Marathon Weekly 23-1130

The preferred news source of Whoville and Mount Crumpit.

THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER

Marathon readies for a blizzard of holiday events | P.12 WHERE HAS THIS BEEN? KCB’s FEMA city hall denial letter resurfaces | P.4

Real Estate Closings

Litigation

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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Originally sent in October 2022, a letter from FEMA denying funds to rebuild Key Colony Beach’s city hall has seen little discussion over the past year until it was re-discovered in October 2023. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

$3M FEMA DENIAL LETTER TO KEY COLONY BEACH RE-EMERGES AFTER A YEAR Document calls some damages in old city hall pre-existing, says building is safe for occupancy ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

A

recently-resurfaced FEMA letter discovered by Key Colony Beach City Attorney Dirk Smits may fan the flames for certain aspects of the island’s City Hall debate. But both the contents of the letter, and the timeline of its receipt and distribution, may pose more questions than it answers. $3M Denial Letter Resurfaces Dated Oct. 6, 2022, the letter, addressed to City Administrator Dave Turner and Florida Division of Emergency Management director Kevin Guthrie from FEMA infrastructure branch director Gary D. Glover, denies a $3.685-million request from KCB for a rebuild of its city hall due to damage from Hurricane Irma. Declaring that damages caused directly by the storm, excluding pre-existing conditions in the hall, do not qualify for a rebuild under the agency’s “50% rule” – that is, if disaster damages exceed 50% of the cost

of restoring a facility to its pre-disaster condition – the letter instead approves total supported costs of $162,048 to repair the existing structure.

Several engineering reports examined by the Weekly over the last six months, from firms including the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, Peters Engineers and project delivery firm CSA Group, were prepared at various points from 2017 to 2019, and all provided varying estimates and professional opinions for the proper path to repair or replacement of the building.

Reports reviewed by the Weekly prior to the FEMA denial letter’s emergence had mostly presented findings that the building’s damages exceeded the 50% rule, and that when combined with space concerns for staff and other issues, including ADA compliance, replacement of the hall was the most viable path forward.

Virtually all reports now available at press time largely revolve around the floor in the administrative area of the old hall. Unlike the Marble Hall section of the existing building, which was used for commission meetings and community events even after the storm up until the summer of 2022, the administrative area lacks pin piles for support to prevent foundation settling.

Though few deny that the floor beneath the administrative section had

The Grinch has several dates in Marathon penciled in on his calendar for photo ops with the city’s children – and pets. For a full holiday rundown in the heart of the Keys, see page 12. CONTRIBUTED begun to settle before Hurricane Irma, different engineering reports contain wide-ranging views on the degree to which the storm exacerbated the issue, forming the crux of FEMA’s denial argument.

In an April 2023 email, former KCB Building Official Ed Borysiewicz refuted claims in the Peters Engineers report, stating that settlement of the floor had been ongoing since he was hired in 1987. A supporting letter sent the same month from local contractor Ed Sims stated that he told the city commission in 2017 and 2018 that the building could be repaired within three months at an estimated cost of $300,000. Claims by former city clerk-turned commissioner Kathryn McCullough that former City Administrator Chris Moonis and/or then-Mayor John DeNeale instructed city staff to remove a portion of the settling floor to exaggerate storm damages formed the basis of a still-ongoing FEMA fraud investigation against the city.

FEMA’s denial letter, meanwhile, zeroes in on documentation provided

by Eastern Engineering Group, a firm formerly contracted by KCB, which “advised that the required method of repair for the damaged facility is demolition in excess of 50 percent of the structure in order to install augercast concrete piles to a depth of 23 feet.

It was also advised that construction equipment necessary to make the repair would be inhibitive to the existing 1960s foundation system.”

However, it continues, “in provided documentation, Eastern Engineering Group does not claim to have inspected the damaged city hall building or reviewed any other damage data or assessments. Eastern Engineering Group did not provide findings of damages or recommendations for repair of any damages from any cause.”

The letter also outlines the results of two other 2018 reports, referenced as “Keystone Revised Engineer Report” and “KCB Geotech Report,” original copies of which were later obtained by the Weekly.

Among other items, the Geotech report, prepared by Universal Engineering Services on Aug. 14, 2018 presents findings of “voids exist(ing) under portions of the slab,” occurring “likely … as a result of uncontrolled fill beneath the floor slabs over a long period of time.” continued on page 8

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

NO TRIAL DATE SET FOR KEY WEST MURDER CASE

LLOYD PRESTON BREWER’S DEFENSE TEAM WANTS NEW JUDGE & VENUE

Lloyd Preston Brewer III, who is charged with murder for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Garrett Hughes in February, remains jailed without bond. MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/Contributed

GWEN FILOSA

gwen@keysweekly.com

L

loyd Preston Brewer III hasn’t budged from the county jail on Stock Island since his Feb. 13 arrest on a murder charge in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Garrett Hughes in the parking lot of Conch Town Liquor & Lounge in Key West, which has since closed down.

Brewer, 58, of Key West, remains jailed without bond and charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for threatening the victim’s brother with the gun, and violating a concealed firearm permit for having a gun in a bar.

Brewer’s trial date initially was set for November at the Monroe County Courthouse, but that was scrapped, one of several dates that will likely fall off the calendar as legal motions and rulings continue.

The crux of Brewer’s defense so far is Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which, if granted by a judge, could protect Brewer from prosecution. But prosecutors contend that security footage of the shooting does not support a Stand Your Ground defense, which requires a person to reasonably believe that deadly force is needed to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

“The shirtless victim was clearly intoxicated and urinating on the wall

when the suspect approached. There are no weapons on or near the victim, nor is the victim seen reaching for anything,” Joe Mansfield, chief assistant state attorney, told the Keys Weekly the day after the shooting in February.

Brewer’s defense lawyers are challenging “everything under the sun,” Mansfield told the Keys Weekly on Nov. 28. “They want to change the venue, change the judge, take the case to Tavernier or Miami. They’re fighting it from all angles.”

In court filings, Brewer’s lawyers say they have good reason to fight.

“The general state of mind of the inhabitants of Key West, Monroe County, Florida, has been negatively and unfairly affected by false and misleading descriptions of the incident,” Brewer’s attorney Jerome A. Ballarotto wrote in a June 23 motion asking the judge to restrict public comment by prosecutors and an attorney representing the Hughes family in a civil case. “Such knowledge is accompanied by prejudice, bias and preconceived opinions which may make it practically and psychologically impossible to obtain a fair and impartial jury (in Key West) if counsel and the state are permitted to continue to make such prejudicial extrajudicial statements.”

Brewer’s lawyers didn’t return a message seeking comment.

On Nov. 13, Acting Circuit Judge Mark Wilson denied Brewer’s motion asking the judge to step down from the case because he is married to a prosecutor in Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward’s office.

There’s no dispute that Brewer shot Hughes outside the former Conch Town bar the night of Feb. 12, which was Super Bowl Sunday.

At issue, in the legal system, is whether he had the intent to kill and whether deadly force was justified.

Security footage of the parking lot behind the bar, which has no audio, shows a shirtless Garrett Hughes visibly drunk and standing between two

Garrett Hughes, 21, was fatally shot in the stomach in the early-morning hours of Feb. 13. CONTRIBUTED

cars in the parking lot while urinating.

Brewer is seen exiting the bar and noticing Hughes across the parking lot. Brewer appears to call out to Hughes and then can be seen drawing a handgun from his jeans pocket or waistband while crossing the parking lot toward Hughes.

Brewer initially stops a few feet from Hughes with his gun drawn.

Brewer then moves closer to Hughes and raises his arms as if to fight. It is unclear without audio how close Brewer was to Hughes when he shot him in the stomach.

Brewer called 911 to report the shooting while standing over Hughes.

He told the dispatcher the young man “came at him aggressively,” according to the 911 recording.

“The allegation that he was justified in using deadly force is not substantiated by the video evidence in this case,” prosecutor Mansfield told the Keys Weekly in February.

Witnesses on the scene included Hughes’ brother, Carson Hughes, and another friend.

