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LOBSTER LAWS

RELIVING GOLD

Olympian reminisces experience | P. 14

BIG KAHUNA

Violations and education aplenty | P. 16

Hearing loss left you feeling puzzled?

Locals raise funds for ‘good’ cause | P. 20

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

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Two-time Olmpian Caeleb Dressel made it look easy in the pool as he went on to secure five gold medals during the Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. The University of Florida product took to the podium winning gold in the individual 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and butterfly. He also came away with gold in the 4-by-100 freestyle relay and the 4-by-100 medley relay.

ON THE COVER A man lobstering by Whale Harbor Bridge in Islamorada shows Monroe County Sheriff’s Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez how he measured his catch. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

RISING COVID-19 CASES BRING BACK MASKS Publix employees, hospital visitors required to cover face JIM McCARTHY

Editor

Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

jim@keysweekly.com

ncreasing COVID-19 cases in the Keys have some stores and municipalities bringing back mask requirements. Some are issuing messages strongly encouraging their use, while others continue to operate normally since a local mask mandate was lifted in Monroe County. Masks must be worn by staff and visitors frequenting city of Key West facilities. The decision was announced on Aug. 2 in what the city called “an abundance of caution” over the current COVID-19 surge in Florida and the Keys. “We want to be sure that our staff and our citizens stay healthy,” City Manager Patti McLauchlin said in a statement. “We’ve come so far, and we want to stay strong and continue to recover.” Lower Keys Medical Center had seven COVID-positive patients as of Aug. 2. Staff, health care providers and anyone entering the facility continue to be screened and are required to mask. “Our safety precautions remain in place to protect our staff and community and safely provide care for our patients,” said LKMC spokeswoman Lynn Corbett-Winn. Baptist Health South Florida reported 726 patients with COVID-19 in their system from Miami to the Keys on Aug. 2. At Mariners and Fishermen’s hospitals, eight patients with COVID-19 were being treated on Aug. 2. Both hospitals are requiring masks, regardless of vaccination status, when entering facilities. While Islamorada budget workshops on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 were open to in-person attendance, village officials strongly encouraged public participation via Zoom due to rising COVID cases. Several council members and staff members in attendance inside the Founders Park Community Center wore masks. It comes after there were several positive cases among those who attended a July 22 meeting of village council at the community center. Last month, the U.S. Centers for

Key West city officials announced on Aug. 2 that masks must be worn by staff and visitors inside city facilities. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Disease Control released updated guidelines with cases surging in states like Florida. The CDC said those who are fully vaccinated can participate in activities as they did before the pandemic. However, the CDC said, those in areas of high transmission — even those who’ve been vaccinated — should wear a mask when they’re inside public places. A latest Florida Department of Health report, which goes out every Friday afternoon, shows just over 110,400 new cases in the past 10 weeks. From July 23 to July 29, Monroe County saw 249 new cases and a positivity rate of 16.2% With a 70% vaccination rate, Monroe County remains one of the highest in terms of people vaccinated — only Miami-Dade County, with 78%, has a higher percentage of vaccinated people aged 12 and over. Broward County is equal with Monroe, with 70% of its population vaccinated, while Sumter County is at 69%. “There are some who are changing their minds to some extent and getting vaccinated,” Bob Eadie, Monroe County’s top health officer, told the Keys Weekly recently. “That’s a good sign, but our high rate of vaccination, I think, is helping with our citizens here. They're protected. All of the effort that everybody in the community went through to get vaccinated is paying off.” A little more than 700 residents in the Keys received a vaccine between July 23 and July 29. Cafe Moka in Tavernier closed Aug. 2 and 3 in order to get its team tested, with one employee testing positive for COVID. “Sorry for the inconvenience, but the safety of our team and guests is our priority,” a sign posted on the door read. The cafe reopened to the public on Aug. 4. Islamorada Chamber of Commerce executive director Judy Hull said she’s gathering some concerns from businesses. A busy two-day lobster mini-season had hotels at full capacity. “They’re waiting to see if there are going to be any mandates.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

FACTS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR Sam Steele

monroetaxcollector.com 305.295.5000

AUGUST Cafe Moka in Tavernier closed Monday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. KEYS WEEKLY PHOTO

Everyone feels like it’s going to be the business’ decision if they go with the mask,” she said. “It will be on an individual business level, on an individual personal level.” Publix employees are donning masks per a corporate requirement that took effect Aug. 2. Regardless of vaccination status, cashiers and other associates are wearing face coverings at all locations, including those in the Keys. The policy doesn’t affect shoppers. “We encourage all to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19,” the company said in a statement. Masks remain optional for patrons entering WinnDixie stores. Southeastern Grocers, the Jacksonville-based corporation that owns Winn-Dixie, told First Coast News that it encourages customers to wear masks in its stores. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order last week that gives parents the choice to mask their children when they go to school. On the other side, the CDC says masks should be worn indoors by all individuals, ages 2 and over, who aren’t vaccinated. Classes are scheduled to begin next week — Aug. 12 — in Monroe County, and Superintendent Theresa Axford said the district is following recommendations of local, state and federal governments. Eadie said kids under 12 are a lot more “at risk riding in an automobile rather than getting any kind of serious effects from being infected with COVID.” “It hasn’t really changed with the Delta variant,” he said. DeSantis has urged residents to get vaccinated. “These vaccines are saving lives,” he said in a press conference in late July. A number of testing and vaccine sites in Monroe County are available to residents. Visit monroe.floridahealth.gov.

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• The second 2021 property tax installment bills will be mailed on August 31 and due by September 30.

• All rental properties must also have a local business tax, regardless of how long they are being rented.

• Local business tax renewals must be paid by September 30.

• If you suspect a fraudulent property rental, you may report it on our hotline at 1-855-422-4540.

• Any property that is being rented for less than six months must have a tourist development tax account. • As a reminder, online rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) DO NOT remit the 5% tourist development tax to our office. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the tax has been remitted.

• Original/new passports may be applied for at the Harvey Government Center. We also offer passport photos. Please visit our website for more information. • To sign up for electronic bills, please visit our website or call our office for assistance.

for more important tax information.

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has funding available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations for capital projects within DAC’s II, IV and V. The facility must have the primary purpose of promoting tourism and must fall into one of the following categories: Convention Center, Sports Stadium, Sports Arena, Coliseum, Auditorium, Aquarium, Museum, Zoological Park, Nature Center, Fishing Pier, Beach or Beach Park Facility, Channel, Estuary or Lagoon, Public Facilities in Accordance with Conditions Set Forth in the Florida Statute The deadline for receipt of applications is September 21, 2021 and applications must be downloaded from Demandstar (www.monroecountybids.com) For more information please call the TDC Administrative office at 305-296-1552 and ask to speak with Ammie or Maxine.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

EVENTFUL FUNDING SEEKING A VISION

Exercise looks for path forward for village JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

n Islamorada dais entered its first budget season alongside a new village manager inside the Founders Park Community Center on Aug. 3. Islamorada Manager Greg Oravec treated the workshop on Aug. 3 a little differently, calling it a “strategic retreat” in order to help the dais and community figure out the village’s path. Through Oravec’s lead, department heads and staff members attending in person and on Zoom broke into groups for an interactive exercise over the course of three hours. Oravec not only sought what they believed to be the village’s essence, but he also wanted to find commonalities in Islamorada strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. The exercise sought to develop a vision and a road map for Islamorada, the sport fishing capital of the world. Oravec emphasized that it was only an exercise, meaning the development of a strategic plan is more intense and more citizen- and professionally-driven.” “A real plan would be communitydriven. We need to check with other people who have different points of view,” he said. “We can’t do a strategic plan until we put it in the budget.” Traffic on the road, inadequate workforce housing, lack of staffing and pollution were among the common challenges coming out of the group exercise. Real estate value, community aesthetics and local organizations were among the strengths. “We’re trying to identify a longterm vision so we can then create a road map to get there,” Oravec said. “We’re trying to figure out the final destination so we can find our waypoints, understanding we’ll adjust along the way. You gotta know where you’re going, otherwise you waste time and money.” Councilman David Webb said picking a path that saves the best of what Islamorada used to be, while providing a better future for people living in the village now, will be the biggest trick. While still viewed as the sportfishing capital of the world, Webb said Islamorada is now a “bedroom community.”

