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| $1,595,000 | LISTING ID: 613723
Discover the timeless charm of this beautifully remodeled historic home located in Old Town, Key West. This fully furnished, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath property boasts a lovingly restored Dade County Pine and combines classic craftsmanship with modern comforts. The home features a 300 sq ft loft that is currently used as a third bedroom, office, and storage space. Both front and side porches invite you to relax and soak in the tranquil neighborhood. Then step inside to be greeted by spacious living areas. The living and dining room features stunning floors and high ceilings. The kitchen is equipped with modern stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry, and a spacious pantry. The bedrooms are generously sized and offer comfort, charm, and a sense of privacy. The bathrooms have been tastefully updated with contemporary fixtures and finishes, while maintaining the home's historic charm. Step onto the stylish teak decking to the private backyard and your own tropical oasis. Outdoor shower, hot tub, rooftop deck, and brick paved driveways are just a few more features you will love. This gorgeous home offers the charm of a historic property with all the modern upgrades you desire, in a prime location, where you can walk or bike to beautiful beaches, restaurants, and nightlife!
5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5 Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com
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This leatherback turtle nesting season, which runs from March to July, is one for the record books. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1,960 leatherback nests were documented as of June 30. This breaks a previous record set in 2022. 1,960
mandy@keysweekly.com
Aterrified Nicaraguan woman in her mid-30s, we’ll call her Carmen, sat with her phone in her tidy Key West living room, showing photos of her husband, whom we will call Antonio.
She smiled at memories of Christmas, birthdays and other events, then teared up at a photo that showed her proud and pregnant, just a few weeks before she lost the baby.
But Antonio, who came from Nicaragua, has been living and working in Key West for four years, wasn’t there to put his arm around her as he usually would, and reassure her about the lost pregnancy and their commitment to trying again.
Antonio has been in an immigration detention facility in Broward County since July 5, having been followed in the landscaping truck he was driving to a work site that Saturday morning around 8:30. Upon arrival at the site, ICE agents began questioning Antonio and two of his coworkers. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrived a short time later, as did Antonio’s brother, who is married to an American citizen.
Antonio’s brother began asking the ICE agent what they were doing with his brother, and trying to tell them he has a work visa and a pending asylum case.
“But the ICE agent, the big, bald one who is terrifying everyone in town, told Antonio’s brother, ‘You are interfering in a federal investigation. Get the f out of here.’”
When Antonio’s brother reached for his own wallet to show his own green card, the agent pulled his gun on the man, then checked his green card and told him to go away. The brother pulled his car around the corner and watched his brother get handcuffed and taken away.
A Key West Facebook page has been posting photos of unidentified Key West residents being handcuffed and detained by ICE agents. The two photos here do not show any of the people mentioned in this story, as the Keys Weekly agreed not to disclose their identities. CONTRIBUTED
The couple asked the Keys Weekly not to use their real names or the names of their employers for fear of government retaliation. After verifying their authentic names through identification documents, we agreed.
“Antonio came four years ago from Nicaragua to Key West, where his brother, an electrician, was living with his wife, who is an American citizen,” Carmen said through a close friend and colleague who was translating her limited English. “He came across the border through Mexico and immediately turned himself in to ask for asylum, as President Biden was allowing people to do. He was detained for a short time in Texas, then they gave him paperwork for the asylum process and a phone that can track where they are.”
Antonio then headed to Key West. He has a work authorization, a social
security number, a driver’s license, health insurance, pay stubs and tax returns. He has attended every asylum hearing and immigration interview that’s been scheduled in Miami.
“He recently was given a five-year work permit and didn’t have to be back in court to update his status for another two years,” Carmen said.
She arrived in Key West a year or so after her husband and followed the same process after having been college-educated and licensed as a pharmacist in Nicaragua.
Now, she rides to work each morning hidden in the back of her friend’s car, terrified the same thing will happen to her.
“I’ve never seen anything like this hatred for immigrants that is happening in this town in my 35 years here,” Carmen’s friend and coworker told the Keys Weekly during the interview, where she was helping to translate for Carmen.
The woman is a Cuban-born American citizen, who came to the U.S. more than 50 years ago. She owns a home and a business in Key West and considers Carmen and Antonio her family.
“This is a terrifying time. It’s destroying families and lives. I’d estimate that at least 100 to 200 people — mostly Haitian and Nicaraguan — have been picked up and taken away from Key West. These people are not criminals. Antonio has no criminal record here or in Nicaragua. Nothing.
“What’s happening on the streets of Key West and Stock Island is 100% racial profiling,” the Cuban woman said, adding that she now carries her U.S. passport with her everywhere she goes. “The ICE agents saw three Hispanic men in a landscaping truck, then followed them. This is unbelievably terrifying.”
Meanwhile, up in Broward County, Antonio does not want his wife and brother to worry, so he says on a video call that he’s doing OK, although he has “lost his belly.”
It’s been nearly two weeks since he was detained, and Antonio, like thousands of others, is waiting to see an immigration judge, who he hopes will allow him to post a bond and continue his pending asylum case.
But in today’s America, there are no guarantees. “Nobody knows what could happen,” Carmen said, looking again at a picture on her phone.
Decades ago, early in my Key West life, I discovered the starfish theory. It evolved from watching longstanding island survivors — because back in the late 1970s, living in Key West required survival skills. Hard times often defined that era, with many people barely getting by.
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.
Duval Street was virtually empty during the hot summer months, and its so-called commercial hub ended at Angela Street. Only a handful of stores inhabited the “no man’s land” known as Upper Duval.
Television and A/C were scarce among the hippies, bartenders and artists who were my friends. The library on Fleming Street was our favorite summer haunt because it offered air-conditioned comfort.
Many of the old Victorian houses were shabby and weathered, and some weren’t reliably waterproof. In one former home, I rushed to empty the kitchen cupboards every time it started raining — because rain penetrated the place’s termite-ridden exterior walls and soaked the cupboards’ contents.
Yet we didn’t just endure our ramshackle lifestyle. We enjoyed it and we thrived — thanks in part to the starfish theory.
The theory is derived from an old story about a little girl surrounded by beached starfish at the ocean’s edge. One by one, she picks up starfish and throws them back into the water so they won’t die. An observer challenges her, saying so many starfish are beached that she can’t possibly save all of them, and therefore she won’t make a difference.
The girl picks up a starfish, tosses it into the water, and looks at her challenger.
“I made a difference for that one,” she says. That’s how Key Westers survived back then. We couldn’t help everyone, or change the world, but we could take care of our friends and fellow islanders — our “starfish.”
1. For generations, Key Westers have embraced the starfish theory and — like Sara Rose, holding a starfish here — they’ve made a difference. CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/ Keys Weekly
2. People gather on Key West’s Front Street to offer help and assess damage caused by a tornado spawned by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. IDA WOODWARD BARRON COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center
I saw it in action whenever a local person got hurt or sick. Before social media, word of someone needing help spread faster than today’s viral celebrity posts. That help was always provided, whether it meant delivering meals, loaning a few dollars or organizing a full-fledged benefit for the struggling “starfish.”
I saw it after hurricanes, when electricity and phone service were down for days. Key Westers removed debris from their neighbors’ yards, shared resources and food and cooked communal dinners on outdoor grills. Following one particularly bad storm, they even activated a ham radio network (based in my living room!) so people could reassure loved ones who lived elsewhere.
I saw it when a malnourished whale was stranded in shallow water off a local beach. Almost instantly, a support network mobilized. Volunteers provided expert medical treatment, held the whale’s body steady so it wouldn’t roll
and submerge its blowhole, and even sang softly to keep it calm.
My job was to pick up food for it each day at local bait shops, earning my car the unfortunate nickname of “the squidmobile.”
In short, all of us — parents and kids, 20-somethings and seniors, lifelong residents and newcomers — did whatever was needed to keep the whale alive, until it could be transported to the mainland for further care.
It’s not possible to save every sea creature that strands off the Keys. But for that whale, our actions mattered.
Today, as our island community faces unfathomable challenges and fears, the starfish theory is more valid than ever.
Maybe we can’t make a difference in the big picture, but we can do what Key Westers have done for generations: look for “starfish” that need help — and make a difference for them.
Born in upstate New York, Suzie de Poo Zuzek was an artist from the very start, doodling as a child and cultivating a lifelong passion for creative expression. During World War II, she served as a WAC, a pivotal experience that allowed her to study printmaking at Pratt Institute and The Art Students League through the G.I. Bill. Suzie’s artistry was both timeless and boundless, spanning an impressive range of mediums. She created the iconic textiles for Lilly Pulitzer, transforming fabric into vibrant narratives. Her mastery extended to oil paintings on driftwood, intricate glass-and-wire mobiles of sh, unicorns, and birds, and porcelain tiles and boxes adorned on every side with whimsical imagery—clowns, animals, and owers alike. Her watercolors captured delicate nuances, while her monumental tin sculptures of saints and horses spoke to her ability to elevate folk traditions into ne art.
For over three decades, The Gallery on Greene has proudly been the retail outlet for Suzie’s work, ensuring that her vision remains accessible to collectors and admirers alike. Her legacy endures, a testament to the continual elegance of innocence woven through every piece she created.
Spending the day on the water isn’t complete without the perfect playlist. But have you ever heard it played underwater?
Last weekend in the Florida Keys, that’s exactly what happened as mermaids, snorkelers and scuba divers made some serious waves, all in the name of coral reef restoration.
Creative costumes, sparkly dresses and red high-heel shoes were on full display during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival. The eccentric event featured a trumpet, harp and even a ukulele and took place on Looe (pronounced Lou) Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.
If you’re wondering whether this event really happens underwater, you’re not alone.
“I have heard of the Underwater Music Festival for years and I never thought it was actually underwater,” said Samantha Queen, one of the festival’s “mermaids” living in Key West. “I assumed that was just a cute Florida Keys name. So when I found it was actually underwater … it was like I’d been missing out for so long.”
The music was simulcast on US-1 Radio and piped underwater from speakers suspended beneath boats, providing a “sub-sea soundtrack.” Songs from Key West’s own Jimmy Buffett, as well as the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and the Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea,” played during the four-hour concert, which featured diver awareness messages aimed at
Leaders from the Monroe County School District recently met with local stakeholders for a training session led by the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center. The training was aimed at enhancing safety in schools and the community.
minimizing the environmental impacts on coral reefs.
“We have the largest living coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere, and we want to bring attention to it and some of the stresses that it faces and just to point out that it’s there and needs our care,” said Steve Miller, executive director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.
Now in its 41st year, the Underwater Music Festival included free tours of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Research Center, where visitors saw the work being done to protect and rebuild the Keys’ coral reef ecosystem.
The real “lure,” though, was the scores of divers, snorkelers and, you guessed it, mermaids, the festival brings to the Keys.
“We are very proud to say that we have a large contingent of mermaids. By the way, a group of mermaids is called a ‘gossip,’” said Miller with a grin.
– Contributed
The training offered research-based strategies to prevent targeted violence through behavioral threat assessment and interagency collaboration.
The event was coordinated by Daliana Goins, MCSD’s threat management and harm prevention coordinator, following her attendance at Florida’s National Summit on School Safety alongside Alfredo Vazquez, director of safety and security, and Theresa Axford, outgoing superintendent.
Tony Montalto, president of Stand with Parkland, shared the story of his daughter, Gina Rose — one of the 17 lives lost in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. His remarks highlighted the
devastating consequences of missed intervention opportunities, and emphasized the importance of systemic safety reforms, including the passage of Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act and the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
While school district administrators have undergone threat assessment training, this session offered the perspective of the U.S. Secret Service into behavioral patterns and warning signs often present before acts of violence occur. By revisiting real-world cases, participants strengthened their capacity to assess threats and intervene proactively.
