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Marathon’s Top Headlines
LOOKING BACK ON 2022 IN MARATHON
Conflicts with the state, a housing crisis and athletic superstars defined this year – oh, and a pretty badass bridge jump
2022 brought no shortage of headlines to Marathon, many of which began in the first months of the year and look to continue well into 2023. Stop us if you’re tired of hearing any of the following words: permits, affordable housing, DEO, lawsuits or building rights. But along with the trials, both literal and figurative, our community managed some amazing feats throughout the year. Let’s take a look in the rearview mirror…
JANUARY
We started 2022 right off the bat with one of the year’s biggest happenings as the renovated Old Seven Mile Bridge reopened to the public, bringing back one of the city’s iconic locations. It was a rough start for city government, however, as the year opened with the arrest of newly-elected city councilman Trevor Wofsey. Wofsey would resign from the council four days later.
In Other Headlines:
• Friends of the Lower Keys sued Marathon for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
FEBRUARY
Tasked with appointing a fifth council member in the wake of Wofsey’s resignation, Marathon fielded 14 applications for the vacant seat, eventually narrowing the field before the council remained deadlocked between two candidates: real estate agent and 2021 election runner-up Jody “Lynny” Del Gaizo and Tackle Box owner Robyn Still. Unable to arrive at a majority decision, a literal coin toss decided the seat for Still.
Over at Marathon High School, students celebrated their classmate Rylan Chapa as the senior standout won gold in her weight class in the Florida state girls weightlifting championships. Chapa would go on to stack many more honors throughout the remainder of the school year, to the point that Keys Weekly jokingly informed her she was not allowed any more real estate on our pages.
In Other Headlines:
• A building reinspection ordinance claimed its first victim as tenants of a 15-unit apartment building on Coco Plum Drive were ordered out when the building was deemed unsafe. • Keys Weekly published a construction update for ongoing Marathon projects.
MARCH
The Keys Weekly editors teamed up for a major multi-week series on the housing crisis in the Florida Keys, including causes, current scenarios and potential fixes. Meanwhile, Marathon permit wait times took a massive hit as the state Department of Economic Opportunity rescinded its long-standing Memorandum of Understanding with Marathon over the city’s decision to issue permits for the 39th Street development known as Boatworks during an ongoing appeal of said development. With the state requiring oversight on all permits, instead of a limited subset as before, many contractors were left unable to proceed with their projects as the wait for permits skyrocketed.
Dignitaries and some of those responsible for the Old Seven Mile Bridge’s rehabilitation cut the ceremonial ribbon to reopen the bridge. From left: then-Monroe County Mayor David Rice, DOT District 6 Secretary Stacy Miller, County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln, County Commissioner Holly Raschein, Sheriff Rick Ramsay and current Monroe County Mayor Craig Cates. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Senior baseball player Ben Hiller adds a flower to a memorial for MHS English teacher Rebecca Thacker before a game played in her honor. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
APRIL
Following the tragic loss of Marathon High School’s Rebecca Thacker, the Dolphins boys baseball team dedicated the remainder of their season to the beloved English teacher. The team secured a regularseason conference championship, but had its championship game cut short due to weather, leaving them just two runs short of a South Florida Baseball Conference (SFBC) title. Head coach Joey Gonzalez was honored as the SFBC Coach of the Year, while senior Ben Hiller earned the Conference Player of the Year nod.
MAY
Three iconic Keys lighthouses, including Marathon’s treasured Sombrero Key Lighthouse, were sold at auction, netting from $415,000 to $860,000 apiece. Though the Sombrero Key structure is now privately owned, very little can be done with the property due to the interplay of several agencies’ regulations. Meanwhile, the Stars of the Florida Keys cheerleading team ended an undefeated season with a national title at the Florida Cheer and Dance Association’s competition in Orlando.
