Marathon Weekly 22-0324

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How many spring breakers are in YOUR neighborhood?

CURES FOR THE HOUSING CRISIS What works around the country | P.5

NYC IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

There’s something in the water at this pizza joint | P. 26

STREETS OF GREEN KCB St. Patrick’s Day Parade Returns | P.29

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2

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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3

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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4

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

ON THE COVER

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

1M 9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050 Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

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Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Florida passed 1 million registered recreational vessels across the state. That’s in part due to more people calling Florida home and more vessels on the water. Miami-Dade leads the way in registered vessels with 74,622 followed by Pinellas County, 53,867.

NEW HOME FOR FAMILY & CHILD SERVICES Wesley House acquires former Key Largo Lions building JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

A

mid growing service demands, a nonprofit dedicated to children and families in the Florida Keys is moving from its current Upper Keys location to a larger building across the street.

Wesley House Family Services, located inside the First Horizon building at MM 99.4 in Key Largo, recently acquired the Key Largo Lions Club facility at 5 Homestead Ave. Wesley House CEO Aleida Jacobo said the building wasn’t on the market as she began the search for a bigger space with American Caribbean Broker Joy Martin and Realtor Lorie Leal.

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Bill Alch, left, puts together a rowdy group of revelers for his St. Patrick’s Day parade float in Key Colony Beach. From left: Alch, Mark Pritt, Jessica Pritt, Suzie Pritt. See page 29. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

CLARIFICATION On page 4 of the Marathon Weekly’s March 17 issue, as well as the initial online version of the article, a photo was included to accompany the article titled “Wait a Little Longer.” The article described extended wait times for building permits and a Notice of Violation issued to the City of Marathon by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity pertaining to the “Boatworks project” at the end of 39th Street.

Though the affordable building shown in the original photo is a part of the overall development, the Notice of Violation issued to the city revolved around permitting issues for separate market rate units along the waterfront, not the larger multi-unit affordable housing building pictured.

There was word, however, that the club would consider selling the building. Leal said it was the perfect location to fit Wesley House’s needs.

“It was good timing,” Leal said. “When Wesley House inquired about looking for a bigger space, we happened to come across the information that the Lions Club would consider selling.”

Programs for expectant families and newborns are increasing in the Upper Keys, as well as stable family intervention/prevention services to Alaina Jacobo is chief executive families at risk of abuse and neglect. Jacobo said officer for Wesley the Healthy Families Program provides young families with tools to promote child health and deHouse Family velopment, provide nurturing homes and ensure Services. medical and social needs of families are met. A free, voluntary program, it served 87 families and 144 children during the 2020-21 year.

Needs for foster services also remain high. Jacobo said Wesley House cares for children who are either abandoned or neglected.

While children are in foster care, Wesley House provides Independent Living courses in two stages, one for ages 13 through 15 and a second for ages 16 through 17.

A crazy housing market is bringing some staff hiring challenges in Key West, Jacobo said. With a majority of the staff members living in the Upper Keys or the mainland, Wesley House began to outgrow their current Key Largo office location.

“We find most of our staff living in the Key Largo or Homestead area, and we’re also using the Upper Keys office as a base to help with the Key West operation,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Jacobo said Wesley House is maintaining a strong presence in the Lower Keys, with its office located at 1304 Truman Ave. in Key West. In addition, the Inez Martin Child Development Center, located on Varela Street in Key West, focuses on developing and enhancing age-appropriate skills for toddlers to 5-year-old children.

Jacobo said she believes their new home in Key Largo will provide a “strong hub” for family and children's services with the new CHI facility two doors down.

“I’d say we’re aiming for 12-18 months before we get in there.

Right now it’s a blank canvas,” Jacobo said. “We want to build it out not only for office space, but we want to do parenting skills classes there, set up a little home to really teach parents how to cook and interact with kids.”

Wesley House programs are made possible through various funding sources and donors. They include Florida Department of Children and Families, Citrus Family Care Network, Ounce of Prevention Healthy Families Florida and Early Learning Coalition of MiamiDade/Monroe to name a few. Jacobo said that $17 million in state funding for services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties wasn’t cut as originally designated earlier in the year.

“We were relieved that the cut did not go through. That would have been very painful and devastating for our services,” she said.

5

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

By Mandy Miles and Alex Rickert

FLORIDA KEYS HOUSING CRISIS WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING?

T

he Keys Weekly spent the past three weeks exploring the Florida Keys’ housing crisis, its causes, effects and continuing concerns. We quickly learned our island chain is by no means the only American community dealing with exorbitant housing costs, increasing vacation rentals and estates that sit empty for months.

Private property owners enter into an agreement with both their tenants and the Housing Authority, with rents dictated by federal guidelines for the county. Tenants pay a portion of the rent directly to the property owners determined by household income, while the balance is paid to the owners from the Housing Authority.

CURES ARE HARD TO COME BY “The Cape Cods and Vails of America are turning into hollow versions of their former selves. They’re losing the culture, vibrancy and authenticity that comes from real people living there — not just second-home owners commuting in from the cities on weekends and holidays,” states a report from the Institute on Policy Studies called The Housing Crisis Unfolding in America’s Destination Towns. “Addressing this problem is going to take action on two fronts: raising wages and cutting housing costs.”

Unfortunately, no community has yet found a cure for the housing crisis. There are some ideas and initiatives being proposed and attempted, but often shot down by state legislatures.

“Fortunately, I think it’s an education of our community over the last 20 or 25 years.

There are rooted people here that have homes and understand the crisis we’re in,” said administrator Terri Keech. “We’ve always touted this as a working person’s program. It’s not a free-rent ride. We do a very thorough screening of our tenants, and the landlords have always really liked that part of it.”

Keech said the long-term stability of the Housing Authority’s program is an extreme draw. “(Renters) may come up with the initial cash, but are they going to be able to sustain that?” said Keech. “(The payments) run smooth like clockwork. Landlords never have to worry about it.”

“Ultimately, the towns stepped up,” said executive director David Vigneault. “The phrase you hear over time is, ‘drive until it’s affordable.’ But we live on an island, and you can’t do that.”

Sound familiar?

COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS CAN HELP “Innovative solutions like community land trusts are gaining popularity,” the report states. “These trusts take land out of pricey real estate markets and often enforce yearround residency requirements. That creates a way for communities from Lake Champlain, Vermont to the San Juan Islands in Washington State to ensure housing for low- and moderate-income families.”

CASE STUDY: MARTHA’S VINEYARD For the six island towns of Martha’s Vineyard, help comes in the form of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, publicly chartered in 1986. In addition to the Island Housing Trust, one of the aforementioned community land trusts, the housing authority works to provide year-round housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

In addition to managing 101 year-round rental apartments and assisting with home ownership lotteries and affordability monitoring, the organization provides town-funded rental assistance to residents making less than 80% of the area median income who can pay a minimum of 50% of a year-round rental rate.

CASE STUDY: CRESTED BUTTE, COLO. The tiny town of Crested Butte, nestled in the Rocky Mountains south of Aspen and west of Buena Vista, declared in June 2021 an emergency for the housing situation to allow the town to bypass some zoning and government bureaucracy to get housing built more quickly.

The first thing the town was able to do under the order was buy a bed-and-breakfast to be used for housing, states a 2021 Rocky Mountain PBS report, “More mountain towns taking drastic measures to address housing shortages,” which interviewed Crested Butte community development coordinator Troy Russ.

Crested Butte’s town council on July 19, 2021 also took steps toward a ballot measure that would create a second-home tax … to provide money to the town if a home is bought but left empty for the majority of the year. “(Developers) won’t build (affordable housing) without government subsidies, period,” said Russ. “So, if we want to house our complete population, (the) government needs to reexamine its role related to housing and maybe formulate it very similarly to our interstate system.”

CASE STUDY: TELLURIDE, COLORADO Telluride, Colorado passed a ballot question last year that “increases the fees on business licenses for short-term rentals by about double what the current rates are. That extra money will go to the town’s affordable housing fund,” Rocky Mountain PBS reported.

Telluride town councilwoman Geneva Shaunette in 2021 suggested canceling the town’s lodging tax — which state law says must be directed toward tourism promotion — and install an excise tax on rented homes and hotel rooms that can be used for building affordable housing, the Colorado Sun reported in July 2021.

But in 2018, the report states, Colorado legislation that would have allowed county voters to allow lodging taxes for other uses did not pass.

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT In a January 2018 editorial for Outside Magazine, “How to Fix the Mountain-Town Housing Crisis, Auden Schendler writes about the “old school” environmental perspective.

“Mountain communities are often run by environmentalists from 40 years ago whose thinking has not kept abreast of the development in their hometowns. They champion stasis over change, open space over density, and consider development evil. They hate crowds — even though crowds are the foundation of the entire resort economy.

“So what’s the fix?” Schendler asks. “For one, we need to embrace density,” he writes.

“Build infill housing in the urban core. …

Make it dense, which means small units that go up instead of out … and enable mother-inlaw units with occupation requirements.

“We should respect urban growth boundaries and oppose unmitigated sprawl. But we must also welcome changes to our towns. …

We need a civics revolution, whereby younger citizens — the very ones who need housing — or enlightened elders either run for office or amp up pressure on those already in power.

“We need … a commitment to the community over self interest. We need a new YIMBYism — Yes In My Backyard — versus the current NIMBYism. We need to learn again how to live together.”

6

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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7

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022 MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

COMMITTEE PUSHES FOR DISTRICT-SPECIFIC ELECTIONS

WHO SHOULD CHOOSE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? S

hould Key Largo residents vote for Key West’s county commissioner?

Should Big Pine voters have a say in Islamorada’s commission representa-

tive?

They do now and always have under Monroe County’s at-large voting process, in which all county voters select all five county commissioners to represent the Keys’ five different voting districts.

But a committee in the Florida Keys would prefer single-member district voting, meaning county commissioners would be elected only by voters in each of the five geographic districts. (Commissioners, as now, must live in the district they represent.)

A political action committee known as Keys Regional Election Protection wants to ask Keys voters, on a 2022 ballot, if county commissioners should be elected via singlemember districts rather than at-large. The group is circulating a petition, hoping to gather the 6,000 or so signatures needed to place the question on a county ballot.

“If everyone in the county votes for every commissioner, there’s a good chance that all five commissioners will be of the same mind.

They’re also likely, as they are now, to all be members of the same political party,” said Chris Massicotte, who worked as a political consultant in Washington, D.C. before moving to Key West about five years ago. “We’re not trying to redraw the district boundaries, or change the number of commissioners or anything. We just want to change the way we elect our leaders to ensure that our county commissioners are directly account-

“County commissioners make decisions that affect everyone in the county, and when you’re making decisions that affect the whole county, you need to be elected by the whole county.”

— Keith Douglass, former Monroe County commissioner

able to the constituents in their districts and are more connected with the local issues of those voters.”

The committee’s website, keysrep.com, makes the argument for single-member voting by pointing out, “While county commissioners must LIVE in the district that they represent, the entire county votes on them.”

The committee also points out that the Florida Keys’ geography makes it difficult — and very costly — to campaign countywide.

Massicotte said all four seated county commissioners oppose the single-member measure. “No elected official is going to support a change that makes it easier for someone to defeat them,” he said.

“We just want to change the way we elect our leaders to ensure that our county commissioners are directly accountable to the constituents in their districts and are more connected with the local issues of those voters.”

— Chris Massicotte, Keys Regional Election Protection

But that’s not why former county commissioner Keith Douglass doesn’t support the change, he told the Keys Weekly on March 22. Douglass was a county commissioner from 1994 to 1998.

“We need to be more unified in the Keys, not more divided,” Douglass said. “County commissioners make decisions that affect everyone in the county, and when you’re making decisions that affect the whole county, you need to be elected by the whole county.”

Seated county commissioners Michelle Coldiron and Craig Cates agreed.

“At-large elections make commissioners accountable countywide,” Coldiron said.

“Our county is so very diverse and by being at-large it requires the commissioners to be well educated and versed on all the issues they vote on. By being voted on at-large,

any constituent can call me and know I am available to not only hear their concerns but to advocate on their behalf. In the past 16 months we have unfortunately had various empty seats on the commission and yet because we are at-large the remaining four commissioners have picked up the slack and been available to the residents in the district without a commissioner.”

Cates added that the current at-large voting process also benefits the voters, “Otherwise voters from one district may only have the vote of their own commissioner for an important issue, and in order to get anything passed, you need three out of five votes.”

But, Massicotte said, single-member voting could make it possible for more potential candidates to enter the political arena.

“It’s possible to knock on every door in Key Largo and really let people get to know you,” he said. “But to do that Keyswide takes more time and money than many would-be candidates have,” often limiting the political arena to candidates with the wealthiest supporters.

Single-member voting would allow voters to know their county commissioner better, and require the commissioners to really know their constituents, the committee says.

When asked what prompted the movement toward single-member voting, Massicotte said the 2020 election of Eddie Martinez over incumbent Democrat Heather Carruthers “was not the only reason” the petition was started. But, he added, it’s fair to say Martinez would not have been elected if the Keys had had single-member voting in 2020, as voters in that district supported Carruthers, not Martinez.

Massicotte said 18 of Florida’s non-charter counties, of which Monroe is one, have switched to single-member voting in recent years. Sarasota County voters were the most recent to implement the change.

