old programs, pennants, autographs, photographs, ticket stubs, bobbin’ head dolls, etc. Call thru August 6thAlan 503-481-0719

1,082 SF office space. Renovated Corner Unit for rent in Islamorada. $3,000/month Call 305.712.8888

MISC. WANTED CARGO TRAILER WANTED

- Minimum 20 feet. Needs to have dual axles, barn doors and side door. 305- 530- 284 9 OFFICE SPACE

in Marathon

full -time Educational Program Guide /Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. 4 Send resume to: Turtlehospitalmarathon@gmail.com

NOW HIRING: Hosts Waitstaff Bartenders Bar Backs Bussers Line Cooks Dishwashers

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

CROSSWORD

SOLUTION

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

KeysBank.com

Join Our Team! Key West Full Time Teller Maintenance Technician Treasury Management Representative IT Technician Customer Service Rep/Online Banking Administrative Assistant

305.743.0844

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.

• First Cook, $2K Sign-On Bonus • Fitness Center Manager • Floor Technician, Environmental Services $5K Sign-On Bonus • Food Service Worker, $5K Sign-On Bonus

• Mechanic • Medical Staff Asst, $2K Sign-On Bonus • Patient Experience Advocate

Full Time Teller Marathon/Islamorada Full Time Floating Teller

Apply Online at KeysBank.com/Careers We offer 401k, profit sharing, educational reimbursement, health/dental plans, life insurance, holidays and paid time off for full time employees. EOE-M/F/V/D

• Environmental Tech (Housekeeping) $2K-$5K Sign-On Bonus

• Line Cook

Big Pine

Member FDIC

OPEN POSITIONS AT BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA

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

• Pharmacy Technician • Phlebotomist, $2K Sign-On Bonus • Physical Therapist • Pool Physical Therapist • Security Officer Apply and learn more: careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507

Equal Housing Lender

TOUR GUIDES NEEDED 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.

NOW HIRING:

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 Apply in Person, Start Today! Courtyard Marriott Marathon 2146 Overseas Hwy • 305-289-2100

Our award winning resort is

currently hiring for the following hourly positions:

FRONT DESK SUPERVISOR

Previous hotel experience required.

EVENING MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR 3 pm – 11 pm

CES KEY WEST & MARATHON

ROOM ATTENDANTS

Is hiring for all FULL-TIME positions:

$500 Bonus after 90 days.

with Electrical/Distribution Experience

Great Pay, Health & Travel Benefits.

Warehouse / Driver Counter Sales Branch and Operation Managers 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

Apply in person at:

Courtyard Marriott Marathon, 2146 Overseas Hwy, Marathon FL 33050 or email resume to jtyson@shanercorp.com • 305-289-2100

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • •305.743.0844 CENTENNIAL BANK IS HIRING! MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Monroe County School District

Part time & Full time Opportunities!

MARATHON/KEY WEST

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Solicits residential first mortgages through contacts with Realtors, builders, and developers. Interview loan applicants and makes credit decisions. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Broad knowledge of such fields as accounting, marketing, business administration, finance, etc. Equivalent to a four year college degree, plus 4 years related experience and/or training, and 2 years related management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. To apply, please visit our careers page: www.my100bank.com/careers

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

Sous Chef

Engineer - General Maintenance Line Cook Bell/Valet

Front Desk Agent

Reservations Agent

EEO/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disabled JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN

Relief Night Security

Location: Middle Keys – Lower Keys

Dinner Busser/Runner - Hot Tin Roof

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

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

Dinner Greeter - Hot Tin Roof

LMT, Esthetician or Nail Tech. 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.

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

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

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

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

Busy Key Largo Dive Center has immediate openings for

BOAT CAPTAINS $1,500 SIGNING BONUS

PT CASHIER PT DOCKHAND

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

Apply in person Pancho’s Fuel

Send resume to resumes@rainbowreef.com

1280 Oceanview Avenue, Marathon

305-743-2281

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

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

NOW HIRING BOGIE & BACALL'S SEA SENOR Restaurant Host Servers Bartender Food Runner

Restaurant General Managers

KITCHEN TEAM Pastry Chef Chief Steward Overnight Cook Fine Dining Chef Restaurant Chef

HOUSEKEEPING TEAM

Day & Overnight Houseman Room Attendant Public Area Attendant AM & PM Supervisors

OPERATIONS TEAM

Bellman Watersports Reservations/Front Desk Agents AM & PM Shifts Available Apply At: www.bungalowskeylargo.com/ careers

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

Dolphin Research Center is Hiring! IT Technical Specialist (Part Time, Permanent)

Accounting Manager (Full-Time/Permanent)

Visual Communications Staff (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

Bungalows Key Largo is an EOE

THEME: LEGENDARY ATHLETES

The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of

“Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

IS HIRING! KEY LARGO

Substance Abuse Counselor (PT)

KEY WEST

Prevention Specialist Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) Peer Support Specialist Crisis Counselor Case Managers (Adult, Forensic, Children ) Motivational Support Specialist Substance Abuse Counselor Behavioral Health Counselor Engagement Specialist (Suicide Prevention)

MARATHON Admissions Specialist

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 Night Monitor (FREE HOUSING!) *Assisted Living Support 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

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.

