Key West Weekly 25-0410

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

Publisher / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

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Editor / Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

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The previously extinct dire wolf – made famous in the “Game of Thrones” TV series, is walking the earth again. Using DNA from fossils dating back between 13,000 and 72,000 years ago, researchers edited genes into gray wolf cells and using domestic dogs as surrogates, they birthed three dire wolf pups. Debate remains as to whether the breakthrough truly constitutes a de-extinction of a species.

‘Wait Until Dark’ runs at Waterfront Playhouse April 16-May 3. For more information about the classic thriller, see page 6.

SHOOTER PRESTON BREWER REMAINS IN JAIL DESPITE BOND

Garrett Hughes’ killer has yet to post bail & remain on house arrest

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Judge Mark Jones on March 7 granted a $3 million bond to Preston Brewer, who police say shot and killed Garrett Hughes in a bar parking lot hours after the Super Bowl in February 2023.

As of April 9, Brewer had not posted the $3 million bond, which typically requires 10%, and remained in the Key West Detention Center, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office online list of current inmates.

Brewer has been in jail on murder and other charges since the shooting occurred in the rear parking lot of the former Conch Town Liquor & Lounge, 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd. The bar and liquor store, now closed, were located in a building that the Brewer family owned.

The judge finalized the conditions of Brewer’s release on bond in a March 10 order.

No trial date has been set, as Brewer and his defense attorneys are appealing the judge’s denial of his stand-your-ground, or self-defense, claim. That appeal will have to be heard by the 3rd District Court of Appeal before the trial can proceed.

In addition to the $3 million monetary bond, Brewer is to remain confined to his home on Key Haven and subject to constant GPS monitoring.

“The defendant is allowed travel in and around Monroe County, Florida, for ‘life essential’ errands, not to exceed travel beyond the northeast boundary of mile marker 106,” the order states. “‘Life essential’ purposes may include visits with defense attorneys, legitimate work purposes, church, doctor appointments, and emergency medical needs, or other matters pre-approved by pre-trial services.”

Lloyd Preston Brewer III, who is known locally as Preston, remains in jail despite being offered a release on $3 million bond while awaiting trial for the February 2023 shooting death of Key West local Garrett Hughes. CONTRIBUTED

Brewer must also relinquish his passport and all firearms, including spear guns, and is prohibited from using the boat he owns. He is prohibited from using drugs or alcohol and will submit to at least three random urinalysis tests per month, the order states.

The judge also ruled that Brewer may have no contact with Hughes’ family, the witnesses in the case, the former owner of Conch Town, or three of his business and financial associates unless legal counsel is present.

Finally, Brewer must stay away from and have no contact with the location of 3440 N. Roosevelt Blvd., which is where the shooting occurred.

That property, a commercial building, now belongs to Hughes’ parents, John Hughes and Lesley Touzalin, according to county property records.

Those records show that the building’s ownership changed on Oct. 1, 2024, when it was sold for $4 million. It is now owned by a limited liability company called GDH22 LLC, managed by John Hughes and Touzalin.

It is unclear whether the victim’s parents bought the building, or acquired it as part of a confidential settlement that was reached in a wrongful death civil lawsuit they filed against Brewer shortly after Garrett Hughes’ death.

How it happened

Hughes, who was 21 at the time of his death, left Conch Town Lounge at 12:26 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2023, after playing darts with his brother and two friends. He is visibly inebriated in video security footage of the bar’s rear parking lot. Hughes walks to the back of the parking lot and stands between two parked cars while urinating against the wall of an adjacent building, which was not owned by Brewer.

Shirtless and unarmed, Hughes was wearing shorts and flip flops when Brewer exited the bar and approached Hughes while exchanging words with him over the urination. The footage shows Brewer, then 57, raising his shirt to reveal a handgun while crossing the parking lot toward Hughes. During a seconds-long physical altercation, Brewer shot Hughes in the abdomen. He died a short time later at the hospital.

The judge on Feb. 12 denied Brewer’s self-defense claim, which, if granted, would have dismissed the murder charge against him.

Jones ruled last month that Brewer was the aggressor, writing in his five-page order, “It is clear to the court that the defendant, Lloyd P. Brewer III, instigated his deadly confrontation with Garrett Hughes. … The court finds that stand your ground immunity was not enacted to protect someone like Lloyd Brewer under these circumstances, which he created,” the order states.

The judge further said, “the defendant shot a half-naked, drunken, unarmed man,” and added that Brewer did not have a reasonable belief that he was facing imminent death or great bodily harm.

SQUARE GROUPER: KEY WEST’S NEWEST GO-TO SPOT

Now serving brunch on Saturday & Sunday

mandy@keysweekly.com

The name may be an irreverent, inside joke about the Florida Keys’ old days of pot smuggling and pirate-like behavior, but the owners and staff at Square Grouper Key West take their food seriously. And it’s seriously good. As in, go back twice in a week for brunch and dinner, good.

That’s what we did on a recent Saturday morning for brunch and Monday evening for dinner — and we were thrilled with both visits.

For the uninitiated, “square grouper” was the term Keys fishermen and smugglers used to describe bales of marjuana when they were found floating in the ocean. And the decor of all three Square Grouper restaurants — Cudjoe Key, Islamorada and now Key West — is reminiscent of the burlap-wrapped bales and photos of real-life smugglers (for whom the statute of limitations long ago expired).

Lynn Bell, who still owns and operates the Cudjoe Key location, spends a few days a week in Key West, where her son, Joe Bell, runs the new Key West restaurant.

Longtime Key West locals will recall the building at 920 Caroline St. as the old PT’s Late Night, and more recently as Off the Hook. But the interior and exterior have been completely upgraded.

The giant windows along the inside bar now open to reveal outside seating. Cornhole games and pingpong tables are also outside to entertain hungry customers while waiting for a table or bar seat.

The staff is excellent, from Lynn and Joe Bell, to chef Shane Le Beet, manager Nate Dewolf, bartender Britt Gordon and server Braelie Ray. “Everyone just seems really happy to be here, and it shows,” said Key West resident and recent diner Simone Lasswell. “Of course, maybe they’re happy because they all found a square grouper to share — just kidding!”

Square Grouper Key West is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5

to 10 p.m., but is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Saturdays and Sundays now find the regular lunch menu supplemented with about five brunch items, which recently included a blackened grouper benedict, the most flaky and tender chicken and waffles and shrimp tacos. (Note: When given a choice of sides, always get the waffle-cut sweet potato fries. Always.)

Oh, and don’t miss the raw bar selection, which offers stone crab claws in season, a half-dozen oyster selections and more, all artfully arranged in a classic clawfoot-style tub packed with ice.

The bar offers a spicy bloody mary topped with a fried softshell crab, while dinner rocked our world with the ahi tuna and avocado eggrolls, the yellowtail piccata and the most tender, flash-fried conch Stan has ever eaten.

(I should mention, the espresso martinis were also a hit at both meals, but then again, that comment — by me — will surprise no one.)

Square Grouper doesn’t take reservations, but there’s a full bar and outside entertainment to pass the time while you wait for a table — and it’s worth the wait.

WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE BRINGS CLASSIC THRILLER TO STAGE

‘Wait Until Dark’ runs April 16-May 3

The Waterfront Playhouse closes out its season with “Wait Until Dark,” a psychological thriller. The production runs April 16-May 3, at the historic Waterfront Playhouse in Key West.

Written by Frederick Knott and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, “Wait Until Dark” is a master class in suspense. Set in 1948 Greenwich Village, the story centers on Susan, a recently blinded woman who becomes the target of a sinister con. As the tension builds and darkness falls, Susan must rely on her instincts and resourcefulness to survive a deadly game of deception.

This production features a cast of local and national talent, bringing this tale to life with sharp performances and immersive staging.

“This is a classic thriller done right,” said artistic director Patrick New. “It’s smart, suspenseful, and full of surprises — and it’s the perfect way to end our incredible season.”

— Contributed

‘WAIT UNTIL DARK’ at Waterfront Playhouse April 16 – May 3 Tickets: waterfrontplayhouse.org or 305-294-5015

MANDY MILES

1. Thin, tender chicken atop light, fluffy, homemade waffles makes the ideal chicken & waffles combo. 2. Square Grouper bartender extraordinaire Britt Gordon serves two of her Saturday brunch regulars, Michael Hrabosky, left, and Bryan Rowland. 3. Keys restaurateurs Lynn Bell and her son, Joe Bell, in front of Key West’s popular new culinary addition, Square Grouper Key West, 920 Caroline St. 4. Blackened grouper benedict, served on homemade English muffins, is on the brunch menu. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Offering fabulous brands including Farm Rio, Trina Turk, Oliphant & more. Stop by and check out Key West’s go to spot for splurge worthy and on-trend styles.

JOIN US AT ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOR HOLY WEEK

April 13th Palm/Passion Sunday, 7:30 am and 10 am

April 17th Maundy Thursday Liturgy, 7 pm

Garden of Repose following service until sunrise

April 18th Good Friday Liturgy, 12 pm, 3 pm and 7 pm

EASTER DAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 20TH

Great Vigil of Easter 6 am, Memorial Garden

Festive Choral Eucharist 10 am

Easter Egg Hunt following 10 am service, beginning at 11:45 am

Festive Potluck Brunch following 10 am service, Parish Hall - All are Welcome!

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 Duval Street

KEYS COMMUNITIES JOIN NATIONAL HANDS OFF PROTESTS

Key West event draws 600 demonstrators; others join in Marathon & Upper Keys

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

Communities in the Florida Keys joined thousands of nationwide Hands Off protests on April 5 that took place in all 50 states. In the Keys, the largest demonstration was in Key West, where an estimated 600 people lined both sides of the 1300 block of White Street, in front of the National Weather Service office, which has been targeted for funding cuts, and in front of Key West’s city hall. Some 250 residents held signs alongside U.S. 1 in Key Largo, and another group was seen holding flags and signs along the highway in Islamorada. In the Middle Keys, cars passing the intersection of U.S. 1 and Sombrero Beach Road found around 130 protesters lining the street and median.

Nationally, the protests are thought to have drawn as many as 5 million in one of the largest one-day nationwide displays of opposition to the current administration.

Demonstrators railed against President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who has

become a top adviser to Trump and the leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Signs in Key West included:

“DEI — Deport Elon Instead,” “No One Voted for Elon,” “Hands Off the Constitution” and “Honk If You Never Drunk Text War Plans” – that last one a reference to the recent “Signalgate” scandal in which Secretary of Defense

Pete Hegseth used a non-government messaging app called Signal to text detailed plans for a military bombing in Yemen to a group of top U.S. officials, accidentally including a journalist.

“In a county that is overwhelmingly Republican, our group received supporting honks, thumbs and fists up,” said Mid-Keys Democrats chair Laurie Swanson, who helped organize the Marathon protest. “As each fleet of cars left the traffic light we were regaled with a cacophony of horns and slow-moving vehicles joining in with ‘This is what democracy looks like.’”

An estimated 600 people joined Key West’s Hands Off protest on April 5. The peaceful demonstration against the second administration of President Donald Trump and recent actions by the federal government took place along the 1300 block of White Street, in front of the federal National Weather Service forecast office and across the street at Key West’s city hall.

LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Roughly 250 people held signs outside the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo during the protest. CONTRIBUTED

An estimated 130 protesters hold Hands Off signs lining U.S. 1 near Sombrero Beach Road in Marathon. CONTRIBUTED

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH DOWN FROM 32 TO 11

List includes 4 current school district employees & 1 former employee

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The school board’s search for the next superintendent continued on April 8, when the five board members narrowed the field from 32 total applicants to 11 semifinalists.

The 11 semifinalists include four current employees of the Monroe County School District — Amber Acevedo, Christina McPherson, Laura Lietaert and Melissa Alsobrooks — and one former employee, Melanie Stefanowicz, who worked for the district from 2005 to 2016. From 2012 to 2016, she was the district’s director of adult, alternative and career and technical education and is currently the CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, living in Cape Coral.

Acevedo is deputy superintendent and a former principal at Key West High School and Poinciana Elementary. McPherson is also a former KWHS principal and is now the executive director of student services at the district headquarters. Lietaert is principal of Coral Shores High School and Alsobrooks is principal of Gerald Adams Elementary School. The other six semi-finalists are:

Edward Tierney: deputy superintendent/chief of schools in Palm Beach County school district

Michael George: principal of Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, and Florida’s 2024 principal of the year.

Darren Burkett: deputy superintendent of Collier County public schools.

John Millay: former superintendent of Martin County schools in Florida and former senior vice president of Boys & Girls Club in Martin County.

James Tager: former superintendent in Flagler County, and in Vermont and Maine.

Gillian Gregory: Former assistant superintendent in Leon County, and currently a program director at Florida State University’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

All applications are available at keysschools.com, under the “Superintendent Search” link at the top of the home page.

Working with search consultants from the Florida School Boards Association, the five school board members have drafted five questions for the 11 semifinalists. Some replies will be written and some will be recorded via video.

The school board at its April 21 board meeting will select three to five finalists who will be invited to the Keys the week of April 28 for in-person interviews and public receptions, where they can meet community members, teachers, principals, parents and students. Public interviews will be conducted on Thursday, May 1 at 9 a.m.

The final selection is expected at the May 6 board meeting in Marathon. Contract negotiations will follow. The job posting outlines a salary range of $175,000 to $225,000, plus benefits, “along with a relocation stipend and other negotiated incentives,” the job posting states. The current superintendent’s salary is $175,000.

The new schools chief will start work July 1, allowing a month-long overlap before the July 31 retirement of Theresa Axford.

KEYS KILLER MICHAEL TANZI EXECUTED APRIL 8

Monroe

County

state attorney:

‘Justice has been served’

TMichael Anthony Tanzi, seen here in his 2000 mugshot, was executed by lethal injection after carjacking, kidnapping and murdering Miami Herald employee Janet Acosta. CONTRIBUTED

he Monroe County State Attorney’s Office on April 8 confirmed the execution of Michael Anthony Tanzi, who was convicted in 2003 for the 2000 carjacking, kidnapping, robbery with a weapon, and first-degree murder of Janet Acosta, a Miami Herald employee. Tanzi was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on April 8 at 6 p.m., following more than two decades of court proceedings and a comprehensive clemency review. Tanzi’s final appeals, including claims related to health issues such as morbid obesity and sciatica, were denied by the Florida Supreme Court. He is the third person executed in Florida this year under a death warrant signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On April 25, 2000, Janet Acosta left her job at the Miami Herald for her lunch break and never returned. Tanzi approached her in the parking area near the Japanese Gardens on Watson Island and forced his way into her vehicle, beginning a harrowing and fatal journey that led through several Florida counties and ended on Cudjoe Key in Monroe County.

