Marathon Weekly 23-0629

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THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.

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AAA forecasts more than 2.8 million Floridians will take at least one trip of 50 miles or more, between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. That’s 87,000 more holiday travelers than the previous record high, set last year. Nationally, travel figures are also expected to set new records.

Happy birthday to the greatest country on the planet! For a list of Fourth of July celebrations around the islands, see page 13

MARATHON CITY COUNCIL DIGS FOR ANSWERS ON PARK AND MARINA PROGRESS, BOAT RAMP ENFORCEMENT

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

The Marathon City Council wasted no time after a five-week break extended by hurricane evacuation modeling meetings earlier this month, diving into updates on ongoing projects of great interest to residents and a controversial building permit refund request at its June 27 meeting.

Following an extensive presentation briefing the council on the upcoming hurricane season and emergency preparedness efforts by Monroe County Emergency Management Director Shannon Weiner and National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist Jon Rizzo, the council turned to an extended update by Public Works Director Carlos Solis.

Among several other items, including ongoing processes to replace the bridges at 112th, 116th and 117th streets as well as the air conditioning system at City Hall, Solis said the city recently received a report analyzing the seawall and shoreline at the Quay property, now slated for redevelopment for upwards of three years. He called the condition of both “better than anticipated,” likely providing significant cost savings as the area is rehabilitated, and said consultants are in the process of assembling plans for

the partial repair of the shoreline and redevelopment of the park.

Solis also said plans for the redevelopment of Seven Mile Marina, acquired in late 2021 by the city, are in review by city staff and will be put out to bid following final revisions.

With the city receiving little response to its last few projects put out to bid, Solis also said the department will seek a Construction Manager at Risk for oversight of several upcoming projects, including bathrooms at the Quay property, part of the work at Seven Mile Marina and an office renovation at city hall that will create a secured reception area re-opened to the public. Such a system will allow the city greater ability to negotiate with contractors outside of an all-encompassing bid price.

Mayor Luis Gonzalez pressed Solis for greater clarity in each property’s timeline, saying there have been “very little to no upgrades” at the Quay property while the Seven Mile Marina still looks largely like “a fenced-off piece of abandoned property.”

“We’ve made the investment, and there’s not much return coming in on it now,” he said. “We need a better time frame, so that way we have answers for our constituents. … It’s just, ‘it’s coming, it’s coming,’ and we sound like a broken record.”

Solis attributed the delays to

extensive permit processing times with the Army Corps of Engineers – some of the city’s applications were submitted more than seven months ago – and a lack of realistic bids by contractors for the projects, many of which more than doubled the city’s budget for individual initiatives as the sole respondent. He and City Manager George Garrett also pointed to overlaps and conflicts between the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Department of Environmental Protection as the permits make their way through state systems.

Parking Fee Enforcement Draws Council’s Ire

An update on the city’s continued struggle to fully implement and enforce newly-enacted parking and usage fees at Sombrero Beach and Marathon’s public boat ramps left multiple council members frustrated with extended delays. While the fees officially took effect April 1, enforcement cameras provided by contracted parking compliance service Pave Mobility are still not installed or operational. Though Solis reported beach and boat ramp revenues at $91,154 for the month of May, with 150 citations issued at the time of his update, city staff have thus far been left to personally ensure compliance at each site, otherwise relying on an honor system for non-resident vehicles.

Addressing the council, Pave Mobility’s municipal division president Isaiah Mouw said the company has committed to provide a full-time employee for enforcement at Sombrero Beach given challenges with traffic in and out of numerous residential side streets in the area. He said that while the company expects to have enforcement cameras installed by July 15, he could not provide a definite timeline for when the cameras would be energized by local power utilities.

Vice Mayor Robyn Still and Gonzalez panned the months-long delay, stressing the system’s importance with lobster mini-season approaching and criticizing unnecessary hours spent by city staff at boat ramps.

“What (the monthly revenue) doesn’t show is the amount this doesn’t reflect because of lack of enforcement,” said Gonzalez, who asked for additional manpower provided by

continued on page 12

The Marathon City Council honored Marathon’s fire and EMS personnel at its June 27 meeting for their role in saving the life of a shark attack victim last month. ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly

Tuesday, July 4 Sombrero Beach, Marathon

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CHARTING A PATH

on the county. Meanwhile, County Administrator Roman Gastesi recently met with city managers throughout the Keys as the charter discussion rollout begins.

According to Shillinger, there was “general positivity” from city managers who wanted to learn more. Shillinger said the county is planning to visit commissions and councils up and down the Keys as early as September to present their intentions for a potential conversion to a charter county. Voters will have the ultimate say in whether Monroe should become a charter county. And then the question becomes whether county voters will support the penny surtax to fund transportation projects.

CHARTER COUNTY CONVERSATIONS

HIGHLIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING NEED

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Discussions among Monroe County officials over a potential transition to a charter county continued at a June 21 board of county commissioners meeting in Key Largo. Officials are examining the move to a charter county, which needs voter approval, in hopes to implement a 1-cent sales surtax, which also needs approval by voters, to fund expensive road and bridge projects on the horizon.

Currently, Monroe County is unable to levy a penny sales surtax to fund road projects, bridge overhauls and other transportationrelated expenses. That’s because Monroe is a non-charter county, isn’t a member of a regional transportation authority (RTA) and isn’t under an agreement with an RTA. Instead, non-charter governments can seek approval from state legislators to levy such a tax.

Requests by county officials to the Florida Legislature to implement a penny transportation tax, however, haven’t gained movement with Tallahassees’s unwillingness to burden Florida residents with another tax. A push to extend the charter county and regional system surtax to 47 non-charter counties didn’t gain momentum that supporters hoped to see during the legislative session. Many local governments are facing increased project costs for roads, transportation and transit systems.

Those costs are magnified in coastal communities, including the Keys, where king tide floods and heavy rainfall are wreaking havoc on local roads and communities like Twin Lakes and Stillwright Point in Key Largo. County officials are also seeking funds to replace aging Card Sound and Seven Mile bridges.

County Attorney Bob Shillinger informed three county commissioners in attendance at the June 21 meeting that staff is moving forward on putting together a charter, or written documents that confer power, duties and privileges

“If the voters would approve us being a charter county, the commission can’t just decide on their own to levy the transportation tax,” said County Commissioner Jim Scholl. “It has to go back out to the voters to approve. It’s an option that provides that availability to us. It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it, in my opinion.”

Key Largo resident John Millhiser expressed some concerns over the possible move to a charter county. While it could give the county the chance to levy a transportation surtax with voter approval, Millheiser said charter counties can also implement surtaxes on utilities like water and electricity. Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein said that’s not something the county is seeking to do, and Shillinger said the county isn’t contemplating such an action.

Millhiser believes that Monroe isn’t big enough to be a charter county. Five charter counties that adopted a transportation sales tax have a population averaging 1.8 million people.

“That’s 1.72 million people more than Monroe County,” he said.

Twenty of the 67 Florida counties operate under a charter, and Shillinger said three-quarters of the Florida population live within charter counties. Eighteen of the 20 charter counties have larger populations than Monroe County. The other two are Wakulla County, with 33,760 residents and Columbia County, with nearly 70,000 residents.

“It has historically been larger counties, but it’s not exclusively larger counties,” Shillinger said.

Charters in other counties allow county rules to preempt city rules, meaning the cities of Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Islamorada and Layton would lose their autonomy and be subject to the power of the county. But county officials have expressed they have no desire in interfering with other municipal operations. County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln reiterated that a move to potentially become a charter county isn’t a power grab by the county on local cities.

“We don’t want to preempt our municipalities. They are our partners. That is something I don’t have an appetite for creating our new charter,” she said.

Shillinger, who agreed with Lincoln, said language can be crafted as it relates to municipal preemption, requiring a supermajority of the referendum of county voters to approve any change to the provision that protects local municipalities.

“I’ve had conversations with the Polk County attorney; they have a 60% threshold for changes to their charter,” he said. “It’s never been challenged. We have 60% for state constitutional amendments, so I think 60% is clearly defensible.”

Card Sound Bridge is slated for replacement, according to Monroe County officials. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

Crews work on Card Sound Bridge. CONTRIBUTED

Pave Mobility until the cameras were operational. “The agreement was to have boat ramps covered by your company, and it’s not happening. … You need to come up with a game plan to get our boat ramps covered.”

Councilman Jeff Smith also expressed doubt in the cameras’ ability to accurately identify violators in areas with unconventional layouts and traffic patterns, a concern Mouw said should be rectified by personal review of each violator’s video footage, as detected by artificial intelligence through the cameras, before ticket issuance. Councilman Lynn Landry suggested additional overarching video surveillance at ramps as a way to confirm violations, pinpoint damages or vandalism and enforce additional restrictions, such as a two-axle trailer limit at the Harbor Drive boat ramp.

Developer’s Permit Fee Waiver Request Denied

In a split decision, the council elected to deny a request by developer Vestcor to waive building permit fees for its upcoming 124-unit affordable housing project, colloquially known as Seaview Commons, on Coco Plum Drive.

Speaking on behalf of Vestcor, attorney Bart Smith explained that the waiver in the requested amount of $196,014 would help offset expenses of $3.6 million incurred by the developer due to accrued interest and rising construction, insurance and miscellaneous costs while the project’s building allocations were affected by the Third District Court of Appeals’ 2022 revocation of 1,300 housing units across the Keys. Citing similar fee waiver practices more common in unincorporated Monroe County and Key West, Smith said Vestcor also intended to request a wastewater fee waiver of $496,186 in the near future for the project.

If the council had chosen to grant the waiver, as Finance Director Jennifer Johnson explained, the city would be required to transfer a matching amount from its general fund or affordable housing fund to its building fund, designated exclusively for reserves and expenses by the city’s building department. According to Johnson and Garrett, though the city granted a similar waiver in the past for a Habitat for Humanity housing project, the Seaview Commons waiver would have been the first of its kind granted by the city to a for-profit company.

“We’ve got tax money subsidizing this project (from the state) on top of this, and then we’re going to waive this and have to pay out of our funds to meet the state requirements,” said councilman Kenny Matlock. “Looking at the scale, it’s for profit. … The bigger developments make money, or they wouldn’t bother.”

“To look at the whole picture, these are extenuating circumstances,” said Landry. “We had allocations, they moved forward to build, and we no longer had allocations. They closed the loan, and they’re paying interest on something they can’t build. … Maybe you can say it’s our fault, because we issued something that got taken away.

“But we need to look at all sides of this. There’s a reason why builders don’t build affordable housing.”

The council voted 3-2 to deny the request, with Landry and Gonzalez in favor of the waiver.

