Key West Weekly26-0319 by Keys Weekly Newspapers

A GREAT SPRING BREAK REQUIRES 2 THINGS:

A GOOD BREAKFAST THAT SETS YOU UP FOR THE ALL DAY PARTY PEPE’S HAS YOU COVERED & ALSO HAS THE BEST HAPPY HOUR AFTER THE POOL

AS MANY SEPARATE CHECKS AS NECESSARY

TWO FRIENDS IS HAPPY TO SPLIT YOUR CHECK AS MANY WAYS AS YOU NEED US TO

TWO FRIENDS ACCEPTS RESERVATIONS FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER ONLY FOR PARTIES OF 6 AND MORE.

BREAKFAST: SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH AN OPTION TO UPGRADE WITH FERGIES OYSTERS

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

LUNCH: WATERMELON SALAD WITH SHRIMP

DINNER: SPICY SEAFOOD COMBO

(BLACKENED MAHI , FRIED BUFFALO SHRIMP, SPICY SCALLOPS)

SHELLFISH COMBO

(LOBSTER, SNOW CRAB LEGS AND SHRIMP AND A SIDE DISH)

EARLY BIRD: 1-4 18$ SPECIALS

16OZ BONE IN RIBEYE , BIKINI SHRIMP, SHRIMP TRIO, CAJUN SHRIMP PASTA, CHURASCO STEAK

PATRONS GET 3 HOURS OF FREE PARKING IN OUR NEXT DOOR LOT

LUNCH AND DINNER RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE AT OPEN TABLE FOR PEPE'S OF PARTY ANY SIZE.

BREAKFAST: FRENCH TOAST SPECIAL

PRIME RIB TACOS WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS

LUNCH: BLACKENED YELLOWTAIL WRAP WITH A SIDE DISH

DINNER: SURF AND TURF

(5OZ FILET MIGNON AND LOBSTER TAIL WITH 2 SIDES)

BLACKENED AND BLUE CHEESE 16 OZ BONE IN RIBEYE WITH 2 SIDES.

TWO BLOCKS FROM THE POOL PARTY AT DANTE’S.

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5

Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com

Publisher / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

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Editor / Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

Account Executive

Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com

Staff Writers

Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Design / Pre-Press Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com

Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com

Diana Striker www.keysweekly.com

Controller

Lauren Pope lauren@keysweekly.com

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Se habla español

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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Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m.

Members of

“The Godfather,” which opened March 15, 1972, ranked No. 2 on the 10th anniversary edition of the American Film Institute’s “100 Years ... 100 Movies” list of the greatest American movies of all time. Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” ranked No. 1. The 100 best American films were unveiled in 1998. AFI released an updated list in 2007.

Gallery on Greene will unveil artist Michael Harrell’s latest collection, ‘Caribbean Reverie,’ at a reception on Saturday, March 21. The show features paintings highlighting Harrell’s experiences in Key West and Cuba. See page 16.

MILE 0 FEST PRODUCER HOPES TO RUN KEY WEST’S AMPHITHEATER

For nine years, Kyle Carter, owner of Oh Wook! Productions, has owned, operated and produced the popular Mile 0 Fest, a

festival at the Key West Amphitheater. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Key West officials need to find a new manager to run the city’s outdoor amphitheater at Truman Waterfront Park, but they may not need to look far.

Rams Head Promotions has operated Key West’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater since it opened in 2019. Its current management contract includes an option for a three-year extension in August, but Rams Head won’t be extending the contract, assistant city manager Mike Turner told the city commissioners in a March 4 email.

“The city is currently exploring options as to how the amphitheater will be managed and will hopefully have a better idea of the future in the coming months,” Turner wrote.

Kyle Carter has an idea.

President and CEO of Oh Wook! Productions, Carter has been producing and promoting multiday music festivals at the amphitheater for nine years. Oh Wook! Productions owns and operates Mile 0 Fest, and formerly produced RokIsland and Key Western Fest, all of which have brought bigname music acts and happy crowds to the amphitheater.

Carter told the city commission three years ago that he wanted to submit a bid for the management contract. But the commission voted in April 2023 to renew Rams Head’s contract for three years.

It’s been three years, and Carter is ready.

“Obviously, we have a keen interest,” he told the Keys Weekly last week. “Rams Head did me the professional courtesy and reached out, knowing we have calendars and dates booked five years in advance. We have nine years and a great deal of investment with the city and we want to grow that relationship. No one else could come in and say they know the city, the amphitheater and the infrastructure like we do. The whole goal is to drive tourism and ensure the amphitheater is usable for the local community. And we know how to fill seats.”

Carter met with commissioner Donie Lee on March 13 and said that Kelly Funkhauser, the city’s special events manager, had contacted him a month or so ago.

“One of my first questions was, what do the rules say? Does the city have to issue a request for proposals? If so, we’ll certainly submit a bid. But now we’re waiting to hear what the city attorney says about the necessary bidding and contracting process.”

Carter also acknowledged the difficulties associated with the entertainment production and promotions industry.

“Rams Head has done an amazing job,” he said. “It’s hard for people who aren’t in this business to comprehend how difficult it is to be sustainable, but we’re committed and we’re ready. It takes time to turn a big boat.”

Turner also acknowledged the industry’s and the amphitheater’s challenges in his March 4 email to the commissioners.

“It did appear to be a slower season than usual for shows, partially due to losses they took on shows the season before, and due to an amphitheater being built in Clearwater. Some of the bands who came the year before optioned for that location,” Turner wrote.

Under the city’s contract with Rams Head, for multiday events, such as music festivals, the city gets 50% of all venue rental fees paid by thirdparty event producers. For single-day events, the city gets $5 from every $100 ticket sold; $3 for every $60 ticket; $2 on every $40-$60 ticket and $1 on all tickets under $40.

The city gets no revenue from the sale of food, beverage or merchandise, according to the current contract, which ends in August.

The Coffee Butler Amphitheater opened in 2019 after years of debate and disagreement by multiple city commissions.

“It’s incredible that the city built the venue,” Carter said. “But it’s no secret that there’s been a plan for phased upgrades over the years.”

Some of those upgrades have been on the city’s to-do list for years, including improved restrooms.

City lawmakers will likely seek guidance from the city attorney about the amphitheater management contract at their April 2 meeting.

Kyle Carter’s Oh Wook! Productions hopes to take over from Rams Head

three-day music

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

JED DODDS IS COMMITTED

TO KEY WEST CULTURE

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD MEET

When Jed Dodds moved to Key West in 2012 to become executive director of The Studios of Key West, he hardly expected to be immersed in construction projects. But that’s exactly what happened.

Dodds had already spent 13 years as artistic director of the nonprofit Creative Alliance in Baltimore. He arrived in Key West with his wife Molly, their daughter Sadie, and a deep belief that art should bring people together and strengthen our understanding of each other.

Almost immediately, he started working with The Studios’ board to find a permanent home for the growing organization. Once they decided on the former Masonic Temple at 533 Eaton St., construction began, with Dodds spearheading the extensive overhaul. Later, he oversaw the transformation of the next-door property into the PEAR House, which offers residency apartments for visiting artists. Along the way, he joked, he learned enough to practically qualify as a general contractor.

Today, The Studios of Key West is a vibrant cultural hub that includes dedicated space for exhibitions, performances, classes, local artists’ studios and rooftop sunset gatherings — as well as the flourishing Books & Books.

Dodds guides a staff that shares his commitment to Key West’s cultural community. He finds great satisfaction in seeing artists — like Stephen Kitsakos, creator of the opera “A Thousand Splendid Suns” — achieve widespread success after early support from The Studios.

On a recent afternoon, Dodds discussed his work and creative focus with the Keys Weekly.

Wasn’t it an incredible change for you to move to Key West after nearly 20 years in the sizable city of Baltimore? I have always thought of myself as a city guy, so if I was worried about anything, it was that I would get bored here — and that has certainly not happened. I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve loved the small-town nature of this island, where you can commute to work on a bike and see people you know on the street every day.

If the entire country was built on the scale of Key West, we’d have a much healthier society. It’s hard to imagine going somewhere else with the same quality of life we have here. What drew you to The Studios of Key West? The place I worked at in Baltimore was in some ways quite similar to The Studios. We had taken an old movie theater and converted it into an art center, with a theater and classrooms and galleries and a residency program. So I saw this group coming together in Key West and immediately had a vision for what that could look like, because I’d just done it.

How would you briefly describe The Studios? It’s an art center where creative things happen. There are classes and a theater and exhibitions, and studios for working artists and a residency program. Artists need time, space, money and an audience — and we’re able to provide a framework to funnel those resources to them. They do their thing and it reverberates back out into the community, and leaves you with a community full of people who understand themselves and the world they live in a little bit better.

When people visit The Studios, or attend an exhibit or event there, how do you want them to react? Everywhere you turn on this island, there are discoveries to be made — and that’s the experience I want people to have here, too. As well as how interesting it is, I want people to be impressed by the quality. I feel like we’re an organization that can hold up its head against anyone else in the country.

I think you’d have to go to a city probably 20 times the size of Key West before you’d find the cultural life comparable to what we have here.

1. Jed Dodds enjoys a moment of downtime in the “tree chair” that hangs from a massive banyan behind the PEAR House, which offers apartments for visiting artists in The Studios.

2. Jed Dodds welcomes patrons to an exhibit by emerging South Florida artists in The Studios of Key West’s Sanger Gallery. CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/Keys Weekly

Jed Dodds displays a piece by renowned local sculptor John Martini on the grounds of The Studios’ PEAR House haven for visiting artists.

What do you like best about what you do? I love the fact that every day is different and the work genuinely never gets boring. We can be with a group of kids in the gallery, and then a couple hours later have an artist talk happening — and then maybe a concert in the evening. It’s just this constant creative churn, which is really fun.

Now that Key West and its cultural community have been your focus for more than a dozen years, what’s your overall impression? This island knows what it is, and we know who we are. We’re comfortable in our own sense of identity, which gives us a position of strength to project that out in the world. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have such a rich cultural life, because we’re standing on such solid ground. The island isn’t built on shifting sands; it’s built on coral rock — and that’s good to have under your feet.

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Key West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art

Celebrating Cultural Resilience CUBAN ART TOUR – April 20-24, 2026

Michael Harrell CARIBBEAN REVERIE

Artist’s Reception

Saturday, March 21st, 2026, 5:00-8:00 pm

Michael J. Harrell is a Florida-born painter celebrated for luminous watercolors and oils that capture coastal life. Trained in graphic design, he began as an illustrator before turning to ne art in the 1990s. His work—often set on coastal shores of Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and the Bahamas—echoes the realism of Wyeth and Homer, blending atmosphere, light, and narrative.

An island inspired treasure trove where fashion meets paradise. Nestled into the heart of Key West, we’re your go-to destination for splurge worthy ﬁnds and fashion forward essentials. Featuring the latest styles from Farm Rio, Alemais, Oliphant & many more.

Balcony in Havana, 28” x 18.75”, Watercolor

Thank you to our sponsors: David & Annette Curry, First Horizon, and Essential Net Solutions. Thursday - March 26th - 7PM at Tennessee Williams Theatre Science, Technology and Operational Advances in Meteorology Since the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane Jonathan Rizzo - Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA’s National Weather Service, Key West Rizzo’s presentation takes a compelling look back at the catastrophic 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, one of the most powerful storms to strike the United States and Florida Keys. Rizzo will guide the audience through the severe limitations meteorologists of that era faced in predicting and communicating its impact. The presentation will also examine the growing role of social science in hazardous weather messaging and how forecasters communicate risk in ways that motivate action.

$5 ADMISSION Free for Monroe County & CFK Students

Alan M. Nieder, MD

Nicholas Smith, MD

collect residential and commercial trash, recycling, yard waste and pre-scheduled bulk pickups of large items. WM/Contributed

TRASH TALK IN KEY WEST

City & garbage company crack down on extra cans

Does your household roll more than one big, green garbage bin out to the curb every week? Not for long.

Key West is cracking down on trash pickup. In the coming weeks and months, any household that needs more than one green, rolling bin for its trash will be charged $295 a year.

The city of Key West recently negotiated a new contract with WM (formerly Waste Management), which includes rate increases based on the total weight of the garbage that’s collected.

“So now, households that generate more garbage need to pay for the extra weight they discard,” Key West Utilities Director Matt Willman said last week. “We wanted to keep things fair, so instead of imposing an acrossthe-board rate increase that penalizes everyone, this way, the households that generate more waste are the ones being charged for its removal.”

Households that use the one green bin and the one recycling bin that WM provides to each residential unit will not see any changes to their trash collection.

Every recognized residential unit in the city gets one 96-gallon, green rolling garbage bin and one 64-gallon blue recycling bin that will be emptied once a week, Willman said.

“A lot of the transient and vacation rental properties have been the biggest abusers of the former system, but not necessarily knowingly or intentionally,” Willman said. “The renters typically just put out as many bins each week as they have access to. And as we all know, many households have somehow acquired more than one green bin over the years.”

They paint their address number on it, and it becomes theirs. And up until recently, WM would empty as many of those bins as were on the curb each week.

Each household is entitled to one green garbage bin and one blue recycling bin. On trash collection days in each neighborhood, WM workers have begun placing yellow stickers on any green garbage bins that exceed the allotted one per household. The week after the sticker is placed on a bin, workers will remove it from the property. Additional bins are available for $295 per year. CONTRIBUTED

Sticky situation

“Of the 14,500 residential accounts in the city, I’d guess that 30 to 50% of them have more than one green and/or blue bin,” Willman said.

But that’s now changing.

WM staff, equipped with a database from the city, now will know which addresses have paid the extra $295 per additional green bin. When they encounter more than one green bin at an address that hasn’t paid for any extras, workers have started placing bright yellow stickers on any extra bins. They’ll still empty those stickered bins that week. But as the sticker states, the following week, that bin will be removed from the property and extras can be obtained for $295 per year per extra bin.

“We’re just trying to be fiscally responsible and not raise the rates for everyone across the board,” Willman said, adding that the emphasis initially is on the green garbage bins,

and not the blue recycling containers, as the city does not want to do anything that could discourage recycling efforts.

Yard waste disposal changes

Each household is entitled to weekly removal of up to 400 gallons of yard waste, typically composed mainly of palm fronds, leaves and grass clippings.

But yard waste cannot be placed in the green or blue bins.

“It has technically never been allowed in the green and blue containers, but it was tolerated in the past,” Willman said. “We can’t afford to tolerate that any more.”

Residents must provide their own yard waste containers — either those giant paper bags, or large rubber trash cans available at home improvement stores.

