Key West Weekly 23-0622

THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT’S NEXT

This completely remodeled two-story mixed-use property is tastefully appointed and boasts 2,262 sq. ft. of interior space, office space, and a spacious backyard with heated/chilled pool and water feature. With extreme attention to detail, this impressive, industrial-designed two bedroom, three full bathroom home plus office, media room, and laundry room has been renovated to the highest standards, including a Green building certification. A 14-ft. high ceiling in the living/dining area opens to a custom gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, roof vented exhaust fan, a pantry, and quartz countertops. All doors, windows, and skylights are impact rated. The property offers a split floor plan with work and living space at the center of old town Key West just half a block off famous Duval Street and a bike ride to the Truman waterfront and Fort Zachary Taylor Park & beach. It has two off-street parking spaces and a whole-house Kubota diesel Generator. In addition, the property is located in an X- flood zone and transient license receivership location for short-term rentals. Great opportunity to work and live in Key West!

KEY WEST | $3,199,000 | Listing ID: 605147

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5 Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928

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Trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in record time? Well, you’ll have to beat Max Park’s record of 3.13 seconds. During a June 11 competition in Southern California, Park wowed the speedcubing community by solving a 3-by-3-by-3 Rubik’s cube in just seconds. He beat the previous record, held by China’s Yusheng Du at 3.47 seconds.

3.13

See page 19 to find out who the finalists are in the 2023 Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards. Final voting starts Thursday, June 22 at keysweekly.com.

WOMAN ARRESTED IN FATAL SHOOTING OF BOYFRIEND ON BIG COPPITT KEY

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

Ashooting early Saturday morning at a house on Big Coppitt Key led to the death of Tyler Nulisch, 30, and the arrest of his girlfriend, Brittany Holbrook, 33, for murder.

Jordan Kinn, the couple’s roommate in the home at 491 Avenue F, called 911 just before 3 a.m. on June 17, saying “his roommate, Tyler Nulisch, ‘is in bad shape. He’s hurt real bad and there is a lot of blood,’” according to the arrest affidavit provided to the Keys Weekly by the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office.

Deputies and detectives from Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrived within five minutes, followed immediately by paramedics from Monroe County Fire Rescue.

The victim, Nulisch, was lying on the living room floor, bleeding from his lower back. A 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun was visible to investigators, along with a spent shell casing on the floor near a dog kennel, the affidavit states.

The roommate said he was aware of two handguns in the home, one of which was owned by Holbrook, who told police she had been in a dating relationship with the victim for about nine months, and was living with him in the Big Coppitt home.

When paramedics and deputies arrived, Nulisch was unconscious, but breathing. He was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he died an hour later.

Kinn, the roommate, who had been sleeping in his bedroom, told investigators his roommates had been arguing, and he was later awakened by Holbrook’s scream.

When he went to the living room to investigate, Nulisch was lying on the floor bleeding and was in and out of

Brittany Holbrook, 33, was arrested for murder on Saturday, June 17, following the shooting death of her boyfriend, Tyler Nulisch, 30, at their Big Coppitt home. MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/Contributed

consciousness. When the roommate asked the victim what had happened, Nulisch reportedly said, “The bitch shot me in the back,” according to the arrest affidavit.

Kinn told detectives Holbrook hadn’t responded when the victim said she had shot him in the back.

Kinn was neither charged nor arrested.

He told detectives the three roommates had been drinking alcoholic beverages after work on the patio under their stilted house. All three eventually went to bed. Then the roommate woke up when he heard Holbrook screaming in the living room.

During interviews with detectives, “Holbrook stated there was a gap in her memory.” After going to bed in the room she shared with the victim, the affidavit states, “The next thing she remembered, she was in the living room holding Nulisch, who was covered in blood. She was screaming, which woke up Kinn. Kinn contacted 911 and let responding deputies in the front gate a few minutes later. Holbrook stated Nulisch did not make any statements while he was laying on the floor,” the affidavit states, despite Kinn’s report to detectives that Nulisch had told him that Holbrook had shot him in the back.

In later interviews with detectives, Holbrook said she had remembered more.

“She stated she remembers Nulisch leaving their bed and walking to the bathroom. When he returned from the bathroom, he was like a different person and began to attack her. While she was being held against the wall, she described Nulisch squeezing her throat with his hands hard enough that it restricted her breathing. No marks of any kind were observed around her throat. No petechiae were observed in either of her eyes,” according to the affidavit.

(Petechiae are small, flat red dots that represent burst capillaries, according to medical forensics. In strangulation cases, they are above the point of constriction and are a result of the obstruction of the jugular veins.)

The arrest document continues, “Holbrook stated she punched and scratched Nulisch. Bruising on several knuckles on her right hand were observed. Holbrook stated she believed Nulisch was attempting to kill her. She continued to claim there was a gap in her memory and she did not remember how she was able to get away from Nulisch. Holbrook stated she had not fired a gun since moving from Stuart, Florida over nine months ago.”

“Based on Kinn’s statement, the dying declaration made by Nulisch to Kinn, the inconsistencies in Holbrook’s statements, Holbrook’s lack of injuries consistent with strangulation, and my training and experience, I believe there is probable cause to arrest Brittany Hollbrook for murder,” the affidavit states.

Holbrook’s mugshot and arrest report on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office website shows her job as a “manager in Key West.” The MCSO website shows no other arrests for Holbrook in Monroe County.

County property records state that the home at 491 Avenue F, Big Coppitt Key is owned by Manuel Ruiz, who owns four other properties in Monroe County.

ROOMMATE CALLED 911, SAID THE COUPLE HAD BEEN ARGUING AFTER DRINKING

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FREEDOM FOR ALL

KEY WEST RECOGNIZES JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY WITH 2 EVENTS

Key West marked the Juneteenth holiday on June 19 with a morning ceremony at the African Cemetery at Higgs Beach. A community picnic followed that evening at Nelson English Park.

City Commissioner Clayton Lopez and Monroe County Historian Corey Malcom spoke about the holiday’s origins and its recognition as the true end to slavery in America.

For generations, American schoolchildren were taught the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, freed enslaved people in America.

But that’s not accurate. The proclamation declared, “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” But that didn’t happen for another two years.

Because it was issued in 1863 — the third year of the Civil War — the Emancipation Proclamation was largely ignored by the Confederate states, which did not abide by Union laws.

Not until the Confederate Army surrendered to the Union in April 1865 did the proclamation become the law of the land throughout the country, in all states. And even then, it took two months for word of the war’s end — and the freedom of

enslaved people in all states — to reach Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free.

President Joe Biden made Juneteenth — occurring annually on June 19 — a federal holiday in 2021. The holiday is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, according to the New York Times.

The holiday aims to clarify important details of U.S. history and marks the true end of slavery in America, because freedom without knowledge of it is no freedom at all.

“We are not celebrating the history of Juneteenth. We are celebrating the symbolism of Juneteenth,” Leslie Wilson, professor of history at Montclair State University in New Jersey, said on NPR. “The symbolism of Juneteenth is the transition from slavery to freedom.”

1. Commissioner Clayton Lopez speaks about Juneteenth at Key West’s African Cemetery at Higgs Beach on June 19. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

2. Commissioner Clayton Lopez and Ken Sullivan mark Juneteenth in Key West.

3. Monroe County lead historian Corey Malcom discusses Juneteenth and the history of the African Cemetery on Higgs Beach, which contains the graves of 294 African men, women and children who died in Key West in 1860 after 1,492 Africans were rescued from three slave ships bound for Cuba. Those buried in Key West succumbed to various diseases caused by conditions on the slave ships.

4. Key West residents and visitors participate in a Juneteenth ceremony on June 19 at Higgs Beach.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

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ACCUSED SHOOTER PRESTON BREWER INDICTED ON 3 FELONIES

VICTIM’S FAMILY OPPOSES BOND, CITING FLIGHT RISK & CRIMINAL HISTORY

but did not fire it. The criminal history also includes Brewer’s 2005 arrest in Georgia for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a gun by someone under a temporary restraining order.

“The facts of this case already show that Brewer is a danger to the community. The above criminal history further reaffirms that he is a danger,” the memo states.

Now back to the indictment — and what is a grand jury, anyway?

For anyone who even surfs past national news, the terms “indictment” and “grand jury” have become inescapable in recent weeks. So, what is an indictment and what does it mean? And what is the grand jury that decides on indictments?

Maria Cramer summarizes it well in a June 8 New York Times article, “Here’s how indictments work in the United States’ legal system”:

June 22-25

• One of Key West’s most notable indigenous delicacies, the mango, will take center stage Thursday through Sunday, June 22-25, when the island city’s seventh annual Mango Fest salutes the flavorful fruit and its heritage. Visit mangofest.com for a schedule of events.

Sunday, June 25

• Queer Keys will host its second annual “Coming Out Party” at Key West Theater. Doors open at 4 pm and the show starts at 5 pm. The event is limited to ages 18 and older due to recent legislation. Come on out dressed in your favorite hippie, flower child, boho, free spirit, or queer extravaganza finery. Tickets are $50 and are available online at thekeywesttheater.com. If the price of the ticket is a barrier, please email info@ queerkeys.org. We have sliding-scale tickets set aside.

Tuesday, June 27

Agrand jury last week indicted Preston Brewer, 57, who is accused of fatally shooting Garrett Hughes, 21, outside a Key West bar on Feb. 13.

He was indicted on three felony charges: firstdegree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and violation of a concealed firearm permit, meaning a grand jury decided there is enough evidence against Brewer to warrant a trial on those charges. (More on indictments and the grand jury in a moment).

Brewer has been in jail since the Feb. 13 shooting in the parking lot behind Conch Town Liquor & Bar, and the victim’s family is requesting he stay there until trial. A pre-trial hearing currently scheduled for July 6 could include a request that Brewer be released on bond until the trial begins.

Police say Brewer shot Hughes upon seeing the victim, who was drunk, urinating on the side of a neighboring building behind Conch Town. In interviews with police immediately after the shooting, Brewer said that Hughes had come at him, and that the shooting was in self-defense. But prosecutors have said the security footage of the incident does not corroborate a self-defense argument.

A memo filed by the Hughes family’s attorney, Stuart Grossman, on June 8 asked the court to deny any bond requests and keep Brewer in jail until trial, given his financial means, his family’s out-of-state real estate holdings and his ownership of a boat, all of which “could be used to facilitate flight,” states the memo filed on behalf of the Hughes family.

The memo also details Brewer’s criminal history, which includes a 2021 domestic battery charge in which Brewer allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face, then retrieved a gun from the kitchen pantry,

“An indictment, whether it is handed up in federal or state court, is a formal accusation — not a conviction — and it is among the first moves a prosecutor can make to bring a case to trial. When a person is indicted in a criminal court in the United States, it means that a grand jury composed of residents chosen at random believed there was enough evidence to charge that person with a crime. Such panels, generally convened by judges at the request of prosecutors, meet for weeks, and can hear evidence in a variety of cases. The judge is not present during grand jury proceedings after the jurors are chosen, and jurors are able to ask the witnesses questions.

Unlike a criminal trial, where a jury has to reach a unanimous verdict, a grand jury can issue an indictment with a simple majority.

Grand jurors hear evidence and testimony only from prosecutors and the witnesses that they choose to present. They do not hear from the defense or usually from the person accused. … That one-sided arrangement often leads defense lawyers to minimize indictments and argue that prosecutors can easily persuade jurors to indict.”

The members of a grand jury are kept confidential, as are the cases they review.

In the matter of Brewer, a grand jury on June 8 voted to indict him, meaning they believe there’s sufficient evidence to try him for first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a violation of a concealed weapon permit for having a gun in a bar.

The grand jury would not have heard any evidence or arguments from the defense on behalf of Brewer. And members of the grand jury will not sit on the jury that eventually hears the case at trial.

A pretrial hearing before Judge Mark Wilson is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 6.

• Schooner Wharf Bar hosts Backcountry Cleanup around Archer Key, Mule Key and Cottrell Key. All vessels, kayaks and personal watercraft are welcome to participate. Casual lunch will be provided. To volunteer, sign up at the Sebago office on Lazy Way Lane or call or text Ali at 850-508-2713. Also participating are Danger Charters, Appledore Star, Green Turtle Charters and Captain Rios Charters. Local rental companies are donating kayaks for the event. An after-party at Schooner Wharf Bar will offer free Bombora Vodka drinks and live music.

Wednesday, June 28

• In celebration of Monroe County’s 2023 bicentennial, Corey Malcom, PhD, lead historian at the Florida Keys History Center, will present “Monroe 200,” an overview of the forces and events that have shaped Monroe County from its inception to current day. The presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Key West Public Library, 700 Fleming St. The presentation is free, but seating is limited.

