Key West Weekly 25-1120

| $1,195,000 | LISTING

The one for Key West life

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1075 Duval Street | Suite 15C | Key West

305.294.1117 | oceansir.com

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5

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

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4.65M

AAA projects 4.65 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period, which runs from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1. Nationwide, AAA expects 81.8 million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving, an increase of 1.6 million compared to 2024. Thanksgiving remains the busiest travel holiday of the year. AAA expects 6 million Americans to fly domestically this Thanksgiving.

& 28-30 at Tennessee Williams

See page 8. NICK DOLL/Contributed

WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING WITH BUFFETT’S

OLD RECORDING STUDIO?

Online pressure campaign backfires; board postpones decision until December

What will become of the building that was Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio at Key West’s Historic Seaport (also known as the Key West Bight)? A decision could be made on Dec. 10, when the board that oversees the city-owned property at the bight considers proposals from two entities that want to lease the building.

The Key West Bight Board was slated to choose one of those proposals at its Nov. 12 meeting. But an orchestrated, online pressure campaign urging the board to select one proposal over the other may have backfired.

Long known as Shrimp Boat Sound, the boxy little windowless building that’s covered with stickers sits along Key West’s Harbor Walk, between Schooner Wharf Bar and the Conch Republic Seafood Co.

That building, which Buffett’s company had leased from the city and used as a recording studio, is now empty and in need of repairs. In the wake of Buffett’s September 2023 death, his estate canceled its lease this past June and emptied the building of all recording equipment.

One building, two visions

The bight board members, each of whom is appointed by a city commissioner, along with city staff, now must decide what to do with the building, which has become an unofficial memorial site for Buffett.

Key West owns all the buildings and property surrounding the seaport and leases them to restaurants, bars, boats and watersports businesses, providing significant revenue to the

city. The bight board approves proposals for those leases and oversees the bight’s management.

The city had received two proposals for that building via two different methods, each one completely legal, despite suggestions of impropriety or favoritism by an online blog entry posted three days before the board meeting.

In the days leading up to the November meeting, following the post on Substack, bight board members each received 1,200 to 1,500 identical, copy-and-pasted, aggressive emails criticizing the proposal submitted by Robert Spottswood, Jr. and Spottswood Management Co. The emails

urged the board to support a proposal submitted by Nevada businessman David Bernsen, who also owns properties in Key West and was once a majority owner of the former Smokin’ Tuna Saloon in Key West.

The online opinion piece that led to the email campaign called the $25,000 check that was attached to the Spottswood proposal, “tribute money to the gods of City Hall.”

The $25,000 check was a proposal review fee required by city law.

And the resulting email campaign instead angered at least three members of the bight board.

continues on page 6

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

What will become of the boxy building at Key West’s Historic Seaport that was Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio known as Shrimp Boat Sound? A Key West board has received two proposals and is expected to decide at a Dec. 10 meeting. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

Jessica Lamdon as Amanda and Daniel Thomas Bochlas as Duane star in ‘Florida Man, the Musical,’ to be staged by Key West International Dance Co. Nov. 21-23

Theater.

WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING WITH BUFFETT’S OLD RECORDING STUDIO?

Here are details about the proposals.

Spottswood proposal

On Sept. 17, Robert Spottswood Jr., whose family has included prominent Key West developers, attorneys, business owners, politicians and philanthropists for eight generations, submitted an unsolicited proposal for a publicprivate partnership, or P3.

Such a project typically involves transferring a significant portion of the project’s risk to the private contractor with the goal being a long-term benefit for both entities.

“It is our intention to operate this space as a frozen drink and margarita bar, museum and retail sales operation showing the city of Key West’s music, arts and fishing history, with limited indoor seating and outdoor seating for up to 20 persons,” Spottswood’s 35-page proposal states.

The city would receive rent that would include a percentage of revenue from the proposed new business.

The proposal was hand-delivered to the city manager’s office on Sept. 17, as required by city law.

The city requires that the entity submitting an “unsolicited detailed P3 proposal,” pay an up-front $25,000 project review fee. “Payment must be made by cash, cashier’s check, or other noncancelable instrument. The city will not review an unsolicited detailed proposal that is not accompanied by the payment of this fee,” city code states.

Spottswood’s proposal included that $25,000 check. It was a proposal review fee, not ”tribute money to the gods of City Hall,” as the online post stated.

City law also requires that within 30 business days after receipt of the unsolicited proposal and fee, the city manager’s office will either reject it and return the fee or accept the proposal for substantive review.

Spottswood never heard from any city staff member within the 30-day timeframe.

Bernsen proposal

On Oct. 16, Nevada businessman and Key West property owner David Bernsen submitted a letter of interest for the building. His 3-page proposal was submitted in response to a public notice the city had run in a local newspaper seeking “letters of interest” from entities with proposals for that property.

In his proposal, Bernsen wrote that he had been in contact with musicians Mac McAnally, Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown, along with Buffett’s daughter, Savannah, and sister, LuLu.

“We would propose to lease the property from the city of Key West, with our goal of restoring it to a working recording studio buoyed by recording artists, including those mentioned above,” states Bernsen’s proposal. “Our primary objective goes beyond just a

recording studio as we are looking to create a profitable tourist destination, so when not in use as working studio, our uses would include tours, experiential recording opportunities, memorabilia, art, live events, etc. — with 100% of profit generated going directly to Key West local charities and community support.

“Furthermore, not only is it our intention to create a profit-driven business that directs all profits for the betterment of Key West, but also provide a destination for millions of “Parrot Heads” to visit and celebrate the life and music of Jimmy Buffett.

“We understand the city of Key West must generate revenue from the Key West Bight location, so we are prepared to pay the market lease price,” his proposal states.

Bight board puts off decision

Both proposals were attached to the Nov. 12 bight board meeting agenda, which included a summary from city staff, who were recommending the bight board pursue negotiations with Bernsen.

The board ultimately voted to postpone until Dec. 10 its decision on the former recording studio, as questions remained unanswered for some members.

Several members of the public supported Bernsen’s proposal without disparaging the other. They discussed their affinity for or association with Buffett and his music and urged the board to preserve the building as a recording studio while generating charitable donations via Bernsen’s proposal.

Key West business owner Joe Walsh suggested to the board that a decision would be premature, as, he noted, the city had not followed its own process for a P3 proposal.

Board member Bill Lay agreed, after confirming that no one from the city had contacted Robert Spottswood Jr. about his unsolicited P3 proposal within 30 days of its submission.

“I’ve not had any communication with the city or the bight board since our proposal was submitted on Sept. 17. I thought I’d have a chance to address the board today,’ Spottswood said during the meeting. “Our family employs nearly 500 people and I believe we’ve done a lot of good for the city of Key West. But when I see the online comments, many from people who don’t even live here, it’s not fair. Our city is being run by an outside group that sends a lot of emails, but most of the information in them is not accurate. I would have loved to have had this discussion earlier and I don’t think this process has gone the right way.”

Board member Lay derided the mass email campaign that had filled his and the other board members’ inboxes with 1,400 identical messages, questioning the Spottswood family’s profit-driven motives and suggesting a potential boycott of the proposed bar.

The original online post that prompted the email uproar called the Spottswood proposal “a cocktail of arrogance, influence and procedural perfume.” The emails called Bernsen “the barefoot idealist with the real estate portfolio, trailed by troubadours and true believers. … Their offer reads like a psalm to lost Key West.” Lay started the board’s discussion by saying, “Let me be clear. The Spottswood family has done more for Key West than most and have been of great service to this city. So to make them the big bad wolf here, and to diminish someone’s name is inappropriate and unfair. I don’t know where or how this started, but it’s pretty obvious it was going after the Spottswoods. Please, let’s go back to some civility.”

Board chair Michael Knowles echoed Lay’s disgust, calling the email campaign a “cult mentality trying to degrade people that’s shameful. It’s sad that this is what Key West is coming to, that this is how we’re behaving as adults, following some sort of leader, copying and pasting emails.”

Spottswood attended the Nov. 12 meeting in person, and Bernsen participated via Zoom. Bernsen said he had nothing to do with the email campaign, other than to have read the original blog post.

Ultimately, Lay asked Spottswood and Bernsen whether the two of them could sit down and perhaps draft a proposal together.

“I’d love it, I’d welcome it,” Bernsen said. “I need local people to help me do this.”

Spottswood also agreed, adding,. “The city needs revenue and I believe there’s a way to do it by integrating Jimmy Buffett.” He also acknowledged that use of Buffett’s name, image and other elements is a legal matter that would require approval from his estate and attorneys.

The bight board eventually voted unanimously to postpone a decision until the Dec. 10 meeting, although board members Arnaud Girard and Heather Slivko-Bathurst expressed hesitation. Slivko-Bathurst asked, “I’m a little confused why we’re trying to bring these two businesses together. Why are we trying to make room for both?”

Lay said it was because “Mr. Spottswood has had zero conversations with the city and we’re obligated to do that.”

Slivko-Bathurst replied, “So my suggestion would be that the city have that conversation with him.”

But ultimately, all members agreed to postpone the decision until Dec. 10. So for now, the future of the former recording studio — as a source of margaritas or music — remains undecided.

The video of the meeting, along with the agenda and links to the proposals is available at cityofkeywest-fl.gov.

Wayne Garcia

Wayne Garcia is a Cuban-American folk artist from Key West who carves vibrant wood reliefs inspired by island life. Only protégé of Mario Sanchez, Garcia preserves local history through colorful, intaglio-style scenes.

Garcia began carving at age 14, inspired and mentored by Mario Sanchez, the legendary Key West folk artist. Using the intaglio technique Sanchez mastered, Garcia transforms wood into shallow relief scenes that honor everyday life, historic events, and colorful local gures.

Accolades include; demonstrations/lectures for the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the National Museum of Fine Art in Cuba.

An island inspired treasure trove where fashion meets paradise. Nestled into the heart of Key West, we’re your go-to destination for splurge worthy finds and fashion forward essentials. Featuring the latest styles from Farm Rio, Alemais, Oliphant & many more.

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‘FLORIDA MAN’ MEME COMES TO LIFE ON STAGE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL HONORS SIR BILLY CONNOLLY

‘Florida Man, the Musical’ is a look at the absurd and often illegal behavior of the internet meme. It runs for six shows, Nov. 21-23 and 28-30, at Tennessee Williams Theater. MATTHEW RAWLS/Contributed

New musical celebrates the absurdity of the Sunshine State

“Florida Man - The Musical” is a new musical comedy from Pamela Stephenson Connolly, with music by award-winning composer Dan Krysa — the team behind “Bum Farto: The Musical.”

The show is inspired by the widely followed internet meme “Florida Man”— an infamous, larger-than-life character drawn from countless true media reports of absurd, laughable, often substance-fueled and frequently unlawful behavior in the Sunshine State.

The show runs Nov. 21-23 and Nov. 28-30 at Tennessee Williams Theater.

The story follows the antics of six unruly Floridians, including a psychotic meth-head; a plushophiliac with an erotic obsession with Olaf dolls; a man whose girlfriend, Gwendolyn, happens to be an alligator; and a guy who stole the Conch Tour Train because it was his birthday. Their escapades are

chronicled by famous British wildlife naturalist David Attenborough, who’s determined to capture Homo sapiens Floridanus in his natural habitat.

Their pursuits spiral out of control until the gang’s iconic founder — the ghost of brilliant writer and notorious dope fiend Hunter S. Thompson — arrives in Machiavellian style, only to be reined in by the late Jimmy Buffett, the voice of reason in a minefield of manic imbecility.

The production features 18 original songs and 16 dance numbers.

“This is the craziest show I’ve ever created and I believe right now we all need to have a good laugh,” said Connolly. “If you’ve never seen a tapdancing alligator, now is the time. We have an extraordinarily talented cast of actors and singers ready to bring the wild and hilarious world of ‘Florida Man’ to the stage.”

— Contributed

‘FLORIDA MAN, THE MUSICAL’ Nov. 21-23 & 28-30 at 7:30 p.m.

Tennessee Williams Theater, 5901 College Road

Actors Steve Buscemi & Aidan Quinn present their friend with Golden Key Award

Sir Billy Connolly, the Scottish king of dry wit, who’s known by his Scots nickname of “The Big Yin,” or “The Big One,” made a rare public appearance this week at the Key West Film Festival, where Connolly received the festival’s Golden Key Award for his achievements in artistic excellence.

The award was presented by Connolly’s longtime friends and fellow stars, actors Steve Buscemi and Aidan Quinn.

Connolly, 82, suffers from health problems and uses a walking stick. He did not take the stage at the Tropic Cinema event, but

stood as Buscemi passed him the blue, water-droplet-shaped award. He told the crowd, “I walk with a stick because I suffer from a horrible illness. It’s a joy to live among you and it’s a joy to be among you tonight. I don’t often do this kind of thing, but it’s smashing. I have to thank you for this award. I don’t know what it is, it’s a blue thing. It’s a joy and it will go beside my other prizes.”

Connolly has a home in Key West, where his wife, Pamela Stephenson Connolly, is the founder and director of Key West International Dance Co.

— Contributed

Superstar actors Steve Buscemi and Aidan Quinn take part in the Key West Film Festival this week, presenting their longtime friend Sir Billy Connolly with the festival’s Golden Key Award. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Scottish comedian and actor Sir Billy Connolly accepts Key West Film Festival’s Golden Key Award this week during the Key West Film Festival.

WOLTANSKI FILES FOR REELECTION TO SCHOOL BOARD

Dr. Sue Woltanski has officially filed for reelection to the District 5 seat of the Monroe County school board.

First elected in 2018, Woltanski said she works to ensure every child in the Florida Keys has access to a high-quality public education.

A retired pediatrician and longtime education advocate, Woltanski is a mother of two Coral Shores High School graduates.

Dr. Sue Woltanski. CONTRIBUTED

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made — and I’m committed to protecting and strengthening our public schools for all our Keys kids,” Woltanski said. During her tenure, Monroe County has achieved A-rated district status, with learning gains across all schools. She has spearheaded initiatives that support the “whole child,” expand mental health services, strengthen arts and career education programs and raise teacher pay through successful renewal of local tax referendums. Woltanski has been recognized statewide, earning the Florida School Boards Association President’s Award in 2024.