JUNE
Marathon’s seniors went out in style as Marathon High School and the Take Stock in Children program both celebrated commencement exercises. Meanwhile, the quick action of Marathon captain John Callion saved two lives in a tragic parasailing accident that proved fatal for one Illinois mother. The captain of the parasail boat would be charged with manslaughter later that year. And as it always does, the Marathon community rallied around a local favorite food truck when Irie Island Eats unexpectedly went up in flames in late May.
In Other Headlines:
• Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on affordable housing development “Bell Haven” • Gas prices fuel concerns for Keys captains • Trolley and power line usher in new era for historic Pigeon Key • Powerboats are coming back to Marathon in 2023
JULY
The heat of the summer brought an action sports legend to Marathon, as Travis Pastrana jumped the open span in the Boot Key bridge as part of a shoot for his “Gymkhana 2022” film, eventually released in December. The jump was a subject of debate for the city council, requiring extensive discussions and multiple meetings before it got the green light. Marathon and DEO squared off in a final hearing to determine whether live-aboard boats could, indeed, be moved onto land and used as building rights to develop homes – a concept eventually denied by administrative law judge Todd Resavage in an October final order. Working to protect the treasured aquatic resources of the Florida Keys, the National Marine Sanctuary released a draft of its Restoration Blueprint, proposing the first significant changes to sanctuary regulations in more than 20 years.
The Stars of the Florida Keys celebrate their state championship. CONTRIBUTED Travis Pastrana takes flight across the open span in the Boot Key Bridge in a modified 862-horsepower Subaru wagon. HOONIGAN INDUSTRIES/Contributed
In Other Headlines:
• Clock is ticking on Florida Keys specialty contractors
The city of Marathon and Florida state Department of Economic Opportunity were at odds this year over the concept of using live-aboard boats as a means to establish building rights on land. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
The newly reopened Rotary Park includes many elements accessible by small children or handicapped individuals, and even an in-ground merry-go-round. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
AUGUST
Miami’s Third District Court of Appeals dealt a massive blow to affordable housing throughout most of the Keys as it determined that most of the 1,300 building rights given to the county and independent municipalities by the state under then-Governor Rick Scott were illegal. A shark bite that caused 10-year-old Jameson Reeder to lose part of his leg at Looe Key Reef reignited local debate on the interaction between humans and the apex predators. In continuation of a trend that’s shown no signs of slowing down, Marathon witnessed one of its largest migrant landings as 123 Haitians spilled off a poorly-constructed sailboat in the area of 79th Street Ocean. But in the midst of a rough month for news, a monumental community effort that began in late June culminated in the reopening of Marathon’s Rotary Park on Aug. 20. Described as “truly tremendous and epic” by Parks and Recreation Director Paul Davis, the structure was literally built by volunteers’ hands from around the city.
SEPTEMBER
After months of discussion, the Marathon City Council approved fees soon to be paid by visitors for the use of Marathon’s boat ramps, along with parking at said boat ramps and Sombrero Beach. Non-residents will pay $25 to launch or retrieve a boat at any of the city’s three public boat ramps, along with a $20 flat fee per day to park there. Sombrero Beach parking will be $5 per hour for the first two hours, followed by $2 per hour thereafter. The fees and enforcement are expected in early 2023.
Vance Bursa followed up his individual district title in cross country with an impressive ninthplace finish at the Florida State Championship. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
OCTOBER
October brought a celebration of Marathon’s athletic prowess as cross country runner Vance Bursa claimed an individual district title as a prelude to his blazing ninth place finish at the Florida State Championship meet.
And after the 2022 season, no Marathon football player will again wear the number 32 as the school retired the number in honor of MHS defensive coordinator, hometown hero and former FHSAA Player of the Year Andra Garvey.
NOVEMBER
A vibrant campaign for the largest Marathon City Council election since the city’s incorporation culminated on Nov. 8. From a field of nine candidates, Lynn Landry, Robyn Still, Jeff Smith and Kenny Matlock emerged victorious to fill the four open seats on the council. Just down the road, Beth RamsayVickrey and Freddie Foster won the two open seats on Key Colony Beach’s city commission. KCB’s then-Code Enforcement and Planning and Zoning Board chair Joey Raspe was appointed weeks later to fill the seat on the commission left vacant with the unexpected passing of beloved commissioner Ron Sutton.