Bulk items stay the same

Each household is still entitled to two free bulk pickups each year. Such pickups can be scheduled by calling WM or the city’s utilities department or by using the Key West Connect phone app. Such pickups are typically needed to dispose of furniture, appliances and other large items.

The city and WM are finalizing a new educational brochure that will be mailed to all residents offering reminders about yard waste and recycling protocols.

“We’re here to help at the utilities department, and we want people to know we’re working hard to keep rates low,” Willman said.

He said he and the city’s utilities department are available to answer questions and accept payment for extra trash bins. For a breakdown of the rules, visit cityofkeywest-fl. gov. From the city’s home page, click on City Departments > Utilities Department > Solid Waste Management or call 305-809-3906.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The city of Key West contracts with WM to

COUNTY COMMISSION TACKLES HIGGS

BEACH TRANSFER, APPROVES MARATHON AIRPORT FUNDING

Payment deferral program for local assessments on the horizon

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Atransfer of Higgs Beach to the city of Key West, funding for commercial air service at Marathon Airport and the framework of a payment deferral program for residents hit hard by local assessments highlighted the Monroe County’s March 11 session in Key Largo.

The commission opened the meeting by giving staff a green light to iron out terms for giving Higgs Beach, the final county-owned beach within an incorporated Keys city, to the city of Key West.

Staff with the city and county have worked throughout the past year to attempt conveyance of the 16.3-acre parcel, including a beach and pier, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, a dog park, pavilions, a restaurant and the West Martello Tower, home to the Key West Garden Club.

County Administrator Christine Hurley outlined financial considerations of the transfer, which would be memorialized in an agreement between the two governments before conveying the property.

If successful, Hurley said, Monroe County would transfer $987,000 in insurance proceeds from Hurricane Ian, used to repair structures damaged by the storm. Capital funding of $400,000 for a seawall patch and $100,000 for the design of the Reynolds Street pier repair would also be available for use by Key West.

TDC grant agreements totaling more than $834,000 would be amended for use by the city, intended for restoration and repairs at the beach pavilion and Reynolds Street pier as well as West Martello’s HVAC system.

A $568,436 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation would also be transferred to the city, and the TDC would commit nearly $306,000 in operating funds to pay for two employee salaries, utilities, pest control and other maintenance, repair and operating expenses.

Key West would accept the site’s three existing tenants – Salute restaurant, Salute Watersports and the Key West Garden Club.

Still to be determined is the exact site and size of a recreational field, initially promised by the Key West Airport to be built on an octagonal parcel inside the park – currently owned by the Navy and managed by the FAA – if the land could be transferred.

Hurley told the commission that Key West staff would prefer a larger 100-by-300-foot field not currently feasible within the site of the decommissioned aviation navigational beacon. If the city were to accept the beach property, she said, the county could either build the field within the original octagon site or transfer the estimated funds for the build to the city to use toward construction of the larger field.

The Key West City Commission on March 5 voted to authorize the city manager to negotiate an agreement with the county, despite some commissioners having some concerns. Commissioners Sam Kaufman and Monica Haskell opposed the initial vote. Those who voted in favor said they still had questions, but would allow the process to move forward as long as they have final say in the final contract and conveyance.

Marathon airport funding

Following a presentation in February on the estimated costs of restoring commercial air service to the Marathon International Airport, the commission approved a resolution to commit $500,000 in TDC funds from the county’s 2026-27 budget toward minimum revenue guarantees for airline carriers and promotional marketing materials for the airport. The funds will be used as a match to seek a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) program.

Estimated costs to begin service at the airport should total north of $11 million, director of airports Richard Strickland told the commission last month, including $8.4 million in terminal upgrades and projected revenue guarantees of $1.7 million for commercial carriers.

Of that $11 million, he said, $8 million could be covered by an FAA grant for terminal upgrades, plus the $1 million SCASD grant, $400,000 from the county’s airport fund and the $500,000 in TDC funds. Community contributions from the hospitality industry, Middle Keys businesses, the Marathon Chamber of

Commerce and the city of Marathon could likely make up most of the balance.

Payment deferral program

As the county weighs the possibility of localized assessments for improvements in individual neighborhoods, including potential high-dollar road elevation projects, the commission began to lay the preliminary framework for a payment deferral program for lowincome residents in affected communities.

Under the program, chief resiliency officer Rhonda Haag said, assessments would be deferred, but not waived, until the sale of an affected property for families below designated income thresholds and levels of financial assets, if requested.

The county would place a lien on participating properties, with the owed amount increasing annually by the assessment amount, plus interest. If an owner were to sell a property or pass away, the county would collect the balance of the assessment.

The county would decide on an annual basis whether to fund the program, with property owners required to resume paying assessments in any unfunded years. Totals already accrued should remain payable in each home’s account, with a fixed interest rate, until the sale of the property, the commission said.

Commissioners told Haag they would support the program for families in homesteaded properties falling within the “very low” and “low” affordable housing income ranges, defined as 80% or less of the area’s median income – $73,000 for a single person or $111,200 for a married couple or domestic partners, with limits increasing for additional household members.

Only assessments of more than $1,500 per year should be eligible, they said. Applicants for the program would be required to disclose financial assets, with participation denied if their available cash balances totaled 10 times the annual assessment amount or greater. Income and asset limits would be verified every five years.

If negotiations are successful, Higgs Beach could soon become property of the city of Key West. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

LOWER KEYS COCAINE TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO PRISON

Man sold drugs to undercover cops from his Summerland Key home

Efrain Ramiro Gonzalez Cruz, 64, of Summerland Key, has been sentenced to four years in Florida state prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony narcotics offenses stemming from cocaine trafficking and distribution in Monroe County.

The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office said Cruz entered guilty pleas resolving six related felony narcotics cases and was found guilty of offenses including trafficking in cocaine, sale of cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

The charges stem from multiple narcotics investigations conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, which used undercover detectives and confidential informants, who bought cocaine from Cruz at his residence on Summerland Key on multiple occasions. The investigations led to Cruz’s arrest on Dec. 4, 2024.

County Judge Mark Wilson imposed a sentence of four years in prison followed by 24 months of administrative probation, with 316 days credit for time served. The prison sentence satisfies the three-year minimum mandatory prison term required under state law for cocaine trafficking offenses.

Administrative probation is sometimes used when there is a strong likelihood that a defendant may be taken into custody

by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the conclusion of a criminal case. Structuring probation in this manner allows the court’s sentence to remain in place while permitting federal immigration authorities to assume custody and proceed with any immigration enforcement actions.

As part of the sentence, the court imposed a $50,000 trafficking fine. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay $3,338 in court costs and fees, including costs of prosecution, investigation and defense.

Court records show Cruz has an extensive criminal history. Authorities have confirmed that he has an immigration detainer, commonly referred to as an ICE hold, placed on him. An immigration detainer is a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement asking that a defendant be held for transfer into federal immigration custody once their criminal sentence is completed. It is highly likely that Cruz will face deportation proceedings after serving the mandatory portion of his prison sentence.

“Drug traffickers who operate in Monroe County should understand that our law enforcement partners and prosecutors are committed to holding them accountable,” Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who distribute cocaine in our community will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Madeline Thompson.

— Contributed

ENDLESS SUMMER TROP ROCK CONCERT HELPS KIDS WITH CANCER

Howard Livingston & friends perform April 11 at Tennessee Williams Theatre

Summertime songs, cold drinks and a worthy cause will combine at Endless Summer, a trop-rock benefit concert on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, on the Key West campus of The College of the Florida Key.

Howard Livingston & his Mile Marker 24 Band will headline the show that will feature tropical rock, reggae and the calypso sounds of the Caribbean.

Proceeds from the show will help Care Camps Foundation, a nonprofit organization that makes it possible for kids with cancer to attend specialized summer camps.

The foundation “gives kids a vital opportunity to experience the healing power of the outdoors and simply ‘be a kid,’” said Livingston.

Tennessee Williams Theatre holds about 500 people, and is already half sold out for the April 11 show. Tickets are available at keystix.com. Sponsorship opportuni-

ties are available by emailing Brian Memoli at brianatendlesssummer@ gmail.com.

Care Camps Foundation funds medically supervised pediatric oncology camps across the United States and Canada.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, everything changes. Doctors’ appointments, medical treatments, test results and medication adjustments and become the new normal.

“But in the midst of it all, something magical happens when these children and their families spend time at the camps we fund,” states the foundation website. “This is why we exist.”

Last year, the foundation raised more than $3.5 million and funded more than 132 specialized pediatric oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada. More information is at carecamps.org.

— Contributed

Efrain Ramiro Gonzalez Cruz

Trop-rock musician Howard Livingston will perform an Endless Summer benefit concert for Care Camps Foundation, which raises money to send kids fighting cancer to specialized pediatric oncology camps with their families. CONTRIBUTED

THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

UPCOMING EVENTS

First Look Staged Readings

MOM’S BEST FRIEND

SAT MAR 21, 8PM

$45

When June’s adult daughter, once her best friend, suddenly cuts ties, a woman is forced to confront the truth about herself and her life.

written by Dan McCabe directed by Kate Whoriskey Souvenirs

ZOË LEWIS

MON MAR 23, 7PM

$50

Storyteller, songwriter, and globetrotter Zoë presents a whimsical musical memoir spanning childhood in England to adventures around the world.

ESCAPE INTO A ‘CARIBBEAN REVERIE’ AT GALLERY ON GREENE

Artist

Michael Harrell unveils new

paintings of Cuba & Key West March 21

“Wow, that’s a painting? It looks so real.”

The art world calls it “meticulous realism,” but Michael Harrell’s admirers and collectors just see it as the wow factor.

The Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene St., will host an opening reception on Saturday, March 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. to mark a new exhibit by Harrell. Known for his evocative storytelling and textured works, Harrell brings a fresh collection that captures the light and colors of coastal life.

Harrell’s newest paintings continue his exploration of intimate scenes that capture a moment, suspended between memory and observation, from his trip to Cuba. His mastery of light and composition invites viewers into worlds that feel both familiar and dreamlike, offering a sense of place that

resonates with Key West’s artistic

Harrell’s “Key West” painting is a watercolor that captures a classic Key West home framed by tropical abundance. The painting honors Key West’s maritime heritage, preserving a moment of everyday industry with quiet dignity.

“Michael’s work has an emotional clarity that draws people in,” said Nance Frank, director of the Gallery on Greene. “This exhibition highlights the depth of his vision and the evolution of his craft. We’re thrilled to share these new works with the community.”

Those who attend the reception will have the opportunity to meet the artist and preview the collection. Works will be available for purchase, and the show will remain on view throughout the season.

More information is available at 305-294-1669 or galleryongreene.com.

— Contributed

TAKE A NEW LOOK AT THE KEY WEST LIONS CLUB

Longtime organization operates eye clinic & raises funds with bingo

mandy@keysweekly.com

You know the old Lions Club building on the boulevard? It’s the only building in Key West with a gold lion statue out front. (And before anyone sends me a snarky email, that’s a tiger in front of city hall.)

You may have noticed the building at 2405 N. Roosevelt Blvd. is looking sharp these days. It’s all spruced up with a butterfly garden out front and now a giant banner announcing bingo every Thursday evening.

It was bingo that brought me into the building at the end of February. Retired Judge Peary Fowler is on the board of the Key West Lions Club and Literacy Volunteers of America, which rents space in the Lions Club building. She caught me before the coffee had kicked in at a 7:30 a.m. Military Affairs Committee meeting, and asked if I would consider being a “celebrity bingo caller” the following Thursday.

What is the Key West Lions Club?

More than you might expect. It’s also been around much longer than most of us.

I remember as a kid, my mom and I donated my old eyeglasses to the local Lions Club, so poor kids with poor eyesight could have glasses that helped them.

That was the mission of Lions Clubs International, which formed in 1917 as a global service organization focused on improving communities through humanitarian projects, with a primary emphasis on vision. With nearly 1.4 million members worldwide

today, they help communities with programs such as recycling eyeglasses and assisting with disaster relief.

The Key West Lions Clubs still reflects the same commitment to vision.

The local club was formed in 1938 — before World War II. In 1960, it opened the Dr. Jose Sanchez Lions Eye Clinic to provide funding for eye examinations, eye glasses and cataract surgery for low-income Florida Keys residents. Hard times forced the clinic to close for a few years in 2014, but a partnership between the Lions Club and Literacy Volunteers of America provided money for the club and space for LVA, which has helped more than 4,800 Key West residents learn English.

“Today, LVA classes are full and Lions Club membership is on the rise,” states the club’s website at keywestlionsclub.com. The Dr. Jose Sanchez Eye Clinic is now open every Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

And now comes bingo every Thursday night. For those who have played with drag queens, this is not that. This is serious bingo. I mean it. The 45 or so people who played the night I was the caller have their own ink daubers and a practiced eye to scan nine bingo cards at once for any B4s. But it’s a lot of fun.

A $10 donation lets you play 10 different bingo games each Thursday night. The winner of each game gets $40 or $60, depending on the crowd size. You can bring your own drinks, and hot dogs, homemade pizzas and other snacks are available.

I’ll be going back soon, either as a caller or a player. I also have some old eyeglasses to donate. I’ll see you there.

‘Storefront’ by Michael Harrell.

‘Key West Girl’ by Michael Harrell.

Michael Harrell’s painting, ‘Moonlight Over Key West.’

heritage.

MANDY MILES

The Key West Lions Club on North Roosevelt Boulevard is looking spiffy these days. Its membership is growing. It now rents space to the Literacy Volunteers of America and hosts bingo every Thursday at 6 p.m. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

MIND ALTERING LUBRICANTS FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE

CHEERS TO WINNING BEST MARTINI AGAIN IN 2025!!

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

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

Dr. Christina Smith DDS is now accepting new patients and is thrilled to be part of the 8-time Bubba Award-winning Doc Guzman’s o ce.