In Other News

• Led by Still, the council recognized Marathon’s EMS and fire rescue personnel for their role in the treatment of a shark attack victim last month. Still said staff at Jackson South Medical Center’s trauma were so impressed by the work of Marathon’s crews that they called the city to compliment their life-saving measures, including administration of tranexamic acid to curtail the victim’s bleeding.

• Smith renewed his request to formalize agendas for the council’s monthly workshops in advance and review topics for each upcoming meeting at the council’s first session of each month. With July’s workshop earmarked for budget discussions, the August meeting’s tentative topics are the city’s code and land development regulations as well as workforce housing.

• Following complaints from the Sister’s Creek Townhomes regarding a business’ use of city right-of-ways on 25th Street for vehicle and trailer storage, the council agreed to add a parking discussion as a future workshop ordinance. Landry also renewed his request to examine a residential lighting ordinance throughout the city at a future workshop.

• As design firm K2M Design continues development of plans to revamp Marathon’s 33rd Street corridor, the council elected to postpone evaluation and consideration of an unsolicited public-private partnership proposal submitted by Chris Tel Construction to design, build and finance a replacement fire station on the street.

• Ordinance 2023-10, approved unanimously at its first public hearing, will alter language in Marathon’s code of ordinances throughout the city to better protect sea turtles with lighting regulations in areas near nesting sites. The change provides for closer alignment with a model ordinance from the state, enacted in 2020.

LEADERSHIP MONROE COUNTY

ANNOUNCES CLASS XXXI RECRUITMENT EVENTS

Leadership Monroe County, an educational nonprofit community leadership development organization, will hold recruitment and reception socials for Class XXXI, scheduled to begin this fall. Recruitment socials will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:

• Tuesday, July 18 in Key West at the Women’s Club, 319 Duval St.

• Wednesday, July 19 in Islamorada at Florida Keys Brewing Company, 200 Morada Way

• Thursday, July 20 in Key Colony Beach at the Key Colony Inn, 700 West Ocean Drive

During each get-together, a brief presentation will be given to introduce the program to interested community leaders. All are welcome for hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Established in 1992, Leadership Monroe County was developed to address the rapidly changing needs and concerns of the county, develop a group of well-educated leaders, help guide the community in a positive direction and foster countywide

effective and nonpartisan alliances. Through a series of single or multi-day sessions over seven months, participants examine the fundamental public and private segments throughout the county. These experiences help participants grow as Monroe County residents and leaders as well as provide invaluable connections among other leaders across the county.

For more information and a Class XXXI application, visit www. leadershipmonroecounty.org, email info@leadershipmonroecounty.org or call 305-394-3804 to speak with program coordinator Michael Shields. Applications will open July 1 and will be accepted until August 14.

CLASS XXXI (2023-24)

SESSIONS INCLUDE:

Sept. 29-30: Leadership, Tourism and the Economy in Key West

Oct. 13: Human Services in Key West

Nov. 10-12: The Environment in the Upper Keys and Everglades

Dec. 1: Government and Education in Key Largo

Jan. 12: The Military in Key West

Feb. 9: Health Care in Marathon

March 1: The Law in Key West

April 5: The Arts, Culture and Media in Key West

April 26: Emergency Management in Marathon

April 27: Graduation in Marathon

Leadership Monroe County Class XXX takes a tour of a Coast Guard ship during a day-long military education session in Key West. CONTRIBUTED

EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY IN THE ISLAND CHAIN

Local parades, beach parties, glittering fireworks and the creation of the world’s largest Key lime pie will highlight Independence Day celebrations throughout the Florida Keys. Highlights include:

KEY WEST

The Key Lime Festival features culinary and libation adventures Friday, June 30, through Tuesday, July 4, showcasing the tiny fruit that inspired Key lime pie, the Florida Keys’ signature dessert. The lip-smacking Key Lime Pie Eating Championship, the festival highlight, is set for 1:30 p.m. July 4 at the oceanfront Southernmost Beach Cafe at 1405 Duval St. Participants with their hands behind their backs must dive in face-first to devour an entire 9-inch Key lime pie faster than their rivals. The event is free for spectators and gates open at 11 a.m. Visit keylimefestival.com.

The Key West Mermaid Festival is filled with splish-splashing fun July 1-4 with interactive mermaid adventures in the island city. Events include a “sailing with the mermaids” sunset sail, a mermaid encounter at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center and an Ocean Blue Party with dancing by the sea. On July 4, bring the kids to enjoy donuts with mermaid Ariel and Prince Eric from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the beach at Lagerheads, 0 Simonton St.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., watch as mermaids perform for the cameras during a music video taping. A portion of festival proceeds will benefit Reef Relief’s efforts to protect the coral reef ecosystem. Visit keywestmermaidfestival.com.

Since 1976, the Rotary Club of Key West has presented the island’s annual Independence Day fireworks show. Staged from the Edward B. Knight Pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at 1800 White St., fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. Spectators can

view the spectacle from Smathers Beach, Higgs Beach, or from oceanside hotels and restaurants. Attendees can celebrate before the fireworks at a catered, ticketed “Patriotic Dinner Under the Fireworks” next to the pier at Indigenous Park, 1801 White St., starting at 7 p.m. Dinner proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Key West’s scholarship fund. Visit keywestrotary.com.

BIG PINE & THE LOWER KEYS

The public is invited to celebrate Monroe County’s bicentennial July 3 — 200 years to the day after the county’s 1823 establishment — with a family-friendly gathering from 5 to 10 p.m., hosted by the Lower Keys Rotary Club at Big Pine Community Park, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at the end of Sands Road. Highlights will include the creation and serving of the world’s largest Key lime pie, live music by Brian Roberts and the Prime Movers and others, a bounce house and games for kids, food trucks, beverages for sale, and a fireworks display and patriotic laser light show from a barge in the Gulf beginning at 9 p.m. Free parking for the event will be available at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce building, 31020 Overseas Highway, with a shuttle to the park beginning at 5 p.m. Admission is free but coolers, pets and personal fireworks are not allowed. Visit facebook.com/LowerKeysRotary.

MARATHON

In family-oriented Marathon, Sombrero Beach is the site of one of the Keys’ largest and longest fireworks displays, produced by the City of Marathon and the Rotary Club of Marathon. Spectators on land and hundreds of boaters traditionally line up for colorful views of the show. A full day of activities includes a patriotic parade starting at 11 a.m. from Marathon High School to the beach on Sombrero Beach Road, followed by food and

games. Fireworks will start at about 9 p.m., and US1 Radio 104.1 will play patriotic music along with the display. Boaters are encouraged to watch from the waters off Sombrero Beach. For more information, visit floridakeysmarathon.com.

ISLAMORADA

The Upper Keys Rotary Club hosts the Independence Day Celebration at Founders Park, MM 87 bayside, on July 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be food trucks, games, music and special events including an apple pie baking contest with judging at 6:30 p.m. and the Patriotic People & Pets Parade and Costume Contest at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin after sunset. On-site parking will be available for a suggested donation of $10 per vehicle. Proceeds benefit the Upper Keys Rotary Foundation. No coolers, glass containers or outside food are permitted, but attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Visit islamoradachamber.com or call 305-664-4503.

KEY LARGO

The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce will host the annual “Celebrating Freedom” Fourth of July parade from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The parade will begin at MM 98.2 in front of Anthony’s Clothing Store and proceed to Laguna Avenue near Key Largo Community Park. At about 9:45 p.m., the annual bayfront Blackwater Sound fireworks celebration will be held at Rowell’s Waterfront Park, MM 104.5 bayside. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Parking is limited, and organizers recommend spectators bring lawn chairs. The fireworks also can be viewed at several businesses located on the Bay. For more details, visit web.keylargochamber.org/events or call 305-451-1414.

WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD

Brothers

David and Danny Sandoval take the helm at Island Tire

Former Island Tire owners Ryan and Nicole Grego may be hitting the road after seven years with the business. But their shop isn’t going anywhere.

Enter new owners David and Danny Sandoval. Born in California and raised in Jalisco, Mexico, the two brothers acquired the road-trip-saving business on May 24. A 13-year Keys veteran and 10-year employee of Lazy Days South in Marathon, David said the opportunity presented itself shortly after Danny decided to join him in the Keys about two years ago.

“Danny recently moved from California, and he said ‘Hey, let’s look for something different to do besides the restaurant,’” said David. “We started looking for businesses, and we knew Nicole and Ryan from Lazy Days. … We’ve done tires in Mexico before, so we decided to make an offer and see what happens.”

Working side by side with the Gregos every day as the business prepares for a full transition, the brothers said they’re working to bring back the skills they learned in high school. But as they tell it, compared to their experience in Mexico, “it’s a lot easier (here). We have a lot of nice machines.”

The Sandovals aim to live up to the high standards of customer service set by Ryan and Nicole – Island Tire was a mainstay in one or more categories at the Best of Marathon awards in recent years – and say that for the moment, they plan to keep everything “business as usual.”

“We’re not trying to add anything to it yet,” said David. “Hopefully in the future, we can move to a different place or buy a location or something. But for now, we’re gonna try to keep it the same way it is.”

“The tough thing for them is that when we bought the business, it wasn’t as busy as it is,” Ryan said, adding that the shop currently works

through about 100 tires every week. “I don’t know that two people can do any more (than they are), and it’s tough to learn when it’s this busy.

“But I would say I’m a pretty hard worker, because you have to have a good work ethic for this job. I’m impressed with their work ethic, and I don’t say that lightly. We want this to continue on, and these guys are going to be great. They’re going to continue striving to take care of vacationers when they can, but their main focus is taking care of the locals.”

As for the Gregos, they’ll be hitting the road in an RV – presumably with brand-new tires – and traveling as Nicole continues to recover from health challenges over the last two years.

Give Island Tire a ring at 305-743-8755 for all tire-related needs. As stressed by the Sandovals, calling ahead to schedule appointments and maintaining a flexible schedule will help the eager new owners work through their learning curve.

Timplaru Emil

Former Island Tire owners Ryan and Nicole Grego, left, will pass the torch to brothers David and Danny Sandoval. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

“What an amazing seven years it’s been,” Nicole told the Weekly. “We are blessed beyond belief and appreciate each and every one of our customers, most turned friends. Their support means more than we could ever put into words, and we truly live in a great community. Now it’s time to pass the torch.”

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

HUMOR

Summers can be brutal. Aside from sweltering temperatures, an acute sense of melancholy has replaced the end of the NBA and NHL seasons, the Vanderpump reunion finale came and went like a whoopee cushion in the wind … and now the Hollywood writers strike has proven that even Guy Ritchie movies are unwatchable without the help of a creative assist.

With so little going on, our Top 10 creative well has gone dry, leaving us little inspiration to draw from outside of regurgitated content.

