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

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

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Members of

On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate an important milestone in the country’s history — 250 years of independence. Commonly known as the Fourth of July, the federal holiday in the United States commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

Key West’s Fourth of July fireworks, presented by the city and the Rotary Club of Key West, take place over the ocean after sunset at the Edward B. Knight Pier. See page 21 for a full list of events.

LARRY

BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

KEY WEST OFFICIALS VOID ICE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

City commission follows South Miami’s lead in opposing enforcement pact

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The Key West community spoke and its leaders listened, voting on June 30 to void the city’s agreement with the federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency that would have trained and deputized local police officers to enforce immigration law.

Two days later, the city received the threatening letter it expected from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

Residents packed city hall for a June 30 special meeting of the city commission, with some having to sit on the floor. Dozens of members of the Key West Immigrant Support Network wore blue T-shirts that declared, “Immigrants keep this island alive.”

Nearly 30 attendees spoke passionately on behalf of Key West’s immigrant community while urging city officials not to be bullied by the governor and Florida attorney general, who have insisted that cooperative agreements with ICE, known as 287(g) agreements, are mandatory for local police chiefs and departments. Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis have said that police chiefs and city officials who refuse to comply will be removed from office.

The 287(g) agreements require local police departments to partner with ICE and participate in enhanced immigration enforcement efforts that have seen dozens of working immigrant residents with varying documentation status, stopped in Key West for alleged bicycle traffic infractions, detained and taken away to the detention center in Krome.

After two hours of emotional public input, the Key West commission voted 6-1 to void the 287(g) agreement that Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg signed in March, having been told the governor could remove

him from office if he refused.

“I was certainly in no rush to get involved, but it had been made abundantly clear to me that signing a 287(g) agreement was mandatory for Florida police chiefs,” Brandenburg told the crowd. “If you as a governing body want to challenge the state and the law, please follow the city of South Miami’s lead and challenge it as a commission.”

So that’s what Key West voted to do, giving credit to the mayor and police chief of South Miami, who were the first to reject a 287(g) agreement, and thus the first to feel the ire of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who threatened to remove the officials from office if they did not comply. But South Miami did not back down, and many Key West residents are hoping their city commissioners show the same fortitude.

Speaking at the June 30 meeting, five or six local attorneys assured city lawmakers that the law was on their side with regard to the 287(g) agreements. While county sheriffs are required to enter the cooperative partnerships, municipal police chiefs are not, they said.

“The legal obligation does not exist,” attorney Ashley Sybesma told the commission. “What’s being applied now is political pressure.”

She added that 287(g) agreements shifts liability from federal ICE agents to city police officers.

“There is no federal reimbursement for funds expended and no indemnity if one of our officers gets sued. How does it serve the people of Key West to take on federal responsibilities and redirect our local resources? I urge this community to be brave and step away from this agreement to ensure our local resources and local officers will not be outsourced to ICE,” Sybesma added.

Dozens of other speakers urged the commissioners to stand up to what they called federal and state overreach.

“History isn’t kind to those who say. ‘We had no choice,’” one speaker said. “If we only resist when it’s safe to do so, we are complicit. This act isn’t just about policy, it’s about the soul of this island. You may not be able to stop ICE, but you can stop helping them. Be the ones who tried.”

Krystal Thomas told the commissioners, “You know right from wrong. This is wrong. We deserve leaders who protect the vulnerable and oppose overreach.”

Chris Massicotte said, “This is a remarkably safe community, due in large part to the professionalism and compassion of the Key West Police Department and the leadership of Chief Sean Brandenburg. That’s why we’re deeply concerned that the 287(g) agreement sends the wrong message to our immigrant neighbors that they can’t trust local law enforcement. Immigrants are essential to Key West. They keep entire industries afloat and deserve to feel safe without fear of a traffic stop. We didn’t create this situation but we are living with the consequences.”

Commission voids ICE agreement

In the end, the city commission voted to void the agreement, taking its cues from South Miami, which has faced the ire of DeSantis and Uthmeier, but has thus far held its own on legal grounds in refusing to sign an agreement. Commissioner Lissette Carey cast the only vote in support of the city’s 287(g) agreement.

Commissioners Monica Haskell, who sponsored the resolution to end the ICE agreement, along with Donie Lee, Sam Kaufman and Aaron Castillo told those in attendance that they had been moved by the statements offered by residents. Two speakers reminded the commissioners that the Conch Republic had been created in 1982 because Key West stood up and opposed federal overreach.

continued on page 6

KEY WEST OFFICIALS VOID ICE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

It was a sentiment that resonated with Lee, a former Key West police chief, who acknowledged that he hadn’t initially planned to vote to void the ICE agreement that night.

“I came here tonight with a gun to my head, preparing to vote against this resolution,” Lee said. “And I think the chief signed the agreement with a gun to his head under threat. But I can’t as a commissioner sit up here and repeatedly support resolutions affirming the Conch Republic and then vote against this tonight.

“It was federal overreach back then and it’s federal and state overreach now,” Lee said. “Decisions made from my heart tend to get me in trouble. I just hope this decision from my heart doesn’t get the city in trouble.”

And then came the state’s response

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to Key West’s rebellion within hours of the commission’s vote, posting on social media, “The city of Key West will be hearing from my office very soon.”

The letter from Uthmeier took a day longer than expected to arrive, as the attorney general spent July 1 in the Everglades, where DeSantis and President Donald Trump were touring the new, so-called Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention center, and touting the lethality of the alligators that surround the facility that was assembled from trailers in less than a week.

Uthmeier sent a letter to the city on July 2, stating, in part, “On June 30, 2025, the Key West City Commission voted to void the City of Key West Police Department’s 287(g) agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). In doing so, you directly violated Florida Law. …

“By declaring the department’s existing 287(g) agreement void, Key West has made itself a sanctuary city. Prohibiting its police officers from receiving the necessary federal training to adequately enforce U.S. immigration laws not only prevents city police from enforcing current federal immigration law but also effectively prevents the city police department from participating in federal immigration operations. In this instance, however, it’s even worse.

“The commission didn’t merely prevent the police department from entering a 287(g) agreement; it affirmatively voided an existing 287(g) agreement under which the Police

Department was actively operating. Bad policy, and illegal.”

“...The City Commission must immediately reverse its June 30, 2025, action and allow the Police Department to resume cooperative engagement with ICE under its 287(g) agreement. Failure to take corrective action will result in the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office by the governor....”

City officials had fully expected such a letter, and scheduled a meeting for 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 8. As part of its vote on June 30, the city is poised to follow the lead of the city of South Miami in its legal arguments.

South Miami has filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and Uthmeier, stating in part, “Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier have taken the position that a municipality’s entry into such a 287(g) agreement is mandated by Chapter 908, Florida Statutes.

“Specifically, Attorney General Uthmeier has taken the position that a municipality’s failure to approve such an agreement constitutes the adoption of an unlawful ‘sanctuary policy,’ subjecting the municipality and individual municipal officers to enforcement action pursuant to section 908.107, Florida Statutes.

“Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier have in fact threatened to use their enforcement powers against municipalities and municipal officers in an effort to coerce municipalities into executing 287(g) agreements.

“Under the city’s reading of Chapter 908, the city is not required by law to enter into a 287(g) agreement, for several reasons.“Among other things, section 908.11, Florida Statutes, specifically requires ‘the sheriff or the chief correctional officer operating a county detention facility’ to enter into a 287(g) Agreement....

“By contrast, the Legislature chose not to include any such requirement for municipalities to enter into a 287(g) agreement. Chapter 908 contains no express requirement that municipalities enter into 287(g) agreements; and the definition of “sanctuary policy” makes no reference to 287(g) agreements except as expressly limited to the county requirement. Therefore, the plain text of the statute does not support the governor and attorney general’s expansive reading of the controlling statutes.”

DESANTIS AXES FUNDS FOR KEYS KIDS’ HEALTH & DENTAL SERVICES

Legislative budget allocated

almost $1 million for Keys AHEC

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Budget vetoes of more than $560 million by Gov. Ron DeSantis affected vital services for Florida Keys children.

Before signing the $115 billion budget on June 30 in Wildwood, DeSantis cut a number of line items in the legislatively-approved spending plan. Nearly $1 million was tossed out of the budget by DeSantis for a Florida Keys nonprofit providing comprehensive medical and dental care for local school-age children.

Keys AHEC initially submitted a request to the state Legislature for $975,000 to continue its work providing dental services, including cleanings, sealings and X-rays, as well as health services, including physicals ahead of the school year for children in the Keys.

Keys AHEC’s medical clinics had nearly 6,000 visits, while its dental clinic had 3,431 visits during the 202324 school year. In 2022, Keys AHEC received a new mobile dental van and the ability to offer free pediatric dental care to every child in the Keys.

Michael Cunningham, Keys AHEC executive director, said the Florida House and Senate initially included $500,000 in their respective spending plans. The figure eventually grew to Keys AHEC’s original $975,000 request as the budget process moved along.

“Everything was going well,” Cunningham said as the House and Senate eventually approved a budget with full funding for Keys AHEC. He said meetings with the Department of Health over the funding request were well received. Cunningham also said the governor’s office understood the importance of the funding in a meeting.

To the surprise of Keys AHEC, funds earmarked in the legislativelyapproved budget were cut as the governor prepared to sign the legislation. DeSantis briefly discussed the vetoes as a whole during the budgeting-signing event.

“Some of the stuff I don’t think should have been in the budget. Some of it wasn’t bad, but I felt it was important to get the budget spending in line with my recommendations,” he said.

Cunningham believes the governor didn’t go line-by-line to examine actual projects and impacts of programs he was eliminating.

A little more than $5 million in similar health-related funding across the state, identified as “Appropriation 436” in the legislature’s approved budget, was cut by DeSantis.

“He eliminated budget sections which were very interesting. … It’s the first time I had seen that,” Cunningham said. “I don’t know whether he really understood the project or gave it a fair shake.”

The state Legislature extended the session beyond the typical 60 days due to a budget impasse stemming from differences among the House and Senate over tax cuts. A spending plan was ultimately approved on June 24, which didn’t leave the governor with a whole lot of time to examine and sign it before a new fiscal year on July 1.

With the loss of nearly $1 million comes some internal review to determine what kind of modifications, cost shifting and possible reductions Keys AHEC can make while still keeping services running for local children.

“We’ll have to dip into our reserves a little bit and look elsewhere to potentially raise at least $500,000 over the next 12 months to keep programs,” Cunningham said. “Anything less than that, knowing we’ll be able to raise $250,000 internally, with reductions and movement in internal budget, simply means less programs, less services and children not being served.”

Cunningham added he was appreciative of the work by state Rep. Jim Mooney and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez in getting the funding request in their respective chambers.

“They did a great job for us. We couldn’t ask more from them.”

Rodriguez told Keys Weekly that while she’s disappointed funds were excluded for Keys AHEC, which was worthy of receiving state funds, she will advocate for “much-needed investments” next session.

This isn’t the first time Keys AHEC was left without funding from the state. A $650,000 request by Keys AHEC during the 2022-23 session yielded not a dime from the Legislature.