DECEMBER
As Marathon prepared to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, it also welcomed the first ever Marathon Latin Festival with more than 30 renowned Latin music artists taking the stage at the Marathon Community Park. Headlined by Cuban music pioneer Baby Lores, the festival sold nearly 1,500 tickets to benefit Somos Esperanza, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to offering hope to disadvantaged families with children suffering from pre-existing conditions or chronic or incurable diseases.
Rylan Chapa is the reigning Florida state gold medalist for her weight class in the snatch competition. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
109 Haitian migrants, the majority appearing to be young men, made the dangerous crossing and extended swim to shore in August. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Dolphin defensive coordinator Andra Garvey, right, has his #32 jersey retired during Marathon’s Senior Night in October. BARRY GAUKEL/ Keys Weekly The new Key Colony Beach City Commission. From left: commissioner Joey Raspe, vice mayor Beth Ramsay-Vickrey, mayor Patti Trefry, secretary/treasurer Tom Harding, commissioner Freddie Foster. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Robyn Still, left, and Lynny Del Gaizo embrace after Still’s coin-toss victory to fill the vacancy on the Marathon City Council in late January. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Habitat for Humanity directors, donors, allies and friends along with officials and employees from the City of Marathon and Keys Contracting Services gather to break ground on Habitat’s newest Marathon development. ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly
Headliner and co-organizer Baby Lores, right, presents Presents in Paradise directors and city officials with a $2,500 check at the first ever Marathon Latin Festival. SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY/Keys Weekly
A WORD TO THE WISE FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR
The first word you see to guide you throughout 2023:
We are going to start this article with a short experiment. I want you to raise your hand if you have ever made a New Year’s resolution. Keep your hand up if you have kept your resolution for three weeks. Keep your hand up if you have kept your resolution for one month or longer. If you still have your hand up, you are among the 10 percent of people who adhere to their resolution for longer than the average person – just 32 days. In fact, while doing research for this article I found multiple resources saying that Jan. 17 is “national quit your resolution day.”
I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry when I read that.
But now that we have those fun and semi-depressing facts, let’s ask ourselves: Why do the majority of those who make a New Year’s resolution not keep it? The short answer, without having to get into the depths of human behavior and psychology, is simple. The problem isn’t what the resolution was, it was that there is hardly ever a plan of attack.
I want you to reflect on my very first article. In order to achieve a goal, you have to have a plan and set S.M.A.R.T goals. The same is true for New Year’s resolutions. You cannot expect to set a resolution and have it just happen – you have to create change, make adjustments and be consistent, and without a plan you are done before you even started.
With that being said, if you are ready to make a resolution this year and you want it to be successful, start planning now. Define your resolution and figure out what needs to be done. What small goals or steps need to be accomplished for the resolution to be successful? I prefer a different way to guide my new year. Each year I pick a single world JENNIFER BOLTZ HARVEY to help me define how I want my year to be. I’ll give ...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and you an example: Last year I chose the word “brave.” precision nutrition Brave to try new coach who owns experiences like and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. tent camping and petting a boa constrictor (in, of all places, Sedona, Arizona). Brave to try new foods – now I know I like duck and do not like scallops. Brave to trust my gut instincts and brave to ask for help when I needed it. I think you catch my drift.
By having a word to help guide you it can also help you open your world to new opportunities, create new memories and push you a little bit. The world is hard enough to navigate, so why not try finding a way to help yourself?
If you aren’t sure what word to pick, I created a word find for you. The first word you see can be yours to use for 2023. So, whether you go the resolution route or the word-fora-year route, I wish you nothing but the very best in the new year. I hope it’s both happy and healthy!
