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“True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.” — Clarence Darrow

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September 10, 2026

9/11

NEVER FORGET

ACLU SUES KEY WEST — AGAIN

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL

KEYS WEEKLY HONORS LOCAL HEROES IN MEMORY OF 9/11 | P. 14, 21, 24, 25

CLAIMS CITY RETALIATED AGAINST FIRST LAWSUIT | P. 4

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KEY WEST BUSINESSMAN TACKLES IMMIGRATION POLICY | P. 11

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK KEYS

NEWSPAPERS

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5 Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com Publisher / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com Publishing Partner / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com Editor / Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com Account Executive Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Staff Writers Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

2,977

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania claimed the lives of 2,977 people. The strikes were the deadliest on American soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor 60 years before.

ACLU SUES CITY OF KEY WEST — AGAIN Suit claims officials retaliated against residents in rainbow dispute

Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com Design / Pre-Press Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Diana Striker www.keysweekly.com Controller Lauren Pope lauren@keysweekly.com Web Master / Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com Classifieds / Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844 Se habla español THE KEY WEST WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials. Postmaster SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY MARATHON FL 33050 News Deadline Monday Noon Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m.

@KeysWeekly @theWeekly

Members of

A banner on the Fleming Street fence of Nicole Sohn and Linda Bagley-Sohn announces the lawsuit filed in May accusing the city of selectively enforcing its code to target rainbowpainted fence pickets. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

t’s not sunshine and rainbows at city hall. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida on Sept. 9 filed a second lawsuit against the city of Key West, alleging that city officials retaliated against two local residents who filed the first lawsuit pertaining to rainbow-painted fence pickets in Old Town. Residents Nicole Sohn and Linda Bagley-Sohn sued the city in May with the help of the ACLU of Florida. That lawsuit accuses the city of First Amendment violations by selectively enforcing its historic guidelines that regulate fence colors in Old Town. The suit claims that the couple’s rainbowpainted fence posts were targeted by code enforcement, while other fences in Old Town that are painted non-regulation colors were not subject to any enforcement measures. The first lawsuit contains photos showing examples of other fences painted in non-compliant colors at properties that did not receive notices of code violations. The city then turned those examples into code complaints and claimed the complaints had been filed by Sohn

and Bagley-Sohn, whose attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to the city, demanding that officials stop claiming the residents had filed 19 code complaints about painted fences in Old Town. “The plaintiffs demanded the city stop misrepresenting them as having submitted code violation complaints. Rather than accede to the truth, the city scoffed at plaintiffs’ demand and responded that it would continue falsely identifying plaintiffs as the complainants unless and until they withdraw the factual allegations” contained in the first lawsuit, the new suit states. “The plaintiffs exercised their First Amendment right to sue the City of Key West for selectively enforcing its municipal code against them in a discriminatory manner,” the new lawsuit states. “In response, the city took the ... evidence plaintiffs presented in that lawsuit, opened code enforcement cases against those properties, and falsely informed plaintiffs’ neighbors that the cases were opened because plaintiffs submitted code violation complaints to the city. “In doing so, the city exposed plaintiffs to reputational harm, instigated friction with their neighbors, and sent a chilling message to all who

ON THE COVER From left, Key West firefighter and EMT Matt Schilling, Police Chief Sean Brandenburg and Detective Sgt. Jesse Hammers are among first responders the Keys Weekly proudly honors in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

might challenge the city’s selective enforcement, announcing: if you sue us, we will punish your community and falsely identify you as a code-complaining snitch. The First Amendment forbids the city from exacting such a price for seeking redress in court.” Key West “attempted to force plaintiffs to choose between presenting evidence needed to support their pending lawsuit and protecting their relationships and reputation in their community,” the suit says. “Plaintiffs reject the city’s unlawful ultimatum. They once again bring suit to vindicate their rights under the First Amendment,” the new suit claims. “The city’s conduct has already prompted at least one neighbor to confront plaintiffs and creates an ongoing risk of harm to plaintiffs’ relationships and reputation within their neighborhood. Many of the apparent violations plaintiffs presented as comparator evidence in the first suit have existed for years without issue. Key West residents value creative expression, including through painting their fences, gates and houses. By falsely identifying plaintiffs as code violation complainants, the city exposed them to anger, hostility and damaged relationships with members of their community,” the new lawsuit states. “The city’s conduct also burdens plaintiffs’ ability to identify and present additional comparator evidence as the first suit proceeds. The new lawsuit demands a jury trial and “compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.” City officials do not comment on pending litigation, but assistant city attorney Kendal Harden announced at the Sept. 3 city commission meeting that she would hold a closed session with the commission later this month to discuss the ACLU lawsuit. That was announced before the second lawsuit was filed on Sept. 9. Mayor Sam Kaufman also declined to comment on pending litigation, but said at his first press conference, held on Sept. 9, that the city’s Historic Architectural Review Committee is pursuing changes to its guidelines that would allow for limited painting of fenceposts in the historic district.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

BRIEFLY

FORMER COLLEGE PRESIDENT CHALLENGES HIS FIRING Jonathan Gueverra asks judge to review board’s actions MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

he former president of the College of the Florida Keys is contesting his July 20 termination, and has requested an administrative hearing so a judge can review the circumstances of his firing Jonathan ‘Dr. and the actions the school’s G’ Gueverra board of trustees took to do so. Jonathan “Dr. G” Gueverra served as president of CFK from 2012 until July 20, when the board, newly appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, voted to terminate his contract at a hastily called special meeting whose agenda did not mention potential termination or discussion thereof. In a written notice of termination, dated July 24, attorney Brande Smith, representing the college board, listed the grounds for termination as: lack of confidence by the board, as reflected in the new trustees’ evaluations of Gueverra; insubordination stemming from tense discussions of his contract, which had been renewed early by the prior board; misconduct in office, breach of contract for not securing state funding, which was included in the state budget, but ultimately vetoed by the governor; and incompetence over the alleged failure to remove Key deer from a college-managed Big Pine property despite U.S. Fish & Wildlife experts finding the deer were healthy with adequate resources. Gueverra denies all allegations. “The board’s asserted lack of confidence was not real, honest, or genuinely held, but was feigned or supplied as a pretextual reason for his termination,” Gueverra’s attorney Wayne Larue Smith wrote in his Aug. 17 petition for a hearing with an administrative law judge. The judge would be asked to consider, according to the petition, whether “the board chair (Alexandria Suarez) predetermined the outcome, attempted to direct implementation of Dr. Gueverra’s termination and disable his systems

