Key West Weekly 24-0321

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Welcome to Even More Convenient Care.

The Fishermen’s Community Hospital campus is expanding.

Our new 10,000-square-foot Medical Arts Building will bring multiple services under one roof:

• Primary care

• Physical, occupational and speech therapy

• Oncology infusion for Baptist Health Cancer Care patients

• Physician offices for orthopedics, general surgery and gastroenterology

At Baptist Health, we’ve got the Middle Keys covered — from emergency care and surgery, to wellness appointments and cancer care. Welcome to expert, compassionate care, all on one campus.

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The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $977 million on March 20, following no winner on March 19. According to the lottery, there have been 28 consecutive drawings without a winner. The next drawing is set for Friday, March 22.

KEEP THE TREES; LOSE THE GUARDRAILS

City tells FDOT to change plans; hospital is a critical issue

“Remove the guardrails and leave the trees.”

Commissioner Billy Wardlow summed up the Key West city commission’s sentiments during the March 14 meeting.

State transportation officials want to install guardrails and railings along both sides of the North Roosevelt Boulevard promenade — ostensibly to protect people from passing cars on one side and from falling in the water on the other side of the wide pathway.

But in order to install the unsightly railings, all the palm trees along the boulevard would have to be removed.

At their March 14 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to tell state transportation officials to skip the railings and keep the trees.

“I think it would be horrible for that part of our community to have to look at those railings and not the trees,” said commissioner Mary Lou Hoover, who added that local residents, including Tony Falcone, had been instrumental in getting the palm trees installed more than a decade ago.

Mayor Teri Johnston asked the police department for an accounting of any accidents that had occurred on the promenade — accidents that the railings aimed to prevent.

Assistant Police Chief Randy Smith said the number of accidents along the promenade is “very minimal,” and the number of fatalities was zero.

“I find it amazing that FDOT appears to be concerned about accidents, yet they install bike lanes in the two outside lanes of both boulevards, despite us telling them they were creating an extremely dangerous situation,” Johnston said.

The Key West city commission on March 14 voted unanimously to tell FDOT to change road work plans for N. Roosevelt Boulevard that would remove all palm trees to make room for railings and guardrails on each side of the promenade. Keys Weekly file photo

The commission’s opposition to the plan may be enough to persuade FDOT to change their plans for the roadwork. Maybe.

“If FDOT pushes back, that’s when we’ll regroup and get our statistics together and get the chamber involved to really oppose this,” assistant city manager Todd Stoughton told the commission.

Medical matters

Commissioner Sam Kaufman updated the commission on the task force he is assembling to gather infor-

Key West Gallery, 601 Duval St., will host a colorful retrospective of Peter Max’s artwork March 25-31 and welcomes painter Phillip Anthony to the gallery March 23-25. See page 8.

mation about Lower Keys Medical Center and Community Health Services, the for-profit company that runs it.

The 30-year lease, or operating agreement, between the hospital and CHS expires in five years. Rather than simply renew the lease with CHS, Kaufman wants the local board that selects the hospital’s operator to pursue a competitive bidding process to solicit other potential operators for Lower Keys Medical Center.

Kaufman is working with a separate consumer advocacy group called Our Hospital Key West, (ohkw.org) created by local businessman Spencer Krenke, to find an alternative operator while there is still time.

“I agree with Mr. Krenke in that we need to support CHS and its operations at Lower Keys Medical Center now and for the next five years for the good of this community,” Kaufman said at the March 14 meeting while updating the commission on the task force. “But people should know that the local board and CHS are already engaged in discussions to renew the lease with CHS. The question is, would the community benefit from a competitive bidding process? And there’s a very real concern that there will be no competitive bid and the current lease will just be renewed.”

Kaufman has previously expressed frustration and disappointment with CHS as operators of the hospital. He pointed out at a meeting last year that LKMC profited $31 million in one year — profits that benefited CHS, which is based in Tennessee, while the Key West hospital struggles to recruit and keep doctors and too often has to send patients to mainland hospitals for procedures that can’t be handled locally.

The next meeting of the hospital district board is May 13, Kaufman said.

“We have a commission meeting on May 9, and my intention is to bring a recommendation from the task force to that May 9 meeting,” he said, adding that the task force includes Dr. Jack Norris as well as several other doctors, nurses and knowledgeable medical professionals who understand the industry and the process by which alternative operators could be solicited and evaluated.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

By Mandy Miles, Jim McCarthy and Alex Rickert

NEW RULES MAY RESTRICT REALTORS’ COMMISSIONS

Local agents respond to national legal settlement

The typical 6% commission that has long been paid to real estate agents by people selling a home may no longer be standard practice.

That figure will be more negotiable come July, pending a judge’s approval.

Realtors nationwide are facing new rules and restrictions on their commissions following a legal settlement that affects the real estate professionals and consumers buying and selling homes.

The National Association of Realtors on March 15 announced it had settled an antitrust lawsuit that claimed the organization and its real estate agents colluded with brokerage firms, forcing home sellers to pay high commission fees to agents.

The terms of the settlement will take effect in July, pending its approval by the courts.

In addition to a $418 million payout over four years to the plaintiffs, the settlement changes the industry’s overall business model in which the seller of a house typically paid a 6% commission — $60,000 for a $1 million home — that was split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent.

Plaintiffs in the recent lawsuit claimed the 6% fee was expected and anything less would discourage agents from showing a seller’s property. But according to several agents who spoke with the Weekly following news of the settlement, that “standard” com-

mission, and the agreed-upon split between sellers’ and buyers’ agents, is far less universal than has been portrayed.

“There’s no such thing as a standard commission,” said Coldwell Banker Schmitt agent Josh Mothner. “I view the fact that they’re all roughly the same as the same reason many products are the same price, even if they’re not from the same company –competition.”

Under the terms of the settlement, as of July, the buyer and seller could each have to pay their own agent’s commission fee. The seller will not be burdened with both, unless they choose to pay both commissions in order to facilitate the sale – an option still very much on the table, contrary to some national headlines. However, where sellers’ agents could previously add proposed commission offers for buyers’ agents on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), they will no longer be permitted to do so, regardless of their intent to strike a deal.

These changes concern some Florida Keys real estate brokers and agents.

“These new rules will make real estate transactions more complex and slow,” said Sebastian Del Negro, co-managing broker with Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty. “At OceanSIR, we never made it compulsory for sellers to offer commissions to buyer’s agents. Although we usually followed industry standards, commissions have always

been negotiated. Historically, sellers offering compensation to buyers’ agents has been a tool to attract buyers.”

Some buyers may not have the funds to pay their own agent separately, which becomes particularly problematic if a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) loan is involved.

“With any FHA or even VA loan, the loan rules do not allow buyers to finance the cost of their agent’s compensation,” said Ocean Sotheby’s Realtor Ally Kelly. “Should a seller not choose to offer a buyer’s agent’s compensation, the buyer, not the FHA or VA loan, will have to pay for the representation. This only increases the closing costs … and may make the property even less affordable.”

“This could have an adverse impact on buyers with limited funds for a down payment and closing costs,” said Key West broker Bascom Grooms of Bascom Grooms Real Estate. “In the event their Realtor finds them a property that the seller has not agreed to compensate a buyer’s agent for procuring a buyer, they would have to compensate their Realtor out of pocket, and they may not have the resources.”

Del Negro agreed, saying, “With our current system, commissions were rolled into the loan, whereas in the future, buyers will negotiate commissions with agents and then need to bring additional funds to the closing table.”

continued on page 11

KEY WEST GALLERY FEATURES ARTISTS OF THE AGES

Meet Phillip Anthony & celebrate Peter Max this month

Key West Gallery, 601 Duval St. will celebrate two different but equally impressive painters this month, one who’s still at the front end of his career and one, Peter Max, now 86, who can look back on 60 years of colorful creativity.

Painter Philip Anthony will appear at Key West Gallery March 23-25, offering live painting demonstrations during both the afternoon and evening.

Born in Glendale, California, Anthony’s family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho when he was young. His artistic talent developed subtly with drawing and sketching as he grew up. He was drawn to traditional black and white photography and the process of working in a darkroom. Moving to Florida to be a film director, he was pulled toward cinematography, focusing on composition and lighting.

His Key West show, “Monochromatic Reflections,” features sunrises, sunsets and seascapes in riveting detail.

Then, on March 25, turn the page into the colorful world of Peter Max, whose retrospective will be on display and for sale through March 31.

With paintings on display in hundreds of museums and galleries worldwide, Max, now 86, and his vibrant colors have become part of the fabric of contemporary culture.

The artist has painted seven U.S. presidents and countless celebrities. He has been named the official artist of the Grammys and

the official artist of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The NFL commissioned Max as the first official artist in Super Bowl history and asked him to create commemorative art for five consecutive Super Bowls.

“Throughout the years, I have painted so many beautiful, beautiful, imaginative musicians: Mick Jagger, Sting, the Beatles, David Bowie, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Pharrell Williams, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, Yes, Phil Collins, Gwen Stefani, Steven Tyler, Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and so many others,” Max said. “It’s mind-blowing when I think about it. I love great music and the amazingly talented people who make it.”

Max’s world didn’t always include the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen and Super Bowl stars. His life wasn’t always as vibrantly reassuring as the iconic paintings in signature colors that would come to define the artist — and an entire pop art movement.

He was born Peter Max Finkelstein in October 1937 in Berlin, Germany.

His parents fled the Nazi regime a year later, moving among China, Israel and Paris. The family finally settled in Brooklyn, New York when their son, now known simply as Peter Max, was 16.

He studied at the prestigious Art Students League of New York and was involved with the psychedelic movement in the ’60s and the counterculture revolution that accompanied the colorful exploration. Max’s art career started when he began creating posters for bands of the ’60s, complete with bubbly letters, abstract designs and rainbow hues.

Keys Energy: Watch the road, not the chopper

Keys Energy Services (KEYS) advises its customers that helicopter-based repairs of the transmission line are taking place from Stock Island to Big Pine Key through early April. Traffic will not be affected while this work is taking place.

KEYS customers should be aware of the helicopter flying near poles between Stock Island and Big Pine Key. Additionally, residents are advised to drive safely while this work is in progress and keep their focus on the road and not the helicopter flying overhead. Repair work will take place through April 11, weather permitting.

HELICOPTER REPAIRS POWER LINE KEYS CONGRESSMAN SUPPORTS CUBAN PROTESTERS

Maintenance and repairs to the main power line down the Keys will be done by helicopter through mid-April. CONTRIBUTED

Michels Power Inc. was selected as the vendor for this project, which includes 520 poles, at a total cost to KEYS of about $1.3 million.

— Contributed

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez launches poster campaign at D.C. office

U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, whose district includes the Florida Keys, on March 19 launched a poster campaign at his congressional office in Washington, D.C. amid anti-regime protests taking place in Cuba.

Since March 17, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets to demand an end to the repressive communist regime in the island country that sits just 90 miles from Key West.

“Since March 17, much like they did on July 11, 2021, hundreds of thousands of brave Cubans took to the streets to demand freedom, power, food and the end of the criminal Communist regime,” Gimenez said. “In response, the regime throttled internet access and mobilized its gang of thugs to brutalize and jail those clamoring for freedom. As the only Cuban-born member of Congress, I am proud

Rep. Carlos Gimenez’s Washington DC office supports the ongoing protests in Cuba against the communist regime.

CONTRIBUTED

to use my voice to denounce the atrocities of the Castro regime and support the freedom-loving people of Cuba who continue organizing in cities and towns across the island.”

Gimenez fled the island with his family shortly after the 1959 communist takeover. He represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys.

— Contributed

A poster campaign outside of U.S.

‘Bruce Springsteen’ by Peter Max. Phillip Anthony’s monochromatic ‘My Happy Place.’ CONTRIBUTED

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Florida Keys’ & Cuba’s Finest Regional Art

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso

ART TOURS TO CUBA – April 22nd & November 15th, 2024

VISIT CUBA’S CELEBRATED ARTISTS

IN HAVANA WITH THE GALLERY ON GREENE

APRIL 19-23 & NOVEMBER 22-26, 2024

Direct ight from Key West or city of your choice

Preview and discuss new artwork with Cuba’s leading artists

Mabel Poblet

The Merger

Visit them in their Studios in Cuba

LEGAL TRAVEL WITH BILINGUAL AMERICAN CURATOR SUPPORT OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE, IT’S A LEGAL THING

The Gallery on Greene | 606 Greene Street | Key West, Florida galleryongreene.com | 305-304-2323

NEW RULES MAY RESTRICT REALTORS’ COMMISSIONS

Derek Epperly, principal broker of Keys Atlantic Realty in Key West and president of the Key West Association of Realtors, has similar concerns for VA buyers and others with limited funds.

Grooms added that some sellers may still elect to pay both agents’ commissions in order to sweeten the deal and facilitate the sale, “but it remains to be seen if this structure will actually benefit a seller,” Grooms said.

The commission fees will be negotiable and cannot be included in the MLS listing for a property. Rather, the fee must be negotiated individually for each sale with each agent.

“For Realtors, the proposed settlement just means more paperwork; for the consumer, it means a clear understanding of who pays for what,” Epperly said.

“Who this is really going to impact are inexperienced agents who aren’t able to have frank conversation about commissions and being compensated,” Mothner added. “It’s going to cause a lot of confusion initially, but it will settle out.”

Finally, the settlement includes a new rule that requires buyers to enter into written agreements with one agent. The designated agents handle all showings and offers.

“This is going to be an adjustment for buyers,” said Grooms.

“Historically they have never had to sign a representation agreement to work with a Realtor. For sellers this is common practice that they sign a listing agreement. Buyers would still have the option to represent themselves if they did not want to commit to an exclusive agreement, much like sellers have the option to sell their property as a for sale by owner.

But buyers representing themselves, Del Negro said, “translates to delayed transactions and extra work for listing agents and title companies.”

“(Having a buyer’s agent) has always been allowed and personally, I encourage it as there is more protection for the buyers,” added Kelly.

For some agents, a standard written agreement with buyers be-

fore starting any significant amount of work is nothing new. Regardless, multiple agents who spoke to the Weekly said the new across-theboard requirement would heighten competition, forcing companies to re-examine the quality and depth of services offered to buyers. And on the buyers’ end, “shopping around” until the moment a deal is struck won’t be as easy as it once was.

“It’s going to tighten up the ship for those people who love to call around and call a different agent every day,” said Mothner. “They’re going to have to be careful, because they will have formal, likely binding, agreements with buyers’ agents.”

In announcing the settlement, NAR did not set a new suggested commission fee, but the current 6% standard is significantly higher than the 1% and 2% commissions paid in other countries such as the U.K. and Israel, according to CNN.

Grooms said he doesn’t expect the proposed settlement to significantly affect the Florida Keys’ listing inventory or local agents’ livelihoods.

“Our income is driven more by the health of the economy, strength of financial markets, interest rates, etc.,” he said. “This is not the first change our industry has experienced and it won’t be the last. We as real estate professionals will adapt and change our business models accordingly.”

Del Negro added, “Real estate agents are one of the few professionals that only get paid after all their work is done and finished. The reward is great, but the risk is considerable.”

He also specified that, “Anywhere Realty, our umbrella company, had settled this lawsuit last November and is excluded from any current or future copycat lawsuits.”

Anywhere Real Estate Inc. owns and franchises several recognizable real estate brands, including Coldwell Banker, Century 21 Real Estate, Sotheby’s International Realty and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, among others.

By Keys Weekly Staff

TROUBLED WATERS: KEYS LEADERS FIGHT FOR FISH HEALTH

State provides $2M for research on sawfish deaths

With a sawfish death toll at 21 and other species exhibiting bizarre behavior, such as spinning in circles, Florida Keys leaders have united to support researchers in a search for the causes behind the troubles.

