Keys West Weekly 22-1215

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NUMBER OF THE WEEK

ON THE COVER

6.3M

‘Tis the season for traveling. According to AAA, roughly 6.3 million Floridians will journey 50 miles or more away from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. That’s an increase of nearly 108,000 people over the last year and a new record-high for the year-end holiday travel period in Florida.

Key West will host the lighting of the menorah at Bayview Park at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, which lasts until Dec. 26.

MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

LATE COACH MIKE LEACH WAS PART OF ONE HUMAN FAMILY

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

INNOVATOR

HAD APPLIED TO COACH KEY WEST CONCHS

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

What does the recent death of a game-changing college football coach in Mississippi have to do with Key West?

Turns out, quite a bit.

Mike Leach was not only the head coach at Mississippi State University when he died Dec. 12 at age 61 following complications from a heart condition. He was not only a mastermind credited with rethinking the entire game with his Texas Tech “Air Raid” offense. Leach was also a Key West resident, Eaton Street homeowner, Harpoon Harry’s regular and island ambassador, who had even applied to coach Key West High School football back in 1996.

“But our brilliant administrators turned him down, saying he was overqualified,” Leach’s longtime friend Jack Niles told the Keys Weekly on Dec. 13 from his office at Niles Sales & Service car dealership in Key West.

“He spent more time here in Key West than he did in Starkville, Mississippi,” Niles said. “He was an incredible man with an incredible mind. He was a football savant.”

Former Key West High football coach Jerry Hughes agreed.

“I remember when he left Texas Tech, he’d ride his bike over to watch our practices here in Key West,”

Hughes said. “He’d watch from afar until I realized who he was. Then I invited him to help us with practices. He’d work with our quarterbacks and attend some coaches’ meetings. But what people don’t know is how much he loved Key West. Having a beer and a fish sandwich at B.O.’s was his definition of a perfect day. There’s never going to be another guy like Mike Leach.”

He was offensive coordinator for Valdosta State in 1996, but the Key West coaching job “would have allowed him to do his favorite thing in his favorite town,” Andy Staples writes in a tribute to Leach for theathletic.com. “Had they given him the job, Leach probably never would have left. He probably would have spent the rest of his days drawing up plays while the palms swayed. He and wife Sharon would have walked to Harpoon Harry’s and dined while laughing at all the tourists running to look at a giant buoy.

“Robbed of his dream job, Mike Leach instead had to settle for changing the way nearly everyone at every level of football studies offense. His impact flowed down from the collegiate ranks into high school football and up into the NFL. He brought the Air Raid to the mainstream, showing everyone in the sport that teams could overcome talent deficits (or enhance talent advantages) if they spread the field, juiced the tempo and tolerated a healthy degree of risk on fourth down,” Staples continues,

ending his article with, “If those people at Key West High had known how badly Leach wanted their head coaching job back in 1996, all that offensive magic might have remained confined to one little island. Instead, it spread all across the football world.”

Leach became head coach, Staples writes, at schools where it was typically tough to win: Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. But he did win. Repeatedly.

“The two-time national coach of the year was in his third year at Mississippi State. He led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record this season,” CNN reports. “Leach compiled a 158-107 overall record in 21 seasons – 10 at Texas Tech, eight at Washington State and three at Mississippi State.”

He also gave interviews to sports writers while on a fishing boat in Key West, both in person and by phone, discussing all manner of topics, from the intelligence of fish, his fondness for Neil Young music, his favorite fish sandwiches and his recommendations of Key West guesthouses.

Niles recalled hosting a 2021 Fourth of July party in Key West that included Leach and his wife, Sharon, along with Florida State University baseball coach Link Jarret, who previously coached Notre Dame’s baseball team.

“He was one of a kind,” Niles said, recalling the time he saw Leach and Sharon walking from Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island, across U.S. 1, to get a fish sandwich on Stock Island. “He stopped to record a quick video of congratulations for Link Jarret when he got the job as head baseball coach at FSU. He was irreplaceable.”

From left, Mike Leach, FSU baseball head coach Link Jarret, Jack Niles and Sharon Leach at Niles’ house in Key West July 3, 2021. CONTRIBUTED

Coach Mike Leach, left, in Key West Conchs attire, with former Key West football coach and friend Jerry Hughes. CONTRIBUTED

JEWISH COMMUNITY CELEBRATES HANUKKAH

KEY WEST TO LIGHT CITY MENORAH ON DEC. 18

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Before anyone gets bent out of shape, there are several ways to spell the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. We at the Keys Weekly even checked with Commissioner Sam Kaufman, who is Jewish. He pointed out that the Hebrew language uses a different alphabet, so there is no literal English translation.

The Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural, “kh” sound at the beginning, to sound like, “khanu-kah,” not “tcha-new-kah,” according to the Jewish website chabad.org.

The giant menorah at Bayview Park will soon glow with light alongside the city’s towering Christmas tree.

A menorah-lighting ceremony and celebration will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 to honor the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Rabbi Shimon Dudai from Key West’s Congregation B’Nai Zion and Rabbi Jacob Zucker from Chabad of the Florida Keys will say the blessings.

“We join together to remember the miracle of Hanukkah and light the Menorah. Hanukkah reminds us that we all have light within us and we can spread that light and goodness to those around us and in our community – and we can all make this world a better place,” Kaufman said. “Please join us as we light the City of Key West Menorah candles together and spread the light.”

Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Here’s a bit more about the holiday from chabad.org:

The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication,” and is so named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in the second century BCE, when the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (SyrianGreeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in God.

Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on Earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah (the sevenbranched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah.

At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Hanukkah, all eight lights are kindled.

Special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward.

A menorah is lit in every household (or even by each individual within the household) and placed in a doorway or window. The menorah is also lit in synagogues and other public places. In recent years, thousands of jumbo menorahs have cropped up in front of city halls and legislative buildings, and in malls and parks all over the world.

As the Hanukkah miracle involved oil, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil during the holiday. The EasternEuropean classic is the potato latke (pancake) garnished with applesauce or sour cream, and the reigning Israeli favorite is the jelly-filled sufganya (doughnut).

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas from our families to yours.

NOMINATE NONPROFIT VOLUNTEERS BY JAN. 2

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO HONOR UNSUNG HEROES

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is accepting nominations for its 23rd annual Unsung Heroes Celebration, recognizing the tremendous efforts of our community’s volunteers.

Every charitable nonprofit or faith-based organization in the Florida Keys is invited to nominate one volunteer to be honored.

The online nomination form is at cffk.org/unsung. Organizations that submit their nominations by Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 will have their honorees featured in a special insert in all three editions of the Keys Weekly. They will also receive two complimentary tickets to the celebration on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at noon, at the Key West Marriott Beachside.

“On behalf of the board, medical staff and employees of Lower Keys Medical Center, we are so proud to support the Unsung Heroes celebration again. It is certainly our pleasure to honor the individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to help those in need and to improve our beautiful and unique Keys communities,” said Lower Keys Medical Center CEO David Clay.

More than 1,500 volunteers have been recognized since the event was started 22 years ago. More information is at 305-292-1502.

— Contributed

Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman, Rabbi Jacob Zucker and Rabbi Shimon Dudai light the menorah in 2021. ALYSON CREAN/City of Key West

By Alex Rickert and Jim McCarthy

COMING TO CONSENSUS

SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL BEGINS FINAL RESTORATION BLUEPRINT RECOMMENDATION

Day one of a two-day December meeting of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) was mostly filled with support from the council for regulatory changes included in the sanctuary’s Restoration Blueprint, a wide-ranging document proposing the most significant sanctuary regulatory changes in more than 20 years.

Gathering arguably the most diverse array of Keys scientists, business owners and industry experts to offer input on the proposed document, the Dec. 13-14 meeting served as the SAC’s last chance to offer recommendations to sanctuary staff.

Though council leaders initially considered a three-day meeting to discuss the dozens of changes outlined in the blueprint that have thus far drawn vocal support and criticism from different scientific and business factions, the meeting’s opening act moved much quicker than anticipated, with the group moving ahead to tackle a large chunk of items earmarked for day two.

According to sanctuary superintendent Sarah Fangman, the pace was made possible by a review process developed by SAC chair George Garrett and vice chair Ben Daughtry, along with full buy-in from council members tasked with “doing their homework” since the council’s Oct. 18 meeting.

Garrett and Daughtry used a previous survey of SAC members’ discussion priorities to identify nearly 30 points of interest, challenging council members to draft preliminary shareable statements of support and topics of concern for each issue. Working through each issue, the group added necessary language and amended problematic phrases, taking votes when necessary to craft an overall statement of support or lack thereof.

“I give George and Ben an enormous amount of credit for developing a very well thought-out process to help a diverse group of people with lots of different views come to some decisions about a lot of complex issues,” Fangman told the Weekly. “These are our oceans; we can’t screw this up.”

Daughtry reminded the council that their goal was to come up with collaborative statements of support and concern, rather than a simple vote on each proposed rule change.

“We’re voting on, ‘Hey, this is a proposal that’s out there. Make sure that if it goes forward, these are the things that we see as a group that are positive, and these are the things that we want you to take into consideration,’” he said.

Proposed changes receiving near-unanimous support included: all proposed expansions of

the sanctuary’s existing boundary; prohibition of discharges of any kind except cooling water from cruise ships; clarification of the purposes and expansion of the possible time frame for temporary regulations from 60 to 180 days; establishment of a single “archaeological research” permit category for historical resources; strengthening the sanctuary’s regulations governing at-risk or derelict vessels to more closely align with state regulations; requiring single or rafted vessels with a total length of 65 feet or more to use designated “large vessel” mooring buoys; and expansion of the Tennessee Reef, Western Sambo and Tortugas South conservation zones.

A proposed prohibition on the feeding and attracting of fish, including sharks, from vessels or while diving was met with more criticism, with several council members expressing concern that the drafted rule did not provide a clear enough exclusion for chumming during traditional fishing.

Proponents of the rule highlighted the safety risks created when predators come to associate divers and boats with hand-delivered food, while others questioned the exclusion of dock-based feeding activities in the proposal or the overarching impacts of behavioral changes brought about by feedings. The council also noted a need for regulatory consistency between state and federal waters, as the practice is already theoretically prohibited in the former.

In what the council eventually adopted as its summary statement on the proposal, charter captain Will Benson said he “supported safety concerns, particularly, within this rule, but wanted to be careful of overstepping into fisheries management or impacts to traditional fishing.”

Proposals to eliminate existing sanctuary preservation areas (SPA) at French Reef in the Upper Keys and Rock Key in the Lower Keys were

turned down by the sanctuary council. Many in favor of keeping the Rock Key SPA noted the coral restoration work completed in the past. In addition, it’s an area where several large fish species, like black grouper, find shelter. As for French Reef, those concerned with giving away protections said there are natural populations of elkhorn coral. Allowing anchoring, fishing and trapping could harm the threatened coral species. Sanctuary council members agreed there should be further justification and the ability to implement a monitoring study before eliminating the SPAs.

Members of the council supported proposals for the newly-created nursery restoration areas, which would be regulated similar to conservation areas in order to protect sensitive corals and other organisms while they are being propagated. Fishing, anchoring and a requirement that vessels remain in transit through the area are among the regulations for the nursery restoration areas.

A proposal to create a new sanctuary preservation area off the Upper Keys saw support from the council. Known as Turtle Rocks, the proposed SPA would protect one of the only known patches of fused staghorn coral in the Keys. It would also safeguard a well-developed mid-channel reef system that contains several threatened coral species. Members on the sanctuary advisory council requested changes to the location and size of the newly-proposed Turtle Shoal SPA off Marathon to reflect protection of corals in the area.

Expanding existing SPAs at Carysfort Reef and Alligator Reef were supported by the council to protect deeper coral reef habitat. But not all were on board with expanding the Sombrero Key SPA. While the expansion of Sombrero Key is slight, those concerned with the proposal felt the expansion would be taking in sand and very low grass. The current closure protects some hard bottom and a diverse group of coral. Members of the council believed the expansion should be more strategic and based on science.

A new no-anchor regulation at SPAs in the Keys was supported by the sanctuary council in an effort to safeguard corals. But not all council members were on board with a proposal to eliminate catch and release trolling at four SPAs at Conch Reef, Sombrero Key, Alligator Reef and Sand Key. Those supporting the measure noted that SPAs already disallow fishing within the boundaries. Therefore, any trolling with the explicit intent of catch and release should be not allowed. But those concerned with the idea said there’s been little evidence of any problems over the years as far as complaints. The sanctuary council didn’t take a stance on the proposal as the first meeting concluded.

The modified document of support statements and concern topics will be rendered to sanctuary staff as a collectively endorsed recommendation from the council. The Restoration Blueprint then will undergo an 18- to 20-month review by sanctuary staff, including consultation with stakeholder agencies, before a final review at the state and federal levels.

A report on the second day of the council’s meeting will be at keysweekly.com and in the Dec. 22 print editions of the Keys Weekly newspapers.