Keys Regional Election Protection needs about 6,000 signatures by Aug. 23 to place the question on the general election ballot in November 2022.

The League of Women Voters in the Lower Keys will host a discussion about single-member voting featuring Massicotte, who supports it, and another speaker, who opposes it.

Petitions are available at keysrep.com.

Read more at keysweekly.com.

League of Women Voters of the Lower Keys will host a discussion of single-member voting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at the Coral City Elks Lodge, 1107 Whitehead St., Key West.

8

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

HOME

HOME

How a young working woman found her piece of paradise JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

P

urchasing a home in the Florida Keys can seem daunting for the young worker holding the typical Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 job and a weekend side gig. For some, it almost appears impossible, especially in times of a housing market that’s remained hot since a COVID pandemic brought many people to the Sunshine State. A recent three-part series in the Keys Weekly highlighted the housing crisis in the Keys.

Some individuals, however, are finding success when it comes to finding their piece of paradise. Take Brittany Parker. She’s in her 30s and moved to Key Largo in 2014. She holds an office manager job with Good Health Clinic and conducts weekly paint-and-sip classes at Baker’s Cay. She’s also a licensed captain who works with MarineLab on the weekends to get young students out on the water.

Her wish to own some island property came true in early March when she closed on her Key Largo home.

Parker recalls the evening her good friend, Realtor Jessica Dostie, told her of a house that was possibly going onto the market in the next couple days. At the time, she was guiding a painting class at Baker’s Cay where guests were painting a hibiscus on a canvas.

Parker ended up stopping by the concrete single-family home in Key Largo. The address? Hibiscus Street.

“I didn’t know the street name until the day I arrived,” she said. “I was like, ‘What the hell?’ The universe was aligned. Everything went through smoothly.

“I heard horror stories of people putting in applications for homes and not getting anything,” Parker continued. “When it works, it works. People would say, ‘This may not go through and the preappraisal might do this and this.’ I just kind of kept my hopes high and it all worked out.”

Dostie, who works with Keys Listing Group, said a fellow Realtor informed them that a relative was considering selling. Swooping in, Dostie said she had someone interested in purchasing the home.

Overall, Dostie said the process of finding a single-family, concrete home wasn’t easy. But Dostie said the seller found out it was a family situation where the dad was helping his daughter, Parker, through her first homebuying experience.

“When the seller found out about that, that was something that touched him because he’s a father,” Dostie said.

New Key Largo homeowner Brittany Parker, left, celebrates her piece of paradise with Realtor Jessica Dostie, of Keys Listing Group. CONTRIBUTED

From left, Jessica Dostie, Realtor with Keys Listing Group; Brittany Parker, new homeowner; and Lisa Feliciano, mortgage banker with SouthState Bank. CONTRIBUTED

Jim Signor, broker with Keys Listing Group, said they usually get bombarded with investors and people who are seeking a second or third home. This situation was different.

“The listing agent really felt for Brittany as well. The listing agent can’t control the sale, but it allowed us to get in there earlier and faster,” he said.

Lisa Feliciano is a mortgage banker with SouthState Bank in Key Largo. While it was a right- place, right-time scenario for Parker, Feliciano said what made the process so smooth was the fact she was pre-approved for a mortgage in advance of the transaction.

“We need to make sure their credit is good and they saved up a little bit of money. We guide them that way,” she said.

Feliciano adds that it’s always good to sit down and talk to someone who can guide buyers, especially first-timers, through the process. Those who make an application for a mortgage for pre-approval will have their credit score automatically pulled. Feliciano said that’s not always the wisest move.

“We want to sit down with them in advance, interview and talk to them and figure out a plan. ‘We’re here now. We need to get here,’” she said.

What also made the process rather seamless was the relationship between the Realtor, mortgage banker and buyer, Feliciano said.

“A lot of times we work tight with Realtors to make things happen, so a good team is very important,” she said. We work together and say, ‘OK, if they don’t have enough money how can we make that happen?’”

Dostie said Parker’s not only a client, but also a dear friend. It made the experience a personal one for Dostie as they shared tears of joy throughout the process.

“It’s such a good feeling when you are able to make this happen for somebody and make their dreams come true,” she said.

Parker has dreamed of the day she’d become a homeowner. Hard work, staying humble and following dreams paid off, she said.

“I’m beyond honored to be a truly official Keys resident, as I love this community and the people in it so much,” she said.

9

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

7 MILE BRIDGE

PLANNING COMMISSION

CLOSED

TACKLES ZONING, LAND USE CHANGE ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

A

t its monthly meeting on March 21, the City of Marathon Planning Commission recommended the city council approve ordinances amending the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) from Residential Medium to Mixed Use-Commercial and the zoning designation from Residential Medium to Mixed Use for a property just off U.S. 1 on 69th Street in Marathon.

The commission heard from residents of 69th Street with varying degrees of concern regarding the change. While some expressed concern that the change could alter the residential nature of the neighborhood, others asked for assurances that barriers such as shrubs or trees would be planted at the edge of the property to block the sights and sounds of commercial activity next to residences.

“Just to clarify, we are looking at a zoning change tonight only, and nothing for the development of the property at this point,” said planning commission chair Lynn Landry.

Marathon planning director Brian Shea pointed out that the change to commercial zoning would also create a 20-foot buffer requirement on the property’s south side, creating additional distance from neighboring residences.

“When we did the zoning back in 2005, we should have made all of U.S. 1 commercial by nature. So it’s caused problems,” said commission member Mike Cinque.

Both ordinances passed unanimously among the four present commission members. The city council would have to approve them before they take effect.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND 6:00AM - 9:00AM FOR THE 41ST ANNUAL

7 MILE BRIDGE RUN

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has funding available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations for capital projects.

The facility must have the primary purpose of promoting tourism and must fall into one of the following categories: Convention Center, Sports Stadium, Sports Arena, Coliseum, Auditorium, Aquarium, Museum, Zoological Park, Nature Center, Fishing Pier, Beach or Beach Park Facility, Channel, Estuary or Lagoon, Public Facilities in Accordance with Conditions Set Forth in the Florida Statute The deadline for receipt of applications is April 27, 2022 and applications must be downloaded from Demandstar (www.monroecountybids.com) For more information please call the TDC Administrative Office at 305-296-1552 and ask to speak with Ammie or Maxine.

10

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

DOCTOR OF THE DECADE(S)

Fishermen’s surgical services dedication honors Steven Smith’s legacy ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

D

r. Steven J. Smith may officially be retired. But thanks to a dedication at the new Fishermen’s Community Hospital, the surgical services wing of the building will carry on the tradition of one of Marathon’s medical mainstays.

The honor was bestowed on Smith after 41 years of serving the Marathon community from 1979 to 2020. A graduate of NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, Smith decided after a five-year surgical residency at Tulane University that the Keys would be an ideal place to balance his career and love of aquatic activities.

“During my residency, our work weeks were literally 110 or 120 hours a week,” said Smith. “There were certain things that I like to do, like boating, fishing and scuba diving, that I never got to do during the years of my residency and for most of medical school. So I decided that if private practice would be as demanding as residency, I wanted to live in a place where I could step out to the dock or my boat, go fishing or diving for a couple of hours, and then get back to work.”

He recalls sending letters to the three hospitals in the Keys at that time searching for surgical openings. One hospital answered: Fishermen’s.

“The original plan with my wife was, let’s give it one year and then we can move back to the big city,” said Smith. But as he tells it, the severe need for a surgeon in the middle and upper Keys communities, and the ability it gave him to practice all aspects of surgery, kept him in the islands.

“I had a pretty good background in both general medicine and general surgery, and I was able to utilize both of those backgrounds in the Keys,” he said. “If I had moved to a

The new operating room at Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon will carry on the legacy of Smith’s name. CONTRIBUTED

big city, I would be more limited as to what I would do. In the Keys, I was able to use all of my training all the time, and there was no boredom there. You never knew what you were going to run into that day; it could be virtually anything.”

Smith also relished the Dr. Steven Smith chance to develop relationretired in 2020 ships with his patients, after a 41-year career as a something he said practicgeneral practitio- ing in a larger city might not ner and board- have allowed. “Your pacertified surgeon tients became your friends,” in Marathon and he said. “In the big city … throughout the Keys. CONTRIB- the patient just becomes a number. A surgeon will do UTED. an operation and just step away. In the Keys, I certainly took pride that I did all my own post-operative care and follow-up in the office.”

And his patients certainly seem to feel the same, so much so that in a 2020 letter to the editor submitted to Keys Weekly titled “Dr. Smith Saved My Life – Twice,” 27-year Keys resident Rita Rose wrote that these islands should be a “Dr. Smith Saved My Life Club.” “That ‘club’ would have multiple chapters up and down the Keys,” wrote Rose.

“If I may, I will speak for all the members.

We know we are blessed and we are beyond grateful because for decades Dr. Smith has been our doctor.”

Smith recalled regular work weeks of more than 100 hours, with his practice regularly staying open until 10 p.m. In 2009, Staff Care, a company providing temporary staffing services for healthcare facilities, honored his humanitarian commitment and diverse skills by naming him the Country Doctor of

Community members pulled together a hefty contribution to honor Dr. Steven Smith with the dedication of Fishermen’s surgical services wing.

ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly.

the Year. It was the first time the organization bestowed the award on a doctor with both a primary care practice and surgical commitments rather than a typical family practitioner.

Unbeknownst to Smith, a group of community members was determined to immortalize his mark on Marathon when Fishermen’s Hospital was rebuilt following Hurricane Irma.

“Certain things like patient rooms could have a name on them for a price,” he said. “But there were other areas too, and the operating room had an extremely high price tag on it.

So people in the community got together and raised the money to name that room after me.

I didn’t know anything about it, and it came as a complete surprise. It was just tremendous.”

“He’s a very beloved doctor in this town, and one of the most well-known physicians in the Keys,” said Fishermen’s Hospital Foundation board member Barbara Wright. “People felt that they wanted to honor his contribution over decades to Marathon and all of his patients.”

11

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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Dolphins dominate in second home meet

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outh Florida track and field athletes gathered as the Marathon Dolphins hosted a meet with Matter Lakes Academy, True North Academy, Somerset Academy and Archimedean Academy on March 16. Though the overall meet was unscored, Marathon athletes dominated individual events, turning in 24 firstplace finishes and a new school record of 90 feet, 9 inches set by Kymani Dixon in the boys’ discus throw.

“The kids had a solid second home race of the season,” said coach James Murphy. “Our throwing and jumping keep improving each week, which is great to see.”

— Alex Rickert

1. Sierra Earnhardt takes third place in the girls long jump finals.

2. From left, Tracy McDonald, Landon LaFountain, James Murphy and Lance Martin track results as the meet progresses.

3. Kymani Dixon sets a school record of 90 feet, 9 inches in the discus throw finals.

4. From left, Kayesha Christian, Abriana Marshall and Janiya Pyfrom claim the top three spots in the girls 100-meter dash.

5. Riley McDonald takes flight in the girls high jump finals.

Meet photos by Barry Gaukel. See more Dolphins athletics photos at www.shadypalmphotography.com.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022 Far left: The cast and crew of ‘The Outsider.’ From left: Donna Nussenblatt, Sherri Schwab, Trish Hintze, Mike Wagner, Jennifer Powell, Michelle Macoskey, Alex Rickert, John Schaefer, Brian Witte, Claudia McEwen, John Hunt, Terry Israel, Karen Witte. LARRY BENVENUTI/Contributed Left: Ned Newley (John Schaefer, right) is lost without his interview ‘cheat sheets’ as Dave Riley (Brian Witte, left) is about to lose his mind. ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly

SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON

MCT’s political satire ‘The Outsider’ opens this weekend

N

ed Newley is far from an average guy. With a rock solid understanding of his state’s government and a genuine devotion to bettering the lives of his constituents, he’s the kind of leader any state would be lucky to have. When an untimely scandal throws him into an unexpected spotlight as the new governor, Ned’s chief of staff, Dave Riley, is convinced that Ned’s paralyzing fear of public speaking and complete lack of political “game” are a fast track to unemployment.

But a recently-hired political consultant, Arthur Vance, sees things a bit differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for … the worst candidate to ever run for office.

Directed by Jennifer Powell, this comedy skewers politics from all angles and celebrates democracy. The show runs from Thursday, March 24 through Saturday, April 16 with 8 p.m. shows on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, along with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 10. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased at www.marathontheater.org or by calling 305-743-0994.

ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

SEAFOOD STORIES The festival was surprisingly special for two attendees As a festival steeped in nearly 50 years of tradition, every iteration of Marathon’s largest yearly celebration adds to a stockpile of unique stories.

2022 was no exception, as two stories were brought to the attention of Keys Weekly that were too fun not to share.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but at the Marathon Seafood Festival, pearls are just about the best you can do. For Jessica Bonerigo, a 2006 graduate of MHS, an order of a dozen raw oysters turned into a solid investment as she found not one, but two pearls hiding in the same oyster. “I’ve been eating oysters since I was 10 and have never found a pearl before,” said Bonerigo. “I guess it was my lucky day.”

An inaugural Seafood Festival T-shirt from 1976 is a rare find in Marathon. Which makes it even more incredible that Tom Tierney picked one up for himself in a thrift shop more than 200 miles away – and paid his first visit to the festival because of it.