Village staff and council members place stickers on sheets that outline the village’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

“There are many families who’ve been here for generations, and there are many things about the past that they feel fondly about,” he said. “This whole transition concept is one of the biggest obstacles that we’re going to have to overcome because we’re going to have to pick a path.” Councilman Mark Gregg said he had the chance to participate in the village’s visioning process some 20 years ago. The results back then included strong emphasis on branding Islamorada as the sportfishing capital of the world, the environment and quality of life. Gregg said that from the group exercise, there is a greater emphasis on quality of life and protecting the environment. “Those have risen up,” he said. “There is also an undercurrent of defending against excessive development. We’re kind of full, is what I’m hearing. That’s just a change from what I observed.” Mayor Buddy Pinder said people came to Islamorada for its island life. Pinder, too, said the village has transitioned a bit and noted the affordability of living in paradise. “I just came from Spanish Wells (in the Bahamas). This young lady was a waitress at the place we were eating Saturday night, and one customer asked her if she would be able to afford land here. The answer was ‘no,’ the cost of land has gotten out of sight. Those kids raised on Spanish Wells, more than likely, will have to move elsewhere.” Following the exercise, finance director Maria Bassett provided an overview of the village’s 2021-22 preliminary budget proposal, which proposes a 3.015 millage rate that was adopted during last year’s budget. Bassett said it’s a 5.8% increase over the rollback. Taxable value in the village is around $4.2 billion. That’s up from around $2.46 billion in taxable value some 10 years ago. Property values have been soaring by an average of 7% since 2012, Bassett said. For more visit keysweekly.com

More than $100,000 dished out for Key Largo 2022 happenings JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

rganizers bringing events to the Florida Keys submitted $200,000 in funding requests to the Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s District Advisory Council members representing Key Largo. During an Aug. 3 Zoom meeting, DAC members recommended $115,000 of the available $150,000 be dished out to eight of the 10 events in 2022 that requested funding. Requests were scored by DAC members based on benefit to the community with heads in beds, dollars spent by visitors and marketing of the Keys worldwide. One of the events securing funding was the 18th annual Orange Bowl Winter Training and Swim Classic, at $30,000. Set for Dec. 1, 2021 to Jan. 31, 2022 at Jacob’s Aquatic Center, the event brings world class swimmers primarily from Division 1 college teams around the country for training and competition, which is set for Jan. 3, 2022. The average team size is 48, and the average team stay is eight-and-ahalf nights. Key Largo Stone Crab & Seafood Festival received $20,000 for the event that’s set for Jan. 22-23, 2022. Upper Keys Event Inc., a newly formed company, looks to bring back Key Largo’s flagship event. The two-day event will feature not only seafood, but also arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, fishing clinics, little mermaid contests, eating contests and environmental education, among other activities. Upper Keys Event Inc. is made up of organizers who’ve put on the Key Largo & Islamorada Food & Wine Festival and Key Largo Original Music Festival. DAC members agreed to provide $15,000 to the REEF Fest, set for Oct. 13-16, 2022, and Key Largo Bridge Run, set for Nov. 13, 2022 at Jewfish Creek Bridge and Rowell’s Waterfront Park. The Buccaneer Blast Regatta at Rowell’s Park will receive $10,000. Set for Feb. 25-27, 2022, the annual sailing regatta last year brought 47 teams and a little more than 250 kids to the Keys as far as California and New England. The event is a “gala fundraiser,” for the Mark Sorensen Youth Sailing Program, said executive director Rose Lamela. “We got more boats wanting to participate in the 2022 event,” she said.

Participants gather at Rowell’s Waterfront Park for the finish of the First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run Half Marathon & 4 Mile Run/Walk on Nov. 9, 2019. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

A newer paddle challenge to support Everglades restoration received $10,000 in funding. Set for Nov. 18-22, 2022, Florida Bay Forever’s Send It South Challenge will see paddlers go from Flamingo Marina in Everglades National Park to Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo. The direction of the paddle mirrors the direction of clean water flow south to raise awareness for Everglades restoration. A virtual paddle held in 2020 due to COVID-19 had about 75 participants. Some 100 paddlers are expected to participate this year. “There’s a lot of local interest, as we are a paddling community,” said Emma Haydocy, Florida Bay Forever executive director. Key Largo Brew on the Bay received approval for $10,000. The event hasn’t been seen since 2017, but organizers in the Key Largo Rotary Club are bringing the beer and fun back. The event, set for Jan. 8, 2022, will see a home brew competition with judging and trophies. There will also be plenty of beer tasting and food for event goers. DAC members approved $10,000 for a boat rally that begins in Miami and ends in Key Largo and Islamorada. Set for June 10-12, 2022, around 100 boats are expected to participate with crews averaging around five. Fantasy Fest in Key West and Jimmy Johnson’s Championship Fishing Week didn’t get the DAC members’ support for funding. The DAC in Key Largo has dished out $20,000 to Fantasy Fest and $105,000 to the fishing tournament the past five years. Funding recommendations approved by the DAC will go to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

By Sara Matthis and Mandy Miles

TENANT PROTECTION = LANDLORD FRUSTRATION

EVICTIONS IN THE KEYS On, off, on again. That’s how the federal moratorium on evictions related to COVID-19 is rolling. On July 31, the moratorium ended. Just three days earlier, the Supreme Court published a decision that indicated Congress would have to pass legislation to extend it, which it did not. But that didn’t stop the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from issuing an order on Aug. 3 that put the moratorium back in place due to concerns about increasing case counts. “Evictions of tenants for failure to make rent or housing payments could be detrimental to public health control measures to slow the spread of … COVID-19,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “This order will expire on Oct. 3, 2021 and applies in United States counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels …” And while neither Florida nor Monroe County was singled out, we’re clearly in the “red” on the CDC’s COVID-19 map, indicating there is a high level of transmission in every Florida county, except Glades County, which is rated as “substantial.” On Aug. 3, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the moratorium, “was imposed by the CDC — and I don’t think that they had the authority to do that. The U.S. Supreme Court indicated as much.”

While the legality of the moratorium is up in the air, many are still looking at local court dockets to see if there will be an avalanche of eviction notices in the Keys. What happens next will be a marker of the Keys’ economic health. From February 2020 to the end of July 2021, there have been 31 cases of eviction filed with the Clerk of the Court, 13 of which have already been closed. These numbers represent civil cases filed in the following residential categories: eviction and back rent, eviction and back rent with damages up to $15,000 and eviction and back rent with damages between $15,000 and $30,000. (The 17 months prior saw 25 cases). While the moratorium has protected tenants who may have faced unemployment or illness during the pandemic, it left many landlords, both locally and nationwide, wondering who was going to protect them when their monthly mortgage payment was still due. “I would’ve lost my house due to that moratorium if not for the grace of the bank ,” said Key West homeowner Joe Weatherby, who was only able to afford the New Town duplex he bought with his brother because of the included rental income. “I certainly understand people struggling, and I don’t want to evict anyone, but my tenants looked me in the eye, laughed and said, ‘The governor says we don’t have to pay rent.’ And they didn’t. They were supposed to be out in October, but they ended up staying — rent free — until February. They stuck me for five months’ rent. Meanwhile, they were collecting unemployment while still working for cash and could clearly still afford to party every night.

“ They became squatters,” Weatherby said, thanking Key West attorney Greg Oropeza for helping with the eviction process and legal requirements. “The moratorium, while designed to help those in need, turned into an opportunity for lowlifes to get rich on the backs of others.” The federal moratorium on eviction only covered tenants who were adversely affected by COVID-19 — those who were sick and/or lost their jobs. And, in order to be protected from eviction, the tenants had to swear they had attempted to obtain rental assistance from the government, meet income requirements, etc. But expanding the Monroe County eviction search for the same time period to include non-monetary evictions, February 2020 to July 2021, the case count exploded to 198. Using the same search parameters, there were only 31 during the 17 months previous. What’s happening? Failure to pay rent due to hardships isn’t the only reason a tenant can be evicted. For example, evictions could be due to breaking a clause of the lease, like having a prohibited dog. Or having four tenants, instead of the allowed two.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

The Florida Keys aren’t alone in the struggle. A July 27 New York Times article details a lawsuit filed last week by the National Apartment Association, the nation’s biggest trade group for residential landlords. The group is suing the federal government for imposing the moratorium on evictions, claiming the freeze cost owners approximately $27 billion that’s not covered by existing aid programs. “Industry analysts cited in the landlords’ suit estimate that 10 million delinquent tenants owed $57 billion in back rent by the end of 2020, and that $17 billion more had gone unpaid since then,” states the article by Glenn Thrush. “The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, in D.C., is meant in part to press the Biden administration to speed up disbursement of $47 billion in emergency rental relief that was included in the two coronavirus relief packages. Landlords also hope to prod the White House to loosen the application requirements for the relief, which many owners say are too onerous. “The case is also intended to challenge the federal government’s right to impose such restrictions in the future, arguing that the CDC’s actions violated private property rights protected by the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which requires the government to compensate private parties when it seizes their assets.

AT RISK OF EVICTION A recent New York Times guest essay by Sema K. Sgaier and Aaron Dibner-Dunlap of Surgo Ventures, a nonprofit health organization, detailed the housing crisis on July 28. The essay includes a digital tool that calculates the percentage of renters in each county who are behind on rent and the average amount owed. In Monroe County, 14.6% of renting households owe back rent — the average amount of rent owed is $5,116, which would equate roughly to about three months’ rent in the Florida Keys. “State and local governments can prevent this rental crisis from becoming a homelessness crisis with help from nearly $50 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds,” the article states. “Yet despite laudable coordination efforts and recent acceleration, the rollout is too slow, too few renters are eligible and the application process is too complicated. As a result, funds are reaching only a small fraction of those who need them most. ... “There is also a huge eligibility gap: We estimate that of the 6.2 million households in arrears, half make more money than the federal program allows and therefore aren’t eligible. The result is that at-risk households in nearly every county are still catastrophically behind.” FUNDING AVAILABLE The federal government issued $1.4 billion to Florida in emergency rental assistance funds, with approximately $529 million distributed directly by local governments with populations over 200,000. The remaining funds, over $800 million, will be disbursed by the state.

