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2,996
The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania resulted in the deaths of 2,996 people. Thousands more were injured, and long-term health effects have arisen as a consequence of the attacks. New York took the brunt of the death toll when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan were attacked, with an estimated 1,700 victims from the North Tower and around 1,000 from the South Tower.
Tourists from Chicago pose for one of the first photos at the stand-in replica of the Southernmost Point buoy on Sept. 4. The original buoy is inaccessible while repairs are made to the seawall and sidewalks around its original location. The project is expected to last about a year. See page 6. MARK HEDDEN/Florida Keys News Bureau
CONVICTED, THEN PARDONED, JAN. 6 RIOTERS ARE FEATURED SPEAKERS
Southernmost Republican Club welcomes Bryan & Tonya Bishop
mandy@keysweekly.com
AMarathon man who admitted to assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots and was sentenced to 45 months in prison was the featured speaker, with his wife, at the Southernmost Republican Club meeting in Key West on Sept. 8 at the Key West Yacht Club.
Bryan Bishop and his wife, Tonya Bishop, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense and was sentenced to two years probation, were among more than 1,500 rioters who were pardoned on President Donald Trump’s first day in office in January 2025.
Bryan Bishop had served five months of his 45-month sentence when the pardons were issued.
Originally arrested in Marathon in August 2023, Bryan Bishop pleaded guilty in April 2024 to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers after video footage from the Jan. 6 riots captured him spraying a Metropolitan Police Department officer in the face with a chemical irritant before entering the Capitol.
“This is a big one,” Trump said of the “full, complete and unconditional” pardons that drew condemnation from Democratic lawmakers and even a few Republicans.
“It is a betrayal of the law enforcement that protected all of us that day and a dangerous endorsement of political violence, telling criminals that you can beat cops within an inch of their lives as long as it’s in service to Donald Trump,” Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said of the blanket pardons in January.
Though Trump had for months promised to grant clemency to many Jan. 6 defendants, some still questioned, until Inauguration Day, whether the pardons would include violent offenders and those who had
assaulted law enforcement officers during the riots.
In a Jan. 12 interview with Fox News, Vice President JD Vance stated that those who committed violence on Jan. 6 “obviously shouldn’t be pardoned,” causing backlash from rightwing supporters.
Bryan and Tanya Bishop, who have since returned to their liveboard boat in Boot Key Harbor off Marathon, were the featured guest speakers at the Southernmost Republican Club, which met Monday at the Key West Yacht Club.
Press was not allowed at the meeting, which was only open to registered Republicans, but the club faced backlash on local social media sites as word of its guest speakers spread.
Todd German, vice chairman of the Southernmost Republican Club, told the Keys Weekly that he was aware of some opposition from local Democrat activists, but said the Bishops had already spoken at meetings of the Upper Keys and Middle Keys Republican Clubs with no issues.
Speaking with the Keys Weekly a few hours before the meeting, German said, “To me, this is an opportunity to hear a firsthand account, and hear what they have to say. There’s a reason the president pardoned them, because I think it was a complicated matter that day. This isn’t an endorsement, just listening. I want to bring the Republican party of Monroe County together.”
German also emphasized that the meeting was not a Key West Yacht Club-sponsored event. “We just rent the yacht club for meeting space,” he said. “This is not a yacht club event.”
Local Democratic activist Marilyn Kellner stood on the sidewalk outside the yacht club on North Roosevelt Boulevard photographing people who arrived for the meeting.
“This is who the Southernmost Republican Club is celebrating: Insurrec-
Bryan and Tonya Bishop leave jail in Key West, released on bond on Aug. 8, 2023 after being arrested for crimes committed during the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
tionists who assaulted police officers at our nation’s capital,” Kellner posted on Facebook. “On Jan. 6, 2021, their speaker, Bryan Bishop, ‘sprayed a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer directly in the face with an orange-colored chemical irritant and then sprayed a second MPD officer by aiming the spray at an upward angle in order to spray under the officer’s face shield,’ the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release stated.”
According to federal court documents detailing the Bishops’ case, FBI investigators cross-referenced photos of Bryan Bishop from his Florida, Minnesota and Idaho driver’s licenses and passport renewal application with public video, CCTV and police body camera footage recorded during the Capitol riot. Together, the complaint states, the imagery identified him as one of the individuals who assaulted members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on the Capitol’s West Terrace before entering and roaming the capitol building for roughly 17 minutes.
In addition, Bryan was allegedly identified as an individual labeled the #UnderHelmetSprayer in a wanted poster released by Sedition Hunters, a “global community of open-source intelligence investigators working together to assist the U.S. FBI and Washington D.C. Capitol Police in finding people who allegedly committed crimes in the January 6 capitol riots.” His criminal complaint details several camera angles appearing to show him spraying two MPD officers in the face with a chemical irritant.
MANDY MILES
STATE ERASES KEY WEST’S RAINBOWS AND THE POINT IS?
Shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 9, crews from the Florida Department of Transportation covered Key West’s rainbow crosswalks in thick black asphalt while Key West Police were nearby in the event of any protests. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
Pride crosswalks covered in blacktop
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
They’re gone. After months of Key West residents’ protests against state overreach and impassioned pleas for protection of the city’s rainbow crosswalks, state transportation workers covered them with tar-like blacktop shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 9.
The erasure at the intersection of Petronia and Duval streets occurred within 12 hours of the Florida Department of Transportation issuing a final order that determined Key West’s painted crosswalks to be noncompliant with state rules and must be removed.
“This decision follows a process that, in my view, lacked fairness and impartiality,” Key West city commissioner Sam Kaufman said on Sept. 8. “Concerns were raised in a related case (involving other cities with similar crosswalks) by attorney Howard DuBosar, who filed a Verified Motion to Disqualify FDOT’s presiding officer. That motion outlined troubling evidence of potential bias and predisposition within FDOT’s own ranks. Unfortunately, Key West will not benefit from that challenge because our city commission has chosen not to pursue the motion to disqualify, nor any arguments on appeal or in court.”
The city commission on Sept. 3 voted 4-2 not to fight for the crosswalks and not to pursue any potential legal actions against FDOT, as cities such as Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach are doing.
Kaufman and commissioner Monica Haskell voted on Sept. 3 to hire attorney DuBosar to pursue a legal injunction that would bar the state from removing the crosswalks until a court could hear the case.
But after hearing from more than a dozen residents urging the commissioners to protect the pride crosswalks, and one who opposed spending taxpayer money on them, Kaufman and Haskell were the only ones willing to continue the fight.
Commissioners Donie Lee, Lissette Carey, Aaron Castillo and Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez opposed Kaufman’s motion on Sept. 3. Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover was absent due to illness.
Once the commission shot down Kaufman’s proposal, Lee, a longtime former Key West police chief, who is gay, proposed, “If the city is found not compliant, then I move we direct staff to take no further action against FDOT and instead work with the Key West Business Guild to permanently and publicly designate the ‘gayborhood.’ We may be erased from the street, but not from the public.”
Following FDOT’s final ruling on Sept. 8, Kaufman said, “FDOT’s final order now stands without further review. This means that Key West will not have the opportunity for an independent and fair determination of whether our crosswalks truly comply with the law. More importantly, our community is left without a chance to challenge whether FDOT applied its own standards in an unbiased and just manner.
“At stake is not simply the design of our crosswalks, but the broader principle of whether state agencies should be allowed to act as both prosecutor and judge in matters affecting our community. The people of Key West deserve transparency, accountability and fair treatment from the agencies that govern us.”
Kaufman on Sept. 9 emailed Key West city manager Brian L. Barroso, pointing out the commission’s vote to “pursue alternative displays of rainbow designs in the area,” and asking for an update on the progress being made in coordination with the Key West Business Guild on that initiative.
Substitute southernmost buoy shifts to new spot, temporarily
the surrounding area.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Key West’s most photographed landmark is boarded up behind construction fencing, but a substitute Southernmost Point buoy has been erected at a temporary new spot a block away.
City crews have started a longawaited, year-long overhaul of the southernmost selfie spot and the surrounding seawall at the corner of South and Whitehead streets. The “southernmost swap” took place overnight in Key West on Sept. 4.
Years of storms and saltwater have taken their toll on the seawall at the flood-prone downtown corner. Once the seawall is replaced, crews also will repaint the original buoy and add landscaping and other beautification features at the corner. Key West city commissioner Lissette Carey has also suggested that the “Southernmost Point / 90 Miles to Cuba” be painted on both sides of the buoy so photos can be taken from both sides to alleviate the lines that form daily for photographs.
“It is the most photographed landmark in the city of Key West,” Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez said. “You can come here at 8 in the morning; there’s already a line. Come here at 11 at night; there’s a line.”
Weekly
The concrete landmark marks the southernmost point in the continental United States. Almost. The actual southernmost spot of Key West, geographically speaking, is located on off-limits, militaryowned property.
While the work takes place, the large, painted concrete buoy that announces Key West’s location 90 miles from Cuba, has been painted all white and is now enclosed in a plywood box behind construction fencing that lines the last block of Whitehead Street.
An exact replica buoy has been placed in the pedestrian plaza at the south end of Duval Street, 1400 Duval St., and has already become a popular social media spot. Once the work at South and Whitehead streets is complete, the original buoy will be unboxed, freshly painted and reopened to the public.
According to Henriquez, the landmark’s origins date to 1972 — when “Southernmost Buoy” was simply painted on a piece of plywood. On Sept. 10, 1983, the city of Key West unveiled the now-iconic concrete buoy seen around the world in photos today.
As for the future of the temporary buoy, could it stay afloat after the original returns, and provide a secondary photo-op location? That remains to be decided, according to Key West tourism officials.
Left: A replica of the Southernmost Point buoy is ready for its close-up at the pedestrian plaza at the foot of Duval Street, 1400 Duval St. Right: The original Southernmost Point buoy at South and Whitehead streets is enclosed in plywood and blocked by construction fencing during a year-long project to replace the seawall and spruce up
MANDY MILES/Keys
Key West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art
Cultural Resilience
CUBAN ART TOURS
November 10-14, 2025 & April 20-24, 2026
Alfred D. Crimi
Beezelbub, 66” x 48” Oil on Canvas
Step into the visionary world of Alfred D. Crimi (1900–1994), a Sicilian-born American artist whose brushstrokes profoundly impacted 20th-century public art.
Crimi’s creations, such as the soaring murals at Harlem Hospital, transformed the halls ofthis institution and the walls of the Key West Aquarium. His work seamlessly blends architectural precision with lyrical abstraction, capturing the spirit of a nation undergoing signi cant transformation. As a proud contributor to the WPA Federal Art Project, Crimi’s legacy intertwines immigrant resilience, New Deal optimism, and the evolution of American modernism.
Crimi’s extensive career spanned numerous one-man exhibits and group shows, showcasing his work in major national and international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
In addition to exhibiting in Paris, Rome, Bologna and Trieste, his outstanding frescos and mosaics are in the public buildings like theWashington DC post o ce.
Works Available on Approval & Concierge Services from Key West to Key Largo The Gallery on Greene | 606 Greene Street | Key West, Florida galleryongreene.com | 305-304-2323
We are celebrating locals all summer long!
Present your Monroe County ID and receive 20% off all merchandise August 15th - September 30th.
PRESTON BREWER MURDER TRIAL SET FOR OCT. 6
Judge considers defense motion to suppress police video footage
Despite a judge granting him a $3 million bond, accused murderer Preston Brewer has remained in jail since the February 2023 shooting death of Key Wester Garrett Hughes, who was 21 at the time of his death.
Brewer’s murder trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 6 in front of Judge Mark Jones, who has also scheduled three days for jury selection, given the attention the case has received.
At a hearing on Sept. 9, Brewer’s defense attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, argued for the suppression of video evidence that was recorded by Key West police in the early-morning hours immediately following the shooting at the now-closed Conch Town Liquor and Lounge on North Roosevelt Boulevard. Ballarotto argued this week that Brewer had “unequivocally” asked for his attorney immediately after the shooting in the bar’s parking lot and thus the video evidence of Brewer speaking with police should not be allowed to be presented at trial.
Prosecutors Colleen Dunne and Joe Mansfield have argued that Brewer’s statements about attempting to call his attorney that night do not amount to an “unequivocal” request for an attorney.
When Brewer got to the Key West police station the night of the shooting “every statement is initiated by Mr. Brewer,” Dunne argued at the Sept. 9 hearing. “He’s also the one who asked to speak with a specific detective, Detective Marcus DelValle, and the police department complied. What reason would he have to request Detective DelValle other than to talk?”
