Key West Weekly 22-1229

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

ON THE COVER

The sun sets on 2022.

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5

Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com

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— Benjamin Franklin

THE BLUE ANGELS ARE BACK

FIGHTER JET ARRIVES IN KEY WEST TO PLAN APRIL AIR SHOW

U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet #7 landed at Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field on Dec. 20, for a planning meeting for the upcoming 2023 Southernmost Air Spectacular air show on April 15 and 16, 2023.

Pilot #7 and air show narrator Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman touched down at Boca Chica Field in a two-seater F/A-18F Super Hornet jet with Pilot #8 and events coordinator Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught occupying the back seat. The two pilots conducted a site visit and met with key players from the air station, Key West Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to discuss details of the upcoming air show.

“The Navy has a long and proud history in the Florida Keys and we look forward to celebrating our 200th anniversary in Key West at the Southernmost Air Spectacular,” NAS Key West Commanding Officer Capt. Beth Regoli said. “As a thank-you to our community, we’re opening our gates to what is sure to be an exhilarating show.”

The NAS Key West Southernmost Air Spectacular featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2023, at Boca Chica Field. The show is in celebration of 200 years of the Navy in Key West and 200 years of Monroe County. Admission is free and the show is open to the public.

The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 500 million fans.

NAS Key West is the state-ofthe-art facility for combat fighter aircraft of all military services, provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels, and is the premier training center for surface and subsurface military operations.

More information is at AirShowKeyWest.com.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught stands on an F/A-18F Super Hornet of the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron on Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field. Vaught and other Blue Angels pilots were in town to plan the Southernmost Air Spectacular April 15 & 16. NICHOLAS V. HUYNH/U.S. Navy

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, taxis on Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field on Dec. 20. NICHOLAS V. HUYNH/U.S. Navy

Number of glasses of sparkling wine consumed each New Year’s Eve, according to WalletHub.

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”

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

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SERVICIO ESPAÑOL

Servicio de adoración dominical a las 5pm (en el sitio)

Estudio bíblico del jueves a las 7pm (en el sitio)

Pedro Ruiz Celda 347.430.2263

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

CRUISE SHIP COMPROMISE, COVID DEBATES & CRITICAL HOUSING SHORTAGE MARK 2022

HEADLINES IN HINDSIGHT

I’ll admit, I wasn’t overly optimistic at the start of 2022. It’s not as if I expected instant fixes, both locally and nationally, just because the clock struck midnight. But come on.

The new year wasn’t even four hours old when two criminally stupid tourists set fire to the Southernmost Point using a Christmas tree as tinder. Was that a sign of what’s to come?

Thankfully, it wasn’t.

Things started looking up — for Key West, not the moron arsonists, who didn’t count on the southernmost webcam capturing their crime and clothing descriptions. As they hadn’t changed clothes after leaving Irish Kevins’ Bar a few hours prior, a bartender there remembered the men, found them on the bar’s security footage, then pulled their credit card receipt. Busted.

So there was hope for 2022 after all.

True, the year started out much like the one before, with mask mayhem, COVID conspiracies and cruise ship controversies commanding much of Key West’s attention.

But as I revisited all 51 issues of the Key West Weekly from the past year, progress became apparent and 2022 — the good, the bad and the ridiculous — was added to the archives.

Here’s how the year looks in hindsight and headlines…

• Key West Music Awards launches to recognize local talent

• Kmart closes in Key Plaza

• Publix buys Searstown Plaza

• Candidates launch campaigns for school board and state representative

• Old Seven Mile Bridge reopens in Marathon to national fanfare

• Keys Weekly’s Marathon Editor Alex Rickert interviews Candlebox frontman Kevin Martin before Key West concert

• Florida politicians indulge in dessert debate between key lime pie and strawberry shortcake

• Tallahassee bill takes aim at local government ordinances

• School board tackles new $17 million football stadium for Key West High School

• New, pro-quality soccer field opens at Truman Waterfront

• Cruise ship compromise seems likely: Close the city-operated Mallory and Outer Mole piers and send all ships to the privately owned Pier B

• Opening Day of Conch Baseball

• Historian Tom Hambright retires after 36 years

• Key West airport improvement plans continue

• Headdress Ball returns after 3 COVID postponements

• Santa Clara condos make repair plan

• Mallory Square makeover talk

• Former Key West city commissioner Barry Gibson dies after cancer battle

JANUARY

• Key West launches Bicentennial year

• COVID elsewhere brings crowds, then COVID cases soar in the Keys

• Vandals set fire to Southernmost Point buoy early New Year’s Day

• Wounded Warriors return for Soldier Ride

FEBRUARY

• Key West music man Lofton “Coffee” Butler dies at 93

• School board postpones stadium construction until after 2023 Conch baseball season

• Keys Weekly hangs out with Major League pitcher — and surgery namesake — Tommy John

• Kelly McGillis Classic brings women’s flag football tournament back to Key West

• Darren Horan and Gabrielle Brown enter school board race

• Key West’s famous flamingos, Rhett and Scarlet, at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, turn 10 on Valentine’s Day

• Sheriff Rick Ramsay sends strong message to Pagans MC following drug and gun arrests of members

• Nick Brownell wins Entertainer of Year at the inaugural Key West Music Awards

• College of the Florida Keys breaks ground on new charter high school on Key West campus

MARCH

• Keys Weekly’s 4-part series dives into the causes and casualties of the Keys’ housing crisis

• Cruise ship compromise gets approval — close city piers, leave private Pier B alone

• Florida pushes back on mask mandates

• Sheriff Rick Ramsay asks Gov. Ron DeSantis for more state troopers

• Florida Keys communities support Ukraine with flags and fundraisers

• Wreckers Cay affordable apartments take shape on Stock Island

• Boat carrying 356 Haitian migrants runs aground off Upper Keys

• Great Resignation impacts local schools; teachers are tough to find

• The Beach Boys play Key West Amphitheater

• Parental Rights in Education bill is nicknamed ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

• Housing at Truman Waterfront makes headway with city-approved ground lease

• Keys see marked spike in migrant landings

• Basilica School announces return of Catholic high school to Truman Avenue campus

• Officials make sidewalk cafe tables — popularized during the pandemic — a permanent option for local restaurants

• Key West celebrates Bicentennial with time capsule ceremony at Mallory Square

APRIL

• Cruise controversy continues. SCS opposes Pier B’s voluntarily limits

• State representative race heats up between Rhonda Rebman Lopez and Jim Mooney

• Sally O’Brien’s replaces Shanna Key Pub on Flagler Avenue

• Documentary about Key West’s bicentennial debuts

• Some officials demand no nudity at Fantasy Fest

• City approves Frederick Douglass Community Center upgrades in Bahama Village

• Musician Adam Lambert joins Keys Weekly’s podcast before Key West concert

• Keys historic fishing bridges are crumbling; 7 of 23 bridges are closed for safety

• Key West Police Department continues to support Autism Society of the Keys

• Shooting threat via text prompts temporary lockdown at Key West High School

• Sloppy Joe’s Bar turns 85

• Roy’s Trailer Park residents receive notice of park closure; then owners decide to keep park open

• Wealthy neighbors offer to build teacher housing on school district’s Trumbo Road property

• Lady Conchs take Key West softball to first state championship bid

• Key West port director Doug Bradshaw resigns after 2 years of cruise ship controversy

• Somerset Island Prep charter high school holds third jet ski graduation

• School shooting in Uvalde, Texas prompts security reviews at Keys schools

• Parasail accident in Marathon kills visiting mother; captain faces charges

JULY

• Key Westers protest Florida’s new 15week abortion restriction

• The Lofts affordable housing at Truman Waterfront moves forward

• City commission talks genitalia and breasts; some officials want nudity ban at Fantasy Fest

• Marine sanctuary revisits Restoration Blueprint to update management plan

• Monkeypox reaches the Keys

• Painted tatas will be allowed at this year’s Fantasy Fest; mayor wants changes in 2023

• Our own 2022 Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards draw 400,000 votes from every continent except Antarctica

• Celebrity motorsports stuntman Travis Pastrana speaks with Keys Weekly editors — then jumps Boot Key Bridge

JUNE

• Key West shouts gay during Pride amid statewide controversy over Parental Rights in Education bill, nicknamed the Don’t Say Gay bill

• Hurricane grotto at Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea turns 100

• Nominations open for 2022 Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards

• Key West and Naval Air Station eagerly anticipate release of “Maverick: Top Gun 2”

• Lady Conchs lose in softball semifinals

• Florida politicians debate official state dessert; strawberry shortcake beats Key lime pie

• Cow Key Bridge gets new designation: Cheryl Cates Memorial Bridge

• Hometown’s first candidate forum gets feisty

• The Bubbas Awards Gala is a huge and hilarious success at Key West Theater

MAY

• City officials blame state legislators for local government’s’ inability to limit vacation rentals

• Margaret Romero challenges Teri Johnston in Key West mayor’s race

• Governor Ron DeSantis appoints Jim Scholl to replace Eddie Martinez on county commission

• Dead 51-foot sperm whale is towed to Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island; plastic and nets contributed to its death

• Charlie Crist brings his campaign for governor to Key West

• Conch baseball and softball teams win Districts for Key West High School

• Bahia Honda Beach reopens 5 years after Hurricane Irma

• Amateur drag pageant at Key West Theater benefits Samuel’s House

• Capt. Beth Regoli takes helm at Naval Air Station Key West, inherits housing issues

• Sheriff Rick Ramsay shares gun control thoughts with Keys Weekly in wake of Uvalde shooting

• Corey Malcom succeeds Tom Hambright as keeper of the library’s Keys History Department

• District IV city commission race draws 4 hopefuls

• AH Monroe says it will pass Fantasy Fest King & Queen fundraising campaign to another nonprofit recipient for 2023

• Rising gas prices fuel concerns for Keys captains and local water sports companies

• Keys Energy Services customers face 30% spike in power bills

• Keys community rallies to replace AHEC funds denied by state legislature

• City Attorney Shawn Smith announces plans to stick around for a contract renewal (But that was then; see November headlines.)