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SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORTS ATHLETIC FACILITIES UPGRADES

District has more than 20 openings heading into next year

FRANK DERFLER

www.keysweekly.com

In addition to supporting a concept plan to revamp the Coral Shores ballfield, Monroe County school board members approved a final design plan for upgrades to Key West’s Rex Weech baseball complex during a June 24 meeting at Coral Shores High School.

School district officials also discussed teacher and staff employment for the 2025-26 school year.

The additions and upgrades to the Rex Weech baseball complex on Glynn Archer Drive in Key West have been in the planning and development process for more than a year. In March 2024, the school board members were surprised by a price tag of more than $4 million for a new concession area with restrooms, a new entrance to the complex and a raised plaza area. The plan also includes a weight training area and a baseball museum.

Since last year, the community, school district staff and board members contributed to the planning of facility upgrades. At the June 24 meeting, Pat Lefere, the school district’s director of operations and planning, received approval from the board for a final design with an estimated cost of $4,880,372. With county commissioners’ approval, the county Tourist Development Council will provide $500,000 in bricks and mortar funding for this project.

School board members also supported an initial concept for an improved Coral Shores baseball facility at Founders Park in Islamorada. After public comment and discussion, the board approved a conceptual plan with an initial cost estimate of over $6.1 million.

Harry Russell, executive director of personnel support, provided a report on school district staffing. June and July are the months for interviewing and hiring teachers and staff for the upcoming school year. However, the

school principals already hired a significant number of people during the February early recruitment drive.

As of mid-June, the district had openings for 28 teachers, eight paraprofessionals, six athletic coaches, one administrative assistant and two food service workers. Key West High School has the greatest need. Thirty-two new teachers have been hired for KWHS and about 31 are needed. The district typically employs about 650 teachers.

Russell reported the district will have about 100 new teachers; the district typically retains about 85% of its teachers. The biggest drawback, according to Russell, is the cost of housing. Nationally, the number of people seeking teacher positions has declined and there is competition from charter schools with interesting and unique curriculum plans.

Outgoing Superintendent Theresa Axford reported that the district is the first in the state to be designated as a Suicide Prevention Certified District. Daliana Goins, district coordinator, worked with staff members in every school to provide training and materials.

During the May board meeting, member Sue Woltanski asked for a report on the effectiveness of special instructional materials used in the schools. During the June 24 meeting, Sarah Adams, director of instructional materials and AVID, showed how some of the learning aids and software contributed to scores in the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST). FAST uses frequent short assessments to track student progress as the group of students moves from yearto-year. She described some programs that were canceled and some that, according to the statistics, helped the group of students to improve in specific areas. She said the district has plans for a highly-adaptive artificial intelligence program from Khan Academy, called Khanmigo, with support from the University of Florida.

RETIRING SCHOOLS CHIEF WALKS AWAY WITH A WIN

Theresa Axford helps secure $3.5M for building renovations

On her final day as superintendent of schools, Theresa Axford received good news from the governor’s office: the school district’s request for $3.5 million to renovate Bruce Hall on United Street was officially included in the 2025-26 state budget.

The funding marks a milestone for the Monroe County School District and a capstone to Axford’s five-year leadership and career of more than 30 years. She thanked state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriquez and Rep. Jim Mooney, whose efforts brought the allocation to fruition. The funding it will enable the school district to vacate its district headquarters on Trumbo Road, which will become the site of 150 units of affordable housing for teachers and staff. The renovated Bruce Hall will become the new administrative headquarters.

“This is a great culmination of my five years as superintendent,” Axford said. “The allocation will move the district forward in vacating a dilapidated building and move affordable housing forward as well.”

Meanwhile, the district’s request for funding from the Tourist Development Council was approved at $500,000. This money will be used for the development of a concession and baseball museum at Rex Weech Field. The school district’s TDC application emphasized the importance of family entertainment at ball games, the relevance of local baseball history and the overall volume of tourists who come to athletic events in the Keys while supporting local businesses.

The TDC allocation now awaits final approval by the county commission at an upcoming meeting.

— Contributed

A drawing shows upgrades to Key West’s Rex Weech baseball complex. CONTRIBUTED

From left, Theresa Axford, outgoing superitendent of schools for Monroe County; state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez; and Amber Acevedo, deputy superintendent, in Tallahassee during the March legislative session. CONTRIBUTED

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

KEY WEST’S CORRUPTION MEETING GETS UGLY

Officials hear grievances, form allegiances & try to regain public trust

Yikes. A June 25 meeting about corruption in Key West and rebuilding public trust went off the rails in the first nine minutes, as indignant residents loudly booed the five of seven local lawmakers who voted to make them wait more than three hours to offer public comment. City commissioners Sam Kaufman and Monica Haskell voted to hear residents’ input at the start of the meeting.

Officials had called the special meeting to review the recent grand jury report that exposed egregious abuses of power in city government. Then they published an agenda that didn’t include a time for public comment. (According to the city charter, public input is not taken at special meetings unless the mayor deems it appropriate.)

Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez said she wanted to hear from residents, but not until after the commission had discussed all 27 recommendations contained in the grand jury report, and the actions being taken by the city manager and staff to implement them. Henriquez reasoned that some residents’ concerns may be addressed during the commission’s discussion.

The crowd that packed city hall did not agree and booed loudly when the mayor, along with commissioners Lissette Carey, Aaron Castillo, Donie Lee and Mary Lou Hoover, voted to add public comment to the very end of the agenda.

“This is just an example of how our government needs reform. This is terrible,” Kaufman said to applause from the packed meeting room. “If this is an indication of how this meeting is going to go, we need to clean house.”

Then came the grand jury recommendations Kaufman, who is currently the longest-serving commissioner, largely dominated discussions of each grand jury recommendation about how to fix what the report describes as a “network of nepotism, fraud, dereliction of duty and various criminal acts” in city government.

City clerk Keri O’Brien read each recommendation, then Mayor Henriquez described the corrective actions the city manager and staff have put in place. Kaufman would then

typically emphasize his frustration with the city’s speed of corrective actions, the need for an independent Citizens Advisory Committee, independent auditors and a compliance officer.

Is Kaufman considering a mayoral campaign?

Kaufman’s extensive discussions prompted many observers of the meeting to speculate among themselves whether his comments and criticisms were an early sign of a mayoral campaign to come.

The Keys Weekly asked Kaufman on June 27 if he was thinking of running for mayor. His answer? “My thought is that the city is in dire need of stronger leadership, and I’m giving serious consideration to how I can best continue serving our community — whether that means running to retain my seat as city commissioner or potentially running for mayor,” Kaufman wrote in a text message reply. “I’ll make that decision after thoughtful discussions with my family later this summer. This is a very important time for our city, and any decision I make will be guided by what I believe is in the best interest of our residents.”

What is the city doing to fix what’s broken?

City manager Brian L. Barroso told the packed chamber that Raj Ramsingh, the thriceindicted and arrested former chief building official, had been notified of his official termination the day before, on June 24. He had been on indefinite suspension without pay prior to that while the city completed its own internal investigation of Ramsingh’s alleged wrongdoing. He is accused of falsifying building permits and other city records, issuing improper permits to help himself and his friends and of running his own construction company, Strykker-Avery Homes, while working as the city’s CBO in a clear conflict of interest.

“We’re currently in the period during which Mr. Ramsingh can appeal his termination,” Barroso said, adding that the hiring process for a new chief building official was to begin on June 30.

In addition, Barroso said, as of June 27, the city voided the certificate of occupancy (CO) for Raj Ramsingh’s home at 2827 Harris Ave. after

having a licensed building inspector conduct an evaluation of the extensive renovations to the property, the permits that were issued for it and inspections that were and were not completed as required. The newly renovated five-bedroom, five-bath, 3,062-square-foot house with a pool has been on the market for about four months. It is currently listed for $2.35 million, but cannot be sold without a CO. All proper permits and inspections must now be obtained retroactively and at the expense of Raj Ramsingh.

Raj Ramsingh’s house, 2827 Harris Ave., before renovations

and after

The property is currently listed for sale for $2.35 million. Ramsingh has been indicted for, among other things, organized fraud, including issuing building permits to himself and friends while working as the city’s chief building official. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Who else may have benefited from Raj Ramsingh’s permitting process?

Barroso told the commission that the city has begun auditing all building and construction permits issued between 2020 and 2025, and inspecting those properties for unpermitted work, incomplete inspections and other violations. At least 35 properties are on the list, including at least three that belong to people with close ties to city government.

Those properties also include a home owned by former code director Jim Young, who was indicted and arrested on April 15, along with Raj Ramsingh and former city attorney Ron Ramsingh, Raj’s brother. Young retired days after his arrest for obstruction of justice. continued on the next page

(top),

(bottom).

All three men are charged with obstructing justice for allegedly deleting text messages that had been subpoenaed by the state attorney’s office as part of their corruption investigation. Raj and Ron Ramsingh face several additional charges — Ron Ramsingh for covering up criminal activity allegedly done by his brother, and Raj Ramsingh for, among other things, organized fraud.

Two other properties that were inspected for improper or unpermitted construction work this week have ties to current city commissioners.

Commissioner Sam Kaufman hired Raj Ramsingh as a contractor to do work on his home on Trinity Drive, moving a fence and extending a deck. City records indicate permits were never properly closed out and inspections never occurred.

Sounding appalled at the June 25 meeting, Kaufman announced at the June 25 meeting that his home had been inspected that day.

“Today I had a call from the building department to come inspect my house, MY house,” Kaufman said at the meeting. “Imagine that. Me. Someone who’s been trying to address the corruption for the past year, and my house was inspected before Jim Young’s. I’m not named in any indictments. I was never interviewed by the FBI or the state attorney. Explain that to me. We all know what’s going on here and I don’t like it.”

The city manager reminded Kaufman that his house was just one of four that had been prioritized for permitting audits and inspections. Raj Ramsingh’s property at 2827 Harris Ave. was the top priority, followed by Jim Young’s home on Thomas Street, Kaufman’s house and a home owned by commissioner Lissette Carey’s family.

The house at 3528 Eagle Ave. is owned by Tony Estenoz, who is married to Carey’s sister. Raj Ramsingh allegedly issued building permits to allow the owners to convert a storage shed into a living unit — after the planning department had denied the application.

Mayor to remove Carey as vice mayor Mayor Henriquez announced at the meeting that she will strip Commissioner Lissette Carey of the vice mayor title and will name Commissioner Donie Lee as vice mayor at the next regular commission meeting in August.

Mayor wants Todd Stoughton removed

Although not charged with any wrongdoing, the grand jury recommended that Todd Stoughton resign as assistant city manager.

“Testimony and evidence received by the Grand Jury revealed that Todd Stoughton’s close relationship with Ronald Ramsingh, Rajinhdar Ramsingh and Jim Young, the three indicted defendants, skewed his ability to think and act objectively, instead prioritizing the relationships over implementing real change. Whether by choice or unduly influenced by the professional and personal relationship with the three indicted defendants, Todd Stoughton’s inability to do his job impartially when it came to addressing issues with CBO Ramsingh was a contributing factor to the ongoing toxic environment created with the permitting process. Despite the removal of the three indicted defendants, his prior conduct raises serious concerns about his ability to execute his current responsibilities and serve in a management/supervisory role,” the report states.