Judge Jones took both sides’ arguments under advisement and said he would rewatch a 55-minute compilation of videos that the lawyers on both sides assembled.
“I know my decision will affect your trial preparations on both sides, but I can’t in good conscience make a decision here today. I have some homework to do and I’ll take it under advisement.”
Both sides’ attorneys were amenable to the judge’s consideration.
Ballarotto had sought in December 2024 to have Jones dismiss Brewer’s murder charge, based on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law that allows people to use deadly force in self-defense without retreating if they are in a place they have a right to be and are not engaged in criminal activity. The defense only applies if the person reasonably believes they are threatened with imminent death or great bodily harm, and it only applies to people who are not the aggressor.
Jones denied the self-defense claim in February 2025, having listened to arguments from Brewer’s attorney and state prosecutors. Jones determined that Brewer, now 59, was the aggressor, writing in his fivepage order, “It is clear to the court that the defendant, Lloyd P. Brewer III, instigated his deadly confrontation with Garrett Hughes.”
In his order, Jones summarizes the situation that unfolded that night of Feb. 13, 2023 at Conch Town Liquor & Lounge on North Roosevelt Boulevard, which is now closed. At the time of the shooting, following the 2023 Super Bowl, Brewer’s family had owned the building that housed the bar business and the parking lot where the shooting occurred, but did not own the tenant business.
The judge wrote that the incident started when Brewer exited the bar and saw a drunk Hughes, who had been drinking in the bar moments earlier, in the parking lot, urinating against the wall of a neighboring
building. Security video footage shows that Hughes was shirtless and wearing shorts and flip flops at the time of the shooting.
“Unfortunately, at the time, both men were intoxicated,” Jones wrote. “Without a doubt, their respective states of intoxication contributed greatly to the catastrophic decision-making that ultimately brought about Mr. Hughes’ death and Mr. Brewer’s prosecution.”
The judge acknowledged that Hughes, a Key West native who was 21 at the time of his death, should not have been urinating on the wall and that Brewer, the property owner, had the right to admonish Hughes “and use lawful measures to curtail his inappropriate conduct.”
Jones wrote that Hughes should have listened to Brewer and to his own friends and simply left the property to end the situation.
“Things should have ended with the verbal exchange between the two men,” the judge’s order states. “Unfortunately, Mr. Brewer took it upon himself to drastically escalate the situation by physically confronting and cornering Mr. Hughes. Specifically, Mr. Brewer advanced across the parking lot while simultaneously lifting his shirt sufficiently to display and grasp his holstered and loaded handgun. When Mr. Brewer stopped about 10 feet from Garrett Hughes, Mr. Hughes found himself trapped between the wall and the parked vehicles on either side of him with a gun-packing, angry man blocking his only obvious means of escape.
“The court finds that stand your ground immunity was not enacted to protect someone like Lloyd Brewer under these circumstances, which he created,” the order states.
Ballarotto appealed Jones’ self-defense denial, and in May of this year, the Third District Court of Appeal refused to hear oral arguments pertaining to Brewer’s self-defense claim, meaning the case would proceed to trial.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Key West resident and former business owner Preston Brewer appears at a court hearing on Sept. 9. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
TIME’S UP FOR TRANSIENT RENTALS IN TRUMAN ANNEX
mandy@keysweekly.com
Twenty years felt like some far-off date in the future back in 2005. It was the year of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Hurricane Wilma here in Key West. An online video platform called YouTube had just launched and the world was picking sides in the “Brangelina” relationship.
In Key West, 2005 also brought an end to years of lawsuits and appeals, with a settlement agreement granting property owners in the Truman Annex neighborhood 20 years of transient rental rights.
Owners could offer their units for weekly rentals, which are significantly more lucrative than the monthly vacation rentals allowed at most properties in town without a pricey transient rental license.
That special transient rental license, granted only to the 300 or so Truman Annex property owners, and only for 20 years, expires Dec. 22. City officials will notify all 291 Truman Annex owners of the upcoming expiration starting next month.
“The city’s online licensing system is programmed to issue pro-rated renewal fees for the period of Oct. 1 to Dec. 22, ensuring all Truman Annex transient licenses expire uniformly on Dec. 22, 2025,” states a Sept. 3 memo from code enforcement director Christopher Counsellor to the mayor and commissioners.
Throughout November and December, “Property owners may apply for a non-transient license to rent on a long-term (or monthly) basis postexpiration,” Counsellor wrote. “The pro-rated fee for the new non-transient license (effective Jan. 1 to Sept. 30), will be $16.65. All active transient licenses for Truman Annex properties will be automatically closed in the city’s licensing system on Dec. 22, 2025.”
Anticipating the upcoming expiration, many local vacation rental companies have been alerting visitors to their website of the upcoming changes at Truman Annex, where properties will no longer be available for weekly rentals as of
Dec. 22.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ongoing efforts by some property owners to persuade city officials to extend their more profitable transient rental rights.
Real estate broker and Truman Annex property owner Michael Behmke recently presented a proposal to other Truman Annex property owners. Under the proposal, the owners would ask the city to extend their short-term rental rights for another 20 years. In return, Truman Annex owners would spend $750,000 a year — totaling $15 million over 20 years — "exclusively on the acquisition of market-rate, multifamily residential units within the city of Key West.”
The properties purchased would be deeded to the city of Key West to be used exclusively and in perpetuity as affordable rental housing for Key West Police and Fire Department personnel.
“We believe responsible and well-regulated short-term rentals can be part of the solution,” Behmke told the Keys Weekly in an Aug. 27 email. “By leveraging rental opportunities, we can help generate resources and identify pathways to acquire or support properties specifically for attainable housing. This could offer a direct benefit to our first responders, while maintaining the character and integrity of our neighborhood. We are committed to continuing an open and constructive dialogue with residents, city officials, and community leaders. Our goal is to collaborate on a balanced approach — one that meets the needs of our community today while helping secure its future.”
Not all city officials, when reached by the Keys Weekly, were on board with granting special rental rights to a particular group of homeowners in a particular neighborhood.
“I had received requests for meetings about this from property owners back when I was running for office and in the start of my term, but lately, I haven’t heard a word from anyone seeking to extend the transient rental rights, probably because I started from the state that I would oppose it,” commissioner Monica Haskell said. “Any investor down there had adequate notice
20-year agreement for weekly rentals ends Dec. 22
of the date these rentals would end. People can still rent their units out for a month at a time, as they can nearly anywhere in the city. But if we gave Truman Annex new transient licenses, we’d likely be subject to multiple lawsuits from every other property owner who wants permission to offer transient rentals. The city has made a lot of mistakes with Truman Annex in the past, such as when it tried and failed to develop the property into housing but was unable, and ended up selling it to a private developer. But there’s no reason we need to continue to perpetuate those mistakes.”
Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez and commissioner Donie Lee both echoed Haskell’s concerns about potential lawsuits from other property owners seeking transient rental rights. The mayor added that she has said since she first ran for office that she is not in favor of extending those special transient rental licenses.
“When I first got into office, I met with the folks who were interested in extending the rentals and were offering the city money or housing for workforce housing,” Lee said. “But the reason I don’t support that is because I was advised by our former city attorney that if we did that for Truman Annex, then we’d have to offer transient rental rights to everyone who wants them and that would be a Pandora’s box that I’m not willing to open.”
“I am not aware of any proposal to extend transient vacation rentals in the Truman Annex, and I would not support such an expansion,’ commissioner Sam Kaufman said. “The city made clear agreements with neighbors and residents years ago, and I believe those commitments must be honored. Any attempt to expand vacation rentals in this area would face strong community opposition, and I would insist that the issue be addressed only through an open and transparent public process.”
Commissioner Aaron Castillo, whose district includes part of Truman Annex, said on Aug. 26 that he wasn’t aware of any efforts to extend the transient rentals.
MANDY MILES
SHERIFF’S CAPTAIN COMPLETES FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY
tough ‘Yellow Brick Road’ obstacle course during his 10-week stint at the FBI National Academy. CONTRIBUTED
Capt. Jonathan Crane spends 10 weeks at Quantico
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
It’s an honor, a privilege and a rigorous challenge only offered to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office once every seven or so years. And last week, a captain with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was more than up to the challenge.
Capt. Jonathan Crane, operations leader of the sheriff’s office Bureau of Corrections, graduated on Sept. 4 from the FBI National Academy, a 10-week program for senior law enforcement officials from around the country and the world that takes place at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia.
Since 1935, the academy has offered leadership, advanced education and fitness training to senior law enforcement managers in an effort to standardize and improve law enforcement practices worldwide.
“The program is very focused on college-level academics and extensive physical fitness and agility training,” Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in describing the experience at Quantico, which he completed years ago. “Only about one half of one percent of law enforcement officers in the country are given this opportunity, and we’re only offered a slot every seven years or so. People are always excited
to go, but are often surprised by how tough it is academically and physically. But it’s really the pinnacle of your career if you finish it.”
And Crane finished with flying colors, completing the FBI’s infamous “Yellow Brick Road” obstacle course.
Participants from city, county and state law enforcement agencies spent 10 weeks together taking a variety of courses that they choose, Ramsay said.
“It’s truly like a shortened semester of college, where you pick the classes you want to take,” he said. “I wanted Crane to take a specific class in public speaking, in terms of press conferences when it comes to handling crisis events in a community, in addition to four or five other courses.”
This year was the first time Ramsay had selected someone from MCSO’s Bureau of Corrections to attend.
“But Jon Crane is such a leader,” Ramsay said. “He’ll be our next bureau chief of corrections when Major Tim Age retires. Crane has been a captain for a long time, and I want to send people who will come back and use what they learned there for the good of our agency and our community.”
Ramsay added that the FBI pays for the National Academy, “so I just had to pay Crane’s salary while he was gone.”
Additionally, participants in the FBI National Academy must commit to remain in law enforcement for at least three years following their participation in the academy.
Left: Monroe County Sheriff’s Capt. Jon Crane shakes the hand of FBI director Kash Patel upon graduating from the FBI National Academy on Sept. 4 in Quantico, Virginia. Right: Capt. Jonathan Crane successfully completes the FBI’s infamously
CITY ANSWERS FORMER PLANNING DIRECTOR’S CRITICISMS
Response entitled ‘Correcting Misstatements’
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
On Sept. 4, two days after former Key West planning director Katie Halloran sent a scathing letter to local media representatives, criticizing the workplace at city hall and outlining her reasons for her Sept. 1 resignation, city spokeswoman Alyson Crean released a 400-word response entitled, “Correcting Misstatements,” denying Halloran’s claim that the planning department had been “dismantled,” and that her office had been cleaned out and moved without her knowledge or permission while she was out caring for her ailing father.
In her two-page letter that was addressed to Key West residents and voters, Halloran wrote, “the hostility directed at the planning department has worsened under current city manager Brian Barroso’s administration.” She described chronic understaffing and wrote that because of funding and staffing cuts, as well as consolidation of positions and duties, “the planning department has now effectively been dismantled.” Halloran also detailed a disciplinary action that was taken against her and the city’s failure to actively investigate a complaint she filed against Barroso in April.
“I am deeply concerned that implementation of the grand jury’s recommendations will remain a mirage,” Halloran wrote. “Perhaps this will be beneficial to some. But special treatment for some is an unfair disadvantage for many others. If you aren’t a well-connected property owner or business person, and you have to play by rules that others can bypass, you cannot compete. … The hostile work environment at city hall today is not conducive to positive progress.”
The city responded to the letter two days later.
“Out of concern for the 500-plus professionals who work for the taxpayers of the City of Key West, some of the statements by Halloran need to be corrected,” the city’s response states.
“The Planning Department has not been ‘dismantled.’ It is now fully staffed for the first time in several years, with the exception of the Director position, which was vacated by Halloran’s resignation on Sept 1.
“After consultation between the Growth Management Director Patrick Wright and City Manager Brian L. Barroso, a more efficient and fiscally responsible solution to the City’s internal structure was developed: reallocating existing Building Department permit technicians to be cross-trained in all permit types, including HARC and Urban Forestry. This realignment allowed the Planning Department to retain a dedicated Administrative Specialist rather than sharing that resource across multiple smaller divisions such as Resiliency, Housing/ Community Development, and the CRA.”
As part of a reorganization, city manager Brian L. Barroso has created the city’s new Growth Management Division, a coalition of related departments — planning, building, code enforcement, licensing, historic preservation and others — now under the “umbrella” of Wright. A professional planner and former city employee, Wright returned to Key West in April to lead the new division, a job that made him Halloran’s boss and third in command among city administrators, under the city manager and assistant city manager, according to the organizational chart on the city’s website.