• House fire destroys Laird Street home, leaves owners and tenants homeless and damages neighbors’ home

AUGUST

• Key West earns distinction as a Coast Guard City; Admiral Linda Fagan, commandant of the U.S Coast Guard, attends ceremony

• Keys Weekly adds a local sports section, with comprehensive coverage of high school sports and a weekly sports podcast by Tracy and Sean McDonald

• Governor Ron DeSantis backs Republican school board candidates Darren Horan, who won, and Alexandria Suarez, who didn’t

• Local Vietnam veteran Alvin Alce receives long-overdue Purple Heart

• Key West starts search for new city manager

• Women’s Choice march opposes the Supreme Court decision to overturns Roe v. Wade

• Key West voters re-elect Mayor Teri Johnston

• District 4 city commission race heads to runoff between Lissette Cuervo Carey and Kim Highsmith

SEPTEMBER

• Keys Weekly dives deep into massive uptick in migrant landings

• Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez visits Key West while campaigning for Gov. Ron DeSantis

• Half Shell Raw Bar celebrates 50 years at Key West Harbor

• County commissioners make splash at new Pine Channel Park on Big Pine

• Short-term rental talk packs city hall; realtors slam proposed restrictions

• Florida faces unmanageable insurance issues

• Public housing complex is renamed for Lang Milian

• British war story has Key West ties; Englishwoman kept photos of Philip Toppino for 80 years

• Keys Weekly celebrates 19 years of local news — #localmatters

• Racial tension rattles city hall: Black educators museum wants more donated space, officials want more info

• Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk comes home to Key West after 3 months in Africa

• Keys recall Queen Elizabeth II’s 1991 visit to Dry Tortugas following her death on Sept. 8

• Conch football season starts strong

• Conch baseball Coach Ralph Henriquez and wife DeeDee Henriquez buy Kilwins Chocolates on Duval Street

• Key West officials approve floating seaweed barrier at South Beach

• The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea launches fundraising campaign to bring Catholic high school back to Key West

• Hurricane Ian floods Key West as it sideswipes the Keys

• Fire destroys businesses and displaces dozens of residents at Flagler Avenue complex

OCTOBER

• Key West recovers from Hurricane Ian; awaits FEMA help for flood victims

• Community comes together with food, donations and support after Hurricane Ian

• Hometown hosts final candidates forum

• Congressman Carlos Gimenez visits Key West following Hurricane Ian

• Key West officials hear post-storm kudos and criticism

• Key West leaders frustrated by county officials’ reluctance to open shelter for liveaboards and homeless residents

• Keys Weekly gets 1 on 1 interview with music legend Warren Haynes

• Warren Haynes & Gov’t Mule rock Key West Amphitheater

• TDC denies county funding request for bicentennial event; county commission then overrides denial and approves the $150K

• City commission still wants use of Admiral’s Cut, despite cruise ship rift with its owners at Pier B

• Carlos Home and Fran Decker crowned King & Queen of Fantasy Fest

• Zombie Ride draws 6,500 costumed bicyclists

• Fantasy Fest 2022 boosts Key West businesses

• Crowds force African-themed float from Fantasy Fest parade — Black community blames racism, officials blame float’s slow progress that left 2-block gap

NOVEMBER

• Powerboat races roar back to Key West

• City Attorney Shawn Smith submits scathing resignation letter; takes job at Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority

• Key West officials choose Stantec consultants to handle Duval Street revitalization

• Key West International Airport breaks ground on $100 million upgrade

• Key West’s new housing director fired after 4 months

• Lissette Cuervo-Carey defeats Kim Highsmith in District IV city commission race

• Republican incumbents win big — DeSantis, Rubio, Gimenez, Mooney easily keep seats

• Bayview Park benches dedicated to suicide prevention; pavilion named for One Human Family

• Hogfish Bar & Grill celebrates 20 years on Stock Island

• Former Key West Yacht Club manager arrested for theft and gun threats

• Keys Weekly scores interview with rock star photographer Danny Clinch

• ‘The Nutcracker, Key West” returns to the stage at Tennessee Williams Theater

• Annual hurricane flag-burning ceremony celebrates end of 2022 storm season

• Former county commissioner Sylvia Murphy dies at 86

DECEMBER

• Ground-breaking on Trumbo Road celebrates public-private partnership in which wealthy neighbors fund housing for sheriff’s office employees “in their backyard”

• City manager job draws 43 applicants; search consultant narrows list to 9 finalists, including 4 locals

• Key Westers share memories of the late college football Coach Mike Leach, a resident and champion of Key West

LOVE SIMMERS THROUGH LETTERS IN LATEST RED BARN PLAY

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’ RUNS THROUGH JAN. 14

AMY PATTON www.keysweekly.com

Let’s fall in love again: this time, with Jack and Louise. The romantic tale of a slow-burning friendship that ripens through correspondence during World War II is now onstage at the Red Barn Theatre.

Written by famed playwright Ken Ludwig (“Lend Me a Tenor,” “Crazy for You”), “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” opens the 43rd season of the Red Barn.

The bittersweet — mostly sweet — production is a real-life account of two people separated by distance during one of the country’s most chaotic times. Through an avalanche of handwritten letters during a two-year period, Army physician Jack (played by Cody Borah) begins to fall for aspiring New York City dancer Louise Rabiner (Jessica Miano Kruel). Joy Hawkins directs.

Ludwig’s source for the story was his own family. The clan is rich with lore about the manner in which his parents met and eventually fell in love via what the modern world sometimes sneers at as snail mail.

“What makes this piece so charming is that Jack and Louise’s affection grew slowly,” said Hawkins. “They really got to know each other in the absence of a physical relationship. They began as friends and that eventually grew to attraction.”

The narrative arc of “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” is simple: Boy meets girl, kind of. What’s special, though, is how the tension in this two-actor play builds with a frisson of palpable excitement that the audience

can feel. While Kruel’s ebullient Louise is expert at cracking oneliners in her letters to Jack — “Insanity doesn’t run through my family, it practically gallops” — there’s a difficult but necessary balance between their characters’ ever-present terror about the war and the need to hold on to each other with the glue of “gallows humor,” as Jack puts it.

The set is split between Louise’s rooming house off-Broadway in New York and Jack’s military barracks in Oregon. Costume design by Carmen Rodriguez expertly evokes the nostalgia of the era.

The original staged production grew out of a book penned by Ludwig in 2020. “It’s a very emotional and personal show for him,” said Red Barn Theatre managing director Mimi McDonald last week. The original letters, though, which form the backbone of the story, were reportedly destroyed by Ludwig’s mother before her death. The story lived on in the playwright’s imagination and came to be shared on the contemporary stage.

While modern dating often involves the capricious and fleeting swipe left-or-right matchups on social media, this sentimental production’s most compelling hook is its tale of sweetness and light in the shadow of the darkness of war.

With pen and paper in hand, we love you, Jack and Louise.

“DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE”

Through Jan. 14

Red Barn Theatre, 319 Duval St.

For tickets, call 305-296-9911 weekdays 3 - 5 p.m. or go to redbarntheatre.com/tickets.

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?

NEW YEAR BRINGS BIG MUSIC FESTS TO KEY WEST

ROKISLAND FEST — JAN. 17-21 IN KEY WEST

Performers include Styx, Tesla, Loverboy, Vince Neil, 38 Special, Queensrÿche, Extreme, Quiet Riot and more.

The second annual RokIsland Fest 2023 has added hard rock icon and Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil to its lineup.

With most of the RokIsland Fest performances taking place at The Key West Amphitheater, the boutique venue provides an intimate performance atmosphere.

MILE 0 FEST JAN. 24-28

Celebrating its sixth year, Mile 0 Fest Key West brings the best of Americana and Red Dirt Music to the island paradise for five days of full-band performances, acoustic jam sessions and song swaps from over 60 legendary, established, and emerging artists. This year’s lineup includes Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Morgan Wade, Shane Smith & The Saints, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Cody Canada & The Departed and Jamie Lin Wilson with more lineup announcements to come. Additionally, the festival will host an array of local food vendors, clothing, art, jewelry and more. For more information, mile0fest. com.

KEY WESTERN FEST JAN. 31-FEB. 4

The music festival will feature a one-of-a-kind convergence of country music superstars from an era that solidified the genre as a cultural touchstone and global phenomenon. Artists include Clint Black, Sara Evans, The Oak Ridge Boys, Clay Walker, Sawyer Brown, Deana Carter, Neal McCoy, Blackhawk, Mark Chesnutt, Pam Tillis and many more. In addition to the four-day festival, Key Western Fest will have a free kick-off celebration that is open to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 31 featuring performances from Little Texas, Ricochet and more (location TBA). Packages and passes on sale now. All ticket info is available at keywesternfest.com.

Jessica Miano Kruel and Cody Borah star in Ken Ludwig’s “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” now onstage at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West. ROBERTA DEPIERO/Contributed

ASK THE BIRD GEEK: YEAR- END, GOTTA- GETTHIS - DONE - BY- EARLYDEADLINE EDITION

Why do you refuse to acknowledge the best bird-related song is “The Bird” by Morris Day & The Time? And would it change your opinion if you knew Prince was a writer using the pseudonym Jamie Starr? — Nan, your wife

... 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.

Answer: How dare you, madam. Have I not told you, multiple times, about that time at a high school dance, when a bunch of my track geek friends and I started doing the bird – left a couple steps with your arms outstretched at an angle, then right a couple steps with your arms outstretched at the opposite angle – and then the entire gym started doing it? We were the cool kids for a full three minutes and 40 seconds. I will cherish that glory for the rest of my days. Whawk! Hallelujah! Now I have to go find Jessie and Jerome.

Why is the middle finger considered giving “the bird”? — Larry, whose last name is not Bird

Answer: The middle finger getting called “the bird” is not an example of convergent evolution in the biological sense, but it is an example of two forms of human expression evolving and converging into a single meaning.

The middle finger, as a gesture, has been around for at least two-and-a-half millennia. The first known usage was by Diogenes, one of the founders of Cynicism and a man who apparently once tried to insult Plato by messing up his carpets. He used the gesture of a displayed middle finger in a play to insult a local politician, though the gesture must have been in the culture previous to that for the audience to get it.

The comic playwright Aristophanes later used the gesture in The Clouds to insult a fictional version of Socrates.

The Romans became such fans of the gesture that they had the their own special name for it – digitus impudicus – meaning the shameless, offensive or, well, impudent finger.

There’s a story that it was used as a gesture of defiance by British archers at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, after the French threatened to cut off their bow-pulling fingers if they were captured, but most reputable historians dispute the accuracy of this.

The first documented case of the gesture in North America was on April 29, 1886 by Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn, a baseball pitcher with the Boston Beaneaters, which also sounds made up but isn’t. There is a team photo in which he is giving the gesture clear as day. And yes, he has exactly the kind of ridiculous mustache you would imagine.

Back in the Diogenes/Aristophanes/Roman era, the displayed middle finger was a clear reference to the thing that lies in a gentleman’s bathing suit area. The anthropologist Desmond Morris notes that the extended middle finger, with the index finger and ring finger curled next to it, looks somewhat similar to what the British often refer to as “meat and two veg.”

According to a story in the online magazine Slate, “In a show of superiority, eccentric Roman Emperor Caligula made senators kneel and kiss his middle finger, which was understood to represent his phallus.”

Fun fact: the word “cock” means both male chicken and male genitalia in, like, 19 different languages. (The word “rooster” was put into usage by Puritans in the United States who were uncomfortable with that fact, and imported to England by the Victorians, who were also uncomfortable with that fact.) The close association between the bird and the male sexual organ might lead you to think this is how the phrase “the bird” came into the usage. But no, that’s not the case.