“My wife loves her thrift stores,” he said. “We bought a place in Stuart about five years ago, and I think what originally appealed to her about the shirt was the actual lobster. We do love seafood, and trust me, every time I wear the shirt we get comments.” Curious about the origins of the thrift store find, the couple took to the internet.

“I felt bad that I wore a Marathon Seafood Fest T-shirt and never actually attended, so this year we decided to check it out and hit the Keys,” said Tierney.

“We had a great trip, and that shirt got even more comments!”

THE CAST Dave Riley - Brian Witte Paige Caldwell - Trish Hintze Louise Peakes - Michelle Macoskey Ned Newley - John Schaefer Arthur Vance - Alex Rickert Rachel Parsons - Terry Israel A.C. Peterson - John Hunt

17

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

The Marathon Dolphins enjoy a pre-tournament tune-up practice in the stadium at Florida SouthWestern State College. CONTRIBUTED.

Catching up with Marathon’s teams and athletes MHS TAKES ON TAMPA This past weekend, Marathon’s varsity baseball team revived its annual spring break baseball tournament tradition. AfCLARE ter going two years without the team MERRYMAN getaway, the Fins is a senior at Mar- were finally able to athon High School who dedicates the travel and compete in a five-day trip majority of her that included three time to chasing her next article, baseball games. working out with The team took her teams, and to the road early on swinging at a March 18, making a tennis ball. She’s six-hour voyage to known for making long to-do lists to enjoy five days of keep her OCD in shopping, baseball check. and team bonding in Tampa.

On the way up, the team made a pit stop at Florida SouthWestern State College, which opened its stadium to the Fins for a pre-tournament practice.

Marathon played in a doubleheader the next day against Sports Leadership and Management. The Fins were on their game in the first outing, bringing home an 8-2 win. Unfortunately, they did not have similar success in their second game, falling 15-0.

Marathon had several hits, but was unable to convert them into scoring opportunities.

The team took Sunday as a rest day to enjoy each other's company and prepare for the final game of the trip. “The trip was better than we all expected,” said junior Fisher ColemanSayer. “We all got along really well, and we even brought our Keys side with us – we brought poles along to do a little fishing.”

On Monday, the Fins knew they were heading into a tough game against Academy at the Lakes, but had high hopes. They started off strong, scoring three runs in the first two innings and continuing to fight, but ultimately came up short 6-4.

The team will take the rest of their spring break to relax, as they will be back on the road on Monday, March 28 for a game against Westwood Christian in Miami. The team currently sits with an even 6-6 record, but will continue to fight in the upcoming weeks.

Tournament Results: Game 1 MHS vs. Sports Leadership and Management March 19 W, 8-2 Corbin Neller - 2 runs, 2 hits Benjamin Hiller - 2 runs, 1 hit Delvin Solis - 2 hits, 2 RBI Ryan Yablon - 1 run, 1 hit Dylan Ziels - 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 RBI Game 2 MHS vs. Sports Leadership and Management March 19 L, 15-0 Benjamin Hiller - 1 hit Ryan Yablon - 1 hit Delvin Solis - 1 hit Cole McDaniel - 1 hit Game 3 MHS vs. Academy at the Lakes March 21 L, 6-4 Cole McDaniel - 1 hit, 1 RBI Gavin Leal - 1 hit, 1 run, 1 RBI Benjamin Hiller - 2 hits, 2 RBI

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022 A black-faced grassquit seen this week at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

CAN’T QUIT THE GRASSQUIT

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.

I

was hanging around with Kevin Christman, trying and failing to pick a splinter out of my index finger. Finally I gave in and put on my reading glasses so I could actually see the damn thing, and managed to bite it between my two incisors and pull it out. I’m not sure why I had to see something I was trying to grab with my teeth, but somehow it made the difference.

The splinter had come from the rough-hewn top rail of the fence around a section of native plants, which is currently thriving surrounded by the Casuarinas at Fort Zach. We were looking for the latest rare bird in the neighborhood, a black-faced grassquit.

We’d been working our way slowly around the fence, keeping our eyes down low, listening for the soft clear notes of the grassquit’s song. Occasionally we’d hear something, but it would turn out to be a warbler or nothing at all.

Christman is a tall dude, which the petty part of my brain thinks gives him an advantage in finding things. But in reality he’s just very keen-eyed and smart. He’s been here for four years, but already knows more about Keys’ flora and fauna, and especially its birds, than most people will know in their entire lifetime.

Kevin had posted something on Facebook about seeing the grassquit, and I texted him to ask if it was still there. He said he’d heard it, and had brief looks at it, but offered to stick around to try for a better look if I was heading over. That’s how we ended up leaning on a splinter-ridden fence like a couple of farmers.

Black-faced grassquits are a Caribbean species, with eight subspecies spread out over dozens and dozens of islands. A lot of the rarities that show up in the Keys are most likely from Cuba, but oddly enough, the black-faced grassquit is not found on the island, only in limited numbers on a couple of small islands off the big island’s north coast.

The American Birding Association actually has a ranking for bird species and how common they are. A Code-1 bird is a widespread, everyday bird. Think northern mockingbird or laughing gull. A Code-6 bird is extinct.

The black-faced grassquit is a Code-4 bird – rarer than rare, though not the rarest.

The first black-faced grassquit seen in North America showed up in Miami in 1871. It took 89 years for the next one to be spotted, though they have since become more common, with about two dozen records in total.

“Quit” is apparently an old Jamaican term for a small bird.

Grassquits are known for their love of grasslands and other types of low-to-the-ground habitats. While originally thought to be a member of the finch family, recent DNA analysis shows they are most closely related to Darwin’s finches, which, just to keep

things confusing, are actually 18 species of tanagers. The National Audubon Society’s website describes the black-faced grassquit as a “stubby little finch,” which, besides being out of date, is also kind of ungenerous.

One of the first birds I ever chased was a black-faced grassquit that showed up at Long Pine Key Campground in Everglades National Park in 2003. I’d had insomnia the night before, but got up before dawn and drove up with a friend to stare for five hours into the endless fronds of saw palmettos and not see it. That may have contributed to my reluctance to chase rarities. (I did see a flock of common nighthawks slow-flap through the slash pines that day, though. It’s an image that has stuck with me, so maybe it was kind of worth it.)

Before the Fort Zach bird, the most recent black-faced grassquit was one that hung out at the Blue Hole on Big Pine from July 2019 to May 2021. That one was my lifer. But it stayed so long that people took it for granted. Until it moved on.

Mark Songer had found the grassquit we were looking for at Fort Zach in mid-November, but it had disappeared right after he saw it. I thought this was the first re-sighting, but looking at the data on eBird, it had been seen regularly since Jan. 15. I just wasn’t paying attention.

Fort Zach was crowded with the bathing suit-clad. I didn’t think Kevin and I particularly stood out – I wasn’t even wearing my zipper-legged adventure pants – but I guess our cameras and fancy binoculars caught people’s attention, because folks kept stopping to ask us what we were looking at. We kept having to say, nothing really, then tell them what we were trying to look at.

I was considering heading home when this guy Rich, who can be found a lot of days at one of the picnic tables closer to the parking lot, usually surrounded by birds, came up behind us.

“You looking for the grassquit?” he asked. We followed him to a Jamaica caper about 20 yards away. “It’s in there,” he said.

It took about three minutes for him to be proven right. The grassquit flitted around less than a foot off the ground at first. Then it leapt up slightly higher and slightly more out in the open.

Female black-faced grassquits and juvenile black-faced grassquits look pretty much alike. But this one’s face looked like it was starting to go dark, meaning it was probably a young male just maturing. We watched it for about five minutes before he receded deeper into the foliage.

You never know how long a rarity is going to stay around. But I hope that guy continues to thrive.

19

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

SMASHING SUCCESS KML Open House draws record crowd

K

eys Marine Lab (KML) knows how to throw a party. For their first open house since the pandemic, the marine research field station, which is affiliated with Florida Institute of Oceanography, had over 200 people in attendance on their Layton campus. Before the event even began, 30 people had lined up to get in, said Director Cindy Lewis. Educational and community booths highlighted the work of KML and its key collaborators, including Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, I.CARE, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, FWC Coral Rescue, FWC Restoration Ecology and Coral Restoration Foundation. KML’s JD Reinbott, who planned the event, said, “Our large turnout really highlights the important role that community engagement plays in protecting our precious ocean resources. I have so much hope for our reefs and environments seeing how many passionate people are willing to learn and help.” ­— Tiffany Duong 1. FWCRI Coral Rescue’s Devon Pharo talks about groundbreaking efforts to bank Keys corals ahead of stony coral tissue loss disease.

1 3

2

4

5

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2. CRF intern Julian Maheu demonstrates how to use their 360 cameras to virtually dive on the reef.

3. KML is known for its support of coral research initiatives.

8

4. KML’s open house draws over 200 attendees from all over Monroe County and beyond.

5. Bill Sharp, the head of FWCRI’s restoration ecology group, talks to guests about using sea urchins in restoration work.

6. KML’s open house features the marine research field station and its key collaborators.

11

7. Participants in the open house celebrate KML’s newest seawater system.

8. Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, a key collaborator of I.CARE and KML, discusses its ocean initiatives.

9. KML’s JD Reinbott, who planned the open house, celebrates a successful turnout.

10. I.CARE founder Mike Goldberg, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman and KML Director Cindy Lewis lead community efforts to steward the Florida Keys waters.

11. Families and kids from all over Monroe County and even up in Miami stop by KML to learn more about protecting our marine environments.

Photos by Tiffany Duong/Keys Weekly

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21

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

THE ROAD TO DISPATCH CREEK A fish camp and a burned-down bridge

C

ruising up the Overseas Highway and out of the Florida Keys, there are two ways to drive over Key Largo. Just after Mile Marker 106, the usual option is to follow the highway’s gentle curve, go over the Jewfish Creek Bridge, and up the 18-Mile Stretch. The other option is to keep driving straight and take the slightly longer route.

The slightly longer route is just as scenic. It travels along County Road 905, over Monroe County’s only “rolling hills,” BRAD and through an interior more representative of how the islands looked before they were cleared of their natural BERTELLI hammocks. Several miles up the road, County Road 905 is is an author, interrupted by a three-way stop. Proceeding through the speaker, and Florstop sign and turning left, the route travels up and over the ida Keys historian.

Card Sound Bridge before passing the legendary landmark His latest book, and home to some of the best conch fritters in the world, “The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files,” Alabama Jacks. is a fun blend of Back at the three-way stop, instead of turning left and two of his favorite exiting Key Largo, it is possible to proceed straight and subjects — Florida continue driving north until encountering the security gate Keys history and at the private Ocean Reef Club. The road heading north and the Skunk Ape. farther into Key Largo was provided compliments of the Island Holding Company, Richter Clyde Perky, managing director. Beginning in 1914, the Island Holding Company started buying up Florida Keys real estate until, by 1924, they had accumulated 25,000 acres that included 50 islands.

On Key Largo, the company owned 10,000 acres of North Key Largo known as Perkyland, and it included Perky’s grapefruit and lime groves. Carved from Perkyland, on Nov. 29, 1924, the Island Holding Company conveyed a strip of land measuring 66 feet wide to Monroe County. The land was used to build a hard-surfaced road that began at what is today the three-way stop where C.R. 905 and Card Sound Road intersect, travels north up through

Ocean Reef, and ended just short of Dispatch Creek. On the 1924 map created by the Island Holding Company, the road extension is identified as Dixie Highway.

At Dispatch Creek, a small fishing camp was established. It was sold in 1945 to Seaboard Properties Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Morris Baker, president. In nearly every history associated with North Key Largo, what Baker purchased, sight unseen, was a 40-acre property containing the Dispatch Creek Fishing Camp – including some I have written.

As it turns out, the same old story repeated over and over again about how Morris Baker purchased the Dispatch Creek Fish Camp and the 40 acres surrounding it, sight unseen, is not entirely accurate.

He did buy it without having first seen the property.

However, contemporary documents do not identify a fish camp called Dispatch Creek or substantiate the 40-acre claim. They reveal that the Tropical Isles Club Inc. sold the original Ocean Reef property to Seaboard Properties Inc. on Sept. 25, 1945. The price was $20,000 and included the acreage and the buildings and inventory of the fishing camp. As for the size of the property identified in the transaction, the legal description had two separate lots, one of 80 acres and one of 33.76 acres for a total of 113.76 acres – a far cry from 40 acres.

Also complicating the generally accepted history of the property is the name of the fishing camp.

It was not, apparently, called the Dispatch Creek Fishing Camp. Early 1940s newspaper accounts identify it as the Ocean Reef Fishing Camp. Also, it is listed in the deed of sale as the Ocean Reef Camp.

Among the assets listed were a primary twostory structure with a galley, four-burner bottle gas stove, a downstairs dining room, and an open second floor with two single beds, one double bed, four pillows, a grass rug and an electric floor lamp.

Two smaller cabins are also listed, each containing two single beds, a grass rug, and an electric lamp.

Additionally, there is a boathouse containing miscellaneous skiffs in “as is” condition and a Nassau sailing dinghy.

According to several contemporary newspaper articles, Rex Pollard operated or managed the Ocean Reef Fishing Camp before its sale to Morris Baker and Seaboard Properties. After the sale, Pollard is reported to have been a charter boat owner who also rented landing barges. In 1948, Rex Pollard was identified as a deputy sheriff in Key Largo with a problem. Two months prior, the wooden Steamboat Creek Bridge had burned down.