The training was conducted with 41 staff members from the school district and 22 representatives from local agencies, reinforcing Monroe County’s commitment to proactive safety planning and community-driven solutions.
— Contributed
Bird dies despite attempts to restore its health
FRANK DERFLER
www.keysweekly.com
American flamingos, popularly known as pink flamingos, faced extinction in South Florida. But now they are reappearing in the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
Not every flamingo story is a happy one. On July 12, the staff at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier received calls from people in the area around Harry Harris park reporting a flamingo in distress. According to Erin Allison, the executive director of the Wild Bird Center, two staff members responded to Burton Drive near the park. The bird was reported by multiple drivers on the road who stated the flamingo was extremely disoriented and could not fly away.
“With their long legs, flamingos run to get airborne. This bird could run, but it didn’t have the strength to fly,” Allison said. “Our staff members were able to corral the bird and immediately brought it to our avian hospital. During the initial examination they found that the large bird weighed just under 4 pounds, was weak and emaciated, and covered with mites.”
In the course of an hour, its body temperature dropped from 105.6 to 100.6 degrees, leading staff to put six heat lamps on the flamingo in an attempt to stabilize it. The flamingo was given subcutaneous fluid and an iron dextran injection to treat anemia. It was also sprayed with an antiparasitic to treat the mites.
Wild Bird Center hospital manager Delaney Galbraith developed a master’s degree thesis on re-feeding emaciated birds. This is her area of expertise. Volunteer veterinarian Alison Millington came in to examine the bird.
Despite expert treatment, the pink flamingo died the next day.
“Our team did everything they possibly could for the American flamingo, but unfortunately, it was unstable and actively declining when we admitted it into our hospital,” Al-
Flamingos are returning to South Florida and the Everglades, as evidenced by this flock of 125 flamingos seen in June. MARK COOK/Contributed
Allie Pydnynowski, Wild Rehabilitation Bird Center apprentice rehabilitator, examines the pink flamingo recovered in front of Ocean Pointe in Tavernier. ADDISON MULVEY/Contributed
lison said.
Allison added it’s the first time an American flamingo was admitted to the rehabilitation center.
The return of American flamingos to South Florida is tied in part to the winds of Hurricane Idalia in 2023. The fact that they stayed and grew, doubling in numbers since the 2023 reports, is credited by Cook and others to improvements of the aquatic environment in the Keys.
There were reports last February of flamingos in Key Largo. Mark Cook, a restoration scientist and avian ecologist, recently photographed a flock of 125 birds around Garfield Bight, just east of the town of Flamingo on the south shore of the Everglades — the backyard of the Upper Keys.
State Rep. Jim Mooney credits Everglades restoration efforts for the return of flamingos. In the last legislative session Mooney introduced House Bill 81, a conservation bill, making the American flamingo the state bird – the mockingbird was designated the state bird in 1927 – and naming the scrub jay as the state songbird. Mooney has stated that we are “saving the environment of the flamingo while bulldozing the environment of the scrub jay in central Florida.”
The bill didn’t move forward in 2025, but he intends to make it the first piece of legislation he introduces in 2026.
AMonroe County Clerk’s audit revealed various issues related to the management of grants administered by Monroe County Social Services.
The audit covered the fiscal years 2022 to 2024 and identified problems with compliance, operational structure and record-keeping. Deficiencies in oversight and outdated practices may have led to a potential budget shortfall exceeding $2 million.
“Monroe County Social Services’ unstructured work environment created an opportunity for MCSS to seriously mismanage its grant funds which, in turn, appears to have created a material budget shortfall for the county,” reads the clerk’s audit report. “In other words, MCSS management did not ensure that grant revenue was available to cover the department’s expenditures.”
The clerk’s audit report says the financial irregularities identified do not indicate employee theft. Rather, they indicate deficiencies in financial recordkeeping, including improper bookkeeping, unreimbursed expenditures, misclassification of expenses and other accounting errors that accumulated over multiple years.
In response to the report, county officials say the issues are being addressed by Tina Boan, the assistant county administrator and Cathy Crane, the new director of community services who assumed management of these operations in mid-June.
Boan said the county takes the audit’s findings “very seriously and are fully committed to long-term change to make sure the department is remediated.”
“The county is committed to ensuring the responsible stewardship of public funds and is implementing corrective measures to strengthen internal controls, improve operational efficiency and ensure full compliance with grant requirements,” she said.
The department, under new leadership, has acknowledged the audit findings and is taking steps to improve operations, including establishing defined workflows and implementing new policies and procedures; adding staff training and cross-training; implementing a centralized intake and case-tracking system; transitioning from paper-based to digital records, including timekeeping and applications; and improving budgetary tracking and grant reconciliation processes.
The county will hire an outside firm to help with the forensic reconciliation of associated grant cost centers and will conduct a year-by-year review to identify expenditures that were not properly budgeted. Additional training and policy updates are underway to ensure alignment with county administrative requirements and federal and state grant compliance standards.
As part of the constitutional responsibilities, the Monroe County Clerk’s Internal Audit Department provides independent, accurate and timely audits of Monroe County government’s business activities, operations, financial systems and internal controls.
Monroe County commissioners will discuss the audit at their Aug. 20 meeting in Key West.
— Keys Weekly staff report
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Do we file this one under “only in Key West,” “truth is stranger than fiction,” or both?
I think both. See if you agree. But first, a warning: You’ll be left with an unanswered question at the end of this tale. We’re trying to get that answer for you. You’ll see what we mean. Just read on.
Key West police were called to the corner of Emma and Olivia streets around 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9 and met with two women who had been sprayed with what turned out to be bear spray while they were sitting in a car.
Here’s what happened, according to the police report:
Perla Vidaure DeMiller and Sherly Colemen told police they were on their way to pick up DeMiller’s child from day care when a black car blocked the road on Petronia Street. DeMiller reportedly honked to try to get around the black car, and then passed it. While continuing to her destination, she noticed the black car following her.
Near the intersection of Emma and Olivia streets, DeMiller told the police, the black vehicle pulled quickly in front of her car. The female driver from the black sedan reportedly got out of her car and forced DeMiller’s car door open. A struggle ensued as DeMiller tried to keep her door shut, but was unable to do so.
DeMiller told police the woman then pulled something out and sprayed her while they were fighting over the door. Both DeMiller and Colemen, who was in the passenger seat, were affected by the spray, and the women were unable to see which direction the vehicle left.
Cynthia Diaz Sosa, 38, of Key West, faces three felony charges of aggravated battery for allegedly spraying bear spray into the car of two women. MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/Contributed
At the scene, Officer Jesse Torrecillas spoke with a witness, who said she had seen a woman jump out of a black sedan, approach DeMiller’s car, and spray her with an unknown substance, then leave the scene southbound on Emma Street.
While police were looking for the “beat up black sedan,” its driver, Cynthia Diaz Sosa, showed up at the Key West police station on North Roosevelt Boulevard. Sosa told Officer Jeremiah Osborne that she had been stopped in traffic on Petronia Street, “waiting to let a chicken cross the road, when DeMiller began honking at her, and then passed her, running over the chicken,” the report states.
Sosa told police she followed DeMiller’s car “because she was angry that DeMiller (allegedly) had killed a chicken.” Sosa said she “wanted to teach (DeMiller) a lesson, so she pulled out her bear mace and sprayed it into the vehicle, spraying DeMiller directly in the face while she was seated inside.” Sosa later got back into her car and drove off, the police report states.
Upon telling her side of the story, Cynthia Diaz Sosa, 38, of Caroline Street, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery for allegedly spraying both victims, and one felony count of burglary.
The final unanswered question: Did a Key West chicken actually get killed while crossing the road? Stay tuned. The Keys Weekly has reached out to the police for that answer.
Key West International Airport staff, Monroe County Sheriff’s Capt. Trevor Wirth and Lt. Linda Mixon welcome Special Olympics Florida Camp Shriver athletes for an airport field trip on July 10. CONTRIBUTED
Key West International Airport hosted a field trip on July 10 for athletes attending the inaugural Special Olympics Florida Camp Shriver.
Campers learned how to navigate security, took a tour of the airport’s new Concourse A, and participated in a scavenger hunt to explore the facility. Ruth Coleman, Special Olympics Florida sports and training manager for Monroe County, also created faux boarding passes for the field trip attendees.
The Concourse A tour ended at Gate 8, where each camper’s boarding pass was scanned and campers walked EYW’s longest boarding bridge. The field trip ended with lunch provided by Chili’s, where the campers also received cookies and goodie bags from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office before departing.
Key West International Airport has been a sponsor of Special Olympics Florida since 2024 and its officials regularly attend Monroe County games in support of athletes from schools throughout the Florida Keys.
When people speak of the origin of Special Olympics, they look first to Camp Shriver, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in the early 1960s. One woman’s dream of transforming the lives of people with intellectual disabilities — while changing public perceptions — started in her own backyard.
In 1960, a woman from Bethesda, Maryland, phoned Eunice and said she was having trouble finding a summer camp for her child with an intellectual disability. The child wouldn’t be ac-
cepted into a mainstream camp, and, at that time, the public education system couldn’t figure out what to do with special-needs children during the school year, never mind supply them with summer activities. Then another woman told her almost the same thing.
“Enough,” said Eunice, which in her world, always meant “do something about it.”
Thus was born Camp Shriver, which she started at her Maryland farm, Timberlawn. Eunice asked schools and clinics in her area to provide names of special-needs children who might be interested. Then she recruited high school and college students to act as counselors. It was almost a one-on-one situation — 34 children and 26 counselors.
The camp was an instant success. The children swam, kicked soccer balls, shot baskets and rode horses under the summer sun. Perhaps most importantly, the young counselors, wary at first, began to see, as Eunice already had, that these children were not “difficult,” “unteachable” or “belligerent.” They merely wanted to have fun — just like every other kid.
As the camp flourished, people from the community came out to visit and watch, followed by representatives of the parks department and public-school system.
At the camp, Shriver insisted there be an interaction between children with special needs and typical children. Her own son, Tim, was just 3 when the camp began. Tim was paired with a young boy with intellectual disabilities named Wendell. They swam together, ate together, ran together and sometimes got in trouble together.
Camp Shriver has grown exponentially over the years, and Special Olympics Florida proudly carries on Eunice Shriver’s legacy by continuing to offer Camp Shriver in the Sunshine State.
More information is available from Coleman at 305-923-0288. — Contributed
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Facing mounting scrutiny from the state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and uncertainty in future federal disaster assistance, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners may look to a tax increase to build its emergency reserves.
But roughly 20 staff layoffs remain in effect, along with elimination of 20 extra vacant positions. And barring future changes, social service nonprofits will still see a sudden 50% reduction in county funding.
In a preliminary budget meeting lasting more than four hours on July 15, commissioners elected to set a maximum millage rate of 2.7327, or $273.27 per $100,000 in taxable home value, up from 2.6929 in 2024-25. If preserved, the new rate would represent a 10.25% increase over the rollback rate of 2.4786 – the millage rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as 2024-25, based on increased property values. Those values jumped 9.3% in 2025 to a total taxable value of $50.2 billion, up from $46 billion in 2024.
Since January, county officials have received increasingly detailed probes from Florida’s DOGE to outline and categorize all aspects of government spending. What began as an initial check-in in March, County Administrator Christine Hurley told the commission, soon spread to comprehensive audits sent down in June and July – including all spending records, job descriptions and even hours worked by staff, among other items.
Last month, a presentation by DOGE team lead Eric Soskin to the Florida Association of Counties outlined the department’s priorities, including pinpointing “trendy or lowROI” spending along with “unnecessary use of taxpayer funds to support (non-governmental organizations)” and “subsidized competition with private enterprises.”