Over the years the gesture has drifted away from being a symbol for waving one’s membrum virile to just more of a general gesture of insult.

In an interview with the BBC, Ira Robbins, a law professor at American University in Washington, D.C., noted, “This gesture is so well ingrained in everyday life in this country and others. It means so many other things, like protest or rage or excitement, it’s not just a phallus.”

To trace the etymology of the term “the bird,” you have to go back to English theater in the Shakespearean era, and possibly earlier. Apparently audiences in that green and pleasant land, as a way of expressing their displeasure at an actor or a speaker, would hiss like angry geese – a custom I think we should consider reviving. Wild Bill himself made a reference to this in Troilus and Cressida, when one of the characters says, “My fear is this, some galled goose of Winchester would hiss.”

For a long time it was called goosing, or giving the goose. And over time the slang evolved to giving, or flipping, the bird. In the states, giving the bird was also used as slang for a similar audible expression of disapproval, the raspberry, also known as the Bronx cheer.

The term “the bird” then began being applied to the quieter, more gestural version of expressing displeasure or hostility. No one is sure of the exact moment this happened, but the first references were seen in the 1940s, and the name has stuck ever since

For the record, it is not always a hostile gesture. Amongst the people I grew up with in New Jersey, it is often a gesture of affection. And one my favorite photos I took at my niece’s wedding was of the bride and one of her bridesmaids flipping off the camera.

Haven’t you heard about the bird? Don’t you know that the bird is the word? — Caits, who went down to Georgia

Answer: No. The bird is a gesture. Or a dance. See above. And have a Happy New Year.

Morris Day & The Time perform the song ‘The Bird,’ which was co-written by Prince under the pseudonym Jamie Starr. CONTRIBUTED

MARK HEDDEN

Dr. Christina Smith

Hector Guzman D.D.S, Dr. David McDonald D.M.D Dr. Natalia Vazquez-Marrero D.M.D and Dr. Oscar Rodriguez D.M.D

Photo

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

ROAD RAISING PRICE TAG & NEW FACILITIES TOP COUNTY NEWS IN 2022

A new, but familiar, face took his seat on the Monroe County Commission in 2022. Meanwhile, new county facilities broke ground while others opened following a ribbon cutting. Also, county commissioners received the price tag to raise roads amid impending sea level rise.

GOVERNOR APPOINTS JIM SCHOLL TO VACANT COUNTY SEAT

A former Key West manager and naval aviator who commanded Naval Air Station Key West, Jim Scholl was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 29 to fulfill the term of Eddie Maritinez, who resigned in December 2021 following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. “I’ve always said I don’t run for office; I run from office,” the county commissioner told the Keys Weekly days after the news of his appointment. Scholl is serving the remainder of Martinez’s two-year term.

NEW GOVERNMENT CENTER OPENS ON PLANTATION KEY

The snipping of a ribbon marked the grand opening of the Plantation Key Government Center in Tavernier on June 2. The state-of-the-art, 48,240-square-foot facility, which broke ground Oct. 18, 2019, houses the 16th Judicial Court of Florida, Monroe County Clerk of the Court, State Attorney’s office, Monroe County Sheriff’s substation and Monroe County Public Works.

$1.6 BILLION TO RAISE KEYS ROADS?

Final results from a roads vulnerability analysis unveiled on June 15 stated that raising 311 miles of county roads vulnerable to sea level rise would come with a $1.6-billion price tag. Those roadways provide access to 71% of the county’s housing units.

BRIDGE RENAMED FOR THE LATE CHERYL CATES

A ceremony celebrating the renaming of Cow Key Bridge in honor of Cheryl Cates, the late wife of County Commissioner Craig Cates, saw more than 100 people in attendance on July 26. Cates died in December 2020 after

a battle with COVID. The renaming was approved by the Monroe County commissioners, Key West commissioners and the Florida Legislature.

FARMER JEANNE IS AN HONORARY CONCH

Farmer Jeanne Selander received the Honorary Conch Certificate on Aug. 24. Selander has overseen the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm at the Stock Island Detention Center for 17 years. The jailhouse farm is believed to be the only one of its kind in the U.S.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER BREAKS GROUND County, state and federal officials broke ground on a new Emergency Operations Center at the west end of the Marathon airport. The project consolidates several existing organizations into a new state-of-the-art 28,321- squarefoot, 220-mph-wind-rated facility that will include Monroe County’s Emergency Management, Fire Rescue administration and the Sheriff’s Office 911 center. It’s scheduled to be completed in spring 2024.

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS

Feb. 16 — Tom Hambright retires after serving 36 years as Monroe County historian.

June 6 — Corey Malcom succeeds Tom Hambright as county historian.

June 14 — Harry Harris Park restoration project is completed.

Aug. 17 — BOCC passes no smoking ban at county parks and beaches.

Aug. 24 — Pine Channel Nature Park in Big Pine Key opens to the public.

Sept. 9 — State and county officials gather at the Marathon airport a day before the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma, to discuss the importance of preparedness. Irma hit the Keys as a category 4 storm.

Oct. 5 — Richard Clark named new executive director of transit.

Nov. 15 — Craig Cates named Monroe County mayor.

Jim Scholl is appointed to the county commission. CONTRIBUTED

Plantation Key Government Center houses several county services. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

Commissioner Craig Cates, left, unveils the Cheryl H. Cates Memorial Bridge sign. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Farmer Jeanne Selander gets an Honorary Conch certificate. LINDSAY BALLARD/Monroe County

County officials break ground on the new Emergency Operations enter. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

KEYS WEEKLY SITS DOWN WITH SOME HEAVY HITTERS

2022 PROVIDES UP - CLOSE COVERAGE OF BIG PERSONALITIES

The Keys Weekly scored some great interviews with some big names in 2022.

From sports heroes, Olympians and a celebrity stuntman to music legends, rock star photographers and famous chefs, here are just a few of the heavy hitters who shared some of their time with the Keys Weekly staff for print interviews and Florida Keys Podcast episodes.

1. TRAVIS PASTRANA, pro motorsports competitor & stuntman — January & July 2022

Professional motorsports competitor and stuntman Travis Pastrana spoke to the Keys Weekly twice in 2022, once in January with Upper Keys Editor Jim McCarthy and again in July for a full Q&A with Marathon editor Alex Rickert.

Ahead of his jaw-dropping jump over the Boot Key Bridge on June 11, Pastrana was kind enough to sit down with Keys Weekly to discuss the jump, his legacy, and what keeps him going after already securing his place among motorsports royalty.

Earlier in the year, Pastrana brought stunts and action not normally seen on U.S. 1 on Jan. 20.

A portion of U.S. 1 at MM 91 was closed by Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies for brief periods as Pastrana performed drifts in a roaring 1983 Subaru GL Monster. It was all part of a video shoot with film crews. Pastrana used the road leading to Tavernier Creek Marina as a runway to perform drifts onto U.S. 1. Smoke rose from the tires as film crews caught the action.

2. WARREN HAYNES, music legend — October 2022

Key West Weekly publisher Britt Myers doesn’t typically get starstruck, having interviewed dozens of celebrities. But Warren Haynes is a musical legend and one of our boss’ personal heroes. Haynes is widely considered one of the greatest live performers to ever command a stage. And on Oct. 18, he and his band, Gov’t Mule, played the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West.

Haynes’ career includes stints with the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead and dozens of collaborations with legendary names across the music spectrum, along with almost three decades of Gov’t Mule projects and solo work.

The Florida Keys Weekly Podcast caught up with Grammy-winning Warren Haynes in October. The discussion ranges from his earlier years, including his first-ever live gig with Gregg Allman on Duval Street, to which artists Haynes believes will carry the guitar hero torch into the next generations of music.

3. ADAM LAMBERT — April 2022

Musical superstar Adam Lambert joined Britt Myers on the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast in April, before his April 28 concert at the Key West Amphitheater.

Once known for his American Idol fame, Lambert has since become one of the most celebrated artists and stage performers on the globe. He’s now touring with Queen on lead vocals. Lambert and Myers discussed the music man’s fondest American Idol memories, what touring with Queen has meant to him and how he stays grounded while using his meteoric rise and popularity for philanthropic causes.

4. KEVIN MARTIN, Candlebox front man — February 2022

Kevin Martin, a multi-platinum musician, has a warm demeanor and complete lack of the ego one would expect from a singer with his credentials.

Martin is the frontman of the band Candlebox, a Seattle-based rock band whose charttopping self-titled debut album has been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA. With singles like “Far Behind,” “You” and “Cover Me,” the album launched a 30-year career that has seen the band release seven studio albums, continuing with their 2021 record “Wolves.”

The band has unique ties to the Keys, as they filmed the music video for their single “Understanding” both above and below the waters of Marathon with legendary director Gus Van Sant in 1995. Martin returned to the Keys in February 2022 for the first time since the shoot to perform an acoustic set at the Key West Theater.

Ahead of the show, Martin was kind enough to call in for an episode of the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast and reminisce about his time in Marathon, Candlebox’s beginnings, and his thoughts on the music industry today.

5. RED BULL WAKEBOARDING TEAM — June 2022

As Tropical Storm Alex churned in the Gulf of Mexico in June, five unfazed athletes from the elite Red Bull wakeboarding team ironed out final details for their Keyswide water adventure.

“We brought a lot of equipment down, we had two boats, two skis,” said Brian Grubb, a two-time world wakeboarding champion and, at 41, the oldest member of the team. “It’s kind of a lifestyle. We’ve been doing this since we were 10.”

The “we” includes Grubb and Parks Bonifay, one of the sport’s premier trick innovators.

Those two, along with teammates Massi Piffaretti, Guenther Oka and Meagan Ethell, spent five days catching big air on their wakeboards from Key Largo to Key West — and still took time to speak with the Keys Weekly’s Kellie Butler Farrell.

6. DANNY CLINCH, rock star photographer — November 2022

You might not recognize the name Danny Clinch, but you’ve seen his work. Some of the most iconic photo shoots in music, from album covers to documentaries, have been captured by the imaginative eye of Clinch and his camera. From Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Bob Dylan and Stevie Nicks to Neil Young, Elvis Costello and Steve Martin, Clinch is the artist stars request to capture and document their moments in time and in musical history.

The Florida Keys Weekly Podcast and Britt Myers caught up with Danny Clinch in November, before his participation in the local Coast Is Clear Music & Arts Festival. The two discussed Clinch’s relationship with Springsteen, how (maybe) he is still starstruck by Bob Dylan and why you might be surprised to hear the details of a particular photoshoot with Tupac Shakur.

7. TOMMY JOHN, Major League pitcher & surgery namesake — February 2022

Who’s the greatest player to not be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame? We believe it’s former pitching great, Tommy John, so we asked him about that and other topics on the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast.