Basically, we are admitting our apathy, but found this week’s Top 10 in our archives, which does have some situational relevance based on current events in Russia. So here are our…

COLD WAR (OR COLD WARINSPIRED) MOVIES…

10. “Charlie Wilson’s War” (2007) — “Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing? / Well, tradition mostly.”

9. “Bridge of Spies” (2015) — “We have to have the conversations our governments can’t.”

8. “Red Dawn” (1984) — “But when you’re fighting in your own backyard, when you’re fighting for your family, it all hurts a little less, and makes a little more sense. Because for them, this is just a place. But for us, this is our home.”

7. “Miracle” (2004) — “That look like hockey to you? To me it looks like two monkeys trying to hump a football.”

6. “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) “Sir, do we get to win this time?”

5. “WarGames” (1983) — “Would you like to play a game?”

4. “Firefox” (1982) — “Don’t say anything. Your words would be useless, maybe even insulting. Just fly the damn plane.”

THE ANGLER’S OUTLOOK

Targeting yellowtail when the offshore bite gets tough

The offshore mahi bite has slowly but surely been getting better over the past couple of weeks. We have been seeing a lot of small, undersized fish inshore in depths of 600 feet, and having better luck with bigger, quality fish further offshore in water 1,000 feet or deeper.

My typical spread when I am trolling for mahi is a rigged ballyhoo in each outrigger and two three-inch artificial baits on the flatlines. So far this season, I have found that the majority of fish have been eating the smaller bait that mimic the flying fish we commonly find in the stomachs of our catch at the filet table.

Although the offshore bite and reef fishing have both been challenging, there are still plenty of great dinners to be had, including this black grouper.

BILL GILIBERTI/Keys Weekly

3. “Atomic Blond” (2017) — “I never worked for you. You worked for me. … Every false intel I gave you, a rip in the iron curtain. Every piece of intel you gave me, a bullet in my (f-ing) gun. I want my life back.”

2. “Hunt for Red October” (1990) — “Your sub captain’s going to make it to America, Mr. Ryan. And he’s going to die within sight of it.”

1. “Rocky IV” (1985) — “If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Aside from threats of violence and hate mail directed at our Top 10s, we do occasionally receive constructive feedback and ideas. This Top 10 was originally published in February 2022 and readers have since offered some additional nominations for “Best Cold War-Inspired Movies:”

“First Man,” “Spies Like Us,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” basically every 1980s Chuck Norris movie, “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Three Days of the Condor.”

Fishing on the reef has not been easy lately. A combination of irregular water sediment levels and uncommon currents from a variety of directions switching daily has made fishing difficult, but not impossible. The past couple of weeks have made anglers sharpen their skills and employ lightertackle tactics. Yellowtail snapper and black grouper have been our target species as we patiently wait for the mangrove snapper spawn to begin in mid-July.

When it comes to catching yellowtail snapper, the first order of business is to set up your chum slick. Positioned on the reef in 40 to 90 feet of water, place your boat up current from the area you would like to fish. Start by placing your frozen block of chum in your large mesh chum hoop. I suggest starting off with at least two sevenpound blocks of chum in the water, or you can use a 25-pound block, which will last you much longer and is more cost effective. Many fishermen also add oats to their chum slicks to help raise the fish off the reef, leading to a lower chance of getting caught on the bottom.

CAPT. BILL GILIBERTI

When targeting yellowtail snapper, I prefer to use a seven-foot light action rod paired with a 4500 series reel that is spooled with 12-pound monofilament.

Attached to your main line, I start off with a 20-foot section of 12-pound fluorocarbon leader and double the line through the eye of the hook. Weighted jigs such as yellowtail candy can be used and are effective, but I prefer to use a plain size 6 hook with a small piece of bait, so it drifts back with the chum. Peeled shrimp is the preferred bait to catch these snapper. According to FWC regulations, yellowtail snapper must be a minimum of 12 inches total length, measured from the front of the mouth to the tip of the tail. I prefer to release any fish smaller than 14 inches since there is not much of a filet on a smaller yellowtail snapper. The limit on this abundant fish is 10 per person.

is the owner and operator of Top Notch Sportfishing in Marathon. His passions include scuba diving and enjoying the natural beauty of the Florida Keys.

Yellowtail snapper is delicious when fried, broiled, baked, grilled, or sauteed and can be found in most local restaurants as fresh catch yearround. My personal favorite way to munch these fish is fried in a coconut batter dipped in a sweet Thai chili sauce.

Get out there and get tight!

SPORTS & MORE

WEMBANYAMA ENTERTAINS CROWD AS NBA’S NO. 1 DRAFT PICK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA: 1776-2023

RALPH MORROW

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

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

Don’t say you never heard of Victor Wembanyama. I wrote about the 7’5” Frenchman several months ago, previewing his selection as the No. 1 choice in the June 22 NBA draft. I didn’t know at the time which team would take him, but it turned out to be San Antonio.

Marty Smith, an ESPN announcer, was stationed in San Antonio, dressed for the occasion, as he entertained the crowd.

Wembanyama was at the Barclays Center in New York, where he was interviewed by ESPN’s Monica McNutt and his responses entertained the crowd. Later, a private plane took him to San Antonio, where a large and welcoming crowd cheered his arrival.

“Wemby,” as he’s called, was a pleasant choice, a good-looking Frenchman who speaks perfect English and plays perfect basketball, as demonstrated by the many films of him in action. Many basketball minds believe he’ll have no trouble turning the Spurs from an also-ran into a quality team.

The Miami Heat, on the other hand, were the 18th team to select in the draft, having finished in eighth place in the East when the playoffs began and finishing runner-up to champion Denver when it ended. That meant the Heat and team president Pat Riley were choosing well down the line. Of course, Riley and Co. still made good use of their selection. They picked Jaime Jaquez, a junior from UCLA, whom several analysts said would be perfect for the Heat. We’ll see. Having already included their second-round pick in an earlier deal, the Heat had no further selections.

Brandon Miller was selected No. 2 by the Charlotte Hornets, while Scoot Henderson, a 6’8” forward and a freshman at Alabama, went to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 3.

Henderson sparked conversation about the availability of Portland’s star Damian Lillard. If available, the Heat would be interested. However, the president of that team said strongly that Lillard was not available.

Next up to pick in the draft were the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons, who took twins Amen and Au-

sar Thompson in succession. They had been playing for the Overtime Elite. This will be the first time Amen and Ausar have played on different teams.

The Orlando Magic, picking sixth, took Anthony Black of Arkansas. After Indianapolis and Washington made their selections, Taylor Hendricks became University of Central Florida’s first selection for the first round. Hendricks was drafted in the No. 9 position by the Jazz.

If there was one pattern about this draft, it was that few college seniors were selected. Nearly all the drafted players showed their emotions by crying real tears. The mothers, wives or girlfriends of all the draft candidates did their best to out-dress — and outcleavage — each other.

Many of the players tried to get into the dressing competition. My vote would have gone to Scoot Henderson, whose suit was emblazoned with silver decorations.

There were also several trades made during the draft. Marcus Smart went from the Boston Celtics to Memphis. The deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston was finally completed, as was the one that sent Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors.

Next up for the executives and some players is the free agent grab bag, which opens June 30. Players who are not satisfied with the contract offered them, announce they are free agents and can be claimed for an agreeable salary. Both sides can think about it until an early July date, when they can sign the official papers.

Two hundred forty-seven years ago, our Founding Fathers put their reputations and lives on the line — literally — when they signed the document that in effect charted the course for a new nation. Adopted by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced to the crown that the thirteen American colonies were now independent states, no longer part of or bound to the British Empire. (The very faded original signed document, which was actually signed on Aug. 2, 1776, is part of our nation’s heritage and is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.)

While this Declaration was certainly a product of late 18th-century America, certain parts of it have become synonymous with basic human rights around the world:

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

While Thomas Jefferson is considered the principal author, the Declaration can be more likely attributed to a “Committee of Five” appointed by Congress on June 11, 1776: John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration was modified by the committee and eventually adopted on July 2, 1776.

John Adams, a signer and our second president, predicted that July 2 would become our national holiday. Because the final wording of the already-passed Declaration was approved on July 4, in large handwritten letters on the top of the document, our Independence Day is actually two days later than Adams originally believed it would be. Ironically, on the 50th anniversary of the final adoption of the declaration, July 4, 1826, both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. Their legacy, as well as all the Founders and early American patriots, is a nation and a people still worthy of celebration. As always, celebrate responsibly, and cast a thought or two back to the people who actually signed a document that closed with the following:

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appeal-

ing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Speaking of July 4, please come to Sombrero Beach for our big July 4 celebration! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marathon and the City of Marathon, this all-day festive beach event starts with a parade on Sombrero Beach Road, and moves to the beach. Come hungry and thirsty — the event features burgers, dogs, beer, soda and more being sold by Rotarians, and the money goes to local scholarships and charitable donations. There will be fun stuff for kids of all ages, as well as live music, and the best small-town fireworks display in America. See you at Sombrero on Independence Day!

— Find John’s music anywhere you download or stream your music. www. johnbartus.com • johnbartus.hearnow. com

A declaration heard ’round the world…

AARON BURDEN/Unsplash

John Bartus is a singer-songwriter and the former mayor of Marathon.

JOHN BARTUS

Victor Wembanyama, seen in 2022 playing for the Metropolitans 92 in France, was picked first in the NBA draft last week by the San Antonio Spurs. WIKIPEDIA/Contributed

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

DOLPHIN LINEMEN GET ‘DOWN-N-DIRTY’

Marathon players polish skills at camp

high school level and progress to the next level,” he said, adding that the mixture of high school and college coaches running the event would also benefit him in the coming season. “Being taught by both really opened my eyes to how the next level is coached and how to prepare myself.”

The camp aims to develop techniques critical to becoming a solid lineman, focusing on both the physical and psychological factors involved in the process. Ed Garcia’s brother Braulio, who will be a junior next season, took away a bit of the latter, explaining that he learned, “Even small people can still be ‘dogs’ and punish people who are bigger than them.”

NAIMA THOMAS

On June 20, nine Marathon football players made the trek to Webber International University just outside of Lake Wales to attend the Down and Dirty Lineman Camp. The skills camp is designed to take good offensive and defensive linemen and develop them into great ones. Marathon’s “mules,” as termed by the camp for the linemen’s ability to carry the load for a team, often put in the work and get little glory, but it is these linemen who can ultimately determine the success or failure of a team.

The players endured a grueling schedule over the three-day camp, with multiple daily practice sessions. The schedule did not discourage the young athletes, though. “It takes a lot of hard work to get good at something,” said upcoming junior Nolan O’Hare.

O’Hare, described as a “high-energy player” by coach Sean McDonald, is relatively new to football, joining the team in the spring after baseball and going “all-in” ever since.