Over the course of 24 hours, Tanzi withdrew cash using Acosta’s ATM card at multiple banks in the Florida Keys, bound and gagged her with rope and duct tape, and eventually strangled

her in a remote area off Blimp Road on Cudjoe Key. He was caught shortly after in Key West by the Key West Police Department and the City of Miami Police Department and was found in possession of Acosta’s van keys, ATM card and cash withdrawal receipts. He confessed to the crime and directed investigators to her body.

In addition to the murder of Janet Acosta, Tanzi confessed to the 1999 killing of a woman in a laundromat in Massachusetts. He described bludgeoning the victim with a metal rod and stabbing her with scissors before fleeing the state with stolen cash. That homicide was later reopened by Massachusetts authorities.

Tanzi had a documented criminal history including prior felony convictions. His conduct in this case — carjacking, kidnapping, and armed robbery — represented a pattern of escalating violent behavior that culminated in the loss of an innocent life.

“Today marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the family of Janet Acosta and for our community,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “Justice has been served, though we recognize that no legal action can ever truly bring peace to those who have lost a loved one to such violence. Our thoughts remain with Janet’s family and friends, and we continue to honor her memory as we work every day to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law. This was a senseless, calculated act that took the life of a hardworking woman who was simply taking her lunch break. Her story reminds us all why we must remain vigilant in pursuing justice, no matter how long the road may be.”

— Contributed

LAWSUIT CITES ‘HORRIFIC CONDITIONS’ IN NAVY HOUSING

192 military residents file suit against Balfour Beatty

WYATT SAMUELSON www.keysweekly.com

Jackie Talarico has become an outspoken advocate for military families nationwide.

The former Sigsbee Park resident and military spouse in Key West is at the forefront of a mass lawsuit filed March 27 against the U.K.-based infrastructure company Balfour Beatty, which manages much of the U.S. military’s housing and which the suit claims “concealed the horrific conditions from unsuspecting service men and women and their families.”

Talarico, along with 191 other military residents, allege a wide range of health issues stemming from their time in military housing in the Sigsbee Park, Trumbo Point and Truman Annex housing neighborhoods. The reported symptoms include “asthma and other respiratory issues, sinusitis, migraines, memory loss, brain fog, blurred vision, compromised immune systems and other serious health issues.”

In addition to the health concerns, many families say the housing conditions placed an undue financial burden on them.

“We’ve been living on an air mattress — me, my two kids and our dog. The last six months of Anthonie’s shore duty were taken from us because there wasn’t viable housing in Key West,” Talarico said.

The Talarico family was forced to separate for Anthonie’s remaining time in Key West after Balfour Beatty issued an eviction notice.

“Our family’s only other option was to take a home that faced the same systemic issues we had already endured, such as roof and ceiling leaks,“ she said, “and sign a new universal lease that states mold is habitable.”

Talarico felt her only option to keep her family safe was to move off base and continue advocating for other families’ health and safety to ensure no one else is harmed by these alleged claims against Balfour Beatty. She has since refused to sign any non-disclosure agreements sought by the company. Jackie and her children moved in with her parents while her husband, Anthonie, completed his shore duty in Texas. They’ve been trying to recover healthwise and financially ever since as Tricare – the health insurance offered to all service people and their dependents – doesn’t cover mold testing and related medical treatment.

The 175-page lawsuit includes testimonies from 55 families who report neglect and harm caused by Balfour Beatty’s alleged mismanagement.

Jackie Talarico had to leave behind many of her belongings due to mold exposure. She made this sign to warn her neighbors. Bottom: An image from an anonymous resident whose ceiling had collapsed in her living room. CONTRIBUTED

Hints of a lawsuit had been circulating for nearly a year. Before that, many affected families connected through a private Facebook group called “Sigsbee Housing Issues/Health Issues,” created eight years ago by Astrid Trotter — another plaintiff in the suit.

The Facebook page is filled with complaints, warnings and photos from current and former residents — images of mold-covered ceilings, crumbling walls, and deteriorating floors. Talarico was an active member of the group, using not only that platform but also her personal Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts to raise awareness.

Her motivation, she insists, isn’t financial. It started with her children’s health.

“It’s about so much more than that. It’s about wanting justice and accountability, because I know I didn’t harm my children. I did everything right as a mother, and I trusted these people when they said they had remediated the mold properly. I trusted them, and they harmed us,” she said.

When asked if she feared retaliation from the company, she responded, “I’m not threatened, because I know everything I say is backed up. I’m just here to advocate and educate — to get everyone the help they deserve.”

Talarico’s story is one of many in the lawsuit from families who feel Balfour Beatty knowingly placed them in dangerous living conditions.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson from Balfour Beatty Communities said, “We are aware of the lawsuit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously. The wellbeing of residents will always remain our number one priority.”

This isn’t the first time Balfour Beatty has faced serious allegations. In 2021, the company paid over $65 million in fines and restitution after admitting to a fraud scheme involving U.S. military housing repairs.

With nearly 200 plaintiffs involved, the case could take significant time to unfold. Meanwhile, the housing crisis in Key West remains under strain, as more military families are choosing to live off base — something that doesn’t always sit well with local non-military residents who feel they’re competing for housing with military members who receive a generous monthly housing allowance.

NAS Key West spokesperson Danette Baso Silvers said the Navy does not comment on pending litigation. However, when asked what actions the Navy is taking to support families dealing with these issues, the response was:

“The Navy Housing Service Center continues to support families with any issues or concerns with their homes or property maintenance. The Navy’s focus is on the thorough remediation of any impacted homes to ensure the health and safety of residents. Since last year, the Navy has been proactively evaluating every home at NAS Key West to address family housing concerns. Experts from NAS Key West, the Navy & Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, and NAVFAC Southeast are leading these inspections, targeting critical life, health and safety hazards such as mold and moisture, asbestos and lead-based paint.”

Top: When vacating her Sigsbee home,

KEY WEST SONGWRITERS PARTICIPANTS ARE TUNING UP

5-day music festival serenades the island April 30-May 4

Music makers and lovers will converge in Key West for the 29th annual Key West Songwriters Festival April 30-May 4.

The largest festival of its kind in the world, the gathering has kicked off the careers of numerous household musical names, and this year will spotlight more than 230 creators, from veteran songwriters and hit-makers to up-and-coming artists, with performances ranging from acoustic story-telling sessions in the round at theaters, bars and beaches, to full band performances on concert stages.

Artists leading the 2025 lineup include Nate Smith, Chase Mat-

thew, LoCash, Dylan Altman, Ronnie Bowman, Chuck Cannon, Bob DePiero, Thomas Edwards, Marti Frederiksen, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Raul Malo, Liz Rose, Tommy Sims, James Slater and Jeffrey Steele.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s songwriters festival is presented by BMI with Rams Head Presents, with support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Many performances are free; tickets can be purchased individually or as a package. More information is at keywestsongwritersfestival.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 9:30AM - 2:00PM

The Main Stage on Duval Street hosts a free concert during last year’s Key West Songwriters Festival.

Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier hosts a party to start last year’s Key West Songwriters Festival. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed

FATHERHOOD PROGRAM FINDS HOUSING SOLUTIONS

2 Keys nonprofits partner to solve problems

Two long-time local organizations, AH of Monroe County and A Positive Step of Monroe County, each dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of at-risk individuals, children and families, have recently partnered to strengthen their collective impact in the community. They are finding housing solutions on behalf of local men who are participants in APSMC’s Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative.

Founded in 1999 by social activist and Key West resident Billy Davis to serve Monroe County’s highest-risk kids and their families, A Positive Step of Monroe County is a nonprofit that offers a Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative designed to support and guide men, including incarcerated ones, to become better parents and co-parents and to improve their relationship skills. The initiative also provides anger management, health and substance abuse awareness training.

“Dads who sign up for our free program come from all backgrounds,” said Davis. “What they have in common is the motivation to become better parents, and that, in its most essential sense, means being able to provide the basics, such as food and shelter. But here in the Florida Keys, housing has become a nearly insurmountable problem for many. It’s well known that we have a large number of working homeless here, because of what it takes to amass the funds needed to move into a house or apartment, which typically means paying first, last and security deposit up front.”

A recent conversation between Davis and Scott Pridgen, executive director of AH Monroe, opened the door to a new apartment for some of Davis’s fatherhood clients.

“A Positive Step recently received funding from the Florida Department of Children and Families, which we’d earmarked for finding

director

provide

for

Fatherhood Initiative. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed

and securing workforce housing for some of our Fatherhood program dads. As I did the research, I was surprised to learn the scope of AH Monroe’s affordable housing initiatives, which is substantial. I called Scott, we met, saw the opportunity for collaboration and began to formulate a plan.”

AH Monroe was founded nearly 40 years ago as AIDS Help, but as the needs of the community changed, so did the nonprofit’s mission. Today, AH Monroe continues to support individuals affected by HIV and AIDS through AH Health. But recognizing the connection between health and housing, AH Monroe is also dedicated to addressing homelessness and creating affordable housing solutions through AH Housing, said Leah Stockton, AH Monroe’s new director of development and engagement.

AH Monroe’s housing programs provide 144 transitional beds for those experiencing homelessness and 225 permanent supportive housing units, ensuring that more than 365 people have a safe place to sleep each night.

The partnership between AH Monroe and A Positive Step’s Fatherhood Initiative means AH Monroe can help secure housing for some Southernmost Fathership Initiative participants.

The partnership kicked off on Feb. 17, and has already resulted in housing at Poinciana Plaza for two Fatherhood Initiative dads and their children. Of the two, one of the parents has steady employment. “The other currently does not, but has skills and we’re now helping him secure employment,” Davis said, adding that the fatherhood program also provides introduction to OSHA training, job coaching, construction job referrals, as well as GED referrals and 12-step programs if needed.

“A Positive Step of Monroe County is one of many partners AH Monroe works closely with, which creates a stronger community network for those we serve,” said Pridgen.

“When we work together,” said Davis, “we all do better.”

The Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative is funded by the Monroe County Human Services Advisory Board with additional funding from the Florida Department of Children and Families. More information is at apsmc.org or from Davis at 305-3041969 or apsmccrp@aol.com.

More information about AH of Monroe County is at ahmonroe.org or from Stockton at 305-296-6196 or leah.stockton@ahmonroe.org.

— Contributed

SHELF HELP

Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.

What: “His Majesty’s Dragon” by Naomi Novik Why: From the title, you know dragons are involved in this book – but it’s no romantasy like the Empyrean series, and the dragons are a lot more interesting than those in the Song of Ice and Fire. This is the first book in the Temeraire series, named for the dragon we first get to know. It’s alternate, speculative history, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The dragons are sentient and highly intelligent and are used as a sort of air force/artillery by the warring nations. And they bond with the first human they see, in this book’s case a total accident that changes everyone’s lives and even the course of the war. This series owes a lot to Patrick O’Brian but also serves as a wish fulfillment for everyone who holds conversations in their heads with a beloved animal. Even better, the whole series is out so you can binge the whole thing. Where: You can borrow this as a print book 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? info@keyslibraries.org

Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager

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

Leah Stockton,

of development and engagement for AH Monroe County, and Billy Davis, founder and executive director of A Positive Step of Monroe County, view apartments at Poinciana Plaza in Key West, where the agencies have partnered to

housing solutions

dads participating in A Positive Step’s Southernmost

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Unforgettable Dining Experiences

Elegant Fine Dining by Chef Laurence Gottlieb

Easter Dinner

A three-course prix fixe celebration of spring April 20 | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Mother’s Day Dinner

A three-course prix fixe celebration of mom May 11 | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

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Special Occasion Gift Card

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ELEGANCE MEETS ISLAND STYLE

SUNSET, SALT WATER AND FINDING A HOME

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY

In the 1970s and early ’80s on Mallory Square, the late afternoon air smelled almost of anticipation, with a hint of salt water blown off the Gulf of Mexico. Across the harbor lay Christmas Tree Island, fringed with scrubby trees and ringed with a necklace of liveaboard sailboats at anchor.

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY

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

On the crowded Key West pier, a kilted bagpiper paced with steady rhythm as he piped. A cat performed intricate tricks and leaps under the direction of an exuberant Frenchman. A thin sun-bronzed man sporting a long ponytail walked a tightrope, eliciting gasps and murmurs.

Guitar players, jewelry sellers and the beloved “Cookie Lady” — hawking baked goods from the basket of her bicycle — stood out against the crowd.

People were everywhere. Visitors and Key West locals, old and young, hippies and diamond-draped matrons, and small children practically vibrating with excitement were all gathered to sample the exotic banquet of faces, sights and sounds on the waterfront pier.

And I, a relative newcomer still awed by the color and character of the island that had claimed my heart, sat on a blanket attempting to sell creations made by my glassblower friend Mike Dennis. Sales were few, but that didn’t matter to me; I was just happy to be a small part of the nightly pageantry.

A few years before, in 1973, emerging entertainer Jimmy Buffett had released his now-classic song, “I Have Found Me a Home,” about Key West.

Early in his island sojourn, Buffett absorbed the vibe of the outpost at the tip of the Florida Keys — whose history embraced pirates and shipwreck salvors and rumrunners, and whose inhabitants over the years ranged from legendary playwright Tennessee Williams to roguish saloonkeeper Captain Tony Tarracino.

1. Sunset at Mallory Square on April 6, 1978. WRIGHT LANGLEY COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center. 2. Marilyn Kellner, better known as ‘The Cookie Lady,’ sells homemade baked goods at the sunset celebration in the 1970s. CONTRIBUTED. 3. The sights and sounds of Key West, and even the scent of lush exotic blossoms, are evoked by Buffett’s ‘I Have Found Me a Home.’ CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/Keys Weekly 4. Jimmy Buffett’s ‘I Have Found Me a Home’ was released on his classic 1973 album titled ‘A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean,’ and hit home. CONTRIBUTED.

