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January 27, 2022

SAVE A SHELTER PET | P. 36

CRUISE CONTROL?

KEY WEST WILL RESCHEDULE SHIP SUMMIT | P. 4

YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND AWAITS

WHO’S UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR? A LOOK AT THE MIDTERMS IN MONROE COUNTY | P. 10

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

15,141,101

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5 Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com

Per a recent Florida Health Department report, 15,141,101 residents have received a COVID-19 vaccine out of the 21.9 million people in the state since March 2020. In Monroe County, 60,515 residents are vaccinated out of a population of 76,335.

ON THE COVER Coco needs a home. She’s the Dog of the Month at the Key West SPCA. See more adoptable animals and read about the Betty White Animal Challenge on page 36. TODD FEIT/ Contributed

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KEY WEST CRUISE SHIP SUMMIT TO BE POSTPONED DRAFT LAWS WON’T BE READY IN TIME FOR FEB. 3 MEETING MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

t’s been a whole two weeks or so since we typed the words “cruise ship,” so here’s the latest on Key West’s ongoing work to limit the size and number of ships at all three cruise ship docks, including Pier B, which is a private business. City officials had scheduled a special meeting for Feb. 3 to discuss only the cruise ship issue. But that meeting will be postponed by a week or so to give the public time to review the draft ordinances that would impose the ship limits before the meeting. “Because this is such an important issue, and the public should have an advance draft of the ordinance to review before the meeting, should we consider postponing that meeting? I just want to be sure there’s enough time for the agenda to be published and reviewed by the public,” Commissioner Sam Kaufman said at the Jan. 19 meeting. Mayor Teri Johnston agreed and city officials have since indicated that the cruise ship meeting originally scheduled for Feb. 3 will be postponed, although no new date had been determined as of presstime Jan. 26. City Attorney Shawn Smith has been working with attorney Edward Pozzuoli of the Tripp Scott law firm to turn the voter-approved ship restrictions into city ordinances, as the state legislature voided the voter initiatives during last year’s session.

The Azamara Quest cruise ship docks in Key West in November, the first ship to return since March 2020. The ship meets the voter-approved size limit for ships. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Pozzuoli also had advised the city in December to renegotiate its existing contract with Pier B before making any attempt to restrict private business. “I could not advise you to put into ordinance a mirror image of the voter referendums without you understanding the potential liability. There’s a long-standing contract with Pier B, and it’s not just a contract, but a formal development agreement. It runs through 2025 and is subject to an automatic renewal of 10 years. … You’re governed now by that development agreement with Pier B. You may consider directing us to engage in formal discussions to amend that agreement,” Pozzuoli told the commission on Dec. 13, after outlining some of the challenges the city would face in attempting to restrict Pier B’s cruise ship business, which the city authorized and encourages in the development agreement that also requires Pier B to give the city 25% of its annual cruise ship revenue. “At the very least, I’d direct your legal counsel to formally modify that Pier B agreement.”

Smith further updated the city commission at its most recent Jan. 19 meeting: “We continue to go down the two paths you’ve directed, which is to negotiate with Pier B to amend the development agreement as well as bring forward an ordinance,” Smith said on Jan. 19. “We continue to negotiate with them. We continue to talk with Judge Sandra Taylor about a mediation and about bringing in Safer Cleaner Ships as well.”

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

KEY WEST ELECTION SEASON BEGINS JOHNSTON & HOOVER SEEK REELECTION Key West High School’s Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium is scheduled for complete replacement with a completion date of July 2023. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE Key West Mayor Teri Johnston is seeking reelection and has raised about $18,000 toward her campaign. CONTRIBUTED

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

ey West City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover and Mayor Teri Johnston both want to serve another term in office. Hoover represents voters in District 5, which includes the Casa Marina neighborhood and parts of New Town. Johnston, as mayor, would be on the ballot citywide. The city commissioners’ terms are four years, while the mayor’s term is two years. “Over the last three years, this commission has made a lot of progress on issues which I’m passionate about: affordable housing, safe multimodal

Key West City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover has filed paperwork to run for reelection in District V. CONTRIBUTED

transportation, moving toward free bus service and the cleanliness of our city,” Hoover told the Keys Weekly. “I am working on projects with our business community and have initiatives under way that I would like to see through to fruition. I would be honored to represent District 5 for another four years.” This would be Hoover’s second four-year term. She was elected in 2018. City commissioners Sam Kaufman and Greg Davila are also up for reelection this year but have not yet filed for reelection. Johnston has already begun her campaign fundraising and as of Jan. 26, has raised about $18,000.

2021 City of Key West single member commission districts. CONTRIBUTED

WHEN WILL KEY WEST’S NEW STADIUM BE READY? MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

he school district is hoping to have the new Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, home of the Key West High School football team, mostly finished in July 2023, in time for the 2023 football season. The approval and permitting process that’s needed before construction can begin has been time-consuming due to soil contamination at the site. In the meantime, the football team will continue playing its home games at the newly renovated Backyard field behind Key West High School. But the 2023 baseball team likely will need a temporary home, school board member Bobby Highsmith told the Keys Weekly on Wednesday, the day after the school board heard a construction update from Pat Lefere, the school district’s facilities manager. The baseball complex, known as Rex Weech Field, backs up into the football stadium and will necessarily be affected by the football stadium replacement. “The baseball field in the high school Backyard is not a regulation field,” Highsmith said. “There’s space behind the school for them to practice, but I’m thinking maybe Bernstein Park on Stock Island could be an option.” The upcoming 2022 baseball season will continue to take place at the usual Rex Weech complex, as

construction will not have started by this spring, Highsmith said. School Board Chairman John Dick wondered aloud at Tuesday’s meeting whether the school district should consider postponing the construction start until after the 2023 baseball season. “As it stands now,” Lefere said, “the 2023 football season is scheduled to take place at the new stadium. If we delay the construction, that will be a third football season that’ll have to be played at the Backyard. And we’ve been told it will be a very tight timeline to get the work done before the 2023 baseball season.” Highsmith, a former Key West football player, said at the meeting that he’s been frustrated with “all the hoops we have to jump through for this.” “To me, this stadium is the crown jewel of Monroe County School District athletic facilities and it’s a very significant part of community life in Key West.” Highsmith told the Keys Weekly that the football stadium “was old and decrepit when I was playing there back in 1983 to 1986. Unfortunately, there’s going to be groups of kids impacted by all this. I’m open to any reasonable accommodations and adjustments.” As this week’s school board meeting occurred in the Upper Keys, Superintendent Theresa Axford emphasized that the stadium discussion will continue at the Feb. 8 meeting in Key West.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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COUNTY WRESTLES WITH $3M IN UNUSED VACATION TIME PANDEMIC PREVENTED EMPLOYEES FROM TAKING TIME OFF CHARLOTTE TWINE www.keysweekly.com

t the Jan. 21 county commissioner meeting, the board members were presented with a quandary. Of some 579 Monroe County employees, many have not been able to take vacation days during the pandemic. And a couple years before that, days off were difficult to schedule during the recovery from Hurricane Irma. Should the board firmly stick to the county’s current “use it or lose it” rule? Or should employees be paid for unused vacation? Bryan Cook, director of employee services for the county, explained the dilemma and offered a solution. Since 2014, the usual county policy has been “use it or lose it” toward vacation days. But the board waived this rule after Irma and during COVID-19, allowing the unused vacation days to roll into the next year. “We’ve had challenges in people being able to use that time,” he said in the meeting, adding that “we’re staffed very lean.” In 2021, when a coworker called out after testing positive for COVID, or had to quarantine due to exposure, the other staff members in their department couldn’t take vacation, especially in the departments where the operations can’t take a break — such as with fire rescue, social services and airports. This has created a “balloon” of unused time that the county must pay when an employee resigns. “A $20,000 check to two or three people in a department can make an impact on our budget,” said Tina Boan, the county’s senior director of budget and finance. She also pointed out that the county currently has $3 million total in vacation pay on the books for all employees. Theoretically, the county does not have to pay this all at once, but during an audit, this is seen as a financial liability. Also, much of a lump sum of

unused vacation that is paid to an employee upon resignation is often earned at the lower pay they earned at the beginning of their job. But the payment that is given when an employee leaves is at their most recent pay, which often includes raises over the years. “So I’m just trying to keep that balanced and pay it out at the lower rate, frankly,” said Boan. The solution? Cook suggested that every year, on April 1, the county pay employees for unused vacation to keep that “balloon” down. For full-time employees, the maximum hours they can roll over into the next year — a “cap” — is 480. So on April 1 of every year, they should be paid for the amount they accrued over the cap. For example, if a Monroe County Fire Rescue staff member accrued 500 vacation hours in 2021, on April 1, 2022, they would get a check for 20 hours. And their balance would reduce back to 480. Commissioner Cates worried that this would “incentivize” employees to not take a vacation. “We can say, ‘Well, you’re getting paid twice — now you’re getting your vacation pay plus you’re getting your work pay,’” Cates said. “I think people need to take their vacation,” said Commissioner Michelle Coldiron. So the board and Cook reached a compromise: This year, on April 1, the county will give employees a payment for all hours accrued over their cap. Then, as long as 2022 goes back to a more “normal” year, the county will revert back to “use it or lose it” toward unused vacation. Cook told Keys Weekly, “The price tag of this payout is approximately $173,000. That’s less than three employees’ salaries and benefits across the county. … In circumstances like these, we have to find the right medium between paying for the time the employees have earned and being a good steward to the taxpayer.”

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, Jan. 30 • Key West Artisan Market, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. at Sonny McCoy Indigenous Park, 1800 White St. • Bahama Village Music Program hosts Crooks Second Line Parade starting at noon at the Hog’s Breath Saloon and ending around 3 p.m. at the Green Parrot. Email crookssecondlinekw@gmail.com or call 305-504-7664. • Inaugural Key West Music Awards, 7 p.m. at Key West Theater. Tuesday, Feb. 1 • Filmmaker and women’s rights advocate Roya Sadat, one of the BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring Women of 2021, will appear at The Studios of Key West for a special screening of her film, “A Letter to the President,” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3 • Anne McKee art auction preview of available works, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St. Previews are also available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. • NOAA invites businesses to its Industry Day webinar to learn about potential federal contracts in the Florida Keys. 3 to 5 p.m. Visit https://attendee. gotowebinar.com/register/7623351041376135695. Friday, Feb. 11 • Stand-up comedian Tom Papa performs, 8 p.m. at Key West Theater. Friday, Feb. 18 • Applications due for vacancies on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. Contact Elizabeth.Trueblood@noaa.gov. Wednesday, Feb. 23 • Anne McKee Artists Fund Fine Art Auction takes place at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St. Artists receive 50% of the auction price and the McKee Fund receives the other half. The nonprofit fund has awarded more than $343,000 to more than 400 artists since 1994. Visit mckeefund.org. Monday, Feb. 28 • Deadline to apply for grants from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, which is accepting applications for programs that support collaborative projects that will benefit communities throughout the Florida Keys. The application is available at cffk.org/grants.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

BILL WOULD CREATE MONTHLY FEE IN LIEU OF SECURITY DEPOSITS

Republican Senator Jim Boyd and Republican Rep. Jim Mooney filed bills in their respective chambers that would allow a landlord and tenant the ability to agree on a monthly fee in lieu of a security deposit. CONTRIBUTED

ADDRESSING APARTMENT MOVE-IN DAY COSTS JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

ove-in costs can be daunting for tenants, especially in times of rising housing demands and increasing rent. With first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit, renters are left doling out thousands of dollars. In the Florida Keys, renters seeking a place with two bathrooms and two bedrooms could pay deposits anywhere from $2,500 to more than $4,000. In Tallahassee, a bill in the House and Senate would give landlords the option to offer their tenants another way to pay their security deposits instead of forking over a large sum of money at the outset. Republican Senator Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, and Republican Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada, filed bills in their respective chambers that would authorize and regulate agreements between a residential landlord and tenant to pay a monthly fee in lieu of a security deposit. Instead of the tenant paying a security deposit equating to a month or two months of rent upfront, a landlord could choose to allow the tenant to pay a fee each month. Boyd, who represents Hillsborough and Manatee counties, explained to Senate Judiciary Committee members that such a payment method would give tenants the opportunity to move into a place without having to dip into their savings or come up with the money for the security deposit. Boyd reiterated that it’s in the landlord’s discretion to offer tenants this option. If they do offer a payment in lieu of a security deposit, tenants on the premises still have the option to pay a monthly fee or pay the full security deposit upfront. “Currently in Florida, there are 100 properties operating with fees in lieu of security deposits. Nearly 12,000 renters are forgoing security deposits and instead paying a small fee,” Boyd said.

Legislation could facilitate use of security deposit insurance. This insurance product insures a landlord against losses that would otherwise be covered by a security deposit or advanced rent. Different insurance providers offer different levels of coverage. Security deposit insurance protects the landlord and is distinct from the more commonly used renters insurance, which provides personal liability and personal property protection to the tenant.

“This is not a lock in. We’re not interested in locking you in for life.” — John Potter, lobbyist LeaseLock

Per bill language, the fee is not a security deposit and does not absolve the tenant of any obligations under the rental agreement, including paying rent as it becomes due and any costs and damages beyond normal wear and tear that the tenant may cause. Democrat Senators Audrey Gibson, DJacksonville, and Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, questioned Boyd about renters who might pay the monthly fee and stay in their place for more than a couple years. “Conceivably … the average now is a $25 (monthly) fee. If a security deposit were say $1,000, over a period time your fees would total what your security deposit is,” Boyd said. “At some point, say you’re there for 15 or 20 years, the fees could outnumber what you might have paid for a security deposit. “This is simply an option for tenants to give them a chance to get into a place to live if they weren’t able to accumulate a security deposit in those sums of money at the outset of the lease,” he continued.