Highlights/Recent Additions:

Easter Brunch Buffet

Starters

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

• Marina expanded from 17 to 45 slips in fee simple

• Adjacent retail center purchased and included in sale

• Newly built waterfront 3,700sf restaurant includedavailable for lease

• Extra uplands for excess boat storage and parking

• Includes two Acqua Lodge units for Airbnb KEY COLONY BEACH MARINA & RETAIL CENTER

$500MM+ Recent Marina Sales

Contact Listing Broker: Michelle Ash, Simply Marinas 305-439-9581 | ash1@simplymarinas.com

SimplyMarinas.com

Sunday, April 5th • 9am-2pm • $80 adults/$40 kids 3841 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West 305.296.8100, www.tavernntown.com

Assorted cured meats & imported cheeses, fresh honey, jams, fresh fruit, herb toast points QUICHES

Assorted & house-made

Soup

Salad

VICHYSSOISE

Chilled potato leek soup, crispy leeks

KEY WEST PINK SHRIMP BISQUE

Spiced crema, chives

CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD

Crisp romaine hearts, lemon garlic croutons, pecorino, Caesar dressing

Omelet Station

Choice of whole eggs or egg whites with toppings: PROTEINS

Black forest ham, applewood smoked bacon, house sausage, pulled chicken VEGETABLES

Baby spinach, heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, caramelized onions, kalamata olives, roasted zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms CHEESES

American, Swiss, white cheddar, sheep’s milk feta, goat’s cheese

Carving Station

PRIME BEEF TENDERLOIN

Bearnaise, au jus, crispy omons

LAMB CHOPS

New Zealand lamb lollipops, mint raita, tzatziki, harissa

Mains

CHICKEN & WAFFLES

House gravy, maple syrup, chives

LOCAL CATCH SCAMPI

White wine, asparagus tips, mushrooms, tomatoes, capers, lemon brown butter

EGGS BENEDICT

Smoked salmon, poached egg, avocado, key lime hollandaise, sourdough

Sides

Asiago scalloped potatoes, Creamy mushroom orzo pasta

Garlic chili green beans, Applewood smoked bacon, Chicken apple sausage

Dessert

STICKY BUNS & COOKIES

Assorted selection by Chef Robbie

Spring into style.... for the season of ourdoor living!!

BABY’S COFFEE

WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?

What do you know? Mondaynight trivia draws a crowd

Every Monday night, several dozen people gather in a historic former military building in downtown Key West. Guided by a no-nonsense leader, they divide into teams and spend two hours attempting to prove their knowledge of obscure subjects.

Topics might include political or cultural history, science, music, film or even vital facts like the name of Tonto’s horse in the “Lone Ranger” adventures. Competition is fierce, as the teams compete for rewards — and bragging rights.

Is this weekly gathering a regular prep session for students facing rigorous college entrance exams? A military or intelligence training course? A series of professional development exercises for adults seeking career advancement?

Actually, it’s much more lighthearted: Monday-night trivia at the Key West Cooking Show venue at 291 Front St. — a landmark building that was once the headquarters of the island’s U.S. Navy and Coast Guard presence.

The Cooking Show’s trivia experience debuted in August 2025 and has skyrocketed in popularity. Teams with names like “Look at Me I’m Quirky” and “Roy’s Angels” gather on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the heritage-themed dining room to share competition, camaraderie, cocktails and cuisine.

Trivia host Amy Lubchansky directs the video-based action for seven rounds of 10 questions each. After every round, teams’ scores are tallied, answers are revealed and standings are announced. Each round’s winning team is invited to choose a prize, such as house-made spices, a branded wine glass, or other “swag.”

But Cooking Show trivia isn’t just for people hungry to prove their knowledge — it’s also for people who are simply hungry. Casually elegant “bar bites” and culinary specials are available to fuel players’ brain cells. Locally smoked fish dip and beer-steamed ruby red

Host Amy Lubchansky reviews topics and questions while preparing to guide a Monday-night trivia session at the Key West Cooking Show. KEY WEST COOKING SHOW/Contributed

shrimp are among the favorites, while specials range from savory soups to prime beef sandwiches with au jus for dipping.

As competitors’ thirst is no “trivial” matter, it can be satisfied, too. Wine and beer, sodas and classic drinks are offered through the venue’s Bar 1. There’s also a selection of craft cocktails — including the caffeinated espresso martini and a strawberry-flavored gin and champagne treat named for Caribbean pirate Calico Jack.

Monday-night trivia is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free, but teams are encouraged to text Brad at 305-927-0229 to reserve seating and tables.

LAST CALL

Drink of the month: The bramble. Named for the bramble bushes where blackberries grow, this intriguing gin drink features blackberry liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and a hint of dry vermouth. Vigorously shaken and strained into a rocks glass over ice, the sweet yet tart concoction is a standout on the trivia-night cocktail menu.

Event of the week: This year’s Taste of Key West culinary extravaganza, held at Truman Waterfront Park, will feature traditional sweet flan at the Cooking Show booth Monday, March 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. (unless you’re playing trivia). See pages 23-26 for more on Taste of Key West.

All-new: Sunday and Monday at 2:30 p.m., learn to make the perfect Key lime pie — and then eat some. Visit keywestcookingshow. com or call 305-294-COOK.

SECOND-CHANCE SWIM

Rescued in the Keys and rehabbed in Marathon, two manatees are back in their home waters

TENCOUNTERS/Contributed

wo manatees rescued as youngsters are back in their home Keys waters, thanks to two Middle Keys rescue and rehab groups and statewide partnerships.

On March 11, a crowd of fans at Calusa Campground cheered the release of “Luca” and “Giovanni,” both ready for a return to the wild after gaining hundreds of pounds during their rehab journeys.

Giovanni was rescued from Vaca Key on Aug. 7, 2024 as a young calf after manatee rescue responders determined he had been orphaned. The area was monitored for several days in hopes that his mother would return, but when she did not, rescuers intervened to provide the care needed to give the calf the best chance of survival.

Nine months later, rescue teams saved Luca from Key Largo’s South Sound Creek on May 5 when the juvenile manatee was found with buoyancy issues.

Following their rescues, both manatees were transported to SeaWorld Orlando for specialized medical care

and rehabilitation. After completing their primary rehabilitation, and due to their young ages, Luca and Giovanni were later transferred to Aquarium Encounters in Marathon in September 2025, where they continued to grow and build strength while awaiting release.

Weighing just 141 and 339 pounds at the time of their rescues, respectively, both Giovanni and Luca packed on the weight throughout their rehab, tipping the scales at 698 and 624 pounds at the time of their release. The rescue, rehabilitation, and release of the manatees is part of a statewide conservation effort led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and supported by a network of dedicated rescue and rehabilitation partners throughout Florida, including Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters and SeaWorld.

Members of the public who encounter a sick, injured or orphaned manatee are encouraged to report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

After gaining strength – and hundreds of pounds – during their rehab stints, two juvenile manatees are released back to Upper Keys waters at Calusa Campground on March 11. AQUARIUM

MANDY MILES

drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. She’s married to a saintly — and handy — fisherman, and has been stringing words together in Key West since 1998.

MILES TO GO

50 YEARS LATER, GUILD HALL GALLERY IS STILL A GREAT PLACE TO HANG

I’ll admit, I had fallen into a minor snit last Thursday morning. My departure from the house was delayed when a shoe strap broke as I stepped off the front porch. Plus, I’d awakened thinking it was Friday, so was quickly disappointed. It felt hotter than it should for March and downtown, people weren’t driving particularly well.

My destination was the 600 block of Duval, and I may well have lost it if I’d had to pay $6 for an hour of “metered street parking” via the city’s Passport parking app. Instead, I mentally fistbumped the city for the four free four hours of parking locals get in the Angela Street, Caroline Street and Truman Waterfront lots, plus the Grinnell Street garage.

The satisfaction of free parking, and the insider knowledge of the convenient cut-through to Duval Street between Onlywood & Antonia’s restaurants, had helped brighten my outlook. Somewhat.

The humidity was still unacceptable. My substitute shoes were squeaking. And it still wasn’t Friday.

But then I entered Guild Hall Gallery — and was immediately reintroduced to the island I love. Apparently, Guild Hall Gallery, 614 Duval St., has that effect on people, as this week it celebrates its 50th anniversary, having operated as the same shared-space art gallery in the same building, even with some of the same artists, for half a century. And in a town where some businesses can disappear as quickly as an ice cube in August, that staying power says something special about a place.

It’s what I felt upon entering the gallery and being instantly immersed in all the best parts of Key West, captured in oil paints, watercolors, photography, handmade coastal-themed jewelry and so much more. There are sunsets, wildlife, shockingly bright colors like the roseate spoonbill in Jack Loudon’s award-winning photography, and lush tropical abundance that surrounds Lynn Fischer’s paintings of Key West cottages.

Ann Irvine’s watercolors and prints highlight Key West’s landmark buildings and, more recently, its fleet of fly fishing boats.

Irvine was one of the founding members of Guild Hall Gallery, which opened in 1976 when three young businessmen — Ed Swift, Moe Mosher and Chris Belland — bought the building for what today would be a jaw-dropping bargain. It was the first building the trio bought and renovated in the 600 block of Duval Street, which at the time was undergoing a renaissance of improvement known as the Downtown ’76.

The gallery building was divided into 27 individual stalls, and were rented to local artists. It’s the same way now, offering two full floors of individual artist spaces, featuring everything from jewelry and photography to watercolors and oil paintings in handmade wooden frames made from old lobster traps.

In 1980, seven female artists got together and bought the building. But the individual spaces still exist, making it possible for local artists to show and sell their creations on Duval Street without paying more than $15,000 a month — and without splitting the proceeds of all sales with a gallery owner. The arrangement also makes the price of original artwork much more accessible for shoppers, who can get original oil paintings for $400 to $1,000. The artists set their own prices.

“Artists just pay their monthly rent for their own space, and they keep all the proceeds from every sale,” said artist and gallery manager Lynne Fischer, another one of the longest resident artists.

Rents start at $300 a month for an upstairs space. First-floor spaces cost more and are awarded based on seniority, said Ron Van Balen, who is married to artist Ann Irvine and is one of the building’s current owners. Van Balen pointed out that Irvine selected her spot — first on the right as soon as you walk in the door — back in 1976 and has been selling her works from there ever since.

“We’re not technically an artists co-op because all the artists don’t own the building,” said Fischer, who has an easel set up on the second floor, near a window overlooking Duval Street. “But every artist has to work five hours a week, so everyone has to be local. And customers are always able to speak with at least one of the resident artists.”

Nearly every inch of Guild Hall’s walls is covered with the reasons to love Key West. I’ve lived here for 28 years, and when I entered the gallery last week, I was instantly reminded of my first few years here, when every Christmas gift I bought came from Guild Hall Gallery.

“That’s the beauty of suitcase-sized paintings,” said artist Kelly Shaurette. “But the gallery will also ship any large works anywhere in the world.”

Every once in a while, the jaded longtime locals need a jarring reminder that an irritable Thursday in Key West is better than the best Friday anywhere else. Guild Hall Gallery provided that reminder last week, and I’m grateful — for the island I love and for the people who make those Thursdays worth it.

Stop by Guild Hall Gallery next time you’re downtown. It brings out the best of Key West. Plus, they’re having special events March 19-21 to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Visit guildhallgallery.org to see each resident artist and their work plus a history of the space.

Marking its 50th anniversary this week, Guild Hall Gallery showcases work by 27 artists on two floors of gallery space. CONTRIBUTED

Artist and gallery manager Lynne Fischer has been selling her paintings at Guild Hall Gallery since the 1980s. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Jack Louden’s award-winning photography captures the colors and contrasts of Key West. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Fran Decker’s paintings highlight current events in Key West. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Artist Ann Irvine was one of the first resident artists at Guild Hall Gallery. She selected her space in 1976 and remains there today. She and her husband are now coowners of the building. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Tavern N' Town F01

Key West Cooking Show F02

Matt's Stock Island - The Perry F03

Four Marlins - The Reach F05

Dorada - Casa Marina F06

Garbo's Grill F07

Mac's Place F08

Hot Tin Roof - Ocean Key F09

Sunset Pier F10

Island Dogs F11

Green Parrot - Popcorn F12

Double Tree Cookies / Cotton Candy F13

Nine One Five F14

Bagatelle F15

First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery F16

One Duval - Pier House F18

Perla - La Concha F19

El Dom - La Concha F20

Tropicado - La Concha F21 Kaya Island Eats F22

Dragon & Rooster F23

Doc's on Duval F24

White Street Pizza F25

Chubbs - Hot Dog stand F27

Not Your Mama's Taco F28

Four Flamingos - Hyatt Centric F31

Smoked BBQ F32

Yellowﬁn Bar & Kitchen - Oceans Edge F35

Southernmost Beach Cafe F38

Starboard @ The Marker F39

Celtic Conch F40

Cafe Sole F41

El Mocho F42

Keys Vineyard Church - Ice Cream Truck F44

Desiign By Food F48

Olive’s Mediterranean Grill F49

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40 YEARS OF CARE

For 40 years, AH Monroe has been part of the Florida Keys safety net — helping neighbors navigate life’s most difficult moments, softening the impact with pathways to dignity, stability and hope.

Founded in 1986 at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, AH Monroe began as a grassroots response to an urgent need in Key West. It was a time of widespread fear, stultifying stigma and scarce resources. That was also when a small group of advocates and caregivers stepped forward so people in the Keys facing HIV would not have to face it alone.

What began as a communitydriven effort quickly grew into a trusted organization committed to meeting people where they are — especially those experiencing health challenges, housing instability or moments of crisis. From the very beginning, that commitment was grounded in compassion for neighbors who too often faced stigma, isolation and barriers to care.

Through the years, AH Monroe has continued to evolve alongside the community it serves. That progress was strengthened by the addition of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, whose longstanding outreach and community care efforts now continue as part of AH Monroe.

Over four decades, the organization’s impact has touched thousands of lives across the Florida Keys. Today, that includes:

• Safe housing for more than 700 residents, offering stability and a place to belong

• Access to life-saving medical care for nearly 250 people living with HIV

• Emergency assistance for more than 2,000 community members, helping neighbors weather moments of crisis

These programs span both health and housing — because experience has shown that the two are inseparable. Stable housing supports better health. Access to care helps people build stable lives. And when people have both, communities thrive.

SUNSET, SIPS AND SMALL BITES

TASTE OF KEY WEST RETURNS

ERIN STOVER www.keysweekly.com

Tvices today support the health and stability of the entire Keys community — a reality many people may not realize.

As the organization marks its 40th anniversary, it is also taking a step forward: AH Monroe and Florida Keys Outreach Coalition will now operate under a shared name: Keys Health & Housing — a name that more clearly reflects the full scope of the organization’s programs today.

The new name does not represent a change in mission, but a clearer expression of the commitment both organizations have shared for many years — supporting health, housing stability and community well-being across the Florida Keys.

“Until there is a cure, our commitment to people living with HIV will remain unwavering,” said Executive Director Scott Pridgen.” That work is part of who we are and always will be. At the same time, our programs today serve a broader range of individuals and families across the Florida Keys. This new name helps ensure that anyone who may need support understands they are welcome here.”

Keys Health & Housing reflects a simple belief: when people have access to care, stable housing and a supportive community, they are better able to live healthy, thriving lives.

As the organization marks this milestone year, it is also celebrating the people who made the journey possible — clients who trusted the care, staff and volunteers who showed up with compassion, and community supporters who believed in the mission long before it was widely understood.