The new umbrella organization “provides an interdepartmental collaborative opportunity, replacing the previous ‘silo’ style arrangement,” according to an overview of the reorganization efforts that the Keys Weekly received from Crean on Aug. 28.
“Part of the reorganization included rearranging offices, including moving Wright’s office,” states the city’s response to Halloran, who criticized city officials for cleaning out and moving her office while she was out caring for her ailing father. “Given the space constraints and the departments overseen by Wright, including Code Enforcement and the Building Department, the most logical move was to relocate Wright to the first floor to be closer to daily operations.
“As a result, he moved to the Planning Director’s office, and the Planning Director was reassigned to the central office space in the planning suite to be in closer proximity to their team.”
“’This isn’t a change I wanted to implement without you,” Wright told Halloran in an email on June 27. “But in light of the Commission’s directive and space constraints, I believe this layout will support better collaboration and operational efficiency moving forward.”
“This move was made out of necessity and organizational logic,” the city’s response states, adding comments from Wright, who said, “The atmosphere within City Hall, and especially within the Planning Department and broader Growth Management team has significantly improved. Interdepartmental collaboration is at an all-time high. I have implemented regular meetings among directors and managers across Growth Management to foster teamwork, address concerns and share innovative ideas.”
Former Key West Planning Director Katie Halloran and Key West City Manager Brian L. Barroso CONTRIBUTED
Key West Cooking School
In Loving Memory of Geraldine Gail Diaz
A Tribute to Abuela, the Light of My Life
born October 2, 1933 passed September 1, 2025
With profound sadness and enduring love, I honor the life and legacy of Geraldine Gail Diaz, lovingly known to me as Abuela. A fourth-generation Conch whose roots ran deep in the heart of her community, Gail was more than a cornerstone — she was the unwavering beacon guiding me through every joy and trial. She gave me advice nearly every day, and I held her opinion in the highest regard. She encouraged me to pursue my degree and was my biggest cheerleader when it came to my grades. She was more than a motivator; she was a leader. She taught me how to do hard things and not to waver when times were tough. Her unwavering strength and boundless kindness left a mark that will endure forever.
Abuela was the very de nition of resilience; her spirit was unbreakable, and her heart was always generous. She was not only my grandmother but my best friend — the person who o ered comfort, wisdom and laughter at every turn. To know her was to know the steadfast support that only the truest love can o er; she stood behind me, no matter what, teaching by example how to live with compassion and grace.
Her love story with her soulmate, Fire Capt. Peter Diaz, was legendary — two hearts united by courage, loyalty and a shared devotion to family and community. Together, they built a legacy of service and love that inspired all who crossed their path. They spent over 70 years together, laughing and loving till her last breath.
Abuela found joy in the simplest pleasures: the rich aroma of Cuban co ee, the sweet tang of guava, and the warmth of a bustling kitchen, where stories and laughter owed as freely as the café con leche she so cherished. Every gathering was made brighter by her presence, her gentle humor and sage advice elevated every dinner with friends. It was such a delight when she would tag along, and I will cherish the memories and traditions we created. She was a lighthouse in every storm, steady and reassuring, illuminating the way forward with her love. Her support was unconditional, even when she gave without knowing. Though my heart is shattered with this loss, I nd comfort in the legacy she leaves behind, and a world made gentler and brighter because Gail Diaz was here. It was my honor and privilege to be your caregiver and support in your nal months. It is by God’s grace and His divine plan that He brought me into your life and gave me the courage and strength to step into that role. Thank you, Uncle Peter, for all you have done and for all you continue to do.
In these dark days, I nd peace in the vision of her being reunited with those she treasured most— walking with Patron, John David at her side, her laughter ringing out as she once more embraces her beloved baby, Peggy Ann. Surrounded by the family members she cherished who have gone before, Abuela's heart is whole again. In this tender reunion, I know she is engulfed in the love she gave so freely, nding joy in familiar arms and smiles, watching over me with the same warmth and devotion that guided me these past two decades.
Stella and I will learn to live without her, never being able to ll the void she leaves behind. I will miss our traditions of Christmas lights on the trolley, Nutcracker ballets, birthday dinners and wagyu burgers. Thank you for being such a force in my life. Thank you for loving me as if I was your own. Thank you for encouraging me and comforting me. Thank you for standing up for me and for making me a priority. Thank you for the love you gave my mom, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends.You made a lasting impression, and we are so grateful for that.
I must take a moment and acknowledge Uncle Peter, Dr. Tingle, Maureen, Marc, Jeanne and Toya. I would also like to acknowledge all the doctors and nurses at Lower Keys Medical Center who always handled her with such care and concern and made sure her meals were soup and sweets. Even the Publix pharmacy techs went above and beyond for her care. Every reman and EMS who rushed to her side when needed, and stopped by just to check in. The little things can make all the di erence. These last three months went so smoothly, only because of those mentioned above. I couldn’t have done it without all of you by my side.
Her memory will forever be cherished in the stories I share, the traditions I uphold and the simple moments — a cup of co ee, a taste of guava.
Rest peacefully, Abuela.You were, and always will be, the light of my life.
XOXO Britt
NONPROFITS IN LINE TO LOSE SOME COUNTY FUNDING DESPITE EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE CUT
Cates’ proposal would have set additional $550,000 aside
Monroe County Commissioners voted 4-1 for a tentative $674 million spending plan with funding cuts still in place to Florida Keys nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations.
The approval during a Sept. 3 budget hearing in Key West came after two commissioners attempted to alleviate the cut. Specifically, nonprofit agencies in social services and health that receive funds through the county’s Human Services Advisory Board are in line for a 50% reduction.
It’s a $1.1 million slash in total funds for organizations like Keys AHEC, Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, Domestic Abuse Shelter, Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS), Key West’s MARC House and Samuel House, in addition to other nonprofits.
Additional county budget cuts include layoffs, eliminating 20 vacant positions and forgoing Freebee rideshare service. Spending reductions of $41.6 million, as outlined in the tentative budget, come amid new scrutiny over local government spending by the state Department of Government Efficiency. Formed in February by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the stage agency mirrors the federal DOGE once spearheaded by Elon Musk to eliminate “wasteful spending.”
A presentation by DOGE team lead Eric Soskin to the Florida Association of Counties in June outlined the department’s priorities, including pinpointing “trendy or low-ROI” spending along with “unnecessary use of taxpayer funds to support (non-governmental organizations)” and “subsidized competition with private enterprises.”
A report by DOGE highlighting government spending across the Sunshine State is expected to come out in January 2026. Out of that report, Monroe County officials are hoping to get clarity on what DOGE and the state deem as “unnecessary spending.”
Several public speakers told county commissioners they didn’t believe government funding for nonprofits serving vulnerable populations was “unnecessary.”
“We are the only certified domestic violence center serving Monroe County,” said Sherrie Schwab, executive director for the Domestic Abuse Shelter.
Commissioner Craig Cates proposed giving human services nonprofits 50% of funding they requested for the upcoming fiscal year and potentially an additional 25%, or roughly $550,000, from reserves once they receive more clarity from the DOGE report. FILE PHOTO
She said funding through HSAB supports the organization’s outreach program from Key Largo to Key West. The five-person HSAB recommended the Domestic Abuse Shelter receive $98,895 in county funds. With county funding cuts, the shelter would receive half of that.
“We provide life-saving service, and not everybody needs emergency shelter,” she said. “Outreach is provided to those who aren’t in an emergency but need essential life-saving service.”
Commissioner Craig Cates proposed giving human services nonprofits 50% of funding they requested for the upcoming fiscal year and potentially an additional 25%, or roughly $550,000, from reserves once they receive more clarity from the DOGE report. Commissioner David Rice, who supported Cates’ motion, said it’s an “acknowledgement of hope and intent for our nonprofit community.”
Ultimately, Cates’ motion failed 3-2, with commissioners Holly Raschein, Michelle Lincoln and Mayor Jim Scholl voting “no.” Raschein said she supported Cates’ intention while noting commissioners could still reconvene and potentially provide additional dollars once more guidance comes out of Tallahassee in early 2026. Scholl agreed with Raschein’s statements.
Lincoln noted the commission agreed to increase its millage rate in order to generate an additional $2 million for its emergency reserves for hurricane cleanup. Between the cuts and increase in the millage to 2.7372, or $273 per $100,000 of a property’s taxable value, the county is expected to boost its emergency reserves from $10 million to $14 million.
Lincoln expressed concerns about using funds from the reserves for something else. Lincoln also said that not every county funds nonprofit the way Monroe County does through HSAB.
“I understand we’re much different just given where we live than most other counties,” she added.
Commissioners subsequently approved the millage rate via unanimous vote and the tentative spending plan via 4-1 vote. Rice was the lone “no.”
County Administrator Christine Hurley acknowledged they went into the budget knowing the state’s priorities related to government spending.
“Some are not popular and we know that and we are sorry for that. But we recognize after the state passed their budget, the governor vetoed a substantial portion of the budget related to nonprofits and the arts,” she said.
In July, Keys Weekly reported some $560 million was axed from the legislatively-approved state budget by the governor. A little more than $5 million in similar health-related funding across the state, identified as “Appropriation 436” in the Legislature’s budget, was cut. It included $975,000 for Keys AHEC, which provides dental services, including cleanings, sealings and X-rays, as well as health services, including physicals ahead of the school year, for children in the Keys.
Cuts at the state and county levels are serving as a double-whammy for Keys AHEC. Michael Cunningham, Keys AHEC CEO, said his organization stands to lose $98,000 in county funds.
“This will have devastating effects on health and social service programs that care for our working class families, children and disabled,” Cunningham told Keys Weekly. “Services currently available for many agencies will be reduced or eliminated and will likely never be able to be restored. We thank those who tried to assist and were supportive.”
A final county hearing on the millage rate and spending plan was set for Sept. 10 at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo.
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
MARK HEDDEN
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
It is a bad thing to want.
At least when it comes to birds. At least when it comes to seeing specific birds. At least when it comes to me.
There’s a thing in birding called chasing, which, somewhat obviously, is when you make an effort to see a specific bird, usually a rarity, which may or may not stick around. Most of the time it requires somewhere between a bit and a lot of driving. I’ve done it quite a few times. Sometimes I see what I’m looking for, though more often it seems that I don’t. (I’ve never actually done the success/failure math.)
But, honestly, chasing is my least favorite kind of birding.
I mean, I love a good birding adventure, but I’d rather explore a new place and see what there is to see, as opposed to it being so goal-oriented.
This may come off as smug and spiritually superior to some, especially to some hardcore listers – I’ve gotten into some really strange arguments with listers about this online – but I don’t think it is. Even when I see a bird I’m looking for, I generally feel ambiguous about it. I can check it off a list, but I’m just not that interested in the list. Different strokes, and all that.
Still, like the urge to eat Spam, I do occasionally feel the chasing impulse, follow it and then kind of regret it later.
It wasn’t the urge to chase that came over me yesterday, but rather something chase-adjacent.
It started with a text from Chris Bergh, telling me he was on a boat off Big Pine and saw a flock of about 100 common nighthawks fly over, heading from northwest to southeast. Later I got a text from Loren Ilvedson telling me he’d been fishing off Cudjoe and had seen two flocks of about 120 nighthawks each. He even sent some video of birds swirling around maybe 100 feet above the water.
And then there were the numbers from the Florida Keys Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon. They didn’t have any common nighthawks in the first hour of the count, but they had 57 in the second hour. There were none for the next three hours, then 512 between 1 and 2 p.m. and 1,861 between 2 and 3 p.m. They crossed over 3,000 total nighthawks just after 5 p.m., and as the sun went down and storms approached, they ended the day seeing 3,527 — an insane number of nighthawks.
Despite the fact that nighthawks are not hawks – they are insectivores in the nightjar family – the folks at the hawkwatch try to count every bird that passes, not just raptors. Common nighthawks are one of the two species of nighthawks that breed in the Keys (the other is the Antillean nighthawk) but you don’t see flocks of them in the breeding season, just individuals flying around, feeding by flying in the unpredictable zig zag patterns that allow them to scoop up bugs in their open mouths.
It’s not that I haven’t seen flocks of common nighthawks migrating. I vividly remember seeing my first flock, up in Everglades National Park, ironically enough while I was chasing a
NIGHTHAWKS AND CONSOLATION
black-faced grassquit. I’d taken a walk through a band of slash pines at the edge of the Long Key Campground, when suddenly there was a flock of about 100 of them, silent as ninjas.