Hughes was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center, where he died a short time later. Brewer was arrested, interviewed for several hours at the Key West Police Department, then booked into the jail.

Brewer’s next court date is Jan. 4, 2024. But it could be a year before a trial, Mansfield said, adding, “Now with all these motions and appeals it’s going to take some time.”

Hughes was a standout athlete at Key West High School, where his father is the football coach, a fisherman and a volunteer youth coach.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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HAVE THOUGHTS ON THE PARK? LET’S TALK Marathon to seek public input on master plan

he city of Marathon, along with Platform Group, will hold a public meeting to receive feedback on the master plan for Marathon Community Park on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall.

This meeting is open to the public and anyone with interests in sporting or other events that are held at Marathon Community Park. The purpose of this meeting is to collect input from the community and exchange ideas and information about the Community Park master plan and skate park projects.

The meeting will be held in the council chambers at Marathon City Hall. One or more Marathon City Council members may be present.

Anyone needing special assistance at the public meeting due to disability should contact the grants coordinator at 305-2894109 at least five days beforehand.

Photo by THE PLATFORM GROUP/Contributed

from page 4

An investigation summary that opens the Keystone report, dated Aug. 3, 2018 and prepared by Keystone Experts + Engineers, states “the voids beneath the slab were an ongoing, long term condition caused by settlement of soils coupled with cyclic inundation of the soils.”

“The long-term condition of the voids indicated that the foundation was not in imminent danger of failure, and, subsequently the structure is not unfit for occupation,” it continues.

“However, the voids below the floor will need to be eliminated to prevent the collapse of the concrete floor.”

Nailing Down a Timeline With the subject of city hall’s repair versus replacement serving as KCB’s largest lightning rod of debate since Irma, with each side relying on a subset of existing engineers’ reports for support, it is still unclear how the denial letter stayed almost entirely out of the eye of the public and the city commission for the last 12 months.

In an interview on Nov. 28, Turner said he was surprised upon receipt of the denial letter, as an earlier email sent by FEMA associate Ronald Hovell on Nov. 16, 2021 had asked him to “sign” for the city hall replacement project – pending final reviews from FEMA and the state of Florida – at a net FEMA cost of $3,033,074. Though the denial letter outlined provisions for an appeal within 60 days, Turner confirmed the city had elected not to pursue this appeal.

When asked about the chain of possession for the letter upon receipt, Turner said he “was sure (the letter) was shared,” but couldn’t remember specifically how its contents were relayed, whether through individual discussions or through comments made at a commission meeting.

Though the letter is dated Oct. 6, 2022, Mayor Pro Tem Beth RamsayVickrey and commissioners Joey Raspe and Freddie Foster all told the Weekly by phone that they hadn’t seen the document itself until October 2023.

Commission meeting minutes reviewed by the Weekly from October, November and December 2022 make no mention of the letter.

“The letter clarified what I had heard in the couple months running up to the (2022) election, with (former commissioner) John (DeNeale) talking about not getting the FEMA money,” said Ramsay-Vickrey, further stating that Smits presented the letter to her on Oct. 11, the day former Mayor Patti Trefry resigned, and that it was addressed during the commission’s closed attorney-client session near the start of its Oct. 19 meeting. “I asked Dirk to distribute the letter (to other commissioners), and said that in the next closed session, this would be given and discussed with the commissioners so they understand what this letter is and what it means.”

Speaking with the Weekly by phone on Nov. 28, DeNeale said he had no recollection of the FEMA letter, received near the end of his term in

November 2022.

Ramsay-Vickrey’s timeline was disputed in part by Foster and Raspe, who said they had been individually contacted by Smits a few days prior to the closed session to specifically address the letter’s discovery. Foster added that the closed session’s discussion revolved around the city’s pending lawsuit with resident Laurie Swanson over the award of a contract for a new city hall building, not the letter.

Raspe, who voted against the complete city hall rebuild earlier this year and made a strong push at the commission’s Nov. 16 meeting to reopen the Marble Hall portion of the building, said he was “just as dumbfounded” that the letter had not been discussed in the past year.

“I don’t know how it could have happened,” he said. “Why was it safe enough for the residents to occupy Marble Hall all the way up until July 2022? It was no less safe then than it is now.”

“I just want to make sure the residents know that there are members of the commission who are trying to get their building open for them,” he added, saying he intends to continue his pursuit of a safety inspection and reopening of Marble Hall.

“Let’s forget for a moment the whole City Hall project. Right now, today, people want to use this building, and they can’t. I think anything the city can do as a whole that will make things a better relationship with the residents right now is a step in the

right direction.”

Additional phone calls by the Weekly to Smits and Trefry seeking further comment on the letter’s discovery and timeline had not been returned at press time.

What’s Next for City Hall?

Swanson’s challenge of the commission’s 3-2 decision to award construction of the new city hall to Hands On Builders LLC (HOB) at a bid price of $8.375 million remains in litigation. In the absence of a settlement, a preliminary scheduling order released Nov. 8 by Judge Mark Jones set a projected trial date of July 2024.

In the case’s second court appearance, the central issue is whether the commission’s award should be viewed as a legislative action, subject to challenge by referendum petition per KCB’s code, or a discretionary budget expense, which does not appear to be subject to challenge.

If litigation persists through the summer, any potential city hall build will require a continued commitment from HOB. Key Colony Beach has yet to formally accept the contractor’s bid, valid for 120 days after its opening on June 5, 2023. Though this period officially ended Oct. 3, Turner told the Weekly that early – though informal – indications from HOB representatives in a Nov. 28 meeting were that the company would honor its bid beyond the originally agreed-upon window.

9

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023 An evening stroll through the lights of San Pablo is a holiday staple in Marathon.

T

hanksgiving’s in the rearview mirror, and Mariah Carey has finished her defrost – and that means it’s full-tilt holiday madness here in Marathon. For a tiny island, the heart of the Keys has plenty to keep everyone occupied in the final month of the year. Ever have trouble keeping track of it all? We’ve got you covered. Tear this schedule out, stick it on your fridge, and enjoy the best events of the most wonderful time of year in the Middle Keys. Nearly all events listed here are free to the community, with ticket prices noted otherwise.

ZONTA FESTIVAL OF TREES When: Through Saturday, Dec. 2 Where: Marathon Garden Club Details: Come check out Marathon’s most creative display of eclectic Christmas trees and enter to win your favorite. Viewing hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 3:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Come by on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon for cookies with Santa and the Grinch, with the winning tickets drawn at 8 p.m.

SANTA CLAUS COMES TO COLDWELL BANKER SCHMITT When: Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.

Where: 11050 Overseas Hwy. Details: Come say hello to Santa Claus for a photo opportunity as he and Mrs. Claus visit Coldwell Banker Schmitt in Marathon.

Free gift bags and ice cream floats are available for children.

ST. COLUMBA’S CHRISTMAS BAZAAR When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Where: St. Columba Episcopal Church Details: A day of Christmas shopping in the Florida Keys. The bazaar will have plenty of Christmas decorations, gifts, baked goods, homemade soup and more. The Christmas village will be set up across the entire church campus.

MCT PRESENTS: A HOLIDAY EVENT WITH JAIMIE ROBERTS FEATURING RANDY MORRIS AND JEFF DALTON When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Where: Marathon Community Theatre, 5101 Overseas Hwy. Details: This one-night event will be a Christmas cabaret of jazz, comedy, Broadway and your favorite holiday songs. Randy and Jaimie have been performing together for decades and have traveled the world, bringing crazy onstage antics with them.

Make it a holiday date night at MCT while supporting your local cultural arts. Purchase tickets for $35 at marathontheater. org. WARNING: if you're under 18, you should probably stay home and watch worse on TV while your parents are here.

‘A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION’ CONCERT When: Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Where: San Pablo Catholic Church Details: The Keys Chamber Orchestra and Lower Keys Community Choir will present a series of concerts in early December. “A Christmas Celebration” includes a collection of music and lessons to celebrate the season. A goodwill offering will be taken, and admission is free.

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA When: Thursday, Dec. 7, 3 to 7 p.m.