Forty years later, that same spirit continues to guide the path ahead.

Health. Housing. Hope. And a future for our community built together. AND A NEW CHAPTER FOR

While AH Monroe was born during the HIV/AIDS crisis, its ser-

he waterfront in Truman Park is no stranger to good eats and good times. Each night, the area ushers in the sunset by providing space for impromptu gatherings of friends and family. Couples cozy up on yoga mats while kids expend their energy in the grass. Bottles of wine are pulled from bicycle baskets and more than a few glasses are poured. These nightly rituals are organic, unplanned and unmonitored. They simply exist in the space because Key West loves a good drink, a tasty nibble and a lovely setting.

It only makes sense then that an annual event borrows the best elements from, and elevates, an atmosphere that is already adored. Every March, as the weather warms and the crowds thin ever so slightly, Truman Waterfront Park hosts the Taste of Key West. Introduced 31 years ago, the festival serves as a way to bring together the community over a shared love of its island cuisine, while giving back to Keys Health and Housing (formerly AH Monroe), an organization that has been helping Keys residents secure access to safe housing, health care and emergency assistance for 40 years.

Never a dull Monday in Key West, the party kicks off at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Taste of Key West is reflective of its namesake island in its flexibility and ease. General admission is free, making the event accessible for all while keeping the waterfront open to the public that evening. For foodies, or those just seeking a snack, individual tasting tickets are available for purchase at just $1 each (most samples require 4-6 tickets). Those wishing to really make the rounds can purchase the VIP experience, which grants access to special areas, unlimited sips and tastings, a sommelier experience and, of course, swag. Those seeking middle ground can enlist a cohort for the Two for Taste Pass, which includes 60 tickets and souvenir plates and glasses.

Whatever level visitors select, the experience promises a full-spectrum selection of the flavors of Key West. With over 40 restaurants and 200 beer, wine and spirit choices, there are endless options to ensure happy palates. Tasters can select high-end nibbles that introduce new concepts, or find reliable mainstays for a quick boost (looking at you, Green Parrot popcorn). The offerings encompass the requisite and always delicious seafood and Caribbean dishes for which the Keys are known, while also offering traditional European comforts, vegetarian dishes, desserts and more exotic/high-concept creations. Whether someone is chomping on wagyu or a hot dog, the experience remains centered on celebrating local flavors and supporting community health. Come for the food, but stay for sunset views, upbeat live music and the chance to catch up with about 4,000 friends.

LEAH STOCKTON Keys Health + Housing

LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Outpatient Surgery Centered On You

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The medical staff at Surgery Center of Key West, LLC, is composed of the following independent providers: Lawrence Blass, M.D., Bruce Fariss, M.D., Jackson Flanigan, M.D., Jonathan Gottlieb, M.D., Paul Maurer, M.D., David McDonald, D.D.S., Gon Saman, D.P.M., William Schnapp, M.D., Christina Smith, D.D.S., Rhoda Smith, M.D., Brien Tonkinson, M.D., and Andrew Wolszczak, M.D.

FOUNDERS FIELD IMPROVEMENTS

STALL AMID DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VILLAGE, SCHOOL DISTRICT

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

An agreement is stalling between the Village of Islamorada and Monroe County School District to implement more than $5 million in improvements to the Founders Park baseball field.

A project led by the school district on village park property proposes field enhancements and upgraded amenities at the home of Coral Shores High School baseball. New dugouts, a twostory multiuse building behind home plate for concessions, bathrooms and a press box, as well as new bleachers are among the notable enhancements.

In addition, the school district is seeking to install artificial turf to replace a natural grass that baseball staff say is challenging to maintain at an adequate playing level during the season.

Before the project can reach construction, the village and school district need to approve a baseball license agreement, which details the respective rights and obligations of the village and school district related to reconstruction and use of the baseball field. The pact, a 20-year term with automatic renewal for an additional 20 years, also outlines the high school baseball program’s use of the field from January to late May.

Council members are sticking to an agreement they unanimously approved at a Jan. 8 meeting which gives the village oversight and input over the design, materials and construction of the field. School district officials

held a retreat in Key West on Feb. 10 and came back with alterations to the proposed pact to limit the village’s control over details of construction, materials and field maintenance.

During a March 10 meeting in Marathon, the school board voted 5-0 to amend its version of the baseball license agreement. Members altered two paragraphs related to termination of the agreement and subsequent payment by the village to the district over a certain number of years, also known as amortization, if the village ended the agreement before the expiration date.

If the village backed out of the agreement before the expiration in March 2046, the school district’s proposed agreement states the village would have to pay the school district back for the improvements made to the field based on a 30-year amortization period or 40-year amortization period, with the parties reappraising the property at the end of the first 20 years.

Several versions of the proposed baseball license agreement were floating among the school district and village. There was the village’s version, the school board’s marked-up draft during their February retreat and another version based on discussions between schools Superintendent Ed Tierney, Village Manager Ron Saunders and attorneys from each side. Tierney told board members the district’s attorneys and he met with Saunders and their attorney to go over some of the sticking points within the agreement.

“There was give and take,” Tierney explained. “We stayed within the spirit of what the board wanted, as evidenced by comments in the retreat. We clarified language they (the village) were concerned about.”

School board member Mindy Conn said some of the things the village is seeking in the agreement make her “seriously uncomfortable.”

“I get the people that say ‘we are the landlord’ and ‘what we say goes.’ … If we have a budget of $6 million and they (the village) want to make a change and come back at $7 million because they have that right per the license agreement, that’s a problem.”

Village council members, however, will be sticking to an agreement they approved in January. Council members, who had a meeting the same night as the school board, said they had no intention of changing what they examined and said “yes” to earlier in the year. The approval came following numerous meetings of Citizens Baseball Review Task Force convened by Saunders, village parks and recreation and the regular council. Saunders told council members he started working on it shortly after becoming manager in April 2025.

“There have been hours and hours and lots of community input we hadn’t had in the past, truthfully,” Saunders said.

Some council members took issue with the many pages they saw marked up in red by the school board to the proposed agreement during their recent retreat.

“That isn’t trying to negotiate, it’s trying to buffalo their way through this contract,” said Mayor Don Horton.

Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney said the village council must balance what’s best for the kids and what’s right for the citizens.

School board member Dr. Sue Woltanski said the sides should revert to the original license agreement because “it worked and that’s what we always have done.”

During their March 10 meetings, some members on the school board and village council acknowledged a willingness for a joint meeting to hash out the key issues which are preventing the agreement from advancing. School board member Darren Horan said he supported the idea of a meeting between the governing boards.

“Until we’re all in a room, we’re going to be at a standstill with all of us pointing fingers at the other,” he said.

School board chairman John Dick believed it wasn’t the board’s place to hold a joint meeting to negotiate the issues.

“Our attorneys and superintendent know exactly where this board stands. They can go and meet with them,” he said.

As of March 18, no joint meeting was scheduled between the two governing boards. Pat Lefere, school district executive director of operations, acknowledged a contract to set a strict total cost for the contractors will come before the school board during an April 7 meeting. If the item doesn’t get the board’s approval, the improvements at the baseball field would be delayed until after the 2027 season.

Amid the differences, Conn said she’s been having conversations with people in the county about other potential playing sites for the Coral Shores High School baseball program.

“There are other options open to us, especially since we’re also redoing the Coral Shores backyard,” Conn said. “I don’t like being held over a fire to do whatever the village wants. We should all be wanting what’s best for the kids.”

Artificial turf, new dugouts and a two-story building behind home plate for concessions, bathrooms and press box are among the school district’s planned improvements for the Founders Park baseball field. FILE PHOTO

The Founders Park baseball field, pictured left, is home to the Coral Shores High School baseball program. The school district is proposing more than $5 million in improvements on the village property. FILE PHOTO

Renowned Actress and Singer Terri White is known for her appearance on Broadway in Ain’ t Misbehavin & Chicago, to name a few.

Renowned Actress and Singer Terri White for her appearance on Ain’ t Misbehavin & Chicago, to name a few.

Larry and Terri join forces performing

with new guest musicians each week!

The Key West Cultural Center & Veterans Museum at William Weech American Legion Post 168

The Key West Cultural Center & Veterans Museum at William Weech American Legion Post 168 Food to Order from Olive’s Mediterranean Grill

Suggested Donation $20 for Non-Members

$10 for Members

$10 for Members $20 for Non-Members

Easter

Brun

Open to the Public

... 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.

You tend to take little blue herons for granted. Not that they aren’t beautiful birds – there are no ugly herons or egrets, except maybe cattle egrets –but little blues can be a little undramatic.

As a species, they nearly live up to their name. They are little, sort of. They are blue, mostly. And they are herons. Still, it’s possible to get persnickety about the moniker.

When compared to a great blue heron, the title “little” fits. But little blues are not the smallest herons –that would be least bitterns and green herons. They are only slightly smaller than snowy egrets and tricolored herons, their two closest relatives, but it’s not the kind of difference you can detect without calipers and a scale. (All three species stand about 2 feet tall and weigh about three-quarters of a pound.)

While primarily blue, the head and necks of fully mature birds, especially in the right light, are purplish. But for the first year or so they are white, and as they reach maturity they become a mottle of blue and white and look somewhat reminiscent of calico bedspreads.

Little-ish bluish heron just sounds kind of indecisive, so probably best to stick to little blue.

As a species, I suppose they are notable for their lack of extremes. Where cousins snowy egrets and tricolored herons are famed for their aigrettes – the long, lacy nuptial plumage they develop during breeding season – little blues don’t really have them. Which makes them a little less dramatic, but also kept them from getting gunned down so often during the plume-hunting era.

Where waders like the reddish egret tend to put a lot of effort into their feeding, running around, leaping, doing body fakes, stabbing quickly at their prey, little blue herons are more low-key. They will occasionally stir things up with a foot, but they spend about three quarters of their hunting time slowly walking through shallow water, seeking fish.

They have mating rituals, but nothing too dramatic. The male does what is called a stretch display, walking around his territory with his bill pointing skyward. If the female is interested, she will approach in what is called the withdrawn crouch, moving toward him with her bill pointed downward. There may be some bill signaling involved, just in case you thought they were complete squares.

THE DISCRETE CHARMS OF THE LITTLE BLUE HERON

On average they will raise two to five chicks and stay together until the chicks are fledged. Odds are they would find new partners the next season.

As with people, I tend to think of birds in terms of their more dramatic behaviors. With little blues, I’ve been having a lot of trouble conceptualizing a personality for them. If they have secrets, they don’t give them away.

Surprisingly, one of the more interesting things I’ve been able to learn about them was in a paper from the late 1970s with the somewhat opaque title of “Commensalism in the Little Blue Heron” by noted Florida ornithologist James Kushlan.

Commensalism is essentially when two organisms have a relationship in which one of the organisms benefits without harming the other, a sort of non-reciprocal half-symbiosis, if that makes sense.

Kushlan spent several weeks watching over a mixed flock of wading birds made up, on average, of about 75 white ibises and 30 little blue herons. And what he noticed was that occasionally a little blue would trail behind a white ibis as they step-probed through the ponds. The herons looked to be following in a deliberate manner.

What he recorded was that the little blues that trailed the ibises had the same per-strike success rate as the herons off hunting away from the ibis, but that they consumed about twice the amount of fish, the increased abundance brought about by a more target-rich environment in the stirred water in the ibises’ wake. Thus commensalism allowed them to attain twice the calories for the same level of effort.

It’s fun to note that while the white ibis were not adversely affected by the little blues following them around, if one got too close, the ibises would apparently lunge at them with an open bill.

Little blue herons are pretty common throughout the eastern half of the U.S. We have them in the Keys, though seemingly in lower numbers than other wading bird species. If I drive down, say, Blimp Road on Cudjoe, or the road through Middle Torch and Big Torch, I tend to see small flocks of 10 to 30 snowy egrets and tricolored herons. Little blues I tend to see one or two at a time.

A couple months ago I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen one. Which made me think maybe I wasn’t living my life right.

I didn’t go out specifically looking for one, but when I’ve been up the Keys I’ve made a point of keeping my eyes peeled. When I found myself on Big Pine a few weeks ago, I made a point to run down to the salt pond at the west end of Watson Boulevard.

I almost didn’t catch it at first. It was an adult, comet blue with a little aubergine tint to its head and neck.

The bird was walking at a slow and measured pace through about 10 inches of water, working a side to side pattern parallel to the road, neither hidden nor conspicuous. Occasionally it would stop and stab its two-toned bill down into the water, its head coming back so fast that it was hard to tell if the effort was successful or not.

Nice to see, even if I didn’t know quite what to say about it.

A little blue heron seen recently on Big Pine Key. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

IT’S A LOT LIKE DRIVING A CAR

It’s the time of year again when I’ve found myself in a musical. This show, “Once,” is a little different from the others, mainly because everyone in the cast plays at least one instrument while singing, dancing and maintaining the traits of their characters — including accents, as half the characters are from Ireland and half are from Czechoslovakia. I play Da, the Irish father of the lead character, Guy, as well as a mandolin player.

The most challenging part of this role for me was playing the mandolin. I had some experience with the instrument, but as soon as I received the sheet music, I realized, perhaps not enough.

Most of us have driven cars. We’ve gotten into a new or unfamiliar car and have had to move the seat so our legs can comfortably operate the pedals, adjust all the mirrors and operate the radio and cruise control.

Although we know how to drive, the nuances of the new vehicle will take a minute to learn. For example, the new car may not use a conventional key, but a fob that slides into a space above a button that needs to be pressed at the same time as the brake pedal is held down. As logical as this seems afterward, the process of discovery is often fraught with bewildered looks and disgruntled sounds.

Now that the car is started, getting it moving is usually fairly easy. The new adjustment comes when you hit the brakes for the first time. Chances are you will

RAY WEST

JOHN MARTINI’S ‘WILD THINGS’ ARE AT JAG GALLERY

Renowned sculptor gives gallery talk March 25

... 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.

press them far harder than is necessary for several stop signs until you get the feel of where the brake pads begin to add enough pressure on the rotor to slow the car down smoothly.

Then at some point, you will accidentally activate the windshield wipers when there is not a cloud in the sky. You will frantically try every lever and button you can find until the wiper fluid and the blades stop, not knowing until later that you have turned on the brights and every driver on the opposite side of the road flashes you for three nights straight until your friend points it out.

Eventually you get the car completely under control, riding down the highway with the windows open and the stereo as loud as it can go before distorting, looking at your reflection in the rearview without a care in the world.