They weren’t flying the twisting random trajectory they follow when feeding, but instead were a loose alliance, a comfortable mob, a group of birds traveling together on the same itinerary, though without the lockstep (lockflap?) synchronized movements of, say, starlings or homing pigeons. The whole scene probably lasted about 20 seconds. The ease and fluidity of their movements has haunted me ever since, in the best way.
I’ve seen similar flocks two or three times around Key West, but it’s never been something you can predict or chase after. It’s lightning in a bottle.
But seeing the numbers accrue from the hawkwatch yesterday (you can follow their counts live on trektellen.org) I started to covet the sight of a flock of migrating common nighthawks. With so many birds, there seemed to be a chance.
It was too late to drive up to Curry Hammock, so I went up on the roof of The Studios of Key West and sat for two hours, staring into the open sky with no luck.
The next morning, I watched the numbers start to build at the hawkwatch. They counted 310 nighthawks by 9 a.m., close to 1,000 by 2 p.m., when I finally managed to pull out of the driveway and head up there.
Mariah Hryniewich, the lead counter at the Florida Keys Hawkwatch, was standing at the top of the stairs when I got there, scanning the sky. It was hot and bright. The clouds, as Tom Waits would say, were like headlines on a new frontpage sky – long rows out over both the Gulf and the Atlantic.
Mariah said that now that the sun was out, things seemed to have slowed down. The last nighthawks she’d seen was a group of about 40 a half hour before.
There was a slow movement of osprey, and I caught sight of a distant, fast-moving dot, which turned out to be my first peregrine falcon of the
season. And I had a chance to meet Delaney Cassidy and Charlie Trent, fun, enthusiastic, young birders who are the two other counters for the season. (One of them may also be something of a molluskophile.)
The five o’clock, end-of-the-watch-period hour passed with no more nighthawks. The three of them hung out for another hour, trying to help me see some nighthawks, with no luck.
I did get the fine consolation prize of a small kettle of nine swallow-tailed kites spinning slowly through the sky as if they were circling some kind of invisible maypole. (The swallow-tails put the count at 2,827 for the season. They are hoping to clear 3,000.)
The sun was in my eyes as I crossed the Seven Mile Bridge, which isn’t the worst fate in the world. By the time I hit Bahia Honda the sky was in peak, full glory, all Halloween orange and streaky clouds. Another consolation prize.
I stopped to take a photo, and while I was walking back to my car, I caught sight of something, a shadow coming in from the north. It flew close above me on a power glide, crossed the road, dropped down into the park.
A common nighthawk. It might have only been .0201126307% of the number seen at the hawkwatch in the previous two days, but it was consolation prize number three.
I was in a pretty good mood as I rolled onto the Spanish Harbor Channel Bridge to Big Pine. There was just enough light to see the shape of the world, to appreciate the last embers of the day. Which is when I saw another dark silhouette coming in from the north, then another and another, a small armada, a bona fide flock, zipping across the road, one at a time, nighthawk after nighthawk. I counted 35 by the time I hit the far side of the bridge. No doubt more continued to cross behind me.
It wasn’t a consolation prize. It was a damn full-on prize. I didn’t feel ambiguous about it at all.
A recent sunset over the Old Bahia Honda Bridge. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
THE SEA MONSTER IN THE LIBRARY
KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY
In the early 1980s, sparked by a passionate love for my island home, I became obsessed with Key West history. But I never dreamed the obsession would lead me to discover a sea monster.
It wasn’t a living, swimming sea monster. It was fossilized, and I discovered its story rather than its actual bones. But for a writer like me, uncovering that story in a dusty pile of documents was almost as exciting as finding bones.
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.
It began, as so much historic research did (and still does), at the local library. A low pink building on Fleming Street, the library held a treasure trove of files, photos and documents chronicling Key West’s past — and two patient women named Betty Bruce and Sylvia Knight, who guided my eager exploration of it.
Betty, founder of the library’s Local and Florida History section, had her own intriguing story. She and her husband, Toby Bruce, had been close friends of Ernest Hemingway during his Key West residence. After Hemingway died, Betty helped his widow evaluate and donate items he left behind upon departing from Key West.
When the sea monster first (metaphorically) reared its head, I was researching the Florida Keys’ 19th-century wreckers — who were sometimes maligned as lawless, but actually saved countless people trapped on sinking ships. Stories are still told about their navigational skills, proud spirit and courage in daring stormy seas to rescue crews, passengers and cargo.
In the Key West court of Judge William Marvin, the wreckers received monetary rewards for their work — with the amount determined by the value of the vessel and merchandise saved, and the degree of danger the wreckers faced due to weather and sea conditions.
In the 1800s the wrecking industry made Key West the richest city per capita in the United States. The wreckers’ exploits fascinated me — even before I discovered that, in 1845, they salvaged a sea monster.
1. Betty Bruce, left, who founded the Key West library’s Local and Florida History section, and Sylvia Knight helped patrons discover the island’s colorful past. WRIGHT LANGLEY COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center 2. Florida Keys wreckers are portrayed rescuing passengers and cargo in the central sculpture at the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA/Contributed 3. A drawing published in Harper’s Magazine circa 1875 depicts Florida Keys wreckers at work. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Contributed
The details were chronicled in several 1971 letters between Betty Bruce, Margaret Chapman of the Florida Historical Society, and a Missouri archivist named Frances Stadler. They were tucked into an old file, unmentioned in any wrecking books and articles I could find. Unearthing and telling the story became my quest.
The letters led to an 1840s diary published by an offbeat German fossil hunter named Dr. Albert Koch. In 1845, somewhere in Alabama, he found a fossilized serpent that measured 114 feet long.
He called it the Hydrarchos and made plans to ship it to New York to be exhibited. A letter from Frances Stadler to Betty Bruce, however, revealed that the ship carrying it — the Newark, bound for New York from Mobile and carrying 644 bales of cotton — had sunk in the waters off the Florida Keys.
For Koch, waiting in New York, the news was devastating. If wreckers had managed to reach the sinking Newark, he feared they had ignored his boxes of fossil bones and saved objects of
more obvious value. Even if the Hydrarchos had been rescued, he couldn’t afford the fees the salvage court would assess for its return.
His concern was unfounded, because the wreckers had a surprise for Koch. Not only did they risk their lives to save his precious Hydrarchos, but they decided to send the “giant sea serpent” to him in New York without charge — as a service to science and man.
When I wrote to Frances Stadler, she sent additional details from her husband’s book that translated Koch’s diary. My article telling the unusual tale was quickly published in a local magazine.
Though that was decades ago, sometimes I still wonder why the wreckers so generously returned the Hydrarchos. Koch believed they realized its importance to science, but maybe the true answer is more elemental. Battling the storm that sank the Newark, maybe they recognized the monster as a fellow creature of the sea — and simply wanted to see its old bones to safety.
CAROL SHAUGHNESSY
Best Oceanfront Dining
NEW CONCH FLYER RESTAURANT OPENS AT AIRPORT
Legendary eatery is now located beyond security checkpoint in Concourse A
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
An old legend in Key West has a shiny new look and location inside the new Concourse A at Key West International Airport.
The Conch Flyer had a storied history at the local airport, as its bar was once open 24 hours a day due to the airport’s location on county-owned property, which at one point didn’t have a required closing time for bars. Local stories of late nights, early mornings and missed flights abound.
The most recent incarnation of the Conch Flyer, which was located pre-security at the airport, is now closed and a new version has opened inside the new concourse, beyond the TSA checkpoint.
The new restaurant and bar features some new menu options along with old favorites. Passen-
gers can enjoy a pre- or post-flight breakfast, including eggs your way or a toasty cinnamon roll — and as always, bloody Marys and mimosas.
Lunch offerings include a Cuban sandwich, conch fritters and island fish tacos, plus homemade Key lime pie for dessert. The menu also features craft cocktails, a variety of beers and select wines from California.
The Conch Flyer, located near gate 8 in the new terminal, opened last week under the management of Master ConcessionAir LLC, which is also managing Chili’s Grill & Bar, Starbucks, Maestro Della Pizza and Farm2Air Market, all at EYW.
“This is another fantastic addition to our variety of options for food and drink within the new concourse,” said Richard Strickland, Monroe County director of airports.
“The reception has been outstanding.”
The new Conch Flyer restaurant and bar has opened at Key West International Airport, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, but beyond the security checkpoint in the new Concourse A. CONTRIBUTED
REEL RECS
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Ferrari” (2023)
Why: Car racing movies carry expectations for obviously propulsive plots as their protagonists court deadly danger while seeking glory. While films like “Rush” and “F1” put us behind the driver’s seat, “Ferrari” shows us the perils faced by a man at the head of the enterprise at a crucial moment: Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) in 1957. His company, built in partnership with his wife, Laura (Penélope Cruz), is struggling to survive, selling sports cars to rich consumers; meanwhile, he’s obsessed with the racing side of the business. His personal life is also headed for a wreck after the death of his and Laura’s son and heir – while he has a secret second family with his mistress, Lina (Shailene Woodley). Not to worry: there are still thrilling (and sometimes shocking) race sequences, along with the gorgeous look you expect from the director, Michael Mann.
Where: This film is available as a DVD and from Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/ keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/ contact-us.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
SHELF HELP
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime” by Sean Carroll
Why: As someone who struggled with math and was almost completely lost with physics, Sean Carroll has given me a chance to better understand the world. Physics explores the laws that govern how the world works. Carroll provides a readable and easy-to-understand introduction to physics and more specifically to quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics deals with matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic (i.e. extremely small) level as opposed to classical physics or general relativity, which is concerned with larger phenomena such as humans, planets and galaxies. Carroll’s narrative is spirited, straightforward and enjoyable. I encourage you to discover a truly remarkable book.
Where: You can borrow this as a print book from the Monroe County Public Library.
How: You can request books, including e-books and e-audiobooks, by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org
Recommended by: Richard H. Richardson, senior library assistant, Key West library
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/post/ shelf-help.
TEEN REACHES QUARTERFINALS IN ATHLETE OF YEAR CONTEST
Vote online for Nicholas Talpasz of Key West High School
Key West High School
freshman Nicholas Talpasz is competing in the Youth Athlete of the Year Competition and has made the quarterfinals. Online voting is now taking place and votes for the local multisport athlete can be placed for $1 each at athleteoftheyear. org/2025/nicholas-9306.
The Athlete of the Year competition is a nationwide campaign to raise money and awareness for the Why Not You Foundation and the V Foundation (Victory Over Cancer). The competition is in partnership with Sports Illustrated and 3BRAND.
The winner will be named Youth Athlete of the Year, star in a 3BRAND ad in Sports Illustrated and will win $25,000. The competition started over a month ago and Nicholas has made it to the quarterfinals.
He just started his freshman year at Key West High School and was previously at Sigsbee Charter School. The family has lived in Key West for roughly 13 years, and Nicholas was a part of the 14U Key West baseball team that
made history last year, winning first place at the state level, and the first-ever team from Key West to win the Southeast Region. The team then went on to play in the Babe Ruth World Series in El Paso, Texas, where the teams came from all over the globe, including Aruba, Australia, Canada and Mexico.
Nicholas competed in a CrossFit competition in June, where he was the only teenager in a group of adult men, and finished in the top 15 of the entire group, said his father, Dave. In addition to baseball and CrossFit, he played on the Sigsbee basketball team all three years of middle school and was named the team’s MVP. Sigsbee was also one of the only schools south of Orlando that offered the sport of archery, and Nicholas made it to the state archery competition in Tallahassee. Just entering high school, he is a starter on special teams for the Conchs.
Visit athleteoftheyear.org/2025/ nicholas-9306 for more information and to vote for Nicholas Talpasz.
Nicholas Talpasz is a quarterfinalist in the Athlete of the Year contest held in partnership with Sports Illustrated and 3BRAND. HEATHER DOW/HDD Photography
LOCAL REPORTING BY LOCAL JOURNALISTS
TRUSTED EXPERTS IN THE FIELD
For 22 years, Keys Weekly has been the ONLY locally-owned and operated news source covering all of the Keys with our boots on the ground and our butts in the seats at meetings.