Tommy John shared his thoughts on baseball’s steroid era, what it was like to pitch in three different decades in the majors and what he said to Mark McGwire that led to a confrontation outside of a team bus. He also talks about the elbow surgery that saved his career and now bears his name.

8. PAUL WAHLBERG - chef behind Wahlburgers — April 2022

Britt Myers and the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast caught up with chef Paul Wahlberg in April. The oldest Wahlberg brother discusses his love of family (including his two lesserknown little brothers, Donnie and Mark), the family experience he has created at Wahlburgers restaurants across the globe and why he loves the waterfront Wahlburgers Key West location along the island’s Historic Harbor Walk.

During his trip to Key West, Paul emphasized the restaurant’s mission to be a part of the communities they serve and he talked about why the famed burger franchise is so much more than just tasty beef and buns. True to form, even with the notoriety his family name and reality TV has created, the famed chef remains humble and accessible. Enjoy the episode.

9 JOHN FEINSTEIN, sports writer — March 2022

John Feinstein, one of the most celebrated sports writers in modern history and author of “A Season on the Brink,” joined The Florida Keys Weekly Podcast to discuss his most recent book, “Raise a Fist, Take a Knee.” Feinstein, who eloquently and unapologetically examines racial inequality in sports, interviewed dozens of the most recognized coaches and players to shed a timely light on the outdated ideologies that continue to exist.

He reflects on his own relationships with Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and the late, legendary John Thompson of the Georgetown Hoyas, the first African-American head coach to win a college basketball national championship. Feinstein is the author of 44 books and has worked as a columnist for Sporting News, Golf Digest and the Washington Post. He also has provided commentary for The Jim Rome Show, The Golf Channel and many other major media outlets.

Britt Myers and Josh Mothner hosted Feinstein on the podcast.

10. ANN-MARGRETH HALL-FREI (Swedish Olympian) — June 2022

The Upper Keys Weekly’s Kellie Butler Farrell took a chair yoga class at Founders Park in the springtime and found herself seated next to Swedish Olympic figure skater Ann-Margreth Hall-Frei (Margreth spelled the Swedish way), who was, by then, 80 years old.

“1964 was my Olympic year with Peggy Fleming and that was my generation,” she said.

The energetic octogenarian competed for Sweden at the age of 22 and later went on to join the Ice Capades for 16 years.

Now Frei spends several months a year in Islamorada with her son, Capt. Zander Hall, who owns Lightly Salted Charters. Frei loves going to the sandbar with him and enjoys her time in Islamorada so much that over Thanksgiving, she stayed for 10 weeks.

Scan to listen to the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast interviews.

Upper Keys Weekly 91760 O/S Hwy, Ste 3 Tavernier, FL 33070 305.363.2957

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RALPH MORROW

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

SPORTS & MORE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SEASON WINDS DOWN

I’m having a big time watching the endof-year college football bowl games. The committee has done an excellent job, first ranking the teams, then placing them in the respective bowls. We’ve had some good, close games.

To start at the top, taking a step back, l disagree with Georgia, Michigan, Texas Christian and Ohio State being ranked 1 through 4. I might move Ohio State up a notch, but that would create another slaughter of Michigan whipping up on the Buckeyes. Instead, we’ll have Georgia showing up Ohio State’s deficient defense.

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

Those four teams present what should be the best day of games on Saturday, Dec. 31.

Today, Thursday, Dec. 29, we have the Pinstripe Bowl with Syracuse facing Minnesota at 2 p.m. followed by Florida State against Oklahoma at about 5:30 p.m. in the Cheez-It Bowl and at 9 p.m., in the Alamo Bowl, Texas will oppose Washington in the day’s continuous stream of football on ESPN.

On Dec. 30, the first game, at noon on ESPN, is Maryland versus North Carolina State in Duke’s Mayo Bowl. On CBS, at 2 p.m., It’s Pittsburgh against UCLA, which may be the best game of the bowl season. At 3:30 p.m., ESPN will interrupt with a pretty good game of its own as South Carolina faces Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

At 4:30 p.m., the Arizona Bowl, with Ohio opposing Wyoming, lists “Barstool” as the telecaster.

The Orange Bowl kicks off the final six with Tennessee looking at Clemson at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

On New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, the Music City Bowl features Iowa against Kentucky at noon on ABC and, at the same time on ESPN, there will be the Sugar Bowl with Alabama and Kansas State.

The semifinals of the National Championship begins at 4 p.m. that day, with Michigan facing TCU in what is called the Fiesta Bowl. At 8 p.m., in the other semi, called the Peach Bowl, No. 1 Georgia handles Ohio State. The National Championship will be decided at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9. The three championship games will all be televised by ESPN.

On Monday, Jan. 2, the ReliaQuest Bowl will have Mississippi State opposing Illinois at noon on ESPN2. An hour later, the Cotton Bowl, with USC facing Tulane, will begin on ESPN. Also at 1 p.m., you’ll again have to make a choice or have fast fingers on your remote, as LSU opposes Purdue in the Citrus Bowl on ABC.

Happy New Year and happy sports.

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP CREW WRAPS UP 2022

It was about this time last year when Sean approached Britt Myers and Jason Koler about doing a podcast on the subject of sports in the Florida Keys, and what a year it has been for the Sports Wrap crew ever since. In our 25-plus years living and working in Monroe County, we have come across a multitude of fascinating people, each with a story to tell, and we wanted to capture those before they were forgotten. For the record, Sean wanted to do this – I said I was willing to fill in the Marathon High sports section once my wonderfully talented former student, Clare Merryman, went to college. Somehow it turned into something a lot larger.

Sean and I would like to thank everyone at the Keys Weekly and the community itself for their patience. The support we have received from the staff at the Weekly, from coaches and players and from readers and listeners has been both overwhelming and humbling. And as we continue to plod along and figure things out as we go, any input and ideas are much appreciated. We look forward to a new year of prep sports coverage and hope to delve a little deeper into the former players and coaches who made the Keys their home at one time or another and explore the positive impacts they had on the community. If you have suggestions or just want to say hi, you can email us sports@keysweekly.com or just tell us when you see us around. We’re pretty easy to find.

Sincerely, Tracy & Sean McDonald

Christopher Andre Otto, standout lineman for the Key West Conchs football team, will take his talents to Tallahassee in 2023 as he inked a national letter of intent to play for the Florida State Seminoles on Dec. 21. Ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 93 offensive tackle in the country, Otto fielded more than 20 other offers. He eventually chose FSU over the likes of Penn State, Princeton, Stanford, Syracuse and others, citing the university’s film school as a major draw. ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

BOYS BASKETBALL SOUTH BROWARD KEY WEST JANUARY 6 | 7:30 p.m

VS

SIMON GUTIERREZ / Senior, Coral Shores Season Record: 17:53.00

Gutierrez led the Hurricanes this season, on and off the course. “Simon is graduating this year and his leadership and positive attitude are going to be missed,” said Coral Shores coach Gabriel Suarez. ”He has set a great example for the new runners, and I hope they follow a similar path in running.”

MASON BUXTON / Junior, Marathon Season Record: 18:20.00

“Mason is the veteran on our team. He just finished his 4th season and has one more to go. Mason’s times dropped a lot this season and he should be a monster on the track this spring.” – Marathon coach Jim Murphy

JAKUB BURSA / Junior, Marathon Season Record: 18:20.00

“Jakub is the workhorse who logs the most mileage on our team. He put in many 50-plus-mile weeks throughout the season and was one of our most consistent runners. He will be coming back next season for his senior year stronger and ready to go.” – Marathon coach Jim Murphy

THE KEYS WEEKLY 2022 ALL-KEYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

Vance Bursa, Caylaa Makimaa islands’ top harriers this season

by RICK MACKENZIE

The 2022 cross country season in the Florida Keys was marked by a number of standout individual performances, crowned by Marathon sophomore Vance Bursa’s blazing finish in the FHSAA 1A state championship meet to claim ninth place.

And in looking ahead, Keys teams appear to just be revving up for 2023.

COLBIN HILL / Junior, Key West Season Record: 18:48.20

“Colbin is a runner whose actions speak louder than his words on and off the field. His work ethic is unparalleled, and he is always willing to go the extra mile in his training. He was the clear leader of the team this year, and we’re looking forward to great things from him next season.”

– Key West coach Mark Coleman

ANTONIN “TONY” BURSA

Seventh grade, Marathon Season Record: 18:38.10

“Tony is only in seventh grade and is already running consistently in the 18s. He has multiple great examples in his household that he learns from and I'm excited to see what he can do when he reaches high school.” – Marathon coach Jim Murphy

In a sport with no timeouts, no substitutions and only one significant statistic, choosing the inaugural All-Keys cross country teams was a relatively simple matter. But in naming the top six male and female cross country athletes in the county, our staff noticed something: 11 of the 12 athletes, should they so choose, will have the chance to compete again in 2023, and two of them haven’t even hit high school yet Needless to say, we can’t wait.

From the staff at the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap, congratulations to the 2022 Keys Weekly All-Keys Cross Country Teams.

VANCE BURSA / Sophomore, Marathon Season Record: 16:18.20

“This was Vance’s second year running cross country, but watching him you would think he was a veteran runner. He is already the second-fastest Dolphin ever with a 16:18 PR and placed the second-highest ever at states for the Dolphins with a 10th place finish. Excited to see what he can do in the next two years.” – Marathon coach Jim Murphy

Photos

MVP

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

BOYS BASKETBALL

SOUTH BROWARD KEY WEST JANUARY 6 | 7:30 p.m

VS

“Caylaa is a ray of sunshine in life and on a race course. Always smiling and turning negatives into positives, Caylaa was one of only two veteran cross country runners on this team. She ensured that she was always lending a helping hand to our runners who were newer to the sport. Caylaa works hard, and it showed up this year; Caylaa is full of potential as a runner and has a bright future ahead of her.”

– Key West coach Keara McGraw

Eighth grade, Marathon Season Record: 22:40.40

“Madelyn is an amazing athlete with tons of natural talent. I have no doubt she can do anything she sets her mind to and I can’t wait to see how far she goes with cross country.”

– Marathon coach Darby Sheehan

Season

Kai

time

LAIRA ANAYA /

Key West Season Record: 22:48.70

“In running, mental grit is one of the keys to success, but it's the hardest thing to teach. Laira is one of the grittiest ladies I've ever met – she's inquisitive and always looking for ways to improve. I'm so proud of how far Laira has come this season in so many ways, one of which was learning to take feedback and apply it to her races positively. As a first-time cross country athlete, I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Laira in the sport.”

