Key West Weekly 25-0522

Omakase DINING EXPERIENCE

Journey through an interactive chef-curated Japanese tasting menu. Savor the culinary artistry of renowned Chef Wei, as he presents his Omawei experience for an exclusive four-week omakase residency.

May 1 - 31 | Tuesday through Saturday

Limited seatings at 6:00pm and 8:30pm

$354 + tax, per person

Includes service charge

CULINARY & EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

Iconic Sunday Brunch

Private Events for up to 40 Guests

Full Moon Dinners

Intimate dining under the glow of the full moon

June 11 | Strawberry Moon with Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen

July 10 | Buck Moon

Father’s Day

Sunday Brunch

Flavors of the island Dinner

Specially curated menu

$5,195,000 | LISTING

The timeless one

Tucked behind swaying palms and lush tropical landscaping, this elegant and timeless waterfront estate captures the essence of Florida Keys living—from breathtaking sunset views to exceptional outdoor spaces. Whether you're lounging on your private beach or entertaining by the pool, every moment here is a reminder of why you chose island life. Inside, sun-drenched living areas showcase wide-open Gulf views and an abundance of natural light. The gourmet kitchen is thoughtfully designed with custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and a spacious island—ideal for both everyday living and entertaining. Upstairs, the master suite features panoramic water views and a generous walk-in closet. Three additional bedrooms are located on the upper level, with a fifth bedroom and full bath on the main level offering added flexibility. Designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living, the home opens to a private deck, sparkling pool, and an observation dock—perfect for catching every sunset. Additional features include a copper patina roof, a 3-car covered carport, full generator, ample storage and a wave runner lift. Located in the prestigious, gated community of Shark Key, just minutes from Key West, this estate offers access to resort-style amenities including a clubhouse, inland swimming lagoon and beach, plus pickleball and tennis courts. 24 Cannon Royal Drive is everything you love about the Keys—all wrapped into one exceptional waterfront property.

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5

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

Publisher / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Editor / Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

Account Executive

Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com

Staff Writers

Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

Production Manager

Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

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Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Diana Striker www.keysweekly.com

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“The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” featured 6,714 episodes during its threedecade run on NBC. Carson began his tenure as host in 1962 and hosted his final show on this day in 1992.

KEY WEST CORRUPDATE 6,714

Full grand jury report to detail extent of city hall scandal

“What’s the latest with the Key West corruption probe?”

The question is a popular one around town these days, as some wait for the next indictment, arrest or interview with FBI officials to be released.

Here’s where things stand.

The grand jury report is complete and should be released in about 14 days. The report is expected to detail all the evidence, interviews and accusations that were presented to the grand jury members, who voted to indict the city’s former city attorney Ron Ramsingh, the city’s currently suspended building official Raj Ramsingh (the two are brothers), and the recently retired code compliance director Jim Young.

Although the report is final, anyone mentioned in it has 15 days to read and review it and discuss any objections or evidence they have with the state attorney investigators.

Once that review period is complete, the report will be made public, and investigative sources, both local and federal, have told the Keys Weekly that the report is eye-opening.

Let’s review

Raj Ramsingh, who worked as the chief building official before being indefinitely suspended without pay earlier this month, has been indicted on eight felony corruption charges, including allegations that he issued fraudulent, improper or falsified building permits for several construction projects within the city, including permits for his own home on Harris Avenue.

His brother, Ron Ramsingh, the former Key West city attorney who was terminated without cause in April by the city commission, faces three felony corruption charges, and nowretired code compliance manager Jim Young faces one charge.

Attorney Ron Ramsingh was terminated without cause in April and

walked with a $221,000 city payout. His brother is indefinitely suspended without pay pending the results of an internal investigation into his alleged violations of city policy. And Young retired just days after his April 15 indictment and arrest.

Meanwhile, the state attorney’s office continues to pursue its investigation and trial of the three men. Prosecutors earlier this month released another cache of discovery documents in the case, this one containing summaries of FBI interviews with current and former city employees.

Those who were interviewed weren’t shy in describing an atmosphere of special favors, political influence, cronyism and corruption at city hall in recent years.

Enid Torregrosa, a historic preservation expert who recently retired from the city, described her job as “hell” while working with Raj Ramsingh as chief building official.

She told FBI investigators, according to the interview summaries, that Ramsingh would approve permits and projects without ever letting planning and historic preservation staff know about or review them.

Torregrosa told investigators Ramsingh would routinely go into the city’s permitting software and change entries, at one point making it look like Torregrosa had noted, “No review required,” when Torregrosa had noted several questions about the plans and requirements for a project in the historic district.

Torregrosa told investigators Raj Ramsingh routinely approved permits and variances for himself, his personal friends, coworkers and politically powerful people in town, many of whom had allegedly hired Raj Ramsingh’s own construction company, StrykerAvery Homes, to do the work.

Torregrosa and others, including current city planning director Katie Halloran, named names and businesses in their interviews, but as those people have not, as of yet, been charged with or indicted for any crimes, the Keys Weekly is not including them.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025. The Keys Weekly is proud to feature all graduating seniors from local high schools in this week’s special section inserted in the paper.

Raj Ramsingh’s house, 2827 Harris Ave., before he renovated it. Ramsingh has been indicted for, among other things, issuing building permits to himself for the demotion and renovation of his home while working as the city’s chief building official.

Torregrosa provided investigators with several documents and printouts from the city’s permitting software showing occasions when Raj Ramsingh allegedly altered entries.

Conflict of interest concerns

The latest release of documents by the state attorney’s office contains copies of dozens of checks that were written to Strykker-Avery Homes, a contracting and construction company that Raj Ramsingh owned and operated before he started working for the city, and which he continued to operate while working as the city’s chief building official, creating significant concerns about conflicts of interest that would arise from a building official also working as a contractor who needs approvals and permits from the city. City records show that Ramsingh initially had permission from an assistant city manager to operate Strykker-Avery Homes, which became a problem. State corporation records show that Ramsingh dissolved the company in 2021, but investigators obtained dozens of checks totaling more than $250,000 that were written to Strykker-Avery Homes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for construction and remodeling projects — after the company was purportedly dissolved.

Raj Ramsingh’s renovated home, 2827 Harris Ave., as it looks today, with five bedrooms, five baths and a $2.5 million price tag, according to Zillow. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

NEW KEY WEST AIRPORT TERMINAL SOARS

County officials cut ribbon to open Concourse A

The new terminal at Key West International Airport has been open for more than a month, but county officials officially cut the ribbon on May 20. And what a difference from the old downstairs departure area that made waiting at the DMV feel like a pleasure.

The new Concourse A has sky-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and even allglass jetways connect the planes to the gates, replacing the drab tunnel-like structures at most airports.

The new Chili’s bar and restaurant is open, and its bar was packed the morning of the recent grand-opening ceremony. The seating is comfortable and abundant, with work stations and charging ports for laptops and tablets. And the bathrooms are beautiful.

“It looks like a real airport,” one of the contractors said proudly before the ribboncutting.

But the new Concourse A is more, much more. It’s state of the art. The glass wall panels

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

can be switched from clear to opaque and withstand 200 mph winds. The dots on the glass are there to prevent birds from seeing their reflection — and heading straight into the glass.

Now, if we can just get the new baggage claim area up and running, the Key West International Airport will be a perfectly finished product. Don’t worry, that phase of construction is next and should be up and running this next year.

1. Monroe County Mayor Jim Scholl joins businessman Robert Spottswood at the May 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Concourse A at the airport. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

2. The new Concourse A at Key West International Airport offers eight gates, vaulted ceilings and floorto-ceiling glass walls. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

3. What a difference from — and improvement over — the old and overcrowded departure area at Key West airport. BRITT MYERS/Keys Weekly

4. The new Chili’s at the airport offers a takeout counter as well as dining room and bar seating. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Expert Cancer Care. Right here in Key West.

Cancer care is coming back to Key West. This summer, Baptist Health Cancer Care will open a fully renovated facility at 3426 North Roosevelt Boulevard, bringing advanced treatment, expert providers and compassionate support back to the Lower Keys.

The new center will offer chemotherapy, radiation therapy with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, CT simulation for precise planning and on-site physicians, all in one convenient, patient-centered location. Until the Key West facility opens, patients can continue receiving care at Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon, and for services not currently available in the Keys, Baptist Health Cancer Care ensures seamless access to specialists and advanced treatments at Miami Cancer Institute. Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here for you, every step of the way.

Scan the QR code to learn more.

MESSAGE SHERIFF FROM THE

$1M GIFT KEEPS CANCER CARE IN THE KEYS

George Fernandez donates to Baptist Health to honor the late Michael Halpern

George Fernandez held back tears as he addressed a select group of attendees recently at the Tropic Cinema, where he served as a founding board member 21 years ago. Fernandez has dedicated his life to Key West since moving to the island in 1992. His penchant for showing up for those in need, helping behind the scenes and personally delivering cards to residents and offices is well known throughout the town.

But this particular evening was rooted in one of Fernandez’s greatest missions. He spoke passionately from the stage in the Carper Theater about why he recently donated $1 million to Baptist Health’s cancer care facility in Key West. The donation occurred after a Baptist presentation at a Key West Chamber of Commerce lunch earlier this year, followed by the unexpected check that left a speechless crowd standing in ovation.

“After listening to Baptist Heath’s mission, I felt that then, more than ever, would be the best way of giving back to the Key West community,” Fernandez said of the lunch. “Immediately after, I called Michael Halpern and told him about my pledge to ensure that in the future, no one would ever have to fly from Key West to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, as he had to do for his medical care.”

Not long after, Fernandez’s closest friend, Halpern, lost his battle to cancer. However, one of Fernandez’s many legacies will include honoring his “brother,” along with thousands of others, with the ability to receive cancer care in Key West. Later this year, Baptist Health Cancer Care Key West will be operational, located at the site of the former Genesis Cancer Center on North Roosevelt Boulevard.

The reception at the Tropic, hosted by Baptist Health, included others who share Fernandez’s heart for giving. Later, when we asked Fernandez why he has dedicated his life to supporting others, he replied with a comment that encapsulates his infectious smile and spirit.

“Karma is my constant mantra,” he said. “Sponsoring and the pleasure of being with the Tibetan monks a few years ago taught me two very important words — kindness and compassion — that in life, are the integral keys to one’s success and happiness.”

5.

1. George Fernandez, center, presents Margie Smith and Drew Grossman of Baptist Health with a $1 million check for cancer care in Key West. BRITT MYERS/ Keys Weekly

2. Tom McMurrian, Charlie Bauer and Steve Russ support Baptist Health South Florida Foundation’s efforts in the Florida Keys.

3. Melissa Picco, center, joins Barbara James, left, and Wendy Gentes, right, of Baptist Health South Florida Foundation.

4. Mark Walsh and Nancy Hershoff celebrate the donation to Baptist Health.

Pamela Stevenson, Kirby Myers and George Fernandez at the reception honoring Fernandez’s donation to Baptist Health.

KEYS LIBRARIES OFFER SUMMER READING PROGRAMS

All branches will welcome YouTube’s Patty Shukla & Farmer Jeanne

The popular Summer Reading programs are returning to all five branches of the Monroe County Public Library in June and July. Each branch has designed its own playful theme to spark curiosity in reading and learning over the summer.

“We love welcoming families to the library during this time when they can explore new areas through our books and programs,” said Kimberly Matthews, senior director of libraries. “During Summer Reading, the community comes together at our branches and also takes home books so kids find out how much fun reading can be.”

Participants can pick up reading logs at library branches and submit them each week for prizes. Each branch has its own schedule of entertaining and educational programs; all will feature Patty Shukla of the popular YouTube channel “Patty’s Primary Songs”

and a visit with local favorite Farmer Jeanne – and some four-legged friends – from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm.

Library branches are in Key West, Big Pine Key, Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo. The library also has two lending machines, offering books and DVDs for check-out outside of library hours with a Monroe County Public Library card. The machines are at Bernstein Park on Stock Island and the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo.

All library programs are free and open to everyone. You do not need to have a library card to attend. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver.

More information about Summer Reading and loads of other library services is at keyslibraries. org.

— Contributed

‘MID-AUGUST LUNCH’ SCREENS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Tropic Cinema hosts final film in fundraising series on June 4

“M

id-August Lunch” (“Pranzo di Ferragosto”), showing on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:15 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, is the final presentation in the 2025 Italian Night at the Movies series, presented by The Sons and Daughters of Italy Key West Lodge 2436 and the Tropic Cinema and benefiting the lodge’s scholarship fund for area high school seniors of Italian descent. Described by “Time Out New York” as a “mouthwatering cinematic feast,” the awardwinning “Mid-August Lunch” is a 2008 Italian-language comedy by director, actor and screenwriter Gianni De Gregorio, accompanied by English subtitles. Broke and armed with only a wry sense

of humor, middle-aged Gianni lives with his 90-year-old mother in their old apartment. The tenant debts are mounting, but financial relief is proffered to Gianni by Alfredo, the building manager, providing Gianni will take in Alfredo’s mother during the Ferragosto holiday.

