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From the Florida Keys to France, a boundary buoy belonging to the National Marine Sanctuary trekked across the Atlantic Ocean. The Sand Key boundary buoy traveled 4,500 miles to a beach on France’s west coast. These buoys mark the boundaries of special sanctuary areas.
Painter Ruben Alpizar’s new show, ‘Alice: Inhabiting the Absurd,’ opens at Gallery on Greene on Saturday, April 4. See page 35. CONTRIBUTED
ARE THERE REALLY THIS MANY DISABLED DRIVERS DOWNTOWN?
Key West officials crack down on handicap parking fraud
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Either an epidemic of disabilities has been afflicting the extreme northwest corner of Key West, or workers at downtown businesses have been gaming the system and using handicap parking placards to park for free all day in on-street parking spaces that would otherwise cost $6 an hour.
A recent week of observation by the Keys Weekly noted two particular city blocks that seem to have been hit hardest by this potential cluster of medical disabilities — the northernmost block of Simonton Street between Front Street and Simonton Beach, and the tiny Fitzpatrick Lane connecting Front and Greene streets behind the Kino Sandal store.
On March 30, seven of 10 cars that were parked in the first block of Simonton Street had handicap parking placards hanging from the rearview mirror. The blue color of the permits indicates a permanent parking permit, as opposed to temporary red placards that are granted for short-term use, such as when a person is recovering from surgery, a broken bone or is pregnant.
The permanent blue placards, which describe all of the ones hanging in windshields downtown, are valid for four years at a time.
“But even when those four years are up, the holder of the permit just needs to renew their placard online for another four years; there’s no requirement that they get a renewed medical authorization from a doctor affirming that they struggle with mobility or are on oxygen,” Key West parking director John Wilkins told the Keys Weekly on March 30.
In order to obtain a handicap placard, a driver must get a doctor to document their disability and sign a medical authorization form.
Some doctors in Key West and throughout the state are known to be generous in authorizing handicap parking placards, Wilkins said.
The driver then takes that medical authorization form to their local tax collector’s office or motor vehicle office, which issues the placard. A unique identifying number is assigned to each placard so law enforcement and parking officers can verify ownership of a placard, as they have been known to be stolen and used fraudulently, Wilkins said.
The Keys Weekly has asked the county tax collector’s office for the number of handicap parking placards that have been issued by the Key West office for each of the past five years, and is awaiting that report.
“Florida is dealing with a lot of handicapped parking fraud, and the city of Key West, for the past few months, has been participating in a statewide enhanced enforcement effort to combat that fraud,” Wilkins said. “Our parking officers have been patrolling areas where the placards are commonly used and they enter the placard number to verify that it is associated with the parked car. If the placard doesn’t match the vehicle or the registered owner, then we write a citation.”
Wilkins emphasized that the placards are attached to individual people, not vehicles, “so anyone with a grandmother who has a handicap placard borrows that placard, often to park for free downtown,” he said. “But that driver has to be able to prove they were transporting the permit holder and not using it for themselves, which is often the case.”
The city of Key West gives drivers with handicap placards four free hours of parking in city-owned lots and on city streets in spaces typically considered metered parking that costs $6 per hour.
The Keys Weekly’s observations over the past week noted the seven cars were parked at the end of Simon-
Key West parking officers issued eight citations to vehicles that were abusing handicap parking privileges in the northernmost block of Simonton Street this week. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
ton Street for at least eight hours at a time, as they were observed at 8 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. in the same onstreet parking spots.
If they were fraudulently obtaining eight hours of free parking each day, just those seven cars are potentially costing the city an estimated $100,000 in annual parking revenues.
After the Keys Weekly contacted Wilkins about the prevalence of handicapped placards on Simonton Street and Fitzpatrick Lane, Wilkins instructed the city’s parking officers to investigate those areas. And by March 31, more than eight tickets had been issued to the supposedly handicapped drivers who had exceeded the four hours of free parking the city grants them.
“They get a $65 ticket for overtime parking, because after four hours, if they’re still parked there, then it’s the same as if they had only paid for four hours of parking and their time had expired,” Wilkins said.
Stay tuned to keysweekly.com for updates to this enforcement activity and the results of the public record request to determine how many handicap parking placards have been issued in recent years.
Author also raised money for local scholarships with lecture, Q&A
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Eugene Robinson has the credentials to be an imperious political snob and an inside-the-Beltway bore. He did, after all, win the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for his political commentary in the Washington Post about the rise of a then-little-known Illinois senator named Barack Obama. His 35 years at the Post gave him access to the corrupt corners of Capitol Hill and he’s a regular TV news commentator. He’s also an acclaimed author of books that examine race, politics and history, including his recently released “Freedom Lost, Freedom Won,” which blends his personal family history with a broader look at America’s racial history, from slavery to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Yes, Robinson could be an insufferable elitist. He’s anything but.
Gracious, engaging and curious, Robinson spent last week in Key West, participating in local media interviews, speaking to high school students and offering his political predictions for America at a fundraising event at The Studios of Key West to benefit the Take Stock in Children scholarship program.
Robinson also took the time to join the Keys Weekly Podcast to discuss his latest book, “Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America.” The Pulitzer Prize-winner also dove into the current state of
media, including his recent departure from the Washington Post. Robinson’s visit to the southernmost city was also in support of Take Stock in Children, which provides scholarships to local students across the Keys. He headlined an evening lecture and Q&A at The Studios of Key West, addressing the topic, “What Will America Look Like in 3½ Years?” The engaged audience followed up with questions about Robinson’s thoughts on potential 2028 presidential candidates and the policies of the current administration.
Earlier that day, on March 26, Robinson joined Key West Weekly Editor Mandy Miles and Marathon businessman Josh Mothner on the Keys Weekly Podcast, where the trio discussed journalism and social media, and why Robinson remains optimistic when it comes to local news reporting and the importance of teaching young people to consider the source when consuming information.
Check out the Eugene Robinson podcast episode at keysweekly. com/podcast — and meet one of the nation’s most gracious, accessible and insightful media and political giants.
Scan the QR code to hear the Keys Weekly Podcast featuring an interview with Eugene Robinson.
Keys Weekly editor Mandy Miles, left, moderates a discussion and audience Q&A with acclaimed writer and political commentator Eugene Robinson at a March 26 fundraiser for Take Stock in Children at The Studios of Key West. CONTRIBUTED
Key West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art
Celebrating Cultural Resilience CUBAN ART TOUR – April 20-24, 2026
Ruben Alpizar INHABITING THE ABSURD
Artist’s Reception
Saturday, April 4th, 2026, 5:00-8:00 pm
The Labyrinth, from the Series: Alice, 2024 (Diptych), 28” x 39” Watercolor on Paper
Gallery on Greene presents “Alice: Inhabiting the Absurd,” a focused selection of approximately fteen new and recent works by Ruben Alpizar, opening April 4th.
This exhibition highlights Alpizar’s masterful technique—rooted in the tradition of the Old European Masters—while showcasing the conceptual depth that has made him one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Cuban art. The works interlace art-historical references, personal mythology, and themes of memory, migration, and identity, o ering collectors pieces rich in symbolism and narrative.
Central to the exhibition is Alpizar’s Alice series, featuring the artist’s daughter as a symbolic Alice in Wonderland. These works explore childhood, displacement, and the search for belonging, blending the dreamlike with the contemporary in a way that has become signature to Alpizar’s practice.
Also featured are selections from his Small Bonds series, honoring the trials and tribulations of the water and electric crises in Cuba.
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MAN FACES ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE
Greg Tolan, 66, arrested after video shows roosters being shot in park
Aman who was caught on video shooting roosters with a pellet gun in Bayview Park in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, March 27, turned himself in to police that afternoon.
Gregory Wayne Tolan showed up at the Key West Police Department after learning a warrant had been obtained for his arrest on suspicion of animal cruelty. The video of him shooting a rooster in the park early that morning had prompted community outrage as it circulated on social media, where some users posted his full name and address — mak-
ing it easy for detectives to locate him.
In the video, a witness filmed Tolan walking away from the writhing bird holding a rifle. The video shows a rooster on the ground moving erratically and appearing to be suffering with what appeared to be blood present.
The witness told officers that the man walked through the neighborhood while carrying the rifle, and during this time, the witness encountered another individual who identified Tolan.
Within less than five hours, officers obtained a warrant for Tolan’s arrest. Tolan turned himself in at the Monroe County Detention Center, where he is being held on $25,000 bond.
— Contributed
‘ACCOMPLICE’ CLOSES WATERFRONT SEASON
Twisty thriller combines murder mystery with comic farce
Waterfront Playhouse wraps its 87th theater season with ‘Accomplice’ by Rupert Holmes, running April 8-18.
The Waterfront Playhouse brings its 87th season to a close with “Accomplice” by Rupert Holmes. Directed by artistic director Patrick New, this
limited engagement begins with a preview performance on April 8, opens April 9 and runs through April 18.
Set in an English country cottage, “Accomplice” begins as a seemingly classic tale of betrayal and intrigue. But nothing is quite what it seems. The play twists and reinvents itself again and again, pulling the audience deeper into its game of deception.
The production features an ensemble of Key West actors, including Jessica Miano Kruel, Arthur Crocker, Paul del Gatto and Tori Wheeler.
Following “Wait Until Dark” last spring and the recent musical “Once,” “Accomplice” serves as the nightcap to a season.
With its fast pace, sharp dialogue and constant surprises, “Accomplice” rewards close attention.
Tickets and more information are at waterfrontplayhouse.org. — Contributed
TIME IS ABOUT TO TELL 50-YEAROLD STORY
What did students seal in a 1976 capsule? Find out on April 6
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
This is a cool story. School board member Sue Woltanski called me about it Monday evening.
“For years, an envelope has hung on the bulletin board outside the school superintendent’s office,” Woltanski said. “Typed on the front are instructions to open the envelope on April 6, 2026.”
The envelope, yellowed with age, is dated April 6, 1976, the year of the nation’s bicentennial, when schools all over the country sealed containers with items they thought would reflect the era.
“Open this envelope on April 6, 2026 to find directions for unearthing the time capsule buried on April 6, 1976. Please keep this in a vault or other secure place until said date. Students of Project G.O., May Sands School.”
OK, so they didn’t follow the instructions exactly. At least the envelope was saved. As an insurance policy, the students sent identical notes to the county library, the then-mayor and the then-principal of May Sands School.
“I believe the school district
has been over at the school with a metal detector or ground-penetrating radar or something, and they do think there’s something there, in a spot they sort of expect it to have been buried,” Woltanski said, joking that she “keeps thinking about Al Capone’s vault.”
In April 1986, TV personality Geraldo Rivera hosted a live, twohour TV special titled, “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults.” Broadcast from the Lexington Hotel in Chicago, the highly hyped, record-breaking special ultimately revealed only dirt and empty bottles, according to CBS News.
School district officials and students will unearth and open the time capsule at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 6, exactly 50 years from the day it was sealed.
“I have to assume there are still some people in town who were students at May Sands in 1976,” Woltanski said. “I’d love for them to hear about this and attend the opening.”
What items did the students choose in 1976 to summarize their era for students 50 years in the future? Find out on Monday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at May Sands School on United Street.
Greg Tolan
A 50-year-old envelope will be opened Monday April 6 to reveal the location of a time capsule buried exactly 50 years ago. It’s time to open it. SUE WOLTANSKI/Contributed
THERESA AXFORD LAUNCHES SCHOOL BOARD RUN
Longtime principal & former superintendent challenges Darren Horan
Following her recent retirement from a 48-year career with Monroe County Schools, where she worked as a teacher, principal and ultimately superintendent, Theresa Axford is running for the District 1 school board seat against incumbent Darren Horan.
“I want to continue working for our children. My commitment to this community remains as strong as it was when I first arrived in 1976,” Axford said in a press release formally announcing her campaign.
“In a district as unique as the Florida Keys, there is no substitute for my experience in the day-today operations of our schools,” she said. “My candidacy is rooted in the belief that to effectively oversee the education of thousands, one must understand every layer of the system. In my tenure as superintendent, we navigated the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic while hitting major milestones. We successfully doubled our rainy-day savings to $28 million. We secured millions in state and federal funding to move forward with vital teacher housing projects on Trumbo Road and a new district headquarters on United Street. With the help of our local legislators, I have spent many hours learning how to navigate Tallahassee’s legislative sessions to secure the resources our schools deserve. On the school board, I will use that experience to ensure these initiatives are not just maintained, but completed,” Axford said.
She added her belief that students have innovative ideas and a right to be heard.
“Student voices must guide our innovation moving forward,” she said. “Our youth are the primary stakeholders in our system, and they possess unique insights into the modern classroom.”
Axford said she is running on a platform that brings students into the decision-making process regarding curriculum and instruction.
“Education should be a collaborative process, not a top-down mandate,” she said. “I am advocating for: formalized student advisory roles in curriculum discussions; direct feedback loops regarding the effectiveness of new instructional technologies; (and) ensuring our delivery methods reflect the diverse needs of today’s demands.