That same month, software, data and media company Bloomberg reported a leaked federal memo titled “Abolishing FEMA.” It detailed plans by the Trump administration to “drastically shrink” the agency’s key disaster-response functions, including stopping federal aid to disasters that aren’t of “national significance” and stopping new enrollments in the Na-
tional Flood Insurance Program.
Those developments, combined with looming state efforts to eliminate property taxes, guided the proposed $678.5 million budget presented Tuesday, which begins a march toward a $40 million emergency/disaster reserve fund should federal assistance be slashed.
But the reductions came at a hefty cost.
In early July, 20 county staffers ranging from executive assistants to senior environmental planners, mechanics and even the executive director of transit were told their positions would be eliminated by October at the latest. Seventeen vacant posts also got the axe.
Shortly before Tuesday’s meeting, local nonprofits funded by the county’s Human Services Advisory Board (HSAB) also learned they’d be taking a 50% cut – a $1.1 million hit for organizations like Key West’s MARC House and Samuel’s House, Keys AHEC and Womankind, among many others.
“These cuts have already been made, and it’s the only way we could balance the budget,” said Hurley, separating positions and funding already eliminated in staff’s proposed budget – dubbed Tier 1 and Tier 2 – from a Tier 3 “red plan” debated by the commission on Tuesday. If followed in full, that “red plan” would have included a complete cut to nonprofit funding, along with an additional 12 filled staff positions and seven vacant jobs.
“The further cuts are what we can accomplish to add money into the emergency reserves,” Hurley said.
An hour of public comment saw passionate pleas to restore HSAB funding and the Monroe County Extension Service. Several speakers said they would gladly accept a tax increase to continue supporting the affected groups.
“I’m deaf, blind and have multiple disabilities,” Key West resident Tosha Snyder told the commission. “Through no fault of my own, I lost my home, I lost my life, I lost everything. People from Samuel’s House, when I knocked on the door, they let me in. … I just urge you to please leave the door open. There are so many people who are just sitting there asking, ‘Is there a place for me?’”
“Eliminating this creates more need with less funds to go around,” said Key West resident Diana Flenard on behalf of the Monroe County
Homeless Coalition and MARC House. “Who do you think, when there’s a hurricane and FEMA doesn’t come down, they’re going to reach out to when they need help with water, electric, their bills? They’re going to come back to these HSAB-funded organizations for help.”
“We are letting (non-homesteaded property owners) use our county for their playground, and touting it as a feather in our cap that we charge them low taxes,” said Womankind executive director Callie Roberts. “We’re saying, you can come down here one weekend a year, but this woman does not get prenatal care?
“You’re not raising taxes, you’re keeping up with the times. If you’re going to charge me an extra $200 a year to live here, I will gladly write you the check.”
All four commissioners present acknowledged the significance of the organizations, while commissioner David Rice argued for a 25% total cut to the HSAB funding, something he said most nonprofits “could survive.”
“They’re not receiving a dollarfor-dollar cut,” he said, adding that a 50% cut “will kill off” several human services nonprofits. “In many cases, that dollar buys them three dollars in matching (grants).”
“I no longer take pride in Monroe County having the lowest millage in the state of Florida,” he added. “I think what we’re doing is going to
have an impact on our quality of life that we will only recognize too late.”
But commissioners Holly Raschein and Michelle Lincoln said they struggled with nonprofits’ reliance on government funding and what could be seen as mandated donations, preferring instead for residents to choose which organizations to support directly.
“Government funding is not necessarily a guarantee, and it’s certainly not an entitlement – it’s a bonus,” said Raschein, calling on her experiences with line item vetos in the state appropriations committee. “When you build your budget on government funding, you can never depend on that.”
“We all sit on these boards – we all do everything we humanly can to support every one of our not-for-profit agencies in our county,” said Lincoln. “In some years, more (organizations) have applied (to HSAB) than get money. We’re taking taxpayers’ money to decide which agencies we fund, and that puts all of us in a very tough spot.”
The four commissioners present, with Craig Cates absent, ultimately agreed to a plan that would add $4 million to the county’s $10 million in disaster reserves, made possible by pairing the raised millage with cuts to seven vacant positions in the Tier 3 “red” plan; removal of the county from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact; elimination of FreeBee ride services in Key West and Stock Island; a complete funding cut to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation; and reducing proposed cost of living adjustments for the county’s constitutional officers from 5% to 2.9%, matching those of other staff members.
The proposed millage may be preserved or decreased, but not increased, at two public hearings on Sept 3 and 10, both at 5:05 p.m. at the Harvey Government Center in Key West and the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo, respectively.
Studies over the summer will continue to explore cost-cutting measures, including analyzing expenses eligible for Tourist Development Council funding, analysis of the county’s Parks and Recreation summer camp, additional staffing evaluations and continued monitoring of federal legislation changes as well as state and local revenue estimates.
“Ultimately, we greatly appreciate not being eliminated totally, but it will require most agencies that care for our local residents to simply stop or significantly reduce services,” Keys AHEC CEO Michael Cunningham told the Weekly after the meeting. “Who will be able to fill that gap? This is why we all exist and have full patient caseloads.”
Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg, a graduate of the FBI National Academy, explains the significance of a painted yellow brick to Tamika Kelly, 17, in his office at the Key West Police Department. Kelly, who will be a senior at Key West High School, plans to major in criminology and minor in forensics in college.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Summer jobs are a rite of passage for most high school students, and this year 13 of them had jobs with the city of Key West as part of the Idle Hands Youth Employment Program.
The project is a partnership between the city and A Positive Step of Monroe County, a nonprofit organization that works with some of the highest-risk kids and their families in the Keys.
Since 2010, A Positive Step has worked with the city to provide paid summer jobs in city departments for Key West High School students aged 16 and up who are returning to school in the fall. This year’s program, which runs through Aug. 1, has employed 13 students in five city departments. The city pays about half of the students’
A Positive Step of Monroe County founder/executive director Billy Davis interacts with student interns working at Key West City Hall on July 8.
salaries and A Positive Step raises money to cover the other half.
“It’s very gratifying to watch each summer as the student interns develop greater confidence along with important work and social skills,” A Positive Step founder Billy Davis said in 2023. “We see them discovering previously unrealized talents and discarding old patterns of low expectations. Whether they go on to college or directly into full-time working life, they have become more aware and confident of their strengths, self-worth, and ability to contribute as a professional.”
Many of the working students contribute some or all of their earnings to their households, and with this in mind, salaries in 2023 were increased to $17 per hour and orientation was shortened from two weeks to one to give the students an extra week of earning time.
More information is at apsmc. org.
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On July 3, flashing lights and dozens of law enforcement officers descended on 79th Street in Marathon. On the street he calls home – which became the name of his must-see local band – FWC Captain Dave Dipre sat in the back of a patrol truck. After 30 years spent serving the citizens of Florida, he took a deep breath, choking back emotions for a moment before giving his final “10/7” over the radio.
“Please don’t play bagpipes,” he laughed.
“Your leadership, courage and unwavering commitment has been an inspiration to us all,” the dispatcher replied. “On behalf of dispatch, it’s been an honor serving with you, sir.”
Dipre’s drive for public service began before he could drive a car, starting as a junior firefighter in Pennsylvania at the age of 14 before joining the army after high school.
“Back in the ’80s, you could do a lot more stuff than you can now,” he said. “Wearing the packs and going into burning buildings at a very young age – we did some crazy stuff.”
Working as a dispatcher, Dipre said he saw the opportunity to get out from behind a desk and on the water as Florida Marine Patrol merged with the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission to become FWC in 1999.
“I was in FWC Academy number 1,” he said. “But I knew in the Keys, we did a lot more than that – we were involved in narcotics, domestic violence, everything.”
3
Sure enough, on his first day on the job, Dipre was chasing down a murder suspect who’d hijacked a boat out of Garrison Bight Marina in Key West, ending in a sniper standoff with the grounded vessel.
“It wasn’t like that every day, because Monroe County is a great place to be,” he said. “But sometimes, it goes south.”
With all he’s seen, Dipre’s sense of humor is still his calling card for anyone who knows him. Asked how he keeps that alive in spite of the stories he can tell, his answer is simple:
“Because most people are wonderful,” he said. “Those people we deal with in those (bad) situations, they’re 10% of the 1%. But it’s our job to find them.
“Even the ones we deal with who are way down in the dumps, maybe rock bottom, if you treat them with dignity, they really appreciate it, because that’s all they’re looking for half the time. … And many times, they snap back.”
And even in the darkest situations, he said, there’s always a sliver of humor to be found.
“If you don’t laugh about it, the sadness of it … there has to be something there to keep you from being angry,” he said. “We make ourselves laugh about it. … You look at the humor, if you can find it.”
He recalled a night chasing down a domestic violence suspect who’d run his sailboat aground on Eastern Dry Rocks. Commandeering – and accidentally sinking – a small dinghy to try to rescue the victim from the shallow reef waters, the FWC and Coast Guard crews were surprised to find the boat
“Please trust your law enforcement officers. These people all care about our communities. We want to see the wrongdoing dealt with, and we want to protect the good people.”
missing when they returned just minutes later.
“In the three or four minutes that we were transporting her back, (the suspect) managed to wake up, pull the anchor and disappear,” Dipre said. “But suddenly we saw red flares going up. Turns out that when he hit the reef, he cracked the hull. So he got maybe 100 yards away and sank the sailboat.
“We got all the boats out of the water, but what a goofy night, man.”
Getting boats out of the water – derelict vessels, specifically – is a specialty for Dipre, and one he can proudly look back on after helping spearhead years of efforts to remove the ecologically-damaging eyesores from the Keys’ mangroves, seagrass beds and canals.
2. A young Dave Dipre approaches the end of his time as a dispatcher
3. Dave Dipre, right, joins fellow officers and an FWC K9 unit for a resource patrol.
4. Dipre and law enforcement partners take a moment away from recovery efforts for a photo after Hurricane Irma in 2017.
After Hurricane Irma, more than 1,600 vessels were pulled from Keys waters. This fiscal year alone, he said, they’ve pulled out 130 – in Key West alone.
“The guys make fun of me for it all the time, how I can never go to a meeting without mentioning derelict vessels. But you have to,” he said. “We can’t stop for a minute.”
As he closes the book on more than three decades in law enforcement and public service, Dipre credited FWC major Alberto Maza, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and Robert Spottswood as his mentors. But his greatest accomplishment, he said, is the partnerships he’s been fortunate enough to preserve and grow in a delicate island chain, where cooperation is more vital than ever.
“I don’t want to say proud, because I didn’t do anything magnificent,” he said. “People say it’s so cliche, but if we didn’t have such great partnerships with the sheriff’s office, Key West Police Department, the fire departments, the county commission, we couldn’t have been as successful as we were. I’m really hoping that (new FWC Capt.) Adam (Garrison) can keep that up.”
... 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.
In empirical terms, the male northern cardinal is a spectacular bird. Flaming red with a punker’s crest on top of its head, a black mask that suggests a capacity for mischief and a bill that can crack open some pretty tough seeds or, if briefly detained in the loose grip of a human hand, pinch the skin hard enough to leave a mark. (I only had the honor of that happening to me once.)
I think what undermines our sense – or at least my sense – of their spectacularity is the fact that they are everywhere in the U.S., or at least in the eastern twothirds of the country. Collectively, as a species, they are arguably the most recognizable bird we have in this country. Which might dampen their mystique.
Also, the everydayness of being the logo of not one, but two regional sports franchises might help diminish the wonder.