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners on March 13 announced its support for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in its quest to uncover the mystery behind both the ongoing deaths of the rare, critically endangered smalltooth sawfish and fish abnormalities in the Keys.

“We know there is a lot of frustration in the community not knowing what is going on,” said commissioner Michelle Lincoln of Marathon. “We are all extremely concerned about our ecosystem and what is causing this to happen.”

FWC’s investigation is an organized response by researchers and environmental advocates. And State Rep. Jim Mooney, of Islamorada led an effort to send $2 million in state funds for the FWC’s effort in determining the scale and scope of the recent fish mortality and disease happening in Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Keys.

“The FWC will contract with nonprofits to assist with data collection and analysis, and employ local fishing guides to assist with data collection,” county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood said.

For now, the BOCC is helping spread the word of the FWC’s efforts.

County Mayor Holly Rashein said, “We are fully supporting our state scientists and experts in working as quickly as possible to discover what is happening.”

What FWC knows so far:

There have been 21 documented deaths of smalltooth sawfish,

one of five species of sawfishes.

Based on fish necropsy data, there are no signs of a communicable pathogen and specimens were negative for bacterial infection. Additional sawfish tissues are still being processed for analysis.

Dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH and temperature are not suspected as the cause of the fish behavior or kills.

Red tide toxins produced by Karenia brevis have not been detected in water samples.

How to help

Report all healthy, sick, injured or dead sawfish to FWC’s Sawfish Hotline at 844-472-9374 or email Sawfish@myfwc.com with the date, time and location of the sighting, estimated length, water depth and other relevant details.

NOAA describes smalltooth sawfish as being “olive gray to brown on top” with a white underside.

“Although sawfish have sharklike bodies, they are actually a type of ray,” NOAA’s website says. They get their name from their long, flat snouts that are lined with about 22 to 29 teeth on each side.

Under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to catch, harm, harass or kill an endangered sawfish. It is also illegal to possess, sell, carry or transport sawfish or parts of sawfish — such as the rostrum (snout).

While some fishermen catch sawfish as bycatch, they can follow safe handling and release guidelines to quickly and safely release incidentally captured sawfish.

Report fish concerns

If you see abnormal fish behavior, fish disease or fish kills, submit a report to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline either through the web form MyFWC. com/ReportFishKill or call 800-6360511.

PREPARING FOR POTENTIAL MASS MIGRATION

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a wave of state officers and guardsmen to the Florida Keys in preparation for possibly more maritime voyages among migrants from two Caribbean countries facing unrest and violence.

DeSantis’ deployment of some 133 Florida State Guard members on March 13 was in response to the possible influx of Haitian migrants taking to the southern U.S. waters. Since late February, gangs unleashed violent, lethal attacks on areas surrounding Haiti’s capital in Port-au-Prince, killing dozens, kidnapping many more and leaving the country in a state of despair.

Attacks and killings continue despite Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s intentions to step down and form a presidential transition council, which gangs demanded. Gangs in Haiti have opposed Henry as prime minister, believing he wasn’t elected by the people.

Recent gang uprisings in Haiti could mean more dilapidated sailing vessels taking to the sea with hundreds of Haitians onboard hoping to reach U.S. soil, particularly the Sunshine State and the Keys. Not only did DeSantis deploy more than 130 state guardsmen to the Keys and South Florida, but he also recently ordered 30 Florida Highway Troopers, 23 Florida Fish & Wildlife officers, 39 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers and 48 Florida National Guard members. A total of 250 officers and soldiers and more than a dozen air and sea craft were deployed to the southern coast of Florida, DeSantis said.

“No state has done more to supplement the (under-resourced) U.S. Coast Guard’s interdiction efforts; we cannot have illegal aliens coming to Florida,” DeSantis said.

This isn’t the first time the Florida governor deployed resources to the Florida Keys to assist local law enforcement overwhelmed with migrant

Disarray in Haiti prompts DeSantis to deploy manpower to the Keys

“What’s their potential threat to the citizens here and also to the state of Florida?”

— Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay

uprisings. Ramsay said he was told there could be a larger wave of voyages and migrants than what the island chain witnessed in past years.

In August 2022, 300 Haitian men, women and children aboard a wooden vessel grounded not far from the gated Ocean Reef community in North Key Largo. Months later, a vessel carrying nearly 200 Haitian migrants grounded on the sandbar in Islamorada on Nov. 21, 2022.

landings. DeSantis activated the Florida National Guard on Jan. 6, 2023, days after federal, state and local authorities dealt with the arrival of 300 Cuban migrants at Dry Tortugas National Park. Since August 2022, agencies have encountered more than 8,000 Haitian migrants in the Florida waters. Florida Keys Sheriff Rick Ramsay appeared on Fox News on March 18 to discuss the potential flow of Haitian migrants to Florida amid the gang

“Our resources are very limited here,” Ramsay said, applauding U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and DeSantis for assisting on the mass migration front. “All my troops are on ready (and) standby. We have mass migration plans already on the books. Our first goal is to help, aid, and assist state, local and federal governments, but keep my citizens safe and secure.”

Meanwhile off the Florida coast, vessels carrying Haitian migrants have been intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, which continues to confront illegal voyages to the U.S. by sea from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. On March 12, the Coast Guard repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti following an interdiction near Great Inagua, Bahamas five days before. A good Samaritan notified the Coast Guard on March 7 of a vessel in distress.

“The Coast Guard’s primary mission as a member of the Homeland Security Task ForceSoutheast is to preserve human life at sea,” said Capt. Willie Carmichael, incident commander for Operation Vigilant Sentry.

On Feb. 29, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission intercepted a boat with smugglers and children in Brevard County near the Indian River County line. Officers say the 42-foot vessel had two dozen Haitians, guns, night vision equipment and drugs onboard.

“This is not really our responsibility,” DeSantis said regarding state and local resources used to combat illegal maritime voyages. “This is the federal government’s responsibility. The Coast Guard does by and large a good job, but they’re undermanned.”

Ramsay said the federal government has “dropped the ball” in dealing with mass migration issues.

“Are these people (Haitians) coming just looking for a better way of life? Or, with all the volatility, are these criminals, are these emptied-out prisons, are these gang members? … What’s their potential threat to the citizens here and also to

continued on the next page

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti on March 7 following an interdiction of a migrant venture on this vessel near Great Inagua, Bahamas. U.S. COAST GUARD/Contributed

Haitian migrants who reached the Tavernier shore receive a mask and board a U.S. Homeland Security bus on Feb. 9, 2023. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

A Haitian puts a thumbs-up after reaching U.S. soil in Tavernier on Feb. 9, 2023. The man was loaded onto a bus with 100 other Haitians. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

continued from previous page

PREPARING FOR POTENTIAL MASS MIGRATION

the state of Florida?” Ramsay said during the Fox News interview.

Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S Homeland Security secretary, recently said a limited pool of funds is putting all work, from shelter services and border security and “everything across the diverse threat landscape that we face in very serious peril.”

In January 2023, the Biden administration announced its intent to provide safe and orderly pathways to the U.S. for up to 30,000 nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The program, formerly known as the Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicarauguans and Venezuelans, allows certain people from those four countries who have a sponsor in the U.S. and who pass a background check to come to the U.S. to live and work lawfully for two years — using a mechanism called “humanitarian parole.”

The creation of this new parole program, however, was coupled with restricted access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. In January 2023, the government of Mexico agreed to allow the U.S. to expel up to 30,000 migrants from those countries to Mexico each month — preventing them from requesting asylum under U.S. immigration law. With the expiration of the Title 42 order in May 2023, the U.S. announced that it would formally deport some migrants from these countries to Mexico instead of to their home countries.

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez represents the Florida Keys and south Florida in Congress. He accused the Biden administration of standing idly by while Haiti descended in chaos following the assassination of then-President Jovenel Moïse three years ago. Gimenez said community security is at risk of another mass migration event from Haiti.

“I demand the Biden administration implement a comprehensive strategy to address the unrest in Haiti and prevent this security crisis from impacting South Florida families,” Gimenez said.

“The Coast Guard does by and large a good job, but they’re undermanned.”

— Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

According to a report by CNN, the Biden Administration has discussed using Guantanamo Bay to process Haitian migrants, if there’s a mass exodus to the U.S. Located 200 miles from Haiti, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba once had a migrant center to process migrants before returning them to Haiti. The center is separate from where terrorist suspects are held.

Last July, the U.S. State Department heightened the travel advisory to level 4, urging people not to travel to Haiti amid rising crime, kidnappings and poor infrastructure. The message hasn’t changed as of March. And with the Port-au-Prince airport shutdown, the State Department is working to get Americans trapped in the country safely to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Local, state and federal authorities aren’t only preparing for possible mass migrations from Haiti. They’re also dealing with Cuban migrant landings amid political unrest.

On the evening of March 18, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol responded to Duck Key, where 24 Cuban migrants arrived on a homemade vessel. Samuel Briggs II, acting chief patrol agent for U.S. Border Patrol in Miami, said they will be processed for removal proceedings.

COME WORSHIP WITH US

‘‘The churches of Christ greet you.’’ Romans 16:16 NKJV

ENGLISH SERVICE

Sunday Bible Study 10am

Service 11am

Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm

Evangelist Rodrigue Aleandre Cell 305.296.3331

KREYOL SEVIS

Dimanch Klas Biblik 7:30pm

Adorasyon 8:30pm

Madi Klas Biblik 7:30pm

Minis Rodrigue Aleandre Cell 305.296.3331

SERVICIO ESPAÑOL

Domingo Estudio Biblico a las 5pm

Servicio de Adoración a las 6pm

Jueves Estudio Biblico a las 7pm

Ministro Pedro Ruiz Celda 347.430.2263

1700 VON PHISTER ST, KEY WEST

‘‘But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.’’ Jude 1:20-21 NKJV

Orthodox Mission in the Keys

A STORY WITH 2 SIDES

Fringe Theater presents ‘The Last Five Years’ through March 29

ROBERTA DePIERO/Contributed

Fringe

“The Last Five Years” at the Key West Armory, 600 White St., through March 29 at 7 p.m.

The story of love and loss takes two distinct looks at one relationship — a concept that’s reflected in the show’s seating.

“We’re using an alley-style staging for ‘Last Five Years,’” said managing artistic director Rebecca Tomlinson. “That means the audience is divided into two different sections and the stage is placed between them. Literally, there are two sides to this space to reflect the two sides in the play.”

The play’s storytelling style is also nonlinear. Cathy’s story is told from the point of view of the end of a marriage – she is grappling with Jamie’s departure. But Jamie begins his story with the elation of a new opportunity for love with Cathy. The storylines are juxtaposed to highlight a contrasting perspective, giving the play a haunting effect as the audience knows before the characters where the story is going.

Playwright Jason Robert Brown is a Tony Award-winning

composer and playwright. His shows feature a dynamic style that is rhythmically and harmonically unconventional -and musically challenging.

Starring in the show are Ben Pegg (Jamie) and Claire Caplan (Cathy). Both are popular local singers who are branching out into the world of theater.

“Ben and Claire connected immediately to the music and to each other. Their ability to give life to these characters and the rawness that exists in their performances will make it hard not to be affected,” said director Lauren Thompson.

“The Last Five Years” production team includes musical director Roberta Jacyshyn, lighting designer Anthony Palmer and run crew Aramis Ikatu and Fritzie Estimond.

“The Last Five Years” runs through March 29 at the Key West Armory, 600 White St.

Tickets are $45 and $60 and can be purchased at fringetheater.org or by calling the KeysTix box office at 305-2957676. House opens at 6:30 p.m. Show begins at 7 p.m.

— Contributed

APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN UNTIL APRIL 30 FOR EARLY REENTRY PLACARDS AFTER HURRICANES

The application period for Monroe County Emergency Management’s 2024 business placard early reentry program is open through Tuesday, April 30 at 5 p.m. There will be no exceptions after this time to apply for the 2024 business placard. The program allows essential businesses and nonprofits based in Monroe County timely access to the Florida Keys following hurricanes to assist in restoring community lifelines more efficiently and timely.

Placards are only valid in the year they are issued. There is only one application form to fill out each year. Do not apply until you have read and compiled the required documentation described on the placard web page. A link to the application and program details are at www.monroecountyem.com/placardprogram. Applications will be reviewed within 21 working days.

Each registered business is allowed to bring in only its essential personnel; it does not include friends and family of those workers. Entering the county under a state of emergency using a placard grants access to an area that

has not been deemed safe. Basic life support resources may not be available after a major event; those entering with a placard must be self-sufficient for 14 days with shelter, food and water.

“Disaster response takes the effort of an entire community,” said Shannon Weiner, emergency management director. “Sharing your business’s skills and resources when needed most contributes to a swift recovery for all.”

Other residents who wish to obtain or renew a Monroe County early reentry placard for 2024 may do so through the Monroe County Emergency Reserve Corps at www.mercorps.org. Hurricane recovery courses are required for residents to receive the placard.

Standard reentry windshield stickers for residents can be picked up at Monroe County Tax Collector offices throughout the Florida Keys with proof of residency and vehicle registration. For more information and locations to obtain stickers, visit www. monroecountyem.com/reentrystickers.

Hurricane season begins June 1.

— Contributed

Monroe County Emergency Management’s early reentry placards allow essential businesses quicker access into the Keys following hurricanes to assist in restoring community lifelines. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

Theater presents Jason Robert Brown’s award-winning musical

Claire Caplan and Ben Pegg star in Fringe Theater’s ‘The Last Five Years,’ which runs through March 29. Tickets are available at fringetheater.org.

MIND ALTERING LUBRICANTS FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE

EVENTS AT THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

DUELING PIANOS

FRI MAR 22 & SAT MAR 23, 8PM

$250 table for four, $55, $45 mbrs. Get ready for a rib-tickling showdown: Broadway’s dueling pianists/singers Adam La Salle & Paul Rigano will have you tapping your toes & doubling over laughing. sponsored by Marquesa Hotel

DINNER COCKTAILS MUSIC

MONDAY - SATURDAY | 6P - LATE 524 DUVAL ST. | 305.296.1075

DEREK LASSITER

COURTYARD CONCERT THU MAR 28, 8PM $25, $20 mbrs.

As a vocalist and composer, Derek Lassiter has been a mainstay in the Bay Area arts scene for nearly three decades, fusing elements of soul, jazz, R&B and gospel.

sponsored by Barefoot Appraisal

THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST PRESENTS

THE PAPERS, A MUSICAL

Book, music and lyrics by Rob Baumgartner, Jr. and Nathan Dame FRI, SAT & SUN APR 5-7, 8PM $35, $30 mbrs.

The Papers explores the themes of obsession, manipulation, and the moral implications of pursuing artistic legacy at any cost. A reimagining of Henry James’ classic novella The Aspern Papers set against the backdrop of contemporary Key West.

sponsored by Jane Gardner Interiors

A broad-winged hawk surveys the world from atop a power pole. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.

It is difficult, as a birder, to think about chickens – or at least to know how to think about chickens properly. Is there a right way to do it? And is there a way to do it that might make sense to people who don’t spend a lot of time thinking about birds? I don’t know.

Chickens are biologically birds, but they are not wild. They live in this netherworld of classification.

I bring this up because I was out the other day, looking for birds, when I saw a broad-winged hawk perched high up on a concrete telephone pole over Atlantic Boulevard. He was glancing around, left, right and forward, but also generally down. He had a pretty tactical view of the neighborhood, and I imagined the world spilling out beneath him, like a topographical map.

Broad-wings are perch hunters. They feed by sitting in elevated positions and waiting for something slow and unsuspecting to wander beneath them. Which means it’s hard to tell when they are hunting and when they are loafing. Maybe there is no difference in their mind. To perch is to hunt. Opportunistic loafing.