Doors open at 5:30; the movie starts at 6:15 p.m. The evening includes a complimentary taste of Duetto’s Gelato and mini-Italian panini — the Medici, the Vesuvius, and the Verdi. The evening will also include a 50/50 drawing.

Tickets are $20 per person and available at tropiccinema. com or day of at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St.

— Contributed

Farmer Jeanne Selander from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm will visit each branch of the Monroe County Public Library during summer reading programs in June and July. CONTRIBUTED

Tropic Cinema will screen the Italian film ‘Mid-August Lunch’ on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:15 p.m. for the Sons and Daughters of Italy to raise money for their local scholarship fund. CONTRIBUTED

THE BAD BIRTHDAY PIG ROAST

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY

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.

Don’t let a man who claims to play poker with the ghost of Harry Truman plan your birthday party.

That was just one lesson I learned while waitressing at the Top of the La Concha sometime around 1980. (Other lessons included never slicing hot peppers without protective kitchen gloves, and making sure the door to the ladies’ room was locked before holding a romantic rendezvous there.)

The seven-story La Concha Hotel was unrenovated and closed at that time, but its rooftop bar called the Top was a hangout for high-rollers and attorneys with offices on nearby Whitehead Street.

While county officials routinely conducted business at the Chart Room, the infamous pocketsized bar at the Pier House Hotel, local legal dealings often took place at the Top. It made sense because the courthouse, public defender’s office and state attorney’s office were all practically next door to it.

The Top’s bartenders included Becky Ludacer, Aenne Medell, Cathy Flanagan, Andrea “The Greek” Weitz and Mikey Duncan — all beloved for providing strong drinks and quick-witted banter.

One of my jobs as day waitress was to call the state attorney’s and public defender’s offices to inform their staff of the kitchen’s daily lunch specials. Despite regularly opposing each other in court, the offices’ young lawyers exhibited friendly camaraderie over sandwiches and potato salad.

If they noticed the less-than-legal activity that sometimes occurred at the Top, they never mentioned it. Even when an “importer” strolled in with a large paper bag stuffed with cash, absentmindedly leaving it open on the bar for hours while he drank, they politely ignored the situation.

The kitchen at the Top was overseen by Bobby Carroll, an easygoing grey-haired man with a fondness for cocktails. Somehow he had become caretaker of the then-empty and as-yet-unrestored building known as Harry Truman’s Little White House, and he lived alone on the property.

It was well known that Truman, who spent 11 working vacations in Key West during his 19451952 presidency, enjoyed playing poker on a table that had been custom-built for him.

According to Bobby Carroll, the former POTUS’ passion for the game didn’t end with his death. In fact, Bobby said he frequently played poker at night with Truman’s ghost.

One day during my waitress shift, as I moped over boyfriend woes, Bobby realized my birthday was approaching. Inspired by the spirits he secretly imbibed in the kitchen, he determined to cheer me up by throwing me a lavish birthday party.

It would be a pig roast, he decided. They would cook a whole pig in the traditional manner, overnight in a “caja china” box while the chefs consumed copious quantities of alcohol. And they would do it on the grounds of the Little White House. What could possibly go wrong?

Initially, several things went right. The pig eventually got roasted, though not nearly as fast as the over-served chefs expected. Many people, including my favorite customers from the Top, showed up to wish me well.

1. During his sojourns in Key West, President Harry Truman enjoyed playing poker on a table made for him — shown in this vintage image topped by its handcrafted wooden cover. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Contributed

2. The panoramic seventh-story windows of the Top are clearly visible in this long-ago shot of the La Concha, a Key West landmark for almost 100 years. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Contributed

3. An unfortunate whole pig was roasted in traditional style and served to guests at the birthday party. ANDY NEWMAN/Contributed

Yet before the party’s end, I found myself running in haphazard circles around the Little White House grounds, unnerved and shrieking. Why? Because longtime friend Vic Latham, coowner of the Full Moon Saloon, was inexplicably chasing me while waving the decapitated head of the pig — which had dripped enough barbecue sauce down his all-white outfit to make him look like a victim in a slasher film.

The ghost of Harry Truman remained absent. Or invisible. Or maybe he even materialized without being noticed in the general commotion.

Many years later, long after leaving the Top, I celebrated another birthday at the Little White House — by then beautifully restored and open for tours.

Pork was not served.

ROTARY CLUB OF KEY WEST ADDS A DOZEN MEMBERS

Club has supported community for nearly 110 years

The Rotary Club of Key West welcomed 12 new members during the first quarter of 2025: Abe Conn, Caroline Bleske, Derek Lewis, Yury Savinkova, Valeria Savinkova, Justin Harris, Brian Barroso, Colleen Dunne, Kevin O’Connell, Sarah Dolson, Lee Rekas and Kaiya Tabb.

The additions bring diverse backgrounds, expertise and passion for service to the organization, enhancing its ability to give back to the Key West community. As part of their membership, the inductees will have the opportunity to engage in community initiatives, volunteer efforts and fundraisers aimed at improving the Florida Keys community and beyond.

“Our Rotary club proudly represents almost 110 years of sup-

porting and giving back to the local community and beyond,” said club president Britt Myers. “As a member, you represent business, civic and community leaders who have shaped Key West for over a century. I feel honored and humbled to serve with these leaders on a weekly basis.”

Founded in 1916, the Rotary Club of Key West is one of the oldest and most active service organizations in the Keys. With a mission of “Service Above Self,” the club engages in numerous projects each year, focusing on health, education and local outreach as well as scholarships for Monroe County students.

More information is at keywestrotary.com.

— Contributed

The Rotary Club of Key West recently welcomed 12 new members. CONTRIBUTED

TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN GRADUATES 81

The flagship program of the Monroe County Education Foundation, Take Stock in Children, celebrated a banner year of graduations on May 17 at the Marathon High School Performing Arts Center.

Escorted by their mentors, a record class of 81 Take Stock scholars took the stage – representing 12% of the Class of 2025 in the Keys – to commemorate years of determination and hard work in earning more than $2 million in awarded scholarships.

Take Stock in Children is dedicated to providing scholarships and mentorship to low-income students in Monroe County, ensuring that they have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Through community support and partnerships, the program empowers students to overcome barriers and achieve their academic and career goals. To learn more about Take Stock, contact Chuck Licis-Masson at chuck. licis@monroecountyedfound.com or call 305-293-1546.

1. Take Stock graduates and staff capitalize on one final photo op for the Class of 2025.

2. Kathryn Norris, left, and Aundrea Wagner of the Key West Women’s Club congratulate KWWC’s named scholar, Laira Anaya.

3. Marathon High School Take Stock success coach Traci Driscoll celebrates the 2025 MHS Take Stock graduates.

4. Graduates Yoel Perez Gonzalez, left, Hailey Pena, Shane Miller and Dakota Mertyris await their turn on stage.

Photos by ROSS SMITH/Keys Weekly

5. Take Stock student services supervisor Autumn Hager, right, with graduate Victor Espinosa-Rosello.

6. Josue Quiche waits to make the walk with mentor Christine Smith.

7.Deputy Lance Hernandez congratulates mentee Jhonathan Mesa of Coral Shores High School.

8. Aniya Gunn, right, and mentor William Jones share a moment of triumph.

19892: Mentor Marlene Sun-Sternberg, left, escorts mentee and Keys Children Foundation named scholar Alexia Poveda.

19957: Akeelah Gaston, right, shares a sweet moment with grandfather Howard Sanders.

Photos by ROSS SMITH/Keys Weekly

ALEX RICKERT

island inspired

We are so proud

another 80 New 2025 Graduates in Monroe County!

Our bright and airy space is a treasure trove of fashion forward essentials that embrace the island lifestyle.

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.

On behalf of the Monroe County Education Foundation, I congratulate this year’s Take Stock in Children Class of 2025. This remarkable group of 80 exceptional scholars, representing 12% of the total graduates in Monroe County schools, are prepared to begin their next chapter in education with a Florida Prepaid college scholarship.

This monumental achievement coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Take Stock in Children program in Monroe County, marking a significant milestone in the organization's commitment to education and community support.

Over the past quarter-century, Take Stock in Children has transformed the lives of 1,082 academically and economically eligible students, with the resources and mentorship necessary to pursue their educational dreams.

This year, the Monroe County Education Foundation is awarding a remarkable $2 million in Florida Prepaid tuition scholarships, empowering these graduates as they embark on their higher education journeys.

The Monroe County Education Foundation is so very proud of this year's Take Stock graduating class, and we are very appreciative of the outstanding community support from Key Largo to Key West. We are also very thankful for our dedicated mentors who have met with the students each week during the school year, culminating in this celebratory day!

Gabriela Aguero Londono Jamie Strunk

Laira Anaya Lori Kelly

Pablo Anaya Tanya Litz

Amanda Azard Sharon Jones

Juliette Blanchard Marie Adams

Gabriel Cervantes-Mena Alexander Fierro

Rony Deleon Maldonado David Smith

Tricia Desroches Michael Klitenick

Rose Desire Megan McDowell

Nathalie Espinoza-Salgado Halley Haack

Ruth-Shelca Floriant Carla Tynes

Danna Gonzalez Delgado Vicky Lynn Anthony

Aniya Gunn William Jones

Jeremiah Harvey Esneider Gomez

Jerven Louis Persephone Summers

Dylan Martinez Nancy Masry

Shane Miller Sam Kaufman

Liz Paiz Miriam Bedrick

Andrea Acosta Robin Crampton

David Aviles Thomas McCabe

Yoselin Conde Thomas Bray

Jeffrey Dowling III John Griffin

Deanna Gumarova Mercier Amber Acevedo

Nina Manresa Rebecca Bray

Students,

Wilbens Pierre Elizabeth Regoli

Milodjina Pierrilus Karlena Wilson

Jayma Pravia Michelle Gibson

Josue Quiche Christine Smith

Nayely Sanchez Jessica Bastien

Kennith Sargent Jr. Mona Clark

Josue Thanus Raymond Casamayor

Benjamin Thene Jeff Frost

Alexander Torna Nicholas Trovato

Jose Torres Tim Maloney

Ashley Urbina Guevara Teodora Masters

Alisha Valeus Christine Trovato

Zachary Antonelli Angel Jones

Amya Barreto Milaydis Perez

Kaety Cinto Martinez Traci Driscoll

Braulio Garcia Matthew Pitcher

Daniela Gonzalez Michelle Lincoln

Gabriela Gutierrez Cathy Walters

Jefferny Pierre Dana Vega

Emily Pucuhuaranga Elizabeth Chamberlain

Shusmita Shawlin Elizabeth Liz

Samantha Torna Paige Bethel

Dumel Voltaire Dev Craig

Marisol Diaz Sherry Alana

Justin Tran Michael deBettencourt

Carlos Lezcano III Frank Westerband

Dakota Mertyris John Bartus

Hailey Peña Kristine Schluter

Yoel Perez Gonzalez Franco D'Ascanio

Celene Remis Blanco Toni Appell

Keylor Rodriguez Diaz Brian Shea

Brayan Suarez Diaz Efrain Marin

Zyan Wiggins Sarah Bartus

Angeline Zambrano Margaret Pinkus

Jennille Arias Lisa Brown

Keagan Beeler Mary Houston

Jazmyn Blassio Maureen Mueller

Teagan Eriksen Lisa Feliciano

Akeelah Gaston Laura Koeblitz

Kelmer Gomez Matthew Koval

Saharra Hernandez Esther Lerner

Ivy Hong Matthew Koval

Sarina Huerta-Isidor Peg Laron

Melany Herrada Rodriguez Kelly Vaughn

Leandro Perez Castro Scott Williamson

Alexia Stip Marissa Sivyer

Ethan Arias Henry Menendez

Micah Carr

Liam Rodriguez, Robert Murray

Liana Gomez Carolyn Wightman

Andersen Harrill

Jose Hernandez

Allison Hill

Mary Houston

Melinda Hudson

Kim Jones

Jaime Kulaga

Jeffrey Lapierre

Victoria Leonard

Linda Mcleod

Alejandra Meneses

Nancy Mesinger

Maryam Middlebrook

Nicole Nored

Amanda

Swire

Theressa Vergara

Ayesha

Desiree

Chelsey

Joseph Siemens Brian

Cynthia

Valle

Jessica Doll

Heather Durden

Savanna Edwards

Zayra Fosse

Tiffany George

Alberto Gonzalez Novoa

Christina Belotti

Alexis Bourcier

Leon Bourcier

Julie Brown

Lissette Castillo

Daniel Clark

Charlene Connell White

George Crume, Sr.