When leaving Key Largo and turning left at the three-way stop and rolling down Card Sound Road, Steamboat Creek is the first body of water a car drives over. According to Pollard, since June, when the bridge burned down, “three automobiles have plunged over the steep grade. Some of the occupants have been hospitalized.”

He wanted to erect some kind of barricade to stop the crashes, so he reached out to the State Road Department. They told him to contact the Monroe County Commission, so he reached out to them. They told him to contact the State Road Department. Fortunately, the communication lines operating between local and state government entities are always wide open and crystal clear these days, so that sort of nonsense would never happen.

22

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022 nst ge Coa hony o t t st Coa ager An igida r n B a e m D eral dovici- e signa m Lu T o ER / ps es u LEX RICK ekly v r e s .A We pies Keys ture

IN G N I H T E R M E T ps SO WA a t y pan pizza – E m o H T za C rk style z i P t o ERT m RICK .co ALEX eysweekly k alex@

ast o Co t t s a y, Co inall f e of d ertis l. An p s x k e e e Ga nt for w e. aura reck & t r s o e p o r W . e hy S.S. he d and gida wn t up to th usiness sy Key’s ci-DeBri knew o d ,I ing ive ovi ras eb beat ady to l ines th rs of G ny Lud But then n e e o b e e “ m r. tr r.” wn sb nth bou so o nt co y ha er A Oma othe unit is just a izza joi ado – al manag ?’” said d to an r at m y n le tp ne om ck of he c Compan newes e Maldo g roots he Wre e thing as a trai is t l ’s n n r a o n o i ic to h d ee om ak Pizz aratho urn nd N izza-m thing fr zzas, an ear car t a e r M r ma lphia p ht-y ance to me king pi e o so ers O a n eig h own e Philad ld we d n for m from a s up a c u ily y h o s i o t a a s ‘c y fam pas ovici aw uldn’t p with f with, s M – i . l h l d ri d of co born s of ley G started ience an o pry Lu ntually was emorie I t e r e v e d “It c e a exp nd m ars t he ly sin os h eral alling fo st 19 ye ony’s ldonad ter, bu t i h l t n p n c A u o Ma Ce a sh ovici, re e was j The search pizz h d u e n e L h e R t hin said e wh cally n in Dolp roots. I’ve bee o long,” his uncl enti h t u s a h e r ily ea s to fam feels lik ing it fo tore wit ado n the id n s o o “It d a i d l io elph been e Ma ovic u. just a Philad m th old Lud t’s men o r f has g s t s n a n i y l e ast,” Co te wn mitm ultima oast to rthe n co-o o m n o the st c ow izza nt of C old. steadfa area p e za in bring d z i m p p e t d o k A ot n r ta el tri-s the dev New Yo e style a er, so I g e t a is v h ic is repl s driven ndard mimic t ily fore st do th a u a m j h st to to y fa and gold nted n m r going “The id. “I wa been i e v se in e ecau all do ci sa at have . I was n i b v , o e Lud ipes th ther d they ork them ack n ld w om rec a b r u f e k e o c g h w t m lo sin er ti st ke it ry b bles . que hard on eve e felt li .” the n a w m’s d w e a o p l a ep , e o y r y h t e t h r on m ur store pizza s own he ir own s ving the emically eri a n e h d i r O c “ t ce d as th em have . Bu gh. ng m you imilarly place h of scien The syst btracti ier dou y l l i u y Ph hew t back a s its a bit maker. ing or s ery s se ever e nd c has gs v thin ll becau Coast k Water by add onger a any sen e it mak y p r o r l e r t i t o r o m w s t f Y a s o e a out aCoa he c New er, prim create er b he w And ticity: a t on, t tap wat t o a h t f t w o a n s ar ity ium use uthe rk C calc from M dify Key king beca e for a New Yo m and o r e drin t of l e m p r h o d u m i f s n n s a e d e ou dow licat magne water s o filter a goo e t nges and as it cam a k e i d l a l g l e z n . s a r i iz illy al n iv lo ch gh for p , as soo e Ph rece hine tai t’s dou uld be k i d r l o e s t g er go Af mac to Coas here wo erin ch but his wat om t r off e of whi p gets t ” ter, . et e l a l h h cust to Coas t m t w u i f o d d w l m t d h o o h o a n s o t o in ve g de doug s nice a pects th rieties, s . As the ding way y family i. a h y s x s a a d c y s “M ar e em h sta by a fry v dovi e Ke sine d Lu s say th t time w he doug . But Om french the bu ’s name etown. i a s ter,” e alway The firs ome. T n focus pecialty hunk of o Coast his hom with s c t. ai pl tt m kh o op “Peo differen like bac oast’s m ings and p a good e Coas izza fro the sh ldonad h d p a y t t C u w l r e e M n e e o l e p o f t l v o y y k h is ffa od ast r, it it st gle. bot lly h ill ta s, bu is Co k, w make go g Detro ccessfu se, and very an e mixe the e pizza ator bite e Wrec e n a u i s h d to hre m Th s, g from th e team ry, inclu es have esting p aily fro article, t they k a e t t d h t g f se s cts t over coun ram pa ough its ng fly in for this to ask i ers. g chee rought he expe nd the i r w p a rd n t h e o i t o e s v h In ce op ou g, eb es ter olls a r d l n g r i h n a n i p n t n i a n e wer d e to h un nd om ok coul kitch nd r uct t ebo ed in ns fr mpe up a variatio st’s Fac s as the ut the i to cond le walk p m oa u bo ok peo men ast to C enu ite stions a it to e m o m i e t C continued on page 39 s of d qu In the peek ovici sai k a e sn Lud and

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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28

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

Trish Represented the Buyers & Sellers of: 11 Sombrero Blvd #8E, Marathon, FL 33050 Sold for $275,000

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DUCK KEY 1 BEDROOM 1 bath unit with ocean view. Near restaurants, docks, charter boats, and marina. Fully furnished. $345,000 MLS598174

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Direct ocean access. $275,000

SOMBRERO WATERFRONT HOME 4 bedroom and 3 1/2 bath. Deep water access to ocean or gulf for great fishing. 117' of concrete dock, two 50 amp services and heated swimming pool. Two master suites, elevator, 2 bonus rooms and loads of storage. Garage for 4 cars with circular drive. 2 miles to Sombrero Beach and 2 miles to Marathon Airport. Coventient to banks, restaurants, and shopping. $2,695,000 MLS#599734 Call with your Questions

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29

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

STREETS OF GREEN KCB’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns after two years off

F

or such a small city, Key Colony Beach throws a heck of a celebration.

March 17 saw evening festivities for the luckiest day of the year kicked off by the annual Key Colony Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Returning after a two-year hiatus, the procession down the length of Ocean Drive saw hundreds of participants greeted by onlookers young and old, many of whom were well-prepared to catch candy thrown from the floats.

“It was fun for everyone involved,” said longtime parade organizer Jack Crowley. “It’s tough to resurrect something like this after it’s been stopped for a couple of years, but people sure got behind it. There’s no way to properly thank all the people who were in it, but we definitely appreciate them, and I was really pleased with all the people who came out to the side of the road.”

— Alex Rickert

1

2 3

4

1. Buckets were a great call for kids collecting candy thrown from the floats.

2. KCB Mayor Patti Trefry and Bill Trefry have the top down to wave to onlookers.

3. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay greets the crowd.

4. Whether they participated with a float, a car, or their own two feet, spirit was never in short supply for parade participants.

5. Jesse Peterson and Darren Smith turn a KCB public works truck into a parade float.

6. Talk about a cool suit.

7. Why put together an ordinary parade float when you can have a full musical trio in the back of a truck?

Photos by Alex Rickert

5

6

7

30

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022 MARATHON COMMUNITY THEATRE proudly presents:

MARATHON COMMUNITY THEATRE proudly presents

THE FLORIDA KEYS WATERCOLOR SOCIETY'S 2022 ART EXHIBITION MARCH 24TH APRIL 16TH Open to the public Tuesday's & Thursday's from 12pm to 4pm This Exhibit will run concurrently with our production of THE OUTSIDER, a main-stage political farce

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Live Theatre An over-the-top Comedy set in 1595, the story follows the Bottom brothers, Nick & Nigel, who struggle to succeed in the theatrical t ea th eat atrrica cal al world as they compete with wit wi ith th the t e wild th w popularity of their contemporary con ont on nte em mpor mp o Willy Shakespeare!

BOOK BO OOK by Karey Kirkpatrick &J John O’Farrell MUSIC MUS SIC by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Ka Karey Kirkpatrick K CONCEIVED CONC CEIVED by Karey Kirkpatrick & Wa Wayne Kirkpatrick W DIRECTED by Tom Thayer DIRECT D DESIGNED by Michael Boyer MUSICAL DIRECTION Michael Fauss CHOREOGRAPHY Carolyn Cooper CH LIGHTING LI G DESIGNER Kim Hanson COSTUMES Costume World

All Exhibited Artworks are available to purchase with 20% of all proceeds to be generously donated by FKWCS to Marathon Community Theatre - Come support the arts!

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STARRING G Bruce Moore,* Brian Robinson* n Ro R obi ob bin ins nso son on* n* Canter O’May, Arthur Crocker hur hu ur Cro roc ro ock cke ker er Mathias Maloff, Ross Pipkin Alexandra Zeto, Sarah Thorn Xavier Knight, John McDonald Ervin Tumm, Barbara Mundy Karl Stahl, Carolyn Cooper Jillian Todd, Chris Homberg Andrew Theede, Belle Jampol and J. Michael Wright

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31

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

HEADS IN BEDS – COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU What to do if we ever have an off-season again…

T

he catchphrase our local Tourist Development Council uses when speaking about numbers of tourists is “heads in beds.”

I have always derived a bit of amusement from the phrase, as it seems to describe not only a tourism goal, but also a bloody dismemberment scene in a horror flick. Perhaps the two otherwise divergent ideas could be combined. Imagine the interest in the Keys after Americans on the mainland saw the horrific new motion picture: “Jason’s back, and he’s on vacation in the Keys! ‘Friday the 13th Part XIII – Heads In Beds!!!’” (Cue blood-curdling scream.)

Well, whatever. Those of us who remain here year-round are all too familiar with the fall slowdown known as the dreaded “off-season” (something that used to happen here and would be horrific to the local business owner). Just like our TDC, I’ve been trying to think outside the box and come up with some interesting ideas to help our locals make money during the off-season, should it ever happen again. Here are some of my concepts, although I don’t guarantee that any of them will actually work.

During the month of September – August and October are good months too – we could market the Keys to those thrill seekers looking for the adventure they never had. “Experience a real live hurricane!! Book ahead to ensure your reservation during peak Hurricane Season in the fabulous Florida Keys!” Events could include the Middle Keys Tropical Weather Golf Tournament (played with long metal clubs outdoors during electrical storms), Pin The Eye On The Hurricane contests in local bars and exciting, lively keynote speeches by Jim Cantore and his phalanx of actual Weather Channel hurricane experts. Of course, we could never guarantee to our visitors that a hurricane would show up during their stay, and let’s hope that this year’s season is as inactive as a deadlocked Congress. If they show up in dire need of hot, humid, blustery, windy conditions spinning around a vortex that sucks, however, we could just send them to a government meeting!

Speaking of drinking (technically, we weren’t, but local government meetings are known to heighten the urge to pound down a few), it comes as no big surprise that liquor companies are advertising relentlessly

during the economic slowdown.

I’d like to offer a few suggestions, if I could, about how a couple of brands could improve their marketing.

Take Jose CuJOHN ervo Gold tequila.

BARTUS Chances are, when you’re drinking is the Mayor of Cuervo, you’re in no the City of Maracondition to drive. thon. He also is Therefore, Jose a musician who performs around Cuervo could imtown. For more prove their image see johnbartus. by sponsoring an com anti-drunk-driving campaign like this: “If you don’t believe in moderation, please believe in taxis. This message was brought to you by Jose Cuervo Gold tequila. Cuervo: if you’ve fallen and you can’t get up, mission accomplished.”

Then there’s Jagermeister, a vile concoction that I’ve seen people actually order and consume in front of my eyes. The bartender actually charges Jager-drinkers money for the putrid stuff, and surprisingly, people actually pay for it. I’m not sure that any marketing campaign could help convince nonJagermeister drinkers to try the black potion of death. Maybe this: “Jagermeister – for those times when battery acid is just too harsh.” Or, perhaps, “Jagermeister: the perfect beginning to tomorrow’s hangover.”

We seem to have strayed far from the original topic, so let’s get back.

Perhaps the most successful of all off-season events could solve the problem of how we can get an actual count of our protected key deer, now so numerous that their habitat has expanded to other islands. I’d call it the Big Pine Key Fall Sportsmen’s Classic.

We could market this event in Field & Stream magazine, aiming it at hunters who want a new experience. Once they get here, we issue them paintball rifles and a notebook, and tell them to have at it. Each hunter keeps an accurate log of how many deer they’ve bagged (painted), with already-painted deer presumed “killed.” At the end of the “hunt” (when there are no more unpainted deer), we’ll all have an accurate count of just how many deer there really are … and some really psychedelically colorful bucks and does that will fit right in on Big Pine! I feel certain we could get an adult beverage sponsor for this event. Wait! Doesn’t Jagermeister have a deer on the label?