Pondering too deeply about a random bird’s motivations is not going to get you any closer to the truth – it’s a locked-box mystery. But still, I lingered, if for no other reason than it is always somewhat edifying to see a hawk, to notice that there is often a world of life and death happening just at the periphery of our cushy day-to-day existence.

It took me a while to tune into all the cheeping. It was coming from chickens, or more specifically, chicken chicks, and it seemed like a lot of noise to be making with an apex predator sitting on a pole 30 feet overhead, just waiting for his moment. Did they have any clue he was up there?

I looked around for a while – under some bushes, through a fence. I finally found them, eight chicks and a hen, hiding in the deep shadows under a car, their safety enhanced by the 10-inch gap between tarmac and drive shaft. The world in 3D. A Cooper’s hawk might go under there after them at full speed, but broadwings are – and I’ve probably said this way too many times – the lazy asses of the hawk world. They’d rather wait it out.

Alfred Lord Tennyson described nature’s ruthlessness as “red in tooth and claw,” a phrase that has largely become a cliche because it is so apt. Carnivorism is a large part of what makes the world go ’round, or at least what keeps the living things on the world alive as it goes around.

It’s important not to think of the natural world as a metaphor, especially for human behavior. Predator and prey both fill crucial roles in the natural world. The short version is: without predators, the world would be overrun

HAWKS AND CHICKENS, PREDATORS AND PREY

with unchecked populations of prey animals. Without prey, predators would starve. It’s not pretty, but it’s true.

You could think of it as a zero sum game, where there is a winner and a loser, at least on a one-to-one basis. But in terms of population dynamics and species evolving, predators create a stronger prey population by (usually) taking the oldest, the slowest and the weakest, thus allowing the fittest to survive and pass their DNA forward.

The thing about chickens is, they are not wild animals; they are domesticated animals. Chickens are properly called red junglefowl. They evolved in the jungles of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is thought that the initial impulse for pulling them out of the jungle and domesticating them wasn’t to raise them as food, but for betting and cockfighting. Using them as a hardy, low-maintenance, and genetically malleable food source was an afterthought.

It’s debated when exactly, or even roughly, this domestication happened, but current thinking is it was somewhere between 3,500 and 9,500 years ago. For a while there was a theory that domestic chickens may have had multiple genetic ancestors – green junglefowl among them – but most scientists now seem to believe in the one-ancestor – red junglefowl –theory.

There are currently an estimated 33 billion domesticated chickens in the world, with 1,600 different breeds. They are one of the more widely distributed animals on the planet. Ironically, the still extant population of wild red junglefowl in Asia is considered at risk of being overrun by the population of domesticated red junglefowl.

If you do a little Googling, you can find some overly confident statements about where Key West’s population of feral chickens came from – they all came from Cuba, they are all descended from fighting cocks, they were freed from their coops by Hurricane Georges. But there’s not a lot of documentation of any of that, just a lot of lore. And it should be pointed out that for the longest time, you could order

chickens from the Sears catalog. Odds are they came from multiple places and were allowed to go feral gradually, as people became more comfortable with the ease of acquiring their poultry pre-butchered at the grocery store.

Captive chickens can lay up to 300 eggs a year. Wild red junglefowl lay about 10 to 15 eggs a year. I’d be curious to know how many eggs a feral, free-roaming Key West hen lays in a year, but I can’t find any reliable studies.

What is certain is that the Key West population has exploded over the last few decades. Any Conch or long-timer will tell you that –though again, there really isn’t any data.

I’ve wondered over the last 10 or 15 years, with so much easy prey wandering the Key West streets, why some of our overwintering hawks – say, Cooper’s hawks, which have been steadily expanding their range down the Florida peninsula in recent years, or shorttailed hawks, which breed regularly in the state, haven’t extended their breeding territory into the Keys. And in the last couple of years both species have bred here at least once, though not regularly.

But even if either or both species colonize Key West and the Keys, it won’t put a dent in such a fast-growing population of chickens. There are just too many of them.

I don’t really have much by way of a conclusion here, just a lot of uncorrelated thoughts intermixed with more than a little curiosity about how this is all going to play out.

I’m generally pretty detached and hardhearted about predators and their prey, but watching those chicks under the car the other day, I was torn between wanting to see something happen and not wanting to see anything happen.

I looked back up at the top of the pole and saw that the broad-wing was gone. A few minutes later the hen and her chicks emerged from the shadows and crossed the street.

Things had ultimately sorted themselves out. At least for the time being.

SCHOOL BOARD CALLS TIMEOUT ON NEW STADIUM COSTS

Approval of $4 million in changes postponed until April meeting

School board members had sticker shock when they saw the latest price tag for Key West High School’s new football stadium and baseball complex.

Expecting to approve a $2 million price change at the March 12 meeting in Marathon, the board instead was hit with a $4 million tag — and then learned that it was paying for a smaller building than expected.

The change order from Ajax Building Co. was for additional amenities the board had requested for the baseball team’s Rex Weech Field, including a new concession building with restrooms, a raised plaza area and a new entrance.

Instead of the expected $2 million additional costs, the board was presented with a change order for $3.95 million.

Board member Darren Horan, of Key West, said at the start of the discussion that he would not approve the change order for double the amount that was anticipated.

“So we have a smaller building and a less elevated plaza for

twice what we originally thought it was going to be?” Horan asked Pat Lefere, the school district’s director of operations and planning.

“Yes, that’s a fair assessment,” Lefere told him, adding that there were “some unforeseen costs” pertaining to sprinkler systems, the wastewater system and utility work.

“Well, in light of that. I’m going to tell everybody I’m not going to approve this,” Horan said. “I’m not going to approve it. Change orders in my mind, I can justify $500,000. But anything over a million dollars, that’s a substantial amount of money — $2 million more than we were told. I want to make sure that everything is on the level. We have people out there who can bring something different to the table, as opposed to just saying, ‘All right, this is what Ajax is going to cost. I can’t reconcile that. I don’t know if the rest of the board can, but for $4 million, I think we should go back out to bid for that.”

A lengthy discussion followed, with board member Mindy Conn questioning Lefere about the new concession building and the cases

that were supposed to be included in it to display the baseball team’s memorabilia from its 11 state championships.

“This doesn’t look like what we were originally shown; I have the original renderings right here,” Conn said.

Lefere said he would look into that.

The board ultimately decided to postpone a decision on the $4 million change order until its April 9 meeting, which will take place in Key West — a more relevant location for a discussion about the Key West High School stadium, whose overall cost — if the $4 million change is ultimately approved — will reach $23.6 million.

Lefere agreed to bring itemized estimates and more specific cost explanations from Ajax to the April 9 meeting, but told the board not to expect the price of that change order to decrease at all.

And any decision to rebid any part of the project would surely result in a delay, he added.

The board next meets April 9 at 4:30 p.m. in the Key West City Hall.

DEPUTY SHOOTS ARMED TEEN WHO POINTED A GUN

Sheriff said it’s self-defense, but asked state to review

AMonroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy fatally shot a girl who was armed with a stolen handgun on March 18 shortly after 5 a.m. on Stock Island.

She was shot after pointing the handgun at deputies, MCSO spokesman Adam Linhardt said.

“This incident is a tragedy for everyone involved,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in a statement. “While the deputy appears to have acted in self-defense, I have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to conduct an independent investigation to ensure transparency.”

At 5:21 a.m., deputies responded to a call of a suicidal juvenile who had stolen a firearm, broken off an attached gun lock and walked to a remote location on Stock Island, Linhardt said.

“She pointed the gun at deputies who were attempting to deescalate the situation,” Linhardt said.

After she was shot, deputies “immediately called for rescue and rendered aid,” Linhardt said.

The girl was pronounced dead at Lower Keys Medical Center.

Linhardt told Keys Weekly he could not identify the girl or give her age. A press release only referred to her as a “female juvenile.”

On Monday, an FDLE spokesperson would only confirm that the state agency is investigating.

“At the request of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE is investigating an officer-involved shooting in the Florida Keys from this morning,” said Dana Kelly, of the FDLE’s press office. “This is an active investigation and we have no additional information.”

GWEN FILOSA gwen@keysweekly.com

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

An architectural rendering shows the proposed new $4 million concession building, restrooms and press box at the Rex Weech Field baseball complex in Key West. CONTRIBUTED

The best part of any rehab journey is the end, as staff from Marathon’s Turtle Hospital gather with hundreds of onlookers to cheer for ‘Crackle’ and ‘Pop’ as they make their way back to the Florida Keys waters. LARRY BENVENUTI/Contributed

KEY WEST POLICE SEE DECLINE

IN 911 CALLS & ARRESTS

3 months’ comparison shows considerable drop

The Key West Police Department’s Communications Center has seen a steady decline in calls for service and 911 calls to dispatch over the last three months, as well as a decline in reports generated and arrests. In addition, there is a significant decrease for the same time from the prior year. The statistics are as follows:

December 2022 vs 2023: Compared to December 2022, the department experienced a 22.8% decrease in 911 calls, a 0.5% increase in nonemergency calls, and a 12% increase in calls for service for police/fire/rescue. Officers completed 556 police reports and 117 arrests were made. Compared to December 2022, police reports decreased by 16.3% and arrests decreased by 22.5%.

January 2023 vs 2024: Compared to January 2023, the department experienced a 38.4 percent decrease in 911 calls, a 4.7 percent decrease in non-emergency calls, and a 0.3 percent

decrease in calls for service for police/ fire/rescue. Officers completed 561 police reports and 96 arrests were made. Compared to January 2023, police reports decreased by 12.2 percent and arrests decreased by 9.4 percent.

February 2023 vs 2024: Compared to February 2023, the department experienced a 39.7% decrease in 911 calls, a 10.1% decrease in non-emergency calls, and an 11.2% increase in calls for service for police/ fire/rescue. Officers completed 590 police reports and 100 arrests were made. Compared to February 2023, police reports decreased by 9.5% and arrests decreased by 32.4%.

Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman and others on the dais commended the whole Key West Police Department, Chief Sean Brandenburg and Assistant Chief Randy Smith for their commuting policing efforts and for protecting the community.

‘CRACKLE’ AND ‘POP’ HEAD HOME

Juvenile turtles complete rehab journey

It was a picture-perfect morning on March 14 as a crowd of hundreds gathered at Sombrero Beach to watch two juvenile green sea turtles complete their journey home. Rescued in November off Cudjoe Key, both turtles, later named “Crackle” and “Pop,” were suffering from fibropapillomatosis, a common disease that can cause extreme tumor growth on the turtles. Their four-month rehabilitation at Marathon’s Turtle Hospital included tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of mixed seafood and greens.

The Dive Bar Shirt Club F01

Yellowfin Bar & Kitchen - Oceans Edge F02

Matt's Stock Island - The Perry F03

Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining F05

Dorada F06

Garbo's Grill F07

Smokin Tuna F08

Hot Tin Roof Restaurant F09

Sunset Pier F10

The Bent Prop F11

Green Parrot - Popcorn F12

Nine One Five F13

Bagatelle F14

First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery F15

Lola's Key West F17

Big Cheezees F18

Tavern N' Town F19

The White Tarpon F20

Bel Mare F21

A & B Lobster House F22

Alonzo's Oyster Bar F23

SPONSORS

Jolly Caketails F24 New York Pasta Garden F25

Ocean Grill F26

Pho King Awesome F27

Tikka Bar F28

Kennedy Cafe F29

The Lobster Hut F30

Geiger Key F32

Kilwins F34

Four Flamingos - Hyatt Centric F36

Smoked BBQ F37

Snowcones / Cotton Candy F38

Southernmost Beach Cafe F42

The Marker F43

Kaya Island Eats F44

Cafe Sole F46

Yessi's Kitchen F47

El Mocho F48

Keys Vinyard Church - Ice Cream Truck F50

One Love Food Truck F53

Pinchers F54

WINE TENT

BIAGIO CRU & ESTATE WINES | Salty Blonde

Rose All Day | Lolailo Sangria | Simply Fruit Just

Peachy

BLUE RIDGE SPIRITS & WINE | Luna Nuda Prosecco

Rose | Luna Nuda P Grigio | Luna Nuda Prosecco |

Luna Nuda Red Blnd | Luna Nuda Rose

BOCELLI WINES | Bocelli "Operetta" Pinot Grigio

Bocelli "1831" Sparkling Rose | Bocelli Prosecco

Bocelli Sangiovese

DOMAINE BOUSQUET | Domaine Bousquet Ameri

Cab 2020 | Domaine Bousquet Reserve Malbec

Domaine Bousquet Reserve Cab | Domaine Bousquet

Gaia Malbec | Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red Blend

GALEA DRINKS | Galea Organic Red Sangria

Galea Organic White Sangria | Galea Organic Rose

Sangria | Galea Organic Mimosa

HIBRED BEVERAGE & SUPPLY CO. | KU Sparkling

Brut | KU Sparkling Rose | Devant Brut | Devant Glow

Rose | Devant Rose

HOPE FAMILY WINES | Austin Hope Cabernet

Sauvignon | Austin NV Cabernet Sauvignon

Austin Chardonnay | Treana Sauvignon Blanc

Liberty School Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Quest Red | Troublemaker Red

KOBRAND CORPORATION | Rebellious Sauvignon

Blanc | Rebellious Pinot Noir | AIX Rose | St Francis

Chardonnay | St Francis Cabernet Sauvignon

KWAYA CELLARS | Kwaya Organic Sangiovese

Kwaya Organic Merlot | Kwaya Organic Chardonnay

Frey Organic Rose | Frey Organic Sauvignon Blanc

LUNEAU USA | Ed hardy's Seltzer Orange Pineapple

Ed hardy's Seltzer Orange Pomegranate | Nicolas

Cabernet Sauvigno | Nicolas Sauvignon Blanc

Nicolas Pinot Noir | Nicolas Chardonnay

Nicolas Merlot | Nicolas Rose

MICHAEL DAVID WINERY | Misfits & Maven's

Sauvignon Blanc | Misfits & Maven's Pinot Noir

Misfits & Maven's Cabernet Sauvignon | Freakshow

Cabernet Sauvignon | Michael David Winery Rose

PACIFIC SOUTHERN WINE CO. | Morgan Sauvignon

Blanc | Greg Norman Pinot Noir | Greg Norman

Sauvignon Blanc | Jax North Coast Cabernet

Farm to Table Chardonnay | Truchard The Shepherd

PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL | Batasiolo Moscato

Batasiolo Gavi | Chic Brut | Portillo Pinot Noir

Salentein Numina Malbec | Yealands Lighter

Blanc

PRESTIGE BEVERAGE GROUP | Dona Paula

Sauvignon Blanc | Jacques Bardelot Brut Rose

Le Grande Noir Pinot Noir | Le Grande Noir

Chardonnay | Risata Moscato d' Asti | Yes Way

PROVENCE ROSE GROUP | Ultimate Provence

Romance Rose | Chat Bern Inspiration Rose

QUADY WINERY | Electra Moscato | Electra

Moscato | Electra Rose Moscato | Vya Sweet

Vermouth

RIBOLI FAMILY WINES | San Simeon Cabernet

Sauvignon | Riva de la Rosa Vermentino

Maddalena Chardonnay | Opaque Darkness

Stella Rosa Moscato d'Asti Holiday Sleeve

Highlands 41 Pinot Noir

RUTHERFORD WINE COMPANY | Rutherford

Cabernet | Rutherford Sauv Blanc | Scott Pinot

Scott Chardonnay | Predator Zinfandel

SAN SEBASTIAN WINERY | San Sebastian Cabernet

Sauvignon | San Sebastian Pinot Grigio | San

WEST MONDAY MARCH 25

Noir Lighter Sauv

Rose Way Rose Provence Rose

Red Sweet Cabernet Rutherford Pinot Noir

Cabernet San

Sebastian Chardonnay | San Sebastian Port | San Sebastian Vintner Red | San Sebastian Vintner White