The song captured that vibe and that magic, communicating it in simple lyrics that evoked images of sunburned days, bike rides down ramshackle lanes, and the sights and scents of flowers so lush they hardly seemed real.

My first encounter with “I Have Found Me a Home” came shortly after my arrival in the late 1970s, as it wafted from an old record player in a hippie-style apartment on William Street. If I hadn’t already fallen head-over-heels in love with Key West, hearing that song would have done it.

I practically wore out the record, playing it over and over, absorbing the lyrics that perfectly described the island’s carefree lifestyle:

“The days drift by; they don’t have names; And none of the streets here look the same And there are so many quiet places And smilin’ eyes match the smilin’ faces.”

Those smiles, and the genuine nature of Key

West’s warmth and welcome, were particularly apparent at Mallory Square — where crowds of visitors, locals, street performers and vendors gathered each night, glorying in life as the sun sank toward the watery horizon.

On those evenings beside the harbor, the air was heady with the breath of humidity. Salt water and incense added to the musky perfume, while buskers performed improbable feats and mismatched guitar chords drifted out on the breeze.

When the sun finally went down, to the accompaniment of laughter and applause, most on the square felt a warm appreciation for the moment of magic they’d shared.

Maybe a few even felt, as I did as I packed up unsold glass creations, the sense of belonging that inspired Buffett’s chorus in his early ode to Key West:

“You can have the rest of everything I own ’cause I have found me a home …”

MESSAGE SHERIFF FROM THE

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is April 13-19 this year and I would like you to join me in recognizing those Sheri ’s O ce members who are critical in keeping us all safe.

The pressure and stress of the 911 communications is high, and the hard work they do every day deserves thanks from all of us.

Telecommunicators have one of the most important and stressful jobs in law enforcement and they play a vital role in any emergency response. They are the first to receive your emergency calls and what they do with those calls is critical.

They not only dispatch law enforcement in the Keys but also fire departments, paramedics, and the Trauma Star helicopters — the last of which also requires dedication as telecommunicators are required to keep track of the helicopters and their location in the air.

Please join us in recognizing the pivotal role played by those who utilize telephones, radios, computers, and technical skills to provide support to law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and all other governmental personnel!

Monroe County Sheriff, Rick Ramsay

LUXURY ISLAND LIVING

4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 1,940 SF | MLS# 614406

This stunning Florida ranch-style home has been completely remodeled to offer a blend of modern luxury and comfortable living. From the moment you step inside, you'll be captivated by the expansive open floor plan, which creates a seamless flow between the living spaces, ideal for both everyday living and entertaining.

The heart of the home is the chef's kitchen, featuring high-end Café appliances with elegant bronze finishes, ensuring both style and functionality for any culinary enthusiast. Whether you're preparing a gourmet meal or enjoying a casual breakfast, the spacious layout offers ample room and top-of-the-line finishes that elevate the entire space.

With four generously-sized bedrooms and three and a half baths, this home offers the perfect balance of privacy and shared space. Each bathroom is meticulously updated, offering sleek, modern fixtures and luxurious finishes. The master suite is an oasis of tranquility, complete with a spa-like ensuite bath designed for relaxation.

Every detail of this home has been thoughtfully updated, including all new electric and plumbing systems, ensuring both convenience and peace of mind. The entire property is protected with brand-new impact-resistant glass, adding security and energy efficiency to the already impressive home.

The oversized corner lot offers privacy and plenty of room for outdoor activities. The new in-ground pool is an entertainer's dream, providing a private retreat where you can relax and soak in the Florida sunshine. The massive back porch is perfect for hosting gatherings, with ample seating under the cool breeze of ceiling fans. The space is designed with tropical landscaping, creating a lush, serene environment that enhances the home's connection to nature.

This home combines the best of modern design with the timeless charm of its original style. With meticulous attention to detail and a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor living spaces.

ONE OF A KIND OLD TOWN COMPOUND. This beautiful property consists of two single family homes surrounded by tropical foliage. This one-of-a-kind compound blends island charm and character.

Offering a 3 bedroom 4-bath Conch house with a large separate 1 bedroom 1 bath home with a full kitchen. The 3 bedrooms, 4 bath home has wall-to-wall Dade County pine with an open floor plan and a chef's kitchen. The open concept living space flows effortlessly into a sleek kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and offers a tranquil escape just steps from the pool.

The second, 1 bedroom, 1-bath home provides secluded privacy for visitors or a lucrative rental opportunity. Surrounded by lush, mature landscaping and brick pathways, the private courtyard creates a peaceful hideaway, perfect dip in the heated oversized pool. Steps from Key West's vibrant restaurants, galleries, and historic landmark.

QUICK RESPONSE SAVES COUPLE FROM BURNING BOAT

A 45-foot Hatteras boat is engulfed in flames about a half-mile off Key West the morning of April 8. TowboatUS responded first and rescued the couple on board. There were no injuries. RYZEE GARNIER/Contributed

The Key West Fire Department’s fire boat works to extinguish a blaze that consumed a 45-foot Hatteras the morning of April 8. Key West police, Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were also on scene. KWPD/Contributed

TowboatUS rescues 2 passengers; multiple agencies battle fire

Aboat fire consumed a 45foot Hatteras about a halfmile offshore of Key West’s South Roosevelt Boulevard the morning of April 8. Key West Fire Department received the call around 9:45 a.m. and dispatched its fire boat, which began dousing the fire with saltwater. Fire boat crews from the Key

MANDY MILES

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

MILES TO GO SING US A SONG

Don’t

miss Dueling Pianos at The Studios next time

The ingredients for fantastic Friday and Saturday evenings were all there. If you didn’t have a good time, then you were the problem at The Studios of Key West on April 4 and 5, when Adam LaSalle and Paul Rigano returned for Dueling Pianos.

As for those winning ingredients? Two Steinway baby grand pianos, two funny and talented pianists, a repertoire ranging from “Great Balls of Fire” to “I’m Still Standing,” and every other bar sing-along song — “Sweet Caroline (buh-buh-buh),” “Brown-Eyed Girl” and, of course, “Piano Man.”

Oh, and let’s not forget the bar — beer, wine and real liquor drinks — well-positioned right at the edge of the theater and open throughout the show. In fact, LaSalle encouraged his audience

to get up for a refill whenever needed. “The more you drink, the better we sound,” he said.

The show was a delight, with the audience ranging in age from 17 to 80, although, to be fair, the teens were part of the act. For the second year in a row, LaSalle and Rigano invited young musicians from Key West High School to share the stage for a few numbers — and they didn’t disappoint. Juju Strunk, Jax Thurston, Matteui Bastillada and Jamie Everitt make up the band Zero Turbulence, which plays gigs around town at Little Jazz Room, the Custom House and elsewhere, including the Dueling Pianos stage at The Studios of Key West. (Everitt couldn’t make the Studios gig, though, as she is performing in the high school’s production of “Mamma Mia.”)

If you missed the Dueling Pianos shows this year, keep an eye on The Studios of Key West performance schedule. They’ll be back — and so will I. (And check out Zero Turbulence on Instagram @zeroturbulenceband.)

West Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also battled the blaze as onlookers lined South Roosevelt Boulevard.

The couple on board escaped uninjured after radioing a mayday call. TowBoatUS responded immediately and rescued the uninjured couple, who were on their way back to the Miami area. Once the fire was extinguished, TowBoatUS brought the couple back to shore and towed the burned 1984 vessel back to its headquarters at Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island. — Contributed

Adam LaSalle, left, and Paul Rigano compete in the lighthearted sing-along of Dueling Pianos at The Studios of Key West. CONTRIBUTED

Left: Dueling pianist Paul Rigano with local teen musician Juju Strunk, of the local band Zero Turbulence. Right: Jax Thurston, left, and Matteui Bastillada, members of the local band Zero Turbulence, join the Dueling Pianists on stage at The Studios of Key West April 4 and 5. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

“Sean

Dr. Mader will discuss the changes in the Florida Keys’ fauna and flora over recent decades, highlighting the impact of invasive species. Notable invaders include the Green iguana, pythons,

Cuban tree frogs, Haitian curly-tailed lizards, Myna birds, and Monk parakeets. Invasive plants like Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper trees also pose significant threats. Each new species, regardless of size, harms the sensitive ecosystem of the

Easter Brunch Bu ffet

Sunday, April 20th, 10am-2pm, $75 per person

Starters

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

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

QUICHES & CROISSANTS

Assorted & house-made

Soup & Salad

VICHYSSOISE

Chilled potato leek soup, crispy leeks

KEY WEST PINK SHRIMP BISQUE

Spiced crema, chives

CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD

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

BABY KALE & ARUGULA SALAD

Cara cara orange, pomegranate, heirloom tomatoes, pickled onions, candied pecans, gorgonzola, maple rosemary vinaigrette

Omelet Station

Choice of whole eggs or egg whites with toppings: PROTEINS

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

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

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

Carving Station

PRIME BEEF TENDERLOIN

SPIRAL HAM

From Snake River Farms with dijon horseradish, whole grain mustard, honey ginger gastrique

Mains

ACHIOTE CHICKEN

Hickory-grilled chicken breast, fresh herbs LOCAL CATCH SCAMPI

Wild mushrooms, asparagus tips, heirloom tomatoes, capers, lemon beurre blanc EGGS BENEDICT

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

Sides

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, With herb garlic butter, Creamy Mushroom Orzo Pasta, Garlic Chili Green Beans, Boursin Cream Corn

Dessert

COOKIES & DONUTS

Assorted selection by Chef Robbie

6-week courses

May 16 - June 19

12-week courses

May 16 - Aug. 8

Online courses

June 2 - Aug. 5

... 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.

The owl looked straight at me over his left shoulder, then swiveled his head about 350 degrees and looked straight at me over his right shoulder. Which made me laugh louder than I should have.

His eyes were a bright yellow. Maybe not a banana yellow so much as banana jellybean yellow, something close to the same color as a grackle’s eyes, but a little less color-saturated, and about 10 or 15 times the size, with possibly 10 to 15 times the acuity, and a definite kajillion times more charm.

This one was an Antillean short-eared owl, a subspecies of the short-eared owl, one of the most widely distributed bird species in the world. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, as well as a lot of outlying islands, such as the Galapagos, the Falklands, Hawaii and several western Pacific islands that are almost too small to find on a map.

This one most likely came from Cuba.

There are about 10 subspecies of shorteared owls around the world. In North America (and Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa) we have the subspecies flammeus. While they do winter in Florida, we don’t really see them in the Keys.

Every few years since the 1970s, the Antillean short-eared owl has been seen in the Keys, almost always in April, though rarely for more than a couple days at a stretch.

There are a number of field marks, but the easiest way to identify the Antillean is by the dark feathers that encircle their facial disk.

A lot of American and Canadian birders consider the Antillean subspecies to be a bankable bird, meaning it may eventually be considered its own species, and could then be retroactively added as a new species on their life list. Which isn’t crazy. Last year the barn owl, which is distributed in the similar everycontinent-but-Antarctica range, and has been considered a single species forever, was split into three separate species.

The bird I was looking at, the one doing the cute Linda Blair impersonation, had been seen on Sunday night by Chris and Beth Bergh, who were walking through the park just north of the Seven Mile Bridge. I believe they’d heard about it from someone who’d seen it the night before.

It was in a grassy little micro-vale, a dip in the ground really, next to a very small hammock, inside the curve of the bike path.

Chris had texted me about it the night before, but I decided I wasn’t going to chase it. It was too far to drive, especially for a species and subspecies I’d seen before.

OWL BE THERE

As the day wore on, though, it began to eat at me. When was the last time I’d seen an owl in the Keys? When was the last time I’d taken the risk to spend several hours making the effort to chase a bird I probably wasn’t going to see? When was the last time I’d had the joy of sitting in Key West traffic during rush hour?

I thought about the fact that it had been more than a decade since I’d last seen an Antillean short-eared owl, or any type of shorteared owl, and how I still looked to see one in that same spot at Fort Zach every time I was there.

Drip, drip, drip, until late in the afternoon, possibly a little too close to evening, I penned the dog up in the kitchen — she eats books if we don’t, and from the kitchen she has access to the fenced-in backyard — grabbed my camera and binoculars, and headed north.

I got to the parking lot at the Marathon end of the bridge around 7 p.m., but the lot was full, and I had to wait an interminable four or five minutes for someone to leave so I could take their spot. Who knew one of the most famous bridges in the world would be a popular place to see the sunset? Other than everyone who lives in Marathon, I mean.

As I was starting down to the bike path I got a text from Chris Bergh. Beth was looking at the owl at that very moment. Excellent, I thought. No need to hurry. But then I remembered that short-eared owls could be somewhat crepuscular. The sun was starting to set? What if the bird decides now is the time to go out on a hunting run? I got a little less lackadaisical in my stride.

I found Beth in the very small hammock. She was with her friend Claudine Bartels, who was sitting on the ground with the long lens of her camera raised. I followed the line of the lens and about 20 yards away, sitting in the grass, was the owl, blinking his yellow eyes in his dark-rimmed face, nonplussed by the at-

tention. I raised my camera and took a couple shots just so I wouldn’t feel like I missed it.

Beth noted it was a little worrisome that the bird had been in pretty much the same spot for three days, including in the aftermath of the Seven Mile Bridge Run, where tons of people would have been around. No doubt whatever wild thought had inspired it to fly here from Cuba had led to it being somewhat exhausted. It was also a little worrisome that the bird was so nonplussed with so many people around, keeping an eye on us, but not reacting beyond that.

Beth was worried enough that she had already called the folks at Marathon Wild Bird Center, who were on the way to assess the owl.

In the meantime the bird spent a lot of time preening, and at one point leapt a few feet in the air, then dropped face-first into the weeds, like it was hunting, all good signs of health, making things a little more ambiguous. Claudine and I both took a lot of pictures.

The general rule (as I understand it) with birds is, if there is nothing visibly wrong with them, and they are not easy to catch, they are probably fine. When Dana Child, a volunteer with the center arrived with his white pick up truck and pulled a big net pole out, he caught the owl in two tries. Which is pretty easy on the catching birds scale. So he took the bird to the center to get checked out.