“My goal is to blend the proven strategies that have made us a top-performing district with a forward-thinking approach that empowers our students,” Axford said. “I am asking for your support to bring a lifetime of experience and a renewed focus on studentcentered leadership to the school district. Together, we can honor our history while boldly embracing the voices of our future.”
Each of the five school board members represents a district, or region, of the Florida Keys, but they are elected by all voters in Monroe County. School board members earn an annual salary of about $38,600.
— Contributed
CHELYN SHAW FILES FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEAT
Key Largo resident will challenge Woltanski
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Key Largo resident and captain Chelyn Shaw recently filed to run for Monroe County School Board District 5 seat, challenging incumbent Dr. Sue Woltanski in the upcoming election on Aug. 18
A mother of three and grandmother of seven, Shaw has called Key Largo home for 21 years, though her time in the Keys began well before she became a full-time resident. She noted her family first bought property in the Keys in 1946.
She fondly remembers diving the Spiegel when it was first sunk in 2002. But her affinity for the water actually began in Texas. She sold her dive shop there, making the permanent move to the Keys in 2005 to start looking for the perfect boat. Meanwhile, she enjoyed teaching scuba as a local scuba instructor for a number of years until starting her charter and yacht delivery business in 2010. Shaw holds a 200-ton U.S. Coast Guard license and, preferring staying closer to home these days, she specializes in yacht and estate management.
Shaw also served on the Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department many years as a member of the water emergency team (WET), taking to the ocean to look for everything from persons, vehicles, divers and boats to even searching for weapons used in criminal cases.
She currently serves in elected roles as vice president of the Upper Keys Republican Club and Committeewoman for the Republican Executive Committee of Monroe County.
Shaw states that she is dedicated to bringing commonsense, Conservative, Christian values to steer the direction of education in our school district to benefit children, their families, educators and the Monroe County community as a whole.
“With over six years of higher education in engineering and business administration and successful business ownership, I bring a unique blend of technical and administrative
Sue Woltanski in the upcoming election. CONTRIBUTED
expertise to a board that, I believe, desperately needs it,” she said.
Besides teaching the science of diving, scuba, and First Aid/CPR, Shaw also previously taught as adjunct faculty at her local university, she instructed the Boy Scouts for many seasons at Abaco High Adventure Seabase. And she currently teaches Sunday school at a prominent local church in Key Largo.
“I’ve been teaching Sunday school since my eldest daughter was 5 years old,” she said. “It is because of my love for children that I am fiercely protective of them that I will guard your parental authority and family, and ensure that Monroe County schools remain a place of learning. Because school is not a place for activism or personal agendas.
“While extra counselors and social workers may be helpful, they are not suitable replacements for parental authority and family in your children’s lives,” she continued. Shaw believes parents are the primary authority, and not elected school board members, not schools or government.
Shaw said the upcoming election for Monroe County District 5 presents a clear distinction between two “fundamentally different directions for the schools.”
“As educational funds for the county are allocated/ assigned on a per child basis, the school board should want for each child what best meets each child’s needs, whether a child’s education funds follow them to public, charter, private, Montessori, online, or home school,” she said.
Theresa Axford
Chelyn Shaw is running for the Monroe County School Board’s District 5 seat against Dr.
LUIS GONZALEZ ENTERS SCHOOL BOARD RACE
Former Marathon mayor files to succeed John Dick
Afamiliar face from the Marathon City Council dais will look to earn retiring Monroe County School Board chair
John Dick’s seat this fall. On March 25, former Marathon mayor and two-term councilman Luis Gonzalez Sr. officially announced his candidacy for the District 4 seat, representing the majority of Marathon all the way up through Plantation Key and the west end of Tavernier.
“I’ve never not been involved with the school system,” he told the Weekly by phone on March 31 when asked what spurred his decision. “I’m a lifer.”
A 1985 graduate of Key West High School, Gonzalez joined the MCSD staff in 1989, working at first as a teacher’s aide before transitioning into the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs at Stanley Switlik Elementary. He later shifted to front office administrative roles before departing in 2000.
“I left full-time employment, but then I could say that I pretty much became a full-time volunteer,” he said. “We had kids in the system, I was part of PTOs, SACs and one of the founding members of the Booster Club (in Marathon). I feel like I spent my entire life either as a student, a worker or a volunteer, so this was the natural next step if I want to continue serving.”
A former co-owner of Gonzalez Brothers Landscaping, he earned his two city council terms by finishing with the highest vote totals in both the 2018 and 2021 Marathon elections. In June 2025, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to the board of directors for the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority – a position he says he’ll maintain throughout his potential school board service. Today, he owns and operates Cuban breakfast and lunch eatery LJ’s Cafe in Marathon with his family.
He said that while the Keys have evolved and changed since his days as a student, his time spent in Key West and deep understanding of the way the small Florida Keys community rallies around student events would en-
files his paperwork with Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies to run for the Monroe County School Board’s District 4 seat. CONTRIBUTED
able him to serve effectively from Key Largo to the Southernmost City.
“Whether it’s a band event, a sporting event, theatrical event, whatever the case may be, these communities come together for these kids,” he said.
Giving a nod to the Keys’ A-rated district, Gonzalez said his priorities include increasing teacher salaries for advantages in recruiting, while controlling any expenses “that aren’t going directly into the classroom. … Things that we want, but we really don’t need.”
Citing the district’s upcoming Trumbo Point school employee housing as a major milestone for Lower Keys teachers, he told the Weekly he’d support “wherever we have an opportunity to get (more) of that housing in the ground.”
Gonzalez’s family members have maintained their own close ties to Keys schools; his sons Luis Jr. and Joey are educators at Marathon High, while his two daughters-in-law Stacie and Ryana both work at Switlik.
At press time, Gonzalez is the only declared candidate for the District 4 seat. While school board members must live in the districts they represent, they are elected by voters Keyswide. School board members earn an annual salary of roughly $38,600.
Luis Gonzalez, left,
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
WARNING: SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO CLOSE FOR RACE ON APRIL 11
Plan ahead: 3-hour closure halts traffic & alters bus schedules
The Seven Mile Bridge will close from 6 to 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 for the annual 7 Mile Bridge Run, when 1,500 runners will cross the span on foot, starting at the west (or bottom) end and heading east, finishing in Marathon. ANDY NEWMAN/Contributed
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Pay attention. Plan ahead. Be patient. (Three directives that challenge many longtime Keys locals on our best day.) And yet, here goes…
The Seven Mile Bridge will close for three hours the morning of Saturday, April 11 for the annual 7 Mile Bridge Run. The bridge will be closed from 6 to 9 a.m., but even after it reopens, traffic typically takes an hour or so to spread out and return to normal, said Adam Linhardt, spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
“All motorists should plan to be across the bridge by 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 to avoid being stuck on one side or the other,” Linhardt said.
Also, Key West officials are reminding those who ride the Lower Keys Shuttle, which travels between Key West and Marathon, that shuttle service will be delayed on April 11.
“Shuttle service from Marathon heading south will start at 9:21 a.m. at the Fairfield Inn (MM
53.5), and service from Key West heading north will begin at 9:26 a.m. at Whitehead and Eaton streets,” says Key West spokeswoman Alyson Crean.
So if you end up parked on U.S. 1 somewhere with traffic at a complete standstill, you’ll have only yourself to blame.
And while you’re deciding whether to wait it out, turn around or find a spot that serves mimosas, just know that 1,500 “lucky” runners will be moving faster than you as they cross the iconic bridge on foot from west to east. That means south to north, or bottom to top, for those of us who fail to acknowledge the actual geography of the island chain, and instead operate on the incorrect premise that the Florida Keys are arranged in a straight, north-south line. They are not. And if we actually looked at a map, we’d acknowledge the famous bridge truly is situated in a more east-west position.
As for those runners, I’ll never understand how anyone would consider themselves “lucky” when running seven miles before 7 a.m. on a Saturday. But you do you — and godspeed, you lucky weirdos.
SERGEANT CHARGED FOR ALLEGEDLY PROVIDING FALSE WORK TIMESHEET
Eric Mixon.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Eric Mixon, 53, was arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on March 26 on seven counts of official misconduct for falsifying his work timesheets.
Mixon, who was hired on Jan. 18, 1995, retired earlier this month after being interviewed during the investigation.
A comprehensive review of his work-related activity and equipment, among other evidence demonstrated Mixon — a school resource officer sergeant — claimed full workdays for a substantial number of days in which he never left his home.
“I take officer integrity and fiscal responsibility very seriously and I am committed to being transparent when both positive and negative examples arise,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
— Keys Weekly staff report
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “The Hounding” by Xenobe Purvis Why: He’d rather they were dogs than damaged girls. Wow, this was a great read! A gothic-style tale taking place in a small village in the south, it speaks to feminism and how the view of women can be so easily skewed, as well as the dangers we face when fear and groupthink are given power over truth and rational thought. It’s beautifully written and features the POV of a variety of characters, which really makes the story so compelling. It’s a shorter novel, perfect for an “in-between” read.
Where: You can borrow this as a regular or large print book, e-book or e-audiobook from the Monroe County Public Library.
How: You can request books, including e-books and e-audiobooks, online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/contact-us.
Recommended by: Kaleila Freeman, senior library assistant, Big Pine Key library branch
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/post/ shelf-help.
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
KEY WESTERS PROTEST THE PRESIDENT & HIS POLICIES
Island city takes part in worldwide No Kings
rally
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Nearly 2,000 people gathered at Key West’s Bayview Park and lined Truman Avenue for the island city’s No Kings rally on March 28. Nationwide, more than 3,100 events drew 8 million people to what would become the largest, single-day, nonviolent protest in U.S. history, according to No Kings organizers.
In Key West, locals and visitors — all unpaid protesters — held signs embracing diversity, condemning autocracy, defending immigrants, criticizing ICE, protecting voting rights and celebrating
An estimated 8 million people took part in one of the 3,100 No Kings rally events that occurred throughout the United States on March 28. Rallies also were held throughout Europe, in Kenya, Australia, Iceland and the Arctic Circle. NO KINGS/Contributed
the U.S. Constitution. One sign used President Donald Trump’s own words against him. Above an unattractively altered photo of the president were the words, “Quiet, Piggy,” echoing the president’s outburst aboard Air Force One in November, when a female reporter asked him a question about the Epstein files.
CUBAN SANDWICH THROWDOWN GETS BIGGER & BETTER
Fifth annual contest helps Sigsbee Charter School
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Seasoned pork, sliced ham and tart pickles surrounded by Cuban bread and pressed to a perfect crisp produces a Key West classic — the Cuban mix.
Now add a few secret ingredients, some unexpected flavors and an unprecedented crisping technique and you’ve got yourself a contest.
More specifically, you have the fifth annual Cuban Sandwich Throwdown, set for noon on Saturday, April 25 at the Green Parrot Bar.
It’s a pretty perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I speak from experience, having had the honor of sitting at the judges’ table for each of the past four events.
Now in its fifth year, this brainchild of Marcia Weaver, owner of Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe, 425 Southard St., has reached the status of beloved local event — and fierce competition for island bragging rights.
This year’s throwdown on April 25 will feature entries from local restaurants, food trucks and independent chefs — but no one will know until the end who made
what, as all entries are identified only by a number or letter until the judges’ and the public’s votes are tallied.
The mission, as always, remains the same: Impress the judges and the public by serving the tastiest Cuban mix sandwich in one of two categories: traditional and nontraditional.
A $20 donation entitles each participant to a literal pile of sandwiches to sample — and a vote to help determine the people’s choice winner in each of the two categories.
This year, all proceeds benefit Sigsbee Charter School. QMitch once again will emcee the event, which will also feature live music. Key West artist Sean Dwyer will be live-painting the event, and Carolyn Guarini will introduce her Human Slot Machine game. (You have to see it to believe it.)
So save the date — and wear some stretchy pants — for the fifth annual Cuban Sandwich Throwdown.
For more information, or to enter, stop by Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe or contact Weaver at 305-5097075, fritascubanburgers@gmail. com or send a Facebook message through Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe Facebook page.
Key West’s No Kings rally on March 28 draws nearly 2,000 locals and visitors to Bayview Park to condemn the actions of President Donald Trump and his administration. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
The fifth annual Cuban Sandwich Throwdown is set for Saturday, April 25 at noon at the Green Parrot Bar. A $20 donation entitles an attendee to sample a dozen or more sandwiches, with all proceeds benefiting Sigsbee Charter School. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
MARK HEDDEN
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
There are basically two methods of birdwatching – you go out and move through a landscape and try to see what you can see, or you stay in one place and wait to see what pops up in front of you. I generally prefer the first method, as you see more birds that way, and also because I am not all that in touch with my patient side.
For a couple of days, though, I’d had the notion in my head of heading over to Fort Zach and sitting at a picnic table with a cheese toast, a con leche, and a pair of binoculars and seeing what I could see.
I’d been thinking it was too early for migration. April 15 is generally considered the date when things really get going, even if birds are not beholden to any calendar. But I’d been up on the roof of The Studios of Key West a week or so before and in the last light of day caught sight of the pointy-winged silhouette of a peregrine falcon as it flew overhead, crossed over the treetops, and landed on the communication tower on Southard Street. (Peregrines like to perch on the highest thing around.)