SANTA MARGHERITA USA | Santa Margherita

Prosecco | Roco Pinot Noir | Kettmier Pinot Grigio

Fattoria Sardi Rose | Masi Campofiorin

THOMAS ALLEN VINEYARDS & WINERY Provenance

Sauvignon Blanc | Deadeye Chardonnay

Deadeye Cabernet | Provenance Cabernet

TRI-VIN IMPORTS INC. | Comte de la chevaliere

sancerre rose | Embroidery Chard | Les Allies SB

Les Allies PNvClos de Napa Yountville

UNE FEMME WINES | Une Femme The Betty cans

Une Femme The Callie cans

VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO - FAMILY OF WINERIES

Bonterra Estate Chardonnay | Trivento Golden Reserve | Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet

Sauvignon | 20 Barrels Pinot Noir | Gran Reserva

Sauvignon Blanc

VIÑA ROBLES WINERY | Vina Robles Sauvignon

Blanc | Vina Robles Chardonnay | Vina Robles

Arborist | Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

VIÑA SANTA RITA | Triple C Red Blend | Medalla

Real Gold Medal Cabernet | Santa Rita 120 Chardonnay | Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc

VOTTO VINES | Spritzatto Aperitivo Originale, Italy

Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut Superiore DOCG, Tenuta di Collalbrigo, Veneto, Italy | Pinot Grigio

delle Venezie DOC, Tenuta di Collalbrigo, Veneto, Italy | Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Lorenzo Melani, Tuscany, Italy

WX BRANDS | Bread & Butter Prosecco | Bread & Butter Pinot Noir | Chronic Cellers Purple Paradise Blend | The Icon Rock Sig Sauv Blanc | True Myth

Cabernet | Trapiche Medalla Malbec

ZONIN1821 | Ca Bolani Pinot Grigio | Zonin Coastal

Lemon Spritz | Zonin Sparkling Rose | Altemura

Sasseo Primitivo | Castello D’ Albola Chianti Classico

BEER TENT

GLOBAL VILLAGE IMPORTS

Augustiner Brau Edelstof | San Migel Permium | Red Horse

EINSTOK LLC

Einstok White Ale | Einstok Pale Ale | Einstok Toasted Porter | Einstok Dopplebock

SAPPORO USA

Sapporo Premium Lager | Sapporo Black Lager | Unibroue La Fin du Monde

FX MATT Mckjenzie's Black Cherry Hard Cider | Kingfisher Lager

PAULANER HP USA

Paulaner Grapefruit Radler | Paulaner Hefe Weiss | Paulaner Munich Lager

Hacker Pschorr Munich Gold Lager | Paulaner Pils

POLARIS BEVERAGES Lucky Buddha Lager

HAPPY DAD LLC

Happy Dad Fruit Punch Hard Seltzer | Happy Dad Death Row Grape Hard Seltzer

Happy Dad 1/2 & 1/2 Hard Tea-Lemonade | Happy Dad Hard Peach Tea

Happy Dad Original Hard Tea | Happy Mom Raspberry Hard Seltzer

WETTEN IMPORTERS Tucher Dunkel Weiss | Tucher Hefe Weiss | Tucher Rotbier

TAKARA SAKE USA | MIO SPARKLING SAKE | HANA YUZU SAKE | YUKI MANGO SAKE

TOTAL BEVERAGE SOLUTIONS

Kronenbourg 1664 Lager | Kronenbourg Blanc | Czechvar Lager

UNITED STATES BEVERAGE

Erdinger Hefe | Erdinger Dunkel | Erdinger Pikantus | Moretti Birra

TASTE OF KEY WEST MARKS 29 YEARS OF FOOD FOR GOOD A DELICIOUS CHARITY EVENT? WE’LL DRINK TO THAT

Iconic AH Monroe event highlights commitment to housing

The 29th ‘Taste of Key West’ will feature Key West and Lower Keys chefs specializing in seafood, Caribbean and Cuban flavors, European delicacies, Asian fusion cuisine, vegetarian dishes and more.

On Monday, March 25, the islands’ top culinary professionals — and hundreds of residents and visitors who enjoy their tasty creations — gather from 6-9 p.m. at Truman Waterfront Park, overlooking Key West Harbor at the end of Southard Street, all to benefit the mission of A.H. of Monroe County.

Chefs from leading local restaurants, catering companies, food trucks and other emporiums donate their time and talent to create small-plate offerings. Culinary fans can indulge their appetites by sampling everything from savory appetizers and casual tidbits to gourmet main dish “bites” and decadent desserts.

In addition, there’s a choice of wines from around the world provided by Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC). A large beer selection is available as well.

Admission is free, and attendees buy tickets — $1 each — at the gate that are exchanged for food and drinks. Typical drinks and small-plate offerings “cost” four to six tickets. Wine glasses, pint glasses and plates are also available for a donation.

The event also now offers VIP passes that eliminate the need for individual tickets.

A $150 donation provides unlimited food, wine and beer samples at the event, as well as seating in the lighted VIP tent, upscale butler-passed hors d’oeuvres,

and an experienced sommelier to discuss the wine selection.

An additional special pricing option is the 2 For Taste, which for $75 provides two plates, two glasses and 60 tickets to be exchanged for food and drinks.

Every helping helps

The focus of this year’s Taste of Key West is on the recent integration of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition (FKOC) into AH as a Health + Housing subsidiary. As the branding at the 3-hour event will reiterate, “Every Helping Helps and Every Serving Serves.”

Since its incorporation as a nonprofit in 1992, FKOC has provided homeless prevention and shelter throughout Monroe County.

The merging of the two service organizations made sense on many levels, said Scott Pridgen, executive director of AH Monroe, which now includes FKOC as a subsidiary.

“AH has become a more active affordable housing developer and housing advocate, such as with the Lofts at Bahama Village. Why wouldn’t we also provide stewardship to the risks of homelessness?”

Pridgen notes. “Since inception, our objective has been to care for people living with HIV, as well as prevention of HIV through housing initiatives. Housing is healthcare.”

Advance tickets and VIP passes are available for sale at keystix.com and can also be purchased at the gate on the day of the event.

For this year’s Taste of Key West — now in its 29th year — gates open at 6 p.m. and biking or walking is encouraged.

— Contributed

Taste of Key West now offers a top-notch VIP experience

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The term “team effort” sums up everything about Taste of Key West, the crucial annual fundraiser for the nonprofit AH Monroe.

The event is also a helluva good time made possible by countless contributions from the Key West community — business owners, sales reps, general managers, chefs, servers, sommeliers, maintenance workers, nonprofit employees, executives, organizers, volunteers and attendees.

The generosity of all participating restaurants and beverage purveyors has made Taste of Key West successful for 29 years. Attendees buy tickets for a dollar apiece, then trade them for small plates of food, wine and beer at the food and drink booths that line the seawall at Truman Waterfront. Each serving of food and drinks “costs” four to six tickets.

One recent — and popular — addition to Taste of Key West is the VIP experience. There’s no need to buy individual tickets. A $150 donation provides unlimited tasting plates and drinks, along with access to the VIP tent, which offers butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, a sommelier’s guidance on select wines to sample and exclusive food prepared by the chefs from the four restaurants that comprise the A&B Marina Complex at Key

Chefs, servers, managers and others will prepare the exclusive hors d’oeuvres for those in the VIP tent, while also manning an oversized booth for everyone else with individual tickets.

“We’re really excited to be able to contribute to this event,” said general manager Travis Doll. “It’s always been a great event for a great cause, and a perfect opportunity to see everyone you know at a sort of Who’s Who gathering for locals. My team has cooked up some fantastic offerings for both the VIP tent and the general admission. It’s a lot of hard work before, during and after the event, but it’s always one that feels great to be a part of and we’re proud to help grow the new VIP option.”

But the best part of this particular fundraiser? All food, wine, beer, prep time, labor costs and set-up time are donated by the participating restaurants and Republic National Distributing Co., which donates the drinks. Everything is donated.

“We couldn’t do this without them and their generosity,” said AH Monroe Executive Director Scott Pridgen. “The amount of food, drinks, preparation and staff time that these companies donate is unparalleled and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

West Harbor: A&B Lobster House, Alonzo’s Oyster Bar, Bel Mare and White Tarpon.

Hundreds of hungry and thirsty guests peruse the offerings at Taste of Key West in 2023 at Truman Waterfront. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Bel Mare, along with the other three restaurants in the A&B Marina Complex — A&B Lobster House, Alonzo’s and White Tarpon — will participate in Taste of Key West and will prepare the passed hors d’oeuvres in the VIP tent. OVERSEAS MEDIA GROUP/Contributed

Kellee Reed,

Christina Kemp Sawyer, MD

TAKE ME HOME?

FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

The Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus.

From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.

The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.

Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.

MAKING WAVES AGAINST CANCER

Annual swim from Founders supports research

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

For Islamorada resident Glenn Latham, a love for swimming and a mission to join in the battle against cancer were married two years ago with the inaugural Swim Across America — Florida Keys Open Water Swim.

Latham, 69, is celebrating his 12th year cancer-free following a diagnosis in 2008 and four years of treatment.

“Cancer is something we’ve either faced or known someone who’s battled through over the years,” said Latham, the Florida Keys open water swim coordinator with his wife, Susan, and Bob and Lisa Coakley.

On April 20, swimmers will don goggles and caps as they take part in a noncompetitive, social swim to support the fight against cancer. Participants will gather at the beach at Founders Park in Islamorada.

Swim Across America — Florida Keys Open Water Swim enters year three with distances including the 2-mile, 1-½ -mile and half-mile. Young participants who can swim 100 feet or more can join the fun kids’ splash. The Lathams said the races aren’t competitive, but more “go at your pace.”

“We’ll have big mats they (young swimmers) can swim to and play on before swimming back and running through the arch,” Susan Latham said.

More than $210,000 was raised in the two previous open water swims in the Florida Keys. Proceeds support ongoing cancer research and patient care programs at the Baptist Health South Florida’s Miami Cancer Institute. This year’s open water swim seeks to raise $150,000.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis in his early 50s wasn’t actually a surprise to Latham — his parents and two siblings all battled cancer. Latham’s father battled prostate cancer, and his mother passed away at 48 from breast cancer — a disease that also affected two of his sisters, of whom one succumbed to the disease.

“I believe we need to expand cancer research, and the funding that Swim Across America and our swim generates is of huge value,” he said.

Funding for cancer research is especially critical in a time of rising cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer

Society estimates that more than 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S this year.

Swim Across America holds events throughout the country to support cancer research at hospitals and institutions. More than $100 million went to fund cancer research and clinical trials. According to Swim Across America, 100% of grants it issues are applied only to approved clinical trials or research projects.

The idea for a swim originated with a group of women tennis players, including Glenn’s wife, Susan, who started swimming for additional exercise at the Founders Park beach and around the jetty. The small group welcomed other interested swimmers, including Bob Coakley.

“He (Bob) was involved with Swim Across America events for a long time,” Susan said. “We just got to talking. He said Founders Park is an absolute jewel for this kind of swim.”

“It raised a passion for us,” Susan said about a swim to support the fight against cancer. “We wanted to do something in our community.”

Former Olympic swimmers will join participants during the swim event. Steve Lundquist won gold in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 4-by100-meter medley relay in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Decorated Olympian and Islamorada resident Jon Olsen will also be on hand. Olsen, who coaches the Coral Shores High School swim team, won five gold medals and one silver medal at the 1986 Olympics, three golds and a bronze at the 1992 Olympics and two gold medals at the 1996 Olympics.

Other notable swimmers include Eric Wunderlich, Tony Corbisiero and Coakley. Glenn Latham said the decorated swimmers will also serve as angel swimmers.

“Any swimmer who maybe isn’t comfortable in open water can swim alongside them,” he said.

Swim participants 18 and over pledge to raise at least $500, while those under 18 are asked to get $200 in donations. A person can swim alone or as a team.

Swimmers, volunteers and those wishing to donate can visit swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys. Donations can also be made to support cancer research on the website. Interested swimmers who can’t make the Swim Across America event in Islamorada can participate virtually by visiting the website, clicking the “get involved tab” and clicking “SAA My Way (Virtual).”

Hula Hoop is a feisty 5-month-old kitten who loves to play. He can be timid at first, but once you spend some time with him, he will want to play all day.

Caesar is a cute little 10-month-old kitten. He’s calm and chill, and just loves to sleep on your lap.

Meet Zoe, an 8-month-old terrier mix pup. She’s brand new to the Key West campus and is on the hunt for a new home.

Meet Munchkin, a 9-month-old male rabbit. He is just as cute as his name suggests, so stop by the Key West campus to meet him in person.

Warble is a 10-month-old kitten who loves to snuggle with her other kitten friends and get lots of head scratches.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY ‘IN A FUNNY WAY’

New comedy show takes on the legendary writer’s life

GWEN FILOSA gwen@keysweekly.com

What’s so funny about Ernest Hemingway?

James Scott Patterson, a writer and stand-up comedian currently in Key West, found plenty of material beneath the novelist’s larger-than-life mystique.

“This guy’s life was dark,” said Patterson. “I’m trying to hit this note where the tone is sort of reverential. But every joke is about what a jackass he was. The jokes are about the myths, his own myth-making. It’s tricky. I’m presenting the overall arc that he was this estimable figure. He was taken seriously.”

“Hemingway in a Funny Way” debuted at Comedy Key West on March 20, and is scheduled every Wednesday through April 17.

The one-hour show is billed as a special happy hour. Tickets are $20 and include a glass of wine. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the shows start at 5:30.

For the show, Patterson will present a video of Hemingway images and other photos while standing to the side of the stage narrating it all. Then he’ll take questions from the audience.

“I know a ton about Hemingway, but I’m not an expert,” said Patterson, 48, a New Jersey-born comic. “It’s a little daunting to do it. I’m more curious than anyone how this will go.”

For “Hemingway in a Funny Way,” Patterson steered away from the most commonly told Hemingway tales.

“I found stuff about his childhood, his high school paper, The Trapeze in Oak Park, Illinois,” Patterson said. “Then I have stuff about the wars. I’m hoping all of these are stories no one has heard before. It’s weird stuff.”

Patterson based everything on his research into the life of Hemingway – who was known for embellishing and exaggerating his life experiences.

“I have citations for everything,” Patterson said.

‘Clever and dark’

Known for his dark humor, Patterson has performed regularly at Comedy Key West since 2021.

“The perfect blend of clever and dark,” said Steven Crane, another regular comedian at the club. “James’ jokes can heal old wounds with abundant laughter.”

Patterson has appeared on Comedy Central, at the prestigious Just for Laughs Montréal comedy festival and has his own special, Superior Design, available on streaming sites.

At 21, Patterson moved to Boston for its comedy club scene and scored success. He started appearing on Comedy Central after coming in third in their national comedy contest. He’s bounced around cities for years, racking up about 10 years total in Los Angeles, with stints in New York and Denver.

Choosing Hemingway

Patterson wanted to create a new type of comedy show for the local comedy club, Comedy Key West, and Hemingway was an obvious choice.

The Hemingway tourism route runs directly through Patterson’s stomping grounds

in Key West: the Hemingway Home and Museum sits at 907 Whitehead St. while the comedy club is at 218 Whitehead.

“The club is between his house and Sloppy Joe’s,” Patterson said.

So, two months ago, he assigned himself a crash course in literature and history.

“By the time the show has started, I will have reread all the novels,” Patterson told Keys Weekly. “I had read most of his books, but when I was 20.”

On top of the nine Hemingway novels, Patterson read five biographies of the writer, who in the 1930s lived in a mansion in Key West and made headlines for his fishing expeditions, sparring sessions and drinking bouts.

“Hemingway was one of the most famous people,” Patterson said. “You could claim there’s still never been a more recognizable novelist. His face was recognizable to everybody.”