access before the purported board action on July 20, 2026, called the special meeting only after college staff objected, or otherwise acted outside her individual authority,” the petition states. “The board’s process was materially defective,” it continues. “Notice of the Monday evening special meeting was posted at approximately 4:55 p.m. on the immediately preceding Friday, after the board chair had already stated that Dr. Gueverra was being terminated and attempted to have his systems access disabled. The notice and agenda were not published at least seven days before the meeting, as required ... and did not provide adequate notice or fair warning that the Board would consider terminating Dr. Gueverra.” The petition says Gueverra “disputes the asserted grounds, the facts and inferences on which they rest, ... the procedures used to notice and conduct the special meeting, the fairness and impartiality of the decisional process, and the validity of the resulting termination.” Smith requests that a final order be issued, “determining that the ... grounds for termination for cause were not proven, and withdrawing or setting aside the proposed termination.” It further asks that an administrative law judge, “restore Dr. Gueverra to the position, salary, benefits, and contractual status he would have occupied absent the challenged action.” Smith closes the administrative petition by emphasizing that regardless of an administrative hearing outcome, Gueverra “expressly reserves all claims and remedies available in circuit court or any other forum, including claims to invalidate action taken in violation of the Sunshine Law,....” Two weeks after the college board received Gueverra’s petition for a hearing, a mediation session was scheduled for Oct. 7. Both parties have jointly asked the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) to pause the case for 60 days, until Nov. 3, while mediation is attempted. If unsuccessful, then an evidentiary hearing will be scheduled, states an order from administrative law judge Robert S. Cohen in Tallahassee, who granted the two-month pause. Gueverra and board trustees declined to discuss the issue, citing the pending legal matters.

Key West city officials, police department members and police union leaders sign the police department’s negotiated three-year labor contract on Sept. 3. CONTRIBUTED

City and police union sign 3-year contract The City of Key West and the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) have signed a new three-year labor contract, formalizing the agreement on Sept. 3 at city hall. A central feature of the new agreement is an incentivized training program designed to encourage officers to pursue advanced certifications and professional development. City and department leaders say the provision is intended to improve the skill level of the police force and support the department’s broader goal of building a stronger, more capable agency. “Community policing works best when officers have the tools and preparation to engage residents proactively, not just respond to calls,” said Chief Sean Brandenburg. “This contract helps us build that kind of department. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to public safety and to supporting the men and women who serve our community.” The contract was signed by Key West Mayor Sam Kaufman, South Florida PBA President Steadman Stahl and PBA attorney Mike Braverman, along with PBA members and Key West Police Department Officer Frank Betz, Sgt. Nick Revoredo and Sgt. Marcus del Valle. Children’s School offers car wash & bike tune-ups The Montessori Children’s School will hold its annual community car wash on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Varela Street campus, 1221 Varela St. The car wash is open to the entire community. The morning will include car, golf cart, bike and scooter washes, a special bike tuneup station by WeCycle, a Slip ’n’ Slide, bake sale, coffee from Koffie House and a dance party with DJ Jimmy Jamz. Everything is by donation. Proceeds from the car wash and bike tuneups support the Children’s School’s scholarship fund, which provides tuition assistance for local families, while bake sale and coffee proceeds benefit the school’s upper elementary and middle school programs. Scan the QR code for more details.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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‘I HEARD I WAS IN TOWN’ Just a Few Friends fills Key West with Jimmy Buffett’s music & memories

FILM CELEBRATES THE START OF SOMETHING HUGE

‘Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers’ makes you wish you’d been there

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

A lively Q&A session follows the Sept. 5 screening of ‘Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers’ at Key West Theater. From left, Coral Reefers Roger Bartlett and Josh Leo; filmmaker, author and Key West resident John H. Cunningham; producer Ted E. Haynes and Key West locals Chris Robinson and Eddie Kertis. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

efore his death on Sept. 1, 2023, Jimmy Buffett reportedly told friends and family to “keep the party going. Play the music.” And Key West has done exactly that in the three years since the singer/ songwriter succumbed to a rare form of skin cancer known as Merkel cell carcinoma in his Sag Harbor, N.Y. home. Just a Few Friends Key West, named for a line in Buffett’s song “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” drew thousands of tropically attired fans to the island for five days of music and memories. There was a “Bubba Look-alike Contest” to see who looked the most like the man who took us all to Margaritaville. Tales from the Chart Room let fans in on the inside jokes and “only in Key West” tales shared by longtime Buffett friend — and Keys Weekly columnist — Carol Shaughnessy in the tiny bar where he got his start. Each year also includes an upbeat, Second Line procession through Old Town Key West celebrating the music man who said of Key West in the late 1970s, “I have found me a home.” The procession ended at Truman Waterfront Park, where a free party featured nonstop live music by 10time CMA Musician of the Year and longtime Coral Reefer Mac McAnally, acclaimed singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough, and Florida Keys troprocker Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band. “What makes Just a Few Friends so special is that it could only happen