A single-family rental in the U.S. sees an average tenancy of two-and-a-half years, and a multi-family apartment usually sees tenancy for three years. Tenants can terminate the monthly fee any time and instead pay a security deposit, according to legislation. A tenant who pays the security deposit upfront is able to get their money back under current security deposit rules, so long as there’s no damage to the apartment. That money is required to be secured in a certain kind of bank account. Those who elect to pay the monthly fee, however, wouldn’t necessarily get their money back. Money collected by the landlords through the fee can be used at their discretion. “They pay the fees and that’s kind of in the landlord’s account if you will, but there’s no refund at the end of the lease term if they (the tenant) decide to move to another place or not,” Boyd said. John Potter is a lobbyist for the New York City company LeaseLock. He said the company was formed by a man who couldn’t afford to move into an apartment. He said the company allows property owners to run “0 deposit rentals” with tenants paying a $25 fee. “Savings are closer to 70% of your movein costs,” Potter said. “It’s not ‘can I afford the rent?’ It’s ‘can I afford to move in?’” Potter said those who wish to stay in an apartment for five or 10 years can stop paying the fee. “This is not a lock in. We’re not interested in locking you in for life,” he said. Mooney, who’s sponsoring the bill in the house, said it doesn’t fully fix the workforce housing issue as seen in the Florida Keys. It’s an item in the tool box and a “move-in day solution.” “This could help someone who needs a two-bedoorm, two-bathroom and can’t afford it, forcing them to move their kids to a onebedroom, one-bathroom because that’s all they can afford,” Mooney said. Ida Eskamani, on behalf of the Florida Housing Justice Alliance, told senators on the Judiciary Committee that they would rather see monthly fees be refunded to tenants if they take care of their units. “In Texas, for example, the landlord just can’t pocket the money,” she said. She also shared concerns that the bill doesn’t set a cap on the amount landlords can charge per month. Mooney said there will likely be some kind of fee structure before legislation reaches the finish line. Legislation passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee via a 7-2 vote on Jan. 18. It currently sits in the Community Affairs Committee. In the House, the bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee. The bill would take effect July 1, if approved by the legislature and signed by the governor.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

At their Jan. 26 meeting, school board members hear about a bill that may seriously affect their budget. CHARLOTTE TWINE/Keys Weekly

STATE BILL MAY AFFECT SCHOOL BUDGET BY MILLIONS Surprised board and staff acting quickly to find solution CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

bill currently steamrolling through the Florida legislative session, if passed, could have serious consequences for the annual budget of the Monroe County School District. The bill came as a surprise to most local school board members and school district staff, who discussed its problems and potential solutions at the Jan. 26 school board meeting. “This just came up today,” Superintendent Theresa Axford told the board. “We need some coordinated effort legislatively. All counties need to get together on this,” said Andy Griffiths, the board’s vice chair. “This is a terrible, terrible bill for Monroe County.” Senate Bill 1194, entitled Local Tax Referenda Requirements, reads: “Referenda elections related to tourist development taxes, tourist impact taxes, and children’s services and independent special district property taxes (are) to be held on the day of a general election.” Translation? If the bill passes, certain taxes relating to the school budget that need voter approval would have to be voted on in the November general election. Griffiths explained to Keys Weekly that the school district levies a special half-mill tax that raises roughly $15 million a year for the school district. The half-mill tax must be reapproved by voters every four years, typically during the presidential preference primary election in March. The proposed bill would require the school district to seek renewal of that half-mill only during November general elections, meaning the school district might have to forego that $15 million if it can’t get the item on a general election ballot in time. Griffiths emphasized that if the bill passes and if the school board acts

quickly, the half-mill tax approval could be “piggy-backed” onto the November 2022 ballot. If approved, as voters have consistently done for more than a decade, the roughly $15 million would continue to flow into the school budget unimpeded once it expires in 2024. There is also a second tax for the schools that must be approved by voters. This special tax of .05 mill was approved by voters in 2018 after the Parkland school shooting. It generates $1.7 million to pay for security at the schools. This .05 mill is also approved by voters every four years, and it was set to be approved in an election in August 2022. If, per this new state bill, this vote is bumped to November 2022, the school district will lose its $1.7 million for the 2022-2023 school year. Confused? So is the typical taxpayer. Even school board members and staff have to stop and think about how to handle the proposed bill. “I don’t quite understand the rationale behind this, but it would put a kink into our plans as it stands now,” said Beverly Anders, executive director of finance and performance for the school district. “They want more voter participation to vote on tax increases,” said Griffiths, explaining that the turnout is bigger in November. “So the legislation is well-intended.” Griffiths believes that Monroe County can just about squeak through and save the budget, but he’s concerned about other school districts in the state. And he feels that the fact that the board was surprised by the state bill is a good reason to hire a lobbyist for the district to keep track of legislation that could affect it. “I didn’t know until yesterday,” said board chair John Dick about the new bill. “But I’ve never been a big fan of lobbyists. They work for as many districts as they can, and districts have different needs and different desires. They can be at odds with each other.” Stay tuned as the bill makes its way through the legislative committees and then, potentially, a full vote from both the Florida House and Senate.

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

WHO’S UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR? MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

A LOOK AT THE MIDTERMS IN MONROE COUNTY

he word “midterm” gets tossed around with increasing frequency this time of year as political candidates — incumbents already in office and hopefuls looking to defeat them — announce their campaigns and start raising money. But what does it mean for voters in the Florida Keys? And which offices are up for grabs? The Keys Weekly recently found a helpful link on the Monroe County elections website at keyselections.org that lists each political office and notes which ones will appear on the 2022 ballot. While some candidates have already announced their intention to run for office and filed the required paperwork, others will continue entering races throughout the winter and spring. So let’s review a bit. The term “midterm election” refers to the election that occurs midway through a U.S. president’s four-year term. With no presidential candidates on midterm ballots, the midterms often decide the balance of political power in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate as Republicans and Democrats gain and lose seats in both chambers. The primary election to narrow the field of candidates will take place Aug. 23. The general election is Nov. 8. Here’s what political offices will appear on the ballot for the 2022 election in Monroe County, along with the incumbents whose terms end this year. Some incumbents will seek reelection; others will not.

Governor Ron DeSantis U.S. Senator Marco Rubio U.S. House Carlos Gimenez State Representative Jim Mooney Circuit Judges (16th Judicial Circuit) Group 2: Judge Tim Koenig County Judges Group 1: Peary Fowler Group 3: Sharon Hamilton Group 4: Ruth Becker Monroe County Commission District 1: Michelle Coldiron District 4: David Rice District 5: Holly Raschein* Monroe County School Board District 1: Bobby Highsmith District 4: John Dick District 5: Sue Woltanski Key West Mayor Teri Johnston Key West City Commission District II: Sam Kaufman District IV: Greg Davila District V: Mary Lou Hoover Mosquito Control Board District 2: Phil Goodman District 5: Thomas McDonald Key Largo Wastewater Board David Thompson Andrew Tobin Sue Heim Key Largo Fire & Emergency Seat 2: Frank Conklin Seat 4: George Mirabella *County Commissioner Holly Raschein was appointed by the governor to fulfill the term of the late Mike Forster. As he died so soon in his term, Raschein must now run for reelection in November to keep the seat until the term ends in 2024. Jose Peixoto has declared he will seek the seat, and other candidates may run as well. County Commissioner Eddie Martinez resigned his seat in 2021. The county is awaiting a new governor appointee to fill Martinez’s seat.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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RESERVATIONS: OPENTABLE.COM 305.304.3818 | CASAMARINARESORT.COM 1500 REYNOLDS ST, KEY WEST, FL Scan the code with your phone for more dining info. Must be 21 or older to order and consume alcohol. Please consume responsibly.

THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE DEREK EPPERLY, P.A. PRINCIPAL BROKER Derek@KeysAtlanticRealty.com KeyWestRealEstate.info

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

old town new folk sponsored by Blue Heaven

MARY GAUTHIER

Hugh’s View rooftop:

February 12, 8pm February 13, 7pm

Grammy-nomimnated musician, author, and TED Talk presenter MARY GAUTHIER is joined by Texasraised singersongwriter JAIMEE HARRIS. sponsored by Moondog Cafe & Bakery

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$75 front row, $60 gen., $50 mbrs.

DEAD HORSES

Hugh’s View rooftop:

February 25, 8pm February 26, 7pm

Folk-inspired, eclectic and vibrant, these two close friends— guitarist/singer Sarah Vos, bassist Daniel Wolff—have been on a winding musical journey. sponsored by Blue Island Landscape Lighting & Irrigation

$60 front row, $50 gen., $40 mbrs. Low ticket alert! Limited tickets remain

Two shows for each artist!

Rooftop bar open 1 hour prior to showtime

Box office: Tue-Sat 10am-4pm or at tskw.org

5620 MACDONALD AVE KEY WEST | 305.296.4999

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST SHOWCASES NEW SOCCER FIELD ADULT TOURNAMENT BRINGS PLAYERS FROM 5 NATIONS

MILES TO GO

MANDY MILES

First-place Team Internacional, left, lines up with the second-place Key West team, prior to the trophy ceremony. CONTRIBUTED

n Jan. 22 and 23, the first International Soccer Tournament was held at the new Truman Water-

front field. Organizer Stanley Maytasik said he was thrilled with the level of sportsmanship and competition. Players in the adult tournament came from all over the world, including Poland, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and the United States. Coach Robert Juszczyk of the Chicagobased team that placed third in the tourney remarked how impressed his team was by the state-of-the-art field and the warm reception the team received in Key West. The final game on Sunday, Jan. 23 resulted in Team International, led by Venezuelan coach Mario Mendel, taking first place with a score of 5-4 against an aggressive Key West team that fought hard until the end. Co-sponsored by the Matthew Gilleran Scholarship Fund, organizers look forward to this annual tournament growing even larger next year. The organizers specifically expressed gratitude to Key West’s Community Services workers, led by Marcus Davila, who were extremely professional in helping prepare the facility and field for

Chicago Coach Robert Juszczyk celebrates his team’s third-place finish. CONTRIBUTED

the tournament that brought nine soccer teams and supporters to the Southernmost City for the first-ever adult tournament at the new field at Truman Waterfront. Maytasik and Gilleran said they hope this is the first of many such events at the facility. — Contributed

spent waaay too much time the other night deciding how many stars to award a product I had bought online a month or so earlier. I was waffling between three and four stars. I like the item. It works. I’m using it. I’m not returning it. But it’s not without some hiccups. I started thinking (OK, overthinking) the whole concept of online reviews, their absolute subjectivity, what they reveal about the reviewer and what we’re not privy to. Does anything satisfy the disappointed two-star reviewer, or is their whole life a two-star existence, filled with bitchy diatribes about overworked staff at any business they patronize? I think that’s important when evaluating someone else’s opinion of a product we’re considering. Product reviews give us an interesting perspective into the reviewer, but they don’t tell the whole story (thank god!). We know whether they’re pet owners, grandparents, married or parents. We know whom they bought the item for, how they used it or whether they have any problems with it. People, usually women, even volunteer their height and weight to help us decide on clothing sizes. I like to think they’re being honest with their weight. I always am. I think it’s our duty as a community of online shoppers. Until the garment industry smartens up and standardizes sizing on a global scale, I have to rely on the opinion of a stranger who’s roughly my size. (Attention, Asian manufacturers, If I need to order a size 5X in your clothes, I won’t be ordering your clothes.)

drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. She’s married to a saintly — and handy — fisherman, and has been stringing words together in Key West since 1998.

Jim Gilleran presents the first-place trophy to coach Mario Mendel of Team Internacional. CONTRIBUTED

ONLINE REVIEWS CAN SAY MORE ABOUT PEOPLE THAN PRODUCTS My reviews are always factually accurate. But I fully acknowledge that my level of annoyance with minor drawbacks is influenced by outside factors. At least I’m aware of my own subjectivity. Not everyone is. For example, I love the people who order something for their pet, then blame the company when their animal isn’t impressed with it. These people give a cat toy one star because their judgmental kitty had more fun with the box it came in (what cat doesn’t immediately squeeze itself into whatever Amazon box arrives?) These people are insane. It’s as if they expected a reaction akin to a teenager who just received a new car. It’s not gonna happen. We must keep our expectations realistic. An $8 “silver” ring will turn your finger green. I promise. No, the online description doesn’t specify that, but it shouldn’t have to. Come on, people, smarten up. Then there’s the people who review items they bought as a gift for someone else. “I got this for my mom and she loves it.” Does she? Really? Have you actually seen her use, wear or otherwise enjoy the item? More importantly, have you ever heard a mother respond to a gift from her children with anything but five-star delight? “It’s perfect! I love it! Thank you!” Sound familiar? It should. It’s how every mom reacted to the hideous, but handmade, clay bowl we gave her in second grade. It’s what she says about the flowers that arrived on Mother’s Day, even when it’s obvious that we and the florist had vastly different views on what a $65 arrangement should look like. As with all things online these days, consider the source.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

Mainstreaming

Ahhh, only in the Keys. A recent city council election in the Florida Keys was nearly decided by a coin toss. Yes, a coin toss. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the council decided to reconsider the issue at a subsequent meeting. No one likes coin tosses. But hey, if it can all but guarantee an NFL team’s win in overtime, why not have it decide an important elected office? But instead of something as mundane as a coin flip, we thought the Keys could be a little more creative. So we bring you….