Patterson admits he signed on for a larger workload than he expected, but his years of stand-up and comedy writing intersect in “Hemingway in a Funny Way.”

Stand-up comedy has a DIY work ethic and an addictive payoff that requires big risks, not unlike fiction writing.

“Ninety percent of the stuff you come up with doesn’t work,” Patterson said. “I’m more surprised when they work than when they don’t. Stand-up has a very weird property where you feel bizarrely in control of the room. That’s not even a part of my personality. It’s a bizarre feeling to be the only one in the room talking.”

Editor’s note: Gwen Filosa has been doing stand-up at Comedy Key West since 2017.

1. Ernest Hemingway in Cuba. From the Ida Woodward Barron Collection. MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY’S FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER

2. James Scott Patterson/CONTRIBUTED

Motown masters

heat up in Key West

Temptations & Four Tops play Coffee Butler Amphitheater

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Don’t say you don’t know any songs by the Temptations or the Four Tops.

Everyone knows the songs that spanned two centuries.

The two iconic Motown groups took the stage at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West on March 15 and sang the songs everyone knows.

From the Temptations’ “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “Just My Imagination,” to the Four Tops’ “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” and “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch,” the lyrics poured out from both the stage and the audience.

Although only Otis Williams remains as an original member of the Temptations, the singers have been replaced by equally gifted performers whose harmonies and stage presence recapture a bygone era whose music has made lifetimes of memories.

7-MILE OFFSHORE GRAND PRIX TO SPEED INTO MARATHON APRIL 26-28

More than 60 offshore racing powerboats registered for the 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix in 2023.

BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

High-octane spectacle allows for up-close viewer experience

Powerful offshore boats racing at high speeds near the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge will show their muscle Friday through Sunday, April 26-28, when the 7-Mile Offshore Grand Prix roars into the Middle Keys.

The challenge is the second annual Race World Offshore (RWO) powerboat race to take place in Marathon as part of the American Power Boat Association’s Offshore National Championship Series. It serves as the opening event for RWO’s 2024 season.

Race teams are coming from around the United States, Bermuda and as far away as the United Kingdom to compete in Marathon.

Eleven classes of boats will participate in the challenge, with the largest classes racing Sunday – including the Super Cat that can achieve speeds of up to 140 mph – on a course that provides spectators a close-up viewing experience.

A free opening event set for Friday, April 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters will welcome race teams and fans.

Races will take place Saturday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. with the smaller-class vessel race brackets taking to the water. Sunday will feature four races, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending with the 3:30 p.m. Super Cat competition.

The pedestrian-friendly Old Seven Mile Bridge will be the primary viewing area for spectators, with 90% of the 5.6-mile counterclockwise race course viewable from the span that parallels the contemporary bridge. According to race organizers, the old bridge will be open to the public with free admission, with one section reserved for VIP viewing.

Race World Offshore plans to set up its VIP hospitality areas on and below the Marathon end of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP guests will be allowed to park at the nearby Sunset Grille and walk under the bridge.

Free general-admission parking will be available at Marathon Community Park with shuttle service to Sunset Grille. There will be no general-admission parking at Sunset Grille or on-site at the entrance to the Old Seven Mile Bridge. VIP ticket holders will receive a parking pass at will call.

Race fans can enjoy free admission to the dry pit area at San Pablo Catholic Church to view highspeed boats and meet race teams and crew Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. .

Wet pits, located at Suntex Faro Blanco Marina, will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Events culminate Sunday evening with an award ceremony and an after-party, with the final location to be determined.

Race schedules, VIP tickets and information are at raceworldoffshore.com/marathon.

The Temptations, top, and the Four Tops perform in Key West on March 15, singing iconic songs that span 60 years of history, heartbreak and love. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

WHAT EVERY KEYS RESIDENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR CAPACITY

The idea of capacity arises often when talking about our quality of life in the Keys, but it has different meanings. Let’s take a closer look at Keys’ capacity, and key factors that may influence our thinking about it.

Simply put, capacity is how much a given container can hold — pour 10 ounces of water into an 8- ounce glass to experience being over capacity. But in the Keys, the idea of capacity isn’t as clear. In this essay, think of our container as all of Monroe County, and the quantity as the number of people (residents and visitors) here at any one time.

Some think we’re over capacity, while others believe there’s still room for growth, i.e. we’re under capacity. Our community is divided on this question.

FloridaCommerce’s 2023 Hurricane Evacuation Model and local governments’ responses to it have been in the news recently. While hurricane evacuation time is important to consider when thinking about our capacity, it is far from the only meaningful factor. Let’s also consider waste water and its effect on the environment, fresh water, traffic and housing, all of which weigh on our quality of life.

Waste water

People flush toilets, and the more people we have, the more toilets flush. That waste water has to go somewhere. While the infrastructure for processing our waste water has been improved, harmful toxins are still being discharged into nearshore waters, impacting the marine life on which tourism depends.

Fresh water

All the fresh water we use to drink, cook, bathe, clean, water plants, and yes, flush those toilets, comes to us via a single pipeline from the mainland. Multiple breaks in that pipe in 2023 highlighted its fragility (it is being replaced, slowly, at great cost), and necessitated reduced water pressure to our homes. Further demand for water, especially during peak tourism periods, risks more pipe failures and even further pressure reductions.

Traffic

Nearly everyone in the Keys is delayed, inconvenienced or otherwise unhappy with congestion on U.S. 1. Continuous construction (like

the pipeline replacement project) and several single-lane sections of the road add to delays. Some sections of the road received failing grades (which would entail capping some development) in a 2023 study that was shelved by the county commission. We all agree that traffic is bad now, and has gotten worse in recent years. Congestion isn’t just inconvenient; it lengthens first-responder arrival times and necessary trips to the mainland for medical treatment.

Tourism and housing

New construction is limited by law, but demand for visitor housing continues to grow. Our economy depends on tourism, and relentless and successful tourist taxfunded promotion of the Keys has driven hotel room rates to levels unimagined before the pandemic. Increased demand spurs current owners and speculating buyers to convert owner-occupied and longterm rental homes to short-term vacation rentals (some of which are illegal). Hospitality workers and professionals vital to our community (think teachers, first responders, health care professionals, municipal employees, retail workers, etc.) find it increasingly difficult to afford to live here, with rental rates rivaling those in Manhattan. Long-term renters lose their homes when property owners convert them to vacation rentals. And some employers have had to become landlords to attract and retain workers.

Legal limits on capacity

There are indeed legal limits on Keys capacity. Despite Florida’s emphasis on growth, the state Legislature years ago designated Monroe County and Key West as Areas of Critical State Concern, a legal designation that requires measures to control growth. The Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) intends to ensure safe evacuation of residents and visitors in the event of an approaching hurricane, and also intends to protect the Keys’ natural resources. Residential building permits released under ROGO are awarded through a scoring mechanism called the Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS). With thousands of buildable vacant lots in the Keys, demand for building permits always exceeds the available supply.

FloridaCommerce, a state agency, updates the Hurricane Evacuation Model every 10 years to predict how long it would take to safely evacuate the Keys. The current cycle of this process began in 2023 and will continue through 2024, with the outcome determining whether and how many additional building permits will be released to local governments via BPAS. It’s political. Developers and property owners want more, some community members want none or fewer, and the county and its municipalities must balance these strongly voiced sentiments, as well as the real risk of significant financial liability (to be borne by taxpayers) under so-called “takings” lawsuits filed by property owners who are denied building permits for their lot.

Opponents of new permits contend that the evacuation model is flawed, notably in assumptions used in its complex formulas. Recent and frequent instances of rapid intensification of tropical storms into hurricanes, uncertainty of human behavior, traffic and construction on both U.S. 1 and the mainland, and myriad other factors not clearly outlined in the model cast doubt on whether we could safely evacuate everyone before an approaching dangerous storm.

Does capacity matter to you?

Everyone’s quality of life is affected by capacity challenges here. Perhaps your living costs have gone up or even caused you to think of moving away. You may have a longer commute. Water pressure is lower than it was a year ago. And our precious corals are dying.

Whether you believe that growth should proceed without limits, be carefully managed within practical considerations or curtailed altogether, your voice in this community matters, and will make a difference in how critical policy decisions affecting us all will play out. But only if you speak up. Your vote is vital, but so is your active participation by attending commission meetings, donating to, joining and volunteering with one of our many advocacy groups, or even running for office yourself. Our voices now can mean big changes in our future.

Robert S. Gold

Robert S. Gold lives in Key West and serves on the board of directors of the community advocacy group Last Stand.

SHELF HELP

What: “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar

Why: Cyrus Shams is a typical American 20-something with delusions of artistic grandeur, tumultuous relationships and a substance abuse disorder. Haunted by the ghosts of his Iranian heritage, Cyrus becomes obsessed with martyrdom.

He hears about Orkideh, an Iranian artist who’s completing her final work — a performance piece — while dying of cancer. She holds court in an empty museum, conversing with anyone who wishes to engage. Cyrus and Orkideh develop an immediate rapport. But she swiftly disabuses him of the notion that her death is more noble or meaningful than any other – or, indeed, that death has any meaning at all.

Cyrus’ journey ends in a paradoxical revelation: rather than ending in death, everything, in fact, ends in life. The big twist on which the plot turns requires a suspension of disbelief – but why not? To reject the tale out of “plausibility” concerns seems to miss the point. While sometimes too ambitious, it’s an enjoyable debut novel, with elements of philosophy, poetry and pop culture. I’m interested in what he writes next.

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

How: You can request books online by logging in to your account keyslibraries.org and get e-books and e-audiobooks 24/7 at 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: Laura Bernazzoli, library associate, Key West library

See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/shelf-help.

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

CHRIS McNULTY Happy (astrological) New Year! The spring equinox took place March 19, the day of equal hours of light and darkness, marking the transition into the light half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We have spent six months in darkness, immersed in collective themes that challenged our individuality and required sacrifice for the greater good. Now, as the sun enters the sign of Aries, we emerge as courageous individuals, ready to take on the world with the wisdom we gained by putting the needs of the collective above our own. So, stand victorious and venture forth to do great things, make mistakes, and forge your own destiny.

Happy birthday to our Aries Rams. As we cross the threshold into Aries, the planets Venus and Saturn are coming together in the sign of Pisces. Venus oversees relationships, beauty and grace whereas Saturn represents constriction, maturity and fear. When these two entities come together, we can expect our relationships to come of age or come to an end, for our notions of the beautiful to become manifest and real, for death to be regarded as exquisite, and for time to feel elegant. However this transit shows up for you, know that the love forged now has the potential to last a lifetime.

Here are your horoscopes for the Venus-Saturn Conjunction. Read for your rising and sun signs.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Happy birthday, Rams. The sun is finally shining upon you, and you can show us all your fresh suit of armor. As you peruse and filter out the unconscious impulses that no longer serve your greater good, take

time to see the beauty in how they used to serve you. For example, an irrational fear of water once protected an inner child who discovered they couldn’t breathe in the bathtub. Appreciate and let go.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

As you navigate this time of committing to mature friendships and ending nonessential friendships, find the grace in the process. Not all endings need to be difficult. They can fall away with appreciation. Find the people in your life who are in it for the long haul and shine all the love you can muster on them.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 21

You are stepping into your authority at work, which is not always an easy process. Whether you are the boss of other people or simply the boss of yourself, remember there is a style and an elegance to leadership that permits you to dance rather than bark orders. Does your leadership flow through the workspace rather than look down upon it? Appreciate your choreography.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

In order to make space for something new in your life, you must also cut out the possibilities that will no longer be available. If you decide to be a baker, you can no longer hold out for the chance of being a candlestick maker. For now anyway. While it can be hard to let go of potential futures, there is so much beauty in carving out new life chances for yourself. Find joy in the trimming.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

You can’t invest in every project that comes your way. There are simply too many important causes that need time, energy and money. However, rising into maturity involves choosing the cause that brings you

personal joy and makes your heart sing. You are being given the opportunity to make that determination now, Leo. Listen to your heart.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Partnerships go through many iterations. Right now, a significant relationship in your life is ending in one way or another. Perhaps it is taking a new form through recommitment or perhaps one of you is walking away. Find the grace in the breakdown and waltz into the breakthrough. This shift is significant in the big picture.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

The National Institute of Health says it takes about 10 weeks of daily repetition to form a habit. While that may seem daunting, under this sky you have the capacity to find ease and beauty in the process of forming lifelong routines. You are the authority on your life and what is healthful for you, so fall in love with letting go of unsupportive habits and forging new ones.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 21

Sometimes creativity comes out of nowhere and all at once, and sometimes it takes long periods of time and lots of practice. You are being granted the wherewithal to dive into an extended creative phase and the loving commitment to do it. What will be your magnum opus and how long will you give yourself? Patience and playing in the process are your guiding methods.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Safe and stable housing is not a guarantee, and for some it is a faroff goal. Right now, Sag, you have the opportunity to fall into a home situation that you will love and that will last a long time. Signing a lease or a mortgage right now would be highly recommended. If housing is not part of your story right now, a

THE SHAPE OF BEAUTY

highlight on the longevity of your family relationships is also at play. Love on your elders.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Words have lasting impact, and right now your words can go down in history. Consider your messaging, and remember that form is just as important as function. Beautiful words are palatable, but substantial words are nourishing. If I were to give you a symbol for the method of communication you might want to use, I would offer haiku. Short. Poetic. To the point.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

“A penny saved is a penny earned” is a pretty Scrooge-y phrase. It implies being thrifty and, perhaps, even stingy. But, right now, it’s also a pretty good idea. Being conservative with your money will be a great benefit to you in the long run. Unlike Scrooge, however, avoid being “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner,” and hold your money loosely and with grace.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

How do you hold yourself as an authority in your own life? No matter where you are on your life’s journey, you have the opportunity to live into your old-soul nature right now. Stand tall knowing that you have wisdom beyond your years. Sometimes, sharing that knowledge can come across as cold and patronizing. But right now, you also have the elegance to teach with a soft touch.

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

School on Varela Street. In one hour, 67 volunteers walked several blocks in each direction and collected 126 pounds of trash, 8 pounds of recycling and 3 gallons of cigarette butts. Each of the classes made one of the items that was given to the volunteers as a thank you for their hard work. CONTRIBUTED

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.”

— Elizabeth Andrew

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

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

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

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

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you

Some Montessori students spend their first morning of spring break at the cleanup that also included the youngest Plogger ever, 2-year-old Dean, who made a great impression.

are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.

It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help

— Contributed

Join a Friday morning cleanup each week from 8 to 9 a.m.

March 22: Kennedy Drive & N. Roosevelt Blvd. Meet in the parking lot next to H&R Block.

March 29: Flagler Avenue and 14th Street. Meet in the parking lot at 3208 Flagler Ave., to the left of Bank of America.

Thursday, March 21

• The Keys Chamber Orchestra and the Lower Keys Community Choir perform an Easter concert March 21 at San Pablo Catholic Church, 550 122nd St., Marathon. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and last about an hour. The concerts are free; there is plenty of free parking.

Monday, March 25

• Taste of Key West to benefit AH Monroe. Enjoy small plates of food from dozens of restaurants while sampling scores of beers, wines and hard seltzers. 6-9 p.m. at Truman Waterfront Park. See page 23.

Thursday, March 28

• Get certified or renew your certification in CPR (adult, child and infant). 2 p.m. at the Monroe County Community Center in the Winn-Dixie Plaza on Big Pine. Cost is $31. Call 305-292-4501 to register.

Saturday, March 30

• The Music Room’s ‘Happy Hour Soirée’ presents the dance music of Chopin, Moszkowski, Piazzolla, Heller, Granados, Tchaikovsky and more. 5 p.m. at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St. Admission is free, and any donations benefit Take Stock in Children.