As she seeks a final term, Woltanski’s priorities include:

• Promoting learning, creativity and reducing unnecessary testing and screen time.

• Ensuring educators are respected, fairly compensated and able to live in the communities they serve.

• Strengthening mental health supports by expanding the “whole Child” approach and school-based counseling services.

• Maintaining high performance with efficient, transparent use of local tax dollars.

“Our schools thrive when the community works together,” Woltanski said. “With your support, we can continue to build a strong future for our Keys kids.”

The school board election will be held on Aug. 18, 2026. Monroe County School Board races are nonpartisan and countywide, meaning all registered voters in Monroe County can cast a ballot in this election.

More information is at www.woltanski4schools.com (coming soon) or woltanski4schools@gmail.com.

JUAN LLERA ANNOUNCES DISTRICT IV CITY COMMISSION RUN

Navy veteran faces Sarah Compton; incumbent Lissette Carey’s intent is unknown

Juan Llera, a Cuban native and longtime Key West resident, recently announced his candidacy for the District IV seat on the Key West City Commission.

Navy combat veteran and longtime Key West resident Juan Llera recently announced his campaign for the District IV seat on the Key West City Commission.

CONTRIBUTED

A 20-year combat Navy veteran, Llera said he served the nation with pride and honor and now seeks to continue his service through local government, according to a press release announcing his campaign.

Fol-

lowing his military career, Llera served with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and was later assigned as a task force officer to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Miami field division, where he conducted federal criminal investigations for over a decade.

Llera holds associate and bachelor’s degrees from Saint Leo University, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Leadership Program and has completed hundreds of hours in leadership development courses across the private sector, state and national levels.

Llera has served two terms as president of the Key West Military Affairs Committee. He said he would fight for the residents of Key West with integrity, transparency and a commitment to community values.

“I continue to hear can-

didates speak about fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability. I couldn’t agree more,” Llera said. “However, we need to go back to the basics, starting with a set of core values and building from there to reestablish crucial respect and trust in our city government.”

His campaign will focus on three principles:

• Commitment to the community and the voice of residents.

• To be consistently open, honest, ethical and genuine.

• Courage to fight for what is right, and demand transparency and accountability from government.

“Juan Llera is ready to serve with honor, experience and a deep love for the island, its culture, history and natural resources,” the campaign announcement states.

Llera’s campaign website will be launched soon and will be added to this story at keysweekly.com.

Llera will face at least one other candidate in the District IV race, as business owner Sarah Compton filed her campaign paperwork last month.

Commissioner Lissette Carey, who currently represents District IV, has not said whether she intends to seek reelection following an attempt earlier this year to remove her from office. The citizen-led recall initiative failed because the petitions in support of it were not all signed within a statemandated timeline. State law required that Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies invalidate the petitions.

— Keys Weekly staff report

KEY WEST MARKS WORLD AIDS DAY ON DEC. 1

Memorial at Higgs Beach will host annual remembrance

Key West’s World AIDS Day ceremony will take place at the AIDS Memorial on Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial will again conduct this annual remembrance of those who were taken far too soon.

With the inclusion of the 2025 nominations, there are now 1,342 names memorialized forever at the Key West AIDS Memorial, which was designed by architect Michael Ingram and dedicated in 1997 at the foot of the Edward B. Knight Pier at White Street and Atlantic Boulevard. The property is a Key West city park and is maintained by the Friends of the AIDS Memorial, a nonprofit volunteer group of private citizens.

The ceremony begins with a march from City Hall to the memorial at 4:30 p.m. while the names of all lost will be read. The featured speaker will be Jerry Hughes. A poem by Karen FrankKnolls will be read by Joan Higgs. Those in attendance may call out the names of loved ones. Invocation is given by the Rev. Madelin Baum and the benediction by the Very Rev. Steve Torrence.

The Friends of the AIDS Memorial will also have a booth at the Artisan Market on Sunday, Nov. 30 at Higgs beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. More information is at keywestaidsmemorial.org.

The Key West AIDS Memorial is the site of the island’s annual World AIDS Day ceremony, which takes place on Dec. 1. LARRY BLACKBURN/Contributed

THE ‘ANGELS’ ON DUVAL STREET

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY

There’s always been something magical about Old Town Key West at night. It can still be sensed today, but it was especially apparent in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Back then, drawn by that magic, I sometimes walked barefoot around Old Town after dark.

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY

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

Palmetto bugs rustled and scattered like small moving leaves, and the day’s residual heat warmed the sidewalk.

But it wasn’t the warmth I felt most deeply. Through the soles of my feet, I felt Key West’s heartbeat drumming its rhythm into my blood — or at least that’s how it seemed — as though the island was a sentient creature that came alive at night.

While I walked, surrounded by the sweet scent of night-blooming plants, I watched lights blossom behind the windows of old houses and wondered about the people who lived within their walls. Did they too feel the heartbeat and the magic?

In those days we were reckless, with no exploit too crazy to consider. Eat the worm at the bottom of a bottle of tequila and dive off a rickety dock? Absolutely. Hop aboard a sailboat with a brand-new friend for a long weekend offshore? Sounds like fun. Meet a pirate in a bar and take him home for the evening? Good plan.

We didn’t imagine we were immortal, but we were Key Westers — and those of us who felt the island’s magic had a deep-seated belief that Key West would look after its own.

It looked after the legendary Captain Finbar Gittelman and three cohorts when they survived a 1980 hurricane in a life raft after their boat sank, a local mayor who water-skied 100 miles to Cuba on a single ski and arrived unscathed, and an old friend when the Coast Guard boarded her sailboat but didn’t find the hidden contraband.

One night, when a car hit my bike as I pedaled down Duval Street, it was my turn to need Key West’s help.

I felt the impact, felt myself falling, and saw a brief flash of something big and white speeding away. Then everything spun crazily and faded to nothing.

1. Angels can be found in Key West’s historic cemetery — and maybe, when they’re really needed, on Duval Street. MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY/Florida Keys History Center

2. Surely those who live in Old Town homes can feel Key West’s magic. CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/Keys Weekly

Regaining consciousness, I found myself lying in the middle of Duval, surrounded by a circle of women. They looked like angels, arranged protectively around me to deflect traffic, their faces in shadow and their hair haloed by the streetlights’ glow.

“I’m a nurse,” one of them said as she knelt beside me. “Don’t move — an ambulance is on its way.”

“I put your bike on the sidewalk so it wouldn’t get hit again,” said another, as I tried fuzzily to focus and figure out what had happened.

One more trotted up and laid my purse beside my outstretched hand. “Here you go,” she told me. “I found it by the curb.”

They stayed with me until the ambulance came, and then they vanished — circling me one minute and gone the next. Or maybe it just

seemed that way to my scrambled brain, because the ER doctor diagnosed a substantial concussion.

Even after my head healed, some memories of that night remained foggy. I tried to find the women to thank them, but no one knew who they were.

In the decades since, my reckless friends and I have settled down considerably — though I still occasionally stroll around Old Town after dark.

Sometimes during my walks, I think about the accident and wonder if the “angels” who helped me were flesh-and-blood women. They must have been, of course; it would be silly to imagine otherwise.

But on those nights when Key West’s heart still beats beneath my feet, it’s easy to believe something else: that they were the embodiment of the island, looking after its own.

KEYS OFFICIALS CONCERNED ABOUT STATE’S PROPERTY TAX ELIMINATION IDEAS

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Officials in the Florida Keys remain curious what will come of discussion and debate among state legislators over potentially sending measures to the ballot to eliminate property tax next year.

Government representatives from Key Largo to Key West told state Rep. Jim Mooney and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez during a virtual delegation meeting Nov. 13 that their fiscal stability is vital to deliver quality of life services. Lisa Tennyson, county legislative affairs director, said property taxes are Monroe County’s largest revenue source for operations.

“It’s still early and we don’t know where this issue is headed, but we aim to monitor the proposals produced,” said Tennyson. “Ultimately, this issue goes to the voters at large, but it will be important to shape them before they go to the ballot.”

State House members have submitted an array of property tax phaseout or elimination proposals for the 2026 session. One proposal would exempt homesteaded property from ad valorem taxation, while another would increase the homestead property exemption by $100,000 annually during a 10-year period.

There are also proposals to provide homestead property tax exemptions for those over the age of 65 or those who have property insurance.

All proposals safeguard property tax funding for school districts and law enforcement. But that’s not the case for the county, local municipalities and special taxing districts.

Eliminating property tax in the Sunshine State is something DeSantis has backed numerous times during various public appearances and talks on TV stations.

“I don’t see how government has the right to keep asking you to pony up infinitum to just pay rent to them to just live on the property you supposedly own,” he said dur-

ing an appearance on June 24.

But cutting property tax revenue from local governments would especially hit special taxing bodies like the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District.

“Our district receives 95% of income from ad valorem,” said Andrea Leal, executive director for the mosquito district.

Islamorada and Key Colony Beach officials stressed the need for state legislators to continue property insurance reforms, including an annual rate cap increase of 10% for policyholders with Citizens.

“We talk about the cost of homeownership and the cost of rentals, that property insurance is what gets in the way,” said John Bartus, Key Colony Beach manager. “If you solve that, then property issues are minimized.”

Mel Montagne, Fair Insurance Rates of Monroe president, is continuing to push for the 10% rate cap on Citizens, as well as eliminating a flood insurance requirement for homes in X zones or above base flood elevation.

“The flood insurance mandate is definitely a pet peeve of mine,” he said.

Local officials are also pushing Mooney, Rodriguez and other legislators to approve another round of Florida Key Stewardship Act funding for water quality projects, as well as an additional $2.5 million for land acquisition efforts.

Sheryl Schwab, Monroe County Domestic Abuse Shelter CEO, is hoping to secure state funding for a new facility in Marathon. Currently, the shelter has a 15-bed facility in Key West. The Florida Keys Children’s Shelter is hoping to gain some support for a transitional living program in the Upper Keys. Ben Kemmer, shelter CEO, said they’re hoping to have a home for those ages 18 to 22 who may be homeless, aging out of foster care or in other situations which limit self-sufficiency.

Mooney said the next budget cycle in Tallahassee could be even tougher than last legislative session.

“Be prepared for a tight budget,” he said.

COMMISSIONER MARY LOU HOOVER LEAVES A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Officials pay tribute & make plans to appoint an interim

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Key West woke up Nov. 19 to the sad news that City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover had died in her sleep overnight at her home. She was 72.

Hoover represented Key West’s District V, having been elected first in 2018 and again in 2022. She had recently decided not to seek a third term, given continuing health problems that had forced her to miss meetings and participate in others via video conference.

“Her leadership extended well beyond the commission dais,” said Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez. “She was a mentor, a friend and a respected voice who always worked to bring people together for the greater good. Her legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward. Her service spirit will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten.”

“The city extends its heartfelt gratitude in recognizing the great contributions of Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover throughout her dedicated term of service,” said City Manager Brian L. Barroso. “Commissioner Hoover’s leadership, thoughtfulness and deeply caring approach made a lasting and positive impact on our community and on the city team she worked alongside each day.”

Hoover was a dedicated public servant throughout her life. She was an advocate for local businesses and an avid fundraiser for many nonprofits. She was the founder of Girls Night Out, a networking organization that raises funds for a variety of charities. She was a former Fantasy Fest queen and served on the board for the Key West Business Guild and as president of Helpline of the Keys.

She moved to Key West after a 35-year career in public works construction.

She continued her career as a consultant to surety companies and their attorneys. She managed a variety of projects including a Super-

replacement

fund project, an airport renovation and a structural steel contract at the Pentagon.

Next steps for commission

The city’s code of ordinances outlines the process for filling a commission seat that is vacated mid-term by death, removal from office or resignation. The commission can either appoint someone to fill the seat until the Aug. 18, 2026 election, or schedule a special election. Henriquez told the Keys Weekly on Nov. 19 that she would not support spending taxpayer money on a special election.

Within 15 days of the seat being vacated, “the city commission shall appoint an eligible person to serve until either an election is held to fill the position or until the end of the term,’ city code states. “The city commission by resolution shall establish a procedure for nomination and selection of the appointment.”

A special meeting has been called for Monday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. to discuss the appointment.

Currently two candidates are running for the District V seat — Harry Russell and Chris Massicotte. Whoever wins more than 50% of the vote in August will be elected. If another candidate enters the race, though, and spreads out the vote so no one receives more than 50%, then the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff in the Nov. 3 general election.

Key West City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover died in her sleep the night of Nov. 18 or the morning of Nov. 19. CONTRIBUTED

BABY’S COFFEE

THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

ART ON VIEW: NOVEMBER 6-27, 2025

Shelter WILL JACKS

Large-scale, camera-less works that challenge how we define a photograph and invite viewers to look beyond the surface. sponsored by Island City Tile

Sweet Little Paintings

JACK MCDONALD

Foods, places, and objects in a naturalistic style that invite joy, warmth, and nostalgia.

Scan me to view + shop online sponsored by Louie’s Backyard

Moving Box Art ALEXIS LYONS

Inspired by life as a military spouse, Lyons turns transient lifestyle into a celebration of resilience, growth, and the healing power of making art. sponsored by Manley deBoer

Under the Skin

MEGGI SIEGERT

Siegert captures quiet mysteries that live just beneath the surface.

Scan me to view + shop online! sponsored by Luna

Contemporary art center, steps off Duval Street.