Thursday, June 29

• The College of the Florida Keys invites prospective students, family members, and the community to learn about CFK Academy at an information event and Dual Enrollment showcase. 5:30 p.m. at the new CFK Academy building on the Key West campus.

The event will highlight the benefits of Dual Enrollment, a program that allows students to simultaneously earn high school and college credits. The event will include tours of the new CFK Academy and beyond onto the main college campus. RSVP at CFK.edu/ CFKAcademy.

June 30-July 4

• Key West’s Key Lime Festival will celebrate the world’s most sensational citrus with a bountiful array of festivities across the very island where Key lime pie was conceived.

Lloyd Preston Brewer remains silent during an April hearing in front of Judge Mark Wilson. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

KEYS WEIGH IN ON NEW HURRICANE EVACUATION MODELS

THREE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS SEE WIDE - RANGING CONCERNS

Workshops held throughout the Florida Keys on June 13 and 14 brought staff from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) face to face with government officials, business leaders and residents throughout the island chain, as the department prepares to update its hurricane evacuation modeling and corresponding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dictating building allocations in the Keys.

The impacts of the updated modeling, and the corresponding changes to the MOU with Monroe County, Key West, Islamorada and Marathon cannot be overstated. The prior model, used to inform a regimented distribution of 3,550 residential building permits throughout the Keys’ Areas of Critical State Concern from 2013 to 2023, has not been updated since its 2012 iteration based on 2010 census data.

In that span, Monroe County’s population has grown from 73,090 in 2010 to 82,874 in 2020 – a 13.4% jump. Meanwhile, several municipalities will reach the end of their allocation pools within the next three years, raising concerns of significant takings cases if property owners are left with buildable land, but no avenue to obtain a building right. Pulling from 2020 census data, the new model could potentially provide a fresh pool of allocations up and down the Keys.

It’s a possibility that has some excited, and others speaking out against the dangers of over-development in islands with a fragile ecosystem and aging infrastructure.

Speaking to a full house at the Marathon Government Center on June 13, DEO Secretary Meredith Ivey, bureau chief Kate Doyle and regional planning administrator Barbara Powell outlined next steps for the new model, scheduled to run later this year or early next year.

As intended by the Florida Legislature, Doyle said, the new model intends to continue striking a balance between “orderly and balanced growth” throughout the islands, provision of affordable housing opportunities, protection of property owners’ constitutional rights, and protection of environmentally sensitive lands and nearshore waters in the Keys.

It also will continue to provide for a safe evacuation of all permanent Keys residents in

no more than 24 hours. As detailed by Powell, this includes an average response time of roughly 12 hours from the time an evacuation order is given to the time a resident will be on the road, as well as expected resident “participation rates” for mandatory evacuations in different categories of storms – about 80% for a Category 4 storm, and 90% for Category 5.

Since the last model, Powell said there are significant updates to the numbers and types of vehicles used by each type of residence, as well as changes in road capacities and flow rates due to recent improvements and technologies. She said the agency will take a close look at how transient units, including a spike in vacation rental homes, will affect the new evacuation standards.

The new model, while pulling from updated multifaceted data, will be run with the same system used in 2012. It’s anticipated to add residents in certain military housing and mobile homes, previously included in the 48-hour “Phase 1” evacuation group along with tourists, into the 24-hour contingent. Though the department will examine regional hurricane evacuation data that includes Miami-Dade and Broward County, the model used to inform building allocations within the Keys is based on Monroe County only.

Citizen comments at the Marathon session focused on concerns with continued development in a fragile island chain that many consider to already be at capacity. This idea has already served as the basis for a highly-publicized lawsuit that saw hundreds of affordable housing units, bestowed in 2018 at the order of then-Gov. Rick Scott, temporarily revoked in 2022.

Some expressed concern with the Keys’ aging infrastructure, as evidenced by numerous serious breaks in the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority’s water pipeline earlier this year, and described degradation of the Keys’ delicate

ecosystem in recent years. Several asked the department to ensure that vacation rental homes continue to be included in early evacuation requirements.

Coldwell Banker Schmitt president and broker Brian Schmitt said he hopes the Keys do receive more allocations, but that additional units should focus on deed-restricted affordable housing for the Keys’ workforce and allocations for families competing against the vacation rental business for the right to build a primary residence.

Among other criticisms, former Monroe County school board member Capt. Ed Davidson questioned whether using a model accounting only for a Keys evacuation was realistic or safe when determining building allocations.

“The presumption is that while we’re fleeing for our lives from the Florida Keys, nobody in Homestead, Miami, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach is aware there’s a killer hurricane on the way, and they haven’t left the house,” he said. “That is a preposterous presumption, and someday will be a deadly presumption.”

Others echoed Davidson’s concern, recounting their own difficulties evacuating throughout the state during Hurricane Irma.

DEO is currently accepting public comment on the upcoming model until June 30 via email to FLKeysEvac@DEO.MyFlorida.com or by mail to: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Division of Community Development, Attention: BCPG, The Caldwell Building, 107 East Madison Street MSC-400, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Resident concerns come just as the Keys begin to take note of a few early storms during hurricane season. Though neither is forecast yet as significant threats to the Keys, the National Hurricane Center is currently tracking Tropical Storm Bret and Invest 93 as they move west through the Atlantic Ocean. Updated information is at nhc.noaa.gov.

A new hurricane evacuation model, scheduled to run later this year or early next year, will attempt to balance the safety of residents and visitors with continued development as well as infrastructure and environmental concerns in the Keys. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

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KEYS WEEKLY

MEET THE 2023 KEYS WEEKLY ALL-KEYS GIRLS TRACK TEAM

Monroe County track and field athletes had a very successful season, claiming four state medals, many personal records and some positive attention for the Keys. Coral Shores did not send any girls to the state meet this year, but the young team made solid progress throughout the season. Marathon had a healthy mix of older and younger athletes, but it would be two freshmen who won state medals, setting the stage for some great competition in the coming years. Key West had the advantage of experience, and made the most of it, sending the most athletes to states, including multiple relay teams, and giving a few of their younger competitors a fantastic experience at the state’s top competition.

From the staff of the Keys Weekly, congratulations to the 2023 All-Keys Girls Track and Field Team.

SAVANNAH CHADIC

Senior, Key West

Savannah Chadic won three golds and a silver at the district championships, helping to secure the Lady Conchs’ first-place trophy. She then placed first at regionals in the 200 and 400 meter races. Her blazing speed helped qualify her team in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays at regionals, then at states – where the senior was a very busy athlete. Making the cut to compete at the state level is quite an accomplishment; qualifying in four events is almost unheard of. At the FHSAA 2A State Championships, Chadic won two medals, bringing home the sixth-place medal in the 200 meter dash and eighth in the 400. The double medalist is not done yet; she signed her letter of intent to run at Division I Jacksonville University next year.

CAYLAA MAKIMAA

Sophomore, Key West Makimaa put in some serious distance in the fall, building her endurance and speed in cross country, then parlayed that into success on the track. She placed well in the open 800 and 1600 meter events and ran legs of the Conchs’ 4x800 and state-qualifying 4x400 relay teams.

ANABEL PORTUONDO

Junior, Key West Portuondo claimed a set of silver medals at districts in the pole vault and high jump, qualifying for regionals in both. She went on to take another second place in pole vault at regionals, sending her to states, where she finished 10th.

JENESIS PERLOFF

Senior, Key West

Perloff placed third at districts in both the 100 and 400 meter hurdle events, qualifying for regionals in both. She was also a member of the Conchs’ 4x400 meter relay team but was unable to compete at regionals due to an untimely injury the afternoon prior. Perloff holds the school’s 400 meter intermediate hurdle record.

ABIGAIL COWEN

Junior, Key West

Cowen brought home district gold in the long jump as well as a fourthplace medal in triple jump. She then changed gears and took her skills from the field to the track, running a leg of Key West’s state-qualifying 4x100 relay team.

MVP

Photos by Rick Mackenzie and contributed images.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

KEYS WEEKLY

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

Freshman, Coral Shores

Niveah Howard may be young, but her times say otherwise. The sprinter clocked fantastic times in the 100 and 200 meter dashes in her first season racing for the ’Canes, and if her work ethic and determination are any indication, she will continue to improve over the next three seasons.

AVA MERRYMAN

Freshman, Marathon

Ava Merryman earned a seventh-place medal at the state championships this year, breaking her own school record in the pole vault several times during the season. She claimed second place at both districts and regionals in the event and ran legs of the Dolphins’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams during the regular season and at districts.

Freshman, Coral Shores

Sammy Bates posted solid times in the 800 meter race this season, making her a top competitor in the event. The distance specialist is also a contender in the 400 and will have three more seasons to improve her times and perhaps dabble in other distances as well.

DAYSI WILLIAMS

Freshman, Marathon

Daysi Williams learned a new event, broke the school record, and qualified for the state championships in a little over one month’s time. The talented freshman finished fourth in the state in the high jump and with three more years of eligibility, she looks to be a contender in not just high jump but long jump, hurdles and sprinting events as well.

SABINA NARANJO

Junior, Coral Shores Volleyball

Coral Shores’ Sabina Naranjo is expected to be a big part of the Hurricanes’ volleyball team as she moves up from the JV squad, where she was the team MVP last season. A dual-threat athlete, Sabina won the award for most improved as a part of the girls varsity basketball team last season, her first playing basketball for Coral Shores.

Freshman, Marathon

Justice Lee made steady gains all season long in the throwing events for Marathon, also participating in sprinting and jumping events when her team needed her to do so. Lee finished at districts with a fourth place medal in discus, fifth place in shot and sixth in javelin.

NICOLE MERRYMAN Senior,

Marathon

A two-time state qualifier, Merryman finished 11th in the state in shot put. She placed in all three throwing events at the district level, finishing second in shot and fifth in javelin and discus.

Though it is the offseason, she has been hard at work; she is playing club volleyball for Miami Hype and has been a regular at Coral Shores volleyball open gyms. She plans to attend volleyball camp at Florida International University this summer. Coral Shores volleyball coach Sam Ovalle is expecting Sabina to do big things for the Hurricanes this season and has taken notice of her work and improvement. Basketball coach Jarrod Mandozzi is expecting an even bigger junior season from Sabina, who was one of the Hurricanes’ leaders in threepoint field goal percentage as well as one of the team’s top defenders.

For her exemplary work ethic and year-round dedication to improvement, Sabina Naranjo is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

NIVEAH HOWARD

SAMMY BATES

JUSTICE LEE ISOM

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

KEYS GRIDIRON GREATS

Sean McDonald Names His Top 11 Monroe County Football Teams

With school out and prep sports at their slowest, summer is the perfect time to delve into some topics that the Sports Wrap does not quite have space for during other times of the year. This week, we look back on some teams of the past to try and determine the greatest football teams in Monroe County history. Ranked in no particular order, we chose 11 teams to signify the 11 athletes who take the field at one time for each team.

1953 KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

In an era in which a 200-pound lineman was considered formidable, the 1953 Conchs took on larger squads all across South Florida, refusing to back down to any opponent despite being outmanned most weeks. Coached by Ed Beckman, the Conchs amassed an 8-0-2 record that season, reaching as far as sixth place in the state according to various polls. It would be, and still stands as, the only undefeated season in school history. Despite a polio outbreak on the island, the Conchs won the Gold Coast Conference football championship that year with a hardscrabble team that endured a multitude of injuries. According to old news footage, the Conchs’ eleven suffered every imaginable issue, from sprains to carbuncles. Notable players included Joe Pineda, Ralph White, Red Stickney, Norman Allen, Don Cruz and Glynn Archer.

1953 DOUGLASS SCHOOL TIGERS

There must have been something in the water in the ’40s which made the young men who populated the gridiron in the ’50s a notably tough lot. In 1953, the island of Key West had two spectacular football teams. Prior to desegregation, Black students attended Frederick Douglass School, which later became Glynn Archer Elementary. Coach Alphonso Dean’s ’53 Tigers earned respect and is largely considered the best school in team history. Scarce records do not reveal the team’s wins for the season, but the highlight that year was a lopsided 39-0 victory over Stuart Vocational High. The team’s roster included Donald Carey, Hugh Bryant, Robert Whyms, Joseph Kee, Floyd Sweeting, Alfred Curry, Lionel Ashe, Kernel Albury and James Leland.

1959

KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Amassing an impressive 9-1-1 record, the ninthranked Conchs suffered just one loss in ’59. That loss would be in their championship game at the Orange Bowl. Coach Harold Allen had the benefit of first team all-state quarterback George “The Matador” Mira, who would go on to play at the University of Miami, then professionally, as well as Boog Powell, who chose to play professional baseball with the Baltimore Orioles.

1978 CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Jim Mooney’s talented ’78 squad boasted three all-state players, including offensive linemen Clay Reed and Scott Stover as well as defensive back Mike Carrier. Their 7-3 record was the most wins for a Hurricanes team to that point.