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The Just a Few Friends festival honoring the music and memories of the late Jimmy Buffett has quickly become a hugely popular Labor Day weekend event in Key West, featuring outdoor concerts, storytelling sessions, film premieres and more. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

in Key West,” said festival co-founder and local rum maker Paul Menta. “We’re not simply celebrating Jimmy’s music. We’re bringing people together in the places he loved, with musicians and friends who were part of his story, while giving back to the island community that helped inspire it all.” The city of Key West issued a “Jimmy Buffett Day” proclamation outside his Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio, which included a preview of a documentary-in-progress about the legendary studio. The event is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s estate or Margaritaville Enterprises. Proceeds from the festival’s collectible event badges directly benefit three local causes: Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program and local scholarships through the nonprofit Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. During the past two years, more than $75,000 in badge contributions has been raised for the organizations. Held annually over Labor Day weekend in Key West, Just a Few Friends returns Sept. 2-6, 2027. More information is at justafewfriendskeywest.com.

o you think you know everything about Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band? Think again — and then watch “Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers.” The new documentary by filmmaker John H. Cunningham drew a sold-out crowd to its two screenings at Key West Theater this past week, with each receiving standing ovations. It’ll be shown in theaters nationally through October and then released digitally. Stay tuned to the Keys Weekly Newspapers for updates on how and where to see this film. It takes you on the road with the first Coral Reefers, from Key West and the Caribbean to Europe and the oceans in between. It’s perfectly narrated by the Academy Award-winning Jeff Bridges and features Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally and so many other familiar faces. Directed by Key West author & filmmaker Cunningham, “Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers” is masterful, fun and informative with never-before-seen footage and plenty of music. It’s the origin story of what became a musical genre and a cultural phenomenon that largely started in Key West and continues today. Oh, and everything you thought was likely to be happening on a band’s tour bus in the 1970s and ’80s? You were right about that.

The film will open with a theatrical roll-out in New York City and Los Angeles with major cities to follow, with a nationwide TV-on-demand release in the U.S. and Canada in November. Through never-before-seen archival footage and personal interviews with founding members, tour managers, producers and music legends, “Occupational Hazard” captures the camaraderie, chaos and magic of an era that thrived on freedom and lived without a rulebook. Narrated by Academy award winner Jeff Bridges, the film offers fans a deeper look at the people behind the music and the era that helped define Jimmy Buffett’s lasting legacy. The film is a tribute to Buffett and the original Coral Reefers, the places and people that shaped them, the volatile beauty of a musical moment that couldn’t last, but changed everything and their candid sentiment toward Buffett. It’s the origin story upon which the Parrothead empire was built, by the people who helped lay its foundation. It premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026 and has gone on to pick up accolades across the country on the festival circuit. The film features Buffett, McAnally, Kenny Chesney, Roger Bartlett, Keith Sykes, Chris Robinson, David Wegman, Bob Liberman, Michael Utley, Deborah McColl, Doyle Grisham, Nadira Shakoor, Josh Leo, Vaughn Cochran, Steven Taylor and Brent Taylor.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

Key West & Cuba’s Museum Quality Regional Art Celebrating Cultural Resilience

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Four Seasons, 2026, from the series Travel Diary, 62” x 47” Photographic Collage on PVC, Hand-Pinned Photograph fragments Four Seasons brings together flowers, water, and hundreds of tiny photographic fragments to create a luminous meditation on nature, memory, travel, and the passage of time. Poblet’s painstaking process of cutting and hand-pinning photographs transforms individual moments into a unified, dreamlike composition. Born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, in 1986, Poblet is an internationally recognized contemporary Cuban artist working across photography, sculpture, installation, video, and performance. She represented Cuba at the 2017 Venice Biennale, and her work has been exhibited internationally in venues such as The Chanel Foundation in Tokyo and is held in important museum and private collections. The fragmented construction is central to her art: individual memories become pieces of a larger life, much as the seasons continually transform one another. Works Available on Approval & Concierge Services from Key West to Key Largo The Gallery on Greene | 606 Greene Street | Key West, Florida galleryongreene.com | 305-304-2323

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

FANTASY FEST: DO IT YOUR WAY Create, design, build, decorate, collaborate, march or volunteer

KEY WEST RESTAURATEUR HAS IMMIGRATION PLAN Bill Lay urges ‘humanity’ & worries about worker shortages MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

The Fantasy Fest parade is open to entries large and small and awards $20,000 in cash prizes for various categories. CAROL TEDESCO/Fantasy Fest

antasy Fest draws costumed creators and carefree revelers from around the world, but each year, the locals’ behind-the-scenes wizardry brings the spectacle to life. Whether you prefer to imagine it, build it, stitch it or paint it — everyone can be a part of this year’s “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals”-themed festival. Here are a few ways to find your place at Fantasy Fest: • Create a float, march in costume alongside one or roll in style. The parade is open to entries large and small — elaborate floats will be surrounded by supporting casts of costumed characters. Walking groups show off themed costumes. Key West’s most capable creators transform bikes & trikes into pedalpowered productions. • Cash prizes totaling $20,000 will be awarded to parade entries in categories that include “Best Interpretation of Theme,” “Best in Entertainment,” “Best in Costume” and more. Looking for just-for-locals love? Monroe County residents who sign up to enter the parade before Sept. 18 will have their registration fee slashed in half. Nonresidents who register before Sept. 18 receive 25% off. • Be a Fantasy Fest ambassador. The volunteer ambassadors help guide the parade down Duval Street, ensuring a safe time. The role includes a pre-event planning meeting and an invitation to join the Fantasy Fest team for their annual ambassadors social mixer.