Upcoming sophomore Eduardo Garcia decided a while ago that he was going to put forth whatever it took to make it to the collegiate level. Garcia is a studious athlete who pays attention to detail and is willing to put in the extra effort to improve. He used the camp to gauge his progress thus far.

“The biggest takeaway I had … was seeing the competition and seeing where I needed to be to be elite at the

Fellow junior Robert Petrick suffered a setback last fall, breaking his wrist early in the ’22 season. Undeterred, Petrick returned for spring ball and attended the camp. He felt his mantra – “No matter how hard it gets, never quit” – was reinforced by the staff, who he also said instilled the concept of “working together to get better.”

Throughout the camp, the athletes worked on drills to improve stances, starts, trapping, double teams, pass blocking, gap control, pursuit, tackling and many other skills. On the final day, the players engaged in a competition to determine the top athletes in the skills taught. Sophomore Steven Stotts was particularly adept at pass rushing, finishing at the top of his group’s challenge in that skill. Teammates Matthew Delgado, another rising sophomore, and the Garcia brothers turned heads in high-speed pass-blocking drills. The three-man team beat out many challenging groups with their teamwork and athleticism.

Marathon head coach Sean McDonald understands the value of well-coached, highly-trained linemen, having played that role himself.

“The linemen are the foundation for a team,” he said. “Marathon is a small school. We are always going to have a small core of good players, but if we build the skills and develop a couple more, we will win a lot more games. A team with good linemen will always be a contender.”

Football season officially begins July 31, when schools may schedule their first non-contact practices. Aug. 25 marks the start of competition.

Junior, Key West Cross Country

Key West’s Naima Thomas is the sort of athlete who makes coaching a joy. As a freshman, she proved to be an up-and-coming track star with natural speed, making her an exciting prospect for the Conchs in the sprinting events. She then took her speed and added some major miles last fall on coach Keara McGraw’s cross country team.

“Naima shows up with a great attitude, works hard, and is always striving to be better,” McGraw said of Thomas, who dropped several minutes from her 5K time and helped propel the Conchs to regionals in 2022.

When cross country season closed, she hit the track again, focusing on longer distances and helping her 4x800m relay team reach regionals too. With her usual determination and focus, Thomas has been putting in the miles this summer to prepare for fall’s cross country season. For her dedication to her sport and her team coupled with an unmatchable work ethic, Naima Thomas is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Naima Thomas midway through the FHSAA 2A Region 4 cross country championship race in 2022. RICK MACKENZIE/Contributed

Marathon linemen at the Down and Dirty Camp. Back, from left: Christopher Paul, Robert Petrick, Kenny Barry, Nolan O’Hare, Alejandro Gonzalez-Gamez. Front: Matthew Delgado, Braulio Garcia, Eduardo Garcia. TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly

“Naima has been a great asset to the Conchs cross country team. She’s got a great attitude and is a phenomenal cheerleader for her fellow teammates, always providing encouragement to everyone around her.”

— Keara McGraw, Conchs cross country coach.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

THE 2023 KEYS WEEKLY ALL-KEYS SOFTBALL TEAM

Key West’s Lady Conchs put the gentlemen on notice the past two seasons, and the Southernmost City is now a double diamond dynasty. The Conchs finished their season 19-4, winning their district and regional championships and making their way to the final four teams in the state for the second consecutive year. Three from the Lady Conchs’ roster signed letters of intent to play collegiately next spring. Marathon finished with a winning 8-6 record, but lost in the first round of district playoff action. The Dolphins split with the Coral Shores Hurricanes, each winning one at their home field, while Coral Shores finished 6-7. The independent ’Canes do not participate in district postseason play.

From our staff at the Keys Weekly, congratulations to the 2023 All-Keys Softball Team.

MIESHA HERNANDEZ Senior, Key West 3B/Pitcher

On a team of standout players, Key West’s Miesha Hernandez found a way to shine even brighter. The St. Thomas University-bound Hernandez led her team in multiple categories, including RBIs with 27 and home runs with three this season. Hernandez scored 28 runs on 28 hits, which included seven doubles and three triples in addition to balls she sent over the fence. Her .385 batting average stands by itself as a solid stat, but her big bat boosted her slugging percentage to .684, leading wise opponents to pitch around her and giving her the team’s top spot in walks with 11 this season.

ALLISON GARCIA Junior, Marathon Pitcher

Team captain and starting pitcher

Allison Garcia won six games on the mound for the Fins this season, chalking up 96 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Garcia batted .342 and drove in 17 runs, making her both an offensive and defensive threat.

ELENA EUBANK Sophomore, Marathon Infielder

Elena Eubank amassed a .421 batting average and on-base percentage of .511 while also chalking up 13 RBIs. The hard-hitting sophomore slammed five triples this season, making her one of the Dolphins’ top hitters. Defensively, Eubank makes big plays while holding down the infield for Marathon.

SAGE BROWN Junior, Marathon Infielder

Sage Brown moved to Marathon just in time for softball season and made an immediate impact. The junior stole eight bases this season, scored 23 runs, batted .361 and had an on-base percentage of .511.

Freshman, Coral Shores

Shortstop

Tiedemann’s fielding skills made her a reliable shortstop for the Hurricanes defensively. Offensively, she led the ’Canes in hitting, batting .350 on the season. The freshman phenom has three more years to develop further for Coral Shores.

IVY TIEDEMANN

MVP

Marathon photos by Barry Gaukel. Key West photos by Ella Hall. Coral Shores photos contributed.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

MIRA JONES

Freshman, Coral Shores Left Fielder

Hurricane outfielder Mira Jones gave her team everything she had this season, improving both offensively and defensively as the season progressed. The hard-working freshman made huge strides, making her an asset to the ’Canes’ roster.

DHARMA MURRAY

Senior, Key West Catcher

Dharma Murray did a stellar job covering the plate this season with a nearperfect .984 fielding percentage. The USF-bound catcher batted .306 this season, racking up 22 hits including five doubles and 21 RBIs.

SCARLET NILES

Junior, Key West Center Fielder

Niles led the Lady Conchs in hits this season with 37, including five doubles and three triples. Her .457 batting average struck fear in opposing teams’ pitchers, and once she made it to base, that fear transferred to the rest of the defense – Niles stole 16 bases in her 2023 campaign.

NEVAEH ARNOLD

Junior, Key West Pitcher

Arnold boasts a 2.70 ERA, winning nine games for the Lady Conchs this season. She led the team in strikeouts with 55, and on the rare occasion that she was called to the plate, Arnold delivered there as well, earning one hit and a season batting average of .500.

ISABELLA FRANCO

Senior, Key West Second Base

Isabella Franco batted .475 this season, logging a whopping 29 hits for the Lady Conchs. Her .536 on base percentage was one of the team’s best and in the field, she earned a .958 fielding percentage including a double play this season.

MADELYN PERUSSE

Senior, Key West Right Fielder

Perusse was a skilled outfielder for the Conchs, but it would be her offensive play that made her a standout this season. With six doubles, a triple and a home run to her credit, the .403-hitting senior also stole 10 bases and is credited with 17 RBIs. Her extra base hits boosted her slugging percentage to .567.

CHLOE GILDAY

Junior, Key West Pitcher

Gilday was perfect on the mound this season for the Conchs, winning all six of her outings. Her 2.07 ERA was Key West’s best, and of the 229 batters brave enough to face her, 54 of them struck out.

TY MARIE CERVANTES

Senior, Key West Shortstop

With 26 hits including a home run to her name, it is not surprising that Cervantes was signed by Miami Dade College to play ball there next spring. Her .382 batting average included five doubles, and she stole five bases this season.

FUNDIN’ THE MISSION OF FISHIN’

On June 17, organizers of the Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament presented a $10,000 check to Mission Fishin’. Established in 2014, the organization focuses on providing memorable fishing trips and other marine adventures for special needs children, foster children and their families who would not otherwise have the opportunities. The 2023 contribution, raised through proceeds from the 83-angler April tournament, matched the inaugural tour-

nament’s donation of $10,000 in 2022.

“With the help of the participants and donors, we can positively impact the lives of special needs children and their families,” said tournament organizer Katie Lewis. “Thanks to the funds we've raised, Mission Fishin' can now reach out to Stanley Switlik Elementary School's principal to focus on improving the lives of families living right here in Marathon.” CONTRIBUTED

WEDNESDAY

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FREELY AUTHENTIC

week where I wake up every day.”

“Places like Porky’s (Bayside Restaurant) – that restaurant will turn over four times in my threehour gig, and I get an entire room of people to tell stories and talk to,” he said. “I don’t have to go out into crowds and pretend to be somebody I’m not, and I don’t ever have to put on a show face. And I don’t sell anything – I make my money playing live, and when I put music out there, I put it out there because I want people to have it.”

Cory Young doesn’t carry himself like a musician who’s shared stages with the Coral Reefer Band. He doesn’t boast about the fact that 10-time CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally has graced his recordings. He doesn’t even brag about the fact that he’s kicked cancer’s … well, a word we can’t print here.

On the contrary, he’s more than happy to pull up a chair after one of his sets and strike up a conversation with anyone about anything, from ChatGPT to the history of absinthe – no, really, take it from us. And although he’s cemented himself as one of the most talented entertainers in the Keys, he doesn’t charge a dime for his music.

The winding story that brought the tunesmith from Hawaii to Michigan to Nashville (twice) and around the country on a national tour in between two stints in Boot Key Harbor could fill this page on its own. Now on his second stay in the Keys, beginning right before the 2020 pandemic, he “(doesn’t) really have any desire to leave.”

“I don’t want to be Kenny Chesney. I don’t want to be Jimmy Buffett,” he said, still respectfully acknowledging his major influences while enjoying the shade at Grassy Key’s Bongos Cafe before his nightly gig. “If I had a lot of money, I’d be a dick. I just know that about myself. Not by normal standards, but I wouldn’t make the same decisions that I do now.

“The vibe I’ve got is like the working man’s broke Buffett. … (Jimmy) is the root of creating this whole lifestyle, but when he left and was on big mega yachts and flying on jets, now you’ve lost the authenticity that to me is the most important thing in life.”

The concept of authenticity, especially in a world invaded more and more each day by deepfake and A.I. technologies, continually resurfaced over the course of Keys Weekly’s interview with Young that lasted nearly an hour. For him, the ability to continually pen and release songs that draw from the true essence of the lifestyle that he lives to this day – rather than hopping on a plane and writing a song in Nashville after a week’s vacation in the Keys – drives his artistic focus.

And even with record deals and opportunities to share major stages around the country over the decades, Young said his happiness comes from living “humbly and simply” – as he pointed to his 2013 Kia “with metal straps holding the fender on.”