When I called Kelly Grinter, who runs the center, on Tuesday morning, she said the bird was in very good health. No visible injuries, not underweight, and it didn’t have any of the signs of neurological issues or having ingested something toxic.

Maybe the bird was tired. Maybe it was just very mellow.

Kelly said they’d keep an eye on the owl for a day or two, then most likely release it in a different spot, somewhere less well traveled and a little further from the highway.

An Antillean

MARK HEDDEN

PHOTO BY ANDY NEWMAN

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CHRIS McNULTY

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

If your communication and relationships have felt stymied recently, then this is the week your words will flow easier and your connections will become clearer. Mercury, the planet of thought and explanation, turned retrograde on March 14 and turned direct on April 7. Under the now-infamous Mercury retrograde period, our technology goes haywire, our internet keeps going out at the wrong times and our ability to get our meaning across seems nonexistent. Mercury retrograde is a time to review how we communicate and to rethink our messaging. Venus has been retrograde since March 1 and is turning direct on Saturday, April 12. Under Venus’ retrograde, we do a deep audit on our relationships with others, and people from our past resurface. It is a time for relationship frustrations and a reconsideration of how we express ourselves creatively. If it feels as if you’ve been confused lately, you’re right on time. However, the planets keep turning and every transit changes. This is the week when our thoughts and relationships will begin to find their groove again.

Here are your horoscopes for Mercury and Venus turning direct in Pisces. Read for your rising and sun signs.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Under these retrogrades, you’ve probably found yourself retreating inward the past few weeks. Your thoughts have become self-reflective and self-protective, and you’ve created some distance between yourself and the people in your life. Stepping away

is important from time to time, and you’ll soon be able to see the fruits of your retreat.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

As you’ve taken some more time to yourself, you may have noticed your support networks have shifted a bit. Have some people fallen into the background while others have come to the fore? Under these retrogrades, you have had the opportunity to reconsider who in your life is there to support you, and who is hanging around for ulterior motives. Take what you’ve learned and be choosy.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Now that you’ve parsed out who is in your corner and who is not, you are able to focus on the unique contribution that you have to offer the public. Your career, reputation and public purpose are coming into focus and the professional relationships you’ve nurtured are getting ready to give you a leg up. Speak clearly about what you want and see who puts out their hand.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

You may have been feeling like you’ve been thrust into a confusing new adventure these past few weeks, and that is because you have. Unfamiliar terrain. New streets to walk. A different smell in the air. While your relationships and thought patterns have had to readjust, the reason for this shift will be coming clear soon. For now, try to appreciate the new horizons that have opened.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

You’ve been doing some deep thinking about what you share with others. Your time, your money, your energy. It hasn’t

always felt easy to speak up about what you need or where the limits are. That’s starting to shift. You’re ready to name what matters to you and be clear about where you stand. It’s a good week to get things out in the open.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

The people in your life may have felt confusing lately. Conversations have gone in circles or felt unfinished, and you’ve been left wondering where things stand. This week brings a reset. You’ll start to hear what others really mean and you’ll know how to respond. Don’t be afraid to check in again. This time, the message will land.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Your routine has been a bit out of whack and your body may be feeling it. Maybe tasks have piled up or you’ve been working through some health stuff in the background. Now it’s time to bring back some structure. You’re not meant to be perfect. You’re just meant to feel better. Start small and let things settle back into place.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

It’s been harder than usual to feel inspired or connected to what brings you joy. Romance might have felt a little distant or confusing too. This week, your spark starts to return. You’ll find it in music, movement, laughter or art. Let yourself have fun again. You don’t need a big reason. Just a moment that makes you smile.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Your sense of home has been shifting lately. Maybe you’ve been thinking a lot about the past or feeling unsure about where you belong. That’s starting to settle.

CLARITY RETURNS

This week brings more peace and clarity around what makes you feel safe and supported. Let yourself lean into comfort. You don’t have to hold it all together by yourself.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Lately, it’s been hard to get your point across. Whether it was a misread text or a phone call that never happened, communication has been frustrating. This week, things smooth out. You’ll be able to speak more clearly and people will actually hear you. Say what you need to say, even if it’s something small. It could open the door you’ve been waiting on.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Money has been on your mind. You may have been rethinking your budget or feeling unsure about what you truly value. This week helps you reconnect with what feels worth it. Whether that’s time, effort or income. You don’t need to have it all figured out, but you can make choices that feel more grounded and fair to you.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

You’ve been going through a quiet shift in how you see yourself. Maybe you’ve felt unsure about how to show up or what parts of you to share. Now things are clearing up. You’re starting to feel more like yourself again and maybe even a little braver. Let the world see you as you are. You don’t need to explain it. Just be it.

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.

Maui is a 2-year-old pit bull mix who’s back with us through no fault of his own — his family’s housing issues got in the way of his happily-ever-after. But this boy’s spirit hasn’t wavered one bit. Maui is the undisputed king of fetch. Tennis balls are his favorite, and if you’re willing to throw, he’s ready to chase. He could keep the game going all day, tail wagging and eyes locked on the prize. Beyond his athletic skills, Maui is well-behaved and eager to please. He’s hoping for a forever home where fetch marathons and cuddle breaks are part of the daily routine.

Nash has been with us since he was a tiny kitten in 2021, and it’s hard to believe this handsome black cat is still waiting for a home. He’s a certified catio connoisseur, often found lounging in the sun on the outdoor side of his beloved space. Nash adores the company of other cats — he’s frequently spotted in the middle of a cozy black cat cuddle pile. While shelter life has been his norm for far too long, it’s time for Nash to find a family of his own.

The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for specialneeds 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.

Soul is a 2-year-old female tabby with a gentle heart and super-soft fur. She thrives on companionship, especially when it involves other cats. Soul loves to play and often engages in little games, whether it’s chasing a toy or simply pouncing around with her feline friends. Despite her playful side, she’s also incredibly calm and enjoys just being in the presence of others. Soul is a kind, affectionate soul who’s looking for a home.

Reese’s Puffs is a 1-year-old Bengal mix with a heart as unique as his appearance. He’s a large cat with a gorgeous coat and a commanding presence. When he first arrived, Reese’s Puffs was a bit shy and timid, but with time, he’s really come out of his shell. His confidence is growing every day, and he’s becoming more comfortable around people. While still a little reserved, he’s ready for a home where he can continue to blossom.

Lola, the “showgirl,” is a 1-year-old rabbit who steals the spotlight. With her soft fur and charming personality, she’s got looks and the attitude to match. Don’t let her cute bunny face fool you — Lola knows she’s fabulous and expects the red carpet treatment. Lola is always ready for her close-up and is looking for a home that will appreciate her diva ways (and maybe even give her a little extra attention).

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

Keep Key West Beautiful met at the cemetery on April 4 for the quarterly cleanup hosted by the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. In one hour, 59 volunteers collected 138 pounds of trash, 37 pounds of recycling and 3 gallons of cigarette butts. The next cleanup will be on Friday, April 11 along Duval Street starting at the Key West Woman’s Club, 319 Duval St. 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.

On April 8, Keep Key West Beautiful helped the Key West Publix and the Marathon Publix with a Publix Serves community program. A total of 22 Publix employees, including eight from Marathon, donated their time to walk North Roosevelt Boulevard and Northside Drive. In one hour, they collected a total of 81 pounds of trash, 19 pounds of recycling and 2 gallons of cigarette butts. CONTRIBUTED 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.

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 305-2968297 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

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 11: Duval & Caroline streets. Meet across the street from the Key West Woman’s Club. Hosted by the Key West Woman’s Club.

April 18: White Street & Atlantic Boulevard. Meet at the bocce courts, 1301 Atlantic Blvd. Joint cleanup with the Green Ops of the Conch Republic.

April 25: Mallory Square. Meet in the parking lot near Ocean Key Resort. Hosted by Ocean Key Resort & Marina.

HOUSING CRISIS HITS ELDERLY COUPLE IN KEY WEST

Dear Editor,

And then they came for me.

In June my husband and I will be forced from our home. My new landlady will build a new house on the property I’ve called home for 28 years. I truly wish her the best. I have advocated and voted for housing solutions for the past 42 years here, and often wondered about the displaced and uprooted families and where they may have gone. Now I know and want to share.

We are a senior couple. My husband is a four-tour, retired military veteran and a recent cancer survivor. I retired two years ago to care for him fulltime. You may know me from making your lunch and soups in your favorite pub or local eatery. I’ve been tasked with finding housing while being shot down by the Key West Housing Authority as they stopped taking applications for housing two years ago and we can find no openings for apartments, despite having good credit.

What we need is an advocate or an organization who can help me in my search. We have modest savings, pension income, excellent credit and we’re ideal tenants.

It is impossible to know what to do when you’re not sure where you’re going. This is almost unbearable. Knowing we’ll be on the street in two calendar pages.

I love my Island community and I want to stay. We don’t drive and I’d be terrified in Miami. Our doctors and family are here. I just hope my grandchildren won’t see me pushing a shopping cart down the boulevard with my husband in it.

It can happen to anyone.

Sincerely,

Karen “Woody” Woodburn Key West

WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?

Creative heritage and craft cocktails characterize Bar 1

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Key West was a gathering place for some of America’s most influential writers. Novelist Tom McGuane, Vietnam war memoirist Phil Caputo, self-proclaimed “gonzo journalist” Hunter S. Thompson and poet/novelist Jim Harrison were among those who reveled in the raffish vibe, stalked gamefish in area waters and spun tales over cocktails at local bars.

If those creative renegades walked the island’s streets today, they’d probably spend their evenings at Bar 1, enjoying libations with salt-seared fishing guides, visiting celebrities and other colorful cohorts.

Located at the Key West Cook ing School, upstairs in a historic building at 291 Front St., Bar 1 pays tribute to the literary legends who found inspiration, camaraderie and adventure in Key West and its surrounding waters. Together they created a legacy that, even now, continues to draw world-class writ ers to the island.

a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, it’s the kind of place where anglers and guides plan the next day’s fishing trip, locals enthrall visitors with rumrunning legends and a writer scribbles notes between sips of his drink.

Patrons can order their favorite cocktails or explore unique offerings that salute Key West’s creative heritage and maverick atmosphere. Each featured concoction carries a story, recounted by bartenders whose tales are as appealing as the drinks they serve.

Daiquiris should be shaken for at least 30 seconds before being strained into a cocktail glass for serving, as taught at the Key West Cooking School. KEY WEST COOKING SCHOOL/Contributed

It’s a legacy that dates back to Ernest Hemingway’s nearly decadelong residence in the 1930s, when he wrote classic novels and pursued giant marlin on his fishing boat Pilar. The Hemingway spirit is well represented at Bar 1, where items on display include a vintage typewriter, a detailed model of the Pilar, a rod and reel he might have favored, and mounted trophy fish handed down from his longtime pal Charles Thompson.

Like Hemingway, the literary bad boys of the ’70s and ’80s were intrigued by Key West’s freewheeling, adventurous character.

Bar 1 suggests that character with comfortable leather couches, tropical-style rattan chairs, sportsman’s memorabilia and restored wood floors from the building’s 1856 construction. Open from 10

Standouts include the distinctive Death in the Afternoon, conceived by Hemingway and named for his nonfiction bullfighting book; the Rum Runner that recalls the island’s Prohibition-era alcohol smugglers; and the Curry Old Fashioned, honoring 19th-century tobacco warehouse owner William Curry and incorporating a hint of tobacco bitters.

Patrons eager to learn about mixology — and how to make Key West and Caribbean libations themselves — can join a hands-on Bar 1 cocktail class.

“Rum Revelations” and “Key West History through Craft Cocktails” are offered each day, and reservations are required. Call 305294-2665). At each “spirited” session, lasting from 90 minutes to two hours, attendees create two drinks, sample three others, and discover the lore and traditions behind all five.

LAST CALL

Drink of the Month: Classic daiquiri. Containing white rum, lime juice and house-made simple syrup, the classic daiquiri was allegedly invented by a 19th-century American mining engineer stationed near the tiny Cuban village of Daiquiri. Ernest Hemingway was among famous fans of the refreshing and versatile cocktail.

Helpful Bar Hack: When making a classic daiquiri, shake the ingredients with ice for at least 30 seconds — ensuring it’s properly chilled, blended and slightly frothy — before straining it into a chilled glass. Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com.

Mixologist Jenn Burdette serves one of her concoctions at Bar 1 at the Key West Cooking School.

Yodis Fuentes Flores Registered Nurse

My mom went through cancer several years ago, so I understand how important it is to have doctors and nurses who take the time to make patients feel comfortable and supported. It feels like I’m paying some of that forward now. That’s what we do at Lower Keys Medical Center.

.

We all want high-quality healthcare close to home. Doctors we trust. Nurses who know us. And, in a medical crisis, we want the peace of mind that comes from knowing there is a trusted hospital nearby. The team at Lower Keys Medical Center makes quality care and a great patient experience possible every single day. They are skilled clinicians, compassionate caregivers, and advocates for their patients. When great healthcare is available in our hometown, treatment is faster and more convenient, recovery is easier, and patients can remain surrounded by the people who matter most. That’s why we’re always working to Keep Care in the Keys for you and your family.

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

WHEN IT’S BLOWING, THEY’RE STILL GOING

The good news: When winds top 25 miles per hour, it’s hard to overheat while running a road race. The bad news: When those winds are directly in your face, it makes for some of the toughest racing around.

Despite facing brutal headwinds for the second year in a row, there were still plenty of smiles – and an abundance of “sunrise selfies” – as racers “Beat the Bus” and crossed the finish line of the 44th annual 7 Mile Bridge Run on April 5.

Around 1,500 runners and walkers, from 5-year-olds to 88-year-old Grand Masters, braved the longest bridge in the Keys on Saturday morning in one of the unique and scenic footraces in the United States.

Familiar faces and locals locked down top positions in the race. Key West 24-year-old Owen Allen was the first to break the tape in 41 minutes, 3 seconds, followed by a second consecutive second-place finish for 2023 bridge champ Vance Bursa of Big Pine Key in 42:27. Three-time winner Collin Wainwright of Philadelphia, the top finisher in 2024, completed the top three with a time of 42:39.