Those who love to help can sign on as volunteer Fantasy Fest Parade Ambassadors. CONTRIBUTED

Key West or Stock Island homes or businesses can enter this year’s Fantasy Fest Fantasy Facades contest for a chance to win cash prizes. CAROL TEDESCO/Fantasy Fest

• Help build a winning Fantasy Facade for the front of a building. Deck out your Key West or Stock Island home or business facade and enter the 2026 Fantasy Facade contest for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000. Enter online by Oct. 12. Judging takes place Monday, Oct. 19. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 27. More information is at fantasyfest.com/getinvolved. — Contributed

ill Lay is more accustomed to working in the kitchens of his five restaurants than walking the halls of government in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. But Lay has found himself meeting with state and federal legislators on both sides of the aisle and being interviewed in recent weeks by the Wall Street Journal, which quoted him in a recent article entitled, “Why Thousands of Florida Workers are Disappearing.” Lay was also recently interviewed by the New York Times about his own personal efforts, supported by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, to find some middle ground on the immigration and deportation issue, which is affecting Key West’s and the Florida Keys’ workforce — and Lay’s kitchen staff at his five restaurants, bars and catering company. “I’ve actually been lobbying Congress, meeting with representatives and senators, Carlos Gimenez, Byron Donalds, Jared Moskowitz and anyone who will listen, but so far, to be honest, it’s been falling on rather deaf ears,” said Lay, a Republican who sees both sides of the immigration issue and is proposing a resolution that he calls self-registration as opposed to the self-deportation. “I need about 15 senators to get behind this proposal.” He said “the person who listed most was Sen. Mike Crapo in Idaho, a farmer who depends on seasonal workers. He was very receptive.” Byron Donalds (who is running for governor), listened to Lay, “but said he doesn’t know if the current politics will allow it,’ Lay said. “I believe immigration is a twopart problem,” Lay told the Keys Weekly. “The first is controlling the border, and that has been fixed. But the second part is what do we do about the estimated 20 million or so people who are already living and working here? It’ll take decades to deport all these people. And while you’ll get zero argument from me about deporting anyone

with a criminal history, the truth is that the majority of these people are not bad people.” As part of Lay’s proposed “self-registration” program, undocumented immigrants with no criminal history would have three years from the start of the program to meet certain requirements, including taking a civics class and an English class. They would also have to pay $500 a year for the three years, and that fee could be paid by their employer, Lay said. “In those three years, they would be entitled to no social services or benefits. They would work and pay their taxes without being eligible for Social Security or disability benefits. Within three years, if they complete everything, they get approval to remain here. But the program would have to sunset after three years; otherwise, it would just be an amnesty program. And it’s a one-strike-you’re-out program. “But I think three years should give the estimated 20 million undocumented people enough time to fulfill the requirements set forth and remain here working,” Lay said, adding that the self-registration program “would eliminate the need for sanctuary cities.” “We need to protect ourselves, but we also need to show some humanity,” said Lay, who has had workers from his kitchens detained for six weeks to three months at a time. And while they were eventually released with ankle monitors, their lives and jobs were upended. “Ninery percent of the people they’re capturing are eventually released, but what happens in those weeks and months?” Businesses will suffer more than they are now, he said, and Key West is sort of a test case. “We’re different down here,” he said. “We can’t pull workers from farther away. “The first domino to fall,” Lay predicted, “will be reduced hours at restaurants, with them being open five days a week rather than seven. Or not serving breakfast or lunch.” He views Key West as a microcosm of the national immigration issue. “The backbone of this state is tourism,” Lay said. “And after that it’s agriculture and construction — all of which are entirely dependent on immigrant labor.”

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

THE ISLAND OF LOST LAUNDRY

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY

immy Buffett dreamed up the Island of Lost Laundry, and it was a perfect example of his extraordinary creativity. He mentioned the mythical island in a 1985 article in the Coconut Telegraph, the combination fan newsletter and mail-order catalog for his brand-new Margaritaville Store. I know this because, when Jimmy and his business partner Sunshine Smith opened the store, they hired me to edit the monthly Telegraph — a job that still ranks among my all-time favorites. For the August 1985 issue, Jimmy contributed a piece titled “Lawyers and Laundry” CAROL SHAUGHNESSY that touched on the challenges of getting laundry done while has lived in Key on tour. It contained one of West for 40-plus the first public mentions of the years, witnessing Island of Lost Laundry. and writing about the island’s “Many a poor sock never renegade past, returns from this fearsome shipwreck salvage place, which also attracts cigaadventures and rette lighters and guitar picks,” colorful presenthe wrote. day characters. That’s what I mean about Jimmy’s creativity. Instead of getting irritated over socks lost in the laundry, or rushing out to buy new ones, he conceived a quirky concept that elicited smiles — and wrote an article about it. His ability to draw inspiration from mundane happenings was the genius behind his songwriting. I mean, who else could turn the craving for a cheeseburger into a hit song that has endured for decades? “Lawyers and Laundry” had completely slipped my mind — until I rediscovered it while rereading early Coconut Telegraph issues on Sept. 1, the third anniversary of Jimmy’s death. But Jimmy’s article wasn’t the only touring tale we published in the early newsletter. His longtime Coral Reefer band member Fingers Taylor, a harmonica wizard without equal, contributed lively post-tour wrap-ups that we dubbed “Dirt From the Road.” Fingers was a faithful correspondent with a wonderfully understated sense of humor. His articles contained behind-the-scenes scoops and “dirt,” though some tidbits were tamer than others. For example, in his chronicle of the 1985 tour, he admitted that the Coral Reefers had slowed down a bit — or possibly even matured.

2 3

1. This ‘author shot’ of Fingers Taylor appeared with his ‘Dirt From the Road’ column in a 1986 issue of the Coconut Telegraph. CONTRIBUTED. 2. Jimmy Buffett gives a characteristic smile during one of his last visits to Key West. CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/Keys Weekly. 3. As well as Fingers Taylor’s entertaining tour wrap-ups, the early Coconut Telegraph carried Jimmy Buffett’s tale of laundry woes — and the Island of Lost Laundry. CONTRIBUTED