Where: Keys Animal Hospital Details: Join Santa and the staff of Keys Animal Hospital for a beloved holiday tradition. The event is a donation drive for the Florida Keys SPCA; donations are accepted in the form of cash, pet food, toys and bedding. Please have pets leashed or in a kennel at all times.

MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL BAND’S WINTER CONCERT When: Thursday, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Marathon High School Performing Arts Center Details: Come join the Marathon band as the school shows off all its ensembles and new steel drum groups. Join the band before the concert for a $10 Italian dinner at 5 p.m. ($15 at the door).

Scan the QR code to RSVP and purchase tickets.

PET PHOTOS WITH THE GRINCH When: Friday, Dec. 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, 9141 Overseas Hwy. Details: Have your pet strike a pose with the Grinch and receive an everlasting Whotastic picture. The event is a donation drive for the Florida Keys SPCA; donations are accepted in the form of cash, pet food, toys and bedding. Please have pets leashed or in a kennel at all times.

DUCK KEY CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE When: Friday, Dec. 8 at dusk Where: Duck Key Details: Join Hawks Cay for the second annual Duck Key Christmas boat parade. A parade of lighted boats will begin at Angler & Ale restaurant and process past Hawks Cay and through the Indies canal before boats make a U-turn at the Seaview Drive bridge and return. Join the after party and awards ceremony at Angler & Ale. For more information, see duckkeyfishingclub.com.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

THE HOLIDAY RUNDOWN Ringing in the season with events around Marathon HAVANA JACK’S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING When: Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

Where: Havana Jack’s Oceanside Restaurant and Bar Details: Join Havana Jack’s for the restaurant’s annual Christmas tree lighting. Fun starts at 6 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7 p.m. There will be a DIY ornament station, cocktail and food specials, and prizes for the best ugly Christmas sweater.

SAN PABLO CHURCH’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS When: Friday, Dec. 8 (estimated). Dusk to 9:30 p.m. each night.

Where: San Pablo Catholic Church Details: Take a stroll through the gardens of San Pablo Catholic Church and witness one of Marathon’s most iconic signs of the season with opportunities for reflection and prayer. All are welcome.

MARATHON COMMUNITY THEATRE’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW & SING-ALONG CONCERT When: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9, 7 p.m.

Where: Marathon Community Theatre Details: MCT proudly presents its annual holiday show and sing-along concert. Enjoy a family-friendly evening filled with cheer, joy and music. The family-friendly show will run for one hour and include numerous group and individual musical, vocal and dance performances. Doors open at 6 p.m., so come early and grab a hot cocoa, wine, beer or champagne at the concessions bar. Tickets are $10 and available at www. marathontheater.org.

SUNSET GRILLE’S BREAKFAST WITH SANTA When: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.

Where: Sunset Grille & Raw Bar Details: Come see Santa arrive at Sunset Grille with his Coast Guard escort. Join in for a breakfast with the North Pole’s head honcho.

BOOT KEY HARBOR CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE When: Saturday, Dec. 9 at dusk Where: Boot Key Harbor Details: The Boot Key Harbor boat parade will return on its traditional second Saturday of December. Exact parade route through the harbor TBA. Boats interested in participating may contact organizer Ilene Clark at 561-542-2727 or by email at iclark317@comcast.net. A captain’s meeting is on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

KEY COLONY BEACH CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE When: Sunday, Dec. 10 at dusk Where: Key Colony Beach 7th Street canal Details: The KCB Fishing and Boating Club and KCB Community Association present the city’s annual lighted boat parade.

Boats of all sizes and shapes are welcome to enter the parade for free. Cash prizes and gift certificates are available for Best in Parade, Best in Class (Under/Over 30 feet), Brightest and Most Colorful, Most Creative and Most Spirited Crew. To sign up, contact Steve DeCrow (sed6420@gmail.com or 518859-5662) by Dec. 9. Overnight docking is available for participating boats on Saturday and Sunday nights upon request.

TROPICAL HOLIDAY FUN FEST When: Friday, Dec. 15, 6 p.m.

Where: Marathon Community Park Details: Come out to the community park for a night of holiday fun. Watch performances by Prodigy Dance Center, see Santa and the Grinch, and have some food and fun snacks as kids enjoy bounce houses, music, face painting and cotton candy.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES BY THE SEA When: Friday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Pigeon Key Details: Come one, come all to a special screening of “The Polar Express” under the stars at Pigeon Key. Purchase tickets online (pigeonkey.net) to watch the holiday hit movie surrounded by Christmas lights, and come dressed in pajamas for free hot chocolate. Two different train departures are offered from the Seven Mile Marina, along with walking/biking tickets. For more information visit Pigeon Key on Facebook.

WINTER WONDERLAND AT CRANE POINT When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Where: Crane Point Museum and Nature Center Details: Predictions of snow are in the forecast as families can enjoy an evening winter wonderland. Attractions will include reindeer ponies, Santa and Mrs. Claus, performers from Marathon Community Theatre, sleigh rides, holiday decorations, a chocolate fountain, other seasonal treats and alcoholic drinks for purchase. Visit cranepoint.net or call 305-743-9100.

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Marathon’s Courtyard Marriott Details: A $20 donation to the Marathon SPCA will get you a quality professional photo of your pet thanks to Photo Design

By Natalie. Be sure to dress festive and meet at the picturesque beach at 2146 Overseas Highway in Marathon.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH AT ST. COLUMBA When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.

Where: St. Columba Episcopal Church Details: St. Columba’s Keyswide choir will come together with renowned local musicians to perform a Christmas masterpiece.

Join the church for this free concert.

CHRISTMAS EVE PARADE WITH SANTA When: Sunday, Dec. 24 at dusk Where: Streets of Marathon & Key Colony Beach (exact stops TBA) Details: Santa will make his annual travels through the streets of Marathon to visit all the city’s good boys and girls on Christmas Eve. Stay tuned for announcements of exact stops by the city of Marathon.

ARE WE MISSING ANY? Let us know by emailing alex@keysweekly.com

Photos by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR

USE POLICE BUILDINGS FOR SAFE CASH TRANSACTIONS

BUYING A USED JET SKI FROM A STRANGER? MEET THEM AT POLICE OR SHERIFF’S LOCATIONS

T Monroe County School District Superintendent Theresa Axford, left, and Charlene White, new executive director of finance and performance. CONTRIBUTED

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uperintendent Theresa Axford recently announced that Charlene White was selected to become the Monroe County School District’s executive director of finance and performance.

She holds a doctorate of higher education and adult education leadership, a master’s degree in accountancy and a cum laude bachelor’s in business administration and accounting from the University of Tennessee.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Charlene White join our team,” Axford said. “Her experience and positive energy will enhance our finance, MIS and risk management departments greatly so that they continue the superior work which they are doing at this time.”

At Dyersburg State Community College in Dyersburg, Tennessee, White served eight years as the finance manager and then five years as the vice president for finance and administrative services. As vice president, she carried out business and financial operations along with coordinating budgets and treasurer functions of the many institutional departments, boards, committees and plan development at the college.

Her work experience includes principal consultant with Banner Finance, senior accountant at Sara Lee Food and Beverage and other accounting, consulting, directing and owner/operating positions. Her assignment of vice president of finance and administrative services at the College of The Florida Keys helped her realize that Key West is the destination she would like to continue her career. She was introduced at the recent MCSD board meeting and will begin her new role on Jan. 8, 2024.

— Contributed

he holiday shopping season is in full swing and Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay reminds the community they may use the lobbies of the sheriff’s office substations and headquarters building as safe zones for those making purchases/transactions in person. The sheriff’s office is offering this service in conjunction with the Key West Police Department, which is also offering the assistance at its headquarters on North Roosevelt Boulevard.

Those who are worried about giving strangers their home address — or meeting with strangers in general — to make transactions can do so at a safe place. Both the buyer’s and seller’s privacy is protected in this way.

Note: Be wary of online scammers. Don’t share personal or financial information over an unsecured network. Be leery of deals that sound too good to be true or implore you to act immediately. Be cautious of links that are provided in emails and online advertising. Keep valuables out of view and locked securely in your vehicle.

