Upper Keys Weekly 22-1006

SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

W H E R E I C O M E F R O M .

The environment is Islamorada’s economy The Everglades provide us with our drinking water and Florida Bay with the freshwater it needs to survive The combination drives our region's $20+ billion tourist economy and makes us the sportfishing capital of the world. Too often these ties are left out of the conversation at Village Hall That changes on Day One.

I love my adopted hometown and will bring a sharp mind, pragmatic discipline, and eyes for the future to the Village Council

of

Keys investigators say

plan’ kept vote secret

Monroe County State Attorney investigation into the Islamorada Village Council

“Florida Keys prosecutor’s office found a government wide strategic plan was hatched to keep a high ranking city employee’s generous severance package out of the public eye before it was approved without discussion by elected officials ”

“All parties involved, except the public, clearly knew” that the Islamorada Village Council planned to approve the $185,000 separation agreement for the village’s in house attorney”

“This lack of transparency was part of the ‘strategic plan’ devised by Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P L, Maria Bassett, the Acting Village Manager and the Islamorada City Council, to keep the public uninformed…”

“The council remains under investigation for potential Sunshine Law violations regarding an August 25 vote to approve a garbage collection rate increase.”

3,699

91760 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070

Office: 305.363.2957 www.keysweekly.com

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pie

a fall staple –

need some friends

this one. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 3,699 pounds and was baked in New Bremen, Ohio on Sept. 25, 2010.

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

help you

Finalist voting for the Best of Upper Keys begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 at keysweekly.com.

After two weeks of online polling the field is now set for the inaugural Best of Upper Keys, People’s Choice Awards.

When it comes to naming the Best Fish Sandwich, people from as far as Alaska, Italy, France and South Africa helped narrow the selection down to Wahoo’s, the Square Grouper and Capt. Craig’s.

“A majority of the votes came from the Florida Keys, including more than a quarter from Key Largo,” said Keys Weekly publisher Jason Koler. “We were excited to see a global audience weighing in on the contest, as this shows how our community is appreciated around the world.”

Nearly 18,000 votes were cast and now the top three nominees in each category will appear in an online ballot to determine who will be named the “Best of…” for 2022.

Voting begins at 12:01 a.m. this Friday, Oct. 7 and concludes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. The winners will be announced at a celebration on Nov. 5 at Whale Harbor, with all proceeds earmarked for the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter.

Sponsored by First Horizon Bank, Mariners Hospital, Promotions Guy, Whale Harbor, Overseas Media Group and Dr. Michelle, the gala will be a celebration of the spirit that makes the Upper Keys one of the most desirable places in the world to run a business, have a home and raise a family.

“Just to land on the ballot is a big deal,” added Koler. “To be nominated as one of the best in your industry by your community is an accomplishment of its own.”

Starting Friday, voters can submit one online ballot per day, so visit keysweekly.com often throughout the process. Updates and reminders will be provided at keysweekly.com, in our daily e-blast, Upper Keys Weekly print editions and social media.

JIM McCARTHY

VILLAGE PROPERTY PLANS

Council candidates give their ideas on uses for land

Fourteen candidates enter for five hotly-contested Islamorada Village Council seats this November. With the most candidates seen in the village’s history, the hopefuls consist of incumbents and newcom ers, Conchs and longtime residents and men and women of all back grounds. Now through Election Day, the Upper Keys Weekly will ask the candi dates a question on key issues facing the village.

THE UPPER KEYS WEEKLY ASKED THE CANDIDATES: What would you propose for the village-owned Island Silver & Spice property?

Answers

printed exactly as submitted by candidates, with responses limited to 75 words.

SUE MILLER

The current village council voted to buy this property for $2.75 million almost a year ago so that the Village would have control of the future use. It is in the heart of our business district, the center of Islamorada. Make it special! We don’t get many opportunities at ensuring the best outcomes for critical properties. We need to involve the residents and busi nesses in the decision. Let’s decide together.

BUDDY PINDER

The Village is always looking for opportunities to develop afford able housing. This is a unique site due to its location in our central district. I would support a Villageguided plan to partner with a developer for work-force housing. Another option would be to create a transportation bug for our Free bee service and overflow parking for our downtown events. There is a lack of parking throughout the Village and this land could help address that issue.

MARY BARLEY

My preference is a public/pri vate partnership with parking at ground level, commercial on second and workforce housing on third floor. That said, deter minations shouldn’t be made in a vacuum. Missing is an actual Visioning Plan for Islamorada, yet every strong town has one. Getting there quickly, with buy in from the public, takes honesty and determination. Difficulties we face (lack of worker housing, traf fic, flawed development patterns) are obvious consequences of hav ing no formal vision.

MARK GREGG

The Village Council should sell the property to a developer who agrees to a mixed-use site plan and deed restrictions imposed by the Village which limit use of the property to redevelopment compatible with our community character and require at least 24 affordable housing units as part of the overall redevelopment plan. The sale proceeds should then be used to purchase additional land for more affordable housing and to purchase vacant environmen tally sensitive lands.

ELIZABETH JOLIN

The use of this property will have to be determined by the com munity. It should encompass the needs of the Village as well as the desires of the citizens. I will promote a process that is trans parent, inclusive, and one that insists on innovative and creative thinking to create something to enhance our vibrant community.

PETE BACHELER

Island Silver and Spice property could be used for affordable hous ing and city parking or other good ideas that the public may have. However, 2023 affects any direc tion that we may want to take. If we can’t get allocations for hous ing units (regular or affordable) we won’t be able to go in that direc tion.

JOHN TIMURA

Sell it at market value. Give the money back to our residents in the form of a millage cut on their property taxes. Explore the possi bility of earmarking some of these funds to subsidize workforce housing in the form of a tax break to property owners who rent to actual working residents such as first responders and teachers as opposed to using them for AirBnBs.

CASEY WATKINS

The issue of allocating the use of the Island Silver and Spice proper ty is complex because of how this property was attained. It would be great for the community to utilize the property to fulfill a supportive cause. Immediately, I do not have an opinion on how I would care to see this property developed. It would be great to apply diligence and weigh the options without rushing into a decision that will negatively affect our future. My vision for the future of Islamorada is to protect our environment and citizens without feeding into un necessary tourism.

DEB GILLIS

With the property centrally located, I would like to see afford able/workforce housing built and it should hold 17 units. As coun cilperson, I would recommend public input. A couple of other good ideas to consider would be technically updated library, multi-purpose center (maybe teen and/or senior), dedicated council chambers allowing current com munity center use again. There are many possibilities. All ideas should contain a housing element. Multiple use property only makes sense. It’s an expensive parking lot.

HENRY ROSENTHAL

A unique and proven feature would be a Village Square, with a spectacular fountain, as a fo cal point and gathering place. (Similar to those in The Villages in central Florida.)

ANGEL BORDEN

A “promised” when purchased “not to be a parking lot”. Partner ship with boutique tenants on one level and affordable housing above…. Could provide ground level parking with shops and living units above. No more village funds expended on it!

SHARON MAHONEY

I clearly remember the night the vote to purchase Island Silver and Spice passed. I was and still am surprised by the concept of a parking lot? Look around that area you can see who will benefit from a parking lot and it’s not the residents of Islamorada. I have several thoughts on this property benefiting the residence. Always a part would be affordable hous ing on the top. The downstairs should benefit the community. All thoughts should be put on the table with the community involved in the final decision. Time we looked at the effects on people that call Islamorada their home.

DAVID WEBB

One of the most mentioned prob lems in our business district is the lack of adequate parking. Many retail establishments routinely use right-of-way’s and/or private prop erty for overflow parking. Very little infrastructure improvement would enable that parcel to be used for paid parking. Our Free bee service could provide shuttle rides to all locations. Until a final decision is made for an alterna tive use, we should be utilizing the property now.

TOM RAFFANELLO

The Silver & Spice location sits squarely in Islamorada’s primary VAC, or commercial hub. It should therefore be used for new busi ness ventures, not housing. For example, this site is better suited for a distillery than a residential area like Plantation Key Colony. The Village should subdivide and swap these commercial parcels for residential lots to develop workforce/affordable housing, or sell it and purchase desired residential lots instead. We need smart, strategic growth.

HURRICANE IAN’S STORM SURGE WREAKS HAVOC ON UPPER KEYS

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Upper Keys communities sus tained minimal to no dam age as Hurricane Ian moved past the island chain to the west, landing at Cayo Costa at Catego ry 4 strength and devastating Florida’s southwestern coast on Sept. 28.