1979 KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Gene Roberts led the Conchs to their third consecutive district championship in ’79, going 8-2 on the season. Roberts’ team was so successful that he hosted a weekly cable television show featuring the Conchs football squad. His son, Preston Roberts, was named as an all-state second team member and signed to play at University of Florida. Leading the team on their stellar three-season run was running back Robert “Speedy” Neal. Neal broke the single-game rushing record for the Conchs with 261 yards –one of four separate times that season he rushed for more than 200 yards in a game, leading the entire state. He was named Player of the Year by Miami News, earned a spot on the first team all-state squad, and signed with the University of Miami, where he earned a national championship ring. Neal played for the Buffalo Bills following his successful collegiate career.

Conch legend Red Stickney, a key component of the 1953 Key West football team’s success, went on to play college football at the University of Alabama. DON PINDER/Florida Keys History Center Archive

1981 MARY IMMACULATE HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Darold Leto earned the Coach of the Year award from Miami News after winning eight games and making a state playoff appearance in the ‘81 season. The big star for the Mariners that season was offensive lineman Paul Folsom, who earned second team all-state honors.

1989 KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

The ‘89 Conchs became the first Keys team to play in a state championship game. Coach Pat Freeman’s team amassed a 10-2 record that season, traveling over eight hours to Daytona Beach to play in 30-degree weather. Over 3,000 fans took the trip and froze alongside the team. Freeman enjoyed one of the most talented rosters in Keys history. Offensive lineman William Roche and defensive lineman Chris Thompson received first team all-state honors and offensive lineman Chris Sauners and defensive back Blane Barroso were named to the third team. The star of the Conchs in ‘89 was Corey Sawyer, who was honored with first team all-state and Parade Magazine All-American status. Sawyer went on to play at Florida State, where he also earned All-American honors and an NCAA D1 national championship ring. He played in the NFL for the Bengals and Jets.

1993 CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Rich Russell’s third-ranked Hurricanes won their conference championship in the ‘93 season, setting a school record by winning 10 games. The 10-1 team had five all-state players on their roster that season, including third team defensive back Mike McGill, second team defensive lineman Terry Harrelson, running back Willie Whitehead and quarterback Matt Proskine. The star of the ‘Canes’ season was Demond “Kiki” Scott, who was first in the state in touchdowns scored with 26. Scott signed to play football at West Virginia while Proskine was signed to Lehigh University.

2000 MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Jerry Jones’ 2000 Dolphins ranked as high as eighth in the state that season, earning a 12-2 record. The 12 wins stands as the county’s most in a season over 20 years later. The team made it to the final four with help from running back Joey Struyf, who was awarded first team all-state team honors before playing at Florida International University. Teammates Jovani Gonzales and Jason Kitchen earned second team all-state honors, giving the Dolphins one of their most talented crews ever.

2013 CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL

Coral Shores’s 2013 squad was led to an 8-3 record by Coach Ed Holly, who won the Southeastern Football Conference’s Coach of the Year award that season. The ‘Canes won their conference title and went on to the state playoff game, where they ultimately lost. Defensive lineman Anthony Rice was named to the first team all-state team before signing to play collegiate football at Iowa Western University.

1987 MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

Marathon’s 1987 team earned a 9-1 record, giving the Fins their highest win percentage to date. The Dolphins were ranked second in the state by at least one news organization and won their district championship, breaking several scoring records along the way. The Dolphins put up 259 points that season and allowed just 75 by their competitors. Coached by Bill Sympson, Marathon’s ‘87 team boasted three-time all-state offensive lineman Vernon Goodwin and first team running back Troy Campbell, who was also named Miami News Player of the Year. It would be Campbell’s second time earning that honor. Odell Robbins, the team’s punter, was awarded second team status. Troy Campbell had a least 1,000 yards in all four years of his varsity career, and went on to play at Akron University.

The 1987 Marathon High School football team. CONTRIBUTED

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

10TH ANNUAL BUBBA AWARDS: THE FINALS HAVE ARRIVED

VOTING BEGINS THURSDAY, JUNE 22

More than 101,000 votes were cast from six continents, nominating potential Bubbas winners in dozens of categories.

Each year we get the same question, “Why did you not nominate my business for the Bubbas?”

The answer is simple — we didn’t nominate anyone for the Bubbas.

For the past several weeks over 10,000 different people cast over 100,000 votes to nominate the three finalists in each Bubbas category. In fact, votes were cast from every continent outside of Antarctica, including places like Johannesburg (South Africa), Ribeirão Preto (Brazil), Kailua (Hawaii), Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Budapest, Slovenia, Switzerland, Alaska and many more.

And beginning on Thursday, June 22, voters can log into keysweekly.com once a day to cast their votes in the 2023 Bubbas finals. Voting takes place from noon on June 22 through midnight on Sunday, July 9. Winners will be announced July 22 at the Key West Theater during the Bubbas Awards gala, which will certainly be one of the most coveted tickets in town.

For 10 years Key West has celebrated our very own in Key West. It’s a subjective process (and yes, “a popularity contest” as some love to say). With so many amazing restaurants, businesses, nonprofits, people and places to celebrate, we are the first to admit there is truly no way to determine who or what is best in Key West, but the Bubbas offer our island community and the millions who visit a chance to celebrate what they love most about the Southernmost City. In addition, the Bubbas have raised close to $200,000 for local nonprofits during that span, with all proceeds of the 2023 Bubbas being allocated to Samuel’s House — fittingly, the event’s very first beneficiary 19 years ago.

“I’m overwhelmed by the significant increase in the votes each year of the voting,” said Britt Myers, Key West Weekly publisher. “Key West is such a nostalgic destination for so many people because the places, cuisine and

characters on our island offer a positive escape from the daily norms of Americana. Everyone has a favorite because everything in Key West is deserving. The purpose of our contest is to enhance every element of our island across the globe, while offering locals a brief moment each year to celebrate one another.”

This year, voters can vote in over 90 categories in the Bubbas finals. And with more and more nominations each year, there are plenty of newcomers in the mix, along with some familiar favorites throughout Key West and the Lower Keys. And there are no rules of engagement when it comes to self-promotion. After all, “the best” of anything lies within the eye of the beholder, so vote enthusiastically and often.

“I would like to remind everyone to take note of our sponsors,” said Myers. “These are the businesses and individuals who make the Bubbas happen year after year. Their generosity and philanthropic spirit encapsulates what is truly best about Key West. And I want to thank our community for embracing us for 20 years as your locally owned media source, along with a decade of Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards moments and memories.”

Visit keysweekly.com to vote.

First State Bank of the Florida Keys, Waste Management, Key West Theater, Catered Affairs, Hemingway Home, Niles Sales & Service, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Horan Law, Bascom Grooms Real Estate and Doc Guzman Family Dentistry.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Best Key Lime Pie: Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe / Blue Heaven / Square Grouper Bar and Restaurant

Best Cuban Sandwich: Sandy’s Cafe / Kim’s Kuban / 5 Brothers Grocery & Sandwich Shop

Best International Restaurant: Benihana / El Siboney / Bel Mare Restaurant

Best Cup of Co ee: Cuban Co ee Queen / Keys Co ee Co. / Baby’s Co ee

Best Breakfast: Harpoon Harry’s / Two Friends Patio Restaurant / Blue Heaven / Goldman’s Deli (tie for 3rd)

Best Best Brunch: Hot Tin Roof / Azur Restaurant / Blue Heaven

Best Lunch: Moondog Cafe / Little Whitehouse Subs / Hogfish Bar & Grill

Best Gay Bar: Aqua Bar & Nightclub / 22&Co / 801 Bourbon Bar

Best Bar: Green Parrot Par / Virgilio’s / Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon

Best Wine Selection: Grand Vin Wine Bar / La Trattoria Oceanside / A&B Lobster House

Best Beer Selection: Bearded Lady / My New Joint / The Retro Room

Best Mojito: El Meson De Pepe / Willie T’s / Seaside Cafe

Best Bloody Mary: Rams Head Southernmost / Two Friends Patio Restaurant / The Saint Hotel Key West

Best Margarita: Tipsy Rooster Liquor Store & Bar / Old Town Mexican Cafe / Pepe’s Cafe

Best Martini: Virgilio’s / Martin’s / Berlin’s Cocktail Bar & Lounge

Best Bartender: Alex Tolmachenko (Virgilio’s) / Carlos Home (22&Co) / Micaela Elechko (Green Parrot)

Best Waterfront Dining: La Trattoria Oceanside / A&B Lobster House / Latitudes

Best Pizza: Roostica / Clemente’s Wood-Fired Trolley Pizzeria / Duetto Pizza & Gelato

Best Seafood: Conch Republic Seafood Co. / The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar / Hogfish Bar & Grill

Best Steak: Prime Steakhouse / A&B Lobster House / Tavern N Town

Best Taco: Sinz Burritos / Garbo’s Grill @ Hanks! / Chico’s Cantina

Best Food Truck: Garbo’s Grill @ Hanks! / One Love Food Truck / Taco Express

Best Dessert Spot: Better Than Sex / Cupcake Sushi / Square Grouper

Best Ice Cream / Gelato: Flamingo Crossing / Dairy Queen / Kilwins

Best Conch Chowder: Louie’s Backyard / Alonzo’s Oyster Bar / Conch Republic Seafood Co.

Best Wings: Wing Masters / Big Cheezees Pub & Grub / Roostica

Best Smoothie: Smoothie Shuttle / Morning Joint / Grain & Berry Cafe

Best BBQ: Smoked BBQ / Eaton Good / Big Cheezees Pub & Grub

Best Sushi: Misohappy Sushi and Thai / Origami Sushi Bar / Benihana

Best Raw Bar / Oysters: Half Shell Raw Bar / Alonzo’s Oyster Bar / Pepe’s Cafe

Best Ceviche: The Docks Restaurant + Raw Bar / Bel Mare Restaurant / Thirsty Mermaid

Best Late Night Spot: Green Parrot Bar / Mary Ellen’s Bar & Restaurant / Virgilio’s

Best Catering Company: Catered A airs of Key West / Great Events Catering / Destination Catering & Events

Best Organic Health Food: Date & Thyme Organic Cafe & Market / Sugar Apple Organic Cafe & Market / The Cafe

Best Bar or Restaurant Restroom: Tavern N Town / 22&Co / My New Joint

Best Service & Sta : La Trattoria Oceanside / A&B Lobster House / Miami Subs

Best Happy Hour: Boat House Bar & Grill / Alonzo’s Oyster Bar / Two Friends Patio Restaurant

Overall Restaurant: La Trattoria Oceanside / A&B Lobster House / Hot Tin Roof

OUR COMMUNITY

Best Place to Take the Kids: Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory / Truman Waterfront Park /

The Waterfront Brewery

Best Event / Local Festival: Fantasy Fest / Key West Songwriters / Mile 0 Fest

Best Tourist Attraction: The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory / The Hemingway Home and Museum / Conch Train Tour

Best Local Celebrity: Mike Stack / Bill Hoebee / Landon Bradbary

Best Teacher / Professor / School Admin: Ali Ferguson (Poinciana Elementary) / Lauren “Lo” Albury (Poinciana) / Eli Jannes (Sigsbee)

Best Nonprofit Organization: Florida Keys SPCA / Samuel’s House / Reef Relief

Best Elected O cial: Sam Steele (Tax Collector) / Craig Cates (Monroe County Mayor) / Teri Johnston (Key West Mayor)

Best Local Musician: Ca eine Carl / Oren Polak / Cli Cody

Best Local Band: The Durtbags / The Marshall Morlock Band / Ca eine Carl and the Buzz

Best Local DJ: DJ Sanaris / DJ Buggy / DJ Top Jimmy

Best In Drag: Sushi / QMitch / Christopher Peterson

Best Artist: Wyland / Billy Kearins / Lance Berry

Best Thespian / Performing Artist: Erin McKenna / Arthur Crocker / Susannah Wells

Best Volunteer / Community Activist: Kirby Myers / Bernadette Restivo / Grace Epperly

Best Live Music Venue: Co ee Butler Amphitheater / Green Parrot Bar/ Smokin' Tuna Saloon

Best Performing Arts Venue: Key West Theater / Waterfront Playhouse / Red Barn Theatre

Best Art Gallery or Studio: The Studios of Key West / Sacred Space Gallery / COAST

THE BUSINESSES

Best Accounting Firm: Oropeza & Parks / Zuelch & Zuelch Accounting & Tax Services / Niles, Kight & Company PLLC

Best Law Firm: Horan Law / Oropeza Stones & Cardenas / Smith, Hawks P.L.