Sunday, March 31

• Deadline to apply for scholarships to the College of the Florida Keys for the summer semester. Criteria range widely to help a variety of students. Scholarship descriptions and criteria are available at cfk.academicworks.com. There is no limit to the number of scholarships for which a student may apply. More scholarship opportunities for the fall semester may be added as they become available

For more scholarship information and guidance, contact the CFK Foundation at foundation@ cfk.edu or 305-809-3153.

April 19-28

• Key West and the Conch Republic celebrate the offbeat “nation’s” 42nd birthday April 19-28 in Key West, offering more than 20 colorful activities ranging from a pirate bash and quirky races to a “sea-to-sea” parade. Visit conchrepublic.com for a complete schedule.

Saturday, April 27

• Leadership Monroe County celebrates its Class XXXI graduation with Leadership Spring GradFest, a community festival and alumni reunion, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Marathon Community Park, MM49. The family-friendly event will feature food trucks, games, a bounce house, artist booths, the KWPD Mounted Patrol Unit, music, vendors,non-profit booths, a Class XXXI raffle and graduation ceremony and more. Admission is $10; children 12 and under are free. For more information, visit LeadershipMonroeCounty.org or call 305-394-3804.

The Ploggers kicked off spring break with their host for this week, The Montessori Children’s

Unique

Weekly

Bottom: Though the water is starting to warm up, there have still been a number of trophy wahoo caught in recent weeks. JOEL BRANDENBURG/Keys Weekly

CAPTAIN JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

SPRING IS HERE

Look for the fishing to start picking up. It's that time of year where the mahi start showing up. Big fish start hanging around the reef, like kingfish, cero mackerel, amberjack, cobia, African pompano, yellow jacks and permit. Wahoo come in a little closer and big tuna start showing up at the humps. Schools of ballyhoo come in with the sailfish smashing them, and schools of mullet come in with the migratory tarpon following right behind the mullet schools.

Once the tarpon show up, the sharks come to greet them. This is also the time of the year when mutton snapper bunch up outside the reef, yellowtail gather on the reef and big mangrove snapper can be targeted in the backcountry in the Gulf of Mexico. This time of year, bait can be hit or miss. At night we go out and get goggle eyes and shrimp. During the day we harvest pinfish out of our pinfish traps and we also cast net for pilchards. We also spend a lot of time catching mullet for tarpon and live ballyhoo and speedos inside the reef for the pelagic game fish. It's also that time of year when kite fishing is very effective for sailfish. We can catch small bonita this time of year to bump troll for wahoo, too. Bonefish and permit are showing up around the Seven Mile Bridge and in the backcountry flats. We typically target them with live shrimp on a small jig.

…is a fifth-generation Floridian and second-generation fishing captain who owns and operates Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon. His passions include fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.

Recently, there have been reports of a large number of sawfish washing up on the shore in the Lower Keys. There have also been reports of many other species, from large fish down to small bait fish, acting weird and doing circles. Scientists from a number of local and national agencies are doing a lot of research and development on these reports. Although no one has yet identified an absolute cause, some are already pointing their finger at agriculture runoff from sugar cane through the Everglades, some are pointing their finger at the recent record-high heat waves affecting the reef, and some are saying there's nothing to see here, it's just Mother Nature doing her thing.

I'm sure we'll find out more specifics as the scientists’ research continues. You may remember last year the big story in the news was that our satellites showed images of a big blob of weeds heading our way that was supposed to cover up the Keys, possibly for months. That report scared off a lot of tourists and left a lot of locals wondering how we were going to get our boats in and out of ports with all the weed cover.

While many media outlets painted a doom-and-gloom story, several scientists said it was too early to tell what the “blob’s” impact would be in the Keys. Sure enough, our situation last summer was nowhere near what initial stories suggested.

Hopefully whatever is affecting these fish comes and goes like the green blob did. This is one of the best times of the year to catch good quality and quantity fish. It's also a great time to target your trophy bucket list fish.

To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-2674401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.

Editor’s note: Reports of dead sawfish and spinning fish are still under close investigation by multiple scientific organizations, with no cause identified definitively at press time. The Keys Weekly reminds all our readers to get their information from credible professional scientists and research organizations.

CAPT. JOEL BRANDENBURG

Top: Multiple mackerel and jack species can be found hanging around the reef in the spring months. JOEL BRANDENBURG/Keys

Greer is wearing the Konstantina blouse and mystic ditzy skirt by Dancing Leopard (left) and Cawley is wearing the Caspio dress by Celia B.

NATIVE EDIBLES

Florida Keys bear a variety of fruits

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI

Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.

One of the best early accounts of aboriginal life in the Florida Keys was in a memoir by Hernando De Escalante Fontaneda. As a boy, Fontaneda was shipwrecked on the Florida Keys and spent 17 years living with the Calusa Indians. His memoir was published in 1575.

In his work, he wrote about the Calusa: “The territory of Carlos, a province of Indians, which in their language signifies a fierce people, they are so-called for being brave and skillful, as in truth they are. They are masters of a large district of country.”

He also wrote about the Keys, noting: “On these islands is likewise a wood we call here palo para muchas cosas (the wood of many uses), well known to physicians; also much fruit of many sorts, which I will not enumerate, as, were I to attempt to do so, I should never finish. ... These Indians have no gold, less silver, and less clothing. They go naked except only some breech-

Early Keys pioneers called the papaya pawpaw. BRAD BERTELLI/Contributed cloths woven of palm, with which the men cover themselves; the women do the like with certain grass that grows on trees. This grass looks like wool, although it is different from it.”

The “palo para muchas cosas” may have referred to the lignumvitae tree, which has a history of medicinal uses ranging from modern pharmaceuticals like Xanax to Viagra. For a long time, it was also used to treat syphilis. What I have always been curious about is the statement “also much fruit of many sorts, which I will not enumerate, as, were I to attempt to do so, I should never finish.”

What were the “fruits of many sorts” that Fontaneda observed? A quick search of plants native to the Florida Keys provides a surprisingly long list of scores of possibilities. The fruits of historical note that were not included on the list were pineapples, Key limes and coconuts — none of which are native to the Keys but were later introduced. Potential fruits and other edible plants that might have been among those observed by Fontaneda include berry, plum and cucumber, among others.

Quail berry, or Christmasberry, is an evergreen that bears small red berries year-round. The mildly sweet berry grows in pine rocklands and rockland hammocks. Cocoplum produces a purplish plum with a bland flavor. The seeds taste something like almonds and can be roasted or crushed and added to other dishes for extra flavor. Seagrape produces clusters of red grape-like fruits that ripen in summer.

Coral bean, sometimes called Cherokee bean, has both good and bad properties. Native Americans ate the roots to increase perspiration. The red flowers and young leaves can be cooked like string beans. However, parts of the plant are toxic, a narcotic and a hallucinogen.

The creeping cucumber’s fruit is about the size of a jellybean. It is edible when it is ripening and still green with white stripes, like a tiny watermelon. Once it continues to ripen and turns purple to blackish, it can become toxic.

The coastal ground cherry is also edible. The yellow to orange berries are covered in a papery husk like a small tomatillo.

The Florida prickly pear cactus, sometimes called the devil’s tongue,

produces a reddish fruit that grows atop the cactus’ flat paddle. Once de-thorned, both the fruit and the paddle can be eaten. The fruit can be eaten raw, but the paddle is best grilled or sautéed. The paddle is sometimes found in the produce section of the local supermarket.

The gopher apple is a small fruit that grows from ½ inch to 1 inch in length and ripens in late summer. As the fruit matures, it transitions from white to a pink, purple or red color. The flavor has been reported as relatively tasteless.

Marlberry fruits grow off and on throughout the year. When the small berries first grow, they are green or reddish but turn a shiny black color when they ripen. Some people report the flavor as something like blackberry or a grape, though not everyone seems to agree, with some referring to the fruit as distasteful and acidic.

The beach bean, sometimes called seaside bean or bay bean, grows near the water’s edge and develops tough bean pods about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. The plant’s flowers can be eaten, and the pods, when they are still young, are edible when boiled or roasted. However, as the pod matures and grows thicker, the beach bean can be toxic.

One of the more recognizable fruits that Fontaneda might have observed and possibly tasted was what early Keys pioneers called pawpaw. The more common name is papaya, and though not indigenous to South Florida and the Keys, it is considered a native species. Native species that are not indigenous need to have arrived before European discovery. Several years ago, papaya seeds dating back to circa 300 A.D. were discovered in Lee County. By the time Fontaneda was shipwrecked in the Keys, the papaya had been growing in Florida for more than 1,200 years.

The ripe fruit of the papaya is soft and juicy, with some comparing the flavor to a mango. I would disagree, as I find a mango delicious, though messy. I find papaya to be more like the mixed reviews of the marlberry that is sometimes likened to the taste of blackberry, and some not liking it all. While the historical note attached to the papaya’s story is super cool and I love that part of its history, I do not care for the taste of its fruit.

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A DUEL ON THE DIAMOND

Coral Shores visits Marathon for ‘Battle of the Keys’ | P.5

THE SCOREBOARD

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

MARCH 21

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NILES

3/28 Key West Girls Lacrosse @ St. Thomas Aquinas 4 p.m.

3/28

Coral Shores Tennis Marathon 2 p.m. THIS WEEK

Monday, March 25 will mark the only time this year that two Keys teams will face off on the baseball diamond, as Campbell Lavoie and the Coral Shores Hurricanes will travel to face Jack Chapman and the Marathon Dolphins for 2024’s ‘Battle of the Keys.’ Game time is set for 7 p.m. Photos by Doug Finger and Barry Gaukel.

Scarlet is one of the most athletic players to come through this program since I have been here.”

– Jason Garcia, head coach

home runs slugging percentage

.960

“Scarlet will not be outworked,” said head coach Jason Garcia. “Scarlet always puts in extra work on the field or in the cage. (She’s) always leading the way on conditioning and workouts.”

Though Niles is clearly a power hitter, she is willing to lay down a bunt when it is what her team needs, and defensively, her speed and agility make her a deadly outfielder. For her phenomenal talent paired with tremendous work ethic, Key West’s Scarlet Niles is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Photo by: MAICEY

Weekly

Senior, Key West Softball

Two weeks ago, Key West’s Scarlet Niles slammed four home runs, with three in one game. This week, the talented senior proved it was no fluke when she drilled her fifth home run of the season, a team high. But her stats don’t stop there – Niles leads the Conchs in numerous categories, boasting a .360 batting average, .448 on-base percentage, a .960 slugging percentage, 5 stolen bases and 8 RBIs. And though much of her accomplishments are in part due to her pure athleticism, Niles earns her stats the old-fashioned way.

MALGRAT/Keys

5

MARCH 21

fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second-generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.

grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.

Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.

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Se habla español

THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050.

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KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP PODCAST

9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050

Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

On this week’s Keys Weekly Sports Wrap Podcast, Sean and Tracy bring you all the scores and events from last week and give you behind-the-scenes information you won’t get anywhere else. Find out about upcoming games and matches and hear about some of our local athletes and their work toward greatness. This week, Sean will give a special sneak preview of an exciting upcoming event for Marathon’s football team.

Scarlet Niles. GRACE ANDREW/ Keys Weekly

tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

SPORTS WRITER

PODCAST HOST

MARKET EDITORS

FINS, ’CANES PREP FOR BASEBALL’S ONLY ‘BATTLE OF THE KEYS’ THIS YEAR

Conchs head to West Coast after two-game skid

Following a pair of splits last week, the Marathon Dolphins and Coral Shores Hurricanes will have the only chance to duel for Keys bragging rights when they meet on Monday, March 25.

It would take 12 innings for a winner to be decided when Marathon traveled to Ransom on March 12, and unfortunately for the Fins, the win went to the Raiders.

Gavin Leal registered 4 hits in 5 at-bats in the loss, while Jack Chapman, Aidan Gonzalez, Mason Thornton, Dylan Williams and Gabe Leal each had 1 hit. Dylan Ziels pitched the first 6 innings, striking out 10 batters before both Leal brothers added some relief.

Two days later, Marathon had an easier go against Berean Christian in a two-game series. In game one, Thornton started things off on the mound, lasting 5 innings and striking out 8 of the 20 batters he faced. Williams closed out the final inning in a mercy-rule 10-0 win. Gabe Leal had a pair of hits with 4 RBIs and Williams, Thornton, Ziels and Michael Merryman had 1 hit apiece.

The following day, the Bulldogs made it onto the scoreboard, facing many of Marathon’s younger athletes, but the Fins still won it in 6 innings, 16-5.

Williams, Chapman, Ziels and Gabe Leal had two hits, with Thornton, Curran Nicolay and Wyatt Sifford

adding a hit each. Gabe Leal pitched 4 innings, striking out 7, while Williams and Chapman shared the rest of the game. The Fins are off for spring break but will face perhaps their toughest opponent this season the day school resumes. Coral Shores travels to Marathon on Monday night for both a District 16 and Battle of the Keys matchup at 7 p.m.

Coral Shores split the week with a loss to Varela on March 12, then a win against Somerset South Homestead the next night. The Vipers of Varela were stingy, allowing just 2 hits, 1 each from Keller Blackburn and Benjamin Friedman. Donovan Thiery spent 3.2 innings on the mound with Riley O’Berry and Dominic Batista helping out for an inning each. The trio combined for 3 strikeouts against the markedly larger 6A Vipers.

Against South Homestead, a fellow 3A District 16 opponent, things went much better. The ’Canes were error-free in the field and drove 7 hits, 2 of which came off the bat of Thiery. The others were from Friedman, O’Berry, Batista, Campbell Lavoie and Ezekiel Myers. Once on base, Coral Shores stole 9 bases total, with 3 from Friedman. Tate Brumbalow spent 3 innings on the mound and Grayden Ross closed out the 11-1 win. The Hurricanes have a pair of games scheduled over break before heading to Marathon.

Key West continued the tradition of taking on

OF

the toughest opponents they can schedule when they traveled to American Heritage High School on March 13. There, the Conchs faced the Plantation-based Patriots, ranked sixth in 5A. South Florida is home to two American Heritage High Schools, both with top-notch baseball programs. The other is the 4A Delray Beachbased Stallions of American Heritage, a team the Conchs could face in regionals. Key West is hanging on to the No. 2 spot in 4A.

Anthony Lariz and Felix Ong paired up on the mound for Key West in a powerful performance, striking out 10 batters, walking 4 and allowing just 3 hits. Despite their best efforts and some solid hitting, 4 errors contributed to a negative outcome for Key West. Steel Mientkiewicz, Auggy Davila, Nelson Ong and Sam Holland had one hit each in the 3-1 loss.

On March 17, Key West hosted another perennial powerhouse, Belen Jesuit. The game went scoreless through the third, then Key West scored 1 in the fourth inning to claim the lead. Belen struck back in inning 5, scoring 3 runs, then added 2 each in the sixth and seventh. Key West would not score again, resulting in a 7-1 loss to the Wolverines. Noah Burnham, Caden Pichardo and Nelson Ong each had a pair of hits, and though the Conchs were perfect in the field, 11 hits from Belen proved more than enough to defeat Key West.

Next for the Conchs is a trip to California to play some of the top-ranked teams on the West Coast before heading home for the second half of their regular season.

Top: Ezekiel Myers. JOY SMITH/Purely Joyous Photography

Bottom: Mason Thornton. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

NILES HITS FIFTH HOME RUN

Marathon, Key West pick up one win each last week

Key West traveled to Homestead to take on Keys Gate on March 12, bringing home a resounding 15-3 win. The Conchs’ bats were on fire, amassing 22 hits in total with Alexa Condella leading the pack with a single, double and triple. Vera Rodger, Shylo Sanchez and Lindsey Koppal had 3 apiece and Ryleigh Harnish, Skye Sterling and Alexandra Rodriguez each had a pair of base hits. Monica Bueno, Scarlet Niles, Tavyn Gage and Maciey Malgrat accounted for the rest. Chloe Gilday completed the game for Key West, striking out 6 batters over the 7 innings of play.