Joanna Stephens of Dallas, Georgia led all female finishers, breaking the tape in 44:15 for her third consecutive win. She was followed for the second straight year by 28-year-old Anne DenOtter of Tavernier, who crossed the line in 47:55. Key West High School distance running phenom Caylaa Makimaa rounded out the top three with a time of 50:12.

The 7 Mile Bridge Run began in 1982 to celebrate the opening of the new Seven Mile Brdige, which replaced the converted railroad bridge built by Henry Flagler in 1912. Racers are allowed just 90 minutes to complete the course, challenging themselves to “Beat the Bus” sent to collect stragglers.

1. Overall champion Owen Allen breaks the tape in 41 minutes, 3 seconds.

2. Women’s overall winner Joanna Stephens finishes her 6.8 miles in 44 minutes, 15 seconds.

3. As with every 7 Mile Bridge Run, it takes an army of volunteers at the start, finish and aid stations to corral the chaos of 1,500 runners into a well-oiled machine that keeps racers coming back for more.

4. The crew at US1 Radio and Keys dignitaries enjoy a sunrise ride on the Pigeon Key Express to watch the action up close.

5. As they did last year, Joanna Stephens of Dallas, Georgia, right, and Anne DenOtter of Tavernier, center, went 1-2 as the women’s overall finishers, with Key West High School senior Caylaa Makimaa close behind in third.

6. The top three overall male finishers included Key West’s Owen Allen, center, in first; 2023 bridge run winner Vance Bursa, left, in second; and 2024 champion Collin Wainwright in third.

7. Mary, left, and Tom Casarsa are the final two across the line to ‘Beat the Bus.’

Photos by Barry Gaukel, Brandon Bowman and contributed images.

DID YOU SEE YOUR SHOTS?

Mile 5 photos (post-fire truck) by Brandon Bowman 7

The course record of 32 minutes, 57 seconds, set in 1998 by Florida resident Paul Marmaro, has stood tall for nearly 30 years.

Scan the QR codes to find your race photos.

Finish Line photos by Barry Gaukel

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Founded by Betty Debnam

Meet Will Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564, and even now, more than 460 years later, his plays, including “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” are among the most admired literature in the world. He is also known for his sonnets (SAHNits), a special type of poem.

This week, The Mini Page learns more about the writer known as the Bard.

WILL’S

HOME

William was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father, John Shakespeare, was wealthy. He had gained much of his money from his wife, Mary Arden. A woman’s property went to her husband at that time.

William’s dad made leather goods such as gloves. He was also a top official in Stratford. He was chief alderman, or an elected official similar to a city councilman. At times, he served as deputy bailiff (BAY-lif), or sheriff.

William grew up with five siblings and many cousins. His mother and grandmotherprobably taught the kids to read at home.

When they were 4 or 5 years old, children learned to read with a hornbook, or a little wooden tablet with a piece of paper or parchment glued to it. It was covered

TRY ’N’ FIND

ACTOR, ALDERMAN, ANNE, BAILIFF, BARD, ENGLAND, GLOBE, HORNBOOK, LONDON, PLAYERS, PLAYS, POEM, SCHOOL, SHAKESPEARE, SONNETS, STRATFORD, THEATER, WILLIAM, WRITER.

with a thin, protective piece of animal horn. Children attending grammar school usually learned both reading and writing. There were no set rules for how to spell words at that time, so nobody had spelling tests.

GOING TO SCHOOL

When he was 7, William began attending the Stratford Grammar School, an excellent school founded in 1295. It was in a large hall above a meeting room.

School was hard. The school day started at 6 a.m. in the summer and 7 a.m. in the winter. It lasted eight to 12 hours, six days a week. Kids had to bring their own candles to study in the dark.

The boys studied plays and literature by ancient Romans and Greeks. Students learned by reciting or writing things over and over. They had to memorize a lot. They also had to learn how to compose their own works.

DRAMATIC PLAYS

About once a year, groups of traveling players, or actors, came to Stratford. From the time he was about 8, William was able to watch plays with the rest of the townspeople.

Players would perform in front of town officials, in the square or in an inn yard. People would watch from balconies around the inn.

There were no women players. Young men acted the women’s parts. Traveling players may have performed in churches or on temporary stages built in the town.

where they performed.

GROWING UP

William left school at around 15 years old and may have become a schoolmaster in a household in northern England, or he may have become an actor.

He returned to Stratford when he was 18 and married a neighborhood girl, Anne Hathaway. They had a daughter, Susanna, and twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was 11.

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS

We don’t know how Shakespeare got started in theater, but experts know he was in London acting and writing plays by the 1590s.

His playwriting career went very well. He bought a house in Stratford for his family. He became part owner of a successful playing, or acting, company called The King’s Men. It was probably sponsored, or supported, by King James. Shakespeare also owned property in London.

RESOURCES

On the Web:

• folger.edu/explore/shakespearefor-kids

At the library:

• “Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays: A Children’s Edition” by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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

A global seafood company is offering a $48 bounty per fish captured after around 27,000 of its farmed salmon escaped from a facility off Norway’s coast, sparking concerns for the area’s ecology. The escape occurred after a powerful winter storm damaged a fish pen in Troms. Norway’s government has ruled out banning open-net farms, where fish are raised in large floating cages in the ocean. Conservationists warn that escaped farmed salmon threaten wild populations by reducing genetic diversity and spreading disease.

Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews

Mini Fact: This painting from 1834 shows the house where Shakespeare was born (center house).

art by Phoebe Dightonrt, courtesy Folger Shakespeare Library

A hornbook

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s acting company built the Globe Theatre in London,

UPCOMING EVENTS

LOCKING IN

Four lifters headed to states | P.4

APRIL 10

Marathon Baseball Berean Christian 4/1 W, 8-3

Coral Shores Baseball Dade Christian 4/1 W, 7-6

Marathon Baseball Berean Christian 4/1 W, 14-0

Coral Shores Softball Colonial Christian 4/1 W, 33-24

Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Miami Country Day 4/1 W, 8-5

Coral Shores Girls Lacrosse Palmer 4/1 L, 10-3

Marathon Softball Ransom 4/2 W, 22-10 Key West Baseball Miami Academy Charter 4/2 L, 11-9 Key West Softball Mater Bay Academy 4/2 W, 20-5

Coral Shores Baseball Mater Bay Academy 4/2 W, 14-4 Key West Girls Lacrosse Miami Country Day 4/3 L, 11-10 Marathon Baseball Jupiter Christian 4/3 L, 5-1

Key West Boys Lacrosse Miami Country Day 4/3 W, 17-11

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

HOLLY

He is a great leader on and off the field with his teammates. He’s a big part of why we are 16-1-1.”

.788

Coral Shores senior Eddie Holly currently leads the Hurricanes in home runs this season with three, all of which were pounded out last week in a magnificent performance at the plate. He started the week with a tworun homer against Dade Christian in a game that could not have been closer, helping the Hurricanes to keep their win streak alive. The following night, Holly let two fly, driving in five runs with an unprecedented three homers in one week.

Holly leads the team in on-base percentage at .600, which coach Joe Szymanski described as unheard-of. Holly is currently hitting .455 and his slugging percentage is .788. Defensively, he is perfect 98.6% of the time, making him, statistically, nothing short of a phenom. For his unparalleled contributions to the Hurricanes last week and all season long, Coral Shores’ Eddie Holly is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

THIS WEEK Eddie

Senior, Coral Shores

Photo by: JOY SMITH/Keys Weekly

four of Marathon’s weightlifting captains will head to

big dance at the FHSAA State Championships. From left: Max Childress, Tanner Ross, Matthias Martinez-Velez and Damian Stasiewicz.

Baseball DH/Catcher

– Hurricane coach Joe Szymanski

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

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

Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

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

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

All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.

IN CONTENTION

Four Keys lifters qualify for state championships

On April 3, Coral Shores and Marathon sent some of the strongest young men in the Florida Keys to the FHSAA 1A Region 4 championships in Frostproof. For four of them, it won’t be the final stop in their postseason journey.

Marathon had a strong showing, securing a third-place team total in Olympic lifts and a runner-up trophy in traditional. Fueling the team’s successful showing at regionals were two first-place titles as well as multiple second-place finishes to stack on points to their team totals, much as they do with plates on their Olympic bars. Coral Shores did not place in the top 10 at regionals as a team, but had some success in individual weight categories.

Two lifters left Frostproof with automatic qualifications for the state meet by winning their weight classes outright. Marathon’s Matthias Martinez-Velez won the regional championship in the traditional event in his 139-pound weight class. He combined 225 pounds on the bench with 180 on his clean and jerk to win the title outright and punch his card to states. Martinez-Velez is in a three-way tie for the eighth-place ranking for states. The talented junior came in fourth in the Olympic competition, missing a second state bid by a five-pound one-place margin.

Joining Martinez-Velez at the top spot on the podium last week was senior Damian Stasiewicz, who claimed a regional title in the Olympic competition and a runner-up medal in traditional. The 169-pound lifter paired a 185-pound snatch lift with 185 pounds in the clean and jerk to win the title. Stasiewicz is tied for eighth in the state rankings in Olympic lifts and will also compete in the traditional event at states.

9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050 Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

Marathon’s best shot at a medal lies with junior Max Childress, who brought home a pair of second-place finishes from regionals in the 183-pound class. In the Olympic event, Childress snatched 185 pounds and added a 275-pound clean to secure his medal and qualify for states, where he is ranked fourth. Given that he failed his final

tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

CONTENTION

snatch, it is likely that Childress has the ability to add at least 10 pounds to his total and could bring home some hardware. In traditional lifts, he is ranked fifth with a 265-pound bench added to his clean lift. Childress likely has more in the tank at bench, as well.

The final competitor to qualify for states in boys weightlifting this season is Tanner Ross. Like Childress, Ross secured a pair of runner-up medals at regionals. In the 199-pound Olympic category, the senior put together 205 pounds in the snatch with 265 pounds in clean to tie for an eighth-place ranking at states. Ross failed both of his final lifts at regionals, giving him a potential extra 20 at states, which could easily bump the senior into medal contention. In the traditional event, Ross benched 265 in his second lift and went for a big 15-pound increase in lift number three, which was recorded as a fail. Should he find the fortitude to dig deep and clear his best attempts from regionals at the state meet, Ross could also find the podium in that event.

The team captains have led the Fins to resounding success this season.

Coral Shores did not have any state qualifiers, but did have some notable performances at regionals. Tyler Bettner placed third in the traditional event and fifth in Olympic at 139 pounds, bringing home a pair of medals. Teammate Aaron Lykins was the runner-up behind Stasiewicz in the 169-pound class in Olympic lifts. Despite coming in second, Lykins missed the state cut by two places with just five pounds of combined weight separating him from the big dance. Lykins was third in traditional lifts, giving him two regional medals this season. At 154 pounds, William Roberts medaled in sixth place in the Olympic category.

The four Fins and their coaches head to Lakeland’s R.P. Funding Center this week for the FHSAA 1A State Championships, which will occur Saturday, April 12.

Far left: Tanner Ross puts up a 265-pound clean and jerk.

Left: Max Childress preps for his 265-pound clean and jerk at regionals.

Right: Marathon’s Matthias MartinezVelez, left, Max Childress, Damian Stasiewicz and Tanner Ross will head to states this week to compete in the FHSAA 1A Championships in Lakeland.

Photos by Barry Gaukel and Jackson Garcia

NEXT LEVEL

Two Conchs sign letters of intent

ASoccer star DJ Barrett, left, and baseball standout Sam Holland sign their letters of intent with Roosevelt University and the University of Tampa.

MAICEY MALGRAT/ Keys Weekly

BATTING 1.000

Softball teams have perfect week of wins Keys-wide

As the final month of prep softball’s regular season began, Keys teams refused to lose.

The

pair of Key West athletes signed national letters of intent last week to take their skills to the next level.

Come fall, baseball player Sam Holland will continue to don red, but the Conch will put on a Spartan hat for Division II baseball stronghold University of Tampa. Holland’s performance in the outfield has been nothing short of stellar this season, with a .985 fielding percentage. His ability to gun the ball from deep in the outfield makes him an asset, and he has turned five double plays this season, a testament to his athleticism. Holland’s bat also attracted much collegiate attention; he is batting .323 with 21 hits, 18 RBIs, 11 doubles and a home run this season.

Also signing was soccer standout Dennis “DJ” Barrett. The defenseman, described as a true team leader for the Conchs who is willing to do the gritty work behind the scenes, often without recognition, will take his can-do attitude to Chicago’s Roosevelt University.

The Division II Lakers are very excited with their Southernmost addition. "We’re thrilled to have Dennis joining our program at Roosevelt University,” said coach Paddy Hoepp. “He brings an infectious energy to the team, combines physicality with a strong work ethic, and has the kind of mindset that will help him grow quickly at the college level. We’re excited to see him develop and make an impact in our squad."

Key West added to their win column last week after routing the Rays of Mater Bay Academy 20-5 on April 2. The Conchs piled on 18 hits, with Kaleaya Dickerson and Tavyn Gage accounting for three each. Chloe Kongos, Kaleya Cervantes and Alexa Condella added two each. Ryleigh Harnish earned the win on the mound, fanning three, walking nine and allowing two hits over three innings. Brianna Brenner put in four innings of work in the circle, striking out five, walking one and giving up just one hit. The team stands at 10-6 with a little over a week to go in the regular season.

Coral Shores improved to 3-4 after a two-game win streak, starting with the Patriots of Colonial Christian. Despite it being April Fool’s Day, the 33-24 score was legit. The ’Canes stacked up 20 hits, with four from Presley Bagwell and three each from Jenna Mandozzi, Chloie Stanley and Addison Gady. Mira Jones earned the win pitching four and one-third innings, striking out seven, walking six and giving up four hits. Bagwell spent two and twothirds innings in the circle, fanning five, walking six and surrendering seven hits to the Patriots.

it being April Fool’s Day, the 33-24 score was

On April 4, the Hurricanes picked up their second road win of the week against Ransom Everglades. Jones had the hot bat for Coral Shores, registering four hits. Melanie Estevez added three more to the team total of 12, with Arianna Talan driving in four runs in the 21-11 victory. Bagwell spent five innings pitching, striking out eight, walking nine and surrendering seven hits.

Marathon defeated the Raiders 22-10 errors.