Perfect!

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COMMERCE CORNER Milly Cruz is a Marathon-based Florida Realtor with Seafarer Realty. She specializes in second homes and vacation rental properties as she also owns KeysCations, a property management and vacation rental company. As a 2018 graduate of Marathon High School and the daughter of a local builder, Cruz says her deep knowledge of the island chain allows her to cater and adapt to her clients’ needs while understanding the true value of a home.

After graduating a year early from college, she says she is “so excited to be back in my hometown providing services to my community.”

Location: 11400 Overseas Hwy., Suite 105, Marathon Phone: 305-363-8869 Website: SeafarerRealty.com Email: milly@seafarerrealty.com

32

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022 CHARLOTTE TWINE

charlotte@keysweekly.com

ARE YOU 45?

GET A COLORECTAL EXAM ‘WE WERE PUTTING A BAND-AID ON AN OPEN WOUND, AND WE COULDN’T SAVE HIM’

Joe Catarineau, seen here with his dog after a medical treatment, credits his wife and daughters, friends, doctors and nurses, prayers and his puppy caretakers for his recovery.

Key West’s Barry Gibson, seen here with his daughter, Taylor, and his wife, Trish, lost his battle against colon cancer on Feb. 22, 2022. CONTRIBUTED

B

arry Gibson of Key West is no longer with us. The former Key West city commissioner, sunglasses-store owner and beloved family man died at age 61 on Feb. 22, 2022. Yet he is still sharing a message.

He implored his widow, Trish Gibson, to give his deathbed advice—even within his obituary—to men and women ages 45 and older: Please get a colorectal exam.

“Barry’s final wishes are that you get a colonoscopy. Even women,” Trish told Keys Weekly, noting that women often overlook taking care of this part of their physical health — and are frequently not advised to get colonoscopies.

Just a few weeks after her husband’s passing, Trish is still in disbelief and grieves what could have been. In spring 2019, Barry hadn’t been feeling well. “He was breathy,” said Trish.

Even brushing his teeth fatigued him. Barry decided to go for a round of health examinations.

His heart was fine. Then came his colonoscopy.

It was his first one.

“He was told he had stage 4 colon cancer.

He was 58,” she said, her voice trailing off in emotion. “We were in shock. Disbelief. He never had a sick day in his life. We just started fighting and did everything possible to keep him alive. … But we were putting a Band-Aid on an open, gaping wound and we couldn’t save him.”

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society’s website cancer.org, “In the United States,

When Tavernier’s Joe Catarineau was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at age 46 after a colorectal exam, doctors immediately removed the tumor and started him on chemo in January 2021.

colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women. …

Although the overall death rate has continued to drop, deaths from colorectal cancer among people younger than 55 have increased 1% per year from 2008 to 2017.”

But, the website said, regular colorectal cancer screening is a “powerful” tool: “The ACS recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45… through the age of 75.”

When he was 44, Tavernier CPA and attorney Joe Catarineau promised a family friend who was fighting stage 4 colon cancer that he would get a colonoscopy at age 45. Catarineau ate well, worked out a lot, and enjoyed a loving family life and a prosperous business.

“I turned 45, and I thought, ‘I promised him that,’” remembered Catarineau, now 47. “At age 46 I did it, because of my promise to him. And lo and behold, I had stage 3 colorectal cancer. I was totally caught off-guard. Shocking news.”

Upon recommendation of friends, Catarineau went for treatment at Baptist MD Anderson in Jacksonville, one of the leading cancer care providers in the nation. Doctors surgically removed the tumor and started him on chemo right away, followed by radiation.

His medical team informed him that the chances were high that he would probably have to have his rectum removed, then wear a colostomy bag. But, Catarineau said, a miracle happened.

“Last November, I went back up to Jacksonville to meet with the surgeon for a pre-op (for the rectum-removal) surgery,” he said. “We did blood work, an MRI and a CT scan. And we found out the chemo and radiation treatments had eliminated the cancer. The doctors explained to me that I am one of the 3 percent of patients that this happens to. I go every three months to watch it closely. So far I’m clear.”

Catarineau credits his recovery to his wife, Missy; his daughters Kyla, Keeley and Kinsley; friends Cliff Glade and Bob Diloreto, both doctors, who helped him get into Baptist MD Anderson; his hospital nurses; prayer warriors; his dogs; and eating well, exercising and a positive mental state. And, perhaps most crucially, his colon cancer screening at age 46.

However, Key West’s Barry Gibson, who did not have colorectal cancer screenings starting in his 40s like Catarineau did, had a different outcome.

He put up a good fight for almost three years after his April 19, 2019, colon cancer diagnosis, said Trish. But still, he ended up entering hospice care. He went downhill fairly quickly after that. Yet Trish and their 14-yearold daughter, Taylor, count their blessings. They feel that, ironically, the pandemic was a gift to their family. They boated, fished and stone crabbed and enjoyed dinners together.

“All this happened during COVID,” Trish said. “For the three of us, in a strange way, it was good for us.”

A celebration of Barry’s life will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 6 p.m. at the pavilion on Higgs Beach.

For more information about colorectal cancer screening tests, go to cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.

33

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

ART HISTORY, MYSTERY AND FORGERY

Learn about art through fiction

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.

FAKE

By Erica Katz

THE MASTERPIECE

By Fiona Davis

WOMAN ON FIRE

By Lisa Barr

Emma Caan is a copyist, not a forger – there is a difference. She professionally copies masterpieces for clients and signs the back. She fools no one except herself, as she sadly hasn’t created her own original work in years.

Since graduating from Yale, Emma’s confidence has disappeared. To support herself, she works for a company that copies art for the most reputable museums and collectors in the world.

A repeat client, billionaire Russian oligarch Leonard Sobetsky, would like to meet his copyist. Emma is instructed to call him Lenny and is quickly manipulated by an offer she can't refuse: a chance to leave her tedious job and difficult boss to work for the most prestigious gallery in New York City. On the side, she will copy paintings only for Lenny and will live rent-free in his magnificent temperature-controlled studio. As Emma is swept into Lenny’s extravagant lifestyle of private jets, art shows in Hong Kong, drug dealers and glamorous dinner parties, she begins to question the very hand that feeds her. With her nightmares keeping her awake, Emma spends countless evenings trying to puzzle out what her peculiar new boss is up to. Her carefully crafted career begins to crumble as the truth hides behind the pretty pictures.

There is no place like Grand Central Station. Its majestic beauty shines through the crowds as people travel through the greatest city on earth.

Clara Darden is a young artist struggling to make her way in 1928 as a teacher at the Grand Central School of Art. She is a talented illustrator fighting for her rightful place in a man’s world. After finally attaining success, Clara is busy juggling work, a handsome boyfriend, and helping her fellow artists despite the looming Depression.

When tragedy strikes, she vanishes and is never seen again. Fifty years later, Virginia is taunted by her chauvinistic husband, who left her in a lurch with little money and much regret. As a homemaker for most of her adult life, Virginia scrambles to find a job and accepts a position at the information booth in Grand Central Station.

Even though the terminal is no longer glamorous, Virginia is mesmerized by its history. As she begins to envision a brighter future, Virginia stumbles upon a painting hidden in a section of the terminal abandoned long ago. The unsigned painting greatly resembles one that is currently up for auction. With Virginia’s burgeoning confidence and new station friends, she is determined to solve this enthralling mystery.

After completing journalism school, Jules Roth schemes her way into the newspaper office of Dan Mansfield, renowned investigative reporter.

Dan is impressed with Jules’ gumption and gives her a chance to assist with a private matter he is researching for his close friend, designer Ellis Baum.

They set off in search of a painting the Nazis stole almost 80 years ago when Ellis was just a boy. The painting features his mother, who perished by their filthy hands. “Woman on Fire” by Ernst Engel is the only picture of her in existence, and Ellis must have it before he leaves this world. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones desperately seeking to obtain this painting.

Margaux de Laurent is a beautiful and wealthy gallerist whose grandfather hid and rescued artwork during the war. From her powerful position, it is a race to find this painting recently stolen from a Nazi heir that had been in hiding for many years. This fast-paced thriller takes readers from Chicago to the hills of France and Germany.

Leaving no stone unturned, this small group slowly uncovers the mysterious and dangerous trail that leads them to the truth. Filled with suspense and romance, “Woman on Fire” will keep readers guessing until the very end.

34

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

TAKE ME HOME

Adorable furry faces are waiting for families at the Florida Keys SPCA

D

ating in the Keys can be a drag, but thankfully there are plenty of animals waiting for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA. Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turn-offs to ensure the best fit.

From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon.

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. See all the animals waiting for a home at fkspca.org. To contact the Marathon campus, call 305-743-4800 or visit the campus at 10550 Aviation Blvd.

ABBY • 6-year-old female mixed breed, and a Golden Paw doggo • Looking for: A family with a yard, so I can keep it iguana-free.

• Turn-offs: Cats. They can easily be mistaken for iguanas.

SQUEAKS • 3-month-old Guinea pig • Looking for: A new family with kids who love me, like my last home. March is Adopt a Guinea Pig Month!

• Turn Offs: Fried foods. I'm a vegetarian and can eat fresh salads all day long.

WHOPPER • 3-year-old female domestic longhair • Looking for: I've been waiting almost three years for someone to take the time to get to know me. I'm just painfully shy.

• Turn-offs: Fast movements and too much noise. I like to take things slow.

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35

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

LOCAL AND VETERAN OWNED

ORGANIC CAFE

SS WRECK & GALLEY GRILL

& NATURAL MARKET

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE TO GO FOR FRIENDLY SERVICE, GREAT FOOD & DRINKS AND A KEYS VIBE.

MON Panini lunch combo TUES Crunch Wrap WED Daily special THURS Quesadilla FRI Daily special SAT Pizza DAILY HOMEMADE SOUPS!

BREAKFAST & LUNCH SMOOTHIES & JUICES GRAB & GO

WHETHER YOU’RE A LOCAL OR JUST PASSING THROUGH, WE CAN HELP GUIDE YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY TO OPTIMAL HEALTH! Store Mon - Sat 8:30am - 5:30pm (cafe closes at 5pm) 5800 Overseas Hwy, Ste 23 • Gulfside Village • Marathon www.foodforthoughtflkeys.com

NEW HOURS

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11AM-9PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM-10PM

NEW HAPPY HOUR

MONDAY - FRIDAY 3PM-5PM $7 FOOD MENU $1 OFF BEER, WINE & WELL DRINKS

Mile Marker 59, Grassy Key (next to the Dolphin Research Center), 305-517-6484 Visit our www.sswreck.com for online ordering and upcoming special events

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Flat monthly fee with no insurance necessary 1 visit per month in your home (or office) | No copays for your visit 1 hour appointment slots | Same and next day appointments Wholesale medications and discounted lab prices Counseling on health goals

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If you are thinking about buying or selling an exceptional residence, contact us.

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10055 Overseas Highway, Marathon | 305.735.4095 | oceansir.com Each office is independently owned & operated.

Dr. Greg Keifer

www.flkeysconciergemedicine.com

36

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

KEY WEST LOCAL MAKES A SPLASH WITH WATERCOLOR

SHANNON P. WILEY Shannon 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.

W

e have no shortage of colorful characters gracing this chain of islands, and when you factor in artists, the fascinating stories seem endless. I recently discovered a retired engineer and very talented watercolorist: Lawrence “Larry” Halstead. With his keen eye for detail and a superb handling of color, he is taking his art to new heights.

Halstead was born and raised in Michigan where he graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in aerospace engineering. Immediately after finishing college, he entered the United States Air Force. Following his service to our country, Halstead launched a 32-year career as an engineer, during which time he designed and tested jet engines. He adds that he and his wife Carol raised three wonderful sons together.

In 2008, Halstead retired and bought a home in Key West where he and Carol live today. In his youth, Halstead spent a great deal of time exploring lakes and venturing out into the woods, adventures that helped him develop a strong connection with nature. Moving to the Keys strengthened this connection and furthered his love of the surrounding scenery.

When asked what drives him as an artist, this bond shines through. “The inspiration for my art comes from the perpetual sunny days, the warm starry nights and the brilliant colors that I see in every direction,” he said.

The bright and bold colors of the island soon led him to move from his former acrylic medium to a challenging new venture. “This colorful island inspired me to transition to the brilliant, transparent, stainedglass world of watercolor,” he said.

Halstead prides himself on evolving as he continues to learn about what he calls “the evocative and complex medium” of watercolor paint.

Halstead shows and sells his watercolors and finest quality giclee prints at Guild Hall Gallery in Old Town, Key West. His originals sell for up to $300, and his small to moderate-sized prints are the ideal takehome souvenirs, often priced at less than $50. Stop by Guild Hall Gallery at 614 Duval Street to see Halstead’s work and learn more.

37

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

INTRODUCING ISLA BELLA BEACH RESORT'S NEXT PHASE

Sophisticated beachside dining with a new menu blending the cuisine of the Pacific Rim with fresh Florida Keys Seafood

For reservations, please call: (786)-638-8106 1 Knights Key Boulevard, MM 47 Marathon, FL 33050 IslaBellaBeachResort.com

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

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY 4:20 -11

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

WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY 4:20 - 11

38

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

ALL YOU CAN EAT MAHI MAHI FISH FRY EVERY FRIDAY 5PM - 9PM

COME CELEBRATE SUNSET WITH LIVE CANNON SALUTE AND COMPLIMENTARY SHOTS!