WAYS TO SETTLE KEYS ELECTIONS 10. Pistols at dawn 9. Duck Duck Goose 8. Thumb Wrestle War 7. Inflatable Sumo Wrestling Contest 6. One Original Nintendo, two controllers and Tecmo Bowl (The only rules are no 49ers and no Bo Jackson).

5. Texas Hold ‘Em, winner takes all 4. Battle of Wits 3. Beer Pong. First to pass out loses. 2. Dildo race showdown at Mary Ellen’s Bar 1. Nerf Gun war — First to bleed loses

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

LISTEN | HIXTAPE, VOL. 2 Look past the name. This selfdescribed “mixtape of backroad bangers” is the brainchild of multi platinum singer and songwriter Hardy. The second iteration of his mixtape series, Hixtape Vol. 2 features collaborations with more than 20 heavy-hitting country artists, from Morgan Wallen and Brantley Gilbert to Jake Owen and Chris Lane. Take a dive into the record listed as “a big loud state of mind, straight outta Nashville but wide open to everybody who loves some real country.” Purchase or stream on all major platforms.

WATCH | NIGHTCLUB COMEDIAN Aziz Ansari returns for his fourth Netflix Original stand-up special after one in 2013, 2015 and 2019. The new special is very relevant to the current times with the current global pandemic being the center of the conversation. The comic returns to his roots with this surprise show at the same club he first performed stand-up during his college days. READ | ‘CHASING HISTORY: A KID IN THE NEWSROOM’ In his latest memoir, Carl Bernstein, the Pulitzer Prize-winning coauthor of “All the President’s Men” and pioneer of investigative journalism, recalls his beginnings as an audacious teenage newspaper reporter in the nation’s capital―a winning tale of scrapes, gumshoeing, and American bedlam. Available at Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

A broad-winged hawk seen in Key West recently. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN ... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.

BROAD NOTIONS ABOUT BROADWINGED HAWKS

heard my first broad-winged hawk before I saw it. For a long time – weeks, months – I could not figure out what it was. It was the late ’90s and we were living in a condo behind Timmy Tuxedo on Fleming Street. The call came in the quiet gaps between our over-theback-fence neighbors power-washing lobster traps, and the guest house next door blasting Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” It was a high, keening, single note, somewhere between a gently steaming tea kettle and a bomb falling from the sky. Most bird calls sound kind of hurried, like a vinyl record played at a higher speed. This one seemed to go forever, but probably only lasted two or three seconds. I spent hours wandering the neighborhood, staring blankly into trees, trying to figure out what I was hearing. I mean, a bird probably, but was it an owl or some other previously unimagined beast? And then I saw it, this kind of brownish, blinking hawk, about the size of a wine bottle, and nearly as upright. I’m not sure how I knew it was a broad-wing, as perched hawks can be tough to tell apart – it’s much easier when they’re flying – but I somehow figured it correctly, and it was nice to have a clear starting point for my relationship with a species, a first among the thousands of broad-wings I’ve seen since. It is hard to know which birds will make flashy and notable appearances in the Key West and Florida Keys zeitgeist. Every fall I get a few texts and emails about the turkey vultures, usually to the effect of, “Oh my God, where did they come from? What do they want? Why are there so many?” And I have to find gentle ways to say, “Well, this happens every year, but maybe you just haven’t noticed before?” without sounding like a condescending jerkface birdsplainer. Similarly, I get messages in the spring with people wanting to know. “What the hell is with the mockingbirds? Why are they singing so much? Why are they so loud? Why won’t they stop?” And I have to find nice ways to say they’ve been doing this longer than humans have had written language. The males sing to establish and defend their territory and to impress the lady mockingbirds with their suitability for reproduction, and humans have survived war and a seemingly infinite number of other brutalities, so you’ll probably survive the sound of a bird singing for a couple weeks. What I really like, though, are the birds that make these brief and more unpredictable appearances in the local collective consciousness – clusters of similar experiences that are more coincidental than indicative of some greater trend. It’ll be something like a streak of Chuck-wills-widows hanging out in people’s backyards. Or a handful of people will all notice scissor-tailed flycatchers hawking for dragonflies around the high voltage lines of New Town. Then a few people will independently go, “Wait, we have crows here?” I love those trends and conversations. The broad-winged hawk seems to be the bird species making the biggest public impression this winter. A lot of people are

seeing them in their backyards. I’ve seen posts or received texts in recent weeks from friends Rita and Fred up on Sugarloaf, from Damali across town, and from Woodsy down the street. All of them said, in effect, “Hey, this cool hawk keeps showing up in my yard.” There were 5,535 broad-winged Hawks counted migrating south past the Florida Keys Hawkwatch in Marathon this fall, slightly more than normal, but not hugely disproportionate. You can look up some days in October and see a kettle of 300 swirling in the sky. Most years, about half the southbound total are later seen flying back north. Most of the ones that didn’t turn around presumably make the water crossing to Cuba and places south. But a goodly number stay until spring. I tend to see them when I’m riding my bike around town or driving up the highway. Mostly they’re just standing there on a wire or a tree branch, trying not to be noticed. Broad-wings are perch hunters. Their shtick is to pose statue-like and wait for something small and unsuspecting – say a mouse or a gray catbird – to walk underneath them, so they can fall on it talons first and, well, eat it. That’s how they survive. (People will occasionally accuse broad-wings and other raptors in the Keys of wanting to put the moves on their teacup Yorkies and other small dogs, but there is no raptor in the Keys – and very few in the world – big enough to pull that off, or even bother trying.) It’s not unusual to see a broad-wing perched quietly high on the powerlines across the street from my house, but the other day I saw one perched on our neighbor Jack’s low, unpainted picket fence, maybe three feet off the ground. I watched it for a while, expecting it to fly off. When it didn’t, I went back in and grabbed my camera. I shot a few frames, took a few steps closer, then shot a few more frames. Cars drove by, bikes passed and the bird did not flush. That made me think something might be wrong with it. So I took more and more steps closer, more and more convinced the bird was unwell. Finally I slung my camera over my shoulder and reached for it, ready to grab it and bring it to the folks at the Key West Wildlife Center. That’s when the bird stepped off the fence, glided down Jack’s driveway, flapped twice, banked around the corner, and disappeared, making it clear the bird was okay after all. A couple hours later I got a text from Jack with a picture of the cool bird that was hanging out in his backyard.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

appy Aquarius season, is an astrologer, and a very happy wanderer, barsolar return (i.e., tender and birthday) to you advocate for queer justice. He color-outside-theis a loquacious lines Aquarians! Gemini with a Approaching cozy Cancer the end of Venus’ rising. Find him at 40-day retrohearthandheraldastrology.com grade, we should start breathing easier in our relationships and get clearer on what we value. From our perspective here on Earth, Venus, the planet of lovin’ and pleasin’, will turn direct on Saturday, and she will be doing so in a cozy relationship with Uranus, the planet of freedom and surprise. Prepare for an unexpected insight or flash of liberation. Here are your horoscopes for the end of Venus retrograde. Read for your sun and rising signs.

CHRIS McNULTY

AQUARIUS Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 You should start to feel a bit less neurotic in your contemplations of love, or you’ll at least start to find your way on the social map. Perhaps you’ll actually realize how much you love your solitude. Your home space is emphasizing this by offering a sense of freedom and originality, so relish in the love of your dwelling. Don’t get lazy though, no matter how comfy your pillows. Your body needs to move, too. PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 You’ve been reflecting on the values of your social network, and are about to get clear on those. Are the people who surround you holding you up? ‘Cause if they’re not, it’s time to find a new tribe. You might be surprised by some new chums

in your neighborhood; give them a chance. Don’t let the shifting gears of the company you keep turn you into a hermit. ARIES March 21 - April 19 Have you gained a new perspective on your work-life, oh Fiery One? Your answer will be supported by a revelation in your finances and material needs. I hope it’s a raise (yay!), but could just as easily be a demotion (ugh!). Make sure you value your work and are valued for your work. TAURUS April 20 - May 20 A brave new world awaits you in love and/or a new love of adventure is stirring in you. You’ve been reflecting on the beauty inherent in new experiences, and it’s time to act. You are going to shock yourself a bit, so enjoy the electric rush in your body. However, keep yourself balanced in public because you don’t wanna get messy out there. GEMINI May 21 - June 21 Love and loss have been on your heart, dear Gem, but clarity is on its way. Have you been reflecting on your feelings of dependence in love? Endings are not easy, but they happen at different scales all the time. Let it go so you can move onward. Spending some solitary meditative time will reap some unexpected benefits as you grapple with these hard topics, but don’t fall too deep down the rabbit hole, because you’ve got vistas to explore out there. CANCER June 22 - July 22 Deep-feeling Cancer, when Venus turns direct your heart will gain much-needed simplicity with your partner(s). They

will help you eke out what you need to feel integrated in relationship. Your friends are here to help too, and they are going to throw you a surprise party! OK, maybe not a real one, but it’s going to feel like you just walked through the door and they’re popping the champagne. Remember to love all of this support, but don’t fall into fixation. LEO July 23 - Aug. 22 Suffering is an inherent part of life, but it effing sucks! You’re probably acutely aware of the suffering and work related to matters of the heart right now, valiant Lion. When Venus turns forward on Saturday, however, you’re going to start to make some moves to change your station. Actually, your careerspace is going to offer some surprising support to help you out. Focus on your partners in work and in love to break out of your infatuation with your toils. VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 Well Virgo, this change in Venus’s apparent motion is sexy for you. Pleasure is at the forefront, both the creative and the physical kind. You’ve been reflecting on your relationship to pleasure lately, and you’re about to get what you’ve been seeking. Get. It. A surprise awaits in lands far away to titillate your love and/or lust — follow the call. Don’t forget to do your chores though. LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 So, what are you realizing about home and family when it comes to your heart’s needs? Are you fulfilled right now? However you answer these questions, it is time to let the rubber hit the road. Either invest completely in your place or move onward.

A shocking revelation is coming from the realm of death, debt and inheritance, and while this sounds ominous it is going to support your understanding. Amid all this noise, remember your art. SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 21 You’ve been doing some deep thinking on love, Scorpio. Like, you’ve been getting all philosophical about it. Come Saturday, you’re going to be able to begin to articulate your beautiful thoughts to yourself and to all of us. Let us know what love is. Your ability to communicate the poetry of relationship will be helped out by your companion(s) in love and life. However, remember that your mind is not all of you. Thoughts can change around, but your core should hold firm. SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 The Centaurs are about to get some answers about their material needs in love and relationship. Romanticism is all well and good, but what about your most basic needs, huh? You gotta eat, you need shelter, you need to feel secure. True love supports these things rather than distracts from them. Getting into routine will offer you a spark of insight here. CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 Love yourself, for gosh sakes. Self-love is where you’re at Cap, and it’s about time to make money moves. How are you caring for your mind and body? It’s likely you’ve been reflecting on this, and it’s implementation time. It looks like you’re about to have an epiphany in your creative side. New talent? New baby? Something is stirring here; harness it.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

CHANGING LIVES ONE SMILE AT A TIME! From left to right: Dr. Hector Guzman D.D.S, Dr. David McDonald D.M.D Dr. Natalia Vazquez-Marrero D.M.D and Dr. Oscar Rodriguez D.M.D

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

SPORTS & MORE RALPH MORROW

SARALYN SMITH: FROM KWHS TO PRO VOLLEYBALL

aralyn Smith only lived in Key West for ... a veteran sports three years, but that columnist, says was long enough the only sport to leave her mark in high he doesn’t follow is cricket. That school basketball and volleaves plenty leyball. Her father, Jim Smith, of others to fill was group commander of his time. the Coast Guard when she ralphmoro1936 was an eighth grader at @gmail.com Horace O’Bryant and a freshman and sophomore at Key West High School. Playing basketball for coach Glenwood Lopez, she set the single-game scoring record at that time of 32 points in the third game of her sophomore season. Smith led all county players in scoring that season with an average of 18.4 points – five better than any other player. She averaged 11.3 rebounds and was named County Player of the Year. Smith was also named All-County in volleyball under coach Dee Downey. “I was beginning my love for volleyball then,” she said this week from her home in Orange County, California. “I think I was among the best (at Key West), but I was playing with girls who had been playing for years.” When her father (with mother Marilyn) was reassigned and became assistant superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, Saralyn moved from Key West to Falmouth, Massachusetts, where she graduated from high school in 1996. She continued playing basketball, scoring 1,000 points, and volleyball at Falmouth and was a good enough basketball player, at 6 feet 2 inches, to receive a scholarship to the University of Hartford. At Hartford, she played both sports her freshman and sophomore years, but by then she’d been thoroughly bitten by the volleyball bug. Plus, basketball was becoming tough on her knees. She played volleyball exclusively as she finished her bachelor’s degree. Then she played a fifth year as she completed her master’s degree. She set the school record for blocks in a game and career while also maintaining a high academic average. “I was falling in love with beach volleyball,” she recalled. So she headed to California for an opportunity to play in the Association of Volleyball Professionals. “I also had an office job. You couldn’t live just on what you could make playing volleyball.” That amount was $53,000 for her career. She finished as high as ninth 12 times. She also played for the United States’ national team in Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Monaco, winning silver and bronze medals. The tour itself went bankrupt in July 2010,