I hadn’t seen a peregrine since the southbound migration in the fall. It was possible there was a peregrine hanging around here all winter unnoticed, but it seemed doubtful.
Soon after, at the Botanical Gardens, I racked up 10 or so warbler species in about an hour. I’d been seeing most of those over the winter, but not in the same volume. And then there were the common grackles I’d heard from the outdoor shower after not hearing them since October.
I try not to think of the months between migration as the doldrums – there are still birds to see if you make the effort – but I do love those moments when the tide shifts, those times when the bird world is moving into action, when the cast of characters becomes uncertain and hard to predict.
Maybe it was still early in the season, but cheese toast and a potential parade of migrating birds. What a nice morning that would be.
When I finally had a gap in my schedule, I did the pro move and called Sandy’s a couple minutes before leaving the house, then stopped there and went to the back window. (The front window is for amateurs. At least in season.)
Things started to look grim on Butler Boulevard when traffic came to a halt and I realized there were at least 30 cars lined up ahead of me waiting to get into the park. I thought about turning around and heading over to Truman Waterfront to find a park bench, but it was unlikely to be birdy there. I thought about heading over to the Botanical Garden where
CHEESE TOAST, CON LECHE & TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT
I generally had good luck, but no doubt my cheese toast would cool and congeal before I made it there. Same if I waited until I could find a bench in the park, which didn’t seem all that likely.
So I sullenly ate my cheese toast and sipped my con leche in my idling truck, stuck behind a guy in a golf cart rocking out to high-volume Foreigner like it was the coolest thing in the world. (The body language of his two young sons indicated otherwise.)
I was cheered up when I saw a warbler of unknown species drop and disappear into one of the trees in the middle of the traffic circle closest to the entrance.
It was the last day of March, and the last day of my annual pass, and when I went through the gate it felt a little bit like getting away with something. As I was rolling up my window after scanning my card I heard the ratchet call of a belted kingfisher.
I parked in the third lot, near the golf cart guy, whose playlist had moved on to Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” which was an improvement. (“Oh my, my, oh hell, yes…”)
The wind was up and there were red flags at the heads of all the paths to the beach showing it was a hazardous day to swim.
I did a loop in the small hammock of native trees at the west end of the beachfront, and was thinking maybe it was too crowded to see any birds, but then an ovenbird, most often a denizen of the forest floor, hopped up to an eye level branch and gave me a decent look. Then a female black-and-white warbler barber-poled up the trunk of a buttonwood. Two species I’d been seeing all winter, but not in that spot.
In the parking lot I crossed paths with a woman who was yelling, “I’m trying to get there, but I’m wore out now,” into her phone.
At the head of the Fort View Nature Trail, a yellow prairie warbler leaped up and gave me a nice side view of all his yellowness. Prairie warblers are here year-round, but they are damn handsome birds.
Next there was a yellow-rumped warbler, which might have been there all winter, though probably wasn’t, and would definitely be moving north in the next week or two.
On the berm, a bird flew across the path in front of me and dropped down into the thicket. It looked a little larger than a warbler but much smaller than, say, a catbird. I figured I’d lost it, but decided to try to be at least a little patient.
It was tough with all the branches moving in the wind and the shadows all shifting around, but I caught sight of the bird for a millisecond and saw the brownish-olive body and the dark cap. Which made me think of a red-eyed vireo, a migrant that would probably continue on north soon.
But then I caught a better look at the bird when it faced me, and the dark throat stripes, which always remind me of the mustache of Lemmy, the lead singer of Motörhead. Which made it a black-whiskered vireo.
Black-whiskereds are a Caribbean species whose range stretches up into South Florida. And, as a species, they pretty much abandon the continent every fall to overwinter in the northeastern corner of South America.
A local migrant come home to roost. A definitive sign that the spring migration is on.
Key West Cultural Center/Veterans Museum at William Weech American Legion Post 168
- Monday - - Monday -
7:00 - 10:00 pm, Larry Smith’s Jazz Jams Featuring: Larry Smith-Piano, Skipper Kripitz-Drums, Joe Dallas-Bass, & many more. Musicians welcome! Creative! High Energy!! Join the Jam!!!
-Wednesday-Wednesday-
7:00 - 10:00 pm, Ladies Night with Larry Smith and Special Guests! Mondays StartingApril6th NEWHOURS!
- Thursday - - Thursday -
6:30 – 9:30 pm, Terri White, Larry Baeder, & The Key West All Stars
Jazz , Blues, Soul & a Little Broadway.
- Friday - - Friday -
6 - 8:30 pm Cash Bingo - 8:30 - 10:30 pm Motown
Music by the Soul City Dysfunkshunals
- Saturday - - Saturday -
See Facebook: legionpost168 for event details, or call (305) 440-3714.
Suggested Donation at the Door
Dinner available for purchase from Olive’s Mediterranean Grill
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
CHRIS McNULTY Venus, the planet of relationships and allurement, is the lead actress this week. On March 30, Venus entered her home sign of Taurus, helping us find tangible, practical outlets for our desires and reminding us to dig our heels into the dirt in the coming weeks. Our relationships are real only insofar as we engage in them, and Venus in Taurus reminds us we need physical, in-person connection to sustain ourselves.
Revel in the real until April 24. On April 1, the full moon took place in Venus-ruled Libra, encouraging us to determine what constitutes equity and balance in our relationships. How do you balance the “me” and the “we” when it comes to the important relationships in your life? This full moon is a reminder that reciprocity is the foundation for any meaningful relationship.
Here are your horoscopes for the Libra full moon and the VenusPluto square. Read for your rising and sun signs.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
This full moon asks you to calmly consider the reciprocal needs in one of your most important relationships. How can you bring more awareness to the give and take, ensuring that balance and equity are the goals? You may feel like spending time socializing and your financial health are at odds, but focusing on what you truly value will help you align your financial well-being.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
Pay attention to how you go about getting things done because you are in the right relation to your daily routines right now. Find your meditation in mundane tasks
as you enter your flow state, and practice bringing that intentionality to everything you do. Right now, make sure that you are truly receiving what you need from your relationships. Who you hang with shouldn’t just be about reputation.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
The focus this week is on the tug-of-war between your personal joy and perceived obligations to the group. Are you having enough fun? You might find that a desire for solitude and quiet reflection is at odds with a powerful need for change. Trust that taking time behind the scenes to process your deeper feelings will ultimately allow you a more authentic presence in the world.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
This sky brings a culmination to matters involving your home and family life. Are you overextending yourself for the sake of domestic harmony while neglecting your larger ambitions? Focus on building stable, tangible connections with your community and friends. If a power struggle regarding a debt or obligation arises toward the weekend, don’t be afraid to address the issue head on.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
Are you speaking your truth or saying what is necessary to keep the peace? Remember that saying what is kind is not always the same as saying what is nice. Use your words to express truth over comfort. It is a great time to achieve what you want at work, particularly when it comes to greater income. If a difficulty arises with a partner, your stability at work will help you navigate the intensity with grace.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Values and resources are your primary themes right now. Seek a more equitable arrangement in how you share responsibilities or finances with others, ensuring that
the give-and-take feels fair. At the same time, doors are opening for growth through travel, study or new perspectives. If your daily grind feels at odds with these big-picture desires, look for the hidden habits or old routines that are keeping you from expanding your horizons.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 22
Right now, the focus is on your identity and how you show up in your closest partnerships. This is your yearly moment to check in: Are you being true to yourself or trying to please others? Choose yourself first. If you find that there is friction between investing your time and energy in projects you care about and your own creative pursuits, invest now and return to your own craft later.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
This week pulls you into quiet reflection, asking you to find a balance between your mental health and your outward responsibilities. It’s a time for closure and letting go of what no longer fits. Fortunately, a stabilizing energy is entering your one-on-one relationships, offering a grounded anchor. If a family secret or domestic tension arises on Friday, stay steady.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Your social circles and longterm dreams are reaching a peak of awareness. Are you finding a balance between your individuality and the needs of the group? You will find the most satisfaction right now in the beauty of your daily routines and looking after your physical well-being. Be mindful if a sharp conversation or a piece of news reveals a hidden power dynamic this weekend, and focus only on what you can control.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
Your public life and career are having a crescendo moment. Enjoy the successes or the accolades, but
RELATIONSHIP REQUIREMENTS
take a moment to check in that you are achieving balance between work and home. You are finding tangible joy in your creativity and/ or your romantic life. However, a tension might force you to look at how your financial values or selfworth are impacting your happiness. Cut out the excesses that no longer serve your sense of joy.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
This week invites you to step back and appreciate the grand narrative of your life. Where has the adventure taken you so far? As you take the bird’s eye view, you may find life’s more domestic matters feel frustrating or spiky. Under this sky, though, loving the simpler home comforts and family ties that you’ve nurtured is the best medicine. The smaller details do not need to be pushed aside for the sake of the big picture.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
You are finding a new, grounded sense of beauty in how you communicate and connect with your local community. If a hidden resentment or an old secret bubbles up, don’t be afraid to let it out. Airing out the “underworld” stuff isn’t about creating conflict; rather, it’s about clearing the muddle so you can move forward with a much lighter heart and a more steady, authoritative voice.
BABY’S COFFEE
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PERFORM ‘LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL’
Show is a joint effort between Drama Club and Williams Hall
Williams Hall, in partnership with the Key West High School Drama Club, will present its annual spring musical, “Legally Blonde the Musical,” April 9-11 in the high school auditorium. The production stars members of the Drama Club under the direction of a creative team that includes Jeremy Zoma as director and
musical director; Lauren Thompson as choreographer; and Sushi Productions for costumes. The show is produced by Emily Galvan, with technical direction led by Rebecca Bertucci and Brandon Beach.
Student leadership plays a vital role in the production, with Lillian Andrew as assistant director and production stage manager, Charlie Kenna as set designer and Alexandria Buscemi as props master.
Performances will take place
Thursday through Saturday, April 9-11 at the Key West High School Auditorium, 2100 Flagler Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available online at vancoevents.com or by scanning the event QR code on this page. General admission tickets are $28, and student/teacher tickets with valid ID are $22. Content advisory: This production contains mild language and mature themes. It is recommended for audiences 10 and up; parental discretion is advised.
About Legally Blonde
Based on the beloved film, “Legally Blonde The Musical” follows Elle Woods on her journey of selfdiscovery. After being unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend Warner, Elle sets her sights on Harvard Law School to win him back. Along the way, she challenges stereotypes, forms new friendships and ultimately discovers her own strength and potential.
The musical includes catchy songs, energetic choreography and a message about staying true to yourself.
— Contributed
Scan the QR code for tickets to the musical.
A COUPLE THAT CREATES TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER
Artists Adam Russell & Kelly Lever return to JAG Gallery with ‘Coastline’
After several years exhibiting independently, Key West Pottery’s domestic and artistic duo Adam Russell & Kelly Lever return to Jag Gallery with the opening of their new exhibit, “Coastline,’ on Wednesday, April 8.
In the new collaborative exhibit, the couple continues their exploration of the special relationship between land and sea. The collection of paintings also remarks, though passively, on relationships, as the married couple travels the world together in search of inspiration that informs the identity of their individual bodies of work, created in the same shared studio simultaneously, colliding and overlapping indiscriminately.
“Coastline” is an invitation to explore the flora and the fauna, depths and heights, expression and details of all these surroundings portrayed by two artists with individual and distinctive styles.
Lever and Russell will attend a preview reception on Wednesday, April 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Gallery events are free and all are welcome. The exhibit runs through April 26.
More information is at jaggallery.art, via email to jaggallerykw@ gmail.com or at 305-407-6202.
Jag Gallery is located at 1075 Duval St. in the Duval Square shopping center, with ample free parking on the Simonton Street entrance to the square.
— Contributed
Jack Salce, left, as Emmett and Carly Lefelar as Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde the Musical.’ ALENA TRALENKO MEDIA/ Contributed
Adam Russell and Kelly Lever are partners in art and in love. Their latest joint exhibition opens Wednesday, April 8 at JAG Gallery, 1075 Duval St. CONTRIBUTED
GAS PRICES REMAIN HIGH AMID GLOBAL OIL VOLATILITY
Florida gas prices remain at their highest level in four years as the ongoing conflict with Iran continues to disrupt the global oil supply chain and send crude oil prices on a volatile ride.
AAA reports the statewide average price slipped slightly early last week before rising again through the weekend. On March 29, the state average was $3.96 per gallon. That price is $1.06 more per gallon than last month.
In the Florida Keys, prices at the pump range from $4.21 in the Upper Keys to more than $4.50 in Key West. Oil prices remain the primary driver of higher pump prices. Since the conflict with Iran began, oil prices have surged nearly 45 percent following a series of sharp increases over the past four weeks. Last week, U.S. crude oil prices climbed to $99.14 per barrel, the highest daily settlement since July 2022 during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Oil prices are doing most of the driving right now,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA The Auto Club Group. “About half of what drivers
OBITUARY
AL VILLAFANA
Our beloved brother, Al Villafana, died unexpectedly on March 1, 2026. His dog and constant companion, Louie, died 10 days before him.
