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$1.56B

The combination of seasonal crops, livestock, nursery and aquaculture products potentially lost as a result of category 4 Hurricane Ian is valued between $787 million and $1.56 billion, according to University of Florida econo mists. Vegetables and melons suffered the worst losses, $208 million and $394 million, followed by citrus crops, $147 million to $304 million.

SETTING THE TABLE

Sanctuary Advisory Council test-drives review of Restoration Blueprint ahead of final December recommendation

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

TheFlorida Keys National Ma rine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) has a behemoth task looming at its two-day – for now – December meeting: submit a comprehensive recommendation to guide final edits of the proposed Res toration Blueprint, the first significant changes to sanctuary regulations in more than 20 years. It’s a large enough task that the council spent the major ity of its Oct. 18 meeting in Marathon simply discussing the process by which it will create a finished product.

Though the currently proposed Blueprint is open for online public comment at regulations.gov until Wednesday, Oct. 26, Tuesday’s meet ing represented the final chance for in-person public comment, the major ity of which echoed concerns from the previous public comment sessions held throughout the Florida Keys.

Most civil commenters expressed displeasure with specific area closures, boundary expansions, anchoring regulations, changes to fish-feeding operations, enforcement issues for violators and perceived “government overreach.” Others expressed strong support for the sanctuary’s proposed measures, viewing the majority of the proposed Blueprint as a small com promise for continued protection of critical areas in Keys waterways.

giant leap forward.”

The meeting’s afternoon session served as a trial run for the process SAC chair George Garrett and vice chair Ben Daughtry hope will guide issue-specific discussions in December. Using a previously-completed survey of SAC members’ discussion priorities, the pair identified nearly 30 specific points of interest in the Blueprint, initially tasking members of a smaller “core group” with drafting “support statements” and “issues to consider” as a trial run for a few of them.

Beginning with two areas of the proposed sanctuary boundary expan sion – the Tortugas Region and deep photosynthetic coral reef system known as Pulley Ridge – Daughtry polled council members in attendance on their thoughts, adding their support points and concerns to create a com prehensive summary for each region.

Marathon High School put a bow on its homecoming celebrations with the crowning of Homecom ing King and Queen Emmanuel Polanco, right, and Riley McDon ald. See page 26. BARRY GAUKEL/ Keys Weekly

2 p.m.

“I believe it’s time to give back to the resource and the environment,” said Marathon charter captain Jimmy Gagliardini. “There are a lot of people that are in this room for one reason: they are here to spite government. … They don’t know any of the facts, and they don’t care to. … I don’t see this as a step in the right direction; I see it as a

With an extensive list of pros and cons from varied stakeholders likely to surround each point of contention, dis cussion shifted as to how the council would ensure delivery of a comprehen sive and digestible product to sanctu ary superintendent Sarah Fangman following December’s meeting.

“I want to acknowledge how much work that the members of the core group have done to try to think through, ‘How in the world would we do this?’” said Fangman. “To me, the opportunity of this group to provide

your thoughts collectively is powerful, and it’s really hard. … I appreciate you guys testing this concept, and then hopefully committing to doing home work between now and December to help facilitate important conversations and hopefully coming to some con clusions as a body, as much as that’s possible.”

Several suggested methods of online polling and digital collaboration before the council’s next gathering as a way to streamline discussions, in addition to the use of breakout groups to tackle summaries of each regula tion change before discussion with the entire council.

Conservation and Environment council member Jerry Lorenz advo cated for a weighted polling process by which SAC members could specify their level of support for, or concern with, specific discussion points, rather than a simple majority vote on each regulation change. In doing so, sanc tuary staff would be able to easily identify both points of contention and so-called “no-brainers” in the proposed changes.

“The simple answer for me is that you weight this by voting,” he said. “We’re not all going to agree, so this does give the reader the ability to go, ‘Well, the council really favored (that proposal), but they were divided on this one.’”

With the exact process in Decem ber still to be determined, Daughtry and Garrett tasked SAC members and alternates with choosing specific regulations for which they wish to draft support and concern statements. The statements generated by council members will inform the direction of December’s final discussion on each topic.

Following December’s meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednes day, Dec. 13-14 at a Marathon location to be determined, the Restoration Blueprint will undergo an extensive 18to 20-month review by sanctuary staff, including consultation with stakehold er agencies, before a final review at the state and federal level.

More information about the proposed Restoration Blueprint is at https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/blueprint/.

Sanctuary Advisory Council vice chair Ben Daughtry outlines potential discussion mechanisms for December’s two-day meeting. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

FINAL ORDER DENIES BOAT WORKS LIVE-ABOARD TRANSFERS Ruling may prove helpful in additional appeals

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Aprolonged legal battle centering on the ability to transfer building rights from established live-aboard vessels onto dry land concluded on Oct. 17 with the issuance of a final recommended order from Administrative Law Judge Todd P. Resavage.

The ruling invalidates Marathon's decision to allow the transfer of building rights from live-aboard boats to a development on land.

The order comes on the heels of a final hearing that concluded on July 13 and 14 for the development known as “Boat Works” at the end of 39th Street Ocean in Marathon. The two-day hearing revolved around whether or not Marathon’s land development regulations (LDRs) and comprehensive plan allow the use of dwelling units associated with live-aboard boats formerly docked at the property’s marina as a way to establish building rights that could then be transferred upland and used to develop site-built homes on dry land on the same property.

In development orders for the property approved by the City of Marathon (Resolution 2021-105, adopted on Nov. 9, 2021), building rights for eight of the development’s 20 market-rate waterfront homes were sourced in such a manner, prompting an appeal by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).

Marathon proceeded to issue building permits for the market-rate homes with rights unaffiliated with the live-aboard vessels, prompting DEO to issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) and revoke the city’s long-standing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allowed for city issuance of less significant building permits without state oversight.

“(Resavage) finds that the language set forth in … the LDRs is clear and unambiguous,” the ruling reads. “The transfer of density and building rights is limited to transfers from one parcel of land to another. Accordingly, the undersigned finds that the Resolution is inconsistent with sections 107.13, 107.14, 107.15 and 107.19 of the LDRs.”

In a section titled “Procedural Inadequacy,” the final order also determines that Resolution 2021-105 was not brought to two public hearings as required by law.

The 2021 resolution was intended to remedy an incorrect version of Resolution 2020-92 sent by city staff to the state in December of 2020.

In a prior hearing in November 2021, Marathon claimed that the 2020 version of the resolution rendered to DEO did not “accurately reflect the terms and conditions as adopted by the City Council.” As a result, because the city viewed the 2021 resolution as a clerical correction, it was rendered to the state after only one public hearing on Nov. 9.

“Resolution 2021-105 provides several terms and conditions that differ materially from those contained in Resolution 2020-92,” the final order states. “(DEO) has met its burden of proof in establishing that the Resolution was not considered at two public hearings, as required by … the LDRs.”

Though the ruling is undeniably problematic for Boat Works, language contained in the document may prove helpful for locals in more than 20 appeals filed by DEO over the past six months. The number of existing market-rate and affordable dwelling units at the site – which contains a 52-unit affordable housing building in addition to the waterfront homes – at various points since 2006 has quickly morphed into a recent bone of contention between the city and state. The lack of consensus has resulted in far-reaching effects as Marathon residents battle appeals of a large group of subsequent permits and building rights transfers that trace back to the Boat Works project.

The most recent ruling should prove advantageous for the additional appeals as it clearly establishes that “the Boat Works property ultimately consisted of the rights to build 52 dwelling units. At all times, these rights were confirmed by Marathon and (DEO).” The order references 2006 and 2007 requests by Boat Works to develop the property. At that time, “the property was acknowledged to have 52 dwelling units and 34 wet boat slips,” a declaration that was not contested by DEO.

STORM-HARDENED

Monroe County breaks ground on Emergency Operations Center

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, Emergency Management, Fire Rescue, Project Management and the Sheriff’s Office broke ground on Oct. 18 for a new dedicated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the west end of the Marathon airport with the help of U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez and State Rep. Jim Mooney. The project was made possible with federal and state funding. Construction is tentatively scheduled for completion in spring 2024.

The project consolidates several existing organizations into a new state-of-the-art 28,321square-foot, 220-mph-wind-rated facility that will include Monroe County’s Emergency Management, Fire Rescue administration and the Sheriff’s Office 911 center.

The design of the building is based on a 500-year storm and will provide “near absolute life safety protection against hurricane speed,” according to the project’s page on Ajax Building Company’s website. The design meets FEMA’s windborne debris missile criteria for a hurricane shelter safe room and has a first floor elevation of 20.16 feet. The facility will be selfsustaining for 72 hours for up to 150 emergency response staff, including food, drinking water,

electric power and wastewater storage. It provides satellite, phone and internet-based emergency communications.

“Hurricane Irma (in 2017) showed us that this was a real need for Monroe County, a long time in the making,” said Monroe County Mayor David Rice.

— Contributed

BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly. See more photos at keysweekly.com

1. Monroe County staff, local elected officials and dignitaries break ground on one of the Keys’ highest-priority projects.

2. U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez addresses the crowd.

3. Monroe County Mayor David Rice reaffirms the importance of the dedicated EOC.

To see the real-time construction of the EOC, scan the QR code below

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

DIVING INTO THE ISSUES

Marathon City Council candidates weigh in

Inan effort to provide greater familiarity and communication between the nine Marathon City Council candidates and our readers, the Marathon Weekly is proud to continue our candidate Q&A series leading up to the Marathon City Council election on Nov. 8, when four of the candidates will win seats on the council. Per the referendum passed in August’s primary election, the candidate with the fewest votes who still wins a seat will serve a shorter two-year term,

set to expire at the same time as councilman Luis Gon zalez’s. The other three winners will serve three-year terms. This week’s questions and answers are taken from the Oct. 4 candidate forum co-hosted by Keys Weekly and the Marathon Chamber of Commerce. Some answers have been lightly edited for length and grammar. For a full recording of the candidate forum, including candidates for U.S. Congress and State Rep resentative, scan the QR code below.

In 2016 Marathon voters passed a non-binding referendum for city staff to explore the viability of a community swimming pool. Nothing has happened since. Is this a worthwhile endeavor to pursue?

LYNN LANDRY

The city voted and passed the refer endum by a small margin. We need to make an informed decision, not one from just conjecture or emotion. The council dropped the ball on this one. Do the research; find out the cost associated with a pool and peripheral costs associated and grip all costs associated as well. We can probably get a pool built without any tax burden to the residents. But what about the long-term costs associated with a pool: insurance, maintenance, staff? Find out the real cost to the residents, make an informed decision for the city, work shop it, get input from the city, and put it back on the referendum when we have the real costs involved and how much it will actually be a tax burden on our citizens.

RICHARD TAMBORRINO

I see that we have our hands full right now as a city with the Sunset Park development and the expense associ ated with that, and I’m deeply in favor of Sunset Park. Rotary Park was just refurbished. The community park has had multiple enhancements. I don’t know that a community pool makes a tremendous amount of sense at this particular time because I think we have our hands full with other projects right now.

INGRID TYREE

I know year after year the pool situ ation comes up every single time. I would have to say that not so much a pool, but a splash pad is a lot less money. I have been actually talking to a couple people that install them. So it’d be very little cost, and we could actually take a fee as each child comes in or each family comes in.

FULL FORUM RECORDING

Reruns of the recorded forum are scheduled for Oct. 21 and 28 as well as Nov. 4, all at 5:30 p.m., on Monroe County TV. MCTV broadcasts on Comcast Channel 76, AT&T UVerse Channel 99, Hotwire Fision TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and the MCTV app on iOS and Android. Scan the attached QR code to watch an online recording on demand.

What infrastructure upgrades or improvements would you like to see prioritized?