The ’Canes were not the only Keys team to bring home a win from Ransom last week; the Dolphins of Marathon defeated the Raiders 22-10 on April 2. The Fins had 16 hits, with Maeve Merryman and Madelyn Thornton leading the charge. The pair had three hits apiece and Merryman drove in five runs while Thornton had four RBIs. Elena Eubank, Trinity McLeod, Sara Robinson and Elianys Roque had two hits each.

The following day, Marathon hosted Miami Country Day, a team they suffered a mercy-rule loss to just one month prior. This time around, the Fins were ready and did their best to capitalize on five Spartan errors. Merryman, Thornton and Elena Eubank had the Fins’ only hits, but it would be enough. Thornton held the Spartans to a single hit, and Marathon’s defense held steady to safeguard the win. Now 8-4, Marathon, like the rest of Monroe County’s teams, must continue their winning ways to boost their power rankings in hopes of securing a top spot in district playoffs later this month.

ning ways to boost their power rank-

Kaleaya Dickerson had three hits against Mater Bay Academy on April 2. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

CIVIL SERVICE

’Canes girls and Fins boys enjoy late-season wins

On April 2, Marathon hosted Coral Shores, with the Dolphins and Hurricanes trading wins on the tennis courts. Though the teams are one another’s closest rivals, the Fins and ’Canes tennis crews enjoy a civil relationship, meeting up multiple times each season and looking forward to rematches.

“It’s great that we get to play them so much,” Marathon coach Kevin Freeman said. “They are a good team with two really good coaches. Our players and theirs get to know each other and it’s always a great match when our teams get together.”

The Lady ’Canes prevailed 6-1, with wins from Chloe Koval, Emma Sogegeian, Harlee Beeler and Kameron Vetter in singles plus wins from the doubles teams of Koval and Vanessa Gabriel and Sogegeian and Emily Rosu. Marathon’s lone winner was Emily Alvear, in the No. 1 singles spot.

Marathon’s boys secured a 5-2 victory, with Adrien Holdinga, Carlos Lezcano and Graham Murphy winning in singles. Holdinga and Lezcano and Matt Delgado and Kasimir Krzypkowski teamed up to take both doubles matches for the Fins. Coral Shores’ wins came from Zach Bolano in the No. 2 singles match and Max Smith at No. 4 singles.

As of press time, Marathon will have played their final regular-season matches while Key West and Coral Shores will play theirs against one another on April 10 in Tavernier. District tournaments span April 14-17 for the various Keys teams.

Adrien Holdinga, left, and Emily Alvear both won matches in Marathon’s No. 1 singles spots last week. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

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WRECKING CREW

Eight records fall in track and field action last week

Eight Keys school records were broken last week in track and field as athletes gear up for districts later this month. The first to fall was via the legs of Coral Shores freshman phenom Ali Wheatley, who placed first at a South Dade mini meet on April 1. Wheatley ran the 800-meter run, finishing two laps around the track in 2:36. Teammate Sammy Bates placed second in the same event. Wheatley went on to win the 3,200-meter run in 12:15 for two firsts.

Alaric Rodriguez placed first in the boys 800-meter run, finishing in 2:04. Adrik Gadea was one second behind Rodriguez for second place. Hayden Teal was second in the girls 1,600-meter run, while Tristian Rios and Jamie Cary were second and third in the boys race. Tristan Sanchez took second in the 3,200-meter boys run and Jarmoris Davis was second in shot put.

Two days later, the ’Canes headed to Marathon for the Middle Keys Invite.

Marathon’s girls won the meet 180-142 while Coral Shores won the boys competition 245-237. The Lady Fin win was driven by a trio of first-place throws from junior Justice Lee, whose top tosses re-broke all three of her own Marathon school records. Her discus throw, considered an elite performance by Mile Split, landed 33.20 meters from the throwing circle. That’s just under 109 feet, more than twice as far as her closest competitor. In the shot put, Lee hurled the 6-pound ball 37’3” and her javelin toss was 105’3”. Ava Merryman broke her own school record in pole vault, clearing the bar at 9’7.25” for a first-place finish in the event. Tinashay Cunningham won the 400-meter race in 1:04.25 on the track while Marathon’s jumpers secured multiple field events.

Daysi Williams won the high jump, clearing 4’9.75”, while Caylie Globe leaped 15’7.5” for a first in long jump. Other Fins wins were the 4x800 relay team of Rebecca Merryman, Rilynn Richards, Molly Joly and

Mylana Loza and the 4x100 team of Bryanna Jouvin, Marti Kilbourne, Williams and Adrianna Golding.

The Lady ’Canes saw firsts in the 100-meter dash, finished by Niveah Howard in 14.05 seconds, and the 200-meter dash, with Olive Welch finishing in 30.31. Sammy Bates won the 800 in 2:47 while Wheatley opted for the longer 1,600, which she won in 5:42. Julieanna Oddo raced to a first in the 100 hurdles in 20.03 seconds and the Coral Shores 4x400 team of Mira Jones, Tess Hill, Bates and Kate King was the team’s final first-place finish.

The Hurricane boys took 10 firsts. In the field events, Evan Osipov won the discus with a 120’4” throw while Jarmoris Davis threw the shot 41’11.5”. Adrik Gadea outjumped the field of long jump competitors with a 20’2.25” leap, while Riley Froman won the pole vault competition, clearing a 10’11.75” bar. On the track, Sean Harm won the 200-meter race in 24.76 seconds, Adrik Gadea won the 400 in 53.11 and Victor Lopez

1. Mikail ‘Jay’ Marshall leads the pack in the 100-meter dash.

2. Marathon’s Justice Lee, seen here preparing to unleash a PR javelin toss, broke three of her own school records April 2.

3. Coral Shores’ Evan Osipov won the discus competition at the Middle Keys Invitational on April 2.

4. Fabbianho Louis Jeune catches major air during his winning triple jump on April 2.

was first in the 800 with a time of 2:16. Tristan Sanchez rounded out the individual winners with a 12:25 3,200 race. The Hurricanes had two winning relay teams as well: the 4x100 crew of Uriel Gutierrez, Harm, Danny Malagon and Tanel Irons and 4x400 team of Alaric Rodriguez, Tristian Rios, William Roberts and Gadea raced to first-place finishes.

Marathon’s boys had just two track wins. Mikail Marshall won the 100 in 11.47 seconds and Vance Bursa was first in the 1,600, winning in 4:33. In the jumping events, Fab Louis Jeune won the high jump and triple jump, clearing 5’5.75” and 36’9.5” respectively. Israel Gonzalez won the javelin event with a 111’6” throw. Maverick McDonald’s 8’7” vault did not win but did break a school record.

Key West had some elite performances of its own last week at the Father Luis Ripoll S.J. Relays at Belen Jesuit, where more than a dozen top-level South Florida teams went to compete on April 5. The Conch boys were second overall and the girls were fourth, with multiple notable performances from both squads.

Just prior to the meet’s start, Conchs head coach Dave Perkins asked thrower Noah Mercer if he would be breaking any records that day. Mercer’s short reply,

Photos by RICK MACKENZIE/

“Yep,” rang true as he won the boys discus event with a 152-foot toss that broke his own school record by six feet. Shane Lavallee then hurled the javelin 176’8” to take over that Conch record, surpassing the old one by more than seven feet. And though it was two-and-ahalf inches shy of a school record, Malachi Telisma won first place at the meet with a fantastic 6’3.5” high jump performance.

Other notable performances from Key West’s boys team were Walson Morin’s second-place 200-meter race. Morin also ran a leg of each of Key West’s secondplace relay teams. Morin teamed up with Jeff Dejean, Lavallee and Telisma in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Dejean went on to place second in the long and triple jump events, Ian Newton was second in pole vault and Josh Johnson was second in the shot and discus events.

Audrey Smith was the big winner for the Lady Conchs, sweeping the throwing events for a trio of firsts. Smith threw the javelin 119’10”, the discus 110’9” and the shot 28’5.75” to secure nearly half of the team’s points. Colleen Barter accounted for the team’s other first-place finish, clearing the high jump bar at 4’7.75”. Ariel Newton was second in pole vault, clearing 8’10.25”, and then ran a leg of the second-place 4x200 relay team with Alyssandra Camargo, Mirakle Humphrey and Janiliah Moore.

All three Keys teams will meet in Key West on Friday, April 11 to finish out their regular seasons. District meets begin April 22 for Key West and Coral Shores, who will compete at Tropical Park in Miami for the FHSAA 2A District 16 Championships. Marathon will compete the following day at Palmer Trinity for the 1A event.

Jace Jackson’s successful faceoffs helped boost the Hurricanes in a five-game win streak the past two weeks. JOY SMITH/Keys Weekly

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

’Canes

and Conchs won’t travel for quarterfinals

Coral Shores baseball is not the only team with an impressive win streak this season. The Hurricane lacrosse team has won its last five games, giving them a slightly easier path in district bracketing as the postseason begins.

Last week, the team added three of those wins, first against Miami Country Day on April 1 in an 8-5 triumph over the Spartans. Yandel Chaguaseda scored three goals and assisted on another to lead the scoring. Zane Martinez and Reed Tudor found the goal twice each and Finn McDonough scored one and assisted on two more. McDonough also picked up 11 ground balls for the ’Canes. Jace Jackson won 15 of his 16 faceoffs and scooped up seven ground balls of his own. Brock Bynum registered 11 saves in goal.

Two days later it was Christian Gonzalez with the high score, with two goals netted. McDonough, Tudor and James Mitchell accounted for the other three and Bynum had another 19 saves in a 5-3 win over Miami Palmetto. The following night, Bynum recorded a rare lacrosse shutout against Keys Gate. A dozen Hurricanes scored against the Knights in a lopsided 18-0 win. Mitchell and Tudor each recorded hat tricks and Drake Prosek and Rory Ferger scored two apiece to bring the team to an 11-5 regular season finish.

Key West finished 8-6 after defeating Miami Country Day 17-11. The win likely boosted the Conchs just enough for them to earn a coveted home-field playoff game in the district quarterfinals this week.

Coral Shores will play Florida Christian in the FHSAA 1 District 16 quarterfinals on Thursday, April 10 at 4 p.m. The ’Canes come into the tournament ranked No. 3 while Florida Christian is sixth in the standings. In their last meetup, the Hurricanes prevailed over the Patriots, but the game was forced into overtime before a victor could emerge. Should the Hurricanes beat the Patriots, their most likely opponent in the semis would be Ransom Everglades, another team the Hurricanes narrowly defeated in the regular season. The topranked team in the district is a formidable Gulliver Prep, a high-scoring crew that remains untested against Keys teams this season.

Key West, ranked No. 4 in District 16, is matched with fifth-ranked Westminster Christian in the quarterfinals. The teams will face off in The Backyard of Key West on April 10 at 6 p.m. Key West is looking to avenge a narrow loss to the Warriors earlier this season, and should they prevail, their path to the championship game becomes a bit trickier; their next opponent would be Gulliver for the semis on April 12.

5. Riley Froman sets up to clear the bar for a win in the boys pole vault competition.

Coral Shores baseball stretched its win streak to 15 last week after a pair of victories, beginning with what amounted to a home run derby against Dade Christian School on April 1. Donovan Thiery started the slugfest with a solo homer to center field before the Warriors retired the side. The game went scoreless for the next two frames until Campbell Lavoie sent one over the center field fence for a solo home run of his own. Then it was Dade Christian’s turn, but unlike the Hurricane homers, this one scored three, giving the Warriors the lead until Eddie Holly drove home two with a shot to left field for home run number four of the game.

By the top of the sixth, Coral Shores was ahead 7-4. A pair of Dade Christian home runs put the Hurricanes in jeopardy, but the team held on and brought home win number 15. Thiery earned the win pitching for Coral Shores while Lavoie collected the save. Lavoie, Holly and AJ Putetti had two hits each in the team total of 10.

15 STRONG Hurricanes extend win streak as all three Keys squads carry winning records

The following night, the ’Canes won 14-4 at Mater Bay Academy. Holly and Putetti’s bats were still on fire, with each slugger logging three hits while Lavoie added two to the team’s 11-hit total. O’Berry threw four innings of no-hit ball, striking out six and walking one. Glade Harrelson closed it out for win number 16 for the team, whose 16-1-1 record should serve them well in district seedings.

MARATHON

Marathon had an action-packed week, playing four games in as many days. They started off at Berean Christian in West Palm Beach for a doubleheader with the Bulldogs on April 1. In game one, Marathon collected seven hits with two from Mason Thornton, who had two RBIs. Gavin Leal added a hit and three RBIs to the team totals. The Fins stole 10 bases, with three each by Thornton and Jason Stubblefield. Shane Dieguez lasted five innings, striking out four, walking none and allowing five hits and zero earned runs in an 8-3 Dolphin win.

Due to the doubleheader, the teams decided to make game one a bit shorter, cutting off play after five frames. Game two would also be abbreviated, but this time due to the mercy rule. In a resounding 14-0 win, Marathon racked up 16 hits, with two each from Dylan Williams, Jack Chapman, Jack Dunn, Gavin Leal and Gabe Leal. Gabe Leal and Curren Nicolay each drove in three runs for the Fins. Roco Piscetello earned the win on the mound, surrendering just two hits, walking one and striking out one batter.

Two nights later, the Fins were at Jupiter Christian, where despite outhitting the Eagles, they lost 5-1. Gabe Leal went the distance on the mound, delivering two strikeouts and two walks while surrendering seven hits. Leal led offensively as well, logging three hits against Jupiter. Jason Stubblefield and Thornton had two hits each out of the Fins’ nine total. The team stole five bases, but luck was with the Eagles, whose perfectly-placed hits gave them the advantage while nine stranded Fins runners made for a low score.

Marathon’s week ended in a home game against Mater Bay Academy on April 4. The Dolphins defeated the Rays 10-3

Top: Coral Shores’ pitcher Campbell Lavoie’s efficiency on the mound has led to a 2.03 ERA this season. The senior hurler has five wins and two saves this season. JOY SMITH/Keys Weekly

Above: A 3-3 performance at the plate by Marathon sophomore Jason Stubblefield, plus two stolen bases, helped power the Dolphins’ home win against Mater Bay Academy on April 4.