“The fact that the ‘End of Tour’ party, a gettogether traditionally characterized by wanton acts of abandon and serious debauchery, was highlighted by a domino game this year makes some sort of statement,” he wrote for the November 1985 issue. “Could this be the legendary party band that used to drink 14 cases of beer for starters, before the two bottles of Chivas and Mount Gay arrived? This year nobody trashed the room, and the cops never even showed!” Fingers also wrote about the friends and personalities who joined Jimmy and the Reefers for various shows — including famed television newscaster Ed Bradley, “Miami Vice” star Don Johnson, actors John Candy and Harry Dean Stanton, musician Glenn Frey of the Eagles … and Godzilla (or at least a blow-up representation of him), who apparently loomed large during the 1986 tour. Like Jimmy, Fingers reported on the challenges of doing laundry on the road. “Our Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana, was definitely a con-

tender for Motel of the Tour,” he wrote in 1985. “It featured not only a basketball court, but two sets of washing machines — clearly some sort of road oasis. It’s the little things that mean so much when you’re out of clean socks.” That, of course, brings us back to Jimmy’s Island of Lost Laundry. Despite his description, I never thought it was a fearsome place. To me, it was sunny and tropical. I can still envision it today: shirts waving empty sleeves in welcome as new arrivals drift across blue-green water, pants running to meet them as they land on a tranquil shore. Rather than mourning socks and other garments that inexplicably disappear in the dryer, I imagine them joining a happy colony of other vanished attire. Even now, some 40 years after Jimmy dreamed up the fabled island, the vision makes me smile. Thanks for the memories, Jimmy.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

9/11 NEVER FORGET Keys Weekly honors local first responders MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

he men and women in the pages here are the first responders, the backbone of our community. They are police officers, firefighters, EMTs and sheriff’s deputies. Many of them chose law enforcement after serving in the military, having been inspired to serve their country and then their communities by the events of Sept. 11, 2021. As the nation pauses to remember the events of that fateful Tuesday 25 years ago, the Keys Weekly is proud to honor and thank the men and women who protect us every day. needed it. That is why I will gladly run into a burning building, or respond to a zero-dark-thirty 911 call, without hesitation for them. Remembering 9/11 isn’t about me. It’s about the 2,977 citizens and 343 FDNY firefighters who died at ground zero. It’s about the 7,073 U.S. service members who died during the ensuing Global War on Terror and the “22 per day” who have died since coming home. It’s not about me, but it is also about the people of Key West, who welcomed me when I came back. People always say, “Never forget 9/11.” Key West didn’t forget. That’s why I gladly serve here now and will continue to do so as long as I’m able.

MATT SCHILLING, KEY WEST FIREFIGHTER/EMT Years in the Keys: 12 Years of service: 20½ years of public service in the military, wildland fire service, private tree service, public service and now, the Key West Fire Department. Where were you on 9/11 and how did it influence your career and/or life? I was in Marine Corps boot camp. Training became reality overnight and things got real. September 11, 2001 changed the course of our nation and the lives of an entire generation of our best young men. We sacrificed our own peace and well-being to ensure our enemies would think twice about killing our people and disrupting our way of life. I was fortunate to survive with my limbs and soul intact. Many of my friends and brothers are now ghosts of their former selves and/or are missing limbs, full of shrapnel and permanently altered. They would look at my life in service now and approve. They would do the same if they could. The people of Key West understood this when I came here in 2014. People like Rich Welter and Dan Acevedo gave me work and housing, a purpose, and assurance that I still had something to offer. My wife, Julie, nursed my broken spirit. The people of Key West embraced a man who

CAPTAIN DAVID SMITH, MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, LOWER KEYS & KEY WEST Hometown: Key West Years in service: 20 years in law enforcement (since 2005), plus 6 years in the U.S. Air Force. What led you to choose your career? Service is a long-standing tradition in my family. My grandfather served in the United States Navy and later worked for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as a pilot. After completing six years in the U.S. Air Force — including deployment to Iraq and supporting Army ground operations — I received my honorable discharge in 2005 and attended the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. That path felt natural because it allowed me to

continue serving my community and carry forward the legacy of service that shaped my life What’s the best part of the job? For me, the greatest part of the job is being able to make a tangible impact on the community I grew up in. As captain, I work closely with residents, organizations and agency members to address concerns, mentor youth and support families. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? On 9/11, I was in boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base, marching on the parade grounds. The sirens went off and we were rushed back into the dorms. Our drill instructors turned on the TV, and I watched the second plane hit and the towers fall. In that moment, everything changed for me. Before that day, my reason for joining the military was mainly to get my college paid for. But as I stood there watching the attacks unfold, my purpose shifted to something bigger — I wanted to fight for my country. That was the moment I became a patriot, and it set the tone for the rest of my career. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? I would tell anyone interested in becoming a first responder that this is a calling rooted in service, humility and commitment. You must be ready to serve your community with integrity and compassion. Take every opportunity to train and learn — your skills and preparedness can save lives. Embrace the challenges, because they will shape you; embrace the people, because they will rely on you; and embrace the purpose, because this career allows you to make a real difference every single day. CHIEF SEAN BRANDENBURG, KEY WEST POLICE Hometown: North Manchester, Indiana Years in the Keys: 24 Years of service: Police officer since 1990. First 12 years were in Indiana, 24 years with KWPD. What’s the best part of the job? One of the most rewarding parts of serving as chief of police is having the opportunity to interact with both the dedicated law enforcement professionals of the Key West Police Department and the community we serve. I am extremely proud of the men and women of the Key West Police Department and the professionalism, dedication and commitment they demonstrate every day. Their work often takes place behind the scenes and under challenging circumstances, but their commitment to protecting and

serving our community never wavers. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was getting ready to leave for my second job and had the television on. The first plane had already struck the World Trade Center, and I remember watching the coverage live when the second plane hit the second tower. While at my second job, I took a break and went into the police station. I remember standing there with others, watching the television as one of the towers collapsed. It is one of those moments that remains with you. At the time, I worked in an area that was in the flight path of a major airport and in close proximity to an Air Force base. One of my strongest memories from the days that followed was how unusually quiet the skies became. Working the night shift at the police department, I was accustomed to seeing and hearing aircraft regularly. Suddenly, there were none. Occasionally, fighter jets would pass overhead, but otherwise there was just silence. That absence of normal air traffic was both strange and sobering. It reaffirmed my commitment to a life in law enforcement and public service. I was already proud to be a police officer, but seeing the courage and sacrifice demonstrated by first responders that day was a powerful reminder of what it means to choose this profession. It reinforced for me that law enforcement is more than a career; it is a commitment to serve others, particularly during the moments when they need us most.

continued on page 21

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

WEEK 2 FUNDRAISER EVENTS BECOME A ROYAL SPONSOR, DONATE TO THE CANDIDATES DIRECTLY, AND PURCHASE CORONATION TICKETS AT OUR ROYAL KING & QUEEN WEBSITE: WWW.FKSPCA.ORG/DONATE/ROYAL-CAMPAIGN

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at the American Legion, 6-8pm 803 Emma Street Enjoy the evening as your candidates and Key West's greatest talents all come together for a competitive evening of singing! Cash bar! Event is FREE. WEDNESDAY, 10/14 5-7PM @The Gardens Hotel 526 Angela Street The King and Queen Candidates that raise the most money will win $2500 each towards their campaign. Thanks to sponsor Queen Kate Miano!