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

Sanctuary Advisory Council vice chair Ben Daughtry, left, and chair George Garrett deliver opening remarks at the start of Tuesday’s meeting. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Facilitator Chris Ellis provides an outline of the day’s review process.

NEW HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM PITS FOOTBALL AGAINST BASEBALL

Football stadium construction will cost baseball its off-season facilities

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Aschool board discussion of Key West High School’s new $17 million football stadium turned testy on Dec. 13, pitting football against baseball as baseball players learned recently that they will be unable to access their facilities — fields, batting cages and weight rooms — throughout the off-season.

The Rex Weech baseball complex on Glynn Archer Drive backs into Tommy Roberts Memorial football stadium on Kennedy Drive and will necessarily be affected by construction.

Initially, construction schedules called for a complete cancellation of the 2023 baseball season due to the stadium construction. An uproar prompted the school board instead to delay the start of construction until after the 2023 baseball season.

The football team has a new field in what’s known as The Backyard behind Key West High School, where the school has played home games for the past two seasons. The baseball team has no such alternative location and no municipal ballfields are large enough to accommodate a high school outfield.

School board members on Dec. 13 heard from several baseball players, parents and supporters about the importance of their off-season training programs to athletes’ college scholarship potential.

“It’s not my intention to make this a football vs. baseball issue, but now it has become one,” baseball supporter Jill Burnham told the school board. “Your facilities director (Pat Lefere) told us it was not his responsibility to provide access to the baseball facilities in the off-season. He said the baseball boosters have enough money to figure something out. You have an obligation to provide fair and equitable resources to all students and all sports. Are you upholding the same Conch Pride qualities that you demand from your students?”

Key West High School baseball player Felix Ong tells the school board that the team’s off-season training facilities enabled h im to play next year for the University of Florida. CONTRIBUTED

Senior baseball player Felix Ong told the board that he has been invited to play college baseball for University of Florida, and then hopes to be drafted into the major leagues. He said none of his accomplishments would have been possible without the off-season training programs.

“Please figure something out for us,” he said.

Board member Mindy Conn began questioning Lefere, the district’s director of facilities and operations, about why Ajax, the stadium contractor, can't install construction fences around the active construction site and continue to allow access to other areas.

“We build entire schools all the time and still give students access to other areas of the campus,” Conn told Lefere during a heated exchange that prompted chairman Andy Griffiths to reprimand Conn and direct her comments to the chair, rather than Lefere.

“You can’t tell me where to address my comments,” Conn retorted.

“I don’t like you two going back and forth and getting elevated,” Griffiths said.

“I’ll take my elevation down, but I still want answers,” Conn said.

Lefere repeatedly told the board the construction plans required the use and closure of the baseball facilities in the off-season, but Conn and other board members said they’d like to hear that from Ajax, the construction company, directly.

Upper Keys board member Sue Woltanski said she hadn’t realized how long the baseball facilities would be off-limits during the football stadium construction.

The board ultimately approved the agenda items to allow the stadium construction to proceed, but did not close the door on further discussions with Ajax to help the baseball team and potential changes to the timing and/or the staging area during construction.

‘‘The churches of Christ greet you.’’ Romans 16:16 NKJV

ENGLISH SERVICE

Sunday Bible Study 10am (on site)

Service 11am (on site) & Service 6pm (on site)

Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm (on site)

Evangelist Rodrigue Aleandre Cell 305.296.3331

KREYOL SEVIS

Dimanch Klas Biblik 7:30pm (on site)

Adorasyon 8:30pm (on site)

Madi Klas Biblik 7:30pm (on site)

Minis Rodrigue Aleandre Cell 305.296.3331

SERVICIO ESPAÑOL

Servicio de adoración dominical a las 5pm (en el sitio) Estudio bíblico del jueves a las 7pm (en el sitio)

Ministro Pedro Ruiz Celda 347.430.2263

1700

VON PHISTER ST, KEY WEST

‘‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’’ ‒ Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

SHERIFF’S OFFICE BREAKS GROUND ON EMPLOYEE HOUSING

RICH NEIGHBORS DECIDE TO BE PART OF SOLUTION, NOT PROBLEM

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

It was hardly a surprise when billionaire condominium owners in Key West called NIMBY on the sheriff’s plan to build workforce-housing apartments on the vacant 1-acre lot next to their luxury Steam Plant townhomes with private rooftop pools on Trumbo Road.

The surprising part came when the same wealthy property owners — Meg Molleston, her husband Jed and her brother Walter “Wag” Woodward — instead offered to design, build — and pay for — the workforce housing that they would be comfortable having in their backyard, managing its height, appearance and configuration so as not to impede the Mollestons’ waterfront views.

Three years and thousands of documents later, the wealthy Molleston family, through their company, SPGL LLC, leased the acre lot from the sheriff’s office and on Dec. 13 broke ground on a 24-unit apartment complex right next door.

“My wife and I were alarmed when we learned that this property had been approved for 40 units of workforce housing,” Jed Molleston told a crowd of about 50 at the ground-breaking ceremony on Trumbo Road. “What do you think I said? ‘Not in my backyard.’ Meg and I weren’t going to have a Soviet-style apartment block jammed onto one acre.”

Upon hearing of Jed Molleston’s opposition, Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman suggested he speak with Sheriff Rick Ramsay to see if something could be worked out.

“Commissioner Kaufman told me, ‘The sheriff’s a reasonable guy.’ And he is,” Molleston said.

The family worked out a plan to reduce the neighboring workforce development from 40 to 24 apartments, and in the meantime bought a 14-unit rental complex on Stock Island to make up the difference.

Those units on Stock Island and the ones coming to Trumbo Road will be affordably rented to sheriff’s office employees, Key West Police Department employees, EMTs and other public safety workers.

“Meg and I find tremendous value in supporting our local law enforcement,” Molleston said. “When we work together, consider all points of view and work toward compromise, we really can have nice things.”

Sheriff Rick Ramsay acknowledged the fact that, “Obviously, if Jed and his family had their preference, there’d never be anything built on this property, but this is proof of what can happen with public-private partnerships,” adding that at least now “no one will dare rob the Steam Plant Condominiums when there’s 15 or so patrol cars parked right next door.”

And the sheriff’s office housing is the first of two potential workforce housing developments that the Molleston family will provide to the community along Trumbo Road, a ragged but waterfront edge of Key West’s downtown sector.

Just beyond the sheriff’s one-acre lot sprawls the Monroe County School District’s 6-acre administrative campus, a collection of dilapidated buildings, disused bus maintenance bays and an aging but still-in-use office building.

Multiple school boards and superintendents had spent 20 years talking about building employee housing on the Trumbo property and moving their administration building elsewhere.

The Molleston family, through their company, SPGL, is ready to move and negotiations are underway for about 70 apartments on the site — and again, in the Mollestons’ backyard.

A dozen or so representatives from the county, the city of Key West, the sheriff’s office and Key West Police Department pose for the requisite hard-hat-and-shovel photo at a ground-breaking ceremony. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Sheriff Rick Ramsay touts what’s possible with public-private partnerships at the Dec. 13 ground-breaking for workforce housing on Trumbo Road.

Jed Molleston and his wife, Meg, own the luxury Steam Plant Condominiums adjacent to the empty 1-acre lot destined for workforce housing.

Earlier this week a major news story broke that scientists have made historic strides in the long-anticipated uses of nuclear fusion, which could (in theory) replace fossil fuels and other energy sources with clean alternatives for the planet. So unless you were a fan of Val Kilmer and the hit 1997 movie “The Saint,” you likely haven’t discussed the uses of nuclear fusion since high school, but the possibilities could eventually prove to be one of the modern era’s biggest scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Always here to help, we at the Weekly have already begun discussing the most likely advantages of nuclear fusion in modern society. And while this advancement has the ability to offer affordable, clean energy to replace fossil fuels and power grids across the globe, we are fairly certain humans will find “alternative opportunities” to capitalize on fusion’s offerings. Here are…

10. Unlimited porn on cell phones that never need a charge.

9. Fewer yellow Lamborghinis in the Middle East.

8. Keys Energy Services and the Florida Keys Electric Co-op will become Keys Nuclear Fusion and Used Books Depot (KNFUBD).

7. Hottest Christmas item for 2023: Never-ending Roomba.

WAYS NUCLEAR FUSION WILL CHANGE THE PLANET

6. All those annoying Tesla owners will have to find something else to brag about.

5. Fewer opportunities to get that oil spill settlement money used to finance new homes.

4. In 10 years we’ll find out that nuclear fusion causes E.D. — and everyone will go back to fossil fuels.

3. The new LIV Golf League will file for bankruptcy faster than FTX.

2. Big oil will purchase the patent to nuclear fusion and use it to endlessly power oil rigs across the planet.

1. Texas will go from a land of rich guys in cowboy hats to just a bunch of dipshits in cowboy hats.

MANDY MILES

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

MILES TO GO

OUR LIFE ON THE EDGE

Our geography here in this skinny little island chain comes with some challenges. But I have to admit, even after 24 years, they still sort of make this place — and me — feel more exotic, more rugged, more island-ish.

We still walk across the tarmac at our little airport — for now. A new project will bring typical jetways to connect our planes to the building, but for now, we still get to enjoy that hot blast of humidity as we exit the plane and head for baggage claim.

Our mail takes longer to arrive.

Our ice melts faster. Our pools need chillers, not heaters.

Our tap water never gets truly cold.

Chickens roam the streets and thrill visitors — until they start cock-a-doodle-doing right under their bedroom window from 3 a.m. till about 6 a.m.

Iguanas rest in our trees and sun themselves in the middle of the street. They spend more time on our golf course than a retired CEO.

Geckos dart around our porches eating their weight in bugs. (Thank you, geckos. Don’t ever kill these little guys. We love our quick little mascots.)

No-see-ums ravage our ankles with feisty bites.

We wear our nonchalance to random power outages like a locals’ badge of honor. We immediately text friends to confirm their power is also out and we check the outage map on the Keys Energy Services website. That done, we settle in and wait stoically, hoping the power returns before the cool air escapes our home.

We wait — a few minutes, an hour tops — for our topnotch power crews to turn us on. We know they’re working on it. And once we confirm that

it’s an outage (and not our own unpaid bill), we’re OK with it.

We’re in it together. We accept the interruptions and disruptions with a surprising degree of patience and empathy, given today’s intolerance of any inconvenience.

We live here. We get it. It happens.

Our lives are powered by one giant extension cord plugged into a power strip on the mainland.

Then there’s a whole nest of smaller extension cords snaking from the big one to our neighborhoods and homes.

A storm need not thrash the power lines to throw the island into the unmistakable stillness as our lives, appliances and electronics sigh into silence.

Tree branches fall on the power lines. Birds somehow touch two wires simultaneously. (It doesn’t end well for the bird.) Sailboats blow into the power tieline alongside U.S. 1. Drivers hit power poles.

During these powerless episodes, retail transactions are interrupted. Drive-thru orders are disrupted. WiFi routers are rendered useless. Then we nearly overload the cellular networks, using our phones’ mobile data to check Facebook for details and updates.

But we tend to take it all in stride. And we harshly judge any Keys rookie who mouths off online about the temporary inconvenience.

We don’t call Keys Energy to complain. We know they’re working on it. We get regular updates from our utility heroes. We know our restaurant orders will take longer. We know we’ll have to pay cash - or come back later. We know that intersections become four-way stops when the traffic lights go dark.

We’re good with it, because we’re exotic, rugged and decidedly local. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD MEET...

IN THE LIMELIGHT WITH MATTHEW RAWLS AT TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE

Matthew Rawls scans the Tennessee Williams lobby, attending to lastminute details before the theater’s newly acquired production of “Nutcracker, Key West” opens. His focus is steady as is his demeanor, despite the 999 details he is responsible for. Tonight he’s wearing two hats — artistic director of the holiday classic, reimagined to celebrate our island’s reef, roosters and maritime heritage, which he helped debut with creator Joyce Stahl in 2005, and newly appointed executive director of the theater he began working with that same year.

Before this stage there were bayous and swamps. Rawls grew up playing in Alexandria, Louisiana – “a great place to be from,” he deadpans as only someone who has swum with crocs can. At 19, he got a gig at Dallas Children’s Theatre, then followed opportunity to Florida and New York before trading his Brooklyn theater job for one in Key West as the sound engineer and assistant technical director for the full-scale Broadway show and local production house.

His days begin early, with three black cats and partner Leigh Pujado — a dancer he met on the Tennessee Williams stage during one of her productions — in the home that’s both haven and orchid oasis. Work begins with a black stage floor, empty battens and space where the quintessential velvet proscenium curtains usually hang.

“By eight o’clock, it’s a full Broadway show and by 10:30, it’s all coming down,” he says. “By 4 a.m., it’s a black stage floor and an empty room again, and the only thing you have to show for it is the feeling of the production and the tiredness of the day.”

Depending on the show, there are trucks to unload, lighting and sound to check, scenery and sets to hang. With the hired help of 40 to 55 local extras and the tour’s crew of 12 to 18, everything should be “floating” by 4:30 p.m.