THIS WEEK’S ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, MAR 24 SHIP SHOW FRIDAY, MAR 25 DAN SULLIVAN 3PM THOSE GUYS 8PM SATURDAY, MAR 26 BRIAN JONES 3PM GLENN HARMON 8PM SUNDAY, MAR 27 DOCKSIDE SUNDAY JAM 6PM MONDAY, MAR 28 CHICAGO MIKE 3PM LUNG 6:30PM TUESDAY, MAR 29 TACO TUESDAY NOON TIL 10PM TACO & MARGARITA SPECIALS COUNTRY NIGHT JIBSEA COWBOYS 7PM WEDNESDAY, MAR 30 UKULELE NIGHT 6:30PM

Now serving breakfast $8.00 Tues - Sun • 8:30am - 11am

TACO TUESDAYS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 6 NIGHTS A WEEK 1688 O/S HWY. • MM 48, GULF (BEHIND BLUEGREEN) • 305.289.6706

ONLY WATERFRONT DIVE BAR IN THE MIDDLE KEYS • COLD BEER, COCKTAILS & INCREDIBLE SPECIALTY DRINKS • DELICIOUS FOOD - TRY OUR FAMOUS CHICKEN POT PIE OR AUTHENTIC STREET TACOS!

OPEN SUN THRU THURSDAY, 11 AM - 11 PM | FRI-SAT 11 AM - MIDNIGHT 35 SOMBRERO BOULEVARD OVERLOOKING BOOT KEY HARBOR

DJ TRAE DAE JAMS AT OUR OCEANFRONT POOLSIDE TIKI BAR FROM 1 TO 5

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” L L A B Y A L P “ BEACH PARTY ST

POOL & MARCH 27, 2022

IMPLANT & COSMETIC DENTISTRY Dr. Travis Bennett D.M.D. Dr. Sandy Brito D.M.D. KEY LARGO 102965 Overseas Hwy. 305-451-2616 TAVERNIER 90290 Overseas Hwy. 305-852-5099

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NCAA SWEET 16 ON 16 HDTVS! MLB BASEBALL IS BACK!

CATCHMLB ALL TAHEGAMES & NCASUNSET AT ILLE! GR

WE HAVE DIRECTV’S EXTRA INNINGS PACKAGE! OVER 90 OUT-OF MARKET MLB GAMES EVERY WEEK! GRILLED ON THE POOL DECK • World Famous Cheeseburgers • Bacon Egg & Gouda Cheese Burger • BBQ Baby Back Ribs • Bacon Wrapped Lobster • Grilled Ribeye Sandwiches • Grilled Bratwurst • Blackened Dolphin Sandwiches • Chili Cheese Dogs • BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp & Scallops

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39

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022 BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

BRIEFLY Watercolor exhibit opens at Marathon Community Theatre The Florida Keys Watercolor Society opens its 2022 exhibit on Thursday, March 24 in the gallery of the Marathon Community Theatre. The production “The Outsider” will open that evening and runs through April 16.

Patrons can view the artwork before the curtain or during intermission at each performance and during the day each Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. Fifty paintings for sale are on display, with 20% going to the Marathon Community Theatre as a gesture of “Artists Helping The Arts.”

ALIZAH CAROLINE MASSA Alizah Caroline Massa was born on Feb. 28 at 1:13 p.m. at Baptist Hospital in Kendall. Massa was born 10 pounds and 9 ounces. The parents are Sarah Kennedy Bell and Anthony Javier Massa, who both work at Square Grouper in Islamorada. The paternal grandparents are Omar and Azalea Lopez, of Homestead. The maternal grandparents are Lynn Bell, of Summerland Key, and Doug Bell, of Key West.

from page 26

SOMETHING IN THE WATER “People messaged me because they were sitting behind me in church and saw my Coast to Coast shirt,” said Ludovici. “I even made an appointment for a tattoo this week because I didn’t know how much time I’d have off once we started, and (the artist) told me they can’t wait for the shop to open.”

“I mean, we’re even getting The New York Watermaker chemically modifies Florida Keys tap water to phone calls at the Wreck asking replicate water from the Big Apple. ALEX when we’re going to open the RICKERT/Keys Weekly pizza place,” said Maldonado with a laugh. “I’m a little nervous because I think it’s going to take off and do well, and I just want to make sure we’re ready to support it the right way.”

“This isn’t something where we’re going to turn out 10 pizzas in 10 minutes,” said Ludovici. “It’s going to take a little bit of time, but it will be worth the wait.”

Coast to Coast is located at 61 53rd St. in Marathon (the former Big Mouth space across from Publix) and plans to open its doors for dine-in, carry-out and online orders early in the week of March 28. Initial hours will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Tuesday-Sunday. For carry-out orders, call 305-414-8626.

United Methodist Church hosts drive-by lunch The Marathon Community United Methodist Church (MCUMC), located at 3010 Overseas Hwy., will host a drive-by hot dog and chips lunch on Saturday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The MCUMC wants the community to know that, despite construction on the property, the church is open for worship and is supportive of the entire Marathon community. Parishioners are raising funds to help defray the cost of repairing spalling damage to the church building, which also houses KAIR. The damage is extensive and will cost more than $200,000 to repair.

Voluntary donations are greatly appreciated.

Marathon Library classes and events roll on Thursday, March 24: Babytime Storytime for up to age 2,10:30 a.m.; Paper Airplane Fun!, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, March 25: Paper Airplane Fun! Last hour, 3 p.m.; Paper Airplane Contest and Celebration, 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 26: Easy Yoga (Adults), 10 a.m.; Saturday Stories: Weekend Storytime, 10:30 a.m.; Family Movie Matinee: You Pick! 3 p.m.

Monday, March 28: 3D Printing Open Lab, 10 a.m.; VR & Robots Open Lab, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29: Get Creative with Art (Teens/Adults), 9:30 a.m.; Science Club, 4 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons, adults, 5 p.m.; Marathon Reads with local author Amy Bradshaw, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30: Cosmic Kids Movement & Yoga Adventures, 10:30 a.m.; Dungeons & Dragons for Teens, 3 p.m.; Kids Coding Club ages 10+, 4 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons, adults, 5 p.m.; Easy Yoga Flow (Adults), 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 31: Babytime Storytime for up to age 2,10:30 a.m.; Kids Build: Lego Club, 4 p.m.; Procraftinators: Sewing Open Lab, 2 to 4 p.m.; Sewing Machine Basics Ages 10 and up, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Yacht Club foundation thanks fundraiser supporters The Marathon Yacht Club Educational Foundation would like to extend its thanks to all who contributed to and attended its annual fundraiser on March 20. The event was a huge success in helping the foundation’s efforts to teach Marathon’s kids how to sail.

Also, a heartfelt thank you to the foundation’s outgoing board member Peter Sterling Turner for coming up with this year’s luau theme, band and menu.

Keys artists can apply for grants of up to $2,000 The Anne McKee Artists Fund (AMAF) is offering grants to visual, performing and literary artists who reside in Key West and the Florida Keys.

Grant funding is provided by proceeds from the Anne McKee Art Auction held in February and are awarded at the sole discretion of the AMAF board of directors. The fund grants up to $2,000 per artist for as many as 20 artists for project-based work. In addition, there are three youth-based scholarships.

Application and details with specific questions and answers for interested applicants can be found on mckeefund.org or via email mckeefund@ gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 31.

Girl Scouts seek help to mark centennial Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida (GSTF) is counting down to the 100th anniversary of the organization with an open invitation to the community. To mark this milestone, GSTF is reaching out across all Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys, seeking to reconnect with alumni and supporters, record personal stories and gather artifacts for an exhibit.

If you were in Girl Scouts, were a Girl Scout mom or served as a troop leader, the organization wants to hear from you. Share your connection at: www.girlscoutsfl.org/share.

Keys FCU offers free financial education Keys Federal Credit Union is offering free financial education programs that let you earn real-life rewards.

Banzai, KOFE (Knowledge of Financial Education), and Zogo are available to members and non-members.

“Once we noticed the need for financial education both within our schools and the community, we began offering Banzai and KOFE on our website and Zogo, a mobile app for smartphones,” said Maggie Sayer, Keys FCU President & CEO. Visit www.

KeysFCU.org or go to your app store to download Zogo with code KFCU.

40

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Semaphore Research & Design located at 1009 Grinnell Street, Key West, Florida 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Scott Miller Consulting Engineer, Inc. Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Notice is hereby given that on dates below these vehicles will be sold at public sale for monies owed on vehicle repair and storage cost pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes.

05/09/22 at 10:00am Yacht Club Drive Marine, 107500 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Yacht Club Drive Marine reserves the right to accept or reject any and/ all bids.

2016 JETSKI USYAMA0133B919 JULIA PERELMAN. Publish: March 17 & 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

meeting or for members of the public to provide public comment will be: District I Advisory Council Meeting Time: April 13, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89834936053 Meeting ID: 898 3493 6053 One tap mobile +19292056099,,89834936053# US (New York) +13017158592,,89834936053# US (Washington DC) Please contact Maxine Pacini or Ammie Machan to submit written information or for additional information by writing MCTDC, 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, FL 33040, by email at Pacini-Maxine@ monroecounty-fl.gov, or by calling (305)296-1552 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Documents must be received no later than Friday 5:00 P.M. on April 8, 2022.

All District Advisory Committee Meetings of the Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public and one or more TDC Member or County Commissioners may be in attendance.

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

Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

comment will be: District II Advisory Council Meeting Time: April 12, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom. us/j/82714714507 Meeting ID: 827 1471 4507 One tap mobile +19292056099,,82714714507# US (New York) +13017158592,,82714714507# US (Washington DC) Please contact Maxine Pacini or Ammie Machan to submit written information or for additional information by writing MCTDC, 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, FL 33040, by email at Pacini-Maxine@ monroecounty-fl.gov, or by calling (305)296-1552 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Documents must be received no later than Friday 5:00 P.M. on April 8, 2022.

All District Advisory Committee Meetings of the Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public and one or more TDC Member or County Commissioners may be in attendance.

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

Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

Meeting Time: April 13, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom. us/j/84784412413 Meeting ID: 847 8441 2413 One tap mobile +19292056099,,84784412413# US (New York) +13017158592,,84784412413# US (Washington DC) Please contact Maxine Pacini or Ammie Machan to submit written information or for additional information by writing MCTDC, 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, FL 33040, by email at Pacini-Maxine@ monroecounty-fl.gov, or by calling (305)296-1552 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Documents must be received no later than Friday 5:00 P.M. on April 8, 2022.

All District Advisory Committee Meetings of the Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public and one or more TDC Member or County Commissioners may be in attendance.

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

Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89746895580 Meeting ID: 897 4689 5580 One tap mobile +13017158592,,89746895580# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,89746895580# US (Chicago) Please contact Maxine Pacini or Ammie Machan to submit written information or for additional information by writing MCTDC, 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, FL 33040, by email at Pacini-Maxine@ monroecounty-fl.gov, or by calling (305)296-1552 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Documents must be received no later than Friday 5:00 P.M. on April 8, 2022.

All District Advisory Committee Meetings of the Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public and one or more TDC Member or County Commissioners may be in attendance.

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

Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

https://us02web.zoom. us/j/84359736515 Meeting ID: 843 5973 6515 One tap mobile +13126266799,,84359736515# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,84359736515# US (New York) Please contact Maxine Pacini or Ammie Machan to submit written information or for additional information by writing MCTDC, 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, FL 33040, by email at Pacini-Maxine@ monroecounty-fl.gov, or by calling (305)296-1552 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Documents must be received no later than Friday 5:00 P.M. on April 8, 2022.

All District Advisory Committee Meetings/workshops of the Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public and one or more TDC Member or County Commissioners may be in attendance.

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

Publish: March 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Beachside Gift Shop located at 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Erica H. Sterling, on behalf of Spottswood Management Inc., a Florida corporation.

Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022.

The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of One of One located at 506 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Robert A. Spottswood, Jr., on behalf of One of One Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022.

The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of One of One Hospitality located at 506 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Robert A. Spottswood, Jr., on behalf of One of One Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022.

The Weekly Newspapers FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of One of One Stays located at 506 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Robert A. Spottswood, Jr., on behalf of One of One Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022.

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI Notice is here by given that on April 11th, 2022, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL. 33037. Names And Last Known Addresses are as Follows: Thomas Flynn Unit 1636 $1,035.25 Christopher Richert Unit 1028 $886.52 The Estate of Ronald Stern Unit 1191 $507.80 Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE The District I Advisory Committee (DAC I) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold a regular scheduled meeting and workshop for Destination and Turnkey Event Funding on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. via Communications Media Technology using a Zoom webinar platform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social-distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the April 13, 2022 regular meeting of the District I Advisory Committee will be conducted via CMT, using a Zoom Webinar platform. If the Governor issues a subsequent order changing directives for Local Government Public Meetings, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will provide updates on the County Website at MonroeCounty-FL.Gov. The access points to view the

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE The District II Advisory Committee (DAC II) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold a regular meeting and workshop for Destination and Turnkey Event Funding on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. via Communications Media Technology using a Zoom webinar platform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social-distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the April 12, 2022 regular meeting of the District II Advisory Committee will be conducted via CMT, using a Zoom Webinar platform. If the Governor issues a subsequent order changing directives for Local Government Public Meetings, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will provide updates on the County Website at MonroeCounty-FL.Gov. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR AUDIT AND TAX SERVICES Wesley House Family Services, (“WHFS”) is accepting proposals to provide Audit and Tax Services, beginning fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Guidelines can be obtained from greg.wheeler@wesleyhouse.org.