MIKE LEONARD

That’s a tough question, but the fact of the matter is, we’ve got to walk the straight line. Clearly what we were do ing in the permitting department was not correct, and as a result, we lost our privileges. So the way you have to get them back is you’ve got to walk the line, and you’ve got to do everything by the book, and you can’t make any errors. Obviously, what we did with the 300 allocations when the lawsuits were in did not help that. So, it all comes down to how the city manages itself and how council manages itself with the city. So it’s as simple as that. We’ve got to walk the line to be able to get those privileges back and absolutely prove that we deserve it and can do the job.

JEFF SMITH

The primary issue stems from the lack of transparency and tracking and disclosures of our TBRs, because they moved units, built new early-evacu ation units and gave out permits for market rate units. That’s what caused this problem and caused our MOU to be revoked. Transparency, tracking and working with the DEO is the only way we’re going to be able to speed up those permit issues.

KENNY MATLOCK

I think a more accessible department would be nice, so you can walk in with out a keypad or appointment. I think equal treatment to all contractors would help. I know a lot of contractors complain that specific guys will get (permits) in two days, but it takes them six months. So I think there’s a lot of in consistencies in that department, and I think there’s a lot of room to help out, especially for contractors who make their living.

KEVIN MACAULAY

We all know that infrastructure is important, and there are some ma jor needs ongoing in town right now. It seems like Coco Plum Bridge has mostly been taken care of at this point, but I know the process is still ongoing to actually repair it. Something I would love personally to see here in town is a community pool. Frankly, I think that’s a great thing that we could have here for our community. It’s obviously a tricky situation, and our liability needs to be managed very carefully. The pool should pay for itself; we should not be on the hook for additional tax burdens or anything else for folks who aren’t using it. But I do think that would be a huge resource to have for us here in town and something I think that we should all look forward to trying to work on together to get done.

I think we’re on track with our in frastructure priorities. I think what I would like to see is not technically infrastructure, but I would like to see a beautification project for our median. I would like to see some of our older buildings that are on U.S. 1 renovated for our residents and visitors who drive through. I think that would be some thing that would be good to work on.

WAYNE QUARBERG

It looks like we’re doing a pretty decent job. One of the things that a lot of people that know I’m running for city council have voiced to me is some of the drainage issues. It’s a very dif ficult thing, but we’ve got some really serious drainage issues in Marathon, especially around the golf course. Those people are just inundated.

I’ve got a nice video of a guy surfing through there behind a car during the last rainstorm. It’s just not draining, and we have to address some of these drainage issues.

ROBYN STILL

How do we restore Marathon’s building department’s ability to issue permits?

TDC DENIES COUNTY FUNDING REQUEST

KEYS BICENTENNIAL CAUSES RIFT WITH TOURISM OFFICIALS

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Money,

politics and proto cols.

All three are at the heart of a controversial request for tourism dollars to fund a community celebration of Monroe County’s 200th anniversary. (The county was officially incorporated July 2, 1823.)

County Commissioner Craig Cates is championing the county’s request for $150,000 of tourism revenue for a free concert, historical presentation and drone fireworks show at Truman Waterfront on March 25, 2023.

But tourism officials tasked with evaluating funding applications and al locating tourism revenues — collected from tourists to market the Florida Keys as a destination — twice denied the county’s request. So Cates went above the tourism agency and instead asked the county commission on Oct. 19 to approve the $150,000 allocation of tourism revenues for the 200th cel ebration. The commission was unani mous in its approval.

“We want our residents to have an event they can enjoy (in March) without melting, and for the drone show, we need the sun to be down,” said Kimberly Matthews, the county executive who drafted the application and presented it at the commission meeting.

The timing of the bicentennial celebration and its intended audience posed significant funding problems for the tourism officials, as the March 25 event date occurs during the height of the tourism “season,” when the Keys

are not struggling to attract visitors. Such events are not a priority, and evaluators must give those ap plications a score of 0 in the timing category.

“Events are scored based on when in the cal endar year they are held. Shoulder and off-season events receive higher scoring. Additional scoring points are also given for mid-week events,” states the application for event funding.

Additional factors in the scoring of an application include the number of “heads in beds,” or overnight visitors an event will draw, as well as the event’s mar keting and business plan.

An application must receive a score of 17 or higher to be considered for funding. Only three of the seven Key West committee members who evalu ated the county’s bicentennial application at an Oct. 12 meeting gave the event the minimum required score. The committee ultimately declined to fund the county’s event.

The target audience for the bicentennial event posed another concern for tourism officials, who questioned whether the celebration is for the local community, or a tourist-focused event that will draw visitors.

“Events are scored based on ability to attract out-of-county visitors to the district in which funding is applied,” the grant application states.

Finally, the county’s failure to meet the initial July application deadline for event funding frus trated tourism directors — and Cates, who initially asked officials to forgive the missed deadline and allocate the money anyway.

Instead of violating its grant funding protocols, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) opted to conduct an unprecedented second round of event funding applications, giving the county a second chance to submit its application in October, which it did.

Following the Key West District Advisory Commit tee’s denial on Oct. 12, the countywide TDC board also denied the county’s funding request at its Oct. 18 meeting.

The denials further frustrated Cates, who told the Keys Weekly he attributed the denials to tourism officials’ “attitude.”

He pointed out that the county commission, on which he sits, has the final say to approve or deny tourism funding allocations.

“I don’t understand why a county advisory board would deny a county application, when we have the final say,” Cates said, adding that the TDC collected

more than $70 million in bed tax revenue in the past year. “The Key West District Advisory Committee had more than $870,000 in event funding left over that it didn’t allocate, so it’s not as if we’d be taking money away from another event.”

The Keys Weekly asked Cates why he wouldn’t consider changing the date of the bicentennial celebration to one that would increase its score and thus its eligibility for funding. The legislature of ficially created Monroe County as the sixth county in the Florida territory on July 2, 2023, but “It’s too hot then for an outdoor event,” Cates said.

The county’s funding application for $150,000 describes the bicentennial event as “a one-day … celebration of the 200th anniversary of Monroe County. It will … include an opening musical artist followed by comments from various county com missioners and dignitaries. The main event will be a narrated visual presentation of the 200-year history of Monroe County and the Florida Keys, inter spersed with a musical performance. The evening will end with a drone show.”

The application lists musician Nick Norman as the opening act and Howard Livingston as the headliner.

“Additionally, we will commission challenge coins with the 200th anniversary logo. Each commis sioner and the county administrator will receive 100 coins … to give out in the months leading up to the concert to further promote the event,” the county’s application states.

How tourism funding works

The TDC exists to bring visitors to the Florida Keys through advertising, marketing and funding for events and construction projects that enhance the destination for visitors.

Funding for such activities is paid by tourists and collected by hotels — a 4-cent tax is levied on every dollar spent on overnight lodging. A portion of the 4 cents is used to market and advertise the Keys as a whole, while another portion is earmarked for events and projects occurring within the five indi vidual regions in which the tax is collected.

Members of the TDC’s five District Advisory Committees (DACs) in each region of the Keys evalu ate annual funding applications for special events and construction projects in that district. The money available to each DAC depends on the amount of bed tax revenue collected in that district.

The Tourist Development Council grant application includes a table showing the scoring criteria for applicants, based on the timing of the event seeking funding. CONTRIBUTED

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Notice is hereby given that the Marathon City Council is soliciting applications from those interested in filling a vacancy on the Marathon Board of Trustees for the Retirement Plan and Trust for the City of Marathon. The term of the at large City Council appointed member will be 2 years. The volunteer membership on the Board is open to qualified electors of the City of Marathon. The Board meets once a quarter or as needed at the Marathon Fire Station or other noticed location. Members will be required to file ethics Form 1.

Application forms are available in the office of the City Clerk, or online at www.ci.marathon.fl.us/application. Completed applica tions must be filed with the office of the City Clerk no later than 3:00 pm, November 1, 2022.

HURRICANES AREN’T FLORIDA’S ONLY DISASTER

THE STATE’S INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS A MESS

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Republicans and Democrats agree on nearly nothing these days, except when it comes to property insurance in Florida. On that topic, politicians — in cluding two who want to represent the Florida Keys in Tallahassee — are unanimous in their opinion: the industry itself is as big a disaster as a hurricane.

Insurance premiums are skyrocketing. The industry is plagued by lawsuits that absorb funding that should be spent on claims to re pair homes after a storm.

Both candidates for the Florida House who want to represent the Florida Keys — incum bent Republican Jim Mooney and Democrat Adam Gentle — have repeated their frustra tions with Florida’s property insurance industry and its state-run Citizens Property Insurance at multiple candidate forums.

Recently, Shahid Hamid, a finance profes sor at Florida International University, who directs the Laboratory for Insurance at FIU, wrote an article for The Conversation outlining the problems with Florida’s insurance industry.

The Keys Weekly takes a look at Hamid’s explanation, as well as the local candidates’ positions about needed changes to the industry in Florida.

Hamid wrote on Oct. 5 that Florida’s insur ance premiums have nearly doubled in the past five years, yet private insurance companies are still losing money and going out of business.

Why?

“The biggest single reason is the ‘assign ment of benefits’ problem, involving contrac tors after a storm,” Hamid writes. “It’s partly fraud and partly taking advantage of loose regulation and court decisions that have af fected insurance companies.

“Contractors will knock on doors and say they can get the homeowner a new roof. The cost of a new roof is maybe $20,000 to $30,000. So, the contractor inspects the roof. Often, there isn’t really that much damage. The contractor promises to take care of everything if the homeowner assigns over their insurance benefit. The contractors can then claim what ever they want from the insurance company without needing the homeowner’s consent.

“If the insurance company determines the damage wasn’t actually covered, the contractor sues. So insurance companies are stuck either fighting the lawsuit or settling. Either way, it’s costly.”

Homeowners also can decide to sue over the amount of damage an insurer will cover.

Another issue is flood insurance. Remem ber, windstorm insurance only covers wind damage, not damage caused by storm surge flooding, which has been increasing in recent years. According to Hamid, only about 14% of Florida homeowners pay for flood insurance.

“Some without flood insurance will file damage claims with their property insur ance company, arguing that wind caused the problem,” Hamid writes. “How widespread of a problem are these lawsuits? … About 9% of homeowner property claims nationwide are filed in Florida, yet 79% of lawsuits related to property claims are filed in Florida. The legal cost in 2019 was over $3 billion for insurance companies just fighting these lawsuits, and that’s all going to be passed on to homeowners in higher costs.

“...The state’s regulation is also relatively weak. This may eventually be fixed by the legislature, but that takes time and groups are lobbying against change. It took a long time to pass a law saying the attorney fee has to be capped.”

What do Keys candidates say about the problem?

Florida Keys State Rep. Jim Mooney echoed Hamid’s frustration with the insurance industry and the costly lawsuits during an Oct. 3 candi dates forum hosted by Hometown.

“The insurance industry is just an absolute disaster,” Mooney said at the forum. “There’s nobody in Florida that doesn’t recognize that. … The reality is, every bill we’ve passed to make the insurance companies drop rates a bit, has all been brought into litigation. All the bills that passed, bipartisanly, are now in litigation. We stepped on the wrong toes. We stepped on the attorneys’ toes. And until we can figure out how to get past the lawsuits, there is not going to be a quick fix in Tallahassee, there’s not gonna be a quick fix in Washington. We have to take the legalese out of it. And that’s not gonna be an easy task.”

At the same candidate forum earlier this month, Democrat Adam Gentle, an anti-corrup tion attorney by trade, told the audience, “The first issue is, we don’t have an insurance market anymore … because Citizens, our insurer of last resort, has become the insurer of first resort for many Floridians. And we’ve squeezed the private market so that Citizens is undercutting the market by 50%. We have to reinvigorate our market, introduce competition and make sure Citizens truly is the insurer of last resort.”