Jim McCarthy, Editor
Upper Keys Weekly
305.850.8034 jim@keysweekly.com
Mandy Miles, Editor
Key West Weekly
305.923.6012 mandy@keysweekly.com
Alex Rickert, Editor
Marathon Weekly
401.256.0645 alex@keysweekly.com
CAREER CRIMINAL, CONVICTED OF GRAND THEFT, SENTENCED TO PRISON
AMonroe County jury found 64-year-old Ned Jeffery Layton guilty of grand theft on July 15, following a two-day trial before Circuit Judge Mark Wilson.
Layton, a repeat offender with a lengthy and violent criminal history, was sentenced on Aug. 28, to seven years in Florida prison followed by three years of probation. Judge Wilson also ordered Layton to pay fines and court costs.
The first five years of his sentence must be served “dayfor-day,” meaning he will not be eligible for early release, gain time or other sentence reductions during that period. Layton was to begin serving his prison term immediately.
The state successfully pursued enhanced penalties under Florida’s habitual felony offender statute due to Layton’s extensive criminal record, which includes prior convictions for robbery, battery on a person over 65, felony theft, grand theft and criminal mischief.
This latest conviction arose from an incident on July 28, 2023, when Layton was caught stealing nearly $1,900 worth of merchandise from the Key West Home Depot. Detectives with the Key West Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit found Layton retrieving boxed tools he had hidden beneath a rental trailer in the parking lot. Among the stolen items were a Lincoln 180 HD wire feed welder, a Ridgid 6-gallon air compressor with a three-tool combo, a DeWalt 20-volt Max XR combo kit, and a Lincoln Port-A-Torch welder.
Video surveillance confirmed Layton entered the store with an empty cart and exited minutes later with the merchandise, passing all points of sale without paying. A Home Depot employee recognized him immediately and provided sworn statements and documentation.
“This case demonstrates exactly why Florida has habitual offender sentencing laws,” State Attorney Dennis Ward said. “Mr. Layton has made a career out of stealing and hurting others. With this sentence, our community is safer, and Monroe County residents can rest assured that repeat offenders will be held fully accountable.”
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield credited Assistant State Attorneys Maddie Thompson and Mike Tettleman for their work on this case. Ward also commended the work of Detectives Kenneth Waite and Marcus del Valle and the Key West Police Department, as well as the cooperation of the Home Depot staff.
— Keys Weekly staff report
KEY WEST MAN GETS 10 YEARS FOR TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH MINOR
Clifford Frederic Lind, 41, sent explicit images & offered to rent a hotel room
Aman whose address was listed in the Truman Annex neighborhood of Key West was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child after communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles imposed the sentence on Clifford Frederic Lind, 41, who used the online alias “it is what it is.” Lind pleaded guilty in April to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and attempting to entice a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May 29 and June 4, 2024, Lind exchanged messages through social media and text messages with someone he believed was an underage girl. During those exchanges, which took place while Lind was in Key West, he sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself and requested images from the individual he believed to be a minor. Lind also discussed plans to meet the purported 13-year-old in person to engage in explicit sexual activity, including details about picking her up and where they would stay.
According to court documents, the man described the
intimate acts he planned to do with the girl, and sent videos of him masturbating to the online persona he thought was a 13-year-old girl named Gracie. (The online persona was actually an FBI agent posing as a young teen.)
FBI Miami, Key West Resident Agency investigated the case with help from the Key West Police Department, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to find, arrest and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. More information is at projectsafechildhood.gov.
Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
— Contributed
Ned Jeffery Layton. CONTRIBUTED
TAKE ME HOME?
FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA
The Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus.
From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.
Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.
Having a Big Mac attack? Look no further than our kitten room, where you’ll find Big McIntosh. There’s no secret to this 4-month-old little man’s sauce — it’s pure, 100% love. Come on down and make this Big Mac a decision you’ll never regret.
FAMILY OF BOY BITTEN BY SHARK CREDITS DAUGHTER, DIVE FIRSTOPERATOR,RESPONDERS
Yes, you’ve met Perry. After all, he’s been with us since the beginning of February. But if you had truly met Perry, he’d be home with you right now and you would be reading about a different dog. Come and get him. He’s a doll. And he’s waiting. Patiently.
Kinsley. This sweet, 4-month-old male kitten is ready for you to show him the world. A dazzling place he never knew / But when he’s way up here, it’s crystal clear / That now he’s in a whole new world with you. Visit Kinsley today at our Key West cattery.
Say hello to Spike. This 4-month-old sweetie is a cool dude in a loose mood. He’s a little rebellious, a little snuggly and all kitten. Spike is looking to don his leather jacket, get on the back of your Harley and blow this popsicle stand of a kitten room. Will you be the one to help Spike live his dream?
This is Zippy, the bird of mystery. This little bird is a Quaker parakeet, cute as a button. We are unsure if Zippy is a male or a female and we don’t know Zippy’s age. But we DO know this is one adorable bird who must be seen to be truly appreciated. Maybe Zippy will share all of his secrets with you.
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
The family of an 8-year-old boy who was recently bitten by a shark is crediting the rescue and response to several individuals.
David Burrows said his son, Richard, and daughter, 10-year-old Rose, were snorkeling in the waters off Key Largo around 3 p.m. on Sept. 1, when a blacktip shark rushed them and bit Richard on his right knee. The injury was significant, but assistance from several people helped address the severe wound.
Burrows said his daughter Rose was instrumental in her brother’s rescue.
“(We) are immensely proud of the strength of character and composure she demonstrated under pressure,” he said.
The family received assistance from the commercial diving company Horizon Divers, which helped apply a second tourniquet to Richard’s leg after Burrows initially applied one. The boy was brought to shore at Garden Cove Marina where Monroe County Fire Rescue
rendered aid and transported him to Trauma Star. Richard was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Star. Surgeons were able to save Richard’s leg following surgery. He was released on Sept. 3.
“Richard is recovering well from his surgery and is gaining strength by the day. He is in good spirits. Our hope is that he will be back enjoying his passion for the ocean and marine life with his older sister in no time,” Burrows said.
The Burrows family extended its sincere thanks to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsey and the sheriff’s office; Monroe County Fire Rescue; Richard Hayden from Horizon Divers Garden Cove Marina; Trauma Star Air Ambulance flight crew and paramedics; and the teams at Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center, led by Dr. Vincente Nelson, surgical critical care; and Dr. Brian Grottkau, chief of pediatric orthopedics.
The Burrows family said they thank everyone for their messages of support and well wishes and assistance. They are now requesting privacy to focus on Richard’s recovery.
Meet
Richard Burrows, 8, is recovering at home after he was bitten by a blacktip shark while snorkeling near Horseshoe Reef off Key Largo on Sept. 1. CONTRIBUTED
David Burrows said his daughter, Rose, was instrumental in her brother’s rescue.
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
Are you feeling discombobulated? Confused?
Overwhelmed?
Off your game? If so, you are right on track in this powerful eclipse season. We are currently traversing the space and time between the lunar eclipse that took place on Sept. 7 and the solar eclipse that will take place on Sunday, Sept. 21. During eclipse season, major changes and transitions take place, and the shifts we are experiencing are happening under obscured lighting. We cannot see clearly as we experience these tectonic shifts, so we must use our intuition and faith to continue moving forward without the light of reason. These eclipses are taking place across the Virgo-Pisces axis, bringing about significant transformation in both our overarching narrative and the particular details that we choose to pay attention to. Do you feel our collective story changing? What pieces of information are you focusing on? The particulars and the overall context of our lives mutually constitute each other, and the whole shebang is going through an adjustment. Amidst all of this change and confusion, however, the cosmos is giving us a moment of clarity. On Saturday, Sept. 13, there is a Mercury cazimi. This astrological phenomenon brings about a flash of insight, an instant of understanding. Use your intuition as your guide throughout this two-week eclipse cycle, but on Saturday use your noggin.
Here are your horoscopes for the Mercury cazimi during eclipse season. Read for your rising and sun signs.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
You are rewriting your own story, Virgo, and you are doing so by redefining how you show up in partnership. We are not isolated atoms. We require other people.
How you emerge in relation to an “other” defines your “self,” so show up with intention. On Saturday, you will clearly see the part or parts of yourself that you can let go so as to show up more fully in relationships. Release the parts that no longer serve you.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
This eclipse season is about reorienting your inner and outer worlds. Our daily routines are reflections of our inner life, and under this sky you are in the process of transforming both. How do you find peace in your chores? How do you actively meditate and reflect? This Saturday, you will discover what personal practices need to be let go so you can move forward in a better flow.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
Joy is something that can come from your own creativity and from a supportive social network. Both of these parts of your life are being redesigned. Your creative energy needs an outlet, and you are discovering the most efficient one. On Saturday, it will become clear who is in your corner and who is holding you back. Don’t be afraid to cull the herd and distance yourself from unsupportive people.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
The home-work dynamic is a constant balancing act. Enjoying a peaceful family and home life is a counterpoint to an active work and public life. This eclipse season is all about transforming that relationship. How are you navigating these spheres of experience? On Saturday, you will be granted a clear understanding of how your work and your public reputation can better serve you.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
We live in a world of our immediate, concrete experiences and
grand plans and personal philosophies. You are probably experiencing big changes in your immediate environment, and these changes are sparking new thoughts about what is beyond the horizon for you. This Saturday, you will see how your belief system needs to change and what new adventures are required for your well being.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
Our value systems determine our investments, and you are reconsidering your values. How do you make and spend money, and to whom do you feel karmically indebted? My guess is that you have done a lot of work paying off your karmic debts, and it is high time to claim your debt paid. This Saturday, you will clearly see that you have done the work, and it is time to find new investments.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
We define ourselves by the partners we keep, and you are going through a changing of the guard. As you change, your partners in life also change, and that is simply a part of life. As you honor and let go of your important partner(s), you are also honoring and letting go parts of yourself. This Saturday, you will clearly know who needs to be released. Do so with love.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
You are finding new ways to be alone, new ways to process your spiritual impatience, new ways to meditate. That is fabulous; however, the rubber does not hit the road until you also change your actions. On Saturday, you will receive clarity about your habits and routines, particularly which ones need to stop. Create space for new ways of being, and jump in.
Taurus
April 20 - May 20
Creativity is born from childlike wonder, and as we age, we are
CLARITY WITHIN CONFUSION
encouraged to leave that simple naïveté behind. However, this eclipse season is encouraging you to rediscover the simple joys. Surround yourself with people who elicit that feeling in you. This Saturday, you are granted the opportunity to tap into your inner child and participate in the world with fresh gusto.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
It can be difficult to maintain consistency between our public and private lives. We don’t always show our true selves in public, and we lament our lack of authenticity in private. This eclipse season is all about getting back into right relationships. Find your integrity in whatever sphere you inhabit. On Saturday, you are offered clear thinking about what needs to be released concerning home and family.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
You are experiencing your familiar surroundings differently, and that is also changing your dreams of bigger adventures. How are you harnessing these changes to serve you rather than deter you? On Saturday, you will clearly see how your local neighborhood, your siblings and your communication style need to transition in order for you to redefine your belief system.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
This eclipse season is about investing in yourself, but doing so in a way that you are also creating new connections. Your values are reflected in your investments, so start with getting really serious about what you put stock in, then find the people and opportunities to infuse with your time and money. On Saturday, you will clearly see what needs to shift in your value system.
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WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?
How cocktails tell stories
CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com
The surroundings may suggest Key West’s rich literary heritage, with an antique typewriter on a low table and a shelf of vintage books against one wall, but it’s actually the cocktails that tell stories at Bar 1 — and that’s exactly what Brad Rouge intended.
Rouge, a career mixologist with 27 years of experience, is renowned for creating drinks whose historic component or narrative is as appealing as their flavor. He indulges his passions for innovation and history as the bar manager and operations manager at the Key West Cooking School’s Bar 1, located upstairs at 291 Front St.
“We serve drinks that tell a story — not only of Key West, but stories of classic drinks that have been around forever,” said Rouge.
For example, one of the establishment’s specialty offerings is called the Mary Pickford, in honor of the pioneering silent film actress known as “America’s Sweetheart.” Sweet and fruity, with a rum base, it was supposedly created for Pickford during a 1920s trip to Havana.
Many of Bar 1’s bartenders share Rouge’s fascination with cocktail history. In turn, they regale patrons with stories behind the libations they order — such as the unique legacy of Pickford.
“We all know what these drinks are, but to have that background makes you more passionate about it,” said Rouge. “I want our establishment to be a welcoming bar where people come to sip, enjoy, relax and also learn.”
In addition to former literary residents, Bar 1’s decor and cocktail menu salute the adventurers who have made Key West their home since the early 1800s — from shipwreck salvors and rumrunners to the anglers who battled giant billfish in area waters.