Our family, as well as his many friends, were devastated by his passing.
He resided in Key West for 30+ years and was known to many others who made Key West their home and those born and raised there.
He loved living in Key West and the outpouring of sympathy and support from all his friends, acquaintances, business associates and his Key West family has been overwhelming, and we offer our sincere appreciation.
Thank you.
His loving sisters, Joanne & Judy
pay at the pump comes down to the cost of crude oil. When oil prices spike this quickly and remain volatile, gas prices almost always follow.”
Since the conflict escalated earlier this month, Florida’s average gas price has jumped $1.07 per gallon, rising from $2.88 at the beginning of March to $3.96 per gallon on March 29. That marks the highest daily average price Florida drivers have seen since July 2022, and adds roughly $16 to the cost of filling a 15-gallon gas tank.
AAA says continued volatility in global oil markets could keep prices unstable in the days ahead.
To help manage rising fuel costs, AAA recommends drivers:
• Combine errands to reduce unnecessary trips
• Drive carefully and avoid aggressive acceleration
• Keep vehicles properly maintained, including tire pressure and oil changes
• Shop around since gas prices can vary widely by station
• Visit gasprices.aaa.com to view state and local average gas prices. — Contributed
FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TURNED JUDGE GETS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S AWARD
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Former federal prosecutor Jeremy Franker was sworn in as the 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest county court judge on March 23.
On March 10, DeSantis announced Franker’s appointment to the Broward County bench. The husband of Kara Franker, Visit Florida Keys CEO and president, he comes to the judicial circuit from the U.S. Department of Justice where he served as deputy director of Joint Task Force Vulcan. He led a national prosecution team on foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua and MS-13.
Franker will preside in the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood.
“I am incredibly thankful to
the governor for entrusting me with this appointment and I look forward to serving the citizens of Broward County on the bench,” Judge Franker said.
His years of prosecution were recognized at a recent U.S. Attorney General annual awards in Washington, D.C., where he received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service. It’s one of the more prestigious awards bestowed by the department.
Serving with the DOJ for seven years, Franker prosecuted complex organized crime and racketeering cases. In addition to Florida, he has tried federal cases in Alaska, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Franker worked for seven years as a statewide prosecutor for the Florida Attorney General and started his legal career as an assistant state attorney in Miami.
New County Court Judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit Jeremy Franker attends the U.S. Attorney General annual awards in Washington, D.C. on March 23. He received an award for his service as prosecutor and deputy director of Joint Task Force Vulcan. CONTRIBUTED
Jeremy Franker is sworn in as 17th Judicial Circuit’s newest county court judge on March 23.
New Judge Jeremy Franker with his wife, Kara, and daughter.
WALK ON WHITE SET FOR APRIL 16
Evening art stroll highlights sexual assault awareness
Curious shoppers peruse the creations of artist Angela Byarlay, right, at a recent Walk on White art stroll event. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed
Walk on White’s next art stroll, set for Thursday, April 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. invites locals and visitors to explore one of Key West’s most popular ongoing art traditions. Held on the third Thursday of each month through May, WOW transforms White Street into an arts corridor where strollers can discover works by local painters, sculptors, artisan jewelry makers and ceramic and mixed media artists, along with exhibit openings and creative demonstrations.
Each month, Walk on White features a local non-
profit organization. April’s event recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month and supports Christina’s Courage, the Florida Keys’ only sexual-assault advocacy agency, which is currently raising funds for its “Every Image Counts” campaign. Sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Walk on White radiates from a central hub in the Fausto’s parking lot on White Street and extends to participating White Street locations between Southard and United streets. More information is at walkonwhitekeywest. com.
— Contributed
JUNK IN THE TRUNK: LOAD UP, SHOW UP, SELL — AND SHOP
Community Garage Sale set for April 4 & 18 at Truman Waterfront
Load your trunk, truck, van or trailer with all the stuff you want to sell and head to Truman Waterfront at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 4 and/or Saturday, April 18 to sell it at the Community Garage Sale: Junk In the Trunk. CONTRIBUTED
Selling your stuff has never been easier. Forget posting yard sale signs all over town. Just load up, show up and sell at the twice-monthly Key West Community Garage Sale: Junk in the Trunk.
It’s that easy. And it’s cheap. Sellers are charged by the size of their trunk — $15 for a car, $20 for a truck/SUV and $25 for a van/ trailer. Payments must be made in cash the morning of the events. And don’t forget to bring cash to make change.
After a debut in March with more than 30 sellers, the Truman Waterfront Community Garage Sale: Junk in the Trunk returns Saturday, April 4 and Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Truman Waterfront Park.
What started as a simple idea — clean out the house, load a car or truck, pull up and sell — quickly turned into a lively morning of treasure hunting, neighbor-to-neighbor selling, and a good excuse to hang out at the waterfront park.
Expect a little bit of everything: household goods, vintage finds, collectibles, clothes, toys, tools, fishing gear, random treasures, and those things you didn’t know you needed, but now can’t live without.
It’s part garage sale, part community hangout, and part “what’s in that trunk?”
The two April dates will also include Over the Top Food Truck serving breakfast and lunch, along
with hot and iced coffee and a classic hot dog cart.
Keep Key West Beautiful, the featured nonprofit, will provide free reusable shopping bags while highlighting the event’s focus on reusing and repurposing items rather than letting them end up in landfills.
If you’ve been thinking about clearing out a closet, garage or storage unit, this is the easiest way to do it. Sellers can show up the morning of the event, and get placed as they arrive, or sign up in advance to save a few bucks. Bring your stuff, pop the trunk and you’re in business.
Shoppers can come ready to dig for deals, meet locals and enjoy a relaxed waterfront morning. Free parking is available with a residential sticker.
The plans are to continue the sale on the first and third Saturdays of each month, as long as participation keeps growing.
For more information or to pre-register as a seller, contact Sam Snodgrass at 573-694-9240 or visit bit.ly/garagesalekeywest or Find the Junk in the Trunk Facebook event.
— Contributed
Scan the QR code for more information about Junk in the Trunk on April 4 and/ or April 18 at Truman Waterfront.
THE ARTS OF APRIL
I... is a chronologically gifted tour guide, recovering innkeeper and grateful freshwater Conch. Join him here each month for a look at Key West’s cultural calendar. Email him at unclegkw@yahoo. com.
n a recent Key West Weekly interview, Jed Dodds, executive director of The Studios of Key West, opined, “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.”
The Key West cultural calendar confirms Dodds’s observation. Outstanding March musical events were performed with depth and virtuosity by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Impromptu Classical Concerts, the Key West Community Orchestra, Bobby Nesbitt and Keys Choral Arts.
Now on to April:
April 3-4: Staged reading of a new American play, “My Maria” by Andrew Russell at The Studios of Key West at 8 p.m.
April 7: Country singer Crystal Gayle at Key West Theater.
April 8-9: Actor/playwright Mike Wiley performs two one-man shows: “Tired Souls: The Montgomery Bus Boycott” and “Breach of Peace.” Wiley brings to life the heroes of the civil rights movement at the American Legion Post, 803 Emma St. 7 p.m.
April 8-18: The Waterfront Playhouse presents the comedythriller “Accomplice,” a brilliant mix of deception, misdirection and comedy. 8 p.m.
April 12: Singer/songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter at Key West Theater.
April 15-25: Fringe Theater presents “The Shark Is Broken,” a “bitingly” funny behind-the- scenes look at the emotional mayhem of shooting “JAWS.” Based on the “drinking” diary of actor Robert Shaw, who portrayed Quint, a professional shark hunter. 7 p.m. at Key West Armory, 600 White St.
April 19: Southernmost Youth Orchestra performs a concert showcasing the rising stars of our community under the direction of Irie Monte at The Studios of Key West. 5 p.m.
Fringe Theater presents ‘The Shark is Broken,’ a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the movie ‘JAWS.’ The play will run April 15-25 at the Armory, 600 White St. CONTRIBUTED
Through April 25: Red Barn Theater presents “A Rock Sails By,” which explores the great questions of our time. 7:30 p.m. curtain.
April 25: MARC House presents an innovative dance program featuring the talents of Key West’s “remarkable” citizens at The Studios of Key West. 4 p.m.
April 25 & 26: Graham Nash (formerly of Crosby, Stills & Nash) performs at Key West Theater.
Ongoing events: The Key West Cultural Center, 803 Emma St., schedules shows throughout the week. Mondays feature Larry Smith on piano accompanied by Skipper Kripitz on percussion and Joe Dallas on bass. Female vocalists take the stage on Wednesdays accompanied by Smith. Thursdays are dedicated to jazz, blues and soul featuring Terri White and Larry Baeder. Saturdays are an open forum with live music. For information, find the Legion Post 168 on Facebook.
The Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom House presents an exhibit in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.
“Celebrating Conch Cuisine” explores how Indigenous know-how, local Afro-Caribbean heritage, Cuban and Bahamian migration and maritime trade routes all contributed to the bold, resourceful and flavorful food traditions of the Florida Keys. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3, 2027.
WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?
Key lime pie stars in new ‘foodie’ offering
www.keysweekly.com
Few people visit the Florida Keys without sampling at least one slice of Key lime pie. After all, the creamy citrus-flavored confection was born in Key West and has been Florida’s official pie for 20 years — after a vote by the state Legislature and ratification by the then-governor.
The luscious dessert’s primary ingredients are condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of the tiny yellow Key lime, with the creamy filling typically nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream or meringue.
Key lime culinarians have debated for decades about whether using whipped cream or meringue is more authentic.
Chefs at local restaurants often add their own creative touches to the basic recipe, perhaps trying a raspberry drizzle or putting the filling in a chocolate crust.
For many people, however, there’s nothing better than serving and savoring a Key lime pie they’ve made themselves — and that’s what the newest Key West Cooking Show experience is all about.
At 2:30 p.m. seven days a week, pie aficionados can learn to make their favorite treat in a 30-minute demonstration session with one of the cooking show’s chef-storytellers. They’ll also discover intriguing facts about the pie’s origins and the distinctive ways Key limes differ from the more common Persian limes.
Following along on a provided recipe card, attendees will learn the secrets to concocting the Conch classic — including techniques for making a light-as-air meringue topping and browning it to perfection.
No Key lime pie experience would be complete without a taste of the sinfully delicious dessert. Each 30-minute session includes the opportunity to enjoy a slice, along with Key limeade and coffee, making for a “sweet” midafternoon immersion in the genuine flavor of the Florida Keys.
That flavor can also be enjoyed
Craving a tangy, sweet citrus boost? Both Key lime pie and Key lime martinis can be enjoyed at Bar 1. KEY WEST COOKING SHOW/Contributed
in liquid form at the Key West Cooking Show’s Bar 1. Located at 291 Front St. next to the vintage demonstration kitchen and memorabilia-filled dining room, Bar 1 is known for innovative cocktails that include the tangy and refreshing Key lime martini.
Vanilla vodka, Key lime pie liqueur and fresh lime juice are the primary ingredients in the tasty libation. Served in a glass rimmed with graham cracker crumbs, it’s appropriately garnished with a dollop of Key lime whipped cream. Reservations are recommended for the daily pie-making sessions, but walk-in guests are welcome — and no reservations are ever needed to enjoy a craft cocktail at Bar 1.
LAST BITES
Dish of the week: Broiled Key lime lobster. The juice of the tiny yellow Key lime can be used in many dishes other than pie. Featured in the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook, this recipe pairs spiny Florida Keys lobsters and the tangy juice with Parmesan cheese and bacon to make an incomparable entrée.
Helpful kitchen hack: Citrus zest can be preserved easily — simply freeze grated zest in small portions for later use. In addition, putting a few strips of citrus zest down the garbage disposal can add a fresh scent to the entire kitchen sink area.
Hungry for more? Visit keywestcookingshow.com or call 305294-COOK.
HELP KEEP KEY WEST BEAUTIFUL
JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS
The March 27 cleanup was moved to Cozumel Park in New Town. In one hour, 51 volunteers covered the neighborhood and collected 93 pounds of trash, 11 pounds of recycling and 1.5 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to the Key West Aquarium for hosting. Keep Key West Beautiful still has openings to host cleanups in the coming months. Locations are flexible and need not take place at your business or home. The April 3 cleanup will take place at Whitehead and Petronia streets. Look for the Green Machine trailer near Ramshead Southernmost. 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.
FACT-CHECK: PIZZA BOXES ARE RECYCLABLE
The myth is busted: Pizza boxes are recyclable in Key West. Dump crumbs, crust and inner liners. Don’t worry about a grease spot. Use good judgment and trash them if they’re in bad shape.
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.
— Contributed
Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
April 3: Whitehead & Petronia streets. Meet along Whitehead Street near the RamsHead Southernmost restaurant, 804 Whitehead St., which is hosting.
April 10: Duval & Caroline streets. Meet across Duval Street from the Key West Woman’s Club, 319 Duval St., which is hosting. April 17: Eaton & White streets. Meet in the front parking lot of Strunk Ace Hardware, 1111 Eaton St. This is a joint cleanup with the Green Ops of the Conch Republic.