“They come in in chaos mode — the most stressful part — they have all the ideas, they have the passion for it, it’s almost there — and we take it from that, then present it in front of an audience. And then we tear it down and they go off to celebrate. Then we take the next show coming in, in chaos mode…”

Meet Matt Rawls, artistic director at Tennessee Williams Theatre, which just wrapped production of ‘Nutcracker, Key West’ and is now preparing for the next performance.

CRICKET DESMARAIS/

Keys Weekly

What’s your superpower? I think the belief in superpowers diminishes the accomplishments and sacrifices of the individuals who work tirelessly towards their goals and desires. I’d take average dreamers over magical powers every time.

Words to live by: Be kind, have patience. Make the most of the moment.

Hero: Keanu Reeves, both as a performer and human being.

Favorite production so far: “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Broadway. It was so over the top and hilariously silly.

Something you want to learn: Everything. It’s a big world. There’s so much to discover.

It’s a 24-hour work day, but “the joy of the fleetingness of the art form” is worth it, Rawls says, giving a nod to the broader contribution it makes.

Theater’s value to society, Rawls says, is found in the shared experience it offers, especially as the digital world creates more isolation.

“At the end of the day, it’s a two-hour concert of somebody singing on stage, right? It doesn’t seem like it’s all that important, but it’s our culture that defines us. As long as we’re creating, we’re having a discussion about our culture and we’re relating to each other. You don’t do that in isolation. You do that in a room, laughing at a show where the scenery is all falling down and actors are just trying to get to the end of the game, as in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong.’ So even the most silly thing has true value to a society. That’s why we show up. We just want to keep that conversation going.”

Rawls has been part of hundreds of show productions during his 17 years there, most without a hiccup, some that required a bigger dose of the stamina, patience and the thinkquick-on-your-feet wit for which he is known.

“It’s a lot of dealing with Murphy’s Law, so you just plan for everything to go wrong,” he says. “And just enough goes wrong that it keeps it interesting.”

Like the time a load-out took three tries to fit into the show’s tractor trailer; the first two with that production’s new crew and the last with just him and an old Metallica roadie at 3 a.m.

“Shows just have their own life. Things just kind of happen, and that’s the joy of it. It’s why we do live theater — because it’s in the moment. But we did keep a bottle of tequila, in a case, hanging on the wall of the greenroom, and when everything went to naught, like the scenery fell down, we’d gather everyone around, pour a shot and toast to the next one.”

I’ve performed on the TW stage a handful of times and can attest to Rawls’ ability to mellow the chaos with humor, tact and clarity — with or without tequila. Though he doesn’t believe in superpowers, one is his way of valuing all the players, regardless of their role or personality.

“You need those eccentric people. You need the overbearing director. You need the quiet scenic painter. You need all of those different personalities to create the art that we do,” he says. “Some of what I’ve done over my entire career is try to discover why people are in this art form and what they are trying to get out of the production. It’s different for every single human being — from the patron who’s watching it, to the usher volunteering their time, to the talent on stage, or the flyman pulling the rope to take the grand rag out. Everybody’s here for a different reason. It’s about trying to give them what that is to nourish them, so we can get the best performance out of all of them.”

Octopus , 36 x 36, Block Print, Ink on Paper

Osmeivy was born in 1980 in Havana. His work specializes in monochromatic lithographs and block prints of animals and nature, often intermixing flora and fauna into blended compositions. He apprenticed at the Manero Workshop in Cuba and later learned about lithography at the Instituto Superior de Arte. He graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro” in 2003, after which the school hired him as a professor. In 2017, he was awarded a residency at Otahuhu College in New Zealand, a five-week fellowship where he taught woodcarving to Maori students. His work has been exhibited extensively in Cuba, including at the tenth and eleventh Havana Biennales, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the London Print Studio, and in Sweden, Mexico and Panama.

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CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY MARTINI

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JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Florida legislators are examining an array of reforms to the state’s crumbling homeowner’s insurance industry during a special session in Tallahassee that began Dec. 12. It’s the second time this year that state senators and House members were called back to the state’s capital to address the insurance market that’s seen seven carriers going insolvent and no longer conducting business, leaving many policyholders in a bind.

Republican leaders who helped draft the bill, which was submitted to the House and Senate on Dec. 9, say it builds on the consumer-friendly property insurance market that offers homeowners the opportunity to shop for insurance that meets their budget. Reforms in the bill also address the amount of money that flows into the pockets of attorneys, while another sets new eligibility requirements to move policyholders off an insurance carrier of last resort, Citizens, to the private market.

Both legislative chambers are expected to vote on the bill during a Dec. 14 session (a final vote wasn’t available before press time).

Bills propose new eligibility requirements to acquire a policy through Citizens, which writes policies for residential properties and commercial structures. Citizens covers eligible Florida property owners who are unable to find insurance coverage in the private market.

Citizens’ eligibility examines the value of property insured and location of the property. Per legislation, commercial or residential policyholders with Citizens wouldn’t be able to renew their policies if a private insurer offers them a premium that’s within 20% of their Citizens premium.

“If you’re with Citizens and you pay $100 for a premium, if a private insurer comes and says, ‘We can do that for $119,’ you have to move to the private option,” said state Sen. Jim Boyd, who presented the bill.

Citizens’ rates were frozen at the level established in 2006 between 2007 and 2010. By 2010, a glidepath set by the legislature saw annual rate increases that didn’t exceed 10% above the previous year for any individual policyholder. State officials said the glidepath didn't close the gap between Citizens and private market rates. Instead, the rate cap and increasing private property insurance rates created a growing gap, making Citizens a competitor in the private market as opposed to being an insurer of last resort. By 2021, state legislators revised the glidepath to increase it 1 percent per year to 15% by 2026 and following years.

Boyd said Citizens rates are typically 30% lower than private market rates. More than 1 million homeowners in Florida are insured through Citizens. That’s up from the 474,000 policies written by Citizens in June 2020.

Current law doesn’t force Citizens residential policyholders to obtain flood insurance as a condition of coverage. But that’ll change under the new proposal, which requires Citizens policyholders to acquire flood insurance that is at least equivalent to National Flood Insurance Policy coverage.

FLORIDA LEGISLATORS EYE PROPERTY INSURANCE REFORMS

Bill seeks to move policyholders off Citizens

Legislation also creates a $1-billion program for property insurers to purchase optional hurricane reinsurance at near market rates. Funds for the program, known as the Florida Optional Reinsurance Assistance (FORA), would come out of the 2023-2024 budget and premiums paid by insurers. Boyd said a shrinking reinsurance market puts pressure on carriers that provide coverage to residents.

Proponents of the bill point to litigation as a key factor in rising premiums. The proposal eliminates incentive to file suit unnecessarily in an effort to seek attorney fees. Supporters say it could result in a decrease in litigation and costs related to property insurance claims.

“Recognizing that in 2021, 76% of the nationwide homeowners’ lawsuits were opened in Florida, while we accounted for only 6.91% of total nationwide claims, the bill makes further efforts to reduce frivolous litigation that raises costs, and increases insurer transparency to improve the marketplace for consumers,” Republican Senate President Kathleen Passidomo stated in a memo to fellow senators.

New Citizens policyholders with property located in the special flood hazard area must have flood coverage by April 2023, while renewals must have flood coverage by June 2023. All other policyholders must have flood coverage for policies by the following dates: Jan. 1, 2024 for property valued at $600,000 or more; Jan. 1, 2025 for property valued $500,000 or more; Jan. 1, 2026 for property valued at $400,000 or more and Jan. 1, 2027 for all other personal lines property insured by Citizens.

Issues over insurance companies going insolvent drew Gov. Ron DeSantis to call a special session in May. In two days, legislators in the House and Senate approved a bill that cracked down on fraudulent roof claims and created a $2-billion program for insurers to purchase insurance to insulate them from risk. Legislators who were opposed to the bill believed Florida policyholders weren’t getting the necessary relief, but rather insurance industries. Those in favor, including Rep. Jim Mooney, said it was only the first step to stabilize the market.

A series of changes in the latest bill encourage property insurers to settle claims in a timely fashion. Per the bill, insurers would need to acknowledge a claim or respond to communication within seven days. Insurers currently have 14 days. Insurers would also need to conduct a physical inspection for all claims, including those unrelated to hurricanes, within 30 days as opposed to the current 45 days.

Insurers would need to pay or deny a claim in 60 days as opposed to the current 90 days. There is an exception, however, if the state Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issues an order finding the delay is caused by factors beyond the insurer’s control.

“If there’s a state of emergency and the carrier goes through OIR and OIR approves, there's an opportunity to extend that another 30 days,” said Boyd, who discussed the bill on the Senate floor on Dec. 13.

Speaking in favor of the bill, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis told House Appropriations Committee members that the state cannot have a normal functioning insurance market with that amount of litigation.

“It makes it hard for insurance companies to remain in Florida,” he said.

State Sen. Jason Pizzo said the main drive behind legislation revolves around attorney fees which are driving up rate premiums. But he criticized Boyd for not having specific, independent information on the number of claims that led to lawsuits.

“This entire bill is based on things told to us and to you that aren’t verifiable,” Pizzo said. “What data have you been provided that lawsuits are rampant and they’re driving up premium costs? What data do you have that the public can see?”

Boyd referred to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which states that nearly 77% of lawsuits come from Florida.

“That’s pretty telling,” he said.

While many point to fraud and litigation as some of the main reasons for rate increases and losses, the American Policyholder Association found a number of property insurance companies in Florida pay their executives in the tens of millions of dollars. In some instances, Florida insurance CEOs were paid more than the top executives at AllState, Progressive and Travelers.

David Altmaier, insurance commissioner, said he believes the proposal brought forth by Republicans will lower rate increases for policyholders, but he acknowledged that it will take some time.

State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, who represents the Keys and portions of Miami-Dade, told the Keys Weekly that she supports the bill.

“This legislation is absolutely essential if we are going to start attracting private insurance and reinsurance capital back to Florida, which will give consumers more property insurance choices and access to more competitive rates,” she said.

‘COLD-STUNNED’ TURTLES WARMING UP AT MARATHON HOSPITAL

ROKISLAND FEST BRINGS HARD ROCK ICONS TO KEY WEST

MAIN STAGE SHOWS TAKE PLACE JAN. 17-21

Twenty endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles arrived in the subtropical Florida Keys on Dec. 9 to warm up and receive treatment after suffering “cold stunning” in the waters off Massachusetts.

Found stranded around Cape Cod Bay as a result of the condition, the turtles were rescued and flown to Marathon.

“We are warming these turtles up, just like the visitors that come to the Keys,” said Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach.

“Cold stunning” occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold water for a prolonged time. It typically causes them to stop eating and swimming, Zirkelbach said.

A group of private pilots, dubbed “Turtles Fly Too,” donated their aircraft, fuel and time, trans-

porting the turtles in towel-lined banana boxes.

The most critically ill turtles will need additional testing to discover whether they have pneumonia, infections or other ailments, according to Zirkelbach. Treatment will be determined accordingly, as will the length of the rehabilitation period.

“The turtles that respond to treatment and aren’t as critical, we hope to get them back in the ocean within two to three months, and some of them may take a little longer and be with us here in the Keys for 10 to 12 months,” Zirkelbach said.

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the most endangered of turtle species, according to Zirkelbach.

Performances by Styx, 38 Special, Vince Neil and other hard rock icons are among the anticipated highlights for audiences Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 17-21, at Key West’s RokIsland Fest.

Attendees can enjoy the island’s balmy “winter” climate during five days of main stage shows at Key West’s open-air Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Truman Waterfront Park. The performances typically begin about 5 p.m. and continue until midnight each day.

Hosted by radio and television personality Eddie Trunk, the rock lovers’ festival features a number of 1980s superstar acts whose music and adrenaline-pumping performances are equally relevant for today’s audiences.

As well as the legendary hitmakers already listed, performers and bands include Enuff Z’Nuff, Tesla, Loverboy, Queensryche, Stryper, Quiet

Riot, Stephen Adler of Guns N’ Roses, Stephen Pearcy of the heavy metal band Ratt and other notables.

Attractions for spectators include the intimate waterfront venue, allowing for close-up viewing and listening experiences that aren’t possible in typical arena settings.

While enjoying the harddriving musicianship, audiences at Truman Waterfront Park can purchase offerings from multiple food vendors and chalet tents with full-service bars.

Festival admission options include five-day packages that include accommodations, a sunset live music sail on a 60foot catamaran, curated experiences and access to exclusive VIP events and performances.

For attendees not needing accommodations, five-day or single-day admission passes are available, each allowing entrance into all festival venues.

A cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtle gets an antibiotic injection from a rehabilitation specialist. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed

Left: Turtle hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach, right, and rehab specialist Krista Breshears record the temperatures of cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Right: Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach administers a swim test to a coldstunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.