Best Charter Fishing Captain or Guide: Peak Charters / FishMonster Charters / DJ Barrios (Rough Shot Charters)

Best Furniture Store: Royal Furniture & Design / Fast Buck’s At Home / Soul House

Best Dive Shop: Captain’s Corner Dive Center / Divers Direct / Lost Reef Adventures

Best Bait & Tackle: Key West Bait & Tackle / Esky Rods / Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse

Best Watersports Company: Fury Water Adventures / Sebago Watersports / Danger Charters

Best Marina: A&B Marina / Garrison Bight Marina / The Galleon Marina

Best Customer Service: Monroe County Tax Collector / Strunk Ace Hardware / First State Bank of the Florida Keys

Best Resort / Hotel: Casa Marina Key West / Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel / Ocean Key Resort & Spa

Best Grocery Store: Fausto’s Food Palace / Publix / Winn Dixie

Best Contractor: Keystar Construction / Charley Toppino & Sons / Lee Mattingly Construction

Best Photographer: Nick Doll / Rob O’Neal / Larry Blackburn Photography

Best Doctor: Dr. Melanie Youschak / Dr. Jack Norris / Dr. Rocky Tingle

Best Veterinarian: All Animal Clinic / Lower Keys Animal Clinic / Keys Animal Care Center

Best Realtor: Bascom Grooms / Will Langley / Krystal Thomas

Best Real Estate O ce: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty / Bascom Grooms Real Estate / Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate

Best Bank or Credit Union: First State Bank of the Florida Keys / Gulf Atlantic Bank / Keys Federal Credit Union

Best Jewelry Store: Je ’s Gems & Nautical Designs / Neptune Designs / Mine Shaft Jewelry Designs

Best Car Dealer: Niles Sales & Service / Kia of Key West / Key West Adventures — Jeep Rentals & More

Best Bed & Breakfast / Guesthouse: The Conch House / The Gardens Hotel / Southernmost Point Guest House

Best Chiropractor: Key West Chiropractic (Ryan Barnett) / Excel Chiropractic (Liz Morin) / Oropeza Chiropractic Center (Steven Oropeza)

Best Dentist: Dr. Claude Harris / Dr. Lou Spelios / Dr. Hector Guzman

Best Florist: Love in Bloom Florist / Petals & Vines / Kutchey’s Flowers in Key West

Best Insurance Company: United Atlantic Insurance / Porter Allen Company / Fullers Insurance

Best Liquor Store: Jolly’s / Tipsy Rooster Liquor Store & Bar / Conch Town Liquor & Lounge

Best Local Retailer: Kirby’s Closet / Ramona’s Conch Creations / Besame Mucho

Best Fitness Center/Gym: FYT Key West / BODYZONE FITNESS / Sweat Society KW

Best Nail Salon: Nail Bar & Lounge / Nailtini Nail Bar & Day Spa / Lee Nails

Best Spa: Prana Spa / Ocean Wellness Spa & Salon / Flow Spa Key West

Best Hair Salon: Salty Roots / Blown Away Hair Studio / Kai & Co. Salon

Best Barber: Beards & Brews Barbershop & Bar / Cottar Cuts Barber Shop / Moore Than Fades Barbershop

Best Airline With Key West Service: Delta Airlines / American Airlines / Allegiant Air

Best Summer Camp: Reef Relief / Camp Bravo / Seacamp Association, Inc.

Best Family-Owned Business: Ramona’s Conch Creations / Fausto’s Food Palace / Miami Subs

Best Overall Business: Ramona’s Conch Creations / First State Bank of the Florida Keys / La Trattoria Oceanside

Explore the newly revitalized Key West Firehouse Museum and enjoy the fruits of its 114-year-old mamey tree with mamey ice cream and mojitos from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24.

NEW & IMPROVED FIREHOUSE MUSEUM IS RED HOT EXHIBITS EXPLORE

HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING IN KEY WEST & BEYOND

“Man is the only creature that dares to light a fire and live with it. The reason? Because he alone has learned to put it out.” – H.J.

Vandyke

If you haven’t seen the Key West Firehouse Museum recently, you haven’t seen it. Though celebrating its 10th year, “Key West’s hottest attraction” has a whole new look, a new website, an expanded volunteer board, including former Fire Chief Eddie Castro’s wife and daughter, new exhibits, new signs, a children’s section, a gift shop and a retired firefighters’ lounge.

The transformation started earlier this year, after the museum’s longtime resident manager resigned and moved to Texas.

Built in 1907, the Key West Fire Department’s Station No. 3, at the corner of Virginia and Grinnell streets, was a fully functioning facility until 1998, having evolved from a station in the early 1900s that kept horses, feed and a coal pit on the property to operate the horsedrawn fire engine that used steam power to pressurize the water in its hoses.

As technology and automobiles advanced, the original stall doors on the building had to be heightened to accommodate modern fire engines.

But the traditional fireman’s pole has always been present, connecting the secondfloor bunk room with the engines (or horses) below. That bunk room is seen today as it was in the 1990s.

The museum traces firefighting history from the 1800s through today in Key West and beyond.

“This museum has a reputation around the world because Key West has always been among the best firefighting outfits,” said museum founder and fire department historian Alex Vega.

After the Great Fire of 1886 wiped out much of the city’s downtown area, significant steps were taken so it would never happen again. And for the past 137 years, the Key West Fire Department has skillfully protected and preserved one of the largest collections of historic wooden buildings in the country.

The Key West Firehouse Museum shares that history in a “non-museum way that’s a fun way to see and experience this history and these stories,” said volunteer board member David Sloan.

“We have so much to celebrate in this, our 10th year,” Vega said.

The mamey fruit tree that has towered over the fire station for 114 years is still producing the popular local fruit, and the museum will celebrate the fruits of everyone’s labor at an ice cream and mojito party at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24.

The museum will be open that evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. so people can explore the revitalized space.

Current hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, but as volunteers and staff increase, so will the hours. For more information, visit keywestfire.com.

1. Key West’s former firehouse No. 3 at Virginia and Grinnell streets has been the Firehouse Museum for 10 years. DAVID SLOAN/Contributed

2. The Key West Firehouse Museum’s 114-yearold mamey tree still produces the popular local fruit. An open house featuring mamey ice cream, mojitos and tours will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. DAVID SLOAN/Contributed

3. The second floor of the museum is set up just as it was when station No. 3 was in operation, complete with lockers and a poker table. MANDY MILES/Keys weekly

4. The iconic fire pole connects

the bunkroom with the engines and equipment below at the Key West Firehouse Museum. Board member David Sloan calls down to museum founder and retired fire captain Alex Vega. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

CATERED

FLOW SPA

DeSANTIS VETOES $500 MILLION FROM STATE BUDGET

FUNDS AXED FOR KEY COLONY BEACH & ISLAMORADA PROJECTS

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $500 million from a legislativelyapproved budget on June 15 in Fort Pierce. Two budget items eliminated by the governor affected projects in Key Colony Beach and Islamorada.

Of the $510.9 million in projects and programs DeSantis vetoed, $1 million was taken out of the budget for the repair and hardening of Key Colony Beach’s city hall. Constructed in the late 1950s, the building was ravaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and deemed unusable for the last six years.

City officials are seeking a new building for staff and the Key Colony Beach Police Department, as well as space for meetings and events. Two bids came back on the project: an $8.3-million proposal from Miami-based Hands On Builders LLC and a $12.4-million proposal from Mobile, Alabama-based Persons Services Corporation.

“We want to thank Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, Representative Jim Mooney and our lobbying firm for all the help and support,” KCB City Administrator David Turner told the Weekly. “We tried very hard lobbying in Tallahassee, but didn’t make the cut.”

DeSantis also vetoed a $250,000 line item for an Islamorada village council chambers and public works facility feasibility study. The dais conducts meetings inside the Founders Park Community Center, which lacks the capacity to house a large number of residents who attend to listen or speak on a matter. In some instances, residents are left waiting outside to enter the center to speak on contentious matters, like the vote on the Crooked Palm Distillery request in December.

Islamorada Mayor Buddy Pinder said he wasn’t fazed by the news of DeSantis’ veto. Despite not receiving the $250,000, the village received $190,000 for a new ambulance and $300,000 for storage facilities for emergency backup

generators. The village will also receive a portion of the $20-million Florida Keys Stewardship Act.

“Is it justifiable that we have to have new council chambers right now? Not really,” Pinder said. “We received funds for much-needed projects that save lives with fire rescue.”

Islamorada Village Manager Ted Yates said the village’s need for a dedicated public works facility and council chamber remains a priority as he intends to propose funding for the study during this year’s budget hearings.

Mooney told the Keys Weekly that he was surprised about some of the vetoes across the district, which totaled around $1.8 million.

Two projects totaling $575,000 in Homestead were vetoed by the governor.

“One thing held true on the vetoes; a lot of them were local infrastructure appropriations,” he said. “You always want to bat 1,000%. But at the end of the day, the KCB appropriation was a big hit.”

DeSantis’ larger vetoes included $100 million for conservation and rural land protection easements and agreements, $30.8 million for land acquisition of a Kirkland ranch and $20 million for a University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee STEM and nursing facility. Last year, he vetoed $3.1 billion in the budget.

With the vetoes, DeSantis signed a spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that totals $116.5 billion. In addition to the

Stewardship Act funds granted to Monroe County, the budget includes $5 million for land acquisition and $6.25 million for the new county emergency operations center under construction in Marathon. Some $650,000 was granted for mobile vessel pumpout, $1.6 million for 100 new moorings near Boca Chica channel and an area off Wisteria Island and $10 million for a new artificial reef program.

“I am so pleased the governor included critical funding for Monroe County in his budget,” Mayor Craig Cates said. “This budget shows us the state is invested in our economic stability and the future of the Florida Keys.”

Everglades restoration projects will receive $694 million, while $796 million will go toward water quality improvements throughout the state. Funding for early childhood education totals $1.6 billion, and $1.1 billion will go to raises for teachers and other eligible instructional personnel. A total of $4 billion will support transportation projects to address congestion.

“Through this year’s budget, we have cemented an economic framework which supports Florida’s families, business owners and students in the pursuit of a prosperous future,” DeSantis said.

— Alex Rickert contributed to this article.

OBITUARY

TYLER KINNON NULISCH

March 5, 1993June 17, 2023

The Florida Keys lost a good man too soon.

If you knew Tyler, you loved him. His beautiful smile would fill you with love and his easy spirit would brighten your day. He loved life in the Keys and lived it to the fullest. He always said that 6 inches of water on the bully boat and Chief by his side defined his perfect day. He loved his annual hunting trips to Tennessee with his best friends.

Tyler is survived by his fourlegged son, Chief, and parents Lisa Van Dyke and Tim Trivett, his brother Tanner (Morgan) Trivett and niece AvaLynn. He was preceded in death by his dad, Jere Nulisch.

Tyler will be deeply missed by all, his aunts Jeanne (Paul) Fraga, Jane (Marcus) Dotson and Tia Joy Nulisch; cousins Clay (Dori) Fraga, Morgan (Marky) Pierson, and many friends who were his family.

A celebration of Tyler’s life will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 6 p.m. at Keys Fresh Seafood Market on Stock Island. Please come and share your stories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you grab your dog, go for a boat ride, put your feet in the sand, drop a hook, catch a sunset and smile — because you’re doing what made Tyler the happiest.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a $116.5-billion budget on June 15 in Fort Pierce. DeSantis vetoed some $510 million from the spending plan. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/Contributed

LATITUDES WOULD LOVE YOUR VOTE FOR BEST WATERFRONT DINING

WE’D BE HONORED TO BE VOTED BEST BED & BREAKFAST/ GUESTHOUSE

If you’ve lived in the Keys for any considerable amount of time, you pride yourself on certain things. For example, after a while, the no-see-ums miraculously stop biting your ankles, your alcohol tolerance reaches levels only an elephant could achieve and the intense summer heat becomes bearable for outside activities. Until now. For more than a week, the heat pressure and sticky humidities have reached record levels in the Florida Keys, with the index (or real feel) reaching up to 110 degrees on certain afternoons. Locals have settled for indoor activities and constant showers, as simple walks to the mailbox require a Mars space rover and an immediate shower to rinse the sweat. Always here to help, here are our…

10. You need oven mitts to drive the golf cart.

9. In a desperate plea for relief, instead of “thoughts and prayers,” local leaders have requested more “Tito’s and ice” from the state.

8. Your catch is already cooked by the time you reel it in.

7. Mangos are melting off the trees.

SIGNS IT’S TOO HOT IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

6. You overheard someone accusing the DOJ of weaponizing the weather against South Florida.

5. Liberals have been so hot they offered Hunter Biden as a human sacrifice to the gods to end the heat’s wrath. (And privately admitted that maybe he’s not the best dude, after all.)