– Key West coach Keara McGraw

MIKKEL ROSS / Junior, Marathon Season Record: 23:02.00

“Mikkel is an incredible leader on our team. She is the person that all the girls look up to and come to when they need help. She has a fun personality that always keeps everyone laughing.” – Marathon coach Darby Sheehan

ELLA DUNN / Sophomore, Marathon Season Record: 22:36.50

“Ella is such a wonderful athlete to work with; she brings so much joy and light to everything she does. She is someone you can always count on to lift you up when feeling down.” – Marathon coach Darby Sheehan

MVP

CAYLAA MAKIMAA / Sophomore, Key West Season Record: 20:36.00

MADELYN THORNTON

KAI GUTH / Sophomore, Coral Shores

Record: 23:07.60

Guth’s

was not the only thing making her a top athlete for the Hurricanes this season. “Kai and Simon (Gutierrez) both helped with getting sponsorships for the team and helped fundraise for our new uniforms. To this day they are still running, entering local 5k races and encouraging my newer runners to join.” – Coral Shores coach Gabriel Suarez

Sophomore,

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

JANUARY AT THE STUDIOS

SUSAN WERNER

Old Town New Folk

Tue Jan 10, 7pm Hugh’s View

Wed Jan 11, 6pm Helmerich Theater

$75 VIP, $50, $40 mbrs. With formidable chops on guitar and piano along with a graduate degree in voice performance, Werner’s shows are a one-woman master class in musicianship. sponsored by Blue Heaven and Kimpton Key West

THE SOUNDS OF SUN HEE KIL Theatre and Olympic Ceremonies Sound Designer, Sound Design Professor Thu Jan 12, 7pm Helmerich Theater

$30, $25 mbrs.

Sunny chats about her journey from Seoul to New York to Key West (for Marrero’s streaming project, Repair). She discusses her work for the Pyeongchang Olympics and designing for the Broadway stage. sponsored by Assortment, inc.

SCREENING: REPAIR

written by Michael Marrero and Julio Trinidad

Fri Jan 13, 8pm Helmerich Theater

$25, $20 mbrs.

Attend the special live premiere of Marrero’s tragicomedy of two men locked in a no-win situation as they navigate the price of justice, fatherhood and revenge.

Starring Leon Addison Brown and Julio Trinidad sponsored by Historic Key West Vacation Rentals

Open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm

KEYS WEEKLY’S NEWS TRAVELS FAST & FAR

TOP ONLINE STORIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS OF 2022

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Post. Share. Like. Comment. Follow. The words have acquired new significance in the digital decade, spreading news, information, rumors, photos, opinions, jokes and cat videos faster than this year’s flu.

With help from our digital marketing strategist, Maison Benitez at OMG (Overseas Media Group), the Keys Weekly analyzed a year’s worth of online news and social media posts to see which ones got the most attention.

Here are three of our top performers from keysweekly.com, Facebook and Instagram:

WEBSITE: keysweekly.com

• NO MORE NUDITY: KEY WEST OFFICIALS EXPECT CHANGES TO FANTASY FEST, posted April 13, 2022: received 121,554 views

• 2022 BUBBAS: KEY WEST PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS, which took place in July, received 105,630 views

• TEXAS WOMAN REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AFTER SHARK BITE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, posted July 6, 2022 received 57,622 views

FACEBOOK — @The Keys Weekly Newspapers

• Travis Pastrana Takes Flight Over Boot Key Bridge (780 Shares)

• No More Nudity At Fantasy Fest (283 Shares)

• Historic Old Seven-Mile Bridge Reopens In Florida Keys (156 Shares)

INSTAGRAM - @keysweekly (garnered a total of 29,400 “likes” in 2022)

• The Florida Keys celebrated the reopening of the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge — Jan. 12, 2022

• Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Keys Weekly recalls her 1991 visit to the Dry Tortugas National Park — Sept. 8, 2022

• Hurricane Ian churns around Key West’s Southernmost Point — September 2022

FRESH AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE

WITH SITTING

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

A FEW OF THE KEY WEST WEEKLY’S FAVORITE COVER DESIGNS OF 2022

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then one great cover photo can be worth 1,000 writers, although that doesn’t speak well for my job security, given the creative talent of so many Keys artists and photographers. Every week, our graphic designer Irene de Bruijn pores through our news stories, photos and graphics to design a cover that will catch our readers’ attention from a newspaper box several yards away. As our publisher Britt Myers likes to say, our cover is like the front door to a house, and we certainly want good curb appeal.

Thanks to all the photographers, artists and graphic designers who help us welcome readers to the Key West Weekly.

Here are some of our favorite Key West Weekly covers from 2022.

— Mandy Miles

SAFEGUARDING WATER & WILDLIFE

Keys treasured resources saw progress and problems

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Coral outplantings, dives to collect debris, and wildlife rehabilitations dominated a busy 2022 in the Florida Keys. Meanwhile, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials put the finishing touches on their recommendations on a plan to regulate and manage the waters off the Keys — better known as the Restoration Blueprint. With the good came the bad, however, as the island chain witnessed some unfortunate wildlife deaths — with blame put on human activities.

GOLIATH GROUPER HARVEST BACK ON, BUT NOT IN THE KEYS

Harvesting goliath grouper will be allowed in state waters, albeit on a limited, regulated basis, beginning in spring 2023. An abundance of goliath grouper, and more requests to reopen harvest in Florida, prompted state wildlife officials’ approval to allow 200 harvest permit tags in state waters, 50 from the Upper Keys’ backyard — Everglades National Park.

SPERM WHALE DIES NOT FAR FROM KEY WEST SHORE

A 51-foot sperm whale was the last thing one expected to see on the

morning of May 11, laid out in the gravel parking lot of Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island. There it was. A striking but sad sight, with a mouth of biblical proportions.

The male sperm whale was found on May 10, beached on the northeast side of the Mud Keys about eight miles offshore of Key West. Investigation by biologists into the death found a massive intertwined line and plastic bag-type material, among other debris in the whale’s stomach.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE KILLED ON U.S. 1

Horrific was the word Bette Zirkelbach, manager of Turtle Hospital, used to describe the reported death of a female loggerhead turtle after she was run over by a car on U.S. 1 near Sea Oats Beach in Islamorada in June. “This area continues to be a hazard for sea turtles during nesting season,” Zirkelbach said.

Sea turtle nesting season in the Keys runs from mid-April to mid-October. This means there are active sea turtle nests throughout the Keys during that period.

SOME PARTS OF THE KEYS REEF COULD BE SAVED, PER STUDY

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said roughly 85% of reefs in the Florida

Keys are eroding. But assumimg restoration plans outlined in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mission: Iconic Reefs initiative are met through the year 2040, researchers says some locations could see reef-building capacity restored.

CORAL-BASED NURSERY COMES TO KEY LARGO

A new, land-based coral nursery announced in March is bringing a new kind of reef restoration to Key Largo. Community leaders and Mote Marine Laboratory staff gathered on Aug. 11 at Reefhouse Resort & Marina to celebrate Mote’s second satellite nursery in the Upper Keys.

The following day, Mote CEO Michael Crosby and Monroe County Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein joined Mote researchers aboard Rainbow Reef’s dive boat to outplant the first 50 elkhorn and 50 staghorn corals at French Reef.

SANCTUARY OFFICIALS FINALIZE BLUEPRINT RECOMMENDATIONS

A two-day meeting to analyze and recommend changes to regulations within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary — the Restoration Blueprint

— saw Sanctuary Advisory Council members in agreement on a number of measures. Day one saw resounding support for expanding the sanctuary’s boundary, prohibiting discharges from cruise ships except cooling water and requiring single or rafted vessels 65 feet long to use designated large vessel mooring buoys, to name a few. Day two, however, saw some differences of opinion on catch-and-release trolling and bait fishing in Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs). Sanctuary staff will now consult with stakeholder agencies – including FWC and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, among others – to hear additional recommendations before submitting an updated draft for final

review at the state and federal levels.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will allow the harvest of up to 200 goliath grouper per year, with no more than 50 taken from Everglades National Park. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

Biologists perform a necropsy on May 11 on a sperm whale found beached offshore of Key West. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

An adult loggerhead turtle returns to the ocean. CONTRIBUTED

Symmetrical brain coral in the Florida Keys that has experienced bleaching. CHRISTINA KELLOGG/USGS

Michael Crosby, president and CEO of Mote, zip-ties an elkhorn coral to a small metal post. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

Carysfort Light, located off Key Largo, sits within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

MIGRANT LANDINGS DOMINATE HEADLINES

Cubans and Haitians arrive to the U.S. at record levels

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Amassive influx of Cuban and Haitian migrants dominated the headlines in the Florida Keys and South Florida in 2022 (and that’ll likely continue going into the new year). Between the economic despair, violence and oppression, men, women and children scurried from their homes onto homemade vessels — some dilapidated and not suitable to deal with the ocean’s rage and unpredictable weather — in hopes of brighter futures in the U.S. Not all have made it to land successfully. And those who’ve arrived have been met by the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs & Border Protection and local authorities. From the heart-pounding rescues to the scenes of hundreds of migrants detained on land, here are some of the bigger stories that made it into print.

MIGRANT LANDING OFF SOMBRERO BEACH ROAD PROMPTS SCHOOL LOCKDOWN

A chug carrying 15 Cuban immigrants reached the shores of Marathon near the Sunrise Isle area of Sombrero Beach Road on Jan. 4. Although all 15 migrants were soon detained by authorities, there was an initial belief that a few of the migrants had traveled across Man-O-War Drive and entered the mangroves surrounding Marathon Middle and High School.

In response, the school underwent a temporary precautionary lockdown to allow officials to search the area. “Our students are not in harm’s way,” said principal Wendy McPherson in a memo to parents. “Classes are being held in place until law enforcement has found all of the individuals. We expect the situation to be resolved soon.”

After reviewing footage taken by residents in the Sombrero Beach Road area, it was eventually determined that all migrants known to have come ashore were accounted for, and the lockdown was released shortly thereafter. Migrants were taken into Customs & Border Protection (CBP) custody. It’s unknown whether they were sent back to Cuba or were released to family.

1. A large boat containing 356 Haitian migrants runs aground near Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo on March 6. JASON RAFTER/Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation.

MORE THAN 120 HAITIANS REACH SHORE OF SUMMERLAND KEY RESIDENCE

A little more than 120 Haitian migrants hopped off a vessel and made their way onto land via a Summerland Key residence’s beach on the morning of March 14. U.S. Customs & Border Protection agents and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the scene at a private property beach where the migrants were landing. A local resident notified law enforcement that a suspected migrant vessel was about to run aground with around 100 people on board. Eventually, the dilapidated vessel ran aground near a residential shoreline on Summerland Key. CBP said migrants onboard the vessel jumped off and safely swam ashore. Law enforcement officers responding immediately were able to secure the area without further incident and render first aid to migrants who were dehydrated. The group — totaling 123 — told officials that they had left La Tortue Island in Haiti on March 9. Migrants were transported to Marathon and Dania Beach Border Patrol stations for further processing and were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

EASTERN EUROPEANS ARRIVE ON BOAT FROM CUBA Police and government vehicles filled the plaza at the top of Duval Street on April 3 after a fishing boat pulled up to the pier there and dropped off a dozen or so Eastern Europeans who said they had been in Cuba. The Keys Weekly spoke briefly with one of the Eastern Europeans, all of whom were seated at tables inside the Southernmost Beach Cafe with luggage and duffel bags next to them. They were well dressed and their clothes were not wet as if they had waded ashore. Most had smartphones they were using while awaiting further instructions. One man told the Keys Weekly they were from Uzbekistan and former Soviet republics. It’s unknown whether they were sent back to their home countries or remained in the U.S.