Proposals will be accepted until March 31, 2022.

Publish: March 24, 2022, The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE The District III Advisory Committee (DAC III) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold a regular meeting and workshop for Destination and Turnkey Event Funding on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. via Communications Media Technology using a Zoom webinar platform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social-distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the April 13, 2022 meeting of the District III Advisory Committee will be conducted via CMT, using a Zoom Webinar platform. If the Governor issues a subsequent order changing directives for Local Government Public Meetings, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will provide updates on the County Website at MonroeCounty-FL. Gov. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public comment will be: District III Advisory Council

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE The District IV Advisory Committee (DAC IV) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold a regular meeting and workshop for Destination and Turnkey Event Funding on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. via Communications Media Technology using a Zoom webinar platform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social-distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the April 12, 2022 meeting of the District IV Advisory Committee will be conducted via CMT, using a Zoom Webinar platform. If the Governor issues a subsequent order changing directives for Local Government Public Meetings, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will provide updates on the County Website at MonroeCounty-FL. Gov. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public comment will be: District IV Advisory Council Meeting Time: April 12, 2022 02:00 PM

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE The District V Advisory Committee (DAC V) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold a regular meeting and workshop for Destination and Turnkey Event Funding on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. via Communications Media Technology using a Zoom webinar platform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, Monroe County Emergency Directive 20-06, and the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) social-distancing guidelines established to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the April 12, 2022 meeting of the District V Advisory Committee will be conducted via CMT, using a Zoom Webinar platform. If the Governor issues a subsequent order changing directives for Local Government Public Meetings, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council will provide updates on the County Website at MonroeCounty-FL. Gov. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public comment will be: District V Advisory Council Meeting Time: April 12, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting Notice Monroe County Land Authority The Monroe County Land Authority Advisory Committee will meet in the Marathon Government Center located at 2798 Overseas Highway, Media Room – 1st floor, Marathon, Florida on March 30, 2022 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The agenda is available online at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or by contacting the Monroe County Land Authority office at 305-295-5180.

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO. 2022-CP-26-M IN RE: ESTATE OF LOUISE ESTHER PRESSLEY, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the Estate of Louise Esther Pressley, deceased, whose date of death was January 29, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with the court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this notice is March 17, 2022.

Personal Representative: Michelle O’Neil 126 Windy Way Reedsville, PA 17084 Attorney for Personal Representative: BLAIR D. SCHEMER, ESQUIRE Fla. Bar No. 60598 BERNARD & SCHEMER, P.A. 480 Busch Drive Jacksonville, FL 32218 (904) 751-6980 Email: blair@bernardlaw.net Publish: March 17 & 24, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

41

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

IN THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO. 2022-CP-78-K IN RE: ESTATE OF BEVERLY J. AVANT, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The formal probate administration of the estate of BEVERLY J. AVANT, deceased, whose date of death was January 20, 2022 and whose Social Security Number is XXX-XX-3038, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040.

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 the court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this notice is March 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: OMIS HUGE AVANT, JR. Attorney for Personal Representative: MONICA S. SANTANA, ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 956805 Monica Matthews Santana Law Office 20030 Bluff Oak Boulevard Tampa, FL 33547-2975 813-407-3453 monicasantanalaw@yahoo.com Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

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: March 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Elizabeth P. Montgomery 420 10th Street 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: March 24 & 31, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: March 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Steven K. Schwartz 20801 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 506 Aventura, FL 33180-1400 Attorney for Personal Representative: Steven K. Schwartz, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 187976 STEVEN K. SCHWARTZ, P.A. 20801 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 506 Aventura, FL 33180-1400 Telephone: 305-936-8844 Ext 106 Telefax: 305-936-1804 E-mail: Steve@ stevenkschwartzpa.com Publish: March 24 & 31, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.)

Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk’s office.

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

Dated this 7TH day of March 2022 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Riza Hall Deputy Clerk Publish: March 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

CENTENNIAL BANK IS HIRING! TELLER II MARATHON/KEY WEST. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: Conduct transactions with speed, accuracy and efficiency while meeting or exceeding service quality standards.

Safeguard bank assets assigned to them. Contribute to the growth of the bank by promoting and cross selling bank products and services. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Equivalent to four years high school or GED, with particular emphasis during high school in office skills, shop skills, or others, plus 12 to 18 months related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

To apply, please visit our careers page: www. my100bank.com/careers

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.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 22-DR-000035-K Division: Family YENI A. MENDOZA RIVAS, Petitioner, and DOROTHY M. BESWICK, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: DOROTHY M. BESWICK Last Known Address: 4 BETTY ROSE DRIVE, APT. 421, KEY WEST, FL 33040 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on YENI A. MENDOZA RIVAS, whose address is 4 BETTY ROSE DRIVE, APT. 421, KEY WEST, FL 33040, on or before April 11, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

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

AUTOS FOR SALE

The 16th Judicial Circuit is seeking applicants for a Full-time Probation Officer in Marathon. This is responsible and professional work that ensures the effective supervision of defendants placed on misdemeanor probation and Back on Track supervision. Salary is $37,500 annually, plus Monroe County benefit package. See complete job description at www.

Keyscourts.net.

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and State of Florida Application to Personnel@Keyscourts. net or Personnel, 302 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. State of Florida applications and complete job description can be found at www.

Keyscourts.net.

The successful applicant will be required to pass a complete background check. Applications are being accepted until position is filled. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, disability or sexual orientation. EOE. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application/selec tion process, please notify us in at advance at 305-2923423; to make call through the Florida Relay Center, you can dial 7-1-1.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-25-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT E. MONTGOMERY Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Robert E. Montgomery, deceased, whose date of death was January 20, 2022, 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-000090-K JUDGE KOENIG IN RE: ESTATE OF MAGALY X. CRUZADO BATISTA, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of MAGALY X. CRUZADO BATISTA, deceased, whose date of death was December 20, 2020, and whose Social Security Number is ***-**-6247, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 302 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this

Dr. Nikole Czapp is relocating and will no longer be practicing at Islamorada Medical Center effective April 22nd, 2022.

The current providers at Islamorada Medical Center will still be available for patient care. Patient medical records will remain available at Islamorada Medical Center should patients need a copy of their records.

90130 Old Hwy, Suite 1, Tavernier, FL 33070, 305-852-9300 Publish: March 24 & 31, April 7 & 14, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED ALL YEARS! Junk or Used.

Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483

1999 Mercedes Benz 500 SL Convertible White w/blue leather interior. 31,000 miles.

Located in Marathon. $21,900 781-422-1131 Place your Auto For Sale ad here for only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today and sell your car!

Computer Programmer /Coding.

Need an individual experienced in basic computer languages and AWS platform.

Please send resume and contact information to: twmcfo@gmail.com.

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

Boat slip available oceanside in Marathon.

Self contained incl. one parking space. $20.00 per foot/month plus water.

F/L/S No pets. 305-6108002 EMPLOYMENT

Groundskeeper/ Maintenance person, KCB, Sea Isle Condominium, 20-25 hrs. per week, $20 per hr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@aol. com, or call 734-476-0531.

Boat rental company in Marathon needs mechanic.

Boat experience a plus.

Call 305-481-7006

Marathon Auto Air looking for technician. Pay based on experience and how often you show up to work! Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-289-9884 The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club, is seeking a part time line cook. Perfect second job. Club is open 10am - 7pm daily. Located in Key Colony Beach. Hourly pay commensurate with experience.

Beautiful environment, small friendly staff, open year round. Apply in person, email resume to atpor call 305 393-0631 ask for April.

City of Marathon Current Job Openings: Recreation Specialist/ General Maintenance Tech, Engineering Intern, and Marina Customer Service Rep. Full Benefits.

EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

ABSOLUTE AUCTION Tuesday March 29th @ 11AM WELL-KNOWN STREETER’S CATERING 1113 S. 30th Ave., Hollywood, FL 33020 40+ Years at the same location Bid In-Person or Online @ Proxibid.Com/TobyNeverett

Over 1,000 pieces of Small Wares, Including China, Flatware, Glass Ware, Inserts, Cooking Utensils, also included Popcorn Machines, Sheet Pan Racks, Chaffing Dishes, Jade 6 Burners, Walk-In Coolers, S/S Tables, Fryer, Sheet Pan Racks, Mixers, Fish Model Gas Revolving Oven, Washer & Dryer & SO MUCH MORE!

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

Immediate openings for experienced plumbers and helpers (with or without experience - we will train the right person).

Must have a valid driver's license & clean driving record. Please apply in person at 10700 5th Avenue Gulf, Marathon or email resume to: eerpinc@gmail.com The Housing Authority of the City of Key West is hiring a Human Resources & Risk Manager. This full-time position is a highly responsible position that handles all the daily functions or the Human Resources department.

This position is al responsible for maintaining all insurance policies for the Housing Authority.

A minimum of 2 years in a HR position and SHRM certification is preferred.

Salary Commensurate with Experience.

KWHA provides health, retirement, and leave benefits for permanent full-time employees. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha. org or (305)296-5621.

Applications are available on our website www. kwha.org or at our Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040.

EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

Part Time Supervisor/ Housekeeper Position Available Immediately in Key Colony Beach.

Hours may vary depending on need including weekends.

Responsibilities include oversee housekeeping staff, inspecting rooms prior to guest occupancy, making up laundry bags, cleaning rooms, etc.

Physical demands: ability to lift and carry laundry bags ~ 35 lb. **Must have reliable transportation** Please call/text or email to discuss pay and to request application.

Michelle - 952-208-2850 Cheryl - 305-505-8747 info@continental innbeachside.com

42

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYM ENT

HOMES FOR SALE

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

of 15th Street, Oceanside, Marathon or email: lobstercrawl@gmail.com

clerical, scanning, word processing, entry level bookkeeping, data entry, mail, filing and customer service. Must have strong computer skills, Microsoft Office.

Exp with QuickBooks a plus. We are looking for a friendly, reliable teamplayer. Must be able to pass background check.

Health insurance benefits after introductory period. Bishop, Rosasco & Co. Email resume to tara@keyscpa.com. EOE HIRED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!

PLACE YOUR HELP WANTED AD here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 TODAY!

Duplex For Sale By Owner.

10822 2nd Avenue, Gulf, Marathon.

2BR/1BA each side. Trade RV or BOAT or CASH. Call 3 0 5 - 4 8 1 - 1 3 1 6

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

NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older, Full-time Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@ s we e t s a v a n n a h s. c o m Marathon FT Admin Assistant for busy CPA Firm. Duties incl

SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES

NOW HIRING Charter Captain / Mate

Busy fishing charter business in Marathon looking for experienced fishing Captain/Mate. Busy boats and location. Offshore, Inshore, Reef/Wreck. Send text or call 305-481-3259

NOW HIRING CASHIERS

$18/HOUR PLUS GRATUITY SHARE

BAKERS

$18/HOUR PLUS GRATUITY SHARE

PREP COOKS

$19/HOUR PLUS GRATUITY SHARE Apply in person Mon-Fri 10a-4p at our pre-opening office: 1700 N. Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 6, Key West www.thekolachekitchen.com

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

Call 305-743-4578

LOT FOR SALE Lot For Sale By Owner on Duck Key - Trade RV or BOAT or CASH. Call 305-481-1316 OFFICE/COMMERC.

HOMES FOR SALE SPACE FOR RENT

BEACH ATTENDANT

PERSONALS

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

Call 305-394-0530

excellent credit & FICA score. No drugs, no smoking, no pets.

305-747-1700

Place your Office/ Commercial Space For Rent ad here. Only $25.00/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 t o d a y !

YARD SALES PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD here for only $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 TODAY!

PERSONALS Affectionate & loving homeowner looking to co-habitate with someone who is clean, personable, with an

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc. www.dynastymarine.net Located in the Florida Keys, is a highly-respected supplier of Caribbean marine life to public aquariums and zoos throughout the world.

LOGISTICS COORDINATOR Duties to include invoice and inventory entry, booking airline shipments, creating and filing paperwork for international shipments, scheduling inspections needed for international shipments. Must be proficient in Microsoft word, outlook and excel. This position requires high attention to detail and the ability to multitask. Compensation will be dependent on experience with performance-based incentive program.

Benefits package including vacation, sick days, holidays and 401K PSP retirement plan. Please send cover letter and resume to sales@dynastymarine.net for consideration. No phone calls please.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR “C”

LOCATION: BIG COPPITT KEY AND DUCK KEY The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority’s WASTEWATER DIVISION IS GROWING, and we need (2) WWTP OPERATORS WITH A FLORIDA “C” LICENSE OR HIGHER. You will perform skilled/technical work involving the operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment plant. This requires technical knowledge and independent judgment to make treatment process adjustments and perform maintenance on plant equipment, machinery, and related control apparatus in accordance with established standards and procedures. Benefit package is extremely competitive! Location: Big Coppitt Key and Duck Key. Salary Range: $52,645.98 - $84,011.20.