In a general sense, this is how it feels to tackle an instrument that is similar to ones you know, but with subtleties and nuances all its own. The sound of the instrument sparks a slightly different touch, like a sports car versus a truck. Each gets you from point A to point B. Both serve a unique function. It takes a certain set of skills to master each — and it would be nice to have one of each in the garage.

Maybe you’ve stopped to admire — and photograph — his unmistakable steel sculptures in dozens of Key West locations. Now you can meet the man behind the metal.

Jag Gallery’s continuing series of gallery talks will feature Martini on Wednesday, March 25 at 5 p.m.

A longtime Key West resident, Martini’s sculptures and other works are installed, collected and recognized all over the world. His latest collection, “Wild Things,” is on display at Jag Gallery and will provide the backdrop for his March 25 discussion.

Known for his signature poly-

chrome steel creations, Martini will discuss his latest collection as well as his technique, inspiration and career as a sculptor, printmaker and painter.

Gallery events are free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be available.

Jag Gallery is located in the Duval Square collection of shops and restaurants. The address is 1075 Duval St., but the plaza is also accessible from Simonton Street, where its free parking lot is located. More information is available at 305-407-6202, jaggallerykw@ gmail.com or jaggallery.art.

— Contributed

The entire cast of ‘Once’ play their instruments while singing and dancing at the Waterfront Playhouse. LARRY BLACKBURN/Contributed

Artist John Martini’s latest collection, ‘Wild Things,’ is on display at Jag Gallery, where Martini will appear for a gallery talk and reception on Wednesday, March 25. CONTRIBUTED

CHRIS McNULTY

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

The spring equinox is upon us. On Friday, March 20, the sun moves from Pisces into Aries, marking the point of equal light and dark, when the light half of the year takes over from the dark half in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time to check our own balance, to make sure we are taking care of ourselves as much as we are taking care of others, and to refresh our outlook as the world is born anew. We have survived the long, dark months of autumn and winter, and we can now emerge with renewed vigor into a world teeming with life. The sun’s entry into Aries is a time of increased energy and courage. We are called to put our plans into practice and to throw ourselves headfirst into the plans we have been formulating. Aries season is about doing first and thinking later. At nearly the same time as the equinox, Mercury ends its apparent retrograde motion and stations direct. For the past three weeks, Mercury has seemed to move backward in the sign of Pisces, bringing about difficulties in communication, thinking and travel. If you’ve felt a bit muddled these past few weeks, you’re not alone. But on Friday, Mercury will finally turn direct and offer us some information that will propel us into the future. Keep your eyes out for an important message. With the spring equinox and Mercury stationing direct, this Friday is all about moving forward with energy and good information.

Here are your horoscopes for the spring equinox and Mercury turning direct. Read for your rising and sun signs.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

What do you value in life? As the sun moves out of your sign, you are called to turn your attention from the much-deserved celebration of yourself to the people, places and things you respect and appreciate. When you take the time to really see what enriches your life, those things grow. After a period of deep reflection, you can finally start articulating an important part of yourself that you’ve been meaning to share.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Aries season has arrived, and the sun is shining on you. As we enter your season of birth, how are you living out your dream life? If you need to make some changes, what are they? You are being given the gift of clarity about the life that you want to live, so don’t waste it; act on it. You are realizing ways in which you selfsabotage. Pay attention and move forward with greater clarity.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

The spring equinox marks a shift from high social energy and friendly engagement into a period of quieter solitude. Turn your attention to ways you can spend time alone and enjoy quiet reflection, even though the world around you appears to be re-energizing. You may have been reconsidering some of your friends and social networks. Clarity around that comes in the coming days.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Your career and work in the public eye has been a bit frustrated or confused lately, or at least you have been struggling to think clearly about it. That is all about to change, and the mental gymnastics you’ve been doing can finally dismount. You will get some important news that will let you move forward. As the equinox passes, you will see clearly who is in your corner.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

The sun will be shedding its light on your career and public reputation, Cancer. As we cross the equinox, you will finally be seen for all of the work that you’ve been putting in or you’ll get clarity about what you need to change. Trust what you see with your own eyes. You will get a message that will propel you into new horizons. It is up to you whether you say yes or no.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

You can see where you want to go, and as we move through the equinox, that path will be illuminated. You can explore the world, study something new or embark on a new spiritual path with the certainty of knowing that’s where you belong. If you’ve been mulling over an investment or commitment that you’ve made, you will have clarity about the right move to make very soon.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

There has probably been some uncertainty or confusion related to an important partner in your life. This could be a romantic partner, a business partner or an important overall life partner. If communication has been off and you aren’t sure where you stand, that is all about to change. New information will allow you to move forward with clarity. The equinox shows you where to invest your energy.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

If you’ve been struggling with some confusion about your daily habits and wellness

ONWARD

routines, you can be sure you will get the information you need to move forward. The equinox marks a point in time when an important partner in your life becomes illuminated. You may find this person if they’ve been elusive, or you may see someone in a fresh light. Pay attention to your “other.”

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Your creative pursuits might have been feeling a bit confused lately, as if you can’t quite see what you want to put out there or your spark has been missing. Don’t worry because that is all about to clear up. Put what you’ve learned from that confusion directly into your work. The equinox brings fresh energy into your daily routines and habits, so try to engage in them with renewed vigor.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Home and family may have been areas of some confusion and frustration lately. Perhaps you’ve been having a hard time communicating with family, or you just haven’t been feeling comfortable at home. Some fresh information or insight is ready to change all of that. Move forward with clarity. The equinox illuminates your creative drive, so see what you can make.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

As the sun moves through the equinox, your home and family come into focus. How can you bring some fresh light and air to your roots? Clean out the dust at home and reconnect with family members who feed your soul. Over the past few weeks, you may have been contending with some brain fog or difficulty communicating. That is all about to lift and your thinking becomes clear.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

You have probably been mulling over a big financial decision or have been contending with a conflict of values. Not to worry, because you are about to get some information that will let you move forward with a clear mind. As we cross the equinox, you are being encouraged to speak your mind with conviction and purpose. Say what you mean and others will respond.

HELP KEEP KEY WEST BEAUTIFUL

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

The March 10 cleanup branched out in every direction from the corner of United and Varela streets. The huge group of 119 volunteers included 17 next-generation Ploggers. In one hour, they collected 352 pounds of trash, 42 pounds of recycling and 3.25 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to the Montessori Children’s School. Thank you also to Daily Plan-it for featuring Keep Key West Beautiful at the first-ever Junk in the Truck events at the recent artisan and farmers markets. CONTRIBUTED

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

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

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

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

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.

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

— Contributed

The one-hour Friday morning cleanups are from 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted. March 20: Kennedy Drive and N. Roosevelt Boulevard. Meet in the parking lot next to H&R Block, which is hosting. March 27: Cozumel Park, 19th Terrace and Donald Avenue. Hosted by the Key West Aquarium.

TAKE ME HOME?

FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

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

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

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

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

Radian is a 3-year-old American bulldog mix with a big heart. His owner surrendered him and his two siblings, Cookie and Simba, through no fault of their own. They’re all looking for loving homes. Radian can be shy at first, but with patience and kindness he quickly shows his sweet, affectionate side. We’re still learning how he feels about other dogs. Radian would do best with a family willing to take things slow and give him the time he needs to build trust.

Simba is a sweet 12-year-old Chihuahua mix. She’s the ultimate lap companion, always ready to snuggle and soak up love. This gentle senior has a calm and loving nature.

Bonnie is a female South American cichlid, a perfect addition to any aquarium. South American Cichlids are known for their curiosity and lively presence in the tank.

Cookie is an 11-year-old terrier mix looking for a loving home to spend her golden years. She’s the sister of Radian and Simba, and while we know she adores her brothers, her feelings about other dogs are still a mystery. Cookie can be reserved at first, but once she trusts you, she won’t stop the affection.

Lavender is a sweet, 8-month-old kitty who was found as a stray and is now ready to find her furever home. She’s young, curious and eager to explore the world with a loving family.

Your heart is at the center of everything you do. Taking care of it means more time to make memories with the people you love. Our online heart health assessment is a simple way to understand your risk for heart disease – now and in the future. And, if you’re at risk, we can help you connect with a primary care provider or cardiologist so you can make changes now to keep your heart beating strong for years to come. Visit KeysHeartCare.com to take the assessment.

overseasmediagroup.com alex@overseasmediagroup.com

Founded by Betty Debnam

BACK TO THE MOON

This spring, four NASA astronauts will venture closer to the moon than humans have been for more than 50 years. This week, The Mini Page learns about the Artemis II mission.

WHY GO TO THE MOON?

Part of the mission of Artemis II is learning and preparation for Artemis III, during which humans will land on the moon in the next two years.

NASA calls our moon a “4.5-billion-year-old time capsule.” When astronauts walked on the lunar surface five times between 1969 and 1972, they collected 842 pounds of rocks and soil and brought the materials back to Earth for further study. Scientists believe the moon was created when Earth made contact with another astronomical body.

Exploration of space and the moon also helped researchers understand other sciences, such as computers, solar energy, semiconductors and navigation.

The Apollo missions also helped people on Earth appreciate the need to protect our planet and work with one another.

This year, NASA will be exploring whether

ARTEMIS, ASTRONAUT, CAPSULE, CREW, GLOVER, HANSEN, KOCH, LAUNCHPAD, LUNAR, MISSION, MOON, NASA, ORBIT, ROCKET, ROCKS, SOIL, SPACECRAFT, WATER, WISEMAN.

there is water on the moon, which is important for future missions. Experts will also study how people can travel to the moon for business reasons or for adventure.

During the mission, Orion will fly by the far side of the moon before heading back toward Earth. The mission is expected to last 10 days.

HOW WILL THEY GET THERE?

Orion is NASA’s newest spacecraft built for humans. It will be launched into space by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

Space

The capsule where the crew lives can house four people for up to 21 days. Inside, the crew module has a compact toilet and an exercise machine, along with water storage and equipment for food preparation.

The crew module is the only part of Orion that will return to Earth after each mission.

Artemis II crewmembers train inside the Orion spacecraft. During launch and re-entry, the astronauts will be lying on their backs, as shown here.

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

MEET THE CREW

• Reid Wiseman is the commander of the Artemis II mission. He was born in Baltimore and is a 27-year U.S. Navy veteran. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University. Wiseman became an astronaut in 2009. He has two children.

• Pilot Victor Glover Jr. is a naval aviator who was chosen to be an astronaut in 2013. He was born in Pomona, California, and holds several master’s degrees. He and his wife have four children.

• Mission Specialist I Christina Koch also became an astronaut in 2013. She participated in the first all-woman spacewalk. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

• Astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian to travel to the moon. He was born in London, Ontario, and has led a NASA astronaut training class. He has a master’s degree in physics. He and his wife have three children.

RESOURCES

ON THE WEB

• nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/ • go.nasa.gov/4kb2B7U

ECO NOTE

Wolves killed a record 2, 124 reindeer in Finland last year, alarming herders along the country’s long border with Russia. Many herders suspect the surge is linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine, arguing that reduced hunting across the border may be driving more wolves into Finland. Scientists stress that there is not enough evidence to prove a direct connection. Finland’s wolf population has grown to about 430 animals and is part of the same subspecies as Russia’s much larger wolf population.

MINI FACT: NASA’s SLS rocket lifts off during a test flight in 2022 (photo left).

Photo by Grand-Duc

Photo by NASA/Keegan Barber

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969.

The NASA

Launch System on the launchpad.

Photo by NASA Mark Sowa

Photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA photo

The Artemis II flight crew, from left to right: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover Jr. and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Photo by NASA/Frank Michaux

wednesday april 29

KEY WEST THEATER, 8 PM

TAYLOR PHILLIPS, ASHLEY COOKE, TYLER REEVE, JAMES SLATER, AARON RAITIERE, THOMAS EDWARDS

FURY SUNSET SAIL, 6 PM

STEPHEN BARKER LILES, BRIAN KELLEY

friday may 1

KEY WEST THEATER, 4 PM

SUMMER OVERSTREET, AVA SUPPELSA, KYLIE FREY, DANNY MYRICK, PAUL JENKINS, JIM MCCORMICK

SAN CARLOS INSTITUTE, 8 PM

REBECCA LYNN HOWARD, TOMMY SIMS, ELISHA HOFFMAN, CHUCK CANNON, ROBERT RANDOLPH AND MORE

KEY WEST THEATER, 8 PM

TAYLOR PHILLIPS, TIM NICHOLS, LUKE LAIRD, TIM JAMES, TIA SILLERS, BOBBY PINSON, LINDSAY RIMES

SUNSET PIER AT OCEAN KEY RESORT, 8 PM

JEFFREY STEELE, THE BRUMMIES

SOLAIRE AT LUNARA BAY, 6PM

ASHLEY COOKE, JENNA LEMASTER, ANISTON PATE, CHORD OVERSTREET, KYLIE FREY, TYLER REEVE, ORLANDO MENDES

KEY WEST THEATER, 8 PM

ROBERT RANDOLPH, TOMMY SIMS, CHUCK MEAD, GUTHRIE TRAPP, WENDELL MOBLEY, TIM NICHOLS, CHUCK CANNON

saturday, may 2

KEY WEST THEATER

BLOODY MARY BASH, 11 AM

ROBERT EARL KEEN

sunday, may 3

WILLIAMS HALL, 12:30 PM

BUTTER & FRIT, ELISHA HOFFMAN, REBECCA LYNN HOWARD, TOMMY SIMS, CHUCK CANNON, ROBERT RANDOLPH

thursday april 30

KEY WEST THEATER, 4 PM

RYAN BEAVER, HEATH WARREN, JEFF MIDDLETON, DOUG JOHNSON, JOHNNY CLAWSON, JORDAN DOZZI

KEY WEST THEATER, 8 PM

LEE THOMAS MILLER, WENDELL MOBLEY, HARDY, ERNEST, CRAIG WISEMAN

LA TE DA, 8 PM

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BACK IN THE SADDLE

Key West sluggers rebound after win streak snaps | P.5

Marathon Softball St. Brendan 3/9 L, 15-7

Marathon Baseball St. Edward’s 3/9 W, 6-5

Coral Shores Softball Somerset South Homestead 3/10 L, 18-14

Coral Shores Girls Lacrosse Miami Country Day 3/10 L, 10-2

Coral Shores Baseball South Dade 3/10 L, 2-1

Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Palmer Trinity 3/10 W, 18-4

Key West Boys Lacrosse Ransom 3/11 L, 17-7

Key West Baseball Westminster Christian 3/11 L, 12-0

Marathon Softball La Salle 3/11 W, 14-0

Coral Shores Baseball Dade Christian 3/12 W, 11-0

Marathon Baseball Dixie County 3/12 W, 11-0

Key West Boys Lacrosse John Carroll Catholic 3/12 W, 14-2

Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Florida Christian 3/12 W, 13-3

Marathon Softball Carrollton 3/12 W, 17-0

Key West Girls Lacrosse Archbishop McCarthy 3/13 L, 9-6

Marathon Baseball Chiefland 3/13 L, 10-0

Key West Baseball South Dade 3/13 W, 4-3

Key West Softball Santa Fe 3/13 L, 11-1

Coral Shores Baseball Schoolhouse Prep 3/13 L, 8-3

Key West Softball John Carroll Catholic 3/14 W, 5-0

Key West Baseball Coral Reef 3/14 W, 9-0

Marathon Baseball Crystal River 3/14 L, 9-3

Key West Softball Santa Fe 3/14 L, 8-2

3/19 Marathon Tennis Coral Shores

3/20 Key West Softball Gulf

3/21

3/23

3/24 Coral Shores Tennis Key West

3/24 Coral Shores Girls Lacrosse @ St. Brendan

3/24 Key West Girls Lacrosse @ Gulliver 4

3/24 Marathon Softball Key

3/24

3/25

3/26

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Christopher

GREGORY

Sophomore, Key West Track & Field

Christopher is a hard worker with absolutely infectious positivity.”