Always free to visit! Open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm

ELEGANCE MEETS ISLAND STYLE

GREAT EVENTS CATERING “PRESENTS”

Thanksgiving

DINNER FOR 4 ($160)

Each additional person (+ $40)

Rotisserie style oven roasted carved turkey

Traditional giblet gravy

Roasted green bean casserole with wild mushroom “gravy” & crispy onions

Homemade cranberry orange chutney

Garlic mashed potatoes

Cornbread roasted apple sage stuffing

Homemade potato rolls

ADDITIONAL SIDES

1/2 pan | 6-8 servings ($40 each)

Fuji Apple Salad, butter lettuce, pecan praline, smoked blue cheese, dried cranberries, cider vinaigrette

Garlic herb roasted vegetables with maitre d’butter

Roasted brussel sprouts with bacon, honey and balsamic

Sweet potato hash with chorizo, grilled corn and caramelized onions

White cheddar mac and cheese, parmesan buttered breadcrumbs

PRE DINNER COCKTAIL PARTY

Charcuterie board | 10 people ($175)

assorted meats, cheese and antipasti , traditional accoutrements, crackers, and crostini

Order by Monday, November 24th at 5:00pm

Pick up on Thanksgiving Day | 10am-3pm at 925 Truman Ave (side entrance on Packer Street)

305.294.2252 www.greateventscatering.com info@greateventscatering.com

WEST

CHEERS TO WINNING

OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THEIR 4TH ANNUAL MAC PATRIOTS GOLF TOURNAMENT

WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS MUSICAL FAVORITES

‘Some Enchanted Evening’ features songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein

The Waterfront Playhouse will present “Some Enchanted Evening,” a musical celebration of the work of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Running Dec. 4-20, this revue brings together some of the most beloved songs in the American theater canon — an evening of melody, romance and storytelling that has shaped generations.

Directed by artistic director Patrick New and under the musical direction of Roberta Jacyshyn, the production showcases five performers:

• Jeremy Zoma, of Key West, last appeared at the Waterfront last season in his roles as Oliver in “The Angel Next Door” and as the Baker in “Into the Woods.”

• Ellen Grace Diehl of New York is a classically trained soprano with roles spanning “Sherwood,” “Oklahoma” and “Carousel.”

• Bridget Adams-King of Chicago appeared as the baker’s wife last season at the Waterfront. Other turns include “Dreamgirls,” “Once on this Island” and “The Color Purple.”

• Trey Forsyth of Key West has performed in New York workshops and regional productions including “West Side Story” and “She Loves Me.”

• Cece Donathan of New York, a recent graduate of Ball State University, broke onto the scene with a regional performance in “Legally Blonde” and a national television spot for Garnier.

In true Waterfront Playhouse fashion, this production blends artistry with the warmth of the Key West community. Whether these songs are old favorites or brand-new discoveries, “Some Enchanted Evening” promises a holiday experience filled with nostalgia and charm.

Tickets are available at waterfrontplayhouse.org or at 305-294-5015.

— Contributed

Waterfront Playhouse Presents: “Some Enchanted Evening” Dec. 4–20. Tickets: waterfrontplayhouse.org 305-294-5015

SHOP LOCAL AT WALK ON WHITE ART STROLLS

Pre-Christmas events slated for Nov. 20 & Dec. 18

Walk on White art strolls offer a way to shop local for the holidays.

Two upcoming Walk on White art stroll events, on Thursday, Nov. 20, and Thursday, Dec 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Key West, offer an opportunity to shop both locally and artfully.

From the hub at the Fausto’s parking lot and extending to participating White Street locations

between Southard and United streets, strollers can discover works by local painters, sculptors, ceramic and mixed media artists, and artisan jewelry makers. There will be exhibit openings, creative demonstrations, drink and food samples and plenty of neighborhood cheer. Held the third Thursday monthly through May, each Walk on White event benefits a local nonprofit organization. More information is at walkonwhitekeywest.com. The event is sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council

— Contributed

Scenes from Walk on White. CAROL TEDESCO/ walkonwhitekeywest.com

People and pets gather at ‘The Creative Hive,’ on White Street during a Walk on White art stroll event.

What’s Cooking at the Key West Cooking Show

MONDAYS

Trivia Night - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

FREE to Play • Drink Specials • Bar Bites • Great Prizes

TUESDAY - SATURDAY

Dinnertainment - Menu Changes Daily 11 am • 1 pm • 4pm • 7pm Cocktail Classes A Rum Cocktail Adventure: 12 – 1 PM & 2 – 3 PM Key West History Through Craft Cocktails: 5 – 7 PM

November & 22nd 7pm

Join us at for two special Thanksgiving-themed classes that bring holiday traditions to life island style! Learn hands-on recipes and techniques to elevateyour holiday table.

Celebrate Thanksgiving

November 27th 11am & 3pm

Gather your crew and let us take care of the cooking! Join us for a full Thanksgiving dinner! Enjoy such classics as: butternut squash soup, slow roasted turkey breast, cranberry saucemashed potatoes, sage stuffinghomemade gravy, and more!

TENNIS TOURNEY SERVES UP SUPPORT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS

Inaugural Military Affairs Committee fundraiser brings $5,300

The Key West Military Affairs Committee’s (MAC) inaugural tennis tournament on Nov. 1516 raised $5,300 for the group that supports service members in all branches of the military.

The tournament was open to anyone — civilians, veterans, active duty and retirees. Participants ranged in age from 28 to 83, with one player driving down from Key Largo to play in the tournament at Bayview Park.

Men competed on Saturday and women competed on Sunday, with prizes awarded in various categories.

“A huge thank-you to all our players — your energy, sportsmanship and support made the event unforgettable,” said MAC president-elect and event organizer John Picco. “And to our generous sponsors, thank you for standing with us and helping us raise funds that directly support our military members, veterans and their families. Your commitment makes a real difference. We’re already looking forward to next year. Until then, thank you for helping us serve those who serve.”

The money raised will be used to build and maintain the strong relationship between our local civilian and military communities, Picco said. “They’ll also support the upcoming annual MAC-led Wounded Warrior

The Key West Military Affairs Committee holds its first-ever fundraising tennis tournament Nov. 15 & 16, raising $5,300 that will help support local military members.

CONTRIBUTED

Project Soldier Ride from Miami to Key West on Jan. 9 and 10. Some of the money will go to the local Navy Chief Petty Officers Association to help fund a Thanksgiving dinner for military members and families unable to travel over the holidays. Finally, some donations will be used to support the Junior NROTC unit at the Key West High School and help fulfill critical needs at Sigsbee Charter School. — Contributed

NEW COUNTY MAYOR SELECTED

Lincoln will lead for the coming year

During a Nov. 13 meeting in Key West, Monroe County commissioners picked Mayor Pro Tem Michelle Lincoln to serve as Monroe County mayor and commissioner David Rice to serve as mayor pro tem for the next year.

Lincoln has been a commissioner since November 2018, and Rice was first elected to the board in 2002 and has been reelected since 2010. Lincoln and the commissioners recognized outgoing Mayor Jim Scholl for his duties over the past year, as well as for leading the county through important budget conversations this year, particularly during the summer months.

The mayor’s title is given to the chairperson of the board of county commissioners based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting. A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill

in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over board meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and cosigning documents with the county clerk.

— Contributed

New Mayor Michelle Lincoln offers words of gratitude to Jim Scholl, who spent the previous year as mayor for the county commission. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

Outgoing Monroe County Mayor Jim Scholl hands the gavel to incoming Mayor Michelle Lincoln during the Nov. 13 county commission meeting in Key West.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN THE LOWER KEYS

From boat parades to big New Year’s Eve drops

This holiday season, the Florida Keys & Key West invite residents and visitors to unwrap the most festive time of year in island style. From lighted boat parades and Santa sightings to quirky New Year’s Eve countdowns and fireworks, the holidays in the Keys are packed with tropical magic.

Here are some of the events taking places in Key West and the Lower Keys:

Holiday Lobster Trap Tree Lighting: Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Honor Key West’s deep maritime heritage during the Holiday Lobster Trap Tree Lighting at the Historic Seaport in Key West. Decorated with twinkling lights, garland, red ribbons, and 45 lobster traps, this unique Christmas tree has become a beloved tradition in the destination.

Third annual Southernmost Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 27.

Before the Thanksgiving Feast, the Southernmost Turkey Trot 5K (plus kid-friendly 1-Mile Rooster Romp) in Key West offers the chance to burn a few preemptive calories on a scenic run that benefits Reef Relief. At the finish line, enjoy a free, post-run mimosa.

Remarcable Tabletop Christmas Tree & Wreath Auction: Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The MARC House presents its annual auction of stunningly decorated tabletop trees and holiday wreaths at Opal Key Resort, Key West. Auction preview begins at 5:30 p.m. Live auction at 7 p.m.

Wesley House Family Services Holiday Village and BeLighted Bike Ride: Friday, Dec. 5.

Wesley House Family Services kicks off the holiday season with a festive celebration at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West. The Holiday Village, with food trucks and rides, is a family-friendly “pre-party” for the BeLighted Bike Ride, which creates a luminous parade along Whitehead and Duval Streets. Be part of this display by adorning your bike with festive lights and decorations.

Holiday Historic Inn Tours: Dec. 5 & 12.

Explore decorated historic inns in Old Town Key West in the company of fellow revelers while enjoying light sweet and savory treats as well as libations.

Key West Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 6.

Starting at 7 p.m., Duval Street bursts with holiday spirit as community floats, local marching bands and costumed performers light up the night in the beloved Key West Christmas Parade.

Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights and Festive Nights Tour: Dec. 8-23.

Old Town Trolley’s popular green and orange trolleys, adorned with holiday lights, showcase Key West’s best-decorated neighborhoods, buildings and homes on 60-minute excursions.

Tall people, small people and assorted canine companions take to the streets of Key

Family Services BeLighted Bike Ride, a community toy drive that supports more than

during the

families and thousands of children across the Florida Keys. The popular ride returns Dec. 5. CAROL TEDESCO/KeyWestHolidayFest.com

Gay Key West Holiday Lights Trolley Tour: Saturday, Dec. 13.

Hop aboard for a ride through Key West’s brightest holiday displays. The Gay Key West Holiday Lights Trolley Tour is a merry evening, complete with festive stops and camaraderie.

Lighted Boat Parades: Saturday, Dec. 13.

Deck the hulls. Festively decorated vessels of all shapes and sizes illuminate the waters with holiday lights during the Key West Lighted Boat Parade (best viewed from the Schooner Wharf Bar) and the Key Largo Boat Parade (best viewed from the Caribbean Club and Sundowners).

A Positive Step 5K Rudolph Red Nose Run: Saturday, Dec. 13.

Don your holiday jammies, track shoes and festive adornments to join in the A Positive Step 5K Rudolph Red Nose Run, starting and ending at the Southernmost Beach Café in Key West. Race day check-in starts at 7 a.m. with an 8 a.m. start. After the race, enjoy refreshments, prizes and a silent auction.

Holiday Classic Car Show & Toy Drive: Sunday, Dec. 21.

Taking place in the Conch Republic Seafood Co. parking lot on the Harbor Walk of Lights at Greene Street in Key West, the Holiday Classic Car Show & Toy Drive features classic cars from bygone days all decked out for the holidays. Attendees are encouraged to bring unwrapped toy donations.

Christmas Brunch Sail: Thursday, Dec. 25.

Set sail for a festive Christmas morning aboard the Argo Navis, a luxury 75-foot catamaran. During a two-hour Christmas Brunch Sail off Key West’s coast, you’ll sip bottomless mimosas, savor local eats and enjoy breathtaking ocean views.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS

Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza: Friday, Nov. 28.

Join the Key West Artisan Market, Truman

Waterfront Farmers Market at for a day of unique gifts and handmade items made by local artists, crafters, and makers. Now in its fifth year, the event has become an outdoor alternative to crowded stores and online shopping.

Lower Keys Island Art Festival: Friday, Nov. 28.

In Big Pine Key, kick off the holiday shopping season at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce’s Island Art Festival. Find one-of-a-kind handcrafted items that typically include jewelry, stained glass, paintings, fragrant soaps and gourmet food.

Key West Artisan Market: Nov. 30, Dec. 14, 21 & 28.

A Key West holiday shopping tradition filled with one-of-a-kind gifts, the open-air Key West Artisan Market features local artists, authors, chef-made cuisine, craftspeople, performers, live music and adult beverages.

Holiday Concert & Bazaar: Friday, Dec. 12.

Join the Key West Art & Historical Society for the Holiday Concert & Bazaar, taking place on the historic porch of the Key West Museum of Art & History. The celebration features some of Key West’s finest artisans, musicians and choirs.

NEW YEAR’S EVE, FLORIDA KEYS STYLE

The Conch Shell Drop at Sloppy Joe’s: Join thousands on Duval Street as the illuminated conch shell — the symbol of the Keys — descends to mark midnight at Sloppy Joe’s Bar.

The Red High Heel Drop at Bourbon St. Pub: Watch Mulan Alexander descend in a sparkling red high heel as Key West’s LGBTQ+ community rings in 2026 with flair, music and joy.

The Lowering of the Pirate Wench at Schooner Wharf Bar: Evalena Worthington, the Schooner Wharf’s iconic pirate wench, makes her dramatic descent from a tall ship’s mast amid cannon fire and cheers.

West

Wesley House

1,200 working

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

You know the feeling you get when you’re watching a movie and the plot feels a bit off? You can tell that something is amiss, then all of a sudden a reveal connects all the dots in one moment. I’m thinking of films like “The Sixth Sense,” “Fight Club” or “Get Out.” Well, this week is our big reveal. The astrology of this week is about starting fresh, seeing clearly and big surprises. This new moon in Scorpio early on Nov. 20 is a new beginning born of deep feelings and uncovered truths. Some emotional discomfort will allow us to let go of what doesn’t serve us. Just a few hours later, Mercury, at the exact halfway point in its retrograde journey, crosses the new moon. Mercury always crosses the Sun at this point in its retrograde, and this is known as the cazimi (“in the heart of”). For this to take place during a new moon, however, is something special. Astrologically, we are being given some real mental clarity on what our uncomfortable feelings might be telling us, allowing us to move forward with intention. This meeting of the sun, the moon, and retrograde Mercury is all happening directly opposite the planet Uranus, which throws in a dash of the unexpected and a call to freedom. Whatever is revealed during this time will not be business as usual and it will challenge you to decide if liberation is your goal. All in all, stay open and curious, listen to your feelings as they arise and pay attention to what comes from left field.