Saralyn Smith started playing volleyball at Key West High School in the 1990s, then spent more than a decade playing professional beach volleyball. CONTRIBUTED

as Smith completed her ninth season. “I was very disappointed,” she said. “I was looking forward to the start of the next season. I had a new partner in Raquel Ferreira from Brazil, who had been the Rookie of the Year.” She had been working part-time for Big Video Game, but moved to Blizzard Entertainment, where she worked for 10 years until three months ago, when she started working for herself in digital marketing. Six years ago, she married J. Allen Brack and the couple combined their last names into one: Bracksmith. “That’s what our friends know us as. Professionally, I’m still Saralyn Smith.” And she’s listed as being from Key West, Florida, where her parents now live once again in their semi-retirement. “I still visit Key West with my parents there and Islamorada, where my brother, Cale, lives,” she said. Key West will always be where her impressive volleyball career began. DO YOU BELIEVE IT? The Saturday-Sunday quartet of National Football League playoff games may well have made for the most exciting playoff weekend on record. Three games ended on field goals, while the fourth and most exciting stretched into overtime after a Kansas City field goal tied things up with the Buffalo Bills. Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes then ran and passed down the field for their 42-36 overtime victory. It concluded a brilliant duel between Mahomes, whose team was favored by 1½ points, and Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen. Commentators I heard have complained about only the Chiefs getting the ball in the sudden-death overtime. Also that the Bills

defense couldn’t stop Mahomes with only 13 seconds left in regulation and that the final regulation kickoff wasn’t kicked onto the field, so some time might have come off those 13 seconds. Kansas City will now host the Cincinnati Bengals at 3 p.m., Sunday (CBS) as 7½-point favorites. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play at 6:30 p.m., also on Sunday (FOX). Winners will meet in the Super Bowl, at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 (NBC). In the other American Football Conference game, the Bengals, four-point underdogs, nipped the Tennessee Titans and the return of rusher Derrick Henry, 19-16, with a 52-yard field goal by Evan McPherson and the quarterbacking by second-year player Joe Burrow. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and kicker Matthew Gay’s 30-yard, last second field goal led to a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and its star quarterback Tom Brady, who were favored by 2.5 points, in one National Conference game. In the other NFC game, it was San Francisco 13, Green Bay 10, on a 45-yard field goal by Robbie Gould as time expired. So, lightly regarded quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has his team in the final four, albeit a 3½-point underdog to the Rams. But the 49ers were 5.5-point underdogs to the Packers and their QB Aaron Rodgers. So, why not? Why not, any of the four?

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

ESCAPE TO THE KEY WEST YOGA SANCTUARY OUTDOOR STUDIO IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

1 MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

espite its well-documented and all-over health benefits, yoga can be an intimidating endeavor for those who think their bodies simply don’t bend “that way.” But fear not, my fellow inflexibles. The Key West Yoga Sanctuary, 612 Fleming St., understands the intimidation and doubt that make newbies reluctant, so their expert instructors are armed with variations to make the practice and positions accessible to everyone. “All classes can be easily adapted for all skill levels, and our instructors are amazing at finding variations for everyone, no matter their experience or ability,” said owner Erika Hawks. Then there’s the tropically lush backyard studio at Key West Yoga Sanctuary, where most classes are offered. The wooden platform under a shaded cheekie hut in a palm-filled garden next to a koi pond is enough to move the most sedentary person off the couch and onto a yoga mat. Hawks has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years and teaching it for 12. She has studied extensively in India and with several world-renowned experts.

“The Key West Yoga Sanctuary has been in Key West for 12 years, but we just moved to this location on Fleming Street in late 2019,” Hawks said. “Then we had to close the school for 18 months during COVID. But even during that time, we were offering daily yoga classes via Zoom and down at Truman Waterfront Park.” The sanctuary still offers Zoom classes as well as subscriptions for the Zoom classes. “We also have all-access memberships for online and in-person classes, as well as drop-in rates for both online and in-person classes.” Hawks emphasized that she views the space more as a school than a studio, because she regularly offers specialized workshops with visiting instructors who are experts in various yoga practices and philosophies. “The real emphasis for me is the special programming that goes above and beyond our daily yoga and pilates classes,” Hawks said. “Key West is really an incredible community for yoga. Its offerings rival that of a much larger city.” The school also teaches kids’ yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for kids 3-10. (Talk about adorable.) Key West Yoga Sanctuary’s comprehensive class schedule is available online at keywestyogasanctuary.com.

3 4

1. Key West Yoga Sanctuary offers yoga and pilates classes in its backyard studio. CONTRIBUTED 2. Key West Yoga Sanctuary owner and instructor Erika Hawks has studied yoga in India. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly 3. Key West Yoga Sanctuary is not only a studio but also a school, offering specialty workshops by visiting experts. 4. Steps away from the chaos of Duval Street, the sanctuary at 612 Fleming St. welcomes yoga students of all ages and skill levels.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

THE EXPERIENCE & MARKET KNOWLEDGE YOU KNOW & TRUST!

KEY LARGO •

101925 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037

• 305.451.0601

CONNIE ARRABAL 305-304-3729

LOU AVELLINO 585-269-9723

ROSA CAPPIELLO 305-984-5203

GLADYS CORNELL 305-619-0223

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KEITH ALLEN 305-481-5544

JAYE LANIGAN 305-304-9597

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ALAN BALLAS 850-694-4001

DEBRA FARRELL 305-393-0636

LORETTA LAWRENCE 305-924-1384

DAVID KAUFMANN 305-942-9480

JASON CARMONA 305-393-3151

SHAWNABEL MASSARO 305-481-5057

211 Simonton St. Key West, FL 33040

AMANDA DAWICKI 860-705-0393

DANIELLE HARRIS 214-454-4427

Equal Housing Opportunity. Each office is independently owned and operated.

CAROL HERDOCK 305-731-9527

MICHAEL ROJEWSKI 305-942-7755

GEORGE SARRADET 305-502-4070

• 305.664.4637

CAROL CHABINAK 817-739-2112

LINDA MILLER 305-394-1119

31031 Avenue A, US 1, Big Pine Key, FL 33043

MAGGIE BEALL 305-432-0949

KEY WEST •

KRISTINA ANTONOVA 305-393-1280

MARILYN BASTRON 305-394-8088

LINDA PERLOFF 305-394-2616

LINDA GAUNAURD 305-731-9559

VIOLET WAHBA 305-849-5642

86002 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036

MARILYN ALLEN 305-481-5543

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ROBERT VALENZUELA 305-431-0836

LYNDA GALLAHER 305-731-9471

PAUL DICKEY 305-393-2210

CHARITY REBL 305-978-1170

BARBARA EDGAR 305-393-0940

DAVID RESTUCCIA 305-394-7522

RANDY SELDEN 305-481-6732

JAIME CRADDOCK 703-915-5780

KATE MORGAN 305-407-0958

DEREK NORMAN 305-797-3387

DONNA DURANTE 727-656-4564

KELLI VANSTRY 305-304-2504

PERRY HODIES 305-735-4747

LINDA MERKEY 305-304-1345

ERIC JOHNSON 305-393-3706

JENNIFER SMITH 305-360-7787

17105 Overseas Highway, Sugarloaf Key

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JIMMY LANE 305-766-0585

ROBERT SKEEL 305-654-7852

EUNICE HARPER 305-304-5365

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JAMES CHAPLIN 305-481-7559

SUSANNE FORNELL 305-766-0539

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MIA HOWE 305-923-9624

KIERAN MAHONEY 305-745-1856

DAN URBAN 305-849-3131

KEY WEST BY THE SEA 2601 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West

MORGAN MCPHERESON 305-304-3044

ANDREA WEITZ 305-304-7863

PATRICIA MCGRATH 781-249-6623

MOE SMYTH 305-393-6938

JESSICA WALLACE 305-587-0404

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

FEBRUARY EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW FEB 3-24, 2022

PENDING

1025 Simonton St | Key West | MLS # 598624 Modern newer built 3bed/3bath townhome in Old Town Key West! Open concept design flows seamlessly to the living and dining areas, with modern furnishing & accents. Nicely equipped kitchen, washer & dryer, high ceilings and natural light throughout. One assigned parking space in garage, community pool & beautifully landscaped grounds. Offered turnkey. $1,399,000 SHAD KNAPP REALTOR® Office: 305.294.8433 Cell: 603.715.4698 shadknapp@gmail.com

PAUL HAYES PRINCIPAL BROKER Office: 305.294.8433 Cell: 305.587.6767 paul@kwreal.com

Painting/Place Judith Murray - Robert Yasuda Sanger & Zabar Project Galleries Highly respected proponents of abstract painting, Judith Murray and Robert Yasuda are long time residents of both the Florida Keys and New York. In their first exhibition in Key West, Murray will present vividly painted canvases that emphasize her sculptural brushwork alongside Yasuda’s shaped and carved panels of subtly modulated colors. sponsored by Key West Fine Wines

Murray - Yasuda Gallery Talk: Fri Feb 4, 5pm

PENDING

Tyler Buckheim Trosset

321 E Avenue E | Big Coppitt | MLS # 598368 Renovated duplex is occupied by one family, never rented. Central AC, metal roof, attractive kitchen cabinets, tile floors, Corian countertops, washer and dryer in each unit. Each side has a large open porch with wood finished ceiling. Fenced, off street parking. Double lot includes 73.5 square feet fenced, 24.5 square feet protected area. $769,000 DARLENE THOMAS REALTOR® Office: 305.294.8433 Cell: 305.304.1043 darlenekw@aol.com

XOJ Gallery Tyler Buckheim Trosset’s recent works on paper reach across time to touch the past, combining the tactility of rubbings from liquor bottles and monuments with tightly rendered graphite drawings based on historic photos of fishing boats and discarded military ID’s. supported by McKee Fund, sponsored by Soul House

Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-4pm or more info at tskw.org 533 EATON ST 305-296-0458 WWW.TSKW.ORG

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Three (3) U.S. Government Online Auctions: Carysfort Reef, Sombrero Key and American Shoal Lighthouses

Located offshore of the Florida Keys Auctions will open in February 2022 at realestatesales.gov Contact: Eric Stavely at eric.stavely@gsa.gov or (404) 803-3128, or Joseph Grimmett at joseph.grimmett@gsa.gov or (404) 538-2981

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty LISA LENNON SALES PROFESSIONAL Cell: 305.304.1027 www.KeysRealEstate.com

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

AUTHOR! AUTHOR! KEY WEST LITERARY SEMINAR WRAPS UP ITS FIRST-EVER OUTDOOR EVENT

haking off two years of pandemicshuttered operations and a wave of last-minute disruptions resulting from the Omicron variant, the Key West Literary Seminar returned to action this month with a roster of literary talent and an audience of passionate readers. While the all-outdoor “Seminar Named Desire” looked different from afar, to veteran attendees the series of onstage conversations had that only-in-Key-West quality that has come to be a hallmark of the annual gathering. The seminar’s board is reviewing feedback from this year’s event and settling on the venue for next year’s 40th annual seminar — “Singing America: A Celebration of Black Literature.” Dates, details and registration options will be announced the first week of February. — Contributed

6 1. Literature, coconut palms and clear sunny skies in January? Yes, yes and yes. CONTRIBUTED 2. Two-time U.S. Poet Laureate and Key West favorite Billy Collins takes the stage for a sunset poetry reading. MARK HEDDEN/Contributed

3. Key West Literary Seminar board member Lori Reid will chair the 2023 seminar, ‘Singing America: A Celebration of Black Literature.’ MARK HEDDEN/ Contributed 4. Lisa Taddeo, author of ‘Animal’ and the #1 New York Times bestseller ‘Three Women,’ participates in a panel discussion. MARK HEDDEN/Contributed

5. Masked and (not so) anonymous, authors Lauren Groff, Jami Attenberg, Judy Blume and Jamie Quatro. MICHAEL BLADES/Contributed 6. Jericho Brown takes flight. MARK HEDDEN/Contributed

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

THE STUDIOS PRESENTS KEY WEST EXHIBIT OF RENOWNED ARTISTS

n the advice of famed artist and art dealer Betty Parson, in 1980 Judith Murray and Robert Yasuda left New York City for the winter to paint, enjoy the sun and rejuvenate from weighty careers. That is how two extraordinary artists came to find Key West and for decades created their work anonymously in studios from Old Town to Big Pine and Sugarloaf. Working quietly, hidden by palms and mangroves, their paintings went on to hang in museums and galleries worldwide. Murray’s works were recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yasuda’s installations featured at MoMA PS1 and the MCA Chicago. The pair is now showing 25 years’ worth of work for Key West to enjoy in their secondever joint show and their first in Key West. It’s not often that Keys residents can experience museum-quality paintings without leaving the island, but The Studios of Key West will showcase this must-see exhibit for any art lover from Feb. 3-26. Meeting with Murray and Yasuda, I was struck by their quiet but formidable presence. They have the thoughtful eyes of observers and the presence of craftsmen who know their trade. Unlike the large, bold works they have created, both are surpassingly slight in frame. They speak softly and patiently, describing their work and process as they have for countless others with far better credentials than mine: The New York Times, LA Times and ART news. Still, we made connections about Key West, art, painting and one therapeutic revelation that yes, I absolutely was correct to dislike a certain artist (and quit on him in my 20s). I discovered Murray and Yasuda were like any of us who had found themselves on an island and just wanted space and time to create without the hustle of the real world. They had visions inside them that needed their hands, color and paint to form. Murray and Yasuda have maintained sideby-side careers, working alone but together in New York and Key West while traveling the world to find inspiration. Their work both complements and maintains a distinct individuality, an unspoken marriage of two artists. Murray’s gestural paintings differ from Yasuda’s quiet, calmer color fields. But together, they act as two distinct voices speaking to each other, while the audience, mere silent

bystanders, are happy just to listen. Murray’s work is the best of the expressionist painting movement. With tempered control and technique like predecessors Joan Mitchell or Gerhard Richter, her paintings are romantic, stormy, vibrant and surprisingly ordered. Each stroke of paint is applied with thought as to its placement, its thickness, its architecture on canvas — like any great composer, she creates a balancing act of craft and intuition that appears effortless. The paintings become worlds of organized color and symmetry. Imagine cherry blossoms falling in the wind or water rushing over a pebble bed, the work captures the essence of movement in nature. A single painting may take months, although Murray only uses four colors — red, yellow, black and white. “They are universal colors similar to earthy cave paintings that also used four,” she said. “I’ve never felt limited by working this way. It’s still challenging and expanding with time.” Her works are filled with tones and variations of her limited palette but with infinite possibilities of color and strokes, like a symphony rewritten repeatedly with the same notes but a different sound every time. Also, Murray begins each painting with a single vertical bar placed on the right — look for it — as a starting point between the physical world and the fictional one she will create. She has freed the canvas from the constraint of landscape and a horizon line allowing the image to flow over each corner like the burst of an idea. Alternately, Yasuda approaches his work more quietly, akin to predecessor Mark Rothko. His palette has a cooler sense, more blues, and greens, forgoing visible strokes and opting for layer upon layer of all-over color. Some paintings can have 30 to 40 layers of paint, sanded and repainted. The result is a luminosity that reveals itself in a different light. The work begs for attention, or else one will miss the subtlety of color that unveils happily over time. Like the light in nature that changes moment by moment, Yasuda draws the viewer in to see what will happen next. His canvases are paired with wooden panels, different shapes, and sizes, firmly rooting their ethereal quality to the wall or the ground, altar-like. “It’s the notion of seeing. The results are layered and hidden. Overall, it takes a while to reveal itself. Color

Artist Judith Murray is seen on Big Pine in the 1980s. CONTRIBUTED

Robert Yasuda takes a break from painting on the porch of his former Key West studio.