– John Swift, head coach

14.31S 1ST 100-meter dash place

Key West sophomore Christopher Gregory toed the line at Monroe County’s Special Olympics meet on March 7 and made sure to boost those around him before setting his eyes on the finish line. Gregory won the 100-meter dash in 14.31 seconds, making him the fastest athlete in his division. Gregory is known as one of the most positive athletes around campus, bringing energy and encouragement with a smile that lights up the room. His speed and natural athleticism were on full display in his victory, and his uplifting attitude makes him a standout both on and off the track. When his Special Olympics season concludes, Gregory will join Key West’s varsity track and field team. For his hard work and dedication as well as the intangibles he brings to his team, Key West’s Christopher Gregory is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Key West’s Roman Garcia preps for the pitch against the South Dade Buccaneers on March 13. Garcia went on to log three hits in the contest, including the walkoﬀ game-winning double. ROCKY GONET/Keys Weekly

Photo by TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly

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

sean mcdonald

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

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

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STICKING POINTS

In-county clashes loom for Keys lacrosse teams

With tough sledding to start the month of March, Monroe County lacrosse teams are primed to take out their frustrations in Keys rivalry showdowns after spring break.

The Key West Lady Conchs will look to end a four-game slide when they return to action after schools reconvene. The team, plagued with injuries and a few athletes taking off early for vacation, was left with just two subs in their March 13 game against Archbishop McCarthy. The shorthanded Conchs struggled to take shots on goal despite playing with extra enthusiasm and heart.

Country Day team. Addy McNew and Ivy Tiedemann scored one goal each to get the Hurricanes on the board, but a high-scoring Patriots squad outshot Coral Shores and earned the win.

Both teams have several district games remaining on their schedules, one of which has been circled on calendars all season. The Lady Conchs and ’Canes will square off in Key West’s Backyard on Thursday, March 26 at 4 p.m. in a contest that should be one of the best both teams have played all season.

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Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

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“Archbishop played smart; they ran the clock down when they had possession because they knew they already had the game-winning goals. I respect a team that can comprehend that kind of strategy,” said Marisa Giacopuzzi, Lady Conchs head coach. Archbishop McCarthy’s pressure forced her team to play a different game, she said, and the 9-6 result was not what the team had hoped for.

Taylor Gibson managed to draw four fouls and finished with three free position goals. Mavis Bishop scored one goal and won two draw controls. Bishop also caused three turnovers. Adriana Dall scored two, one with an Eisley Whitehead assist. Keeper Alexandra Konecna had three saves and a groundball in goal in the loss.

Coral Shores ended the week 4-4 after a 10-2 loss against a powerful Miami

In boys lacrosse action, Key West was on the road last week, first at Ransom Everglades for a March 11 matchup with the Raiders. The Raiders bested the Conchs 177, giving Key West plenty of motivation to roll the Rams of John Carroll Catholic 14-2 the following day and earn a 7-3 record heading into break.

Coral Shores improved to 8-3 after a pair of wins just prior to spring break. The Hurricanes played at Palmer Trinity March 10, winning 18-4, then hosted Florida Christian two days later and won 13-3. The wins made it a three-game streak, which the ’Canes will look to extend after break.

Next up for the Hurricanes is a home game with district and county rival Key West. The closely-matched teams never fail to leave it all on the field when playing one another. The boys face off at Coral Shores Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in a clash Keys lacrosse fans will not want to miss.

tracy mcdonald

The Lady Conch defense crashes on Archbishop McCarthy’s top scoring threat in their March 13 contest. KARA NORMAN/Contributed

As the Marathon Dolphins took their talents on the road last week for some 1A Rural baseball matchups, the Key West Conchs looked to respond to the end of their red-hot win streak to start the season.

One inning of ball was all it took to end Key West’s double-digit run on March 11. The Conchs paid a visit to Westminster Christian and felt the immediate wrath of the red-hot Warrior bats. Nine runs scored off five hits, three walks and a pair of hit batters ended the perfect record of not only the Conchs, but their ace, Donovan Thiery, who had not allowed a single earned run this season. In contrast, Key West’s bats were stagnant, with Nelson Ong, Jackie Niles and Darreld Tremino delivering the only base hits. The Warriors put the first blemish of the season on Key West’s record, winning 12-0 in five-and-a-half innings.

Two days later, it looked like the Conchs might end up with two knocks against them when the visiting South Dade Buccaneers pulled ahead in the first inning. The Bucs held on to the lead until the patient Conchs tied it up in the sixth. Key West fans enjoyed an extra inning of baseball as the Conchs put together a smart series at the plate and won with a dramatic Roman Garcia walk-off double, which scored a run and ended the game.

Garcia ended the contest with three hits, two of which went for extra bases, while Tyrone Cervantes, Ong, Tremino and Xavier Perez each added one hit to the team total of seven in the 4-3 victory. Sophomore Kade Maltz started on the mound, with relief from Ong and Auggy Davila, who earned the win.

The following night, five Conchs saw work on the mound in a decisive 9-0 win against Coral Reef. Cruz Holmes got the start and the win, sending six Barracudas back to the dugout, walking none and surrendering two hits and no runs over four innings. Thiery, Cervantes, Carter Wirth and Beau Bender all added relief in the win. Garcia registered another trio of hits, with two apiece from Perez, Ong, Maltz and Thiery. Thiery’s sixth-inning line drive was good for his second home run of the season. Tremino had one hit and a pair of RBIs to make it an even dozen hits for the 12-1 Conchs.

Marathon started the week with a rubber match against St. Edward’s School. Each team had won one game the prior weekend, and after seven innings on March 9, the stats were nearly identical. What separated the winner from the loser was a costly set of errors from the Pirates and a confidence boost from a packed home crowd for the Fins.

Eighth grader Bradley Buigas singled and tripled while Massimo Quargnali, Jason Stubblefield and Jack Chapman each singled. Reef Rella, another eighth grader, had two RBIs and started on the mound for Marathon. Then Jack Chapman stepped in to earn the 6-5 win.

The Dolphins then hit the road to test themselves against some District 7 competition. Three of four teams the Fins faced are fellow 1A Rural opponents, a calculated move by head coach Joey Gonzalez, who used the trip as a scouting mission for the postseason.

win streak snapped

Marathon tests mettle on the road, Conchs rebound after

BACK IN BUSINESS

The Fins met up with Dixie County on March 13, where they had no trouble dispatching the Bears in six innings. Marathon racked up 11 hits with two each from Buigas, Rella, Quargnali, Roco Piscetello and Dylan Williams. Rella homered in one of his three at-bats. Gabriele Cirina earned the win for the Fins, allowing just one hit and no runs over four innings. Cirina fanned seven before Williams threw two shutout innings for Marathon.

Next up were the Chiefland Indians, who turned the tables on the Dolphins, beating them in six innings. Williams added another two hits while Chapman and Cirina accounted for the other two. Chapman took the loss on the mound, striking out five but surrendering seven runs to the Indians. Piscetello closed out two-thirds of an inning for Marathon.

The slide continued March 14 with a 9-3 loss to the Pirates of Crystal River, the only team outside the 1A Rural designation Marathon faced on the trip. The teams squared off in a pitchers’ duel until a disastrous fourth inning, when the Pirates capitalized on five hits, three hit batters and an error to pour on eight runs.

Rella had two hits including a double for Marathon

to lead the offensive charge, but took the loss on the mound for the Fins. Williams and Piscetello added some relief, but the 3A Pirates took the win. Marathon’s final opponent, the Trenton Tigers, are ranked second in 1A Rural and will make it clear where the Dolphins’ chances for postseason glory stand. The game was scheduled for March 16 (results not available at press time).

A pair of losses evened out Coral Shores’ record heading into spring break. The Hurricanes lost 2-1 at home against South Dade on March 10 after a stingy Buccaneer pitcher held Coral Shores to just two hits. Jack O’Keefe and Riley O’Berry had one hit each in the loss. O’Berry went the distance, striking out four, walking none and surrendering seven hits over seven innings.

Schoolhouse Prep paid the Hurricanes a visit March 13, delivering an 8-3 loss that put Coral Shores at 6-6 heading into spring break. Emileano Barrios had a pair of hits while Mason Clark and Mailon Aguila had one each. Andy Cone pitched four innings, striking out three, walking six and surrendering three hits and two runs before O’Keefe and Barrios finished out the game for the Hurricanes.

Left: Nelson Ong makes contact for a base hit against South Dade.

Right: Catcher Massimo Quargnali frames it up for Gabriele Cirina’s pitch.

Photos by Rocky Gonet and Justice Lee Isom

SENIOR STATEMENT

Hurricanes outlift field on Senior Night

Coral Shores hosted a quad meet on March 11 in a boys weightlifting competition which celebrated their senior athletes. The Hurricanes won both the Olympic and traditional events to make Senior Night even sweeter.

The Hurricanes had four double winners, claiming first place in their weight class in both events. Kyle Derobertis (129 pounds), Jimmy Garcia (139), Jake Companioni (169) and Freddy Flores (219) won dual firsts in their respective weight classes. Parker Batt picked up a win in Olympic lifts at 119 pounds and Aaron Lykins won the traditional contest at 183.

one dual winner in junior Isaak Vallejo, who won both events

The Dolphins placed third in both events, behind the Hurricanes as well as Somerset Silver Palms. Marathon had one dual winner in junior Isaak Vallejo, who won both events in the 199-pound contest. Max Childress was the Olympic winner at 183 and matched Lykins’ 490-pound combined lifts in traditional. Because Lykins weighed in a few pounds lighter than Childress, he was awarded the win. The Dolphins’ final winner was Matthias Martinez-Velez, who won the 154-pound traditional event.

It will be a quick turnaround to the postseason when teams return from spring break; districts are scheduled for April 11 at Key Largo School.

This week marks the midway point for prep softball regular-season play, and Keys teams experienced a variety of competition leading up to their breaks.

Coral Shores played one game, a March 10 home contest against Somerset South Homestead. Despite defeating South Homestead in their first game of the season, the Lady ’Canes came up short this time. Alyvia Prince was the heavy hitter for Coral Shores, racking up four hits in five at-bats. Vanessa Cawley and Chloie Stanley had three hits apiece, as did Kayden Costlow, who also added five RBIs to her stats. Prince pitched seven innings, striking out seven and walking four in the 18-14 loss. Marathon started last week off with a loss against St. Brendan, then turned things around as they headed into spring break. The Lady Fins were outhit by the Sabres 17-6, resulting in a 17-7 loss. Shaina Robinson, Elianys Roque and Trinity McLeod had two base hits each in the March 9 home matchup.

Two days later, it was a different story. It took the Dolphins just three innings to dispatch the Royal Lions of La Salle. Marathon picked up 14 runs despite logging just four hits. Ten walks and six hit batters helped boost the Dolphins’ score and Ana Boose shut down the Lions, pitching a three-inning no-hitter and striking out four in her abbreviated time in the circle. Boose and Madelyn Thornton doubled while Trinity McLeod and Dahlia Westdickenberg singled in the mercyrule win.

It was more of the same at Carrollton the following afternoon, where the Fins played five innings in the team’s second mercy-rule win of the week. Boose logged three hits while Chloe

Rodriguez, Sara Robinson and Elianys Roque added two apiece. A triple from Thornton accounted for the final of the Fins’ 10 hits. Finicky plate appearances led to 13 walks and three more batters were struck as Marathon scored 17 runs to the Cyclones’ zero. Eighth grader Sutton Sayer got the start for the Dolphins, striking out two over five innings.

Key West held on to a winning record despite a two-game slide last week. The Raiders of Santa Fe made good on their name when they stole a pair of wins from the Conchs on March 13 and 14. Santa Fe’s bats were on fire while the Conchs struggled offensively, collecting just five hits in game one. Lilee Gage doubled and Maicee Gage, Kaleya Cervantes, Aaliyah McLeod and Shylo Sanchez had one hit each in the loss. Brianna Brenner struck out four, walked one and gave up 11 runs in seven innings of work in the 11-1 loss.

Game two saw even fewer Conch hits, with Lucy Katz registering a double for the team’s only offensive knock. Brenner and Ryleigh Harnish shared time in the circle, but despite allowing fewer hits, the highly-ranked Raiders and their rapid-fire bats were too much for the Conchs, who lost 8-2.

A second March 14 game against John Carroll Catholic made for a happier ending to the week. Brenner fanned eight, walked zero and gave up two hits in a 5-0 shutout win. Kaleaya Dickerson logged two hits and McLeod, Cervantes, Katz, Arianna Garcia and both Gage sisters added one each for a team total of eight. A perfect defense added to the win, putting the Conchs at 5-4 on the season.

Top: Aaron Lykins. Bottom, from left, Freddy Flores, Max Childress and Isaak Vallejo. NATALIE DANKO and TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly

Dahlia Westdickenberg. NATALIE DANKO/Keys Weekly

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MEET IN THE MIDDLE

Conchs and ’Canes come to Marathon for midseason track and field competition

On March 11, Keys track and field teams descended upon Marathon to compete against one another as well as some of South Florida’s best. When the final relay was finished, Key West was the clear winner, scoring more than Marathon and Coral Shores combined.

Key West’s Jorge Sanchez was the big winner at the Middle Keys meet. The junior proved to be a multitalented athlete, winning the 110 and 400-meter hurdles as well as the pole vault. Sanchez finished the high hurdles in 18.63 seconds, the intermediate hurdles in 1:07.58 and cleared 12 feet in the pole vault competition to clinch three wins for the Conchs.