Storm surge from Ian, however, caused problems for a number of Key Largo and Islamorada neighborhoods in the days after Ian’s moving away from the Keys.

Emilie Caldwell Stewart is a Still wright Point resident who watched the waters rise from the second story of her home on North Blackwater Lane in Key Largo last week.

“Hellishly flooded this morning,” Caldwell Stewart said on Sept. 29. “People have water in their ground levels. My neighbor across the street has 4 inches inside.”

National Weather Service forecasts of storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above high tide proved accurate. And while water started to recede in portions of the Lower and Middle Keys, streets and neighborhoods in the Upper Keys remained inundated on Sept. 29.

Jon Rizzo, forecast warning me teorologist with the National Weather Service, said Blackwater Sound peaked at 2.5 feet above normal high tide late night on Sept. 28.

Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District asked customers to minimize toilet flushing and other water use, as the system was under a “great deal of stress due to flooding.”

“Our crews are working around the clock to keep the system operational,” the KLWTD said in a statement. “It is very important that customers mini mize toilet flushing, and using other water which enters the sewer system.”

Residents inside Stillwright Point were cautioned to stay away from a flooded North Blackwater Lane due to the sighting of at least two crocodiles.

“Be careful if you’re walking or bike riding the streets while the water is up,” read a message from a Stillwright Point resident to Caldwell Stewart’s phone.

Inundated roads inside Stillwright Point due to king tides have become all too familiar to residents in recent years. In 2019, streets inside Stillwright Point were under water for 94 days due to king tide flooding. Salt water on roads left many residents like Caldwell Stewart trapped in their homes. Similar issues were witnessed in 2020 when king tide flooding lasted some 70 days. Flooding was also seen last year, but it didn’t last as long compared to the prior two years.

Caldwell Stewart said it would be impossible for a normal truck to drive in Stillwright Point last week.

“Even an ambulance wouldn’t make it here right now,” she said.

Islamorada resident Jim Doran traveled from his home to Lake Sur prise to check on his friend’s home amid concerns of storm surge. When he arrived at the front gate, he quickly realized driving his truck through the water wouldn’t be a good idea.

“There was a lot of water,” he said. “It was up to people’s knees.”

Doran said his friend’s house only appeared to have water in the yard.

Normal spots in Islamorada were flooded, including the end of Woods Avenue. Otherwise, everything was looking pretty good as of Sept. 29, ac cording to Fire Chief Terry Abel. Waters on streets subsided on Oct. 1.

From left, FKEC Line Superintendent Billy Goodwin, with linemen John Stofko, Rob Christensen, Josh Nicolay, Jordan Quade, Rudy Vega, David Ragland, and General Storekeeper Jerry Betancourt head out to help with Hurricane Ian storm restora tion work. The line crews will report to Glades Electric Cooperative, and Bentan court will assist Peace River Electric with their stores and inventory. CONTRIBUTED

Three two-person FKEC Journeymen Linemen teams and a line superintendent with three bucket trucks, a pickup truck, and a digger truck towing a back-yard lift are responding to the request for assistance from Glades Electric Cooperative.

KEYS POWER WORKERS DEPLOYED TO ASSIST AREAS RAVAGED BY HURRICANE IAN

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative sent crews, equipment and material to assist with Hurricane Ian power restoration in Florida last week.

Three two-person FKEC journeymen linemen teams and a line superintendent with three bucket trucks, a pickup truck and a digger truck towing a back-yard lift are responding to the request for assistance from Glades Electric Cooperative. Glades provides power to over 17,000 accounts in portions of Glades, Hendry, High lands and Okeechobee counties.

In response to a request for help in their warehouse, FKEC also sent a general storekeeper to Peace River Electric Cooperative, whose service area extends from Ruskin on Florida's west coast to near Vero Beach.

"At FKEC, we know all about the importance of mutual aid. Five years ago, we had outside assistant crews here helping us restore power after Hurricane Irma," said CEO Scott Newberry. "This will be a marathon, not a sprint, and we will continue working with our fel low electric cooperatives to support them however we can."

While this is a critical situation, COO John Stuart reinforced the importance of safety to the crews before they left, saying, "You will be working in an urgent situation, but safety cannot be sacrificed. We know you will do a great job and come home safe."

Water fills North Blackwater Lane and driveways inside Stillwright Point in Key Largo as residents woke up Thursday morning to storm surge from Hurricane Ian. EMILIE CALDWELL

TREACHEROUS TRAVELS AT CARYSFORT REEF

British ship among the casualties

Anatural-born adventurer, Kirk Munroe traveled extensively. One of those adventures led him to South Florida, where, in 1886, he moved into the growing mainland community of Coconut Grove. He was 36 years old.

Munroe might best be remembered as a writer who authored 40 books. A few of his books were novels, but mostly he wrote travelogues detailing his adventures. His works included stories about his experiences in South Florida and the Keys. Living in Coconut Grove and an excellent sailor, Munroe readily ex plored Biscayne Bay, the Florida Reef and the Keys.

He penned the following description of the water surrounding the Florida Keys: “The terrible Florida reef, with its bewildering maze of shoals, tortuous channels, fierce currents and coral heads lifted almost to the surface, is an ever present menace to the mariners of the waters. Since the date of its discovery it has probably been the cause of more disasters than any other region of similar extent in the world.”

One of the reefs that he would have been familiar with, which may have inspired the quote, was Carysfort Reef. It is one of the old est, most mature reefs in the chain and the result of thousands of years of tedious work by reef-building coral polyps. The extensive reef system stretches for four miles in the shallow Atlantic waters, about six miles off the coast of North Key Largo. Not only massive in size, it is also a shallow reef with depths ranging from 5 to 25 feet. Corals grow so near the surface that a frothy meringue is left behind when the Atlantic washes over some of the shallower reef heads.

Carysfort, too, is one of the most danger ous tracts of coral making up the Florida Reef.

According to the historical record, about one-quarter of all the ships wrecked along the reef line in the early to mid-1800s succumbed

to Carysfort Reef. One reason for the high wreck count was that Carysfort was used as an umbrella term for many reefs growing off of the coast of Key Largo.

One of the ships to meet its end at Carys fort was the H.M.S. Winchester. The 60-gun British warship was built in Bursledon, England, in 1693. At just over 146 feet long and 38 feet wide, the square-rigged vessel maintained a crew of 285 sailors and soldiers. The captain was a man named Edward Bibb.

The Winchester was given orders to sail to the Caribbean and disrupt French business interests. Captain Bibb, with the support of the 60-gun warship Dunkirk, made a successful raid against the French colony at St. Dominique (now known as Haiti) in January 1695. After the attack, the Winchester and the Dunkirk, along with a captured French brigantine, sailed to the temporary home port of Kingston. Jamaica’s in famous Port Royal had fallen into the Caribbean two years prior after a devastating earthquake.

In Kingston, however, all was not well aboard the Winchester. Men were dying as quickly as one every day. Some accounts at tribute scurvy as the source of the sickness, and others to yellow fever. Scurvy seems to make less sense as there would have been loads of citrus available while in port. One hundred forty members of the Winchester’s crew died. Among the dead was Captain Bibb. John Soule was given command of the ship.

In September, Captain Soule sailed out of Kingston Harbor and joined the Dunkirk and the captured French brigantine. The death toll aboard the Winchester continued to rise as they sailed for the Straits of Florida. Soule, too, fell ill and, no longer able to perform his duties as captain, relegated his command to the next in line, Master Andrew Mallard.

Only 60 men were still alive on the Win chester; of those survivors, only 10 were deemed healthy enough to work. As if things

BRAD BERTELLI

is an author, speaker, Florida Keys historian and Honorary Conch. His latest book, “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli, Volume 1,” shares fasci nating glimpses into the rich and sometimes sur prising histories of the Florida Keys.

were not going poorly enough, the Winchester struck a large, shallow reef hard and fast. It was just after midnight on Sept. 24, 1695. Seeing the Winchester in peril, the captain of the Dunkirk ordered the French brigantine to approach the wreck and rescue the sur viving crew. Captain Soule sustained injuries in the impact and was transferred to the brigantine, where he later died.

The Winchester was left on the reef, where it splin tered apart and spilled its cannons along the ocean floor. However, the Win chester was not the ship to leave the most indel ible mark on the reef. That honor went to the H.M.S.

Carysfort, a 118-foot- long British frigate armed with 24 9-pound cannons, four 3-pound cannons, and several guns on swivels. She hit the reef on Oct. 23, 1770. The good news about the Carysfort was that no one lost their lives, the ship was ultimately refloated, and it sailed away.