Here are your horoscopes for the new moon in Scorpio and the Mercury cazimi opposite Uranus. Read for your rising and sun signs.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

This sky is ripe for you to start a new lease on life, Scorpio. You are

capable of making big changes that show the world a side of yourself that you have not shared before, and you have the opportunity to clearly see yourself in a fresh light. Who has been hiding under there? A partner in your life will coax you to let your guard drop in a way you haven’t experienced before.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

This new moon is about learning a new way to be alone and to practice deep reflection. If you’ve been overextending yourself, use this time to pull it all back and focus on your own spiritual or relaxation practices. Practice forgiveness for self and others to let go of any lingering resentments. Doing anything to expend physical energy will be particularly freeing right now.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Are you feeling a major shift in your friend group or your support network? This new moon calls you to let go of the folks who are holding you back and to welcome in the people who are really moving you forward. You should be able to clearly see who is helpful and who hinders. Your creative drive is calling you to try out something different. Give it a whirl.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Something at work is bubbling to the surface. It is your job to trust your gut. You can clearly see what actions you should take, but it is up to you to bite the bullet and make the choice. There is a new story being written for you in your career, and you can be the author. Your home and family will help coax you into a more liberated version of yourself.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

What is your next great adventure? This new moon is inviting you to take a step down that path, whether it is just researching where

you want to go or taking the leap. You can see the goal, so look down and clarify the route. There are probably some big changes taking place in your everyday environment that will compel you to your new adventure. Don’t ignore them.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

The way you invest your energy in people or projects is taking a turn. Consider what your capacity is when it comes to your energetic, financial or emotional resources and redistribute them according to your needs. At the same time, it looks like a surprise opportunity is presenting itself that could be both financially beneficial and in line with your values. Take it.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

A heart-to-heart is exactly what this new moon calls for. Deep and difficult conversations are what lead to greater connection, and an important partnership in your life will benefit from diving in. Surprise yourself by listening deeply and responding honestly. You will notice that the raw conversation will allow you to release energetic chains that have been holding you down.

Gemini

May 21 - June 20

What are you changing in your day-to-day routines, Gemini? It is so easy to get stuck in a rut, but now you can analyze how you’ve been going about your usual tasks and make some minor changes with big effects. Perhaps it’s about starting your day differently or taking new paths to get to your usual stops. Give yourself the freedom of choice by breaking out of your ingrained habits.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

What creative journey are you embarking on? What is the unique offering that you are presenting to the world? It is time for you to listen to your heart, to find what brings

AND NOW THE REVEAL!

you joy, and to wholeheartedly dive into it. You can clearly see what you want to do. The people who will show up to support you will surprise you. Trust in the timing.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

There is a reset taking place at home, Leo. Perhaps there are some difficult but necessary conversations happening with family, perhaps you are moving, perhaps you are redefining what home means. At any rate, you can see clearly what needs to change. Trust yourself. Your career is offering a much needed jolt of freedom from the more emotional processes at home.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Have you been feeling like you’re not being heard? This new moon invites you to try a different communication tactic or to try explaining yourself differently. You clearly know what needs to be articulated, but the method might need some refining. Give it a go. An unexpected opportunity to travel or explore someplace new will help release some pent up energy.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

This new moon is a fresh start in ensuring your own security, Libra. Perhaps you are starting a new job or re-evaluating your financial picture. The clarity you need regarding your resources is now available, helping you make choices that support your deepest values. Be open to other people sharing resources because that will open up some financial freedom.

TO KEY WEST

THE BROKEN HEARTS A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS NOVEMBER 29

ROBYN SCHALL'S HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA TOUR JANUARY 9, 2026

GABRIEL RUTLEDGE DON’T READ THE COMMENTS TOUR FEBRUARY 15, 2026

FEMMES OF ROCK DECEMBER 10

DAVID NIHILL TAKING TANGENTS TOUR JANUARY 11, 2026

TOMMY EMMANUEL MARCH 22, 2026

ANTHONY RODIA LAUGH TILL IT HURTS TOUR DECEMBER 11

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL JANUARY 16, 2026

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS APRIL 2, 2026

L AB LE AT THE K E YW E STTH E ATE R .CO M

HELP KEEP KEY WEST BEAUTIFUL

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

The Nov. 14 cleanup was held along North Roosevelt Boulevard, starting at the Conch Town Plaza. In one hour, 78 volunteers, including several service members from Coast Guard Sector Key West, collected 608 pounds of trash, 43 pounds of recycling and 3 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to the host business Sister Noodle, which provided breakfast for the volunteers. CONTRIBUTED

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

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

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

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

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items

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.

Nov. 15 was National Recycling Day, and the city’s recycling coordinator, Keely Kessler, organized a textiles recycling event at Indigenous Park on White Street. Keep Key West Beautiful and several volunteers worked for over four hours and collected and sorted 1,894 pounds of clothing, linens and towels. The items were donated to local churches, Samuel’s House, the Key West Wildlife Center and to individuals in need. CONTRIBUTED

such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference. It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.

— Contributed

Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Nov. 21: Lazy Way and Historic Seaport. Meet next to the Wyland Wall at the end of William Street. Hosted by the Marker Resort. Nov. 28: No cleanup the day after Thanksgiving.

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

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

Meet Boomer. He is a 3-year-old pup with a heart full of love and a goofy charm. Whether he’s snuggling by your side or showing off his skills in fetch, tug-of-war, or his signature game of “find the coconut,” Boomer is always ready for fun.

Meet Kinsley. She’s been with us since September 2018. She is a shy young lady, but would do well in an environment with a confident kitty co-heart. If you’re one of those people who can meet a cat on their own terms, Kinsley would definitely be your match. A family or person who has dealt with timid cats will be perfect for Kinsley.

Meet Trixie. This sweet senior is ready for her happily forever after. She’s an affectionate gal who loves to snuggle and give kisses. She loves her human friends so much, she wants to be the only apple of your eye. Trixie is a Golden Paw animal, so her adopter will receive: all adoption fees waived, senior bloodwork panel prior to adoption, complimentary wellness exam including vaccines at our Dogwood Clinic one year after adoption, and 10% off future services at our wellness clinic.

Meet Winne. This 3-year-old girl is the ultimate hunter. She is high-energy and playful. Once she’s done playing, she loves to plop on the couch next to you for some chill time. She is litter trained, and good with other cats, dogs and children. She is highly food-motivated which makes her easy to train.

Meet Iris. This beautiful boa is ready to find a family to call her own. Boas can make a great addition to your home as they’re docile, low maintenance and interactive.

2 DECEMBER, 2025 presented by presented

Opal Key Resort Ballroom

245 Front Street

Hosted by DJ Sanaris

Preview at 5:30PM Live Auction at 7PM

10-12 lb Oven Roasted Plainville All-Natural Turkey 1/2 Mashed Potatoes 1 qt Turkey Gravy

1/2 pan Green Beans with Almonds 1/2 pan Sweet Potato Casserole (contains nuts)

1 pint Cranberry Relish 1/2 pan Traditional Bread Stuffing $ 179.99 + tax

Please place your order at the deli counter. Orders must be placed by 7pm November 22. Orders must be picked up by 5pm November 26.

Fausto’s will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

FEAST ON AUTO LOAN SAVINGS

Don’t let a high-rate loan gobble up your budget. Refinance with Keys FCU and carve away those extra costs! Lower Rates. Local Service. Real savings to be thankful for.

WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST?

Libations celebrate island’s past

STATE WILDLIFE COMMISSION BACKS MORE MEASURES ON GREEN IGUANAS

Key West milestones during the Prohibition era included the 1928 launch of Pan American Airways’ passenger service between the island city and Havana. PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS/Florida Keys History Center

CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

In 1920s Key West, the Florida Keys

Over-Sea Railway steamed regularly into town, carrying passengers from mainland Florida and points farther north. Pan American Airways launched the first international airmail service from Key West to Havana in 1927, followed in 1928 by passenger service between the two cities.

Dance marathons were all the rage at Key West hotspots like La Brisa, and Ernest Hemingway spent the winter of 1928-29 on the island working on his novel “A Farewell to Arms.”

The period from 1920 to 1933 was also characterized by Prohibition, the nationwide ban on the U.S. manufacture, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages.

In end-of-the-road Key West, however, much of the free-thinking populace regarded the ban as an annoying government exercise — and spent considerable energy devising ways to get around it.

Rumrunners in fast boats imported contraband liquor from Cuba, playing a daring game of “catch me if you can” with the federales. Key West’s former Cuban Consulate property became home to an infamous rumrunner, who supposedly built a second structure there to hide rum storage tanks.

Whiskey and rum were sold at illegal speakeasies, where in-the-know patrons could slip secretly inside to slake their thirst. One such speakeasy, which also offered gambling, featured a balcony railing carved with an identifying design of bottles and card suits.

On Dec. 5, 1933, much to the delight of cocktail connoisseurs in Key West and around the United States, Prohibition was finally repealed. Speakeasies reinvented themselves as legitimate saloons, where alcohol could be enjoyed openly instead of illicitly, and rumrunners sought less hazardous professions.

At Bar 1, the welcoming watering hole at the Key West Cooking Show’s historic 291 Front St. venue, the Prohibition era and other aspects of the island’s colorful past are spotlighted in an intriguing sip-and-learn experience.

“Key West History through Craft Cocktails” is a libation adventure guided by skilled mixologists. Sharing insights into cocktails that represent Key West milestones and highlights, they teach attendees to measure, mix, shake and savor the featured drinks.

Participants learn about Key West’s naval heritage and the intriguingly named Fly Navy Grog, the Curry Old Fashioned that commemorates an early leading citizen, the Key Lime Pie Shooter that salutes the local-born dessert, and other concoctions connected to the island city.

By the time the experience ends, attendees have enjoyed the featured cocktails with fellow “students,” learned how to craft them for friends and family, and developed a new appreciation for Key West’s vibrant heritage. Reservations are required for the lively libation adventure; call 305294-COOK.

LAST CALL

Drink of the month: Hurricane. Tropical storms and hurricanes have occurred throughout the Florida Keys’ history — and residents respond with resilience, heart and spirit. The bold hurricane cocktail symbolizes their strength with ingredients that include light and dark rum, passion fruit syrup and fresh lime juice.

Event of the season: Chef Norman Van Aken, widely hailed as Florida’s culinary icon, presents an exclusive dining experience Friday, Dec. 5, at the Key West Cooking Show venue. Guests will both learn from the legendary chef and savor his cuisine in an intimate setting. Seating is limited and reservations are required; visit keystix.com.

Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingshow.com.

Move encourages residents to remove invasive reptile

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners recently approved staff recommendations to advertise proposed rule changes for prohibited green iguanas, including concepts relating to outdoor caging, biosecurity, collection and transport.

Green iguanas are invasive reptiles that are not native to Florida. The rule changes to Florida Administrative Code were proposed to encourage more residents to remove green iguanas from the wild by providing practical and secure alternatives for outdoor caging of the animals possessed by permittees.

The proposed rule changes also include clarifying language on the transportation of prohibited reptiles, emergency preparedness and collection and transport of wild-caught green iguanas possessed for sale or eradication. These changes are in addition to previously approved rule changes made in May 2025, which included an allowance for transfer of wildcaught green iguanas to permit holders authorized to sell live iguanas out of state.

To obtain feedback on the proposed rule changes, staff with the FWC’s Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program obtained input from the Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Technical Assistance Group, hosted three virtual public meetings to present proposed changes and gather input from stakeholders, and further solicited input from the public through an online comment form and email address.

“These rule changes will further enable more Floridians

to collect live green iguanas from their established range within the state and facilitate sale of those iguanas out of Florida,” said FWC chairman Rodney Barreto. “Thanks to the great work of staff and input from our stakeholders, these latest rule changes support the continued removal of invasive species from Florida.”

More than 500 nonnative fish and wildlife species have been reported in Florida. Eighty percent of these have been introduced via the live animal trade, with 139 species established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild. Invasive species management is a high priority for the FWC because these animals hurt native fish and wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and can pose a threat to human health and safety.

More information is at myfwc.com/nonnatives.

— Contributed

Green iguanas are invasive reptiles. Some adults can take on an orange or pink coloration during certain times of the year. FILE PHOTO

CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY’S BEST

Community members, business leaders and dignitaries pack the ballroom at the fourth annual Best of Upper Keys awards show at Playa Largo Resort on Nov. 14.

Packed crowd witnesses big wins, support for local children’s shelter

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Aroom packed with dignitaries and community members watched as winners jumped out of their seats to grab their plaques during the fourth annual Best of Upper Keys at Playa Largo Resort on Nov. 14.

From restaurants and local businesses to community icons and nonprofit organizations, the premier people’s choice awards celebrated all the Upper Keys has to offer to guests and residents.

More than 250 attendees spent the evening cheering winners while laughing at the roasts and jokes offered by the hosts, the Keys Weekly’s Jason Koler and Britt Myers.

Square Grouper Islamorada came away the biggest winner in this year’s Best of Upper Keys. The restaurant run by Lynn and Joe Bell secured Best Lunch for the third time and Best Overall Restaurant for the fourth straight year. Square Grouper also won Best Dessert for the second year

in a row. Above the restaurant, Sunset Lounge won a brand-new category in Best Raw Bar.

Florida Keys Brewing Co. in Islamorada came away with three wins, including Best Live Music for the fourth-straight year, Best Bar for the third time and Best Beer Selection for the second straight year. C&C Wood Fired Eats in Key Largo took home Best Happy Hour and Best Pizza for the fourth year in a row. Islamorada’s M.E.A.T. Eatery & Taproom took Best Burger for the fourth time.

In the community category, the Upper Keys Rotary Club’s annual Gigantic Nautical Market won Best Festival/Event. Plantation Key Colony secured a four-peat for Best Neighborhood, as did Reef the fox for Best Local Celebrity and Monroe County Commissioner Holly Raschein for Best Elected Official. Best Educator went to Key Largo School’s Pam Caputo.