Jeff Dejean also had a trio of wins, taking first place in the 100-meter dash in 11.25 seconds and the long jump with a 21’8” leap. Dejean’s third win was in the Conchs’ 4x100 relay, where he teamed up with Cavane Herron, Roman Van Loon and Walson Morin, finishing in a blazing 43.83 seconds. Morin and Herron were first and second in the 200, crossing in 22.97 seconds and 23.45 seconds, respectively. Van Loon was second in the 100 behind Dejean.

Alex Sarazin made an 11.31-meter leap in the triple jump for first place. Teammate Josh Johnson was second. Johnson, a freshman, is not to be confused with the other Josh Johnson of Key West gridiron and throwing fame.

The older Josh Johnson, a junior, won the discus and shot put competitions. He tossed the disc 39.76 meters, a new PR, and sent the shot out 12.93 meters from the circle. Teammate Christopher Barter was second in discus and Leo Batista was second in shot.

Prometheus Delacerda finished the 3,200-meter race in second place and Anthony Neely was the runner-up in long jump. Rounding out Key West’s top two placers were Ian Torreaba Lopez, who cleared the same height as Sanchez in pole vault but placed second based on misses.

Audrey Smith was the top point-earner for the Lady Conchs. Smith, the current school record-holder in javelin, won the event with a 37.87-meter toss. Smith placed second in shot put, then sent the discus 34.67 meters for another first place.

Fellow record-holder Ariel Newton sailed over the bar for a 3.2-meter first-place pole vault, then won the 200-meter race in 27.86 seconds for a pair of wins.

After the triple jump, Key West had another recordholder on the roster. Sophomore Capri Miner bounded 10.39 meters to win the triple jump and break a school record which had stood since 2000.

Damarla Thompson was first in the 100-meter dash, finishing in 13.52 seconds, then took second in the high jump.

Nevaeh Key had a pair of second places in the 110 high and 400-meter intermediate hurdles. The Lady Conchs’ final second-place finishers were Lily Good in pole vault, Alyssandra Camargo in the 800 and Morgan Koskinen in the 1600.

Marathon’s boys had fantastic finishes from Lucian Burns. He picked up a pair of wins, both personal bests, in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. In the 1,600, Burns crossed in 4:39, then lapped the rest of the field of runners in the two-mile in 10:15. Keeping with Marathon’s distance legacy was Tony Bursa, who finished behind Burns for second in the 1,600 and behind a Westminster Christian athlete for second in the 800 race.

Israel Gonzalez rounded out Marathon’s top finishers. Gonzalez won the javelin event with a 32.05-meter toss of the spear.

Marathon’s girls had plenty of points in the throwing events. Justice Lee Isom placed first in the shot put with a 12.01-meter toss. Lee Isom was second in the discus and javelin events, adding some distance to her own school record in the latter.

The Lady Fins had another winner with seventh grader Molly Joly, who won the 3,200-meter run. She clocked in at 11:21. Senior Daysi Williams won the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.47 meters. Tinashay Cunningham finished in second place in the 400 to round out the top two finishers for Marathon’s girls.

The Coral Shores boys 4x400 relay team of Alaric Rodriguez, Adrik Gadea, Colton Connolly and Will Theis picked up points for first, crossing the line in 3:32. Rodriguez added a second lap, running in the individual 400-meter race. His 51.88-second finish, good for second place, was a personal best for the senior.

For the Lady ’Canes, sophomore Ali Wheatley finished the 1,600 in 5:40 to win the race, then anchored Coral Shores’ first-place 4x800 relay team with Sammy Bates, Kate King and Jenna Mandozzi. The foursome broke the school’s record in the event. Rounding out the top finishers for Coral Shores was Miracle Woods, who finished second in the 100-meter dash.

Key West ran into foul weather and had their hopes for a second meet last week dashed by the cancellation, but the Hurricanes had better luck at the James Mickey Invitational, which went off without a hitch. The same four Lady ’Canes who broke the school 4x800 record at Marathon re-broke it in Homestead with a 10:39 showing. Not to be outdone, the boys 4x800 relay team of Jaime Cary, Adrik Gadea, Colton Connolly and Alaric Rodriguez ran the race in 8:31, shaving three seconds from the school’s prior record, set in 2024.

Top

Top right: Key West’s Audrey Smith, left, and Marathon’s Justice Lee Isom, both leaders in all three throwing events, take a break from the competition for a photo.

Additional photos: The Florida Keys’ three varsity track squads meet up in Marathon for an in-county showdown on March 11.

Top left: Sammy Bates, left, Kate King, Ali Wheatley and Jenna Mandozzi show off their medals for their record-breaking win at Homestead’s James Mickey Invitational on March 13.

center: Jaime Cary, left, Adrik Gadea, Colton Connolly and Alaric Rodriguez pose atop the podium with coach Greg Moffitt after breaking the school record in the 4x800 at Homestead’s James Mickey Invitational on March 13.

Photos by TRACY MCDONALD/Keys Weekly

COURT REPORT

Keys tennis teams have been playing in-county matches for a majority of this season, but last week two teams saw some new faces across the nets.

Coral Shores started the week off playing at Monsignor Pace, where the boys lost 4-3 against the Spartans. Elijah Craig picked up a win for the Hurricanes in the No. 2 match, then added another with teammate Jacob Sanchez in No. 1 doubles. Sebastian Armstrong and Parker Smith teamed up for the third win in No. 2 doubles.

The Lady ’Canes beat the Spartans with singles wins from Allyson Rosendale, Harlee Beeler, Parker Kelly, Jillian Thiery and Vanessa Gabriel. Rosendale and Sogegian made a dynamic duo, winning the No. 1 doubles match and Thiery and Gabriel did the same in No. 2 doubles.

Key West and Marathon met in the Southernmost City on March 9. The Lady Conchs narrowly defeated the Fins 4-3 with wins from Durdona Oblokulova, Beyza Atilla and Shihan Ren in singles. Oblokulova and Aslima Khamrakul made the difference by winning in No. 2 doubles.

Marathon’s Emily Alvear and Shynell McGuire accounted for all of Marathon’s wins, each chalk-

Tennis teams test new opponents

ing up one victory in singles, then pairing up for a third win in the No. 1 doubles match.

Alvear and McGuire picked up another three wins in their singles and doubles matches the following day when Marathon traveled to Keys Gate, where they won 6-1 against the Knights. Maleeya Abraham and Hannah Hutchinson added the other three wins, winning in both singles and No. 2 doubles.

Marathon’s boys won both their matches last week, beginning in Key West, where they beat the Conchs 5-2. Tanner Snowden, Matthew Delgado, Graham Murphy and Kase Daughtry won in

singles. Murphy and Daughtry added another win in No. 2 doubles.

Daniel Morales picked up a singles win for Key West, then Mason Martel and Wyatt Bartles teamed up for a doubles win for the Conchs.

The Dolphin boys defeated Keys Gate the following day, with wins in singles from Snowden, Murphy and Daughtry plus another in doubles from Daughtry and Murphy.

Photos by TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly

Durdona Oblokulova

Emily Alvear

Shynell McGuire

Tanner Snowden

Shihan Ren

NOTICE OF FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Aquaphobix EU located at 309 Palm Avenue, Islamorada, FL 33036 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida, pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes.

By: Islamorada EcoFinish

Publish: March 19, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Indigo Sky Spa & Salon Studio located at 95360 Overseas Highway, Suite 6, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida, pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes.

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Publish: March 19, 2026

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

BEST LIEN SERVICES: 7290 SW 41 ST MIAMI, FL 33155 WILL SELL AT A RESERVED PUBLIC SALE AT 9:00 AM THE VEHICLE LISTED BELOW AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION TO SATISFY LIEN PURSUANT TO SECTION 713.585 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES. 1974 BAJA VS SMP010710873

SALE: APR.10,2026 AT 9:00 AM LOCATION: PILOT HOUSE

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ANY PERSON(S) CLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN THE ABOVE VEHICLE SHOULD CONTACT: BEST LIEN SERVICES (1-866-299-9391) AT LEAST 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE LIEN SALE. Publish:

March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Employee Benefits Consulting Services Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www.floridapublicnotices. com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecountyfl.bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

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

earlier, unless the bids/proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, April 30, 2026. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

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+16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York)

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Dial by your location:

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Publish: March 19, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Virtual Primary & Urgent Care Services

Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3)(a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP 2026-01

“TAX-EXEMPT LOAN FINANCING”

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA

Sealed proposals for the tax-exempt loan nancing will be received by the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, at City Hall, 600 West Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET. At that time, the proposals received will be publicly opened and read aloud. All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the City of Key Colony Beach and clearly marked ‘Sealed Proposals for the City of Key Colony Beach - RFP 2026-01”. Each proposal must include one original, ve (5) copies, and one electronic version on a thumb drive.

The purpose of the Loan is to i) reimburse and nance expenditures made for improvements to City Hall, as a part of the City of Key Colony Beach Public Safety Facility Hardening Project (FDEP - No. 22FRP63); and ii) pay costs of issuance.

Prospective Bidders may access and download the Bidding Documents online at www.demandstar.com starting March 20th, 2026. Partial sets of Request for Proposals will not be available from the City of Key Colony Beach.

The City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Instructions to proposers. For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, quali cations, procedures, and contract award, refer to the instructions to proposers that are included in the Request for Proposals.

Please contact Commissioner Tom Harding via email at tom.harding@keycolonybeach.net with questions all requests for information will be posted on DemandStar.

Publish: March 19, 2026. The Weekly Newspapers

at: www.floridapublicnotices. com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecountyfl.bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 16, 2026. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the

right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, April 16, 2026. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile:

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Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Publish: March 19, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO: 26-CP-39-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL ANGELO BASSETT Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of, MICHAEL ANGELO BASSETT, deceased, whose date of death was 18 December 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

Richard E. Schugar, O.D. Tropical Optical 81933 Overseas Highway Islamorada, Florida 33036

THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is 19 March, 2026.

Personal Representative: Savanna Leigh McMahon 12518 West Layton Pl. Morrison, CO 80465

Attorney for Personal Representative: Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036 Phone 305.664.2200 Fax 2205

Publish: March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 26-CP-84-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ELAINE KATHRYN RICHARDS

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of, ELAINE KATHRYN RICHARDS, deceased, whose date of death was 1 February 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier,

Effective March 31, 2026, Dr. Richard E. Schugar will be retiring and will no longer be practicing at Tropical Optical, 81933 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida 33036.

Patients’ medical records will remain at Tropical Optical, 81933 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Florida 33036. Please call 305-664-2665 to schedule appointments, to request medical records or for any questions starting March 31, 2026.

Publish: March 5, 12 19 & 26, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Co-Personal Representatives and the CoPersonal Representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is 19 March, 2026.

Co-Personal Representative: Kerry Sheridan 21610 Hawksbill High Circle, Unit 402 Sterling, VA 20164

Co-Personal Representative: Kathryn Golden 1225 Pepper Rd Mount Jackson, VA 22842 Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives: Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036

Phone 305.664.2200 Fax 2205

Publish: March 19 & 26, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 26-CP-000057-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF HELEN J. STEIN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of HELEN J. STEIN, deceased, whose date of death was January 14, 2026, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

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

The date of the first publication of this notice is March 19, 2026.

Personal Representative:

ALEX ESPENKOTTER

3250 Mary Street

Suite 204 Coconut Grove, FL 33133

Attorney for Personal Representative:

ALEX ESPENKOTTER, Esq.

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 0127388

HELLER ESPENKOTTER, PLLC

3250 Mary Street Suite 204 Coconut Grove, FL 33133

Telephone: (305) 777-3765

Fax: (786) 749-5296

E-Mail: probate@hellerlawgroup. com Secondary: alex@hellerlawgroup. com

Publish:

March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 26-CP-000069-P DIVISION: PROBATE IN RE: ESTATE OF MITCHELL N. HARVEY

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of MITCHELL N. HARVEY, deceased, whose date of death was November 25, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Hwy., Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216 - 732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER

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

The date of first publication of this notice is: March 19, 2026.

Personal Representative: Linda Perloff 1714 Consulate Place #103 West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attorney for Personal Representative: Anthony A. Velardi, Esq. Florida Bar No. 113917

Key Largo Law

218 Lignumvitae Drive Key Largo, FL 33037

Tel: (305) 453-5277

Fax: (305) 453-4985

E-Mail: anthony@keylargolaw.com

Publish: March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

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

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 26-CP-000052-K DIVISION: PROBATE IN RE: ESTATE OF HOWARD F. DEURINGER, JR. AKA HOWARD FREDERICK DEURINGER, JR.

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Howard F. Deringer, Jr. aka Howard Frederick Deuringer, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was November 18, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed

with the clerk.

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

The date of first publication of this notice is: March 19, 2026.

Personal Representative: James A. Deuringer 270 Birch Hollow Drive Bordentown, NJ 08505

Attorney for Personal Representative: Bradley S. Cohen, Esq. Fla Bar # 107316 LEX NOVA LAW, LLC 20000 Horizon Way, Suite 750 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 bcohen@lexnovalaw.com (856) 382-8210

Publish: March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

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

DIVISION: PROBATE CASE NO.: 25-CP-513-K IN RE: ESTATE OF HOWARD N. MCKINNEY III Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of HOWARD N. MCKINNEY, III, deceased, whose date of death was OCTOBER 3, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

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

The date of first publication of this notice is March 19, 2026.

Personal Representative: DENISE M. BAYS 121 LOMA LANE

Visit Florida Keys has funding available for those interested in applying for Destination or Turnkey event funding for events to take place between October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027; or for pre-promotion funding for Destination events to take place between October 1, 2027 and December 31, 2027.

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 25, 2026, and applications must be downloaded from the County’s Bonﬁre platform.

For more information, please email grants@ﬂa-keys.com.