Where some would tire of bar gigs with repetitive setlists, Young tests himself each night with wildly varied combinations of songs – infusing his core trop-rock sets with anything from Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” to Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” – and creates differing acoustic tapestries woven from the same basic tune. For him, the beauty of his musical career today lies in the energy from his crowds each night, most of whom “work all year to spend one

Young’s outlook on life moving forward can be summed up by the title track from his 2016 album, “Life Looks Best,” now also a pervasive hashtag on his social media.

“The song says ‘life looks best from a bar in Key West,’ but the slogan means that life looks best wherever you’re happy,” he said.

Pressed to pinpoint his “I Made It” moment in an industry that so many define with benchmarks of record sales, highdollar purchases and mainstream awards, Young’s explanation was perfectly simple:

“My goal is to have enough money that I can take my wife out to dinner and not worry about it, but never have enough that I don’t think about the bill. I’m comfortable enough to take care of my modest needs without worry.”

To follow Young’s schedule and discover his music for yourself, visit facebook.com/coryyoungmusic or search for “Cory Young” on your favorite streaming platform.

“I don’t want fans. I just peoplewant who want to hear music.”

CORY YOUNG SAYS ‘LIFE LOOKS BEST’ WITH A DRINK IN HIS HAND, THE WATER AT HIS BACK, AND A BAR FULL OF LISTENING EARS

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Bar gigs in the Keys mean that more often than not, Young’s two biggest fans can attend: his wife Jessica, and his dog Snickerdoodle. CONTRIBUTED

No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to spotlight our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.

This week’s neighbor is a proud supporter of the Keys’ (un)official pastime. You can find Erich Cochrane at the newly-revamped Banana Bay Resort’s Pointe Bar, where he slings drinks for guests after a day on the water and sets the scene for a perfect sunset.

ERICH COCHRANE Bartender, Banana Bay Resort

How did you end up in the Keys? The resort I was working at was being remodeled, so I originally came down to Hawks Cay in 2020. I came over to Banana Bay on April 10 of this year.

What’s your hype song? “Favorite Song” by Toosii. The worst song is “Let It Go” from Frozen.

If there was one chore you could never do again, what would it be? Laundry.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I’m jumping out of an airplane next week.

Would you rather: A) every stoplight you come to for the rest of your life is red when you first get there, or B) once per year you turn into a loaf of bread for 24 hours. I’d rather turn into bread, I’m not stopping.

Have you ever had a brush with death? We were motoring a barge on the intercoastal. Everything went black and I fell over the side of the barge. I was floating unconscious for a minute. I was in the hospital for two days, and every test came back negative. I actually woke up in the water (when it happened), and I went, “Where’s my sunglasses?”

What’s your most embarrassing moment? Waking up after a drunken stupor and not knowing where I was at. I didn’t even know what town I was in. I lived in Seminole, and I woke up in Clearwater.

Any weird food combinations you love? Totino’s pizza with parmesan cheese and Cool Whip. We did that back in the day when we were good. It’s so good. It’s Ninja Turtles, bro.

What’s your best “hot take?” Check out my Facebook. There are plenty on there.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? From my mom: Don’t be silly, wrap the willy.

What’s your superpower? I can remember everyone’s names after the first time I meet them.

CAPRICE

1-year-old female domestic shorthair.

Looking for: Plenty of snuggles. I love attention. Turnoffs: I am glad to be off the streets – I’m a housecat for life.

SWIPE RIGHT

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

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

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

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

IRIS

2-year-old female shepherd.

Looking for: Let’s go for walks and play ball.

Turnoffs: Being confined.

NEMO

3-year-old female domestic shorthair.

Looking for: I had eye problems as a kitten. Can you look past that?

Turnoffs: Being without my sister Dory.

Spotlighting the amazing individuals who live and work in the Middle Keys

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Keys Ocean Vacation Rentals

Inspections before and after guests allow us to keep the house in optimal shape.

10035 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050 305-735-4095 Ext. 2

www.KeysOceanVacationRentals.com

SWEET SAVANNAH’S GETS THE WILEY TOUCH

The “Garden Room” at Sweet Savannah’s of the Florida Keys is home to a gorgeous new tropical shorescape, courtesy of local art teacher and muralist Shannon Paul Wiley. Blending more than 30 colors over 24 working hours, Wiley incorporated ideas – and in some cases, even direct handiwork – from the ice cream shop’s customers and staff members as he created his final product, bringing his mural count throughout the Marathon community close to a dozen. “It’s called the Garden Room, and (owner Kate Koler) said she wanted something to make it speak to that,” Wiley said. “I sketched out a few ideas, and she gave me a lot of freedom to do what I thought. She wanted it to be more of a tropical garden than the Keys, so I added a royal poinciana and red mangroves to give it a Keys feel, but it’s like you’re in a garden looking out.” Those interested in Wiley’s art or speaking about a custom piece can email shannonpwiley@yahoo.com or call 772-979-3713. ALEX RICKERT/Keys

Weekly

KEYS ROTARIAN BECOMES ‘KENTUCKY COLONEL’

Keith Douglass, past president of the Rotary Club of Marathon and past Rotary assistant governor, became the 11th Kentucky Colonel in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. Rotary International and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels have much in common. The “toast” to new colonels reflects what the order, started in 1813 by a colonel in the Kentucky Regiment, stands for. Worldwide, it has thousands of members, who must have distinguished themselves in local, state, national and foreign activities. Membership is granted by the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Andy Beshear. Presenting the award are, from left, Colonel Jeffrey Berger; Colonel Roberto Munoz, scout executive/CEO of the South Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America; Colonel Keith Douglass, commander of the South Florida Chapter of the Kentucky Colonels and president of the South Florida Council Boy Scouts of America; and Colonel Roy Gonas, past district governor of Rotary District 6990. CONTRIBUTED

PAY IT FORWARD

GAVE AWAY $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

TO MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2023!

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF THESE AMAZING LOCALS!

Amanda Bowers of Marathon Laundry, Vivian & Randy Culmer of Marathon Seawalls and Docks, Jessica & Nick Borraccino of Nor’easter Sport shing, Teri & Don Hiller of Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate, Kris & Hal Schuhmacher Law o ces, Merlou Robinson, Bob Glazer, John and Kathy Hunt, Tom Matthews , Candy Finches, Larry Smorgala, John Mahoney, Jonathan Murphy, of Florida Keys AC, Ryan Banks of Tru Temp, Jack Carlson of Two Conchs, Lynn O. Goodwin of Key Colony Beach Realty, Ryan Elwell Royal Furniture, Heidi Berka of Morton Street Properties, Andrew Sharf, Brian Cheddar Geitz, Massaro family of 3rd Generation Plumbing, Aimee & Paul Kornetti of Bike Marathon Bike Rentals, Wendy Bonilla of WEB Cleaning, John Sheppard of Brass Monkey, Andrew George and Pavel Blanco of Design Center, Kristen Locklin, Kim & Mike Show of Island Time Boats, John & Angela Strama of Mermaid Adventures, Debra & John Grill of Grill Construction, Matt & Caroline Anthony of Sparky’s Landing, Tom & Kelly Norris of Keys Tile, Kim & Chuck Caton of Caton Aluminum, Kim & Bob Roney of Captains Hook Marina, Collin Angermann & Baelee Pettry of O

The Hook Charters, Simone & Mike Payne of Dockside, Lisa Joseph of Key Colony Beach Realty, Alex & Michelle Perez of Alex Landscaping, Shirley & Pete Demaras of Herbies Bar and Chowder House, Charlie Brown of AE South, Bert & Milly Perez of Keyscation, Ryan Wohlers, Thomas & Ti any Wohlers, Freds Beds thank you again!!

COMMERCE CORNEr

Established in 1951, Matt Pitcher has been working with American Income since early 2023 providing numerous life insurance policies including Whole Life, Term and Supplemental Health insurance to the Florida Keys. Pitcher says the key to his success is trust and service. "The customer will always be able to talk with me. I sit down with them and go over all options. They do not have to do it online with someone far away just working with numbers who may not have their best interest in mind" said Pitcher. While licensed in most states, Pitcher's office is located in Marathon.

Matt Pitcher

704.201.0622

mpitcher@zuzick.com

... 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 had to be in Miami for a thing, and then we noticed that The Beths, the kickass quartet from Auckland, New Zealand, were playing in Orlando, which was only another three-and-a-half hours or so of driving. So we decided to go see them. Once you make it to the mainland, nothing seems very far. Also, there was the chance of seeing a megararity on the way back, a once-in-a-generation bird, and something I hadn’t had for close to a year: a lifer.

The Beths played such a great set that my wife’s migraine receded as soon as they dug into their first song. They played such a great set that I bought one of their albums on vinyl, even though I currently have no way to play it. (If you’ve been wasting your life and haven’t listened to The Beths, start with “Future Me Hates Me” – both the album and the song.) Also, I’ve been convinced for a while that at least a couple members of the band are secret birdwatchers.

The next morning, bellies full of Waffle House, ears still ringing, choruses still echoing in our brains, we headed south again, though, perhaps, not in the most direct route.

Unless there is some sort of dire need for expedience, I avoid interstates in Florida the same way I avoid pineapple on pizza. I prefer to take what William Least Heat Moon called the blue highways. It might take an hour or two longer, but you feel much less shabby at the end. Also, you have a much better chance of seeing interesting mainland birds, such as swallowtailed kites, wood storks, sandhill cranes and crested caracaras.

Usually, coming from Orlando, we take U.S. 27, and go from the city’s urban and suburban sprawl to the orange groves of the Lake Wales Ridge, to the cattle lands around Lake Okeechobee, to the sugarcane fields south of Clewiston, to the Miccosukee Casino and Tamiami Trail. From there it’s Krome Avenue to Homestead to U.S. 1 to home.

But as U.S. 27 started drifting eastward along Lake Okeechobee, we kept going due south, passing through La Belle, which seemed like an artsy little town, and Imokolee, which is all about the agriculture, before heading to the place where the rare bird was said to be: Ave Maria.

A large-billed tern seen recently near Ave Maria, Florida. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

TRYING TO LAND A HAIL MARY AT AVE MARIA

The rare bird was a large-billed tern, a South American species known for its love of fish and for, well, its large bill. Until recently, the species had only been recorded in North America three times – twice in the 1950s in the Midwest and once in the late ’80s in the Meadowlands of New Jersey. But then on June 1, two separate large-billed terns were spotted in Florida. One was at the T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area — in the general zone of Vero Beach and Yeehaw Junction. The other was at Ave Maria.

The tern at the waterfowl management area might have seemed less out of the way if it didn’t require a 6-mile walk in each direction.