2. A Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba crew member feeds a child rescued off an overloaded sailing vessel near Rodriguez Key on Nov. 21. LT. ROBERT COLLINS/U.S. Coast Guard

3. A chug of Cuban migrants approaches offshore of Key West. LARRY BLACKBURN/ Keys Weekly

HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

Coast Guard interdictions of Cubans 6,182 in fiscal year 2022 838 in fiscal year 2021 49 in fiscal year 2020 313 fiscal year 2019 259 in fiscal year 2018

Coast Guard interdictions of Haitians

7,175 in fiscal year 2022 1,527 in fiscal year 2021 418 in fiscal year 2020 932 in fiscal year 2019 609 in fiscal year 2018

— Capt. Robert Kinsey, Coast Guard District Seven on Dec. 20.

PACKED BOAT WITH 300 HAITIANS RUNS AGROUND OFF NORTH KEY LARGO

In one of the largest migrant landings seen in the Keys in 2022, a sailboat packed with more than 300 Haitian men, women and children grounded near North Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club on Aug. 6.

A total of 113 migrants hopped off the vessel and made it to land at the exclusive Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo. But 220 migrants remained on the boat. A swift rescue ensued by the U.S. Coast Guard as many migrants were in the water without life jackets. Migrants making it to land were in U.S Customs & Border Protection’s custody. They subsequently went through removal proceedings. Those who were boarded on a Coast Guard cutter were sent back to Haiti.

KEYS WEEKLY’S COMING TO AMERICA SERIES

In September, the Keys Weekly team took an in-depth look at the growing number of migrants making the journey to the Florida Keys, U.S. immigration policy and some of the next steps they face when interdicted on the water or caught on land.

INTENSE RESCUE ENSUES AFTER CUBAN VESSEL WITH 30 MIGRANTS SINKS OFF STOCK ISLAND

Part 1 Part 2

123 HAITIAN MIGRANTS REACH LAND IN MARATHON

The Florida Keys experienced yet another large migrant landing in less than three days, as a sailboat carrying a total of 123 Haitian migrants ran aground offshore in the area of 79th Street Ocean in Marathon on Aug. 8. Of the migrants on board, 109 entered the water, making the swim to land before they were eventually apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in a multi-agency collaboration with Florida Fish & Wildlife, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard. Fourteen migrants who remained aboard the vessel were taken into custody of the Coast Guard for repatriation. The rest went through removal proceedings.

4. Cuban refugees arrive at Smathers Beach by boat in early October. MARK HEDDEN/ Keys Weekly

5. Officials from county, state and federal agencies collaborated to take 109 migrants into custody who made the swim to land on Aug. 8. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

A search and rescue effort by the U.S. Coast Guard ensued after a vessel carrying roughly 30 Cuban migrants sank not far from Stock Island. U.S. Customs & Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar said his agents and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the migrant landing around 1 p.m. on Sept. 28. Four migrants swam to shore after their vessel sank due to inclement weather. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard initiated a search and rescue operation to locate 23 other migrants. Not all were successfully rescued, as the Coast Guard reported that they found one deceased person near Ocean Edge Marina. It’s unknown whether the remaining migrants who made it to land and were successfully rescued were sent back to Cuba.

RESCUERS BATTLE ROUGH WATERS TO RESCUE 190 HAITIANS

An overloaded 50-foot vessel initially sighted in Key Largo carrying a large number of Haitian migrants on rough waters ran aground at the sandbar south of Whale Harbor in Islamorada around 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 21. Eighteen people were found in the water as multiple agencies rushed to rescue them from dangerous ocean currents.

The vessel carrying the migrants was spotted off the shores of Key Largo during the early morning hours of Nov. 21. The rescue effort by the Coast Guard started after a good samaritan contacted Sector Key West around 5 a.m.

On Nov. 26, the 180 on the sailboat, 89 men, 55 women and 46 women were sent back via a Coast Guard Cutter. Ten people onboard the vessel were going through a joint interagency process. On Nov. 29, the Coast Guard said seven people were repatriated and three were transferred back to U.S. officials.

4 5

"This year, we've needlessly lost 13 lives to the sea as a result of people choosing to attempt maritime migration in grossly overcrowded and unsafe vessels."

MARK

In the spirit of remembrance, honor and gratitude, the Keys Weekly recalls those the Keys community lost in 2022.

IN MEMORIAM

REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST IN 2022

and father to Taylor. Gibson died on Feb. 22 following a courageous battle with colon cancer.

and toughest fires from 1963 until his retirement in 1995. Castro served as chief from 1986 to 1995. “Chief Castro is really the first chief who started upgrading and enhancing the fire department’s training protocols and equipment,” retired firefighter and historian Alex Vega said. “He really laid the pathway for other chiefs to follow when it came to improving the department.”

Lofton “Coffee” Butler — Key West’s music man and namesake of the island’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater at Truman Waterfront Park died Feb. 1 at the age of 93. Though his absence leaves an unfillable void, Butler’s songs, smile and showmanship will live forever in Key West’s heart and history.

Joey Naples — A radio favorite and the “King of Cool,” Joey Naples died May 17 after a long battle with cancer. He was 61. Naples rocked the Upper Keys with Clear Channel Media and then with the Florida Keys Media family, which he’d been with since 2014. Before that, the transplant from West Palm Beach served as senior director for an NBC television station for 25 years.

Sylvia Murphy — Feisty, a walking history book and a true public servant, Sylvia Murphy served 14 years as a county commissioner. But she was also a contributor to the community in ways many people didn’t see. A Keys resident dating back to her late teenage years, Murphy died Nov. 26. She was 86.

Marilyn Tempest — The Marathon community lost one of its finest members with the passing of longtime resident Marilyn Tempest on June 26. Known as a mainstay at St. Columba Episcopal Church, as a respected former Marathon City Councilwoman, and as a director, producer, actress and vocalist extraordinaire at Marathon Community Theatre, Tempest undoubtedly left her mark in her 26 years on the island.

Rebecca Thacker — The Marathon High School community lost one of its finest on April 4 with the sudden and unexpected passing of English teacher Rebecca Thacker. Her impact on MHS reached far beyond the grades and lessons she imparted in the classroom. Upon learning of the tragic news on the morning of April 5, the MHS baseball team elected to dedicate the remainder of their season to Thacker’s memory. Three days later, the team defeated Palmer Trinity at home, with “R.T.” spray-painted in the grass behind home plate.

Capt. Mike Barber — On March 23, the Keys Weekly family lost one of its own, with the sudden passing of Michael “Cap’n Mike” Barber following an unexpected battle against aggressive pneumonia. A frequent columnist for the Marathon Weekly, Captain Mike was the modern-day definition of an old salt. His informative columns were often inspired by observations of discourteous or ignorant boaters and filled with teachable moments. In a world full of social media accounts making light of boating foibles, Barber provided the same in a more eloquent print form for Keys Weekly readers.

Barry Gibson — Barry Gibson took the Florida Keys by storm — and shades — when he arrived in the island chain nearly 40 years ago, having worked as a banker, a business owner and a Key West city commissioner. But his most important jobs were as a husband to Trisha

Bill Blue — Bill Blue was a Key West musical icon. The blues master moved to the island from Virginia in the early ’80s, when he started his journey to becoming the modernday godfather of the Key West music scene. One of the world’s best slide guitarists, he dazzled crowds from the Green Parrot to the Key West Theater while playing every venue along the way.

Coach Mike Leach — What does the recent death of a gamechanging 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.

Eddie Castro — Former Key West Fire Chief Edwin “Eddie” Castro, who died July 1 at 81, was on the scene of some of the island’s hottest

“Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” — George Eliot

LOCAL MATTERS

It’s not just what we cover, it’s what we truly believe at the Keys Weekly.

With offices, editors and editions in Key West, Marathon and the Upper Keys, our team continued its unwavering commitment to local news, people and the Keys community in 2022.

Whether we’re in the Keys Weekly booths at local seafood festivals, or driving decorated golf carts in our hometown holiday parades, the Keys Weekly is your local newspaper and we thank you for trusting us with…local matters.

— The Keys Weekly Editors

One of our biggest additions this year, Sports Wrap offers complete coverage of high school sports by Tracy and Sean McDonald, who also produces and hosts our weekly Sports Wrap podcast.

KEY WEST

The past year saw an unprecedented number of breaking news stories, social media engagement, fun local events in which we proudly took part and some new bylines for the Key West Weekly.

We welcomed freelance writers Cricket Desmarais and Amy Patton, whose profiles, theater reviews, fun features and news stories have added new voices and fresh perspectives to the Key West Weekly. Columnist and author Janice Gary now pays tribute to our four-legged fur babies with her monthly column Paws in Paradise, while Ray West covers the local live music scene with his twice-monthly Hip to the Scene column.

Publisher and owner Britt Myers continued the success of the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast Show, scoring interviews with the likes of musical legend Warren Haynes, Major League pitcher — and surgery namesake — Tommy John, as well as Queen front man and singing sensation Adam Lambert.

Our annual Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards drew 400,000 online votes from all continents except Antarctica. The awards gala in July packed Key West Theater with humor and high honors while raising more than $30,000 for the Bahama Village Music Program.

And as always, our team had a great time at countless community events, fundraisers and political forums.

It’s been an exciting year at the Keys Weekly. Watch what happens next — onward and upward for 2023 in the Florida Keys.

Publisher Britt Myers, with wife Kirby Myers and daughter Dylan, lead the team in the decorated Key West Weekly and Overseas Media Group golf cart for Key West’s Hometown Holiday Parade. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

MARATHON

The heart of the Florida Keys kept new blood pumping in 2022. Our year began with a new partnership with the Florida Keys SPCA, working to bring furry companions in shelters to our pages every week. As the months progressed, we welcomed contributions from talented freelancer Abigail Haddock, and closed the year by debuting a brand-new health and wellness column by Jennifer Boltz-Harvey along with Joel Brandenburg’s Captain Joel’s Fishin’ Holes.

The year was not without loss, as we bid fair winds and following seas to beloved columnist Mike Barber, who passed away in March following a battle against aggressive pneumonia.