‘Hard Core’ by Judith Murray

decisions have to do with the reveal,” said Yasuda. He is a thoughtful speaker, choosing his words and conveying his message with calmness, un-rushed much like his paintings. While the two artists respectfully do not force comparisons between their work, Murray agreed, “We feel the basis in nature in both our paintings.” And both feel the basis of themselves in Key West, a home they deeply appreciate for allowing them to work, all these years, on their own. Yasuda captures the sentiment many of us share: “There is something about the chemistry of this place.” — Hays Blinckmann for The Studios of Key West

‘PAINTING/PLACE’ EXHIBIT Judith Murray and Robert Yasuda February 3-26 The Studios of Key West

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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Please note: All parties at your table must order tasting menu in order to be offered the specials.

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Shannon Torrence Shannon Torrence, a life-long Floridian has always had a great appreciation for the natural beauty of the state. In September of 2020 Shannon was awarded a monthlong residency on Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park. The residency is Sunrise Loggerhead Key, 38.5 x 51.5, Acrylic on Panel awarded through The National Parks Arts Foundation and The National Park Service. During the residency and in his home studio after, Shannon has created a body of work distilled from many quiet hours of solitude on the historic island. “The sky, stars, and water were deeply impactful. I hope to inspire through paintings an awareness of the restorative power of nature and the need to protect it.” Works Available on Approval & Concierge Services from Key West to Key Largo The Gallery on Greene | 606 Greene Street | Key West, Florida galleryongreene.com | 305-304-2323

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

WEEKLY WELCOMES JILL MIRANDA BAKER TO THE TEAM

growing local newspaper is adding another talented individual to its team. Keys Weekly announces the hiring of Jill Miranda Baker as business development officer for its Upper Keys office, located at 91760 Overseas Highway in Tavernier. A native of South Florida, Miranda Baker is a 25-year resident of Plantation Key. She began her career as a newspaper reporter for a group of community newspapers in Palm Beach County. “The success of the Keys Weekly Newspapers has always been measured through the efforts of staff. Jill is a welcomed addition to our growing staff between her background and her work within the community,” said publisher Jason Koler. “This will bring a new level of service and support to the business community and our nonprofit partners.” Miranda Baker spent several years working for Rep. Rick Minton Jr., before joining Mariners Hospital in 1997 as manager of marketing and public relations. In 2005, she became manager of medical services. In late 2013, she joined the Florida Keys History & Discovery Foundation as the first executive director — building what became the first-class Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada. Her service to the Keys community includes being twice past president of the Upper Keys Rotary Club, current board member of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts and Islamorada Chamber of Commerce ambassador. She’s also a Take Stock in Children mentor. She’s held board-level positions with the Good Health Clinic, Treasure Village Montessori Charter School, the Florida Keys Area Health Education Center, the Rural Health Network of Monroe County and the Upper Keys Business & Professional Women. She is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County, Class VII. She’s married to long-time backcountry fishing guide Duane Baker. They have two college-aged children, Mason and Raffie. She is a graduate of Lynchburg College, now University of Lynchburg, with bachelor’s degrees in communications/journalism and sociology, and has a master’s in management from the University of Phoenix. “As a former reporter, I’ve always been a news junkie who reads many publications,” said Miranda Baker. “I’ve closely followed Keys Weekly, always impressed with their news coverage and their community involvement throughout Monroe County. Publisher Jason Koler and I connected through Rotary, and I’m honored he and publishing partner Britt Myers chose me for this new role and look forward to serving the Upper Keys community.” Miranda Baker is known to scream at the television watching her Miami Dolphins play during the season. And you may have seen her on the road in her hell-raising purple 2021 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack wide body. To reach Miranda Baker, call the Tavernier office at 305-3632957 or email jill@keysweekly.com.

ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

Three manatees munch on romaine lettuce offered at an emergency feeding station in Cape Canaveral. FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE/Contributed

CHOW TIME

Starving manatees begin feeding at emergency feeding station

n Jan. 13, a media call to address an unusual mortality event (UME) affecting starving Florida manatees reported that emergency feeding stations set up near the Florida Power and Light plant in Cape Canaveral had yet to see success in nearly a month of delivering lettuce to starving animals. Even so, FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section Leader Ron Mezich spoke optimistically, saying that the manatees’ failure to recognize lettuce as a food source was not unexpected and was in line with rescued animals’ tendency to take a few days or even weeks to recognize the plant as food. Within a week, Mezich’s faith was rewarded. “We’ve seen 35 manatees at the feeding area on Jan. 20 eating lettuce, and 25 today,” said Mezich in a second media call on Jan. 21. “We’ve offered about 450 pounds of produce, which has been largely consumed.” Mezich said the group had been waiting for some sort of trigger to begin the feeding process, but wasn’t exactly sure what that trigger would be. On the day feeding was first observed, the team had already been preparing acoustic equipment to play sounds of manatees foraging near the lettuce in an effort to jump-start the process. “We think it’s significant,” said Mezich. “A couple animals decided to try it, and once they started eating, it was a trigger for the others.” The team reports that most animals feeding on the lettuce appear to be in good shape, though they have spotted some underweight animals. Aerial surveys of the general area have shown several hundred manatees nearby that may eventually make their way to the feeding area. Feeding manatees and other marine mammals is illegal for the public, and several media members on the call asked Mezich how the team plans to prevent the manatees at the feeding site from associating humans with, and depending on them for, nutrition. “We’ve put up barriers to prevent them from seeing the humans providing food,” said Mezich. “We also try to avoid boats in the area so they don’t associate the food with boats, and we don’t man the site at night.” The feeding site currently uses romaine and butter lettuce as food, both of which have been consumed by the hungry sea cows. Mezich says the group is unsure exactly how long they will continue the feeding trials, but that he fully expects the manatees to naturally disperse as warmer waters permit foraging in wider regions. Plans for other emergency feeding stations are also in discussion, but have not been finalized. More information about the UME response is at myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality-response/ume/.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

BRINGING WRECKING TO ORDER The Salvage Act of 1823

started a Facebook page the day before Christmas Eve and decided to call it Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli. Fifteen years of study have revealed more history, stories and lore than even the most steadfast pirate could shake a bottle of rum at before falling over. The idea was to share histories from up and down the Florida Keys and Monroe County. So many stories about the island chain tend to be absorbed by all things Key West. Though the archipelago consists of something like 1,700 islands, it is often reduced to just the one and only Key West. There is good reason for the spotlight on the Southernmost City; it is the clear and present heart of the Florida Keys. Through the early decades of territorial history and even those of early statehood, Key West was the largest and most important community in the island chain. The year 2022 is the year Key West is celebrating its bicentennial, 1822 being the year Perry first planted an American flag on the island. It was also the year Key West was declared a port of entry — one of only two established along the territory’s east coast. The other was St. Augustine. The designation helped create the foundation on which the island’s spectacular course was set. It also cemented its importance to the industry on which the back of Key West’s early success was built—wrecking.

By 1823, Key West had only just begun to develop as a thriving community. Less than a year after the island was declared a port of entry, on July 2, 1823, Monroe County was established as the Florida Territory’s sixth county. Named after the then-sitting and fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, county boundaries originally extended north to the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee and west to the Gulf of Mexico. Because Key West was the largest community in the newly formed county, it was declared the county seat. Two days after the county was established, the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, George Murray president, passed the 1823 Salvage Act. The act was the country's inaugural attempt to bring a bit of order to what was considered a lawless industry. Section 1 of the act required wreckers to report their salvage claim to a justice of notary: “Concerning wreckers and wrecked property: WHEREAS it is necessary that prompt and efficient protection should be given to wreckers and to the owners of wrecked property brought within the limits and jurisdiction of this Territory: Be it enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, And it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that whenever wrecked property of any description whatsoever shall arrive, be brought in or landed in any part of this Territory, it shall be

the duty of the salvor or salvors, owner or owners, or their representatives, or other persons having charge of the same, to make report of the fact of such arrival to such justice of the peace or notary public as may reside next adjacent to the place of BRAD arrival.” BERTELLI Section 14 of the document addressed the idea of is an author, speaker, and Flor- wreckers using unprincipled ida Keys historian. tactics like the use of “false His latest book, lights” to enhance their busi“The Florida Keys ness opportunities. It read: Skunk Ape Files,” “Be it further enacted, That if is a fun blend of two of his favorite any person shall within this subjects — Florida territory, make or hold out Keys history and any false lights, or make any the Skunk Ape. device, or do any other act or thing with intent to mislead, bewilder or decoy the mariners of any vessel on the high seas, whereby such vessel may be cast ashore, or get aground, such person or persons so offending, and every accessory thereto, shall on conviction thereof be deemed guilty of Felony, and shall suffer death.” Tales of skullduggery and “false lights,” while pervasive in wrecker lore, have rarely been documented. However, considering the fact that these practices were addressed in a formal document, it had been deemed a problem worth addressing on the government level. What flung the door open for Key West’s future financial successes was the 1825 Federal Wrecking Act, which declared that all salvaged property claimed in territorial waters had to be taken to an American port of entry. For those involved in the salvage of cargo and wrecks along the Florida Reef, the only reasonably accessible port of entry was Key West. Because Key West became the center of the wrecking industry, Key West continued to grow in both size and importance. The island became not just the largest community in Florida but also, by 1860, the richest city per capita in the growing United States. Key West, however, is not the only island of historical importance in the Florida Keys. The island chain is chock-full of histories, stories, and lore, so I decided to create the Facebook page Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli where, daily, some piece of the Florida Keys story is shared. If you are a fan of local history, you will be a fan of the page.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

READING AND EATING

Delicious books about cooking, iconic chefs and mouth-watering recipes

KAREN NEWFIELD First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.

MY LIFE IN FRANCE By Julia Child, Alex Prud’Homme

YES, CHEF By Marcus Samuelsson

FINDING FREEDOM By Erin French

Adventurous account of the lives of Julia and Paul Child. Through Julia's unique voice and words, and her nephew's pen, we are immersed into the culinary world of Europe post-World War II. Paul is stationed in France in 1948 for the U.S. Foreign Service and Julia accompanies him. Knowing little about the country and virtually no French does not stop this dynamic woman from stepping out of her comfort zone and fighting to register for classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking, where women are not welcome. Buying food at nearby markets endeared Julia to the local people just as her uncommon personality later captured the hearts of TV viewers. Chronicling their lives with tales of intriguing companions and a beautiful marriage is the beginning of Julia’s mission to single handedly change American cooking. Their support and mutual love lasts for nearly 50 years, and Paul’s black and white photographs are scattered throughout the book, lending a charming glimpse through history. With a couple who found fame and fortune much later in life than one would expect, and a woman who changed the way people eat, Julia’s timeless recipes carry on, and with this book, her story will too.

The “celebrity chef” is a fairly new phenomenon in our culture. Celebrated chefs have always existed, and in small foodie circles their names are often revered. But today’s chefs are a household name due in large part to the huge success of cooking competition television shows. Series like “Top Chef Masters” and “Chopped” have made Marcus Samuelsson famous. Samuelsson was 3 years old when he, his sister and mother walked 75 miles to a hospital in Ethiopia where his mother later died from tuberculosis. The siblings were eventually adopted by a family from Goteborg, Sweden. They moved to a small village where they were embraced and thrived in a loving environment. Samuelsson began to regularly help his grandmother Helga in her small kitchen, cooking Swedish delights, learning to appreciate fresh and local food. A lifelong passion for cooking was born. This memoir follows Samuelsson on his journey through his life in Sweden, detailing how he found his way to food, culinary school and ultimately his highly acclaimed restaurant, the Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. This warm and entertaining life story speaks from the heart, connecting love, family, the color of our skin and everything that goes on in the kitchen.