The band Styx, seen in 2017, includes, from left, Lawrence Gowan, Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman, James “JY” Young and Tommy Shaw. WIKIPEDIA/Contributed

RALPH MORROW

SPORTS & MORE

We don’t know how Brit-

TAKE ME HOME?

FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

... a veteran sports columnist, says the only sport he doesn’t follow is cricket. That leaves plenty of others to fill his time.

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

tany Griner is being treated now, but we assume it’s better in a U.S. Army hospital in San Antonio, Texas, than any of the time she spent as a prisoner in Russia. I have thought a lot about her transition lately from prisoner to homebound American athlete following the swap of a Soviet prisoner the U.S. was holding.

I’ve also thought about Aaron Judge, who plays right field and hits home runs for the New York Yankees. Judge signed a new contract that will pay him $40 million a year for up to nine years.

Only two baseball pitchers top that figure; no on-field players.

Are athletes in general getting paid too much? I’ll let you decide. I’ve tried to come up with a formula. I can’t do it. Professional athletes generally have to maintain two residences: One for wherever they play and one where their family resides.

Before Griner was arrested, having played several seasons for a Russian team, she had signed a three-year contract with her WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, that paid her $221,515 a year. That contract runs out next year. If she chooses to play again, she and the Mercury will need to negotiate another.

I assume she received her Phoenix salary as well as what she had negotiated from her Moscow team. Brittany has a listed wealth of $5 million. Meanwhile she has a second wife, Cherelle, whom she married in 2019 following her divorce in 2016. Cherelle, who is 30, teaches math and earns $63,000 a year. She graduated from North Carolina Central College of Law.

It has been pointed out that Rocky, the mascot for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, makes $625,000 a year, compared to $228,000, which is the most paid to WNBA players Diana Taurasi (who joked, “I can learn to be a mascot”), Jewell Lloyd and Brianna Stewart. The women’s salaries are the reason many WNBA players play in Europe after their U.S. seasons are completed.

The highest NBA salary plus offfield earnings without taxes goes to Lebron James at $121.1 million, which is second to Lionel Messi’s soccer earnings of $130 million in world earnings,

WNBA player Brittney Griner, seen here in 2019, was recently released from a Russian prison following a prisoner exchange. She was arrested in February in a Moscow airport for having a small amount of hash oil in her luggage. WIKIPEDIA/Contributed

according to Forbes, which compiled all figures in this article.

Next on Forbes’ list are Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer, $115 million; Neymar, soccer, $95 million; Stephen Curry, basketball, $92.8 million; Kevin Durant, basketball, $92.1 million; Roger Federer, tennis, $90.7 million; Canelo Alvarez, boxing, $90 million; Tom Brady, pro football $82.9 million, and 10th, Giannis Antetokounmpo, basketball, $80.9 million.

The highest paid baseball player for 2022 is No. 23, Mike Trout, $49.5 million. Judge will be on that list next year, as it runs from May 1 to May 1.

From basketball’s Miami Heat is Jimmy Butler, at No. 26, $48 million.

Auto racing has Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton at No. 17 with $65 million.

There are no hockey players in the top 25.

From tennis and the top women are No.19, Naomi Osaka, $52.5 million, and No. 31, Serena Williams, $45.3 million.

Gone from 2021 is that year’s No. 1, Conor McGregor, who is listed as a UFC fighter and earned $150 million of his $180 million from Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. This year, he dropped to No. 35 as he earned $43 million.

Comparing athletes to actors is no contest. Johnny Depp was paid $10 million for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, a movie that brought in $300 million just for its distribution in the United States.

But the disparity between men’s and women’s basketball makes it clear why American women play abroad in the off-season.

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

From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.

The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.

Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.

Pallas is a 1-year-old female domestic shorthair. She’s an independent kitty who loves affection on her own terms and is an active, fun little gal.

Isabelle is a 1-year-old female Staffordshire terrier mix. She has a lot of energy and will need a home dedicated to training and helping her become a well-trained adult pup.

Speckles is a 3½-year-old male guinea pig. He’s a happy little guy looking for his furever home. Guinea pigs make great pets, are full of personality and can be handled once you gain their trust.

Fritz

Devo, a miniature pinscher, is 7 and adorable, but extremely cautious. He will need a home with patience to build trust.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FOR AN ATHLETE TO BE PAID?

and Ferdinand are 6½-year-old domestic shorthair brothers who would need to be adopted together. As the only cats in the home, they’re ready to give lots of head butts and purrs.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

THE SCOREBOARD

Team Sport Opponent Date Result

Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ Silver Palms 12/5 L, 52-46

Marathon Girls Basketball Florida Christian 12/5 W, 61-27

Coral Shores Girls Basketball @ Westminster 12/5 L, 40-15

Key West Boys Soccer @ Doral Academy 12/5 T, 1-1

Marathon Girls Soccer SLAM 12/5 W, 4-2

Key West Girls Soccer @ Mater Academy 12/5 W, 8-0

Coral Shores Girls Soccer Keys Gate 12/6 W, 3-0

Marathon Boys Basketball @ Horeb 12/6 W, 62-25

Coral Shores Boys Soccer @ Silver Palms 12/6 L, 1-0

Key West Boys Soccer @ iMater Charter 12/7 W, 9-0

Marathon Girls Soccer South Homestead 12/7 L, 7-1

Marathon Boys Soccer South Homestead 12/7 W, 8-1

Key West Girls Soccer Westminster Christian 12/7 L, 3-2

Coral Shores Girls Soccer Monsignor Pace 12/8 W, 8-0

Coral Shores Boys Soccer Monsignor Pace 12/8 W, 8-0

Marathon Boys Basketball @ Posnak 12/8 L, 54-17

Coral Shores BoysBasketball @ Mast Academy 12/8 W, 66-54

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Palm Glades 12/9 W, 63-49

Coral Shores Girls Basketball Keys Gate 12/9 W, 55-5

Key West Boys Soccer @ Coral Reef 12/9 W, 2-0

Key West Girls Basketball @ Marathon 12/9 L, 61-43

Key West Boys Basketball @ Marathon 12/9 W, 50-36

Marathon Girls Soccer Westwood 12/9 W, Forfeit

Marathon Boys Soccer Westwood 12/9 W, Forfeit

Key West Girls Basketball Barron Collier 12/10 L, 50-17

Key West Boys Basketball Boyd Anderson 12/10 L, 53-23

Coral Shores Girls Basketball @ FL Christian 12/12 W, 44-25

Marathon Girls Basketball Gulliver 12/12 L, 41-37

Coral Shores Senior Basketball

MATT ST. AUBIN

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

Coral Shores Boys Soccer St. Brendan 3:30 p.m. 12/15

Marathon Girls/Boys Basketball Coral Shores 5/6:30 p.m 12/16

Key West Girls Soccer Orangewood Christian 7 p.m. 12/16

Key West Wrestling Coral Shores 2 p.m. 12/16

Key West Boys Soccer @ Ransom 6 p.m. 12/20

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Cathedral Prep (PA) @ Orlando 10 a.m. 12/21

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Salem (Mass) @ Orlando 4 p.m. 12/22

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Southern (KY) @ Orlando 4 p.m. 12/28

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Gig Harbor, WA 5 p.m. 12/29

Key West Boys Basketball Gig Harbor, WA 2 p.m.

Senior captain Matt St. Aubin started his season tearing up the court for Coral Shores. Over the last two games, he averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He’s 50% from the free throw line and has a deadly three-point shot to boot. During a recent game against LaSalle, St. Aubin put up 10 points while going against a 6-foot-9-inch opponent who hailed from the Estonian 18U national team. Hurricane coach Jarrod Mandozzi called St. Aubin “a tremendous leader and teammate” who is always ready to attack defenders and impose his will. This fearlessness inspires his coaches and fellow players to be their best as well. For his leadership, relentlessness and exceptional game play, Coral Shores’ Matt St. Aubin is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

“He’s playing with such a passion. He’s having fun and it is infectious for the entire team.”

– CSHS head coach Jarrod Mandozzi

BASKETBALL

PRE-BREAK PREP BASKETBALL HEATS UP

Conchs and Dolphins Trade Victories with County Bragging Rights on the Line

A senior-heavy girls Dolphin squad was too much for a younger, less experienced Conch team on Dec. 15 when Marathon played Key West at home for their first of two meetups this season. Marathon won the game 61-43, giving them a two-game win streak and a spark going into the final week before the holiday break.

Fins coach Andra Garvey called it “a very exciting win for the girls.”

Abrianna Marshall had a strong showing for Marathon, scoring 21 points in the win. Elena Eubank added 18 to the score. An early lead provided some valuable experience for Garvey’s deep bench, and their efforts did not go unnoticed, with the coach noting that “the younger girls came out to play tonight.”

The Conchs have yet to add a win to their season, but Key West coach Shonta Mcleod found a lot of positivity in the loss, noting that her team “is heading in the right direction.” The young squad has just two seniors, and the Conchs are growing and learning with each game, putting up their highest point total of the season in Friday’s game.

be smoothing out. Their starting lineup includes two freshmen, both of whom were high scorers Friday night. James Osborne led the team with 15 points and Leandro Batista had 11. Senior Kevon Mills added 11 points, and his 6 steals helped keep the ball in the hands of the Conchs for the better part of the second half.

Marathon plays Coral Shores at home on Thursday, Dec. 15 before retiring for the winter break. Key West closes out the calendar year with Keys Gate on Dec. 17 and Gig Harbor on Dec. 29. Gig Harbor is located in Washington state, more than 3,400 miles from Key West – about as far from the Southernmost high school as one can get.

Coral Shores Triumphs after Trials

The Lady ’Canes were without two starters against Westminster on Dec. 5. Despite the disadvantage, coach Danielle Thomas worked some magic with her bench in the first half, keeping Coral Shores in the game. The team fought to a 4-4 tie at the end of the first quarter, a gap which grew to 10 by the end of the half and continued to grow. At the final buzzer, the score was a 40-15 loss to the Warriors.

Four days later, the ’Canes were back on track with a lopsided win against Keys Gate. Starter and leading point scorer Brooke Mandozzi was back in the Coral Shores lineup, scoring 14 points in the 55-5 victory. Alondra Apolinario had a hot hand at the three-point line, sinking two and adding to her 9-point total on the night. Lea Castellanos had 8, Grace Leffler scored 7, Makayla Hahn added 6 and Kacelyn Hollis put up 4 in a win that provided a lot of play time for the entire team.

Marathon is scheduled to play three games prior to the holiday break, culminating in a showdown with Coral Shores on Thursday, Dec. 15. Last season, the ’Canes topped the Fins by 6 points in their first contest, and the Fins narrowed it to 3 in the second. The Conchs and Hurricanes will not face off until January.

Momentum in the gym shifted quickly when the boys tipped off the second game of the in-county doubleheader. First-year coach Dexter Butler’s Conchs put pressure on Marathon from the start, something he says his team lacked in their earlier matches. That pressure continued until a late firsthalf run narrowed the Conch lead to just 6 points. Key West held onto the lead and secured its first win of the season, defeating the Dolphins 50-36.

The Conchs have faced an uphill battle this season but with Butler at the helm, things seem to

The boys team played Somerset Silver Palms on Dec. 5. Matt St. Aubin scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the 52-46 loss. Allen Perez was 3-for-8 on 3-pointers, scoring 11, and Eddy Espinosa had 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the hardfought game.

They turned the week around on Dec. 8 and 9, winning back-to-back contests against Mast Academy and Palm Glades Prep. Isaac Holmes had the high score against Mast, putting up 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists. Espinosa scored 14 and Ayden Lane had 9 points with 6 rebounds. In their Palm Glades matchup, Holmes had another monster game, scoring 18 points with 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. St. Aubin had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists and Perez had 12 points with 8 rebounds.

Coral Shores’ boys and girls will head down the road to Marathon on Dec. 15 for their final games before school is out for the holidays. Tipoff is 5 p.m. for the girls and 6:30 for the boys.

All three Keys girls soccer teams boast winning records a week prior to the halfway point of the season. As of Dec. 12, the Lady Conchs are 5-3, Marathon is 5-2 and Coral Shores is 4-2. Marathon’s girls scrapped it out with SLAM Academy for a win on Dec. 5 but lost a district matchup with Somerset South Homestead two days later. Their game against Coral Shores was postponed indefinitely due to a familiar issue plaguing Keys sports: a lack of referees. Coral Shores added two wins to their record with a 3-0 victory against Keys Gate on Dec. 6 and an 8-0 mercy rule victory over Monsignor Pace two days later.

Key West beat Mater Academy Charter 8-0 on Dec. 5, but lost by one goal to Westminster Christian 3-2 in a home game that was moved to Marathon’s campus due to the referee shortage. The Conchs will take the field for the final time before the holiday break on Friday, Dec. 16 against Orangewood Christian.

In boys soccer, the Conchs look strong at the halfway point in their season. A tie with Doral Academy and two wins against Mater Academy and Coral Reef put them at an impressive 6-1-1 record with one game to go before winter break (Friday, Dec. 16 at Ransom Everglades). Marathon improved to 4-4 with an 8-1 win against Somerset South Homestead and a forfeit by Westwood.