One of the advantages of living in Key West is that you don’t see cardinals on the island that often. I’m not sure why. The northern cardinal used to be considered a southern species, but with human development and the proliferation of bird feeders, their range now stretches as far north as Maine. And while Key West is pretty urbanized, we somehow don’t see that many cardinals. I’d wonder if Boca Chica or Stock Island might be at the southern extremity of their range – the way squirrels and blue jays disappear from the landscape south of Marathon, but their range stretches well south of us into the Yucatan.
Not seeing cardinals on the regular makes one a little more prone to being taken aback, in the manner fitting of their splendor, when you do see one. (Fun fact: When I just looked up splendor to see if it ended with -er or -or, the example in my MacBook dictionary was “the splendor of the Florida Keys.”)
This taken-abackedness happened to me up on Grassy Key the other day. I was walking down an old road, trying, and failing, to get a better vantage point to see a flamingo, when a male cardinal landed in an angled buttonwood branch a few feet away, most likely checking out what I was up to, mistrustful of me in his territory.
It was late in the day, the sky was that dark pastel blue, and the bird was just this perfect pop of pomp.
Well, look at that, I thought, as if I hadn’t seen a million cardinals in my youth. It’s a good idea to try and appreciate things when the universe gives you a chance to reappraise something.
This sense of revelation-in-the-everyday may have been enhanced by the fact that there seems to have been a dearth of cardinals in the Keys in recent years. My personal theory, formed with anecdotal evidence and hardly any data, is that Hurricane Irma knocked their local population down pretty hard. Before Irma, I remember not being able to drive on Big Torch or Sugarloaf or Big Pine without seeing a cardinal sitting on a utility line every dozen or two telephone poles. Following Irma, that was not the case.
But in the last year or so, I’ve started to see and hear them almost regularly – not back to my sense of their previous numbers, but closer.
Merriam-Webster has an unexpectedly fun and sparky Instagram account. And last week, as if by coincidence, they posted something about the word cardinal, and how it is derived from the Latin word for hinge, as in the things you hang a door on, which evolved into a term for the important elements that make things work, or something that is very important. The Roman Catholic Church then started using it to describe the priests closest in rank to the pope.
Northern cardinals are, of course, not named for their importance, but for the fact that the red of their plumage reminded the early Europeans who came to America of Roman Catholic cardinals, though I read one account that said that their crest was also reminiscent of a cardinal’s mitre.
Besides being good-looking, cardinals are beautiful and persistent singers, and one of their other older common names was the Virginia nightingale, which I’m fond of, largely because it sounds like the name of the tragic heroine in some kind of Southern gothic play.
Female northern cardinals are similar in
shape but duller in appearance, more of a ruddy beige with red highlights in the wings, crest and tail. They also sing, though much of their song is sung from the nest, conveying information to their mate as to whether there are predators around and whether it is safe for him and all his flashiness to return.
The intense red in the males comes from their diet. While they have that seed-cracking vise of a bill, they also eat a lot of carotenoidcontaining berries and insects that give them their color. In some populations, brighter males have a higher rate of reproductive success. In some populations, they do not.
Male northern cardinals are known for their aggression, especially during breeding season. The punk rock crest has meaning. Reports of their antagonistic relationships with their own images reflected in mirrors or glass are common. Play a tape of their call in their territory, especially of another bird found close to their region, and they will come at you.
The aggression may be linked to the fact that DNA testing shows that between 9% and 35% of northern cardinal chicks come from extra pair copulations.
Besides warding off potential breeding rivals, male northern cardinals also need to guard against predators who want to eat them and their eggs (like raccoons) and nest predators (like cowbirds) who want to lay their eggs in the cardinals’ nests and pawn off raising their chicks.
I’m not sure how long the cardinal on Grassy Key and I regarded each other. A minute, maybe two. Then he dove down and disappeared into the bushes, and I walked back to take some more disappointing pictures of flamingos.
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VOTES CAST FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 6 OF 7 CONTINENTS
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
The Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards will wrap 13 years of voting when the awards ceremony concludes at the Key West Theater on Saturday evening, July 19.
To date, over $300,000 has been raised for local charities, with this year’s Bubbas supporting Florida Keys AHEC. We remain proud and honored to conduct this friendly contest in the town we love and serve. And the growing popularity and votes across the globe never cease to amaze us.
This year we ended with over half a million individual votes from across the world. And while we are still seeking our first vote to be cast from Antarctica, we continue to see participation from six continents and dozens of nations. Not surprisingly, more than 90% of the votes are generated from the U.S. and Canada. But we saw an uptick of activity in Australia, Brazil and the southern portions of Africa. Europe and Eastern Europe remain a hotbed of international voting for the Bubbas.
“Seeing all of the votes and nations involved is one the most exciting stats involved with the Bubbas and the voting,” said Keys Weekly’s Britt Myers. “The popularity is a testament to Key West, our businesses, our diverse way of life and the unique experience Key West offers to the world. The Bubbas just gives our residents and our tourists a chance to highlight the amazing businesses and people they love to be a part of here in the Florida Keys.”
Florida produced the most votes within the United States, with heavy concentrations in New York and metro areas around the Northeast — with impressive showings from Alaska and Hawaii. Germany led the international votes, followed by Australia and Ukraine. Northern Africa and the Middle East were regular voters, represented by nations like Saudi Arabia, Syria and Israel.
Some of the most remote and unique votes were cast from areas like Christchurch (New Zealand), Hobart (Tasmania), Kathmandu (Nepal), Amnat Charoen (Thailand) and eight different regions of Malaysia. One of the most remote votes of note was delivered from the Andreanof Islands in the Bering Sea.
Someone near the Burnham Golf Club in Rolleston, New Zealand has claimed the southernmost Bubbas vote, with the northernmost votes coming from Fairbanks, Alaska and Lulea, Sweden. Finland and Norway provided participation from around cities and towns stretching from the Gulf of Bothnia and throughout the Baltic Sea.
“It’s mind-blowing to see the international appeal and popularity of Key West,” said Myers. “But I’m always proud to see all 50 states participate. This is truly a testament to the people of Key West. We at the Keys Weekly are just a driver for this contest. But what we are really doing is showcasing the hard work and pride our businesses and residents take to make this one of the most sought after destinations on the planet.”
To all of the winners, nominees and those who call Key West home, we thank you for taking part in this with us. We are not just hosts of this contest, we are local supporters and contributors as well. And we are proud to be a part of this island community with each and every one of you. Here’s to all of you – and the world. Thanks for voting and supporting our local community.
mandy@keysweekly.com
Abald patch of grass in someone’s front yard can be restored by spreading seed or strips of sod. But when seagrass in shallow ocean water gets shredded by a boat’s propeller, the cure is much more complicated — more like getting hair plugs instead of using Rogaine or a toupee.
In 2016, a 137-foot catamaran ferry, Big Cat Express, ran aground off Key West, devastating a large patch of protected seagrass in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Four years later, in 2020, the ferry company agreed to pay $2.2 million to fund the restoration of the injured seagrass, invertebrates, sponges and fish species in the area.
Now, in 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is leading seagrass restoration efforts at the Big Cat grounding site, about 1.9 miles west of Wisteria Island, just off Key West, at the south entrance to the Lakes Passage. The project also includes the U.S. Coast Guard and a Florida-based marine restoration company called Sea & Shoreline.
As of last week, seagrass shoots taken from other areas of the marine sanctuary, with their roots and stems (known as rhizomes) intact, were planted at the grounding site, an area roughly the size of a football field’s end zone. Donor sites were spread out across a large area to minimize impact on those healthy seagrass beds.
The restoration effort has taken nearly a decade, but marine scientists are confident the positive impacts were worth the wait.
“This phase of the project is especially exciting; it’s the moment where years of planning and hard work are finally coming together,” said Alexandra Fine, sanctuary research specialist. “We are confident this restoration work will stabilize the injury area, encourage new seagrass growth and provide essential ecosystem benefits that extend beyond the site itself.”
Seagrass plugs were attached to 12-inch galvanized steel garden landscape stakes, then inserted into sediment tubes that had previously been sunk into the blowholes that were caused by the boat grounding. A total of 630 planting units were needed to address all of the seagrass damage, according to a press release from the sanctuary.
Restoration activities began on Earth Day in April, following environmental assessments, queen conch surveys and mapping of the injury locations near the Northwest Ship Channel.
Monitoring is the final step and will take place every 30 days for the next three months, as experts count the total number of planting units that remain alive and assess other benchmarks.
Importance of seagrass
Seagrasses are essential fish habitat. Coral reefs, hardbottom, seagrass meadows, mud flats and mangrove forests are all ecologically connected, according to the sancutary website. Many commercially and recreationally important fish and invertebrates, such as drums, sea trout and spiny lobster, rely on seagrasses during their juvenile stages of development before heading off to deeper waters.
Stone crabs, scallops, conchs, sea stars, seahorses, stingrays and nurse sharks also rely on seagrasses for habitat and foraging grounds. Some species are occasional or frequent visitors, while others live in seagrass habitats permanently. Queen conchs are year-round dwellers, and lay their egg masses on seagrass blades.
Seagrasses are also a crucial part of the diet for manatees, green sea turtles, conchs and urchins.
Seagrass meadows, with their underground root systems, help stabilize the ocean floor, while above ground, but still underwater, seagrass blades slow the flow of water, allowing sediments and pollutants from land to fall out of the water column and settle onto the seafloor. The blue water you see at the coral reef is in part due to seagrasses. Corals need clear water that is low in nutrients to thrive, and nearby habitats such as seagrasses and mangroves help keep suspended
damaged seagrass following a 2016 vessel grounding. US COAST GUARD/Contributed
2. One seagrass shoot is planted to restore the grounding site; 629 shoots to go. ANDY BRUCKNER/Contributed
3. Sea and Shoreline, an aquatic restoration firm in Ruskin, Florida, handled the Phase II seagrass restoration. ANDY BRUCKNER/Contributed
sediment levels low and buffer out nutrients, the sanctuary website states.
Save the seagrass — stay off it
While seagrass is essential for the Florida Keys ecosystem and marine habitats, humans pose a deadly threat.
Seagrass beds have declined due to water quality degradation, dredging, coastal development and boating impacts. “More than 300 vessel groundings are reported within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary each year, with nearly 80% of them impacting seagrass habitat. Many more groundings go unreported,” the sanctuary website states.
When a boat’s propeller hits seagrass, it makes a cut that can become wider and deeper as water moves through it. Over time, the entire meadow, and the animals that call it home, can be lost, making seagrass restoration a priority.
But scars can take years to decades to recover, so prevention is the best protection. Boaters can help by avoiding seagrass, trimming motors up in shallow water, and if stuck, pushing the boat off the flat. Using a motor to power off a flat will cause more damage.
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
Well, folks, get ready for a bit of a rewind. As we journey through Cancer season, feeling our feelings, the celestial storyteller, Mercury, takes a dramatic pause. Stationing retrograde in the fiery sign of Leo this Thursday, Mercury’s backtrack often sparks communication snags or travel woes. But in bold, dramatic Leo, it’s an invitation to hit pause, review and perhaps even produce a director’s cut on your life script. This period urges us to revisit personal narratives, scrutinize our roles and decide which scenes need a rewrite. Are you truly shining? Are creative projects getting attention or do they need re-imagining? This isn’t a time for forging ahead with new plans, but rather for refining what’s in motion or rekindling past passions.
While you’re reviewing past performances, you’ll also find surprising ease in conversation and a knack for charming interactions. It’s a chance to reconnect with old friends or past passions with a new, lighter perspective. It’s less about breaking things and more about re-polishing your sparkle. In the next three weeks, allow yourself the space to revisit old creative projects, re-evaluate how you shine, and perhaps even rewrite a few heartfelt lines in your story.
Here are your horoscopes for Mercury stationing retrograde in Leo, sextile Venus in Gemini. Read for your rising and sun signs.