Additional categories resulted in new winners in this year’s Best of Upper Keys. City Hall Cafe in Islamorada came away with Best Wine Selection, while Lazy Days

in Islamorada won Best Cook Your Catch. The host of the event, Playa Largo Resort, won Best Resort/Hotel. And Islander Resort in Islamorada hoisted the Best Wedding Venue plaque.

As for business, CBT Construction won Best General Contractor for the fourth straight year. Other four-peats include Island Hammock Pet Hospital in Key Largo for Best Veterinary Hospital; Tim Matthews Tree & Landscaping for Best Landscape Company; Hershoff, Lupino & Yagel for Best Law Firm; and DePaula Jewelers for Best Jewelry Store.

A complete list of the winners is at keysweekly.com or on page 5.

From Sept. 18 to Oct. 5, residents and readers from the Florida Keys and beyond nominated all their favorites in the food and drink, community and business divisions by visiting keysweekly. com. The top vote-getters in each of the 86 categories moved on to the finalist stage, as people logged in for 13 days to make their picks. More than 235,000 votes were cast during the finalist round from Oct. 16 to Nov. 2.

The fourth annual Best of Upper Keys was made possible thanks to the host sponsor Playa Largo Resort, which provided the venue,

food and drinks for guests. Event sponsors include HNO Productions, First Horizon Bank, Baptist Health South Florida, Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty, H&R Block Key Largo, Going Aire and Overseas Media Group.

Proceeds from the event support the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, which serves multiple youth groups throughout the island chain. The shelter in the Upper Keys is located in Tavernier. Ben Kemmer, children’s shelter CEO, said it’s the shelter’s 40th anniversary. Over that span, the shelter has served more than 20,000 kids.

“The Best of Upper Keys is a wonderful community celebration, and it’s awesome to see everyone recognized for their dedication and hard work,” Kemmer said. “We’re thankful for all the support this event provides to the shelter. Every bit helps us keep doing what we do for the kids in our community.”

Stay tuned for what’s in store for the fifth annual Best of Upper Keys.

Kara Franker, Monroe County Tourist Development Council and Visit Florida CEO, fist bumps Rich Dixon, of Save Alligator Lighthouse. Best Place to Swim went to the lighthouse, located 4 nautical miles off the Islamorada shore.

Sheriff Rick Ramsay won the 50/50 raffle. He donated all the proceeds back to the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. The move was met with resounding applause.

The Armory Speakeasy at the Post’s Janessa Silvestri and her father, JR, celebrate after winning Best Late Night Spot.

The Playa Largo Resort team celebrates following a win for Best Resort/Hotel.

Katie Atkins and Bill Doxey, at center, laugh at a joke.

Dive Bar’s Keri Lesko rises with a smile as she wins Best Bartender.

Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln rises and waves during introductions.

Upper Keys Rotarians gather with the Best Festival/Event plaque, which went to the Gigantic Nautical Market.

Photos by JACKSON GARCIA/Keys Weekly and DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

THE TRUE NORTHERN KEYS

Ragged, Sands Key and Boca Chita Key

As I had planned to continue writing about the Northern Keys this week, I decided to address the geological makeup of Key Biscayne and Virginia Key, and why they are not considered part of the Florida Keys archipelago. Unlike the Florida Keys, which are based on Key Largo Limestone between Soldier Key and Big Pine Key, and Miami Limestone from the Lower Keys to the Dry Tortugas, Key Biscayne and Virginia Key are sandier in nature.

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI

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

A paper issued by Florida International University’s Department of Earth Sciences summarizes the geology of the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne: “Sediments were carried by longshore currents, and consisted of a mixture of carbonate (shell fragments, coral fragments, etc.) and quartz sand. Progressive accumulation of sands slowly built up the structure of the islands as they exist today.”

Soldier Key, located south of Key Biscayne, is the first of the islands built atop Key Largo Limestone. Having addressed the island, the first of the true Florida Keys, last week, this is an excellent time to explore the next islands in the chain: the Ragged Keys, Boca Chita and Sands Key. While not as exciting as islands like Key West or No Name Key, every island has a story to tell.

The Ragged Keys are a small collection of islands south of Soldier Key. At low tide, it can be possible to walk between them. Juan de

Liguera called them Mascaras on his 1742 chart.

In 1743, the Father Alana chart agreed. Mascaras is Spanish for mask. Variations of the spelling appeared on later charts. For instance, William Roberts’ 1763 work “First Discovery and Natural History” identified the group as the Mycaras. In 1772, DeBrahm identified them individually on his chart (north to south): Los Paradizos, Soldiers (though not the aforementioned Soldier Key), Knox and Pollock.

Two years later, Bernard Romans wrote about the islands on his 1774 chart: “Seven rocks called Mascaras.” He also noted that on some English charts the name had been “ill copied” as Mucares. In 1861, the Coast Survey conducted by Bache identified them as the Ragged Keys, and that is what the islands are called today.

In the early 1900s, they were owned by a man identified as Captain B.T. Ball. According to a 1910 newspaper story, three of the islands were soon to be purchased by Henry Safford. In 1927, all that could be found on the islands were “coconut trees and a small fisherman’s house.” The Ragged Keys are now managed and owned by the government and are part of Biscayne National Park. One of the Ragged Keys, identified as Number 3, is home to two guest houses, a storage room, an equipment room, an above-ground swimming pool and dockage owned by a Miami man named Tomasetti.

Between the Ragged Keys and Sands Key is Boca Chita Key. The latter was privately owned by Mark C. Honeywell, president of the Minneapolis Honeywell Company from 1937 to 1945. It was Honeywell who had a 65-foot mock lighthouse built from native coral rock, which is still standing on the island. He wanted to have a beacon that would make it easier for his boat captain to navigate out to the island.

For a brief period, it was lit. When the government took notice, the light was ordered to be deactivated, as it was not an official beacon and therefore a navigational hazard.

The island was bought and sold numerous times before it became part of the National Park Service. Today, the island is home to a primitive campground with tent sites, tables and grills. Immediately south of Boca Chita is Sands Key. On early Spanish charts, the island is recorded as Las Tetas. A 1743 chart identifies it as Restinga de las Tetas, which basically translates to something along the lines of “coastal forest of the breasts.” William Roberts’ 1763 “First Discovery and Natural History of Florida” used the simplified moniker Las Tetas.

The cartographer Bernard Romans confirmed the island was called Las Tetas (and also the Paps) on his 1774 chart. Romans noted that there were two hills on the island. Because hills are not a common feature associated with the hundreds of islands making up the archipelago, the “hills” were probably mounds associated with a former indigenous presence. In J.W. Norie’s “Piloting Directions for the Gulf of Florida, Bahama Banks, & Islands,” published in 1828, he noted: “Next to the northward of Elliot’s Kay is a little island, having two small hills on it, whence the Spaniards have called it Las Tetas, or the Paps.”

Today, the island is known as Sands Key. The next island south is the largest of the Northern Keys, Elliott Key, a legendary island harboring stories of alleged pirates and juicy pineapples. I explore the piratical aspect of the island’s story in Volume 2 of my “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli” book series. I delve into the subject of pineapples in Volume 1. I will say this. The holidays are nearly upon us, and these books make fantastic gifts for the history lover in your family.

Ragged Keys South of Key Biscayne, Florida (1984). RICHARD A. ‘SKIP’ DAVIS JR. COLLECTION OF COASTAL AND GEOLOGIC ILLUSTRATIONS/Contributed

Roger Steinfeld, MD Cardiology

Joan E. Homan, MD Cardiology

VOLUNTEERS & BIOLOGISTS

DIVE IN TO RESTORE HOPE

Baby corals from the Florida Aquarium make their way home to Davis Reef

Volunteers and coral scientists from the Florida Aquarium and Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education (I.CARE) came together in the Keys this past week for a purpose: restoring life to one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems.

On Nov. 7, the team outplanted more than 90 brain corals — born and grown at the Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research Center in Apollo Beach — onto Davis Reef off Islamorada. These corals are part of Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The goal is to develop the infrastructure, technology, skilled workforce and logistics necessary by 2050 to support the long-term recovery of no less than 25% of Florida’s coral reef.

“This work is about hope and action,” said Rachel Morgan, coral propagation manager at the Florida Aquarium. “Every coral we plant gives us the chance to help nature recover and make a lasting impact on the reef.”

Certified divers and local volunteers joined the aquarium and I.CARE staff underwater to secure the young corals to the reef. Among them were retirees, professionals and lifelong ocean lovers.

Barry Simes, a retired executive, fulfilled a childhood dream of working with coral. Dan and Marilyn Steadman, married retirees from Illinois, shared their skills to help restore the reefs they’ve loved for years.

“When we first dove these reefs decades ago, they were bursting with color and life,” said Marilyn, who’s been diving with her husband for more than 50 years. “Coming back and seeing the decline was heartbreaking — but now, helping to plant new corals gives us hope. It’s our way of restoring the reefs that have given us a lifetime of memories.”

Since November 2023, the Florida Aquarium has donated 2,394 corals to I.CARE to support restoration efforts throughout the Keys. A nonprofit dedicated to reef restoration and conservation efforts, I.CARE involves both residents and visitors as citizen scientists to help with debris cleaning and outplanting efforts.

The newest corals were planted beside thriving colonies from previous outplantings, a visible sign of resilience and recovery. The initiative provides

Divers from I.CARE and the Florida Aquarium work to affix coral fragments grown at the Florida Aquarium onto Davis Reef off Islamorada. FLORIDA AQUARIUM/Contributed

funding for evidence-based propagation and outplanting programs to re-establish hardy populations of native corals that were affected by stony coral tissue loss disease and the most devastating global bleaching event in history.

“This partnership with the Florida Aquarium is creating real, measurable impact,” said Mike Goldberg, co-founder of I.CARE. “Despite the challenges coral reefs face around the world, moments like these remind us that restoration is possible when communities and science come together.”

The outplanting came just weeks after the Global Tipping Points Report warned that coral reefs are “passing their tipping point” in an “unprecedented crisis.” With ocean temperatures finally cooling after another warm summer, conditions were ideal for replanting efforts aimed at helping corals survive and adapt.

Coral reefs are essential to life along Florida’s coast. They provide habitat for thousands of marine species, support the state’s multibilliondollar tourism and fishing industries, and serve as natural barriers that protect shorelines from erosion and storms.

In addition to the corals planted during this trip, the Florida Aquarium transported more than 600 others to the Keys. These corals will be held at the Keys Marine Laboratory until they are outplanted by volunteers on future I.CARE restoration dives.

DON’T COOK WHILE DRUNK — AND OTHER HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

Key West fire marshal urges caution & safe enjoyment

Key West Fire Marshal Jason Barroso has assembled some reminders of possible holiday fire hazards over the holidays. Space heaters, candles and dry Christmas trees are a few of the potentially dangerous additions to our homes this time of year. Following a few simple fire safety tips will help make a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut two inches from the base of the trunk. Ensure the tree is at least 3 feet from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles and heat vents. Remember to water your Christmas tree regularly. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in homes or garages

• Use lights that are UL listed. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Blow out lit candles when you leave the room, your home or go to bed.

• Ensure working smoke alarms are in every bedroom and throughout your home. Test smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan. Keep children and pets away from lit candles. Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet away from children.

• Don’t cook if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol. Have a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared. Stay in the kitchen while you’re cooking.

• E-bikes, e-scooters, and lithium-ion batteries: Lithiumion battery fires have increased dramatically nationwide. Use approved batteries and always plug directly into a wall electrical outlet for charging. Store in open spaces.

• Batteries should be stored away from anything flammable. Keep batteries and devices at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and any heat source such as a radiator. Use the supplied charger and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage. Use the correct cord and power adapter made specifically for the device. If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape/color, leaking or odd noises from a device, stop using it immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911. If you observe a lithium-ion battery fire, leave the area, close the door and call 911 immediately.

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available at the Key West Fire Department. Call 305809-3933 or pick them up at Fire Station #1 at 1600 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

— Contributed

Thanksgiving safety tips from the Key West fire marshal. CONTRIBUTED

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FAMILY, FOOD AND FOUL PLAY – FEAST YOUR EYES ON THANKSGIVING READS

THE IRISH GOODBYE

By Heather Aimee O’Neill

Three sisters Cait, Alice and Maggie Ryan haven’t been home together in a long time. While the martyr, Alice, lives locally and is caregiver for their aging parents, she quietly dreams of the day her children are grown so she can pursue her own interests. Perfect Cait lives in London, practicing law, enduring a bad marriage and watching her nanny raise her twins. The youngest, Maggie, teaches English at a fancy boarding school and struggles with one foot still in the closet, doubtful her Irish Catholic mother raised by nuns will ever accept her life choices. As they converge for Thanksgiving, the years of buried secrets and past tragedies rise to the surface, adding layer upon layer of chaos to the already high-strung holiday. The lingering sadness of losing their brother, decline of their parents’ health and an old love affair weigh heavily as an uncertain future forces each sister to bravely face their truth. Navigating complicated sibling bonds and obligations, the women find that expectations are best understood after a moment in another’s shoes. A fabulous, wellwritten, heartfelt debut that is perfect for the holiday season.

First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.

AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING

By Louisa May Alcott

Louisa

May

Alcott’s Thanksgiving short story opens in rural New Hampshire, where the seven young Bassett children are left to pull off the holiday feast alone when their parents are forced to rush off (with the baby) and visit an ill Gran’ma. Not surprisingly, a variety of kitchen mishaps, recipe disasters and lessons of self-reliance ensue. The story is set in the early 1820s, back when Thanksgiving was a patchwork holiday that only a few states observed. Alcott, who never married, held an array of odd jobs while also trying to earn money with her writing to help support her family – unheard of for a woman of that time. This story was originally published in a magazine in 1881, and can now be read free online via Project Gutenberg (in Aunt Jo’s Scrap-Bag, Vol. 6) or the University of Pennsylvania’s Celebration of Women Writers. An absolute treat if you can spare an hour to go back in time amid the holiday dash and cooking chaos.