Apply online at www.fkaa.com

EEO, VPE, ADA

Busy Key Largo Dive Center has immediate openings for The Moorings Village is seeking friendly, self motivated, team players for the position:

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL SPACE

BOAT CAPTAINS $1,500 SIGNING BONUS

Competitive salary and great benefits.

Job types: Full-time & Part-time

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

Please email your resume to Lindsey@mooringsvillage.com or call the reception office at 305-664-4708

Send resume to resumes@rainbowreef.com

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

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

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

OCEANFRONT PRIVATE SWIM CLUB IN KEY COLONY BEACH IS SEEKING A KITCHEN MANAGER/COOK FOR OUR BUSY SNACK BAR. The Cabana Club is open 10 am - 7 pm daily.

Must have experience. Responsibilities include but not limited to: ordering, cooking, menu design, good organizational skills and maintain a clean kitchen. Our small efficient kitchen mainly serves lunch items.

Pay commensurate with experience plus benefits. Beautiful environment, small friendly staff, open year round.

TheCabanaClubKeyColonyBeach.com Apply in person, email resume atpCabanaClub@aol.com or call 305-393-0631 and ask for April.

43

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

FLORIDA KEYS TABLE T

he Florida Keys boast some of the most iconic eateries and bars in the world.

Creative culinary minds elevate local seafood to new levels and celebrate contemporary fusion, Cuban, Caribbean, Asian, French and other international influences. Our chain of islands is one of the world’s top food and drink destinations.

But our magnetic appeal goes beyond the

FOOD, DRINKS & PEOPLE menu. The skilled professionals who define our local hospitality industry do much more than mix creative cocktails and serve delicious meals. These hard-working men and women are ambassadors, social directors, travel advisors and unlicensed — but often effective — therapists.

To celebrate our unique culinary culture, Keys Weekly brings you this bi-weekly feature

to highlight the food, libations and local personalities that define our “must-try” destinations across the Florida Keys.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a fifth-generation local, your options are endless.

Indulge in something new or revisit a familiar favorite. And above all, support the local owners and loyal employees who are vital to our Keys communities.

SARAH WOLCOTT Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria Sarah Wolcott, a native Key Wester, has worked at Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria since it was Stock Island’s brand new pizzeria and Italian eatery. “I’ve worked here since I was 18, and I’m almost 25. I love it,” she said from behind the bar while serving its popular Saffron Risotto Balls as an appetizer.

BURRATA E PROSCIUTTO Italian Food Company, Key Largo With authentic Neopolitan pizza come some other delectable items to try out when visiting Italian Food Company. Try the burrata e prosciutto on the salad menu. It comes with fresh burrata cheese over garden arugula, fresh sliced prosciutto di Parma, cherry tomatoes and extra virgin oil.

LIME IN D’COCONUT Keys Fisheries Upstairs Bar Take a Key lime pie and a coconut, throw them in a blender and go crazy. At least, that’s what it tastes like. Lime in D’Coconut mixes Key lime pie liqueur, coconut rum and pineapple juice together for a perfect blend of staple island flavors. As bartender Kristen White warned when she served it up, “it’s dangerous.”

For more, visit our Keys Table Magazines online at keysweekly.com/table.

Our Florida Keys Table Magazines are published six times a year in the Upper Keys, Marathon and Key West. For more information email: Stephanie@keysweekly.com.

44

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24 , 2022

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

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon 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

DUI Evaluator Part-time – Marathon

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.

EXECUTIVE AIDE

TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR JOB SUMMARY: Providing support for the City Administrator by performing clerical tasks such as but limited to; project oversight, management analysis.

Candidate requires initiative, independent judgement and discretion. Must be able to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.

RESPONSIBILITIES • Working with the City Administrator in developing approaches and solutions to City needs.

• Conduct complex and sensitive administrative, operational and management analysis.

• Monitor pending projects. Supports the Administrator and Clerk with the commission, employee and citizen group meetings.

• Understands and complies with Federal, State and Local Law governing City business. Must be versed in the Florida Sunshine Law, Open Records Law and Right to Know Laws.

• Serve as project lead for special projects.

• Manage multiple grants and projects. Provide effective research.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS • Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license or within 30 days if moving from out of state.

• Must be able to pass a drug screening, criminal background check and FDMV record review.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration or related government field.

SKILLS: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, QuickBooks and social media.

Please see full job description at keycolonybeach.net Send all resume’s to: cityadministrator@keycolonybeach.net, or City of Key Colony Beach City Hall, Attn: City Administrator, 600 West Ocean Drive, PO Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: April 5th, 2022 – 4:00 pm Equal Opportunity Employer

HIRING

FULL TIME PROJECT MANAGER Location: Upper Keys Send resume to: admin@cbtconstruct.com Or call: 305-852-3002

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

Department of Environmental Protection

John Pennekamp State Park is hiring for a seasonal OPS Senior Clerk Position for our Entrance Station. This position’s primary function is to provide excellent customer service, give information about the park and collect tolls. $18.50/hour

For a detailed job description and to apply, please visit; www; https://jobs.myflorida.com search by location Key Largo FL

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Monroe County School District

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

JOB TITLE: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REPORTS TO CITY CLERK The City of Key Colony Beach is accepting applications for Administrative Assistant. Position includes but is not limited to, front desk, answering multi-line phones, processing mail, administrative support to all Staff, ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with Commission, staff, and public, providing exceptional customer service.

Minimum High School graduate with two years of work experience in customer service and administrative support. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. Applicants must possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Competitive salary based on experience. Full benefits provided.

Contact City Hall for an application at 305-289-1212, opt. 2.

Applications are also available at www.keycolonybeach.net; see “City Government” then “Forms”.

Submit applications in person, via email, or by mail to: cityadministrator@colonybeach.net or City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Attn: City Administrator 600 West Ocean Drive PO Box 510141 Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 Equal Opportunity Employer Open until filled

OPEN POSITIONS AT BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA TAVERNIER MARINER’S HOSPITAL - Physician Practice RN - Pool Group Exercise Instructor - Scheduling Coordinator - Security Office MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL - ED Team Coordinator - Environmental Tech, $5,000 Bonus - First Cook, $5,000 Bonus - Floor Technician, $5,000 Bonus - Mechanic 3, $5,000 Bonus - Medical Assistant, $3,000 Bonus - Physician Practice Patient Rep, $1,000 Bonus - Phlebotomist, $10,000 Bonus - Pool Physical Therapist

APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507

45

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

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

Invest in Yourself!

Health, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring

Paid Holidays, Vacation & Sick Time Paid Time Off for Volunteering

Dolphin Research Center is Hiring!

Marketing Director – Full Time Volunteer Resources Administrative Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent) Media & Marketing Staff Member (Full-Time, Permanent)

Education Program Host (Full-Time, Permanent)

IT Technical Specialist (Part Time, Permanent)

Human Resources Assistant (Part-Time, Permanent)

Guest Services Staff

Tuition Reimbursement Competitive Salaries

TEXT “MYTOMTHUMB” TO

401K Employer Match Quarterly Cash Profit Sharing Great Hours

242424

Apply Online at

KeysBank.com/Careers

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

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

Full job descriptions available at

www.dolphins.org/career_opportunities

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

Apply online at mytomthumb.com/employment Member FDIC

EOE-M/F/V/D

Equal Housing Lender

The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of

“Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

PART TIME / FULL TIME OPPORTUNITIES W/FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FRONT OFFICE DIRECTOR FRONT OFFICE GUEST SERVICES AGENT & BELL/VALET RESERVATIONS AGENT HOUSEKEEPING ALL POSITIONS SIGN ON BONUS OFFERED! CULINARY KITCHEN MANAGER, COOKS DISHWASHERS F&B SERVER, BARTENDER BUSSERS/FOOD RUNNERS LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST NAIL TECH 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.

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

IS HIRING!

KEY LARGO Behavioral Health Counselor, FT (Children) Case Manager, FT (Children)

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 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 (FT) *Behavioral Health Technicians (3 shifts) (PT/FT & per diem) *No experience necessary. Will train.

A caring heart & helpful hands required.

Ability to work some evening or weekend shifts a plus.

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

Background and drug screen req.

COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!

Check out all available positions at: www.westcare.com (search by zip code) EEOC/DFWP

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

46

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.743-0844 Licensed & Insured Contractor # CACO53827

ARTIC TEMP, INC.

Leslie Christensen

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

OWNER

phone 305-743-6881 AmericanCoastalRentals.com Leslie@AmericanCoastalRentals.com 9141 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

Residential, Commercial & Marine Ice Machine - Sales - Service Phone: (305) 743-5288

Fax: (305) 743-6887

Liz Samess Interiors

Alexia Mann, GRI

Broker/Owner, 305-209-5166 Alexia@SeafarerRealty.com www.SeafarerRealty.com

SOLAR DONE RIGHT!

Design, Decorating, Drafting, & More…

CALL US FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE

Liz Samess Interior Designer

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

A division of SALT Service, serving The Keys since 1989

(954) 801-7883 Email: interiordesignbyliz@gmail.com CELL:

305-289-1150

Marathon, FL 33050

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

Florida Solar Contractor CVC 56734 Florida Electrical Contractor EC13008657

Barbara Sanchez

Tewes ewes Mortgage

Home & Offices Expertly Cleaned Fast Dependable Service

Your local, residential lending expert!

Call 305.495.6000

“We Clean Your Place, Like it Was Our Place”

for a FREE Consultation

Brian Tewes

Excellent References Upon Request

Customer service is my strength Brian@tewesmortgage.com

NMLS# 375025 Tewes Mortgage NMLS# 1453791 NMLSConsumerAccess.org

305-766-0819 305-924-0179

www.TewesMortgage.com

Sportfishing Adventures

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

Serving Monroe, Dade & Broward Including Airports & Ports.

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

Serving Key Largo to Key West

305-743-7454

fkes2011@gmail.com floridakeysexpressshuttle.com

info@johnnymaddoxcharters.com

305-481-3259

Nails by Ivis

Manicures • Pedicures Acrylics • Gelish • Facials • Waxing

5177 Overseas Highway

(Between Office Depot & Main Post Office)

Marathon, FL 33050 305-289-1631

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

www.marathonhairandnailsalon.com

Will Campbell President

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

REAL Wood Cabinets at Particle Board Prices P.E. Lic. No: 79269 5800 Overseas Hwy. Unit 32 Marathon, FL. 33050

Only $57 Puts Your Business Card Here

KitchenKorner/Fred's Beds 1333 O/S Hwy, MM 53.5 • 305-743-7277

SALES | INSTALLATION | SERVICE Lic & Ins SP3696

SPECIALIZING IN REMODELS & NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER 20 YEARS

Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm • 6681 Overseas Hwy, Marathon keystilestone@gmail.com • www.keystilestone.com • 305.743.7053

The Weekly Newspapers www.KeysWeekly.com

305-743-0844

47

MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.743.0844 MARATHON • KEY COLONY OWNERS

START EARNING 305 3902315

WWW.KEYSRENTALSONLINE.COM OFFER YOUR ENJOY EXPERT MAXIMIZE GUESTS A VIP PROPERTY YOUR INCOME EXPERIENCE MAINTENANCE POTENTIAL

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

Petersen Repair & Maintenance • Flooring • Inside Trim Work • Door Replacement • Landscaping • Fencing

• Plastering & Stucco • Masonry & Spalling Repair • Waterproof & Roof Painting • Interior & Exterior Painting • Parking Lot Striping

SP# 4434, 4435, 4436, 4437, 4438. 4439. 4448, 4449, 4450, 4451

Charlie Petersen 920-371-3107 | PetersenRepair@yahoo.com

Karen Raspe

Realtor 305-393-9010 karenraspe@bellsouth.net

9141 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 www.karenraspe.com

Licensed & Insured #SP33799

ALL KEYS GLASS

We Also Repair & Replace Patio Door Screens

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Windows • Doors

305-998-8953 Insured • Professional • Reliable

305-743-7800

Authorized Dealer

Tracy Chacksfield Realtor

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

CGC1523838 312-350-4601 tracy@thebeautifulkeys.com

9141 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 www.karenraspe.com

Lic No. SP1481

CGC1523838

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

I come to you!

Helping Paws Grooming Services

330.727.6264 Janet White

Professional Groomer

_social media management _search engine optimization _custom website design

Rachellynnes94@gmail.com 305.393.3076

SALES

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Only $57 Puts Your Business Card Here

SPALLING EXPERTS

overseasmediagroup.com 305.906.0272

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

Lic#SP-3562

Rachel Sanderson

GENERAL CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS

We Do Installations!

Licensed & Insured

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

289-3019

Michael Kiraly

Mortgage Lender Supervisor NMLS# 675432 MKiraly@My100Bank.com Direct: (305) 942-1756 Office: (305) 676-3019 11400 Overseas Hwy, Suite 214 & 215 Marathon, FL 33050 MY100BANK.COM | Centennial Bank

2728 North Roosevelt Blvd.

Overseas Market Key West

Proud member of:

INTERNATIONAL

CONCRETE REPAIR INSTITUTE

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MARATHON WEEKLY / MARCH 24, 2022

R y E M A ke

A ls.co T N RE e n t a

AL a s t a l r T S co OA

C an c N i r ICA me s@a

5 0 3

M O C LS. m

3 4 -7

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