ACROSS 1. *Baseball’s “The Say Hey Kid” 5. TV tube in days of yore 8. Proof of age, pl. 11. Medicinal succulent 12. Toward shelter, nautically 13. White heron 15. Poet ____ Angelou 16. Where a bib is tied 17. Taste like grapes 18. *First African American to play in MLB 20. Chap or fella 21. Do like Etna 22. Auction set 23. Property defacer 26. Italian vermouth brand 30. 2nd largest bird in world 31. Informal wear 34. “The Man Who ____ Too Much” 35. Relating to Scandinavia 37. Chicken ____ ____ king 38. Nearsited one 39. Bear in the sky 40. The largest Asian antelope 42. *Dolphin great ____ Marino 43. Reusable painting pattern 45. Stands out 47. Cotillion V.I.P. 48. Deli item 50. Cain’s brother 52. *a.k.a. The Great Bambino 55. Oyster gem 56. Dwarf buffalo 57. Algonquian people 59. Body trunk 60. Hay spot 61. *”Battle of the Sexes” champion 62. A in FANBOYS 63. Altitude, for short 64. “Comme ci, comme Áa”

DOWN 1. Mom in Scotland 2. Wing-shaped 3. Walk-the-dog toy 4. Bottom of the ocean 5. Fastener 6. Move a plant 7. *Pele or Bob Feller when they debuted 8. Armenia’s neighbor 9. Cabinet div. 10. Dirty dwelling 12. Declares invalid 13. Encourage, two words 14. *NHL’s “The Great One” 19. Very angry 22. Type of English course, for short 23. Where women are from? 24. “To death” in France 25. Florence Nightingale, e.g. 26. Mountain goat terrain 27. Opposite of cathode 28. Himalayan country 29. *Track and field star of 1936 Olympics 32. Frozen rain 33. “____ at ease” 36. *He simultaneously played in MLB and NFL 38. Ginger beer in a cocktail, e.g. 40. Pen point 41. Sea in the Mediterranean 44. Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument 46. Talks like a chicken 48. Overfamiliar from overuse 49. Terminate, as in mission 50. Same as eon 51. Shakespeare, a.k.a. ____ of Avon 52. “Ali ____ and the 40 Thieves” 53. *Tinker, Evers and Chance, e.g. 54. Egg-layers 55. Parent volunteer organization 58. Id’s partner

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 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

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

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

A summer treat: we got into a pod of 30 to 40 spotted dolphins that swam with us for at least 10 minutes … so cool. SUSAN MCKEE/Contributed

Getting crazy at the FWC touchtank booth at Marathon’s BrewBQ. From left, Kassidy McGraw, Lea Humphrey, Daniel Samess, Ananda Ellis, Joel Gregory. LEA HUMPHREY/ Contributed

The afterglow at Bahia Honda State Park. JO MARY/Lucky Brit

Alligator Reef Lighthouse is one of the most magical places on earth. With the bluest water imaginable, the hardest part of the day spent there is leaving. JESSE KOBLENTZ/ Love & Light Photography

End to a wonderful day. ROBERT POZO/Contributed

Summer in the Keys. DEBI HOLLIS/ Contributed

I enjoyed ‘Martini’ at the Cudjoe Key home of Susan Martin Gilmam & Brad Hahn. NICK PRIDE/Contributed

Landing in Key West after a very long time between visits. SUE TAY/Contrib-

TIFFANY DUONG

tiffany@keysweekly.com

n JULY, we highlighted what SUMMER in the Keys means to you. For AUGUST, we’re going FISHING & FOOD! Summer in the Keys is famous for stellar fishing and even better seafood. Whether you’re out in the flats or backcountry, trolling for Mahi, or fishing off one of our beautiful bridges, send us pictures of you with your catch. Then, show us your favorite way to prepare it! Spiny lobster season also opens, so send us pix of your wild, caught, or cooked bugs! We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!

Photos, captions and photo credit can be emailed to tiffany@keysweekly.com. Rules, schmules: All photos must be original work and feature something in the Keys. Photos can be images that have been published before. No third party may own or control any materials the photo contains, and the photo must not infringe upon the trademark, copy-

right, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person. Any person agrees, by submitting photos, that photos submitted can be used by the Keys Weekly for any and all purposes, including but not limited to advertising, charity work, sales, future editorial, print in the newspapers or online or on social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any other social media platforms as may come about.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 29, 2021

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY

TO OWN LAND ON CRAIG CAY THE MOST SPECTACULAR PRIVATE THE MOST SPECTACULAR PRIVATE BAYFRONT ISLAND IN THE FLORIDA KEYS BAYFRONT ISLAND IN THE FL KEYS Just south of Islamorada at MM72, this offering consists of 12,000 sq.ft. of land for the development of a one-of-a-kind waterfront estate with stunning Bayfront views. Build your family compound with your own private gated entrance. There will only be 3 homes to ever occupy this historic island. New 9,737 sq. ft. magnificent home to be completed south of subject property. Private man-made island from when the railroad first came through the Keys. Deep water surrounding property. A rare offering for the most discriminating buyer looking to build a one-of-a-kind Bayfront masterpiece on a historic private island in the Florida Keys. MLS #596708 | $5,995,000

RICK BONVIE 954.232.8494 rick@bonviedevelopment.com www.bonviedevelopment.com