Residents who wish to use one of the sheriff’s office lobbies can do so Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following sheriff’s office buildings are available, along with the Key West Police Department on North Roosevelt Boulevard.

• Administration Headquarters 5525 College Road Key West 305-292-7000 • Freeman Substation 20950 Overseas Highway Cudjoe Key 305-745-3184 • Marathon Substation 3103 Overseas Highway Marathon 305-289-2430 • Islamorada Substation 86800 Overseas Highway Islamorada 305-664-6480 • Roth Building 50 High Point Road Tavernier 305-853-3211 — Contributed

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

FLORIDA KEYS CELTIC FESTIVAL TO FEATURE LIVE MUSIC, CULTURE AND FUN JAN. 6-7

HIGHLAND GAMES, BANDS, SHEEP HERDING DEMOS AMONG THE WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS

C

HARVEST 5-month-old male domestic shorthair.

Looking for: I’ve been waiting my whole life to be adopted with my sister.

Turnoffs: I don’t like being alone.

SWIPE RIGHT

The Screaming Orphans close the Saturday festivities with a high-energy set at the 2023 Florida Keys Celtic Festival. SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY/Keys Weekly

eltic culture, music, food and history will be celebrated at the annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival, a favorite family event in the Middle Keys set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 6-7, 2024.

The traditional Kilts in the Keys lead-in to the festival weekend spreads out to two Marathon locations Friday evening, Jan. 5. Attendees can gather starting at 5 p.m. at Dockside at Boot Key Harbor, 35 Sombrero Blvd., or at Keys Fisheries, 3502 Gulfview Ave. Two featured festival bands – Southwest Florida’s West of Galway Irish duo and the Police Pipe and Drum of Florida – will make stops at each location.

The weekend festival will be filled with Celtic musicians including Scottish band Albannach, West of Galway and Ireland’s the Byrne Brothers and highenergy four-sister group the Screaming Orphans.

Among traditional weekend highlights are the bagpipes and drums of the Police Pipe and Drum of Florida; a Highland athletics competition, including the nation’s only sanctioned women’s Scottish Highland Games competition as well as men’s Highland athletics; sheep herding demonstrations; a Children’s Glen with games, fun activities and face painting; and Irish and Scottish dancing.

ELLA 1-year-old female domestic shorthair.

Looking for: My dream home would have other cats and maybe even a dog too.

Turnoffs: I’m a pretty casual kitty, no complaints here.

Other attractions include Celtic merchandise, offerings by local vendors and booths representing various Scottish clans. Rounding out the weekend’s festivities are authentic Celtic food and beverages including high tea in the Iona Tea Garden, shepherd’s pie at the Nessie Pub, vendors offering Scottish eggs and fish and chips, and a selection of Keys food vendors.

Wannabe runners can participate in the Zero K Nessie Fun Run, a “run” so short that it isn’t even measured. All registered participants receive a T-shirt and medal.

The festival takes place at Marathon Community Park, MM 49 oceanside. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The event supports Hammock House at St. Columba Episcopal Church, which provides free after-school care and summer and school break camps for children in Marathon.

Single-day admission tickets for Saturday or Sunday are available in advance for $10 per person or $15 for a two-day pass. Tickets at the gate are $12 for a one-day ticket or $17 for a two-day pass. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Parking is free.

— Contributed

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 at 10550 Aviation Blvd.

HOPPER 6-month-old male mixed breed.

Looking for: I’m a family guy and I want a big family to call my own.

Turnoffs: Learning how to not be a naughty puppy.

Rules are dumb.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MANGROVE MAMA’S REOPENS WITH FRESH LOOK & NEW OWNERS JEN ALEXANDER

www.keysweekly.com

HISTORIC SUGARLOAF EATERY AIMS TO DRAW MORE LOCALS

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or those seeking an authentic Florida Keys restaurant, Mangrove Mama’s is the ideal destination. This renowned eatery embodies the laid-back, historical ambiance of the Keys, and now offers a new and improved dining experience with its outside tiki bar, pontoon boat stage and revamped menu. Having experience in the restaurant industry, new owners Jeff Gagnon, Annie van Aller and Beth Connor are well versed in running a successful establishment.

“The road now has a refreshing slice of paradise at mile marker 20 between the ditch and the swamp,” said Gagnon. “Locals needed a place they could come a couple times a week that was not as expensive as the other surrounding restaurants.

We knew it was a solid investment as all the locals have special memories of this place. When we first talked about opening it we thought about changing the name, but there are just too many reasons for us to have kept the name Mangrove Mama’s; it’s such a landmark.”

Once a railway outpost, constructed in 1909 along Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway, the sunny roadside oasis boasts a rich history. Though the original Dade County pine walls remain impenetrable, if they could speak, they would narrate a rugged and harsh past that predates the popularity of sautéed shrimp and sunset-colored cocktails.

Following the destruction of the railroad by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, the train depot became a gas station/grocery store to accommodate drivers using the new highway. The property was run for years by a retired Navy veteran, “Capt.

Eddie,” who turned it into a bar/restaurant known as Eddie’s Fish Basket. The establishment primari-

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5 at our pace. It’s the Florida Keys. Nothing happens quickly. To find the right people who will work with us and click with us is extremely difficult. So it’s going to take time.”

Homemade meatloaf, half-roasted chicken and country-fried pork chops top the list of favorites. These dishes come with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Other specialties include the lobster fra Diavolo and penne misto to which chicken or shrimp can be added. The local catch as well as cracked conch round out the main courses.

Appetizer highlights include the mussels marinara, Mama Mia! jumbo meatballs and veggie spring rolls. There are four salads, six sandwich options and a choice of chicken, pork or mahi tacos. A full bar both inside and outside at the newly converted tiki bar offers beer, wine and cocktails galore.

“The menu is a representation of the three of us, our friends and Sugarloaf community,” Gagnon said. “We are all from different states, so we’re trying to bring those flavors here and constantly rotate. We’ll have a basic menu, but with specials, too. So we’re taking it one step at a time. And we’re gonna do it right. Come in and check us out.”

1. Mangrove Mama’s new owners Annie van Eller, Jeff Gagnon and Beth Connor want to bring locals back to the sunny Sugarloaf spot. JEN ALEXANDER/Keys Weekly

4 ly catered to sailors and locals. After Eddie’s death, the facility fell into disrepair until 1979, when Gary and Nancy Bell bought it. Their boat, Mangrove Mama, was always docked in front of the property and had become a well-known landmark in the area. Consequently, the locals began referring to the entire operation as Mangrove Mama’s.

“Unfortunately, locals haven’t been coming here and we want to change that,” Gagnon said.

“We know there are some signature dishes the locals want and we are going to work on that.

We’re not going to throw everything on the fire at once; that’s just crash and burn. In our 40 years of restaurant experience, we have learned from our previous mistakes and we will grow the restaurant

2. The bright yellow sign invites motorists to pull off U.S. 1 for some food and refreshment on their way up and down the Keys.

3. Bartender Nancy McHenry gets ready for happy hour at Mangrove Mama’s at MM 20.

4. An old pontoon boat doubles as a stage for live music.

5. Mangrove Mamas features indoor and outdoor dining rooms and bars.

Mangrove Mama’s is located at 19991 Overseas Hwy., Sugarloaf Key. Call 305-745-3030 or visit mangrovemamas20.com or find them on Facebook.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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FASTEST LITTLE FEET Switlik crowns Jog-a-thon winners ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

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tanley Switlik Elementary is home to a new court of distance running kings and queens. On Nov. 17, elite runners from the preliminary rounds of each grade level’s jog-a-thon sessions competed for bragging rights and a place in school history. At the conclusion of the “run-off,” the school counted each competitor’s completed laps to crown the fastest two boys and girls from each grade level – with plenty of ties to go around. Winners will be awarded a medal and a new pair of running shoes at the Switlik jog-a-thon assembly, set for Friday, Jan. 12.

A Switlik staple for more than 30 years, the annual fundraiser nets tens of thousands of dollars each year for classroom supplies and field trip expenses, all while promoting physical activity and giving youngsters with a competitive edge a moment to shine.