As Stoughton works directly for the city manager, the commission cannot remove him or insist he resign. But Henriquez said on June 25, “I would like to see him resign from his current position as assistant city manager.”

Some residents work to recall Carey if she doesn’t resign

Once public comment began about three hours after the meeting started, 75% of the audience had left. But some of those who remained called for the resignation of commissioner Lissette Carey, as the grand jury had recommended.

“While not charged with any criminal violations by this grand jury, the testimony and evidence of her actions and inactions raised many concerns in her decision-making and, more importantly, her ability to serve the city in the capacity as a commissioner. Whether it is a lack of understanding the role, duties and responsibilities the position of a city commissioner entails, she has not demonstrated the wherewithal and convictions needed to serve in this capacity,” the grand jury wrote.

Henriquez told the audience, “There are no provisions in the city charter giving the commission the power to remove a commissioner, but I am removing her as vice mayor.”

Carey told the audience she would not resign.

“I know my heart and my record and I’ve fought for the city of Key West every step of the way,” she said, adding that she has received an “overwhelming” amount of support from residents in District 4. “If you believe I should be removed, then follow the democratic process (for

a recall election) and let the people of my district decide, not a few loud voices online.”

After that, commissioner Monica Haskell told Carey, “One does not always have the best perspective on things involving one’s self. Your perspective as an insider at city hall is different from that of the grand jury members, so I just ask you to consider that.”

Shortly thereafter, at 7:30 p.m., Henriquez announced that Carey had to leave unexpectedly, and would rejoin the meeting via Zoom, which she did around 7:50 p.m.

Petition circulates to initiate recall election for Carey

A few of the voices calling for Carey’s resignation showed up in person on June 25, encouraging residents in District 4 to sign a petition that could lead to a special recall election decided by the voters in District 4.

“Lissette Carey should be recalled for committing misfeasance, malfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty,” said Aaron Strebeck, reading from the recall petition that he is circulating. “Her persistent failures in judgment and responsibility are clear grounds for a recall.”

The grand jury investigation revealed that Carey had conspired with former commissioners and former city attorney Ron Ramsingh to keep a damning report about Raj Ramsingh’s behaviors concealed from the public, and to oust former city manager Al Childress, who was preparing to shine a light on Raj Ramsingh’s illegal permitting and conflicts of interest. She later told investigators that she felt she had been manipulated and used by Ron Ramsingh, whom she previously had considered a friend.

In demanding her resignation on June 25, resident Matthew McCarthy accused Carey of being a “puppet for land-use attorneys, real estate developers and the construction companies that bankroll them.”

“Ms. Carey admitted that while previously employed with the city as assistant to the mayor and commissioners, she had more than $200,000 of code violation liens wiped out with the help of the now-indicted, former code compliance director Jim Young. She also admitted in interviews with investigators that she had received a free house from Homes for Veterans, then sold the house and kept the cash for herself.

“She acknowledged she never read the Corradino Report (about Raj Ramsingh’s actions in the building department), and yet worked to remove it from an agenda at the direction of her puppetmasters.”

Public gets last word

“I’m appalled but not surprised by everything I’ve heard here tonight,” resident Danielle Herndon said at the end of the June 25 meeting. “The people elected to office in this town think they’re better than us, we the people. They think they’re above the law. … Each one of you sat back while corruption was happening. … Commissioner Carey, you don’t intend to resign. I support the recall. You only won that seat by 17 votes; it was hardly a majority or mandate. You were involved, period. Very involved. You’re lucky you haven’t been indicted — yet. I have no faith that after three and a half hours here tonight, anything will be solved. It’ll all get swept away.”

Key West restaurateur Joe Walsh speaks at a packed June 25 meeting, where city commissioners reviewed the scathing grand jury report that revealed corruption and abuses of power in city government. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

• Local business tax may be renewed beginning on July 1, 2025. The 2025 business tax expires on September 30, 2025.

• Property tax installment bills must be paid by July 31.

• There were 1,840 certificates sold during this year’s tax certificate sale for the amount of $11,696,110.76. In the previous year, there were 1,756 certificates sold.

• A property that is being rented out for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account.

• The spiny lobster sport season (“mini-season”) begins at 12:01 AM on July 30 and ends at 12:00 AM on July 31. The bag limit for Monroe County is six per person per day.

• To sign up for electronic bills, please visit our website or call our o ce for assistance.

• Thank you for nominating us for Best Customer Service and Best Elected O cial for the 2025 Bubba Awards!

Follow us on for more imortant tax information.

vendors and artists will transform the front of

THE LURE OF THE LIZARDS

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY

Decades before Key West became an accidental haven for iguanas, the island was populated by another breed of lizard: engaging bright-colored critters of all sizes, some sporting paws as big as dinner plates, with long tails and protruding eyes.

As well as vividly patterned bodies, many of these lizards had names — odd names like Southernmost Sam and the Little Sicilian. They turned up in random spots around town, eliciting smiles instead of the grumbles or shrieks that accompany present-day iguana encounters.

has lived in Key West for 40-plus years, witnessing and writing about the island’s renegade past, shipwreck salvage adventures and colorful presentday characters.

I first spotted the strange lizards more than 40 years ago, while pedaling my bike past the Guild Hall Gallery on Duval Street, enjoying the day’s lovely laid-back vibe.

Luckily traffic on Duval was light, because when I glanced up at the gallery’s second-story windows, I saw something so unusual I practically fell off my bike.

Lizards were perched on the glass inside the three long windows, and they were not normal lizards. They were big — very big — and motionless, as though pausing to reconnoiter before crawling farther up the windowpanes. One of them even seemed to be wearing clothes.

Having recently sold my first few magazine articles, I envisioned myself a budding superjournalist like Lois Lane. Clearly, it was my duty to pursue this potential story. So I parked my bike in front of the Guild Hall Gallery and ventured inside — and discovered the world of Judi Bradford. Judi was unquestionably one of Key West’s “cool kids” and a force in the arts community, which made her pretty intimidating to a wannabe journalist. However, her friendly air and wry sense of humor quickly won me over, despite the posse of odd creatures that populated her space at Guild Hall.

Most of them, like those in the gallery windows, were lizards. Soft-sculpture renditions of Key West’s ever-present geckos, they were made of colorful patterned fabric and ranged from about a foot long to well over five feet. Some

Top to bottom: Early in her art career, Judi Bradford hung out with some very suspicious creatures. JUDI BRADFORD/Contributed.

Lizards crawl up the second-story windows of Key West’s renowned Guild Hall Gallery in this 1980 photo by Richard Watherwax. MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY’S FLORIDA

KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Contributed

Colorful and whimsical, Judi Bradford’s lizards elicited smiles and goodwill wherever they appeared. JUDI BRADFORD/Contributed

were dressed in outfits including bikinis and tutus. Some were unfinished, with a long-fibered stuffing spilling out of their unsewn seams.

Too overwhelmed by the gaggle of lizards to dream up a coherent question about them, I began the impromptu interview by asking about the stuffing.

It was called fluff, Judi informed me.

“I get it from a fluff supplier in New York,” she added, as though dealing with a “fluff sup-

Judi Bradford’s fabric creations included a life-sized “portrait” of Key West character Love 22, who dressed like Uncle Sam and passed out novelty $22 bills at the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration. JUDI BRADFORD/ Contributed

plier” was perfectly normal. “My fluff truck comes every 10 days.”

Maybe Lois Lane could have kept a straight face upon hearing that, but I couldn’t. Giggles led to friendship, and one of the small lizards went home with me.

Eventually I did write a profile of Judi for a local paper, featuring her well-earned nickname of the Lizard Lady; her penchant for creating cartoons or T-shirts to commemorate bizarre local happenings; her ability to peddle her wares while pedaling her bicycle; and her fantastic fabric creations that included a life-size representation of Marilyn Kellner, known to all as the island’s famed “Cookie Lady,” who sold sweet treats at the nightly Mallory Square Sunset Celebration.

In 1982, when Key West symbolically seceded from the United States to form the independent Conch Republic, it was Bradford who made the first Conch Republic T-shirts. A few years later, her 12-inch “Lucky Lizards” — which she was then successfully wholesaling — were proclaimed the republic’s official mascots.

Bradford went on to become the longtime coordinator of Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest parade, and earned renown for vivid paintings that captured her subjects with flowing minimal brush strokes.

And me? Several years ago I found myself on busy North Roosevelt Boulevard, directing traffic while my animal-loving husband risked his life to save a large iguana trapped in the northbound lane. Dodging cars and ignoring the shouts of angry drivers, I recalled Judi’s lizards … and smiled.

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY

... 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.

I’m old school, at least as far as field guides to birds go. I prefer a book to an app, but it’s a qualified preference.

I generally find myself using field guides in two ways. The first is to look up specific information, or a fine point of identification, about a bird when I’ve already identified it, or at least when I’ve narrowed it down to two to six possibilities. The second is to cast about within a section of the book to figure out what I just saw when there are a lot of possibilities – say a rare hawk or songbird, like a warbler.

My first field guide was the “Peterson Field Guides to Birds” by Roger Tory Peterson, which was the mid-20th-century classic. Wait, that’s not true. My first field guide was “The Audubon Society Field Guide To North American Birds: Eastern Region.” It was a photo-based field guide with a green vinyl cover, and it was awful. At least for me. I had it for years and it in no way elucidated the world of birds for me.

The fundamental function of a field guide is for you to look at the image of a bird on the page (or screen) and be able to match it with what you see in real life, and then know its name and ID. You’d think a book of photos would do that, but it didn’t. The guide had a very bureaucratic vibe; it was assembled to please a committee. For years that book convinced me I wasn’t smart enough or sharp enough for this whole birdwatching thing. I still have it around the house somewhere, and if I was doing due diligence I’d go pull it off a shelf and make a detailed complaint. But honestly I just get all muddled and depressed even thinking about that book.

The thing I can credit that book with is amplifying my grateful appreciation of “Peterson Field Guides to Birds” when I finally bought a copy. It was where I should have started. But there was no internet back in the day, and I didn’t know any birders.

The first edition of the Peterson came out in 1934. The initial run of 2,000 copies sold out in a week. The images were paintings and drawings, and it was the first field guide compact enough to slip into your back pocket. (I have a number of pre-Peterson books, and they are bricks, if not cinderblocks.) It also had this radically simple element of small arrows pointing to definitive field marks, the things that differentiated one species from another. It told you where to focus.

Peterson was the standard for decades. I bought the 1980 edition, which was the most recent one in the 1990s. I beat the hell out of

A GUIDE TO FIELD GUIDES, SORT OF

that thing, wrote notes all over it, dropped it in puddles, and, if I recall correctly, ran over it with a car. By the end it was held together by duct tape and habit. But it still served its function. It gave me traction.

I dabbled around with a couple other newfangled field guides for a while, and while they were good, they didn’t get me any further than that Peterson did.

And then on the first day of the new millennium – Jan. 1, 2000 – “The Sibley Guide to Birds” by David Sibley came out. It wasn’t quite a brick, but at 544 pages, a little over 6 inches by 9 inches, and weighing two-and-a-half pounds, it was a lot to carry in the field. But it was so good people would carry them in backpacks, or by a special book cover with straps that you could sling over your shoulder. It was a relief when the pocket-sized east and west coast editions came out a few years later.