A DEADLY FEAST

By Lucy Burdette

Thanksgiving is almost here, and so is Hayley’s wedding to hot detective Nathan Bransford. Still writing for Key Zest magazine, Hayley attends an intimate food tour for her next article. Everything is going deliciously until a woman on the tour drops dead. Was it something she ate, or was someone out to get her? Once again Hayley, a cook and writer who has no business sticking her nose into a murder case, finds herself in the middle of another Key Zest mystery filled with some very unsavory characters. Even though she promised Nathan she would stay away from trouble, Hayley cannot resist and begins to put the list of ingredients together. We follow Hayley from her houseboat through the streets of this picture postcard town with pastel houses and leafy palms, roosters strutting around like they own Duval and more scooters than cars. A food haven with personality including fresh seafood, Cuban cafecito, conch fritters and Key lime pie. Key West author Lucy Burdette does it again with this cozy mystery that describes mouthwatering local eateries and is the perfect holiday treat while keeping an eye on the oven timer.

#WORTHWATCHING: “The Great Turkey Town Miracle” is an uplifting family drama about a widowed, out-of-work DJ who must round up 4,000 frozen turkeys for a homeless shelter’s Thanksgiving giveaway. Based on true events, this heartwarming dramedy is filled with community, perseverance and second chances. Check it out on Prime Video.

KAREN NEWFIELD

Have you ever heard of a couple of boys named Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn? These two characters were brought to life in the late 1800s by author Mark Twain.

In his famous books “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Twain gave readers of all ages a look at what life was like for kids living near the Mississippi River in the 19th century.

Mark Twain was born on Nov. 30, 1835. His 190th birthday is coming up this month. The Mini Page celebrates by learning more about Mark Twain and some of his best-loved writings.

Childhood and family

Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was born in the town of Florida, Missouri, two months early, and he was sick for much of his early childhood.

Sam was the sixth of seven children born to John and Jane Clemens. However, only Sam, his older brother, Orion, and his older sister, Pamela, lived into adulthood.

The family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River, when Sam was 4. For a little boy, the river was nothing but fun: Unusual people,

ADVENTURE, APPRENTICE, BOOKS, CLEMENS, COMET, FINN, HALLEY, HANNIBAL, INFLUENCE, MARK, MISSOURI, NEWSPAPER, OCTAGONAL, RACISM, RIVERBOAT, SAM, SAWYER, TWAIN.

Founded by Betty Debnam

Meet Mark Twain

chugging boats and tempting cargo to explore kept Sam and his friends busy. Many of the experiences he had as a child became stories in his books, including some of his real friends and family members.

Life as an adult

When he was 22, Sam became an apprentice, or beginner, river pilot. Two years later, he was a licensed pilot.

Sam guided boats up and down the Mississippi River until 1861, when the Civil War began. Both the North and the South wanted control of the river, so there was much fighting along the way. Riverboat traffic almost stopped.

In 1862, he moved to Virginia City, Nevada, to write for The Territorial Enterprise.

At this newspaper, Sam Clemens first used the name Mark Twain. He got the name from his riverboat days, when a marked rope helped pilots judge how deep the water was. “Twain” meant “two,” so “mark twain” meant two fathoms, or 12 feet.

Sam later wrote for The San Francisco Call and The Sacramento Union in California.

His writing influenced, or affected, people all over the world. He was known as a humorist, but most of his writing had serious themes, too.

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

Twain Fact-a-Roonies

• “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is filled with memorable characters — most based on Sam and his family and friends. For instance:

√ Tom Sawyer was mostly Sam, with three other friends thrown in.

√ Becky Thatcher was based on Laura Hawkins, who lived across the street from Sam. They were lifelong friends.

√ Injun Joe was based on Joe Douglass, a half-Osage, half-African American man in Hannibal.

• Mark Twain did a lot of his writing in an octagonal (eight-sided) study at Quarry Farm in Elmira, New York. The farm was the home of his sister-in-law and her family.

• Even though Sam Clemens grew up in a slaveholding state, he grew to be strongly against racism. His book “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” published in 1885, is about a young white boy who helps a Black slave, Jim, escape by floating away on the river on a raft.

RESOURCES

ON THE WEB

• marktwainmuseum.org

• pbs.org/kenburns/mark-twain/about-twain/

AT THE LIBRARY

• “River Boy: The Story of Mark Twain” by William Anderson

ECO NOTE

Every breath people take may carry the hidden danger of microplastics so small they can slip into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. A study published in the journal PLOS One estimates humans inhale up to 68,000 of these particles daily, mostly from the air inside homes and cars filled with plastics that break down into dust. Researchers warn that the health toll could be serious, with links to chronic lung inflammation, organ damage and even cancer. Because people spend most of their lives indoors, exposure is nearly constant, and car interiors can have by far the highest levels.

MINI FACT: Mark Twain was born the same year Halley’s Comet appeared in the sky. The year he died, it appeared again.

Photo courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Photo courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Photo courtesy Cindy Lovell, Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum

Samuel Clemens visits his boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri.

Mark Twain, 31.

Tom Sawyer as shown in the first edition of the book.

REVIEWS FROM MILLIONS OF TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS PLACE US IN THE TOP 10% WORLDWIDE. PULL

Key West starts postseason with a W | P.4

10 - 16

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Team Sport Opponent

Key West Boys Soccer Ferguson 11/10 W, 1-0

Coral Shores Boys Soccer Archimedean 11/10 L, 2-1

Marathon Boys Soccer Coral Shores 11/12 W, 3-1

Marathon Girls Soccer Archimedean 11/12 L, 6-1

Marathon Boys Basketball Southwest (preseason) 11/12 W, 45-39

Key West Girls Soccer Silver Palms 11/13 W, 8-0

Key West Boys Soccer Silver Palms 11/13 W, 3-2

Coral Shores Girls Soccer South Dade 11/13 T, 0-0

Marathon Boys Soccer Westwood Christian 11/14 W, 9-2

Key West Girls Basketball Marathon 11/14 W, 30-26

Marathon Boys Basketball Terra Institute (preseason) 11/14 L, 75-65

Key West Boys Basketball Coral Shores (preseason) 11/14 W, 87-37

Key West Football Cypress Lake 11/14 W, 44-34 Marathon Girls Soccer Westwood Christian 11/14 L, 6-0

CHAVALA

Sophomore, Marathon Special Olympics Power Lifting

11/20 Marathon Girls & Boys Basketball Everglades City 5:30 p.m.

11/20 Marathon Girls Soccer Somerset Canyons 5 p.m.

11/20 Key West Boys Soccer Marathon 5 p.m.

11/20 Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ MAST 5:30 p.m.

11/20 Key West Girls Basketball @ SLAM 5 p.m.

11/20 Coral Shores Girls Soccer St. Thomas Aquinas

11/21 Marathon Boys Basketball @ Keys Gate

11/22 Key West Girls Basketball Barron Collier 2 p.m.

11/22 MHS & CSHS Cross Country @ States 9 a.m.

11/22 Key West Girls Soccer @ Lemon Bay 11 a.m.

11/24 Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ ABF Homestead 7 p.m.

11/25 Key West Boys Basketball NSU University 7 p.m.

Leandro Batista, top, Noah Mercer, center, Gionni Fernandez and the Key West Conchs have a tall task ahead of them after earning their first playoff wins in backto-back seasons since the 1980s. See page 4. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

He worksalwayshard and strives to do the best in and out of the gym. He loves working out to stay shape.”in

– Cathy Warner, head coach

On Nov. 14, Dolphin weightlifter Alex Chavala brought home the gold from Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. Chavala competed for Marathon High School in the Special Olympics 14- to 18-year-old lightweight class. The sophomore strongman combined a 75-pound bench press with an impressive 210-pound deadlift to win the competition, securing a gold medal and respect from the rest of the competitors. For his incredible achievement and willingness to work hard and persevere regardless of any setback foolish enough to get in his way, Marathon’s Alex Chavala is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Alex

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

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

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

Publisher / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Managing Editor / Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

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Business Development Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com

Manuela C. Mobley manuela@keysweekly.com Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com

Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Graphic Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com

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SWEET 16

Conchs defeat Panthers to move on in hunt for state title

Key West’s Nov. 14 regional quarterfinal victory against Cypress Lake High School did more than avenge the loss they suffered last season, bumping them out of contention for a state championship. It marks the first time since the late ’80s in which the Conchs captured playoff wins in two consecutive seasons.

Key West racked up nearly 500 yards, all on the ground, to surpass the Panthers in a decisive 44-34 win that places the Conchs in the final 16 teams in FHSAA’s 3A.

and a pair of conversions. Leo Batista had two carries for 24 yards and ran one of those into the end zone. Roman Van Loon added a two-point conversion to make it 44 points for Key West.

The one-two punch of Morin and Dejean has been a deadly combination all season for Key West, and their efforts have placed both on top of the leaderboards for the district, class 3A, and, in Morin’s case, the state.

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“We played better than the score indicated,” said head coach Johnny Hughes. “We dominated more than what 10 points sounds like.”

Senior running back Walson Morin certainly dominated, racking up 341 yards and four touchdowns. Morin’s total was just 22 yards shy of Ran Carthon’s 1997 school records for most total yards in a game and most yards on the ground. Morin also rushed for a twopoint conversion in the win.

Also dominating was Jeff Dejean, who ran for 111 yards, one touchdown

Morin leads FHSAA’s 3A District 16 in rushing yards with 1,802, total touchdowns with 21 and all-purpose yards with 1,890. Dejean is second in rushing yards with 1,110, second in touchdowns with 14 and third in all-purpose yards with 1,123. Morin is second in all of 3A and fourth in the entire state in rushing yards, and with another game to go, both could climb in their rankings.

But that next game is a challenge, to say the least.

In their regional semifinal game, Key West faces a familiar albeit formidable foe in the Miami Northwestern Bulls. An Oct. 11 matchup between the two teams ended in a 56-0 rout in North-

tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

western’s favor, which barely indicates just what a juggernaut the Bulls are. The Bulls have outscored their opponents 360-54 thus far, not including two forfeits, one of which was most likely to simply avoid playing them. Northwestern has not lost a game since midSeptember of 2024, and last week they ran roughshod over Somerset Academy in a 70-0 win.

But if anyone can topple the defending state champs, it is Key West, with their punishing offense and gritty, hard-hitting line. Morin and Dejean are scoring threats every time the ball is in their hands, and Hughes likes nothing more than to feed his backs the ball. And unlike most pass-heavy teams Northwestern faces, Key West thrives in picking up yardage the hard way, in what Hughes has often described as “three yards and a cloud of dust.”

The season’s prior loss is not detrimental to their odds, according to Hughes. In fact, he believes it will play to their advantage.

“The sense of awe is gone now and that gives us a shot,” he said. “We know we will go in there, play our game, and come home and the intimidation factor is lower this time around.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami.

2. Leandro Batista works upfield.

3. Walson Morin and Leandro Batista celebrate Batista’s touchdown.

4. Leandro Batista and Chace Gaertner team up for a tackle.

5. Chace Gaertner punts for Key West.

6. Jeff DeJean runs the ball for the Conchs.

7. Reef Guyet brings down a Cypress Lake ball carrier.

8. Leandro Batista scores a Conchs touchdown.

9. Kaine Dickerson kicks off for the Conchs. Dickerson’s onside kick resulted in a successful recovery for Key West.

Photos by MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

1: Walson Morin, left, and Gionni Fernandez celebrate Morin’s touchdown.

SOLID GOLD Marathon Special Olympics powerlifters earn state titles

On Nov. 14, two talented athletes traveled to Orlando to compete at the Special Olympics powerlifting championships held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Junior Cindy Augustin and sophomore Alex Chavala, both representing Marathon High School, captured gold medals at the competition.

Chavala’s win was an exciting come-from-behind victory after sitting in second place following the bench press portion of the event. Chavala then cleared a strong deadlift to overtake another athlete and win the gold medal. Augustin outlifted her opponents as well to make it a pair of golds for the Dolphin power duo.

Coach Cathy Warner praised the athletes’ dedication, discipline and determination, which, she said, embody the spirit of Marathon High.

“These two athletes gave everything they had,” said Warner. “They worked hard, stayed focused and showed what it means to never give up.”

Warner’s support of the Special Olympics has been unwavering at Marathon, so it is not surprising that she, too, earned special recognition at the event. Warner captured an award for Monroe County for being an inspirational coach. Already honored as Marathon High’s Inclusion Teacher of the Year, Warner is also Marathon’s varsity girls soccer coach, with a roster that includes Augustin.

1. Cindy Augustin powers through a deadlift.

2. Marathon powerlifters Alex Chavala, left, and Cindy Augustin pose outside the ESPN complex.

3. Alex Chavala stands in the winner’s place on the podium after the Special Olympics powerlifting competition.

4. Cathy Warner, second from left, wins the Inspirational Coach’s Award for Monroe County at the Special Olympics weightlifting competition last week.

5. Cindy Augustin wears her gold medal.

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RAINING GOALS

Week two of soccer season yields high scores for Lady Conchs and Dolphin boys

In girls soccer action last week, Coral Shores traveled to South Dade on Nov. 13 to take on the Buccaneers. The match was an intense defensive battle that resulted in a 0-0 tie. Despite not picking up a win yet, the Lady ’Canes remain undefeated after a tie with Key West in their season opener.

The Lady Fins are also looking for their first win, after falling to Archimedean and Westwood Christian last week. The Dolphins lost 6-1 to Archimedean on Nov. 12. Eighthgrader Ashley Strama scored the lone goal for the Fins. Two days later, Marathon kicked off its home opener, losing 6-0 to Westwood.

Key West made the most out of their single match last week, defeating Silver Palms on the road on Nov. 3. The Lady Conchs scored eight goals in the mercy-rule victory. Maddie Kilduff netted two. Suena Marcily, Gabi Rodriguez and Lily Baxter each scored one. Baxter also assisted Lily Andrew on a goal and Capri Miner’s penalty kick cleared the goalie for another. A pass from Keirsten Tate turned into a defensive own goal to

make it eight for the 1-0-2 Conchs, who remain undefeated in early-season action.