June 21 - July 22
Alright, sweet Cancer, your finances, self-worth and values are up for review. Mercury’s got you eyeing that budget or rethinking that questionable “investment” in the Conch Trains. This isn’t a time for impulsive spending. It’s perfect for renegotiating a deal or chasing down an old IOU. Those quiet nudges about your self-worth? They’re pointing you to what you truly deserve. Don’t be shy.
July 23 - Aug. 22
It’s your moment to re-evaluate your personal brand as Mercury retrogrades through your sign. Think of this as your cosmic image consultant, urging you to look at your identity, self-expression and how you show up. Did that last big entrance land right? This is your chance to rewrite your narrative, refresh your look or reconsider how you show up for others. Embrace presenting a more authentic, refined you, because you’re worth the encore.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Your inner world, dreams and subconscious patterns are getting a deep dive, Virgo. With your ruling planet Mercury doing its backward dance, it’s an ideal time for quiet reflection, journaling or revisiting old therapeutic notes. Don’t be surprised if old secrets or lingering anxieties resurface. They’re just popping up for a final bow. Trust your intuition because it’s screaming valuable insights about your path.
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Dear Libra, your friendships, social circles and long-term goals are under friendly review. You might reconnect with old pals or re-evaluate who truly deserves a fast pass to your inner circle. This is your moment to rethink your aspirations and ensure your future path aligns with your desires. Conversations about shared ideals are delightfully harmonious and insightful now. Gossip, but be productive about it.
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
Your career, public image and life direction are getting a powerful reassessment. Feeling like you took a wrong turn? Is a past ambition winking? This is your chance to pivot, refine your strategy or simply rethink those long-term ambitions. You might revisit old career goals or even run into past colleagues. It’s critical to ensure your public role truly reflects your authentic self. Go ahead and make ’em wonder.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Your beliefs, grand adventures and quest for knowledge are undergoing a significant rewrite. This Mercury retrograde could mean dusting off old travel plans, re-engaging with a forgotten philosophy or giving that half-written manifesto another pass. It’s a powerful time to re-examine your personal truths and expand your understanding without needing to physically gallop off. Expect inspiring talks with partners that help you see the bigger picture with brilliant clarity.
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
This week calls for a deep dive into your shared resources, intimate connections and transformation, Seagoat. You might find yourself revisiting joint finances (awkward, but necessary), renegotiating an agreement or exploring deeper vulnerabilities. It’s a time to review what you share with others. Past financial arrangements may resurface for a final look, allowing for resolution and a fresh start. Time to get real about those shared responsibilities.
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
Your partnerships, both romantic and business, are front and center for a checkup. You might reconnect with an ex (caution, darling!), re-evaluate a current relationship or rethink a collaborative venture. This is your crucial chance to clarify expectations and mend old fences. Conversations around creativity or passions can bring a delightful new perspective to your one-on-one dynamics, making those necessary chats surprisingly easy.
Feb. 19 - March 20
Your daily routines, work habits and health practices are getting a thorough check-up this week, Pisces. This is an excellent time to revisit old organizational systems, re-start a forgotten wellness routine or re-evaluate commitments. It’s all about refining your everyday life to better serve your well-being. Expect
insightful conversations about your home life that help you feel more grounded and secure. It’s time to streamline, not just dream.
March 21 - April 19
Your creative projects, passions and romantic endeavors are getting a significant second look. Did you put a beloved hobby or personal project on hold, perhaps because you got bored? Now’s the perfect time to pick it back up, re-inspire yourself and bring fresh energy. An old flame might even send a cheeky message, or you could find yourself rethinking a past connection. The key here is to review and refine that magnificent self-expression.
April 20 - May 20
Your home, family and deepest roots are where the personal rewind is happening this week, Taurus. You might be rethinking a living situation (that leaky faucet ever getting fixed?), revisiting long-standing family dynamics or simply decluttering your sanctuary. Expect to sort through old memories and perhaps reconnect with relatives. This is a great time to re-evaluate what truly makes you feel secure and nourished in your private world.
May 21 - June 20
Your communications, daily routines and local connections are all under review with Mercury, your chatty ruler, in retrograde. While messages might get delightfully tangled and digital glitches could play tricks, this is a fantastic time to revisit old writing projects (finish that novel?), or reconnect with siblings, neighbors or former classmates for a good old catch-up. With Venus still dazzling in your sign, your charm is off the charts, making any necessary clarifications smooth, engaging and utterly delightful.
BREAKFAST
Monday
SUNDAY
After taking the July 4 holiday off from the normal weekly cleanups, 36 volunteers met in the Key West Cemetery for the quarterly cleanup. In one hour, they collected 101 pounds of trash, 38 pounds of recycling, and 1.5 gallons of cigarette butts. An additional 4.25 gallons of cigarette butts were collected by team Hunt over the last two weeks as they continue their personal commitment to keeping the butts off the streets and out of the waterways. Special thanks to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation for hosting this quarterly event and providing breakfast treats and juice to the volunteers. The next cleanup is this Friday, July 18. Meet on Duval Street in front of Hard Rock Café. CONTRIBUTED
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
A troubling number of cigarette butts and plastic bags have been included in recent hauls. Please remember your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plastic off the streets, parking lots and, most importantly, out of the water. And dispose of cigarette butts in any receptacle rather than the street or sidewalk, as from there, they easily end up in the ocean.
The city of Key West and its residents ask everyone to do their part to help keep Key West beautiful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before putting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and making sure the lids on Dumpsters are closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.
Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.
— Contributed
Join a one-hour
Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
July 18: Duval Street & Rose Lane. Meet across the street from Hard Rock Cafe, 313 Duval St., which is hosting the cleanup.
July 25: Whitehead & Olivia streets. Meet across the street from the Hemingway Home, 907 Whitehead St., which is hosting the cleanup.
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.
Pinerbell Robbins is a 3-year-old cat with an itty-bitty frame that makes her look more like a kitten than a full-grown cat. Though she’s a little timid, each day brings out more of her sweet and curious side. She’s been learning that people aren’t so scary, especially when they come with gentle pets and kind words.
Shemp is a 4-month-old guinea pig with a surprisingly big personality packed into his tiny frame. He’s super friendly, loves being held and always seems curious about the world around him. Whether he’s munching on veggies or chirping softly when you walk by, Shemp is a sweet little companion who’s ready to bring some joy into your life.
Perry is a 9-year-old terrier/pit bull mix and the undisputed king of naps. If you’re looking for a laidback buddy to binge-watch shows and snooze the day away with you, Perry’s your guy. He’s got bursts of energy now and then, but for the most part, he’s all about the cozy life. Perry isn’t a fan of other dogs, so he’ll need to be the only pup in the house, but with a face like his, who needs more than one?
Meet Oreo, an 8-year-old black and white sweetheart who looks just like his namesake cookie. This affectionate boy came to us with some bald spots due to food allergies, but now that he’s on the right diet, he’s thriving, soft, happy and ready for love. Oreo is as sweet as they come, always up for pets and companionship.
Harley is a 2-year-old professional greeter and part-time door gremlin. This friendly guy can usually be found loitering by the front of the catio, giving visitors his best ‘Hey, come pet me’ stare. He’s convinced the front door exists solely for him to charm his way into more attention, and honestly, he’s not wrong.
Alexander Louis Morris, 28, of Big Pine Key, was sentenced to six years in a Florida prison after pleading guilty to six felony charges stemming from two separate child exploitation cases, State Attorney Dennis Ward said.
The investigations were led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Morris pleaded guilty to one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a seconddegree felony; and five counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, second-degree felonies. He was sentenced to six years in state prison on count one, and five years on each of counts two through six, with all terms to run concurrently, resulting in a total of six years in prison.
Following his release, Morris will serve four years of sexual offender probation, which includes electronic monitoring, court-ordered treatment, restrictions on internet and social media access, and a permanent listing on the Florida Sexual Offender Registry. He was also ordered to pay fines and court costs.
The investigation revealed that Morris possessed a large collection of digital files involving the abuse and exploitation of minors. Among the evidence were what investigators called “trophy videos,” recordings Morris made of himself engaging in lewd conduct while viewing exploitative material — an act that reflects not only intent but personal investment in the harm being depicted.
“This wasn’t just illegal — it was vile,” said Ward. “The content Mr. Morris possessed was extremely disturbing and flat-out disgusting. These videos showed real children being subjected to unthinkable acts. And to make
matters worse, Morris made personal recordings of himself reacting to that content — turning child abuse into his own private ritual. It’s beyond troubling. Thanks to the outstanding work of FDLE and our federal partners, he is now behind bars and will be monitored for years to come.”
The first investigation began in December 2023, when FDLE agents executed a search warrant at Morris’ Big Pine Key residence and seized several electronic devices. Dozens of files were uncovered depicting egregious abuse of prepubescent children. A second case soon followed, prompted by a series of CyberTipline reports submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These tips traced Morris to multiple online accounts used to download and share illegal content through platforms such as Kik, Discord, Telegram and Snapchat.
“These two separate cases revealed the same pattern: an individual deeply immersed in the online exploitation of children,” Ward said. “Every image, every video, represents a real child who endured real trauma. No one who engages in this kind of behavior will go unnoticed or unpunished in Monroe County.”
Morris is currently serving his sentence in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections.
— Keys Weekly staff report
Three highly-publicized cases had the attention of Keys law enforcement agencies in the week following Independence Day.
Hundreds of conch harvested illegally
The FWC is investigating a significant marine resource violation involving the illegal harvest of 291 queen conchs — a species strictly protected under Florida law due to its ecological importance and declining populations.
This incident occurred at or around the waterfront property located at 17 Shoreline Road in Key West (Key Haven) between July 7 and July 10. The FWC is asking for help from the public in gathering eyewitness accounts of suspicious activity or vessel movements in the area; any video footage (including home surveillance, boat cameras, cellphone recordings or drone footage) during the noted dates; or identification of any individuals or vessels potentially involved.
Those with tips may send them to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404FWCC (3922); to tip@MyFWC.com; or to the anonymous tip portal through the FWC Wildlife Alert app.
Stolen rental boat heads to Cuba
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office charged 63-year-old Floyd Dean Devasier of Katy, Texas on July 10 for allegedly stealing a rental boat from a Stock Island marina and taking it to Cuba.
Devasier rented a 26.5-foot Panga boat from Beach Weekend Key West Marina for two days under an agreement that all maritime laws be followed, the vessel was not to be operated at dark, and would be returned before the end of business on July 9.
A marina employee noted Devasier bought and filled an extra 20-gallon fuel tank before departing.
Devasier told the marina he would dock the boat overnight on the 6800 block of Front Street on Stock Island in accordance with the no-nightoperation clause of the rental agreement. However, multiple business and vessel owners on Front Street later told the sheriff’s office the vessel was never docked there and they never observed it being there. Security footage never showed the rental boat arriving, authorities said.
The marina owners observed GPS tracking that showed the rental boat heading south in the Atlantic Ocean before tracking ceased. They attempted to call Devasier with no response and then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
A fisherman reported seeing the vessel off the U.S. coastline and took pictures. The sheriff’s office learned on July 9 that the Cuban Border Guard notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Investigations that the rental boat and Devasier, as well as a 38-year-old adult female, were in their custody.
Devasier flew to Miami on July 10 and was arrested by federal authorities via a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office warrant for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud.
Devasier has multiple prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where a vessel kept past its due date was also located in Cuba.
Marathon captains arrested
Two Marathon captains were arrested July 10 after reportedly attempting to capsize two kayakers. James Christian Gagliardini, 52, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless operation of a vessel and intentionally harassing a fisherman. Eric Robert Wink, 34, was charged with battery.