What was so great about the new Sibley guides was that he painted impressionistically, deprioritizing technical minutiae for what you could see, what your eye and brain could perceive. He just conveyed the sense of a bird so well.

Sibley is the Prince to Peterson’s Chuck Berry. He couldn’t have done what he did without the Peterson guide, but he definitely greatly expanded the genre.

What probably made Peterson’s and Sibley’s guides so good was the fact that they were each one man’s vision – the paintings, the text, the organization, as well as innovative ideas about how to show people what they needed to see.

I once was deposed in a court case about land use where the opposing attorney had gone on and on to me at the beginning of the session, possibly as a way to soften me up, about how great the Sibley guide was. But

then he proceeded to basically dismiss anything I said because I didn’t have a biology degree. (I was an English major.) And for years I have been kicking myself for not having the wherewithal to respond that David Sibley never even went to college.

Peterson didn’t either, though he did go to art school for a while.

But honestly, these days I don’t really carry books by either Peterson or Sibley with me when I go out birding. I use their apps.

There are pros and cons to this. The pros are that you don’t have to carry a heavy field guide with you. And the apps work pretty well if you’re trying to figure out a bird’s range or leg color or the shape of their tail. In the Sibley app you can even compare two different species, which is helpful. Also, all the apps have sound, so you can compare what you’re hearing with what a species is supposed to sound like.

The cons are that, if you see a bird that stumps you, it is much easier and quicker to flip through a printed field guide than an app. Also, books are easier to read in bright sunlight, won’t bankrupt you if they get wet or dropped into a puddle, and there are no batteries to die.

Also, you can learn a lot about birds by just flipping through a field guide and exploring.

When the first apps came out I ended up writing a review of five or six of them for a national birdwatching magazine. The Sibley and Peterson apps were the only two apps I really liked, and I’ve had them both on my phone for over a decade.

A second edition of the Sibley just came out. Most apps cost a dollar or two. The Sibley Birds 2nd Edition goes for $19.99 on the Apple Store. I’m thinking I might splurge and upgrade.

A comparison of bird guide books versus smartphone applications. CONTRIBUTED

MARK HEDDEN

9:30AM | Key Lime Bike Tours @ 122 Ann St

11AM-2PM | Key Lime Pie Hop @ Pilar Rum (Hemingway Social Club)

2-7PM | Truman Waterfront Farmers' Market

4-6PM | Wheeling & Dealing Hot Wheels Race @ Mary Ellen's

5:30-9:30PM | Sloppy Joe's Ultimate Key Lime Pie Smash Party

6PM SHARP! | Pub Style Trivia with a Key Lime Twist @ Southernmost Beach Resort on the Dewey Deck 1319 Duval St

6PM | Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration @ Truman Waterfront Quay Wall

7-9PM | Coast Guard Sunset Reception on the USCG Ingham Museum, USCG Band Performance & USCG Culinary Desserts @ Truman Waterfront

KEYS GET UP TO 900 NEW BUILDING RIGHTS

Law allows for permits on vacant, buildable land

The Florida Keys have the go-ahead for up to 900 new building rights throughout the island chain, following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature on Senate Bill 180 last week.

For decades, development in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern has been regulated by the Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO), predicated on a maximum hurricane evacuation time of no more than 24 hours for permanent residents.

The new bill, signed into law on June 26 by DeSantis, will raise that time frame to 24.5 hours, allowing additional building in the hope of staving off costly lawsuits from owners of vacant lots who otherwise may have been turned down for permits.

The exact number of permits to be doled out will hinge on evacuation modeling run by the Florida Department of Commerce, with up to 900 rights distributed over a minimum of 10 years.

The new units are reserved exclusively for one right per vacant, buildable parcel, prioritizing owner-occupied homes, affordable housing and workforce housing, the bill states, and must be split among the Keys’ jurisdictions based on the number of vacant buildable lots in each jurisdiction.

The new law follows more than a year of exhaustive debate among Keys residents and government leaders over how to handle the future of development in an island chain with dwindling buildable land. Dozens of special meetings, workshops and surveys throughout 2023 and 2024 weighed the cost of lawsuits

and a need for affordable and workforce housing against traffic, infrastructure, environmental and evacuation safety concerns.

Earlier this year, requests for new allocations were included in bills filed by state Rep. Jim Mooney and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez – 500 units over 10 years with a 24.5-hour evacuation in Mooney’s House Bill 995 and 3,550 over 40 years with a 26-hour evacuation in Rodriguez’s Senate Bill 1326.

Both bills were later amended to reflect a matching 825-unit request with a 24.5-hour evacuation, but eventually died, leaving the immediate future of Keys building in an addition to Pinellas County-based District 18 Sen. Nick DiCeglie’s bill. A 26-hour evacuation for the Keys also appeared in edits to Senate Bill 1730, filed by Miami-Dade’s District 38 Sen. Alexis Calatayud – but those amendments were removed from the final version.

What’s next?

While SB 180 lays the framework for new building rights, Keys jurisdictions could realistically be at least six months to a year away from distributing those units to property owners. How quickly the rights will be given out – 10 years or more – remains a policy decision for elected officials.

The pool of up to 900 units marks the first time that the Keys have received a significant addition to building rights since 2012, when 2010 census data was used in 24-hour evacuation modeling. In 2018, then-Gov. Rick Scott awarded a pool of 1,300 new rights to the Keys in an effort to replace workforce housing lost in Hurricane Irma – but those units were restricted to evacuate before the 24-hour period, and later faced an extensive legal challenge.

The new bill tasks FloridaCommerce with re-running evacuation models based on the new clearance time of 24.5 hours. The results of this modeling will inform a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing exact numbers of building rights to be given to each ROGO-governed jurisdiction throughout the island chain. As they did in 2012, each affected jurisdiction will sign the MOU along with FloridaCommerce officials to cement the relative distribution of rights among the municipalities.

From there, the timeline to fully accept and distribute the new units will depend on each government’s ability to incorporate the building rights into its comprehensive plan and land development regulations. That process could be more immediate or take six months or longer, depending on whether each government’s existing language allows for the addition of new units with changes to state law.

For unincorporated Monroe County, which should stand to receive the largest share of new rights, the required process to adopt necessary changes will take until at least December, planning and environmental resources director Devin Tolpin told the Weekly.

The months needed to finalize the new units could be particularly critical for cities like Marathon, which has already exhausted its supply of conventional building rights.

Speaking to the Weekly on July 1, Marathon Planning Director Brian Shea said the city now relies on a dwindling number of permits made available through the city’s Voluntary Home Buyout Program and limited rights taken back from expired building permits to avoid takings cases. In recent years, Marathon has stemmed its award of building rights to a trickle, granting just five new building permits every six months.

Extra 220 units still unclear

As governments work to finalize the distribution and timing of SB 180’s new building rights, officials told the Weekly the fate of an additional 220 building rights theoretically allowed, but not yet awarded, under the previous 24-hour evacuation rule was still up in the air.

In October 2024, the Monroe County Commission unanimously elected to request these rights from the state, later approving a separate resolution asking for an evacuation time change from 24 to 26 hours.

But in December, FloridaCommerce leaders reportedly told Keys governments that the department was unlikely to issue those 220 rights until existing allocations were exhausted throughout the entire island chain, prompting debate about whether Keys governments could, or should, “share” their remaining rights.

Whether these rights could be awarded separately from, or as a portion of, the new allocations allowed in SB 180 remains to be seen.

PIXABAY

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

STEPPING AWAY

Irecently returned to playing live music on stage with a band after a bit of a break.

And while the hiatus wasn’t an intentional or even conscious decision — I merely turned my attention elsewhere for a while — it seems to have been beneficial.

LET FREEDOM

RING THIS FOURTH OF JULY

Fireworks, festivals and family fun mark Independence Day

Join the Rotary Club of Key West for its annual 4th of July fireworks spectacular in Key West — a tradition filled with fun, food and festivities for the whole family.

Attendees can partake in picnic fare, games and live entertainment as locals and visitors comes together to celebrate Independence Day.

Events start early with the annual Rotary Club of Key West 4th of July 5K starting at the Edward B. Knight Pier. From there, head over to the Southernmost Beach Café for an array of activities leading up to the 2025 World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship, including beach games and a Key Lime Vendor Village that opens at 10 a.m.

The annual World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship — the centerpiece of

the annual Key West Key Lime Festival — starts at 1:30 p.m.

In a messy twist on New York’s traditional Independence Day hot dog eating contest, 25 competitors each attempt to consume a 9-inch pie in the fastest time, without using their hands. Contestants can advance register on the festival website for a chance to score a trophy, championship belt and a heaping helping of glory.

The Rotary Club hosts a cookout in the afternoon and evening prior to the fireworks, which begin after sunset.

The evening concludes with the fireworks display over the Key West waterfront. This event is an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors while honoring our nation’s spirit of freedom and unity.

— Contributed

Taking a break from something often reminds us why we were doing it in the first place, why it feeds us and how it satisfies us. It seems I needed those reminders.

My time away reminded me that I didn’t start playing music for money or girls. I had never set out to become a revered and renowned guitar player. I picked up a guitar because I had to express what was inside me. I had to be creating something, and music was something I could make.

But somewhere along the way, my ego sent me in a direction my creativity had never planned to go. I found myself lost and overwhelmed. I was constantly trying to learn what the great guitar players knew, so I could compare myself to them. But such comparisons are fraught with peril and disappointment, and that’s where I sat for a long time. Not happy with myself or my station in the music scene of whatever town I lived in.

It was a formula for depres-

RAY WEST

sion, and while I’ve met many players with much healthier attitudes, I know I’m not the only one who allowed their expectations to overwhelm their enjoyment. I think my youth filled me with a desire to be heard and to prove that others were wrong about me. But expecting so much from the music was not productive, to say the least.

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

Thankfully, this weekend on stage with a band filled me with a gratitude more satisfying than any expectations I could have ever met. I’m once again profoundly grateful for the people I get to play this music with; grateful that I can play at all, and that someone wants to hear it.

Like many of us, I’ve seen life rip away people’s ability to do the things they love. It’s heartbreaking to witness. So I hope, when it is over, the 15-year-old that I was and the old man I’ll become will both be happy that I stuck to my word and lived a creative life. And since none of us knows when this ride will be over for us, start living the life you want today.

Local musicians Ray West, Randy Stindt and Henry Lysy Jr. are grateful to be making music together again. CONTRIBUTED

Key West’s Fourth of July fireworks, presented by the city and the Rotary Club of Key West, take place over the ocean after sunset at the Edward B. Knight Pier. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

KEY WEST PRIDE ON PARADE

ISLAND CITY WRAPS UP WEEK OF LGBTQ CELEBRATIONS

Key West has always marched to the beat of its own drum, and nowhere is that rhythm more apparent than in the island city’s annual Pride Parade, which took place this year on June 29.

Volunteers marched a 100-foot section of the iconic Sea-to-Sea Rainbow Flag down Duval Street, with a few of them recalling the day 22 years ago, when the 1.25-mile-long flag stretched the length of Duval Street and drew worldwide attention.