Grade level winners included, from left to right: 1. Kindergarten: Landyn Garcia, Grace Joly, Frances Merryman, Carter Bartlett, Analiyah McKenzie, Jayden BozaVargas, Jaiden Williams, Fischer Butler.

2. First grade: Kastyn Durham, Diego Giron Rivera, Beau Irwin, Nachli Gonzalez Diaz, Carli D’Ascanio.

6

3. Second grade: Maikol Vila, Carson Butler, Kamala Diaz, Wyatt Gordon.

4. Third grade: Blaise Merryman, Skylor Willis, Olivia Hurley, Landry Sayer, Siena Medero.

5. Fourth grade: Layla Thompson, Jason Cinto Martinez, Anthony Lopez Martinez, Emily Rojas, Ian Reyes.

6. Fifth grade: Tia Hawkins, Molly Joly, Declan Merryman, Anthony Vargas.

Photos by GINGER SAYER/Contributed

23

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

RACING IN ISLAMORADA

BETTER THAN THE WOODBURNING GUITAR

RUNS FEATURE BEACH ’N’ BEER MILE & HALF MARATHON

Runners participate in the 2021 Beach ’n’ Beer Mile. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

T

o the delight of distance runners and winter visitors who relish the Florida Keys’ mild temperatures, Islamorada Running Co.’s annual half marathon, 10k, Rumrunner 5k and Beach ’n’ Beer Mile race series is set for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9-10.

All races this year start and end at La Siesta Resort & Villas, MM 80.2 oceanside.

The Rumrunner 5k kicks off the race weekend with an 8 a.m. Saturday start that takes runners across the Tea Table Channel Bridge with a turnaround on Indian Key Fill. Participants will be rewarded with a rumrunner cocktail after the race, along with a finisher medal and hat.

At noon Saturday, the Beach ’n’ Beer Mile provides “athletes” a onemile, non-timed stroll that combines jogging or walking with four beers per participant.

Sunday’s half marathon and 10k

both start at 7 a.m. The scenic course, typically featuring a stunning sunrise, takes participants south across Tea Table Channel Bridge. Runners in the 10k turn around just past Robbie’s of Islamorada, while half-marathon participants turn around just before the Channel 2 Bridge.

Runners in the half marathon and 10k will receive a finisher medal, hat, T-shirt and two free beers from Florida Keys Brewing Co. Awards await the top three finishers in all races, as do age-group awards for the 5k, 10k and half marathon.

Some registration spaces remain for runners of all ages and skill levels, whether they’re bucket-list runners or newbies. Online race fees are $115 per person for the half marathon, $80 for the 10k, $60 for the 5k and $50 for the Beach ’n’ Beer Mile.

— Contributed

The wonderful world of the electric guitar

James Taylor was responsible for the title of this week’s column. Someone who is mostly associated with the acoustic guitar, James now and again picks up a Fender Telecaster electric guitar to play songs like “Steamroller.”

He makes a joke about the electric guitar as a modern device, an upgrade from the steam-powered guitar, and certainly better than the wood-burning one. (The old jokes are the best.)

Although the acoustic guitar is my first love, I have often — like Dylan in the mid-1960s — gone electric. There is nothing quite so powerful as hitting a big open jangly chord into a clean Fender tube amplifier, or chugging power chords and leads into a cool pedalboard and Marshall half-stack.

And electric guitars (as a rule) are far easier to play than acoustics — lower action, slinkier strings.

How did this instrument that changed music come to be? It all actually started with jazz guitarists. Big bands and jazz ensembles typically had a guitarist to (mostly) play rhythm and keep time with chords underneath the louder instruments (mostly horns and drums). The preferred jazz guitar was a big hollow-bodied archtop designed to maximize the guitar’s acoustic volume. Still, it was nigh on impossible for a jazz guitarist to play single-note passages and leads.Then came the magnetic pickup. Surround a magnet with a coil of copper wire, and the vibrating strings will be picked up by the magnetic field and turned into electrical impulses in the copper wire coil. Some of the earliest pickups were from the Gibson guitar factory; they are still referred to as “Charlie Christian pickups” after the jazz guitarist who helped popularize their use. (They are still available today.) Connected to an amplifier, jazz guitarists could compete with the volume of horns for leads and single-note runs.

The Charlie Christian pickup used a magnetic bar (or blade) in the center of the coil. Fender and Gibson experimented with individual magnetic polepieces that would sit under each string. Gibson took things a step further by combining two pickup coils into one pickup — this “humbucking” pickup had a higher output and a mellower tone, while also canceling any radio frequency interference or hum that could be picked up by a single-coil. With some exceptions, these are the same types of electric

guitar pickups that still power today’s instruments.

While the hollow-body archtop jazz guitar could be easily heard, it was often prone to feeding back at higher JOHN volumes. In 1945, BARTUS Les Paul designed a solid-body guitar John Bartus is a for Gibson nicksinger-songwriter named “The Log.” and the former At the time, Gibson mayor of Maradidn’t release his thon. prototypes. Five years later in 1950, Fender introduced the first production solid-bodied guitars — the Esquire and the Broadcaster, which became the Telecaster after a trademark dispute over the Broadcaster name. The Esquire had one pickup, but the Telecaster had two: one near the neck and the other near the bridge. In 1952, Gibson did release its own two-pickup solid-body, the Les Paul model.

In 1954, Fender (founded by namesake Leo Fender) released one of the most popular electric guitars ever, the three-pickup Fender Stratocaster. Its comfortable contoured body and variety of single-coil tones made it one of the most popular musical instruments ever, played by artists like Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and so many more. The Stratocaster is my personal favorite electric guitar as well.

All these years later in 2023, most electric guitars are just variations on the original hollow-body and semihollow archtop guitars from Gibson, as well as the Telecaster, Stratocaster and Les Paul. There are no shortages of new Fender and Gibson instruments, and original vintage guitars from the 1950s and 60s can easily command six and seven figures on the market. I think I’ll strap on a Stratocaster, plug it in and make some glorious noise!

— Catch John live Wednesdays at Brutus Seafood, Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, Friday with Jade Storm at Lorelei, and Sunday at the Skipjack Resort Tiki Bar. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www. johnbartus.com • johnbartus.hearnow. com

25

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER’S ‘TURSI’ CELEBRATES GOLDEN BIRTHDAY

Grassy Key’s Dolphin Research Center is home to one of the oldest cetaceans in human care as Tursi, the first calf ever born at the facility, celebrated her 50th birthday on Nov. 26. Named after the scientific name for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), but informally nicknamed “Whopper” for her impressive size, the center’s matriarch is the offspring of Little Bit and Mr. Gipper, two dolphins that starred in the original 1963 “Flipper” film. In honor of her birthday, the center hosted a live-streamed celebration, complete with presents, party hats, banners, balloons and time spent with her trainers and an adoring public. Happy birthday from the Weekly, Tursi!

Photo by DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER/Contributed

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26

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023 A snowy egret in flight. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

What’s the difference between a heron and an egret? — KK on BPK The Old High German word for heron was heiger, their name for the long-necked, long-legged wading birds. That evolved into the Old French word MARK heiron, which evolved into HEDDEN the Middle English harn, then heiron, then heroun, ... is a photographer, writer, and which became the Modern semi-professional English, heron. (Though you birdwatcher. He would expect the Brits to has lived in Key spell it heroun due to their West for more than 25 years and penchant for uselessly addmay no longer ing a u to words. Colour me be employable in snarky.) the real world. He The word egret comes is also executive from the French aigrette, director of the which also comes from the Florida Keys Audubon Society.

Old German heiger. The adaptation of the -ette suffix was a diminutive, to describe what is now called the little egret.

But none of this means anything. Since the two words rooted in Old German – the original OG – divided and began to replicate, they have been applied willy-nilly to various members of the heron family. There is no consistent rhyme or reason to it, just history and habit.

But just in case you were asking how to differentiate between some of our similar-looking local birds – the great egret and the great white heron – that is pretty easy. Great egrets have black legs. Great white herons have pale, fleshcolored legs.

How would birds like it if people took (poops) on their cars? — Elena of Stage and Screen Elena. Birds don’t have cars. You must know this.

But for a second, suppose they did.