4. Conservatives have been so hot they took the week off from “canceling” Bud Light, Target, Cracker Barrel, drag queens, Chick-fil-A, Amy Grant, CNN, HBO, Karl Rove, Disney, Legos, Mrs. Marvel, The Little Mermaid, sex ed, social media, Wrangler Jeans, Sesame Street, Oreos, Megyn Kelly, history, Harry Potter, evolution, Dr. Fauci, Campbell’s, climate change, Apple and books.

3. You haven’t gone through this many pairs of underwear since that time you drank the water in Mexico.

2. The Keys Weekly broke a story about the county losing copious amounts of fentanyl and other drugs and everyone was too hot to give a shit.

1. The TDC’s new slogan is “Come as you are … leave medium-well.”

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

CONTRIBUTED

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

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

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

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

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and

Volunteers from the military’s JIATF-South installation participated in their first solo cleanup on June 16, meeting at the corner of College Road and U.S. 1 to spend two hours Plogging. They picked up 83 pounds of trash, 11.5 pounds of recycling and a halfgallon of cigarette butts. 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. 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. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.

— Contributed

Join a 1-hour Friday morning cleanup

Friday, June 23: First State Bank on North Roosevelt – meet at the bank, park in the back lot

Friday, June 30: Nelson English Park at the end of Catherine Street

Eleven Ploggers met in Denny’s parking lot on June 16 and proceeded to pull plastic shopping bags and trash from the mangroves and Roosevelt Boulevard. In one hour, they collected 58.5 pounds of trash, 9 pounds of recycling and a gallon of cigarette butts.

AVOID THE LONG DRIVE TO MIAMI AND HAVE ALL YOUR CHILDREN’S NEEDS MET RIGHT HERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

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

RALPH MORROW

SPORTS & MORE

PGA MERGES WITH LIV; WHAT’S NEXT FOR GOLF?

PGA Tour Commissioner

STRANGERS ’TIL TONIGHT

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

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

Jay Monahan on June 6 shocked the golf world with news that archrival golf tours — the PGA and LIV Golf — were merging to form one professional golf entity.

The details are still being negotiated behind closed doors, so you and I won’t be in the loop. Unfortunately, if the past is any indicator, neither will the players. (Many PGA players, like their fans, learned of the momentous merger via Twitter. LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman reportedly was uninformed as well.)

Apparently, Monahan will be CEO of the new yet-to-be-named golf entity, and the PGA Tour will have a majority stake in it. Yasir AlRumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which pays for LIV Golf, will join the board of the PGA Tour, and become chairman of the board of the new combined entity.

We haven’t heard much else from Monahan, but plenty has been said about him. Some PGA players, fans and relatives of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks quickly labeled Monahan a hypocrite for merging with the Saudi-backed league he had trashed for two years, given the country’s past financial ties to terrorist groups and human rights record.

On June 13, one week after his stunning merger announcement, Monahan told the PGA board he was stepping away to recover from an “unspecified medical situation.” Golf Digest reported, “According to the tour, chief operating officer Ron Price and executive vice president Tyler Dennis will lead day-to-day operations in Monahan’s absence. No additional details about Monahan’s condition were released.”

I don’t like when such a huge decision is reached in secrecy, keeping those most affected — the players — in the dark. The 20 players who left the PGA to join LIV celebrate the merger because they’ve

already gotten their millions, which is what this is all about. Those who defected to LIV received huge inducements and contracts.

Players who refused LIV’s financial enticements and remained loyal to the PGA have now come up short. What was the point of refusing LIV’s millions if the PGA itself was ultimately willing to accept the Saudis’ money?

We’ll see what happens to assuage the PGA players’ anger — and wallets.

The PGA, meanwhile, has increased the amount of its purses, prompting some players to point out that the tour clearly had money it could have been spending on its players all along.

It’s all disheartening to those of us who just want to watch the world’s best golfers each week — and who have no prayer of getting even $1 million — for golf or anything else.

MEANWHILE… the Florida Panthers ended their National Hockey League season, losing four games to one in the NHL finals against Las Vegas.

MORE INTERESTINGLY, at least to my friend Sam and me, is the Miami Heat. After making a late run against stronger opponents, the Heat finally faced a team they couldn’t handle, losing in five games to the Denver Nuggets.

Despite the NBA’s season ending, there’s been plenty of action off the court.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant posed for photos while waving a gun and posted them online. The NBA didn’t approve and Commissioner Adam Silver suspended him without pay for 25 games. It’ll cost him $6.5 million and he has to promise to behave.

And finally, Michael Jordan and his group plan to sell their majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets.

One of the musical questions I most frequently encounter is, “How do people who have never played together, play together?” It is a difficult question to answer given the numerous variables in each potential scenario.

Occasionally, there is a distinct leader — perhaps the person who secured the gig then assembled the group, or the leader could simply be the person with the microphone in front of them. In either case, the responsibility of calling the tunes falls to this leader.

They may or may not be the most developed musician on the stage. And if they’re not, they will likely call that which they know best. If they are the most advanced musician, they’ll have to assess the personnel. If you’ve been fortunate, this will have been done before calls were made and before set lists were created and shared. If that was not possible and this group was formed in haste, then the leader will have to rely on instinct and subtle observations, like the way a player handles their gear. Someone with a fair amount of stage time has a system. They are in charge of their space on the stage. They know where it is and how it works with other players. A seasoned player’s gear, though it need not be expensive, won’t look like it was the first thing purchased, but rather chosen through trial and error.

The leader may start with songs everyone knows. Songs most people with a few seasons under their belt have played a number of times. After that, they may try calling a

RAY WEST

tune out of that realm and gauge the reaction. If everyone nods and looks confident, it’s game on.

Several layers of communication take place during the first few songs. Let’s start with the rhythm section. The drummer and the bass player seem to know within only a few bars where they are with each other. Do they connect and become one, following the music and instinctively knowing how to play the parts as they come, or is that connection lacking a bit?

The result can be great either way, but one is much more fun than the other. Can the singer sing, and WHAT can they sing? That, too, can be determined rather quickly. Can they work the crowd and make people want to stay? Do they know how to include and communicate with the rest of the players throughout the evening? Is the guitar player any good? Do they know their chords and scales and use different voicings and tones throughout the evening? Are they listeners or is every song simply a canvas for the solo? If you’re fortunate to have a keyboard player, they are (nearly) always the most educated player in the band.

Here in Key West, we are extremely lucky. So many of our players are seasoned professionals. They know the goal is to entertain and they know that happens more easily if they, too, are enjoying themselves. They respect each other and most importantly they know, as Caffeine Carl once said to me, “We’re all out here doing the same thing; let’s make everybody sound great.”

... a professional musician, singer, actor and executive director of the Key West Music Awards, is known to sacrifice his comfort for that of his cat.

Key West musician Caffeine Carl Wagoner has played countless venues with a variety of other musicians. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

WHAT’S IN A NAME

THE ORIGIN BEHIND SUGARLOAF KEY

Sugarloaf Key was once famously home to the Perky Bat Tower. In 1929, Richter Clyde Perky thought the wooden tower would become home to a colony of bats.

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.

Perky was developing a fishing camp on the island and was hoping that that tower, and the bats that would call it home, would provide some much-needed pest control. Some species of bats feed on mosquitoes, and the buzzing black clouds of the blood-thirsty nuisances would provide an abundant food source.

To make a long story short, because this is not a story about the bat tower, Perky sent away for the construction plans, built it and attempted to introduce a colony of bats to their potential new home. The furry little flyers, however, had other ideas and flew off and away and presumably discovered a roost of their own. The tower stood for 88 years and served as one of the great not-quite roadside attractions in the Florida Keys until Hurricane Irma slammed the Keys and blew the structure to smithereens in 2017.

Sugarloaf Key was also once not quite as famously home to the community of Chase, Florida, and the Florida Keys Sponge & Fruit Company. In addition to developing a commercial sponge growing operation in the shallow bays surrounding some of the local islands, several hundred Key lime trees were planted. At some point, too, it is said that pineapples were also grown commercially on the island, but like the bat tower, this is not a story about the Florida Keys Sponge & Fruit Company – though it does have a little something to do with pineapples.

This story attempts to explore the origin of the name Sugarloaf Key. Some people say that the island is named for a cone-shaped Indian mound that once existed on the island’s east

A sugarloaf of sugar in a sugar box. WIKIPEDIA/Contributed side, north of the Overseas Highway. Other people say that the name’s origin stems from the pineapples that were once grown on the island, and there is a pineapple connection. One of the nearly 40 varieties of pineapples is called the Sugarloaf.

The Sugarloaf pineapple is not the pineapple we find in local grocery stores, nor is it the one commonly seen growing in backyards up and down the island chain — including my own. Those yellow, juicy pineapples are a variety called Smooth Cayenne. The Sugarloaf is considered one of the sweetest varieties and bears a sweet white fruit that is low in acid and less fibrous than other pineapples.

Is there a connection between the Sugarloaf pineapple and Sugarloaf Key? It is an excellent question and one that I have heard asked repeatedly. The answer is both “yes” and “no.”

While there does seem to be a connection between the two uses of the word sugarloaf, it does not seem to be because pineapples were once commercially grown on the island but appears to be because of the sugarloaf.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sugarloaf as “refined sugar molded into a cone”. Before the invention of the sugar cube, refined sugar came in the form of a hardened cone that required tools like a hammer, tongs and a sugar crusher to create a spoonful. According to an often-told story, the history of the sugar cube dates back to Jacob Christoph Rad.

One day, his wife injured her hand while hammering off a chunk of the sugarloaf. Undoubtedly she was not the first to suffer such an injury. Perhaps while still wincing in pain, she told her husband that he should invent something better, and because he ran a sugar factory, he proved to be the right man for the

job. Circa 1841, Rad invented the sugar cube.

Because of its sweetness, the Sugarloaf pineapple was named after the rock-hard sugar cone. How the word entered the local lexicon remains something of a mystery — at least to me. What seems pretty clear is that the name Sugarloaf Key has nothing to do with the pineapples reported to have once been commercially grown on the island.

It is generally agreed that pineapple farming in the Florida Keys began when Captain Ben Baker, a Key West wrecker, cleared land on Plantation Key and Key Largo and started the island chain’s first pineapple fields in the late 1850s. By the time the pineapple industry was first cultivated, Sugarloaf Key was already a place (and really a collection of islands known as the Sugarloaf Keys).

One of the earliest residents of the Sugarloaf Keys was an English settler named Asa Gilbert. He appeared on the 1830 U.S. Census as a resident of Sugarloaf and a family of one who was marked in the age bracket 50-60 years. In 1829, he received a jury summons but failed to arrive in Key West to serve because he did not have a boat to get there. When questioned, he produced a witness to testify that, in fact, he did not have a boat.

Gilbert did not appear on the 1840 census, but his documented presence reveals that the name Sugarloaf appeared prior to the arrival of the pineapple as a cash crop in the Keys. If it was not the pineapples, then the origin of the name might be the result of something coneshaped that was found on the island, something like an Indian mound. Sugarloaf is not an uncommon name. Worldwide, more than 400 rocks, mountains and other cone-shaped formations bear the Sugarloaf name.

OH CRAP

SEWER LINE BREAK CAUSES TRAFFIC BACKUP IN THE UPPER KEYS

Motorists traveling north in the Upper Keys on June 18 experienced heavy traffic backups after a sewer line break at MM 92.5 in Tavernier closed one road lane.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the village of Islamorada issued alerts around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday regarding a wastewater line break. Crews arrived on scene to conduct repairs, leaving only one northbound lane open to vehicles on a busy Father’s Day and threeday weekend with the federal holiday Juneteenth celebrated Monday, June 19.

A.J. Engelmeyer, Islamorada wastewater services director, told the Keys Weekly via email that the break was to the village wastewater’s conveyance force main. Repairs to the main and the road went into the night as northbound traffic remained heavy. Traffic returned to normal Monday morning as the repairs were complete.

Engelmeyer said the road repairs took some time to complete before two lanes were back open.

“The limiting factor is the asphalt plant and getting one to open,” he said.

On June 20, Islamorada crews returned to the site to repair the asphalt where the break occurred. Repairs took roughly four hours.

Islamorada’s collection system, which serves residents and businesses from Plantation Key to Lower Matecumbe Key, is a combination of vacuum and low pressure with sewage conveyed to the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The closure of one northbound lane had traffic backed up for several miles throughout the day and into the evening. The village alert urged residents to avoid the area if possible. A post by MCSO stated that traffic was still flowing, but the closure of one northbound lane remained due to the continued sewer issue.

This isn’t the first time a sewer line broke in the area. In March 2019, a 20-foot sewer line broke at MM 92.5. Repairs took roughly 12 hours to complete. Breaks also occurred May 2019 and November 2020.