The sheriff’s office was called to the water behind The Hammocks at Marathon resort around 2 p.m. regarding a boat-related incident. The adult male victim stated he was fishing with his teenage son near the resort docks when the suspects circled them several times in a boat in an apparent attempt to capsize them. The victims stated they were in fear of being run over by the vessel.
The suspect captain, identified as Gagliardini, then pinned the bow of his vessel against the dock, trimmed the boat engine, and sprayed the victims with water, they said. The victim added the suspects were not happy the victims were fishing in the area. Security video from the marina supported the victims’ statements. Both suspects were taken to jail.
“Attempt to understand before attempting to be understood.” It’s good advice for nearly any situation, but I frequently apply it to music and live performances. Take, for instance, an impromptu duo gig featuring two players who have never performed together before, at a venue that’s new to both of them.
The first step is figuring out where on stage people like to be, and how much stuff they bring on the stage with them. Most experienced musicians arrive prepared for several scenarios. In a restaurant, the music is meant to become part of the ambience, not the center of attention. The performers offer something for customers to enjoy between conversation, drinks and food. Its volume is typically equal to the volume of the room. In other instances, the musicians are indeed hired to be the center of attention and to keep people in the place, interested and engaged, as long as possible – which is last call.
Once the equipment is set up and a consensus has been reached on volume, a conversation begins. Someone must choose a song to start. The first is usually a basic one that’s not dependent on knowledge of a certain riff, an obscure scale or complicated chords. Many times, it is also a song with room for improvisation. This allows players to listen to each other and form some basic ideas as to what in
... 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.
their repertoire might work well.
Listening is the key, hearing what notes the other player likes to use, where their comfort spot is and gauging their “home rhythm,” or a groove they do best in. When two players find where their comfort zones and grooves overlap, good music usually ensues.
While listening is the key, speaking dictates the tone. Being able to listen to what the other person is playing while at the same time using your own skills and musical sensibilities to enhance without overriding the tone of the conversation is a valuable attribute. In musical terms, it means listening to the types of chords, and selecting notes that make those chords unique, while striking your own instrument with the same energy as your partner. At the same time, musicians feeling the music can be inspired to change the dynamics of the piece as they go along. Hitting notes a little harder, hitting several notes at one time, or devolving from a flurry of chords to a single line of long notes. And if the musical conversation is good, the other player listens and is right there too. Soon, hopefully, it’s just like a conversation, a back and forth exchange, with volleys of laughter, followed by odd seconds of silence, a slightly heated moment followed by a wink and a nod.
Listening. Talking. It sounds like a good idea all around for everything in life.
In this 1928 photo from Pan American Airlines, a Fokker F-7 tri-motor plane is seen in Pan Am’s first hangar at Key West’s Meacham Field. HAFFENREFFER COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center
CAROL SHAUGHNESSY
www.keysweekly.com
Key West can boast a number of claims to fame. It’s well known as the inspiration for Jimmy Buffett’s “trop rock” classics, the former home of Ernest Hemingway, and the place where Key lime pie was created. But most people aren’t aware of another significant distinction: in 1927, the island was the birthplace of one-time aviation giant Pan American Airlines.
A company called Aeromarine Airways preceded Pan Am by seven years, launching America’s first official international airmail service by piloting aircraft called “flying boats” between Key West and Havana. However, it ceased operation in 1924.
That’s when the embryonic Pan Am stepped in, led by a man named Juan Trippe — who had a letter guaranteeing him airplane landing rights in Cuba. By Oct. 11, 1927, he also had a contract with the U.S. Post Office to deliver mail between Key West and Havana.
Unfortunately, there was a problem. The contract required the first load of letters to be delivered by Oct. 19 — and despite being ordered 18 months earlier, Pan Am’s planes hadn’t arrived in Key West.
Luckily, a seaplane pilot named Cy Caldwell was persuaded to make the flight on behalf of the airline. Just after 8 a.m. on Oct. 19, he left the island carrying 30,000 letters. Landing in Havana a short time later, he secured both the contract and Key West’s place in aviation history.
Cocktail fans can honor Pan Am’s heritage, and its birthplace, at the Key West Cooking School’s Bar 1 — by sampling a specialty concoction dubbed the Pan-Am Aviation.
Colorful and distinctive, the gin-based offering is praised for its unique floral taste with a hint of tartness. In addition to gin, it features maraschino liqueur, lemon juice and a small amount of crème de violette — a liqueur that
Guests at the Key West Cooking School’s Bar 1 can ‘take flight’ with the Pan-Am Aviation, a specialty cocktail with a delicate lavender hue. KEY WEST COOKING SCHOOL/Contributed dates back to the 1800s and infuses the drink with subtle notes of violet and a delicate lavender hue.
As well as a favorite of customers at Bar 1, located within the Key West Cooking School at 291 Front St., the Pan-Am Aviation is a showstopper during the bar’s mixology class titled “Key West History through Craft Cocktails.”
Offered Tuesday through Saturday, the classes blend demonstrations by a bartenderstoryteller, hands-on cocktail-crafting practice, a chance to sample multiple specialty drinks, and intriguing tales and tidbits about Key West’s “spirited” history.
Each class is limited to a small number of cocktail connoisseurs to ensure personal attention and an unforgettable experience; reservations are required and can be made by calling 305-294-2665.
Drink of the month: Lavender Haze. The Pan-Am Aviation isn’t the only purple-hued cocktail at Bar 1. The Lavender Haze blends gin, crème de violette, orange liqueur, lemon juice,and an egg white — resulting in a fruity, floral drink that’s a refreshing choice when summer temperatures climb in Key West.
Helpful bar hack: With its intriguing lavender color, the Pan-Am Aviation is quite a distinctive libation. To make it even more memorable, while complementing the floral taste and adding an unparalleled elegance, float a velvety purple pansy blossom in the glass.
Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com.
Gwen “Buddie”
Miles left this world peacefully on July 7, 2025, at the age of 85, surrounded by family, and knowing her beloved grandson, Matthew Stan Miller, was waiting to welcome her home.
Gwen Miles was born Jan. 26, 1940 in Atlanta, Georgia, having no idea that her cherished great-granddaughter, Aerilaya Duncan, would arrive with the same birthday exactly 77 years later. The two shared a special bond that transcended age and had a profound influence on both of them.
Gwen was the proud and loving mother of daughter Leslie Duncan, of Robbinsville, North Carolina, and son Stan Allen Miles (Mandy) of Key West, and the grandmother of Christopher Duncan of Robbinsville. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Matthew Stan Miller, who died in a tragic house fire while trying to save the animals the family adored. She is also survived by Matthew’s wife, Tanya Nations Miller, and her daughters, Brianna Hardiman, Makayla Bouchard and Summer Nations, all of whom became family to Gwen as soon as they became family to Matthew.
Gwen moved to Robbinsville in the 1990s and relished the small-town hospitality and mountain community. She leaves behind her lifelong and dearest friend Linda Hosea of Atlanta and essential Robbinsville friend Tammie Chekelelee.
Gwen passed her love for animals — all animals — and the outdoor world on to her children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She never met a stray that didn’t become a pet. She allowed an 8-year-old Stan to have a pet alligator named “Wally Gator,” who lived for years in their backyard. And she called her daughter Leslie in a panic one November day, when she noticed a lone hummingbird had stuck around longer than its usual migration and the sweet water Gwen kept in her hummingbird feeders had frozen, but she couldn’t reach the feeder to replace the water.
Gwen adored the outdoors, from the mountains to the beach, and enjoyed taking her son, Stan, and young grandson, Matthew, camping. She was an avid gardener and intricate painter, creating beloved hand-painted Christmas ornaments that are part of her family’s treasured holiday collections.
Celebrations of life will be planned at a later date in the mountains near Robbinsville, and at the beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Gwen Miles to the Graham County Animal Refuge.
Although her departure saddens those she left behind, we know it heralded Gwen’s arrival in a better place that she’ll share with Matthew until the rest of us arrive. OBITUARY
TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6
SUNDAY & MONDAY
kirbyscloset.com @kirbysclosetkw
In the Lower Keys, near MM 12, Shark Key is announced by a building with a beautiful blue-tiled roof. The long, thin island sitting off to the right of the highway was developed in the 1980s as a private, upscale gated community. It is bigger than it was when the 1878 U.S. Coast Survey Chart No. 169 identified it as Shark Key.
The island is connected to the next one in the chain, Big Coppitt Key, by railroad fill created during the building of Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad. With a name like Big Coppitt Key, you might expect there to be a Little Coppitt Key or Middle-Sized Coppitt Key somewhere nearby, but there is just the not particularly large Big Coppitt Key. Why the fairly unusual name? While there does not appear to be anything definitive about the origin, it is thought to be derived from “coppice,” the English word for thicket.
Texas is home to the Big Thicket National Preserve (I camped there as a kid), so it is not like Big Coppitt (Thicket) Key is an outrageous choice for a name. The island is not a huge tourist draw and more of a locals’ destination. It is home to Bobalu’s Southern Café, a longtime local favorite, and a hyper-local watering hole known as the Purple Porpoise Pub — I’ve never been, but have always been curious about the dive bar.
Big Coppitt Key is also the gateway to Geiger Key. Shortly after crossing the railroad fill connecting Big Coppitt to Shark Key, a Circle K will appear on the left. Immediately before the Circle K is Boca Chica Road, which is a highly recommended left turn. The road leads to Geiger Key.
There are two prevailing theories as to the name’s origin. One is that it was named for Captain John Huling Geiger, who served as a pilot for Commodore David Porter and his anti-piracy squadron when he sailed up to Key West in 1823. Geiger remained in the Keys long after Porter became a legendary memory and worked as one of the island’s wreckers, too.
It was on the back of the wrecking industry that Key West grew to become the richest city, per capita, in a growing United States. Stories told about the Florida wreckers, and the wrecking industry in general, have a habit of casting their “ilk” in the same category as pirates. As with every profession, there are bad apples. Not every lawyer, used car salesman or wrecker is, or was, out to rip you off. However, all it takes is a single example to cast a shadow — or a single white, furry blueberry to spread its spoil through an entire carton.
One aspect of their job was to sail up and down the Florida Reef in search of ships wrecked on the shoals and coral reefs. Often, they were the first responders of their day. Venturing into gale-force conditions was sometimes part of the job, even if occasionally men were washed overboard or were crushed between the colliding hulls of ships. The work
was high-risk, but with that risk, sometimes, there were high salvage awards.
In every operation, the task was threefold: save the crew, save the cargo, save the boat.
When determining salvage fees for services rendered, several factors were considered, including manpower, weather and whether or not divers were needed to swim down into the holds of a bilging ship to secure cargo.
Geiger became a successful Florida wrecker and one of Key West’s wealthiest residents. He built a home befitting his growing family’s standing in the community. It stands, still, at the corner of Whitehead and Greene Streets. While the family occupied the house for more than a century, it fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, it was purchased by the Wolfson family, wired for electricity and restored to its previous glory. On March 18, 1960, they dedicated it as the Audubon House and offered it as a public museum.
The home’s connection to Audubon is tenuous. Some stories suggest that John James Audubon stayed there when he visited the Keys in 1832. However, the home was built after the 1846 Havana Hurricane ravaged Cuba, destroyed the Sand Key Lighthouse and delivered a double hurricane punch of high winds and tidal surge to Key West. Audubon was friendly with Geiger. It is said that one day, while standing in Geiger’s garden, he saw a tree and named Cordia sebestena the Geiger tree in honor of the captain.
It is a medium-sized tree with sticky leaves and stunning orange flowers. Other varieties produce white flowers or yellow flowers. When
walking dogs, it is best to avoid letting them walk through piles of Geiger tree leaves, especially small dogs with long fur. I imagine cats are smart enough to avoid them, as I never see them walking around the neighborhood with leaves stuck to their fur.