According to a report from Tampa, the state has distributed only 2% — or $18.3 million — of the federal funds it received to help keep renters in their homes. That program — called Our Florida — is administered by the state. “We receive multiple calls each day from residents about the ‘Our Florida’ program and the lack of assistance/acknowledgement they are getting or receiving from the system,” said Sheryl Graham, Monroe County director of social services. “Unfortunately, we have no control over that system, nor do we have any additional rental funding, other than what’s listed below.” In Monroe County, the Social Services department has spent more than $1.7 million it received from the Coronavirus Relief Funding (CARES Act) through December 2020. The money helped 188 households with 441 people who were directly affected by COVID-19, according to data from the county. Specifically, said Mark Lenkner of the Monroe County Continuum of Care, “For the fiscal year that began July 1, 2021, we were awarded: $1,025,000 for homelessness prevention and $797,000 for rehousing, which helps cover first, last and security.” The Monroe County Continuum of Care (CoC) is the lead agency for the coordination and planning of homeless services in the Florida Keys,” its website states. “As the lead agency, designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Monroe County CoC organizes the collaboration of local agencies to address the needs of clients and provide essential supportive services.” He added that the group’s website monroehomelesscoc.org provides links for Our Florida and other available funding sources. In fiscal year 2020-21, the county has dipped into its own general fund (it is not getting a portion of the federal money sent to the state because the population is less than 200,000), and spent $7,413 of the $15,100 it has available to help four residents countywide. In the next fiscal year 2021-22, the county has $20,000 budgeted, again, from the county’s own general fund. “If we receive any additional rental funding, Monroe County Social Services would be willing to assist with distribution of the funds countywide,” Graham said. “We have a proven track record of success in distributing large amounts of rental assistance, with total compliance, to a large number of residents countywide.” In Key West, United Way of Collier and Monroe counties provided $230,000 in rental assistance in the summer of 2020 and between January and March 2021, said Florida Keys area president Leah Stockton.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

1 2 3

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY 5

First responders meet with public for National Night Out

ommunity members met with law enforcement and fire rescue crews for National Night Out at Key Largo Community Park and Founders Park in Islamorada on Aug. 3. Children gravitated to the fire trucks, the U.S. Coast Guard boat and Florida Fish & Wildlife Officers who had a tiny crocodile with them. Adults spoke with Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies who displayed everything from bomb squad equipment to SWAT gear. Refreshments were served by fire rescuers and law enforcement. National Night Out connects the community and first responders in order to bring safer and cleaner neighborhoods. — Weekly staff report

JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly 1. Monroe County Sheriff’s Capt. Derek Paul dishes out some barbecue food, cooked by Paul Mosczynski, of the Key Largo Fire Department, to the public. 2. Sheriff’s deputies attend the National Night Out in Key Largo. Pictured are Sgt. Spenser Bryan, SWAT Medic Cesar Moreton and Detective Mario Benedetti. CONTRIBUTED 3. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada gather for a group picture in front of their boat. 4. A little girl sits in the driver seat of an Islamorada Fire Rescue truck. 5. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Investigator Billy Thompson, left, Lt. Paul Hein, Officer Josh Stallings and Officer Jessica Diaz attend National Night Out.

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

LIVIN’ IN LOCAL COLOR

Artist Janice Nagle makes her home, her art in Islamorada SHANNON P. WILEY www.keysweekly.com

anice Nagle found herself, like many folks, picking up the pieces of her life in the post-Irma days. Yet among the scattered ruins, she came upon a small treasure: her grandmother’s art box, filled with tubes of half-dried paint and old art brushes. It prompted her to give painting a whirl. With her camera phone she snapped photos and began painting her subjects from there. From that day on, she just never looked back. Although her grandmother shared cooking lessons, knitting, arts and crafts and more with her when she was young, Nagle doesn’t have any formal training in art. “I have not taken any art classes,” she said, “except for a paint and sip class.” Nagle and her husband moved to White Marlin Beach in Islamorada in 2015. “We have been married 10 years now and the day I met him, he said he wouldn’t date me unless I would move to the Keys with him, so here we are,” Nagle said. “When we moved here the local colors of the island inspired me to capture images.”

Nagle started with somewhat structured acrylic painting. Later she graduated to watercolor, the medium she now prefers. Her subjects range from stunning botanicals and landscapes to captivating depictions of birds and sea life. Her prices for originals and prints fit even the most modest budget. She sells her work at Shady Palm Gallery in Marathon, and mingles with the Upper Keys locals at art shows including Morada Bay Art Walk in Islamorada and the Under the Oaks art show. She often markets her originals and prints through Facebook. Beyond her art career, Nagle works as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Schmitt while also helping her husband (and charter captain) with Singing Reel Charters — ”I don’t like to just sit around and watch the grass grow,” she said. She is a mother of one son and has two beautiful grandchildren. “I love livin’ in local color and the colors are what inspire me the most,” Nagle said. To learn more, visit www.livininlocalcolor.com.

SAVE THE DATE Monday, Aug. 9 • Local Planning Agency meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. Tuesday, Aug. 10 • Florida Keys Orchid Society meeting with guest Juanita Contreras at 6 p.m. at the Key Largo Civic Club. Thursday, Aug. 12 • First day of school for students of Monroe County School District. Monday, Aug. 16 • Islamorada Achievable Housing Citizens’ Committee meeting at 5 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. • Tech savvy seniors training for ages 50 and over from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Key Largo library. Tuesday, Aug. 17 • Islamorada Chamber of Commerce after hours from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at TBD. Wednesday, Aug. 18 • Free legal help for qualified individuals by Legal Services of the Florida Keys from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Key Largo library. • LEGO Lab for kids at 4 p.m at Key Largo library • History of Diving Museum’s “Immerse Yourself” presentation by underwater explorer Terrence Tysall from 7 to 8:15 p.m. via Zoom.

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 Thursday, Aug. 19 • Islamorada Village Council regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. • Morada Way Art Walk from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Morada Way Cultural Arts District, Islamorada. • Book signing with nonprofit management expert Alex Counts at 3:30 p.m. at Tennessee Williams Theater, Key West. Aug. 21-22 • Vintage Dive Days with various activities, venues and times, hosted by the History of Diving Museum and NAUI, Islamorada. divingmuseum.org. Wednesday, Aug. 25 • Fee-Free Day at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks to commemorate the National Parks’ 105th birthday. Saturday, Aug. 28 • Bingo with Key Largo neighbors at 2 p.m. at Key Largo Library. Sept. 1-5 • Key West WomenFest at multiple venues and times around Key West.

QUILTERS SEW FOR SHELTER

nne O’Neal, left and Mary Lou Wilkinson sit with a few of the quilts ready for the Domestic Abuse Shelter. The Florida Keys Quilters have been sewing since last year. A selection of quilts will be on display in the Key Largo library community room for several weeks starting Sunday, Aug. 8. More information about the exhibit is available from the library at 305-451-2396. More information about the Florida Keys Quilters is available from Wilkinson at 305-394-3878. KEY LARGO LIBRARY/ Contributed

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021 Indian Key, circa 1839, from the Indian Key model at the Keys History & Discovery Center. BRAD BERTELLI/Keys Weekly

ATTACK AT INDIAN KEY SURVIVORS DETAIL HORRIFYING CARNAGE

BRAD BERTELLI

ndian Key was once the most important island in the Florida Keys not named Key West. The 11-acre island in the Atlantic Ocean, about a mile offshore ... is an author, of the Matecumbe keys, is home to Indian Key Hisspeaker, and Flortoric State Park. On Aug. 7, 1840, the island was the site ida Keys historian. His latest book, of the southernmost Indian attack of the Seminole War. “The Florida Keys Populated by fewer than 50 people on the day of the Skunk Ape Files,” attack, six people were killed during what is generally is a fun blend of two of his favorite referred to as the Indian Key Massacre. At about 2 a.m., Indian Key resident James Glass subjects–Florida Keys history and was walking outside his small cottage on Water Street. the Skunk Ape. Under the light of the moon, Glass saw a row of dugout canoes lined up along the edge of the island — Indian canoes. He hurried to his neighbor’s home and quietly knocked on the door of George Beiglett. Wanting to alert Captain Housman to the threat, the two men climbed over the fence separating the back of their properties and the town square only to find a large group of Indians huddled in the night’s shadows. One of the Indians raised his rifle and shot at the two men. His weapon flashed but did not fire. Beiglett, carrying a shotgun, fired back. When he did, he let out a wild shriek and then ran off in the direction of the island’s largest structure, the warehouse. Glass ran the other way. At the warehouse, Beiglett encountered a man and a boy named Joseph Sturdy, and the three decided to climb down into the cistern underneath the warehouse floor, where they reportedly hid in chest-deep water. As the sun began to rise, light slipped through the cracks in the wooden floor. Beiglett crept out of the cistern, into the warehouse, and climbed up into the cupola atop the roof. From the third-story vantage point, he could see across the island. The Indians were everywhere. They were ransacking the warehouse, stores and homes. They were setting structures on fire. Beiglett left the cupola and rejoined the other two in the cistern. It proved a suitable hiding place before the Indians took the supplies they needed and lit the building on fire. As the warehouse burned down around them, Beiglett and the sailor managed to slog across the cistern and escape through the trapdoor, their hair singed, and their arms burned and blistered, but they were alive. The same could not be said for the Sturdy boy, who likely succumbed to smoke inhalation before being boiled in the cistern’s water.