The return of the Marathon Meltdown saw 39 Middle Keys residents shave off an astounding 437.8 pounds in total, with one contestant losing 18.2% of her body weight –and we’re sure they’ve all kept it off.

Our 14th annual Best of Marathon awards brought nearly 300 guests to a phenomenal evening honoring the standout businesses and individuals in our city – even when nasty weather necessitated a last-minute venue change to Million Air’s hangar.

With the new school year, the Marathon office spearheaded a new partnership with Sean and Tracy McDonald to produce the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap, the only locallyowned sports section covering Monroe County athletics – AND a fantastic podcast taking intricate dives into Keys sports history. We cannot thank them enough for the way they’ve transformed our sports coverage and reaffirmed our commitment to celebrating local athletes’ accomplishments.

Best of Upper Keys attendees raise a glass to the late Mike Forster, who championed the idea of bringing a people’s choice event back to the Upper Keys. The Keys Weekly was proud to be the ones to do it. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

UPPER KEYS

The Upper Keys Office in Tavernier bolstered its team to start 2022 by welcoming Jill Miranda Baker as business development officer. A 25-year resident of Plantation Key, Miranda Baker elevated new relationships with the business and nonprofit sectors while maintaining strong connections with longstanding clients.

Months later, the Keys Weekly added more talent to its roster, this time bringing in Manuela Carrillo Mobley as director of sales. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, she spent several years with AT&T in the Florida Keys before joining the Key Weekly team.

New bylines hit the papers as the year progressed. Earlier in the year, the Upper Keys added former TV reporter Kellie Butler Farrell to its talented freelance team. Coral Shores student Zack Woltanski and Upper Keys resident Carolyn DePaula also joined as freelancers.

New features debuted, including Pet of the Week and Joyful Keys Living, which highlighted some local residents making a difference in their communities. The Upper Keys Weekly closed out the year with the new “Artist’s Corner” column by local artist William DePaula.

A people’s choice awards event, which we dubbed Best of Upper Keys, debuted in the fall. People had the opportunity to submit their favorite businesses, places, people and more. Finalists were chosen by the people in roughly 50 categories. On Nov. 5, winners were crowned at Whale Harbor Events in Islamorada, and more than $19,000 was raised for the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter.

A young deputy editor arrived at the Upper Keys Weekly. His name? Lucas Matthew McCarthy. Upper Keys Weekly editor Jim McCarthy and his beautiful other half, Brie Conway, welcomed an 8.8-pound boy into the world on Oct. 4.

Manuela Mobley

Sean McDonald

Jill Miranda Baker

Tracy McDonald

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023:

TIME TO

BOOGIE

CHRIS McNULTY

is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com

ere we are again, folks. A brand-new year is just around the corner and it is bringing with it an entire kitschy wall calendar of astrological transits to look forward to. Technically, the astrological new year begins at the spring equinox when the sun moves into the sign of Aries. However, thanks to everyone’s favorite Roman dictator, Julius Caesar, our society’s calendar begins amid all the other holiday hullabaloo and shenanigans going on at this time of year. Thanks, Jules.

I, for one, am very much looking forward to the shift in astrological alignments that will be taking place in 2023. There is a marked change in the type of energy we will be wading through, and it feels less frustrated, less aimless and more boogie-onforward.

The biggest shift that I see isn’t so much something that is coming at us, but something that we are leaving behind. For the past three years, we have been going about our business underneath a SaturnUranus square, in which these two planets were oriented to each other at a 90-degree angle – with us at the angular knife point. You can think of this transit as an irritated stalemate between past tradition and future revolution. Sound familiar? Conservative vs. progressive, generational finger-pointing, fear of and frustration with technology, revolutionary impulses maturing when they hit roadblocks – all of these themes erupted under this transit.

Three years we’ve been simmering in this stew. We now carry these lessons with us, but the pot is being removed from the flame.

Leaving all of that behind feels like removing yourself from the room when your crotchety uncle and your rebellious cousin are fighting about all of life’s -isms. But what exactly are we walking into?

We step into 2023 under a Mars retrograde that began around Halloween. So, expect the year to begin a little sluggishly,

Halbeit not for long. Mars oversees our gumption and our ability to get things done, so when this planet appears to move backward in the sky we can feel as though we are spinning our wheels. However, Mars will turn direct on Jan. 12, and all of the work and preparation we have put in during the latter months of 2022 will begin to gain some traction. Get ready for your projects to take off, your energy to pick up, and your confidence to return.

On March 7, Saturn will move from the sign of Aquarius, where it has been for three years, into the sign of Pisces. Expect society to start focusing less on what makes us all different from each other and to start discovering our shared commonalities. Saturn sets hard boundaries, but when Saturn is in the watery, mystical sign of Pisces our boundaries become much hazier and we can see through what differentiates us from one another more clearly.

While Saturn is in Pisces, we will also be empowered to pull our dreams into the material world.

Prepare to harness this two-year transit by getting serious about constructing a life that is spiritually fulfilling by enacting a real plan. Write a business proposal for your cupcake shop, find an investor for your film production, create your Etsy profile – whatever your dream life looks like, you will have cosmic support for bringing it into the waking world.

From March 23 through June 11, the solar system’s gothic badass, Pluto, will dip into the sign of Aquarius before retrograding back into Capricorn for the remainder of the year. To understand this enormous upcoming shift, think back to 2008 when Pluto entered Capricorn, the Zodiac sign associated with material success. Global financial crisis ring a bell? Since then, it has felt like we’ve been plugging our leaky ship trying to make it to shore. At the end of Pluto’s journey through Capricorn, self-centered billionaires (aka the “winners of capitalism”) are making headlines with their childish yet impactful power plays. The logical conclusion perhaps.

Toward the end of March, Pluto’s 2.5-month foray into Aquarius will offer us a short preview of Pluto’s long uninterrupted 20-year journey through Aquarius that will start at the beginning of 2024. Pluto repre-

sents death and rebirth and volcanic shifts, and I expect this powerhouse planet to elicit some major eruptions for the little guy. If Capricorn is about material success, Aquarius is about the people who are systematically denied opportunity. I think we can expect some social revolutions that gain real traction with this transit. At least, we’ll see them show up in 2023, probably fall back out of the collective conscious, and really start to make change in 2024.

Now that we’ve addressed Saturn and Pluto, which tend to bring about more challenging energies, let’s see what Jupiter is up to. Jupiter is a big ol’ ball of joy and good fortune and will be gallivanting through Aries in the first half of the year before moving into Taurus mid-May. The first half of the year will provide us with all sorts of energy to achieve our personal goals and joys, fueling our fires of productivity and instilling courage with a dash of luck. Expect to see a lot of activity in our higher courts and governmental institutions during this time as well. When Jupiter moves into Taurus in May, we will be more inclined to sit back and enjoy the fruits of the almost manic energy of the first half of the year. When Jupiter is in Taurus, we will find more happiness in earthy pleasures such as gardening, appreciating art, and perhaps some peaceful self-indulgence.

The final major transit of 2023 is the retrograde movement of Venus in Leo, which will take place all summer long. Love and beauty will be center stage in the sign of the sun, bringing forth what some might consider a modern-day summer of love. I also think we will be seeing women and femininity in the spotlight, perhaps a major focus on women in the performing arts and a collective reflection on the role of the feminine in pop culture.

The rest of 2023 is relatively quiet astrologically, so expect an action-packed spring and summer followed by a period of rest. All in all, let the weight of the past three years drop and hop into some practical optimism to take advantage of these major transits. Keep in mind that astrological cycles do not happen to you, you participate in them. So, come to play in 2023!

- 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

Holiday Events at The Reach

Holiday

Christmas Eve Dinner

TAKE ME HOME?

FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

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.

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP EVERY FRIDAY MORNING

Stetson is a young adult male domestic shorthair. He’s an attention-loving cat who would do well in a family with other cats or kids.

Zero is a 1-year-old male medium mixed breed. Don’t let his grumpy face fool you. He’s a super-happy cuddlebug.

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.

In 2022, local volunteer cleanup efforts yielded the following results: 955 volunteers removed 92.5 gallons of cigarette butts, 6,141 pounds of trash and 577 pounds of recycling from Key West neighborhoods.

Lele is a 4-year-old female medium mixed breed. Our longest canine resident, she is sweet, smart, and the perfect balance of energetic and couch potato.

Ghostface is an adult bearded dragon. Ghostface is sweet and friendly with people and would love a home with an experienced reptile owner where he can lounge around in the sunlight.

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.

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 volunteers that make the biggest difference.

Lemon is a year-old female domestic shorthair. She’s an outgoing cat who gets along well with other cats and absolutely loves treats.

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.

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 the remaining Friday morning cleanup in December. All cleanups are from 8 to 9 a.m. except for special events, which are announced in advance.

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

Ploggers met on North Roosevelt recently to clean the mangroves and the sidewalks and street from Flagler Avenue to the big curve. Twenty volunteers collected 298 pounds of trash, 2 gallons of cigarette butts, 13 pounds of recycling and 5 bicycles.

GOODBYE 2022, HELLO 2023

THE YEAR WENT DOWN IN HISTORY WITH COLUMNS AND A NEW BOOK

The interesting year is ending, and from all indications, 2023 is lining up to be just as interesting, if not a little more.

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.

By this time last year, I was officially unemployed and trying to figure out just what the frickand-frack I was going to do. Thanks to Collier County Museums, Key Largo Anglers Club, and Florida Bay Forever, I was afforded opportunities to work on freelance projects as I began to navigate 2022.

Truth be told, there are few opportunities for an unemployed historian in the Upper Keys. What remained clear is that I would carry on doing what I was doing and sharing these fantastic histories of the Florida Keys. What I wondered was how that certainty would manifest. I knew I would keep writing this column, which is both a challenging and amazing outlet. I will insert a big “Thank You!” to the wonderful people at The Keys Weekly Newspapers (including Jason Koler, Jim McCarthy, Alex Rickert and Mandy Miles for accommodating the 800-900 words about the local history I write every week).

This year’s two big surprises developed from my Facebook group Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli. First, the response to the group has been incredible. In just this first year, membership has risen to over 10,000. The page became so popular that it inspired the second big surprise, my latest book, Volume 1 of “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli.” Volumes 2 and 3 will be hitting the bookshelves in 2023. One of them will be dedicated to Black Caesar and other legendary pirate stories from the Florida Keys. The subjects for the other one are still developing.

The unsung hero of 2022 might be “The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files.” I can’t say why yet but that story will be told at some point this year (fingerscrossed). I wrote the book because I hadn’t dabbled in fiction for over a decade, and I wanted to just play and reconnect with the joy I get from telling a good story. The idea for the book came from an actual 1977 sighting that occurred near what is today Snapper’s Restaurant on Key Largo.

For those who remember “The Blair Witch Project,” I modeled the book after the film by creating a series of fictional Skunk Ape (Florida’s Bigfoot) events that are presented as if they were real. The book is also filled with some great Florida Keys history because I love to write and couldn’t help myself from sharing some great local history to an audience that might not engage with it otherwise.