Other parade features included floats, dancers and plenty of rainbows.

Key West wraps up its Pride celebration with the annual parade down Duval Street on June 29. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

VOTE HANK’S FOR BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

VOTE GARBO’S GRILL FOR BEST TACO & BEST FOOD TRUCK THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING US! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTES FOR BEST REAL ESTATE OFFICE

WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?

The drink designed for ‘Papa’

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY

www.keysweekly.com

In Key West, where Ernest Hemingway lived during the 1930s, he was known for his adventurous lifestyle. He sparred with local fighters and refereed neighborhood boxing matches, battled marlin and other giant billfish from his fishing boat Pilar, and defied the Prohibition ban on alcohol with visits to illegal speakeasies.

At the same time, he revolutionized American literature with his spare yet vivid writing style, portraying bullfighting traditions in “Death in the Afternoon” and Depression-era Key West in “To Have and Have Not.” Both classics were written during his years on the island, as was “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which depicts the Spanish Civil War.

Today, Hemingway’s local ties are memorialized through his former home, beautifully restored and open for tours; the Hemingway Rum Company that produces Papa’s Pilar Rum, named for his later-life moniker of “Papa” and his beloved boat; and the annual Hemingway Days festival, set this year for July 23-27, with its renowned look-alike contest at his former hangout of Sloppy Joe’s.

Yet despite the late author’s literary legacy and role in Key West history, many people revere him for something else entirely: the Hemingway daiquiri, invented in his honor at the El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.

That daiquiri is one of the most requested offerings at Bar 1, open to the public at the Key West Cooking School’s 291 Front St. location, where both the décor and the cocktail menu salute the spirit of adventure that Hemingway personified.

The drink he inspired blends white rum, citrus juices and maraschino liqueur. Its flavor is bold and refreshing, deliberately lacking the sweetness of a traditional daiquiri since Hemingway wasn’t a fan of sweet libations.

Other standouts on Bar 1’s specialty menu are also rum-based — including the Rum Runner, which may have originated at the former Holiday Isle in Islamorada; the Key West Sunset, whose vibrant color suggests the island sky at dusk; and the Painkiller, which captures the essence of the tropics in a glass.

Ernest Hemingway gazes out to sea from the helm of his fishing boat Pilar. IDA WOODWARD BARRON COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center

Bartender Dave Holtz (center) prepares a Hemingway daiquiri for a patron at the Key West Cooking School’s Bar 1. KEY WEST COOKING SCHOOL/Contributed

But for history and distinction, none can eclipse the daiquiri named for the writer whose work earned both Nobel and Pulitzer prizes.

In fact, to celebrate the upcoming National Daiquiri Day on July 19, don’t imbibe the typical version of the cocktail. Instead, mark the auspicious holiday at Bar 1 with the Hemingway daiquiri.

Or stop by Bar 1 during Hemingway Days where, surrounded by angling and literary memorabilia, it’s fitting to raise a glass to “Papa” — honoring the writer who loved Key West, sipping the same drink he enjoyed, and pondering his unparalleled place in the island’s colorful past.

LAST CALL

Drink of the month: Hemingway daiquiri. To craft “Papa’s” perfect daiquiri at home, combine white rum, fresh lime and grapefruit juices, maraschino liqueur and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until it’s fully chilled, and then strain it carefully into a glass — making sure no ice remains.

Helpful bar hack: When concocting a favorite rum drink, consider “raising the bar” in terms of flavor. Rather than using white or light rum, try an aged rum like Papa’s Pilar Dark to give the cocktail more body and depth.

Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com.

KEY WEST WOMAN ARRESTED FOR CYBERSTALKING

Luiza Laura Sucharska, 51, emailed threats to state attorney’s office

The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office on July 1 announced the arrest of Luiza Laura Sucharska, 51, for cyberstalking under Florida law. The charge stems from a series of harassing and threatening emails sent to a staff member of the State Attorney’s Office over a four-day period.

Between June 26 and June 30, Sucharska sent dozens of unsolicited and increasingly disturbing emails, despite being explicitly told to stop. The content of the messages included incoherent accusations, references to foreign governments and serious, alarming threats. One of the most concerning emails read:

“Imagine what it does to the human body if a column can collapse. The person’s body suffers, does it? Collagen in the skin gets broken, muscles collapse? Heart attacks?? Am I far from the truth?”

These communications raised immediate safety concerns within the office and prompted a formal investigation by the Key West Police Department, with assistance from State Attorney’s Office investigators.

On June 30, officers made contact with Sucharska at her residence in Key West. After being advised of her Miranda rights, she agreed to speak with investigators and admitted to sending the emails. She stated she felt betrayed by the legal system and wanted to express her feelings.

Sucharska also voluntarily consented to a search of her

phone and personally showed officers numerous additional emails she had sent over the course of several days. The messages reflected the same disturbing tone and further confirmed a sustained pattern of unwanted and threatening communication.

She was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Detention Center without incident. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Sucharska is not properly documented, leading to the placement of an immigration hold, which prevents her release regardless of the $17,000 bond set in the case. Additional charges are pending as the case continues to be reviewed by prosecutors.

“We are not going to allow anyone to threaten our staff or public officials without taking strong, legal action,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Whether the target is a prosecutor, judge, law enforcement officer or any other public servant, threats of violence — no matter how bizarre or indirect — will not be tolerated. Public officials must be able to do their jobs without fear of intimidation or retaliation.”

— Contributed

Luiza Laura Sucharska, 51, of Key West was arrested June 30 on cyberstalking charges. CONTRIBUTED

Key West Cooking School

Monday: 11am-7pm Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-10pm

4pm-6pm Cocktail Classes

1 pm: Rum Revelations A Cocktail Adventure

5 pm: Key West History Through Craft Cocktails

LAST CHANCE!

FREE admission on your birthday to any Cooking School Class or Cocktail Class. Make a reservation today to celebrate your birthday with us!

Reserve a seat for one of our cooking demonstration classes or cocktail classes and it is on us.

Must present ID to host proving you are celebrating on date of birthday.

Offer begins July 1st, 2025

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

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 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.

First State Bank of the Florida Keys hosted the June 27 cleanup, the bank’s fifth time hosting. Thirty-seven volunteers, including visiting families, braved the heat to collect 173 pounds of trash, 19 pounds of recycling and 5.5 gallons of cigarette butts. In addition, 3.5 gallons of butts were collected over the prior week by four individuals who were cleaning up their ‘adopt-a-spots.’

There is no scheduled cleanup for July 4, but join us July 11 at the Key West Cemetery.

CONTRIBUTED

Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

July 4: Happy Fourth of July - no organized cleanup, but feel free to make your neighborhood shine.

July 11: Key West Cemetery. Meet in the cemetery off of Windsor Lane. Hosted by Historic Florida Keys Foundation.

July 18: Duval Street & Rose Lane. Meet across the street from Hard Rock Cafe, 313 Duval St., which is hosting the cleanup.

July 25: Whitehead & Olivia streets. Meet across the street from the Hemingway Home, 907 Whitehead St., which is hosting the cleanup.

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

Waddles has been waiting for a home since 2021, longer than anyone else at the shelter. He’s 9 years old and knows exactly what he wants: a quiet home with no other animals and someone he can trust. He won’t love everyone right away. But if you’re patient and kind, he’ll decide you’re his person, and that love runs deep. Waddles just needs a soft spot to land, a steady routine and someone who sees him.

Cookie knows exactly who she is, and is not afraid to show it. This 6-year-old polydactyl queen has extra toes and extra attitude. She’s not interested in sharing her throne, so she’d prefer to be your one and only. Cookie rules her space with confidence, sass and just the right amount of affection (when she feels like it).

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.

When Chicklet first arrived, she didn’t want anything to do with people. She kept to herself, always watching from a distance. But little by little, she’s come out of her shell, and now this 4-yearold tabby is ready to find a home of her own. Chicklet still prefers a gentle approach, but she absolutely thrives around other cats.

Meet Pearl, a 9-month-old beauty with a soft grey coat and a shy heart. Most days, you’ll find her curled up in her favorite cat bed, trying her best to stay out of sight. She’s not hiding because she doesn’t like people — she just needs time to feel safe. Once she does, Pearl melts under gentle pets and quiet affection.

Clover is a 2-year-old albino rabbit with a snowy white coat and striking pink eyes. Albino rabbits like Clover have a rare genetic trait that gives them their coloring, and she wears it beautifully. Clover is gentle, curious and enjoys quiet company.

Thank you my friends and neighbors, I am very humbled by your Bubba Awards nomination for best doctor. I’d be honored to receive your vote. This is where Kathryn and I are raising our daughters, we would never raise them anywhere else.

— Dr. Jack Norris

MIND ALTERING LUBRICANTS FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE

KEYS’ ONLY AQUARIUM STORE OPENS IN KEY WEST

In-house aquaculture provides 80% of Underwater Gardener’s fish & corals

JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com

As of this week, Florida Keys marine enthusiasts will have a new aquarium store to help fill, filter and improve their fish tanks. The Underwater Gardener, 2816 N. Roosevelt Blvd. in the Overseas Market, will host a grand opening in Key West on Saturday, July 5. Moving from its previous Islamorada location, the aquarium store brings its blend of sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology to the Lower Keys. The store is a one-stop shop for everything from exotic fish to vibrant corals and invertebrates, with experts on hand for water testing, maintenance and a full selection of aquarium tanks and supplies.

“Bringing the Underwater Gardener to the Lower Keys is a dream come true," said co-owner Jamie Edelman. "We recognized the urgent need for a local, comprehensive aquarium store, and our mission extends beyond

Eighty percent of the Underwater Gardener’s fish and coral stocks are sustainably grown through in-house aquaculture rather than taking fish and marine life from the natural environment.

Amazon, with bulk ordering options available.

remotely controlled via a smartphone app, allow for precise regulation and monitoring of tanks, ensuring optimal conditions. Customers can fill jugs at the store with in-house reverse osmosis deionized water or saltwater, or even opt for a delivery service for larger quantities. These supplies are offered faster and cheaper than

"There really isn't any place where people in the Keys can quickly go to get what they need for their aquariums,” says Edelman. “They usually have to drive to Miami if there is an emergency, so we are glad we can be

The Underwater Gardener offers water testing and chemical analysis. It also stocks a selection of frozen fish foods and provides "pet sitting" for vacations. If you're dreaming of a specific legal fish, they can source it for

A core mission is to demystify saltwater aquariums and make them accessible to everyone, not just intermediate or advanced hobbyists. They’re happy to educate newcomers to the hobby about starting and maintaining saltwater tanks, identifying fish species and understanding proper tank care. A special lionfish tank in the store will educate the public on the invasive

“We’re also excited to get the kids in here,” said Michael. “We are eager to get partnerships going with the various groups in Key West like the schools and the college. Come join us on July 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for giveaways, food, and of course, lots of fish.”

More information is at theunderwatergardener.com, via email to jamie@theunderwatergardener.com or at 305-850-9949.