Getting back to Geiger Key, the other story about the origin of the island’s name is that it was chosen because of the trees growing on it. In that case, the name also goes back to Geiger. In the notes of an 1861 Coast Survey conducted in the Keys, A.D. Bache wrote: “Geiger Key is 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. It was in good cultivation in 1855, and was inhabited by an industrious German, from whom it derived its name.”
When driving down the Overseas Highway, it’s always worth taking the turn immediately before the Circle K and driving down Boca Chica Road to Geiger Key, where you’ll find the not-so-hidden gem, the Geiger Key Fishing Camp. This is the perfect spot for some good food, cold drinks and waterfront views.
If not, there are only Rockland Key, Boca Chica and Stock Island before the highway comes to an end at MM 0 on Key West.
A couple in Thailand went to the hospital three times after the woman swallowed a fish bone while eating fish soup, Oddity Central reported on June 27. She tried various home remedies, but couldn’t dislodge it from her throat, and at the hospital, doctors couldn’t see anything on an X-ray. The wife, Sang Lan, still felt pain, but assumed the bone had moved on. When her neck became swollen, she returned to the hospital, but again X-rays were negative. At home, the woman was applying a pain relief patch to her neck when she saw a pointy object poking her skin from within. She applied pressure, and the fish bone poked through her skin. Back at the hospital, doctors removed the 2-centimeter bone; they said they had never seen anything like it before.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970), author/lawyer; James Cagney (1899-1986), actor; Art Linkletter (1912-2010), TV personality; Phyllis Diller (1917-2012), comedian/actress; John Cooper (19232000), automobile designer; Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), composer; Diahann Carroll (1935-2019), actress; Donald Sutherland (19352024), actor; David Hasselhoff (1952- ), actor; Dawn Upshaw (1960), opera singer; Luke Bryan (1976- ), singer-songwriter; Brett Goldstein (1980- ), actor/writer.
In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet Premier Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met at the Potsdam Conference in Germany.
Disneyland’s opening day, intended as an exclusive event with limited invitations, was a disaster. Counterfeit passes and thousands of uninvited guests led to backed-up traffic, overcrowding, malfunctioning rides and depleted concessions.
“Maybe it’s true that life begins at 50. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.”
Founded by Betty Debnam
Electricity makes our modern life possible. We use it to power our lights, heat, computers, music, elevators, refrigerators and thousands of other things.
But most important, we would not exist without electricity. Electricity is necessary to make our brain, heart and other muscles work.
This week, The Mini Page learns more about electricity.
Matter is made up of tiny atoms, and they are made up of even tinier particles: protons, electrons and neutrons.
Protons and electrons have an electrical charge. They each have the same amount of charge, no matter what material they’re in. Neutrons have no charge.
Protons have a positive charge, and electrons have a negative charge. There are always the same number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom, or one with no charge. They balance each other out.
Protons and neutrons stay close together in the center, or nucleus, of the atom. Electrons speed around the nucleus in a kind of cloud.
Sometimes electrons leave their atom to join another atom. These traveling electrons are moving electrical charges. They make up an electrical current.
Some atoms can lose or gain electrons more easily than others. For example, in metals such as copper, electrons are more likely to leave their atom and join another atom. The electrons move from atom to atom.
These moving electrons form an electrical current. They flow through a wire much like a current of water flows in a stream. The electrons in a current tend to move in the same direction.
Materials such as copper are good conductors of electricity because electrons can move easily between atoms. Atoms that do not easily lose or gain electrons can make materials known as insulators. For example, rubber is a good insulator. So are glass, plastic and dry wood.
Have you ever gotten a shock after walking on the carpet? When you rub your feet on the rug, electrons flow from the carpet to your skin. You build up an electrical charge until you touch something that is a good conductor. If you touch something metal, or your pet, or another person, an electrical current forms between you and what you’re touching, and you get a shock.
A lightning bolt is a much bigger version of what happens when you drag your feet across the carpet.
Words that remind us of electricity are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
ATOM, CHARGE, CONDUCTOR, CURRENT, ELECTRIC, ELECTRON, GRID, INSULATOR, LIGHTNING, LINES, MATTER, NEGATIVE, NEUTRON, NUCLEUS, POSITIVE, POWER, PROTON, STATION, WIRE.
Our bodies need electricity to work. Just like everything else, our bodies are made of atoms. The electrons in those atoms create electricity.
Electrical signals make our muscles worka by causing them to contract, or become tighter. They tell our hearts when to beat. We can think because electrical signals flash from cell to cell in our brains.
Electricity is a wonderful part of our lives. But remember: It is powerful. Be careful around electrical outlets or machines. Here are some safety tips:
• Don’t put your fingers or anything else into an outlet or appliance, such as a toaster, even if it is turned off.
• Keep electrical devices such as radios away from water (a good conductor).
• Don’t take apart an electrical appliance, even if it is unplugged.
• Stay away from fences around electrical equipment.
• Don’t fly kites near power lines.
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPelectricity
At the library:
• “Electricity for Kids: Electric Power —
Generation, Transmission and Storage” by Alex Rayn
Scientists have found that more than 20% of the oceans have darkened over the past 20 years, shrinking the sunlit “photic zone,” home of 90% of marine life. The darkening, revealed through satellite data and modeling, is caused by increased sediment and organic material, and changing conditions that block light. In some areas, the photic zone has become up to 330 feet shallower, forcing marine organisms to compete closer to the surface. The trend could disrupt ecosystems, affect fisheries and weaken the ocean’s role in regulating climate. The
FICTITIOUS NAME
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Sugarloaf Pontoon Adventure Tours located at 20141 Kings Row, Sugarloaf Key, Florida 33042, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: Professional Charters LLC
Publish: July 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI
Notice is hereby given that on August 4th, 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.
Location: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: Molina, Emilio 1569 Welsh, William 1730 Cox, Michael 1426 Trent, Cheryl 1203 Ancheta, Jose A 1319 Edwards, Jennifer 1201 Adams, Melinda 1302
Publish: July 17 & 24, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West, FL (KWHA) will accept applications for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY
PUBLIC HOUSING, located at the Lang Milian Apartments, Fort Village, Robert Gabriel Apartments, and George Allen Apartments in Key West, Florida.
Opening Date & Time: July 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Closing Date & Time: August 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Applications may only be submitted at https://cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com.
If you are not currently on any of our housing wait lists, you may submit a new application for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING or any other housing program(s) by logging onto cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com and then clicking “Apply for Housing.”
If you are already on any of our housing wait lists, you may apply for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING or any additional housing program(s) by logging onto cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com and then clicking “View Your Application.” For assistance with submitting an online application, or to request a Reasonable Accommodation to allow disabled applicants to access the waiting list application and submission process, please contact the Applications Office at (305) 292-3330. Applicants without online access may access a dedicated kiosk at our main office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL 33040 during normal business hours 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. In-person assistance is available every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 pm or by appointment. Please read the following
John Sheldon, O.D.
Island Vision Care 6400 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050
before applying:
All applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on August 22, 2025. The wait list application process will be closed immediately at closing date and time, and no additional applications for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING will be accepted after that time (or until the wait list is once again opened). Any future openings will be noticed at kwha.org and in a local newspaper of general circulation. Applicants will be placed on the waiting list according to KWHA preference(s) claimed and the date and time their complete application is received by the KWHA. Only 1 application per household will be permitted. If more than one application is submitted for a household, each application will be disqualified.
Only applications submitted to the website address above will be accepted. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.
Housing assistance is available only to individuals who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or noncitizens that have eligible immigration status. At least one family member must be a citizen, national, or noncitizen with eligible immigration status in order for the family to qualify for any level of assistance.
The KWHA will perform criminal background checks through local law enforcement and/or other reputable source such as Merchants Credit Bureau Inc. for all adult household members.
Placement on the waiting list does not indicate that the family is eligible for admission. When the family
Dr. John Sheldon will be closing his optometry practice, Island Vision Care, located at 6400 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, e ective August 8, 2025. Patients wishing to pick up their medical records may do so until August 7th, 2025. Please call 305-743-2020 before August 8th if there are any questions.
Patient’s medical records will remain with Dr. John Sheldon. He will be joining Key West Optical, located at 1444 Kennedy Dr, Key West, Florida 33040, beginning on September 2nd, 2025. Please call 305-294-9711 to schedule appointments, to request records or for any questions starting September 2nd.
Publish:
July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
is selected from the waiting list, the KWHA will verify any preference(s) claimed and determine eligibility and suitability for admission to the program. Income limits are used to determine eligibility at admission. Eligibility is established by comparing a family's annual income with HUD’s published income limits. To be income-eligible, a family must be an extremelylow, very-low, or low- income family. Below are the current maximum income limits for the Public Housing Program for Monroe County, FL, effective April 9, 2025:
1 Person Household: $73,000
2 Person Household: $83,400
3 Person Household: $93,850
4 Person Household: $104,250
5 Person Household: $112,600
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Publish:
July 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
AVISO PÚBLICO
La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Key West, FL (KWHA) aceptará solicitudes para VIVIENDAS PÚBLICAS
MULTIFAMILIARES DE KEY WEST, ubicadas en los apartamentos Lang Milian, Fort Village, Robert Gabriel y George Allen en Key West, Florida.
Fecha y hora de apertura: 23 de julio de 2025 a las 9:00 a. m.
Fecha y hora de cierre: 22 de agosto de 2025 a las 4:00 p. m. Las solicitudes solo pueden enviarse a través de https://cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com. Si actualmente no esta en nuestras listas de espera de vivienda, puede presentar una nueva solicitud para VIVIENDA PÚBLICA
MULTIFAMILIAR DE KEY WEST o cualquier otro programa de vivienda. Para ello, inicie sesión en cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com y haga clic en "Solicitar Vivienda". Si ya esta en nuestras listas de espera de vivienda, puede solicitar para VIVIENDA PÚBLICA MULTIFAMILIAR DE KEY WEST o cualquier otro programa de vivienda. Para ello, inicie sesión en cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com y haga clic en "Ver su solicitud". Para obtener ayuda con la presentación de una solicitud en línea o para solicitar una adaptación razonable que permita a los solicitantes con discapacidad acceder al proceso de solicitud y envío de la lista de espera, comuníquese con la Oficina de Solicitudes al (305) 292-3330. Los solicitantes sin acceso en línea pueden acceder a un quiosco exclusivo en nuestra oficina principal, ubicada en 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL 33040, en horario de atención de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. También se ofrece asistencia en persona todos los miércoles de 8:30 a. m. a 4:30 p. m. o con cita previa. Por favor, lea la siguiente información antes de presentar su solicitud: Todas las solicitudes deben recibirse antes de las 16:00 h del 22 de agosto de 2025. El proceso de solicitud para la lista de espera se cerrará inmediatamente en la fecha y hora límite, y no se aceptarán solicitudes adicionales para VIVIENDAS PÚBLICAS MULTIFAMILIARES DE KEY WEST después de esa fecha
(o hasta que la lista de espera se abra de nuevo). Cualquier vacante futura se anunciará en kwha.org y en un periódico local de circulación general. Los solicitantes serán incluidos en la lista de espera según la(s) preferencia(s) declarada(s) por KWHA y la fecha y hora en que KWHA reciba su solicitud completa. Solo se permitirá una solicitud por hogar. Si se presenta más de una solicitud por hogar, cada una será descalificada. Solo se aceptarán solicitudes enviadas a la web social mencionada anteriormente. Los solicitantes deben tener al menos 18 años para presentar su solicitud. La asistencia para vivienda está disponible únicamente para ciudadanos estadounidenses, nacionales estadounidenses o extranjeros con estatus migratorio elegible. Al menos un miembro de la familia debe ser ciudadano, nacional estadounidense o extranjero con estatus migratorio elegible para que la familia califique para cualquier nivel de asistencia. KWHA realizará verificaciones de antecedentes penales a través de las autoridades locales y/u otra fuente confiable, como Merchants Credit Bureau Inc., para todos los miembros adultos del hogar. La inclusión en la lista de espera no significa que la familia sea elegible para la admisión. Cuando la familia sea seleccionada de la lista de espera, KWHA verificará cualquier preferencia solicitada y determinará la elegibilidad e idoneidad para la admisión al programa. Los límites de ingresos se utilizan para determinar la elegibilidad al momento de la admisión. La elegibilidad se establece comparando los ingresos anuales de la familia con los límites de ingresos publicados por el HUD. Para ser elegible por ingresos, una familia debe tener ingresos extremadamente bajos, muy bajos o bajos. A continuación se muestran los límites máximos de ingresos actuales para el Programa de Vivienda Pública del Condado de Monroe, Florida, vigentes a partir del 9 de abril de 2025:
1 persona: $73,000
2 personas: $83,400
3 personas: $93,850
4 personas: $104,250
5 personas: $112,600
Nos comprometemos con la letra y el espíritu de la política estadounidense para lograr la igualdad de oportunidades en materia de vivienda en todo el país. Promovemos y apoyamos un programa de publicidad y marketing afirmativo en el que no existan barreras para obtener vivienda por motivos de raza, color, religión, sexo, discapacidad, situación familiar u origen nacional.