The Fins played Cushman on Tuesday and will face off against SLAM Academy on Thursday, Dec. 15 on the road before a two-week break for the holidays.

Coral Shores is at 4-2 thus far this season after a loss against Silver Palms then a win against Pace last week. A game against St. Brendan on Thursday, Dec. 15 is all that stands between the ’Canes and their vacation.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

HALFWAY INTO SEASON, SOCCER TEAMS LOOKING STRONG

There was a good crowd on hand for the rivalry doubleheader Friday night. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

1. Fin Daeshawn Holmes (30) splits the defenders. 2. Hurricanes Brooke Mandozzi goes up for the layup against Keys Gate. 3. Marathon and Key West players scramble for a rebound. 4. Hurricanes forward Grace Leffler (30) prepares to defend. 5. Key West’s Jalia Hicks (5) puts one up from the three-point line. 6. The Lady Fins celebrate a victory over Key West. 7. Marathon’s Adrian Cruz (2) is surrounded by a sea of Conchs.

Photos by Barry Gaukel and Joy Smith. See more game photos at shadypalmphotography.com.

Tracy and Sean McDonald

DECK THE HULLS

KEY WEST HARBOR BECOMES WARM, WINTER WONDERLAND

For the 31st year, Schooner Wharf Bar lit up the harbor with its Lighted Boat Parade, co-sponsored by Absolut Vodka.

Dozens of vessels decked their hulls with lights and hung mistletoe from their masts for the popular, tropical holiday event.

From Coast Guard vessels to historic schooners and floating tiki bars, the Lighted Boat Parade was a hit with revelers who lined Key West’s Harbor Walk of Lights, which is also brilliantly lit for the season.

— Mandy Miles

1. Illuminated renditions of Key West’s Southernmost Point Buoy and New York City’s Statue of Liberty adorn the S/V America.

2. The S/V Double Trouble displays an illuminated underwater wonderland.

3. A lighted catamaran makes its way through Key West Harbor.

4. A U.S. Coast Guard boat piloted by Santa Claus and led by a decorated ‘chopper’ cruises through the Key West Historic Seaport during the 31st annual Schooner Wharf Bar/Absolut Vodka Lighted Boat Parade.

5. The Grinch joined the crew of the M/V Make It So.

6. M/V Cruisin’ Tikis seafaring tiki huts decorated with a Pac Man motif twirl through the waters while playing music from the famous video game.

7. Havana Sky parades through the Key West Historic Seaport.

Photos by CAROL TEDESCO/KeyWestHolidayFest.com and LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

I nursed along my dental reconstruction for years.

GinnyBarr,RN

Over the course of many years, Dr. Troxel has been patching my teethtogetherwhen Ineededacompleteoverhaul.Itwasall mydoingasto why it took so longto doitright Maybe it's because my nursing mentality makes me very methodical, or ifI just love going to his office so much. He and his staff are so warm and friendly. It's like visiting family or close friends. IknowItookmytime, but it wasdefinitely worth it. My teeth are spectacular now. IwishIwouldhavedoneit yearsago.

Dr. Christina Smith DDS is now accepting new patients and is thrilled to be part of the 7-time Bubba Award-winning Doc Guzman’s o ce.

MM 1 - Inez Martin Child Care Center (C16M0012)

1100 Varela St., Key West, FL 33040

Contact: Christine Patterson • 305-809-5055 • christine.patterson@wesleyhouse.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 2 - Sunbeam Christian School (C16MO0034) 1311 5th St., Key West, FL 33040 Contact: Jerlyn Matthews • 305-2946018 • sunbeam@fsbckw.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 5 - Lighthouse Christian Academy (C16MO0014) 5580 MacDonald Ave, Key West, FL 33040 Jennifer Sisco • 305-292-5582 • lcaoffice@cwckw.org Vacancies: 1 floater

MM 22.9 - Banana Cabanna Academy Inc. (C16MO0054) 22673 Pieces of Eight Rd, Cudjoe Key, FL 33042

Contact: Roxanne Rosado • 305-745-1400 • banana.cabanna@att.net Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 47 - Kreative Kids Christian Academy (X16MO0001) 4711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050

Contact: Maria Vaillant • 305-743-7165 Kreativekidsca@bellsouth.net • vaillantmaria@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 49 - Grace Jones Community Center, Inc. (C16MO0048) 230 41st Street Gulf, Marathon, FL 33050 Kelly Ullrich • 305-743-6064 • gjcckids@gmail.com Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 87.5 - St. James Children’s Center (C16MO0033) 87500 Overseas Hwy, I slamorada, FL 33036

Contact: Sue Ellen Bennett • 305-852-2161 • childrenscenter@stjamesthefisherman.org Vacancies: 1 teacher

MM 92 - Burton Memorial CDC (C16MO0018) 93001 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070

Contact: Nilda Bernaldez • 305-852-0250 • acabar11@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 part-time floaters

MM 99 - First Baptist Church Jack Hill Child Care (C16MO0021) 99001 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Contact: Leeanna Woods • 305-451-2125 • fbcjhccc@yahoo.com Vacancies: 1 teacher

SHELF HELP CROWNING CANINE ROYALTY — PLUS A BUNNY

Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.

The ninth annual Parade of Paws on Dec. 10 raised nearly $30,000 for the Florida Keys SPCA and crowned local animal royalty.

The pets who raised the most money — via online donations and local events — were crowned king, prince, queen, princess and duchess.

And the winners are King Ozzie, Prince Gilroy, Queen Cookie, Princess Bonnie the Bulldog and Duchess Fiona the Bunny.

— Mandy Miles

What: “Magyk” by Angie Sage

Why: This is just a wonderful fantasy book. While labeled as a kids book, it very easily lends itself to middle grade readers as well. And any adult reading this with a child can easily enjoy the story, too. The story is well thought-out and fully develops the world and characters. There are also fantastic quirks and bits of humor throughout the book. Sage doesn’t write in a belittling way, often using words a child might not understand but can easily figure out in context. Honestly, this is a great timeless book of magic and found family for all ages.

Where: This is available as a print and ebook from the Monroe County Library system.

How: You can request books online by logging in to www. keyslibraries.org and get ebooks and e-audiobooks 24/7 at www. estuff.keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@ keyslibraries.org

Recommended by: Haley Kilgour, library assistant, Key Largo branch

The Florida Keys SPCA celebrates its ninth annual Parade of Paws fundraiser on Dec. 10 at Higgs Beach Dog Park in Key West. LARRY BLACKBURN/ Keys Weekly

KLEE KLEE

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

The thing that rocked me back on my heels most in recent years, avian taxonomy-wise, is the fact that falcons are not closely related to hawks and eagles. Using DNA analysis, avian taxonomists – the people who figure out which bird species are related to which, and where they all fit in the evolutionary tree – have learned that falcons are actually most closely related to parrots. They just happen to do many of the same things to survive as the other birds of prey – most obviously eating other birds, as well as the occasional reptile, insect or small mammal. (This is an example of convergent evolution.)

Basically, falcons and parrots shared a common ancestor species, and over the millennia some of that species’ descendants embraced the role of colorful, loud, (mostly) vegetarians with serious mimicry skills, and some of that species’ descendants became speedy, carnivorous assassins. (This is an example of divergent evolution.)

We tend to think of parrots as tropical exotic creatures from distant lands, despite the names of some Keys hotels, but we did once have a species of parrots in the United States – the Carolina parakeet. Unfortunately we hunted it to extinction – a process exacerbated by their tendency, when one of their members went down, to return and see what happened.

We nearly wiped out the falcons in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, but fortunately banned DDT and other organochlorine pesticides, enabling their numbers to rebound somewhat over the decades.

We regularly get three species of falcons here in the Keys. The largest (and fastest) are the peregrine falcons, standing an average of 16 inches tall and weighing in at a pound-and-a-quarter, which tend mostly to migrate through in September and October.

Next in size are the merlins, standing an average of 10 inches tall and weighing an average of .4 pounds. They tend to keep a similar schedule as the peregrines in the Keys.

Smallest are the American kestrels, standing an average of 9 inches tall and weighing in at a quarter-pound. They, too, come into the Keys in the fall, but a good number decide to stay for the winter. In Key West it can be difficult to travel a few blocks without seeing one perched on a wire. In the past week two of them worked out a turf battle in my backyard mahogany tree. And while writing the above paragraphs I heard one calling several times while flying around Bayview Park.

While most falcons tend to not make a lot of noise unless they’re in distress or seeking the attention of a mate, American kestrels are chatty little beasts with a distinctive klee klee klee call that prompted generations of Conchs to refer to them as klee klee hawks. There was even a kids’ game called 1-2-3 Klee Klee — basically an aggressive version of tag, in which the person who’s “it” has to catch the shirt of another player and hold on long enough to say, “1-2-3 Klee Klee.” Jordan Holtkamp once explained the rules to me when he grabbed my shirt and shook me like a rag doll in the aisles of Strunk Ace Hardware.

Conch lore also says that if you hear the klee klee call in the late fall, it’s safe to take your storm shutters down, though Hurricane Wilma (Oct. 24, 2005) disproved that theory.

Most falcons have what is called a malar stripe, a dark streak below the eye that absorbs glare, much like the eye-black paint

football players wear for the same reason. American kestrels actually have two streaks below each eye.

Females are a streaked whiskey brown that skews towards tiger orange. Males have similar coloring, but with a silky cerulean blue in the wings and on top of their head.

There are 15 species of kestrel in the world. The name comes from the Eurasian kestrel, which most Eurasians just refer to as the kestrel, and is probably derived from their call, which apparently sounded, to the Old World ear, something like a noisy bell or a “leper’s clicket.”

The first definition of “clicket” I found defined it as copulation, generally among foxes or hares, which didn’t make sense, but a further definition was a noisemaker beggars once used to gain attention in crowded public spaces. That made more sense.

One of the marked traits of kestrels is their ability to hover-flap in the air, or ride wind currents, usually over open fields, for long periods, before swooping down to strike their prey – usually a small bird, mouse or cricket. (Lenny Carey, who used to teach at Key West High School, apparently had trained a neighborhood American kestrel to come and take crickets from his hand.)

It’s amazing to see, as their whole body tends to be in motion, adjusting to the air currents around them, while their heads stay stock still, as if attached to some invisible mount. More often in the Keys, where we don’t have a lot of updrafts or open fields, they tend to sit on wires or lampposts, waiting to fall on unsuspecting prey.

They are so good at the wind-riding thing, one of their names in England in the 1600s was “the windf*cker.” The name, sadly, is not used as often in modern times, though it may be worth an attempted resurgence. Apparently “f*ckwind” was also in vogue briefly in the 1800s.

The American kestrel is the only kestrel found in the New World. Genetic analysis of different species has done a good bit to unravel and then re-ravel what we think we know about the world And the current thinking is that the American kestrel, despite its wind-riding abilities, may not taxonomically be a true kestrel, like the 14 other species of kestrel, but rather more closely related to western North American falcons, such as the Aplomado falcon. (There’s that convergent evolution again.)

All of this is a long walk to explain why a klee klee hawk may not actually be a windf*cker. But if they decide to rename the American kestrel due to this new knowledge, maybe they’ll give serious consideration to klee klee falcon.

A

MAY NOT BE A F*CKWIND ( WE’RE TALKING BIRDS, AND WE DIDN’T NAME IT )

An American kestrel perched in the Middle Keys.

MARK HEDDEN/ Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

JANICE GARY

is a writer, dog mama and author of the awardwinning memoir, “Short Leash.” Her lifelong love of the Keys led her to living local on the rock with her husband and their dog, Ozzy, the Canine Tornado. janicegary.com

PAWS IN PARADISE

2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR PETS

Has your pet been naughty or nice?

Chances are, probably both. It’s part of their special charm. You love them no matter what, so when the holidays come around, you want to give them something they’ll appreciate — or at least not throw up. Lucky for you, we’ve scoured the finest international online purveyors and our own Key West pet stores to help you find that purr-fect gift that’s bow-wow WOW! No need to wrap — just throw the box across the room and let the fun begin.

DOG AND CAT SOCKS

If you’ve tried, you know it. Dogs and cats hate wearing socks. But they sure love to play with yours. So why not build on their natural appreciation for cloth footwear?

A large holiday stocking makes the perfect sleeping bag for cats and (very) small dogs. The Halco Red Velvet Plush stocking with Kris Kringle Foldover cuff not only has a long name and length (21”), but it’s also cheap. For a more upscale version, check out Lulubelle’s Power Push Holiday Stocking, which comes with a slot to insert the giftee’s photo so Santa knows who’s a good boy or girl.

For a truly affordable socktastic action toy that combines your pet’s favorite smells with the sounds of plastic crinkling, try a homemade Bottle Rocket. It’s easy to make. Simply stuff an empty water bottle into a smelly sock and tie off at the top. Like most pet toys, your supervision is needed for this one. Works great until the sock is shredded or your pet begins eating the bottle.