The Underwater Gardener offers expertise by, from left, Randy Midland, aquatic tech; Jamie Edelman, co-owner; Daniel Michael, co-owner; and Spencer Ramsey, manager. JEN ALEXANDER/Keys Weekly

THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE

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 premier passages along the Overseas Highway is crossing the Seven Mile Bridge. The views are spectacular and should be experienced in the daylight.

Sunset reveals stunning sights, too, whether you are driving across the new bridge or strolling along the old one. For the most part, it is a chance to sit back and enjoy some of the best views the highway has to offer.

There are two Seven Mile Bridges — the old railroad bridge and the modern highway bridge. The original Seven Mile Bridge, built to accommodate the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, consisted of four bridges. It was not called the Seven Mile Bridge but by the names of the four distinct bridge sections. The first three spans, Knights Key (6,803 feet), Pigeon Key (5,935 feet), and Moser Channel (13,947 feet), were built using concrete piers reinforced with three-quarter-inch steel rods.

Steel girders, weighing more than 40 tons each and measuring 80 feet long, were lowered across the piers to create the foundation on which the railroad tracks were later attached. The fourth section, the Pacet Channel Viaduct (9,035 feet), employed a different design, using a series of concrete arches to support the tracks — hence its distinction as a viaduct.

The bridges and the rest of Henry Flagler’s railroad became temporarily obsolete following the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. The Category 5 hurricane took more than 500 lives.

It also destroyed 40 miles of railroad track and ended the run of Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad.

As a result of the storm, the right-of-way followed by Flagler’s train was sold to the state. In 1937, many of the former railroad bridges were widened to accommodate automobile traffic, including the four spans of what became known as the Seven Mile Bridge. The railroad rails were repurposed to serve as guardrails for the highway bridges. The bridge and the new and improved highway opened to traffic on March 29, 1938 — July 4 marked the highway’s official reopening. Construction on the modern bridge began in 1979, and it officially opened to traffic on May 24, 1982. Technically, the new Seven Mile Bridge is 35,862 feet long and 1,098 feet short of its sevenmile claim.

During the drive across it, the five-acre Pigeon Key will appear underneath the old railroad bridge. On early Spanish charts, it was identified as Cayo Paloma. Paloma is the Spanish word for pigeon, and the story suggests the island was once home to large flocks of pigeons. The

namesake bird was the distinctive white-crowned pigeon — indigenous to South Florida and the Keys, the Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles islands, southeastern Mexico and Central America.

In 1907, railroad engineers surveyed Pigeon Key; they determined it to be the ideal location for a construction campsite. Railroad workers built three dormitories, a large mess hall, a warehouse, offices, a bakery, a commissary and an infirmary tent.

The day before the passenger train carrying Henry Flagler traveled across Key West and steamed into the southernmost terminal for the first time, the Jan. 21, 1912, edition of the Indianapolis Sunday Star printed a story mentioning Pigeon Key: “The camps are in charge of a resident or division engineer with the one at Pigeon Key presently the most active. At high tide, Pigeon Key is about two acres in extent and perhaps three acres at low tide. There are four bunkhouses, each designed to hold 64 men; one of them for the foremen, who are housed apart from the laborers. Each has a reading room with good lights. Good mattresses are provided on standard double-decked bunks, with plenty of clean bedclothes; all laundry work being done by the company. Once a week all beds are washed and thoroughly disinfected to keep any parasites from getting a start.”

Pigeon Key and the rest of the F.E.C. right-ofway were sold to the state after the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane ended the railroad’s run. Eventually, Monroe County was given possession of the island, where, today, the old wooden railroad buildings stand like a sort of ghost town — but a living one. The island was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1990. The Pigeon Key Foundation was formed to “protect the island’s long-standing history from the Henry Flagler era” two years later.

Visiting the island is like stepping back in time. The buildings are some of the oldest structures found outside of Key West. At least one dates back to 1908. One of them contains a small museum filled with photographs, artifacts and stories about the building of Flagler’s railroad and the people who once called the island home. Guided tours are available. For more information about the Pigeon Key Foundation and touring the island, visit www.pigeonkey.net.

After passing Pigeon Key westbound, there is a gap in the Moser Channel section of the old Flagler bridge. When it was still operational, the gap was connected by a section that could swing open to allow boats to pass between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1994, the missing section was destroyed by missiles fired from a fighter jet during the filming of the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis thriller “True Lies.”

The movie employed a bit of Hollywood magic. In real life, the span had been removed after the old bridge closed to automobile traffic. What exploded was a replica, a bridge designed to be a stunt double — kaboom!

While the Seven Mile Bridge, both old and new, and the brilliant blue water views are the real attraction, a little bit of love must be saved for the Australian pine tree famously growing on the Pacet Channel Viaduct section in the area of MM 41. It is Fred the Tree. The Florida Keys celebrity managed to dig its roots into the crumbling remains of the railroad bridge three or four decades ago and never gave up. It also played a role in the 2024 remake of the movie “Road House,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

The bridge’s west end is at Little Duck Key, where the highway enters the Lower Keys.

Seven Mile Bridge and Pigeon Key circa the 1930s. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Monroe County Library Collection

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 This week brings a curious blend of lightness and longing as Venus enters Gemini and Neptune stations retrograde in Aries on Friday, July 4. Venus’ entry into Gemini invites movement, connection and playful affection, an energy that finds meaning through conversation rather than commitment. Venus in Gemini is the epitome of young love — flirtatious, curious and possibly moving a little too fast for its own good. On the very same day, Neptune begins its retrograde motion, turning our dreams inward and asking us to take stock of our spiritual progress. While one influence nudges us toward exploration, the other calls for surrender. If you feel pulled between seeking stimulation and sitting with your own hazy truth, let both impulses be valid. Sometimes the most illuminating conversations happen while the soul is standing still.

Here are your horoscopes for Venus’s ingress in Gemini and Neptune’s station retrograde in Aries. Read for your rising and sun signs.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

Venus moves into your inner sanctuary, encouraging quiet moments of tenderness and self-care. This is a time to nurture your inner world and cultivate affection that doesn’t need to be loud or visible. Meanwhile, a retreat from external pressures invites you to reflect on your career or public role with fresh eyes. You may find your dreams and ambitions feeling a bit unclear, but this is a call to trust intuition rather than logic. Let your inner voice guide you, even if the path feels foggy.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

The energy this week shifts your focus toward social circles and the communities where you shine. Connections formed now are playful and lighthearted, offering opportunities

to explore new friendships or revive old ones with a curious heart. At the same time, your private reflections around intimacy and shared resources may feel subdued or confusing. It’s a moment to step back and reconsider how trust and vulnerability fit into your close relationships.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Your career and public image are gaining fresh appeal as you naturally attract attention and opportunities to express your unique talents. This is a time to build connections that support your professional goals and to bring warmth and creativity into your work environment. At the same time, you’re being invited to take a deeper look at your shared finances, emotional boundaries or inherited patterns. This is a moment to clarify what you truly trust and reflect on how your deeper dreams connect to these intimate areas of life. Allow yourself to slow down and listen closely to your intuition before making any major decisions.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Your world opens up through exploration, learning or long-distance connections, inviting you to flirt with new ideas and experiences. What horizons allure you? Follow your heart to expand the world you inhabit.. Beneath this lively surface, however, your daily environment and routines could seem unclear or out of sync. Trust that temporary confusion around habits or health is part of a deeper transformation and lean into self-compassion as you adapt.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

The focus is on shared resources, intimate connections and the hidden depths of your relationships. You may feel a magnetic pull toward deepening bonds or understanding your own emotional complexities. While you seek connection, there’s also a quiet inner process of reassessing how you nurture yourself and tend to your well-being. This dual movement invites you to balance giving with receiving and to allow boundaries to shift naturally.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

This week, partnerships feel like a gentle tide pulling you toward deeper connection and shared rhythms. You might discover new layers of harmony in how you relate, much like two dancers learning a graceful, unspoken choreography. Meanwhile, your creative spark and romantic desires take a softer turn, like a candle flickering in a quiet room, inviting you to pause and listen closely to what truly ignites your heart. Let patience and reflection guide your next moves.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

This week invites you to explore the rhythm of your daily routines and the ways you care for yourself. Imagine tending a garden where small acts of self-nurturing help you grow stronger and more resilient. At the same time, your close relationships or collaborations call for honest conversations and firm boundaries. It’s a delicate dance between openness and clarity, reminding you that some connections transform while others deepen. Trust in your ability to navigate this balance with grace.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Dive into creative passions and joyful self-expression, lighting up your days with playful connections. Your charm flows naturally through conversations, sparking curiosity and warmth in your everyday exchanges. At the same time, your mind is drawn inward, reflecting on deeper beliefs and subtle patterns beneath the surface. Trust your instincts as you navigate these shifting currents in how you communicate and connect.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Home and family are warm havens where you find comfort and renewal. This week invites you to nurture your inner sanctuary with gentle kindness and quiet rituals. At the same time, you’re called to reflect on what you truly value and how you measure your own worth. Some old assumptions may blur or

THE HEART WANDERS, THE SOUL WAITS

shift, encouraging you to seek clarity about what supports your sense of security. Patience and gentle selfcompassion will help you navigate these subtle changes.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Your mind and daily interactions become lively and engaging, drawing you toward new conversations and learning opportunities. You might feel especially curious and ready to explore new perspectives. Meanwhile, your foundations, whether home, family or inner security, may seem a little uncertain or dreamlike, inviting you to release control and accept impermanence. Embrace paradox.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

Focus turns inward toward your deeper values and sense of self-worth, inviting quiet reflection on what truly nourishes your spirit. Simple pleasures and small luxuries may bring unexpected joy as you learn to appreciate beauty in the everyday. At the same time, subtle shifts are unfolding beneath the surface in your friendships and community connections. Trust the gentle process of reevaluating who supports you and how you give back, even if much of this happens quietly out of sight.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

A new cycle begins for your sense of self and personal identity. You may feel more magnetic and confident as you step into new roles or express your authentic voice. This is a time for fresh starts and playful reinvention. Yet in your professional or public life, there could be some confusion or uncertainty, encouraging you to lean into flexibility and trust the unfolding process rather than forcing outcomes.

18TH STREET REOPENS

Underground pump stations rehabbed to mitigate flooding

ey West city officials announced this week that 18th Street is now open with only intermittent closures as Charley Toppino & Sons wraps up the construction project in which stormwater pump stations were rehabilitated.

The $2.6 million infrastructure project forced the closure of 18th Street for several weeks, as work trucks blocked its access off Flagler Avenue.

The city’s Utilities Department and city officials expressed gratitude for neighborhood residents’ tolerance and patience throughout the construction inconvenience. CITY OF KEY WEST/Contributed

LEADERSHIP MONROE HOLDS SUMMER RECRUITMENT EVENTS

Learn about the community improvement group at events

July 15, 16 & 17

Leadership Monroe County, the educational, nonpartisan, nonprofit community organization that brings together existing and emerging leaders to build constructive alliances in the Keys, welcomes applicants for the upcoming Class XXXIII, which will launch in October and run through April 2026.

The public is invited to attend any of three upcoming summer socials, which will acquaint interested individuals with the program and its components and meet some of the program’s alumni.

The socials will each take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and are set for Tuesday, July 15 at the Key West Woman’s Club, 319 Duval St., Key West; July 16 at the Italian Food Company, 82779 Overseas Hwy., Islamorada; and July 17 at Key Colony Inn Restaurant, 700 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. Refreshments will be provided.