Two days later, Eustis made the long trip to Key West for a highly-anticipated meeting of two of Florida’s top 2A teams. The Panthers, ranked 19th in the state and No. 2 in 2A, hail from district 7. The Panthers topped the Conchs, currently ranked No. 5 in 2A, 7-0. Eustis held Key West to just 2 hits, 1 from Sterling, who doubled, and Rodriguez. The score was tight, with the Panthers scoring the only run prior to inning six. Eustis unleashed a flurry of hits on the Conchs, who struggled with three errors in close succession. The 6-run sixth inning was too much for Key West to overcome in game one of the two-game series.

The following day, the yet-unbeaten Panthers held Key West to just 4 hits. Alexa Condella, Rodger, Malgrat and Niles each had 1. Niles’ hit was a home run, her fifth this season. Despite the Conchs’ best efforts, the Panthers, who boast six athletes batting over .500, defeated Key West 9-2. The 3-5 Conchs play again at home on March 23 against the 7A Indians of Vero Beach High School.

Marathon gained one win the easy way last week. Ransom Everglades forfeited their scheduled matchup on March 12. The following day, the Lady Fins hosted Miami Country Day, losing 10-1. Sara Robinson had a single and a triple in the loss. Madelyn Thornton and Shynell McGuire each tripled and Maeve Merryman and Elena Eubank added a single each for the remainder of the Fins’ 6 hits. Marathon, now 6-2, is off until after spring break, when they pick up again at home against Gulliver on Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m.

Coral Shores did not see any action last week.The Hurricanes will work for their first win in their next scheduled game on Thursday, April 4 at home against Somerset South Homestead at 5 p.m.

The Key West Lady Conchs do battle with the Eustis Panthers in the second game of a back-to-back series. The Panthers prevailed, 9-2.

1. Scarlet Niles hits her fifth home run of the season.

2. Nevaeh Arnold.

3. Shylo Sanchez.

Photos by GRACE ANDREW/Keys Weekly. See more game photos at keysweekly.com.

2

Matthias Martinez

Velez earned wins in both traditional and Olympic lifts for the 139-lb. weight class.

BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

FINS AND ’CANES STRUGGLE AGAINST 3A COLUMBUS

Lifters complete their regular season with a fourway dance at Coral Shores

On March 13, Coral Shores held a quadmeet to complete its regular season schedule. The ’Canes were joined by Marathon and Gulliver Prep, both 1A District 16 opponents, plus Columbus High, a larger 3A competitor. Columbus won first place in Olympic and traditional lifting, with Marathon securing second place in both events. Coral Shores was third in Olympic and fourth in traditional.

Three Keys strongmen were dual winners, all hailing from Marathon. Chase Leird won both events at 119 pounds, Matthias Martinez Velez at 139 and Max Childress at 183. Braulio Garcia won the traditional competition at 238 pounds. Coral Shores’ AJ Johnson was the champion at 219 pounds in the traditional event.

On Thursday, March 28, Marathon and Coral Shores will head to Doctors Charter for the FHSAA 1A District 16 Championships to begin the long road toward states.

The Conchs, ’Canes and Fins battle through a triple rivalry meet in track and field at Key West on March 16. The Conchs ended the evening with the highest scores for boys and girls, followed by Marathon, then Coral Shores.

KEY WEST DOMINANT ON HOME TURF

IMarathon’s Marshall and Key West’s Jenkins claim speed titles

t was a busy week on the track for Keys schools, with each team competing twice, but on March 16, all three squads met up in Key West for a tri-meet to showcase the track and field talents of Monroe County. When the final runner crossed the finish line and results were tabulated, the Conchs topped their in-county competition in both the boys and girls events. Marathon was second in both, with Coral Shores taking third. All three schools enjoyed some success in the various events, with plenty of time left in the season to improve.

Coral Shores had multiple winners and plenty of notable performances at the tri-meet. Ethan Marguet came in first in the 800m race in 2:07. Distance teammate Alaric Rodriguez was second in the mile, running it in 4:57, just a few seconds shy of a school record. Adrik Gadea was first in the 400m race, finishing it in 55.06s. Jack Collins was third. Xavier Johnson cruised over the 110 hurdles for a second-place finish and in the field, Rex Matthews was second in the long jump event. The 4x400m team of Adrik Gadea, Brian Hurt, Rodriguez and Marguet added another first for the ’Canes.

For the Lady Canes, Mira Jones was the biggest winner of the day with a first-place finish in the 400 in 1:06.02. Sammy Bates was second in the 800, finishing her two laps just one second away from the current school record.

Marathon’s Mikail “Jay” Marshall was the top finisher in the 100m and 200m races. Marshall finished the 100 in a respectable 11.26s, and his 22.71s finish in the 200 was a solid second faster than his closest competitor. Tony Bursa was first in the two-mile race, completing eight laps in 11:03.

Older brother Vance was third. Caleb Shelar finished the 400 in second place, rounding out the Fins’ track highlights. In the field, Fabbianho Louis Jeune won the high jump and came in third in long and triple jump. Cullen Coleman-Sayer was second in the pole vault.

The Fins’ girls fared well in the field events, with wins from Daysi Williams in the high jump and Kayesha Christian in the long jump. Christian also took third in the 100m while Williams was third in the 200m. Tinashay Cunningham came in second in the 400m while Mikkel Ross claimed a pair of seconds in the one- and two-mile races. Rebecca Merryman was third in the mile. Caylie Globe was second in both the high and long jump events while Shilo Yeider was second in the 100m hurdles. Justice Lee placed second in javelin and third in discus with teammate Marti Kilbourne taking third in javelin.

The Conchs had lots of first-place finishers, including Andrew Fedor with a 4:56 mile. Colbin Hill was close behind in third. Hill also claimed second in the two-mile race. Suharevskis Niks-Davis was a dual winner, taking first in the 110m high hurdles in 17.30s and the pole vault with a height of 13’11.25”. Jeff Dejean won a pair of firsts, in long jump (20’7.25”) and triple jump (40’).

The Conchs swept the throwing events, picking up a big share of their points. Jean Louis was first in shot put, tossing it 43’5.25”. Anthony Jenner and Benndy Ambrose were second and third. Noah Mercer was first in discus with a 130’4” throw. Ambrose claimed another second while Te’von Watson was third in that event. In javelin, Peyton Zubieta’s 156’4”

Photos by TRACY McDONALD/ Keys Weekly.

Lower left, Dazmine Jenkins; lower right, Mikail ‘Jay’ Marshall. Photos by Mark Hedden and Barry Gaukel.

throw was good for first place, with Watson finishing second and Jeremiah Harvey in third.

Other top-three performances for Key West’s boys included Clerff Alexandre with second-place finishes in the 100m race and triple jump. Shane Lavallee captured third in the 100m, while Walson Morin and Leandro Batista finished second and third in the 200m. William Forster was second in the 800m, Anthony Jenner was third in the 110m hurdles and Ian Torrealba was third in pole vault. Additionally, the Conchs claimed firsts in the 4x100m and 4x800m relays. The 100 team was made up of Alexandre, Morin, Dejean and Lavallee, while the 800 team included Ryan Barrios, Hill, Jerven Louis and Forster.

The Lady Conchs were led by Dazmine Jenkins, with

wins in the 100m and 200m races. The speedy senior finished the races in 13.65s and 27.95s, respectively. Alyssandra Camargo was right behind Jenkins, claiming second in the 200m.

Caylaa Makimaa was first in the 800m, finishing in 2:41, then won the 3200 in 11:37, neary three minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. Teammate Naima Thomas was first in the mile, winning the race in 6:01. Thomas was also third in the 800m. Brooke Biskupich was first in the 100m high hurdles. Neslo Atilla was first in the 400m hurdles and third in the 100m high hurdles.

Anabel Portuondo won the pole vault, clearing 8’11.75”, then took third in the high jump. Clare Boysen threw the shot put 29’3.25” for first place. Kaylee Matas Cabezuelo won the discus with an 87’9” toss, then

claimed second in pole vault and third in shot put. Audrey Smith was first in javelin with a 112’11” throw and was second in discus. Taking third places for the Conchs were Jaila Hicks in the 400m and Riley Richard in pole vault. The Lady Conchs swept all three relays, as well. Abigail Cowan, Biskupich, Jenkins and Camargo teamed up to win the 4x100m race. Biskupich, Camargo, Makimaa and Thomas won the 4x400m relay and Thomas, Makimaa, Emerson Jackson and Mia Steer won the 4x800m event.

CONCH BOYS EARN DECISIVE VICTORY OVER ’CANES

Lady Conchs show improvement against Mavericks

Boys lacrosse had a Keys matchup last week when Key West and Coral Shores played in Tavernier on March 12. The Conchs beat the ’Canes 18-3 in a decisive victory. Mack Hill led Key West in scoring with 6 goals and 4 assists. Hill was also credited with 3 takeaways in the win. Carter Sessoms, Brooks Pellicier, Smith Switzer and Max Louchheim had 2 goals each, with Sessoms and Pellicier assisting 3 times each, as well. Roman Van Loon, Kieran Smith, Zachary Payne and Dreyden Telfer made up the other goals for the Conchs. Goalkeeper Mateo Lopez had a half-dozen ground balls and 8 saves.

For Coral Shores, Red Tudor scored twice and Nick Petrusha netted 1 goal with assists from Nathaniel Shugarman and Lucas

Carballo. SG Paul scooped up 4 ground balls and registered 6 take-aways in the ’Canes’ loss while Brock Bynum and Yoan Garcia paired up in goal for 13 saves. Key West is sitting on a 7-3 record with its next game scheduled against LaSalle on Tuesday, March 26. Coral Shores, now 1-7, plays at St. Brendan on Wednesday, March 27.

In girls lacrosse, Key West added one win and one loss to its record last week. The Lady Conchs played Archbishop McCarthy on March 13, winning 11-9 over

“Palmer came to play and the Conchs didn’t. We were flat the entire game and couldn’t find our rhythm.”

—

head coach

Marisa Giacopuzzi

the Mavericks, a team Key West lost to just two weeks prior. The team has been picking up steam lately, just in time for postseason action. Against McCarthy, Key West was all tied up at the end of quarter one and two, but managed to pull away in the second half. “It was a goal-for-goal type of game, high intensity and very physical,” said head coach Marisa Giacopuzzi. “Archbishop got four yellow cards in the first half, leading them to be down a player the entire second half.”

Key West took advantage of the situation, applying pressure to the Mavericks at the goal. “It was a hardfought game on both sides,” Giacopuzzi said, describing her young team’s will to win against a more seasoned rival. Colbie Turner scored 5 goals, won 6 draw controls and caused a turnover. Kait-

lyn Piloto netted 3 goals and intercepted twice. Maeve O’Hearn, Eisley Whitehead and Deanna Mercier each scored 1 goal. O’Hearn caused a turnover and had an interception and Mercier caused 3 turnovers and won 3 draw controls. Ava Brock caused 2 turnovers and was credited with a pair of assists. In goal, Courtney Grabus saved 7 to preserve the win.

On March 15, the Conchs celebrated Senior Night against Palmer Trinity. Key West struggled against the Falcons, losing 6-5. Though Palmer was the underdog in the game, Giacopuzzi said, “Palmer came to play and the Conchs didn't. We were flat the entire game and couldn't find our rhythm.

“Having just upset Archbishop, I thought we were ready. … Palmer out-hustled us, pressured us and shot

more than us. We were prepared in knowing what we needed to do in a close game like this, as we were with Coral Shores a few weeks back, but we still couldn't make it happen.”

Despite the loss, Giacopuzzi praised the hustle of Ella Bishop, whose defensive play, including 7 ground balls, helped keep the Conchs in the game. Grabus had 11 saves in goal, keeping the game close through the end. Turner scored 2 while Mercier, Piloto and Taylor Gibson each netted 1 goal.

Key West will need to leave its loss against Palmer behind in order to prepare for the strongest portion of the schedule in the coming weeks. The next game is Saturday, April 6 against St. Thomas Aquinas, then they face both American Heritage schools, one of which is the No. 1-ranked team in the state.

Colbie Turner, left, and Mack Hill. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

CORAL SHORES BOYS, KEY WEST GIRLS BLANK DOLPHINS

Districts set for April 15-16

Keys teams hit the tennis courts last week to get some matches in just prior to spring break. Marathon was the busiest team, playing both Coral Shores and Key West. The Fins hosted the Conchs on March 11, picking up two wins against Key West’s five. Adrien Holdinga won his singles match, then paired up with Tanner Snowden to claim the number one doubles match for Marathon’s only wins of the day. Key West saw wins from Michael Grodzinski and Devon Soni in singles, plus a win from the duo of Grodzinski and Soni in doubles action. Marathon did not field a full boys roster.

Two days later, Marathon traveled to Tavernier to play against Coral Shores. The Hurricanes swept the Fins in singles and doubles with wins from Makani Burga, Zachary Bolano, Merrick Dunn and Max Smith. Burga teamed up with Rory MacEachern and Bolano did the same with Tony Khioni to claim both doubles matches.

In girls action, Key West’s Amalia Strunk, Claudia Steling, Juliana Strunk, Violet Jangraw and Leyla Atilla beat out the entirety of Marathon’s lineup. Amalia Strunk and Steling plus Juliana Strunk and Atilla won the doubles matches for a clean Conch sweep. Marathon fared a little better against the ’Canes, picking up a singles win from Rain Banks and a doubles victory from Banks and Reese Elwell. Coral Shores managed to edge out the Fins 5-2 with wins from Charlotte MacEachern, Olivia Hughes, Chloe Koval and Vanessa Gabriel. MacEachern and Hughes teamed up for a doubles win as well.

All three schools have some early April matches, then head to district play on April 15 and 16. Key West will play at Tropical Park, while Marathon and Coral Shores face their district rivals at the Miami Dade College courts.

Top: Key West’s Michael Grodzinski, left, and Amalia Strunk.

MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

Bottom: Coral Shores’ Zach Bolano, left, and Merrick Dunn.

DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statutes 83.805/83.506, Upper Keys Commerce Center, 97300

Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 will sell or otherwise dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.

All contents in:

Unit 9 – Tonya Skillman

Sale of all goods will be 4/8/24 at 10:00 am at , 97300

Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.

Upper Keys Commerce Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

Publish: March 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold their regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at the DoubleTree Grand Key, 3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, Florida 33040.

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:

March 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT II ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC II)

(From the City Limits of Key West to the West End of the Seven Mile Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

has an opening for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying. (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are

dependent upon tourists.) Any person wishing to participate on the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below:

Department DAC

Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040

The deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024. A resume may be attached to the application.

Publish: March 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that

on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Customs and Border Protection Facility Phase 3

Key West International Airport 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 the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00P.M. on May 9, 2024. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of

your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071.

If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, May 9, 2024. 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 US (New York)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING:

(Prospective bidders failing to attend the Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting shall forfeit their opportunity to respond to the solicitation.)

Date: April 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 A.M.

Location: 3941 S. Roosevelt

Blvd., (Construction Trailers, Front of Complex)

Publish: March 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that on Tuesday, April 16, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Monroe County On-Demand Micro-Transit 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 the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY FOR MONROE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Electronic applications for Monroe County Fiscal Year 2025 are now available to eligible 501(c)3 organizations. The new application is available on the Monroe County website on the Human Services Advisory Board page at: www.monroecounty-fl.gov/ 318/Human-Services-Advisory-Board.