At an age when she could barely reach the stove, Erin French was already helping her dad at the family’s local diner. The small town of Freedom, Maine had one eating establishment, and change was not welcome. At first, Erin was mostly in her dad’s way, but he slowly began to enjoy the extra pair of hands and a break to eat and drink on the back porch with his buddies. All Erin wanted was to earn her way off the farm and out of Freedom. She succeeded in getting to college, only to make a U-turn back to her parents, pregnant and ashamed at 21. Searching for a better life for her son, Erin only knew and loved one thing: food. She got various jobs in restaurants and with catering companies in nearby towns and began to make a name for herself. After a horrible marriage and stint in rehab, Erin is ironically pulled back to Freedom. With her loving mother by her side, Erin pulls on her apron strings and builds The Lost Kitchen. This creative, hardworking cook shares her story and passion for food in this inspiring memoir. You will laugh, cry and most likely get very hungry.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

TAKE ME HOME? FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

he Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus. From cats and dogs to Guinea

pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people. The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC. Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.

BETTY WHITE WINDFALL FANS DONATE THOUSANDS TO KEYS ANIMAL NONPROFITS

The Jolly Roger RV Resort raised $830 in under three hours. The fundraiser organizers stopped by the FKSPCA Marathon campus to deliver a check to staff with a cardboard Betty White as a witness. JOLLY ROGER RV RESORT/Contributed

CHARLOTTE TWINE

Squirrel is a 1½-year-old male domestic shorthair.

Marylin is an adult female American rabbit.

Waddles is a 6½-year-old male basset hound mix.

Lele is a 3½-year-old female medium mixed breed.

Ninja is a 3½-year-old female domestic shorthair.

www.keysweekly.com

n the Florida Keys, animal nonprofits were thrilled to receive thousands of dollars of donations on Jan. 17 due to the “Betty White Challenge,” a nationwide trend. White, star of the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Golden Girls,” was loved by millions. Her career experienced an unexpected renaissance in 2010 at age 88, due to a Facebook campaign that successfully nabbed her a Saturday Night Live hosting gig. It seemed as though she was going to live forever. But she passed at age 99. According to the Washington Post, “White was an avowed animal lover, an advocate for guide dogs, a long-standing board member for the L.A. Zoo, and a recipient of American Humane’s highest honor, the National Humanitarian Medal and the Legacy Award.” So White’s fans and animal lovers across the country created the “Betty White Challenge,” encouraging people to donate to animal nonprofits of their choice on what would have been her hundredth birthday, Jan. 17. To say that this fundraiser was a nationwide success is to put it lightly. “We saw an incredible turnout for the Betty White Challenge, far beyond our expectations,” said Tiffany Dunsmore, the development director of the Florida Keys SPCA, which has branches in Key West and Marathon. “We received over $10,000, which was way, way crazy for us.” Dunsmore said the money will go directly into essential needs such as vaccinations and other medical care for homeless pets. She said a lot of the donations came online, but two organizations — Marathon’s Jolly Roger RV Resort and Bar 22&Co. in Key West —

both held fundraisers for the FKSPCA. Peggy Coontz, animal care director for the Key West Wildlife Center, also saw more donations than usual. “The funds will go directly for supplies for the animals. Food is the most important purchase that we would make, specialty items, such as fish for pelicans and live insects for wild birds,” Coontz said. “It was quite lovely, and everyone hopes it will become an annual tribute to Betty White.” Marathon’s Turtle Hospital posted on Facebook: “A huge thank you to everyone that is donating to the Turtle Hospital today in memory of the late, great Betty White!” Angela Boehm, president of the Upper Keys Humane Society in Key Largo, said the nonprofit received $2,800 in donations on her birthday. “We’re going to buy something in her honor,” she said. “Maybe a dog run or a surgical table.” Suzi Youngberg, rescue coordinator for Key Largo’s MarrVelous Pet Rescues, said the organization received $4,400 on Jan. 17. The funds will go toward vet expenses. Mary Stella is the director of media and marketing for Marathon’s Dolphin Research Center. On Jan. 17, about a dozen or more people spontaneously donated to the center in White’s name. “What a tribute,” said Stella. “We and our colleagues at other dolphin facilities and zoological institutions really appreciated Betty. She believed in the work we do, and the way we educate the public about the animals in our care. While we were never fortunate to have her visit us, she visited our colleagues, like Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld. She will be missed. Even in her passing, she was benefitting the animals she cared so much about.”

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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Sonia Robinson. CONTRIBUTED

SHANNON P. WILEY ... is a native Floridian born in Hialeah, Florida. He’s an artist, muralist, graphic designer, teacher and coach. He currently lives in Marathon with his two children. Besides painting, he enjoys all the wonders of the Florida Keys. HIs work is for sale at Guild Hall Gallery in Key West and at Shady Palm Gallery in Marathon.

SONIA ROBINSON’S WORK IS DOGGONE BEAUTIFUL

he only thing glowing brighter than Sonia Robinson’s personality are her wildly imaginative paintings. She creates whimsical and often spiritually-inspired compositions that are truly mesmerizing. Robinson slings her paint seemingly non-stop, mostly on wooden panels – and occasionally on canvas – using her signature, mixed-media approach, making her work like nothing else you’ll find. Robinson’s self-taught style helps to set her work apart from that of other artists. She has a playful, childlike handling of her subjects sure to bring about feelings of joy in the hearts and minds of viewers. Robinson was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and vacationed to the Keys back in 1970. This began a love affair with the islands that continues to this day. Today, the Florida Keys are her second home and she clearly makes the most of her time here. Robinson’s expressionism incorporates elements of mixedmedia collage along with occasional typography used to further the positive messages of love, hope and kindness embedded within her creations. Acrylic paint is her primary medium, but Robinson builds depth through vivid color mixtures and variations on thick (tactile) paint applications finished with thin washes of reduced consistency color and gloss. The end result is simply brilliant. “I originally began my art career as a fine leather craftsman, and I’m still known today as the ‘Leather Lady of Key West,’” said Robinson. “Over the years, I did collections for Fast Buck Freddie’s and even had

my own business on Greene Street. I moved into Guild Hall Gallery in the early 1980s and expanded into hand painted clothing. From there it was an easy leap to painting in the format I use today.” Robinson has an incredibly large body of work spanning subjects from architecture and angels to lovable canines and curious kittens. Regarding the recurring theme of dogs, she said, “My work is ever-evolving and I paint what I love. My husband Gregg and I have always had rescue dogs and they show up in much of my work.” Robinson is an owner of Guild Hall Gallery located at 614 Duval St. in Old Town Key West. She welcomes guests to come connect with her there and purchase the perfect piece of her art. “My biggest thrill is to be at the gallery and meet people purchasing my artwork. There’s always a great story to go along with it and the connection is heartfelt for me. I am fortunate to get up every day and do what I love.” The tropical flavor and bold and bright colors in her paintings combine with an unmistakable style adored by art lovers and collectors throughout the Florida Keys and beyond. Make the trip down to Old Town Key West and visit her colorful creations today. Her paintings are available in every size and shape imaginable, from tiny 4-inch square panels to larger-than-life florals and still life paintings on stretched canvas. Prices on small prints, cards and tiny paintings range from $12 to $35, and her larger pieces are available from $100 to $800.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

MARATHON JOINS ‘MONARCH CITY USA’ Certified sanctuary gardens help with depleted butterfly populations

arathon has been awarded “Monarch City USA” status, joining a nationwide effort to support the struggling monarch butterfly population. The Marathon Garden Club (MGC), in partnership with the City of Marathon, achieved this designation by creating and deploying a new monarch butterfly sanctuary garden program for the community. “The Monarch City USA recognition of Marathon highlights our efforts and commitment to the environment, promoting civic pride and improvement,” said Marathon City Manager George Garrett. “We will proudly display our Monarch USA signage that will be visible upon entering our city.” In 2019, the MGC invited Jim West to be a guest speaker on the topic of the “Plight of the Monarch.” A Florida native, West informed the club of the perils the monarchs face and made suggestions on what Marathon could do to support the dwindling populations of monarchs. Further research revealed that according to the National Wildlife Federation, the monarch butterfly population has decreased by 90% over the last two decades. Lack of habitat, extreme weather conditions and the use of pesticides have all contributed to the decline. Shirley Singleton, chair of MGC’s monarch butterfly committee, launched several monarch educational seminars culminating in the Monarch Sanctuary Certification program to help community gardeners plant their own monarch gardens. More than 32 gardens were certified in the first three months of the program. The monarch butterfly committee programs stressed the importance of native host and nectar plants for the monarchs as they migrate through south Florida. More importantly, the club recognized the need to educate the public on how a simple garden, with the appropriate native plant components, can make a world of difference to the shrinking population of monarchs. Rosemary Thomas, president of the Marathon Garden Club, said, “We are pleased that both residents and nonprofits embraced the program. We are developing additional butterfly programs and clinics as well as adding a Monarch Garden Tour, which will occur on Saturday, Mar. 5. We also look for-

Coral Shores High School teacher Zachary Owens recently received the Monroe County School District Teacher of the Year Award. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT/Contributed

TOP TEACHER

Coral Shores math instructor recognized for excellence in and out of classroom

The Marathon City Marina proudly sports a Certified Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Garden. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly.

ward to assisting the City of Marathon with additional environmental, educational and beautification projects.” To become a certified monarch butterfly sanctuary, participants must have a minimum of 20 host plants and apply for certification to MGC. The application includes a suggested list of larval and nectar plants that work in this area of the Keys. MGC formed an eight-member monarch butterfly certification committee that reviews the applications, visits the properties to verify the plants and makes the certification decision. MGC charges $25 to certify a garden and, upon a successful certification, will award the applicant with an MGC butterfly sanctuary sign. Monarch City USA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and based in Maple Valley, Washington. Its goal is to educate and inspire municipalities across the nation to support the monarch butterfly population by planting monarch milkweed and nectar plants throughout their respective cities. More information is at monarchcityusa.com. — Contributed

oral Shores High School’s Zachary Owens was recently named Monroe County School District Teacher of the Year. Owens not only teaches various math classes, but he also coaches the Academic Challenge Team, girls JV soccer and tennis team. Owens is also a club sponsor for National Honor Society and Chess Club and holds afterschool tutoring sessions. When he’s not in the classroom or on a playing field, he may be in the local waters, as he is a certified master scuba diver trainer. "I was very happy to announce Zach as the Monroe County School District Teacher of the Year,'' said Monroe County Superintendent Theresa Axford. "After looking at a video of one of his lessons, it was clear to me how well he established rapport with students and how accountable he held them for learning. He is an excellent example of the fine teachers throughout our county." Axford made the announcement at the high school in front of Owen's colleagues and students. Their excitement for his distinguished honor was evident by the applause and cheers of congratulations. “Zach’s door is always open to help students,” said CSHS Principal Laura Lietart. “Every-

thing he does is for kids, helping them succeed and reach their full potential.” Owens earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education from Florida Gulf Coast University and began teaching for MCSD in 2015 at Plantation Key School. He moved to CSHS in 2020, where he has taught Algebra I and II, Geometry and Math for College Readiness. He’s engaged in professional development, most recently training for the Mathematic B.E.S.T. Standards, and has designed and implemented lessons aligned to the new standards using an abundance of teaching strategies to meet the needs of his students. Colleagues state his jovial, positive attitude helps students to understand and master the content as well as the importance of working hard to achieve success. He is a role model to others and goes above and beyond in all he does. The selection committee noted his outstanding school and community involvement, his expertise in subject area content, and the relationships he builds with students that help them both in the classroom and in life as the qualities that made him stand out from the other excellent candidates. — Contributed

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

• 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 Realty ONE Group Destination located at 1209 Truman Avenue, Unit 1, Key West, Florida 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. By: Key West Destination Real Estate, LLC Publish: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC. STORAGE UNIT 77 – RICK BILBREY Upon a cursory inspection, the unit was found to contain: Business Property & Records Items will be sold or otherwise disposed of at this site on FEBRUARY 15, 2022 at 9:00AM at the address below, to satisfy owner’s lien in accordance with State Statutes, Sections 83:801 to 83:909. Terms of the sale are cash. No checks will be accepted. All goods are sold in “as is” condition. Tax must be paid or

resale numbers furnished. Buyer must provide own lock if needed. Seller reserves the right to overbid. All items or spaces may not be available on date of sale. George Sands Storage Solutions, Inc. 90080 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070 Publish: January 27 & February 3, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T Mobility Services, LLC (AT&T) proposes the modification of an existing AT&T facility installed atop an existing 45.67’ building at 811 E Seminole St in Key West, Monroe County, FL (Job #53178). In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the 2005 Nationwide Programmatic Agreement, AT&T is hereby notifying the public of the proposed undertaking and soliciting comments on Historic Properties which may be affected by the proposed undertaking. If you would like to provide specific information regarding potential effects that the proposed undertaking might have to properties that are listed on or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and located within ½ mile of the site, please submit the comments (with Job #53178) to: Ramaker, Contractor for AT&T, 855 Community Dr, Sauk City, WI 53583 or via e-mail tohistory@ ramaker.com within 30 days of this notice. Publish: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

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: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecountybids. com. The Public Record is available upon request. In response to Covid-19, the Monroe County Purchasing Department has implemented a new electronic process for reviewing and opening sealed bids. Monroe County is committed to continuing to receive and process competitive solicitations while maintaining the health and safety of our employees and those who attend bid openings. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposal/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00 P.M. on March 17, 2022. 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: Monroe County Historic Jail Museum Buildout 03/17/2022 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 March 17, 2022. 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: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