The Motte family suffered the greatest number of losses. John Motte and his wife lived on the island with their daughter, their newborn child, and John’s mother-in-law. Upon hearing the gunshots, whoops and hollers, John led his family out of their house and into the smaller kitchen structure. The Indians found them. One raised the barrel of his rifle and fired a shot at the door. The ball penetrated the thin wood and struck John Motte, who died as a result of the wound. The Indians then broke down the door and dragged Mrs. Motte, clutching her newborn baby to her bosom, outside. The mother was killed, and the baby was tossed into the Atlantic, where the child drowned. Motte’s 70-year-old mother-inlaw survived the day. His older daughter was dragged outside and clubbed to death. The Henry Perrine family, too, would be awakened by the chaos escalating across the island. Perrine gathered his family, including a daughter who had been sick, and they met in the bathroom. Henry lifted a trap door leading down into the bathhouse beneath the home. When the sick daughter hesitantly descended and stepped into the water, she recoiled and placed her foot on the wooden plank. What she left behind was a discernible, wet footprint. Should the Indians find it, it would have led the Indians to where the family was hiding. Henry Perrine told his family to continue, to go beneath the wharf and hide in the turtle crawl. Henry returned to the house, covered the trap door with a seed chest, and when the Indians came, he tried to reason with them. “I am a doctor,” he said. “I can help you,” he offered. At first, it seems, the doctor’s pleas worked, and the Indians went away. When they did, Perrine went to the cupola and barricaded himself inside, an action that would offer temporary relief. The Indians, however, would come back with a newfound interest in Perrine. They broke through the cupola’s trap door and shot and killed Dr. Perrine as his family, hiding in the turtle crawl beneath the home’s wharf, listened to the entire act go down. After killing Perrine, they set the house on fire, and as it burned, his family was trapped beneath it. The Perrine family would survive the ordeal. Two of the children would write memoirs later in life that would recount the horrifying details. While most stories about Indian Key end with the attack, the island has many stories still to tell. Over the next three weeks, the island’s connection to Key West, Key Vaca and more will be explored.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

Doug Mientkiewicz at the plate during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. CONTRIBUTED

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

IN THEIR WORDS

GOING FOR GOLD Former MLB player, now Keys captain, looks back on 2000 Olympics

he summer Olympic games are underway in Tokyo, Japan. Spectators from coast to coast have their eyes glued to the big names, the marquee events and the medal count in hopes that the U.S comes out on top. Big names like Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky are packing their suitcase full of medals, while American surfer Carissa Moore became the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. An Olympic experience is unlike any other. Just ask Islamorada resident and former MLB player Doug Mientkiewicz, who represented the USA in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. From defeating a powerhouse to hitting a go-ahead grand slam and wearing gold around the neck, Mientkiewicz looks back on the Olympics, what it meant to him and the memories that will last a lifetime. The Olympics meant everything to me growing up. I became hooked in 1980 watching from Toledo, Ohio. Mike Eruzione played on the Toledo Golddiggers, which was a minor league hockey team, who was my favorite player. Watching with my dad while Mike scored the winning goal against Russia, I was hooked from that point on. Years later at the 2000 Sports Illustrated Man of the Year event, I got to meet and hang out with him, which was one of the most exciting moments of my life.

Words cannot do enough justice for my entire Olympic experience. From the opening ceremonies, all the way to winning the gold medal, the whole Olympic Village experience was amazing. The feeling of unity for our country was second to none. Walking into the opening ceremony with the likes of Kevin Garnett, Mia Hamm and endless other incredible athletes was an honor in itself. I have been fortunate to wear the USA on my chest on three separate occasions. Once at 11 years old in Japan for the USA team, once in college on the USA team, and then in Sydney, Australia for the Olympics. The sense of pride is second to none. It is humbling and the highest honor there is. Our mindset heading into the games were "Gold or bust!" even knowing that Cuba had never lost an Olympic game. Obviously, Cuba was the favorite but we felt that we had experience heading into the games. I played with the same Cuba National Team in 1994, so I knew how good they really were. But we had a bunch of guys who would not be intimidated by facing them. Japan had teams for years that were good enough to beat Cuba but were in awe and intimidated by them. Watching Cuba play in the semifinal game for 4 hours, we were begging for them to win. The only way this was going to work for us is to win the gold medal and have to beat the best to win it.

Tommy was perfect for us. He put a name and a face on a team that the world had never heard of. Everyone knows the name Tommy Lasorda. He kept telling us "when this is all said and done the world will know your name and what you all will accomplish." To put only one memory on this experience is almost impossible. The camaraderie, the bond built with a bunch of teammates is second to none. But I would say hitting the go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the 8th against Korea and then three days later, hitting a walk-off homer against them to put us in the gold medal game, has to be 1 and 1A. Every year on Sept. 27, we (the team) all toast each other. We try to get everyone we can involved from players, coaches, front office, trainers, you name it, either via text, Facetime, Zoom. We all raise our glass and say the line Tommy always gave us after a win: "the fruits of victory." Getting the gold medal placed around your neck is an emotional high. I couldn't help but to think of all of the sacrifices my parents made for me to get me to this point. And seeing my mother and father in the stands, directly across from me, I could not fight back the tears any more. All of the hard work, all of the things I missed out on along the way, to get me to this moment. Hearing the national anthem play, and seeing our flag raised a little higher than everyone else's, is what it is all about. Baseball is America's pastime. We brought the gold back to where it belongs, for the first time in USA history. Our motto was "we didn't go 3000 miles to lose." You always try to use experience in teaching. There is a lot that I use. For example, before the games started, we played exhibition games, and I was awful, they threatened to send me home. Moving to game one against Japan, I got a brokenbat single at my first at-bat and everything slowed down and became surreal for the next two weeks. Everything I visualized, happened. Basically, if you keep believing and trusting the process, things can change fast and on a dime. If you have confidence and believe that you are one swing from getting in a slump, or one pitch away from getting out of a jam, anything is possible. — Doug Mientkiewicz is owner and captain of Olympic Gold Fishing in Islamorada.

“The feeling of unity for our country was second to none. Walking into the opening ceremony with the likes of Kevin Garnett, Mia Hamm and endless other incredible athletes was an honor in itself.”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

The Monroe County Sheriff’s boat docks at Plantation Yacht Harbor in Islamorada.

Deputy Nelson Sanchez tells kayakers they have to lobster 300 feet out from residential shoreline.

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

LEARNING LAWS DURING LOBSTER SEASON Marine deputies stay busy educating visitors

Sheriff’s Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez grabs a lobster from an ice chest for measuring. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

Nelson Sanchez has spent 20 of his 26 years with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office working on the water. Marty Digrus has spent the past eight of his 12 years with the sheriff’s office patrolling the Upper Keys waters.

arine patrols from various law enforcement agencies conducted resource checks and safety inspections during a busy two-day lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys. With citations came education for those unfamiliar with the rules and regulations. Nelson Sanchez and Marty Digrus, Monroe County Sheriff’s marine deputies in the Upper Keys, departed from the Plantation Yacht Harbor dock in Islamorada for patrol on the morning of July 29 for day two of lobster mini-season. Sanchez has spent 20 of his 26 years with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office working on the water. Digrus has spent the past eight of his 12 years with the sheriff’s office on a patrol boat. The two-day season began on July 28, and Digrus said most people were following the rules and behaving. A few, however, needed correcting. Sheriff’s deputies made roughly 190 stops during day one in the Florida Keys. Those led to two arrests and 10 citations that include mandatory notices to appear in court. By day two, 194 stops vessel stops were made with eight more citations issued to appear in court. Two major incidents were also reported on day one, including the death of 35-year-old Emilio Gonzalo Perez, of Seawall’s Point, after he lost consciousness snorkeling for lobster near Sawyer Key. A short time later, on the morning of July 28, Trauma Star took 41-year-old Ricardo Maikel Rodriguez Leyva, 41, of Naples, to a Miami hospital after he was struck by a boat propeller off Cudjoe Key. Sanchez and Digrus went right to work upon leaving the dock on July 29, as they noticed two boats with people in the water and no diver-down flag visible. After educating the boaters, the pair sped off toward a boat that was thought to be lobstering illegally inside Everglades National Park. The two men had no lobster aboard or in their nets, and they left the park for another location. “You’re faced with a whole set of rules and laws and different ordinances that pertain to only the marine side of it, and we have different jurisdictions that include state waters and federal waters,” Sanchez said. “We have our neighbor to the north of us, Everglades National Park, which is a hop and a step away, that’s still in our jurisdiction. “We have to give the rules to people who come down from other areas who don’t know much about it,” he continued. “Meanwhile the one that suffers is the resource.”