Gentle also discussed the problem of law suits and corruption in the insurance industry.

“The real problem is corruption. … Corrup tion in claims. Corruption in rackets between builders and insurance companies. That needs to be investigated. … There are things we need to do to make our system less corrupt and also have a more vigorous market.”

Gentle also pointed out at a July candidates forum “the news about $100 million in litiga tion fees that Citizens pays due to fraud in our marketplace. As your state representative, I would appoint a commission to investigate that fraud so our insurance dollars are actually used to pay for repairs when there’s a storm and not to settle out fraudulent litigation.”

Plenty of people in Tallahassee and else where throughout Florida seem able to define the problems with Florida’s insurance indus try, but few seem able to solve them without lawyers and lawsuits getting in the way. And the catastrophic costs caused by Hurricane Ian aren’t making reform any easier.

Hurricane Irma devastated the Lower and Middle Keys in 2017, including this neighborhood on Big Pine.

Hurricane Irma ripped the roof off a home on Sugarloaf Key in September 2017. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

Paid by Beth Ramsay-Vickrey for Key Colony Beach City Commissioner

Usherettes Stephanie Zajac, left, and Allison Sayer open the show. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

‘Rocky Horror Show’ comes to Marathon Community Theatre

ABIGAIL HADDOCK www.keysweekly.com

Just in time for Halloween, the Marathon Community Theater is putting on “The Rocky Horror Show,” the cult classic musical.

For the uninitiated, “Rocky Horror” is a campy, fun and sometimes bizarre musical that begins with two sweet hearts – Brad (MCT funnyman John Schaefer) and Janet (Jeanie Schwenke) – getting trapped inside the mansion of mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter (John Journell, star of MCT’s drag queen bingo), all with a rock soundtrack.

Many on the stage are new to MCT, and some are even new to musi cal theater, but they are, as Schwenke very modestly put it, “musically in clined.” From the very opening num ber by the “usherettes” (Allison Sayer and Stephanie Zajac) to dance solos from Columbia (Michelle Dobler) and an impressive and hilarious series of hot dog-related belting from Magenta (Abbi Colella), the music of this show is sure to stick with an audience.

“Rocky Horror” isn’t just a musical though. It’s a musical comedy, and the Narrator (Dion Watson) is the comedic voice of the show, responding to hilari ous planned outbursts from the crowd as they follow along with an “audience participation” script. “I remember at 19 or 20, taking my mother to see ‘Rocky’ at midnight,” said Watson. “So now I want to be a part of it. But there are a lot of people who don’t know it, or who have only seen the movie, and you have got to see the real show. This is what it’s all about, and this time my mom has front-row seats.”

THE CAST

Usherettes - Stephanie Zajac, Allison Sayer Brad - John Schaefer Janet - Jeanie Schwenke Phantoms - Sharon Young, Karen Shotwell, Catherine Mc Cole, Chiino Rios Narrator - Dion Watson Riff Raff - Steve Emmerling Magenta - Abbi Colella Columbia - Michelle Dobler Frank N. Furter - John Journell Rocky - Lee Lawson Eddie - Ashley Andrews Dr. Scott - Dayanara Terpos

Schwenke’s family also had con nections to “Rocky Horror.” “I grew up on ‘Rocky Horror,’” she said. “Both me and my sister did the ‘Time Warp’ at our weddings, and we went all out, crashing to the floor at the end and everything.” Schwenke’s castmates confirmed that she knew every line from the start, calling her the “one-woman show” of the cast.

Not all the cast were lifelong “Rocky Horror” fans. Steve Emmerling listened to the soundtrack for the first time after it was suggested by his neighbors, and then auditioned for the mansion’s mysteri ous butler Riff Raff. “I thought the most exciting part was just getting picked (for the role),” he said. “But then I met the oth ers, and they’re all just as excited. What a glorious thing, meeting people who are all as excited about this as you.”

Above all, the cast hopes that audi ences come ready to be part of the show, an interaction made easier by audience participation bags to be distributed to patrons on entry. “Rocky Horror” is an interactive show, and the audience is encouraged to cheer, react, laugh and have fun with the cast. By the end of the show, it’s impossible not to want to dance along with them.

“The Rocky Horror Show” is directed by Jim Zimmerman and opens on Thursday, Oct. 27. It runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. until Nov. 12, with a special 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 30. Tickets are $33 and are available at www. marathontheater.org or by calling 305-743-0994. The show contains adult themes and language, and is recommended for mature audiences.

Columbia (Michelle Dobler, front center) leads a portion of the ‘Time Warp.’

KEEPING KCB’S SMALL-TOWN FEEL

KCB commission candidates weigh in

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Inan effort to provide greater familiarity and communication be tween the Key Colony Beach City Commission candidates and our readers, the Marathon Weekly sent each of them a series of ques tions concerning their backgrounds and stances on pressing city issues. The Weekly will continue to print each candidate’s responses in a Q&A series leading up to the Nov. 8 election, in which two candi dates will win commission seats. This week’s question was submitted to the Weekly by a full-time Key Colony Beach resident unaffiliated with the election.

This week:

With Key Colony Beach implementing a number of recent changes to rules and fees throughout the past few years, how do you feel the city has fared in preserving KCB's small-town feel? What changes, if any, do you feel need to be made in this area?

Answers are printed exactly as submitted by candidates, with responses limited to 100 words.

JOHN DENEALE

KCB is lucky years ago we commis sioned a committee of residents, realtors and vacation rental owners who drew up the ordinances we have which are grandfathered under state law. There are no new rules, just better defined. However, fees for renting and violations have been raised because of the increased cost of managing 600 vacation rentals which make up 39% of our residential units. By recently hiring a code officer, we’re doing a better job of consistently enforcing them to protect both our residents and renters. My job as Commissioner is to provide oversight to ensure fair and consistent enforcement.

BETH RAMSAY-VICKREY

Most of our residents moved to KCB because they liked our small-town, well-maintained community, free of noise, trash, and disturbance. But, unfortunately, some of that small-town community feel has been negatively impacted by vacation renters.

We welcome those who come with consideration for our residents and appreciation for our community; but not the rowdy and reckless who come without regard, who would disrupt our beautiful island.

In order to uphold our standards, protect your quality of life, and pre serve our community character, it’s not so much new rules, as it is enforc ing the ones we already have on the books.

FREDDIE FOSTER

The small-town feel has changed over the years. The city has made new rules, regulations, and ordinances with increased fees, fines, while increasing staff to handle these programs.

The result of this approach has been considered negative, creating disgruntled homeowners. Although many changes are targeted at renters, the city’s approach to enforcement has affected many residents. Could the city’s new direction be why long-term owners have sold their homes?

We should hold unruly renters accountable, including the property owners, but we must find a balance that works for all, most importantly, the residents.

A MEGA- RARITY DOUBLE SHOT

Ihadn’t met John Groskopf until Friday morning, but man, that guy knows how to royally (screw) up your day, if not your weekend.

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

I was sitting at my desk, dutifully putting together a column about tracking sharpshinned hawks via cell phone towers, and why that was both important and so freaking cool, when I got a text from my friend Mariah, who was working in Marathon. And then a similar text from my friend Elsa, who I believe is in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Both were tell ing me the same thing – that this John Groskopf person had found a western spindalis over at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

The western spindalis is a Caribbean species, a smallish songbird, and allegedly non-migratory. It is also a really handsome species, es pecially the male, with black-and-white referee stripes across its head, and a yellow-orange breast that looks like a freshly stoked fire.

Seeing one around here isn’t killer unusual – they get found in the Keys or the South Florida mainland every year or two. Some have even tried to build nests and mate here.

Mariah’s text included a screen grab of the bird, which is what got me moti vated.

I met up with Mark Whiteside in the Ft. Zach parking lot. Groskopf’s post gave GPS coordinates to the exact ficus tree where he’d seen the bird. We were probably there less than five minutes when Mark spotted the bird about 20 feet overhead. We got some good looks before it flew off, though there were enough branches between it and me that I couldn’t get the camera to focus for a decent shot.

A few minutes later Groskopf and his girlfriend Maria came into the hammock. They were really nice, young birders from Sarasota who’d been in the Keys for a couple days looking for rarities. They said the spindalis would feed for a while in the big ficus, then hit a few spots in some smaller trees near the berm path. A few minutes later the spindalis appeared in those spots and I managed to get a few decent shots.

At home again, I realized I was going to have to scrap the column about sharp-shins and put together something about the western spindalis.

I had a lot of jumbled ideas about the bird, like how there were five subspecies of the western spindalis spread out across the islands of Cozu mel, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas and Cuba, but how this bird had a green back – a patch of feath ers that spread across its mantle like a fashion able shawl – and that there were only two greenbacked subspecies, the closest one being native to Cuba. And how this new bird was only the second green-back western spindalis recorded in North America, both in Key West. And how the name “spindalis” meant “type of Indian bird” in Greek, though autocorrect kept trying to change the word to “spindles” every time I turned my back.

I was also working up to a recollection about that first green-backed western spindalis, which was seen in Key West’s Indigenous Park in 2005. I’d been guiding quite a bit at the time, and the bird stuck around for most of the winter afterward. It had this really high, soft seeping call, and I made bank finding it for older guys who’d lost the ability to hear in that upper range. But now, 17 years later, I was terrified I’d become one of the older guys who couldn’t hear it, until the bird flew and gave out its high, soft, seeping call and I heard it loud and clear.

While I was trying to organize all this into a column I got another text from Elsa, and then another text from Mariah, and then a phone call from Reinhard, who’d been at Ft. Zach with us, all of them telling me that Groskopf had found another mega-rarity – a pair of red-legged honey creepers – at Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. And now the western spindalis column was out the window.

Red-legged honeycreepers breed in large swaths of South and Central America, as well as Cuba. The Cuban population was first recorded about 150 years ago, and some believe the species was introduced there. The only previous accepted North American sighting had been in Texas in 2014.

There had been red-legged honeycreeper sightings in the Keys before – one at Fort Zach ary Taylor in April 2003, and another a few weeks later at the Dry Tortugas. But those sightings were rejected by the Florida Ornithological Society re cords committee, due to the fact that red-legged honeycreepers were sometimes sold in the cage bird trade in Miami, even if an escaped pet was highly unlikely to make it all the way to the Tortu gas.

A few things made it more likely these would be accepted, though. For one, the records com mittee seems to have become less conservative in recent years. But also, the day before Groskopf’s sighting, the crew at the Florida Keys Hawkwatch had caught video of a pair of red- legged hon eycreepers landing in a tree at Curry Hammock, perching for about five minutes before moving on south.

There was also the fact that, before I could even leave the house, another pair was reported in Louisiana. And two days later a third pair would be reported in Homestead, near a canal, and a single honeycreeper would also be reported in extreme south Texas. Further, both Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Karl swept through their breeding habitat quite recently, possibly pushing those birds this way.

Groskropf was still at the Botanical Garden when I got there, along with a few other bird ers, all of them staring up into the canopy. Male red-legged honeycreepers in their breeding plumage are an intense blue that doesn’t fully come through in photographs, but this bird was in non-breeding plumage, and more of a watery green, though he kept his sporty scarlet legs. The female, a similar watery green, was further out on the branch. Both of them had the distinctive long, decurved, sickle-shaped bills.

It was just so gobsmacking that two rare spe cies would be spotted in Key West on the same day. So much so that I forgot to complain to John Groskopf about ruining my day.

Left: A red-legged honeycreeper seen this week at Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.

Right: A western spindalis seen this week at Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

Every Halloween we at the Keys Weekly strive to expand your cultural palate by pro viding our Top 10 seasonal songs for your playlist. So whether you’re cruising the Zombie Bike Ride in Key West, hitting all of your favor ite spots behind the airport in Mara thon or getting lost on the spooky streets of Plantation Key Colony, these Halloween jams will impress all of your neighbors and candy bandits alike. So here are our 2022…

BE LIKE MIKE

Honoring a community icon by paying it forward

10. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder (1972). Favorite lyrics: “13-month-old baby… Broke the looking glass… Seven years of bad luck… Good things in your past.”

9. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” by Geto Boys (1991): Favorite lyrics: “At night I can’t sleep I toss and turn. Candlesticks in the dark, visions of bodies being burned.” (NOT for a kid’s playlist)

8. “Dragula” by Rob Zombie (1998). Favorite lyrics: “Dead I am the sky, watchin’ the angels cry. While they slowly turn, conquering the worm.”

7. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC (1979). Favorite lyrics: “Don’t need no reason, Don’t need rhyme, Ain’t nothin’ that I’d rather do Goin’ down, party time.”

6. “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails (1994). Favorite lyrics: “You can have my isolation. You can have the hate that it brings. You can have my absence of faith. You can have everything.” (NOT for a kid’s playlist)

5. “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones (1968). Favorite lyrics: “And I was ’round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain. Made damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate.”

4. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Park er (1984). Favorite lyrics: “Mmm, if you’ve had a dose of a freaky ghost, baby you better call, Ghostbusters!”

3. “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon (1978). Fa vorite lyrics: “He’s the hairy handed gent who ran amok in Kent. … Lately he’s been overheard in Mayfair…”

2. “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett (1962). Favorite lyrics: “The ghouls all came from their humble abodes … to get a jolt of my elec trodes.”

1. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1982). Favorite lyrics: “And grizzly ghouls from every tomb … Are closing in to seal your doom.”

For the month of October, the Keys Weekly Newspa pers are partnering with United Way of Collier and the Keys to remember and honor the life of Mike Forster. A business owner and community advocate, Forster led the effort to feed the Florida Keys in the days following Hurricane Irma and throughout the COVID pandemic. He served on var ious boards, including the United Way, and went on mission trips to Uganda to serve the hundreds of children living in orphanages.

An Islamorada councilman and Monroe County commissioner, Forster passed away on Sept. 6, 2021 at the age of 61 following a battle with COVID. Forster’s good will and generosity has inspired many Keys residents to carry on the spirit of giving and kindness to the island chain and those in need. In continuing the legacy of Forster, United Way of Collier & the Keys and the Keys Weekly Newspapers are highlighting some of the folks in the island chain that continue to pay it forward to help their neigh bors. The community is invited to spend the week leading up to Forster’s birthday, Oct.17-21, to promote good will and generosity through random acts of kindness and sharing to social media and other channels as #BeLikeMike. Visit UWCollierKeys.org/BeLikeMike to learn more about the various ways to get involved.

THIS WEEK’S “BE LIKE MIKE”

FEATURES: JENNIFER POWELL

You’d be hard-pressed to find a community endeavor or nonprofit that this week’s Marathon honoree hasn’t been a part of at one point or another. The current president of the Domestic Abuse Shelter, Powell has served on the organization’s board since 2010, along with tireless volunteer efforts with Pigeon Key, Dolphin Research Center, the Marathon Community The atre, Island Harmony, women’s rights and voter registration events, and much more. She’s a battle-tested Keys resident, moving to the islands in 2005 “just in time” for hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

What inspires you to give back to the community? I’ve always been that way, even before I moved here. I was a volunteer at Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Grady Hospital in Atlan ta, holding and feeding babies in the NICU going through drug withdrawals who had to stay a few extra days. I’ve always felt like I’ve had a good life, and whatever community I’m in needs us. It takes a village, and I’m a part of that village no matter where I live.

What’s the most enjoyable part about helping your community and neighbors? The most enjoyable part is getting to meet all the people and get ting to make connections with those who live in this community.

What kind of impact did Mike Forster have on your life or your community? During COVID, I went down to Key West to the food bank and was a volunteer helping to distrib ute food. I think Mike got that started, the whole issue of feeding people here at that time. I’ve always had a special passion for feeding people; I think we live in a world where no one should be starving.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

Prep volleyball closed out the regular season on Oct. 15, sending each of the three Keys teams into the opening rounds of district playoffs. Key West began its postseason quest against Miami Sunset at home on Oct. 18, with the 10-10 Conchs needing to get past the 8-6 Knights in order to advance. Further up the Keys, Marathon and Coral Shores battled it out for the fourth time this season on Oct. 17, with Coral Shores claiming a 3-0 win in order to advance to the semifinal match on Oct. 19 against Somerset Academy South Homestead. With the loss, Marathon fell to 2-17 on the season.

In the last week of regular season play, Key West beat Hialeah Educational Academy 3-0 on Oct. 13. Coral Shores played two matches, defeating Marathon at their home Senior Night on Oct. 13 before hitting the road the next day and falling to Carrollton School, 3-0.

Kiki Hewlett and Marquisha Abraham block a Coral Shores

The Lady ’Canes’ Lana Tiedemann (8)

up

Coral Shores’ Brooke Mandozzi (14) prepares for a hit against Marathon’s Cassandra Brezil (7).

Marathon’s Malena Rocafort (3) hits the ball over as Coral Shores’ Crystal Gutierrez-Sandoval (4) waits.

Marathon’s Kayesha Christian, left, and Kiki Hewlett, second from left, get vertical to block a hit from Coral Shores’ Addison Morris (20).

The Hurricanes’ Morgan Bailey (22) on the attack.

GOLFERS POLISHING THEIR GAMES FOR DISTRICT PLAY

Marathon played at Redland Golf and Country Club on Oct.

11 against Cutler Bay and Keys Gate. Marathon’s Fisher Coleman-Sayer won the match, edging out teammate Billy Martin by seven strokes. Fellow Fins Ethan Sauders, Aiden Richard and Casey Horvat placed fifth, sixth and seventh in the event.

Summer Haines, Marathon’s lone female golfer in the match, made it count, claiming first place in the event and beating the next golfer by more than 20 strokes.

Key West made the trip to Ocean Reef to play a round against Coral Shores on Oct. 13 at the Hammock course. Key West’s Roco Twyman, Devon Gilday and Andrew Bassett swept the top three spots in the boys matchup. Coral Shores’ Aiden Althouse took fourth place.

The girls’ match had similar results, with Conchs at the top of the leaderboard. Claudia Sterling took first place, followed by Savannah Oropeza. Key West’s Kaylee Arsenault and Coral Shores’ Gabby Thomas tied for third.

Prep golf will move into district play beginning Monday, Oct. 24 for Key West and Tuesday, Oct. 25 for Coral Shores and Marathon. The Conchs will play at Grand Palms Golf Course in Pembroke Pines, and the ’Canes and Fins will head to Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami Beach.

Photos by Tracy McDonald

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

Key West Senior, Running Back

JAMES REYNOLDS

Key West faced what seemed to be

insurmountable odds on Oct. 14 against undefeated Estero High, yet managed to stay within striking distance until the final buzzer. The catalyst in that exciting matchup was running back James Reynolds. At times, Reynolds used his speed to break the corner and gain positive yards. Other times, it was his evasiveness that kept him from going down. And when there was no way around the Estero line, Reynolds lowered his head and plowed through it, carrying anyone foolish enough to keep hanging on with him. The Conchs fed him the ball 25 times in the game, which he turned into 175 yards, one touchdown and a 2-point conversion. Coach Johnny Hughes described him as intelligent – his GPA is north of 4.0 – and hard-working, never skipping a practice or workout. Reynolds is a quiet leader, setting the example by his actions and work ethic, making him the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

— Johnny Hughes, Key West head football coach

“He is a workhorse.”

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

FOOTBALL

MARATHON PALM GLADES

KEY

TURNOVERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN KEY WEST BARN-BURNER

The Key West Conchs knew they would need to bring everything to beat the undefeated Estero Wildcats in their first district game this season on Oct. 14. Estero took an early lead, but a penalty held them to six points on the drive. Key West took little time to tie up the game on a 19yard James Reynolds TD run, then took the lead with a Marco Davila kick.

Estero answered late in the first quarter, reclaiming the lead for a very short time until Kevon Mills tied it up again with 7:05 left in the half. Key West seemed to be in the driver’s seat with less than a minute remaining in the half, but quarterback Adrian Mira suffered a hard hit, fumbling the ball. Estero’s scoop-and-score on the fumble with the ensuing 2-point conversion put the

Wildcats on top 21-13 at the half.

The Wildcats scored again on the opening drive of the second half, extending their lead to two scores. Undaunted, Mills went 49 yards for the Conchs, and a Davila kick brought Key West within eight points, eating up most of the third quarter in the process.

Estero then appeared to put the game away, scoring early in the fourth quarter and taking advantage of a third Conch fumble to go up 42-20.

But Key West wasn’t finished yet. Running back James Reynolds refused to go down, and when the Wildcats wrapped him up, he carried them with him on a 20-yard run that sparked a Key West offensive drive capped off by

Year Winner Score Notes

a 4-yard Mira TD. Reynolds scored 2 on the conversion, narrowing Estero’s lead to 14.

The Conchs’ defense held strong, and Key West methodically moved the ball from their own 10-yard line and made it a one-score deficit with a 67yard touchdown reception from Mira to Jakari Blackman. Davila’s kick gave the Conchs hope, but with just under two minutes left in the game, time was running out. The Conch defense held strong yet again, and rather than punt and chance a big return, Estero opted to run into their own endzone, adding a safety and 2 points to the Key West scoreboard. The 42-37 loss gives the Conchs a record of 2-4 going into an unanticipated county matchup against Coral Shores on Friday, Oct. 21.

1994 Key West 35-0 Key West makes it to the state playoffs; Conch wide receiver Michael Dean is named to the All-State team.

2000 Key West 48-0 Coral Shores wins Florida Monthly Magazine’s “Best High School Athletic Program” award, the same year Rich Russell retired. Russell now serves as the athletic director at CSHS.

2001 Key West 18-14 Justin Duck, Cody Granger, Jesse Kehoe and Latron Hickson make the All-State cut for the Conchs; Jordan Schiengner and Daniel Biondoletti make it for the ‘Canes.

CONCHS VS. HURRICANES, FOOTBALL EDITION

Marathon and Coral Shores have the oldest and longest-running football rivalry in the Florida Keys, but it is not the only one. On Friday, Oct. 21, Coral Shores and Key West will meet for the 12th time since the mid-1990s. With Key West’s original opponent for the week unable to play, and Coral Shores willing to fill in a bye week, the stars have aligned to renew a rivalry last seen in 2010. The game will be played in Tavernier, giving the ’Canes the home field advantage, but as far as the rivalry goes, the advantage goes to the Conchs. Ahead of the surprise showdown, Keys Weekly took a look back at the island rivalry thus far:

2002 Coral Shores 45-42 Ryan Debenstedt is named to the All-State team for the Hurricanes.

2003 Key West 46-6 Longtime Conch coach Pat Freeman retires.

2004 Key West 63-7 Six Conchs are named to the All-State team including Terrance Moore, Alex Yanovych, Laurence Marius, Daniel Garci, Clinton Storr and Daryl Lewis.

2006 Key West 35-7 Jeff Myers semi-retires as the ’Canes head coach after eight seasons; he takes over again for one year in 2010, the year prior to Ed Holly’s first stint as the ‘Canes head coach.

2007 Key West 15-7 Senior running back and linebacker Ralph Major goes on to win the state championship in wrestling for Key West.