We have, as a species, not done right by them. We’ve decimated their habitat, turning much of the land they need to survive and thrive into strip malls, golf courses, parking lots and McMansions. We’ve let our pet cats roam free and kill an estimated 2.4 billion-with-a-b birds every year. (Free-roaming domestic cats have caused or contributed to the extinction of 63 species of mammals, reptiles and birds. So far.)

We’ve built giant shiny buildings, and installed uncountable sets of more modest sliding glass doors, all of which look like open sky to them, which birds slam into by the millions.

And I’m not going to go into all the terrible poems in which they’ve been forced to work, against their will, as vague metaphors for our ever-frail and self-centered human emotions.

Do you think for a second that if birds did, in fact, have cars, that we wouldn’t find a way to poop on them?

ASK THE BIRD GEEK: THE LONG LEGS AND BIRD POOP EDITION

We’re lucky they didn’t go all Alfred Hitchcock on us years ago. Don’t get them mad by complaining too much about their tiny poops.

I just got a video of a snowy egret and I believe he was fishing with his yellow feet. Do they do that? — Beachfront Ward According to science, or at least highly observant biologists, herons and egrets use a total of 34 different techniques to forage for dinner — usually fish, shrimp, worms or other small creepy-crawlies. Snowy egrets are thought to have the widest repertoire of moves, having been observed using 21 of those 34 techniques – tongue-flicking, head-swaying, pecking, walking quickly and leapfrog-feeding among them.

What you’re describing sounds like either hover-stirring or foot-dragging. (The papers that described these tactics were published in the 1970s, and I couldn’t track down descriptions of exactly how those tactics were executed.)

Herons and egrets can’t actually catch fish with their feet, but what they can do is startle and confuse the fish, then snatch them up with their bills.

The first weekend I learned to identify snowy egrets (it’s the black legs and yellow feet) I was up in the Everglades at a place called Mrazek Pond. I saw snowies doing something I believe is similar to what you saw – the birds were flying low and slow over the water, dragging their toes across the surface like rakes, and then stabbing down at their toes with their bills, presumably trying to catch fish. I’ve seen a few thousand snowy egrets since, but I haven’t seen that behavior again. Pretty cool you got to see — and video — it.

Why do birds abandon their babies after someone touches their eggs? That seems extreme. — Dave the Ghost Hunter It does seem extreme. But it’s okay – it’s a myth. It doesn’t actually happen.

Birds are eminently practical creatures.

And they put a lot of effort and energy into mating, building a nest, laying eggs and tending to them. And they are not superstitious. If their eggs aren’t damaged, they are not going to view them as somehow sullied.

Suppose you climbed a tree, or used a ladder, found a nest, and like some bratty kid put your finger on each of the eggs just so you could say you touched them. Or even suppose you picked up each egg and held it gently for a moment before carefully replacing it in the nest – because only a rat bastard would damage an egg in the nest.

If a parent bird saw you, they would have one of two reactions. More aggressive species like osprey, kingbirds and mockingbirds would come at you. An osprey, with its razor-like talons, would try to mess you up, draw some blood. A kingbird or mockingbird would probably try and dive at you first, to intimidate you.

And if that didn’t work, they might try landing on your head, pecking at you, pulling your hair, in an attempt to annoy you into leaving.

Birds like warblers or vireos, who are not aggressive but also probably know there is not much they could physically do to challenge you, would most likely lurk in the shadows, watching and waiting, hoping you did no damage, hoping they didn’t have to try and lay another clutch that season.

But if the parent bird did not see you, how would they know you were even there? Birds don’t have security cameras, and most have a terrible sense of smell. And even if they did smell something faint, they would not regard their eggs, their potential future offspring, as sullied. They would come back as soon as you exited the scene.

P.S. – It’s also a myth that birds will explode if they eat rice thrown at weddings. That’s just a lie perpetrated by the wedding industrial complex so they don’t have to sweep it all up after newlyweds leave the church.

27

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

A FLOWER IN CEMENT After several weeks of restless and tumultuis an astrologer, ous skies, wanderer, barthe astrology tender and of this week advocate for is relatively queer justice. He is a loquacious calm. Mercury Gemini with a moves out of cozy Cancer Sagittarius and rising. Find him at hearthandherald- into Capricorn on Friday astrology.com morning, Dec. 1, encouraging us to turn our minds onto matters of material success, strategic planning and practical thinking. Mercury will be extending its stay in Capricorn because it will be going retrograde on Wednesday, Dec. 13, offering us more time to think through and sort out our business affairs and strategies to achieve our goals.

Venus is moving into a challenging 90-degree square with Pluto on Sunday morning, Dec. 3. This transit can feel like a delicate flower pushing its way through a small crack in the sidewalk, yearning to grow in a harsh environment and being all the more beautiful for the striving. Expect some turbulence in friendships and other relationships and a bit of difficulty keeping balance. However, while the struggle may cause frustration, the potential for growth is powerful. Working through the inner and outer conflicts that arise in relationships can ultimately make them much stronger.

Here are your horoscopes for Venus square Pluto. Read for your rising and sun signs.

CHRIS McNULTY

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 You have been feeling the love of your friends and supporters this past month, and these relationships have probably been flowing fairly freely. However, prepare for conflict within some relationships, particularly when it comes to a difference in values or a disagreement over money. Keep your focus on the matter at hand rather than making it personal and you

can come out the other side with a stronger bond.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 Your career seems to have been moving smoothly in recent weeks.

Either your relationships with colleagues have been humming along or the money has been flowing in rather effortlessly. You may, however, discover a really intense personal disagreement with a person or an issue at work.

Don’t go nuclear, rather prepare for the long game and step into your personal power.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 A love for travel and adventure has been seeping into your psyche the past few weeks. It’s as if a magnetic compulsion to explore something new has been turned on. As you give in to these impulses, you may feel conflicted with a simultaneous, intense need for solitude. Can you be alone abroad? Turning a trip into a retreat can amplify your personal growth.

PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 Have you been feeling a strong desire to invest more, either in another person, in a collective cause, or in a financial venture?

Follow your heart in this regard, but this week you might find some resistance to your plans from your friends and networks of support.

Listen to their feedback and take it into account, even letting it mold your final decisions. However, ultimately make your own choices.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 A special person in your life has been drawing you in, and your heart has been singing in their presence. What a joyous feeling!

This upcoming week, you may discover a powerful conflict between this relationship and your career or public reputation. Can your love and your career exist togeth-

er? It might take some strategic flexibility, but working through these challenges will leave you and your relationship stronger.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 Buckling down and getting your hands dirty is not romanticized nearly enough, but I think you’ve been feeling a love for labor and daily routines lately. Living a routine life, however, does not gel well with a life of adventure, and this week you will probably be feeling this friction. How can you expand your horizons and maintain a regular regimen? The answer to this question will improve your joie de vivre.

GEMINI May 21 - June 21 There is a creative outlet for you that is calling you in and tugging your heart strings. Dive into it and give it your all. There is a struggle at hand with this, however, because you are deeply invested in communal projects that also require your time. How can you pursue your personal creativity while fulfilling your other commitments? Finding the answer to this will infuse your own creative project with a primal power.

CANCER June 22 - July 22 Your home and family have been more and more alluring these past few weeks, drawing you in through their sheer beauty. As you relish in these foundational aspects of life, there is an intense challenge coming at you from an important life partner. Finding a way for these two spheres of life to exist simultaneously will empower you at your core. What is the third way?

LEO July 23 - Aug. 22 Have you been enjoying your familiar surroundings a little bit more than usual lately? Does your neighborhood have a little extra glimmer? Falling in love with your

day-to-day world has been on the docket lately. However, you may be faced with a need to change up your regular routines, creating a challenge to this simple happiness. How can you incorporate new habits into your already familiar world without upsetting the apple cart?

VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 You’ve been enjoying a financial boon the past few weeks, almost as if you’ve been drawing money to you as a gravitational center.

This week, however, you may be feeling a really strong need to enjoy life freely without taking your budget into account. Will you invest in your creative outlets or spend heavily on entertainment?