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

“We have to give the rules to people who come down from other areas who don’t know much about it. Meanwhile the one that suffers is the resource.” Nelson Sanchez, Monroe County — marine deputy

A local rule that keeps divers and snorkelers away from residential and commercial shorelines had many out-of-county visitors confused. Sanchez explained to two boats and a couple kayakers off Lower Matecumbe that they need to be outside the buoys that mark 300 feet from the shoreline. In Islamorada, the rule applies during the lobster mini-season and the first five days of regular season, which begins Friday, Aug. 6. In Marathon, it applies only during the

mini-season. In Key West and unincorporated Monroe, it applies during the lobster mini-season and the first five days of the regular season. There’s an exception, however, for diving and snorkeling in front of a person’s own property to the centerline of the canal or open water. Sanchez emphasized to snorkelers and swimmers in Islamorada that the rule pertains only to diving or snorkeling within 300 feet of residential or commercial property. It has nothing to do with harvesting lobster and nothing to do with bully netting. The only caveat to that is “you’re not allowed to go on people’s property.” “The bay bottom or ocean bottom belongs to somebody, whether it be the state of Florida or a property owner,” Sanchez said. Then there were the lobster violations. After explaining the 300-foot rule to a group of young snorkelers and swimmers, Sanchez and Digrus proceeded over to a rental boat with four men aboard. They, too, were in violation of the 300-foot law. After acknowledging they had lobster in the ice chest, Sanchez hopped over to check their catches and size. Sanchez asked one man to measure what appeared to be a legal-sized lobster with at least a 3-inch carapace. He then asked the man to measure a smaller lobster that didn’t meet the requirement. Two lobsters were found to be undersized. Sanchez explained to the men, from central and northern Florida, that resource violations are arrestable offenses. Tickets were ultimately issued to the men. “When I tell them to give me a little lobster and he measures and it drops off, we have some problems,” Sanchez said. “He was fumbling and wasn’t that aware of the law.” Sanchez and Digrus continued on to tell two kayakers staying in Lower Matecumbe that they not only needed their fishing license to lobster, but they also needed a diver flag. They, too, were within 300 feet of residential property. With resource checks and some education also came some smiles and laughs. A family of four out not far from Plantation Yacht Harbor hadn’t found any lobsters in the time they were on the water. When asked where the good lobsters are, the deputies responded, “Publix.” “They’re really good,” Digrus said.

The group of women pose with their lobsters during the second day of lobster mini-season in the Upper Keys. JESSE HAYES/Contributed

BULLY-NETTING A TRADITION FOR LOCAL WOMEN

omewhere in the Upper Keys (Keys Weekly has been sworn to secrecy), commercial fisherman Jesse Hayes took five female friends for his annual “Ladies Night” outing on the second day of lobster mini-season. The group headed for the flats at sunset (while taking photos, of course) and looked for “bugs” in five different locations. Lights illuminate the water in They returned to the dock at 1 search of lobsters. a.m. with the full legal limit for the boat: 24 lobsters. Along the way, the boaters reviewed the essentials of bully-netting and how to correctly gauge a lobster’s size — if the lobster shell is no more than three inches, back into the drink it goes. The group posed with their bounty at the end of the night: Sharon Sherman, left, Mary Pruett, Tricia Woods, Mary Salter and Keys Weekly writer Charlotte Twine.

—Weekly staff report

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

Study team members work up a green sea turtle on the deck of their research vessel. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

HAND IN HAND Turtle Hospital, Force Blue work together for inaugural study TIFFANY DUONG tiffany@keysweekly.com

he Turtle Hospital in Marathon has been treating sea turtles found near our shores with internal and external tumors for over 35 years. Now, for the first time, they’re collaborating with the veterans of Force Blue to organize a scientific study to understand why. “The Force Blue project is near and dear to my heart, as it is the first scientific research project I organized,” said Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach. “At the Turtle Hospital, we collaborate on many scientific projects, but this one is in our backyard, looking at the health of the Florida Keys green sea turtle population.” So, what exactly is going on with the sea turtles? Our beloved marine reptiles are suffering from an array of threats, Zirkelbach said. Everything from environmental degradation, infectious diseases and biotoxins to chemical contaminants is affecting their health and survival. Something in the water is likely causing many of these turtles to develop a condition called fibropapillomatosis (FP), where internal and external tumors grow and can impede swimming ability, digestion, breathing, eyesight and more. The disease is a “transmissible tumor disease of ecological importance” in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Keys, Zirkelbach added. The problem is common and home-grown, it seems, with FP tumors recorded in 51.6% of stranded green turtles in the Keys. In contrast, the tumor frequency rate for Florida overall is less than half: 22.6%. “The waters surrounding the Florida Keys are of particular concern” because they are an exemplary foraging ground for juvenile green sea turtles, Zirkelbach told the Keys Weekly. “Understand-

ing the habitats of green turtles with this alarming FP rate is a crucial step toward elucidating factors that may contribute to the disease.” She hopes to fill in those critical information gaps by capturing and studying what types of tumors and environmental conditions exist in Keys’ sea turtles. In particular, she wants to study the movement, foraging ecology, and health of the aggregation of green turtles inhabiting waters of the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the southern Florida Keys. To do so, the Turtle Hospital collaborated with the veterans of Force Blue. “This is a dream team. One team, one fight for the health of our oceans,” Zirkelbach said. “The Florida Keys Sea Turtle Health Study was my dream research project for the Turtle Hospital that Force Blue helped to bring to reality. I have been networking with scientists and preparing for this project since the first time I saw FP tumors on sea turtles coming out of Florida Keys waters.” Force Blue’s mission is to unite Special Operations veterans with the world of marine conservation. The organization retrains and redeploys former special operations veterans and military-trained combat divers to work alongside scientists and environmentalists on marine conservation missions, executive director Jim Ritterhoff previously told the Weekly. Locally, the group has done a ton of work, help-

From top: Study team members quickly measure and assess the health of an endangered green sea turtle in the field. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly Blood and tissue samples from collectedthen-released sea turtles are currently being analyzed in labs across the country. BETTE ZIRKELBACH/The Turtle Hospital

ing with everything from reattaching 100-year-old coral heads after Hurricane Irma to helping to plant endangered corals ahead of Super Bowl LV. For this mission, the Force Blue team trained on how to safely capture and release sea turtles on the water. The group also funded the study. Zirkelbach called their involvement “another amazing layer” to the project, because of the “mission-based therapy” that the in-water work provides to the retired warriors and military divers. They receive “a new mission and a sense of continued service” in fighting for the planet, Ritterhoff said. Over 10 water days, the team, along with Florida Atlantic University researcher Annie Page-Karjian and InWater Research Group, both of whom have years of research on FP in sea turtles and sea turtles in Florida, respectively, collected, tagged and released a total of 38 green sea turtles. All work was conducted pursuant to NMFS ESA Permit No. 21169 and FWC MTP 204. Read full story at keysweekly.com

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

VYING FOR BIG KAHUNA

Good Health Clinic fundraiser underway

fter two postponements due to the coronavirus pandemic, Good Health Clinic’s Big Kahuna contest is back. This time, five people vie for the wooden Kahuna statue. Every year, the clinic selects exceptional, communitydriven individuals from a pool of nominees in Monroe Country to compete in raising funds and spreading the word about the services Good Health Clinic provides. The contestants use their personal and professional networks to raise funds on behalf of the patients at the clinic. “Through these individuals’ amazing and selfless efforts, the clinic is able to raise needed funding and spread the word about our services so Keys residents know we’re here to help them,” said Kate Banick, executive director. The contest runs through Sept. 29 and the clinic asks for the community's help in applauding and supporting each contestant. The Big Kahuna winner will be announced

at the ninth annual Luau for Health fundraiser at Dolphins Plus Bayside on Oct. 2. Good Health Clinic is the only free clinic in the Florida Keys that provides comprehensive healthcare for low-income, uninsured residents. This not-for-profit opened its door in Tavernier in 2004 and served a few dozen patients the first year. This past year, 893 adults and children were provided care and nearly $5 million in donated services were received. The clinic has offices in Tavernier and Marathon. More information is at 305-853-1788, via email at info@thegoodhealthclinic.org, or at www.thegoodhealthclinic.org. More information about the fundraiser is available from Banick at 305619-0154 or at thegoodhealthclinic.org/luau-for-health/. — Contributed

DREW GROSSMAN, chief executive officer, Mariners Hospital

DEREK PAPP, orthopedic surgeon, Mariners Hospital

HOLLY MERRILL RASCHEIN, former state representative

Grossman has been chief executive officer of Mariners Hospital in Tavernier and Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon since February 2021. Grossman earned a bachelor’s from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in health services administration from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. After completing his administrative residency at Parkway Medical Center in North Miami Beach, he joined Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Southern California, serving as assistant administrator. In 2002, he returned to Florida to assume leadership positions at Cleveland Clinic in Weston and Parkway Medical Center in North Miami Beach. He joined Broward Health as chief executive officer of Broward Health Coral Springs and Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital. Before joining Baptist Health South Florida, he was chief executive officer at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, Missouri. "I am running for Big Kahuna because it's about the community raising funds and awareness,” he said, “as part of giving back to a great place like Good Health Clinic, which strives each day to provide primary and in-service care to those who truly need it.”

Papp moved to Key Largo after Hurricane Irma and immediately fell in love with the community. He’s an orthopedic surgeon who attended Johns Hopkins for medical school and residency, and completed his sports medicine fellowship with his current partners at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. He also works as a team physician/consultant for the Baltimore Orioles and spends much of his free time helping the team out wherever asked — and traveled to Korea and Mexico as a MLB physician during the World Baseball Classic. Papp recently organized an international conference for orthopedic surgeons in Antarctica. “Good Health Clinic provides an important and amazing service to the Keys community — they're easily some of my favorite and most thankful patients,” he said. “It’s an honor to be asked to help this year and very easy to say, ‘yes.’”