• Halco Red Velvet Plush stocking with Kris Kringle Foldover Cuff $5 at amazon.com and others. • Lulubelle’s Pow-er Plush Holiday Stockings: Lily and Lola’s Pet Boutique Key West. • Bottle Rocket: Sock drawer and recycle bin.

KITTY LAPTOP

Does this ever happen to you? You’re deep in thought churning out social media when your cat decides to “help you” by sitting on your laptop keyboard. If so, we’ve got the purr-fect gift for your technology-loving feline. The Catbook Pro Scratching Post features dual-scratch-powered stations that provide aggressive scratchers plenty of content to shred.

For a more realistic version, try the hopefully inappropriately named Suck UK Scratch Laptop, which comes with its own furry mouse and cute stickers like, “I Heart Catnip” and #feedmehuman. On a limited budget? Try powering up your old laptop, the one you don’t know how to get rid of, and re-gift it to your cat. It’s loaded with what they really love about laptops: a battery-powered heated keyboard and your sniff-worthy fingerprint smells. Add a fluffy mouse attachment and your cat will be pounding out emails all day.

• The Catbook Pro Scratching Post $34.99 at amazon.com • Suck UK Scratch Laptop $35 at walmart.com

GIFTS FOR BORED PETS

How would you feel if you were left alone for long periods with no smartphone, laptop or TV remote in your hand and no way to get out and go anywhere? Bonkers, right? Maybe even up for a little furniture scratching or ripping apart the sofa cushions. Luckily, there’s an entire industry dedicated to entertaining pets by frustrating the heck out of them.

For a low-tech choice, you can’t go wrong with the Kong Classic. This old standard, whose iconic shape resembles a poop emoji, keeps your pet licking incessantly for a taste of peanut butter or chemical-laden squirt cheese until they realize their tongue is too short to get all the food. (Pros: Immediate interest. Cons: Washing remaining rock-hard peanut butter out of hole).

Puzzle games are another route, and there are many out there, all created to stimulate your pet’s brain by having your dog or cat overcome obstacles to find the treats. They’re touted as “boredom busters.” All our local pet stores carry them and maybe they can help you understand how they work. I couldn’t figure it out.

The one toy I’m excited about getting for Ozzy this year is the Cheerble Wicked Ball, an automatic, self-moving ball for both cats and dogs. Think of it as a ball-shaped Roomba that keeps going and going and going without you having to throw the ball again. And again. And again. Pros: Fully rechargeable with three modes of movement: gentle, normal and active. Cons: Website says may not be suitable for tough chewers. Let’s be honest, what is?

• Kong Classic (various sizes): American Dog Outfitters Key West Pet Supermarket and Lilly and Lola’s $9.99- $19.99. • Cheerble Wicked Ball for dogs (3 sizes) $31.99-$35.99; Cheerble Ball with bell for cats (2 sizes) $21.59- $28.99 at cheerble.com.

PUPPY CHEIFER 3000 AND CBD TREATS

You don’t need a medical marijuana card to give your dog a toy “high” with the Puppy Cheifer 3000, their very own canine bong. Realistic looking plush pipe will provide hours of giggles for you and your stoner friends and squeaky fun for your pup. For a true cannabis wellness experience, try giving them Hemp/ CBD treats available at local stores. Many pet parents swear by them. I can’t say they mellow out hyper-poodle Ozzy, but boy does he get happy when I pull out a Pet Releaf Sweet Potato CBD treat. It’s not only tasty, but a perfect munchie for his sensitive stomach, which is more that I can say for any plush toy than has the misfortune to end up in his jaws.

• Puppy Cheifer 3000 $27.90 at kol.pet. • Pet Releaf Hemp Edibites: $26-$30 (various flavors): available locally at Lilly and Lola’s American Dog Outfitters and Pet Supermarket

No matter what you give your pet this holiday season, remember it’s the little things that count. For my dog, it’s the box the stuff comes in — nothing excites him more than the sound of squashed cardboard. And for Captain Boo, my friend and feline mayor of Seaport’s D Dock, it’s an almost empty tub of butter. Most of all, our pets want our time, our love and a comfortable place to nap.

Cheese wouldn’t hurt either. Happy Holidays to all!

ARTIST’S

Atmospheric landscapes give a feeling of place

Have you ever stared at a work of art and felt like you were there? Have you ever gotten the mood and feeling of the place?

It doesn’t have to be an exact representation of the place, but more of the vibes of the place. Having a work of art that is too clear and too exacting takes away from the vibe of the place. Exacting might be the reality but it kind of kills the mood. The artwork or photograph that gave you the feel is an atmospheric landscape.

The feels or the vibes are important in art. If you really think about it, we live in an area of the world that is constantly giving off vibes or a lifestyle. All you have to do is look out toward the water on whatever key you are on and you instantly get that “I’m living on an island” kind of vibe.

The Florida Keys lifestyle is tied directly to the water. We go fishing, boating, paddling, kayaking, sailing and much more. Directly or indirectly, our livelihood and our lifestyle are based on the ocean. Well, it is also based on the Everglades and the Florida Bay, but you get my point (boy oh boy, that is another discussion that someone who is more of a scientist than I can discuss). Think about how lucky we are and how most people would want to live in our atmospheric landscape.

Atmospheric landscape is a type of landscape that is hazy or in soft focus. This gives our mind the ability to dive right into the artwork and get a feeling of a place — like the impressionist Claude Monet does with his use of colors and light at different times. Monet gave us a whole mood. His paintings were filled with atmospheric perspective, which used color blocking to give depth.

Another artist who filled a painting with atmosphere is J.M.W. Turner. A British artist who lived from 1775-1861, he is not as well-known as Monet but his artwork really sets a mood. His use of atmosphere is so dramatic, he is known as the “Painter of Light” and is an English romantic painter. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is when anyone talks about a romantic, there is usually a lot of atmosphere involved.

Giving this feeling or mood to a painting is not exactly easy. If you feel up to it, you can create an atmospheric landscape by having more grays and neutrals in the distance, at the same time having a little more blue mixed in. The foreground should have more contrast. This will give you a hazy perspective in the landscape – or more likely a seascape if you are painting here in the Keys. Trying this out will really give you an appreciation for what these artists do. Atmospheric landscape is not only a coastal thing, it can be about mountains, a swamp, desert or any landscape that makes you feel like you are there.

The Upper Keys have a lot of talented artists and there are quite a few who have images that give you a whole mood. I think the easiest way to think about atmospheric landscape painting in the Keys is a beautiful coastal scene in the brightest of days, a sunset, or a dock going into the ocean or a beach surrounded by palm trees.

If you look at the art of Islamorada artist Jul Jankowski, you will see how some of her work has that unique atmospheric landscape or seascape. Her paintings are at night — they have a glow to them, and they are just as much coastal as the traditional coastal art. They celebrate how the Keys are in the early morning or at night. That is a whole mood, just like atmospheric landscapes should be.

is an artist, designer and gemologist who believes in the power of art.

WILLIAM DEPAULA

Jul Jankowski’s ‘Casting Spells’ piece has a glow. CONTRIBUTED

Jul Jankowski’s ‘See Close Eyes’ work possesses a unique seascape. CONTRIBUTED

HARRY S. TRUMAN FOUNDATION PREPARES FOR PRESIDENTS’ DAY EVENTS

ESSAY CONTEST ASKS STUDENTS TO ADDRESS BIPARTISANSHIP; DEADLINE IS JAN. 15

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP EVERY FRIDAY MORNING

For the first time in Keys history, Monroe County high school students can compete in a world-class essay contest juried by a prominent group of distinguished United States presidential descendants. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive an invitation to meet and interact with presidential descendants at the upcoming annual Harry S. Truman Foundation Presidential Families Weekend forum, along with cash prizes and certificates of achievement. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 15, 2023.

In February of each year, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation presents several days of special events over Presidents’ Day Weekend. The centerpiece is a forum held on the grounds of the historic Harry S. Truman Little White House that features a gathering of U.S. presidential descendants who engage in a moderated discussion on a particular theme before a live audience.

The student essays should be based on this year’s forum topic, “Working Across the Aisle: American Bipartisanship.” The competition, organized and presented by the foundation in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, is open to all Monroe County students currently enrolled in grades 9-12, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and who have performed volunteer service work within the past two years, including homeschooled and charter-school students. The prize packages for first-, second- and third-place winners

will include tickets to the Saturday, Feb. 18 forum, where attending presidential descendants, including Susan Ford Bales, Clifton Truman Daniel, Mary Jean Eisenhower, Massee McKinley, and Patricia Taft will introduce the winning students to the audience following the discussion.

“It is an honor to be able to host members of the Society of Presidential Descendants here on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, particularly during Presidents Day Weekend,” said Clinton Curry, acting executive director of the Harry S. Truman Foundation. “And it’s particularly gratifying this year as we provide an essay contest for our local high school youth for the very first time.”

Other Presidential Families Weekend events are Sunday, Feb. 19 and Monday, Feb. 20, live performances of the long-running stage production, “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!,” which stars Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Harry S. Truman, guided tours of the Historic Little White House, self-guided botanical lawn tours, cocktail parties, and a Monday BBQ on the Little White House lawn. The “Presidential Families Weekend and Forum” is presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Essay guidelines and submission information are at trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/ events/essay-competition. Event tickets and information are at trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.

Ploggers met at Conch Republic Seafood Co. for the Dec 9 cleanup. In one hour, 24 volunteers picked up all the small items in the rocks and pavers in the area including Lazy Way Lane. They collected three gallons of cigarette butts, 34 pounds of garbage and 10 pounds of recycling. Special thanks to Breakfast Club Too for providing drinks and breakfast after the cleanup. CONTRIBUTED

One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.

Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.

A troubling number of cigarette butts and plastic bags have been included in recent hauls. Please remember your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plastic off the streets, parking lots and, most importantly, out of the water. And dispose of cigarette butts in any receptacle rather than the street or sidewalk, as from there, they easily end up in the ocean.

The city of Key West and its residents ask everyone to do their part to help keep Key West beautiful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before putting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and making sure the lids on Dumpsters are closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the

that make the biggest difference.

It takes committed community involvement to Keep Key West Beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted.

Please call Dorian at the city of Key West at 305-8093782 to know more about how your business, nonprofit or club can help.

Join a Friday morning cleanup in December. Note that all cleanups are from 8 to 9 a.m. except for a special three-hour event on Friday, Dec. 23.

Dec. 16: South Roosevelt between Riviera Canal & Dead Man’s Curve. (Meet along S. Roosevelt seawall.)

Dec. 23: Truman Waterfront Park (Meet in the big parking lot to the right of the Ingham)

Dec. 30: 14th Street and Duck Avenue (Meet in the parking lot at 14th and Duck.)

President Harry S. Truman and a Navy sailor in the president’s Key West office. CONTRIBUTED

volunteers

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD

Films and panel discussion feature Keys locals

Sereia Films, a local production company focused on seafood education, partnered with the Florida Keys chapter of the Surfrider Foundation to host a lively night dedicated to sustainable seafood. The goal was to explore what exactly that means and to better understand what goes into our local seafood.

Globally, the seafood industry was estimated to be worth a whopping $270.3 billion in 2022 and is estimated to continue growing at a steady pace. However, with increased pollution, poor water quality, overfishing and warming and acidifying oceans, environmentalists say the bounty from our ocean is not boundless.

So, what is actually sustainable?

In places like the Keys, we know that our environment and our economy are inextricably tied. So, we must ensure that the seafood we catch is done in a way that is truly sustainable for our waters – that it is coming from sustainable sources and is caught using sustainable methods that will allow our ocean to continue to thrive.

“For Sereia Films, making sustainable seafood choices means being a curious and informed consumer,” said panel moderator and Sereia founder Sarah Curry. “It also means being a consumer that values the work that goes into all parts of getting seafood on our plates – from harvesting, growing, processing, transportation and cooking that seafood.”

Before the panel, Curry showed two episodes of her upcoming PBS series showing how to get sustainable seafood “from tide to table.” Consumer tips included choosing locally-caught or -grown seafood, eating what’s in season and diversifying the species that end up on your plate. “Eating lower on the food chain is great,” Curry said, “and getting to know where your seafood is caught or farmed and how it’s caught or farmed is key.”

“Not only is fishing the backbone of our economy here, so is seafood and many ocean livelihoods in the Keys rely on it,” said Surfrider Florida Keys Chair Whitney Wemett. “It’s so im-

portant for people to understand what goes into their food and who’s bringing food to their table.

“Take Gary Nichols, panelist and owner of Nichols Seafood in Conch Key. He reminded us that even on days when it’s blowing and you think no one’s going out, that he and his family are – because their livelihoods depend on it,” Wemett added. During the panel, Nichols also lamented the many commercial traps that get caught on boat props each year and dragged away. These losses cost Keys fishing families, staff and small businesses. “That was a big takeaway for me personally during the panel,” Wemett said.

Audience member Austin Armstrong lamented how some fishermen throw back fish carcasses with tons of meat on them. He asked the panel, “How do we change the culture to not waste so much – to use more of the fish?”