SEAN WESTERBAND/Keys Weekly

off 10 hits, led by Stubblefield, who was 3-3 at the plate. Stubblefield went on to steal two of Marathon’s eight stolen bases in the win. Williams, Thornton and Leo Mendez had two hits apiece and Gavin Leal added one. Thornton got the win on the mound with eight strikeouts, one walk and five hits allowed over five innings. Jack Chapman and Dylan Williams finished out the innings to help bring Marathon to a 14-9 record as they await their conference playoff bracket, which will precede district playoffs for the Fins.

KEY WEST

Key West made the trip to Mater Academy Charter on April 2 to take on a talented Lions team. The Conchs put one on the board in the first inning, then the Lions answered back with an eight-run rally for a comfortable lead. Key West took advantage of a pair of errors and strong hitting from Conch bats in the third to narrow the deficit by five runs, but a strong Lions team and the unfortunate first inning were too much to overcome. Roman Garcia had three of Key West’s nine hits. Kade Maltz and Xavier Perez were good for two each in the 11-9 loss.

The Conchs then took their frustrations out on the Stingarees of Miami High in a two-game series with the 7A team. In the April 4 matchup, Key West dispatched them in five innings via nine hits, nine walks and three hit batters. Darreld Tremino and Nelson Ong had two hits each in the win. Tremino had three RBIs and Ong had two. Sam Holland had three RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. Jon Carlos Lampas-Gormley threw four innings for the win, striking out six, walking one and allowing four hits before Kasey Kasper closed the show for a 14-4 Conch win.

The following night, the Stingarees lasted seven innings but still ended up on the losing side thanks to a dozen Conch hits, several of which went for extra bases. Maltz registered two doubles and a triple while Pichardo had a triple and two singles. Tremino smacked three singles for three RBIs and Nelson Ong added two singles. Auggy Davila accounted for the final Conch hit. Vinnie Moline earned the win in four innings on the mound by fanning five, walking two and surrendering four hits. Maltz and Cruz Holmes also saw action, striking out two batters each. The 14-9 Conchs have just two games left in the regular season.

KTIME TO SHINE

Giacopuzzi says that the team will focus on shifting to a more confident dialogue and use their errors from the Country Day game to fuel them in the postseason. The Lady Conchs’ power rankings placed them as the fourth seed in District 16, matching them against No. 5 Lourdes Academy for their quarterfinal matchup on April 9 (results not available at press time).

Coral Shores had a pair of games last week, starting with an away game at Palmer Trinity School on April 1. The Hurricanes lost that one 10-3, but with one game left in the regular season to pick up a W, the team was not about to go winless – and in their final showing, the Hurricanes downright dominated.

Shay Stober scored a half-dozen goals to lead the charge in the April 4 home game against Keys Gate. Lela Goodrich and Ivy Tiedemann each netted hat tricks while Adelynn McNew, Allegra Fucaraccio and Anaia Woods scored two apiece. Saylor Wampler, Chloe Cummings and Eliyanna McLeod accounted for the other three in a 21-2 thumping. Wampler and McLeod enjoyed their first career goals in the team’s first win of the season.

The ’Canes will need to win a play-in game prior to earning a district quarterfinal game. The good news is their opponent for the April 9 play-in was Keys Gate at Westminster Christian School (results not available at press time). A win against the Knights would place the Hurricanes in the quarterfinals, but that game would occur directly afterward, against the district’s top-seeded team.

The Westminster Christian Warriors are not just the top-ranked team in the district; they will play their quarterfinal matchup against either eighth-ranked Coral Shores or ninth-ranked Keys Gate on fresh legs at home when their opponent has just finished a full game.

ey West’s girls lacrosse team finished the regular season 5-8 after a disappointing loss at Miami Country Day on April 3. The Lady Conchs lost 11-10 to the Spartans despite maintaining a narrow lead for the bulk of the game. A last-minute sideline error and twominute penalty gave the Spartans the upper hand, and they capitalized to tie the game and force a six-minute sudden-death overtime period. In such a predicament, Conchs coach Marisa Giacopuzzi said, “It all comes down to the draw. Win the draw, win the game. And that is exactly what Miami Country Day did in less than one minute.”

Though the loss wasn’t the final game the Conchs wanted, some fantastic performances were noted from Key West’s athletes. Althea Olsen was on point in her defense against the Spartans’ top scorer, shutting her down for much of the game. Deanna Mercier scored four goals, picked up three ground balls and won three draw controls to lead the stat boards. The talented senior also caused a turnover. Kaitlyn Piloto netted one goal, won four draws and scooped three ground balls. Colbie Turner scored three and Adriana Dall and Eisley Whitehead each scored one goal while Mavis Bishop won a pair of draw controls. Courtney Grabus and Olivia Moore combined for 16 saves in goal to keep the game close.

From left: Mavis Bishop added one goal to the team total against Miami Country Day last week.

Althea Olsen was credited with putting other teams on lockdown this season.

Saylor Wampler netted her first career goal last week.

Shay Stober scored six against Keys Gate on April 4.

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Ocean Breeze Marathon located at 101 11th Street, Marathon, FL 33050 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: 101 11TH STREET LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Publish: April 10, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Sunset Harbor at Cow Key located at 5031 5th Avenue, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: 5031 5th AVENUE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company Publish: April 10, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of The Hideaway located at 6531 Maloney Avenue, Key West, FL 33040 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

By: 6531 MALONEY AVENUE

Statute 328.17, Robbies of Key West, LLC claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels:

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

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

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

Sealed bids will be accepted on April 18th, 2025 at Robbies of Key West, 7281 Shrimp Rd, Key West Fl 33040. Robbies of Key West, LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Publish:

April 3 & 10, 2025

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PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Florida Keys Council of the Arts

Notice of Upcoming Meetings

Apr 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 868 5977 7957

Passcode: 474491

Executive Committee Meeting

Apr 23, 2025, at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 829 1861 1720

Passcode: 588567

Publish: April 10, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS CITY OF MARATHON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR

PROFESSIONAL AUDITING

SERVICES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed proposals will be received by the CITY OF MARATHON, until 10:00 am, local time, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Clerk’s office of the City of Marathon located at 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, 33050.

Marathon, FL 33050, or by email to: ci.marathon.fl.us.cityofmarathon@ No verbal communications shall be binding. Only written Addendum from the City shall be Publish:binding. April 10, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS CITY OF MARATHON NOTICE TO QUALIFIED PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER: REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

PUBLIC NOTICE

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.

THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: April 10, 2025.

Co-Personal Representative: HARVEY E. BROWN

c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq.

Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A.

3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040

Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938

Marathon, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-9428

Fax: (305) 743-8800

E-Mail: service@ floridakeyslaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com

Co-Personal Representative: JILL E. WINLAND-BROWN

c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq.

Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A.

3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040

LLC, a Delaware limited liability

Publish:company

April 10, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Please take notice that in accordance with Florida

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

Art In Public Places Committee Meeting

Apr 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 889 2768 6745

Passcode: 960431 Council of the Arts Nominating Committee

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has funding available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations for capital projects.

The project/facility must have the primary purpose of promoting tourism and must fall into one of the following categories:

The City of Marathon, Florida, hereby requests, sealed "Proposals" from Professional auditors to provide auditing Services to the City of Marathon.

Proposals shall be prepared, addressed and submitted in compliance with detailed instructions as set forth in the RFP documents. Bid documents may be examined and obtained online at www. demandstar.com.

The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to waive irregularities, technical errors and formalities, and to award the contract as it deems will best serve the interest of the City.

Any questions by prospective Proposers concerning this RFP shall be addressed in writing to the City Clerk, not later than 7 days prior to the submittal date by mail to 9805 Overseas Highway,

Convention Center, Sports Stadium, Sports Arena, Coliseum, Auditorium, Aquarium, Museum, Zoological Park, Nature Center, Fishing Pier, Beach or Beach Park Facility, Channel, Estuary, or Lagoon, Public Facilities in Accordance with Conditions set forth in the Florida Statutes.

The deadline for receipt of applications is April 22, 2025, and applications must be downloaded from the County’s Bonfire platform.

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

Publish: February 13 & 27, March 13 & 27 and April 10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

Visit Florida Keys has funding available for those interested in applying for Destination or Turnkey event funding for events to take place between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026; or for pre-promotion funding for Destination events to take place between October 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026.

The deadline for receipt of applications is April 8, 2025, and applications must be downloaded from the County’s Bonfire platform.

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

Publish: February 13 & 27, March 13 & 27 and April 10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

The City of Marathon, Florida, is seeking to hire a contracted Public Information Officer (PIO) to manage all social media and press releases within the City of Marathon. The PIO will keep the media and public informed of the services and accomplishments of the City. This includes but is not limited to: writing press releases, all social media (Facebook, etc.), television, website information, and communication with the press. Request for Qualifications (RFQ) documents may be examined at City Hall, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida. RFQ documents may also be examined online at www.demandstar.com. All RFQ documents must be obtained from Demand Star. RFQ documents obtained from any source other than Demand Star may not be accurate or complete, and each Responder and subcontractor assumes all risks by their reliance on such documents. Any Responder or sub-contractor who does not obtain the RFQ documents from Demand Star will not be notified of any RFQ addenda issued by the City, which could contain material changes thereto (such as additions or changes to the technical specifications, extensions of time, etc.)

Responses should be limited to 10 pages.

To be considered, qualifications packages must be submitted to the City Clerk of the City of Marathon. Qualifications packages will be received by the City Clerk, at the City of Marathon City Hall, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050 until 3:00 PM EDT, May 15, 2025 (the “Response Submission Deadline”). Responses received after this time will not be considered. Responses received will be opened promptly thereafter. One (1) original qualification package and two (2) complete unbound copies must be signed and submitted in a sealed opaque envelope. Envelopes must be clearly marked:

City Clerk City of Marathon RESPONSE TO RFQ

Public Information Officer (PIO)

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

File No. 25-CP-000093-P Division: Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF Charles C. Phelan, also known as, Charles Craven Phelan, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Charles C. Phelan, deceased, whose date of death was July 5, 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

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.

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 April 10, 2025.

Personal Representative:  Sandra L. Phelan 121 Front Street, Unit E  Lewes, DE 19958 Attorney for Personal Representative:  Bryan E. Bloom Florida Bar No.126722  Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

2600 Campus Drive Florham Park, NJ 07932  Email Address: bryan.bloom@ faegredrinker.com Telephone: 973-549-7104 Publish: April 10 & 17, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-125-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF LARRIE STEPHEN BUSLOFF, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of LARRIE STEPHEN BUSLOFF, deceased, whose date of death was March 17, 2025, Case: 25-CP-125-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. 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, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE 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, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF

Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives: Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0144304

Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A.

3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040

Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com

Telephone: (305) 292-3926

Fax: (305) 295-7947

Publish: April 10 & 17, 2025

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-97-M

DIVISION: MARATHON IN RE: ESTATE OF DONALD ROBERT BRASWELL Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Donald Robert Braswell, deceased, whose date of death was February 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 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.

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. 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: April 3, 2025.

Personal Representative: James Gary Braswell 670 E. Riverside Dr. Bastrop, TX 78602 Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq. Attorney

Publish: April 3 & 10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

KEY WEST DIVISION “IN ADMIRALTY” CASE NUMBER: 4:25-cv-10021JEM IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF:

WILLIAM MILNER & PAULA MILNER, as owners of the S/V Sara Lou, a 1992 34’ Pacific Seacraft Monohull Sail, bearing Hull Identification No.: PCS34227G192, its Engines, Tackle, Appurtenances, Equipment, Etc., In a cause for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability. Petitioner.

___________________/

NOTICE TO ALL POTENTIAL CLAIMANTS OF COMPLAINT FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

As the owner of the S/V Sara Lou, a 1992 34’ Pacific Seacraft Monohull Sail bearing Hull Identification No.: PCS34227G192, (the “Vessel”)—and pursuant to 46 U.S.C § 30501, et seq., and Supplemental Rule F of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure—William Milner and Paula Milner filed a Complaint on March 4, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking exoneration from, or limitation of, any liability concerning any and all personal injury, property damage, destruction, or other losses arising out of or related to an incident on or about December 27, 2024, on the navigable waters of the United States in Buttonwood Sound, Key Largo, in Monroe County, Florida, as more fully described in the complaint. The Court has accepted a letter of undertaking as interim security for all claims against Petitioners and the Vessel. Pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30511(c), “all claims and proceedings against the owner related to the matter in question shall cease.” By June 9, 2025, all persons or entities claiming damage for any and all loss, destruction, injuries, and/or death allegedly as a result of the occurrences and happenings recited in the complaint must file their respective claims with the clerk of this court and serve copies thereof on Petitioners’ counsel. By the same date, all persons or entities presenting claims and desiring to contest the allegations of the complaint must file an answer to the complaint in this court and must serve copies thereof on Petitioners’ counsel or be defaulted. Service on Petitioners’ counsel may be made by delivery or mail to Richard J. McAlpin, or Lourdes M. Cardelle of MCALPIN FLOREZ MARCOTTE, P.A., 80 SW 8th Street, Suite 2805, Miami, Florida 33130, telephone number (305) 810-5400. Dated: March 13, 2025. Angela E. Noble United States District Court Southern District Court of Florida By: Nadhege Augustin Deputy Clerk

Publish: April 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-349-K DEON ROBINSON, Petitioner, and ANTTWON JEWSOME, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: ANTTWON JEWSOME RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 1213 14TH STREET, LOT 184, KEY WEST, FL 33040

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Deon Robinson, whose address is 1213 14th Street, Lot 184, Key West, FL 33040 on or before May 31, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: N/A

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: March 26, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: April 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-315-K MONIKA BANDOVA, Petitioner, and MICHAEL DAVID CARBON, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: MICHAEL DAVID CARBON RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN

ADDRESS: UNKNOWN

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Monika Bandova, whose address is 3 Casa Roma Lane, Apt. 3, Key West, FL 33040 on or before April 28, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 530 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: N/A

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: March 17, 2025

Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk

Publish: March 27 and April 3, 10 & 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CA-0291-K BANKS G. PREVATT, PATTY L. PEERY-PREVATT and JILL NOTTKE, Plaintiffs, vs. LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES, INC.,(A DISSOLVED FLORIDA CORPORATION),JOSEPH PARDO, AS RECEIVER OF LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES, INC.,(DECEASED), AND ALL UNKNOWN PERSONS OR BUSINESS ENTITIES HAVING OR CLAIMING TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN THE DISPUTED PROPERTY IN THIS CASE, WHETHER THROUGH OR DERIVED FROM LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES INC., OR OTHERWISE, Defendants. ___________ / NOTICE OF ACTION TO QUIET TITLE To: LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES, INC., (A DISSOLVED FLORIDA CORPORATION), C/O JOSEPH PARDO (DECEASED), AS RECEIVER OF LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES, INC., AND ALL UNKNOWN PERSONS OR BUSINESS ENTITIES HAVING, OR CLAIMING TO HAVE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN THE DISPUTED PROPERTY IN THIS CASE, WHETHER THROUGH OR DERIVED FROM LITTLE TORCH PROPERTIES INC., OR OTHERWISE, YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to quiet title of the following described property in the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Key West Division, has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to Kevin Hoyes, of Kevin Hoyes Attorney, P.A, at 422 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida, 33040, Phone (305) 731 3349 (Plaintiffs Attorney), on or before DATE: April 28, 2025, and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on the Plaintiffs' attorney or immediately thereafter, including your full name and address; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

The Property at issue in this case is formally described as follows:

1. The disputed property lies at the rear of 141 Pirates Road, Little Torch Key, is of a size of approximately 750 square Feet, has a parcel ID number of 00215471-000000 (and an Alternate Key Number of 9036754) according to the Monroe County Property

Appraiser's website.