Applications must be submitted electronically at noon, Friday, April 26, 2024. Applications are reviewed and funding recommendations are made by the Human Services Advisory Board, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. All HSAB meetings are open to the public. For questions contact Oksana Christow at Christow-Oksana@monroecounty- .gov or 305-292-4474.

request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00P.M. on April 16, 2024. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071.

If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. 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 US (New York)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Publish: March 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 24-CP-23-M

DIVISION: MARATHON

IN RE: ESTATE OF HENRY BERNARD SPITZIG

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Henry Bernard Spitzig, deceased, whose date of death was June 29, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS

LEGAL NOTICES

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: March 21, 2024.

Personal Representative:

Margaret A. Spitzig 1505 Sombrero Blvd., #203 Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal

Representative:

Robert K. Miller, Esq.

Attorney

Florida Bar Number: 359173

Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938

Marathon, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-9428

Fax: (305) 743-8800

E-Mail: service@ floridakeyslaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com

Publish:

March 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA DIVISION: PROBATE FILE NO.: 2024-CP-1-M IN RE: ESTATE OF SALLY J. PRINCE Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Sally J. Prince, deceased, whose date of death was October 2, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS

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

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is March 21, 2024.

The date of the second publication of this notice is March 28, 2024.

Personal Representative:

Marty Prince 1365 Marlin Drive Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative:

Anthony J. Barrows

Attorney for Marty Prince

Florida Bar Number: 662569

WRIGHT BARROWS PLLC

9711 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-8118

Fax: (305) 489-0307

E-mail: Tony@keysclosings. com

Publish:

March 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

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

CASE NO: 24-CP-119-P IN RE: ESTATE OF GEORGE WOOD, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of GEORGE WOOD, deceased, whose date of death was 10 July 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 Representatives and the Personal Representatives’ 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: March 21, 2024.

Co-Personal Representatives:

Elizabeth Wood 94381 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070

Jessica Wood 182 Carroll Street Islamorada, FL 33036

Attorney for Co-Personal

Representatives:

Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197

116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036

Phone: 305.664.2200 Fax 2205

Email: tom@tomwoodslaw. com

Secondary Email: eserve@ tomwoodslaw.com

Publish: March 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO: 23-CP-000120-P

IN RE: ESTATE OF TED JONES, a/k/a Ted Warren Jones, a/k/a Ted W. Jones, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The Administration of the Estate of Ted Jones, deceased, whose date of death was August 5, 2022, 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 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: March 21, 2024.

Personal Representative:

Keith Edward Jones 4197 Baker Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306

Attorney for Personal

Representative:

Cyrus Malhotra, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0022751

THE MALHOTRA LAW FIRM

P.A.

Attorneys for Petitioner

3903 Northdale Blvd., Suite 100E Tampa, FL 33624

Telephone: (813) 902-2119

Fax Number: (727) 290-4044

Email: filings@ FLprobatesolutions.com

Secondary Email: sandra@ FLprobatesolutions.com

Publish: March 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 24-CP-000058-K

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF STEVEN DUNCAN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of STEVEN DUNCAN, deceased, whose date of death was October 12, 2023, and whose Social Security Number is ***-**0714, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 302 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN

THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE

FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE,

ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is March 14, 2024.

Personal Representative: Michael Duncan

435 South Gulfstream Avenue, #808 Sarasota, FL 34236 Attorney for Personal Representative: Steven K. Schwartz Florida Bar No. 187976

E-mail: Steven@ stevenkschwartzpa.com

Publish: March 14 & 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 22-CP-000323-K

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF PAUL P. ROLLICK, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of PAUL P. ROLLICK, deceased, whose date of death was September 20, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 302 Fleming 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

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 March 14, 2024.

Personal Representative: Arnold David Makepeace 83311 Old Highway Islamorada, Florida 33036

Attorney for Personal Representative: Nicholas W. Mulick

E-mail Address: reception@ mulicklaw.com Florida Bar No. 337757

Nicholas W. Mulick P.A. 91645 Overseas Highway Tavernier, Florida 33070 Telephone: (305) 852-9292

Publish: March 14 & 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

All

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 March 14, 2024.

Personal Representative: MICHELE CAROL STAROBA

1614 Steven Avenue Key West, Florida 33040

Attorney for Personal Representative: JOHN A. TURNER

E-mail Addresses: john.turner@saul.com linda.dunne@saul.com shar-ann.callahan@saul.com

Florida Bar No. 000922

SAUL EWING LLP

515 W. Flagler Drive, Suite 1400 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Telephone: 561-833-9800

Publish: March 14 & 21, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 24-CP-000035-P

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ROBERT MAKEPEACE, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Robert Makepeace, deceased, whose date of death was December 4, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Ste. 2, 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

All other creditors of the

Zodiac 11' Yachtliner w/trailer. Equipped w/40hp Yamaha. Well maintained, 6 hrs./year annual usage. Fun vessel named "Tubby" - pleasure assured to captain. Located in Key Colony Beach. Fairly priced at $8,995 Call 781-422-1131

2008 Precision 165

Sailboat for sale. Length: 16.5’ Beam 7’2” Draft 1’9” Fiberglass w/ two 6’8” berths. Trailer and 1.5 hp Honda outboard. $6,500. Located on Summerland Key. Call Kyle 928-231-0442

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

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-194-K KALAMKAS AKHMETOVA

Wife, and, ANDRE WILLIAM WALTERS Husband.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

TO: ANDRE WILLIAM WALTERS

2213 STAPLES AVENUE

KEY WEST, FL 33040

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Kalamkas Akhmetova, whose address is Law Office of Wayne Dapser, 300 Southard Street, Suite 208, Key West, FL 33040 on or before April 6, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Notice of Current Address, Florida Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida

Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: March 4, 2024

Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court

Monroe County, Florida

By: Destiny Johnson

Deputy Clerk

Publish: March 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED

AUTOS ALL YEARS!

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

$CASH 305-332-0483

BOATS FOR SALE

City of Marathon

Current Job Openings: Administrative Asst. Fire Department and Part-time Custodian/ Maintenance. Full Benefits for full-time positions. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

Marathon Auto Air looking for Shop Help - full or part-time. Pay based on experience. Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-289-9884

The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is now hiring for the following positions: Server, $10/hr + tips, 9:30am-7pm, Beach Shop Attendant, $18/hr, 9:30am-5pm, and Part- time Office Clerk, $18/hr, Thu/Fri/Sat, 9:30am-7pm. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SALE OR LEASE

COMMERCIAL OFFICE/ RETAIL SPACE For Sale or Lease, Middle of Marathon. Excellent Highway Exposure, 1,900 + sq. ft. Available May 1st. Call or text 305-731-6021

EMPLOYMENT

Las Marias Medical Center- Hiring bilingual: Front Desk, RN, Medical Assistant & Local Driver. Tavernier, MM 91. 305-780-7730

Aluminum Installer needed in the Upper Keys: (Handy Randin) Install pool cages, hurricane shutters, railing. No exp. needed. Pay rate $17- $25/hr depending on experience. 305.394.5929

Hiring for backyard, light work, pull weeds in Marathon. $15/hour 305-610-8002

Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder is hiring an overnight Security Guard- responsibilities include but are not limited to observing marine mammals to ensure quality care, the ability to follow written instructions, and follow protocol and procedures as directed. Candidates must be able to lift 50 lbs and must be able to stay awake and alert for a 13.5 hour shift (5:30pm- 7am). DPMMR is a drug- free workplace. To apply, please send your resume to andreaw@dpmmr.org.

Hiring: Lead Gutter Installer - EXPERIENCE REQUIRED – valid Driver’s License - must be comfortable with heights - located in Tavernier. To apply, please call or text Jay 305-587-1581.

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time dishwasher. Private club, friendly atmosphere, flexible afternoon/ evening hours available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID and social security card or passport. Call 305-743- 6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com

Large One Bedroom Suite, Conch House, carpet, tile, appliances, available for rent in Marathon. $2,000/month furnished, $1600/ month unfurnished includes electric, water, sewer, cable & internet. No Pets. 305-610-8002

2BR/2BA Conch House downtown Key West. Recently renovated kitchen and baths; original Dade Co pine on walls; incl. W/D, fridge; unfurnished. No smoking. No pets. $4,500/mo + F/L/S. 305-842-1368

Place your Housing For Rent ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844.

RV LOT FOR RENT

Large RV Lots for Rent in Marathon. Full hook up. Dry & Waterfront lots. $1300 - $1700/ month plus utilities. F/L/S 305-731-5042

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions:

PT Receptionist, Housing Assistant-Key West, Housing Manager- Middle Keys, HVAC Maintenance Mechanic, and Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker). 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.

Pigeon Key in

Marathon is seeking a Customer Service Rep/ Ramp Attendant. to join our island team. Position includes greeting customers, giving information and taking admissions. Outgoing professionals can contact pigeonkey@aol.com for additional details. HIRED!!!

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

HOBBIES/COLLECT

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

ANNUAL RENTALKey Largo - 2BR/2BA Spacious Doublewide, 1400 sq ft modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community. $3,500/ month 786-258-3127

SARA’S ESTATE SALE: 7525 Gulfstream Blvd, Marathon | Fri, March 22 & Sat, March 23 9a to 1p both days. MASSIVE ESTATE SALE, PART 1 @ waterfront home featuring dive, fish & boat gear plus designer interior. Outstanding: mermaid/dolphin fountain, a Ritz-quality brass bellhop cart, pair of 20-ft carbon fiber outriggers and top- quality tools and fishing rods. Also: boat parts (12v and 24v), electronics, tanks, vests, regs, gaffs, Ryobi tools, 30-g air compressor, acetylene torch and more. Inside see the fully stocked “pool” kitchen packed with designer, casual entertaining dish & glassware. Also full-size bed and bedroom set

and a queen-size bed and bedroom set and nautical antique reproductions, faux potted plants, designer bamboo accent chairs, tropical art & light fixtures, a stunning driftwood base console and a Hollywood Regency faux bamboo (metal) étagère plus 3 TVs ranging up to 60”. Follow signs, park with consideration. More photos: estatesales.net.

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

IS HIRING!

DIRECT CARE STAFF/DRIVER (FT/PT) KEY WEST OFFICE

Place your RV Lot For Rent ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844.

VACATION RENTAL

Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet Caroline Seaport.com

This position is available at our Adult Day program. Providing direct care service & support to our clients in the day program. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. FL Driver’s license w/clean driving record, pre-employment training online and in person. Ability to pass a Level II background screening and references.

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

For more information contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32. Come join our family! EOE

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

MARINA CASHIERS

Must have customer service experience working in a retail environment and using a point of sale system. Additional duties include restocking, completing purchase orders, daily ordering of basic items in the store, and maintaining a clean appearance in the store. This is an hourly position and compensation is based on experience. Work hours are flexible and we try to maintain a set weekly schedule.

DOCKHANDS

Duties include customer service, helping customers with bait and ice and helping cashiers with restocking. Morning & a ernoon hours available.

Please respond by email (Ma at islamarinama @gmail.com) with any relevant previous experience and at least two references.

NOW HIRING ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE HELP

Fast paced, busy resort in need of Of ce Help. Must be able to multi-task, stay calm under pressure and have great communication skills. Be dependable, able to work weekends, 3 to 4 days a week, hours til 7pm.

If you want to be part of a great team, please apply!

Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come into the of ce at 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon to ll out an application.

CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM.

LEGAL

CLIENT CARE COORDINATOR

The ideal candidate will possess excellent phone skills and a passion for helping people. The role involves phone call follow-up, scheduling appointments, and utilizing strong computer skills. The hours are up to 30 per week, and the pay rate is $25 per hour. After successful training in Marathon, the role may permit working from home. Call 305-783-3395 to schedule an interview.

MARATHON COMMUNITY THEATRE IS NOW HIRING:

GENERAL / BUSINESS MANAGER

Full-Time, Permanent, Salary Commensurate with Experience

Oversees all business operations of Marathon Community Theatre including the Playhouse and Cinema. Ensures the theatre venue is ready for events by adhering to prescribed timelines and requirements and by coordinating with staff, production crews, volunteer committees, and outside vendors. Meet deadlines for grant submittals, compliance reporting, and production needs. Responsible for accounting processes including bank deposits, invoice payment, and budget adherence. Coordinate with the building committee chair to ensure the building is safe and maintenance needs are met.

A candidate should possess:

• Strong management skills with ability to delegate (supervise 4-6 employees and many volunteers)

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Self-Motivation

• Strong working knowledge of common computer applications (Gmail, Google Sheets, GoDaddy, Canva, Excel, Word) and ability to learn unique industry applications (Audience View, Veezi etc.)

• Strong organizational skills

CUSTODIAL TECHNICIAN

Part-Time, Permanent, 30 hours per week

Reports to the General/Business Manager. Responsible for the day-today custodial maintenance and minor repairs/maintenance of the playhouse and cinema.

To apply for either position:

Email/mail a cover letter and resume to: gm@marathontheater.org Marathon Community Theatre, 5101 Overseas Highway, Marathon.

FULL-TIME POSITION POLICE OFFICER

The City of Key Colony Beach is accepting applications for a FULL-TIME Police Officer.

Experience

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•

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Applicants must posses a current Florida Certification as a police officer. Applicants will undergo a thorough background investigation, including drug screening, medical, polygraph and a psychological exam.

Salary: $60,000.

Full Health & Dental Insurance, 457 (b) Participation.

Email resume to:

Chief of Police at: chief@keycolonybeach.net

Or call for additional information:

305-289-1212 ext. 1

Preference in the selection of vacant positions will be given to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans. The Key Colony Beach Police Department is an EEO employer, drug-free and nicotine-free workplace.

DUI

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.

Competitive

Job

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

- Medical Assistant, Marathon, Orthopedics, Part Time

- Ortho Support Tech, Tavernier, Orthopedics, Part Time

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Cook, Per Diem

- Exercise Physiologist, Per Diem

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

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, $20k Sign-on Bonus*

- Nuclear Medicine Tech, Per Diem

- Pool Group Exercise Instructor, Per Diem

- Pool Yoga Instructor, Per Diem

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $25k Sign-on Bonus*

- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Sign-on Bonus*

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, Part Time

- Wellness Center Manager

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- ED Team Coordinator

- Environment Tech, $5k Sign-on Bonus*

- First Cook, $5k Sign-on Bonus*

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

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, $20k Sign-on Bonus*

- Patient Experience Advocate

- Radiology Tech, $15k Sign-on Bonus*

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $25k Sign-on Bonus*

- Security Of cer

All

APPLY AND LEARN MORE

careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507

KEY WEST

Peer Support Specialist

Prevention Specialist (any location)

(PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult)

Behavioral Health Counselor (Child)

Volunteer Resources

Administrative Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent)

Facilities Maintenance Apprentice (Full-Time, Permanent)

Education Program Host (Full-Time, Permanent)

Staff Photographer (Full-Time, Part-Time, Seasonal)

Media & Marketing Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent)

Visual Communications Coordinator (Full-Time, Permanent) Trainer (Full-Time, Permanent)

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

Full job descriptions available at www.dolphins.org/career_opportunities

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

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

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

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATORS

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is looking for Distribution System Operators to perform semi-skilled work, involving the repair and maintenance of FKAA water distribution and transmission systems. We provide on the job training for qualified applicants. Requires a High School, Diploma or GED and valid Florida Driver’s License. Salary:  $50,376.48. Excellent benefits and opportunities for advancement.

Apply online at www. aa.com/212/opportunities

EEO, VPE, ADA, DFW

Must work well with animals, in order to support Medical & Animal Care & Training departments & participate on Manatee Rescue Team. Must be physically fit, able to lift 75 lbs., possess general “handy-man” skills, have a clean driving record & be diver certified or willing to become certified –knowledge of dive equipment maintenance is a plus. Successful candidate will be responsible, organized, & motivated with excellent team player skills. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k), vacation & paid holidays. Job description available at www.dolphins.org. Email resume & DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE

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