April 24: Mallory Square. Meet at Mallory Square close to the Ocean Key Resort, which is hosting.
CAROL SHAUGHNESSY
RENOWNED ARTIST CELEBRATES THE ABSURD
Gallery on Greene presents a solo exhibit by Ruben Alpizar
Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene St., will open its latest exhibit, “Alice: Inhabiting the Absurd,” a new solo show by acclaimed Cuban artist Ruben Alpizar, on Saturday, April 4.
In the cultural imagination, Alice represents the possibility of stepping beyond the boundaries of logic. That threshold resonates in work Alpizar has developed over recent years. This exhibit showcases some 15 pieces that chart key moments in his evolving practice.
The show opens with an Alice situated within a blue labyrinth, a space where the absurd and modernity converge. From there, the exhibit expands to include works from Alpizar’s Small Bonds series, in which he pays homage to influential figures from the cultural life of Key West, past and present.
Drawing on a technique reminiscent of the old European masters, Alpizar weaves together art-historical references, personal mythologies and meditations on memory, migration and displacement. Each symbol becomes a clue, inviting viewers to navigate the work and uncover its meanings.
In the Alice series, the artist’s daughter appears as Alice in Wonderland — a symbolic alter ego through whom Alpizar explores universal themes of childhood, memory and the everyday. In one painting, Alice lies with her back turned toward a ruined landscape; in another, she carries her own home as she searches for a place to belong. This gesture becomes
on Greene presents ‘Alice:
the Absurd,’ featuring new paintings
Alpizar, opening April 4. CONTRIBUTED
the thread that binds the series: a tribute to Lewis Carroll in which the dreamlike universe of the novel intersects with the complexities of contemporary life.
A highlight of the exhibit is “The Great Game of 2025,” a work composed as a constellation of small staged scenes. Fragmented games unfold within niches reminiscent of comic-strip panels, populated by characters drawn from global culture and advertising imagery. These vignettes interact as players within a structure inspired by the geometric rigor of Piet Mondrian.
In one niche, set against a vivid red field, race cars confront one another in an impossible standoff. The scene evokes not a track but a tension between speed and limit, ambition and fragility. The red suggests both the adrenaline of spectacle and the latent risk that shadows one of the world’s most celebrated motorsports. With irony and drama, the image reflects a human impulse: the pursuit of triumph at any cost, where the line between glory and tragedy nearly disappears.
In Alpizar’s hands, imagination becomes a tool of inquiry, transforming the viewer into an active participant.
More information is at 305304-2323 and galleryongreene. com.
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.
Trigger is a beautiful 4-year-old who is timid at first, but once he trusts you, he will be your best friend. He came to us through no fault of his own after his family had to relocate and couldn’t bring him along. Trigger is ready to feel safe and cherished again in a loving home.
Galaxy is a 2-year-old pup with a sweet face and a gentle presence. She’s easy to be around, happy to go for a nice walk and even happier to wrap her paws around her favorite human for a hug. Galaxy is a Good Dog Club member, meaning her adoption fee is waived. She also comes with two free training sessions, a wire crate, a bag of Science Diet food and a 30-day medicine supply, if applicable.
Crepe is a 4-year-old cat with a playful, independent personality. She’ll seek attention one moment, then disregard you the next — as cats do. Crepe is a bit sassy and keeps things interesting, but that’s part of her charm.
At just 11 months old, Baby Rae has a curious, friendly personality. She loves to explore, soak up attention and show off her happy hops. Rabbits like Baby Rae are not only quiet and low-maintenance, but they also form strong bonds with their people.
Spritz is a dapper and mellow 5-yearold cat. With patience, his sweet and snuggly side shines through. Spritz gets along great with other cats and loves cozying up with his feline friends.
Gallery
Inhabiting
by Ruben
Founded by Betty Debnam
PICK A WINNING READ
WATSON
This year's winner of the John Newbery Medal is “All the Blues in the Sky” by Renée Watson.
The Newbery Medal is awarded by the American Library Association for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
In verse, Watson tells the story of Sage, a 13-year-old girl who lost her best friend. As time goes on and Sage joins a counseling group, she begins to understand that grief is different for everyone, and sometimes the pain comes in the middle of laughing or playing or sleeping. Sage also learns that even after such a deep loss, good things in life still happen.
Renée Watson has written many books and has won a Newbery Honor Award and a Coretta Scott King Award. When she was 7 years old, Watson wrote a 21-page story, and her teacher predicted she'd one day be a writer. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, and she has a home there and a home in New York City. She hopes her writing inspires others and helps change the world.
Illustrator Cátia Chien received the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children.
“Fireworks,” a picture book written by Matthew Burgess, captures the special excitement of Independence Day for two kids waiting for the show to start. The book celebrates not just the sights, but the sounds, tastes and feelings of that magical summer day.
Cátia Chien is an award-winning illustrator whose art has been displayed at the Beijing National Gallery and in other galleries around the world.
Chien was born in Brazil and grew up as an immigrant in the United States. As a child, she loved comic books and thought if she could make books for children, it might help them. She said making art is about "creating from the inside out. ... Who are you? What do you actually want to say? What matters to you? From that place, everything is possible."
Words that remind us of award-winning books are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
MINI FACT: Visit the ALA’s Youth Media Award Winners Page: bit.ly/3ZOGBX8.
HONOR BOOKS
Four Newbery Honor Books and four Caldecott Honor Books were recognized:
• “The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli,” written and illustrated by Karina Yan Glaser
• “A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez,” by María Dolores Águila
• “The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story,” by Daniel Nayeri
• “The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest” by Aubrey Hartman
• “Every Monday Mabel,” illustrated and written by Jashar Awan
• “Our Lake,” illustrated and written by Angie Kang
• “Stalactite and Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave,” illustrated and written by Drew Beckmeyer
• “Sundust,” illustrated and written by Zeke Peña
Coretta Scott King Awards
• The Coretta Scott King Author Book Award honored “Will's Race for Home” by Jewel Parker Rhodes.
• The King Illustrator Book Award winner was “The Library in the Woods,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie and written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey.
• The King Author Honor Books were “The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze” by Derrick Barnes; “The Library in the Woods”; and “Split the Sky” by Marie Arnold.
• The King Illustrator Honor Books were “André,” illustrated by Lamont O'Neal and written by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders; and “City Summer, Country Summer,” illustrated by Alexis Franklin and written by Kiese Layman.
ECO NOTE
Narwhals depend on sound the way humans depend on sight, but the Arctic Ocean is becoming so noisy that these whales of the north are falling silent.
As melting sea ice opens new shipping routes, the sounds of engines and propellers are drowning out the echoes narwhals use to find food, navigate and stay connected to each other. Researchers have found that when ships pass nearby, narwhals may stop feeding and abandon normal behavior, a warning sign for a species already living at the edge of survival. Narwhals are called the “unicorns of the sea” because males grow a long, spiraled tusk.
Photo by Let Ideas Compete
RENÉE
CÁTIA CHIEN
Renée Watson
Cátia Chen
wednesday april 29
KEY WEST THEATER, 8 PM
TAYLOR PHILLIPS, ASHLEY COOKE, TYLER REEVE, JAMES SLATER, AARON RAITIERE, THOMAS EDWARDS
Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Village School of Naples 3/27 W, 9-8
Marathon Baseball Master’s Academy 3/27 W, 5-1
Key West Baseball West Broward 3/27 W, 3-1
Key West Softball Neumann 3/28 W, 8-2
Key West Baseball West Broward 3/28 L, 10-4
Key West Girls Lacrosse American Heritage 3/28 L, 11-5
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
4/2
4/3
4/3
For the first time since 2014, the Marathon Dolphins baseball team got revenge on their Upper Keys rivals, shutting out Coral Shores 3-0 on March 30. See page 6. Pictured, clockwise from top: Curren Nicolay, Gabriele Cirina, Dylan Williams and Bradley Buigas. Photos by JUSTICE LEE ISOM/ Keys Weekly
BURNS
Track & Field distance specialist
– Darby Sheehan, Fins head coach
Lucian’s dedication and drive is what honestly sets him apart from other athletes. He makes no excuses, always putting in the work and I can’t wait to see where this sport takes him.”
If you happen to drive through Marathon at the hottest point of any day, you’re bound to spot Dolphin harrier Lucian Burns racking up the miles. The hard-working and even harder-training freshman has been putting in the work necessary to excel in track and field’s longest races, and his efforts are showing. Two weeks ago, Burns set a pair of PRs in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races, bounding around the track a dozen times in all, faster than most people pace for a sprint. Last week, he did it again, shaving off time from both races and climbing up the state standings for 1A distance specialists. When others take it easy, Burns takes it upon himself to outwork the field, logging the kind of miles that don’t show up on stat sheets but make all the difference on race day. For his relentless pursuit of being the best he can be and his willingness to push through the heat, humidity and pain mile after mile, Marathon’s Lucian Burns is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
Lucian
Freshman,
Photo by NATALIE DANKO/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.
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.
Se habla español THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.
Red-hot Conchs on seven-game win streak in softball
Key West’s dynamic pitching duo of Brianna Brenner and Ryleigh Harnish delivered another one-two punch last week.
The junior hurlers shut out the Dolphins in Marathon on March 24, picking up an 11-0 mercy rule win over the Fins.
Brenner started in the circle, striking out seven, walking one and allowing two hits over four innings. Harnish fanned two and surrendered one hit in one inning of work, for the Lady Conchs’ fifth shutout of the season.
Aaliyah McLeod and Shylo Sanchez each delivered a pair of doubles while Lucy Katz and Kaleya Cervantes each singled twice. Arianna Garcia, Maicee Gage and Lilee Gage had one hit each. Lilee’s went yard for two runs. Maicee Gage and Cervantes each stole a base in the commanding win.
Marathon’s Maeve Merryman had two singles and extended them with a pair of stolen bases; eighth grader Sutton Sayer added the final hit for Marathon. Sayer took over pitching duties in the second inning for three and one-third innings of solid work.
Prior to their matchup with Key West, Marathon made the trip to Ransom Everglades for a four-inning 24-4 slugfest. Trinity McLeod and Ana Boose had three hits and four RBIs each while Kayla Skaarup and Sara and Shaina Robinson logged two hits each. The Fins finished with 17 hits and 14 walks in the mercy-rule win. Sutton Sayer earned the win with six strikeouts and just two hits surrendered to the Raiders.
Key West also continued their winning ways after their contest with Marathon. The Lady Conchs picked up two more wins on March 28 and 29 against a visiting St. John Neumann. In game one, freshman Charlie Bracher ended the game early with a grand slam home run that gave the team enough points to invoke the mercy rule. Bracher ended the day with three hits, including the home run and a pair of doubles to lead the offense. Cervantes, Katz and Sanchez logged two hits each and Lilee Gage and Aaliyah McLeod had one. McLeod’s was a three-run homer to left field. Brenner fanned four, walked none and surrendered four hits and one unearned run over six innings of work in the 13-1 victory.
In game two, Garcia had the hot bat with three hits to her credit. Aaliyah McLeod, Katz, Bracher and Sanchez had two apiece and Lilee and Maicee Gage logged one hit each, with Maicee’s being a triple. Harnish ruled in the circle, tossing seven innings and striking out eight. Harnish walked one and allowed five hits and two runs in the team’s 8-2 win.
Now 11-4, the Lady Conchs are ranked sixth in the region and will face the No. 5 team in the coming weeks. The April 17 and 18 matchups with the Lake Wales Highlanders should prove to be a litmus test for the postseason, during which Key West has all the tools to make a deep run.
1. Key West’s Lilee Gage sends the ball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run.
2. The Lady Conchs celebrate Lilee Gage’s home run.
3. Aaliyah McLeod (9) beats the throw to second base.
4. Trinity McLeod fields the ball at first as Shylo Sanchez sprints to the base.
5. Aaliyah McLeod sprints from third to back up catcher Shylo Sanchez on a pop fly.
6. Brianna Brenner begins her delivery.
7. Kaleaya Dickerson rounds third and heads for home.
8. Sutton Sayer delivers a pitch against Key West on March 24.
9. Aaliyah McLeod celebrates her double.
10. Shylo Sanchez awaits the pitch.
TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly
Marathon’s loss to Key West certainly did not define their week, as they got back to their hard-hitting ways against the Spartans of Miami Country Day. The Fins compiled eight hits, 10 walks and six hit batters to fuel their offense in the 17-2 win. Shaina Robinson had three hits and Trinity McLeod logged two while Merryman, Skaarup and Boose added one each to the total. Boose struck out nine and walked one in the three-inning mercyrule win that put the Dolphins at 8-3 with just under three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Coral Shores improved to 5-2 after defeating Lourdes Academy 3-2 in their single home matchup last week on March 26. Addison Grady went 3-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead the offense for the Hurricanes. Mira Jones had two base hits and Bayley Catarineau and Alyvia Prince accounted for the rest of the ’Canes’ seven hits. Pressley Bagwell struck out six in five and one-third innings and Prince finished things out in the circle for Coral Shores. Both teams’ scoring ended at the close of the third inning, making for a defensive battle in which the Hurricanes’ error-free play secured the win.