Publish: July 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-290-P DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF DOMINICK E. ARICCHI
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Dominick E. Aricchi, deceased, whose date of death was March 19, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having
claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: July 17, 2025.
Personal Representative: Anita L. Aricchi
Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner
Attorney
Florida Bar Number: 283134
RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050
Telephone: (305) 743-6022
Fax: (305) 743-6216
E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.
com
Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com
Publish: July 17 & 24, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 25-CP-000277-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF WELDON JOSEPH CUMMINGS, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Weldon Joseph Cummings, deceased, whose date of death was March 30, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
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 July 17, 2025.
Personal Representative: Cassandra Cummings Bogatz 731 44th Ave. NE St. Petersburg, FL 33703
Attorney for Personal Representative: Kit Van Pelt, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 106754
Older Lundy Koch & Martino 200 N. Garden Ave. Clearwater, FL 33755
Telephone: (813) 254-8998
Fax: (813) 839-4411
E-Mail: kvanpelt@ olderlundylaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: camatucci@ olderlundylaw.com
Publish:
July 17 & 24, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-249-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RHONDA LYNN KUNTZ, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of RHONDA LYNN KUNTZ, deceased, whose date of death was April 27, 2025, Case: 25-CP-249-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal 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, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: July 10, 2025.
Personal Representative: DENNIS KUNTZ
c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq.
Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com
Telephone: (305) 292-3926
Fax: (305) 295-7947
Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCIIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY
CASE NO: 2025-CA-129-K Premier Capital, LLC Plaintiff, Vs Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado Defendant, 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 21st day of May, 2025, in the cause wherein Premier Capital, LLC is Plaintiff and Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado was defendant, being Case No. 2025-CA129-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:
Legal Description(s) –
On the Island of Key West, Monroe County, Florida, and known on William A. Whitehead’s map delineated in February A.D. 1829, as part of Tract 11 but better known as part of Lot 3, Square 9, Tract 11 according to Charles W. Tift’s Map of said Island recorded in Deed Book “L” Page 564, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the Southwesterly right of way boundary line of Duval Street with the Northwesterly right of way boundary line of United Street and run in a Southwesterly direction along the said right of way boundary line of United Street a distance of 100 feet to the Point of Beginning of the parcel of land herein described, thence at right angles in the Northwesterly direction 84.17 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southwesterly direction 26.3 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southeasterly direction 84.17 feet to a point in the Northwesterly direction along the said right of way line of United Street a distance of 26.3 feet back to the point of Beginning. SPECIFIC LOCATION OF REAL PROPERTY: 421 United Street Key West, Florida 33040
All bidders must have a valid Driver’s License with them and must register with the clerk at location of sale prior to start time of sale. I shall offer this property for sale, at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building located at 5525 College Road Key West, Florida 33040 in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, on the 28th day of August, 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 9th day of June, 2025. Richard A. Ramsay Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida 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:
July 17, 24 & 31 and August 7, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, Plaintiff, v. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, CEDAR OAK REI, INC., an Idaho for-profit corporation,MARK RAY GERENGER, personal guarantor, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S) WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN OCCUPANT(S) or TENANT(S) of 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050 AND 57468 AND 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050, Defendants. NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 23rd day of July, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., on the front courthouse steps at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Property Address: 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050; AND 57468 and 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY
KEY, FLORIDA 33050. Pursuant to the FINAL JUDGMENT of FORECLOSURE SALE SCHEDULED FOR July 23, 2025 AND SALE DATE entered in a case pending in said Court, of July 23, 2025, the Style of which is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, et al., Defendants, and the Docket Number of which is 23-CA-000268-M. WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 27TH day of June, 2025.
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within sixty (60) days after the sale.
Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-677-K DIVISION: FAMILY BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, Petitioner, and ANTHONY D. HENDERSON, Respondent.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)
TO: ANTHONY D. HENDERSON RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: NEVADA 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 BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, whose address is 926 TRUMAN AVENUE, KEY WEST, FL 33040 on or before August 11, 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: NONE
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: July 2, 2025
Kevin Madok, CPA
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Sheryl LaTorre
Deputy Clerk
Publish:
July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 2025-CA-342-K HENRY GUERRIOS an individual,, Plaintiff and FREDERICK J. HUGO, Defendant.
NOTICE OF ACTION
TO: FREDERICK J. HUGO 1408 SE 2nd CT
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Key West, FL 33040 (last known address)
Current address unknown Current residence unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a lawsuit for breach of contract has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, on JOHN MARSTON, Esquire, attorney for plaintiff, at 1011 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040, on or before August 4, 2025 and file the original with the clerk of this court immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Dated: June 23, 2025
KEVIN MADOK CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
By: Shonta McLeod
As Deputy Clerk
Publish:
July 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. $3,500.00 OR BEST OFFICER. Located in Marathon area. CALL 305-417-0169
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
19’x40’ slip in Marathon, could handle somewhat larger boat with approval from dockmaster. Desirable location in marina, easy in, easy out. Available thru Oct 25, possibly long term lease. $1,400/ mo. Please contact Vern Rozier, 904 626 5279, or 904 626 8224 and leave call back info. Or email vrrozier@yahoo.com.
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
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-ourteam/
Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006
Handyman needed for residence in Marathon. Call: 305-395-0478 bbrayman@proton.me
AFFORDABLE HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! Earn $100+ daily! No experience required!. Call our 24-hour voicemail hotline: 904-680-2909
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing ManagerFT-Marathon, CarpenterFT, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
Full time office position with strong computer skills, KCB Condominium, $78K per yr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531. HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!
Fantastic part-time Housekeeper position available in Key Colony Beach! Immediate start date. Primarily on weekends, with excellent pay for the right candidate. Reach out to Continental Inn Beachside at Vivian 952-208-2850 or Cheryl 305-505-8747 HIRED IN EIGHT WEEKS!
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
2BR/2BA waterfront rental in Key Largo. Annual rental $3200 per month, fenced yard, fully furnished, light bright, plenty of parking, pet accepted with additional deposit. First/ last & security. Call 305-588-6723
UNFURNISHED 2/2
HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $3000/month, security negotiable, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com
Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876
3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Available now. $3,500/mo. 618-559-9143
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Tile & carpet floors, new appliances, gated property. No pets. Avail in July. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dockage available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
2BR/1BA for rent in Key Colony Beach. 800 sq. ft., fully furnished, across from park, one block from beach. 3 month min. REDUCED to $2750/month + sales & TDT taxes if less than 6 mos.. F/L/S 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@ gmail.com
1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
Available Now, Stock Island near CVS. Traveling nurses/ Working professionals only. No pets, smokers or drugs. Gated, safe, quiet, has parking and a pool. Fully furnished room w/private bath, smart TV, washer/dryer. House and kitchen privileges always, w/ fridge and cabinet space. Monthly rent REDUCED to $1,400.00 All Included. First and Last due at move in time. Call 305-797-5600 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.
2017 Fleetwood Discovery 39F Diesel Pusher for Sale. Only 35k miles. Located in Grassy Key. $135,000 757-477-2450
RV LOT FOR SALE
RV Lot For Sale in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. Full hookup, close to marina. $59,900 or $2,000 down & $500/month. Call Nate 317-440-4709
PLACE YOUR RV LOT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.
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
SARA’S ESTATE SALE: Fri, July 18 and Sat, July 19 from 9a to 1p, both days, 1544 East Ho Lane, Marathon in the Crane Hammock ‘hood! Longtime locals’ style is New Orleans meets Keys meets Old Florida. Selling 100+ plant pots, outdoor décor & Adirondack chairs. Tables of blue & white dishes / décor and rare Myott Son & Co. “Pink Bermuda” Staffordshire china. Selling hardcover novels, MCM armchair, antique loveseat. Jars of shells, Cobalt blue collection & original art by Florida artists. So many baskets! 50+ purses (some designer), XL clothes, shoes 8 & 8.5. Antique, Vermont Maple bleached dresser & full bed frame, holiday décor in bulk, hardwood king frame & sturdy armoire & designer bedding. Look for art, mirrors, accent chairs & sm furniture. Follow signs from 52nd St. Gulf & park with consideration. Photos at estatesales.net.
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate.
Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002
Captain Pip’s & their sister properties are looking to hire for general of ce help.
Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace. Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have the following opening available. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
Looking for a friendly, dependable team member who can handle a busy retail environment with a great a itude. Customer service experience and willingness to learn our sales system is ideal. Duties include assisting customers, restocking, placing orders, and keeping the store clean and organized.
This is an hourly position with pay based on experience. Flexible hours with a consistent weekly schedule. Morning and a ernoon shi s available.
Please respond by email (Ma at islamarinama @gmail.com) with any relevant previous experience and at least two references.
e Turtle Hospital in Marathon wants you to join their team!
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES
Full and part-time. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start.
Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org NOW HIRING!
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE (Full-Time, Permanent) GUEST SERVICES (Part-Time, Weekend)
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
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!
We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult, PT)
Prevention Specialist
Advocate
Prevention Specialist
Care Coordinator (PT)
Driver (CDL not required) (PT)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT,PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)
*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT,PT)
*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!
Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip
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.
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
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier
- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant, Upper Keys-Gastro, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant, LPN, EMT or Paramedic, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST
- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus
- Pool Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology, Per Diem
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Cook, Dietary
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department
- AC Mechanic-Licensed
- Manager Imaging Services
- Pool Medical Technologist
- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab
- Patient Access Associate, $1k Bonus
- Patient Scheduler 2, Radiology, PT
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus
- Patient Financial Associate, Patient Access, $1k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, ICU, $15k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, ICU, PT
- Registered Nurse, PACU, Per Diem
MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Pool Pharmacy Tech 2
- Pool Occupational Therapist
- Registered Respiratory Therapist, PT, $12,500 Bonus
- Sr. Phlebotomist
- Security Officer, FT
- Patient Financial Associate, $1k Bonus
- ED Team Coordinator, Emergency Department
- Inventory Control Administrator, Keys/Marathon Supply Chain
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 2, (MRI & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Patient Care Nurse Supervisor, PT, Nights
- Registered Nurse, Oncology, PT
- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Bonus All