2008 Key West 16-0 Jerry Hughes takes over as head coach for the Conchs.

2009 Key West 28-0 ’Canes go 0-10, Conchs go 6-3

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

HERCULEAN PERFORMANCE FROM HAWKINS DRIVES DOLPHINS’ HOMECOMING WIN

By Tracy McDonald and Alex Rickert

The Marathon Dolphins gave a big homecoming crowd an impressive show on Oct. 14, treating their fans to the team’s highest offensive output of the season as they bested the Miami Country Day Spartans 57-21. Five different Dolphin players scored touchdowns, but it was Malachi Hawkins who carried the load Friday night. Hawkins rushed for an incredible 324 yards and four touchdowns, all on the ground.

“Man, when I saw those gaps the line was creating, I couldn’t think of anything else,” said Hawkins. “They made these gaps. Do something about it. I owed them all the yards they gave me.”

“You get a guy like Malachi maybe once every 10 years,” said head coach Mac Childress. “We just try to stay out of his way and not over-coach him, but as he’s developed from his freshman year to his senior year, he’s put in the work to be great.”

Carlos Lezcano, Thomas Eubank, Sean Hale and Yuni DeLeon all also reached the end zone. Dylan Globe kicked two extra points in the game, and Lezcano and Eubank each ran for a two-point conversion. DeLeon kicked his own post-TD point in the final score of the game.

Defensively, the Fins effectively stopped the Spartans’ passing game for the better part of the game. Yaniel Garcia helped out with an interception while Frantz Noel added a monster sack.

“Our kids came out hungry tonight, and we talked about taking care of business and they did that,” said Childress. “We’re one win away from a winning season, which we haven’t had in five years, so these guys need to go get that.”

Marathon will enjoy another home crowd on Thursday, Oct. 20 when they play the Eagles of Palm Glades Prep at 7 p.m.

1. Carlos Lezcano (1) takes it into the end zone for Marathon.

2. Yaniel Quintana (14) and Carlos Lezcano (1) celebrate Lezcano’s TD in the end zone.

3. Marathon’s Malachi Hawkins (2) runs over a Miami Country Day defender.

4. Thomas Eubank (32) and Dylan Globe (3) tackle a Spartan ball carrier. Eubank had 18 tackles for the night.

5. Head coach Mac Childress addresses the team during a timeout.

6. Yaniel Quintana (14) intercepts a Miami pass.

7. The Fins’ Sean Hale (7) rushes for a Marathon touchdown.

Photos by BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly. See more game photos at www.shadypalmphotography.com.

Aparade of nearly 40 ex quisitely decorated cars, trucks, floats and emer gency vehicles gave way to a pep rally, dance and Friday Night Lights as Marathon High School put on its homecoming celebration on Oct. 11-15. Tasked with creating floats to match the 2022 “Around the World” theme, the senior class’ Keys-themed entry – complete with the South ernmost Point, a mermaid, a lighthouse and the Seven Mile Bridge – captured top honors. The junior class took a trip to China for their creation, followed by the sophomores’ journey to Italy and the freshman class’ celebration of Día de los Muertos. At halftime of the homecoming game on Friday night – eventually won in domi nant fashion by Marathon, 57-21 – the school’s 2021 royal home coming duo of Cole McDaniel and Clare Merryman were on the field to lend a hand in crowning Em manuel Polanco and Riley McDon ald as the 2022 homecoming king and queen.

— Alex Rickert

1. The young Stars of the Florida Keys fill up the truck bed to show their support.

2. A beautifully constructed lighthouse, mermaid and Southernmost Point replica adorned the Class of 2023’s Florida Keys-themed float.

3. The Class of 2025 flew across the Atlantic for some Italian touches on their float.

4. The junior class’ China-themed float. The Dolphins did, in fact, ‘Smoke the Spartans.’

5. Homecoming court members Billy Martin, left, and Ayanda Masango make their way down U.S. 1.

6. Though it may not have won the top overall prize, the freshman class’ Día de los Muertos float was by far the most colorful.

7. Homecoming court members Fisher Coleman-Sayer, left, and Cassandra Brezil greet the crowd.

8. Coach Mary Coleman-Sayer, left, keeps an eye on a truck full of Golfin’ Dolphins.

9. Seniors hype up their Keys-themed float.

10. The Marathon High School homecoming queen Riley McDonald, left, and homecoming king Emmanuel Polanco.

Photos by BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly. See more parade and homecoming awards photos at keysweekly.com

SAVE THE TATAS Annual Strides Walk draws huge crowd

Ayearly tradition of flood ing U.S. 1 with a sea of pink continued on Oct. 15 with the 2022 Making

Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Marathon. Kicked off by an ad dress from multiple breast cancer survivors and a musical perfor mance by Marathon Mayor John Bartus in memory of those whose lives have been touched by the deadly disease, hundreds of walk ers took to the sidewalks along the Marathon airport runway for a three-mile course. Offered this year in memory of Shana Casey, a First State Bank employee in Big Pine Key who passed away in August 2022 after a battle against leukemia, the walk raises aware ness for the importance of early detection and the ability of preven tative exams to drastically improve the prognosis of cancer patients.

— Alex Rickert

1. Tracy Arlotta comes out swingin’ to fight breast cancer.

2. Event sponsor Armand Messina, left, and Charlotte Quinn are decked out in their best pink garb.

3. Samantha Perez Amador, left, and Yunaila Diaz help spread the message of hope.

4. From left, Kristina Helms, city coun cil candidate Kevin Macaulay, Sarah Bartus and councilwoman Robyn Still.

5. Marathon Girl Scout Troop 2201 is ready to walk.

6. Breast cancer survivor and legend ary Keys kayaker Suzy Curry speaks before the walk.

7. The Hapynkeys Running crew eschews their traditional Saturday morning run in favor of a walk for the tatas.

8. There’s walking three miles, and then there’s walking three miles in full firefighting gear. Guess which option Marathon Fire Rescue’s Trace Good win chose.

Photos by Alex Rickert and Patti Childress

was amazing!

from WY to the Fl Keys. It was a lot of Facetime showings and phone

in a different time zone, but she made it work. We came down and spent a few days looking at houses in person and she devoted several days to us so we could see everything while in town. Would recommend her and we thank her for what she did for us. - Christina S

I highly recommend Stephany if what you are looking for is an effortless property purchase. She made everything so easy and comfortable. She knew what I wanted and kept digging and looking until we found the right one. It was a breeze working with Stephany and you will see why I say that! - Tony M

Stephany Duvall is a down to earth, quick and a reliable agent. She was able to get ahead of any potential hurdles any home buying process can bring and provided answers when needed. IF and WHEN you are in the Middle Keys-- looking for an agent. See Stephany. She will take great care of your real estate needs. - Toni L

Stephany Handles all aspects of the real estate sale seamlessly. There is no easy deal and Stephany made the difference. I was impressed with her reliability and local knowledge. I will be calling her on my next purchase. - Tom F

MATLOCK TEAMS WITH MARAUDERS

On Oct. 15, Marathon City Council candidate Kenny Matlock teamed up with the Monroe Marauders for a car show and military benefit in Marathon’s Gulfside Village plaza. More than a dozen modern and antique vehicles lined the parking lot, ranging from high-end coupes and convertibles to vintage trucks and even a decommissioned tank. Along with coffee and pizza donated by Curly’s Coffee and Marathon Grill and Ale House, the event collected donations and supplies for military care packages sent by the Marauders.

Karen

Kenny Matlock, left, daughter Elise and wife Kimmie with Matlock’s 1958 Alvis Saracen MK6 armored personnel carrier. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Modern and vintage cars from new Corvettes to vintage trucks fill the Gulfside Village plaza. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly.

KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL www.keysweekly.com

MAKING A DIFFERENCE DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

KEY LARGO WOMAN CHANGES LIVES THROUGH 3D AREOLA TATTOOS

Acozy Key Largo skin care studio was the ideal setting for an unfiltered talk about regaining a sense of self, after breast cancer.

“I lost my hair from chemotherapy. I had loss of hair everywhere and then I lost my breasts,” said cancer survivor and permanent makeup artist Paula Farr. “I can empathize with the client.”

Inside Paula’s Skin Care at Cirque Salon, Farr and two other women recounted their breast cancer ordeals. All three women share similar stories. All were diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, all underwent chemotherapy and double mastectomies, and all wanted to feel complete postreconstruction, without having to go under the knife again.

“It was my plastic surgeon that brought it up to me. He said, ‘It will make such a difference in your life’ and I said, ‘Why?’” said Key Largo resident and breast cancer survivor Paula Friedman.

“And he said, ‘All I can tell you is when women come in to see me after they’ve got the tattoos, they carry themselves different, they feel like women again. It’s all because they have nipples,’” recalled Friedman.

“They got their guns back,” chimed in Farr with a laugh.

For this story, I am not only the author; I am one of the participants sharing my own breast cancer experience. I was 44 years old when I heard four words that just gutted me: you have breast cancer.

Chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction followed.

I met Farr three years ago when a friend referred me to her for eyebrow microblading; my eyebrows never came back postchemo. Through conversation, I learned Farr was a two-time breast cancer survivor, first diagnosed at age 42. After reconstruction, areola tattoos were a life-changer for Farr, not just in how they made her feel about her body, but the tattoos inspired a radical career change.

“I said to myself, ‘Wow, I’m just in awe of the whole procedure and how it looks, that I want to do this as a career,’” she recalled.

Farr went to night school and a few years later quit her job in the dental field and opened her permanent makeup salon in Key Largo near the Publix.

Thousands of eyebrows and over a hundred sets of 3D areolas later, Farr has found her calling. Her nipple tattoos are works of art.

“It is very realistic; it is a 3D effect,” said Farr.

“It’s a lot of layering of the tattoo. There are shadows. And all kinds of different points and layers; it gives that effect that the nipple is actually protruding out,” she added.

Paula Friedman, Farr’s client on the day of this interview, was only 38 years old when a routine mammogram detected breast cancer; it had spread to one of her lymph nodes.

“I was floored. I was floored,” recalled Friedman.

“That was back in 1987. If you got breast cancer back then, and you were young, you were going to die,” said Friedman. “That was the preconception.” Friedman had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, but her battle with breast cancer was not over.

She was diagnosed with the disease for a second time 21 years later. After that second diagnosis, Friedman opted for a double mastectomy.

“I just said, ‘I’ve gone through this twice, I’m not going to go through it a third time.’”

Friedman’s daughter-in-law heard about Farr and her 3D areola permanent makeup; she decided to give it a go. Friedman is an artist and says the natural-looking tattoos deliver a sense of closure.

1. Breast cancer survivors Paula Farr and Kellie Butler Farrell, pictured at the entrance to Cirque Salon in Key Largo. Three years ago, Farrell went to Farr for 3D areola tattoos and was thrilled with the results. CONTRIBUTED

2. Paula Friedman is an artist and two-time breast cancer survivor who recently went to Farr for 3D areola tattoos. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/ Keys Weekly

3. Aesthetician Paula Farr performs eyebrow microblading on Phyllis Kronheim. Farr is a breast cancer survivor who also specializes in 3D areola tattoos. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/Keys Weekly

“It just felt like, ‘Okay, this has all come to an end now, I’m back the way I should be,’” she said.

Farr charges $450 per breast for the 3D areola tattoos and that includes the touch up; it’s a tiny fraction of what surgery would cost. She has also donated tattoos to breast cancer survivors who could not afford them.

“It’s nice to get the word out, not only to cancer patients, but to all women and men in case there’s a family member, a friend, their own wife or their daughter, or their husband because men have breast cancer too,” said Farr.

For more on Paula Farr and her work in 3D areola reconstruction, check her out on Facebook and Instagram at Paula’s Skin Care. She can also be reached by calling or texting 386-527-2075.

ON LOCALS

On Oct. 11, Marathon City Council candidate Mike Leonard hosted a meet-and-greet for Marathon residents at The Stuffed Pig. A 42-year Keys resident, Leonard worked in the financial service industry before forming his own investment advisory firm in 1988. A Take Stock in Children mentor since 2014 and member of the Marathon Rotary Club, he has previously served as the chairman of the Fishermen’s Hospital Foundation and on the hospital’s board of directors in addition to stints on the Marathon Code Board and Planning Commission.