Ave Maria is a bit unique. It was founded and built from scratch in 2007 by Tom Monaghan, famous for also founding Domino’s Pizza and owning, for a time, the Detroit Tigers. It was a planned community for conservative Roman Catholics, surrounding Ave Maria University, a private Catholic university. Monaghan initially said the town would ban the sale of birth control and cable channels that showed pornography, though he backed off those plans when, as it turns out, it was illegal to do so.

In an interview with CNN at the time, Monaghan stated that in 10 years there would be 11,000 homes and 25,000 residents in the town, with 5,000 students at the university.

When I first visited there around 2009, the entire downtown, which surrounds a modern cathedral called the Ave Maria Oratory, had been built, but not many people had moved in yet, so the storefronts were filled with cardboard cutouts of people.

Growth hasn’t come the way Monaghan expected. A press release from April of this year announced that they passed the mile mark of selling their 4,000th home. The 2020 census lists 6,242 residents. In 2021 the university had a total of 1,245 students. It’s hard to find any mention of Catholicism on Ave Maria’s current website.

But there is a town there, with lots of sidewalks, golf carts and rows of near-identical houses.

I was a little worried as we pulled onto Pope John Paul II Boulevard. The bird had been reported in about 50 different micro-locations in the area, spread out over a couple miles –mostly out near the access road, but also near the fire station, on one of the golf courses, and in the surrounding farm fields. There were multiple constellations of red flags on the eBird map. Also, the thing I may not have stressed to my wife before we took the extended version of the extended route home, was that it hadn’t been reported in three or four days.

I took a left at the first intersection, which had curb cuts and whatnot, but which was really a rutted dirt road that led down to a couple acres of scarified land – bright, glaring dirt –and some huge puddles, no doubt enhanced by the bands of rain we’d driven through. I wasn’t expecting any wildlife, but there were about 75 black-bellied whistling-ducks.

It was going to be hot out there, so I sat in the AC and pulled out my phone to orient myself to the dots on the map versus the real world. Then I looked out the windshield and noticed a shape – a tern – sitting on an island of mud at the edge of one of the huge puddles.

It can’t be that easy, I thought, and I grabbed my binoculars. Even through the distortion of the windshield, it was clear the bird had long, dark primaries, gray secondaries, a cap that looked similar in shape to a medieval monk’s threadbare headgear, and a mostly yellow bill that was very large as tern bills go. Boom. The large-billed tern.

Some days the world conspires to make your life a little easier. It’s a good idea to accept those seeming miracles when they happen.

MARK HEDDEN

HOLIDAY HALTS PIPE PROJECT

FIXING THE PLUMBING

PLUS, A CAT CAFE NEARS OPENING IN KEY LARGO

Hi friends!

roof on the back part of our enclosure and installed a new door for Libby and Louie that is much more secure if they ever need to be kept indoors for safety. So, at the end of the day things got done. But let’s not do it again, ever.

Construction crews continue to lay new water pipes into the ground in Islamorada. The work will stop during the busy Fourth of July, however, with heavy congestion expected on U.S. 1 in the village.

On June 26, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority stated that crews will halt work on the transmission main replacement project and suspend the rolling lane closure near MM 82 on Tuesday, July 4. Between 1,000- and 1,500-foot sections of U.S. 1 have been closed off to motorists to allow crews to install the new 36-inch pipe into the ground. Two lanes of traffic remain open despite the rolling lane closure.

Workers have installed more than 8,000 feet of new pipe as of June 22. The work began in April as crews installed about 900 feet of 42-inch pipe under the seabed at the Tea Table crossing to mitigate any wear from high winds and storm surge. The roughly 4 miles of new pipe being placed between MM 80 and MM 84 in the village is protected against corrosion and climate effects, according to FKAA. Project costs are around $42 million.

Installation of the new pipe is expected to last through February 2025, but FKAA said traffic issues will be lessened by March 2024. Work will halt for upcoming major holidays and events, including lobster mini-season, from July 26-27, and Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-4.

— Keys Weekly staff report

REEF THE FOX

Reef is a red fox that was saved from a fur farm. He now lives in Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro.

Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” This past week has been an eventful one — not necessarily in a good way. We had a major plumbing disaster in our house, so that meant that the other foxes and I had to be locked out of our bedroom while the plumbing company came in and worked their magic.

Apparently, cast iron pipes have a shelf life – who knew? I mean, how would I know that? It’s just been a major inconvenience for me personally. I am used to my routine and when that routine gets interrupted I can get extremely cranky. Shocking, I know. I would like to give a huge shoutout to Townsend Plumbing, though. They have been extremely respectful of the house and of the foxes specifically. Little Coral fox even made a new friend with Daniel the plumber. She likes to score brownie points.

Needless to say, everyone has been a little on edge with all of the unexpected chaos but it is all coming to an end and things are getting cleaned up around here. Our friends at HR Carpenters had to come back over the weekend and fix part of the porch that was dug up. They even put a new

Little Ridley fox is growing up quickly. Mom thought it was a good idea to introduce him and me last week. I did not like the idea but I was as nice as I could possibly be, and that means I didn’t hurt him. I’m slowly warming up to the idea that he is here to stay. I chased him around the other morning until we were both exhausted. See, with me, your favorite fox, it’s all about timing.

There are certain times of the day where I am more approachable and since my mother knows me so well, she is skilled at bringing the baby fox back when I am in a good mood. I would imagine in the next few weeks he will be living with us foxes full-time in the back, so I will just enjoy the time I have left before that happens, I suppose.

Some exciting news for the Upper Keys: The Upper Keys Humane Society is getting ready to open the only cat cafe in Monroe County. The newly renovated “old” building where residents are used to walking in and being greeted by staff and the front office has been transformed into a cat cafe. Colorful paintings on the walls with enrichment ramps, platforms and perches have been set up for the variety of cats and kittens that are all available for adoption. Be sure to stay up to date on when the grand opening will be and make sure to head over and support them when it does. Anywho, that’s all for this week. Stay up-to-date with all-things-fox by heading to our website at pawstivebeginnings.org

Until next time, Reef, over and out!

Daniel from Townsend Plumbing greets Coral the fox. CONTRIBUTED

Construction crews place a new 36-inch pipe into the ground in Islamorada. FKAA/Contributed

FILLING THE GAPS FOR MORE TRACKS

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY

LOCALS WARNED FLAGLER OF PERILS ASSOCIATED WITH DAM BETWEEN ISLANDS

The Bahia Honda railroad bridge is one of the iconic sights in the Florida Keys.

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.

Because of its truss design, and the way it was elevated over the water, it stands out like no other bridge in the Keys.

Two bridges of a similar truss design were incorporated into the OverSea Railroad, the Bahia Honda Bridge and the swing portion of the Moser Channel Bridge on the old Seven Mile Bridge that could be swung open to allow boats to pass.

However, it should be noted that the Long Key Viaduct deserves special mention.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a viaduct as “a long elevated roadway usually consisting of a series of short spans supported on arches, piers or columns.” A viaduct design was used to build 26 railroad bridges between Lower Matecumbe Key and Key West. Out of all the bridges connecting Miami to Key West, it is the likeness of the Long Key Viaduct represented on Florida East Coast Railway logos and that of the Monroe County Library System.

A viaduct offered a more stable

design than those bridges built of wooden trestles like the ones created to cross the shorter expanses between islands in the Upper Keys. One of the things that using a viaduct or trestle bridge did was allow for the free passage of water below the tracks. Unfortunately, Mr. Flagler’s men did not fill every gap between the islands with viaducts or trestles.

Several gaps between the islands were closed using fill to create land to build the railroad tracks that delivered the train to Key West. In some places like Windley Key, the gaps were short enough that it was easier to fill them rather than to build a bridge to cross them. For instance, before Flagler’s men arrived, there were two islands in the Upper Keys called the Umbrella Keys. Once the railroad crew did their job, the narrow pass separating the Umbrella Keys was joined by fill to create a single island, recognized as Windley Key today.

Other railroad fill projects, like the one connecting Upper and Lower Matecumbe Keys, were of a grander design. The engineers created a land bridge between the two islands that measured 2.2 miles long. At the time, it is said that locals warned Flagler’s workers of the perils of essentially erecting a dam between the two islands. They knew what they were talking about.

One of the results of the causeway was that it obstructed the natural flow of water between the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay. One of its effects was that it redefined the shallows between the two islands and those surrounding

the small 11-acre Indian Key located one mile offshore. Indian Key, by the way, was once the most important island in the Florida Keys not named Key West. One of its predominant features was a relatively deep, naturally occurring harbor. Thanks to the damming effect of the causeway, silt began to build up around the island, and the natural harbor filled up and disappeared. The causeway did other things, too.

When State Road 4A, the first version of the Overseas Highway, officially opened to traffic in 1928, it offered an incomplete road between Key West and the mainland. It was possible to drive a car from Miami to Key West, but the trip required a four-hour ride aboard an automobile ferry that departed twice daily, at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The road traveled through the Upper Keys and across the 2.2-mile causeway to Lower Matecumbe Key, where the road ended at the island’s west end. It picked up again 40 miles away at No Name Key.

The automobile ferry was not terribly convenient, and plans were made to build a series of concrete bridges between Lower Matecumbe and Big Pine to eliminate it. Hundreds of World War I veterans were brought to the Keys from 1934-1935 and housed in three work camps. Camp 1 was established on Windley Key. Camps 5 and 3 were created on Lower Matecumbe Key. The three camps housed 700. The influx of workers essentially doubled the population of the Upper Keys.

The year 1935 was a seminal year in the Florida Keys. It was Sept. 2, 1935 when the Category 5 Labor Day

Hurricane ravaged the island chain and drove the final nail into the coffin of the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway. That horrible Monday was the last time the train steamed, rattled and rolled down the railroad tracks hammered into the Florida Keys.

The eye of the Category 5 hurricane, the strongest ever to strike North America to this day, passed over Lower Matecumbe and Long Key. The storm killed hundreds of people, ravaged families and essentially erased the communities of Matecumbe and Islamorada from Upper Matecumbe Key. More than 200 residents and 200 World War I veterans were killed in the storm. While the true number of lives lost will never be known, it is thought to be in the neighborhood of 500.

While Flagler’s 2.2-mile stretch of railroad fill between the Matecumbe Keys was not a magnet that attracted the storm, it contributed to the devastation. Because the free flow of water that had historically passed between the Matecumbe Keys had become obstructed, the tidal surge pushed by the approaching storm piled up and piled up. With nowhere else to go, 17 to 20 feet of storm surge washed over the islands.

When the storm broke through the causeway and the water started to move between the islands, the water brought by the storm surge began dissipating as if someone had pulled the plug out of a sink filled with water.

Today, the original 2.2-mile-long railroad fill is augmented with four bridges.