Leadership Monroe County offers an opportunity to experience and learn alongside a group of peers, and increase their impact within the com-

munity.

Celebrating its 33rd year, the program is aimed at residents who are active in leadership roles in the private sector, government, or nonprofit community. Through a series of one- and multi-day sessions, over a seven-month period, topics examined include the environment and natural resources, tourism and the economy, government, education, military, the law and judiciary, emergency management, arts and culture, health care, human services, as well as leadership skill development.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 11. Applications are available at leadershipmonroecounty.org/apply. More information is at 305-394-3804 or info@ leadershipmonroecounty.org.

110% financing available. Competitive rates as low as 6.25%APR* Terms up to 240 months. No pre-payment penalties.

*Annual Percentage Rate. Restrictions may apply. See us for details. NCUA Insured. Membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the Florida Keys. Make Waves with a Boat or Engine-Only Loan! Make

Monday - Saturday 7am-11am $10 menu & $10 unlimited Bloody Mary's & Mimosas

SUNDAY BRUNCH

Buffet $20 Per Person & $10 Unlimited Bloody Mary's & Mimosas

LUNCH & DINNER

Monday - Sunday 11am-9pm ALL YOU CAN EAT DINNER

Thanks to expert on-site veterinary care, a mother manatee and her calf were successfully rescued and released on the same day in Marathon after the mother was found with fishing line cutting into her flipper. DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER/Contributed

CATCH & RELEASE

Mom and baby manatee get on-site treatment for fishing

On June 18, Dolphin Research Center (DRC) partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to rescue a manatee mother and her calf in Marathon.

The adult female manatee was found with a fishing line tightly wrapped around her right pectoral flipper. The line had cut more than an inch deep into her flesh, posing a severe risk to her health. Her calf stayed by her side throughout the rescue.

Dr. Scott Gearhart, Dolphin Research Center’s full-time veterinarian, provided urgent medical treatment, removing the fishing line and treating

line snare

the wound. Thanks to the rapid response and expert care, both the mother and calf were released back into the wild the same day.

“This incident is a powerful reminder of why it’s critical to always properly dispose of fishing line and gear,” said Gearhart. “Entanglement injuries can be life-threatening, and they're preventable with responsible action from the public.”

DRC encourages anyone who spots a manatee that may be injured, entangled or in distress to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404FWCC (3922).

— Contributed

BOUTIQUE HOURS

TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4

THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6

SUNDAY & MONDAY CLOSED

MAINE’S MAJESTY

ISLAND LIFE, HIKING THE TRAIL AND HISTORICAL FICTION IN THE PINE TREE STATE

LITTLE GREAT ISLAND

By Kate Woodworth

KAREN NEWFIELD

Growing up on Little Great Island off the coast of Maine was idyllic, and after 10 long years away, Mari McGavin and her son Levi have finally returned. Mari narrowly escaped the southern farming commune (cult) that destroyed her relationship with her parents and her past. Now she is back to save herself and Levi from the misguided, violent control of Pastor Aron and the flock they blindly followed. Levi is 6 years old, and his grandparents instantly fall in love with him. Without pressuring Mari, for fear she will abandon them again, they understand she is hiding from someone or something. As Mari begins rebuilding her life and caring for Levi to the best of her ability, she turns to sustainable farming, her passion and expertise before she dropped out of graduate school. Mari reconnects with old friends and mentors, discovering that the island and their traditional fishing way of life has deteriorated. It is up to her to reimagine the future and create ways the islanders can thrive and survive moving forward. As personal battles heat up, greed trumps thoughtfulness and Mari is determined to save the island the only way she knows how.

First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.

By Amity Gaige

Deep in the woods near the Appalachian Trail, Valerie Gillis goes missing. She is 42 and an experienced hiker traveling the last 200 miles of her journey. Her husband patiently waits at their designated location for resupply, and Valerie never arrives. The state game warden is notified, and within hours a full search is underway. Every hour changes the probability of finding Valerie alive. Beverly is the head warden, a tough woman with a big heart. As this search suddenly becomes personal, Bev empathizes with the devastated parents and the many teams working around the clock. With few leads, Bev is struggling to keep faith that they will be successful. It’s as if Valerie has simply vanished. Lena, an aging forager (person who collects edible plants) has spent her life as a scientist and is painfully bored in her retirement home. Alongside the investigation, Lena begins to piece the clues together as she follows the missing hiker news online. Although Lena is reclusive and mostly keeps to herself, she has a unique understanding of nature and people. This slow-burn mystery is filled with the beauty of the Appalachian Trail, the people who hike it and those who protect it.

By Ariel Lawhorn

Hollowell, Maine is a small town with the Kennebec River running through it. In 1789, the Ballard family runs a well-respected lumber mill. Mistress Martha Ballard is a seasoned midwife and healer, and the lives of many, especially women, depend on her care. Most females do not read or write, making Martha’s daily diary all the more valuable. She notes every birth, death and illness among these tight-knit, God-fearing people where gossip runs rampant and kindness does not always abound. Her husband Ephraim is a good man and their six grown children have families of their own. One day, Martha is called to care for and document the rape of a local woman. Rebecca accuses two well-known men of the crime. From that moment forward, chaos ensues. During this brutally cold winter, one of these men is murdered. The other uses every bit of his power to undermine Martha as a witness and will destroy anyone who gets in his way. It is difficult for Martha to know whom she can trust while doggedly pursuing the truth. The author’s final notes fascinatingly detail the shocking history on which this novel was based.

#WorthWatching: “Olive Kitteridge” follows the life of a small-town, sharptongued and often unlikable protagonist, Olive, whose tough exterior gradually reveals a more lovable side. Based on the incredible book by Elizabeth Strout, this series set in Maine is available for streaming on HBO Max.

HEARTWOOD

THE FROZEN RIVER

Two Friends has been honored to be a part of the Bubbas since it began in 2014 & Pepe’s since we adopted our additional family there in 2021.

We would like to thank our sta , patrons and suppliers for their support and votes each and every year. It has been a privilege to be nominated and win in a variety of categories year after year.

So please keep voting and help us keep those plaques on our walls.

We appreciate each and every one of you!!

Love, M & D

Maura & Danny Hughes, Proprietors

In The Bleachers

Samuel Lee Thomas, 72, of St. Petersburg, Florida, is a prolific 911 caller, The Smoking Gun reported on June 16. Just in the first five months of 2025, Thomas has called emergency services 3,400 times, bringing his five-year total to 16,000 calls. His latest call involved what he said was someone “shooting an AR-15 rifle in the roadway,” but when police arrived, they found a family having a barbecue and kids at play. Anqunette Peterson, 34, who lives in the targeted home, has been the victim of his calls 647 times and said Thomas “frequently stops in front of their residence to yell obscenities at her and her family,” police said. Thomas was arrested for stalking and false report of a crime. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $1,500 bond.

Adam Dailies

Brevity

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

Nancy Dailies

The world speed record for a steam locomotive is held by London and North Eastern Railway’s Mallard, which reached 125.88 mph on this day in 1938.

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

In 1974, Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched in relief of starter Tommy John, setting a major league record for consecutive games pitched in, at 13.

Brevity

Founded by Betty Debnam

Visit Mount Rushmore

Mini Fact: Each of the presidents’ heads is 60 feet high from the chin to the top of the head and 40 feet

In the 1920s, South Dakota state historian Doane Robinson got the idea that carving a sculpture in the Black Hills would attract visitors to the remote and thinly populated state — and bring in money, too. He was right.

Today about 2.5 million visitors travel to Mount Rushmore each year.

A MONUMENTAL PROJECT

Mount Rushmore, a giant sculpture of four presidents, is at the top of a mountain towering about a quarter of a mile above the main viewing area.

The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum (GUT-son BORglum), sculpted the faces of the four presidents he thought did the most to make our country great: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Work began in 1927 and continued for 14 years. When Borglum died suddenly in early 1941, his son, Lincoln, took over and finished the project.

CHOOSING FACES

Borglum first planned to carve three presidents: Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. When he realized there was room for one more president, Roosevelt was chosen because Borglum thought he helped working people and the environment.

CARVING THE SCULPTURE

Before he began the mountain sculpture, Borglum made smaller plaster models. Then he marked the mountain in red paint to show how many inches

of rock workers needed to remove. The workers then blasted it away.

About 90% of the sculpture was carved by using dynamite. About 450,000 tons of rock were removed. Workers next drilled to get to the final face, putting on the last touches with a hammer and chisel. The rock was then smoothed over.

About 400 workers helped carve the mountain. Most were miners, ranchers, farmers and teachers who lived in the area.

They worked, dangling from harnesses, in weather ranging from hot 90-degree summers to days of 25 to 30 degrees below zero in winter. No worker was seriously injured during the whole project.

A National Park Service worker dangles in a safety harness to power-wash George Washington’s head. Each fall, park employees inspect and repair cracks with a special sealing mixture. Water collects in cracks in the mountain. Each cold South Dakota winter, the water freezes. In spring, the ice melts. This cycle of freezing and thawing causes the cracks to get bigger.

Words that remind us of Mount Rushmore are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

BORGLUM, CRAZY HORSE, DYNAMITE, HARNESS, JEFFERSON, LINCOLN, MELT, MEMORIAL, MODEL, MOUNT, NATIVE, PLASTER, ROCK, ROOSEVELT, RUSHMORE, SCULPTURE, SOUTH DAKOTA, WASHINGTON.

This model shows what Crazy Horse Memorial will look like when it is finished. You can see the actual sculpture, still underway, in the background.

NATIVE AMERICANS

Native Americans in the area considered the Black Hills sacred ground. Mount Rushmore was one of seven sites in the Black Hills that they thought was especially holy.

In 1868, the U.S. government forced the Lakota people out of the Black Hills and onto reservations. The people considered the carving of their sacred mountain into sculptures of white leaders’ faces to be an insult.

Today the National Park Service seeks to honor all cultures visiting the monument. Near the visitors’ center, Lakota interpreters talk about their life and the Black Hills.

A private group is currently carving a memorial of the Indian leader Crazy Horse on land about 17 miles from Mount Rushmore.

TODAY’S QUOTE

On the Web:

• nps.gov/moru

• crazyhorsememorial.org

At the library:

• “Mount Rushmore” by R.J. Bailey

ECO NOTE

Scientists have discovered mysterious micro-burrows in marble and limestone across Namibia, Oman and Saudi Arabia that appear to be biological in origin. The tiny tunnels, about half a millimeter wide and up to an inch long, were found filled with calcium carbonate powder, possibly left by unknown microorganisms that burrowed through the rock for nutrients. It’s believed the structures are 1 million to 2 million years old and may have formed during a wetter climate.

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

wide. photos courtesy National Park Service

Martha Washington’s Applesauce

You’ll need:

• 2 1/2 pounds tart cooking apples, peeled, cored and cut into thick slices

• 2 to 3 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

• Water as needed

What to do:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 to 1 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Put the apples in a saucepan over low heat. Add the lemon zest and about 1/2 cup of water.