Christie Curie

Ada Del Rio

Allen Dennis

David Dornseif

Deanna Duell

Katharine Egan

Kathy Elmore

Jeanette Farinas

Mark Finigan

James Garcia, Jr

Kathleen Gillis

Crystal Hendricks

Dominique Hickory

Suzanne Holmquist

Carrie Howe

Terry Huff

Jennifer Hughes Bailey Johnston Brandi Jordan

Ashley Keeney

Chuck Licis-Masson

Penny Maun Steve Miller

Leidy Monteagudo

Naz

Poholek Roma Rispoli

Ybelisse Rodriguez

Irina Rozhdestvina

James Seale

Megan Smith

Michele Staroba Rodriguez

Kirk Steputis

Bailey Sullivan

David Thompson

Terry Thompson

Amber Valdes

Rita Walton

Amanda Whalen

Boyd Williams

Monica Woll

Robert Zoba

Mitchell Akullian

Dayra Albernas

Ruth Antonowich Jill Baker

Sarah Bartus

Danette Baso Silvers

Deborah Batty

David Black

Toby Blacow

Samantha Blyer

Marilyn Brew

Shirley Brown

Jocelyn Cabrera

Ivette Chao

Jessica Connell

Anais Cuervo

Michael deBettencourt

Rosa Diaz

Jennifer Dutton

Francina Edwards

Karelys Fernandez Perez

Anita Garcia

Venus Garcia

George Garrett

Stacie Gleason

James Hager Zully Hemeyer

Jennifer Hernandez Roberto Hernandez

Marissa Heskett

Rachael Kaiman

Tara Kennedy

Amanda Lee

Peter Liashek

Wilmarie Lopez

Lopez

Juan Lopez Atavia Lopez Dor Jacqueline Luhta

Juan Martinez

Dudley Mason Jenny Murphy

Kathryn Norris

Lynn

Ruzek

Covington

Eslick

Finizio

Suzanna Mendoza Isis Majeska

Jhonathan Mesa Lance Hernandez

Iyali Ornelas-Sandoval Erin Shattuck

Alexia Poveda Marlene Sun-Sternberg

Paulina Soca Mary Beth Harris

Victor Espinosa-Rosello Jay Baker

Andiris Ledsma Martinez Yani Gilmore

Madyson Pons Lindsay Rehmann

Key West Cooking School

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Dinnertainment Cooking Classes

All meals are served with housemade plaintain chips

Conch Fritters

Mojo Roast Pork with Black Beans and Rice

Key Lime Pie

Tostones with Cuban Chimichurri Ropa Vieja with Yellow Rice Tia’s Flan

SERVED WITH BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE DAY

Garbanzo Soup Lobster Enchilados with Rice Guava Bread Pudding

Garbanzo Soup Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas Guava Bread Pudding

THURSDAY Bollos

Grits-n-Grunts

Key Lime Pie

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Rum Revelations A Cocktail Adventure Key West History Through Craft Cocktails 1pm 5pm MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING

Caldo Gallego Picadillo with Black Beans and Rice Key Lime Pie

Conch Fritters Mariscado with White Rice Guava Bread Pudding

Caldo Gallego Key West Seafood Rissotto Tia’s Flan

Mariscado Swordfish Picatta with Rice and Broccolini Tia’s Flan

Avocado Salad Cuban Mix Tia’s Flan

Tostones with Cuban Chimichurri Picadillo with Black Beans and Rice Tia’s Flan

Ceviche Mojo Roast Pork with Black Beans and Rice Key Lime Pie

Conch Fritters Grits-n-Grunts Key Lime Pie

Cocktail Classes

Bollos Snapper Creole with Rice Key Lime Pie

Conch Salad Sunday Pork Chops with Potato Gratin Guava Bread Pudding

A NIGHT OF CROONING AND COMEDY

LISTEN & LAUGH AT KEY WEST PRIDE COMEDY NIGHT

Hear Quin

Lamar’s humor & Beane’s music

June 25 at Key West Theater

As part of the official Key West Pride celebration, the Key West Business Guild will present “A Night of Queer Crooning and Comedy” on Wednesday, June 25 at the Key West Theater, 521 Eaton St, beginning at 8 p.m. Local comedian Gwen Filosa and beloved drag queen Puddin’ Taine will host.

Quin Lamar, an actor and LGBTQ+ comedian who is touring the country, will headline the show. Known for his engaging performances and sharp wit, Lamar brings a unique perspective as a 6’4” gay Black man navigating contemporary America. He has gained popularity through his stand-up comedy, often addressing pressing issues with humor and insight. His work includes appearances on various comedy platforms and television shows, and he can also be heard on the Official Marvel Podcast.

Opening the evening will be rising LGBTQ+ sensa-

Quin Lamar will headline a night of comedy and music on June 25 at Key West Theater as part of the Key West Pride celebration. CONTRIBUTED

tion Beane, an alt-pop artist based in Los Angeles. Beane’s feel-good performances have garnered a global fan base, highlighted by a top placement on “American Idol” and an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He spent 2024 opening for Alisa Amador and Tiny Habits, and recently opened for Trousdale. His debut album, “Pretty Boy,” is scheduled for release this fall.

An after-party at the Tiki House, 203 Duval St., will benefit Key West Pride. Though details remain under wraps, it has been hinted that a certain cartoon character may fit into the evening’s theme.

Tickets for “A Night of Queer Crooning and Comedy” are $40, $50 and $60 and are available at keystix.com.

— Contributed

A MUSICAL LIFE

Dan lived a musical life. He was the first person I ever met who played guitar and sang. He could play entire albums from beginning to end. He sang perfect harmonies and could somehow match his voice with anyone’s. He constantly listened to, commented on and recommended musicians to friends and strangers.

To live a musical life is to discover, at some point, that a life would have little meaning without making music. It’s the realization that any other success will be tainted with failure if you follow the voice inside that’s telling you, “You don’t have a band; you haven’t written a song in years; you have done nothing.”

For most of us, recording that creation lets us hold in our hands, literally and/or figuratively, something that would not exist without us, its creators. There are some people who do not care to share their work with the world, but most artists hope others will hear and enjoy their creation. You play it for your friends and family. You sell a few downloads, get some likes and some streams. But then, you feel as if you brought a drop of water to the ocean and a grain of sand to the beach. You start thinking your product just isn’t special enough.

There are, of course, superstars — that top 1% of artists whose work is recognized by 90% of us. When you start doing that math, over the past, say, 100 years, it’s difficult to imagine how many unheard songs by unknown artists exist in the world. And though I have never been paid to be a music critic, I have to think at least one of those songs was, in the words of Larry David, “pretty, pretty, pretty good.”

An example of a successful music career is that of one of our own, the late Bill Blue. While not every moment was glamorous, he achieved recog-

nition for his work and built a reputation as an authentic, accomplished player, and as a person who was genuinely liked and respected.

RAY WEST

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

Even after his passing, his music lives on. His name is still spoken, his image remains displayed in pictures and paintings, and perhaps most importantly, his music is still played and heard.

The story of the unknown artist is both sad and beautiful. It celebrates the need for humans, at a basic level, to express themselves, regardless of accolades or attention. But at the same time, the desire for fame and the quest to separate oneself from the crowd, is often unrealized.

It shows the often cruel irony of the struggling artist whose hunger for success fuels their creativity, and how eventual success can alleviate the struggle but stifle the creation.

The story of the unknown artist also shows the strength and love it takes to live a musical life.

Renowned blues musician Bill Blue plays his final concert in 2020. He died from throat cancer in July 2022, after living anyone’s definition of ‘a musical life.’ RALPH DE PALMA/Key West Soul

Comedian

A

Borrow

No

Unforgettable Dining Experiences

Elegant Fine Dining by Chef Laurence Gottlieb

Father’s Day Dinner

A la carte menu and featured seasonal specials June 15 | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Morning Menu

A gracious island breakfast experience 8:00 am – 11:00 am daily

Southern Happy Hou r

Enjoy 30% off wines by the glass & signature cocktails and small plate specials 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm daily

Curated Tasting Menu

A sumptuous seven-course prix fixe menu 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm daily

Exquisite Evenings

An exceptional dinner menu, vintage wine list and exclusive cocktails 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm daily

Special Occasion Gift Card

Treat someone to an incredible dining experience or overnight retreat.

SPEEDY SEVEN

Local distance running standouts demolish Keys 100

alex@keysweekly.com

Take a few former 7 Mile Bridge Run champs, combine them with extreme triathletes, and toss in a few more runners who perennially sit atop race leaderboards in Monroe County – put another way, assemble the Keys’ own Avengers of distance running.

Then, tell them to go run 100 miles as fast as they can, and enjoy the show.

On May 17, first-place squad PeaK Pulse left no doubt in the team relay of the Keys 100 ultramarathon, keeping the pedal to the metal from Key Largo to Key West and completing the course in 10 hours, 26 minutes and 20 seconds.

We’ll save you the calculator –that’s an AVERAGE of 6 minutes, 15 seconds per mile, all done in mid-80s temperatures without a cloud in the sky. The team arrived in Key West nearly 28 minutes before their next competitors, smashed their “kind of brutal” goal of 11 hours – their words, not ours – and topped the winning relay time from 2024 by more than an hour.

“Honestly, I just wanted to make as stacked a team as possible,” said Aydan Child, the 2019 Marathon High graduate and 2018 7 Mile Bridge Run champ who hatched the idea for PeaK Pulse’s squad with Marathon triathlete John “Bucky” Wile. Recruiting fellow triathlete Adam Matyi, the crew added Key West native and 2025 bridge run champ Owen Allen before turning to the Bursa brothers, Big Pine-based distance phenoms.

Fresh off their Marathon High School outdoor track season, the roster initially included younger brothers Vance and Tony, but a foot fracture sidelined Vance just days before the race, forcing a last-minute step-in by elder brother Jakub.

No longer involved in competitive racing since his 2024 graduation, Jakub told the Weekly he’d been running only eight miles per week, with most of his recent workouts replaced by distance cycling. And with essentially zero training fitting the nature of the race, the oldest Bursa brother turned in what his teammates called an “MVP performance,” nearly equaling his pace from high school races to match the team average during his 13 assigned miles.

“We didn’t know what to expect, and he came in and absolutely crushed it – the same (pace) as Bucky and I,” said Child. “Jakub stepping up and being able to hang in there and put that much heart and effort into it – that was crazy to see.”

Bursa wasn’t alone in gutting out a technically sound and blazing fast performance. Taking on the bridge he conquered just one month earlier, Allen gladly traded a heavy headwind from April for the heat of May, reportedly lighting up the seven-mile span in less than 40 minutes and dropping his pace below his championship-winning speed by more than 20 seconds per mile.

Taking advantage of nearly every opportunity to pass the baton, the team was the picture of consistency, hitting the 50-mile mark in exactly 5 hours and 13 minutes. And although some 50-mile relay teams had already reached the Seven Mile Bridge as PeaK Pulse passed through “downtown” Marathon, by the time they hit Key West, the crew had left even that race’s top finishers behind.

While he couldn’t pound the pavement as one of the team’s fastest projected runners, his teammates had high praise for Vance’s role in facilitating the entire 100-mile effort. “I was water boy, transition boy, fueling boy, hydration boy,” laughed Vance.

“It was a whole system, and we trusted each other,” said Tony. “We were all into it. It’s not like a race where it’s just you against you – you use the whole team, and it’s a lot more entertaining.”

“It was nothing but a great time,” said Child. “Vance was in a boot, but he had water, ice packs, keeping everything sorted and orderly. Having everything come to fruition and accomplishing our goals, and just all being there together at the end was really nice.”

IT TAKES A BAHAMA VILLAGE

Billy Kearins honors the past & future with Bahama Village mural

BRITT MYERS britt@keysweekly.com

In late 2024, Billy Kearins received word that Key West’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) group was bidding out projects for the new Frederick Douglass Community Center. His heart and mind immediately began mapping out sketches on his drafting table. Kearins, founder and creative director of Coast Projects, where he is recognized for his eclectic art designs and creative projects, has called Bahama Village home over a span of three decades.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to live, work, create and build a life with my two kids in one of the neighborhood’s oldest structures,” said Kearins, referring to his Whitehead Street property, where his home, studio, store and gallery are located in Bahama Village. “History surrounds us — and seeps into every turn we make on our morning walks around the block or afternoon bike rides to the beach.”

Among the three projects out for bid by AIPP, one included an outdoor mural, 42 feet wide by 16 feet tall. Kearins, equipped with years of experience in street art-styled murals, wanted to use his experience with screen printing and street art to bring something “graphic and bold,” adding an urban look to the mural, while using bright colors to fit the positive climate of the community.

Soon after, Kearins submitted his bid and was awarded the mural, titling it, “It Takes a Bahama Village” – an artistic license on the, “It takes a village to raise a child” concept he used to honor those who “ultimately settled and galvanized Bahama Village over the years.” Kearins said, “it takes a village to raise a child” has been traced back to various African cultures — an endearing trait synonymous to the area.