Other adventurers included the operators of illegal speakeasies during Prohibition, the 1920-1933 ban on alcohol imposed by the U.S. government. Because Key West’s free-thinking population scorned governmental rules, Prohibition prompted the launch of hole-in-the-wall spots where (upon offering a secret password) people were admitted to satisfy their thirst.
Among cocktails invented and served at that time was the Bees’ Knees, named for a then-popular slang term meaning “the best.” The recipe blended gin with lemon juice and honey, so the latter ingredients would disguise the sometimes questionable flavor of Prohibition-era gin.
The Bees’ Knees is enjoying a renaissance, since the craft cocktail movement has sparked interest in vintage concoctions — inspiring Rouge to feature it on Bar 1’s specialty menu and share its back story with patrons.
Bar 1 is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to about 8:30 p.m. Monday (or whenever the funfilled Monday night trivia concludes). In addition, daily cocktail classes are offered where participants can learn to prepare their favorite libations … and tell the stories behind them.
LAST CALL
Drink of the month: Manhattan. According to mixology lore, the Manhattan was invented in the 1860s in New York City. The amber-colored creation is a fusion of bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters. Despite its northern origins, it’s popular even in the southernmost city.
Helpful bar hack: When making a Manhattan, don’t get confused about the ratio of ingredients. Instead, remember that Manhattan’s area code is 212 — and simply combine two ounces of bourbon, one ounce of sweet vermouth, and two dashes of bitters.
Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com or call 305-294COOK.
Brad Rouge, a 27-year mixology veteran who guides the team at Bar 1, is known for creating and serving drinks that tell stories. KEY WEST COOKING SCHOOL/Contributed
Founded by Betty Debnam
Lincoln’s Plan
Fact: This painting by Francis Bicknell Carpenter shows Lincoln reading
The Emancipation Proclamation, written by President Abraham Lincoln, was published on Sept. 22, 1862. It said all enslaved people in any state in rebellion against the Union would be free as of Jan. 1, 1863. The proclamation was the first step in stopping the practice of slavery in the United States.
This week, The Mini Page learns more about Lincoln’s proclamation and how it affected our country.
What is slavery?
Slavery is the practice of one human being owning another human being, just as someone might own a car or a house.
This means that at any time, an enslaved person could be sold and sent far away from their family. They might never see each other again.
How did slavery begin?
Since the early 1600s, Africans had been brought to North America by slave traders and sold to work on farms and plantations. (A plantation is a large farm where crops are grown and workers live on the property.)
The Africans did not want to come; they were kidnapped, chained together and then forced onto a ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The ships were overcrowded, and people often got sick. Many died during the trip.
The kidnapped Africans didn’t understand the language of their captors. They didn’t know what would happen to them. After they arrived in the Americas, most were sold to work growing
tobacco, rice, sugar and cotton. Some also worked in the homes of the plantation owners.
Lincoln acts
Abraham Lincoln was a young man when he probably got his first close-up view of slavery. He traveled down the Mississippi River, where he saw men, women and children in chains and at slave sales. Lincoln was shocked at these scenes, and he began to hate the idea of slavery.
July 1864.
After he became resident, Lincoln hoped the Southern states would change their minds about slavery. But in April 1861,
Confederate soldiers attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and the Civil War began.
In the summer of 1862, Lincoln began working on his document that would free the slaves. He shared it with his Cabinet, and it was published in September.
The 13th Amendment
In December 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution made slavery unconstitutional, or against the law, in the United States.
Words that remind us of the Emancipation Proclamation are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Children who were born to slaves started working as soon as they were able. They didn’t go to school; in fact, learning to read was against the law for a slave child.
Some children wore nothing but a long shirt, with no pants, underwear, socks or shoes, even during cold winter months.
Slave children, probably recently freed, around 1870.
Kids didn’t get much food to eat. Frederick Douglass, a former slave, wrote: “Our food was coarse corn meal boiled. This was called mush. It was put into a large wooden tray or trough, and set down upon the ground. The children were then called, like so many pigs …” Kids would eat the mush with their hands because they weren’t given spoons.
The proclamation
The original Emancipation Proclamation is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The original document was five pages long and was tied with narrow red and blue ribbons. After it was published, it freed about 3.5 million enslaved Africans and allowed newly free men to join the Union army.
RESOURCES
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPEmancipation
At the library: • “If You Lived During the Civil War” by Denise Lewis Patrick
The U.N. weather agency reports that sandstorms and dust storms are intensifying worldwide due to human-driven climate change and poor land management. The storms carry health risks such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, with airborne particles contributing to about 7 million premature deaths annually. In 2024, particularly severe storms hit East Asia, West Africa and the Middle East, while dust from the Sahara Desert travels as far away as the Caribbean and Florida at times.
photo by William F. Wood
Mini
his proclamation to his Cabinet.
image courtesy House Divided Project, Dickinson College
This drawing of an escaped slave serving the Union Army appeared in Harper’s Weekly magazine in
HAPPY HOUR AT PEPE’S HAPPY HOUR 1–6 PM (INSTEAD OF 4-6 PM)
HEATING
SCOREBOARD SEPT. 1 - SEPT. 6
Team Sport Opponent
Marathon Volleyball Keys Gate 9/2 W, 3-2
Basilica Volleyball Palmer 9/3 L, 3-0
Coral Shores Volleyball Keys Gate 9/3 W, 3-1
Coral Shores Volleyball Jupiter Christian 9/5 L, 2-1
Marathon Volleyball Silver Palms 9/5 L, 3-0
Key West Football Somerset Canyons 9/5 W, 26-21
Coral Shores Volleyball Suncoast 9/5 W, 2-1
Basilica Volleyball Suncoast 9/5 W, 2-1
Basilica Volleyball Jupiter Christian 9/5 L, 2-0
Key West Volleyball South Fork 9/5 L, 2-0
Key West Volleyball Wellington 9/5 L, 2-1
Marathon Football Westminster Christian 9/5 L, 56-0
Key West Volleyball Suncoast 9/6 W, 2-0
Coral Shores Volleyball South Fork 9/6 L, 2-0
Coral Shores Volleyball Basilica 9/6 W, 2-0
Key West Volleyball Basilica School 9/6 W, 2-0
Coral Shores Volleyball South Fork 9/6 L, 2-0
THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS SEPT. 11 - SEPT. 18
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
9/11
9/12
9/15
9/17
9/17
9/18 Coral Shores Football @ Glades Day 7 p.m.
9/18 Marathon Volleyball Key West 5 p.m.
Led by three touchdowns and a two-point conversion from Walson Morin, the Key West Conchs exploded for more than 400 yards on the ground to notch a signature comeback win over Somerset Academy Canyons on Sept. 5. See page 4. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
GAERTNER
He’s a jack of all trades and great at them all.”
– Conchs head coach Johnny Hughes
Key West’s Chace Gaertner has steadily become a key player for the Conchs this season, with crucial roles on both sides of the ball. Against Somerset Canyons, Gaertner ran for 85 yards, picking them up the hard way. He often carries defenders along for the ride as he fights for extra yardage. Defensively, Gaertner is adept at reading the field and used his skills to pick off a pass in an electrifying shift of momentum for Key West. For his strong football IQ, natural talent and fantastic all-around play, Chace Gaertner is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
Chace
Sophomore, Key West Football
fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second-generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.
sean mcdonald
grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.
The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.
Se habla español THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
1. Jeff DeJean makes a run for the Conchs.
2. Walson Morin and Jeff DeJean celebrate Morin’s touchdown.
3. Cheerleaders Janiliah Moore, left, and Avery Batty dance to the fight song after a Conchs win.
4. Matthew Oviedo drags down a Somerset runner.
5. Mathew Delgado ties up a WCA defender.
6. Garret Ruddy runs the ball for positive yardage.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.
8. Marathon’s spirits are high at the start of their Sept. 5 game.
Photos by Maicey Malgrat and Justice Lee
tracy mcdonald
MARKET EDITORS
CONCHS CATCH COUGARS Key Wests earns first win of the season in final moments
Head coach Johnny Hughes knew that Key West’s Sept. 5 game against Somerset Academy Canyons was a must-win if his team is to have any chance of making the playoffs. His Conchs delivered with 400 yards of offense on the ground, overcoming the Cougars 26-21.
Hughes credited his offensive line with allowing the backs to stack up big numbers. “We do a great job of blocking and creating holes,” he said.
Jeff Dejean broke loose for a 53-yard run and Walson Morin’s longest was 78. Morin found the end zone three times and added a two-point conversion. Leo Batista touched the ball just twice, but made the most of his possessions. He scored the fourth touchdown of the game, finding daylight for a 24-yard Conch TD.
The win was about as exciting as they get for Key West. Down 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Conchs scored to take the lead. The outnumbered Conch athletes, many of whom play both ways and were exhausted, held their breath and placed their hopes on Josh Johnson. More than a two-way player, Johnson simply doesn’t leave the field, adding a triple-duty kicking role to his repertoire of skills.
“Fatigue was a factor,” said Hughes. “I was worried I left too much time on the clock.”
The Cougars had already scored on a kick return, and rather than risk them taking another one to the house, Hughes considered an on-side kick. With 53 seconds left in the game, he turned to Johnson, who reportedly said, “Coach, I'll put it in the end zone.” Johnson delivered, blasting a 60-plus-yard bomb on the kickoff.
Key West’s defense held strong in the final seconds of play, stopping the Cougars on their last drive and securing their first win of the season.
The Conchs’ win could just be the beginning of a streak. They kick off against longtime rival Belen Jesuit Sept. 12 and hope to take advantage of the Wolverines’ new spread offense. Belen is 0-3 and hasn’t scored more than one TD in a game this season.
Marathon did not earn their first win of the season against Westminster Christian last week. The unbeaten Warriors handed the Fins a 56-0 loss to keep their record unblemished while the Dolphins were left winless. Marathon will need to turn the tide this week against Zephyrhills Christian in order to keep hopes alive for a postseason bid. Coach Sean McDonald said his team will return to basics in practice this week to catch some new roster additions up to speed and shore up some areas of weakness left exposed by their loss to the Warriors.
Coral Shores did not get a chance to play last week. Their game scheduled with BridgePrep Village Green last week was canceled due to weather, leaving the Hurricanes a game and a half down this season. The Hurricanes had already taken the field for warmups when the foreboding and all-too-familiar sound of the lightning detector horn sounded.
Coral Shores played just one half against Palmer Trinity two weeks ago and will make up the second half later this month. The team hopes to reschedule BridgePrep for later in the season. While the teams work on possible dates, head coach Ed Holly reports that his team is well-rested and blessed to be without injury for their next opponent, SmartEn Sports Academy.
“We’re looking forward to getting back on the field,” said Holly. The SmartEn Goats will make the trip to Tavernier Sept. 12 to give the ’Canes their first action since August.
9.Key
GOOD KNIGHT
Fins and ’Canes hand
Keys Gate
a pair of losses in midseason
volleyball action
The Lady Fins of Marathon picked up their first win of the volleyball season Sept. 2 at Keys Gate. The Dolphins defeated the Knights 3-2 in a hard-fought battle that pleased coach Kelley Cruz.
“Keys Gate was an all-around effort,” she said. “From the girls on the court to the ones supporting, everyone was into every play.” Cruz gave credit to senior Daysi Williams, whose play up front was instrumental in the win.
“Daysi was our standout player,” Cruz said. “She was on fire at the net, from hits to blocking.”
Two nights later, Marathon lost to Somerset Silver Palms at home, but the 1-4 Fins are not discouraged. With one month to go before district tournaments, the Fins remain untested in 1A Rural play. The closest opponent in their bracket is nearly four hours away, and like last season, Marathon will not be on the same court as a team in their district until playoffs.
Coral Shores made the short trip to Keys Gate a day after the Dolphins left the Knights dejected – and the bad news didn’t end there for Keys Gate. The Hurricanes defeated them 3-1 with exceptional play all around. Violet Matthews, Abby Leigh and Alexandra Burson all achieved a perfect 100 serve percentage. Matthews registered six kills, four digs, an ace and a block. Leigh had 10 digs, five assists, four kills and a pair of aces and Coralyn Frimpter was the top hitter for the ’Canes, logging 14 kills, 15 digs and a pair of aces. Head coach Sam Ovalle also praised the play of Mira Jones and Shelby Lynn. Jones had five kills, three aces and five digs against the Knights while Lynn registered five aces, nine digs and 19 assists.