Publish: February 5 & 19 and March 5 & 19, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

BIG PINE KEY, FL 33043

Attorney for Personal Representative: Anthony J. Barrows

Attorney for Personal Representative

Florida Bar Number: 0662569

WRIGHT BARROWS PLLC

30410 Sea Grape Terr. Ste. 2

Big Pine Key, FL 33043

Telephone: (305) 743-8118 Fax: (305) 489-0307

E-mail: Tony@keysclosings.com

Publish: March 19 & 26, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA FILE NO. 25-CP-000411-P IN RE: ESTATE OF LLOYD MERLIN LANDMAN

Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS & NOTICE OF ANCILLARY ADMINISTRATION TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE AND ALL OTHER PERSONS INTERESTED IN SAID ESTATE:

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the ancillary administration of the Estate of LLOYD MERLIN LANDMAN, Deceased, of KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN File number 25-0411 is pending in the Circuit Court in and for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is the Monroe County Courthouse, Probate Division, 88770 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The Ancillary Personal Representatives of this estate are TODD L. LANDMAN, of 7591 N. Noffke, Caledonia, MI 49316, SHAWN G. LANDMAN of 8864 Vincent Ave SE, Alto, Mi 49302 and KELLY L. LANDMAN of 3809 Murray View Drive, Lowell, MI 49331. The name and address of the attorney for the Ancillary Personal Representatives is set forth below. All persons having claims or demands against this estate are required, WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE, to file with the clerk of the above court a written statement of any claim or demand they may have. Each claim must be in writing and must indicate the basis for the claim, the name and address of the creditor or his agent or attorney, and the amount claimed.

If the claim is not yet due, the date when it will become due shall be stated. If the claim is contingent or unliquidated, the nature of the uncertainty shall be stated. If the claim is secured, the security shall be described. The claimant shall deliver sufficient copies of the claim to the clerk of the above styled court to enable the clerk to mail one copy to the Ancillary Personal Representative.

Any and all creditors of the decedent and any other persons having claims or demands against the decedent's estate including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The dated of the first Publication

of this notice is March 12, 2026. Signed on this 22nd day of January 2026.

TODD L LANDMAN

DUBOW, DUBOW & WALLACE

Attorneys for Petitioner 215 North Federal Highway Dania Beach, Florida 33004 (954) 925-8228

By:

DAVID J. WALLACE

Fla. Bar No.: 064890 email: david@ddwlaw.net

Signed on this 22 day of January, 2026.

SHAWN G. LANDMAN

DUBOW, DUBOW & WALLACE

Attorneys for Petitioner 215 North Federal Highway Dania Beach, Florida 33004 (954) 925-8228

By:

DAVID J. WALLACE Fla. Bar No.: 064890 email: david@ddwlaw.net

Signed on this 27 day of January, 2026

KELLY L. LANDMAN

DUBOW, DUBOW & WALLACE

Attorneys for Petitioner 215 North Federal Highway Dania Beach, Florida 33004 (954) 925-8228

By: DAVID J. WALLACE

Fla. Bar No.: 064890 email: david@ddwlaw.net

Publish: March 12 & 19, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 26-CP-51-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF NORMAN CARL HENNINGER Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Norman Carl Henninger, deceased, whose date of death was December 4, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

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

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

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

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: March 12, 2026. Personal Representative: Eric Henninger 212 E. Palm Ave. Orange, California 92866

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner

Attorney

Florida Bar Number: 283134

RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway

MARATHON, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-6022

Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com

Publish: March 12 & 19, 2026

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION/SALE FOR NON-JUDICIAL TIMESHARE

FORECLOSURE RE: MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB II ASSOCIATION, INC. MONROE County, Florida Non-Judicial Timeshare foreclosure process

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION/SALE FOR NON-JUDICIAL TIMESHARE FORECLOSURE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to an action for nonjudicial foreclosure of timeshare units on the Claim of Lien, which is dated October 7, 2025 and was recorded October 24, 2025 in the Official Records of Monroe County, Florida in Official Records Book 3350, Page 1898 as Instrument Number 2519862, Florida, I will sell, to the highest and best bidder for cash, at MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB CONDOMINIUM II RESORT Manager’s Office, 4560 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 on the 14th day of APRIL, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the following described real property located in MONROE County, Florida, to wit: Annual Timeshare Periods as set forth below in MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB CONDOMINIUM II, according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof, recorded in Official Records Book 859, at Page 786, as amended in Official Records Book 874, at Page 2169, all of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida and all subsequent amendments and exhibits thereto.

Unit Number: Use Period:

A 102 33 A 202 12 B 101 44 C 101 04, 05 C 201 23, 24, 39 D 202 28, 45 E 201 40, 41 TO: Unit Owner(s) Last Known Address Annual Timeshare Use Period(s): Amount due: Gary R Albritton and Vicki L Albritton 7618 Krupp Road Belding, MI 48809

C201/23

$1,3521.08 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

Christie Alotta 110 Long Pond Road Wading River, NY 11792

A 102/33

$2,565.36 with a per diem amount of $1.27 from February 2, 2025 C 201/39

$2,565.37 with a per diem amount of $1.27 from February 2, 2025

Manuel Cantero and Maria Cantero Calle 37 Num 64-15

Medellin, Colombia

C 201/24

$3,269.453 with a per diem amount of $1.61 from February 2, 2025

Mollie Childs P.O. Box 573

Bridgeville, DE 19933

A202/12

$1,521.08 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

B101/44

$1,521.08 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

Mollie Childs and James Witzenburg P.O. Box 573

Bridgeville, DE 19933

B 202/45

$1,521.08 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

Carol Cole

136 NW 10th Court

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

C101/04

$1,521.10 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

C101/05

$1,521.10 with a per diem amount of $0.75 from February 2, 2025

Brandon M Duhon P.O. Box 608

Lake Charles, LA 70602

E201/40

$5,891.39 with a per diem amount of $2.91 from February 2, 2025

E201/41

$5,891.39 with a per diem amount of $2.91 from February 2, 2025 Paul Knight and Margaret Knight 4 The Green, Drayton Abington, Oxfordshire OX14 4JA England

D 202/28

$3,269.53 with a per diem amount of $1.61 from February 2, 2025 The assessment lien created by the Claim of Lien was properly created and authorized pursuant to the timeshare instrument and applicable law, and the amounts secured by said lien are as set above. You may cure the default at any time prior to the public auction by paying the amount due, as set forth in this notice, to the undersigned Trustee at the address set forth below. THIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION/ SALE is dated this 2nd day of MARCH, 2026. I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of this NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION/SALE FOR NON-JUDICIAL TIMESHARE FORECLOSURE has been furnished by regular First-Class U.S. Mail to each of the obligors at the above listed addresses on this_2nd_ day of _MARCH_, 2026. THOMAS L AVRUTIS, AS TRUSTEE FOR MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB II ASSOCIATION, INC 201 Fletcher Avenue, 2nd Floor Sarasota, FL 34237 Telephone (941) 955-7300 Facsimile (941) 953-7625 email: john@timesharenjf.com

Publish: March 12 & 19, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED

AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.-

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

Dockage up to 60’ Islamorada - Bayside, 50 amp service. Price LOWER than marina. Call 860-982-4517

Boat Slip &/or Rack for Rent in Marathon at The Boat House, Vaca Key. Call Tony 561-346-6400

EMPLOYMENT

PART-TIME

CAPTAIN – MARATHON. Local captain needed to run owner’s 55’ twin engine trawler while owner fishes. Sunrise–2/3 PM typical. Good opportunity for newer captain to log hours on a larger boat. Pay DOE. Call/Text 970-901-1138

Handyman needed for residence in Marathon. High Pay! Call: 305-395-0478

Boat rental company in Marathon looking for help with boat detailing & boat cleaning. Call 305-481-7006

HIRING: Office

Administrator in Marathon.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), experience with QuickBooks or other accounting software preferred and must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Full time – Mon-Fri. Pay TBD - based on skill. Email: Natalie@cecflk.com

The SS Wreck & Galley Grill (mile marker 59) is looking for a line cooks and fryers. Self-motivated, experience very helpful but will train, quick learner, and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515 or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com

Coast To Coast Pizza Company is looking for pizza makers and cashiers. Self-motivated, experience very helpful, quick learner, and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515 or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com

Part-time Office Clerk, $18/hr, Thu/Fri/Sat, 9:30am-7pm. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

Experienced Fulltime Line Cook needed at the Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club. 10AM - 5PM, Good Pay. Small friendly staff. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

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.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Grounds Caretaker, Full-time Carpenter, Electrician & Housing Assistant. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: greenel@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 225. 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.

Hiring for busy pediatric office in Tavernier. FullTime Medical Assistant/ RN - Pediatric experience preferred. Must multitask in fast-paced setting. Also hiring Full-Time Front Desk Staff - Experience with insurance verification and EMR required. Strong multitasking skills. Pay is commensurate with experience. Email resume to: flkeyspeds@gmail.com HIRED IN LESS THAN FIVE WEEKS!!!

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-7430844 or E-mail: Anneke @keysweekly.com

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

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

TURN YOUR CARDS INTO CASH! Marathon collector buying any and all Pokemon cards & collections. Call 401-256-0645.

HOUSING FOR RENT

Key Largo- 6 months+ canal front rental on Blackwater Sound. 40' dockage, 1 BR/1 BA Trailer with 1,000 sq. ft. living area. $2,300/mo. 904-2379090 or 904-338-1207

3 BR/2 BA home for rent in Key Colony Beach. 75' premium dock. $4,000/month + utilities. F/L/S 786-229-0228

Studio rental in Marathon, long-term, fully furnished, price includes water, electric, internet, gas, pest, and lawn @ $2200 all in. Call or text 3054330515.

HOUSING FOR RENT

2BR/1BA Duplex in Big Pine Key for rent. With boat & wildlife reserve access. Furn. $3500/ mo - unfurn. $3300/mo. Call Ray 413-6953043 or 305-897-0563

PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-7430844 or E-mail: Anneke @keysweekly.com

VACATION RENTAL

3BR/2BA Contemporary Home for rent on Big Pine Key. Pool, 40' dock w/davits, screened-in porch. Sleeps 6 ppl. Avail. month of July & Sept. 2026. $7,000/mo. Call Brian at 267-374-7063

YARD SALES

PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

FAMILY MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Kirk of the Keys in Marathon is seeking a part-time Family Ministry Director to help make it simple for families in the Florida Keys to connect to Jesus and one another.

This role works alongside the Senior Pastor to oversee children’s ministry (birth–5th grade), support family discipleship, equip volunteers, and help create an environment where kids and parents are known and welcomed.

10–12 hours per week, ﬂexible schedule, salary based on experience.

To apply or learn more visit: KirkoftheKeys.org or contact Josh Roberts at 484.757.9119

SUDOKU SOLUTION

FULL-TIME POSITION

PUBLIC WORKS LABORER

The City of Key Colony Beach is seeking a full-time Public Works team member. The position includes completing daily tasks and working on projects, ensuring the safe and ef cient maintenance and repair of public infrastructure such as roads, right of way, stormwater systems, parks, facilities, vehicles and equipment.

Salary: $58,000 to $75,000 DOQ

Bene ts include Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance, Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays, and the Florida Retirement System (FRS).

Application forms can be found at www.keycolonybeach.net; see “I WANT TO” then “APPLY FOR A JOB.”

Equal Opportunity Employer

Submit resume and application by mail or in-person to: City of Key Colony Beach

Attn.: Michael Guarino

P.O. Box 510141

Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 Or email Michael.guarino@keycolonybeach.net

OUTSIDE SALE REPRESENTATIVE

Company car & cell phone provided, salary $50k-$90k. Must be bilingual.

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Customer service, full-time, we will train.

Apply by e-mail: Yos@jms .com

Apply in person: 94775 Overseas Highway, Key Largo

FLORIDA KEYS MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT

is accepting applications for the following positions:

FOG TRUCK DRIVERS

Full-time, located in Key West

For more information visit: keysmosquito.org/current-openings 305-292-7190

D'Asign Source is seeking the following professionals. Overtime and beneﬁts are available.

Home Décor

Sales Consultant

Customer-focused sales professional with experience in retail or customer service. Creativity and interest in home décor a must. Help customers discover pieces that turn everyday spaces into something special.

Kitchen Design Specialist

Individual who brings creativity, functionality, and style together in kitchen and bath design. Design kitchens that become the heart of the home.

Associate

Interior Designer

Detail-oriented and creative individual to assist with residential design projects. Education or experience in Interior Design required. Help bring inspired residential interiors to life.

For complete details and to apply, please visit DAsignSource.com/careers

FLORIDA KEYS TERRITORY

An established publisher is seeking an independent sales representative to expand retail placement of two Florida Keys guidebooks throughout the Keys market.

Target accounts include specialty retail, gift shops, bookstores, marine businesses, hospitality venues, and high-traﬃc tourist locations.

This is a commission-only role oﬀering 50% commission of net proﬁt and repeat sales potential. The ideal representative already maintains an active route within the Florida Keys and can integrate this product line into their existing portfolio.

Preferred Qualiﬁcations

• Existing retail/hospitality client base in Monroe County

• Proven wholesale sales experience

• Strong local market relationships

• Professional presentation and follow-through Please respond to capyjlj@gmail.com with territory coverage, current lines represented and relevant experience. For more information, please call Jeﬀ at 865-368-3280.

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

MARINA CASHIERS

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

DOCKHANDS

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

BOAT RENTAL STAFF

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

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

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

SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN

(High Voltage Substation Electrical Technician)

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualiﬁcations and experience: $46.38/hr. - $51.94/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.

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

I & E TECHNICIAN

INSTRUMENT & ELECTRICAL

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualiﬁcations and experience: $46.38/hour - $51.94/hour

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.

Pay: $160.00 per day

Guaranteed Pay + Tips + Commission. Affordable employee housing available.

Job Description: Dive Instructor No bad weather days!

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time Flexible Schedule Call 305-407-3262 or email info@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com 11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON

Electronic Maintenance Tech wanted. Lower Keys position, reporting in Key West. Full time job with beneﬁts, vacation time and holidays. Apply at keysschools.com or call 305-293-1400 ext. 53398

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

DRC provides for the well-being of its employees with a competitive package including: a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays/vacation/sick days, an employee assistance program, in addition to, life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee. EOE

shbayresort.com

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 (CAT)

Prevention Specialist

Case Manager (Adult)

KEY WEST

Case Manager (Children)

Mental Health Technician (PT or FT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) Crisis Counselor

Behavioral Health Counselor (Children) Prevention Specialist

MARATHON

HR Assistant/Recruiter

Mental Health Technician Driver Registered Nurse (FT, PT)

*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (FT)

*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 Shifts (PT)

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

team/Job Opportunities/location/zip

NOW HIRING: Human Resources Assistant/Recruiter

Well respected national non-proﬁt (WestCare) is hiring to provide Recruiting & HR administrative duties for the Guidance/Care Center.

Experience in recruiting and/or HR req. (preferably in Fl Keys). Marathon oﬃce w/ some travel. Must be an organized, accurate & independent professional. Minimum GED/HS diploma required, as well as, background & drug screen. Competitive pay/exceptional beneﬁts. Apply at Westcare.com/get involved/ join our team/job opportunities/location/33050. EEOC/DFWP