Pictured is Leonard, right, with fellow city council candidates Jeff Smith and Lynn Landry, left, wife Lindsay Rabito Leonard and attorney Patrick Stevens.

PATTI CHILDRESS/Keys Weekly

TIFFANY DUONG tiffany@keysweekly.com

REEF FUTURES

‘CORAL NERDS’ REUNITE TO CREATE CHANGE

At the end of September, hundreds of “coral nerds” from around the globe gathered at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo for Reef Futures, the world’s largest coral restoration conference. Braving heavy winds, rain bands – and Hurricane Ian –they showed up with equal energy and force.

Coral reefs are extremely important – envi ronmentally, economically and as a protection against sea-level rise. Reefs cover just 1% to 2% of the sea floor; yet they support over 25% of marine species – one of the many reasons that they’re called the “rainforests of the sea.” Economically, fish and marine animals that live on coral reefs are crucial for many commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as diving and boating tourism industries. This is certainly true here in the Florida Keys. Finally, corals also act as a critical line of defense for our shorelines by dissipating wave energy from hurricanes and big storms.

Unfortunately, corals have been dying the death of a thousand cuts, suffering from poor water quality, runoff, climate change, warm ing and acidifying oceans, over use, and more. Scientists have predicted that most coral reefs will be lost by 2050.

Coral restoration is a relatively new sci ence. Born in the Keys just over a dozen years ago from “backyard experiments” by industry legends like Ken Nedimyer and David Vaughan, it has evolved into major science initiatives – in cluding genetics, spawning in the lab and more.

“This has been awesome. We’ve been at this a long time,” said Nedimyer, about himself and Vaughan. “And to see this many people coming together and all the great ideas is a dream come true. Ten years ago, you couldn’t fill a small room with people, but, today, we oversold this whole thing, and who knows how many people out there are watching and wait ing to be a part of this.”

Reversing the downward trend for cor als was a huge reason that coral restoration developed as a science in the first place. It was also the genesis for the inaugural Reef Futures conference, held in 2018.

“Reef Futures is an incredible opportu nity for those of us in the Florida Keys to have people from all around the world joining us to learn about restoration efforts from all over,” said Sarah Fangman, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

“It was obvious we had to do something big because the reef is the lifeline of this commu nity,” said Fangman. “Reef Futures (2018) was the catalyst for bold action. It helped us realize we aren’t out of options, out of ideas, out of things to do.”

After the 2018 conference, the sanctuary gathered some people to create and execute a careful and deliberate plan to answer one question: what does it mean to do more for the Florida Keys? What they came up with is called Mission: Iconic Reefs, and the goal is to restore seven key reef sites throughout the Keys with a great chance to succeed and benefit nearby areas. Their analysis also included a punch list for each site and the cost to complete.

“We’re trying to take things to the next level,” Fangman said. This momentum mir rored that of other conference presenters and attendees within their own work in seas across the globe.

“When we first held this conference, it was just a lot of ideas. Now, we’re hearing how these ideas are implemented and taking on a life of their own,” said Jessica Levy, director of restoration strategy for Coral Restoration Foun dation. “We’re having smart funding conversa tions. They’re tangible. There’s action.”

Jennifer Moore of NOAA Fisheries and a lead on the planning committee for Reef Futures, agreed, saying, “2018 was the first time we held Reef Futures, and the one notable thing we heard coming out of it was that there was an immense feeling of hope. And, that was the catalyst for what we’ve all done for the last several years, and now, we’re showing what we can do with that hope. We’re getting things done, we’re raising a lot more money, we’re getting more boots on the ground – and we’re actually increasing coral cover, but we need to do so much more.”

Indeed, one of the biggest shifts between the 2022 conference and its 2018 predeces sor was the amount of real-world solutions and funding being discussed. Instead of trying to validate that coral restoration works and is important, now the discussion is how to scale and fund restoration work to the level needed to save the world’s coral.

As the storm passed through, the coral nerds mingled around scientific posters and got excited sharing pictures of their latest coral nursery successes. As the meeting of the minds came to a close, countless attendees and or ganizations recommitted and reaffirmed their desire to continue building on the momentum of the moment.

Scott Winters, co-chair of host organization Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC), summa rized it well: “If we weren’t up for a big chal lenge, we wouldn’t be trying to save coral reefs. But, we’re here for a reason.”

Coral restoration practitioners from around the world come to Key Largo to demonstrate their work. CORAL RES TORATION FOUNDA TION/Contributed

Jessica Levy and Scott Winters help organize the entire conference.

Ownership and

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by

SAM C. STEELE, CFC CONSTITUTIONAL TAX COLLECTOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

HONORING HEROES

Domestic Abuse Shelter holds ‘Rebuild, Recover, Restore’ event

Atent full of listeners fell silent as they listened to courageous survivor stories from victims and their loved ones at the Domestic Abuse Shelter of the Florida Keys’ “Hero’s Luncheon” on Oct. 13 at the Marathon Community Park. Hosted to bring awareness to DAS’ countywide life-saving mission, the afternoon was capped by an address from retired three-star Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin, a former deputy undersecretary of defense and Delta Force commander, detailing his own wife’s brave escape from treacherous domestic violence.

With its 25-bed Middle Keys emergency shelter destroyed in Hurricane Irma, the DAS is in the midst of a three-year, $14 million campaign to rebuild the Middle Keys shelter and eventually provide an additional pet shelter as it continues its outreach efforts, funds economic education to encourage financial stability and independence for survivors, and continues the work of its Lower Keys emergency shelter and outreach efforts in the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. More information is at www.domesticabuseshelter.org or 305-743-5452.

— Alex Rickert

1. Supporters of the DAS mission fill the tent at the Marathon Community Park.

2. Survivor and DAS board member Lexi Bourcier reads ‘A Survivor’s Voice.’

3. Jennifer Powell, DAS board president, thanks the crowd and expands upon the importance of the shelter’s mission and ongoing needs.

4. Retired Gen. William ‘Jerry’ Boykin recounts his wife’s escape from an abusive relationship, urging listeners to take active roles in protecting victims from the horrors of domestic violence.

5. From left, DAS staff members Sarah Vancaster, Pat Davis, Hannah Viau, Dee Dee Mayo, Jasmine Lee, Anna Hubicki and Jessica Maqueira

Photos by SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY/ Contributed

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Discover the Keys FCU difference at any branch in Key West at 3022 N. Roosevelt Blvd. and 514 Southard St. and in Stock Island, Big Pine, Marathon or Tavernier Towne Center at MM 91. KeysFCU.org • 305-294-6622

THE DEAD ROMANTICS

By Ashley Poston

When Flor ence Day arrives to meet her new book editor, she finds none other than Benji Andor sitting across from her. Florence is a ghostwriter for a romance series by the exceedingly successful Ann Nich ols. She has written Ann’s last three best-selling novels, yet Benji is refus ing her latest deadline extension request. He just doesn’t understand. The past year has been hard for Florence. After being dumped by her no-good story-stealing boyfriend, she no longer believes in happy endings. When her beloved father passes away, Florence is summoned back to her small hometown of Mairmont, South Carolina. Florence and her father share a supernatural gift: they can see and communicate with the dearly departed. As if things weren’t complicated enough, days into her visit she is approached by Benji, who had a horrific accident. Completely baffled, they must find a way to unwind the most complicat ed happy ending of all time. Recom mended for ghost lovers and regular people too.

OTHER BIRDS

By Sarah Addison Allen

Off the coast of South Carolina is a small charm ing island called Mallow, its history as sweet as the marshmallows it once produced. Eighteen-year-old Zoey arrives at The Dellawisp condo complex with her invisible bird Pigeon to claim her inheritance, all that is left of her mother. She is introduced to an eclectic group of tenants: Char lotte, a reclusive henna artist who quickly finds a way into Zoey’s heart; Mac, an award-winning chef with a haunting past who provides them with scrumptious comfort food; her neighbor Lizbeth, a mean-spirited hoarder who dies and leaves Zoey with the tedious job of cleaning the apartment and the good fortune of meeting Lizbeth’s very handsome son; and Frasier, who runs the com plex and deeply cares for them all, including the mysterious exotic birds that control the courtyard. Lonely ever since her father remarried, Zoey is determined to use this spe cial summer to create a new life for herself. As ghosts of the past swirl around them, these new friends are guided toward the mystery that has kept the Dellawisp alive. Filled with magical realism and moments of unexplainable joy.

THE WITCH IN THE WELL

By Camilla Bruce

In the small town known only as “F—” two girls become summer friends. Cathy lives on a neighbor ing farm and Elena comes from the big city every year to spend time with her Uncle John on an old estate called “the castle.” At 12, the girls roam free, spending their days exploring the forest and swimming at the lake. As teens they begin to drift apart, with Cathy resenting that Elena has better things to do, while her own life remains desolate. Years later, Elena is a successful social media influencer and novelist and returns to F— to clear out Uncle John’s estate when he passes away. Cathy has spent the last few years obsessively researching the local town archives for her novel about Ilsbeth Clark, a woman accused of witchcraft who drowned in the well hundreds of years ago – a well many have lost their lives to since. The reunion between the two old friends is bitter and awkward. As summer slips away, it becomes clear that Elena has a similar novel in mind, initiating a nasty feud. Chock full of witches, demons and spirits, this creepy tale becomes deadly when the unimaginable truth is revealed.

WATCH TIP: “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+. Fun for the whole family! Two women bring the Sanderson sisters back to Salem and must stop the witches from causing complete world chaos.

... a reader and now a writer, has hundreds of book reviews at: www. readingandeat ing.com. For questions and comments, email karen@newfield. org.

TALKING TO THE DEAD, MAGICAL BIRDS IN THE COURTYARD AND WITCHES IN THE WELL. GET READY FOR HALLOWEEN WITH THESE HAUNTING NEW READS!

KAREN NEWFIELD

COMMERCE CORNER

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Whether you like plants, history, photography, happy hours, or just a beautiful view, Up The Keys' tours have something for everyone and can be customized to match guests’ interests. Their guides love sharing the beauty, unique nature and local stories as they travel up and down the Overseas Highway in a relaxed se ing. Always eager to add value to its tours, Up The Keys encourages collaboration and is always seeking partnerships with local businesses.

BRIEFLY

Handel’s Messiah choir seeks voices for holiday show

The Handel's Messiah choir is looking for singers in all parts of the performance. Rehearsals are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Columba at 252 W 52nd St. in Marathon. Music is provided. Knowledge of music is not required. YouTube links are available for individual practice. The Messiah will be performed at St. Columba on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. with a runthrough that day at 1 p.m. A full dress rehearsal will be held Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact director Lesley Aaron at 305-395-9895 or at keysmusician998@gmail.com.

Firefighter paramedic arrested in Trauma Star drug case

A second Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighter paramedic assigned to the Trauma Star helicopter program has been arrested for tampering with evidence and official misconduct. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit.

“Trauma Star is a vital, life-saving program. We will continue to hold those who obstruct this criminal investigation accountable,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

Police said Harold Jaesson Perez, 34, of Miami, lied to detectives about his knowledge of an ongoing investigation into the theft of narcotics from the Trauma Star hangar and that he deleted text messages from his phone that were evidence in a criminal investigation.

Perez’s arrest follows the September arrest of former Chief Flight Nurse Lynda Rusinowski, 56, as well as the arrest of Damian Roberto Suarez, 44, of Miami. The investigation remains ongoing.

A spooky month at the Marathon Library

Are you ready for a spooky month at the Marathon Library with scary movies, costumes, crafts and fun programs? Stay tuned every week. Attend a program and get freebies.