Feed your bliss, but take a moment to consider your long term stability before saying “Yes.” LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 Have you been feeling a little extra glow emanating from your skin? You’ve been expressing your own beauty a little supernaturally lately. Letting your uniqueness blossom may create some frustration with your home life and family in the coming week. Are they not accepting your fresh selfexpression? How can you be true to your future while maintaining a connection to your past? Finding this answer will elicit a deep inner power.

SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 21 Your solitude has been especially precious to you these past few weeks, and your alone time has been balancing and beautiful. This week, however, a powerful need to communicate may challenge your graceful silence. How can you have the difficult conversation while maintaining your peaceful privacy? There is a way that getting your words out in the open can empower your private retreat.

Can you find it?

29

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

A SEARCH FOR TREASURE & A KEYS SANCTUARY PIRATING ARTIFACTS UNDERWATER IS A DETRIMENT TO THE ECOSYSTEM & HISTORY

P

iracy is alive and well in the warm, clear waters surrounding the Florida Keys. It is not a classic style of piracy as was once perpetrated by FLORIDA Blackbeard, Calico KEYS Jack Rackham and HISTORY the like, but, as is WITH the case with every BRAD of piracy, it inBERTELLI act volves crime on the high seas (or under An author, speaker, Florida the high seas).

Keys historian and In the 1950s, Honorary Conch.

1960s and 1970s, His latest book, the attitude held by “Florida Keys treasure hunters History with Brad Bertelli, Volume scouring the Atlantic 1,” shares fascishallows in search nating glimpses of gold and glory into the rich and was not generally sometimes surprising histories of considered environthe Florida Keys. mentally friendly.

Once the whiff of treasure permeated the senses of the salvors, no stone, coral reef or seagrass meadow was left unmarred — by use of crowbars and dynamite when necessary. It wasn’t just treasure hunters; there were also those profiting from the souvenir trade, harvesting coral from the reef.

Martin Meylach, a treasure hunter who also worked for the souvenir trade, wrote in his book, “Diving to a Flash of Gold,” “At Looe Key, we dropped anchor over a forest of staghorn coral. Below, the trees looked upward from the reef in clumps, each tree a full five feet across. The things were unbelievably fragile, their petals ready to crack like eggshells. It was a job of brute strength to steady each tree and chip it free at the base with a chisel-pointed crowbar.”

Fortunately for the local waters, the government stepped in and began to make efforts to bolster the health and safety of the Florida Reef. In 1975,

the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary was established, followed by the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary in 1981. A significantly wider net of protection was cast with the designation of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on Nov. 16, 1990.

Today, sanctuary boundaries cover 2,900 square nautical miles, stretching from the Biscayne National Park boundary to the Dry Tortugas, some 70 miles southwest of the Conch Republic’s southernmost city.

Where once upon a time, men like Art McKee – considered the father of modern treasure hunting – paid the state $100 a year to hold claim over a wreck site, it was no longer possible to legally search the Atlantic shallows, spot a promising site, drop anchor and dig on a suspected shipwreck. For treasure hunters and those working in the souvenir trade, the designation of the sanctuary effectively drew a line in the sand.

The policy change has remained a point of contention between treasure hunters and those charged with protecting natural and cultural resources.

The sanctuary did not outlaw the work of salvors in Florida Keys waters.

Rather, they required the salvors to apply for permits issued by sanctuary officials.

Salvors can apply for two kinds of permits; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the state of Florida review both.

The first, a survey and inventory permit, allows non-intrusive surveys to search for or document a site.

The second kind of permit, a research and recovery permit, is considered after all the necessary surveys, inventories and required reports are submitted to the sanctuary and reviewed. Still, even after each of the sanctuary’s conditions have been met to qualify for the more intrusive research and recovery permit, there is no guarantee the application will be granted.

And this is where the piracy comes into play. Some people out in

The salvage of a large anchor in 1961. DON PINDER COLLECTION/ Florida Keys History Center

the sanctuary waters have foregone the permit process and are actively hunting treasure — whether that treasure is of a historical nature or one of silver and gold is a moot point. While I was still working as a curator for a local museum, people would offer artifacts they had found while diving out at the reefs, hoping they could be displayed. Some of them are on display — even two Spanish reales, a unit of currency. However, unless those artifacts had been recovered prior to the establishment of the sanctuary, I was not going to display them publicly.

This week, next week and every week, when the weather cooperates, people will be out on the reef looking for shipwrecks and the histories and mysteries they may contain. Those doing the hunting, and sometimes the spoils that have been recovered, are not infrequently shared on social media, which, in my opinion, is tantamount to flying a pirate flag.

As someone who loves these local histories, the harm is that when these artifacts are brought to the surface and pirated away, they become lost (in best-case scenarios) to private collections where only a select few

can appreciate them. In worst-case scenarios, the artifacts are not documented, lose their provenance, are not properly stored and cared for and become lost, damaged or ruined.

Searching through suspected shipwreck sites and removing artifacts also alters ecosystems that have developed, in some cases, over hundreds of years. Like everything, the subject is certainly nuanced, and working at the museum for eight years, I listened to arguments from both sides. Also, the sanctuary is a massive area and about as difficult to police as lobster poachers taking way beyond their limit during the lobster mini-season — which is not an invitation for people to go out on the water and act like pirates or to ignore the bag limits on lobster.

Like it or not, working the reef line for sunken ships is not what it was back in the silver-golden years when Art McKee rediscovered the 1733 fleet. While it might have been a bit of a Wild West situation back in the day, and the crews of competing treasure hunters occasionally drew pistols and other armaments on each other, at least it is (hopefully) less so today.

31

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED WELLNESS THE INVISIBLE BURDEN: UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND ITS IMPACTS

S

tress, an inevitable part of life, manifests in various forms and affects individuals differently.

It’s the body’s natural response to pressure, challenges or demanding situations, triggering a cascade of physiological and psychological reactions. While acute stress can be motivating, chronic or prolonged stress can take a toll on overall health.

THE MECHANICS OF STRESS When confronted with stressors, the body activates its “fight-or-flight” response, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones prepare the body for action, increasing heart rate, elevating blood pressure and sharpening focus. However, when stress persists, these hormonal surges can have detrimental effects on health.

THE TOLL ON HEALTH Chronic stress has been linked to increased risks of heart disease, hypertension, compromised immune function, digestive problems and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. It can accelerate aging processes and impair cognitive function, affecting memory and decision-making abilities.

STRATEGIES FOR WELLNESS Combating stress involves adopting healthy coping mechanisms and lifestyle changes.

Regular exercise, adequate sleep, mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga, and maintaining a balanced diet can significantly reduce stress levels.

Additionally, fostering strong social connections and seeking professional help when needed are crucial in managing stress effectively.

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Continual exposure to stress hormones can have lasting effects on the body. Elevated cortisol levels, for instance, can

JENNIFER BOLTZ HAR...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. jenniferlynnboltz@gmail.com

lead to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, contributing to metabolic disturbances and increasing the risk of diabetes. Adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, such as increased inflammation and arterial damage, are also associated with chronic stress.

NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAYS • Set boundaries: Establishing boundaries is crucial during the holidays. Learn to say “no” when needed, prioritize tasks and allocate time for self-care to prevent getting overwhelmed.

• Practice mindfulness: Amid the holiday chaos, take moments to breathe, meditate or practice mindfulness exercises. Centering oneself can alleviate stress and promote a sense of calm.

• Plan and delegate: Organize tasks by making lists and delegating responsibilities.

Breaking tasks into manageable chunks can prevent feeling overwhelmed and ensure a smoother holiday experience.

TRUSTS • WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY LADYBIRD DEEDS Whether you are a resident or a snowbird, it is important to have your assets properly titled in a way that will avoid those assets going through probate.

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EMBRACING BALANCE Understanding the impact of stress on health underscores the importance of adopting proactive measures to manage it effectively. By incorporating healthy lifestyle choices, seeking support, and employing stressreduction techniques, individuals can navigate the holiday season and daily life with greater resilience and well-being.

Vincenzo Massaro receives award for most excellent fundraising during our raffle for a cooler full of booze. Marathon Shrine Club thanks Vincenzo Massaro for a job well done.