TRIPLE TROUBLE
Patriots learn first-hand that baseball is strong Keyswide
With just over a week to go in the regular season, Keys teams put together an impressive week on their respective diamonds.
Coral Shores did not know what to expect from a visiting Master’s Academy, which made a trip from Vero Beach to play all three Keys teams. The Hurricanes were the first to face the Patriots. Coral Shores pulled ahead with an early two-run lead in the first, but the Patriots made the most of a two-out rally to pull ahead in the third, then held on through the fifth inning.
for the Conchs, but plenty to win 3-1 over the Bobcats.
Game two saw the Conchs behind for the first three innings before pulling ahead in the fourth. The teams were knotted up at 4 until the seventh inning, when the Bobcats went on a tear, taking advantage of an error, four hits, three walks and a hit batter to score six runs and put the game out of reach for Key West. Ong and Garcia each had a pair of hits while Davila, Niles, Thiery and Darreld Tremino added one apiece. The Bobcats saw pitches from the majority of Key West’s bullpen, with Ong, Davila, Cervantes, Beau Bender and Bennett Logan sharing the workload. The 10-4 final put Key West, ranked No. 4 in all of 4A, at 17-3.
The patient ’Canes put together a rally of their own in the fifth to reclaim the lead, then never looked back. Riley O’Berry started on the mound and delivered an impressive three innings of work. O’Berry also delivered on offense, reaching base on a double, then three more times after being struck by pitches for a perfect on-base percentage. Keller Blackburn had a pair of hits and three of the team’s five stolen bases. Maykol Bonito, Mason Clark, Jack O’Keefe and Brayden Turner accounted for the rest of the Hurricanes’ hits in the 7-4 win.
A March 26 home matchup against conference rivals Archbishop Carroll did not yield a favorable outcome for the Hurricanes, now 6-7. Jack O’Keefe threw four and two-thirds innings, striking out five before Glade Harrelson stepped in for relief. Harrelson, Riley O’Berry, Keller Blackburn and Noah Gookins had one hit each in the 5-0 loss to the Bulldogs.
Key West was next on Master’s Academy’s tour of the Keys. The Patriots paid a visit to the Southernmost City March 26 and suffered another loss, to the hard-hitting Conchs. Xavi Perez was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a pair of singles and a double. A beleaguered Patriots pitcher gave Perez another base after hitting him with a pitch.
Nelson Ong logged two hits and Tyrone Cervantes, Kade Maltz, Roman Garcia, Kristian Masters and Jackie Niles added one each for a team total of 10. Perez, Maltz and Ong each stole a base and the Conchs were perfect in the field in their 8-5 win over the Patriots. In all, four Conchs worked on the mound. Cruz Holmes got the start and the win with three innings of work. Holmes struck out six, walked two and did not give up a single hit or run. Christian Koppal, Carter Wirth and Auggy Davila all put in some work as well.
The next two nights were a mixed bag for Key West, when they split a two-game series against the 7A Bobcats of West Broward. In game one, Donovan Thiery struck out nine, walked one and surrendered five hits and one run in six innings. Thiery earned the win and Kade Maltz provided an inning of relief, striking out two. Ong and Garcia had two hits each and Thiery accounted for hit number five – an uncharacteristically low number
Fifty miles northeast, Marathon piled on four runs against visiting Immaculata-La Salle on March 23 and all indications pointed toward a win through five innings of play. Then came the sixth inning. La Salle strung together six hits, three walks, a fielder’s choice and an error to score eight runs and make a Marathon win unlikely, if not impossible. Dylan Williams, Roco Piscetello and Massimo Quargnali each doubled and Gabriele Cirina singled in an unusually low-hitting game for Marathon. Williams got the start on the mound, striking out six in four and one-third innings before three more Fins stepped up to split the finish. The 12-4 loss gave the Dolphins a four-game slide they had no intention of extending.
The Fins successfully ended their skid March 27 in a 5-1 victory over Master’s Academy, whose tour of the Keys was already marred by losses to Monroe County’s other two teams. Cirina went the distance for the Dolphins, striking out 12, walking three and surrendering just three hits over seven innings. Cirina’s bat was equally effective against the Patriots; the senior slugger was 3-for-3 with a pair of singles and a double. Curren Nicolay added a pair of hits and Jack Chapman, Reef Rella, Roco Piscetello and Massimo Quargnali accounted for the rest. The win put the Fins at 11-7-1 on the season.
Marathon’s momentum kept rolling with a historic 3-0 shutout win over Coral Shores on March 30 – the first time the Fins snuffed out their northern rivals in the team’s last 10 matchups dating back to 2014.
Williams carried the load both on the mound and at the plate, throwing six innings with nine strikeouts and only one hit allowed before Chapman stepped in to shut the door on the ’Canes in the seventh.
An explosive first inning set the tone for the rest of the matchup, as the Fins blanked Coral Shores’ first three batters before sending a trio of their own across home plate. Seven total hits fueled Marathon’s offense – two doubles from Williams, plus singles from Miles Murphy, Quargnali, Nicolay, Bradley Buigas and Cirina. For a full game recap, see the April 9 edition of the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap.
April 11 is the final day for regular-season games, with district action opening April 14. Last season, Keys baseball teams pulled off an unprecedented feat: All three teams secured district titles.
Marathon pitcher Gabriele Cirina leads the Fins with a .426 batting average, 23 hits, 22 RBIs, 68 strikeouts and six wins. JUSTICE LEE ISOM/Keys Weekly
ON TRACK
Clockwise from top left
Alaric Rodriguez
Ava Merryman
Daysi Williams
Karla Guitierrez
Kate King
by Natalie Danko and Rick Mackenzie
Teams look strong heading down the home stretch
Marathon’s track and field teams made the big trip to Fort Lauderdale for a meet at Calvary Christian School. In all, 14 girls teams and 16 boys teams were in attendance, and the Fins held their own, finishing sixth in boys and seventh in girls.
All of the Lady Fins’ top-three finishes were in the field events. Seniors Daysi Williams, Ava Merryman and Justice Lee Isom earned the lion’s share of the points for the team. Williams won the high jump with a 4’ 11.75” mark. Lee Isom hurled the shot 39’ 7.75” for first place, then picked up a pair of thirds in discus and javelin. Merryman finished second in the pole vault after clearing 9’ 4.25” – the same height as the winner, who had one fewer miss.
For the boys, the younger athletes pulled their weight and earned all of the Dolphins’ top-three finishes. Lucian Burns was the big point scorer, fueled by a pair of firsts in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races. Burns finished his first four laps in 4:35, then the other eight in 10:14, both PRs for the talented freshman.
Teammate Tony Bursa, a sophomore, was second in the 3,200.
In field events, freshman Eian Batzer and eighth grader Maverick McDonald picked up third-place finishes. Batzer cleared the bar at 5” 7.5” in high jump, then McDonald sailed 9’10” over the pole vault bar. McDonald’s vault set a new PR and school record, which he has done three times this season in as many meets.
Coral Shores opted to compete at Monsignor Pace on March 26. There, the boys and girls both finished third out of six teams and had some solid performances. Julieanna Oddo won the girls 100-meter hurdle race in 19.19 seconds
and Ali Wheatley took first in the 1,600, finishing in 12:28. Wheatley then teamed up with Tess Hill, Kate King and Olive Welch for a win in the 4x400 relay. Welch and King were also part of the secondplace 4x800 team along with Jenna Mandozzi and Samantha Bates, plus the second-place 4x100 team with Niveah Howard and Miracle Woods. Woods placed third in the individual 100-meter race and Karla Gutierrez was third in the discus event to round out the Lady ’Cane top-three finishers.
The boys team had plenty of success as well. Jaime Cary was first in the 1,600, running the mile in 4:53. Victor Lopez was third in the same race. Adrik Gadea Mayer won two individual events, including the long jump after a 19’7” leap, then the 800-meter race, completing the two laps in 2:08 with teammate Alaric Rodriguez finishing right behind him in second. William Roberts was the runner-up in the 400-meter hurdle race, while Ricardo Mack was third in long jump and Casey Konrad was third in shot put.
The boys relay teams also had success, with two 4x400 teams placing. The A-team of Gadea Mayer, Rodriguez, Will Theis and Colton Connolly was second and the B-team of Cary, Lopez, Roberts and Tristan Rios was third. The final top-three finish was in the boys 4x100 relay, in which Ekon Edwards, Daniel Fernandez, Isaac Woods and Uriel Gutierrez placed third.
Track and field’s regular season closes April 10. Key West and Coral Shores will send their top athletes to districts April 15 at Southridge Park while Marathon must wait until April 23 for its postseason debut at Palmer Trinity School. Regionals for all three teams are scheduled for May 1 in Fort Lauderdale.
Photos
CONCHS & ’CANES COLLIDE
Rivalry matchups meet expectations
The highly-anticipated rivalry clashes between the Key West and Coral Shores lacrosse squads lived up to the billing, delivering a pair of close, hard-fought contests.
The Lady Conchs entered their March 26 matchup with some extra confidence after beating Gulliver Prep two days prior. But Key West did not take Coral Shores lightly heading into their district 16 rivalry, which also served as the team’s annual Senior Night.
“Coming off a high from Gulliver, and understanding Coral Shores was going to be a tough game, we were mentally locked in and prepared to give it our all,” said Key West coach Marissa Giacopuzzi.
Senior Eisley Whitehead wasted no time getting the Conchs on the board. Whitehead scored just after the oneminute mark, then the teams settled into what Giacopuzzi described as a slow-moving first quarter. After that, the Conchs’ offense heated up, and the seniors delivered on their night of honor. Colbie Turner scored three goals while Althea Olsen, Whitehead and Taylor Gibson netted one each.
on lacrosse fields
Whitehead and Adriana Dall each caused three turnovers, then Gibson added two and Olsen one plus an interception. In all, the Conchs caused 16 turnovers, disrupting Coral Shores’ momentum and driving their own.
Sophomore Mavis Bishop accounted for Key West’s other four goals in the 10-7 win for the Conchs. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Konenca played in goal a majority of the game, picking up four saves and a groundball. Sophomore Diya Alwani played the rest of the minutes.
Giacopuzzi called the win a victory for the seniors. “We played more aggressively, we played faster, we hustled to every ground ball and we demonstrated patience with our possessions,” she said.
Coral Shores’ Addy McNew scored two against the Conchs. Leyla Goodrich, Shay Stober, Saylor Wampler, Ivy Tiedemann and Alexis Mahaffery netted one apiece. Lola Stober was solid in goal, keeping the game close until the end.
1. Mavis Bishop, left, and Lela Goodrich face off.
2. Ivy Tiedemann (5) shoots for a goal.
3. Shay Stober (12) tries to get around Eisley Whitehead.
4. Taylor Gibson (1) dodges Coral Shores defender Chloe Cummings (15) to get down the field.
5. Christian Gonzalez (5) takes a shot on goal.
6. James Mitchell (24) scores against Key West.
7. Carlo Vernieri (4) charges toward the goal while Christian Gonzalez (5) stays tight on defense.
8. Finn McDonough (9) makes a great catch for Coral Shores.
Photos by Natalie Goodwin and Maicy Malgrat
BOYS
When Coral Shores and Key West faced off on March 25, there were no questions that it would be a good game, and the Hurricanes and Conchs delivered.
“It was a dogfight from the opening whistle, just as we expected and prepared for,” said Conchs coach Alberto Piceno of the contest that was tied 5-all at the half.
“Hope to see them again in district playoffs. We will be ready.”
—Chris Carrow, ’Canes head coach
The Conchs doubled their scoring in the second half, piling on 10 goals to the Hurricanes’ two. The scoring surge certainly helped Key West, but Piceno gave credit to his defensemen in the big win.
“Defensively, the boys made adjustments on the fly, working together to figure out what would be most effective,” he said. “A key moment came when Calvin Mercer asked teammate Owen Dougherty to take the long pole and step in defensively. Owen simply said, ‘bet,’ and together they helped stabilize our defense alongside Quinn Van Aller,” he added.
Piceno also credited his goalkeeper, Mateo Lopez, with 17 saves and a strong presence in goal while Raffie Rice and Brady Wright were clutch in the team’s faceoffs. Wright won
five while Rice won four to help control the game.
“They may not always get the recognition they deserve, but their contributions are critical to our success,” said Piceno.
Offensively, Key West’s Max Louchheim delivered what Piceno described as the performance of the season with four goals, each at crucial moments. Carlo Vernieri and Zach Payne also scored four each and Vernieri added three assists. Sawyer Hill, Kai Woods and Reif Wallen each netted one for the Conchs in their 15-7 win.
For the Hurricanes, it was Christian Gonzalez and James Mitchell leading the charge with three goals apiece. SG Paul added one goal and Zane Martinez assisted on three. Goalkeeper Brock Bynum has been an absolute powerhouse in goal for the Hurricanes this season, and the rivalry matchup was no different. Bynum, bolstered by a strong Coral Shores defense, saved 17 shots from scoring, keeping the team in contention as long as he could.