Friday, Oct. 21: Legal Services of the Florida Keys, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photography: Learn to see through a photographer's eye (adults and teens) 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Arts & Crafts: Make your own trick or treat bags (family) 4 p.m.; Food Trucks For Birds: Trisha Keffer shows us how to set up "food truck" stops for migrating birds. All are welcome, 3 to 5 p.m.; Freaky Friday Film Night: John Carpenter's "The Thing," (adults, rated R) 5 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22: Easy Yoga: Adaptive yoga (adults) 10 a.m.; Reading Assistance Education Dogs (kids)10:30 a.m.; Virtual Reality, Robots and Games Open Lab, family fun, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 24: Medicare Counseling with SHINE 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 3D Printing Lab, 10 a.m.; Teen Advisory Group, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 25: Fine Art: making holiday cards (adults/teens) 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Mahjong: Game of Tiles, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Storytime: Stories, songs, crafts and rhymes, 10:30 a.m (ages newborn-5); Paradise Quilters, 1 p.m.; Sketching workshop (teens) 3 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons (adults) 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Easy Yoga (adults) 10 a.m.; Dungeons & Dragons (teens) 3 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons (adults) 5 p.m

Thursday, Oct. 27: Home school learning activities, 10:30 a.m.; Free computer tutor: MS Word basics class, registration preferred (adults), noon; Lego Maker Lab (kids) 4 p.m.

Peanut Butter Challenge donation event runs through end of October

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension is participating in the statewide Peanut Butter Challenge. The challenge will run through Monday, Oct. 31. Extension Services will be collecting unopened jars of peanut butter to help fight hunger. Donors may drop off jars at any of the three main Monroe County facilities: Gato Suite 2-260, Marathon Government Center Suite 400 or Murray Nelson Government Center Suite 244.

All peanut butter donations will be distributed to local food pantries. In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) will match the community donation. The matched donated jars will be distributed to counties’ food pantries that have been affected by Hurricane Ian.

RUSTY

5-year-old male mixed breed

Looking for: I’m heartworm positive, but the nice folks at the FKSPCA are treating it! I am looking for a calm, quiet house to keep me safe while I take my medicine.

Turnoffs: Cats! They are fun to chase.

TAKE ME HOME

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

Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turnoffs to ensure the best fit.

From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people. The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.

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

Apollo 7

TUX

3-month-old male domestic shorthair

Looking For: A family with other cats. All my siblings got adopted and it sure is lonely.

Turnoffs: Nothing! I’m a happy, friendly, playful kitten.

MAYBELLE

1-year-old female rabbit

Looking for: A rabbitfriendly family to call my own.

Turnoffs: Staying in a cage. I love to hop around, play and exercise.

A look back at the lunar program’s shakedown cruise is the Mayor of the City of Marathon. He also is a musician who performs around town. For more see johnbartus. com

It’s very hard to believe that the 1960s happened as long ago as they did. It’s also hard to believe that last Tuesday was the 54th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 7 from Launch Complex 34 at Cape Canaveral. While overshadowed by Apollos 8, 11 and 13, Apollo 7 was a very important flight — a shakedown cruise, if you will, of the Apollo spacecraft. Astronauts Wally Schirra, Walt Cunningham, and Donn Eisele put the command and service modules through the tests necessary to ensure the reliability and safety of a newly redesigned spacecraft.

The complete redesign of the Apollo command module (CM) was the result of the Apollo 1 tragedy. On Jan. 27, 1967, while performing a routine simulated launch test atop the assembled Saturn IB rocket at Complex 34, a stray spark inside the CM ignited a flash fire in the pure oxygen atmosphere that took the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. The spacecraft’s wiring and hatch were subjected to major redesign and improvement, and there would be no more launch pad tests at 100% oxygen.

Fast forward over a year and a half, and the eyes of the nation were upon Launch Complex 34 once again. This time, pre-launch tests proved successful, and Apollo 7 lifted off into earth orbit on Oct. 11, 1968 for an 11day manned test flight.

On day two, mission commander (and original Mercury 7 astronaut) Wally Schirra woke up with a major head cold. An annoying inconvenience on the ground; in zero-gravity space, however, mucus just accumulates in the sinuses and doesn’t drain. The normally irascible Schirra became more irritable by the minute, and the full load of tasks the crew had to perform did nothing to ease Schirra’s discomfort.

Neither did Mission Control. Schirra didn’t take kindly to changes in the flight plan that was carefully developed for months prior to liftoff. Schedule changes made Schirra quite difficult to deal with. Against the wishes of Mission Control, he delayed a scheduled prime-time television broadcast from space until after a delicate rendezvous maneuver was completed. Any other deviations from “the script,” or experiments deemed unnecessary to the flight test goals, were met with similar resistance from the ailing Schirra.

JOHN BARTUS

Because the audio communications between the spacecraft and Mission Control were constantly fed to the press pool, the reporters got an earful at times. Some began writing about the “snappishness” of the astronauts.

Things got to a point where manned spaceflight director Chris Kraft proposed breaking protocol and speaking to Schirra directly. Astronaut corps director Deke Slayton took it upon himself to talk to Schirra and relay Kraft’s instructions, an exchange printed in Time magazine:

“I told him that the whole world was following this flight and that he and his crew were not coming across well,” Slayton said. “I told him he was trained to do a job and that he'd better get busy doing it.”

“And?” Kraft asked.

“And he told me to go to hell.”

Eleven days after liftoff, Apollo 7 ended successfully with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. The new spacecraft proved a worthy ship, and no other Apollo astronauts were ever lost. But because of Schirrra’s attitude, none of the three Apollo 7 astronauts ever flew again.

Two months later, the world watched transfixed as Apollo 8 broadcast a Christmas message from lunar orbit. The following July, the world again stood still as two people from Earth stepped onto the surface of the moon.

Anyway, back to Launch Complex 34. Today, nothing is left save for the concrete launchpad platform that bears a plaque in remembrance of the Apollo 1 astronauts – and the reinforced concrete blockhouse near the launch pad where my father went to work as a member of Apollo/Saturn Launch Control during those heady days more than a half-century ago.

— Catch John each Monday at Boondocks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Key Colony Inn, and Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com

New members joining in October will receive the following FREE/Discounted items:

1) FL Keys Media (Conch Country; 98.7 only): FREE radio ads for two (2) weeks

2) Marathon Weekly: FREE business spotlight ad.

Florida Keys Free Press: FREE business spotlight ad.

Timeout Magazine: 50% off for three ad runs (Includes ad design.)

Marathon & The Middle Florida Keys Magazine: 20% off all ads.

6) Marathon UPS Store: 20% print discount for Chamber Members

7) US1 Graphics: New members get a FREE 32oz. stainless steel drinking tumbler ($50.00 value) and a discount package on business printing, branded clothing, tee shirts, signs and banners.

8) Overseas Media Group: FREE Website Audit or consultation.

9) Magnum Broadcasting: 25 FREE ads on Keys Talk 102.5 / 96.9! The Talk of the Keys! From Key West to south Miami Dade! 25 FREE ads on Party 105.7! The Keys Party Station!

10) Two Oceans Digital: 1000 FREE Google Remarketing Impressions included with new advertising on Fla Keys.com, Floridakeys.com and KeyWest.c om. FREE Digital Marketing Consultation includes Local Search Scan.

11) Marathon Chamber of Commerce: 20% off advertising for the year 2023. (Visitor Center, Newsletter, web banner, travel e blast; must be for a min 1 year commitment)

12) Pay for 1 month in 2022 and get two (October & November) free for your Chamber Membership! Payment will be 2023 dues + one month.

New Members joining in October will be entered into a raffle to win a FREE dinner for two (2), valued at $200.00 at Brutus Restaurant & Seafood Market

For more info please email Laura Membership@floridakeysmarathon.com. Thank you for helping to make the Marathon Chamber of Commerce a successful, impactful, and influential organization in our Middle Keys, Marathon, and FL Keys communities!

Current members: Remember that for every referral you send us we give you $25 in chamber bucks, but for the month of October we will give you $40 in chamber bucks AND you will also be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card to a Marathon Chamber business member of your choice. We appreciate YOU and your help in growing one of Marathon’s most impactful and influential organizations!

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Driftwood Marina & Storage, Inc located at 13900 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 will proceed with Section 328.17 (1), Florida

Statues, on the following vessels located at our facility for unpaid storage and repair balance. Unless said vessel redeemed from said marina by payment as allowed by law, the described vessel will be sold to satisfy the lien. If the vessel is not redeemed and that vessel remains unclaimed, or for which the charges for storage services remain unpaid, will be sold free of all prior liens. This is not a public invite to view vessels. This is an attempt to collect unpaid storage charges. Once the date has expired and only then may you visit the facility and gain information about the vessels. Any person attempting to board these vessels prior or without our permission, shall be charged with trespassing.

These vessels will be sold commencing on or after, 1:00 p.m. on the 4th day of November 2022. Driftwood Marina 13900 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050.

Bill &Lisa Harris owner & previous owner Don Cameron of vessel HIN#BERPO156M75C

Sally Mishmash owner of vessel HIN# PLCMK014G596

Kaitlyn Young Booth owner of vessel HIN# FLZAB846H168

Greg Eklund & previous William Pease owners of vessel HIN# 45C365

Jeffrey Linenfelser owner of vessel HIN# CCHMD214M77I

Jaye Gore & Douglas Taleski owners of vessel HIN#GFS03697M73A

Publish: October 20 & 27, 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

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN THE CIVIL SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, NEW HANOVER COUNTY

DONNA SULLIVAN V. ERIC OXLEY, D.D.S.; ALBERT BOZART, D.D.S.; BOZART FAMILY, L.L.C.; AND BOZART AND ASSOCIATES OF WILMINGTON, P.L.L.C. 21CVS3907

TO: ALBERT BOZART, D.D.S. TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was filed on October 14, 2021 in the above-entitled Civil Superior Court action. The nature of relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff seeks damages related to Count I: Medical Negligence; Count II: Negligent Hiring, Retention, and Supervision; Count III: Corporate Negligence; Count IV: Res Ipsa Loquitur; and Count V: Battery. Defendant is liable to Plaintiff for general and special damages, which were caused by Defendant and include a demand for reimbursement of medical expenses, costs of litigation, and pain and suffering. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later 40 days after the date of the first publication of this Notice and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. The first date of publication is October 20, 2022. To respond, contact the Attorney for Plaintiff Donna Sullivan: Rebecca H. Ugolick (NCSB No. 48126) of Howard, Stallings, From, Atkins, and Angell by mail at P.O. Box 12347, Raleigh, NC 27605; telephone: (919) 821-7700; fax: (919) 821-7703; email: rugolick@ hsfh.com or reference the filing at the New Hanover County Courthouse located at 316 Princess St. Wilmington, NC 28401.

Publish dates: October 20, 2022 October 27, 2022 November 3, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF MARATHON Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in the 100-Year Floodplain and Wetland October 14, 2022 City of Marathon 9805 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 305-289-5020

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals This is to give notice that the City of Marathon has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Orders 11988 and 11990 in accordance with HUD

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain and/or wetland will have on the environment.

The City of Marathon intends to undertake a project to be funded by a Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The proposed project is to harden the City's wastewater infrastructure making it more resistant to the impacts of another hurricane such as Hurricane Irma. The locations for the project are at (5) different treatment plants in the City of Marathon. Areas 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are included in this project with addresses as follows: Area 3 WWTP - 4095 Overseas Hwy; Area 4 WWTP140 Sombrero Beach Rd; Area 5 WWTP - 10685 Overseas Hwy; Area 5 Vac Station - 7280 Overseas Hwy; Area 6 WWTP - 100 Avenue I; Area 7 WWTP59255 Overseas Hwy.