More than 200 years after the Winchester hit the reef that would become Carysfort, remains of the ship were discovered by two Miami fishermen, Sam Lynch and Jacob Mun roe. In 1938, six cannons from the wreck of the Winchester were salvaged and brought to Lig numvitae Key. Those cannons can still be seen on the gently sloping lawn leading away from the island’s coral rock house.

Cannons from the Winchester at Lignumvitae Key. BILL WESTRAY

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Joseph BUDDY PINDER

VILLAGE MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS

A.Discussion on Current Legal

to

CONSENT AGENDA

in the Village

(All items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the Village Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember so requests, in which event, the item will be moved to the Main Agenda.)

Public comment will be opened regarding all items on the Consent Agenda.

A. Minutes of September 15, 2022 Regular Village Council Meeting

B. Resolution Approving an Agreement with Tim Matthews Tree & Landscaping Inc. for Completion of a Right-Of-Way Planting Project on Plantation Key

C. Resolution Approving FEMA FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Agreement #EMW-2021-FG-07729

D. Resolution Approving Renewal of Property, Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policies and Pollution Liability Policy Through Public Risk Management of Florida Effective October 1, 2022

X. ORDINANCES

Public comment will be opened for each Ordinance after an introduction by staff and Council discussion and debate.

A. 2nd Reading – Vessel Exclusion Zone

B. 2nd Reading – Prohibit Smoking in Village Parks and Beaches

XI. RESOLUTIONS

Public comment will be opened for each Resolution after an introduction by staff and Council discussion and debate.

A.Resolution Approving an Agreement with McFarland Johnson to Provide Design and Engineering Services for the Floodproofing of Fire Station 20, new Safe Room and Generator Enclosure

B.Resolution Approving an Interlocal Agreement for Florida Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System (FLCLASS)

XII. ADJOURNMENT

Options for Viewing

is a sea breeze!

Explore the Upper Keys

TRY A F-ING BAGEL

Islamorada’s F-ing Bagels is now open seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So let’s get the restaurant’s name out of the way first. Parents: You may want to refrain from reading this article aloud in front of little ones, as — how should we put this? — some spicy language lies ahead. Islamorada’s F-ing Bagels serves up “Keys-style” bagels as part of its breakfast/lunch menu. Most baked goods — including those f---ing bagels — are made in-house. Before the small eatery’s opening, owner Trinity VanSteenburg, with her sons Joey and Landon, experimented with finding perfect bagel recipes and flavors. Fruity Pebbles bagels, cinnamon raisin bagels, plain bagels, everything bagels, S’mores bagels … bagels, bagels, bagels.

At one point, VanSteenburg said to her sons, “If I try another f---ing bagel…”

And they replied, “Mom, that should be the name of the store.” And Bingo. F-ing Bagels was born.

“Let’s have fun and get laughing again,” VanSteenburg told Keys Weekly, explaining her decision to roll with naming her restaurant after the F-bomb.

Staff member Destani Olivarri said the restaurant’s name is definitely, well, a scream. Olivarri works the front counter, makes a mean watermelon kiwi lemonade and takes orders over the phone.

“We’re definitely careful when kids are around,” said Olivarri about saying the name aloud. But she has some customers who call specifically to place an order and to bust chops with the uncensored name.

“They yell, ‘Is this f---ing bagels?’” she said. When she responds in kind, the callers die of laughter. (We guess it doesn’t take much to tickle their funny bone.)

Meanwhile, despite the lighthearted restaurant moniker, VanSteenburg takes the menu very

seriously. She gives Olivarri, manager Phil Stanley and staffer Khouri Flanagan the go-ahead to get creative with drinks and sandwiches.

Thus, Olivarri’s kiwi watermelon lemonade is perfect with a recent daily special: an impressively tall ham, bacon, cheddar cheese and chipotle bagel sammie. Sandwiches are also available on croissants, in combinations that customers can either pick from the menu or build on their own: buffalo chicken, ranch dressing and swiss; pastrami Reuben with Swiss, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing; smoked salmon, red onion, capers, tomatoes and cream cheese.

But New York bagel fans, be forewarned: F-ing bagels are definitely “Keys-style,” VanSteenburg pointed out. She tried to recreate a New York bagel but was thwarted by Florida’s humidity, which affects the texture of all doughs, not just for bagels. Still, despite the different recipe, F-ing Bagels are very well-liked, says the staff. Customers have been coming in so steadily that the restaurant’s hours were expanded to seven days a week (as opposed to just five days, when the restaurant opened in July). And there’s even been a best-selling bagel flavor: Asiago.

Bagels notwithstanding, VanSteenburg — who has a lifetime of experience in the restaurant in-

F-ing Bagels manager, Phil Stanley, left, takes an order from regular customer Thomas Caito. CHARLOTTE TWINE/Keys Weekly

dustry and also owns Islamorada’s Caribbean Catering & Rentals as well as Keys Planning & Events — loves to keep playing with the menu to keep the crowds happy. She has a line of sweet pastries; a selection of gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free treats from a local company called Healthy D’Lites; and plans to offer salads and pretzel bites — made fresh, in-house — sometime soon.

That’s the theme of F-ing Bagels: fun on the fly.

“When people have ideas for the menu,” VanSteenburg said, “we want to hear it.”

F-ing Bagels is located at 80925 Overseas Hwy., Unit 6, oceanside, in Islamorada, and is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 305-587-1951 or go to www.f-ingbagels.com.

Owner Trinity VanSteenburg loves to get creative with the F-ing Bagels menu. Here she poses with bagels topped with sprinkles and Fruity Pebbles. CHARLOTTE TWINE/Keys Weekly

UPPER KEYS SCOUTS COLLECT SUPPLIES FOR HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS

"If we're going to be sending vans and supplies for captains, why don't we just send it for the entire community? " he asked.

KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL

Hundreds of 24-packs of water, Gatorade, dozens of boxes of baby diapers and wipes, cans of non-perishables, bleach: that was the show of generosity outside the Tavernier Winn Dixie on Oct. 1 as piles of donated hurricane relief supplies continued to multiply.

"It’s been overwhelming; it’s been amazing," said Jason Swensson, scoutmaster for Troop 914. "Everybody has been very generous, has gone out of their way to at least donate something," he added. Local Troop 914 along with Cub Pack 914 organized this effort to collect donations for the hard-hit victims of Hurricane Ian along Florida's Gulf Coast.

"I think it's a really good thing to donate to people that don't have as much as we do," said 9-year-old Cub Scout Anderson Ervin. "We've had so much help when there's problems in the Keys; people always respond. This is our time to give back," added mom Donna Ervin. "I thought it would be good to do it. We're donating to those in need," said 12-year-old Scout Zach Swensson.

The Sea Base aquatic program for Boy Scouts of America donated two vans and trailers for the relief efforts. Tim Stanfill works for the scouts' national office and he is also the cubmaster for Pack 914. Stanfill said the Sea Base program had 18 sailboats in Placida near Port Charlotte when Ian struck with a vengeance. Many of the boats were destroyed or badly damaged. The scouts sent relief supplies to the captains of those boats. Stanfill knew so much more could and should be done.

Upper Keys resident Jen Nieder was more than happy to pitch in with a 24-pack of water. "We all know how it is; we got hit by Irma," said Nieder. Hurricane Ian hit very close to home for Nieder, who grew up visiting her grandmother's condo along Fort Myers Beach. Her uncle still lives there. He is safe, but many along the west coast are struggling.

"You just want to help those people. The footage coming out is so hard to see," said Nieder as she choked back tears.

Winn Dixie shopper Kristina Landino also has a very personal connection to the hurricane-ravaged area. Her 97-year-old mother lives in Sarasota. Fortunately, she made it through the storm and is safe. Landino applauded these local scouts for helping relief efforts and doing it in such an organized manner. All shoppers were given a list of needed items as they entered the Winn Dixie.

"I'm so delighted. They make it so easy. I'm so glad they're on your way in so you can buy all the stuff; it really makes good sense," said Landino.

Besides donating supplies, some shoppers also gave cash. Relief effort organizers used that cash to buy more desperately needed supplies. The donations made in front of this Winn Dixie will be driven to Fort Myers and Port Charlotte. "We might have to take multiple trips at this point, because of the outpouring of support," said Stanfill.