In boys soccer, Coral Shores fell to 0-3 after a pair of losses last week. The Hurricanes visited Archimedean Nov. 10, losing 2-1 to the Owls. Maica Avila found the back of the net to score for the ’Canes. Two days later, Coral Shores hosted Marathon in a physical match that resulted in three yellow cards by the end of the game. Both teams battled it out with fantastic effort in a rivalry match that lived up to the hype.

Marathon first-year head coach Christian Saltarin shifted Tariq Simpson from back to forward for the match, a move that paid off quickly. Within the first 20 minutes of play, Simpson netted a pair of goals to stun the Hurricanes. Moments later, midfielder Giordani Prieto added a third goal to give Marathon a commanding 3-0 lead. The Hurricanes responded with a goal from Alexis Polanco Cordero just before halftime, then the defenses stepped up and prevented any further scoring for the final 40 minutes of play.

Saltarin and his Fins wasted no time in picking up their second win to even up their record. The Dolphins hosted Westwood Christian on Nov. 14, winning 9-2 in front of a delighted Marathon crowd. Adiel Nunez, Kristel Morales and Simpson netted two goals apiece. Jayden Rosete, Angel Cardona and Jossu Gomez accounted for the other three. Prieto and Alnier Mendez were credited with three assists each, with Morales assisting on one.

The Conchs also evened their record to 2-2 in the early stage of the season, winning a pair of close matches last week. Key West hosted Ferguson on Nov. 10, beating the Falcons 1-0. Owen Lindley assisted Loubins Fleuridor for the only score of the game. Fausto Paz was credited with the shutout for the Conchs. On Nov. 13, a visit to Somerset Silver Palms resulted in a 3-2 win for Key West. Fleuridor and Sebastian Camargo netted one goal apiece for the Conchs. Nico Sulak and Evens Louis were each credited with an assist. Kieran Smith also added an assist to his stats after a strong throw-in resulted in a Silver Palms own-goal, a mistake that cost them the game and secured the win for Key West.

1. Jenna Mandozzi (2) passes to a teammate.

2. Kai Redruello beats a South Dade player to the ball.

3. Kayla Serota (13) and Jenna Mandozzi box out a South Dade opponent.

4. Gia Champigny winds up for a pass.

5. Marathon poses in front of the scoreboard after a resounding win against Westwood Christian.

6. Alexis Polanco Cordero dribbles down the sideline.

7. Estuardo Godoy reads the field for possible options.

8. Marco Gudino sends a ball downfield.

9. Colton Connolly catches air to head the ball.

10. Finn Chesler breaks through the Marathon back line.

11. Coral Shores’ Marco Gudino, left, and Marathon’s Giordani Prieto battle for possession.

Photos by Jackon Garcia, Marc Serota and contributed images.

STATES-BOUND

Three Keys schools sent athletes to compete at their respective regional championships on Nov. 14 at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. Key West’s boys and both teams from Marathon and Coral Shores qualified for the meet after fantastic showings at districts one week prior.

Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley placed seventh overall in her race, cruising to a 19:38 finish and a ticket to states. Wheatley earned an at-large bid to run at Tallahassee's Apalachee Regional Park on Nov. 22, making the cut in 2025 for her first appearance after missing the final at-large spot last season by mere seconds. This year, the speedy sophomore made it undeniable, securing the second of four spots allotted to individual runners.

The rest of the Lady ’Canes will cheer Wheatley on from home after finishing in 13th place overall. The top eight teams qualify, but despite missing the mark for states, the Hurricanes saw marked improvement in their times and finished their season on a strong note. Kate King finished in 22:27, followed by Aria Booton (24:36), Tess HIll (24:39), Olive Welch (24:43), Isabelle Jacobs (25:38) and Hayden Teal (26:32). Every athlete on the Lady Hurricanes’ roster will return next season to continue the success head coach Lyndie Meyers has steadily built with her program.

The Lady Fins finished 15th overall in the 1A race. Seventhgrader Molly Joly was first for the team, finishing in 32nd place with a time of 22:10. Mylana Loza (23:30) was next, followed by Ariella Dworniczak (25:34), Danaica Bessy (26:52), Kayla Skaarup (27:33), Sofia Konyk (29:37) and Natalia Perez Franco (31:07). Like the Hurricanes, every member of Marathon’s Lady Fins team will return next season under the guidance of first-year head coach Helena Bursa. Bursa stated that she could not be

prouder of her team’s improvement across the season. The Dolphins struggled to field a team in the early weeks, picking up runners along the way to finish strong.

Marathon’s boys did secure a spot at the start of the big show. The Dolphins managed their 11th consecutive qualification for the state meet by running to a fifth-place team finish. Leading the charge was freshman Lucian Burns, whose 17:20 time was good for 12th place overall. Teammate Tony Bursa was right behind Burns, finishing in 13th place in 17:28. Allan Taylor (18:08), Caleb Shelar (18:22), Anthony Vargas (19:31), Landon Anderson (19:44) and Thomas Torres (24:13) rounded out the state-eligible finishers for Marathon.

The Hurricane boys finished 13th overall, and the senior-heavy squad had big performances for their final meet of the season. Jamie Cary led the team, finishing in 40th place with a time of 18:03. Behind Cary were Garrett Gomila (19:34), Alaric Rodriguez (19:57), Tristan Rios (19:57), Nathaniel Shugarman (19:58), Adrik Gadea (20:04) and Tristan Sanchez (20:52). Head coach Gabe Suarez will have some recruiting to do in the offseason, as his entire crew except for Sanchez, a junior, and Gomila, a sophomore, graduates.

The final team to qualify for regionals was Key West’s boys. The Conchs pulled off an upset at districts to secure the final team entry for regionals with multiple personal bests, some by large margins. To drop more time was improbable, but that’s exactly what several athletes did.

Sawyer Hill was first for the Conchs, finishing in a personal-best 18:35 – a 20-second improvement from his previous record. Next was the team’s lone senior and captain, Prometheus Delacerda, with an impressive 35-second PR. Delacerda completed the race in 18:37. Alejandro Caridad was next (21:35), followed by Colin Palomino (22:27) and Charlie Delashmit (23:55). Delashmit shaved off 45 seconds from his prior personal best for a strong finish for the Conchs, who placed 15th at the meet.

Head coach Keara McGraw led both the girls and boys of Key West in what should have been a rebuild year. But McGraw’s young teams showed that despite their youth, they have what it takes to compete amongst the best.

Wheatley and the Dolphin boys have a quick turnaround this week. They will travel to Tallahassee for the state championship meet on Nov. 22 to race against the best athletes in the state of Florida.

1. Marathon’s Danaica Bessy, left, and Ariella Dworniczak pace one another.

2. Marathon freshman Lucian Burns leads a pack of runners.

3. Dolphin junior Mylana Loza runs strong.

4. Coral Shores runners pose for a pre-race photo.

5. Key West athletes await the gun for the start of the 2A Region 4 Championships.

6. Ali Wheatley wears her regional medal with Coral Shores head coach Lyndie Meyers. Wheatley qualified for the state meet with her performance.

7. Coral Shores senior Jamie Cary leads teammate Alaric Rodriguez early in the race.

8. Adrik Gadea leads Nathaniel Shugarman at South County Regional Park.

RICK MACKENZIE/Contributed

FCONCHS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE

Key West outscores county rivals in girls weightlifting

or the third time in as many meets, Key West’s Lady Conchs bested Marathon and Coral Shores in both the traditional and Olympic weightlifting competitions on Nov. 12. This time around, the Conchs had the home gym advantage, as they hosted their county rivals for their first home meet of the season.

At 101 pounds, Althea Olsen of Key West edged out teammate Courtney Ward for first place in both events. Both athletes had total lifts of 110 pounds in the Olympic event, but Olsen’s lighter body weight gave her the advantage and the win. In the traditional event, Olsen outlifted Ward by 15 pounds.

Emily Hurt of Coral Shores took first place in the 110-pound competition. Hurt won both events and Key West’s Riley Grogan finished second.

Key West’s Cayla Moore was a double winner at 119 pounds. Moore’s 125-pound clean and jerk lift gave her a strong advantage, as that lift is tabulated in both events. In second

place for the traditional event was Mallory Hughes of Coral Shores. Sofia Konyk was second in the Olympic competition.

Ella Evans of Marathon was a double winner at 129 pounds, outlifting teammate Rilynn Richards, who finished second in both events. Evans’ bench press and clean and jerk lifts both surpassed her body weight, a mark of true strength in girls weightlifting.

Marathon senior Tinashay Cunningham won first place in both events in the 139-pound weight class. Kai Lamontagne and Ava Walker, both of Key West, shared the runner-up spots. Lamontagne was second in the Olympic competition while Walker claimed second in traditional.

At 154 pounds, Marathon’s Adelle Bainbridge was first in both events, with Karla Gutierrez taking second. Camila Linares and Evalyn Norwood of Key West claimed the top spots at 169 pounds. Linares won by just 5 pounds in the Olympic event, making it a close competition for the teammates.

At 183, Marathon’s Justice Lee Isom combined some incredible lifts to claim a pair of firsts. She benched 160 pounds, clean and jerked 185 and snatched 155 to also win the strongest lifter of the meet. Notably, Lee Isom is not throwing up her best weights in the events and will not do so until later in the season, a strategy which has paid off for head coach Jessie Schubert’s Lady Fins. In second place for both events was Key West’s Jazlyn Lyons.

Aaliyah McLeod of Key West outlifted Elaina Kerns of Coral Shores at 199. McLeod won both events and Kerns was the runner-up. In the Unlimited class, Coral Shores’ Vanessa Gabriel was a double winner. Key West’s Monea McLeod was second.

Girls weightlifting continues regular-season meets through mid-January, when district meets begin. The culmination of the season is the state championships Feb. 11-13 at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center.

Jazlyn Lyons

Ella Evans

Karla Guitierrez

TRACY McDONALD/Keys Weekly

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PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

QUARTERLY MEETING NOTICE: LOCAL COORDINATING BOARD FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED

The Monroe County Local Coordinating Board (LCB) will be holding its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at the Marathon Government Center, Room, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The primary purpose of the Coordinating Board is to provide information and advice to the TransportationCommunityCoordinator on the coordination of services provided to the transportation disadvantaged population of Monroe County, pursuant to Chapter 427.0157, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting due to a disability or physical impairment, and any related questions or inquiries concerning this meeting should be directed to Anjana Morris at the Health Council of South Florida, Inc. at (305) 592-1452 ext. 101 at least 72 hours prior to the date of the

meeting.

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DIVE AND ECOTOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council has openings for Diving and Ecotourism Representative Related Business or Knowledge –

Any person, business, or organization engaged in the provision of goods, services, training, programs, or experiences related to scuba diving, snorkeling, underwater exploration, sustainable travel, environmental conservation, naturebased tourism, or habitat restoration; or possessing prior experience through participation in, organization of, or representation of such activities. This definition expressly includes dive shops, charter operators, training and certification entities, marine research and conservation organizations, environmental nonprofits, aquariums, museums, educational institutions, and wildlife or marine life tour providers that advance diving safety, responsible exploration, environmental awareness, or ecological stewardship. There are openings in all Districts: District I encompasses the city limits of Key West District II from the city limits of Key West to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge District III from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge District IV between the Long Key Bridge and mile marker

90.939 District V from mile marker 90.940 to the Dade/Monroe County line and any mainland portions of Monroe County

Any person wishing to participate on the Dive and Ecotourism Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by sydney@fla-keys.com.emailing

Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Dive and Ecotourism Advisory Committee Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040

Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. Friday January 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application.

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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: International Public Relations Agency for Monroe County Tourist Development Council Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.comhttps://monroecounty-fl. OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.com,https://monroecounty-fl. no later than 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal.

The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting

The following is an upcoming GMX procurement opportunity:

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GMX PROJECT/SERVICE TITLE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR SR 878 LED ROADWAY LIGHTING CONVERSION

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Jacobs Aquatic Center Activity Pool Renovations

Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.comhttps://monroecounty-fl. OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.com,https://monroecounty-fl. no later than 3:00P.M. on December 18, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, December 18, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

IN RE: ESTATE OF CARMA JEAN YELL, DECEASED.

DATE OF DEATH: JUNE 24, 2025 RESIDED: 23A NORTH OCEAN DRIVE, KEY LARGO, FLORIDA 33037 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, acting as representative of the Estate of Carma Jean Yell, hereby gives notice pursuant to Sections 733.2121 and 733.702, Florida Statutes, to all persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the estate, whether or not their claims are contingent or unliquidated, are notified that they must file their claims in writing with the undersigned within three (3) months after the date of the first publication of this notice. All claims not filed within the time periods set forth in Section 733.702, Florida Statutes, 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 name and address of the estate representative are: Mark. A. Hutchings / Representative 216 Hibiscus Avenue Key Largo, Florida 33037

Date of first publication: November 13, 2025

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IN THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 2025-000092-CP-02

SECTION: PMH05 IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN D. DANNELLY, JR Deceased. __________________/ FORMAL NOTICE TO: PATRICK MICHAEL DANNELLY 555 OCEAN WAY KEY LARGO, FL 33037 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a PETITION FOR SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION and a PETITION TO DETERMINE HOMESTEAD STATUS OF REAL PROPERTY have been filed IN THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MIAMIDADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION. You are required to serve written defenses on the undersigned within 20 days after service of this notice, exclusive of the day of service, and to file the original of the written defenses with the clerk of the above court either before service or immediately thereafter. Failure to serve and file written defenses as required may result in a judgment or order for the relief demanded in the pleading or motion, without further notice.

Dated: October 28, 2025. Respectfully, Carlos Linares, Esq. Florida Bar No. 1051061 Sylvana Rosende, Esq. Florida Bar No. 1025248 ROSENDE PAUL PLLC. Attorneys for David Sean Dannelly 8200 NW 41st Street, Suite 318

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION CASE NUMBER: 24-CP000608-M

DIVISION: MARATHON

FLORIDA BAR #980810

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY M. BITZER Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the

estate of DOROTHY M. BITZER, deceased, whose date of death was October 6, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is November 13, 2025.