“The difference-maker was Key West’s play after halftime,” Coral Shores coach Chris Carrow said, adding, “Hope to see them again in district playoffs. We will be ready.”
Carrow won’t have to wait too long to see if his hopes will be affirmed. Regular-season play closes April 4, then district playoff brackets will be calculated later that week. The likelihood of a Key West-Coral Shores rematch is strong. District play begins April 8.
“In the end, it was a great game — one you truly had to see to appreciate. As a rivalry matchup, it lived up to expectations in every way.”
—Alberto Piceno, Conchs head coach
Coral Shores went on to host Village School of Naples on March 27, winning 9-8 with aggressive play and a strong defense. Jace Jackson won 15 of 18 faceoffs and Bynum had eight saves to help preserve the win.
PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
Wins in lighter classes give Marathon boost over Coral Shores
The Hurricanes and Dolphins’ lifters met in Marathon for the Fins’ annual Senior Night on March 25. Despite coming up short most of the season, the addition of talented athletes in the lighter weight classes meant all the difference in the outcome.
The Fins had double wins from Jason Doss (119 pounds), Evan Toman (129), Calvin Downey (139), Matthias Martinez-Velez (154), Max Childress (183), Isaak Vallejo (199), Chris Paul (219) and Trevor Wofsey (Unlimited) and a win in the traditional event from 169-pound Aiden Richard.
The Hurricanes had one double winner in Fredy Flores in the 238-pound class and an Olympic win from Jackson Garcia (169).
Childress, a Marathon senior, topped the charts with two of
the top three lifts of the day. Despite being four weight classes from the heaviest, Childress hoisted the most of any lifter in any class in the snatch lift, with a 175-pound feat, and the clean and jerk, in which he successfully lifted 265 pounds. Childress was the top lifter overall in the Olympic event. Teammate Isaak Vallejo, a junior, had a monster 325-pound bench press to put him at the top of the traditional lifters.
Both teams are buckling down for the postseason, which begins with districts April 11 at Key Largo School. District champs in each weight class move on to regionals automatically and others, particularly those in strong districts like Marathon and Coral Shores, can earn at-large spots. Regional champs and a pool of at-large lifters then move on to states in Lakeland in early May.
Top row: Aiden Richard, left, Calvin Downey and Chris Paul Middle row: Evan Toman, left, Isaak Vallejo and Matthias Martinez-Velez Bottom row: Trevor Wofsey Far left: Max Childress
Photos by Natalie Danko and Tracy McDonald
NOTICE OF FICTITIOUS NAME
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Greeen Flash Sky Lounge located at 51 Coffeen Avenue, Suite 101-283, Sheridan, WY 82801 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida, pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes.
By: The Greeen House Corporation
By: TGHFL 431 Front LLC
Publish: April 2, 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 Combs Coastal Woodworking located at PO Box 443, Layton, Florida 33001 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida, pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes.
By: Matthew Combs
Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Lien Sale
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described as below to enforce a lien imposed on said property under the Florida Self Storage Facilities Act Statues (section 83.801-83.809) The undersigned will sell online by competitive bidding on April 13, 2026 at 11:00am.
Unit 105 – Catherine Rocha – Misc. Items Will be auctioned online by Storage Treasures via website at storagetreasures.com. All purchased items are sold as is. Items are located at Big Pine Storage at 30677 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 and must be collected within 48 hours of auction.
Publish: March 26 & April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the Zoom meetings or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend.
Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@keysarts. com Nominating Committee Meeting April 14, 2026, at 09:00 AM Join Zoom Meeting
BID NAME: Monroe County ALA Waterway Marker Project PROJECT LOCATION: Monroe County, FLORIDA
The intent of this Invitation to Bid (ITB) is to obtain competitive pricing for the installation of a total of ninety-four (94) regulatory waterway markers to post designated anchoring areas within portions of Key West, Cudjoe Key, Big Pine Key and Marathon in Monroe County, Florida per plans and specifications in accordance with the documents and Chapter 255 of the Florida Statutes.
To review the bid details for FWC 25/26-101C Visit https://vendor. myfloridamarketplace.com/ search/bids to view a list of FWC’s formal solicitations and agency decisions. Choose the FWC 25/26-101C solicitation link to view the advertisement details.
From the Advertisement Details page, you can download the PDF bid file for your reference.
NOTE: The Vendor Information Portal (link provided above) is the posting location for all new and changing information regarding this solicitation. Interested bidders should continue to monitor this site for the entirety of the solicitation process.
DIRECT ALL QUESTIONS TO THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER: Elbert Orellana, Procurement Manager Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Tallahassee Purchasing Office 1875 Orange Avenue East Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160
Phone: (850) 617-9658
Email: Elbert.Orellana@myfwc.com
Publish:
April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on April 15, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, 33050, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RENAMING DIVISION 1 OF ARTICLE III OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CURRENTLY ENTITLED “GENERALLY” TO “COUNTY ADMINISTRATION”; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 2-58, 2-59, AND 2-60 BY RENAMING SECTION 2-58, CURRENTLY ENTITLED “COUNTY ADMINISTRATION” TO “COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR” AND AMENDING THE SECTION TO DEFINE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH OF COUNTY GOVERNHMENT, TO CLARIFY AND EXPAND UPON THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SELECTING AND REMOVING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; TO CLARIFY AND EXPAND UPON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; RENUMBERING CURRENT SECTION 2-59, ENTITLED “COUNTY EMPLOYEES ACCEPTING SERVICE OF PROCESS ON BEHALF OF COUNTY OR OTHER EMPLOYEES PROHIBITED” AS SECTION 2-61, WITH THE SAME TITLE, AND INSERTING NEW LANGUAGE INTO SECTION 2-59, TO BE ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATIVE CODE”, WITH LANGUAGE THAT AUTHORIZES AND PROVIDES FOR THE ADOPTION OF A COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE WHICH SHALL SERVE AS A CENTRAL REPOSITORY OF BOARD APPROVED POLICIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT; RENUMBERING CURRENT SECTION 2-60, ENTITLED “NONINTERFERENCE” AS SECTION 2-62, WITH THE SAME TITLE, AND INSERTING NEW LANGUAGE INTO
SECTION 2-60 TO BE ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES”, AND INSERTING NEW LANGUAGE INTO SECTION 2-60 THAT AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ADOPT ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT COUNTY POLICIES; RENUMBERING CURRENT SECTION 2-61, ENTITLED “CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SCREENING FOR CERTAIN SAFETY AND SECURITY CRITICAL POSITIONS”, AS SECTION 2-63 WITH THE SAME TITLE; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the April 15, 2026, meeting, which will be posted beginning on April 7, 2026 at: https://www. monroecounty-fl.gov/695/BOCCMeetings-Agendas. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s Office at 1111 12th Street, Suite 408, Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the April 15, 2026, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/ 89204098700, or Live Closed Captioning is available via the MCTV portal at https://cloud.castus.tv/ vod/ monroe/video/60832c9 dcf67bb7ac0c21791 ?page=HOME&type=live.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30a.m.—5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board of County Commissioners with respect to any matter considered at such meetings or hearings, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, that person will need to ensure that a verbatim record is made of the proceedings, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 28th day of March, 2026.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on April 15, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, 2nd Floor, Marathon, Florida, 33050, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider adopting the following ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE MONROE COUNTY CODE, CHAPTER 13, “FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION,” ARTICLE I, “IN GENERAL,” BY AMENDING SECTIONS 13-2 AND 13-3, THEREIN, TO UPDATE THE CODE AND ITS TERMINOLOGY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 13-4, “STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS,” BY RENAMING THE SECTION TO “AIRBORNE FLAME DEVICES PROHIBITED,” AND PROVIDING NEW LANGUAGE THEREIN; AND BY ENACTING NEW SECTIONS WITHIN THAT ARTICLE, SPECIFICALLY SECTIONS 13-5, “MULTI-BUILDING COMPLEXES AND DEVELOPMENTS,” 13-6,
“ACCESS BOXES,” 13-7, “PREMISES IDENTIFICATION,” AND 13-8, “EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS,” TO SET FORTH NEW PROVISIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE FLORIDA FIRE PREVENTION CODE; AND BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, “FIRE MARSHAL,” SECTIONS 13-28 THROUGH 13-31, THEREIN, TO CLARIFY THE COUNTY’S AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE APPLICABLE FIRE SAFETY CODES; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the April 15, 2026, meeting, which will be posted beginning on April 7, 2026 at: https://www. monroecounty-fl.gov/695/BOCCMeetings-Agendas. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s Office at 1111 12th Street, Suite 408, Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the April 15, 2026, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/ 89204098700, or Live Closed Captioning is available via the MCTV portal at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/ monroe/video/60832c9dcf 67bb7ac0c21791?page =HOME&type=live.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30a.m. — 5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board of County Commissioners with respect to any matter considered at such meetings or hearings, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, that person will need to ensure that a verbatim record is made of the proceedings, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 2nd day of April, 2026.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on April 15, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, 2nd Floor, Marathon, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the following: ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO KEY LARGO FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DISTRICT FOR THE OPERATION OF A CLASS A ALS AND BLS AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICE WITHIN MONROE COUNTY, FOR THE PERIOD OF APRIL 16, 2026 THROUGH APRIL 15, 2028.
The proposed certificate may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the April 15, 2026, meeting, which will be posted beginning on April 7, 2026 at: https://www. monroecounty-fl.gov/695/BOCCMeetings-Agendas. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s Office at 1111 12th Street, Suite 408, Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the
April 15, 2026, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/89204098700, or Live Closed Captioning is available via the MCTV portal at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/ monroe/video/60832c9dcf67 bb7ac0c21791?page+ HOME&type=live.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board of County Commissioners with respect to any matter considered at such meetings or hearings, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, that person will need to ensure that a verbatim record is made of the proceedings, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 2nd day of April, 2026.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF CODE AMENDMENT HEARING
“SECOND/FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2026-510”
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances.
DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 16th, 2026, 3:30 PM
LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2026-510], entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER FOURTEEN OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL, SECTION 14-6 MONTHLY RATES AND CHARGES, AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; REPEALING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, April 16, 2026, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, and your comments will be entered into the record.
To be published: On or before April 6, 2026
City Clerk - City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON:
DATE/TIME:
Planning & Zoning Hearing:
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, 3:30 P.M.
City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, May 21st, 2026, 3:30 P.M.
LOCATION:
City of Key Colony Beach
City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’ 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, To hear a Variance Request from Kenneth and Ellen Jones, owners of the property at 620 10th Street, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@keycolonybeach.net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. The applicants request a variance from the City of Key Colony Beach Land Development Regulations, Article IV, Sec. 101-26, for relief from the 10-foot setback from the MHW (mean-high water) line or the landward edge of the seawall, as applicable, to accommodate the proposed pool. The proposed pool would encroach into the setback by 3 feet.
Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, April 15th, or Thursday, May 21st, 2026, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net, and your comments will be entered into the record.
Published: On or before April 5th, 2026
City Clerk, City of Key Colony Beach
Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON:
DATE/TIME:
Planning & Zoning Hearing: Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, 3:30 P.M. City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, May 21st, 2026, 3:30 P.M. LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’ 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, To hear a Variance Request from Brian Vliem, Vliem Vacation Rentals LLC., owner of the property at 630 10th Street, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. The applicants request a variance from the City of Key Colony Beach Land Development Regulations, Article IV, Sec. 101-26, for relief from the 10-foot setback from the MHW (mean-high water) line or the landward edge of the seawall, as applicable, to accommodate the proposed pool. The proposed pool would encroach into the setback by 3 feet.
Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, April 15th, or Thursday, May 21st, 2026, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net, and your comments will be entered into the record.
Published: On or before April 5th, 2026
City Clerk
City of Key Colony Beach Publish: April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 26-CP-22-P PROBATE DIVISION DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MARK A. SMAIL Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of MARK A. SMAIL, deceased, whose date of death was February 17, 2024, 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 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 Statues 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 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 April 2, 2026.
Personal Representative: KELLY L. SMAIL, Executor 4004 Micklefield Lane Greensburg, PA 15601
Attorney for Personal Representative: MICHAEL W. DARPINO, ESQ. Michael.Darpino@epadvisors.com FL Bar No.: 1003432 One PPG Place, Ste. 1710 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 281-2870
Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 26-CP-000120-P DIVISION: PROBATE
IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES B. CHAMBERS
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of JAMES B. CHAMBERS, deceased, whose date of death was February 17, 2026, 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 April 2, 2026.
Personal Representative: James Sean Chambers 195 Atlantic Circle Drive Tavernier, FL 33070 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: April 2 & 9, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-000551-P
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JAMES H. BOWER
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of James H. Bower, deceased, whose date of death was September 17, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF 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. 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 April 2, 2026.
Personal Representative: Tanya L. Bower 4928 Cypress Lane Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
Business Law Team, PLLC 401 E Las Olas Blvd FT LAUDERDALE, Florida 33301
Telephone: (954) 648-5268
Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 26-CP-95-M
DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS
IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN AMELIO MARTIN A/K/A JOHN A. MARTIN
Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of John Amelio Martin a/k/a John A. Martin, deceased, whose date of death was November 20, 2025, and whose Social Security Number is XXX-XX-9450, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is April 2, 2026.