A train traveling across the Long Key Viaduct. MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY COLLECTION/Contributed

FISHING TOURNAMENT RAISES $22K FOR AUTISM SOCIETY

JIMMY JOHNSON’S 43.5- POUND DOLPHIN WINS FIRST PLACE

SHELF HELP

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

What: Lie With Me by Philippe Besson

Why: Does the title imply repose or deceit? Both? Molly Ringwald’s elegant translation offers a gift promised by this small package.

Starter Charter Will Flood Keys With Higher Taxes

Monroe County government, which spends more than onehalf billion taxpayer dollars annually for just 80,000 residents, wants more money.

According to county experts, there are several absolutely “critical” infrastructure and resiliency projects in need of billions of dollars funding. Since property taxes are at the max for homeowners, the county is pushing for voter approval of the “Starter Charter” as the vehicle to raise billions in new revenue.

The Autism Society of the Keys (ASK) hosts its charity fishing tournament with the Police Benevolent Association. From left, ASK volunteers Hope Haley and Owen Trepanier, ASK executive director Jill Campbell and tournament directors Mike Pettee, Emily Pettee and Frank Betz.

The Autism Society of the Keys hosted its third annual Monster Charity PBA Dolphin Tournament the weekend of June 24 at Oceans Edge Resort & Marina on Stock Island.

Capt. Jimmy Johnson caught the winning dolphin on Double J with a 43.5-pound fish.

The tournament raised $22,000 for autism initiatives, along with a small donation to the Cub Scouts and the Police Benevolent Association’s Love Fund.

— Contributed

TOURNAMENT WINNERS

1st Place: Jimmy Johnson aboard Double J

2nd Place: Scott Duling aboard Ocean Daze

3rd Place: Alex aboard Mama Money (last name not provided)

4th Place: Paul Weisenfeld aboard Stella Blue

PBA Winner: Jack Gruba aboard Leviathan

Female Winner: Tori Hicks aboard You & Tequila

Junior Winner: Joshua aboard Natural II (last name not provided)

The regret of squandered love, the lingering nature of firsts, and the destructive impact of family. A taboo love story between two young men who share first love, but must cast it away to fulfill obligations. It’s the knowing that he’s still out there that haunts them both and pushes this story along; one comfortable in his own skin, the other determined to eviscerate all that he is.

Where: This is available as a print 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: Amy Skerly, library assistant, Key West branch.

First up will be increasing the county sales tax to 8.5 percent, but that only adds $55 million annually. We’ll still require billions more for the new county-wide bus system, for raising hundreds of miles of roads 6-12 inches (imagine thousands of rock-laden dump trucks jamming U.S. 1 daily for the next several years), and of course, for lots of “resilient” new county buildings. And that’s just the starter list.

Fortunately for Monroe County, the Starter Charter makes several new taxes possible — taxes on water and on electric bills, transportation taxes, special taxing districts, resiliency taxes, taxes on things you didn’t know could be taxed, and more.

We will soon be drowning in new taxes. The Starter Charter is a scam, and if it passes, we’ll all be riding the shiny new Keys bus system. That’s all we’ll be able to afford.

Patrick A Foley Islamorada

Justin Hamilton and Capt. Jimmy Johnson of the Double J celebrate the dolphin that won them the $5,000 first-place prize in the Autism Society of the Keys’ charity fishing tournament. CONTRIBUTED

Craig and Caitlyn Campbell volunteer at the Autism Society of the Keys’ recent charity dolphin tournament out of Oceans Edge Resort & Marina.

Fourth of July expected to be busy throughout the Keys

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office expects Fourth of July traffic to be heavy throughout the Florida Keys — on and off the water — starting this week. Deputies will be on the roads watching for impaired and unsafe drivers. Don’t pass in no-passing zones or in center turn lanes, as you are likely to get a ticket. If you plan to drive anywhere in or out of the county, plan extra time. Expect delays from the 18-Mile Stretch to Key West. Designate a sober driver for your car or your boat. The Sheriff’s Office will have extra deputies on the water as well in an effort to keep mariners safe. Be patient and courteous at sandbars, other gathering areas, and especially at marinas and boat ramps as they are expected to be busy. Please leave the fireworks to the professionals. Discard trash properly. It isn’t fair to leave it on the ground or in the water for someone else to clean up – and you could be charged with littering. Have a safe and fun Fourth of July.

Marathon man arrested on fentanyl trafficking charge

A 33-year-old Marathon man was arrested on June 23 after more than 9 grams of fentanyl were found during a traffic stop, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Vantrail Lee Moore was charged with trafficking fentanyl. Moore was stopped in a Nissan sedan with an expired tag and for following too closely on U.S. 1 near MM 102 at 3:19 p.m. About 9.7 grams of fentanyl were found in Moore’s possession after K9 Coral alerted to the presence of narcotics.

MCSO, firefighters respond to Keys Fisheries boat fire

Marathon man arrested in gas station burglary

An 18-year-old Marathon man was arrested June 23 after allegedly breaking into and stealing from a Key Largo gas station on two separate occasions in May, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Elijah John Palmisciano was charged with two counts of business burglary, two counts of petit theft, and two counts of second or subsequent theft of less than $1,000. Palmisciano allegedly burglarized the Amoco gas station once on May 16 and again on May 20. He stole a total of $550 in cash, cigarettes and vapes in the incidents, MCSO said. The investigation led to Palmisciano as the suspect. He was booked into jail on June 23.

Florida Keys Arts Council seeks grant applicants

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is seeking Monroe County artists of all genres, including visual, music, dance, literary and more, to apply for three grant opportunities. The deadline is Friday, June 30 at 5 p.m. to apply for Art Builds Community Grants, Artists in Schools Grants and Special Project Grants. Information to apply for three grant opportunities is at keysarts.com/grants_more/grants. html. Please call the Florida Keys Council of the Arts for suggestions and assistance at 305295-4369 or by email to director@keysarts. com.

Come take a class at the Marathon library

The Marathon library has a wide variety of class offerings, ranging from photography to book clubs, robots, virtual reality and more. Scan the QR code here to see the schedule and get involved.

Marathon youth soccer registration is now open

The Sheriff’s Office and firefighters responded to a boat fire at Keys Fisheries in Marathon on June 24 at 3:30 a.m. There were no reported injuries. The U.S. Coast Guard also responded. Three commercial fishing boats were damaged in the fire, according to MCSO. Security video captured a spark believed to have ignited the fire. Foul play is not suspected in the incident, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Registration is open for the Marathon Youth Club’s 2023 fall season of youth soccer. Children ages 5 to 12 may register to play. The registration fee is $90 per child, with a $20 discount when registering additional siblings, plus a $3 transaction service fee. Children ages 7 and up must attend an evaluation at the Marathon Community Park soccer fields on Friday, July 7 or Monday, July 17. The season will run from the week of Aug. 14 through Oct. 20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Register at MYC’s online registration link: https:// leagues.bluesombrero.com/marathonyouthclub. For more information, follow “Marathon Youth Sports” on Facebook or email MarathonYouthClub305@gmail.com.

William Brown, 88, a longtime resident of Marathon, Florida, was born in Charleston, South Carolina. With the exception of his service in the U.S. Army, almost all of his life was spent on the east coast of the United States in proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and with a dog at his side.

His very first job, as a young boy, was to climb the steps twice a day to turn on and off the light in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse at New Smyrna Beach, Florida while his father served in the Coast Guard and as a lighthouse keeper.

After serving as a law enforcement officer with the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission and the Florida Marine Patrol, Mr. Brown became Captain Brown with the acquisition of the Marathon Lady deep sea fishing party boat. Captain Brown owned this business, which over the years included five boats ranging in length from 55 to 73 feet, for almost 50 years. Many who served as his crew and staff stayed with him for many years, a testament to his leadership.

He was a man of few words, but a man of his word, with a strong moral compass and deep loyalty to those he worked with and loved.

Captain Brown is survived by his sister, Debbie Brown Crowder (Bob) and many nieces, nephews and good friends. He was predeceased by his father, William, his mother, Maude, his sister, Pamela, and brother, Alec.

Captain Brown died at his home on Grassy Key, and his remains will be scattered at a later time in the sea that he loved.

BRITISH WARSHIP STOPS IN KEY WEST

HMS DAUNTLESS TO SPEND SUMMER IN CARIBBEAN

Astrange-looking military ship arrived at the U.S. Navy’s Mole Pier the morning of June 27 — and did not go unnoticed.

Brian Dombrowski, an email acquaintance who maintains a network of mounted cameras overlooking Key West Harbor, emailed me a video clip that had captured the ship’s arrival at 8 a.m.

“Just captured this bizarre ship coming into the Navy Mole with a spinning sphere on top of it. … Any idea or news on this vessel? I’m looking for info.”

His message was the first of several I received throughout the morning, all with a photo attached, and all asking where the ship was from, why it was here and what the hell was up with that spinning ball.

Picture a giant rock-climbing wall rising from the deck of a Navy destroyer with a spiky, spinning sphere at its summit. The sphere itself sort of reminded me of one of those cartoonishly aggressive, but biologically accurate, pictures of a

coronavirus molecule.

And you can’t blame Key Westers for inquiring about unusual military activity. Missiles, after all, did line our beach during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s.

Brian’s email had gotten my attention, and I immediately sent the photo to Ron Demes, my friend and local military cheat sheet.

I knew Ron would know what was up. He replied to my text quickly, including a link to the ship’s home page.

The Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless visited Key West around 2012, but it was out of commission for the past seven years, being refitted in England to correct power problems with that class of destroyers.

“On May 31, the Royal Navy’s most advanced destroyer deployed to the Caribbean to support British Overseas Territories during hurricane season and counter drug trafficking in the region,” according to a report from seawaves.com.

“The ship will be in the Caribbean to respond quickly to natural disasters

during the region’s hurricane season from June to November, while visiting island communities as a reassuring presence, working with local services and authorities to ensure the most rapid and effective aid is provided should nature strike.

“While in the Caribbean, she will also head for Exercise Unitas and mark the 200th anniversary of the Colombian Navy. Unitas (Latin for “united”) is the oldest and largest maritime exercise in the region dating back to 1959 as a South American and U.S. regional exercise designed to demonstrate a united stance against the spread of the Soviet Union’s influence and presence in Latin America,” seawaves. com states.