“I was excited to get to work,” Kearins said. “My head was buzzing with ideas, followed quickly by late nights mapping it all out in my studio with windows open and the Bahama Village ambient soundtrack mixing together with a scratchy old Miles Davis record playing near my drafting table.”

The next step in the process would be the most difficult. Choosing who to showcase on the mural would require hours of visits and conversations with longtime Bahama Village residents and Key West historians. Kearins carried a notebook and collaborated with longtime locals,as asking for their opinions. He settled on 19 individuals who have shaped Bahama Village and the vital culture it represents in Key West. Names like Coffee Butler, Fats Navarro, Betty Cox, Roosevelt Sands and Vina May Saunders are amongst those on a distinguished list of legacies.

“I wanted to distinguish between the famous residents and important ones because the two don’t always overlap,” said Kearins. “Overall, the essence of the idea, for me, is there have been many people involved in building, strengthening, fostering and ultimately continuing the legacy of this place.”

Kearin’s project is nearing completion during the 90-day allotted window, and he hopes his work will last for several decades.

“It’s an important project,” he said. “I’m proud and honored to have been chosen to make it happen. The neighborhood is one of the last you can still walk around and feel the past, meet families who have been here for decades who still show up for meetings and are passionate about their town. It’s sort of the last of its time…I’m just honored to hopefully capture some of that so we don’t forget.”

ALEX RICKERT

MHS graduate and 2018 7 Mile Bridge Run champion Aydan Child leads team PeaK Pulse across the finish line in Key West to complete the Keys 100. CONTRIBUTED

HELP US

Some people not only wish to make the world a better place, they leave a legacy behind to make sure their commitment continues long after their physical selves are no longer with us. Former Florida Keys SPCA Board President Jane Dawkins and her husband Charles Newman were such people. Jane joined our Board in 2007 and served as Board President from 2009 through 2019. She carried the organization through the Capital Campaign to build the new Key West Shelter and was instrumental in the success of our life-saving mission. Jane passed away three years after Charles, in 2022. Their passion and concern to continue to benefit animals in need resulted in the Charles Newman and Jane Dawkins Endowment Fund. This fund supports the Florida Keys SPCA, and all of the animals that we continue to care for, year after year.

Please join us this week as we celebrate Jane’s vision and in honor of her birthday on May 28th by making a gift to the Charles Newman and Jane Dawkins Endowment Fund, at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.

CHRIS McNULTY

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

The sun has entered the sign of Gemini, ushering in a month that highlights our curiosity, sociability and love of learning.

Gemini season reminds us that we are social creatures, designed to interact with one another in order to expand beyond the confines of our singular experience. We can get more done when we collaborate. We can create worlds when we share our ideas. We can grow when we learn. When the sun is in Gemini, dive into that topic you’ve been wanting to explore and get real nerdy about it. Meanwhile, Saturn is making a big move this weekend as it leaves Pisces, where it has been since March 2023, and enters Aries. Saturn in Pisces helped us sort through beliefs, dreams and ideals, and chances are you now have a clearer sense of where you stand. With Saturn in Aries, the energy shifts. Saturn is the planet of structure, boundaries and long-term growth, and in Aries it encourages us to apply what we have learned by taking bold steps forward. This is a time to act on your wisdom, to build something meaningful through courage and steady effort.

Here are your horoscopes for Saturn entering Aries. Read for your rising and sun signs.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Happy birthday season to our brilliant, engaging Geminis. Under this sky, it is time to start getting really clear about what your hopes and dreams are. We can not achieve every flighty fancy that we think of, so start prioritizing your goals and cutting out the fat. As you focus your list of potential achievements, the people who will help you get there will start coming out of the woodwork. Find your teachers.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

There are many versions of you out there in the world. In some ways, there are as many versions of you as there are people paying attention to you. With Saturn moving into Aries, though, it is time to start taking some control over your reputation. Really get clear on what it is you do in the public sphere. What is your vocation? Are you fulfilling it? What will your legacy be?

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

You have 360 degrees of horizon at your disposal, and you can start walking in any direction to see what lies beyond. In reality, though, you need to decide which direction to take your first step. Under this sky, it is time to hone in on what you want to explore. A new continent? A new field of academia? A new belief system? You can’t do it all at once, so focus on one at a time.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Not everything can be planned for, but some things absolutely must be. The next chapter asks you to take a closer look at what you share with others and what you keep for yourself. This might mean money, trust, intimacy or power. You are learning how to navigate agreements with a new sense of clarity. Set boundaries with care. Say yes with your whole chest or not at all

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

The mirror is getting clearer. You are starting to see the difference between what you want and what you actually commit to. This moment calls for a different kind of attention to your relationships. Consider what roles you take on by default. Notice which patterns repeat. Then start changing the script. A new kind of partnership is possible if you are willing to show up differently.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Discipline is a form of devotion, and now it is time to apply that insight to the less glamorous parts of your life. Think schedules, maintenance, the small things that add up. The daily minutiae of life offer constant opportunities to practice reverence. Saturn is asking you to take your well-being seriously. If something needs adjusting, fix it. If something needs support, ask for it. This is how you build a life that lasts.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

The spark is real, but it is not enough on its own. You are being asked to take your creativity seriously. That means carving out time for it. That means not waiting for inspiration to strike. Make a plan for your joy. Whether this is about art, love, children or just feeling more alive, you are being invited to turn pleasure into something sustainable.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

You have carried a lot on your shoulders and you have done it with grace. Now the work is shifting closer to home. Your attention is being drawn to your foundation like family, roots, and the structures that support your daily life. What needs to be repaired? What deserves to be celebrated? You are allowed to want comfort, so make space for it.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

What do you say, and what do you leave unsaid? The words you choose now have staying power. Be thoughtful with your language, both with others and with yourself. If there is a skill you want to sharpen or a topic you need to master, this is the time to start. Small conversations could lead to big opportunities, especially if you are willing to listen as much as you speak.

FOCUS YOUR ACTIONS

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

It is time to get real about what you need to feel safe and secure. That might mean budgeting, setting financial goals or saying no to things that drain your energy. You are learning to define value on your own terms. This is not about deprivation. It is about making choices that actually support the life you want. Treat your time and resources like they matter.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

This is your cue to step into the spotlight, but only if you are ready to take responsibility for what comes with it. You are entering a long moment of self-definition. Who are you becoming? What kind of example do you want to set? This is not about pleasing others. It is about taking your own growth seriously. Show up for yourself in a way you never have before.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

Rest is not a reward. It is a requirement. You may find yourself craving more solitude than usual, or needing extra time to process what you have been through. Honor that. Reflection is not the same as avoidance. Let your dreams guide you. Let silence speak. The more you slow down, the more clearly you will hear what actually matters.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

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

I’ve never trusted the word sublime, at least not enough to use it on the regular. I’ve always taken it to convey a sense of snobbery, of superior and likely condescending taste. The root of my issues, I believe, is Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” where the King and the Duke, two ne’er-do-well characters, use the word repeatedly to describe their scamming, fake-English theatrical productions. In my recollection of the book they were just irritating characters, bordering on comic foils, there to create a kind of narrative friction to deepen the sense of adventure, but it’s been 30 years since I read it. I did recently read Percival Everett’s “James,” a deft and razor-sharp retelling of the story written from the enslaved Jim’s perspective in which the King and the Duke were insidious racist villains, giving the novel a darker pull, though I don’t believe they used the word sublime. (Everett’s Pulitzer Prize is well deserved.)

As anyone who lived through the ’90s knows, there is also a band called Sublime, but I was never much for third-wave bro ska.

The word invited itself into my head again the other day when I stopped by the Key West Botanical Garden. It was around 2 p.m., generally a terrible time to look for birds, but I’d seen a report of a purple gallinule in the pond and wanted to check it out. At the edge of the pond a small armada of turtles paddled slowly toward me, but there were no birds to be seen, purple or otherwise, other than the occasional common grackle or white-crowned pigeon gliding across the open space.

I decided I might as well check out the back part of the pond, so I said hi to Cindy as I went through the gate and followed the boardwalk back.

Summer has been slowly turning up the throttle in recent weeks, so I kept to the shadows. When the back end of the pond proved emptier than the front, I wandered down onto the dirt paths to Desbiens Pond.

I’d heard three or four northern cardinals singing along the way, which was a nice sign that they are probably breeding in the park. For some reason, despite their love of suburbia and urbanized areas all over the rest of the continent, we don’t see a lot of cardinals in Key West. But maybe if they breed on Stock Island they’ll start wandering over to Key West more often.

In another locale, Desbiens Pond might not be considered a pond. It’s small and shallow and crossed with low trees and brush, maybe 8

SUBLIMATING THE SUBLIME

inches deep. I’d say it’s kind of a fancy puddle, but puddles are temporary and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it empty. I’m not sure a better word exists, so I’ll not argue with its official pond designation.

The first bird I saw there was a tri-colored heron behind several layers of branches and trunks. It was too deep to get a decent picture, or to even really see clearly, so I moved along the path.

I took a seat on the platform before I noticed the green heron low on one of the branches, inches above the water, frozen in its posture.

Green herons usually have two responses to people getting near them. More often than not, they will take off with a craggy note of complaint, often pooping when they do this, inspiring two of their early names – the shitepoke and the chalk-line. (They are not the only bird species that does this. And it’s a good way to dissuade predators from following you.)

Sometimes, often in places like parks and marinas, where they might get habituated to humans, they will simply continue to go about their business and not flush. Which was the path, or lack of path, this bird chose.

Green herons are on the small end of the heron size spectrum and are shape-shifters. In their default position, they crouch and keep their neck tucked in and look something like sleeker, more aerodynamic footballs. Which was what this bird was doing.

On the occasions they unfurl their neck, they add a solid third to their length.

The unfurling occasionally happens when they fly, are climbing around the mangroves or are curious about something. More frequently, when they are hunting. The unfurling happens faster than you would think, and almost faster than you can see. Sleight of head, I guess.

No doubt in their more compact posture their neck is folded into an S shape, like most herons, though their feathers hide that really well. When they extend it to catch a fish, it’s hard to believe it is not cocked and spring-loaded, like a spear gun. They’ll plunge their bill down into the water and come back up in an instant. A little more than half the time (57%) they will hold a wriggling fish or other aquatic creature in their bill.

A heron’s patience will regularly outlast mine, but I wasn’t aiming to see a strike. I was more transfixed by the bird’s coloring, the way it was lit in patches by the rays that made it through the canopy.

Birds are not named for their dominant characteristics so much as their dominant distinctive characteristic, the thing that distinguishes them from other species.

Green herons are green, but not distinctly so. They have this sort of mineral green in their cap and wings that comes off as a sort of vermilion wash over a darker slate-like tone, but not something you immediately think of as green.

Their dominant color is the dark mauve in their neck, dangerously close to maroon, puce if you want a four-letter word. It’s not a hue that screams at you with intensity, but a color whose appreciation may take a while to impress you. Especially here in Florida, where you don’t get a lot of subtlety.

That lack of subtlety in Florida is why I was probably a little spellbound by a palette that seemed so subtle, so contrarian. And probably why that word came into my head.

Sublime.

Fine. Whatever. Call me a snob.

A green heron at the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

Revive Awareness Day

JOIN US

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County invites the public to attend this year’s Revive Awareness Day event to learn more about how to spot the signs of an overdose, how to use naloxone to reverse the effects of an overdose, and what resources and programs are available to support individuals with substance use disorder.

Friday, June 6, 2025

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Key Largo Library, 101485 Overseas Highway, Key Largo Islamorada Library, 81830 Overseas Highway, Islamorada Marathon Library, 3490 Overseas Highway, Marathon Key West Library, 700 Fleming St., Key West

WHAT IS NALOXONE?

Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose by attaching to receptors in the brain and reversing and blocking the effects of the drug.

HOW CAN I HELP?

If you know someone in need, carry naloxone and learn to administer safely. Locate naloxone providers in your area and additional resources for community support.

KEY WEST BRIGHT WHAT’S COOKING?

Exhibit features art of Ray Rolston

“Whitehead Street” is one of over 40 pieces included in the Key West Museum of Art & History’s upcoming exhibit, “Key West Colors: The Art of Ray Rolston.” RAY ROLSTON FAMILY/Contributed

The Key West Art & Historical Society will unveil its colorful new exhibition on Friday, May 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. “Key West Colors: The Art of Ray Rolston” will be on display in the Bryan Gallery at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front St., through Nov. 9. The retrospective honors the artist, who died in 2019 and is recognized for his lively portrayals of Key West and its sunny island landscape.

Born in British Guyana, a nation rich in rainforests and waterfalls, Rolston’s early environment profoundly influenced his art. From a young age, he painted the lush landscapes that surrounded him. After spending three decades in New York City and South Florida, Rolston arrived in Key West and made it his home for over 20 years. The island’s turquoise waters, pastel conch houses and stunning sunsets became central to his work. His “Key West Colors” series earned him recognition as one of the island’s premier artists, while his engaging personality endeared him to visitors at the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, where he was a resident artist for years.