Personal Representative: Jill Ann Frank
7 W. Bergen Avenue Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008
Attorney for Personal Representative:
Richard H. Breit
Attorney
Florida Bar No. 283436
Richard H. Breit, P.A.
8551 W Sunrise Blvd Ste 300 Plantation, Florida 33322
Telephone: (954) 452-1144
Publish:
April 2 & 9, 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-498-M
IN RE: ESTATE OF ANNETTE J. AVICOLLI
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ANNETTE J. AVICOLLI, deceased, whose date of death was May 17, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is April 2, 2026.
Attorney for Personal Representative: Anthony J. Barrows
Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar Number: 662569
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:
April 2 & 9, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
File No. 26-CP-000035-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF RANDY LEE AIVAZ, A/K/A RANDY L. AIVAZ, A/K/A RANDY AIVAZ
Deceased.
The administration of the estate of Randy Lee Aivaz, a/k/a Randy L. Aivaz, a/k/a Randy Aivaz, deceased, whose date of death was October 30, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead St, Key West, Florida 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims
or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. 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 26, 2026.
Personal Representative: Marie Frances Jones, a/k/a Marie France A. Jones, a/k/a Marie F. Jones
141 Coconut Row Tavernier, Florida 33070
Attorney for Personal Representative: Andrew Ponnock
Florida Bar Number: 195420 10100 West Sample Road, 3rd floor Coral Springs, FL 33065
Telephone: (954) 340-4051
Fax: (800) 809-1774
E-Mail: andy@ponnocklaw.com
Publish:
March 26 & April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 44-2026-CP-000077-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF FRANK M. BARCHIESE
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Frank M. Barchiese, deceased, whose date of death was December 20, 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 THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is March 26, 2026.
Personal Representative: Edith V. Benyovszky 35 Iron Hill Rd New Britain, PA 18901
Attorney for Personal Representative: Nicholas W. Mulick, Esq.
E-mail Address: reception@ mulicklaw.com
Florida Bar No. 0337757
Nicholas W. Mulick, P.A. 91645 Overseas Highway
LEGAL NOTICES
Tavernier, Florida 33070
Telephone: (305) 852-9292
Publish: March 26 & April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE
PLANTATION KEY DIVISION
FILE NO.: 26-CP-000082-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ALBERT C. CHRISTENSEN, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ALBERT C. CHRISTENSEN, deceased, whose date of death was January 20, 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, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. 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 26, 2026.
Personal Representative: WESLEY T. CHRISTENSEN 4380 3rd Ave SW Naples, Florida 34119
Attorney for Personal Representative: MARK R. KLYM, Esq.
Florida Bar Number: 49003
Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP 5811 Pelican Bay Blvd, Suite 650 Naples, Florida 34108
Telephone: (239) 552-2960
Fax: (239) 254-2947
E-Mail: mklym@hahnlaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: cpiglia@ hahnlaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: mgonzalez@ hahnlaw.com
Publish: March 26 and April 2, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 26-CP-000091-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF PAUL W. O’SULLIVAN Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of PAUL W. O’SULLIVAN, deceased, whose date of death was December 11, 2025; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 26-CP-000091-P; the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the
personal representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this notice, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS: MARCH 26, 2026.
Personal Representatives: SCOTT O’SULLIVAN 373 Race Street Denver, CO 80206 scott@osullivan-law-firm.com
WENDY O’SULLIVAN 5553 Harford Street Churchton, MD 20733 wendyleeo202@gmail.com
Attorney for Personal Representatives: JOHN MICHAEL LYNN, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 0147273 Turner & Lynn, P.A. 7 Barracuda Lane Key Largo, Florida 33037 Telephone: (305) 367-0911 turnerlynnpa@gmail.com Publish: March 26 and April 2, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION Case#: 25-CA-000573-K Truist Bank, successor by merger to SunTrust Bank Plaintiff, -vs.Jorge Luis Galiano, Jr.; Ana Maria Galiano; Marlenis Galiano; Oscar Delgado; Unknown Spouse of Jorge Luis Galiano, Jr.; Unknown Spouse of Ana Maria Galiano; Unknown Spouse of Marlenis Galiano; Unknown Spouse of Oscar Delgado; Unknown Parties in Possession #1, if living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s); Unknown Parties in Possession #2, if living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) Defendant(s).
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to order rescheduling foreclosure sale or Final Judgment, entered in Civil Case No. 25-CA-000573-K of the Circuit Court of the 16th Judicial Circuit in and for Monroe County, Florida, wherein Truist Bank, successor by merger to SunTrust Bank, Plaintiff and Jorge Luis Galiano, Jr. are defendant(s), I, Clerk of Court, Kevin Madok,CPA, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash AT THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 500 WHITEHEAD STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040, AT 11:00 A.M. on April 17, 2026, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to-wit: LOT 3 OF A SUBDIVISION OF SQUARE 4, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 2, PAGE 112, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RECORDS, SAID SQUARE 4 BEING SHOWN ON KEY WEST REALTY'S CO.'S SUBDIVISION, OF PART OF TRACT 21 AND LOTS 1, 2, 3, 4 AND 5, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1 AT PAGE 45, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA. ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM NO LATER THAN THE DATE THAT THE CLERK REPORTS THE FUNDS AS UNCLAIMED. Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.540 Notices to Persons With Disabilities If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Cheryl Alfonso, ADA Coordinator, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
SPANISH: Si usted es una persona discapacitada que necesita alguna adaptación para poder participar de este procedimiento o evento; usted tiene derecho, sin costo alguno a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Favor de comunicarse con Cheryl Alfonso, Coordinadora de A.D.A Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 por lo menos 7 días antes de que tenga que comparecer en corte o inmediatamente después de haber recibido ésta notificación si es que falta menos de 7 días para su comparecencia. Si tiene una discapacidad auditiva ó de habla, llame al 711.
KREYOL: Si ou se yon moun ki kokobé ki bezwen asistans ou aparêy pou ou ka patisipé nan prosedu sa-a, ou gen dwa san ou pa bezwen péyé anyen pou ou jwen on seri de èd. Tanpri kontakté Cheryl Alfonso, Co-ordinator ADA, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652O'mwen 7 jou avan ke ou gen pou-ou parèt nan tribunal, ou imediatman ke ou resevwa avis sa-a ou si lè ke ou gen pou-ou alé nan tribunal-la mwens ke 7 jou; Si ou pa ka tandé ou palé byen, rélé 711. Kevin Madok, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk of Court Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025-CC-399-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20TH day of April 2026 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: UNIT 5512, WEEK 2, WINDWARD POINTE, A LEASEHOLD CONDOMINIUM (“CONDOMINIUM”), ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 1803, PAGE 844, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ALL EXHIBITS THERETO, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THEREOF (THE “DECLARATION”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) VII entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of March 2026 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FOR-PROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN
PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST BERLEY BERRY
GENTRY II, DECEASED AND LYNN GENTRY WINSTEAD, AS POTENTIAL
HEIR TO BERLEY BERRY GENTRY II
Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2025-CC-399-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 18TH day of January 2026
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County, Florida
By:
Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
I IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025-CC-74-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20TH day of April 2026 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: UNIT 5523, WEEK 50 OF WINDWARD POINTE, A LEASEHOLD CONDOMINIUM (“CONDOMINIUM”), ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 1803, PAGE 844, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ALL EXHIBITS THERETO, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THEREOF (THE “DECLARATION”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) I entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of March 2026 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FOR-PROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. BECKY LOUISE HOPPER AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST ROBERT EUGENE HOPPER, DECEASED
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2025-CC-74-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 18TH day of January 2026
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers
IN
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2025-CC-363-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20TH day of April 2026 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: UNIT 214, WEEK 17, SUNSET HARBOR RESORT, A CONDOMINIUM ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF AS RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 1376, PAGE 1093, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ALL EXHIBITS THERETO, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THEREOF (HEREAFTER THE “DECLARATION”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of March 2026 Style of which is: SUNSET HARBOR RESORT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS, DECEASED; MARYJANE WOLFE, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; MILDRED COOMBS, AS POTENTIAL
HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; JOSEPH MCMULLEN, AS POTENTIAL
HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; EDWARD MCMULLEN, AS POTENTIAL
HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; JOHN MCMULLEN, AS POTENTIAL
HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; FRANCES PEAGLER, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS; AND MARGARET NEUMANN, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MILDRED NEVINS AKA MILDRED B. NEVINS
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2025-CC-363-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 18TH day of January 2026
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 2024-CC-658-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20TH day of April 2026 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: UNIT F12, WEEK 10, BEACH HOUSE, A CONDOMINIUM ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF
RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 1510, PAGE 225, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ALL EXHIBITS ATTACHED THERETO, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THEREOF (THE “DECLARATION”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) IV entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of March 2026 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff
vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST ROBERT DUANE SHAPPEE, DECEASED, UNKNOWN SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE ROBERT D. SHAPPEE LIVING TRUST; LAURA SILVERMAN, AS POTENTIAL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT D. SHAPPEE; AND AMY SERAFIN, AS POTENTIAL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT D. SHAPPEE
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC-658-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 18TH day of January 2026
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-539-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20TH day of April 2026 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: UNIT 5434, WEEK 36, ANNUAL WINDWARD POINTE, A LEASEHOLD CONDOMINIUM (“CONDOMINIUM”), ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM THEREOF RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 1803, PAGE 844, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND ALL EXHIBITS THERETO, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THEREOF (THE “DECLARATION”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of March 2026
Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FOR-PROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST SHEENA HOULT SHUMATE, DECEASED AND TERENCE GALLAGHER, AKA TERRY GALLAGHER, AS POTENTIAL HEIR
TO SHEENA HOULT SHUMATE
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC-539-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 18TH day of January 2026
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish: April 2 & 9, 2026
The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.-
BOAT MISC. FOR SALE
Used NEPTUNE 4-post BOAT LIFT For Sale. 15,000 lbs.+ Located in Marathon. $800.00 260-750-6479
BOAT SLIP/RACK FOR RENT
Boat Slip &/or Rack for Rent in Marathon at The Boat House, Vaca Key. Call Tony 561-346-6400
EMPLOYMENT
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 StaffExperience with insurance verification and EMR required. Strong multitasking skills. Pay is commensurate with experience. Email resume to: flkeyspeds@gmail.com
PART-TIME USCG 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 on Grassy Key. Part-time, 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
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 404-219-3359 and ask for Dave
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 305-433-0515 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 305-433-0515 or email nicole@themoongroupfl.com
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, 9:30am-7pm 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: Full-time Carpenter, Electrician, Housing Assistant & Project Manager. 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.
Key West Cooling Company is hiring HVAC technicians and installers. We are looking for dedicated individuals that are ready to work. For more information please can or text us at 305-912-2293 or send an email to keywestcoolingcompany @ gmail.com Compensation is based on experience.
Job Title: Coffee Roaster
Location: Key West, FL Job Duties: Roast coffee beans using commercial roasting equipment; monitor roast profiles and quality; maintain consistency across batches; manage green coffee inventory; perform routine maintenance and cleaning of roasting equipment; assist with packaging and production as needed. Minimum Requirements: Minimum of 5 years of experience in coffee roasting. No formal education required. Must be able to work nights and weekends. Must have reliable transportation to and from work. How to Apply: Please call 305-509-9215 or email babyscoffeeusa@gmail.com.
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 StaffExperience 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 305743-0844 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.
HOUSING FOR RENT
Furnished Studio AND 2 Bedroom unfurnished, all appliances, renovated, for rent in Marathon. On the water, gated property. Section 8 possible. $1,500 - $2,500 month - includes water, sewer, electric & garbage. Call 305-610-8002
3 BR/2 BA home for rent in Key Colony Beach. 75' premium dock. $4,000/month + utilities. F/L/S 786-229-0228 RENTED!
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 STORAGE AVAIL.
Gated storage & dockage available in Marathon oceanside. Starting price $10/ foot per month for storage and $20/foot per month for dockage. 305-610-8002
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
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
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 Customer Services Department:
CUSTOMER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE I
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $23.93/hr. - $26.80/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 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.
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
NOW HIRING DIVE INSTRUCTOR
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
APPLY IN PERSON AT: Bone sh Bay Motel & RV Sites 12565 Overseas Highway, Marathon or Email: bfb@bone shbayresort.com
We are hiring a heavy diesel mechanic with experience working on John Deere, Caterpillar, Kubota, Detroit Diesel, etc. Monday-Friday with some overtime available. Sign on bonus after 90 days; top pay and housing assistance available. Please apply at Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc., 129 Toppino Industrial Drive, Key West or online at https://charleytoppinoandsons.com/careers/apply/?job
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary. JOIN A
Behavioral Health Counselor (CAT)
Prevention Specialist
Case Manager (Adult)
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)
team/Job Opportunities/location/zip
81043 MAINTENANCE WORKER
(ELECTRONIC SYSTEM KEY WEST)
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
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Medical Assistant, Ortho-Tavernier,
- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.
Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.