Raschein served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2020, representing the 120th district, which includes Monroe County and Southern Miami-Dade County. Originally from Alaska, she attended Florida State University, where she graduated with a degree in political science in 2003. She then moved to the Keys, where she worked as a legislative aide for representatives Ken Sorensen and Ron Saunders. She is active in numerous organizations including Young Philanthropists of Baptist Health, Leadership Monroe County, the Monroe County Education Foundation, the Florida Council on Arts & Culture, the American Flood Coalition and the Rotary Club of Key Largo. “As the premiere provider of quality health care services to the uninsured or underinsured community in the Florida Keys, I couldn’t be prouder to support the Good Health Clinic as a contender in the Big Kahuna contest and look forward to supporting the Luau for Health,” she said.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

BRIEFLY

KRISTINE COX, general manager, Playa Largo Cox is the general manager of Playa Largo, on the Florida Bay in Key Largo. Born and raised in the resort town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Cox has always been drawn to the hospitality field. Her experience and talents span the industry, from catering manager and director of catering to front office manager, rooms division manager and director of operations, and ultimately, general manager by the time she was 30. Cox was general manager at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa, director of catering and acting general manager at Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and general manager at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel before that, among other roles. She and her husband have a blended family with four children, a dog and cats. She’s currently on the board of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and lives in the Upper Keys. “Time is always of the essence for many and even more these days,” she said. “I want to take myself to new levels of life and assist in such a wonderful cause for the community with time. Good Health Clinic provides a critical outlet for so many neighbors that we share conversations and time with daily. I am honored to run for the Big Kahuna in support of the community that the Good Health Clinic stands for and provides. Let's rise together and lift others around us up.”

SUZI YOUNGBERG, community outreach specialist, History of Diving Museum Youngberg is a 24-year resident of the Florida Keys. For many of those years, she worked in corporate financial insurance, traveling often to visit clients across three states. She began volunteering for the American Cancer Society, serving as Relay For Life event chair in 2016 and 2017, while working in radio as a sales executive and on-air personality. In 2018, she became the Florida Keys development manager for the American Cancer Society and spent three years organizing events, volunteers and donors throughout the Florida Keys. Youngberg now assists the History of Diving Museum as the community outreach specialist. She also serves as president of Upper Keys Business and Professional Women, delegate to the council of presidents for the Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women, and sits on the Upper Keys advisory council for Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. “I am proud to be competing for Big Kahuna and raising funds for the Good Health Clinic,” she said. “Good Health Clinic provides such a necessary role supporting the health of our community and so many rely on their services. It’s all about helping our neighbors. See you at the Luau.”

Open house scheduled at CFK’s new Upper Keys Center The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the public and prospective students to open house events at its new Upper Keys Center, located at 106040 Overseas Highway in Key Largo on Wednesday, Aug. 11 and Thursday, Aug.12 from 4 to 7 p.m. Visitors will be able to tour the new 38,000-square foot center and learn about the expanded academic and workforce training opportunities now available. CFK staff will be on hand to help incoming students complete the application, register for classes and find answers to questions they may have. In celebration of the grand opening of the new center, the college is offering a “Take 2, Get 1” enrollment special. Students who register for and complete two or more classes, or at least six credits, this fall semester will receive one free class, up to three credits, in spring 2022. At least one class must be at the Upper Keys Center for each semester. At the new center, the college offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as workforce training. Programs that are available in the fall include nursing, paramedic, business administration, supervision and management, construction technologies, hospitality, public safety, general studies and Project ACCESS, which provides opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. Marine science programs will be added in spring 2022. The Upper Keys Center also houses a testing center, which provides access to thousands of professional testing and certification exams. Fall classes start Aug. 19. CFK’s Upper Keys Center will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning on Monday, Aug. 9. Construction of the new Upper Keys Center was made possible through a $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) as well as through privately raised funds from local sources. Visit the college's website at www. cfk.edu/UKC to explore the opportunities available at the Upper Keys Center. More information is available from Marissa Owens, CFK director of recruitment, at recruiter@cfk.edu or 305-809-3207. National Marine Sanctuary advisory council set to meet The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary advisory council will meet virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Council members will hear updates from staff and agency partners on the state of the sanctuary, with a specific presentation on

coral reef conditions. The agenda also includes updates on water quality monitoring, historical resources, mooring buoys and stewardship for lobster mini-season, in addition to a report from the superintendent. Public comment will be accepted via email to floridakeys@noaa.gov during the meeting. An agenda and supporting materials will be posted at https://floridakeys. noaa.gov/sac. Florida Keys Democrats host school-supply fundraiser The Florida Keys Democrats have announced the return of in-person events, beginning with its “Back to School Sunday Social.” The organization serves all 128 miles of Monroe County and invites all Florida Keys residents to join them on Sunday, Aug. 15, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mangrove Mama’s, MM 20. The Democrats want to support the United Teachers of Monroe County and are asking guests to bring assorted school supplies, including backpacks, to share with classroom teachers. Donors will receive five door prize tickets. A requested donation of $35 includes a picnic buffet, door prizes, a silent auction and music by Key West musician Larry Baeder. A cash bar will be available at this outdoor event, and COVID protocols will be in place to protect guests. To reserve a spot, go to www. keysdems.com. More information is available from Sandy Haas at sandyhaas849@gmail.com. Lionfish Derby, Festival scheduled for September Divers can vie for prize money while helping preserve native reef fish populations during a fun, competitive Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 9-12, sponsored by Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Derby teams are tasked with capturing and removing as many nonnative lionfish from Keys waters as possible. Awards for the most lionfish, the largest, smallest and a golden fish raffle award are up for grabs. Divers compete in one of two divisions — Apex Predators, designed with greater prize monies for more competitive divers, or Reef Defenders, a more casual division with less prize money but equally credible bragging rights. Teams of two to four people can register online by Tuesday, Aug. 10 for an early-bird rate of $85 per team. Registration is $100 per team after Aug. 10 and on or before Sept. 9 at 5 p.m.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021 A Zambian woman pumps water from a Dazzle Africa-sponsored well. SAMSON MOYO/Contributed

CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

‘WE HAVE PLENTY TO SHARE’

Keys resident changed her life by falling in love with Zambia

fter the financial crisis of 2008, Stacy James found herself at a crossroads. She had lost her music agent job while she was living in Las Vegas, so she left her resume with the elementary school up the street for a shot at employment. Luckily she got the job. But in 2011, she needed to press “restart” on her life. And she kept thinking, “elephants.” “I wasn't expecting to start anything,” said James. “But my heart has always been with animals, particularly elephants. I feel like the elephants are what called me over to Africa. It stemmed from my mother sending me a video of elephants walking through a lodge. So I went on Google and searched, and it popped up: Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia.” James was taken by the footage of elephants making a shortcut through the lodge’s lobby in order to access some fallen fruits from a wild mango tree. She felt compelled to organize a safari to Zambia. “I invited my cousin and another person, and they invited another person, and it ended up being six of us on the safari,” she recalled. “We completely fell in love with the experience.” Some women were moved by the local children, some by the land and the animals, but all fell in love with Zambia. And they wanted to give back. “We were so inspired by how incredibly generous and genuine the people of Zambia were,” said James. “Coming from the U.S., it sometimes takes a few layers to peel away before you see our identity. But the people of Zambia were extremely transparent and generous. It was an eight-night trip, and we walked away not in a sense of, ‘We want to help you.’ It was more like, ‘You have things that are challenging for us, and we have things that are challenging for you.’” So on the flight back home from Johannesburg to New York, the six women — James, Sarah Early, Caroline Jones, Donielle Alexander, Shera Pillsbury, Joanne Hardy — racked their brains for what they could do to give back to the place that brought them so much joy. Back in the United States, conversations ensued and partnerships were created with Zambian organizations in conservation, education and community development.

Many tourists on a Dazzle Africa safari fall in love with the wildlife and ask how they can help conservation efforts. CATHY SMITH/Contributed

Stacy James, one of the founders of Dazzle Africa, and her husband, Chip Croop, got married in Islamorada in 2015. Contributed

One of the projects sponsored by Dazzle Africa is arranging for local children to go to college to stop the cycle of poverty. Here is Maggie Mwale, a Dazzle Africasponsored student who studies wildlife management at Copperbelt University. ZCP PHOTO/Contributed

All six women are still involved today and their effort is now a nonprofit called Dazzle Africa. The organization provides guide-led philanthropic safaris to national parks, and all profits from safari donations fund Dazzle Africa’s projects. The projects include building wells for villages with no access to clean water; sending Zambian children to college to stop the cycle of poverty; and conservation efforts to protect the land and the animals. James said participants in the safaris naturally take an interest in the projects that the organization is sponsoring, so educational visits to see them are arranged. Pre-pandemic, Dazzle Africa was hosting three safaris a year. COVID brought the safaris to a standstill. So James has been splitting her time between her Upper Keys home (she and her husband Chip Croop were married in islamorada in 2015) and Kansas to help her parents. All the while, she does administrative work and fundraising for Dazzle Africa. The next safari will be in 2022. Keys locals have connected with James’ project of the heart and have done some fundraising for her themselves. Lauren Ferrante of Island Flow Yoga met James at a yoga class, and the duo instantly clicked. At the time, Lauren’s son Jesse was studying water shortages in school and offered to help raise money for a well through selling rubber bracelets and a GoFundMe page. And Islamorada artist Maxine Trainer donated a brilliantly colored painting of an elephant to be auctioned at a gala. The money went directly to antipoaching through the organization Conservation South Luangwa. “What totally interested me straight away about Stacy is she’s really got her smarts on because she’s not only helping the animals, she’s helping the people,” said Trainer. “And in turn it all works together.” “There’s an African proverb: sticks in a bundle don’t break,” said James. “If people could only take a step back and realize how much extra they have and be willing to share that with other people to make their lives better. Let's just be generous. We have plenty to share. And be with gratitude in your life.” More information on Dazzle Africa is at dazzleafrica.org.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 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 Memory Lane Scents located at 105 Pirates Cove, Marathon, FL 33050 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. By: Marcella A. Hetrick Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following workshops, meeting and orientation via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@ keysarts.com Grant Panel Review Session Aug 11, 2021, at 1:00PM Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 843 8149 2900 Passcode: 211026 Art in Public Places Committee Meeting Aug 17, 2021, at 4:00PM Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 857 5899 0544 Passcode: 394065 Board of Directors Meeting Aug 26, 2021, at 4:00PM Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 826 1361 5923 Passcode: 435158 Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