“This new exhibition, featuring over 40 paintings and personal effects, invites visitors to explore canvas after canvas filled with familiar landmarks, flora and fauna that

“Hemingway House” is included in the upcoming exhibit, “Key West Colors: The Art of Ray Rolston.”

are intricately blended in Rolston’s artwork,” says KWAHS curator and historian Cori Convertito. “He brought iconic island features like roosters, sailboats, palm trees and architecturally significant buildings to life with vibrant color and a playful perspective.”

“Key West Colors: The Art of Ray Rolston” runs until Nov. 9 in the Bryan Gallery of the Key West Museum of Art & History. More information is at kwahs.org/rolstonopening, or from Convertito on 305-295-6616 x 507 or via email to cconvertito@kwahs.org.

Taking a look at local cuisine

Ernest Hemingway, who lived and worked in Key West for most of the 1930s, once wrote, “I have discovered that there is romance in food when romance has disappeared from everywhere else. And as long as my digestion holds out, I will follow romance.”

Today, Key West’s culinary tapestry is rich in the romance of multicultural influences from early settlers that included Bahamian fishermen, Cuban cigar makers and New England and Southern merchants and shipbuilders.

In such a melting pot, it’s no surprise that the local fare is equally diverse. But what exactly makes up Key West cuisine?

“It’s a collaboration of cultures from Bahamian to Cuban, Latino to Creole, and even Northeastern,” said Keith St. Peter, executive chef at the Key West Cooking School, located upstairs at 291 Front St.

St. Peter oversees the menus, recipes and direction for the school’s demonstration-style learn-and-dine classes, where attendees are shown how to prepare traditional Key West dishes and discover their place in the island’s culture and heritage.

“The focal points of our local cuisine are seafood — its freshness and impressive variety — and the fruits that grow so abundantly here,” he said, citing mangoes and sugar apples in particular.

A food historian as well as an acclaimed chef, St. Peter has been a defining voice in Key West’s food scene since his arrival in 1999. He has showcased his talents at local eateries including La Trattoria, Antonia’s, Banana Café, Kojin Noodle Bar and Blue Heaven; co-operated The Café; and launched Mary Ellen’s and House of Wu, among other accomplishments.

He was drawn to the Key West Cooking School by the opportunity to explore and honor the island’s food history — and shape a program that shares both cuisine and culture.

“I would research and find, say, 15 variations of a dish and then break it apart to see what made it authentic, and then develop what I thought was the best version of that dish,” said St. Peter. “And that’s what we teach and serve our guests here.”

The most original Key West food, he believes, is the humble bollo — a deep-fried fritter-like concoction whose main ingredients are black-eyed

peas and sweet yellow onions.

The secrets to preparing bollos are revealed during Key West Cooking School classes, as are techniques for preparing picadillo, ropa vieja, Caribbean jerk chicken, conch salad and other local staples.

Based on his research, St. Peter has developed 15 menus for the school’s entertaining classes — each one bringing the romance and richness of Key West’s culinary history to life as attendees learn about — and feast on — the featured dishes.

Classes are offered Tuesday through Saturday, and reservations can be made by calling 305-294-COOK.

LAST BITES

Dish of the week: Bollos. With their crispy texture and soft interior, bollos can be served as a snack, appetizer or side dish. Pulsed black-eyed peas, habanero peppers, diced onions, minced garlic and salt are combined in carefully balanced proportions, then fried to create the quintessential Key West treat.

Helpful kitchen hack: When preparing bollos, don’t skip the steps that make the black-eyed pea batter so flavorful. Soak the peas overnight, then pick them over and soak for three more hours. Once the batter is properly mixed, chill it for at least 30 minutes before frying.

Hungry for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com.

Attendees at the Key West Cooking School’s learn-and-dine classes discover dishes that make up the island city’s unique cuisine. KEY WEST COOKING SCHOOL/Contributed

Chef Keith St. Peter, well known as a leader in the local food scene, is the executive chef at the Key West Cooking School.

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

The Way it Was ISAAC VALDES

Experience the historical charm and vibrant culture of Old Key West through intricate wood carvings.

made possible by the Edna and Tom Majors Fund for Wood Artists, sponsored by Key West Historic Inns

Daydreams LEIGH HOOTEN

Animals, portraits and fantastical beings rendered in a fresh, illustrative style. sponsored by The Green Pineapple

Pile it On...Take it Off SHERRY ‘SWEET T’ TEWELL

Explore the interplay between abundance and minimalism. sponsored by Shade Ceramics and Shutter Photography

SUGARLOAF TEAM WINS WORLDWIDE ROBOTICS COMPETITION

Three teams of middle schoolers showcase problem-solving skills

FRANK DERFLER

www.keysweekly.com

Robots that swim, robots that think and robots that bend time: Monroe County schools have them all. Competitive robotics teams in the district’s middle schools give students a way to learn mechanics, programming, electronics and teamwork.

This recently paid off, with a team from Sugarloaf School taking first place in a competition involving 500 teams from 10 countries. Three teams of students, led by STEM educator Alena Ellerbee, worked through regional competitions to take first place, third place, and eighth place in a worldwide virtual competition.

The champions, known as team Sigma, include Chloe Huffman, Jose Carlos Escobar, Liam Powell and Calvin Lee.

The World Sphero Global Robotics Challenge is an annual competition organized by Sphero, a company specializing in educational robotics and coding tools. The challenge engages students in computational thinking, engineering and programming skills by tasking them with designing, coding and navigating through a series of missions and obstacles. The goal is to build creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills in a fun, competitive environment.

The competition this year had the theme of a Portal Through Time. Students built up robots from kits, designed them to have special physical capabilities and then programmed the robots to perform specific tasks on an indoor competition field with the best possible speed. The competition started with 500 teams. In the end, 54 teams entered the championship. The Sigmas from Sugarloaf School won first place in the middle-school bracket.

The Sugarloaf Pink Flamingos took third place while the Sugarloaf Pythons won eighth place. Teams from Canada, Australia, Hawaii and other U.S. states filled the rest of the top spots. Many YouTube videos document the action.

Sugarloaf School robotics teams aren’t the only ones in Monroe County. Marathon Middle School and Key Largo School STEM teachers Rob Driscoll and Mark Leffler work with Sphero bots in their robotics classes.

Six middle schools from the district competed with swimming robots in the SeaPerch robotics tournament

The first-place winners of an international Robotics competition from Sugarloaf School. The champions, known as team Sigma, include Chloe Huffman, Jose Carlos Escobar, Liam Powell and Calvin Lee (not pictured). Pictured far left is STEM educator Alena Ellerbee. CONTRIBUTED

The third-place finishers in the Sphero international robotics competition, team Pink Flamingos. Pictured far left is STEM educator Alena Ellerbee, with team members Collin Palomino, Rusty McKinley and Colton Johnson. They’re pictured with champions from the international competition.

held at Founders Park in April. More than 130 students from six schools participated in the last event. SeaPerch in this county is a local competition. Plantation Key won the first-place trophy this year.

The work in robotics, along with other areas of study, teacher certification and competition led to this year’s certification of the Monroe County school district as a STEM District by Cognia, a global nonprofit organization working in the areas of educational accreditation.

“Acquiring STEM accreditation was of great importance to me,” said Teresa Axford, the outgoing school superintendent, “because it allows Monroe County students to enjoy the benefits that STEM partnerships make available such as our partnership with NOAA, National Marine Sanctuaries, Inwater Research Group, Mote Marine and many more. These partnerships create many opportunities for our students like field trips, courses of study, access to experts in the field and research opportunities.

“STEM certification adds credibility to the hard work of the school district and helps us to serve not only Keys students but our communities as well,” Axford continued. “Science coordinator Donna Tedesco spent many hours documenting our STEM activities, curriculum and partnerships to achieve this status.”

REEF RELIEF BRINGS FILM FESTIVAL TO KEY WEST

Ocean-themed shorts to show June 7 at Eco-Discovery Center

Reef Relief is bringing the Ocean Film Festival to Key West on Saturday, June 7. Films will be shown at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center at Truman Waterfront. This marks the first time the festival will be hosted in Monroe County, offering an event centered around ocean conservation.

The evening will feature a curated lineup of short ocean-themed films created by filmmakers from around the world. Guests are invited to an interactive reception from 5 to 6:15 p.m., followed by film screenings from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

A panel discussion will close out the evening. Moderated by Gwen Filosa, the panel will feature scientists and city leaders who will explore the themes of the films in connection with their ongoing environmental efforts in the Florida Keys.

Tickets are $25 for Reef Relief members and $30 for non-members, and parking is free. All proceeds support Reef Relief’s education and conservation programs.

Space is limited. Tickets and more information are available at reefrelief.org.

— Contributed

Reef Relief will present the International Ocean Film Festival, a series of ocean-themed shorts, on Saturday, June 7 at the Eco-Discovery Center. CONTRIBUTED

TAKE ME HOME?

FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA

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

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

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

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

Meet Willow, a 4-year-old pit bull mix looking for a second chance at love. He was adopted, but returned through no fault of his own. He’s a sweet boy who loves to run around when he gets the zoomies. Once he gets all that energy out, he’s super cuddly and affectionate.

Meet Ziggy, a playful 5-year-old cat with a goofy personality. He loves to have fun and play rough, but don’t let that fool you — he’s also incredibly kind and sweet. Ziggy just needs someone who can appreciate his unique play style and show him the love he deserves.

Cleopatra, a 2-year-old grey tabby whose anxiety makes her shy at first, but she’s incredibly loving once she gets to know you. Once she finds her person, she will form a strong bond and stick by their side. Cleopatra is looking for a patient, understanding home where she can feel safe and loved.

Grover is a 2-year-old male orange tabby cat. He’s a little shy, but we think it’s just because he’s still adjusting to his new surroundings. If you take a seat and spend some time with him, he’ll quickly warm up and show you how affectionate he can be.

Meet Benji, a 1-year-old rabbit who’s new to the shelter. Benji has a calm and chill demeanor, making him a perfect companion for someone looking for a laid-back pet. Though he’s still getting used to his new surroundings, he’s already showing signs of being a sweet and easygoing bunny.

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

The early start to summer brought the volunteer number down to 31 Ploggers for the May 16 cleanup at the corner of Flagler Avenue and Bertha Street. In one hour they collected a total of 296 pounds of trash, 27 pounds of recycling and 2 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to Chris Massicotte for hosting us for the third time and providing Goldman’s breakfast for everyone after their hard work. CONTRIBUTED

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

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

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

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

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference. It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-8093782 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.

May 23: Lazy Way Lane and the Key West Bight area. Meet next to the Wyland Wall at the end of William Street. Hosted by Jersey Mike’s in the Overseas Market.

May 30: Between both entrances of College Road along US 1. Meet along the Bike Path at the traffic light to Maloney Avenue. Hosted by Keys Weekly & Overseas Media Group

Meet

REEL RECS

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

What: “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story” (2024)

Why: Ask someone who Liza Minnelli is, and they’ll likely reveal to you their generation based on what they associate with her first, whether it’s “Cabaret,” “Arthur” or “Arrested Development.” She’s transcended her famous parents to become an icon who’s constantly reinventing herself. This documentary (which aired earlier this year on the PBS series “American Masters”), takes a look at this colorful and eventful life with as much personality as its subject. Admittedly, like that subject, its focus can be rather scattered, but if you’re able to keep up, there’s a wealth of fun anecdotes and rare home movies to be found in this zippy portrait.

Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.

How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/ contact-us.

Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch.

See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.

SHELF HELP

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

What: “Earl Crush” by Alexandra Vasti

Why: This is the sequel to Vasti’s swoon-worthy debut

“Ne’er Duke Well.” Lydia HopeWallace is a wallflower on the London mart and is very content to keep it that way. She’s been secretly publishing seditious pamphlets and working toward political reform. Through her anonymous publications, she’s begun a beguiling epistolary friendship with the Earl of Strathrannoch in Scotland. Lydia’s life spirals into a case of mistaken identity, espionage, a herd of zebras, a castle in need of repair and an alluring (and grumpy) Scottish laird. Vasti’s writing strikes the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud funny and steamy. The third novel, “Ladies in Hating,” is out in September 2025.

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, 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: Riona Campbell, senior library associate, Key West Library branch

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

THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: THE TORCH KEYS

Torchwood, an 1876 homestead and the Bern and Betty brothers

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI

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

Torchwood is a tree that grows in South Florida, the Keys, Mexico and the Caribbean.

It reaches about 15 feet, though it can grow a little taller.

A member of the citrus family, torchwood blooms with small clusters of fragrant white flowers that give off a strong perfume. The fruit is a drupe, a fleshy fruit like a cherry or an apricot that turns purplish black when it ripens. Birds love torchwood fruit. People can eat it, too.