"It's been overwhelming, but not surprising," added Stanfill's wife Melissa, an adult leader with Pack 914. "We have done other food drives and different things in our Keys community and people are always extremely generous."

‘It has been a tremendous outpouring of support’

VEGAN ROYALTY

Joshua Katcher is one of the foremost advocates for sustainable and ethical fashion in the U.S., with a number of award-winning business ventures pro moting vegan lifestyles. CONTRIBUTED

Joshua Katcher to headline ‘Fox Trot at Sea’

REEF

THE FOX

Reef is a red fox that was saved from a fur farm. He now lives in Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro.

Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” First of all, I hope all of our friends in the Keys remained safe and unharmed when Hurricane Ian passed us. I know a few places down in Key West got some damage so keep an eye out to see how we here in the Upper Keys can help our neighbors to the south. Secondly, I wanted to say a huge thank you to every one that nominated me for “Best Local Celebrity” for the Upper Keys Weekly Best-of contest. I guess now we wait and see if I made it to the final round of vot ing which starts on Friday, Oct. 7.

I have some pretty exciting news regarding our fundraiser in December. Joshua Katcher will be the guest speaker! Joshua is a fashion designer, author and educator who has taught at Parsons, lectured at universities internationally and lobbied in the United States for sustainable and ethical fashion. Katcher’s award-winning book “Fashion Animals” was pub lished in 2019. He established the first men's vegan lifestyle website, The Discerning Brute, in 2008. He then followed that up with the first vegan, ethically-made menswear fashion brand, Brave GentleMan, in 2010, which has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, GQ, The Financial Times and others. He is also co-founder of the award-winning vegan cheese com pany RIND by Dina & Joshua.

Katcher coined the term “circumfauna,” with the definition appear ing in the Ecological Economics Dictionary (2022), and he sits on the board of directors for Collective Fashion Justice. Katcher has won several awards including Outstanding Innovator 2021 from The Fur Bearers and was named one of the Top 20 Most Influential Vegans of 2019 by Veg News Magazine.

His book, “Fashion Animals,” looks at how and why animals are exploited in the fashion industry, which has a hidden history of stagger ing, global impacts on animals and the environment, from extinctions to massive industrial confinement and killing.

Joshua has been a friend to the foxes since the beginning and we are honored that he will be traveling from NYC to join us for our first big fundraising event.

Tickets went on sale Oct. 1. There are only 75 seats available for the sunset cruise event, so head to foxtrotatsea.eventbrite.com to grab yours before they sell out. Mom has ordered some amazing food from local businesses for you all to snack on and I hear there are some amaz ing raffle and silent auction items that will be available to win and bid on!

That’s all for this week. So until next time, Reef, over and out!

LADY

Lady is a dream dog for the bully lover. She adores her humans, especially kids and loves cats. She is incredibly smart, loving and loyal and she loves her toys. Lady is a bull terrier mix, about 2 years old, and such a sweetheart. Her fosters picked her up in their private plane to go to Key West, and she jumped right in, ready to go. She is fearless. If you are interested in a wonderful family pet, please contact Marrvelous Pet Rescues or complete an application at www.mprescues. org.

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, Oct. 6

• Great Discussions on “No End in Sight: A century of drug wars,” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Key Largo Library.

• Islamorada Village Council meet ing at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Com munity Center.

Oct. 7-9

• Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Keys Uni versity fishing seminar. Visit ladieslet gofishing.com for more information.

Saturday, Oct. 8

• Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges host tours at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge at 8 a.m. and at the Nike Missile site at 10 a.m. Con tact jeremy_dixon@fws.gov to join.

• Tenth annual Luau for the Good Health Clinic’s Big Kahuna fundraiser at 6 p.m. Dolphins Plus Bayside, Key Largo.

Sunday, Oct. 9

• Full moon party benefiting Florida Keys Wildlife Society from 4 to 10 p.m. at Sandbar Rooftop Bar, Islamorada.

Monday, Oct. 10

• Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys presents “Spanish Shipwrecks Along the Florida Keys” at 7 p.m. at Coral Isles Church, MM 90, Tavernier.

Tuesday, Oct. 11

• Florida Keys Toastmasters hybrid meeting at 6 p.m. at Keys History & Discovery Center, Islamorada. Email fktoastmasters@gmail.com to learn more.

Wednesday, Oct. 12

• Just Older Youth (JOY) Center classes from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Visit justolderyouthinc.org for a complete schedule.

• Island of Key Largo Federation of Homeowners meeting at 6 p.m. at Key Largo library.

Friday, Oct. 14

• October 14 6 to 8pm Teen Mario Kart Night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Key Largo library. Open to ages 13-18. Pizza and drinks provided. Registration encouraged keylargolib@gmail.com Oct. 13-16

• REEF (Reef Environmental Educa tion Foundation) Fest. Visit reef.org for a list of events.

Friday, Oct, 21

• Italian dinner to benefit the #Save Holly Our Community Holiday Tree from 6 to 8 p.m. at Doc’s Diner, Key Largo.

Saturday, Oct. 22

• Annual Trunk or Treat from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Founders Park.

Vote team Sarah & Sabrina for Best Realtor

BACKCOUNTRY TOURNAMENT REELS IN WINNERS & MONEY FOR STUDENTS IN THE UPPER KEYS

in this community than through fishing and doing what they enjoy?”

Sept.

25 marked the ending of the Key Largo Rotary’s 22nd annual Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge. All participants were invited to an awards banquet at the Elks Lodge in Tavernier, where they were celebrated for their impressive fishing accomplishments and their contributions to local charity organization Take Stock in Children.

This year, the Rotary experienced tremendous success with its Backcountry Challenge. After a few years when COVID limited participation, the tournament returned with 55 anglers. Last year’s event raised over $40,000 for student scholarships. (Keys Weekly is waiting for this year’s fundraising total from event organizers.) Money was raised both through sponsorships of the tournament and through a silent auction that also took place on Sept. 25, when more than 70 items went up for auction.

The Backcountry Fishing Tournament organized by the Key Largo Rotary raises money for Take Stock in Children, a local charity organization that supplies hundreds of thousands of dollars for Florida scholarships. Students can choose to sign up in middle school and high school for a Take Stock mentor.

These scholarships do not merely allow for students to pursue a path to college success. Take Stock also funds and supports vocational scholarships and job training. Chuck Licis-Masson, who oversees the Monroe County Take Stock in Children Program, believes this tournament is an exceptionally important event for Take Stock funding.

The tournament “has been tremendously significant for Take Stock. It provides funds for scholarships and it’s grown over the years,” said Licis-Masson. “What better way to help students

Also attending the event was Andrea Galvan, a Coral Shores graduate who spoke about the importance of the Take Stock program in finding her goals and achieving her dreams.

The tournament, which kicked off Sept. 23, promised a weekend of fishing to benefit Upper Keys students. Anglers were split into five divisions, including the children’s division (anglers younger than 13), the junior division (13- to 17-year-olds), the adult’s division, and the pro and guide divisions.

Winners of the event won prizes, which included paintings by Roberto “Pasta” Pantaleo. Winners were chosen based on the size of the fish they caught and released. In the kids division, Easton Meyers won for biggest trout, and the Junior Backcountry Champion was Chase Caputo, who caught the largest combined length of one redfish, one snook and one trout. The prize for Backcountry Grand Champion went to Gene Kent, and the winner of Top Professional Angler was Chris Hanson. Other awards were given for the biggest individual catches of redfish, trout, and snook.

Most participants spoke highly of their experience with the tournament. Chloe Cummings, a 13-year-old who competed in the Junior Division, said that her “experience has been really fun.” Jack Brown, also 13, said that “I have been fishing since I was 2. I’ve been in maybe five other competitions (in addition to this one.)”

C.A. Richardson, a celebrity fisherman and the host of Flats Class TV, also attended the event, competing in the Pro Division. He has “a personal connection to the Take Stock program,” and believes that “for the people reading this who love backcountry fishing, this is a really great event to get involved

Adults and junior winners of the 22nd Annual Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge.

ZACK WOLTANSKI

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

THOMAS

Gabby Thomas has established herself as the leader of the pack in the Keys girls golf scene. MAGGIE COLEMAN-SAYER/Keys Weekly

Sophomore, Coral Shores High School Golf

Coral Shores golfer Gabby Thomas has played in six matches this season, winning five of them. Her game improves weekly, and she often outscores the gentlemen as well as the ladies. Recently, she shot a 45 at Florida Keys Country Club as she edged closer to a 40, her goal this season. Gabby does not settle for being a great athlete. She is constantly working harder to improve.