available virtually via Zoom Meetings: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/87240376036 Applicant requests a Variance to Land Development Regulations Chapter 101, Section 29 (1A) and Section 12 (5) for a 1’5” side setback variance for the installation of an open stairwell. Current side setback is 8’5” with building projection allowable 3 feet into setback but no closer than 6 feet from property line. Interested parties may appear at the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Planning & Zoning Board with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. If you are unable to attend the Hearing on Wednesday August 18, 2021 but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Commission, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net and your comments will be entered into the record. Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

hear a Variance Request from Sami Teittinen, owner of 681 9th Street. This meeting will be available virtually via Zoom Meetings: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/85454028959. Applicant requests a Variance to Land Development Regulations Chapter 101, Section 29 (1A) and Section 12 (5) for a 1’5” side setback variance for the installation of an open stairwell. Current side setback is 8’5” with building projection allowable 3 feet into setback but no closer than 6 feet from property line. Interested parties may appear at the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. If you are unable to attend the Hearing on Thursday August 26, 2021 but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Commission, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net and your comments will be entered into the record. Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

vod/?live=ch1&nav=live. Citizens can listen to audio-only from their phones by dialing (646) 518-9805 or (669) 9006833 and, when prompted, enter the Webinar ID 860 5995 2597 followed by the # key. The public can comment during the live Public Hearing either by phoning in or by connecting to the live Zoom webinar link using the following instructions: a) To comment on an item by phone: Dial (646) 518-9805 or (669) 900-6833 and, when prompted, enter the Webinar ID 860 5995 2597 followed by the # key, then *9 to “Raise your Hand” to be recognized by the Zoom webinar host. b) To comment on an item using the live Zoom webinar link: Open this live Zoom webinar link @ http:// monroecounty-fl.gov/ BoccMeetingAug18 (that also appears in both the published Agenda and Agenda Packet). When prompted, enter your email address and name to join the webinar. When the Mayor calls for speakers on the item(s) on which you wish to comment, or when the Board is nearing your item(s) as the meeting progresses, select the “Raised Hand” feature that appears at the bottom of the Zoom webinar screen to be recognized by the Zoom webinar host. The Zoom webinar host will request the item # on which you wish to speak and enable your participation when the Mayor calls for public speakers on your item. To report problems with the broadcast or participation in the Zoom webinar, please call (305) 872-8831. 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) 2924441, between the hours of 8:30a.m.—5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 4th day of August, 2021. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

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 September 1, 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: East Martello Museum Window & HVAC Upgrades 09/01/2021 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 September 1, 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# US (San Jose) Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Publish: August 5, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN 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: August 5, 2021. Personal Representative: Elizabeth H. Hall 61 Trinitie Trail Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Attorney for Personal Representative: Bradley J. Davis Attorney for Elizabeth H. Hall Florida Bar No. 136559 Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. 300 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1400 Orlando, FL 32801 Telephone: 407-872-7300 Email: bdavis@rumberger.com Publish: August 5 & 12, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI Notice is here by given that on August 26th, 2021, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL. 33037. Names And Last Known Addresses are as Follows: William Parent Unit 1165 $1,205.58 Michael Harrington Unit 1223 $567.68 Incorporated Football League Unit 1736 $1,414.40 William Parent Unit 1425 $2,538.45 Publish: August 5 & 12, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF VARIANCE HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning & Zoning Board of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday August 18, 2021 at 9:30 A.M., Key Colony Beach City Hall commission room, to hear a Variance Request from Sami Teittinen owner of 681 9th Street. This meeting will be

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF VARIANCE HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 9:30 A.M., Key Colony Beach City Hall commission room, to

ISLAMORADA, VILLAGE OF ISLANDS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, August 9, 2021, at 5:30 P.M., the Islamorada Local Planning Agency will hold a public hearing at Founders Park Community Center located at 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the following item: AN ORDINANCE OF ISLAMORADA, VILLAGE OF ISLANDS, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 30, LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS RELATED TO SEA TURTLE NESTING; AMENDING ARTICLE VII “ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS” DIVISION 3 “SEA TURTLE NESTING PROTECTION”, SECTION 30-1581 TO SPECIFICALLY AMEND THE DEFINITION OF BEACH BERM; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL CODE PROVISIONS AND ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE; PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSMITTAL OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE UPON APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. A copy of the item may be reviewed at the Village Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida. Affected parties may appear at the public hearing, be heard and submit evidence with respect to the applications. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the Islamorada Village Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, prepared by a court reporter at the appellant’s expense; such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ADA Assistance: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the office of the Village at (305) 664-6448 (TTY 664-8890) at least three days prior thereto. Two or more committee members from various committees may be present at this meeting.

Hank Flores, Assistant Director of Planning

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on August 18, 2021, at 1:30 P.M., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 6-240 OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF CERTAIN SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR LICENSES THAT WERE ACTIVE AS OF JUNE 30, 2021, TO JUNE 30, 2023; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The public can participate in the August 18, 2021, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”) using a Zoom Webinar platform by following the detailed instructions below. The public is strongly encouraged to watch the meeting on Monroe County’s MCTV on Comcast Channel 76, AT&T U-verse Channel 99 or on the County’s web portal @ http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ Citizens/Default.aspx. Simply select the “Watch Live” banner to view the live meeting with live closed-captioning on an integrated page that includes the Agenda and Agenda Backup. 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://monroe-fl.vod.castus.tv/

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: EAST MARTELLO MUSEUM WINDOW & HVAC UPGRADES 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2021-CP-000065-M IN RE: ESTATE OF BOBBY JOE HALL, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of BOBBY JOE HALL, deceased, whose date of death was December 4, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-75-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ADOLPH H. ROBINSON, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Adolph H. Robinson, deceased, whose date of death was February 17, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 50 High Point Road, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate 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: August 5, 2021. Personal Representatives: Lee W. Robinson 210 Sonny Road Islamorada, Florida 33070 Elaine M. Robinson 123 Valencia Drive

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

Islamorada, Florida 33070 Attorney for Personal Representatives: 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 Fax: (305) 743-8800 E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw. com Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: August 5 & 12, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

of DONTA RASHA BRUEIN, deceased, whose date of death was October 1, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 21-CP-000049-K; the address of which is 500 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. The Fiduciary lawyer-client privilege in s. 90.5021 FLA. STAT. applies with respect to the personal representative and any attorney employed by the personal representative. All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this notice, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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: August 5, 2021. Personal Representative: Norman Bruein, Jr. 29D 11th Avenue Key West, Florida 33040 Attorney for Personal Representative: Nakeitha Sweeting Hodrick, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0079847 ROBERSON SWEETING Sweeting Law, P.A. 633 NE 167th Street, Suite 1125 North Miami Beach, Florida 33162 786.279.4841 Publish: August 5 & 12, 2021 The Weekly Newspapers

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-67-M IN RE: ESTATE OF KENNETH DAVIDSON, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Kenneth Davidson, deceased, whose date of death was June 9, 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: August 5, 2021. Personal Representative: Benjamin Davidson 1501 Fairview Run Kendallville, Indiana 46755 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 Fax: (305) 743-8800 E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw. com Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: August 5 & 12, 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-000049-K IN RE: ESTATE OF DONTA RASHA BRUEIN, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate

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.

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

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

AUTOS WANTED

EMPLOYMENT

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

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

CENTENNIAL BANK IS HIRING! MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR 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. c o m / c a r e e r s

BOATS FOR SALE 12' Jon Boat w/ 6 hp Nissan motor, and trailer. Located in Marathon. $1,600 305-395-1015 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! BUSINESS FOR SALE

Lobster Business For Sale. Includes 45' #1, 892TI, 2400 Trap Certificates-$150.00 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

Marathon Auto looking for full-time general laborer. Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon. The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a Line Cook. Please call us at 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview.

OPEN POSITIONS AT BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA • Environmental Tech (Housekeeping) $2K-$5K Sign-On Bonus • First Cook, $2K Sign-On Bonus • Fitness Center Manager • Floor Technician, Environmental Services $5K Sign-On Bonus • Food Service Worker, $5K Sign-On Bonus • Line Cook • Mechanic • Medical Staff Asst, $2K Sign-On Bonus • Patient Experience Advocate • 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

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021 SPONSORED BY:

MANTAS, HAMMERHEADS AND BUGS A reef full of life THIS WEEK’S DIVE REPORT Conditions continued to be amazing this week. This was just in time for mini-season. Mini-season is always crowded, so it is important to watch where you drive your boats. As divers, always check before surfacing as there is way more traffic on the water during those two days than normal. When you’re in the water, ERIC be sure to still be mindful of the rules and the reef. BILLIPS Don’t take more than the limit, make sure every lobster you take is over the size requirement and watch is the owner, your buoyancy. captain and We enjoyed taking out numerous lobster hunters instructor at Islamorada Dive for safe, successful dives. We drifted the bug hunters Center and Florida along the barrier reef that stretches through IslamoKeys Dive Center. rada. The wall through this part of the Keys can drop He specializes in scuba, rebreather, significantly from 40 to 90 feet in some spots, which makes for a spectacular drift dive. It was here that we spearfishing and captaining in the encountered a very rare sight in the Keys: a manta ray. Florida Keys. This graceful giant was directly below our dive boat. Mantas have been seen in our waters before, but it is not a regular occurrence. As if that wasn’t enough, we also saw a couple of hammerhead sharks. These predators are actually very skittish and shy, usually running away very quickly once spotted. It was quite the treat to see all of these amazing marine animals this week.