Traffic was reduced to one lane at MM 92.5 in Tavernier after a sewer line broke during the early morning of June 18. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/Keys Weekly

HABITAT OPENS 16 NEW HOMES

MOSS LANDING ON CUDJOE KEY WELCOMES RESIDENTS

MISSING MARATHON TEEN FOUND IN ALABAMA

Sheriff’s Office says case was not an abduction

ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

A14-year-old girl who went missing from Marathon on the morning of June 14 was found in Alabama within 36 hours, according to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and family members in communication with the Weekly.

Social media posts began circulating Wednesday afternoon when the family of Phoebee Elizabeth Ritchie reported her as missing. According to the posts, Ritchie was last seen at a bus stop in Marathon around 7 a.m., but did not report to summer school in Marathon as expected.

Various reports sent to the Weekly throughout that night and the morning of June 15 detailed slightly different versions of events. Speaking with the Weekly at 1 p.m. on June 15, Ramsay said that the Sheriff’s Office believed the incident was a case of a runaway, not an abduction.

“This is not someone that we believe was a snatch-and-grab from a bus stop. … It’s still important, still concerning, and she’s been listed into state and national databases as a missing runaway,” he said. He reiterated several times that MCSO did not believe the case was a “nefarious foul play situation” at that time.

Ramsay said that an interview with the girl’s grandmother and primary caregiver, Audrey Curtiss, showed “a change in (Phoebee’s) routine” the day before she was reported as missing, and that he believed there had been prior confrontation between Ritchie and Curtiss.

An update to the original social media post around 4 p.m. on June 15 indicated that Ritchie had been found.

Ramsay confirmed to the Weekly at 4:30 p.m. the same day that Ritchie had been located in Alabama and that the case was a runaway as expected, with no foul play involved. It was not immediately clear how the teen had reached her final destination.

Speaking with the Weekly in follow-up messages on June 19, Curtiss confirmed Ritchie had been found and had returned to Marathon, but disputed earlier reports of confrontation between the two, saying there “had not been any problems with Phoebee in over a year.”

“Thank you to the men and women on the police force who were so diligent in searching for her and bringing her back home safely,” she said.

Habitat for Humanity of Key West & the Lower Keys recently completed the construction of Moss Landing, its 16-home development on Cudjoe Key, and celebrated its new homeowners.

Habitat used the occasion to honor the 16 families who worked hard to purchase their homes, and Mark Moss, Habitat’s former executive director for whom the development is named. Members of the Moss family were present for the event and received an original painting by local artist and Habitat homeowner Abigail White. The painting was replicated for the Moss Landing neighborhood sign.

The celebration was held at Monroe County Fire Rescue Station 11 on Cudjoe Key, which is adjacent to Moss Landing. Firefighters and staff provided tours of the fire station and free snow cones.

Donations from corporations and individuals make up a crucial portion of the construction budget for Habitat’s home builds.

At the Moss Landing celebration, Publix district manager Kevin Donlan presented Habitat with a check for $100,000 from Publix Super Markets Charities. The contribution helped build the home purchased by a local health care worker and mother of two.

Other major contributions toward the Moss Landing build came from Habitat’s local corporate sponsors, including Strunk Ace Hardware, the Hemingway Home and Museum, Royal Furniture and Design, Manley deBoer Lumber, and Historic Tours of America. Habitat presented each of these businesses with plaques to commemorate their sponsorships. — Contributed

Phoebee Elizabeth Ritchie, reported missing last Wednesday, has been located. CONTRIBUTED

Habitat for Humanity recently completed 16 new homes on Cudjoe Key, where 16 working Keys families now live as homeowners. CONTRIBUTED

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

By Mandy Miles & Jim McCarthy

GOVERNOR NAMES SUAREZ TO COLLEGE BOARD

SHE IS AN ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY & TWO -TIME POLITICAL CANDIDATE

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16 announced the appointment of Alexandria Suarez to the College of the Florida Keys’ seven-member board of trustees.

Cookies

Suarez will fulfill the remaining two years of former board member Stephanie Scuderi’s four-year term, CFK President Jonathan Gueverra told the Keys Weekly on June 20. Scuderi left the board in October to accept a job as the college’s vice president of advancement.

Suarez’s first meeting was June 27 at the college’s Upper Keys campus. Suarez told the Keys Weekly she looks forward to contributing her talents and expertise on the board as a former educator and practicing attorney.

“I am excited to support the focus on academic rigor and opportunities that will lead to a bright future for College of the Florida Keys students,” she said.

Suarez is an assistant state attorney for the 16th Judicial Circuit. She is currently a member of the Florida Bar and was previously a teacher with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

A member of the Republican Party, Suarez in 2020 ran for the Florida House of

Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16 appointed Alexandria Suarez to the College of the Florida Keys board of trustees. CONTRIBUTED

Representatives to represent District 120, which includes the Florida Keys.

She lost in the Republican primary in August 2020 to Jim Mooney, who remains the District 120 state representative.

Suarez then ran for the Monroe County school board in 2022, with the governor’s endorsement, but lost to incumbent Sue Woltanski, who continues to represent District 5 in the Upper Keys on the county school board.

Board members of the College of the Florida Keys are appointed by the governor, and the board currently includes: chairman Kevin Madok, vice chair Sheldon Suga, Daniel Leben, Michelle Maxwell, Mike Puto, Richard Weinstein and Suarez.

and Cream are 2-month-old male and female rabbits. These two must be adopted as a duo because as we all know, nothing goes together like Cookies and Cream.

Chiclet is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair. Unlike the gum, this girl’s sweetness will last for years once you bring her home.

Ninja is a 5-year-old female domestic shorthair. She’s a sweet, curious, loving and all-around wonderful cat — the only thing she doesn’t have going for her is a home.

Dona is a 6 ½-year-old female, large shepherd mix. She traveled all the way from Cuba for a new life and now needs a new family.

Willie is an 8-year-old male extra-large domestic shorthair. He’s a big guy and the perfect companion for someone who enjoys cozy nights curled up with a good book.

just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.

MARK HEDDEN

... 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.

We were out on the boat for sunset, because every once in a while it’s a good idea to remind yourself that you live on an island. My wife and I have a standing, decades-long joke, inspired by a long-forgotten local editor who would run a lot of highly basic, gee-whiz stories about Key West in the paper. At Fort Zach, Higgs Beach or out on the boat, one of us will inevitably, incredulously say, “Do you know this entire island is surrounded by water?”

No one else ever gets the joke. I’m not sure we totally do. But we’re not giving up on it. To quote Wayne from “Letterkenny,” “You don’t f**k with tradition.”

We cruised slowly out of Garrison Bight, which fortunately no one has yet tried to rename in a more pablumized, tourist-friendly fashion (I’m looking at you, Key West Historic Seaport), and the waterfront Navy housing, with its enviably long docks, solar panels and waterfront views, and then throttled up when we got to the seaplane ramp.

Last time we’d gone out, we’d anchored in the flats behind the mooring field off Wisteria Island, and it had been very pleasant. This week, though, we decided to anchor just west of Sunset Key, née Tank Island, so we could swim and enjoy the same sunset view the rich people get, but for practically free.

We threw the anchor in about 20 feet of water and cracked beers. Hans jumped in first, then Bre, then me, then Dave. My wife kept watch over the cheese board.

We were judging the architectural choices of the wealthy – everyone liked the place with the deep porches the best – when they flew in, two dark shapes whose wingbeats moved them across the sky with the casual efficiency of the overqualified. Fish crows.

Distinguishing a fish crow from an American crow can be tricky. Fish crows have longer wings and tails, shorter legs, and proportionally smaller heads, but often those are difficult distinctions to make, even if the two species are standing next to each other and not moving.

The most reliable test is by their call. American crows sound like, well, textbook crows, with their loud, absolutely unsubtle croaks and caws. Fish crows sound kind of like American crows, but their voices are much more pinched, as calling through a kazoo with the wax paper diaphragm removed to make fun of the avian normative American crows.

But there is also a much easier trick to determine which species you are seeing in Key West: We only have fish crows.

FISH CROWS, ON A LARK

For years we’ve had a small group of about 14 of them on the island. I’m not sure why we have such a small colony, but crows, unlike some other species, have a habit of neither overpopulating nor under-populating an area.

I see them most often on Kennedy Drive for some reason. They like the area around the football field. But I’ve also seen them in Bahama Village, around the golf course on Stock Island and on the wires over Duval Street. (I never really see crows up the Keys until I get to the 18- Mile Stretch.)

I was out on a backcountry island once and saw a pair of them fly in from the general direction of Key West. They landed in a coconut palm for a while, then flitted around to a bunch of other trees, checking the place out. After about 20 minutes they looked at each other, took wing and headed back to Key West. They were on a walkabout, a drive in the country. They were on, if you’ll forgive using the name of one bird to describe the behavior of another, a lark.

Watching the two crows from the waters off Sunset Key, I was pretty sure these birds were also on a lark. They landed in the palm trees, then hopped down to the ground and strutted around for a while, as if taking it all in. Two more crows arrived. They hopped up onto a fence, then disappeared behind it, then flew up into the palms again. They were exploring, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, occasionally disappearing again behind the fences and foliage.

One of my favorite things I’ve ever read about crows, or any animal really, was an essay by David Quammen entitled “Has Success Spoiled The Crow? The Puzzling Case File on the World’s Smartest Bird.” In it he points out that they have “the largest cerebral hemispheres, relative to body size, of any avian family,” which gives them an excess of brain-power.

“They suffer from being too intelligent for their station in life. Respectable evolutionary success is simply not, for these brainy and complex birds, enough. They are dissatisfied with the narrow goals and horizons of that tired old Darwinian struggle. On the lookout for a new challenge,” wrote Quammen.

“Dolphins and whales and chimpanzees get all the fawning publicity, great fuss made over their near-human intelligence. But don’t be fooled. Crows are not stupid. Far from it. They are merely underachievers. They are bored,” Quammen wrote.

Boredom brings mischief. They play pranks on other animals, such as pulling the tails of rodents and other birds, and landing on sleeping cows, just to wake them up. They surf down snowy rooftops, snatch up small stones and play keep-away with each other, hang upside down from branches because they think it’s funny. They gather shiny things. They go on adventures to slake their curiosity.

Quammen’s essay was published close to 40 years ago, and there’s a heap of additional crow research out there now. The most recent thing I read was that researchers believe crows have reasoning abilities equal to 5- to 7-yearold humans, and superior to that of Rhesus Macaque monkeys.

Eventually the fish crows on Sunset Key made enough noise to attract the attention of a gray kingbird who, despite being a seventh their size, came in like a lightning bolt, and began mobbing them, harassing the crows until they took off again. (Gray kingbirds are known for viciously defending their turf, and this one most likely had a nest nearby.)

It was like watching a mall cop roust a bunch of surly teenagers. “Yeah, yeah, we’re going,” they seemed to say, moving on without hurrying. But you had a feeling they’d be back next time the mood struck.

A fish crow flying off Key West. MARK HEDDEN/Keys

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

SWIM AROUND KEY WEST DRAWS 200+ COMPETITORS

More than 200 swimmers compete in the College of the Florida Keys’ annual Swim Around Key West on June 17. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/ Contributed

The College of the Florida Keys’ annual Swim Around Key West on June 17 drew more than 200 swimmers, competing alone and in relay teams.

The 12.5-mile course followed a clockwise route around the southernmost city.

Christopher Allshouse, 53, of Canton, Ohio, won the overall men’s division, in 5 hours, 15 minutes and 45 seconds. Victoria Lackey, 29, of West Palm Beach, Florida placed first in the overall women’s category with a time of 5:27:11

— Contributed

JUST THE TIPS

Targeting tuna and the unusually elusive mahi as temps rise

Ifind most people who come to the Keys in the summer are looking to fish offshore. It is “mahi season,” after all. That, coupled with the fact that sitting on the anchor means just baking in the heat, means a nice ride out to the blue water sounds pretty good. The current offshore (roughly 600 feet of water and out) has been absolutely rolling for the past two weeks, around 4 mph, so I haven’t been doing much deep dropping. So ... let’s talk run, troll, and pitch.

Here are a few tips for running offshore in search or dolphin (mahi): Get everyone involved and looking. It’s easy to miss something, especially at high speed. Obviously, working birds, weed lines and floaters are what you want to find.

If you find a small, unorganized trickle of a weed line, turn and follow it for a while. It might turn into something better, and you could stumble upon that day-saving floater.

Stay in the zone. If you find a few packs of fish, spend more time in that area. It doesn’t necessarily get better as you go farther out.

When you find a set of birds that are working over fish, try to figure if they are moving in a certain direction and head them off. I troll two flat lines with smaller lures on 20- to 30-pound tackle.

I see a lot of visitors out here with really heavy tackle, and I wonder what they’re targeting. Keep in mind, this isn’t Guatemala or Cabo –there are no yellowfin tuna, very few marlin, and your average mahi right now is less than 5 pounds. Big fish eat small lures too.