“Gabby is a very teachable player; she takes what she is told and practices it until she has perfected it,” said Coral Shores golf coach Danielle Thomas. “She always tries to better herself by practicing and watching videos of other golfers.”

Thomas does not hesitate to share her knowledge and skills. She is both a leader and teacher for her team and those she plays against, offering helpful advice to her competitors on swings, stances and any other aspect of the game. Most admirably, Gabby is a role model to others, exhibiting sportsmanship on and off the course. For her high level of play, leadership role and constant positive interactions with those around her, even during competition, Gabby Thomas is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

FOOTBALL

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

HISTORY RUNS DEEP

Monroe County’s longest-running sports rivalry is renewed under Friday Night Lights

On Friday, Oct. 7, two island football teams will meet on the gridiron to extend what is already the longest standing rivalry in Monroe County sports history, when the Marathon Dolphins make the trip north to challenge the Coral Shores Hurricanes. The redhot 5-1 Hurricanes enter the contest riding a four-game win streak during which they outscored their opponents 141-7. Coral Shores’ defense has surrendered a mere 26 points in total on the season and has yet to give up a 20-point game. The 3-2 Dolphins, meanwhile, will look to begin a streak of their

own. Following a disappointing loss to Ransom Everglades on Sept. 23, the Fins responded with a dominant 36-0 shutout win over BridgePrep Village Green the following week.

Marathon and Coral Shores have met a total of 52 times throughout their storied rivalry that began in 1970. The Hurricanes currently hold the edge in what has been dubbed the “Battle of the Keys” with 27 wins to Marathon’s 25. In preparation for Friday’s showdown, the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap took a look through past iterations of this iconic contest.

COLLEGE WELCOMES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT STEPHANIE SCUDERI

Stephanie Scuderi speaks to a crowd celebrating the College’s new name and brand in 2019. Scud eri, who was previously the Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, will take on a new role at CFK as the Vice President of Advancement. COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS/Contributed

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) welcomed Stephanie Scud eri as its new vice presi dent of advancement and executive director of the CFK Foundation on Oct. 3.

A member of CFK’s senior leadership team, Scuderi will lead the advancement division, which includes market ing, enrollment, recruit ment, financial aid, information technol ogy, student activities, alumni relations, the aquatics center and athletics. As the chief fundraising officer, Scuderi will work with the college president and foundation board to develop strategies to cultivate philanthropic support of the college.

“Ms. Scuderi is very knowledgeable of the Keys community and the College,” said Jonathan Gueverra, CFK president. “Her Keyswide experience and her commitment to the community fit perfectly with CFK. She will also be able to provide valuable perspective as a parent in her new role. I look forward to her expertise.”

Before taking the position, Scuderi served as the chair of the college’s board of trustees. She resigned from the board at its meeting on Sept. 29. Scuderi was appointed to the board in 2015 and served as the chair for seven years.

Scuderi draws from 20 years of professional experience in banking, marketing and consulting to support the community in a variety of ways. A member of Leadership Monroe County’s Class 18, Scuderi has held leadership positions with several organiza tions including the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, the Upper Keys Rotary Club, the Monroe County Education Foundation, Good Health Clinic of Monroe County, the Early Learning Coalition of Mi ami Dade and Monroe, the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District and the Florida Keys Wastewater Assistance Foundation. She previ ously was vice chair of the Tourist Development Council’s DAC IV. Scuderi worked for Centennial Bank for 15 years, serving as market president for the last three years.

Scuderi holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master of science from Northwestern University, and a master of business administration from the University of Virginia.

LOCAL COUPLE FINDS LOVE AT THE DEAD ANIMAL BAR

Dawn

Cale came to live in the Keys at the age of 19. Her first place of employment was the Safari Lounge, locally known as the “Dead Animal Bar” near Caloosa Cove Marina.

She was a long-haired, blonde beauty who worked in the bar restaurant. It was there she met “Barefoot Eddie,” born Edward Cale. Their meeting was the beginning of a Keys love story.

Eddie's grandfather, Charles Cale, came to the Keys in the early 1900s to manage the Windley Key Quarry, now known as the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Like the limestone in the quarry that preserves ancient marine life records of Florida’s geological history, the Cale family has embedded in it a rich history of the human experience in the Keys. An experience that includes managing a quarry that furnished fill for Flagler’s railroad, commer cial fishing, guided fishing adventures, hurricanes, heat, humidity and mosquitos. Dawn, who blew in from California, didn’t know what she was getting into.

“They saw me as fresh blood. Everyone knew each other; I was the new kid in town. ” Dawn laughingly explained.

At first she wasn’t interested in “Barefoot Eddie,” because he never wore shoes. He kept coming into the Dead Animal Bar res taurant. “I thought he was coming in to see the other waitresses, but he told me later he was coming in to see me. We were wed there among the zebra skins, animal heads and elephant feet,” Dawn giggles.

The Cales have been married 32 years and raised their child, Cheyenne, on East Ridge in Islamorada where they have lived for 26 years. Like many long-time locals, they are beginning to ques tion if they can continue to live here because of rising insurance rates, the lure of increased property value and rising cost of living. But they are sure of the importance of having a place to gather and meet others who are experiencing aging in the Keys.

Dawn, who is a board member of Just Older Youth Inc. firmly believes that the JOY Center is a valuable resource for older citizens to socialize, learn new things and find resources they need to stay healthy, fiscally fit and supported. She was recruited for the board because of her accounting background and is responsible for their accounting and interpreting financial reports. She is a volunteer at the JOY Center and a committee member of the Total Teen Joy Drumming after-school program at Plantation Key School.

When I asked the Cales what they would like to see in an Up per Keys Community Center, Dawn suggested a lecture series to continue learning. She also thought that Ed, a veteran and member of American Legion Post No. 145, could share his skill and love of photography. Both are looking at enriching their future and that of others. An Upper Keys Community Center will provide a place to do that.

SHARING TRUTH AND UPLIFTING OTHERS

Salon owner opens up

VAN FLEET

"Ihave a passion for elevating other entrepreneurs, providing excep tional guest experience and creating a culture that makes a difference,” said Yara de la Torre, owner of Lashes & Curls Studio in Key Largo.

De la Torre had a vision and purpose at a young age. She was born and raised in Costa Rica and moved to the Florida Keys at age 14. She then went to Coral Shores High School for a few years before asking her parents to get her GED and an associate's degree. Shortly af ter that, at age 17, she started working at Hair in The Tropics, which has since closed.

Now, as the owner of Lashes & Curls, which is located in the plaza south of Nun Thai, they recently celebrated its fourth anniversary.

"I did all the interior process myself. I received a $5,000 loan from my late father and started organically to serve myself and the community. And now we are up to five chairs, all taken with incredible stylists," De la Torre said. "Lashes & Curls is also the hair home of Balayage, which is a low maintenance, gentle, long-lasting, sun-kissed look hair process. It creates dimension, fluidity and extends the life of the color. I also offer a service that ensures your hair in between the treatment.

“I want my clients to look and feel good from the moment they leave the salon until the moment they come back," she continued.

Those in the Keys community may know de la Torre had a spinal cord injury that oc curred from a fall in April 2019 that left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair. She left the hospital after three weeks and came back to work very fast — five months later.

Thinking back, de la Torre says, "It was put your head down and push forward at many levels — physically, professionally and intel lectually — which motivated me as a business owner and an inspiration to others.

"However, additionally, I had a version of my story, and what I told the world, I swal lowed up all of the cause and the fault,” she continued. “I convinced everyone that it had been an accident and people, knowing me, went along with it. I've since come to under stand my confused level of distress — physical, financial, and emotional — from the relation ship I was in. I have been out of that relation ship for a year now."

In hindsight, she thought she needed to protect her abuser, which is what happens after spending years under someone playing with your emotions — gaslighting, triggering and then love bombing.

"People ask me the most, ‘Why did you stay?’ Unfortunately, I was already so deep into the manipulation tactics that it didn't take much to forgive," she explains.

In truth, the injury was due to an alterca tion and reactive abuse back, which caused the fall — she was pushed.

"I think a lot of people can relate to my situation. I built a beautiful business while hid ing that part of myself. Convincing the world that you're okay while you are not really okay. Now I am sharing my story for what it really is, and this has not come easily."

She continues, "First, I had to understand the level of abuse, then face it and then sit with the embarrassment and shame. It was a process."