Amyris elemifera is called torchwood because it is highly resinous and burns well. Before there were lamps and flashlights, torchwood was burned and used as, well, a torch. Also, torchwood is one of two food sources for the endangered Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly.

Neither the butterfly nor the tree is as prevalent as they once were in the Florida Keys, due largely to development.

The tree is also the namesake of the Torch Keys, which include Little Torch, Middle Torch and Big Torch Key. Driving down the Overseas Highway, after crossing the Seven Mile Bridge and Big Pine Key, there is still the North Pine Channel Bridge, a line of railroad fill, and the South Pine Channel Bridge to cross before reaching Little Torch Key.

Some of the early stories told about the islands do not differentiate among Little, Middle and Big, and just refer to Torch Key. According to a story from the Miami Herald dated March 17, 1922, Dexter Hubel from Michigan arrived in the Florida Keys circa 1876. He made a homestead claim of 160 acres on Torch Key. The story stated, “The principal means of a livelihood on Torch Key in those early days were the raising of limes, guavas, mangoes, sapodillas, teas or egg fruit, and the burning of charcoal.”

It also said that Hubel sold his land in 1901 for $400 and bought 30 acres on No Name Key. The family island-hopped. However, change was coming to the Florida Keys. First came Henry Flagler’s train. Next was a road for cars to drive from the mainland to Key West. Progress was captured in a story printed by the Miami Tribune on Feb. 3, 1925. “A unique proposition in the way of a subdivision on Big Torch Key, called Rainbow Beach, has called the attention of anglers and investors since it recently went on sale. The name was suggested by the opalescent waters that surround Big Torch Key.

“Rainbow Beach is an old homestead that has been subdivided and put on the market at low prices and terms. Citrus fruits, pineapples, sweet grapes, two crops a year, with bunches weighing from four to five pounds each, melons and vegetables of all varieties, honey-bees and date palms yield abundantly, according to agricultural reports. ... The Overseas automobile highway, under construction, will connect Miami and Key West and which, when completed, will afford a wonderful, direct highway to Rainbow Beach. It is contemplated to build a city on Big Torch Key which will undoubtedly be one of a chain of cities that extend over the Florida Keys, within a few years.”

The highway was officially called State Road 4A. The first version of it traveled a much different path than its modern counterpart. While the road did not officially open until 1928, it was operational by the summer of 1927. The Palm Beach Post, on April 28, 1927, noted: “From Key West to Torch Key, a distance of 33 miles, in one hour and ten minutes is the record made with all ease by Chief Engineer Joseph Watkins in his automobile. At White Street on Flagler Avenue, he set his speedometer on zero, and when a stop was made at Torch Key, 33 miles had been ticked off.”

Both the original path and the modern path of the highway crossed Little Torch Key, but not Middle or Big Torch, making some of the narratives about the cluster of islands confusing. When

Watkins drove 33 miles from Flagler Avenue, he arrived at Little Torch Key 70 minutes later. Thankfully, it doesn’t take that long now.

Little Torch has a story or two to tell, and one of them is about Bern and Betty Brothers, who moved to the island in the 1950s. Their small property had a lagoon, marina, home and three rental cottages. As the story is told, one day, a dolphin swam into their lagoon, returned day after day, and, according to Betty, decided to stay. They named the dolphin, a female, Dal. Also, after a while, they gated off the entrance to the lagoon.

A few years later, a wild dolphin was caught in a fishing net, and Grassy Key’s Milton Santini sold the dolphin to the Brothers, who wanted a companion for Dal. The male dolphin was named Suwa. Dal and Suwa lived together in the lagoon for 20 years. Also, the lagoon’s gate was not always closed.

Betty Brothers wrote several books, including “Dolphins Love Our Florida Keys Home.” The property became known as Dolphin Marina and is today home to the welcome center and ferry launch for those departing for a bit of escape to Little Palm Island. Unless you are turning to the oceanside and checking in at Little Palm, two opportunities will be presented moving forward. The first turn to the gulfside takes you to old State Road 4A and travels up Little Torch and just past Lobster Tail Trail, where the road veers to the right before it ends. In 1928, the road led to a wooden bridge that led to the end of Watson Boulevard on Big Pine Key.

State Road 4A won’t be the only sightseeing detour the Torch Keys offer. On the other side of Torch Channel is a road that leads to Middle Torch Key named Middle Torch Road. Going south/west, if you take the right and drive down the road, before it comes to an end, it connects to Dorn Road, also called Big Torch Key Road. The Rainbow Beach community or a city never took hold on the island. There are no stores or restaurants, just a few homes, and a view of the Florida Keys as they really look.

Betty Brothers Motel on Little Torch Key, a photo taken by the federal government on Oct. 7, 1987.

WRIGHT LANGLEY COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center

LKMC strives to give the best care to our community. With that in mind, we’ve expanded multiple services, earning accreditation as a Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center. We work hard every day to improve patient outcomes.

Third-generation Keys resident Sara Phillips understands what it means on a personal level to have quality healthcare close to home, and she spends her days helping ensure that care is available right here in Key West. Now in her 29th year at LKMC, Sarah serves as a clinical educator, helping train newly hired nurses and ensuring national quality standards are met for both heart attack and stroke care.

When quality healthcare is available in our hometown, especially for emergencies like heart attack and stroke, treatment is faster and more convenient, recovery is easier, and patients can remain surrounded by the people who matter most. That’s why team members like Sara are working to Keep Care in the Keys

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Founded by Betty Debnam

Head to Ohio

Our 17th state, Ohio was home to Native Americans for thousands of years. Its name comes from the Seneca people and means “great river.”

FAMOUS OHIOANS

• LeBron James plays for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. “King James” was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1984. Along with many other titles, he has won two gold medals playing for the U.S. men’s national Olympic basketball team.

The LeBron James Family Foundation is based in Akron.

It became a state in 1803. It was one of the main stops on the Underground Railroad, offering safety to fleeing slaves.

Ohio borders five other states along with Lake Erie. Its capital and largest city is Columbus, but Cleveland and Cincinnati are also large metro areas. Almost 12 million people live in the state. Ohioans are known as Buckeyes, named after the buckeye tree that grows there.

WORKING IN OHIO

• Marblehead Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Erie was first lighted in 1822. It’s the oldest light continually in use on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes.

• Eight presidents came from Ohio: William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft and Warren G. Harding.

VISITING THE BUCKEYE STATE

• Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his older brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They both played football for the University of Cincinnati.

While manufacturing has declined in Ohio in the 21st century, the state has become a leader in “green” industries such as solar energy, technology and electric vehicles.

The state is also a center for health care, finance, shipping and distribution of retail goods. Farms cover roughly half the state, with corn and soybeans the main crops. Forests cover about a third of the state.

MADE IN OHIO

• The Goodyear Blimps are made in Suffield, Ohio.

• Life Savers candy was invented in 1912 by a chocolate-maker in Cleveland.

The Millennium Force steel roller coaster at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, is one of the tallest and fastest rides in the world, with a 300-foot drop and speeds of up to 93 mph.

Football fans enjoy the exhibits at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, including the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery and artifacts from the most recent football season.

• Ohio is the seventh-largest state by population.

Ohio is home to two Major League Baseball teams and two NFL teams, along with soccer, hockey and NBA teams.

In Kirtland, Ohio, plant lovers can visit the Holden Arboretum, one of the largest in the United States with more than 3,600 acres.

ARMSTRONG, BLIMP, CANDY, CINCINNATI, CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, ERIE, FARM, FOOTBALL, FORESTS, GREEN, JAMES, KELCE, LAKE, OHIO, PRESIDENTS, RHINOS, RIVER, SENECA, ZOO.

• Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in 1930. His family lived in 16 different Ohio towns before Armstrong turned 14 years old.

RESOURCES

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPOhio

At the library:

• “Step by Step: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice” by Debbie Rigaud and Carlotta Penn

The Cincinnati Zoo is a leader in breeding eastern black rhinoceroses, a critically endangered species.

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

Warming ocean waters due to climate change appear to be an important factor behind a number of large-scale die-offs of farmed salmon. But disease outbreaks have also been well documented as the cause of numerous deaths. With the die-offs becoming more frequent and larger in scale, salmon farms are now under renewed review. Farmed salmon “are plagued by sea lice and disease, suffer from stressful handling and treatments, and live a monotonous life in barren, crowded cages,” said OneKind spokeswoman Kirsty Jenkins.

photo by Christina Spicuzza

The Millennium Force climbs the big hill at Cedar Point.

photo by Levdr1lp

photo by Coasterman1234

Travis Kelce Jason Kelce

Neil Armstrong

photo by Erik Drost

photo by Joe Glorioso

Meet the Keys’ boys tennis and lacrosse all-stars | PGS. 8 & 10

HERE’S TO THE STANDOUTS

As the Sports Wrap approaches its final issue for the 2024-25 school year on May 29, we took a moment to look back at all of our Athletes of the Week from the last 10 months. Along with our All-Keys teams and weekly coverage, each one of the names listed below made a mark from Key Largo to Key West with a standout performance on or in the field, court, or pool.

Aug. 22: Noah Mercer

Aug. 29: Braulio Garcia

Sept. 5: Ali Wheatley

Sept. 12: A.J. Putetti

Sept. 19: Caylaa Makimaa

Sept. 26: Fabbianho Louis Jeune

Oct. 3: Shelby Lynn

Oct. 10: Jaden Fox

Oct. 17: William Forster

Oct. 24: Tanner Ross

Oct. 31: Jayden Gist

Nov. 7: Aaron Lykins

Nov. 14: Naima Thomas

Nov. 21: Josh Johnson

Dec. 5: Grace Goodwin

Dec. 12: Vance Bursa

Dec. 19: James Osborne

Jan. 9: Alfredo Corrales

Jan. 16: Jack Chapman

Jan. 23: Sonny Bowden

Jan. 30: Ella Evans

Feb. 6: David Beltran

Feb. 13: Daysi Williams

Feb. 20: Ian Newton

Feb. 27: Donovan Thiery

March 6: Eva Drozdetskaia

March 13: Kaitlyn Piloto

March 20: Caden Pichardo

March 27: Breanna Brenner

April 3: Brock Bynum

April 10: Eddie Holly

April 24: Vinny Moline

May 1: Justice Lee Isom

May 8: Josh Johnson

May 15: Shylo Sanchez

Meet the 2025 All-Keys boys tennis and lacrosse teams, and their MVPs Brock Bynum, left, and Adrien Holdinga. See pages 8 and 10. Photos by Joy Smith and Barry Gaukel.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK

Maicee made great adjustments in her at-bat. She looked for a certain pitch in a certain spot and did not miss it – a no-doubter of a shot.”

– Jason Garcia, Conchs head coach

batting average

home run against Archbishop McCarthy

When sophomore Maicee Gage stepped up to the plate against a top-notch Archbishop McCarthy pitcher last week, the outfielder had nine hits, all singles, to her name. With two outs and no runs on the board yet for the Lady Conchs, Gage made her first varsity home run count, batting in both of the team’s runs with a single swing of the bat.

“Maicee is a very competitive young lady. When the opportunity arises, she always steps up,” said coach Jason Garcia. Gage batted .385 this season, second for the Conchs, and her .467 on base percentage is tied for the No. 2 spot. For her patience at the plate, unwavering determination and coming in clutch when it mattered the most for her team, Key West’s Maicee Gage is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Maicee

Sophomore, Key West Softball Outfielder

Photo by: MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys

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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GATORS CHOMP FINS

Marathon finishes spring football season with 35-21 road loss against Glades Day

The Marathon Dolphins’ annual spring football game, a culmination of what amounts to a mini-season on the gridiron to prepare for fall, was scheduled a bit early this year. Marathon played the spring contest May 15 at Glades Day School. The Dolphins made the long trip just south of Lake Okeechobee to test their offensive and defensive schemes against the Gators.

Marathon’s biggest concern heading into their spring football season was the staffing of their ball handlers. The Dolphins were taxed with replacing their entire starting offensive backfield. Due to the inexperience of the team’s new ball carriers, head coach Sean McDonald was not surprised with a pair of fumbles which dampened their hopes of winning the team’s spring contest.

“When a player is new to running with the ball, he usually has a fumble or two,” McDonald said. “That’s to be expected. It isn’t ideal, but it’s not something I was shocked by.”

Despite the miscues, Marathon managed three touchdowns against the Gators.

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“Many of our guys know the system and even though they were in new roles, they had a good understanding of what we do,” said McDonald of the team’s single-wing offense. “We run the single wing because it works well for our kids. A lot of them don’t have a long background in playing football. A lot of the time they come out for their first season as freshmen. It also matches our disposition. We are tough and like to be physical. The team is gritty and with the single wing, kids like ours can have more success than with what everyone else is running.”

tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

Scoring for the Fins was Steven Stotts, the team’s center during his junior campaign. Stotts carried the ball on touchdown runs of seven and 13 yards.