The goal is to hook one fish and get the school to follow. Once you hook one, keep the first fish in the water a good ways behind the boat and stay at a steady idle moving forward. The rest should follow. Use small live baits and cut baits on 30and 40-pound leader, and try to pick out the bigger ones.

Also, please keep a de-hooker on board. A small mahi brought on board, grabbed, squeezed, dropped on the deck and then released is a dead fish. The idea behind size limits is to not kill the babies. Slide the dehooker down to the hook, pull the line down and the dehooker and the fish up, shake and twist, and the fish

Two young ladies from Texas had to take turns cranking in a jumbo blackfin tuna aboard the Noreaster. NICK BORRACCINO/Keys Weekly

is released safely.

SHELF HELP

CAPT. NICK BORRACCINO

is the owner and operator of Noreaster Sport Fishing in Marathon. A Massachusetts native, Nick fished for bluefin tuna and striped bass before moving to the Keys in 2005.

I usually start off with two different colors of lures and switch one out if one seems to be working better than the other. I also see a lot of visitors trolling super fast out there. For tuna you only need to go 4 to 5 knots, and 5 to 6 for mahi. Check your boat’s tachometer and speed somewhere with no current so you know what rpm you need to find the sweet spot.

If I spot a floater a good distance away, I often won’t troll by it. I'll slow down and creep up to it very slowly and quietly, so as not to spook a big wary fish that might be there, and start pitching baits.

As far as trolling at any of the tuna humps goes, again, slow down. You don’t need to be throwing a rooster tail! Smaller is also better here with lures – elephants eat peanuts, after all. I also try to employ different styles and colors to see what’s turning the fish on on that particular day. If you’re new to this, try to pay attention to what the locals are doing. If 10 boats are trolling west, don’t cut across traffic going north. You want to troll into the current (west or southwest) with traffic, and then make a really big loop back around in either direction. Oftentimes you can get plenty of troll bites way up current from the actual hump.

Tight lines!

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

What: “Hi Honey, I’m Homo!”

Why: This is a great read for Pride month as it details the rise of LGBTQ+ characters in American sitcoms from “Bewitched” to “All in the Family” to “The Golden Girls” and “Will & Grace,” among others. Author Matt Baume details the behind-the-scenes fights with censors, networks, anti-gay protesters, and gay rights advocates. Baume smartly focuses on network television (NBC, CBS, and ABC) and the sitcom format, showing how the evolution of recurring queer characters on popular shows eventually led to supporting characters (think Billy Crystal’s Jodie on “Soap”) and ultimately queer central characters in shows like “Ellen” and “Will & Grace.” The book makes a strong argument that the country’s perception of the LGBTQ+ community was markedly influenced by these early representations on network television and led to changing the minds of politicians, and eventually laws governing gay rights. The library offers the book in print, e-book and eaudiobook.

Where: This is available as a print book, e-book and e-audiobook from the Monroe County Library system.

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

Recommended by: Michael Nelson, assistant director of public services

Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, will conduct a Public Hearing to adopt the FY2024 Commercial Rates for collection, disposal, and recycling in Monroe County, Florida.

The Public Hearing will be held at 10:00 A.M., on July 18, 2023, at the Budget Meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, 2nd Floor, Marathon, Florida 33050. The public can attend the Public Hearing in person, or via Zoom, for the purpose of contributing or receiving public comments on the proposed assessments. The Zoom link can be found in the electronic meeting agenda for 07/18/2023, at the following a ddress: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx.

All affected property owners and commercial customers have a right to appear virtually, or in person, at the hearing, and to file written objections with the County Commission within twenty (20) calendar days of the first publication date of this Notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record

Franchise Area’s 1,2,3, 4 Waste Management, Marathon Garbage, Keys Sanitary, Ocean Reef 2023/24

of the proceedings, and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator’s Office at (305) 292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the Public Hearing. If hearing or voice-impaired, contact the Florida Relay Service Number, by dialing “711” for assistance.

If you have any questions, please contact the County’s Solid Waste Department at (305) 295-4323 or (305) 292-4536, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the July 18, 2023 BOCC Budget Meeting to: Krystal Gomez, via email at: Gomez-Krystal@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by mail to: County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040. The documents must be received by 3:00 P.M. on July 14, 2023, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer.

The following schedules reflect the proposed monthly rates for Commercial Waste Generators for:

Franchise Area’s 1,2,3, 4 Waste Management, Marathon Garbage, Key Sanitary, Ocean Reef 2023/24

b) CONTAINERIZED PICKUP RATE SCHEDULE

*BASED ON 32 GALLON CANS FRANCHISE AREA’S 1, 2, 3, 4

** Rates for recycling services are not reflected in these tables. Those charges are based on a collection fee of $6.84 per cubic yard and a processing fee of $1.09 per cubic yard; there is no disposal fee for recycling services. Monthly charges will depend on the specific level of service.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT FY 2024 COMMERCIAL RATES FOR COLLECTION, DISPOSAL, AND RECYCLING IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Pursuant F.S. 328.17, United

American Lien & Recovery as agent w/ power of attorney will sell the following vessel(s) to the highest bidder. Inspect 1 week prior @ marina; cash or cashier check; all auctions are held w/ reserve; any persons interested ph 954-563-1999.

Sale Date: July 21, 2023 @ 10:00 am

Location: 3411 NW 9th Ave. #707, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309

V12973 1972 Gulfstar FL4518FG

Hull ID#: 532902 inboard diesel fiberglass 36ft R/O Leontyne Pyne Davydov Rud Arnshek

Lienor: Pilot House Marina, 3 Seagate Blvd., Key Largo, FL 33037

Licensed Auctioneers FLAB422 FLAU765 & 1911

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICES

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on July 20, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following:

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

Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile: +16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose) Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose)

Publish:

June 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICES

** Unincorporated areas, City of Marathon, Layton and Key Colony Beach

Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, (BOCC) will conduct a Public Hearing to consider reimposing solid waste service assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2023, against certain improved residential properties located within Monroe County, the City of Marathon, the City of Layton, and the City of Key Colony Beach, to fund the cost of solid waste collection services, facilities and programs provided to such properties, and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.

The Public Hearing will be held at 10:00 A.M., on July 18, 2023, (the Budget Meeting of the Board of Monroe County Commissioners), at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, 2nd Floor, Marathon, Florida 33050. The public can attend the Public Hearing in person, or via Zoom, for the purpose of contributing or receiving public comments on the proposed assessments. The Zoom link can be found in the electronic meeting agenda at the following address: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx.

All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing, in person or virtually, and to file written objections with the County Commission, within 20 calendar days of the first publication date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings, and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator’s Office at (305) 292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing or voice-impaired, contact the Florida Relay Service Number, by dialing “711” for assistance.

The total annual solid waste assessment revenue to be collected within Monroe County, the City of Marathon, the City of Layton, and the City of Key Colony Beach for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $15,778,989.40. The rate of assessment for the upcoming fiscal year shall be $457.15 per residential dwelling unit. The maximum rate of assessment that can be imposed in the Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2023, and future fiscal years, shall be $457.15 per residential dwelling unit. Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request by contacting the County Administrator’s Office at (305) 292-4441, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

If you have any questions, please call the County Solid Waste Management Department at (305) 295-4323 or (305) 292-4536, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.

The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2023, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property, which may result in a loss of title.

A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the July 18, 2023 BOCC Budget Meeting to: Krystal Gomez, via email at: Gomez-Krystal@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by mail to: The County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040. The documents must be received by 3:00 P.M., on July 14, 2023, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer.

DATED at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 14th day of June, 2023. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kirk of The Keys, Marathon, FL will receive and open sealed responses for the following: SINGLE FAMILY HOME Details at www.kirkofthekeys/ bid

Deadline is July 22, 2023.

Publish:

June 15, 22 & 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Key Largo Pickleball Court

Installation Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www.monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

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

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on July 20, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows:

Key Largo Pickleball Court Installation 07-20-2023

Publish: June 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00027673-CU-BC-CTL SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): ROBERT MICK, AN INDIVIDUAL YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): VAN DYKE & ASSOCIATES, A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/se!fhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dfas, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la inforrnacion a continuacion. Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIO despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de

la corte y mas inforrnacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifomia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Par ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es):

330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

The name, address and telephone number of the plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es):

Richard S. Van Dyke, Esq., Van Dyke & Associates, APLC, 451 A Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 344-0977

Dated July 15, 2022

By: Gabriel Lopez, Deputy Clerk

Publish:

June 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 23-CP-159-K

DIVSION: LOWER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF GENEVIEVE C. ISAKSEN Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Genevieve C. Isaksen, deceased, whose date of death was June 4, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The 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: June 22, 2023.

Personal Representative: John F. Isaksen

32 Spoonbill Way Key West, Florida 33040 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:

June 22 & 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 2023-CP-000151-K IN RE: ESTATE OF WAYNE GEORGE BELL a/k/a WAYNE G. BELL a/k/a WAYNE BELL, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of WAYNE GEORGE BELL a/k/a WAYNE G. BELL a/k/a WAYNE BELL (the “Decedent”), whose date of death was October 17, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Clerk of Circuit Court, Monroe County Courthouse, Probate Division, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida, 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the 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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702, FLORIDA STATUTES, WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

this notice is: June 22, 2023.

Personal Representative: ROBERT WAYNE BELL

49729 Nautical Drive

Chesterfield, MI 48047

Attorneys for Personal

Representative: BULLOCH TAYLOR PLLC

T. Robert Bulloch, Esq. Florida Bar No. 633127

Email: trb@bullochtaylor.com

Courtney C. Pugh, Esq. Florida Bar No. 125106

Email: ccp@bullochtaylor.com

1185 Immokalee Road, Suite 300 Naples, Florida 34110

Telephone: 239-383-7130

Fax: 239-776-3496

Publish:

June 22 & 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

CASE NUMBER: 23-CP000030-M

DIVISION: MARATHON

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF CARL M. BENDIK, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of CARL M. BENDIK, deceased, whose date of death was March 13, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.

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

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS

AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS

AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME

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

The date of first publication of this notice is: June 15, 2023.

Persons Giving Notice:

AMY B. DUMAS

201 Kensington Trace Canton, Georgia 30115

Attorney for Persons Giving Notice:

Christopher B. Waldera, P.A.

Christopher B. Waldera Florida Bar No: 980810

Attorney for Personal Representative

5800 Overseas Highway, Suite 7

Marathon, Florida 33050

Telephone: (305) 289-2223

Facsimile: (305) 289-2249

email: chris@cbwpa.com

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 23-CP-78-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF EDMUND JOHN BENNETT, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of EDMUND JOHN BENNETT, deceased, whose date of death was July 31, 2022, Case: 23-CP-78-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE 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, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF

THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: June 15, 2023.

Personal Representative:

GRETA-MARIE ELIE-BENNETT

c/o Samuel J. Kaufman

Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040

Attorney for Personal Representative: Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0144304

Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040

Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com

Telephone: (305) 292-3926

Fax: (305) 295-7947

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 23-CP-90-K IN RE: ESTATE OF LORA J. ALBRITTON Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Lora J. Albritton, deceased, whose date of death was December 15, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The 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: June 15, 2023.

Personal Representative: Karen Martin Gibson 2215 Fogarty Avenue

Key West, Florida 33040 Attorney for Personal

Representative: Gregory D. Davila, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 0886998 Law Office of Gregory D. Davila, P.A. 1111 12th Street, Suite 411 Key West, Florida 33040 Telephone: (305) 293-8554

Fax: (305) 294-9913

E-mail: gdavila@ keywestlawoffice.com

Secondary E-Mail: e-filing@ keywestlawoffice.com

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 23-CP-134-K IN RE: ESTATE OF LINDA E. BEST Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of LINDA E. BEST, deceased, whose date of death was April 30, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with

LEGAL NOTICES

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: June 15, 2023.

Personal Representative: BRUCE ANTHONY NOWAKOWSKI 20110 Mulberry Knoll Lewes, Delaware 19958

Attorney for Personal

Representative: JOHN FERRARI, JR. Attorney Florida Bar No. 111132

Ferrari, Butler & Moneymaker, PLLC 2520 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 11 Nokomis, FL 34275

Telephone: (941) 960-1676

Fax: (941) 296-8656

E-mail: johnf@elderlegalfl.com

Secondary E-mail: pollyb@ elderlegalfl.com

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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

UPPER KEYS PROBATE DIVISION

CASE NO.: 23-CP-000053-P

IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN W. EAGLE, JR., Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of JOHN W. EAGLE, JR., deceased, whose date of death was October 26, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME 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: June 15, 2023. Personal Representative: KAREN

15 Cindy Place

Key Largo, FL 33037

Attorney for Personal

Representative: VICTORIA MIRANDA, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 1015363

HERSHOFF, LUPINO & YAGEL, LLP

88539 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070 E-Mail: VMiranda@HLYlaw. com

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 23-CP-000129-K IN RE: ESTATE OF MARK B. POTTLE

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Mark B. Pottle, deceased, whose date of death was March 26, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: June 15, 2023.