Panelist and chef at Islamorada’s Chef Michael’s Christian Ledwith answered. He said, “My dad (chef Michael Ledwith) would get so upset about this. He showed me how to scrape the carcasses, and we’d make these tasty little tacos.” Ledwith’s memory echoed the message from one of Curry’s films, wherein a Miami chef also scraped the bones on a fish, using that meat and fresh vegetables from his garden to make ceviche.

The panelists also touched on policy changes that encourage more sustainability within the seafood industry. For example, panelist and Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association’s Capt. Steve Friedman described how he encourages clients to release some of their catch and not to take too much. For those looking to “fill their coolers,” Friedman says, “I’m not your guide.” Moreover, he and other guides follow a voluntary moratorium by practicing catch and release within Everglades National Park. He continued, “I’ve never lost a charter from releasing fish. In fact, I’ve maybe gained some. We need to educate people why this is better in the long run.”

The panel emphasized that what’s hap-

pening with water management in Everglades National Park is critical to the future of Florida Keys fisheries. Panelist and Ocean Conservancy’s director of Florida conservation J.P. Brooker said, “Anyone who’s stepped foot in the Keys knows we’re suffering from depleted freshwater – and depleted fisheries. People don’t necessarily make the connection between a drop of water originating in Kissimmee, getting sent east and west from Okeechobee instead of going south as it traditionally would have and how that affects the health of the reef here in the Keys and the fish that live there.”

He added, “The issues are apolitical in nature. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democratic or Republican; we need to act now. People should listen to Gary (Nichols, from the panel), think about where seafood comes from, think about how compromised your water is, think about that when you go to the ballot box.”

Despite the diversity of panelists and their roles within the seafood industry, they all agreed that clean water and a thriving ocean were worth fighting for, Wemett said. They all just do it a little differently, so bringing them together for an event like this allows for new, important conversations to take place, added Curry. Wemett concluded, “Hopefully, this is how change begins – with community, curiosity and knowledge sharing.”

Whitney Wemett, Surfrider Foundation Florida Keys chapter chair, introduces the sustainable seafood panel. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

Seafood panelists included fishing guide Capt. Steve Friedman, Ocean Conservancy’s J.P. Brooker, Chef Michael’s’ Christian Ledwith, Conch Key’s Capt. Gary Nichols, Sereia Film’s Sarah Curry and NOAA’s Adriane Michaelis. VINH PHAM/Contributed

Surfrider’s Emily Becker and conservationist JD Reinbott hang out at the Surfrider table during the seafood panel. Surfrider Foundation co-hosted the event.

Panelists and audience members watched films by Sereia Films and the Ocean Conservancy on sustainable seafood options.

JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ONE OF FLORIDA’S LARGEST EDUCATION FOCUSED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc., is seeking a private sector and Early Head Start/Head Start director to ll vacant board seats. To qualify members must meet the statutory requirements, as de ned in Chapter 1002.83, Florida statutes.

Governor appointed private sector business members, either for-pro t or nonpro t, who do not (or any relatives as de ned in s. 112.3143) have a substantial nancial interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (1002.51 – 79, Florida Statutes) or the School Readiness Program (1002.81 – 995, Florida Statutes).

To apply for this position go to https://www. gov.com/appointments/ and ll out the application.

Early Head Start or Head Start director, candidate must reside in Florida and be the director of an early care and education program o ering Early Head Start and/or Head Start and conducting business in Miami-Dade or Monroe County.

To apply for this position go to https://bit.ly/ELCMDM_BOD or scan the QR code for the application.

Kristine Gregory 305-646-7220

business members, either for-profit or nonprofit. The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring high-quality early education for children in Miami-Dade and Monroe. Through a community-based collaborative approach, we are committed to promoting high-quality early learning, advocating on behalf of children, and preparing every child for success in both school and life.

State

Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe

Sponsored by

2012 Patterson Ave. | Key West | MLS # 601696

Lovely midtown 2 bed/3 bath home has an in-law suite with 3rd full bath & separate front entry. Galley kitchen is updated with stainless steel appliances. Mature tropical poolside and covered outdoor living space. Home being sold fully furnished.

Tom Crane from Key West Jeep Adventures hands over the keys for the Turtle Hospital’s newest ambulance! The team at Key West Jeep Adventures located the perfect vehicle and customized the paint and interior to meet our needs for an ambulance. They covered every detail and just like the good old days, sent us out with a full tank of gas! The Turtle Hospital thanks Tom and the team at Key West Jeep Adventures!

ON A WING AND A FOIL

New water sports

KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL www.keysweekly.com

Along the shore of Key Largo's Buttonwood Sound, Mari Perez explains the fine details of wing foiling. The equipment is straightforward; an inflatable sail and a board equipped with a hydrofoil.

Clutching the handles of the sail, or wing, the 21-year-old demonstrates to sailors at the Upper Keys Sailing Club this sport that is growing in popularity.

"Actually you fly on the water once you get it," Perez said. "I love it. It's something that is out of this world."

This is the latest way of harnessing the wind to slide across the water.

"I think the sport is gaining ground and I'm really excited that it's going to be here," said 63-year-old Bruce McCord. The Florida International University forensic chemistry professor has been windsurfing since 1983. McCord learned to windsurf in frigid Wisconsin, of all places.

"We would wait for the ice to melt and then we'd go out and learn to sail that way," said McCord with a laugh.

On this sunny and warm December day at the Upper Keys Sailing Club, McCord gave wing foiling a try.

"Unlike kite sailing and some of those other extreme sports, if you drop the wing you just fall in the water. It’s much safer," said McCord.

The board is equipped with a hydrofoil, which extends into the water. With a good breeze, the design causes the board to leave the surface of the water, levitating the sailor.

Foiling took off about five or six years ago, and has revolutionized the world of sailing. Windsurfing, which was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, has made a comeback and new sports

like wing foiling are taking flight because of the exciting foiling feature.

"Anything that can move people on the water via sail, we need to be involved with," said Rosa Lamela of her decision to offer wing foiling and windsurfing programs in the Upper Keys. Lamela is the executive director of the Mark Sorensen Youth Sailing Program at the Upper Keys Sailing Club.

In order to wing foil, a rider needs to adjust or maneuver the wing depending on the direction and strength of the wind. Good balance is a must.

"It's easy to foil on a wing foil board. It's a little shorter so it's easier to catch air and take off," said Lamela.

Over the holiday break, MSYSP will offer two one-week camps geared at kids and teens ages 8-18. They will learn wing foiling, windsurfing and sailing. In the afternoon, lessons will be made available to adults.

"We have flat breezy waters; it's a perfect area," added Lamela.

Retired electrical contractor Andrew "Kiwi" Burdett is an A-Class catamaran sailor.

"The wing is definitely light, it doesn't weigh anything and to steer it, it doesn't take a lot of effort, just balance and relaxing," said Burdett.

"If the wind is too strong you can just hold it up in the air and you don't have to worry about being overpowered, which is a problem on a windsurfer sometimes," added McCord.

Perez says learning to sail anything requires a certain intuitiveness.

"You have to learn to feel the wind, learn where you need to have the sail," she said. "I think it's about connecting with nature and the wind."

The camps will be held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club Dec. 19-22 and Jan. 2-5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The weekly rate is $395 for Monroe County children and teens and $525 for nonresidents. Adult lessons will be offered during camp days from 3 to 6 p.m. More information is at www.msysp. org.

Instructor Mari Perez shows sailors how to hold the inflatable wing. For the first time, wing foiling lessons will be offered at the Upper Keys Sailing Club during winter break. NIALL FARRELL/Contributed

Toppino Nature Chapel

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

EAT. DRINK. READ MERRY.

AS THE SEASON GETS INTO FULL SWING, GIVE YOURSELF ONE OF THESE STRESS - FREE HAPPILY- EVER- AFTERS THAT ARE SURE TO GET YOU IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

HOLIDAY ROMANCE

By Catherine Walsh

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

By Courtney Cole

After Piper McCauley’s parents were tragically lost in a plane crash, she spent years helping her grandmother run their lodge, offering trophy hunters exclusive treks into the remote wilderness. Now she has officially inherited Great Expectations in Wander, Alaska. One day Piper is caught in a blizzard searching for guests who have meandered too far. She is rescued by a group of men who take her in until the weather subsides. They bring her back to Great Expectations –where she is greeted by a young version of her grandmother Marina in the year 1945. As confusing as it appears, Piper cannot reveal she is from the future. She doesn’t know how she got there, but she knows these people would think she was crazy, not to mention the priceless opportunity to spend time with Gran. Borrowing Marina’s clothing and curling each other’s hair, their friendship flourishes, helping Piper better understand her painful loss. When an unexpected romance blossoms with a local war hero, Piper questions if she was meant to stay in this alternate reality. Past, present or future, she is determined to celebrate Christmas with a full heart. Fast-paced holiday fun with a time travel twist.

Chicago is a long way from Dublin for Molly. Studying abroad was her chance for independence from her identical twin and suffocating life in Ireland. It’s Christmas break and Molly’s flight is full. In the seat next to her is none other than Andrew, her roommate’s soon-to-be exboyfriend. To soften the blow she knows is coming, Molly is extra nice to her adorable seatmate. For 10 years Andrew and Molly become travel buddies. They drink bad wine, exchange silly gifts and catch up on their latest hookups – or lack thereof. Their transatlantic flight becomes a same-time-next-year tradition. A decade later, it’s their “flightaversary” and Molly, now a successful lawyer, secretly purchases first class upgrades. The pair fight through one delay after another as the weather devolves into blizzard conditions. Molly is stressed, but Andrew is devastated. Holidays with his large family in Ireland are something he looks forward to all year. Molly cannot bear to disappoint him and vows she will do whatever it takes to get him home in time for Christmas. Through laugh-out-loud travel mishaps, the two Irish darlings make their way home. This delicious holiday friends-to-lovers rom-com is the perfect stocking stuffer.

WATCH TIP: “Christmas With You” on Netflix. A pop star grants a young girl’s wish and sparks fly between the pop star and the girl’s dad, Freddie Prinze Jr. Rom-com vibes and fun holiday music.

MEET ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE

By Jenny Bayliss

One of Nory’s closest school friends is getting married just before Christmas. The wedding will be a weeklong event at a castle near the private school they all attended, a sort of reunion. It is also in the small, unassuming village Nory grew up in. Always an excellent student, Nory was on a scholarship at a very posh school outside London. Some people – namely her older brother – never got over the rift created when Nory’s friend group included a bunch of extremely wealthy, entitled and outspoken classmates. After leaving a high-paying job, she opened up a bookshop called Serendipitous Seconds filled with collectibles and rarities and now leads a quiet, bookish life. Arriving at the castle, Nory recognizes the gardener, Isaac, and tries to steer clear of any potential conflict with her brother’s longtime friend and her childhood tormenter. As the festivities get underway, she accidentally crosses paths with Isaac. Suffice to say, Isaac is handsome, charming and no longer a boy. As Nory reconsiders her past relationships and rather lonely foreseeable future, she runs into this hottie right under the mistletoe.

KAREN NEWFIELD

THE BLACK CAESAR'S CREEK CONUNDRUM

aps of East and West Florida” was published in 1775. Among the features identified in this collection is a map of the Northern Keys that identifies a body of water flowing between Elliott Key and Old Rhodes Key. The mapmaker chose a legendary name for it.

“M

The man who did it was Bernard Romans, and he plays an interesting role in the history of piracy in the Florida Keys. Bernard Romans was born in 1720, just two years after the death of perhaps the most notorious pirate to have ever lorded over the West Indies, the one and only Captain Edward Teach. He was better known as Blackbeard.

While Romans is perhaps best remembered for his maps, it was not the only way he had historically made a buck. He was also a professional sailor. In 1761, Romans gained employment as a commodore in service of the king of England. Romans did not serve the government in the sole capacity of a commodore. He was also issued a letter of marque that allowed him to work as a privateer under the British flag.

Letters of marque were issued to sanction privateering. Working as a privateer was very much like working as a pirate. They essentially performed the same job and did so in the same conquering manner. A pirate attacked whom they wanted, and the captain and crew retained the entire prize. Pirates did what they wanted to do to whomever they wanted. They also kept everything they could wrap their fingers around for themselves.

On the other hand, a privateer was bound by government stipulations. For instance, privateers were only allowed to attack ships flying flags from countries where the host country was at war. The privateer captain working under the proclamation of a letter of marque was responsible for hiring and paying his crew out of his pocket. Also, the government issued a pirate tax for the right to act as privateers. Under the rules of the letter, in exchange for the right to attack ships at sea, a percentage of any prize the privateer was able to secure was given to the sponsoring government.

Privateering was not the only act of “piracy” Bernard Romans would commit. He also profited from the illegal transport of human cargo. By 1768, he had left his privateering days behind him and, it might be assumed, his days of smuggling human chattel. The English government appointed Romans as the deputy surveyor for the Southern District of the newly acquired Florida Territory.