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PAINT & SIP WITH LANCE BERRY MONDAY, 9/21, 6-8PM @Southernmost Moose Lodge, 700 Eisenhower Drive Space is limited, so reserve your spot and get ready to paint, sip, and have a great time with Lance! $50 admission (includes 2 glasses of wine).

RAINBOWS & RHINESTONES TEA DANCE SUNDAY, 9/20, 4-6:30PM @La Te Da 1125 Duval St. In addition to drinking and dancing the afternoon away, we'll also be hosting a Rainbow Fence Painting Party! Auction items also available! Free event.

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ROAR CARD RALLY SATURDAY, 9/12, 4PM-7PM @ American Legion, 803 Emma St. Picnic-style food and a $5 drink ticket, an afternoon full of prizes, games, and community fun. $45 Entry Fee in advance or $50 at the door. Spots are limited!

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

‘WHO IS BUM FARTO?’ David Sloan’s new book recalls infamous fire chief & Operation Conch scandal, 51 years later

ust before sunrise on Sept. 9, 1975, state agent Larry Campbell and another officer made an unannounced visit to the home of Monroe County Sheriff Bobby Brown. They picked him up and, only then, filled him in on the secret operation about to unfold across Key West. Brown tried not to appear blindsided. By most accounts, he was. Later that morning, school principal William Oosterhoudt glanced out his window and noticed something strange happening across the street at the Farto residence on United Street. Key West Fire Chief Joseph “Bum” Farto, dressed in his customary red and wearing his trademark rose-tinted sunglasses, was loading two shortbarreled shotguns into the trunk of his Key lime yellow Ford Galaxie 500. He climbed behind the wheel and pulled away, but he didn’t get far. An unmarked car cut him off from the front, while another boxed him in from behind. Plainclothes agents pulled the fire chief from the driver’s seat and handcuffed him. Oosterhoudt figured they had to be from out of town because they wore formal neckties in the brutal September heat. As a tow truck arrived to haul away one of the flashiest cars on the island, a puzzled Oosterhoudt called the Key West Police Department to find out what was going on. They didn’t know either. Farto was the first arrest of Operation Conch. He would also become the ultimate trophy for Special Agent Larry Dollar, a fresh recruit eager to make his mark. Fifty-one years later, much of the story has evolved into comedy. Bum is remembered as the cigar-chomping eccentric in rose-colored glasses, dripping in jewelry, driving flashy cars and selling cocaine from his own firehouse. But that caricature hides the larger truth. Operation Conch was not a joke for the people who lived through it. People died. The sting destroyed families. Innocent people suffered, and on that day, the island lost an innocence that it will never get back. Today, Bum Farto the character has eclipsed Bum Farto the human. News articles and social media posts largely ignore the darker and chaotic world that surrounded him — corrupt politicians, Bubba networks, violent Cuban exiles, organized crime, se-

Past, present and future: Monroe County School District board members and staff gather for a photo. From left: Luis Gonzalez, Sue Woltanski, Darren Horan, Mindy Conn, John Dick, Andy Griffiths, Yvette Mira-Talbott, Ed Tierney and Ed Davidson. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

TWO DECADES IN THE BOOKS Key West author and entrepreneur David Sloan’s latest book, ‘Who is Bum Farto,’ is available at local bookstores and the Key West Firehouse Museum. CONTRIBUTED

cret agents, government informants and a drug trade so massive that its consequences reached all the way to Washington. Bum Farto was tricked into making a drug deal, then convicted on federal drug charges that would likely be dismissed today on grounds of entrapment. Before he could be sentenced, he disappeared, and the fire chief in the rose-colored glasses became the Jimmy Hoffa of Key West. For more than 50 years we have been asking, “Where is Bum Farto?” But if we ever hope to understand where he went, we have to get beyond the cigars, the sunglasses and the funny name, and take a look at the complicated man beneath it all. A man loved by some, hated by many and caught in a tangled web he couldn’t escape. Or could he? Bum Farto’s disappearance remains officially unsolved, while the mark left on Key West seems permanent. David Sloan is the author of a new 255-page book, “Who Is Bum Farto?,“ featuring rare photographs, correspondence and newly released government files that tell the story of the man behind one of Key West’s most enduring mysteries. The book is available at local bookstores and the Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum, 1024 Grinnell St. A book-release party will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum. — Contributed

Monroe County School Board salutes John Dick in his final meeting ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

pre-meeting reception on Sept, 8 heralded the Sept. 9 retirement of the Monroe County School Board’s longest-tenured member, as staff, friends and board members past and present gathered at Marathon High School to celebrate John Dick. The outgoing chair has been a mainstay on the board for 20 years, following his service in the Vietnam war and time spent as a counselor at Marathon High School. He’s known for his work to make Keys teachers among the highest paid in the state, along with careful oversight of district spending and a push to build better

schools and sports facilities. Service to the schools runs throughout his family – his daughter Christine is now the principal at Marathon High School, while his wife Lourdes is a reading coach at the school. “When I first came into the school district years ago, Marathon High School students were going out to become fishermen,” Dick said as he thanked guests. “Now, we’re sending students all around the world.” “It’s just incredible what I’ve seen and what the boards, superintendents and the staff have done. Students that come to the schools in Monroe County, the world is open to them more than I ever could have imagined.”