In the summer of 2021, so many things and a series of events led her to realize, "I really need to get out of this. My biggest fear was ‘what would happen if I fall?’ And she was never even my caretaker. It was a year after that before I fell. I faced my biggest fear, and it was fine. I have been healing on so many dif ferent levels from this."

De la Torre is also bravely and confidently sharing her story on Instagram and TikTok (both at @yaradelatorre) to help others. So of ten, children, such as her 9-year-old daughter Alex, are also affected.

"It's so important to speak on this. When we think of an abusive relationship, we think of a dainty, shy woman, and I show up big, built a business, smile so big,” she said. “If I could do this, imagine the others that go through this too.

"I need to speak on this, not just for me but an entire group of people,” she continued. “Today, I am much healthier and more vibrant from getting out of the relationship and speak ing my truth. Energetically I have changed."

How would de la Torre advise someone struggling or having a bad day? "Feel your feel ings and give yourself grace versus pushing it off and also know it won't last forever. Impor tant not to push our feelings away and bury them. Trauma is not just what happens with us; it's what stays with us."

What's important to de la Torre? "Seeing other people feel and look better regarding themselves. … Most of my clients always leave with a little golden nugget of wisdom. I think seeing other people be willing to do something for themselves will take them to a higher place. Whether it's getting their hair done or opening their own business."

Where does she see herself in 10 years? "I would love to have a one-stop shop with independent professionals who can run their own business but be part of a network that has a higher standard. We already have two sister companies — Lashville by Marilyn Clore and Beauty by Griselle, which does manicures and pedicures."

She adds, "I envision this salon as part of the community; women come and relax and have a glam girl's day and for tourists when their husband is fishing. I picture nails, mas sage, a spa and a little garden outside. A place where everyone can feel seen, heard and up lifted. I also imagine mentoring. I imagine they can come and get support from me wherever they are in their lives."

To learn more, visit, @lashesandcurlstudio or visit www.lashesandcurlsstudio.com.

From

Lenore Cvitkovic, Kylie Mitchell, Calla Frank, Stephanie Mirchandani and Yara de le Torre.

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of SOUTHERNMOST LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE located at 32 Merganser Lane, Monroe County in the City of Key West, Florida 33040-4372, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated at Key West, Florida this 3rd day of October, 2022.

By: Natalino Trey Scappaticci

Publish: October 6, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of ONGOING WEALTH MANAGEMENT located at 70 Bahama Avenue, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: OWM, LLC Publish: October 6, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of SHIVER ME FINGERS located at 82889 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: OT Collab, Inc.

Publish: October 6, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Pursuant F.S. 328.17, United American Lien & Recovery as agent w/ power of attorney will

LEGAL NOTICES

sell the following vessel(s) to the highest bidder. Inspect 1 week prior @ marina; cash or cashier check; all auctions are held w/ reserve; any persons interested ph 954-563-1999

Sale Date October 28, 2022 @ 10:00 am 3411 NW 9th Ave #707

Ft Lauderdale FL 33309

V12941 1976 Morgan FL0047RR

Hull ID#: MRY10127M76A

inboard pleasure diesel fiberglass 41ft R/O Erine Edward Harbour & Cynthia Marie Taylor Lienor: Pilot House Marina/Restaurant 13 Seagate Blvd Key Largo Licensed Auctioneers FLAB422 FLAU765 & 1911

Publish: September 29 & October 6, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DARLINGTON IN THE MATTER OF: THE INTERVIVOS TRUST OF HELEN M. STABA (NOW DECEASED)

TO: MARGARET AILEEN STABA, Beneficiary and Daughter of Helen M. Staba

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED of the death of Helen M. Staba and that your claim as beneficiary should be presented in writing, along with proof of identification, to The Conner Law Firm, ATTN: Michelle Greenawalt, 906 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, by April 6, 2023.

The Conner Law Firm, P.C. 906 W. Carolina Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550

Phone: (843) 332-1678

Fax: (843) 332-1904

Publish: October 6, 13 & 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

LEGAL NOTICES

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 2022-CP-000267-K

IN RE: ESTATE OF ARTHUR VINTON MYERS, JR., Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Arthur Vinton Myers, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was July 7, 2021, File Number 2022-CP-000267-K, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The estate is testate. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT:

All persons on whom this notice is served who have objections that challenge the validity of the will, the qualifications of the personal representative, venue, or jurisdiction of this Court are required to file their objections with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is served within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

NOTICE OF KEY LARGO FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DISTRICT MILLAGE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022

On November 8, 2022, the Key Largo Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services District will issue a referendum to the voters seeking approval to increase the maximum millage rate in order to cover future costs of provid ing high-quality fire-rescue and emergency medical services to the residents of Key Largo.

The District Board of Commissioners wishes to make clear to Key Largo voters that the Board does not intend to levy annual millage at the maximum rate permitted under the proposed increase and remains committed to its longstanding policy of providing high quality firefight ing, rescue, and emergency medical services in the most cost-effective manner. The District has adopted a five-year operating plan that contem plates a millage rate less than the proposed maximum of 2.00 mills, however also understands the importance of long term planning. The following is the official ballot:

INCREASED MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE FOR KEY LARGO FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES:

The Key Largo Fire & EMS District may not levy ad valorem taxes exceeding 1.00 mill without voter approval. The District seeks to increase its maximum millage rate to cover future costs of providing high-quality fire-rescue and emergency medical services to the residents of Key Largo.

Shall the maximum millage rate of the District be revised to 2.00 mills, to fund the continued provision of fire rescue and emergency medical services to Key Largo residents?

YES

LEGAL NOTICES

ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS AND OBJECTIONS 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: September 29, 2022.

Personal Representative: Arthur Vinton Myers, III, a/k/a Vinton Myers, III 29 Dahlgren Road Richmond, VA 23238

Attorney for Personal Representative: Gina Martinez Nyugen

Florida Bar No. 0256780

Gina Nyugen, P.A. 7300 North Kendall Drive, Suite 540

Miami, Florida 33156

Telephone: (305) 670-9400

Publish:

September 29 & October 6, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2022-CP-000110-P IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY EDNA SMITH A/K/A EDNA M. SMITH Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Mary Edna Smith, also known as Edna M. Smith, deceased, whose date of death was May 29, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070.

The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: September 29, 2022.

Personal Representative: Melissa B. Hemmert 5633 Strand Blvd. Suite 306

Naples, Florida 34110

Attorney for Personal Representative: Jeffrey R. Grant

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 63918 Grant, Cottrell & Miller-Meyers, PLLC 5147 Castello Drive Naples, FL 34103

Telephone: (239) 649-4848

Fax: (239) 643-9810 E-Mail: jeff@grantcottrell.com Seconday E-Mail: jennifer@ grantcottrell.com Publish: September 29 & October 6, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICES

DIVISION: FAMILY IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: SLAVENA MOMCHILOVA, Petitioner, and, BRYAN KELEMEN, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: Bryan Kelemen

LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: Unknown

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 Slavena Momchilova, whose address is 607 Eaton Street, Key West, FL 33040 on or before October 31, 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.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE

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

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

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

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

Dated: September 22, 2022 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Marissa Lockwood Deputy Clerk Publish: September 29, October 6, 13 & 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY

CASE NO. 20-CA-000044-K

THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. WILLIAM STAFFORD, JEFFREY CAMPBELL, JACK A JENSEN AND RUTH L JENSEN, ANN LOUISE MINI, CHARLOTTE PIRNIA, ANN F MACGOWEN AND SUSAN A MACGOWEN, BARBARA D COMPSON, AMIR ESFANDYARI, JOAN C MANTAS, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION

LEGAL NOTICES

grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows: An undivided 1/260th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in the Official Records Book 942, Page 653 through 723, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to Plan, Unit 401, during Unit Week 21. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA As Clerk of the Court By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY CASE NO. 20-CA-000044-K THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff,

v. WILLIAM STAFFORD, JEFFREY CAMPBELL, JACK A JENSEN AND RUTH L JENSEN, ANN LOUISE MINI, CHARLOTTE PIRNIA, ANN F MACGOWEN AND SUSAN A MACGOWEN, BARBARA D COMPSON, AMIR ESFANDYARI, JOAN C MANTAS, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES

MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION

amended from time to time, of the Public Records on Monroe County, Florida

An undivided 1/260th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in the Official Records Book 942, Page 653, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to the Plan, Unit 405, during Unit Week 35.

An Undivided 1/416th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 988, Pages 1510 through 1580, of the Public records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to the Plan, Unit 503, during Unit Week 35.