Petitioners, KEY WEST JETSKI, INC., as owners of a Yamaha Pleasure Watercraft bearing the Hull Identification Number YAMA0773A121, have filed a Complaint pursuant to Title 46, United States Code, Sections 30501-30502, claiming the right to Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability for all claims allegedly resulting from an accident which occurred on or about June 5, 2021 in the navigable waterways of Key West, Florida, as more fully set forth in the Complaint. For those reasons and causes set forth in the Complaint, Petitioners pray for the issuance of a Monition and Injunction, and that all persons or corporations claiming for any and all loss, damage, injury or destruction caused by or resulting from the incident set forth in the Complaint be cited to appear and file their respective claims with the Clerk of this Court, and to make due process thereof and citing them to file their answers to the Complaint and all proceedings to be had, and if it shall appear that Petitioner is not liable for any loss, damage, destruction or injury, it may be so finally decreed by this Court; YOU ARE THEREFORE COMMANDED TO CITE ALL PERSONS OR CORPORATIONS in respect to which Petitioner seeks limitation to file respective claims with the Clerk of this Court and to serve on or to mail to the attorneys for Petitioners, Campbell Johnston Clark, LLP, 2600 Douglas Road, Suite 508, Coral Gables, FL 33134, copies thereof on or before the 15th day of February 2022, and citing such claimants to appear and answer the Complaint herein on or before the last named day or within such further time as the Court may grant, and once completed to then make return to the Court together with this Writ. Dated at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on this 11th day of January, 2022. Angela E. Noble, Clerk United States District Court Southern District of Florida By: Dimas Rodriguez Deputy Clerk Publish: January 20 & 27 and February 3 & 10, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS DISCUSSION REGARDING MONROE COUNTY ROADS ADAPTATION PROJECT

FEBRUARY 17 AND 23RD, 2022 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, February 17th (5:30 pm) and Wednesday, February 23 (5:30 pm), an update on the Countywide Roads Adaptation Project will be discussed at a VIRTUAL Public Community Meeting via Communications Media Technology (CMT), Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The following item will be discussed at the PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETING: Monroe County has initiated a roads adaptation planning effort, which develops an evaluation process for road adaptation for all unincorporated County roads. Some roads may be adapted to address flooding from the impacts of sea-level rise and climate change. The County’s evaluation process and next steps will be discussed at the meeting. Please note: Two or more members of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners may be in attendance at these virtual meetings and may participate in discussions. Any ideas discussed during these virtual meetings will be brought to the Board of County Commissioners during a regular meeting for further discussion and approval. Roadway Vulnerability Study and Capital Plan Public Workshop - February 17th, 2022. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Feb 17, 2022 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Roadway Vulnerability Study and Capital Plan Public Workshop - February 17th, 2022. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/86008922043 Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805, 86008922043# or +16699006833, 86008922043# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 860 0892 2043 International numbers available: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/u/kGW37twsc Roadway Vulnerability Study and Capital Plan Public Workshop - February 23rd, 2022. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Feb 23, 2022 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Roadway Vulnerability Study and Capital Plan Public Workshop February 23rd, 2022. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/86955603517 Or iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805, 86955603517# or +16699006833, 86955603517# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 869 5560 3517 International numbers available: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/u/keoVSfjteG Publish: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCY MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecountybids. com. The Public Record is available upon request. In response to Covid-19, the Monroe County Purchasing Department has implemented a new electronic process for reviewing and opening sealed bids. Monroe County is committed to continuing to receive and process competitive solicitations while maintaining the health and safety of our employees and those who attend bid openings. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposal/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00 P.M. on March 15, 2022. 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: Public Relations Agency 03/15/2022 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 March 15, 2022. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: VISITOR PROFILE SURVEY MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar by Onvia at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecountybids. com. The Public Record is available upon request. In response to Covid-19, the Monroe County Purchasing Department has implemented a new electronic process for reviewing and opening sealed bids. Monroe County is committed to continuing to receive and process competitive solicitations while maintaining the health and safety of our employees and those who attend bid openings. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposal/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00 P.M. on April 5, 2022. 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: Visitor Profile Survey 04/05/2022 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 April 5, 2022. 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: January 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: MONROE COUNTY HISTORIC JAIL MUSEUM BUILDOUT

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA KEY WEST DIVISION IN ADMIRALTY CASE NO.: 4:21-cv-10110 IN THE MATTER OF: THE COMPLAINT OF KEY WEST JETSKI, INC. AS OWNER OF THE YAMAHA PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (HULL ID# YAMA0773A121) ITS ENGINES, TACKLE, APPURTENANCES, EQUIPMENT, ETC. IN A CAUSE FOR EXONTERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, Petitioner. MONITION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: THE MARSHALL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA: WHEREAS, a Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, on the 15th day of November, 2021 by the

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-000005-P IN RE: ESTATE OF PETER J. FITZGERALD, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of PETER J. FITZGERALD, deceased, whose date of death was June 23, 2021; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this notice, must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE 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 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 FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN THE FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

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: January 27, 2022. Personal Representative: JEREMY H. FITZGERALD 33 Thatch Palm Way Key Largo, FL 33037 Attorney for Personal Representative: JOHN MICHAEL LYNN, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 0147273 Turner & Lynn, PA 7 Barracuda Lane Key Largo, Florida 33037 Telephone: (305) 367-0911 turnerlynnpa@gmail.com Publish: January 27 & February 3, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

and addresses of the Personal Representative and his attorney is 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 having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 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 creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against 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 the first publication of this Notice is January 20, 2022. As Personal Representative: Gabriel Fenandez 2458 Centergate Drive, Apt. 102 Miramar, FL 33025 Attorney for Personal Representative: Emmanuel Miguelez, Esq. MIGUELEZ LAW 220 Miracle Mile, Suite 209 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 305-967-7412 (o) 305-602-8456 (f) Email: em@miguelezlaw.com Florida Bar No: 107023 Publish: January 20 & 27, 2022

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No.: 2021-CP-000063-K IN RE: ESTATE OF GILDA HERNANDEZ, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of GILDA HERNANDEZ, deceased, whose date of death was December 9, 2020, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court 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: January 20, 2022. Personal Representative: Yiliam Eldridge 1590 Bay Drive Miami, Beach, FL 33141 Attorney for Personal Representative: Laura Hernandez, Esq. Florida Bar No. 1015315 Corona Law Firm, P.A. 6700 S.W. 38th Street Miami, Florida 33155 Telephone: 305-547-1234 Email: lhernandez@coronapa. com Publish: January 20 & 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 21-CP-000085-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ANA FERNANDEZ, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The Administration of the estate of ANA FERNANDEZ, deceased, whose date of death was July 5th, 2021; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, FL, Probate Division; File Number: 21-CP-000085-P; the address of which is Plantation Key Government Center, 88820 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names

LEGAL NOTICES The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No.: 22-CP-01-M Division: Middle Keys IN RE: ESTATE OF RONALD K. LEONARD Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of RONALD K. LEONARD, deceased, whose date of death was November 8, 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: January 20, 2022.

LEGAL NOTICES Personal Representative: Elizabeth J. Leonard 821 W. Ocean Dr. #10 Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051 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: January 20 & 27, 2022 The Weekly Newspaper

AUTOS WANTED ALL Junk Cars Running $CASH$

or Vans

YEARS! Used. Trucksor Not. 305-332-0483 -

BOATS FOR SALE 2003 20' CC Pro Line Sport, 2015 Mercury 150 4-stroke, 2016 All Marine Boat Trailer. Kept on boat lift. Located in Marathon. $22,000 305-942-6434 Inflatable Boat - 8' West Marine RU250, 3.5 hp Mercury 4 stroke (3 hours). Located in Marathon. Call 859-630-0531 SOLD IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS!! Place your Boat For Sale ad here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

EMPLOYMENT Boat rental company in Marathon needs mechanic. Boat experience a plus. Call 305-481-7006

305.743.0844

EMPLOYMENT

Immediate openings for exp. electricians and helpers (with or without exp. - will train right person). Must have valid Driv. Lic. and clean driving record. Meacham Electric Marathon,FL. Call Steve 305481-0058 or email resume to meachst@outlook.com

Help Wanted Big Time Discount Bait and Tackle in Marathoncompetitive wages and working 30-40 hrs a week. Contact George 305-289-0199

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! FT/PT Ocean front private swim club is seeking customer service oriented server/bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/or bar lounge. Open year round, 10am-7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call April (305) 393-0631. Join the team at Kinder in the Keys! Housekeeping & Groundskeeping FT positions available. $18/Hour. Transportation & background check req’d. Upper Keys. Call Kat @ 305-240-1315. Need energetic person that would like to learn a career in the Electrical trades- must be willing to take directions and have clean VALID FL DL-- call 305743-0399 - benefits package. Immediate job opening for part-time Housekeeper in Key Colony Beach. Mostly weekends. Will offer top pay for right person. Call Continental Inn Beachside Michelle 952-208-2850 Cheryl 305-505-8747 CHECK ELECTRIC in Key West hiring Full-Time office employee position. Customer service, billing and scheduling required. Knowledge of Quickbooks, Microsoft Office & Outlook is preferred. 305-292-3369

Assist callers/guests with planning and booking of their vacation or stay at the Resort. Provide support via telephone, e-mail, chat and in person, by answering questions and making recommendations. The right candidate will treat the guest with courtesy and respect in a warm, friendly manner at all times; always addressing the guest by name and answering all telephone calls promptly in a courteous manner. Must be computer literate.

www.hawkscay.com/jobs

City of Marathon Current Job Openings: Engineering Intern, Public Works Fleet Mechanic, and Marina Technician/Pump Out Captain. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us Food for Thought in Marathon is hiring! FT and PT positions available, customer service, retail and kitchen prep. Healthy lifestyle and good sense of humor preferred. Call (305) 743-3297 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 The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a Dishwasher. $13/hr - 30-36 hrs/week. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview. The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a FOH Manager. Friendly atmosphere. Private club. Salary + share in tip pool. Responsible for managing

wait and bar staff, ordering and inventorying bar supplies and serving at times.Call 305-7436739 to schedule an interview. The Marathon Yacht Club is looking to hire a part-time Bookkeeper 16-20 hours per week. Bookkeeping experience required. Additional office duties required. Call 305-7436739 to schedule an interview Kelly Electric in Marathon looking for experienced Journeyman/Electrician. Please send resume to Kelly6098@aol. com or call Bill at 305-743-6098 NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older, Fulltime Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@sweetsavannahs.com Charter Captain /Mate - Busy fishing charter business in Marathon looking for experienced fishing Captain/Mate. Busy boats and location. Offshore, Inshore, Reef/Wreck. Also part-time Boat Cleaner needed for afternoons. Send text or call 305-481-3259 Fl Keys Diesel Marathon now hiring: Diesel Technician -Competitive compensation package. Exp in the marine field preferred but not necessary. Exp w/ Caterpillar and Cummins Marine Engines a plus. Diesel Mechanic Assistant position available. Motivated candidate willing to learn a new trade or expand current skills. Company willing to train. Qualified applicants please call 305-289-2070 or email resume to neil@allkeysdiesel. com . Drug Free and valid Drivers License a must..

DUI Evaluator

HIRING NOW!

RESERVATIONS AGENT FULL TIME/PART TIME REMOTE WORK AVAILABLE

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

EMPLOYMENT

Part-time – Marathon

Sweet Savannah’s is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older Fulltime Baker Part-time Baker’s Assistant Email info@sweetsavannahs.com Or apply in person at 8919 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL

The Advocate DUI Program is hiring for a part time position. DUI evaluator - 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree with experience in substance abuse field required. Bilingual preferred, not required. Office located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at (305) 704-0117.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Pigeon Key is seeking dedicated professionals seeking to make a positive impact in their community. Those individuals who wish to work on a uniquely beautiful island , while promoting our cultural history and preserving the natural Keys environment are encouraged to apply. Competitive wages based on ability and experience. Applicants will be subject to criminal background check and drug screening. Positions include: Trolley Operator (CDL licensing course provided for qualified applicant) Tour Guides, Sales Associates, Customer Relations Reps, Maintenance, Rental Associates and more. Application online at pigeonkey.net - under the Staff icon. Or apply in person at the Pigeon Key Gift Shop, 2010 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL. Questions and completed applications can be emailed to pigeonkey@aol.com

SECURITY GUARD W/ LICENSE Duck Key

$20/hr / PT / 8pm to 4am

Ralons Security 786-615-5522 Lic# B1500167

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.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

MISC. WANTED

Place your Employment ad here for $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today !!

property. Across from Smather's Beach, Key West. $3,500/month + util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-296-7706

Want to rent covered storage space in Marathon for car or small boat on trailer. Month to month basis. Ed 917-8075947 Tigrpilot@aol.com

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

HOMES FOR SALE MARATHON DUPLEX FOR SALE: 2nd Avenue Gulf, Marathon, FL Call 305-481-1316

HOUSING FOR RENT Las Brisa 2BR/2BA Unfurnished, great view, W/D, covered parking. Tennis, Swimming Pool & BBQ on

LOT FOR SALE DUCK KEY - DRY LOT For Sale: 106 S. Bahama Drive, Duck Key, FL. Call 305-481-1316

MISC. FOR SALE

OFFICE/COMMERC. SPACE FOR RENT Beautiful Office Space available for rent now on US1 in Tavernier @MM92. Call 305-3940530

www.DiveFloridaKeys.com can be yours! Web Domain/ Existing Site for Sale. Owned for 25 years - retiring. Can't beat the "key words". Please visit www.DiveFloridaKeys.com and call Julie for more information. $5000.00 OBO 352-601-1454

Absolute Auction Thursday February 3rd @ 11AM 18346 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33179 Bid In-Person or Online @ Proxibid.Com/TobyNeverett

Large Quantity of most items! Chairs, Tables, Lighting, Table & Chair Covers, Moving Equipment, Illuminated Tables, Illuminated Champagne Holders, Large King & Queen Chairs, Benches & MORE!