A custom cake congratulates John Dick on 20 years of service at a Sept. 8 retirement reception at Marathon High School.

Above: Carl ‘Chef Flavor’ Stanton congratulates Dick on his retirement. Stanton and his culinary students prepared the evening’s spread. Left: Service to Monroe County schools and the community is a family tradition for John Dick, his wife Lourdes, daughter Christine Paul and son-in-law Derek Paul.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

EXCLUSIVE: FANTASY FEST FEATURES

Meet the mind behind this year’s theme, ‘Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals’ ERIN STOVER www.keysweekly.com

Editor’s Note: T-minus 44 days until the 2026 Fantasy Fest parade. Join the Keys Weekly each week for exclusive Fantasy Fest features highlighting the people and projects behind the island’s biggest annual party.

antasy Fest is an endless showcase of local creativity — a weeklong parade of themed group costumes, extravagant floats, wild makeup and storefront decor galore. What may go unnoticed is the individual imagination that happens behind the scenes. One of the most notable examples of this quiet creativity is the process by which each year’s theme is selected. In the early days of Fantasy Fest, themes were selected by event founders Bill Conkle, Tony Falcone, Joe Liszka and Frank Romano. Early themes included “House of Horrors” (1980), “Va Va Voom” (1981), and the original, “Old Key West” (1979). The idea was to come up with concepts that would grab the attention of out-of-town guests, in hopes of bringing tourism dollars to the community during the slow hurricane season. History has proven that it worked, perhaps better than anticipated, as the festival grew from a single weekend to a10-day spectacle. As the party expanded, festival organizers began outsourcing each year’s naming rights to the general public, particularly locals who participate in and enjoy the festivities year after year. Each summer, a public “Name the Theme” contest is announced, with entries submitted to festival director, Nadene Grossman Orr, or via the Fantasy Fest website and social media channels by Sept. 1. Submissions are reviewed by judges, including Tourist Development

Expect costumed tributes to the beloved musical icon Dolly Parton, seen here on tour in 2014, at this year’s Fantasy Fest. KRISTOPHER HARRIS/Wikipedia

Association board members, who select the idea that best encapsulates Key West’s creative spirit, or as the contest phrasing states, based on what “sparkles with exciting possibilities.” Past winning themes include “Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals” (2008), “Super Heroes, Villains & Beyond” (2013), and “In Tune, but Off Key: Celebrating 40 Years of Fantasy” (2019). This year, the winning entry came from wine connoisseur and fun-starter, Stephanie Southgate. “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals” earned Southgate VIP tickets to watch the parade from the grandstand and, more importantly, bragging rights. For Southgate, a nearly 30-year Key West resident, the theme seemed past due. “I’m not typically a super creative person, but have often thought, ‘What would I want the theme to be?’ Then, it just came to me — how have we missed music and musicals?’” Unaware of the annual theme contest, she reached out to Grossman Orr with the concept, which was cemented in her mind after watching “Hamilton” and recalling an extravagant Broadwaythemed Fantasy Fest parade float from a few years ago. Southgate was directed to enter her idea in the contest and was subsequently chosen to guide the creative juices of the 2026 festivities. As a regular attendee since 1998, Southgate is honored, but also recognizes some pressure to step up her participation. “Some years you’re so invested, others not as much. This year, I have so many friends coming in from out of town to celebrate, I’ve already planned countless costumes.”

CONCH TURNED HURRICANE PENS HILARIOUS MEMOIR

A journey through the glory years of college football BY SCOTT ATWELL www.keysweekly.com

ill Trout is one of only five Key Westers ever drafted by a National Football League team, taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 conscription. A year later, after a broken ear drum ended his playing career, the 6-foot-5 defensive end returned to his hometown and took a job as a substitute teacher at Key West High School. He earned extra pay umpiring little league baseball games and tending bar at the old Tides Inn, but after he was hired and then fired as defensive coordinator for the Fighting Conchs, his career took a turn when the University of Miami — his alma mater — brought him on as a volunteer coach for the Hurricanes in 1975. That was the beginning of a run coaching major college football (including a national championship), all of which Trout chronicles in a sidesplitting memoir titled “You Don’t Know if a Football is Blown Up or Stuffed.” I helped him write it, the printed rendering of more than a year’s worth of phone calls during which we mused about our mutual time at the “U,” our love of all things Key West, and the current state of college football. As I wrote in the book’s preface, Trout is among the most wickedly smart and funny people I have ever known. Stories told during those phone calls made me laugh out loud, and it finally dawned on me that others might find them equally humorous. Behind-thescenes drama and wild recruiting tales, stories that would have been forbidden to disclose in real time, pour like fine wine aged 45 years in the cellar. I started recording the weekly calls and later fused their written transcripts into a cohesive narration. “For University of Miami fans and college football enthusiasts this book is a must read,” wrote Jeffrey Harrison in an Amazon review. “It provides first-person insights into the building of one of college football’s most successful and controversial teams. The author has many personal anecdotes that are both humorous and thoughtprovoking. It also provides a deeper understanding of the positive role athletics can play in building character, leadership, loyalty, and camaraderie.” The book, whose foreword was

If I hadn’t landed Speedy Neal from my hometown of Key West, my next job would have been heading shrimp at the Half Shell Raw Bar. CONTRIBUTED

written by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, chronicles Trout’s time playing for the Hurricanes, coaching UM’s junior varsity and then eventually serving as defensive coordinator for Jimmy Johnson during the infamous play that cemented Doug Flutie’s Heisman Trophy. The book also delivers several layers of Key West history, including Trout’s infamous run as the Conchs’ defensive coordinator. “I was the luckiest person in the world for having been born on an island where my family had been for five generations,” said Trout. “Everyone knew everyone. I grew up watching the Conchs play; my parents took me to every game. It was very typical of the South where football was important.” If the NIL and transfer portal have left you despondent over the current state of college football, Trout’s memoir takes you on a trip through the glory days of the game, with unvarnished truth about toughness and the role coaches played in turning boys into men. The book, listed at $16.99, can be found on Amazon by searching “Bill Trout.” KEY WEST CONCHS DRAFTED INTO THE NFL* • 1964 — George Mira, San Francisco 49ers. • 1970 — Bill Trout, Cincinnati Bengals. • 1978 — George Halas, Seattle Seahawks. • 1984 — Speedy Neal, Buffalo Bills. • 1994 — Corey Sawyer, Cincinnati Bengals. *Mekhi Sargent and Ran Carthon were undrafted free agents