NEXT WEEK’S DIVE REPORT Next week continues to look gorgeous. These sunny, summer days are what make the Keys a spectacular place to snorkel, boat, dive, fish and explore. There are many ways to enjoy our waters, and we invite you to come out with us to find your favorite. CONSERVATION UPDATE This week was a special reminder about the importance of the work we do with coral restoration. Outplanting coral and cleaning up the reef provides critical habitat to so many animals. Coral reefs are the rainforests of the sea: they support a rich array of biodiversity and make our waters amazing to live near. When we clean up the reef, we ensure that these habitats can continue serving important ecosystem functions. When we plant coral, we cement the future of our reef and our Keys economy that relies on it.

CONSERVATION TIP I.CARE coral plantings are in full swing, with dive shops throughout Islamorada planting every Saturday. This Saturday, you can join us at Islamorada Dive Center.

Remember: with aquatic life, look but don’t touch. This goes for everything from corals to sharks to mantas. They enjoy being photographed but not petted — for their safety and yours.

New Construction • Remodels • Docks

(305) 852-3002

cbtconstruct.com

87889 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY • ISLAMORADA, FL 33036

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

EMPLOYMENT

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

Night Monitor - The Heron. FREE HOUSING/ food stipend vs. salary. Must be onsite 10p-8a. Sleep OK. 5 days on 5 days off. Drug screen required. w e s t c a r e . c o m

NOW HIRING TOP PAY & BENEFITS Experienced Electricians & Low Voltage Techs E m a i l : c h e c k @ checkelectricllc.com Call: 305-292-3369

Boat Cleaner needed for afternoons. Send text or call 305-481-3259

Support Worker for group home. Aid residents w/ Meals, Meds, Shopping. No Exp req. 3 shifts (PT/FT) $16 + eve or weekend differentials. w e s t c a r e . c o m

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

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

Come Join Our Family and Have Fun At Work! Hiring: Host, Hostess & Servers - Full &/or parttime. AM & PM Shifts. Apply in person at Castaway Restaurant, end of 15th Street, Oceanside, Marathon or email: lobstercrawl@gmail.com.

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.

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

BASEBALL AND SPORTS MEMORABILIA WANTED. Private collector buying sports cards, old programs, pennants, autographs, photographs, ticket stubs, bobbin’ head dolls, etc. Call thru August 6th- Alan 5 0 3 - 4 8 1 - 0 7 1 9

Fl Keys Diesel - Marathon now hiring: Diesel Technician -Competitive compensation package. Exp in the marine field preferred but not necessary. Exp w/

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

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

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

Place your EMPLOYMENT/ HELP WANTED ad here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!! HOBBIES/COLLECT.

Place your ad here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Monroe County School District

CGC-040138

CARPENTERS Would earning $200 bucks extra every week be worth changing your job? WE’RE HIRING: SKILLED CARPENTERS, JOURNEYMEN & MASTER CARPENTERS

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.

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

Advance your career with a reputable hands on employer established 2011 who appreciates your hard work. If you’re not happy at your current job we will match your current pay stub plus $200 per week, it’s that simple.

To see if we are a good fit let’s talk, 305-850-4736

NOW HIRING

Resume Appreciated All inquiries are kept confidential

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

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

HOMES FOR SALE Marathon - For Sale: 1.5 acre - House & Duplex and Mobile Home rights. Waterfront - oceanside, dock possible, gated. Appraised $1.9 million. 3 0 5 - 6 1 0 - 8 0 0 2 HOUSING FOR RENT Marathon - For Rent Small bedroom efficiency Conch House. Furnished, gated. $1,350/month year lease includes all utilities. F/L/S No Pets. 305-610-8002 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 Place your HOUSING FOR RENT ad here. Only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today! LOT FOR SALE LOT FOR SALE 100' x 100' - Venetian Shores, MM 86, Snake Creek Bridge views. Asking $1.3 Million. Call 561-579-8399

Maintenance Technician CES KEY WEST & MARATHON Is hiring for all FULL-TIME positions:

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

305-743-2281

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

• General building, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC repairs • 3 - 5 years of experience preferred • Ability to work outdoors and lift up to 50 pounds • Must have a valid driver’s license • Full beneﬁts package for full-time employees

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

Member FDIC

EOE-M/F/V/D

Equal Housing Lender

Apply Online at KeysBank.com/Careers

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 2021

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • •305.743.0844 MISC. FOR SALE FloridaKeysTravel.com can now be yours! Go to FloridaKeysTravel. com for details on how to purchase this exceptional domain name immediately for $399 or to make an offer. Gently used major appliances from renovated condos in Key West. Dishwashers, Stoves/O vens, Microwaves, Sinks/ Faucets, Garbage Disposals, and more. Prices starting at $25. 3 0 5 - 7 4 7 - 1 7 0 0 Place your MISC. FOR SALE ad here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your Stuff! OFFICE/COMMERCIAL

SPACE FOR LEASE Commercial Building with US 1 frontage for lease in Marathon. 2550 sq ft of office & warehouse space w/ overhead door. Parking in front and secured parking & storage area with secured fencing in back. Call 305-743-4400 Beautiful Office Space available for rent now on US1 in Tavernier @MM92. Call 305-394-0530 1,082 SF office space. Renovated Corner Unit for rent in Islamorada. $ 3 , 0 0 0 / m o n t h Call 305.712.8888 RV FOR SALE REDUCED PRICE! 38'6" 2016 Wildwood Lodge FVWW RV Unit located in Bluefin RV Park in Key Largo. 2 Bedroom. $ 1 8 , 5 0 0 8 6 3 - 6 6 0 - 9 0 6 5 SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS! Place your RV FOR SALE ad here for only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and Sell Your RV!

CHARLEY TOPPINO & SONS IS HIRING Begin an exciting career with one of the most established and reputable companies in the Keys

EQUIPMENT OPERATORS Loader, Dozer, Excavator, Grader TRUCK DRIVERS W/ CDL CLASS A SKILLED LABORERS EXPERIENCED CONCRETE FINISHERS COMPETITIVE PAY  SIGNING BONUSES AVAILABLE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER For more information and inquiries, call 305-296-5606 or email Reym@charleytoppino.com

D’Asign Source is seeking the following professionals. Overtime and benefits are available. For full details, please visit: DAsignSource.com/careers

Warehouse & Delivery Crew

Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license (CDL a plus), & be on time.

Finish Carpenter

Must present high attention to detail; workmanship must be very high quality.

Part time & Full time Opportunities! Sous Chef

Engineer - General Maintenance Line Cook Bell/Valet

Front Desk Agent

Reservations Agent

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

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

Busy Key Largo Dive Center has immediate openings for

BOAT CAPTAINS $1,500 SIGNING BONUS

Experience Required. Paid per trip plus tips & sales commission. Send resume to resumes@rainbowreef.com

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

Relief Night Security

Dinner Busser/Runner - Hot Tin Roof

Dinner Greeter - Hot Tin Roof

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers

LMT, Esthetician or Nail Tech.

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

Great pay, amazing benefits, & an awesome team! Ocean Key Resort and Spa is EOE.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

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

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

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

ROOM ATTENDANTS

$500 Bonus after 90 days.

Great Pay, Health & Travel Benefits. 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 / AUGUST 5, 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

KeysBank.com

Join Our Team!

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

Key West

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 Teller Maintenance Technician Treasury Management Representative II IT Technician I CSR - Online Banking Administrative Assistant Accountant I

(Full-Time/Permanent)

Big Pine

Visual Communications Staff

Full Time Teller

(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

Marathon Assistant Branch Operations Manager Key Largo Full Time 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. Member FDIC

EOE-M/F/V/D

Equal Housing Lender

Bungalows Key Largo is an EOE 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.

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.

UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / AUGUST 5, 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

Lic No. SP1481

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 / AUGUST 5, 2021

A taste of the Keys. CYNTHIA ROSS/ Contributed

The perfect way to end a perfect day. REINALDO CONEJO/Contributed

The rods are ready to bend. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Backcountry bonefish caught by Hadley Julian with Captain Drue Eymann from Keys on the Fly Charter. HADLEY JULIAN/Contributed

Kane Kocis, 7 years old, with a big old bug. BRANDON KOCIS/Contributed

Skiff’s favorite day of the year is “Bug Day”… after they are wrung, he brings all the heads over to a pile. SUSAN McKEE/Contributed

Fish tacos at Brutus Seafood in Marathon. DIANA MUCHA/Contributed

Sight-seeing at Bahia Honda Bridge is fun, even for locals. ORLANDO AND SUZY/Contributed

TIFFANY DUONG tiffany@keysweekly.com

n AUGUST, we’re highlighting FOOD AND FISHING! 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 pictures 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,

copyright, 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 / AUGUST 5, 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