Unit 38 in Condominium

Parcel Number 105, of the BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM, together with an undivided interest in the common elements appurtenant thereto, according the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Record Book 872 at page 1654 Public Records of Monroe County, FL, together with any amendments thereto. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA As Clerk of the Court

By: Shonta McLeod

As Deputy Clerk Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY

CASE NO. 20-CA-000045-K THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff,

13

27, 2022

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2022-DR-626-K

TO: Joan C Mantas & Nicolas T. Mantas, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Joan C Mantas & Nicolas T. Mantas, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Joan C Mantas & Nicolas T. Mantas or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT XIV of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees,

TO: William Stafford, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of William Stafford, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against William Stafford or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT I, II, III & IV of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows: Condominium Unit 105, Unit Weeks 36 and 37, of THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST, together with an undivided interest in the common elements, according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 872, Page 1654, as

v. WARFIELD M LEWIS, GARY MONTGOMERY AND DR. L. FOLGER WHICKER, BENJAMIN D BARNETT AND JOHN D BARNETT, SUSAN MACGOWEN AND PAULA T. DOWNS, RUSSELL L KERNS AND SHARON E KERNS, STEVEN C HINTON, DAVID HOPS AND CHRISTINE HOPS, TIMESHARE TRADE INS, LLC C/O SPENCE WILLIS, RORY N HORTON, JUDITH A BEETERIDGE, MELANIE SCHELL, MEREDITH PEACE, JAMES E BRADY AND JANET T MAASBRADY, KENNETH R GILBERT AND RITA G GORMAN, AMIR ESFANDYARI, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS,TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF ACTION

TO: Judith A. Betteridge, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Judith A. Betteridge, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Judith A. Betteridge or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT X of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to

be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows:

An Undivided 1/416th interest of

THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUMS as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 988, Pages 1510 through 1580, of the Public records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to the plan, Unit 507, during week 33. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022

KEVIN MADOK, CPA

As Clerk of the Court

By: Shonta McLeod

As Deputy Clerk

Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY

CASE NO. 20-CA-000045-K

THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. WARFIELD M LEWIS, GARY MONTGOMERY AND DR. L. FOLGER WHICKER, BENJAMIN D BARNETT AND JOHN D BARNETT, SUSAN MACGOWEN AND PAULA T. DOWNS, RUSSELL L KERNS AND SHARON E KERNS, STEVEN C HINTON, DAVID HOPS AND CHRISTINE HOPS, TIMESHARE TRADE INS, LLC C/O SPENCE WILLIS, RORY N HORTON, JUDITH A BEETERIDGE, MELANIE SCHELL, MEREDITH PEACE, JAMES E BRADY AND JANET T MAASBRADY, KENNETH R GILBERT AND RITA G GORMAN, AMIR ESFANDYARI, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES

HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES

MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS,TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF ACTION

TO: Meredith Peace, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Meredith Peace, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Meredith Peace or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT XII of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the

following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows:

An Undivided 1/416th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 988, Pages 1510 through 1580, of the Public records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to the plan, Unit 503, during week 41. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA

As Clerk of the Court

By: Shonta McLeod

As Deputy Clerk Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY

CASE NO. 20-CA-000045-K

THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. WARFIELD M LEWIS, GARY MONTGOMERY AND DR. L. FOLGER WHICKER, BENJAMIN D BARNETT AND JOHN D BARNETT, SUSAN MACGOWEN AND PAULA T. DOWNS, RUSSELL L KERNS AND SHARON E KERNS, STEVEN C HINTON, DAVID HOPS AND CHRISTINE HOPS, TIMESHARE TRADE INS, LLC C/O SPENCE WILLIS, RORY N HORTON, JUDITH A BEETERIDGE, MELANIE SCHELL, MEREDITH PEACE, JAMES E BRADY AND JANET T MAASBRADY, KENNETH R GILBERT AND RITA G GORMAN, AMIR ESFANDYARI, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS,TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF ACTION

TO: Melanie Schell, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Melanie Schell, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Melanie Schell or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT XI of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows: An undivided 1/104th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 1047, Pages 1785 through 1856, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy,

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

pursuant to the Plan, Unit 701, during Unit Week 50. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA As Clerk of the Court By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY CASE NO. 20-CA-000045-K THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. WARFIELD M LEWIS, GARY MONTGOMERY AND DR. L. FOLGER WHICKER, BENJAMIN D BARNETT AND JOHN D BARNETT, SUSAN MACGOWEN AND PAULA T. DOWNS, RUSSELL L KERNS AND SHARON E KERNS, STEVEN C HINTON, DAVID HOPS AND CHRISTINE HOPS, TIMESHARE TRADE INS, LLC C/O SPENCE WILLIS, RORY N HORTON, JUDITH A BEETERIDGE, MELANIE SCHELL, MEREDITH PEACE, JAMES E BRADY AND JANET T MAASBRADY, KENNETH R GILBERT AND RITA G GORMAN, AMIR ESFANDYARI, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS,TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS Defendant(s).

AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION

TO: Rory N Horton, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Rory N Horton, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Rory N Horton or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT IX of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows:

An Undivided 1/416th interest as a tenant in common with other owners in the Resort Facility (1 Time Share Interest), according to the Time-Sharing Plan thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 988, Pages 1510 through 1580, of the Public records of Monroe County, Florida (Plan). Together with the right to occupy, pursuant to the plan, Unit 506, during week 34. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either

before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA As Clerk of the Court By: Shonta McLeod

As Deputy Clerk

Publish: October 6 & 13, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY CASE NO. 20-CA-000045-K THE BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST CONDOMINIUM AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. WARFIELD M LEWIS, GARY MONTGOMERY AND DR. L. FOLGER WHICKER, BENJAMIN D BARNETT AND JOHN D BARNETT, SUSAN MACGOWEN AND PAULA T. DOWNS, RUSSELL L KERNS AND SHARON E KERNS, STEVEN C HINTON, DAVID HOPS AND CHRISTINE HOPS, TIMESHARE TRADE INS, LLC C/O SPENCE WILLIS, RORY N HORTON, JUDITH A BEETERIDGE, MELANIE SCHELL, MEREDITH PEACE, JAMES E BRADY AND JANET T MAASBRADY, KENNETH R GILBERT AND RITA G GORMAN, AMIR ESFANDYARI, AND ALL OTHER UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING INTERESTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE PARTIES HEREIN NAMED, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS,TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS

Defendant(s).

AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION TO: Paula T Downs, the unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees of Paula T Downs, and all persons claiming by, through, under or against Paula T Downs or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described in COUNT IV of the Complaint, and all unknown persons, if alive, and if dead, and if not known to be dead or alive, their unknown spouses, heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees or other persons claiming by, through, under or against any unknown person who is known to be dead or otherwise claim to have any right title, or interest in any of the properties described below.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose liens on the following properties in Monroe County, Florida more particularly described as follows: Condominium Unit No. 508 of Unit Week 24, of BANYAN TREE OF KEY WEST, CONDOMINIUM, together with an undivided interest in common elements, according to the Declaration thereof, as recorded in Official Records Book 988, at Page 1510, of the Public Records of MONROE County, Florida. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jonathan J. Coto, the plaintiff’s attorney whose address is Coto Law Firm, P.A. 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, on or before November 7, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on September 26, 2022 KEVIN MADOK, CPA As Clerk of the Court

By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk

THEME: GREEK MYTHOLOGY

HOUSING FOR RENTAUTOS WANTED HOBBIES/COLLECT.

ALL YEARS! Junk or Used.

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

BOATS FOR SALE

FOR SALE: 2007 Cobia - 19 ft, with T-top, 115hp Yamaha. No trailer. Located in Marathon. $9,900 Text 305-743-6098

SPACE FOR RENT

BoatTrailer Spaces Available. $100 per week. Boat dockage available $100 per week. Easy access to the Atlantic and lighthouse. Boat length 32’ or less! Dockage is eighty feet long with good depth for boats. Phone 336-408-8140 or 336-287-3345.

EMPLOYMENT

Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder is hiring an overnight Security Guard- responsibilities include but are not limited to observing marine mammals to ensure quality care, the ability to follow written instructions, and follow protocol and procedures as directed. Candidates must be able to lift 50 lbs and must be able to stay awake and alert for a 13 and a 1/2 hour shift (5:30pm7am). DPMMR is a drug-free workplace. To apply, please send your resume to nancyc@dpmmr.org.