2. The upland property is also more fully described (according to a survey dated February 19, 2025 by Reece & Associates (of 31193 Avenue A, Big Pine Key, FL. 33043), as follows:

Parcel 1

A portion of the northerly 25 feet of Lot 30, Block 1 of Jolly Roger Estates, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 34, of the public records of Monroe County, Florida, and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:

Commence at Southwest corner of Lot 30, Block 1 of Jolly Roger Estates, Plat book 5, Page 34, thence bear N00°00'00"E along the west line of said Lot 30 and the east right-of-way line of Pirates Road, as shown on said Plat, for a distance of 85 feet to the point of beginning.

Thence, continue N00°00'00"E for a distance of 10.22 Feet to a point on the edge of an existing canal and the intersection of the westerly projection of an existing concrete seawall; Thence leaving said right of way line, bear S89°54'0l"E along said canal edge and seawall for a distance of 24.32 feet to a point on the northwest corner of an existing boat basin; Thence bear S00°40'33"W for a distance of 10.18 feet to a point that is 25 feet south of and parallel to the north line of said Lot 30, Block 1; Thence bear N90°00'00"W, along said line, for a distance of 24.44 feet back to the point of the beginning.

Together with Parcel 2

A portion of the northerly 25 feet of Lot 30, Block 1, Jolly Roger Estates, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 5, Page 34, of the public records of Monroe County, Florida, and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:

Commence at Southwest corner of Lot 30, Block 1 of Jolly Roger Estates, Plat book 5, Page 34, thence bear N00°00'00"E along the west line of said Lot 30 and the east right-of-way line of Pirates Road, as shown on said Plat, for a distance of 85 feet to a point of intersection with a line that is 25 feet south of and parallel to the north line of said Lot 30, Block 1; then bear S90°00'00''E, along said line, for a distance of 49.60 to a point on the east line of an existing boat basin and the point of beginning.

Thence, bear N00°55'28", along said basin, for a distance of 9.73 feet to the northwest corner thereof, said corner also being on the face of an existing concrete seawall on the southerly side of an existing canal; Thence S89°06'33"E, along said seawall, for a distance of 50.24 feet to a point on line of said lot 30; Thence bear S00°00'00"W, along said east line for a distance of 8.95 feet to s point that is 25 feet south of and parallel to the north line of said Lot 30, Block 1; Thence bear N90°00'00"W, along said line, for as distance of 50.39 feet back to the point of the beginning. Containing 469.85 Sq. Ft., more or less. 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, 302 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040; (305) 292-3423, 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. Dated: March 17, 2025 Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Court for Circuit Court of Monroe County Key West, Florida By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk

Publish: March 27 and April 3, 10 & 17, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED

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

AUTOS FOR SALE

1964 Ford Galaxy, 427 Big Block, 5-speed, located in Key Largo. REDUCED $45,000 954-445-6647

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

All Keys Yamaha hiring a Technician Marine Repair specializing in Yamaha outboard engines. Also hiring: Retail Parts/Counter HelpMarine outboard knowledge a plus. QuickBooks experience a plus. Hours M-F 8a-5p for both positions. Apply in person at 2001 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-743-3530

ALL KEYS GUTTER HIRING INSTALLERS $25/$35hrMajor Holidays Off - Benefits - Tavernier. Apply: call or text Jay 305-587-1581

Night Monitor – FREE

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

HELP WANTED: Two Conchs in Marathon is now hiring a Full Time Retail Sales Person in our Tackle Shop/Marina. Competitive wages. Contact George 305-289-0199

Part Time Supervisor/ Housekeeper Position Available Immediately in Key Colony Beach. Hours may vary depending on need including weekends. Responsibilities include oversee housekeeping staff, inspecting rooms prior to guest occupancy, making up laundry bags, cleaning rooms, etc. Physical demands: ability to lift and carry laundry bags ~ 35 lb. **Must have reliable transportation** Please call/ text or email to discuss pay and to request application. Vivian -952-208-2850 Cheryl -305-505-8747

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time bookkeeper. QuickBooks experience required. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Email office@ marathonyachtclub.com to schedule an interview.

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time line cook. Private club, friendly atmosphere. Flexible lunch/ dinner shifts available Tuesday – Saturday, some Sundays. English proficiency required.

Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Email office@marathonyachtclub. com to schedule an interview.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Carpenter-FTKeyWest, Housing Manager- FT-Marathon, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www.kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am- 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 404-219-3359 and ask for Dave.

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

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

PRICE REDUCED!

2BR/1.5BA Mobile on canal in Key Largo. Single-wide, unfurn, w/40' dock-davits. No pets. $2,100/mo + $2,100 security. References needed. 616-813-9755

Downstairs apartment of a duplex to rent to 1 person (no pets). Large living room/ bedroom and separate kitchen. Large screened porch with its own washer/dryer and driveway. Utilities include wifi/tv. 150 ft to the ocean. MM 96 Key Largo $1600/ month. F/L/S 305-853-3779

1 upstairs bedroom for rent in Grassy Key (East Marathon). Unfurnished. Mostly private bathroom with shared W/D. Other upstairs occupants are the homeowners: A probation officer, his wife, and their very small dog. $1200/ month F/S 305-393-5049

Rental in Marathon: 4/2 pool waterfront tiki bar home with dock for up to 50 ft. Steps to Sombrero Beach, ocean in under 10 mins. Seasonal or annual. Furnished. Thania Moses, MBA & Realtor 954.683.2150

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

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

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

YARD SALES

SARA’S ESTATE SALE: Part 2 of 2 Selling the contents of an award-winning watercolorist’s waterfront estate in Marathon!! Sale is Fri, April 11 and Sat, April 12 from 845a to 1p, both days, 2691 Sombrero Blvd, Marathon. We have ART! and art supplies: frames, canvas, mats, paper, paint & pastels. Three Q bedroom sets (Drexel and wicker), living room & sitting room furniture, 6-seat glass & wood dining set. Bestequipped kitchen ever: AllClad, Le Creuset, Williams & Sonoma, crockpots, lobster pots, mixers, Breville oven & more. Pink Mikasa silverware matches a GINORMOUS set of Lenox “Poppies on Blue” matches French glass plates & pretty crystal pieces. Designer clothing (sm & med); shoes (8-8.5); purses by Dooney & Burke, Coach, Vera Bradley, etc.; pretty perfume bottles. Office chairs, printer, grill, grill accessories & outdoor wicker furniture (6 pcs). Flatscreen TVs (3), bedding, towels, beautiful pottery, lamps and so many rugs (runners & room). And, finally, a huge Knox gun safe. Follow the signs and park with consideration (DO NOT PARK on golf course grass). More photos at estatesales.net.

To place a Classified ad, please call 305-417-0871 or email anneke@keysweekly.com Anything from Autos or Boats for Sale to Housing for Rent or Yard Sales. The Keys Weekly Newspapers is the perfect place for you to advertise - only $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy!

NOW HIRING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IT DIRECTOR

Manages the IT department and other technical operations within the City Government providing day to day support. Their main duties include identifying the organization’s IT needs, adding updates and enhancements to current computer systems and ensuring employees’ technical issues are resolved efficiently.

Researches and responds to technical questions regarding the operation of computing system functions. Works with the existing security and IT services provider to ensure accurate billing and IT needs are being met.

Extensive knowledge in computer systems and Microsoft application and operating system software required. Additional experience using proprietary software, such as ESRI ArcGIS, VueWorks, and/or other work-flow management software tools is helpful. Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. Prior experience with similar hardware, software, and network systems and familiarity with local government information system is desirable.

Please see the online post on our website for additional details. www.ci.marathon.fl.us/jobs

MARINE OPERATIONS SPECIALIST AT FIU’S AQUARIUS REEF BASE

Join our dedicated Florida International University team that provides offshore logistical and emergency response support to the Medina Aquarius Program. We maintain and operate all underwater laboratory equipment and boats, monitor Life Support Systems, and coordinate diving activities as we assist scientists and clients in achieving their underwater research objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Service, maintain, and operate underwater laboratory equipment support systems, ensuring functionality of critical safety equipment.

- Assist divers with underwater tasks such as experiment placement and data collection.

- Provide shore-based logistical support for Aquarius diving and boating operations, ensuring equipment is ready for missions.

- Serve as Captain of the ARB research vessel and as a USCG Captain for passenger vessels during operations.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

- High School Diploma with 3 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- SCUBA diving certi cation and the ability to pass a Diving Physical Exam within 90 days of hire.

- General knowledge of diesel inboard boat operation and maintenance.

- Certi cations in CPR, Automatic External De brillator, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration, Current USCG License 6 Passenger.

For further information or to apply, please visit careers. u.edu and reference Job Opening ID# 534641. The position is open until lled; we will begin reviewing applications April 15, 2025.

SOLAR SALES FOR SALT ENERGY, LLC. - Dynamic, local company looking for good people to grow with us. Located in Marathon, we have been engineering, installing and servicing solar energy systems in the Keys, South Florida and Caribbean for over 30 years. We are looking for a Team player with a great attitude, excellent communication and sales skills, who is excited to share the benefits of solar energy. Initially, this position will be representing the residential and small commercial sector of the company, focused primarily in the Florida Keys.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Visit customers’ homes to perform site surveys and provide tailored solar solutions.

• Prepare and deliver compelling sales proposals and negotiate terms to close deals.

• Communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project implementation and complete customer satisfaction.

REQUIREMENTS

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to build rapport with customers.

• Self-motivated, target-driven and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering an outstanding customer experience.

• Strong understanding of solar energy systems and industry best practices, preferred.

EDUCATION: High school diploma required. College degree in business or communication preferred.

JOB TYPE: Full-time. WORK LOCATION: In person.

PAY: Base pay plus bonus commissions. Benefits: 401(k) matching, PTO.

SALT Energy, LLC., 2992 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050. Send resume and cover letter to Lisak@saltenergy.net.

NOW HIRING!

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

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES

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

Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org

NOW HIRING

HVAC TECH WANTED

Upper Keys position, reporting in Tavernier. Full time job with benefits, vacation time, and holidays.

Apply at keysschools.com or call 305-293-1400 ext. 53398

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

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $131,081/annually$134,751/annually

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace. Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

Call 305-407-3262 or email info@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com 11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON WANT TO WORK IN A

We are hiring for a new Walking and Running Store in Islamorada and Marathon, WALK HERE RUN HERE.

DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR

The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions. Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma required.

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

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

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

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

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

APPRENTICE

(Full-Time, Permanent)

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

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

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C), BHMG Multispecialty - Marathon, $5k Bonus

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

(Full-Time, Part-Time, Permanent)

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

COME JOIN THE FAMILY!

Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

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

YEARS!

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

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Chemotherapy Infusion, $15k Bonus

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology, $5k Bonus

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Cook, Dietary

- Radiology Technologist 1, Imaging-MRI, $40k Bonus

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

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $25k Bonus

- Patient Scheduler, Radiology

- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department

- Environmental Tech 1, $5k Bonus

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, Ultrasound/Vascular with Echo, $50k Bonus

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

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

- Radiology Technologist 1, $40k Bonus

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

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Care, $25k Bonus

- Social Work Case Manager, Case Management, $10k Bonus

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

*Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.

Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)

MARATHON Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver – PT (CDL not required)

RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult)

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

*Support Worker (Assisted

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

CLIENT MEDICAL SERVICES ASSISTANT, CNA (FT)

Assisting our clients with dental, medical and transportation appts. Act as liaison between clients, families and support staff. Requires some on-call responsibility. Min. requirement - Florida certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant.*

SUPPORTED LIVING COACH (FT)

Responsibilities include management of developmentally disabled clients in independent living environments, management of office and in-home support staff. Must be available for some evenings and weekends. Bachelor’s degree in related field or experience working with developmentally disabled clients in lieu of degree. Must have a valid FL driver’s license. Salary commensurate with experience.*

GROUP HOME MANAGER  FT  KEY WEST

FT administrative, salaried position. Responsible for operations of Group Homes in accordance with State and Fed regulations. Oversight of staff and clients. Bachelor’s degree and Florida DL w/clean driving record req. At least 2 years of mgmt and admin experience req, and direct or comparable experience w/same or similar population preferred. Computer skills: moderate to advanced.*

DIRECT CARE STAFF – NIGHTS/WEEKENDS - GROUP HOMES 24/7 (FT)

These positions are available at our Windsor and Von Phister Group Homes. Providing direct-care services and support to our clients in their home. Must be willing to work flexible shifts including overnights. This position requires a minimum of high school completion or GED and 1 year of experience with care giving or 30 hours of college coursework.*

*ALSO REQUIRED FOR ALL POSITIONS: Fluent in English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. Level 2 background screening and valid Florida driver’s license. EOE