The former Spanish property was deeded to the English under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which signified the end of the French and Indian War. During this period, the territory was divided into eastern and western parts. West Florida consisted of the territory west

of the Apalachicola River, and East Florida comprised the land east of the river and included the peninsula and the Florida Keys.

In the years following the transaction, Bernard Romans was hired to survey the coasts outlining both sides of the Southern District. Between 1770 and 1771, he was busy surveying the waters around South Florida. During this time, he charted Elliott Key, Old Rhodes Key, and the creek flowing between them. Romans decided to use the name Black Caesars Creek to identify it. Not satisfied with labeling just one feature with the Black Caesar name, he identified two. In addition to the creek flowing between the two islands, he named the rocky islet rising out in the middle of it Black Caesars Rock.

Black Caesar references the legendary pirate said to have lorded over the Straits of Florida from his Elliott Key lair for a decade, and what makes Romans’ declaration extraordinary is that it is not just that it is the first time that that piratical name was connected to the Florida Keys, but also it appears to be the first documented case of the name Black Caesar being memorialized in print.

The big question is why Romans chose that particular name. After all, one of the things that set Romans apart from other royally appointed surveyors was that most chose to mark their maps with proper English names or names of British origins.

BRAD BERTELLI

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

Romans, on the other hand, favored the use of colloquial identifiers.

It might have been that the locals he encountered during his survey called the creek, and the rock, Black Caesars, and that is why he chose the name and put it down in print. Based on his experience in the field of piracy, a pirate story would have likely interested him.

In next week’s column, we will explore the possible reasons the name Black Caesars Creek was chosen, its significance, and the role Romans’ choice has played in the history of piracy in the Florida Keys.

First documented case of legendary pirate is memorialized in print

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of GYOTAKU BY LISA LEE, located at 126 Lowe Street, in the County of Monroe, in the City of Tavernier, FL 33070, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Lisa Lee Artist, LLC

Owner Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Shannon Smeltzer, APRN located at 1010 Kennedy Drive,

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Suite 203B, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Lowbush Company Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of JAMES VIEGAS located at 17 S. Sherwood Gln., Monument, CO 80132 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: James Viegas Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of WAV Alliance located at 19 Atlantic Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Green Diver Initiative Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC SALE PUBLIC NOTICE TO SELL

Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statutes 328.17, 713.78, 715.109, Tavernier Mini Storage Inc, claims a Notice of Possessory Lien, Foreclosure of Lien on the following Trailer described as a 2004 Pace American Trailer VIN

LEGAL NOTICES

#4FPFB10104G081186

to accept or reject any and/ all bids.

Publish: December 8 & 15, 2022

PUBLIC SALE PUBLIC NOTICE TO SELL

Wheatons Towing gives notice that on 12/29/2022 at 10:00 am, the following vehicle(s) may be sold by public sale at 101500 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 to satisfy the lien for the amount owed on each vehicle for any recovery, towing, or storage services charges and administrative fees allowed pursuant to Florida statute 713.78. Wheatons Towing

LEGAL NOTICES

reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1GTEC14V3YE185331 2000 GMC Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

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PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the meeting or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP,

LEGAL NOTICES

please email Liz Young at director@keysarts.com

Executive Committee Meeting

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 10:00 AM

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 856 2845 0037  Passcode: 587504

Art in Public Places Committee Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 12:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 878 0515 5367 Passcode: 412487 Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICE

LOST TITLE APPLICATION NO: 2431504

OFFICE OF TITLES

NOTICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 82 OF THE REGISTRATION OF TITLES ACT (RTA)

WHEREAS the applicant(s) in the above state application has/ have declared that the following duplicate Certificate of Title has been lost, I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that I intend to cancel the said Certificate of Title and issue a new one in duplicate fourteen days after the last publication of the advertisement.

Volume: 1448 Folio: 868

Lot: 8 Place: Part of Bluefields Parish: Westmoreland Registered proprietor(s): John McSherry Dated: November 14, 2022

L. Dunbar

Deputy Registrar of Titles

To publish in the Daily Gleaner/ Jamaica Observer for two consecutive weeks and Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF COMPANY REBAC ENTERPRISES LTD. Business Company Number 313342

IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended 2005), the voluntary liquidation of REBAC ENTERPRISES LTD. Commence on November 28th, 2022 and that Michael J. Freeman with domicile in 153 Sevilla Avenue, Coral Gables, Fl 22134-6006 has been appointed as liquidator. Dated November 28th, 2022.

Publish: December 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE

SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Monroe County Detention Center Window Replacement Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl.

gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows: Monroe County Detention Center Window Replacement 1-31-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

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Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose) Publish: December 15, 2022

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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, March 15 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: 2023-2026 Pollution Liability Insurance Program Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Wednesday, March 15. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows: 2023-2026 Pollution Liability Insurance Program 3-15-2023 Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: omb-

owned by Zachary O’Donnell. Vessel & trailer to be sold on 12/26/22 at 10:00 am at Tavernier Mini Storage Inc, 135 Hood Avenue, Tavernier, FL 33070. Tavernier Mini Storage Inc. reserves the right

purchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on March 15, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following:

Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

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Publish: December 15, 2022

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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

2023/2024 Property and Boiler and Machinery Insurance Program

Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to:

OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows:

2023/2024 Property and Boiler and Machinery Insurance Program 3-16-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on March 16, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Public Adjusting Claim Services

Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows: Public Adjusting Claim Services 3-23-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, March 23, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

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Publish: December 15, 2022

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 22-CP-93-M

DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

IN RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA A. GROHN Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Patricia A. Grohn, deceased, whose date of death was July 11, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with 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: December 15, 2022.

Personal Representative: Christine McClellan 1280 W. Indian Trail, Unit 5 Aurora, Illinois 60506

Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq.

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428 Fax: (305) 743-8800

E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw.

com

Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2022-CP-043-M IN RE: ESTATE OF DONALD H. BEETSCHEN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of DONALD H. BEETSCHEN, deceased, whose date of death was April 12, 2011, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The estate is testate and the date of the decedent’s Will and any codicils are June 21, 2017. 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE

The date of first publication of this Notice is: December 15, 2022.

Personal Representative: Donna M. Hoffman, CPA 428 80th Street Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: James J. Dorl, Esq. Florida Bar No. 618403

JAMES J. DORL, P.A. Suite 12 First Professional Centre 5701 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6565 Facsimile: (305) 743-4143 e-mail: jjdorl@yahoo.com Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2022-CP-340-K IN RE: ESTATE OF JERRY MAGGARD LAWSON, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of JERRY MAGGARD LAWSON, deceased, whose date of death was January 25, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The estate is testate and the date of the decedent’s Will and any codicils are March 22, 2002. 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: December 15, 2022.

Ancillary Personal Representative: Cynthia Diane Van Vynckt 5051 Highway 162 South Covington, GA 30016

Attorney for Ancillary Personal Representative: James J. Dorl, Esq. Florida Bar No. 618403 JAMES J. DORL, P.A. Suite 12 First Professional Centre 5701 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6565 Facsimile: (305) 743-4143 e-mail: jjdorl@yahoo.com Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO. 22-CP-000091-P IN RE: ESTATE OF DOUGLAS FREDERICK PEEL, A/K/A DOUGLAS F. PEEL DECEASED.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the

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 December 15, 2022.

Personal Representative: Tina D. Peel 234 Atlantic Boulevard Key Largo, Florida 33037

Attorney for Personal Representative: Cyrus Malhotra, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 0022751

THE MALHOTRA LAW FIRM, P.A. 3903 Northdale Blvd., Suite 100E Tampa, FL 33624 Telephone: (813) 902-2119 Fax: (727) 290-4044 E-Mail: filings@ flprobatesolutions.com Secondary E-Mail: ryan@ flprobatesolutions.com Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-000144-P IN RE: ESTATE OF MARTIN G. LANE, JR., Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Martin G. Lane, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was October 28, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME 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: December 15, 2022.

Personal Representative: Sheri Phillips Lane c/o Dunwody White & Landon, P.A. 4001 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 200 Naples, FL 34103

Attorney for Personal Representative: DUNWODY WHITE & LANDON, P.A.

Alfred J. Stashis, Jr., Esq. Florida Bar Number: 14772

Jonathan T. Baker, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 97793 4001 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 200 Naples, FL 34103 Telephone: (239) 263-5885 Fax: (239) 262-1442 Publish: December 15 & 22, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2022-CP-103-M

IN RE: ESTATE OF DOMENIC R. LOPARDO, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of DOMENIC R. LOPARDO, deceased, whose date of death was July 30, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The estate is intestate. 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

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

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

The date of first publication of this Notice is: December 8, 2022.

Personal Representative: Carol E. Blake 53 Horseshoe Drive West Boylston, MA 01583

Attorney for Personal Representative: James J. Dorl, Esq. Florida Bar No. 618403

JAMES J. DORL, P.A. Suite 12 First Professional Centre

Telephone: (305) 743-6565 Facsimile: (305) 743-4143 e-mail: jjdorl@yahoo.com Publish: December 8 & 15, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-000244-K IN RE: ESTATE OF TRACY COX A/K/A TRACY A. COX, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of TRACY COX A/K/A TRACY A. COX, deceased, whose date of death was February 16, 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 WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of the first publication of this Notice is: December 8, 2022.

Personal Representative: PHILIP TENNEY 629 William Street Key West, FL 33040

Attorney for Personal Representative: KARLEEN A. GRANT, ESQUIRE Fla. Bar No: 324531 Law Offices of Karleen A. Grant 1033 Flagler Avenue Key West, FL 33040

Telephone: (305) 292-4929

Publish: December 8 & 15, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

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

Estate of Douglas Frederick Peel, deceased, whose date of death was February 17, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

AUTOS WANTED

ALL YEARS!

Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not.

$CASH$ 305-332-0483

BOAT SLIP/TRAILER

STORAGE FOR RENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

CARETAKER COUPLE

WANTED at small Abaco, Bahamas beach resort having $500-$1000/ night accommodations in exchange for Security and Supervision of the Landscaper. Call or text 305-439-9991.

Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight coverage at an Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm8am with weekly stipend Drug and background screen required. Apply at www.westcare.com

Join the Ocean Dayz Team! We are accepting applications for a Sales Associate in Islamorada. Must be outgoing, detail oriented and willing to work weekends. Experience a plus. Starting pay dependent upon qualifications. Apply in person at Island Dreamz, 84001 Overseas Highway, Islamorada or submit resume to: csteele@ oceandayz.com

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time server. $12/hr + Guaranteed tip pool, employee meals, private club & friendly atmosphere. Weeknight and Saturday evening availability. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview.

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

EMPLOYMENT

The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a Customer-Service Oriented Server for the pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 10am-7pm daily. 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.

The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a Part-Time Line Cook. Open year round, 10am-7pm daily. Small friendly staff. Hourly pay commensurate with experience. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

SS Wreck and Galley Grill on Grassy Key is looking for line cooks, full or part time. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

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

Coast to Coast Pizza Company in Marathon is looking for an Assistant Manager for the front of the house, full time either Monday - Friday 10-6 or Wed. through Sunday 10-6. Must be outgoing with leadership traits and must be organized, self-motivated, and have a passion for customer service. Salary commensurate with experience and includes tips and 401k. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

Boat rental company in Marathon needs an Outboard Mechanic. Some general marina work, and boat experience a plus. Call 305-481-7006

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

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

All Keys Yamaha hiring a Technician Marine Repair specializing in Yamaha outboard engines. Hours M-F 8a-5p. Apply in person at 2001 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-743-3530

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 positions at the Grassy Key Marina. Under new ownership and looking for smiling faces. Full-time or parttime 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.

City of Marathon

Current Job Openings: WW Operator/ Controls Trainee, Support Services/ Logistics, Paralegal, Utilities Maintenance, Recreation Specialist, Right of Way Technician, and Marina Tech/ Pump Out Captain. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

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 305-2965621. 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.

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

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

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

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

RV LOT FOR RENT

Large RV Waterfront Lot with Dockage for rent in Marathon. Full hook up. $2000.00/ month plus utilities. 305-731-5042

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

YARD SALES

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

The City of Marathon, City Attorney’s Office is seeking a motivated LEGAL ASSISTANT/PARALEGAL with relevant experience to support the City Attorney’s Office.

Please visit the City of Marathon Job Openings webpage at: ci.marathon.fl.us for further details and to complete an application.

EOE, Drug Free Workplace. Veteran preference given.

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc.

FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT- FULLTIME

Benefits

Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, 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.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Monroe County is seeking an energetic multi-tasker with excellent computer skills to join our Benefits Team! Great customer service skills and a working knowledge of MS Office required. Coordinator works in a fluid, fast paced environment maintaining benefits records, data, and reports, as well as Group Health Plan eligibility. Position also supports the County’s Wellness program.

To apply, please contact Human Resources at careers@monroecounty-fl.gov.

Applications available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov. 305-292-4557. Veteran’s Preference Available; E.O.E.

TurtleHospitalMarathon@gmail.com

KEY LARGO

KEY WEST