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time bartender/ server. $12/hr + Guaranteed tip pool, employee meals, private club & friendly atmosphere. Saturday evenings required, some week nights. Call 305-7436739 to schedule an interview.

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time dishwasher. $14/hr, Private Club & Friendly Atmosphere, Varying Hours Tuesday –Saturday. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview.

Pancho's Fuel Dock in Marathon is looking for a part-time cashier Thu/Fri/Sat. Please call 305-743-2281.

NOW HIRING - Full Time Seafood Packers/Graders. Competitive Wage. Apply in person at Keys Fisheries Fish House, 3390 Gulfview Ave, Marathon. EOE DFWP

CDL Drivers needed.

Must have a clean record & drug free. We are offering competitive wages. Please apply in person at Discount Rock & Sand, 10500 Aviation Blvd, Unit 2, Marathon

City of Marathon Current Job Openings: Utilities Maintenance, Recreation Specialist, Right of Way Technician, Parttime Marina Custodian/ Maintenance and Marina Tech/Pump Out Captain. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

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

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

NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashiermust be 16 yrs or older, Fulltime Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@sweetsavannahs.com

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 404219-3359 and ask for Dave.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker), Med Tech, Protective Service Aide, Resident Activities Coordinator. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@ kwha.org or 305-296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www.kwha.orgEOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

HOUSING FOR RENT LONG TERM

For Rent in Marathon. Room with balcony, private entrance, and bathroom. Kitchen and laundry privileges. Utilities included. Ask for Dianna at 305-9239181. $1,200 monthly. First and last req. No pets.

Las Brisa - 2BR/2BA

Unfurnished, great view, W/D, covered parking. Tennis, Swimming Pool & BBQ on property. Across from Smather’s Beach, Key West. $3,900/month + util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-747-1700

STUDIO APT FOR RENT - Furnished Studio Apt w/ patio, like new, W/D, off street parking. Key West. $2,300/month including util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-747-1700

YARD SALES

SALES

Yard Sale to benefit Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tavernier. Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8. from 8 a.m. to noon on both days. 144 Key Heights Drive, Tavernier - turn right onto Key Heights Drive just after the new Government Center. Dishes, pots and pans, clothing, shoes, books, knic-knacs, bait buckets, miter boxes, folding lawn chairs, etc.

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

NOW

SUDOKU

NOW HIRING OUTDOOR PRIVATE ESTATE HOUSEMAN

Islamorada | Full Time | $25.00 +/hr

have previous houseman or related experience, valid US DL and SSN. Must be able to pass

be a self-starter

ESTAMOS CONTRATANDO

Tiempo completo, mantenimiento de exterior en casa privada. Localizada en Islamorada, a $25.00+/hr. experiencia previa requerida o similar. Licencia valida en EE.UU. y numero de Seguro social. Capaz de pasar verificacion de antecedents y prueba de droga. Emprendedor motivado capaz de seguir instruciones.

Email resume & references to Lnz777@aol.com or mail to: Resume, c/o Post Net, 88005 Overseas Hwy, Suite 10, Box #162, Islamorada, FL 33036

PROFESSIONALS NEEDED! APPLY

NURSE PRACTITIONER/PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Keys AHEC Health Centers is seeking a Full Time APRN or PA to join its team. Position follows the Teacher’s School Schedule during the year and has limited Summer Hours. Position o ers a competitive wage, great schedule, Health Insurance and other benefits. Duties will be to provide primary care medical services in a school based se ing for students and sta .

FRONT DESK DENTAL/DRIVER

The Keys AHEC Health Center is looking for a FRONT DESK PROFESSIONAL AND MOBILE UNIT DRIVER to join our oral health care team. This position will work with students who normally do not have access to oral health care and need basic dental treatment and prevention services.

Position is 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs), equaling 24-35 hours per week with occasional Friday opportunities. Position will also work the front desk which will require receiving patients, phone calls, patient scheduling, reporting and general administrative duties. Training is provided for the driving, vehicle upkeep and front desk duties on site. Travel is required as we serve all schools countywide which has some longer days for sites at each end of the county.

Position o ers a competitive salary, mileage reimbursement, travel pay and a limited benefit package. EOE

For more information or to submit your CV, contact Michael Cunningham, CEO at 305 743-7111 ext. 202 or email at michael@keysahec.org

DUI

INSTRUCTOR

The Advocate DUI Program is hiring for part time positions. DUI instructors and evaluators - 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required. Bilingual preferred, not required. Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.

OPEN POSITIONS

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Cook, $5,000 Bonus

- Environmental Tech, $5,000 Bonus

- Manager Medical Staff

- Medical Technologist, $15,000 Bonus

- Hyperbaric Tech

- Nurse Supervisor

- Monitor Technician, Cardiac Telemetry

- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $9,000 Bonus

- Patient Experience Advocate, Patient Experience

- Pool Physical Therapist

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $20,000 Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Ctr, $20,000 Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $20,000 Bonus

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, $15,000 Bonus

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- Cook $5,000 Bonus

- Dietitian $5,000 Bonus - ED Team Coordinator

- Floor Technician $5,000 Bonus

- Medical Technologist, $15,000 Bonus

- Nurse Supervisor

- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $9,000 Bonus

- Patient Experience Advocate

- Phlebotomist, $10,000 Bonus

- Pool Physical Therapist

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $20,000 Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care, $20,000 Bonus - Registered Nurse, $20,000 Bonus - Security Of cer - Supervisor Laboratory, $15,000 Bonus - Surgical Technologist

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE - TAVERNIER

- Advance Practice Provider (Physician Assistant) - Nurse Practitioner

- Physician Practice Patient Rep, $1,000 Bonus

WASTEWATER

PLANT OPERATOR

KEY & DUCK KEY

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon

LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net or

APPLY

786-243-8507

HIRING!

School

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Education

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TIME / FULL TIME OPPORTUNITIES

SCHEDULES

TEMPORARY ENGINEER

AGENT

COOK

SERVER

SPA TERRE AT OCEAN KEY:

TECHNICIAN

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WE ARE EXCITED TO OFFER

EMPLOYEE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

OLD TOWN!

SCAN TO VIEW JOB OPENINGS. APPLY

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

O/S Hwy

Ocean Key Resort and Spa is EOE.

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

ARE

KEY LARGO

KEY WEST

MARATHON

Tewes Mortgage

Brian Tewes

WEATHER CONDITIONS

DIVING FOR HEN & CHICKENS

Chance of rain 24%

Chance of rain 43%

Chance of rain 50%

Hen and Chickens Reef explorations usually include an encounter with turtles. CONTRIBUTED

Hurricane Ian not only shut all diving down for a few days, but it also completely ruined the visibility lately. As a result, there wasn’t a lot of diving last week. But the visibility will improve and soon we’ll be enjoying the depths again.

Speaking of enjoying the depths, let’s highlight another reef that is a crew favorite. We talked about a favorite deep reef, Victory, but let’s focus on one of the most healthy and visually stunning shallow reefs in Islamorada. Hen and Chickens Reef is a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) located in the middle of Hawks Channel just off Plantaintion Key. The SPA surrounds a patch reef of clustered corals that resembles a mother hen and her chicks, hence the name.

ERIC BILLIPS

is the owner, captain and instructor at Islamorada Dive Center and Florida Keys Dive Center. He specializes in scuba, rebreather, spearfishing and captaining in the Florida Keys.

It’s a shallow site ranging from 12 to 18 feet in depth. The corals here are very healthy and some rise to just shy of the surface. Being that it is shallow, this is a fantastic site for both scuba divers and snorkelers alike. And it’s not only about the beautiful corals here, the aquatic life is unreal as well. We always see turtles and some unusual suspects hang here like tarpon and eagle rays. You’ll also find the remains of a shipwreck known as the brick barge. It is believed it went down in 1949 while carrying bricks to Key West for the construction of a home. Not all dives need to be deep to see amazing things and Hen and Chickens is a prime example of that, beautiful corals, amazing aquatic life and a wreck

Northeast winds, 15 knots Northeast winds, 15 knots

Northeast winds, 14 knots

3 foot seas

CONSERVATION TIP

Remember an SPA means no fishing, lobstering or spearfishing. These areas are great for viewing, photography and video. So go visit this amazing reef and moor up on one of the many mooring balls and enjoy.

foot seas 3 foot seas

I.CARE took some time off but will be planting again Saturday at Key Dives. The I.CARE organization is also very proud to announce that, to date, we've planted 7,077 corals and have educated 1,488 individuals on coral restoration.