The win was particularly satisfying for the Hurricanes, as Keys Gate is part of their 3A District 16 grouping. It would not be their only win of the week, though. Coral Shores picked up two more, one against Suncoast and another against Basilica at the Conch Cup tournament last weekend. Losses to Jupiter Christian and South Fork brought the Hurricanes’ record to 6-3.
Key West hosted the annual Conch Cup, welcoming schools from across South Florida as well as neighboring Basilica and Coral Shores. The Conchs split their action, losing to South Fork and Wellington Sept. 5, but turning things around the following day. Key West beat Suncoast, then Basilica School, to place first in the silver bracket of the tourney and even their record at 5-5. The Lady Conchs will face a trio of unfamiliar teams in more tournament action next weekend in what has become their tradition of playing against larger, highly-talented teams to prepare for the postseason.
Basilica School showed some pluck at the Conch Cup tournament. The Mariners defeated Suncoast 2-1 for win number five of the season before losing to Coral Shores, Key West and Jupiter Christian. With just under a month left in their season, Basilica stands a good chance to improve on the seven wins of its inaugural year.
1. Gaby Pichardo serves for the Conchs. 2. Journey Lamb passes the ball.
3. Makenzie Morris winds up for a Mariners hit.
4. Sydney Robinson and Audrey Smith make a blocking wall for Key West.
5. Molly McKnight sets for the Conchs.
6. Audrey Smith loads up for a strike for the Conchs.
7. Celene Walker sets the ball.
8. Gloria Slavik sets up a Basilica hit.
West’s Adriana Heinrichs hits the ball as Basilica’s Fabiola Rodriguez attempts the block.
WEATHERING THE STORM
Golfers brave inclement conditions to complete match at Ocean Reef
Keys golfers managed to get in nine holes between bouts of miserable weather on Sept. 3, and despite soggy greens, athletes managed some solid scores.
In girls action, Key West’s Lexi Finigan was the top golfer, shooting a birdie on hole seven for a total score of 49. In second place was Marathon’s Justice Lee, who was seven strokes behind Finigan. Lee celebrated her firstever birdie at the match on hole two. Teammate Makenna Haines was next, followed by Key West’s Mary Alice Davila and Berkeley Tripp in fourth and fifth, then Valerie Gabriel and Melanie Estevez of Coral Shores in sixth and seventh.
The girls competed as individuals due to smaller rosters, but each of the schools had enough boys to field a team. Key West came in first, scoring a total of 229, with Marathon eight points away. Coral Shores was seven back from the Fins to finish third.
The low score of the day was on Mason Titensor’s card. Titensor’s score of 40 was just four over par and helped boost the Conchs to their team win. Two strokes behind was Coral Shores’ Scout Oliver, followed by Geo Twyman of Key West. Roco Piscetello was Marathon’s top finisher, coming in fourth overall, and Chad Stolka, Ty Hill and Canyon Miller, all Conchs, shored up the fifth through seventh spots. In eighth was Emmett Merryman of Marathon, followed by Colton Young of Coral Shores. Hurricane Dylan Lindmar tied with Dolphins Ethan Wohlers and Jackson Millard for 10th place.
Marathon’s Emmett Merryman hits a ball on hole seven while Coral Shores’ Scout Oliver looks on. MARY COLEMAN/Contributed
Makenna Haines, Lexi Finigan and Valerie Gabriel contemplate hole number three at Ocean Reef.
Weather axes another week of cross country racing
For the third straight week, Monroe County cross country teams endured cancellations due to inclement weather.
Coral Shores, the only Keys team to have completed a race this season, was scheduled to travel to two meets, one on Sept. 2 and another on Sept. 5, both at Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Miami. Hurricane coach Lyndie Meyers said her team was hopeful the latter meet would happen after Tuesday’s cancellation, but it was not to be. Meyers said her team, weather aside, is right where she wants them to be.
“They are strong, fierce and ready to run,” she said.
Marathon and Key West had scheduled the Sept. 5 race, but a travel-weary Conch squad made the decision to skip the meet late in the week. Key West head coach McGraw said she did not want to gamble on the weather, a wise decision in hindsight considering the other teams sat idle as they waited for the race official to can-
cel the contest. Marathon made the drive to Larry & Penny, only to wait it out and be sent home without a race under their belts.
Despite the long travel itinerary and no finish times to show for it, the teams’ spirits are still high. Marathon coach Helena Bursa told her team that the raceless trip was a day off from running, then scheduled them for a team training run the following day on Big Pine Key. The Fins enjoyed the change of scenery with no traffic and a wooded view as they did No Name Bridge repeats, followed by lunch at the No Name Pub.
Bursa said many of the athletes had never been to No Name Key before and that the team, in spite of recent weather challenges, is pumped for their next event.
While it wasn’t in FHSAAsanctioned action, one Dolphin did get a race – and a win – under his belt. Anthony Vargas took to the streets of Duck Key on Aug. 30 to claim gold in the Hawks Cay Heroes Salute 5K, leading the field to finish in 21:54.
Marathon’s boys and girls cross country teams pose for a post-workout photo outside the No Name Pub Sept. 6.
Dolphins cross country leaves their mark at the No Name Pub on Sept. 6 after a hard workout. CONTRIBUTED
Clockwise from top: Marathon’s Anthony Vargas, center, takes first place at the Hawks Cay Heroes Salute 5K. ROSS SMITH/Keys Weekly
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RUNNING DOWN A DREAM
School records within striking distance for some
athletes this season
Cross country is not a sport for the weak of heart – nor the weak of anything, for that matter. To be the best, an athlete must be focused, driven and willing to put their training above all. Even then, record-setting runners are a breed apart. This makes the 2025 cross country season even more exciting, as multiple runners from local schools are on the cusp of making history.
Marathon’s records are some of the freshest on the books, with the time to beat being Jonathan Pitchford’s 15:59 or Vance Bursa’s 15:46, depending on the record keeper. Pitchford ran his personal best in 2018 at states, when he broke the 16-minute barrier with a silver medal performance. Bursa’s time was achieved at the RunningLane XC Nationals in Alabama in December 2024. Though Bursa’s time is not recognized in some record books as Marathon’s fastest as it was outside of FHSAA competition, it was achieved during his senior year of high school. Bursa’s next-fastest 5K, a 16:05 he logged at states in 2024, places him in second regardless of the debate.
Either way, Bursa and Pitchford have set a high bar for future record hopefuls. This season’s best contenders for making the podium of all-time greats are Antonin Bursa and Lucian Burns, a pair of underclassmen with talent and drive. Bursa, the younger brother of Vance, and Burns train together and perform their best in tandem, something that could help them make Dolphin history of their own.
For the Lady Fins, seventh-grader Molly Joly already stands in the No. 2 spot. She is sandwiched between Naomi Valerdi, whose 2010 20:09 is the best all-time finish for Marathon’s girls, and Ella Dunn, who graduated in 2024. Joly is just over a minute behind Valerdi, and with six seasons remaining for her varsity career, a contender to make school history.
At Coral Shores, the girls record has stood the longest. Joanna McCoy broke it at states in 2009, and it’s been 16 years since anyone has cracked the top three spots in the Lady
Hurricanes’ record books, but sophomore Ali Wheatley is currently in fourth and picking up speed every day. Wheatley needs to shave just five seconds from her personal best to take over the No. 3 spot, and while the No. 1 place is more than two minutes faster than her current best, Wheatley is focused and has all the potential to surpass McCoy, especially given a three-year window in which to do it.
Collin Dickerson holds the Hurricane harrier record, with a 16:42.7 time that has held the top spot since 2014. Current senior Alaric Rodriguez has times in the 18-minute realm to his credit, and stands a solid shot at making the top three. Pushing him is a slew of teammates who often trade places at the finish line.
Key West’s Nicole Matysik has held the Conch record since 2017, when her 18:19 set the bar for future runners. To break into the top three, the time to beat is 20:17. While an improvement of more than two minutes would be unusual for a seasoned varsity runner, if anyone can do it, it’s sophomore Violet Jangraw. Jangraw has made steady improvement each season and has the never-say-can’t attitude to overcome any odds.
Key West’s Robert Perdoza surpassed Owen Allen for the best time in Conch history in 2019. Perdoza’s 15:38 is currently the best Monroe County high school finish since decent records have been kept, and will be challenging to beat. To make Key West’s top three, sophomore Sawyer Hill, senior Prometheus Delacerda and the rest of the pack will need to break 16:17, a lofty feat for any distance runner.
And while the current high school athletes work toward writing their own history, the athletes who own the records have not hung up their racing flats just yet. Last year’s 7 Mile Bridge Run was won by Joanna Stevens, formerly McCoy, and Allen, a pair of Keys locals with their names in the books for their respective schools. Vance Bursa, the winner the previous year, was second. Marathon’s
Monroe County boys all-time best cross country times
Monroe County girls all-time best cross country times
third-fastest cross country runner, Aydan Child, founded Peak Pulse, a running club with branches across Florida. He teamed up with both Bursas and Allen to win the Keys 100 last May under the Peak Pulse brand.
FICTITIOUS NAME
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Mia Bottega located at 24 Dockside Lane, Key Largo, Florida 33037, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: Mia Bottega, L.L.C.
Publish: September 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Florida Keys Cleaning located at 123 Pirates Drive, Key Largo, Florida 33037, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: Florida Keys Cleaning LLC
Publish: September 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO: 2013-CP-219-K IN RE: ESTATE OF DARREN GUTTMAN, Deceased.
Estrella Guttman, a personal representative of the Estate of Darren Guttman Plaintiff Vs. Karen Guttman
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 28th day of July, 2025, in the cause wherein IN RE: ESTATE OF DARREN GUTTMAN, Deceased. Estrella Guttman, a personal representative of the Estate of Darren Guttman is Plaintiff and Karen Guttman was defendant, being Case No. 2013-CP-219-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 personal property to wit: SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
Stock certificates representing the one hundred percent (100%) ownership interest of Karen Guttman in the following corporations:
Altruistic Endeavors, Inc.
Altruistic Endeavors, Inc.
Cabbies Cab, Inc.
County Cab Services, Inc.
Friendly Cabs of Key West, Inc.
Innovative Cab, Inc.
Key West Taxicabs, Inc.
Maintenance Investigations, Inc.
Mechanical investigations, Inc.
Monroe Cab, Inc.
Prestige Cab, Inc.
Prompt Cab, Inc.
Protector Cab, Inc.
Row Row Cab, Inc.
Safety Endeavors, Inc.
Service Cab, Inc.
Yellow Cab Company of Key West, Inc.
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 16th day of October 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 personal 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 22nd day of August, 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:
August 28 and September 4, 11 & 18, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
UPPER KEYS PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-000341-P IN RE: ESTATE OF KATHERINE T. EBERT, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of KATHERINE T. EBERT, deceased, whose date of death was February 3, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Hwy., Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: September 11, 2025. Signed on September 4, 2025
Personal Representative: MARY M. EBERT 224 Columbine Ave., Unit A Whiting, NJ 08759 Attorney for Personal Representative: Victoria Miranda, Esq.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 2025-CP-357-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT T. ROYALL, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ROBERT T. ROYALL, deceased, whose date of death was May 2, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: September 11, 2025.
E. Cheryl Culberson
Personal Representative 161 Leoni Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036
Rayme L. Suarez, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 0086622
Law Office of Rayme L. Suarez 92400 Overseas Highway, Suite 7 Tavernier, Florida 33070
Email: raymelaw@gmail.com
Secondary email: danrayme@ aol.com
Publish: September 11 & 18, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
FILE NO. 25-CP-000339-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF ANNE HAMILTON GOVE, a/k/a ANNE H. GOVE, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Anne Hamilton Gove also known as Anne H. Gove, deceased, whose date of death was December 17th, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2,
Plantation Key, Florida 33070.
The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: September 4, 2025.
Personal Representative: Gordon Hislop, Jr 34 Old Post Road Newington, NH 03801
Attorney for Personal Representative: George R. Moraitis, Jr.
Attorney for Petitioner E-Mail Address: gmoraitisjr@ mcklaw.com
Florida Bar No. 0597058 Moraitis, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey 915 Middle River Drive, Suite 506 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Telephone: 954-563-4163
Alternate E-mail: cmiethe@ mcklaw.com
Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
UPPER KEYS PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-392-P IN RE: ESTATE OF JUDITH L. MURPHY, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of JUDITH L. MURPHY, deceased, whose date of death was February 28, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Hwy., Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION
OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: September 4, 2025.