“The Skunk Ape Files” also reignited my desire to improve my storytelling when exploring these Florida Keys’ histories. This is also the reason why I published my last book and why additional volumes are on the horizon. My column is a great place to share, but 800-900 words are often not enough to tell the stories I want to tell, and, in book form, I can use all the words I need.

There is a reason I continue to repeat that it is difficult to tell a Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, or Key West story because they become larger Florida Keys stories. For such a small chain of islands, they are home to amazing stories. The Florida Keys have always been connected by more than schooners, trains or automobiles. They have, too, been bridged by something stronger than concrete and steel and thicker than water. The conduit that connects the Florida Keys, one island to another, is the pioneer blood of the families who first called these islands home.

I consider it an honor to be able to learn about and share these stories and, what seems to be shaping up is that, in 2023, I will be sharing them on a growing array of platforms. In addition to this column and the release of at least two more volumes of “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli,” I will continue my popular monthly talks at the Islamorada Moose Lodge on the first Monday of every month. On Monday, Jan. 2, I’ll be telling stories about Alligator Key, Alligator Reef and Alligator Reef Lighthouse.

Additional speaking events have been scheduled at the Key Largo Library, the Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade Historical Society, and the Key West Garden Club. Other plans on the horizon of early 2023 include a bicycle tour with Keys Ebikes in Islamorada. I hope to post more information about that endeavor in the next few weeks. Discussions are underway, too, for a series of “History Dinners” for those interested in learning about some local history while enjoying a good meal. I’ll share those details as plans firm up.

In the meantime, I’ll continue writing about and talking about the history of the Florida Keys every chance I get. Also, I’ll be bartending down at the world-famous Robbie’s Marina a couple of days a week for anyone looking to sip an adult beverage and chat about history.

Happy Holiday to everyone, and Happy New Year to you and yours from the Sioux Street office!

Local historian Brad Bertelli. CORI CONVERTITO/ Key West Art & Historical Society

NEW YEAR. BETTER YOU.

As 2023 approaches, you may rethink your financial future, learn to be more present or maybe find someone to talk to. The right book at the right time can change everything.

DIE WITH ZERO

By Bill Perkins

All our lives we are taught to save for a rainy day and contribute to retirement funds. Many of us watched parents do better than their parents and their grandparents and live longer and fuller lives. Ideas about saving, spending, donating and waiting for our golden years are deeply ingrained in our minds, and we make financial decisions on autopilot without re-evaluating. Bucket lists are a new method to list experiences we are looking forward to, someday, when we have time and money. Overspending is frowned upon as irresponsible. Author Bill Perkins shares his personal views on our collective mistakes. If we are lucky enough to make it to retirement, many of us will find ourselves without the good health and energy to do the things we once fantasized about. Each decade we may have more money but significantly less ability. When we have the most time we may not be able to optimize the adventures we’ve been waiting for. This book analyzes the value of experiences that outweigh the balance in our bank accounts. A straightforward reminder to live each day to the fullest –time is our most limited and valuable resource.

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

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE

By Meik Wiking

Hygge, pronounced hoo-gah, is the Danish concept that consists of feelings of comfort. It can include food, music, friends, family and all elements that affect our senses. Hygge gives people a feeling of coziness, closeness, safety and contentment. Dating back to the early 1800s, this lifestyle trend has been embraced by the Danish people, but you definitely don’t have to be Danish to enjoy and benefit from living a hygge life. After learning about hygge it becomes impossible to escape the images that immediately begin to form in your mind as you examine your own habits and activities that are not bringing you as much joy as they used to. Our society does not often allow us the necessary time with our family and friends, or even quiet time just on our own. Hygge is about living in the moment, being completely present and allowing ourselves to enjoy the simple things in life. As people rush through our fast-paced world working and acquiring as much as possible, it is no wonder anxiety and depression are at an all time high. This quick, easy read is the perfect place to start living hygge.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE

By Lori Gottlieb

Lori Gottlieb is a therapist living and working in Los Angeles. As a single mom with a busy practice, Lori takes pride in all her responsibilities and juggles her days with care. One day her world comes crashing down when her fiancé unexpectedly ends their relationship. Lori’s future suddenly seems uncertain and the pain is affecting every aspect of her life. And then she finds Wendell, her new therapist. In this sudden role reversal, Lori is on the couch and hoping this stranger – who was strategically selected for age and maleness – will commiserate with her romantic loss and help justify her anger and resentment. But she couldn’t be more wrong. Wendell forces Lori to dig much deeper than she has ever gone before. Told with stories of her very personal journey with Wendell interspersed with a handful of her most unique patient relationships, Lori shares her innermost thoughts of her “therapist” and “therapy” experiences. Funny, smart and quick-witted, Lori is a talented storyteller and clinician. This excellent, thought- provoking read is a therapy marathon and feels like a two-day session for the small price of a book.

WATCH TIP: An eccentric London psychiatrist breaks out of his isolated life and begins a global quest to find the true meaning of happiness. Adventurous and laugh-out-loud hilarious. “Hector and the Search for Happiness” can be seen on Amazon Prime.

KAREN NEWFIELD

LEGAL NOTICES

NAME

FICTITIOUS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious

name of MerrellWorks LLC located at 247 W. Seaview Circle, Duck Key, FL 33050 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Cheryl A. Merrell

Publish: December 29, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Best Lien Services Inc. located at: 7290 SW 41 St., Miami, FL 33155, will sell at a reserve public sale at 9:00 am the following vehicles at said location to satisfy lien pursuant to Chapter 713.585 of the Florida statutes:

2011 IBW VS IBW3X376H011

Date of Sale: January 11, 2023 at 9:00 am

Location: 254 Loeb Avenue, Key Largo, FL 33037

P#: 305-942-9532

The following will sell at: 2017 DODG 2D

2C3CDZAG5HH527464

1985 CHEV TK

2GCCC14H5F1207829

Date of Sale: January 13, 2023 at 9:00 am

Location: 1503 Aqueduct Lane, Key Largo, FL 33037

P#: 786-328-9393

Owner/Lienholder may inspect/ recover vehicle by contacting Best Lien Services, 7290 SW 41 St., Miami, FL 33155 (1-866-299-9391) at least 1 week prior to the lien sale. All sales are with reserve 20% buyers premium.

Publish: December 29, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 22-CP-117-M

DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS

IN RE: ESTATE OF WALTER FLORIMONT Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Walter Florimont, deceased, whose date of death was October 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 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 22, 2022.

Personal Representative: Cynthia Dawn Florimont 925 43rd Street Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134

RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6022 Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com

Publish: December 22 & 29, 2022

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 22-CP-111-M

DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS

IN RE: ESTATE OF ALLEN L. SIMMONS Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Allen L. Simmons, deceased, whose date of death was November 6, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and 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 22, 2022.

Personal Representative: Susan M. Simmons 5 Ocean East Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134

RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6022 Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com

Publish: December 22 & 29, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

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

CIVIL DIVISION

Case#: 2012-CA-000363-K

Federal National Mortgage Association Plaintiff, -vs.Joseph Patrick Clements a/k/a Joseph P. Clements and Debra Lynn Clements a/k/a Debra L. Clements a/k/a Debbie L. Clements; Branch Banking and Trust Company, Successor by Merger to Republic Bank; Iberiabank; Unknown Parties in Possession #1, If living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) who are not known to be dead or alive, whether said Unknown Parties may claim an interest as Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, or Other Claimants; Unknown Parties in Possession #2, If living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) who are not known to be dead or alive, whether said Unknown Parties may claim an interest as Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, or Other Claimants

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to order rescheduling foreclosure sale or Final Judgment, entered in Civil Case No. 2012-CA-000363-K of the Circuit Court of the 16th Judicial Circuit in and for Monroe County, Florida, wherein Federal National Mortgage Association, Plaintiff and Joseph Patrick Clements a/k/a Joseph P. Clements

LEGAL NOTICES

COURTHOUSE, 500 WHITEHEAD STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040, AT 11:00 A.M. on January 18, 2023, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to-wit:

LOT 23, BLOCK 2, AMENDED PLAT OF COPPITT SUBDIVISION, (A RE-SUBDIVISION OF PLAT BOOK 3, AT PAGE 116) LOCATED IN GOVERNMENT LOT 5, SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 67 S., RANGE 26 E., BIG COPPITT KEY, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS RECORDED INP LAT BOOK 4, AT PAGE 50, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA.

ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM NO LATER THAN THE DATE THAT THE CLERK REPORTS THE FUNDS AS UNCLAIMED.

Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.540 Notices to Persons With Disabilities

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Cheryl Alfonso, ADA Coordinator, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

SPANISH: Si usted es una persona discapacitada que necesita alguna adaptación para poder participar de este procedimiento o evento; usted tiene derecho, sin costo alguno a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Favor de comunicarse con Cheryl Alfonso, Coordinadora de A.D.A Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 por lo menos 7 días antes de que tenga que comparecer en corte o inmediatamente después de haber recibido ésta notificación si es que falta menos de 7 días para su comparecencia. Si tiene una discapacidad auditiva ó de habla, llame al 711.

KREYOL: Si ou se yon moun ki kokobé ki bezwen asistans ou aparêy pou ou ka patisipé nan prosedu sa-a, ou gen dwa san ou pa bezwen péyé anyen pou ou jwen on seri de èd. Tanpri kontakté Cheryl Alfonso, Co-ordinator ADA, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652O'mwen 7 jou avan ke ou gen pou-ou parèt nan tribunal, ou imediatman ke ou resevwa avis sa-a ou si lè ke ou gen pou-ou alé nan tribunal-la mwens ke 7 jou; Si ou pa ka tandé ou palé byen, rélé 711.

Kevin Madok, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Monroe County, Florida

EMPLOYMENT LEGAL NOTICES

SS Wreck and Galley Grill on Grassy Key is looking for line cooks, full or part time. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

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 336408-8140 or 336-287-3345.

Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight coverage at an Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am 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.

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 404-219-3359 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 404219-3359 and ask for Dave.

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

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

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. Fulltime or part-time available. Pay rates are commensurate with experience but we are willing to interview those with no experience who have an interest in working in a marina environment. Please call Randall Glass to schedule an interview at 305-465-1491.

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, Fulltime 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 305296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www.kwha.orgEOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

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

305-743-4578

HOUSING FOR RENT

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 FOR SALE

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

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!

and Debra Lynn Clements a/k/a Debra L. Clements a/k/a Debbie L. Clements are defendant(s), I, Clerk of Court, Kevin Madok,CPA, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash AT THE MONROE COUNTY

By Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk of Court Publish: December 29, 2022 & January 5, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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

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.

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.

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.

This publication was made possible by Grant Number 90TP0068-02-00 from the O ce of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.