FULL TIME OPENING CUS TOMER S ERV I CE RE PRE S ENT A T I V E Coordinate aircraft transactions with customers and the line service technicians Professional customer service skills and the ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and overtime as needed, are required Pay rate $17-$19/hr depending on experience, excellent beneﬁts, and a fun work environment

EOE/Drug-free workplace

BRANCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Edward Jones is a financial services firm focused on meeting the needs of individual investors. Our Marathon branch office has an opening for an entry-level administrative assistant. Excellent organization, communication skills, and the ability to work independently are required to perform. Administrative, marketing, and client service responsibilities. We offer competitive benefits and a comprehensive on-line training program. To be considered for this position apply online at careers.edwardjones.com Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Learn more by visiting our careers site, careers.edwardjones.com; search Branch Office Administrator / Job Number 59842BR.

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

242424

Contact Will Zimdars will@marathonaviation.com

Toby Neverett Auctioneers www.neverettauctions.com 561-706-7218 * au872 ab628

TEXT “MYTOMTHUMB” TO

Apply online at mytomthumb.com/employment

The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of

“Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

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

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

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

IS HIRING! KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Counselor, FT (Children) Driver PT/per diem

KEY WEST

Behavioral Health Therapist, FT (Children, Adult) Driver PT/per diem Prevention Specialist Behavioral Health Counselor (Children) Peer Support Specialist Crisis Counselor Case Managers (Adult, Forensic, Children ) Motivational Support Specialist Substance Abuse Counselor *Advocate

MARATHON

Peer Support Specialist/BHT (FT) Care Coordinator Maintenance Specialist Housekeeper Behavioral Health Therapist (Children, Adult) RNs and LPNs (3 shifts) (PT/FT & per diem) Advocate (PT) Driver PT/per diem *Assisted Living Support Worker (PT) *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 (search by zip code) EEOC/DFWP

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

EXPERT CARDIAC CARE

SAME OR NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ATTENTION BUSINESSES! NOAA IN THE FLORIDA KEYS HAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU!

FREE WEBINAR FLORIDA KEYS NOAA INDUSTRY DAY ! Dr. Joan Homan

Dr. Ray Rodriquez

• The ONLY Ivy League affiliated cardiology practice in South Florida, backed by Columbia University. • Close to you with TWO convenient locations in the Keys

Dr. Roger Steinfeld

KEY WEST MARATHON

• Named one of Healthgrades TOP 5% of hospitals in America for 2020 and 2021

Contact Jacqueline.Laverdure@noaa.gov

CARDIOLOGY OF THE KEYS Physician and location subject to availability.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 3PM - 5PM

305.674.CARE

EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL VENDOR SERVICES NEEDED • Boat maintenance • Mooring maintenance • Dock construction • Exhibit, sign and web development • HVAC system servicing • Irrigation systems installation • Landscape maintenance • Lock service installation • Security gates installation • And more!

Hosted by NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Florida Keys National Weather Service, in partnership with NOAA's Acquisition and Grant Office and Florida International University. This event is an opportunity for interested vendors to learn more about federal contracts with NOAA. Participation at this event is not required for eligibility to make an offer should these requirements result in a solicitation.

OPEN TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY! 11AM-4PM

THE LOFT FEATURING NOW CARRYING RETAIL LINE

NEVER FULLY DRESSED!

EXCELLENT CONDITION PRE-LOVED & NEW WOMEN’S CLOTHING PRIVATE PARTIES & PERSONAL SHOPPING | KIRBYSCLOSET.COM

218 WHITEHEAD STREET #4 | KEY WEST | 305.847.9977 PAID PARKING GARAGE NEXT TO OPAL KEY RESORT & MARINA

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

LIC# CCC1329991

LIC# CGC032862

BEST CONTRACTOR NOMINATION

VOTED BEST CONTRACTOR 5 YEARS IN A ROW

HELP WANTED EXPERIENCED DENTAL ASSISTANT P/T OR F/T

MONDAY-FRIDAY BENEFITS & COMPETITIVE PAY CALL THE OFFICE OF HECTOR GUZMAN 305-294-9914 OR EMAIL RESUME DOC@DOCGUZMAN.COM

Second Annual

MIKE GARCIA 305.304.4188 CONCHROOFING@GMAIL.COM WWW.CONCHCONSTRUCTIONANDROOFING.COM

It’s time to get back to the basics of good recycling 1

Empty bottles, cans, paper and cardboard.

3 Keep food and liquid out.

NEED A BAGGSTER?

Recyclables go directly into the cart.

2758 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (in the Overseas Market) • Key West 305.294.9914 • doc@docguzman.com • www.docguzman.com

Open

to the Public Closed Monday and Tuesday

New menu and now offering Happy Hour 2 pm-6 pm! BOGO Well Drinks, Draft Beer and House Wine Wednesday-Saturday | 12:00 pm-7:00 pm

BRUNCH Sunday 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Purchase one from your local hardware stores, then call the 800 number to set up a pickup. ROLLOFF CONTAINERS and PORTABLE TOILETS available. Call us at 305.296.8297.

6000 Peninsular Avenue Key West, FL 33040 305.292.3121, ext. 3 stockislandyc.com

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

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

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon

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

Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $15.00/hour to start. Send resume to: TurtleHospitalMarathon@gmail.com

Dolphin Research Center is Hiring! Volunteer Resources Administrative Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent) Media & Marketing Staff Member

Join Our Team

Education Program Host

Positions Available In:

(Full-Time, Permanent) (Full-Time, Permanent)

Branch • Accounting • Credit Maintenance • Administrative Support

IT Technical Specialist (Part 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

Salaries Starting at $18/hr

Health, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance

Fun, Fast-Paced Environment

Tuition Reimbursement

Quarterly Cash Proﬁt Sharing

Paid Holidays, Vacation & Sick Time

Great Hours

401K Employer Match

Apply Online! KeysBank.com/Careers

Email cover letter, DRC application & resume to drc-hr@dolphins.org EOE EOE-M/F/V/D

Equal Housing Lender

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATOR

ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR RESERVATIONS AGENT CATERING SALES MANAGER HOUSEKEEPING ALL POSITIONS, SIGN ON BONUS OFFERED! CULINARY SOUS CHEF, DISHWASHERS, PREP AND LINE COOKS F&B SERVERS, RESORT SERVICES AND FOOD RUNNERS LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST NAIL TECH ENGINEER/ELECTRICIAN SCAN TO VIEW JOB OPENINGS.

APPLY TODAY! APPLY ONLINE AT www.noblehousehotels.com/careers APPLY IN PERSON AT Zero Duval St. Ocean Key Resort and Spa is EOE.

Hosts Waitstaff Bartenders Bar Backs Bussers Line Cooks Dishwashers

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

PART TIME AND FULL TIME OPPORTUNITIES W/FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES

NOW HIRING:

LOCATION: MIDDLE KEYS

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is looking for two (2) D.S.O.s to perform entry-level, semi-skilled work, involving the repair and maintenance of FKAA water distribution and transmission systems. Employee must ensure safe work practices, maintain water flow, and test the water supply. Qualifications: H.S. diploma or GED; supplemented by 1 yr previous experience and/or training as a pipefi‫מּ‬er with a public utility, construction comp, or plumbing company. Must have a valid FL CDL “A” license w/in 12 mos of hire date. Must obtain a FDEP Level 3 license w/in 18 mos of hire date. Salary: $20.52/hr. with excellent benefits. Apply online at: www.﬍aa.com/employment

EEO, VPE, ADA

TEMPORARY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATOR

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

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers Applicants must apply in person to be considered. 4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Monroe County School District

LOCATION: MIDDLE KEYS

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is looking for four (4) temporary D.S.O. to perform entry-level, semi-skilled work, involving the repair and maintenance of FKAA water distribution and transmission systems. This position could lead to a regular, benefited position in the future. Employee must ensure safe work practices. Qualifications: H.S. diploma or GED; supplemented by 1 yr previous experience and/or training as a pipefi‫מּ‬er with a public utility, construction comp, or plumbing company. Salary: $25.00/hr. Apply online at: www.﬍aa.com/employment

EEO, VPE, ADA

Salary $18.00 - $25.80/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

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

CGC1523838 LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.453.6928 Licensed & Insured #SP33799

CGC1523838

SPALLING

ALL KEYS GLASS

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Windows • Doors

305-743-7800

GENERAL CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS

Authorized Dealer

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

EXPERTS

2728 North Roosevelt Blvd. Overseas Market Key West

DBlagriff@My100Bank.com Direct: (305) 304-6085 Office: (305) 676-3146 1229 Simonton Street Key West, FL 33040

_custom website design

y’s www.KeysSlidingGlassDoorRepair.com d n A Sliding Glass Door Repair Roller Maintenance Track Maintenance Door Alignment Security Pins Safety Locks Handles

We Also Repair & Replace Patio Door Screens

305-998-8953

REPAIR INSTITUTE

Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS# 675375

WITH THE LOCAL SERVICE YOU LOVE _social media marketing

INTERNATIONAL

CONCRETE

Dan Blagriff

THE WORLD OF EXPERTISE YOU NEED

_search engine optimization

Proud member of:

overseasmediagroup.com

MY100BANK.COM | Centennial Bank

305.906.0272

Appliance and Air Conditioning

Sales - Service - Installation 1700 N. Roosevelt Blvd #2, Key West 305-294-0090 • www.kolhages.com

Insured • Professional • Reliable

Sportfishing Adventures

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

info@johnnymaddoxcharters.com

305-481-3259

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

SOLAR DONE RIGHT!

Tewes Mortgage

Your local, residential lending expert!

CALL US FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE

Call 305.495.6000

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.

for a FREE Consultation

Brian Tewes

A division of SALT Service, serving The Keys since 1989

Customer service is my strength Brian@tewesmortgage.com

305-289-1150

NMLS# 375025 Tewes Mortgage NMLS# 1453791 NMLSConsumerAccess.org Florida Solar Contractor CVC 56734 Florida Electrical Contractor EC13008657

www.TewesMortgage.com

Daunte Aguilar

Serving Key Largo to Key West

Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS# 2260640 DAguilar@My100Bank.com Direct: (305) 676-3107 Office: (305) 587-1598 2514 N Roosevelt Blvd. Key West, FL 33040 MY100BANK.COM | Centennial Bank

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

Lic No. SP1481

Only $57 Puts Your Business Card Here

When It Rains It Pours! Need 7” Gutters? We have 6” & 7” Seamless • Copper Specialists

Key West 305-292-2666

MARATHON

305-743-0506

KEY LARGO

305-852-5356

rainsavergutters@gmail.com

Cell: 305-363-8330 Office: 305-735-4626 will@cecflk.com www.CECFLK.com

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

Will Campbell President

P.E. Lic. No: 79269 5800 Overseas Hwy. Unit 32 Marathon, FL. 33050

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

The American Red Cross Greater Miami & The Keys is proud to announce the 2022 Humanitarians of the Year

The Spottswood Family For more than a century, the Spottswood family have been standard-bearers for the American Red Cross in the Florida Keys. In 1917, as the United States entered World War I, Florence Spottswood established the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Key West. In honor of Mrs. Spottswood’s dedication to her community and to the principles of the Red Cross, the Greater Miami & The Keys chapter inaugurated the Humanitarian of the Year Gala in 1995. While the Red Cross and the Spottswood family made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year Gala, the efforts of the Red Cross continue across our community. The Red Cross helps members of the military, veterans and their families. Volunteers are often among the first to assist after a home fire and other tragedies, natural and man-made. The Red Cross remains prepared for disasters, big and small. Thank you to the Spottswood family and the many donors who chose to support the work of the Red Cross in the absence of our annual event.

PRESENTING SPONSORS The Spottswood Family The Helmerich Trust Edward B. and Joan T. Knight Foundation W. Ann Reynolds

PATRON SPONSORS Bosley & Green Foundation • Judy Blume & George Cooper • Tom & Brenda Callahan • Anne Marie Chapman George Fernandez • First State Bank of the Florida Keys • Janice & Dale Friends Golden Fleece Foundation • Bryan Green • Holly S. Merrill • John Padget • Bunnie Smith

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS Phil & Nancy Amsterdam • Julia Rea Bianchi • Mary "Mimi" Bradley Shafey • Evan & Barbara Corns Carol Fisk • Lynn Kaufelt • Joel & Debbie Meisel • Ken Silverman & Kate Regan • Truman & Company

THANK YOU TO THE GALA COMMITTEE Matthew Helmerich, Chair • Tom Callahan • George Fernandez • Bryan Green • Lynn Kaufelt • Holly S. Merrill Bunnie Smith • Andrea Spottswood • Elena Spottswood • John Spottswood, III • Terri Spottswood • Rosi Ware For more information about making a donation, volunteering or Red Cross services, please contact Deborah Koch at deborah.koch@redcross.org or visit redcross.org/southflorida.

35700-09 1/22

KEY WEST WEEKLY / JANUARY 27, 2022

FAMILY, FOOD & FUN

Join us daily 4-6pm for $3 small plates, domestic drafts, wine & liquor!

And don’t miss our Live Music! Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 5-8pm