Personal Representative: REBECCA A. NELSON 11379 Shaw Road Rockford, IL 61114
Attorney for Personal Representative: Victoria Miranda, Esq. Fl Bar No. 1015363
Attorneys for Personal Representative Hershoff, Lupino & Yagel, LLP 88539 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070 (305) 852-8440 – Telephone (305) 852-8848 – Facsimile JLupino@hlylaw.com - Primary VMiranda@hlylaw.com –Primary kvilchez@hlylaw.comSecondary Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-344-M DIVISION: MARATHON PROBATE IN RE: ESTATE OF DAVONNA IRENE CHURCHILL Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Davonna Irene Churchill, deceased, whose date of death was April 15, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor
as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. 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 September 4, 2025.
Personal Representative:
Raymond G. Churchill 150 Coco Plum Drive, Slip 23 Marathon, Florida 33050 Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173
Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 44-2025-CA000024-A0-01-PK JOSE ROBERTO TRIANA, and MARILYN GONZALEZ PlaintiffS, v. MANGROVE MARINE HOLDINGS, LLC, d/b/a GILBERTS, and MANNY DORTA, Defendants. NOTICE OF ACTION TO: Manny Dorta Address Unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action has been filed against you in the Circuit Court of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Monroe County, Florida, regarding the motor vehicle accident occurring on September 29, 2024, on 107900 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to Kendrick Almaguer, Esq., Attorney for the Plaintiff, The Hachar Law Group, whose address is 7900 Oak Lane, Suite 401, Miami Lakes, FL 33016, and file the original with the clerk of this court at Clerk of the Circuit Court, 5000 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040 on or before September 29, 2025. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Dated this 18th day of August, 2025. KEVIN MADOK CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Publish: August 28 and September 4, 11 & 18, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-1320-K
DIVISION: FAMILY STACY ANNE PAULWELL Petitioner, and TAVERES DENARD WATLEY
Respondent, NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: TAVERES DENARD WATLEY 2821 Windsor Forrest Ct, College Park, GA, 30340 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 STACEY ANNE PAULWELL, whose address is C/O Law Office of Wayne Dapser, 300 Southard St, Suite 208, Key West, FL 33040 on or before October 11, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead St, 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: September 5, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: September 11, 18 & 25 and October 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-918-K EDWIN ANTONIO AMADOR MIRANDA, Petitioner, and AMELIA BEATRIZ AMADOR BELETA, Respondent. AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: AMELIA BEATRIZ AMADOR BELETA RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: COL. 14 DE SEPT DEL SUPEREXPRESS 4 C AL S ½ ABAJO, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA 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 EDWIN ANTONIO AMADOR MIRANDA, whose address is 5582 1ST AVE, APT 201, BOX 5, KEY WEST, FL 33040 on or before September 29, 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
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
following real or personal property should be divided: N/A
Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.
WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: August 22, 2025
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk
Publish:
August 28 & September 4, 11 & 18, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-64-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5111, Week 46, Even Year Biennial Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE COUNT(S) I entered in a case pending in said Court, the 4TH day of August 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST ANGELA BRUNO, DECEASED, AND RAYMOND DELIMAN, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO ANGELA BRUNO
Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC64-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of August 2025
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk
Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2023-CC-78-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit D21, Week 43, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) II entered in a case pending in said Court, the 5TH day of August 2025 Style of which is:
BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST JANICE ESTELLE KOWALKE, DECEASED AND JOANNE FYRES, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO JANICE ESTELLE KOWALKE Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2023-CC78-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of August 2025. KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-272-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT
COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in
the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5724, Week 52, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AFTER DEFAULT AS TO COUNT(S) V, VI entered in a case pending in said Court, the 5TH day of August 2025
Style of which is:
WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Plaintiff vs. BRIAN MARCH BRAUN; LISA LA MONICA BRAUN
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC272-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 7TH day of August 2025
KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit B23, Week 28, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) VI entered in a case pending in said Court, the 24TH day of June 2025
Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST RONALD WAYNE
BYRON, DECEASED AND SUE BYRON, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO RONALD WAYNE BYRON
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025.
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit F21, Week 28, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) XI entered in a case pending in said Court, the 8TH day of July 2025 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST REGINALD DEMPSEY CRAIG JR., DECEASED
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025.
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit F21, Week 42, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) IX entered in a case pending in said Court, the 8TH day of July 2025 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST REGINALD DEMPSEY CRAIG JR., DECEASED AND CHRISTINE ANN CRAIG, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO REGINALD DEMPSEY CRAIG JR. Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025. KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-292-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5714, Week 24, Even Year Biennial Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments
thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AFTER DEFAULT AS TO COUNT(S) III, IV entered in a case pending in said Court, the 5TH day of August 2025
Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Plaintiff vs. DOYLE SCOTT NEELEY AND KATHRYN LORELLE NICHOLSON Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC292-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of August 2025
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk
Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish:
September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-42-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5134, Week 4, Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE COUNT I, UNIT 5134, WEEK 4 entered in a case pending in said Court, the 26TH day of June 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FORPROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE HYDUK FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST DATED MARCH 26, 2003
Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC42-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 2ND day of July 2025 KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-275-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit A22, Week 17, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AFTER DEFAULT COUNT(S) I entered in a case pending in said Court, the 5TH day of August 2025 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, A FLORIDA GENERAL PARTNERSHIP Plaintiff vs. JOSEPH R. CEPPARULO AND DENISE R. CEPPARULO Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC275-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of August 2025. KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-272-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5334, Week 18, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AFTER DEFAULT AS TO COUNT(S) III, IV entered in a case pending in said Court, the 5TH day of August 2025 Style of which is:
WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Plaintiff vs. KATHLEEN A. WELLINGTON
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC272-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 7TH day of August 2025
KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit A33, Week 46, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) VIII entered in a case pending in said Court, the 24TH day of June 2025 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST ALANEL JO KREUSCH, DECEASED AND DUANE C. KREUSCH, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO ALANEL JO KREUSCH Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025.
KEVIN MADOK
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit A14, Week 2, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) IV entered in a case pending in said Court, the 8TH day of July 2025
Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THOMAS PORCHER RAVENEL, DECEASED Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025. KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-42-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5433, Week 25, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public
LEGAL NOTICES
Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) IV entered in a case pending in said Court, the 26TH day of June 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FORPROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE HUYDUK FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST DATED MARCH 26, 2003 AGAINST DARWIN STUBBS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO SHIUKI STUBBS; DANIEL C. STUBBS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO SHIUKI STUBBS; DENISE GALLARDO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO SHIUKI STUBBS; AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIR, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST SHIUKI STUBBS, DECEASED
Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC42-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of August 2025
KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish:
September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-97-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5533, Week 40, Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE UNIT 5533, WEEK 40 entered in a case pending in said Court, the 26TH day of June 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FORPROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff
vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST MARGARET SUSAN THOMAS, DECEASED; KATHERINE THOMAS, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MARGARET SUSAN THOMAS; AND SARAH STEPHENSON, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MARGARET SUSAN THOMAS Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC97-K
WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 2ND day of July 2025
KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Publish:
September 4 & 11, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 2024-CA-61-K
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE
BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT
COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 22ND day of September 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit:
Unit A14, Week 42, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).
Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) X entered in a case pending in said Court, the 8TH day of July 2025
Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST MARIA FIORE WILSON, DECEASED; ASHLEY WILSON, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MARIA FIORE WILSON; AND CASEY STEINBERG, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO MARIA FIORE WILSON
Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA61-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 23RD day of July 2025. KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County, Florida By:
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: September 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great - have svc. records from 89k miles, A/C works. REDUCED to $3000OBO Bring an offer! Located in Marathon. Call Evan 305-417-0169 SOLD!!!
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOATS FOR SALE
GREAT DEAL: Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/ trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. $15,000 Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906
17' Montauk Whaler, 90hp Yamaha-50 hours only, GPS, Depth Finder, Radio, Aluminum Trailer, excellent condition. Located in Marathon. $11,000 OBO 305-849-5793 SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!
PLACE YOUR BOAT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
Dockage up to 60’ Islamorada - Bayside, 50 amp service. Call 860-982-4517
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
PLACE YOUR BOAT SLIP FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
EMPLOYMENT
Night Monitor –FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare.com/ join-our-team/
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer serviceoriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am-7pm daily. Full time/Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-219-3359 and ask for Dave.
PAVER DAVE INC. is now hiring in the Lower Keys. Must have Driver’s License. Bobcat driver experience helpful. Pay depends on experience. Call 305-304-3966
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
HOBBIES/COLLECT
PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
Beautiful Studio Apt. on the water w/ pool, furnished, W/D. Professionals & Military welcome. $1,800/mo 1 person, $2,200/mo 2 persons, All utilities included. No Pets. Non-smoking. F/L/Security negot. Big Coppit Key, MM10. 305-849-0693
UNFURNISHED 2/2 HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $2,750/month, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com
3 BR/2 BA home for rent in Key Colony Beach. 75' premium dock. $4,000/ month + utilities. F/L/S 786-229-0228
Shonta McLeod
HOUSING FOR RENT
2BR/2BA Single Family Waterfront Home for rent in Marathon. Fully furnished. 70' dock. $4,500/ month includes all utilities, internet & TV. Available for 4 months - JanApril. 727-278-1105
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Completely remodeled. All appliances. No pets. $2700/mo for 2+ ppl.$2,500/mo if less, incl. electric only. F/L/S Dock available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
2BR/1BA with outdoor patio for rent in Marathon. $2,100/month F/L/S Taking applications. 305-849-5793 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!
Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876 RENTED IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!!!
PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA
MARINA CASHIER
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.
KEYS ALL AREA ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION IS CURRENTLY SEEKING
A WAREHOUSE MANAGER / DRIVER FOR OUR LOCATION IN MARATHON.
Full Time Mon-Fri. Must have a clean driving record, ability to lift 50+ lbs., exp. hauling dump trailers, attention to details is a MUST. Will be responsible for receiving incoming deliveries, deliveries to job sites, mgmt. of warehouse & yard materials, trucks & trailers. Assists crews with materials as needed.
Additional duties;
*Make safety inspections of warehouse and equipment.
• Follow best practices for safety, while on the road and when loading or unloading trucks.
• Act as positive representative of our company. Displaying strong customer service and a friendly demeanor towards all people.
• Assist in completing all documentation related to warehouse compliance and audits.
• Maintain the warehouse, in a neat and orderly condition, including frequent trash removal, ensuring access to products and proper rotation.
• Ensure pallet tags are neat, legible, and accurate.
• Other related duties as assigned.
Apply in person at Keys All Area Roofing, 12235 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL or call 305 743 4400.
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
YARD SALES
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE CHEF/STEW ON A 90 FT YACHT LOCATED IN KEY LARGO
This is not a charter vessel - it’s for a very easy-going family. Would like to find someone in Key Largo or within a daily driving distance. Duties would include menu writing , food preparation and upkeep of interior of yacht.
I am the captain Chad and we have a full-time mate!! Duties are shared by all for food service and upkeep. Position is available from the end of October thru the end of April - could be longer. Please send resume to cwkibler68@gmail.com or call Chad @ 239-707-2803
Look forward to chatting with you. Compensation will be discussed.
NOW HIRING PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Marathon Boat Yard is looking for a Part-Time Administrative Assistant to perform the following duties: Answering the phone, basic bookkeeping, basic data entry and some customer service. Basic computer and email skills are required. QuickBooks experience is a plus. Bilingual is also a plus. Pay will be based on experience.
We are looking for a Dock Hand with excellent customer service to join our team. You would assist with the daily operations of our marina. Responsibilities include assistance with the daily marina tasks including helping guests arrive and depart from their dock, guiding guests over the radio, navigation, marina amenity cleaning, pressure-washing, assisting guests with golf cart rides and requests, and maintaining the marina. 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!
SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE (Full-Time, Permanent)
Weekends)
wants you to join their team!
Full or Part-time. $19/hour to start. EMAIL resume to: Bette@TurtleHospital.org APPLY in person: 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL
organization specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals. DRC provides for the well-being of its employees with a competitive package including: a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays/vacation/sick days, an employee assistance program,
COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NON-PROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!
We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Behavioral Health Therapist (CAT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT)
Prevention Specialist
Advocate
MARATHON
Advocate
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.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!
Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip
DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR
The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions.
Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma and computer data entry skills required.
DUI instructors and evaluators: 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required.
Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We are now hiring for the following positions:
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
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
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C) Medical Oncology, Per Diem
- Pool Radiation Therapist
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Clinical Pharmacist, $5k Bonus
- Cook, Dietary, $5k Bonus
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Echocardiography, Per Diem