“Only in Marathon can you go from playing offensive line to running back,” said McDonald. “He carried the ball well. Stotts did not fumble, and he’s big and strong and hard to bring down.”

Freshman Khoa Nguyen accounted for the other Marathon score. Nguyen ran the ball in for a six-yard score and Elliott Greenmaki, another freshman, was good for all three points-after. Greenmaki’s kicks showed marked improvement.

“He’s been working with coach Wise in the off-season,” said McDonald, referencing longtime Key West kicking guru Judd Wise.

McDonald expressed confidence in his team’s ability to score points this fall, and the trio of TDs against Glades Day backed up his beliefs. What the Fins will need to work on, however, is their defense.

“It’s a concern. Our guys are green and our system on offense is something we can follow for most scenarios, but defense is another story. We are going to continue to teach individual skills and continue to emphasize proper tackling and get the kids more confident,” said McDonald.

“The more they understand their individual positions and the more experience they have, the better they will get.”

McDonald felt that the spring season helped bolster the players’ repertoire of skills, but also exposed some areas of weakness, which he and the rest of the Fins’ coaching staff will address in preparation for the upcoming season.

“We had 38 players dress. Seven were eighth graders and that is huge for our program to have so many athletes involved and finish out the spring,” said McDonald. “The coaching staff has a good handle on who can do what come fall.”

Key West and Coral Shores play their spring contests this week. The Conchs play Thursday, May 22 at Somerset Silver Palms at 1:30 p.m. in lieu of their typical Red and White intrasquad scrimmage. The Hurricanes test their plays at home the same day in their annual Spring Football Jamboree, which will begin right after their senior parade scheduled for 6 p.m. The Hurricanes will play one half of football against St. Brendan School, then another against Miami Beach High.

1. Marathon’s offense lines up and readies for the snap.

2. Khoa Nguyen (3) hands the ball to wingback Charlie Apollony (15).

3. Marathon ball carrier Khoa Nguyen fights through a wall of Gators.

4. Marathon’s cheerleaders Yetzaily Cruz, left, and Mia Oliva get the crowd going at the spring football game.

5. Eduardo Garcia (55) tries to get to the Gators’ QB.

6. Shamar Wright rolls out with the ball against Glades Day. Photos

“Very wellpitched game … great defense with timely hitting.”

—

MIXED RESULTS

Lady

Conchs

triumph in semifinals,

but reach end of the road against strong Patriot squad

The Lady Conchs reached the Elite Eight round of the FHSAA 4A state playoffs after a hard-fought pitching duel against the Mavericks of Archbishop McCarthy on May 13.

After a lopsided victory in the regional quarterfinals earlier this month, Key West made a road trip for the FHSAA 4A Region 4 semifinals. The Mavs earned the home field advantage with the No. 2 seeding for the region while the Conchs were ranked one behind. The teams were as well-matched as it gets, with both sides offering phenomenal pitching in what became a defensive battle.

McCarthy got on the board first with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the second that scored one run. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Mavericks until the fifth frame. With two away and hopes of advancing dwindling, Kaleaya Dickerson drew a walk. Dickerson then made it to second on a passed ball, but her efforts were not necessary. On the next pitch, Maicee Gage sent a fly ball over the center-field fence to score two.

The Lady Conchs then put their all into a collective defensive effort, rallying behind their ace, Brianna Brenner, who was yet again masterful in the circle. Brenner struck out 11, walked one and gave up three hits and a single run to keep the Conchs in the hunt for a state championship.

Gage ended the night with a pair of hits, which amounted to half the team’s total. Vera Rodger accounted for the other two. The 2-0 win placed the Conchs in the Elite Eight with a shot at a regional championship against a powerful American Heritage team on May 15 – the same school that knocked out Key West’s baseball team in late April. Head coach Jason Garcia described the contest as a “very exciting game, one of the best games I’ve been a part of as a coach. These young ladies never gave up and continued to fight in a very well-pitched game.”

The Patriots, ranked first in Region 4 with a loaded pitching staff and a bevy of heavy hitters, took an early one-run lead in the first frame and never looked back. Key West’s bats were unusually quiet against the Patriots’ ace, an eighth-grader with a 0.92 ERA, 14 wins and .200 on-base average. The Lady Conchs managed four hits, with two from Shylo Sanchez, who singled and doubled; Aaliyah Mcleod and Alexa Condella had one single apiece. Brenner struck out three, walked one and gave up a dozen runs over six innings of work in the circle.

The Patriots’ hits included a trio of home runs to make it 21 and counting this season. After their 9-0 victory, the Pats now move on to the Final Four, while the Conchs face the end of the road. Their 16-8 season included a district title and plenty of returning talent in the coming seasons.

Jason Garcia, Lady Conchs head coach on the win over Archbishop McCarthy

Left: Alexa Condella is one of just three Lady Conchs to log a hit against a very talented American Heritage pitcher.

Center: Shylo Sanchez’s stats include a pair of hits against American Heritage in the regional championship game May 15.

Below: Aaliyah McLeod has three seasons of eligibility left after logging 19 hits during her freshman season.

Photos by MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

Brock Bynum

JUNIOR | CORAL SHORES GOALKEEPER

1 11

Junior Brock Bynum led the district in every single statistic for keepers this season, and his presence on the field gave the Hurricanes the confidence needed to roll over a dozen teams – two by shutout. His 223 saves equated to a .701 save percentage and his 5.5 goals against average was 10th in 1A, 18th in Florida and 83rd in the nation. His save percentage was 40th nationally, 11th in the state and fifth in Florida’s 1A. Bynum won the team MVP award and the respect of every opponent Coral Shores faced. “His season was highlighted with some big-time saves at the biggest moments,” said coach Chris Carrow. “One of the top seasons for a goalie in our program history. We expect him to be even better his senior year.”

MEET THE 2025 ALL-KEYS BOYS LACROSSE TEAM

Rivals trade wins, share similar fate in districts

Key West and Coral Shores both enjoyed hardfought successes this season, each winning their home game against their Keys competitor. Both had winning records, Coral Shores finishing 12-6 while Key West ended 9-7. The teams took different routes in the district brackets, setting up what could have been an epic battle for the title, but both fell in the semifinals, giving fans a bit of a wait before the squads face off again.

Photos by Jim McCarthy and Juliana Clawson

JUNIOR | KEY WEST

Captain Mateo Lopez logged 218 saves in goal for the Conchs, registering a 56.6% save percentage. Lopez added 33 ground balls to his stats and is revered on his team for his demeanor and work ethic. “The goalie position is arguably the toughest role on the field,” said coach Alberto Piceno, adding that Lopez is “the only one on our team capable of handling its demands, both mentally and physically.”

Mateo Lopez

GOALKEEPER

SENIOR | CORAL SHORES MIDFIELDER

Described as the heart of the Hurricanes’ program, Carballo suffered a season-ending injury, cutting his senior campaign short. Carballo still managed to score 22 goals, assist on 11 more and pick up 30 ground balls. “He was a big-time playmaker and lived for the big moments,” said Carrow. “We will miss him tremendously.”

SENIOR | KEY WEST ATTACKMAN

As the only returning senior for the Conchs, Pellicier led by example. The team captain scored 45 goals, assisted on 23 more, picked up 36 ground balls and caused a dozen turnovers during his senior campaign. “I’m excited to see what Brooks will accomplish at the next level, and I’ll genuinely miss his presence, leadership and heart on this team,” said Piceno.

SENIOR | CORAL SHORES MIDFIELDER

Carrow described midfielder Yandel Chaguaseda as the team’s workhorse, saying it is “hard to find a player who works as hard as Yandel does.” Chaguaseda picked up 100 ground balls, scored 20 goals and assisted on eight others during his senior campaign.

SOPHOMORE | KEY WEST MIDFIELDER

Junior Zack Payne netted 39 goals and 16 assists this season, adding 30 ground balls and nine caused turnovers.

“His ability to create scoring chances in transition proved just how valuable he was all over the field,” said Piceno.

“His teammates recognized this as well, voting him team captain, which says a lot.”

JUNIOR | CORAL SHORES MIDFIELDER/DEFENSE

Praised for going 100% at all times, Carrow said, “You can play (McDonough) at any position and he will excel. He has a motor that doesn’t shut off.” McDonough scored five goals, assisted on six, picked up 76 ground balls and was credited with 35 takeaways. Carrow added that the team will lean heavily on him next season.

SOPHOMORE | KEY WEST MIDFIELDER

Virginia transplant Carlo Vernieri was “the most complete player on our team,” Piceno said, “not just in terms of stats like goals and assists, but in his overall impact on every aspect of the game.” Vernieri scored 37 goals, assisted on 25 more, caused 20 turnovers and picked up 68 ground balls this season, and the tenacious sophomore’s game IQ and field vision will serve the Conchs well in the coming seasons.

SENIOR | CORAL SHORES ATTACKER

Reed Tudor netted 31 goals and assisted on 13 more this season for the ’Canes. “He was a senior leader who had some big games for us this year,” said Carrow of his team’s top scorer.

JUNIOR | KEY WEST MIDFIELDER

Praised for his defensive skills and ability to clear the ball quickly, midfielder Kieran Smith caused 19 turnovers and scooped 72 ground balls. Offensively, he scored 15 goals and was credited with six assists. Smith won 78 faceoffs for a 55.3% win percentage. “Kieran was the kind of player you wanted on the field at all times because when he was out there, you knew we were in good hands,” said Piceno.

Senior

MEET THE 2025 ALLKEYS BOYS TENNIS TEAM

Gentlemen ace the season with skill and sportsmanship

The local courts were full of competition and camaraderie this season, with each Keys tennis team finding a level of incounty success. Coral Shores finished with a 5-7 record after sweeping the Conchs in their three meetings this year and defeating Marathon twice. Marathon went on to finish 4-6, with two wins each against Key West and Coral Shores. Key West went 2-8, picking up their two wins against Marathon. Throughout the season, players took on new roles and filled in where necessary while they showed impeccable sportsmanship to their competitors.

Marathon senior Adrien Holdinga has held the No. 1 singles spot for five seasons. “He is one of the hardestworking athletes I have ever coached,” said head coach Kevin Freeman. “He wants to get better at every practice and every game.” Praised for his play, which included a 6-2 record, and his leadership, Holdinga’s hard work paid off. He will play for Embry Riddle University in Daytona Beach next year.

Marathon’s Carlos Lezcano won a pair of singles and trio of doubles matches this season at Marathon’s No. 3 spot, which is not too shabby considering he did not pick up a racket until his junior year. “His athletic ability has allowed him to learn the game rather quickly and get better with every match,” said Freeman. “Carlos is a great teammate and always did what was asked of him.”

Key West’s Andrei Lehene showed talent at the No. 1 spot for the Conchs this season, amassing six wins in his first year of varsity play. “His backhand and court coverage is some of the best we saw all season,” said coach Justin Martin. “He embraced the high school level and had the best freshman season we have seen at Key West in a long time.”

Coral Shores’ Aidan Althouse posted six wins in the No. 1 doubles spot for the Hurricanes this season, plus another three in singles. Coach Andrew Dutton awarded Althouse the team’s MVP award and said, “Aidan was a grinder with a fast serve that kept his opponents on their toes. The team leader at practices and matches, Aidian totally presents himself as a competitive player.”

With six wins to his credit this season, Key West’s John Picco was an asset in both singles and doubles play. Martin praised Picco, saying he was “encouraging and motivating his teammates all year. On the court, he has an outstanding serve and has great consistency in his groundstrokes.”

Senior Zachary Bolano earned seven wins at the No. 2 doubles spot and two more in singles. Praised for his serious approach to the game and being a tough competitor, Bolano won the Most Improved Player award for the Hurricanes with extra hours on the court. “Zachary kept really busy in the offseason with tons of tennis play,” said Dutton.

Adam

In The Bleachers

Brevity

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Fiscal Fitness Online located at 15 Emerald Drive, Key West, Florida 33040, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

By: Southernmost Financial Corp

Publish: May 22, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

AMENDED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH

JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY CASE NO: 24-CA-000594-K Darreth Dellagnese Plaintiff, Vs William H. Foster Defendant,

AMENDED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that pursuant to a Writ of Execution issued in the Circuit Court, of Monroe County, Florida, on the 16th day of July, 2024, in the cause wherein Darreth Dellagnese is Plaintiff and William H. Foster was defendant, being Case No. 24-CA-000594-K in said court, I, Richard A. Ramsay, Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida have levied upon all right, title, and interest of the defendant, in and to the following described real property to wit: SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: From the warranty deed that states the following described land, situate, lying and being in Monroe County, Florida to-

wit (With certain exceptions):

Legal Description(s) –The southerly 15 feet of Lot 30, WHISPERING PINES PLAT NO. 3, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 4, Page 59 of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida.