Persons Giving Notice: Cindy L. Casey 15 Ibis Lane Marathon, FL 33050 Attorney for Persons Giving Notice: Christopher B. Waldera, P.A. Christopher B. Waldera Florida Bar No: 980810

Attorney for Personal Representative 5800 Overseas Highway, Suite 7

Marathon, Florida 33050

Telephone: (305) 289-2223

Facsimile: (305) 289-2249 email: chris@cbwpa.com

Publish: November 13 & 20, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 25-CP-000473-P

Division: Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF DAVID M. FINDLAY, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of David M. Findlay, deceased, File Number 25-CP-000473-P, 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 Representatives are set forth below. The name and address of the Personal Representatives’ attorney are set forth below.

Pursuant to Florida Statutes section 733.702(1), if not barred by Florida Statutes section 733.710, no claim or demand against the decedent’s estate that arose before the death of the decedent, including claims of the state and any of its political subdivisions, even if the claims are unmatured, contingent, or unliquidated; no claim for funeral or burial expenses; no claim for personal property in the possession of the personal representative; and no claim for damages, including, but not limited to, an action founded on fraud or another wrongful act or omission of the decedent, is binding on the estate, on the personal

representative, or on any beneficiary unless the claim is filed in the probate proceeding on or before the later of the date that is 3 months after the time of the first publication of the notice to creditors or, as to any creditor required to be served with a copy of the notice to creditors, 30 days after the date of service on the creditor, even though the personal representative has recognized the claim or demand by paying a part of it or interest on it or otherwise. ALL CLAIMS NO SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

In addition to the above described limitations period, Florida Statutes section 733.710 provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Florida Probate Code, 2 years after the death of a person, neither the decedent’s estate, the personal representative, if any, nor the beneficiaries shall be liable for any claim or cause of action against the decedent, whether or not letters of administration have been issued, except for a creditor who has filed a claim pursuant to Florida Statues section 733.702 within 2 years after the person’s death, or as otherwise provided in Florida Statutes section 733.710. 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 Florida Statutes Sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under Florida Statutes Section 732.2211. The written demand must be filed with the clerk of the court. Date of first publication of the Notice to Creditors was November 13, 2025, and the Decedent’s date of death was August 28, 2025.

Co-Personal Representative: James Findlay 121 Nassau Street, Apt. #25A New York, NY 10038

Co-Personal Representative: Alexandra Young 53 Hunt Terrace Greenwich, CT 06831

Attorneys for Personal Representatives: Benjamin D. Babcock, Esquire Florida Bar No. 93181 GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A. 401 East Las Olas Boulevard Suite 2000 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Telephone: 954-765-0500

Facsimile: 954-765-1477

Primary Email: babcockb@ gtlaw.com

Secondary Emails: heventhala@gtlaw.com geistc@gtlaw.com

Publish: November 13 & 20, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-000488-K IN RE: ESTATE OF GREGORY LOGAN GARDINER Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of GREGORY LOGAN GARDINER, deceased, whose date of death was October 3, 2025, File Number 25-CP000488-K, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, the address of which is Mounroe County Courthouse, Probate Division, 302 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. The fiduciary lawyer-client privilege in Section 90.5021 applies with respect to the

personal representative and any attorney employed by the personal representative.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE TIME 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 SO FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION

733.702 OF THE FLORIDA

PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

The personal representative or curator 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 Florida Statutes 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under Florida Statutes 732.2211.

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: November 13, 2025.

Personal Representative: WILLIAM L. GARDINER, III 936 Intracoastal Drive, #17B Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306

Attorney for Personal Representative: DOUGLAS F. HOFFMAN FL BAR ATTY #964980 RUDOLF & HOFFMAN, P.A. 615 Northeast Third Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Telephone: 954-462-2270

Facsimile: 954-462-2274

dhoffman@estateandtrust.net

Publish: November 13 & 20, 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

PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

BOAT MISC FOR SALE

Two 425 XTO Yamaha outboard motors for sale. Low hours, excellent condition, professionally maintained. $30,000 for both. Located in Marathon. Call for details 305-747-4227

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

Boat dockage, 29th Street Canal in Marathon. Up to 33', water & electric. 305-240-3270

EMPLOYMENT

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Full-time Carpenter, Electrician & Housing Assistant. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www.kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

The SS Wreck & Galley Grill (mile marker 59) is looking for a line cooks and prep & dish. Self-motivated, will train, experience very helpful, quick learner, and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515 or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

Coast To Coast Pizza Company is looking for pizza makers. Selfmotivated, experience very helpful, quick learner, and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515 or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

Maintenance Manager needed. The Cabana Club, a private membership swim club, is seeking a full time, hands-on Maintenance Manager. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: pool maintenance (training can be provided), general plumbing and electric, light carpentry, opening and cleaning daily, general "handyman skills". Qualified person is organized, works well independently and observes surroundings in need of attention. Great pay plus benefits. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404219-3359 and ask for Dave

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am-7pm daily. Full time/Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

Boat rental company in Marathon looking for help with boat detailing & boat cleaning. Call 305-481-7006

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

HOUSING

HOUSING FOR RENT

NIGHT MONITOR - FREE

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

2-3BR/2BA Beautiful home for year-round rental on Duck Key. Furnished, full size W/D, stainless steel appliances & granite countertops. Gorgeous pool with built-in bar stools, waterfall & Jacuzzi, 1 car garage, and covered porch for outdoor dining w/ views of the canal. $3,800/ month. Avail. Dec. 1st. Address: 243 W. Seaview Dr, Duck Key, MM 61. Text/ call 774-263-8759 Email: dongamache@comast.net

Studio House with Queen size bed available in Marathon. Bedroom/ living room/kitchen all separate rooms. Furnished & appliances, newly renovated. No pets. 305-610-8002

2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Completely remodeled. All appliances. No pets. Dock available for separate fee. 305-610-8002

VACATION RENTAL

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

Do your X-Mas shopping at SARA’S ESTATE SALE @ WATERFRONT ESTATE on Knights Key in Marathon @ 43 Kyle Way (at the foot of the 7 Mile Bridge). Fri, Nov. 21 & Sat, Nov. 22 from 9a-1p both days. Tools, motorcycle & inflatable boat for the boys & jewelry and home decor for the ladies! Selling 10’ inflatable Mercury boat, an ‘03 “Chief” Indian Motorcycle and high-end jewelry. Corded & battery tools, tile saw, Ryobi edger, 65mm jack hammer, shallow well pump, chop saws, jack stands, work lights, light fixtures, lightbulbs. Lots of “kits” for dry wall, plumbing, electrical, tiling and other DIY projects. This sale also features high-end jewelry, beautiful art and housewares plus

some auction-house worthy surprises (think art, vintage vases and lamps and other collectibles). Follow the signs, park with consideration. More photos at estatesales. net, keep checking back for more photos to drop.

First Annual Community Yard Sale - Sat. Dec. 13 starting at 9am. Behind the Airport in Marathon - start on Porpoise Drive and work your way around!

PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

IS HIRING IN THE UPPER KEYS

ACCOUNTING PERSON

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

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

FAIR INSURANCE RATES FOR MONROE EMPOWERING CONSUMERS THROUGH EDUCATION, PROTECTION, AND REFORM

NOW HIRING: General Manager – Full Time

Key West , Florida with possible occasional travel in the county and outside Salary Range: Commensurate with experience, plus comprehensive benefits including health insurance

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As General Manager, you will serve as the operational backbone of FIRM, reporting directly to the Board of Directors and collaborating closely with our President on strategic vision.

Strategic Leadership & Operations: Oversee day-to-day operations, including program development, delivery, and evaluation, with a focus on insurance policy research, consumer complaint resolution, and advocacy campaigns.

Financial & Resource Management: Lead budgeting, financial reporting, and resource allocation, including grant procurement and management, fundraising initiatives, and donor stewardship.

Team & Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate relationships with board members, regulators, industry partners, and community stakeholders to amplify advocacy efforts, such as lobbying for consumer-friendly insurance reforms.

Advocacy & Impact Measurement: Spearhead public awareness campaigns on insurance issues (e.g., rate transparency, claim denials), leveraging data-driven insights to influence legislation and corporate practices. Website and Social Media management.

Risk & Compliance Oversight: Ensure organizational adherence to legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, including data privacy in consumer interactions and risk management for advocacy activities. Serve as a key spokesperson, representing FIRM in media, hearings, and coalitions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Non-Profit Management, or a related field; Master's or MBA preferred. 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in non-profit management, with at least 3 years in advocacy, consumer protection, or insurance-related roles.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews starting in late November. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please submit your resume, a cover letter outlining your vision for leading FIRM’s next phase, and three professional references as a single PDF. Use the subject line: "General Manager Application - [Your Last Name]." E-Mail address: Mel.Montagne@ioausa.com FIRM is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates with lived experience in underserved communities, as well as those from varied backgrounds in insurance, policy, or non-profit sectors. www.FirmKeys.org

NOW HIRING FULL TIME POSITIONS

• EXPERIENCED ACCOUNTING/ BOOKKEEPING

• LICENSED (or will train) ACCOUNT PROCESSOR/ACCOUNT MANAGER

Amazing benefits available that include: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Long Term/Short Term Disability, 10+ PAID Holidays PLUS Vacation & Sick Pay, 401K Plan Available, Paid Insurance Licensing/Training, Paid Continuing Education & Bonus Potential (Profit Sharing).

Apply by email Jennifer.Roth@ReganRoth.com

Regan Roth Insurance, 90144 Overseas Highway, Tavernier. Family-owned business that will treat you like family!

preferred. CDL required. Applicant must apply in person at:

SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!

NOW HIRING!

SERVICES STAFF (Full-Time, Permanent)

SERVICES STAFF (Part-Time, Weekend)

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) 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, in addition to, life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee. EOE

COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL

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

SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $46.38/hr. - $51.94/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.

KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

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

OPERATOR/MAINTAINER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr

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

1 yr or more experience required.

2 yrs or more experience required.

All positions Monday-Friday with overtime possible.

Please apply in person at Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc.

Toppino Industrial Drive, Key West. Or contact Cheryl at 305-296-5606 ext. 126 or cheryl@charleytoppino.com

HEAVY

EQUIPMENT DIESEL MECHANIC

We are hiring a Heavy Diesel Mechanic with experience working on John Deere, Caterpillar, Kubota, Detroit Diesel, etc. MondayFriday with some overtime available. Please apply at Charley Toppino & Sons, 129 Toppino Industrial Drive, Key West, ask for Cheryl. 305-296-5606 ext 126

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS HIRING!

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

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

KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Therapist (CAT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)

Behavioral Health Counselor (CAT)

KEY WEST

Case Manager (Adult)

Mental Health Technician (PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) (PT) Crisis Counselor

MARATHON

Mental Health Technician

Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver (CDL not required) (PT)

Driver (CDL required) (FT)

Registered Nurse (FT, PT)

*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)

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

*Night Monitor (ALF – Free Housing vs. Salary)

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

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.

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

- Registered Nurse, Oncology, $15k Bonus

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

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

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, MRI, $50k Bonus

- Medical Technologist, Laboratory, $20k Bonus

- Pool Clinical Pharmacist, Per Diem

- Pool Medical Technologist

- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, PT

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- Inventory Control Administrator, Keys/Marathon Supply Chain

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 2, (MRI & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

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

- Patient Care Nurse Supervisor, PT, Nights

- Patient Scheduler 3, Surgery, PT

- Pool Occupational Therapist

- Pool Pharmacy Tech 2

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Per Diem

- Registered Nurse, PACU, $15k Bonus

THEME: THANKSGIVING

ACROSS

1. Fresh Prince: “____ ya later!”

6. Say “no”

9. “Nana” author …mile ____

13. Capital of Vietnam

14. The home of the brave, acr.

15. Increase rpms (2 words)

16. Like yesteryear

17. Rejuvenating spot

18. Like a solder at attention

19. *Pumpkin pie or pecan pie, e.g.

21. *Plymouth ____

23. Seek damages

24. Light on one’s feet

25. Like The Beatles

28. Certain blast’s origins

30. *What tom said

35. Iranian money

37. Precedes GPT

39. Water nymph

40. Wisconsin’s western neighbor

41. One tenth

43. Mountain, in Germany

44. The Statue of Liberty island

46. Cat sound

47. Instinctive motive

48. 1970s dance clubs

50. Do like buffaloes

52. Distress acronym

53. Opposite of genuine

We are now hiring for the following positions: Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, PT, $12,500 Bonus

- RRT 2, Respiratory Therapy, Per Diem

- Security Officer, Per Diem

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

*Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience. APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net

55. Bow or bolo

57. *Moisturizing kitchen tool

60. *Turkey prepared certain way

64. Bottom line

65. Pub offering

67. Alley cat, e.g.

68. Extreme suffering

69. International help, e.g.

70. Bullwinkle J. ____

71. Fitness facilities

72. July-August sign of Zodiac

73. More so than #12 Down

DOWN

1. Not barefoot

2. Gender checkbox

3. Peters out

4. Loamy deposit

5. Form a queue (2 words)

6. Head and shoulders sculpture

7. Venomous snake

8. Civil rights organization, acr.

9. Whole number between -1 and

1

10. *Biscuit baker

11. *She took away the football from Charlie Brown

12. Mentally quick, e.g. 15. Put trust in (2 words)

20. Respond

22. Website address ending 24. Eminence

25. *Deep-____, turkey prepared certain way

26. White condiment

27. Sheds tears

29. *Mayflower

31. Hindi courtesy title

32. Coffin holders

33. One of Florida Keys

34. Ruler sides, e.g.

36. Not of the cloth

38. Through, to a poet

42. Muse of love poetry

45. “Killing Me ____ with His Song”

49. Fraternity letters

51. Unwholesome atmosphere

54. Cattle enclosure in African village

56. Bar, legally 57. Unidentified aircraft

58. Niels Bohr’s study object

59. Without, ‡ Paris 60. Overhaul

61. *Turkey ____, 5K run 62. “At ____!” military command

Indigo user 64. “You’re it” game 66. Rest in state

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