Personal Representative:

Patricia G. Pottle

3827 McFarlane Drive

Tallahassee, Florida 32303

Attorney for Personal Representative:

Robert A. Pierce

Attorney

Florida Bar No. 0175399

AUSLEY & MCMULLEN P.A. 123 S. Calhoun Street Tallahassee, FL 32301

Telephone: (850) 224-9115

Fax: (850) 222-7560

E-mail: bpierce@ausley.com

Secondary E-mail: spelham@ ausley.com

Publish:

June 15 & 22, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS ALL YEARS!

Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.

$CASH 305-332-0483

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking provided. 305-928-9057

EMPLOYMENT

HEALTH INSURANCE

NAVIGATOREnrollment Assistance, Outreach, Education and Community Events. Paid Training and equipment. Bi-lingual a plus. Call 305-767-3883

MEDICAL ASSISTANT. Doctor's office, KL. PT flex hrs, perfect for student or retiree. Salary commensurate with experience, but willing to train. Send resume to drsusanamay@ gmail.com or fax to 305-852-8672.

City of Marathon

Current Job Openings: Right of Way Technician. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www. ci.marathon.fl.us

Groundskeeper/ Maintenance person, KCB, Sea Isle Condominium, 20 - 40 hrs. per week, $25 per hr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531.

The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a Customer-Service Oriented Server for the pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 10am-7pm daily. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

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

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

SUDOKU SOLUTION

EMPLOYMENT.

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

Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder now hiring Guest Service Representativeresponsibilities include assisting guests at our Key Largo and Islamorada locations, making reservations and/or answering questions over phone and in-person, taking and processing photos, and checking-in and out guests visiting our facility. To apply, please send your resume to andreaw@dpmmr.org.

Place your Employment Ad here for $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

EMPLOYMENT HOBBIES/COLLECT. SERVICES OFFERED

MAINTENANCE

POSITION w/ busy Non-profit. FT with benefits. Longterm position w/room for growth. Valid DL required. Must have maintenance or related experience, computer skills and relate well with people. Very physical position, heavy lifting, heat, etc. Drug-free workplace. EOE Please send resume and cover letter to sholt@fkoc. org NO phone calls.

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

TRUCK DRIVERS CDL CLASS A

We are hiring CDL CLASS A Drivers, Monday-Friday with overtime available. Hazmat not needed.

Apply at Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc.

129 Toppino Industrial Dr., Key West (ask for Cheryl) 305-296-5606 ext 126.

DUI EVALUATOR/ INSTRUCTOR

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

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

2 Bedroom 1 Bath in Marathon. Tile, carpet, appliances, gated property. No pets. $2400/ mo. 305-610-8002

LOT FOR SALE

Oceanside-Lot with building permit in Tavernier $399K OBO 305-933-9594

Owner-Agent [3% to selling office]

RV LOT FOR RENT

RV Site for rent in Marathon Up to 35', private gated property. $1,500/mo + utilities. Dockage wavailable - inquire for price. 305-610-8002 up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

SERVICES OFFERED

Registered Nurse available to help with your home health care needs. In-home care assistance is also available. Local references. 305-5870892. Please call and leave message or text.

YARD SALES

ESTATE SALE: Fine art, carpets, lamps, lamp shades, mirrors different sizes, many other items available. 9551 Overseas Highway, Marathon. Questions (305) 9289258

SARA'S ESTATE SALES: 75018 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada | Fri., June 23 & Sat., June 24, 9am to 1pm both days | ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD waterfront estate at Sea Oats Beach, MM75. Beautiful, tropical things such as Lexington wicker furniture (Henry Link); fabric loveseat & accent chairs; silk plants big & small; barstools, dining chairs, console tables; tools like battery chainsaw and

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

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

T&D ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $108,332/annually$111,365/annually

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, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Transmission & Distribution Department:

SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on quali cations and experience: $40.35/hr. - $45.19/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required quali cations, 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 lled.

gas blowers; coolers, portable bbq table; Sony mini 8 camcorder, printers with toner; stem glassware, dishes, ginger jars; Nitro Duet transport chair; treadmill; coastal lamps featuring sealife or shells; small appliances; and apartment-size refrigerator. Follow signs and park with consideration.

Photos: Facebook (@sarasestatesales) and estatesales.net.

MAINTENANCE POSITION WITH BUSY NONPROFIT

FT with benefits. Long-term position w/room for growth. Valid DL required. Must have maintenance or related experience, computer skills and relate well with people. Very physical position, heavy lifting, heat, etc.

Drug-free workplace, EOE. Please send resume and cover letter to sholt@fkoc.org. No phone calls.

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER IS HIRING

Dolphin Research Center has Full-Time/Part-Time, Permanent/Temporary Gift Shop positions that involve direct contact with our visitors & is another opportunity to ensure they leave DRC with a happy & positive experience. Some of the duties involve; being familiar with all merchandise in the selling area, suggest specific merchandise & offer product advise. Walk around the grounds and see dolphins every day.

Job description available at www.dolphins.org. E-mail your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

BOAT RENTAL STAFF

FLEXIBLE HOURS & COMPETITIVE WAGES

Need to have experience driving boats and a working knowledge of the Islamorada area by water. Duties include taking reservations, giving captains lessons and routine boat maintenance.

Email Ma at eliteboatrentalsma @gmail.com. Please include contact information and any relevant experience.

NOW HIRING FT FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT MARATHON, FL

Duties to include invoice and inventory entry, booking airline shipments, creating and filing paperwork for international shipments, scheduling inspections needed for international shipments, customer communication and tracking, creating and maintaining customer accounts and some customer service. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. This position requires high attention to detail and the ability to multitask. Compensation will be dependent on experience.

Benefits package including vacation, sick days, holidays and 401K PSP retirement plan. Please send cover letter and resume to sales@dynastymarine.net for consideration. No phone calls please. dynastymarine.net

IS HIRING!

This position is available at our Adult Day program. This position provides direct care service and support to our clients in the day program. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. FL Driver’s license w/clean driving record, pre-employment training online and in person. Ability to pass a Level II background screening and references. EOE. Apply at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary Street, Key West – or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org, phone: 305-294-9526 *32

IS HIRING!

Position requires a min. of high school completion and 1 yr exp or 1 yr college. Must be knowledgeable in tropical plants and have good social/business skills, above average computer skills (knowledge of POS a plus). Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds. English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. FL driver’s license w/good driving record, references and background screening required.

MARC, 1401 Seminary St, Key West, FL www.marchouse.org Come join our family! EOE

IS HIRING!

DIRECT CARE STAFF  GROUP HOMES 24/7 FT/PT

MARC is looking for Direct Care Staff – Group Homes 24/7 (FT/PT). Position requires a minimum of high school completion and 1 yr. exp. or 1 yr. college. English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. FL driver’s license w/good driving record, references and background screening required. EOE

Apply at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary Street, Key West – or online at www.marchouse.org.

For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org, phone: 305-294-9526 *32

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

We are now hiring for the following positions:

Please contact April at 305.407.3262 or april@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com for more information.

11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON

SUNSET

• Hosts

• Waitstaff

• Bartenders

• Bar Backs

• Bussers

• Line Cooks

• Dishwashers

Apply in person at Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, 7 Knight’s Key Blvd, Marathon

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

Experience is required. Must have a valid driver’s license. We offer 401K, medical insurance, paid holidays and paid vacation.

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Environmental Tech, $5,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Line Cook

- Medical Technologist, $15,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $9,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Patient Experience Advocate

- Pool Physical Therapist

- Registered Nurse, up to $25,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, up to $15,000 Sign-on Bonus*

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- Cook, $5,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Emergency Dept Team Coordinator

- Environmental Tech, $5,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Lead Med Technologist, $15,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Medical Technologist, $15,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $9,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Nurse Manager, Emergency Dept, $20,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Nurse Practitioner

- Patient Experience Advocate

- Pool Physical Therapist

- Registered Nurse, up to $25,000 Sign-on Bonus*

- Sanitation Technician

- Security Of cer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

* Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.

APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507

Oceanside Safari Restaurant & Lounge in Islamorada is NOW OPEN and serving lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Open interviews Monday – Friday from 11am to 4pm at Oceanside Safari. Located at MM 73.5 right on the ocean at Caloosa Cove Marina, 73814 Overseas Highway, Islamorada.

NOW HIRING FOH: HOSTS, SERVERS & BARTENDERS

Great pay, bene ts and perks. We o er a stable 40 hrs-per-week to our hourly employees, and more hours if you want! Part-time positions available if you are looking for a second job, or after-school job.

We have re-opened as a brand-new full-service restaurant & bar, with a full kitchen with all brand new equipment, a beautiful bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and a beachfront lounge on our own private beach. COME JOIN US!

**We are an Equal Opportunity Employer**

Oceanside Safari Restaurant & Lounge, 786-626-6124 73814 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER IS HIRING

Visual Communications (Full-Time/Part-Time, Seasonal)

Volunteer Resources

Administrative Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent)

Human Resources Assistant (Part-Time, Permanent)

Guest Services Staff (Full-Time/Part-Time, Temporary/Permanent)

Accounting Director (Full-Time, Permanent)

Media & Marketing Staff Member (Full-Time, Permanent) Trainer (Full-Time/Permanent)

Benefits include medical, life & disability insurance, 401(k) plan, paid vacation, sick time & holidays

Full job descriptions available at www dolphins org/career opportunities

Email cover letter, DRC application & resume to drc-hr@dolphins org EOE

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS HIRING!

GCC offers excellent benefits for full-time employment, but we realize some would prefer part-time to enjoy the Florida Keys lifestyle more. All positions can be considered for full or part-time unless notated. Apply at westcare.com and enter your availability.

KEY WEST

Behavioral Health Therapist (Child, Adult)

Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)

Case Managers (Adult, Forensic) Substance Abuse Counselor

Peer Support Specialist

MARATHON

Driver (CDL required) Care Coordinator

Behavioral Health Therapist (Child, Adult)

RNs/LPNs - 3 shifts (also Per Diem)

Maintenance Specialist

*Behavioral Health Technicians

3 shifts (also Per Diem)

Peer Support Specialist

*Support Worker – Assisted Living

*No experience required for these positions. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands required.

THEME: INDEPENDENCE DAY

ACROSS

1. Kind of illusion

6. Perched

9. Island near Java

13. Old West pack animal

14. False statement

15. Opposite of atonal

16. Hailing from the East

17. Supply with weapons

18. “____ death do us part”

19. *Frank

21. *Popular celebratory gettogether

23. Many, many years

24. Scott Hamilton’s “court”

25. Gross National Product

28. Abundant

30. Bantoid language

35. Bakery unit

37. Cutlass maker

39. Two in eighteen

40. Milk’s favorite cookie

41. Muslim ruler honorific

43. Hyperbolic sine

44. Iranian money, pl.

46. Nancy Sinatra’s boots

47. Fill to satisfaction

48. *Certain Doodle

50. Argo’s propellers

52. Feather glue

53. Give temporarily

55. Porridge grain

57. *Roman firework

60. *”The Star-Spangled Banner”

63. Opposite of neo-

64. Glass margin

66. Continental money, pl.

68. Opposite of #17 Across

69. Go for the gold

70. “Silas Marner” author

71. Mexican money

72. Not yang 73. Down and out

DOWN

1. ____ constrictor, anagram

2. Word on a door

3. Duet plus one

4. Angry

5. Large California bird

6. Smelting waste

7. Stuff of inflation

8. Adagio and allegro, e.g.

9. German city on Rhine river

10. Con

11. Not of the cloth

12. Down with a bug

15. ____ someone ____ bed

20. Satirical publication, with The

22. Calligrapher’s purchase

24. *”From the ____ forest to the Gulf Stream waters”

25. *Old ____

26. Waterwheel

27. Hymn of praise

29. *Popular decoration

31. *”Rockin’ in the USA” band

32. Certain church member

33. Yiddish busybody

34. Theater guide

36. Kind of rock

38. Heroic tale

42. B on Mendeleev’s table

45. “Where ____ is heard a discouraging word...”

49. Sushi restaurant staple

51. Shiny cotton

54. High-strung

56. Car rack manufacturer

57. Charlie Chaplin’s prop

58. “Oh, my!”

59. Agrippina’s slayer

60. “I’ll second that”

61. Great Lake

62. State of mind

63. One in a litter

65. *King George ____

67. Farm structure