Oh, and that spinning sphere is a radar that “can track multiple incoming targets simultaneously, prioritize them, assign countermeasures and deploy them to their targets,” states the British website navyrecognition.com. “It can even track a threat the size of a cricket ball approaching at three times the speed of sound. “

For footage of the ship, visit BLC Streams on YouTube.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Royal Navy’s destroyer, HMS Dauntless, docks at the U.S. Navy’s Mole Pier in Key West on June 27. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of SPAS located at 9589 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: The Pool Pros Services and Repairs, LLC

Publish:

June 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

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

TITLE GROUP located at 101415 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: Prestige Title Services LLC

Publish:

June 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI

Notice is here by given that on July 17th, 2023, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following

storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows:

103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037

Alex Murgas Unit 1580

$710.60

James Fleischmann Unit 1001

$561.35

James Fleischmann Unit 1619 $1,275.69

Curtis Williams Unit 1536

$966.00

Brian Long

NOTICE OF HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF DUCK KEY SECURITY SERVICES SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida will conduct a public hearing to consider re-imposing security services assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2023, against certain improved and unimproved properties located within Duck Key, to fund the cost of security services provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.

The public hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m., on July 19, 2023, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The public can also attend the Public Hearing via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”)/Zoom at the following virtual address: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx, for the purpose of contributing/receiving public comment on the proposed assessments.

All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the 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 this 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, between 8:00 A.M. and 5:30 p.m., at 305-292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, dial “711” for assistance.

The annual Duck Key security assessment is based on the number of improved or unimproved lots contained within the Duck Key Security District. The total annual assessment revenue to be collected within Duck Key for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $124,656.00 The annual assessment rates for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023 (remain the same as the current year) at $292.00 per improved lot and $28.00 per unimproved lot.

Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request, by contacting the County Attorney’s office at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the County at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 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.

The proposed Final Assessment Resolution may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 19, 2023, Monroe County Commission meeting, which will be posted as of July 11, 2023, may be viewed on the County website at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx.

The public can participate in the July 19, 2023 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person, or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens.default.aspx.

Dated at Key West, Florida, this 21st day of June, 2023.

Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

Unit 1504-51

$995.45

Dennis Nicholson

Unit 1185

$978.40

Publish:

June 29 & July 6, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold their regularly-scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 10:00 A.M., at the Baker's Cay Resort, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida 33037.

The Visit Florida Keys Corporation will also convene during this meeting. All Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public, and one or more County Commissioners may be in attendance. ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the Monroe County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”.

Publish:

June 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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 Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

City of Marathon Vulnerability Assessment to be Conducted by Monroe County 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.

LEGAL NOTICES

EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows:

City of Marathon Vulnerability Assessment to be Conducted by Monroe Co. 08-01-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: omb-purchasing@ monroecounty-fl.gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on August 1, 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 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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

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.

Publish: June 29, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

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 August 1, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE

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

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 OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NUMBER: 23-CP-79-P

IN

RE: ESTATE OF GREGORY DOWELL, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of GREGORY DOWELL, deceased, whose date of death was 13 June 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88820 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, 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 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 29, 2023.

Personal Representative:

Julia Ogilvie

1180 N. Columbus St. Lancaster, OH 43130

Attorney for Personal Representative:

Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197

116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036

Phone: 305.664.2200 Fax 2205

Primary Email: tom@ tomwoodslaw.com

Secondary Email: eserve@ tomwoodslaw.com

Publish:

June 29 & July 6, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 23-CP-000071-P IN RE: ESTATE OF STEVEN LARSEN

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of STEVEN LARSEN, deceased, whose date of death was April 21, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required

Having Fun in the Middle Keys

C T WITH

LEGAL NOTICES

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 29, 2023.

Personal Representative: TOMAS LARSEN 71 Auburn Street Medford, MA 02155

Attorney for Personal

Representatives:

STEVEN H. LINDE, ESQUIRE Florida Bar Number: 72089 LINDE LEGAL, PLLC 2332 Galiano Street, 2nd Floor Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Telephone: 305-722-5533

Primary E-Email: steven@ lindelegal.com

Primary E-Email: info@ lindelegal.com

Publish:

June 29 & July 6, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 44-2023-CP000115A-001KW IN RE: ESTATE OF CLEVELAND MCKINLEY MATHIS, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of CLEVELAND MCKINLEY MATHIS, deceased, File Number: 44-2023-CP-

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY RESOLUTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 19, 2023, Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, MM50, Marathon, Florida, 33050, Monroe County, Florida, at 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the adoption of the following County resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONTINUING THE ASSESSMENTS OF WASTEWATER SERVICE TO PROPERTIES IN THE BIG COPPITT, DUCK KEY, STOCK ISLAND, CUDJOE REGIONAL CENTRALIZED INNER AND OUTER ISLAND SERVICE AREAS, EAST/WEST LONG KEY, NO NAME KEY, MIDDLE/BIG TORCH KEY, AND EXPANDED PARCELS WITHIN THE CUDJOE REGIONAL SERVICE AREA FOR THE 2023 TAX YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The July 19, 2023 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL will be in a hybrid format. The public will be able to participate live or via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”) using a Zoom Webinar platform at https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/82032493400. The public is encouraged to watch the meeting on Monroe County’s MCTV on Comcast Channel 76 or AT&T UVerse Channel 99. Also, if a citizen has a Roku device, they can search for and add “MCTV” to their personal lineup. Monroe County’s “MCTV” is also provided via the Monroe County mobile apps for iOS and Android and through our streaming web portal: https://mcboxx.zoomus/j/82032493400. Citizens can listen to audio only from their phone by dialing 646-518-9805 or 669-900-6833 and, when prompted, enter the Webinar ID# 820 3249 3400.

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

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

Dated at Key West, Florida, this 21st day of June, 2023.

Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

000115A-001KW, whose date of death was November 21, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division, 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 required to be 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. 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 29, 2023.

Personal Representative: KARREN CORNELIUS

1920 Griffins Green Drive Bartow, FL 33830 Attorney for Personal Representative: ALLAN L. CASEY, ESQUIRE Florida Bar No. 150809 Law Offices of Allan L. Casey 395 Avenue C, N.W. Post Office Box 7146 Winter Haven, FL 33883-7146 Telephone (863) 294-4468 Publish: June 29 & July 6, 2023

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NUMBER: 23-CP-56-P IN RE: ESTATE OF DONALD BRUCE IRWIN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Donald Bruce Irwin, deceased, whose date of death was April 14, 2023, 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

THE DATE OF

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 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 29, 2023.

Personal Representative:

China Alexis Irwin Galissard de Marignac 5017 Little Turtle Drive Birmingham, AL 35242

Attorney for Personal

Representative: BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ, PC 100 S.E. Third Avenue, Suite 1620 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33394 Tel: (954) 768-1600 Fax: (954) 333-7636

Counsel for Petitioner:

Duane Pinnock, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0568139

Josh A. Kravec, Esq. Florida Bar No. 1025518 dpinnock@bakerdonelson. com jkravec@bakerdonelson.com breid@bakerdonelson.com

Publish:

June 29 & July 6, 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 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

AUTOS WANTED

AUTOS ALL YEARS!

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

$CASH 305-332-0483

EMPLOYMENT

HEALTH INSURANCE

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

Coast to Coast Pizza Company in Marathon is looking for Front of the house cashier, part time, and Back of the house kitchen staff, part and/or full time. Will train, but should be self-motivated, quick learner, and team player. Salary commensurate with experience and includes tips and 401k. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

SS Wreck and Galley Grill on Grassy Key is looking for Line cooks, full or part time, and Servers/Hosts. Will train, but should be self-motivated, quick learner, and team player. Salary commensurate with experience and includes 401k. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

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 CustomerService 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.

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

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

305.743.0844

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.

MAINTENANCE

POSITION w/ 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.

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.

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

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

LOT FOR SALE

Oceanside-Lot with building permit in Tavernier $399K OBO 305-933-9594 OwnerAgent [3% to selling office]

SERVICES OFFERED

Registered Nurse available to help with your home health care needs. Inhome care assistance is also available. Local references. 305-587-0892. Please call and leave message or text.

YARD SALES

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

We

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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

BOAT RENTAL STAFF

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED

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.

ELECTRICIANS AND HELPERS NEEDED

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

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

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.

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

Prevention 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.

Background and drug screen req. COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Check out all available positions at: www.westcare.com (search by zip code) EEOC/DFWP

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.

THEME: BIOLOGY 101

ACROSS

1. *Lactuca sativa dish

6. Banned insecticide

9. Doorframe part

13. *Group of #3 Down

14. Top seed number

15. *Blood ____, diabetic’s concern

16. *Food poisoning-causing bacterium

17. Galley tool

18. Sushi restaurant staple

19. *Giant sequoia, e.g.

21. *Measure of energy

23. Auction call

24. Animal coat

25. Tolstoy’s first name, in Russian

28. *Plural of cecum

30. *Fastest growing woody plant

35. Footnote acronym

37. Mosquito net, e.g.

39. Attention-seeking

40. Skier’s aid

41. Certain saxes

43. Sheltered, nautically speaking

44. Wive’s mother, e.g.

46. “____ we forget”

47. Christian of haute-couture

48. Based on two

50. Colorado’s neighbor

52. European Nuclear Society

53. Beauty salon sound

55. Official language of Laos

57. *Dissolving agent

61. *C6H12O6

65. *Relating to trunk, neck and head

66. Lamb’s momma

68. With clear mind

69. Itty-bitty

70. The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining ____” 71. Fill with spirits 72. Ceases 73. Get the picture 74. Ascended

DOWN

1. Design detail

2. Big name in gasoline stations

3. *Genus Panthera member

4. Improvise

5. Godlike

6. Point of entry

7. *Genetic information carrier, acr.

8. 9 a.m. prayer

9. Saturn’s daughter, Roman goddess

10. *Petri dish gel

11. The Wise Men

12. French appetizer

15. Scheherazade’s listener

20. Swelling of human organs

22. Priestly garb

24. Book cover prototype

25. *Fatty acids

26. Piano key material

27. Pancho of Mexican Revolution fame

29. *Basic unit of life

31. Fermented honey libation

32. Misrepresent

33. Theater, to Socrates

34. Deed hearings

36. “Wanted!” option

38. *Parasite’s ride

42. Stable room

45. Sagely

49. Major news network, acr.

51. Cargo carrier

54. Agenda entries

56. Round openings

57. Fill to satisfaction

58. Ox, pl.

59. What Pinocchio did

60. Popular walking shoe brand

61. *Basic unit of heredity

62. South American tubers

63. Web location

64. Paradise garden

67. Like Willie Winkie

MARATHON’S ONLY ROOFTOP LOUNGE IS Small plates, local specials, and. rotating entrees to share and pair. Enjoy an interesting wine & cocktail menu.

COCKTAIL BAR: OPEN 7 DAYS - 5 TO 10 PM

KITCHEN:

MON THROUGH THURS - 5 TO 9 PM

SATURDAY A & SUNDAY - 5 TO 10 PM

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS - 5 TO 7 PM

$9 Wagyu Slider with Fries

$8 Wells & Wines

$4 Budlight & Buenaveza