2. Cover and cook the apples, stirring often and adding more water if the fruit seems too dry. Add only enough to prevent the apples from sticking to the pan. Cook for about 20 minutes, until the apples are very soft. Remove from the heat and mash the apples roughly.

3. Blend in the butter. Add 3/4 cup of the sugar, stirring in more as needed, and then add the nutmeg. Serve applesauce warm or at room temperature. Makes 3 to 4 cups.

* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

George M. Cohan (1878-1942), songwriter/entertainer; Franz Kafka (1883-1924), author; Dave Ba y (1947- ), author/journalist; Montel Wi iams (1956- ), TV personality; Tom Cruise (1962- ), actor; Thomas Gibson (1962- ), actor; Yeardley Smith (1964- ), actre ; Co ie Nielsen (1965- ), actre ; Brian Cashman (1967- ), baseba execu ve; T mu Sela e (1970- ), hockey player; Patrick Wilson (1973- ), actor; Olivia Mu (1980- ), actre ; Chris Jones (1994- ), f tba player.

TODAY’S FACT

The world sp d record for a steam locomo ve is held by London and North Eastern Railway's Ma ard, which reached 125.88 mph on this day in 1938.

In 1775, George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army.

In 1844, the last two confirmed great auk specimens were killed on the island of Eldey, off the coast of Iceland.

In 1863, an assault by Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces failed, and the Battle of Gettysburg ended in a Union victory.

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Awesome Sauce Patina located at 763 Musa Drive, Key Largo, Florida 33037, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

By: Countywide Home Inspections, Inc.

Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, Robbies of Key West, LLC claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels:

Owned by Phillip Northcutt for unpaid storage fees: a 1974 Coronado Yachts 35’ Sailboat “Starship” HIN: CYNA01840174

Owned by Eric Desantis for unpaid storage fees: a 1972 Morgan 36.5’ Sailboat “Southern Aire” HIN: 623721

Owned by David Vance for unpaid storage fees: a 1984 Hunter 31.3’ Sailboat “Zephyr” HIN: HUN31366G484

Sealed bids will be accepted on July 10th, 2025 at Robbies of Key West, 7281 Shrimp Rd, Key West, FL 33040. Robbies of Key West, LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Publish: June 26 & July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given that on dates below these vehicles will be sold at public sale on the date listed below at 10AM for monies owed on vehicle repair and storage cost

pursuant to Florida Statutes 713.585.

SALE DATE: AUGUST 25, 2025

SOUTHERN MARINA STOCK

ISLAND, 6000 PENINSULAR

AVE, KEY WEST, FL

1998 CRS CRSUSN10I798

$8,815.11

OWNER: OHANA AMERICA CORPORATION & BRITT

KOBALL

Southern Marina Stock Island reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

Publish:

June 26 and July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Florida Keys Council of the Arts

Notice of Upcoming Meetings

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the Zoom meetings or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@keysarts.com

Art In Public Places

Committee Meeting

July 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM

Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 875 9604 9956

Passcode: 683327

Art In Public Places Selection Committee Meeting - Public Defenders Office

July 15, 2025, at 4:30 PM

Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 890 2526 2386

Passcode: 430351

Grant Panel Review

July 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM

Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 830 2271 3013

Passcode: 077736

Grant Panel Review

July 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM

Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 843 0758 4078

Passcode: 302488

Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT III ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC III)

(from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying).

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 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is Monday, July 14,

Effective May 31, 2025, Joseph Sunny, M.D., is no longer practicing with Baptist Health Gastroenterology at the following location: 91550 Overseas Highway, Suite 205, Tavernier, FL 33070.

Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may log into our patient portal at myBaptistHealth.net, call 305-434-3400 or fax 786-260-0513 to request a records release.

Publish: June 12, 19, 26 & July 3, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

2025 5:00 p.m. A resume may be attached to the application.

Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT V ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC V) (from Mile Marker 90.940 to the Dade/Monroe County Line and any Mainland portions of Monroe County) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying).

Any person wishing to participate on the District V 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 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is Monday, July 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. A resume may be attached to the application.

Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF CODE AMENDMENT HEARING “SECOND/FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025-499” NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 17th, 2025, 9:40 am OR at the conclusion of the Public Hearing

LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2025-499], entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER FIFTEEN OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED STORMWATER UTILITY SYSTEM; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; REPEALING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”

The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon

which the appeal is to be based.

If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, and your comments will be entered into the record.

To be published: On or before July 7th, 2025

City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF CODE AMENDMENT HEARING “SECOND/FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025-501”

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 17th, 2025, 9:40 am OR at the conclusion of the Public Hearing

LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2025-501], entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CODE OF ORDINANCE ARTICLE VI – FINANCE, SECTION 2-75 TO INCREASE THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD TO ALIGN WITH FLORIDA STATUTE; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”

The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, and your comments will be entered into the record.

To be published: On or before July 7th, 2025

City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: July 3, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025-CA-342-K HENRY GUERRIOS an individual,, Plaintiff and FREDERICK J. HUGO, Defendant.

NOTICE OF ACTION TO: FREDERICK J. HUGO 1408 SE 2nd CT

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Key West, FL 33040 (last known address)

Current address unknown

Current residence unknown

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a lawsuit for breach of contract has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, on JOHN MARSTON, Esquire, attorney for plaintiff, at 1011 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040, on or before August 4, 2025 and file the original with the clerk of this court immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

Dated: June 23, 2025

KEVIN MADOK

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk

Publish: July 3, 10, 17 &24, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-36-K

DIVISION: FAMILY TARA PATRICK, Petitioner, and BRYAN CASTRO, Respondent. AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: BRYAN CASTRO RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 44 KROG ST. N.E. UNIT 602, ATLANTA, GA 30307 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Tara Patrick, whose address is 201Coppitt Rd, Apt. 301A, Key West, FL 33040 on or before July 19, 2025, 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.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card debt $9,247.00. All charges made solely by Bryan after we split up. 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 Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) 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: June 12, 2025

Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: June 19 & 26 and July 3 &10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483

AUTOS FOR SALE

2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. $3,500.00 Or best offer. Located in Marathon area. CALL 305-417-0169

PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

19’x40’ slip in Marathon, could handle somewhat larger boat with approval from dockmaster. Desirable location in marina, easy in, easy out. Available thru Oct 25, possibly long term lease. $1,400/ mo. Please contact Vern Rozier, 904 626 5279, or 904 626 8224 and leave call back info. Or email vrrozier@yahoo.com.

Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002

EMPLOYMENT

J&M SCAFFOLDS OF FLORIDA INC - NOW HIRING: OFFICE MANAGERKEY LARGO BRANCH Full-time; Customer service oriented; Responsibility: Billing, A/R; Basic reporting, Daily deposits. Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM. Must be bilingual. Salary + Benefits. Apply michelleb@jmsfl.com 305-953-6965 Ext #4. 94775 OVERSEAS HWY, KEY LARGO, FL 33037

Night Monitor –FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/

Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

AFFORDABLE

HOME BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITY! Earn

$100+ daily! No experience required!. Call our 24-hour voicemail hotline: 904-680-2909

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing ManagerFT-Marathon, CarpenterFT, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. 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.

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

Full time office position with strong computer skills, KCB Condominium, $78K per yr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531. HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!

Fantastic part-time Housekeeper position available in Key Colony Beach! Immediate start date. Primarily on weekends, with excellent pay for the right candidate. Reach out to Continental Inn Beachside at Vivian 952-208-2850 or Cheryl 305-505-8747 HIRED IN EIGHT WEEKS!

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

2BR/2BA on the water w/ dockage in Pirates Cove, Key Largo. Fenced & fully furnished. Short and long term available. From $3500/month. Credit check required. 28 day minimum. Call 305-588-6723

UNFURNISHED 2/2 HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $3300/month, security negotiable, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com

Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876

3BR/2BA Furnished home for rent on Grassy Key. Available July 7. $3,800/ mo. 708-674-8044

3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Avail July 1. $4,000/mo. 618-559-9143

2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Tile & carpet floors, new appliances, gated property. No pets. Avail in July. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dockage available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002

2BR/1BA for rent in Key Colony Beach. 800 sq. ft., fully furnished, across from park, one block from beach. 3 month min. $3000/month + sales & TDT taxes. F/L/S 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@ gmail.com

1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!

Available Now, Stock Island near CVS. Traveling nurses/ Working professionals only. No pets, smokers or drugs. Gated, safe, quiet, has parking and a pool. Fully furnished room w/private bath, smart TV, washer/dryer. House and kitchen privileges always, w/ fridge and cabinet space. Monthly rent REDUCED to $1,400.00 All Included. First and Last due at move in time. Call 305-797-5600 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!

PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.

RV LOT FOR SALE

RV Lot For Sale in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. Full hookup, close to marina. $59,900 or $2,000 down & $500/ month. Call Nate 317440-4709

PLACE YOUR RV LOT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.

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 CarolineSeaport.com

YARD SALES

PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

Keys Energy Services, in

is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:

OPERATOR/MAINTAINER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

IS HIRING

IN THE UPPER KEYS

ACCOUNTING PERSON

Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate.

Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002

NOW HIRING

GENERAL OFFICE HELP

Captain Pip’s & their sister properties are looking to hire for general of ce help.

Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050

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

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

is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:

ELECTRICAL PROJECT ENGINEER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

LIVE

IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.

We have the following opening available. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website. FACILITIES

e Turtle Hospital in Marathon wants you to join their team!

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES

Full and part-time. Public speaking and & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start.

Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org NOW HIRING!

Permanent)

DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.

COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE

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

Key West, Florida,

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS

HIRING!

JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!

We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.

KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)

KEY WEST

Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult, PT)

Prevention Specialist

Advocate

MARATHON

Prevention Specialist

Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver (CDL not required) (PT)

RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT,PT)

*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)

*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT,PT)

*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)

*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.

Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP

PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!

Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip

DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR

The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions.

Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma and computer data entry skills required.

DUI instructors and evaluators: 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required.

Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

We are now hiring for the following positions:

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier

- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, Upper Keys-Gastro, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, LPN, EMT or Paramedic, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus

- Pool Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology, Per Diem

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Cook, Dietary

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department

- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department

- AC Mechanic-Licensed

- Manager Imaging Services

- Pool Medical Technologist

- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab

- Patient Access Associate, $1k Bonus

- Patient Scheduler 2, Radiology, PT

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus

- Patient Financial Associate, Patient Access, $1k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, ICU, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, ICU, PT

- Registered Nurse, PACU, Per Diem

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

- Pool Pharmacy Tech 2

- Pool Occupational Therapist

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, PT, $12,500 Bonus

- Sr. Phlebotomist

- Security Officer, FT

- Patient Financial Associate, $1k Bonus

- ED Team Coordinator, Emergency Department

- Inventory Control Administrator, Keys/Marathon Supply Chain

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 2, (MRI & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

- Patient Care Nurse Supervisor, PT, Nights

- Registered Nurse, Oncology, PT

- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Bonus All

CDL Drivers

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

The Keys Collection is seeking a Complex Sales Manager and a Sales & Events Coordinator to drive revenue and build lasting client relationships across three properties: Blue Flamingo Resort, Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Inn. Ideal candidates will have hospitality sales experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for delivering exceptional results.