PARCEL B – “LESS AND EXCEPT” – (AUTHORED BY THE UNDERSIGNED PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY TONY ANDRE)

A portion of Lot 30, WHISPERING PINES PLAT NO. 3, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 4, Page 59 of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and being more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at the Southeasterly corner of the said Lot 30 and run thence S89°53'00"W along the Southerly boundary line of the said Lot 30 for a distance of 99.00 feet to the Easterly face of an existing pool coping, said point also being the Point of Beginning of the parcel of land hereinafter described; thence N0°01'48"E along the said Easterly face of an existing pool coping for a distance of 0.78 feet to the Northeasterly corner of the said existing pool coping; thence N89°58'12"W along the Northerly face the said existing pool coping for a distance of 21.77 feet to the Northwesterly corner of the said existing pool coping; thence S0°01'48"W along the Westerly face of the said existing pool coping for a distance of 0.83 feet to a point on the said Southerly boundary line of the said Lot 30; thence N89°53'00"E along the said Southerly boundary line of the said Lot 30 for a distance of 21.77 feet back to the Point of Beginning. (Containing 45.15 Sq. Ft +/-)

Copy of Exhibit A available upon request from the Sheriff’s Office and on the date of sale.

SPECIFIC LOCATION OF REAL PROPERTY:

Vacant Sands Road, Big Pine Key, FL 33040

All bidders must have a valid Driver’s License with them and must register with clerk at location of sale prior to start time of sale.

I shall offer this property for sale, at Monroe County Court House located at 500 Whitehead Street Key West, Florida 33040 in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, on the 18th day of June, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible. I will offer for sale all of the said defendant’s right, title, and interest in the aforesaid real property at public auction and will sell the same subject to all taxes, prior liens, encumbrances and judgments, if any, to the highest and best bidder for CASH IN HAND. The proceeds to be applied as far as may be to the payment of costs and the satisfaction of the above described execution.

Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida this 1st day of May, 2025. Richard A. Ramsay Sheriff of Monroe County, By: Donald Stullken Deputy Sheriff In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Civil Division no later than seven says prior to the proceeding at (305)8093041.

Publish:

May 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

Effective April 17, 2025, Francis Fraboni, M.D., is no longer practicing with Baptist Health Primary Care at the following location: 3303 Overseas Highway, Suite 100, Marathon, FL 33050.

Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may log into our patient portal at myBaptistHealth.net, call 305-434-1400 or fax 305-743-0962 to request a records release.

Publish: May 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI

Notice is hereby given that on June 9th, 2025, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold.

The names of whose units will be sold are as follows:

Date: June 9, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Location: 103530 Overseas

Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037

Truffa, Richard 1501

Trent, Cheryl 1180, 1203

Schofield, Brian 1270, 1316

Castillo, Alexander 1678

Valverde, Nathan 1341

Murgas, Alex 1580

Publish:

May 22 & 29, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

BEST LIEN SERVICES: 7290 SW 41 ST, MIAMI, FL 33155

WILL SELL AT A RESERVED PUBLIC SALE AT 9:00 AM THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS TO SATISFY LIEN PURSUANT TO SECTION 328.17 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES.

DATE: JUNE 13, 2025 AT 9:00

AM

LOCATION: CATAMARAN B. Y.

INC., 36 EAST SECOND ST, KEY LARGO, FL 33037

P#:305-8522025 2022 SPG VS SMNME111I122

OWNER/LIEN HOLDER: MICHAEL RAYMOND

HOST/NONE

ANY PERSON(S) CLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN THE ABOVE VEHICLES SHOULD CONTACT: BEST LIEN SERVICES (1-866299-9391) AT LEAST 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE LIEN SALE.

Publish:

May 22 & 29, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF MARATHON, FLORIDA REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP #2025-09

Sealed proposals to provide emergency management consulting services for the City of Marathon will be received by the City Clerk, City of Marathon, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, until 3:00 PM (EST) on Monday, June 16, 2025 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS – PLEASE REFER TO RFP DOCUMENT FOR DETAILED INFORMATION Emergency management consultant services to be provided may include, but not be limited to the following: emergency management and disaster recovery services, continuity of operations (COOP) and continuity of government (COG) planning, all hazard training, planning and preparedness, incident management support teams, public adjusting services (as allowed), technical, administrative and training support to assist the City with damage assessment, disaster recovery project estimation, project worksheet development, grant management, appeals, FEMA force account and small and large project document assembly, and federal procurement requirements review, etc.

The City intends to award a contract to the best qualified firm that offers a proposal that is deemed to be in the City’s best interest. The City is not responsible for expenses incurred prior to award. The City reserves the right to reject any and all responses and to waive any irregularities or informalities. Information and proposal documents can be obtained by downloading from www.

demandstar.com.

Please direct questions to Diane Clavier, City Clerk, at: cityofmarathon@ci.marathon. fl.us; 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050.

Publish: May 22, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 2025-CP-130-P

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MARY HILTON MENDEZ, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of MARY HILTON MENDEZ, deceased, whose date of death was November 25, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: May 15, 2025.

Personal Representative: MELANIE E. VALLE 986 Shaw Dr. Key Largo, FL 33037

Attorney for Personal Representative: Urban J. W. Patterson, Esq. Email: ujwplaw@gmail.com

Secondary Email: ujwplawfirm@yahoo.com Florida Bar No. 382035

Urban J. W. Patterson, P.A. P. O. Box 783 Islamorada, Florida 33036

Telephone: 3056645065

Publish: May 15 & 22, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2025-CP-141-K IN RE: ESTATE OF CHRISTINA LEE CLIFFORD Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Christina Lee Clifford, deceased, whose date of death was December 13, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a

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. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

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: May 15, 2025.

Personal Representative: Jack C. Clifford 8101 Mission Road, Apt. 422 Prairie Village, Kansas 66208

Attorney for Personal Representative: Gregory D. Davila, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 886998

Law Office of Gregory D. Davila, P.A. 1111 12th Street, Suite 411 Key West, Florida 33040 Telephone: (305) 293-8554

Fax: (305) 294-9913 E-Mail: E-Filing@ keywestlawoffice.com

Secondary E-Mail: gdavila@ keywestlawoffice.com

Publish:

May 15 & 22, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-527-K VINCENT DUFOUR, Petitioner, and PENNEL GRACE SORIANO SANTORIA QUINTONG, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: PENNEL GRACE SORIANO SANTORIA QUINTONG RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN

ADDRESS: 632 WHITEHEAD STREET, 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 Vincent William Dufour, whose address is 2013 Fogarty Avenue, Key West, FL 33040 on or before June 14, 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: May 9, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: May 15, 22, 29 and June 5, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

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

AUTOS FOR SALE

1972 MGB Convertible White w/tan, 4-speed Turn-key survivor. Garage kept. Located in Homestead. $14,000 305-972-4055

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

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

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

Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-6108002

ALL KEYS GUTTER HIRING INSTALLERS $25/$35hr - Holidays Off -BenefitsTavernier. 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/

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing Manager- FTMarathon, 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.

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

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

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

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

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

Studio House with Queen size bed available in Marathon. Furnished, kitchen, dining, newly renovated. No pets. $1,299 + utilities F/L/S 305-610-8002

1BR/1BA Upstairs adorable condo for rent on 8th Street in Key Colony Beach. $2,300/mo + $150 credit/background check fee. Avail. June 1st. Call 630-330-1610

3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Avail June-Jan. $5,500/mo. 618-559-9143

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

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

VACATION RENTAL

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

Key Colony Beach7 night min., 2BR/1BA, max. 3 guests per rental agreement. Starting $175/night + cleaning fees & taxes. 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@gmail.com

YARD SALES

FISHING SALE - SAT. MAY 24, 8AM-1PM, 706 Copa D'Oro, Flamingo Isle, Marathon. Deep drop elec. reels, rods, spin rods & reels, weights, anchors, line, yard tools & misc. stuff.

YARD SALE Rain or Shine Sat. May 24 & Sun. May 25 8:00 am to 1:00 pm 116 Avenue E, Marathon (off Coco Plum Drive) Clothing (adults & kids), household items & more.

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

ACCOUNTING PERSON

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

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

FOR SALE

2003 FORD EXPLORER 174k miles. Runs great, A/C works. $3,500 OBO Located in Middle Keys. 305-417-0169

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.*

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER (FT)

Must be well-versed in all areas of Human Resource Administration- payroll, benefits, recruitment, onboarding, personnel files, employee relations, WC, FMLA. etc. Must be computer proficient (Access, Excel, Word, Adobe) and possess high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. Position reports directly to Executive Director. Experience is a must with a minimum of an associate degree.*

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.*

DIRECT CARE STAFF/DRIVER AT ADULT DAY-TRAINING PROGRAM (FT/PT)

This position is available at our Adult Day program. Providing direct care service and support for our clients in the day program. Requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. Prefer experience with caregiving or working with adults with disabilities*

*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

Apply at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary St., Key West. Or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32

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

Full and part-time. Public speaking and & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start. Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org

LIVE IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!

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

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

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

APPRENTICE

(Full-Time, Permanent)

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

(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

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

Accounts Payable Specialist

D’Asign Source is seeking a detailoriented and organized Accounts Payable Specialist to join our dynamic team. Ideal candidates should have prior experience in accounts payable or general accounting and be proficient with accounting software and Excel. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits in a supportive work environment.

Landscape Designer/Sales

Project Foreman

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

PROJECT ENGINEER

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS HIRING!

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

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

KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)

KEY WEST

Case Manager (Children Forensic, Adult) (FT,PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)

Prevention Specialist

Front Desk Specialist

Advocate

MARATHON

Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver (CDL not required) (PT)

RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT,PT)

Maintenance Specialist

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

*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (FT,PT)

*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)

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

and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP

EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Apply at guidancecarecenter.org

Search Employment/Portal/Location/zip

DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR

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

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

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

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

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

We are now hiring for the following positions:

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers

CDL Drivers

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

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

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

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, 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

- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department

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

- AC Mechanic-Licensed

- Registered Nurse, ICU

- Cook, Per Diem

- Environmental Tech, $5k Bonus

- Manager Imaging Services

- Pool Medical Technologist

- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab

- Patient Access Associate, Primary Care, $5k Bonus

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

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

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

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

- Pool Pharmacy Tech 2

- Pool Occupational Therapist

- RRT, Respiratory Therapy

- Sr. Phlebotomist

- Security Officer, FT, Weekends

- Supervisor Patient Access Operations

THEME: SOUNDTRACK SONGS

ACROSS

1. Potato chip, in U.K.

6. ____ capita

9. “____ the night before Christmas...”

13. Popular garden perennial 14. George Gershwin’s brother 15. *”Follow the Yellow ____ Road” 16. Brickowski of “The LEGO Movie”

17. Pick up a perpetrator

18. Hindu sage 19. *”Flashdance... What a ____”

21. *”Stayin’ Alive” band 23. Actress Gasteyer 24. Windshield option

25. Undergarment

28. Teenager’s woe

30. *SolfËge-themed “The Sound of Music” song

35. Capital of Latvia

37. Pilgrimage to Mecca

39. India bigwig

40. Fusses or stirs

41. Belted starman

43. Charged particles

44. Binturong’s cousin

46. Type of salmon

47. Sol, or la, or ti

48. *Eponymous 1978 Franki Valli song

50. To, archaic

52. *Ryan Gosling’s 2023 “I’m Just ____”

53. Part of a jousting outfit

55. Tax pro, acr.

57. *”I Will Always Love You” of “The Bodyguard” singer

61. *”(I’ve Had) ____ ____ of My Life” of “Dirty Dancing”

65. Desert wanderer’s hope

66. Morning condensation

68. Waterwheel

69. Rosetta Stone, e.g.

70. U.N. working-conditions agcy.

71. Perform in a play

72. Through, to a poet

73. First responders’s acronym

74. Force units

DOWN

1. Carmy in “The Bear”

2. “Emily in Paris” new location

3. *”This ____ ____” of “The Greatest Showman”

4. #69 Across, alt. sp.

5. Green layer on copper

6. Contact on social media

7. E in B.C.E.

8. Torah teacher

9. H.S. math class

10. Solomon-like

11. Advil target

12. Sleigh runners

15. Poet and “Surrealist Manifesto” author AndrÈ ____

20. Jack Black’s Libre

22. Tight one, in football

24. Tiresome

25. Health food pioneer of liquid aminos fame

26. Peter Fonda in 1969 role

27. In the past

29. DEA agent

31. *Prince’s “Purple ____”

32. Digital tome

33. ____ Carlo

34. “A Doll’s House” playwright

36. Away from port

38. *”The Lion King” composer

42. Ax mark

45. Sleeping sickness vector

49. Kind of trip

51. Not closed

54. Not mainstream

56. Lack of muscle tension

57. Terry Crews on “America’s Got Talent”

58. The Hippocratic one

59. ____-friendly

60. Farmer’s storage

61. Scarce bills

62. Formerly Persia

63. Three blind ones

64. Chows down 67. Freddy Krueger street

Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.

Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.