If you do go the word route, I’d love to know what it is. Email me at Jenniferlynnboltz@gmail.com.
NEW YEAR PREDICTIONS
What will 2023 bring?
Now and again, especially this time of year, our prognosticators and sayers of sooth gather to make some New Year predictions. Our accuracy rate has never been measured; our entertainment value has never been questioned. That being said, any money you lose betting on any of these predictions to actually happen is yours and yours alone. All disclaimers aside, let’s get back to the future!
January: College football playoffs are set, and the two undefeated teams (Georgia and Michigan) will face the two one-loss teams (Ohio State and TCU). While Midwesterners are already drooling over a potential Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the National Championship, that’s as likely as getting a hot buttered rum at a local tiki bar. Unless the world starts spinning backward on its axis, look for the Georgia Bulldogs to repeat.
February: I can guarantee that this year’s Super Bowl will not feature the Bears vs. the Texans. While the Eagles and the 49ers have already clinched playoff spots in the NFC, the AFC is wide open at this point. The Miami Dolphins could still make the playoffs. So could a whole bunch of other teams, some with pretty horrible records. But you’re not looking for analysis — you want a prediction. Here it is: AFC Championship Game: Buffalo 38, Kansas City 28. NFC Championship Game: Philadelphia 41, San Francisco 17. Super Bowl LVII: Philadelphia 24, Buffalo 21 (as the Bills’ placekicker misses the gametying field goal wide right).
March: The Original Marathon Seafood Festival will break records as we celebrate the mass murder of shrimp, fish, clams and lobster. The stone crabs, however, will live to fight another day. Also, all those who bought vehicles in that new flat gray finish will wake up and realize that their cars are ugly as homemade sin.
April: The Florida Legislature, under pressure from homeowners, business interests and FIRM, will again do nothing to address the inequity of Citizens Insurance rates for Keys’ policyholders. (Bet you could see that one coming a mile off.)
May: Environmental activist attorney Richard Grosso may finally run out of money and/or appeals as he continues his quixotic quest to make Keys residents’ lives miserable. Sadly, it’s Keys residents and businesses who have shouldered the burden of paying for the wastewater and stormwater upgrades that have made a real difference in our nearshore water quality — not anything that Mr. Grosso has perJOHN BARTUS sonally done. June: Interest in the Boot John Bartus is a Key drawbridge, singer-songwriter stirred up by and the former Travis Pastrana’s mayor of Marathon. Gymkhana jump over the open span, hits a crescendo as news breaks of the discovery of a Calusa burial ground and the tribe’s plans to open a Calusa Casino and Golf Resort on the island.
July: Marathon Chamber CEO Daniel Samess spends days in advance of the BrewBQ personally killing and removing every no-seeum from Marathon Community Park. The heat signature from the BrewBQ event’s pits and smokers (as well as the hot music lineup) triggers alarms on climate satellites in orbit.
August: Everyone turns their attention to the tropics and makes Mike’s Weather Page (www.spaghettimodels.com) the most clicked-on website in the Keys.
September: See August.
October: See August. Also, the Miami Marlins will not make the World Series.
November: Keys residents falsely believe that a cold front will move through the islands soon, raising their hopes for fresher air that sadly won’t show up until January. Also, plans for the “new” new Seven Mile Bridge are revealed. Travis Pastrana begins lobbying local governments for permission to jump whatever space might open up between spans on the old new bridge or the “new” new bridge for his next video.
December: Presents In Paradise will take care of another 500 to 600 kids during the holidays, thanks to you! Also, Fred the Tree will have celebrated a newfound celebrity status upon release of the remake of “Road House” and will get the Oscar nomination for Best Supporting (Supported?) Actor.
— Catch John each Monday at Boondocks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Key Colony Inn and Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com
TRACY CHACKSFIELD
305.912.2177 tracy@thebeautifulkeys.com
KAREN RASPE, P.A.
305.393.9010 karenraspe@bellsouth.net
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