It has been determined that no practicable alternative other than to proceed with the work is available. This activity will have no significant impact on the environment for the following reasons:

The proposed project is to harden the City’s Wastewater infrastructure making it more resistant to the impacts of another Hurricane such as Hurricane Irma. This project is not new construction and is a retrofit to add power conditioners, vacuum main monitoring modules, and raise existing electrical above flood elevations. There are no expected impacts regarding the projects in the 100-year floodplain. There are no alternatives to consider as the structures are existing and there will be no new construction.

Although the project is located in the 100year floodplain and/ or wetland, the improvements cannot be undertaken in any other location due to the scope of the project. There is, therefore, no practicable alternative.

The proposed improvements conform to applicable floodplain protection standards.

The proposed action will not affect natural or beneficial floodplain values, and residents of the community will benefit from the project. Failure to provide these improvements could result in slum and blight conditions within the City of Marathon.

Additional agencies involved in this project include the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City of Marathon will be involved in approving the projects and

Meeting Notice Monroe County Land Authority

The Monroe County Land Authority Advisory Committee will meet in the Marathon Government Center located at 2798 Overseas Highway, Media Room – 1st floor, Marathon, Florida on October 26, 2022 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The agenda is available online at www.monroecounty-fl.gov or by contacting the Monroe County Land Authority office at 305-295-5180.

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

issuing the associated permits. Written comments must be received by Maria Covelli, Grants Coordinator at the City of Marathon, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 on or before November 20, 2022. A more detailed description of the project and the flood maps are available for citizen review by contacting the local government.

John Bartus, City of Marathon Mayor Environmental Certifying Official Publish: October 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

LA CIUDAD DE MARATON

Aviso final y explicación pública de una actividad propuesta en el Llanura aluvial y humedales de 100 años

Octubre 14, 2022

Ciudad de Maratón 9805 Overseas Highway Maratón, FL 33050 305-289-5020

Para: Todas las agencias, grupos e individuos interesados

Esto es para notificar que la Ciudad de Maratón ha llevado a cabo una evaluación según lo requerido por las Órdenes Ejecutivas 11988 y 11990 de acuerdo con las regulaciones de HUD en 24 CFR 55.20 para determinar el efecto potencial que su actividad en la llanura de inundación y / o humedales tendrá en el medio ambiente. La Ciudad de Maratón tiene la intención de emprender un proyecto que será financiado por una Subvención en Bloque de Desarrollo Comunitario de Pequeñas Ciudades de Florida (CDBG). El proyecto propuesto es fortalecer la infraestructura de aguas residuales de la Ciudad haciéndola más resistente a los impactos de otro huracán como el huracán Irma. Las ubicaciones para el proyecto se encuentran en (5) plantas de tratamiento diferentes en la ciudad de Maratón. Las áreas 3, 4, 5, 6 y 7 están incluidas en este proyecto con las siguientes direcciones: Área 3 PTAR - 4095

Overseas Hwy; Área 4 EDAR - 140 Sombrero Beach Rd; Área 5 EDAR - 10685 Overseas Hwy; Área 5 Vac Station - 7280 Overseas Hwy; Área 6 EDAR - 100 Avenida I; Área 7 EDAR59255 Overseas Hwy. Se ha determinado que no se dispone de otra alternativa viable que continuar con el trabajo. Esta actividad no tendrá un impacto significativo en el medio ambiente por las siguientes razones:

El proyecto propuesto es fortalecer la infraestructura de aguas residuales de la ciudad haciéndola más resistente a los impactos de otro huracán como el huracán Irma. Este proyecto no es una construcción nueva y es una modernización para agregar acondicionadores de energía, módulos principales de monitoreo de vacío y elevar la electricidad existente por encima de las elevaciones de inundación. No hay impactos esperados con respecto a los proyectos en la planicie de inundación de 100 años. No hay alternativas a considerar ya que las estructuras ya existen y no habrá nuevas construcciones.

Aunque el proyecto está ubicado en la llanura de inundación y / o humedal de 100 años, las mejoras no se pueden llevar a cabo en ningún otro lugar debido al alcance del proyecto. Por lo tanto, no existe una alternativa viable.

Las mejoras propuestas se ajustan a las normas de protección de las llanuras aluviales aplicables. La acción propuesta no afectará los valores naturales o beneficiosos de las llanuras aluviales, y los

residentes de la comunidad se beneficiarán del proyecto. No proporcionar estas mejoras podría resultar en condiciones de tugurios y deterioro dentro de la ciudad de Maratón.

Otras agencias involucradas en este proyecto incluyen el Departamento de Oportunidades Económicas de Florida y el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos. La Ciudad de Maratón participará en la aprobación de los proyectos y la emisión de los permisos asociados.

Los comentarios por escrito deben ser recibidos por Maria Covelli, Coordinadora de Subvenciones de la Ciudad de Maratón 9805 Overseas Highway, Maratón, FL 33050 en o antes del 20 de Noviembre de 2022. Una descripción más detallada del proyecto y los mapas de inundaciones están disponibles para la revisión ciudadana poniéndose en contacto con el gobierno local. John Bartus, alcalde de la ciudad de Marathon Oficial Certificador Ambiental Publish: October 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-85-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF ELIZABETH G. COTTLE Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Elizabeth G. Cottle, deceased, whose date of death was June 13, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: October 13, 2022.

Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner 12221 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134 RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6022

Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com Publish: October 13 & 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-000279-K

IN RE: ESTATE OF STUART C. WOODS Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Stuart C. Woods, deceased, whose date of death was July 22, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: October 13, 2022.

Personal Representative: Jeanmarie Woods 910 Watson Street Key West, FL 33040 Attorney for Personal Representative: Tasha K. Dickinson Florida Bar No. 0122836 Day Pitney, LLP 250 Australian Avenue South, Suite 1504 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 Telephone: (561) 803-3515 E-mail: tdickinson@daypitney. com

Publish: October 13 & 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 44-2022-CP-000254A001-KW

IN RE: ESTATE OF BOYD K. HICKMAN Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of BOYD K. HICKMAN, deceased, whose date of death was April 12, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: October 13, 2022. Signed on this 10th day of October, 2022.

Personal Representative: THOMAS F. HUDGINS 2800 DAVIS BLVD., STE. 203 NAPLES, FL 34104

Attorney for Personal Representative: THOMAS F. HUDGINS Florida Bar No. 970565

THOMAS F. HUDGINS, PLLC 2800 DAVIS BLVD., STE. 203 NAPLES, FL 34104 Telephone: (239) 263-7660 Email: TED@NAPLESTAX.COM

Secondary Email: SERVICE@ NAPLESTAX.COM Publish: October 13 & 20, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

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

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL NOTICES

AUTOS WANTED

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

Place your Boat For Sale ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/ week. Call 305-743-0844 today and sell your boat!

BOAT SLIPS & TRAILER STORAGE

Boat Trailer Spaces Available. $100 per week. Boat dockage available $100 per weeWk. Easy access to the Atlantic and lighthouse. Boat length 32’ or less! Dockage is eighty feet long with good depth for boats. Phone 336-4088140 or 336-287-3345.

Place your Boat Slip For Rent ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/week. Call 305-743-0844 today and rent your boat slip!

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED - Need sitter for older selfsufficient woman, two or three days at a time. Sombrero Isle, Marathon. Please call 305-662-1916 daytime for details.

Florida Keys SPCA in Marathon hiring two Animal Care positions w/ potential for advancement. Starting pay $15/hr with generous benefits package. 21 years or older with valid driver's license and ability to pass a criminal background check. Email resume to Tara@fkspca.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 305-743-6739 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.

Frank's Grill in Marathon now hiring servers. Evening and daytime. Call Joanna at 305-731-8346

Immediate positions available at the Grassy Key Marina. Under new ownership and looking for smiling faces. Full-time or part-time available. Pay rates are commensurate with experience but we are willing to interview those with no experience who have an interest in working in a marina environment. Please call Randall Glass to schedule an interview at 305-465-1491.

Help Wanted- experienced or will train- full timebenefits- Electrical Work with well established company in business since 1998- Marathon. Email to am.companies@gmail. com or call 305-393-0971.

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

EMPLOYMENT

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: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older, Full-time Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@ sweetsavannahs.com

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker), Med Tech, 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.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

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 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

HOUSING FOR SALEEMPLOYMENT

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 (5:30pm-7am).

DPMMR is a drug-free workplace. To apply, please send your resume to nancyc@dpmmr.org.

HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

Place your Employment ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/week. Call 305-743-0844 today and find your needed staff!

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

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

HOUSING FOR RENT LONG TERM

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

Key Largo - 2BR/2BA Spacious Doublewide, 1400 sq ft modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community $3200/ month 786-258-3127

Place your Housing For Rent ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/ week. Call 305-743-0844 today and rent your space!

Duck Key Condo For Sale by owner. 2 BR/2 BA corner unit, ground floor w/front door parking. $350,000. 412-977-5322 susanprimm276@ yahoo.com

For Sale By Owner. 3BR/2BA Older Conch House - built in 1950ground level - Marathon/ Grassy Key. By appointment only. No Realtors. $475,000 305-395-0806

MISC. FOR SALE

FOR SALE - Lifesize Bronze Mermaid Table w/ Six Chairs. Must see - located in Marathon. $4,000.00. 305-923-9181

Place your Misc. For Sale ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/ week. Call 305-743-0844 today and sell your stuff!

RV FOR SALE

RV FOR SALE - 2017 Thor Citation RV, 24ft Mercedes V6 Diesel, 2 slides, Cummings Diesel Generator, Low Mileage, Many Upgrades, Call Richard 305-363-8021

Place your RV For Sale ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/ week. Call 305-743-0844 today and sell your RV!

YARD SALES

Place your Yard Sale ad here! Up to 5 lines of copy for only $25.00/ week. Call 305-743-0844 today and sell your stuff!

Keys Energy Services, in Key West, is accepting applications for the following position in its Customer Services Department:

CUSTOMER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE I

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $19.82/hr. - $22.20/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.

KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

Keys Energy Services, in Key West, is accepting applications for the following position in its Fleets & Facilities Section:

AUTO DIESEL VEHICLE TECHNICIAN

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $27.17/hr. - $30.43/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.

KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

SUDOKU

DUI EVALUATOR/ 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

- Medical Assistant, $3,000 Bonus

APPLY AND LEARN MORE

careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon

Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $16.00/hour to start. Send resume to: TurtleHospitalMarathon@gmail.com

MARATHON

hiring for

Helpers CDL Drivers

Applicants must

Overseas Hwy, Marathon

MANAGER

& LABORERS

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

Must have valid Driver’s License & Transportation

Location: Upper Keys

Send

to:

SUNSET GRILLE IS LOOKING FOR A FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

The Front of House Manager plans and directs all day to day restaurant operations. Maintains high standards of food, service, health and safety; ensures the efficient and profitable business performance of the restaurant and the optimal utilization of staff and resources.

• Perform opening and closing duties in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Oversee and support front of house supervisors

• Oversee overall maintenance of the restaurant and property

• Coordinate restaurant operations to include daily schedules and identifying recruiting needs

• Responsible for ensuring guest satisfaction and quality guest experience

• Maintain employee records

• Oversee training and identify training needs

• Responsible for new hire onboarding and orientation

• Conduct staff meetings when necessary

• Monitor labor and operational costs

• Identify and estimate food and beverage supply requirements/needs and ensure inventory needs are met

• Perform other duties as assigned

Apply in person 7 Knights Key Blvd, Marathon. No phone calls please.

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

KEY LARGO

KEY WEST

MARATHON

MIKE LEONARD FOR CITY COUNCIL

My

TACKLE AFFORDABLE & WORKFORCE HOUSING SHORTAGES

FISCAL GROWTH & RESPONSIBILITY

I have

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

I will

IMPROVE ACCESS AND SERVICES

All

for

for by Mike Leonard for City Council