32

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON COMMUNITY CHURCH THE PERFECT CHURCH FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T

SUNDAY SERVICES

10AM IN THE SANCTUARY Pastor Mary Ashcraft The Bell Choir is performing at this Sunday's service.

Monday: Men's Breakfast 7am IHOP. Tuesday: Sisters in Christ 9:45am. All are welcome!

3010 Overseas Highway

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"Love your neighbor as yourself" — Matthew 22:38

Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Company would like to welcome

NEVER BOUGHT. NEVER SOLD. ALWAYS LOCAL.

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33

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

RUNNING INTO EVENTS SEASON

A young Reef the fox visits the crew from South of Heaven Tattoo in Key Largo in 2021.

CONTRIBUTED

BRIDGE RUN IN KEY LARGO IS THIS SATURDAY

H

i friends!

Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good REEF food and gratitude.

THE FOX We had a low-key day here Reef is a red fox at Pawsitive Beginthat was saved nings. Foxes like us from a fur farm. don’t like anything He now lives in Key Largo with out of the ordinary his human, Nicole when it comes to Navarro. food. Mom learned that lesson the expensive way two years ago, so it’s just another meal here on any holiday. But come Christmas, we do enjoy presents — the squeaky kind.

Events season in the Florida Keys has arrived, including an upcoming run. Saturday, Dec. 2, is the First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run. The 5k will run over the beautiful Jewfish Creek Bridge overlooking the Key Largo Bay and finish at the access road to Gilbert’s Resort. Run or walk our bridge on the 18-Mile Stretch, which serves as the gateway into the Florida Keys. It’s an awesome course, flat and fast with one big challenging bridge, Jewfish Creek Bridge, and gorgeous views of the Florida Bay and Barnes Sound.

The race is a timed 5k run and

walk. Race T-shirts will be given to the first 500 participants to register. All participants will receive a medal upon completion of their respective race event. Awards will be presented to the overall top three finishers, overall masters and top three of different age groups. Racers will reunite with family and friends at Gilbert’s Resort access road while enjoying snacks, refreshments and music. Register for the race at keylargobridgerun.com.

I have a fun little side story about this race that some may have missed.

My friend, and my mom’s tattoo artist, Brandon Bennett, designed the ribbon for the medals that will be handed out at the Bridge Run this year. My mom has been getting tattooed by Bennett since he first opened South of Heaven Tattoo in 2009. I even got to meet the whole South of Heaven tattoo crew when I arrived in Key Largo in May 2021. I had the chance to see the ribbon design online and it is quite amazing. It’s a true representation of supporting locals while showcasing the ecosystem in one of the biggest events of the year in the Upper Keys.

Anywho, that’s all for this week.

Stay up to date with all things fox by visiting pawsitivebeginnings.org. I hear there is a brand new banner on our home page provided by the Keys Weekly to show the world that I won Best Local Celebrity this year. Go check it out.

Until next time, Reef, over and out!

During a resource patrol on Card Sound Bridge, law enforcement charged a Hialeah man for possessing several marine species out of season, which included lobster and a grouper. MCSO/Contributed

MAN CHARGED FOR REPORTEDLY POSSESSING LOBSTER & GROUPER

A

34-year-old Hialeah man was arrested Nov. 24 for multiple lobster-related and other wildlife viola-

tions.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key Largo Deputy Jason Farr and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer were patrolling near Card Sound Bridge at 3:52 p.m. when they saw multiple people spearfishing. They saw fishing gear and lobsters thrown into the water from the vessel as they approached.

Alejandro Garcia Azcuy was charged with several misdemean-

ors, including spearfishing in a prohibited area, harvesting lobster from a sanctuary, spearing lobster, possessing no lobster gauge, possession of grouper out-of-season, interference with a law enforcement officer, and multiple boating citations.

Arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 6 before Judge Sharon Hamilton at the Plantation Key Courthouse.

For more information on wildlife regulations is at www.myfwc. com — Keys Weekly staff report

34

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

LOCALS PAY ENOUGH IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. YOUR LOCAL NEWS SHOULD BE FREE. JOIN HALF A MILLION MONTHLY READERS AT KEYSWEEKLY.COM OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY EBLAST AT KEYSWEEKLY.COM/BLAST

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36

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Having Fun in the Middle Keys MARATHON LADY DOCKS

Morning Trips 8:30am - 12:30pm Aﬞernoon Trips 1:30pm - 5:30pm

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RECONNE CT WITH NATURE • 63 ACRES OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD HAMMOCK • 1.4 MILES OF WALKING TRAILS • NATURAL FISH PEDICURE STATION • BUTTERFLY GARDENS

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37

MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023 BRIEFLY Bicycle ride this weekend may affect traffic The earthbiking.org Key West Ride from Homestead to Key West is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2. Some 50 bicyclists are expected to take part in this event.

The riders will not be riding in a pack but will be spread out the length of the route. The first riders will begin leaving Homestead in the early morning hours of Dec. 1. They will enter Monroe County via the 18-Mile Stretch. They will stop at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Marathon on the night of Dec. 1. The ride will resume the morning of Dec. 2, 2023, en route to Stock Island. Bicyclists will ride as a group from Stock Island into Key West en route to Dante's Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant.

Though traffic is not expected to be impeded on U.S. 1 for this event, motorists should expect slow traffic in spots and plan accordingly. For more information: www.earthbiking. org Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting scheduled Dec. 12 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, in Marathon. The council will welcome new members and hear updates from Mission: Iconic Reefs and the FKNMS maritime heritage program.

The council will also consider a draft resolution brought to the table by its South Florida Ecosystem Connectivity Team working group.

An agenda and supporting materials will be posted at floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac. More information prior to the meeting is available from Liz Trueblood at elizabeth. trueblood@noaa.gov.

Two arrested on drug- and burglary-related charges A man and woman were arrested Nov. 22 on several charges following an vehicle burglary investigation in Marathon. Johnathan Dejuantay Lindsey, 33, of Marathon, was charged with burglary, larceny and multiple counts of fraud. Brittany Lynn Barber, 34, of Key West, was charged with possession of 0.3 grams of fentanyl, possession of 4.9 grams of methamphetamine, possession of 2.4 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, fraud and prostitution. The Sheriff’s Office investigated a Nov. 21, 2023 vehicle burglary in Marathon in which a wallet and credit cards were stolen. A credit card inside the wallet was used multiple times at area gas stations.

Marathon man arrested over battery and threats A 36-year-old Marathon man was arrested Nov. 22 for allegedly threatening to kill Sheriff’s Office members and attempting to grab a deputy’s firearm while he was being taken into custody. Lee Charles Quinn was charged with battery, threatening a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. The Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3800 block of the Overseas Highway in Marathon around 8 p.m. regarding a man who had been punched. The suspect was later found on 36th Street and identified as Quinn. Quinn threatened to kill multiple deputies as he was being taken into custody, the Sheriff’s Office said. He then attempted to grab and pull at the holstered service firearm of one deputy. He was not successful in obtaining the weapon.

Quinn stiffened his body, pulled away from arresting deputies, and kicked the doors of a patrol vehicle while en route to jail.

Salvation Army seeks volunteers for kettle drive The Salvation Army is seeking volunteers to “ring the bell” for its Red Kettle annual fundraiser during this holiday season. Volunteers are needed for locations in Marathon and Key West. Shifts are two hours now through Dec. 23, and volunteers may sign up for one or more shifts.

All funds collected stay in the Keys community and help to provide food, shelter, disaster relief and much more to individuals and families in crisis. Visit registertoring.com to sign up. If you have questions, contact Loretta at 813-892-3342.

Weekly Al-Anon meetings at St. Columba Church Alcoholics Anonymous (Al-Anon) offers meetings for friends and relatives of alcoholics in Marathon.

Meetings are held Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at St. Columba Church, 451 52nd Street Gulf in Marathon. For questions, please contact 989-6278859.

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.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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The Florida Keys 305-481-5156 Brenda@KeysIslandSales.com KeysIslandSales.com

Michael Kiraly

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MARATHON WEEKLY / NOVEMBER 30, 2023

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