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 First responders continued from page 14

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘MY DAY ON SEPT. 11, 2001’ — RETIRED FDNY FIREFIGHTER WAS THERE I sped to my firehouse, Ladder 127 in Queens, from home. It was Sept. 11, 2001. After stuffing my face from our firehouse fridge — not knowing when or if I’d be eating again — our fire company reported to a staging area nearby. I’d tried several times to call my brother Bill and cousin Ken, also firefighters in New York City. No answer. It was not a feeling I’d ever felt before. We were taken to the World Trade Center with many other fire companies in a caravan of city buses through upper Manhattan. At one midtown stoplight, as we sat silently in bunker gear and helmets wondering what we were about to encounter, people standing on a crowded corner in work clothes began pointing our way, then erupted into applause and cheers. Tears ran down our cheeks, I noticed, when we realized they were cheering for us, their protectors, heading in the opposite direction of everyone else. I don’t recall any of us lifting a hand to acknowledge them, but at that moment I’d never felt so appreciated in my life as we locked somber eyes with empathetic faces, a cultural mosaic of brother and sister Americans, who moments earlier had been standing in the same zombielike posture that seemed to afflict everyone. We arrived just north of where the twin towers had once stood and walked down the west side until we encountered a smashed fire truck. I froze. I’d ridden in that truck many times as a kid. It was from my father’s firehouse, Ladder 3, where he was battalion commander. I dropped to the ground and stared. Somehow my cell phone made a connection as it rang my dad, who had retired eight years earlier, shortly after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that his battalion had responded to. I didn’t know his colleagues’ fate at that moment, but we both feared that it wasn’t good. We later learned Ladder 3 had lost a dozen firefighters, all of them my father’s friends, men who had treated me as family. That day was a blurry, massive feeling of insignificance, flies in the ointments of pulverization, but we marched forward, awaiting commands from our superiors of where to begin our rescue mission, hoping, though not quite believing, that we’d find anyone alive in all the rubble and twisted steel. Then Building 7 — a massive 50-story structure — began to rumble. I looked up, watched its top fall into the floors below, one thundering pound at a time, at quickening inter-

vals, vibrating through us with deafening roars. As the building imploded, a rolling, white dust cloud expanded into a giant ascending mushroom, with large pieces of this and that rolling along its edges as it pushed up and out, away from the structure it was once part of. One of my colleagues yelled, “Run!” Without his warning, I’m not certain I would have broken from my frozen stupor in time to escape. In all our turnout gear with Scott air packs strapped to our backs, we sprinted down the street, turned the corner,and dove into the lobby of a tall building partly up the block. The light, which moments before was illuminating the lobby through its tempered glass doors, disappeared. Everything went dark. We sat on the hard floor, backs to the lobby walls like soldiers in a trench, not knowing what awaited us outside. If anything. At some point slumber overtook me along with some of my colleagues, or maybe our eyes were just closed while our brains remained alert. I don’t know. Eventually, we emerged from that premature cloak of darkness — I don’t recall how long we were trapped there — to begin our work. We streamed thousands of gallons of water from a tower ladder bucket into the somewhat-standing skeleton of another flaming building — Building 5 — all night long. Our impact felt insignificant, like kids peeing into a bonfire rather than some of the world’s most experienced firefighters trying to extinguish the largest fire and most devastation any of us had ever seen.

DETECTIVE ALEX FIERRO, MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Hometown: Los Angeles. Years in the Keys: 27 Years of service: 4 What led you to choose your career? I wanted to protect the place that I grew up in and make it safer for others. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in fifth grade at Gerald Adams Elementary School. Although I was young, the events of that day had a lasting impact on me. I learned that even a nation as great and powerful as the United States is not invulnerable and that the freedoms and security we enjoy require people willing to protect them. It helped instill in me a sense of duty and service that would later influence my decision to serve in the United States Marine Corps and eventually pursue a career in law enforcement. Someone has to be willing to stand up and protect this country and our communities, and if not you, then who?

— Captain Joe Miccio Captain Joe Miccio now lives at Key West’s City Marina aboard his Sept. 11 tribute vessel, the “FF Mike Carlo,” a 55-foot classic yacht that Miccio fully restored and named in honor of his friend and fallen FDNY colleague, who was killed on that horrific day in 2001. The Key West vacation he’d booked with his brother Rob, also an FDNY firefighter, to captain a sailing cruiser during Fantasy Fest week, was also stolen from him. Now, 25 years later, the vessel FIREFIGHTER MIKE CARLO continues to “throw off the bow lines,” and leave “the safe harbor,” to “explore, dream, discover” our Keys waters. In honor of Mike’s memory and adventurous spirit, “there will be no disappointments” by things not done, to borrow from Mike’s favorite literary quote that he’d kept on his bedroom wall.

DEPUTY ROY OWENS, MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, DISTRICT 1 ROAD PATROL Hometown: Syracuse, New York. Years in the Keys: Stationed in KW 2002-2005, returned following retirement from U.S. Navy in 2017 and have remained since. Years of service: 3½ years with MCSO. What led you to choose your career? I have served in some capacity since 1997 when I joined the U.S Navy. During active duty, I served as a naval base patrolman, anti-terrorism training officer and gate and security patrol. Choosing to serve again has been a calling. What’s the best part of the job? Having the ability to offer calmness during crisis, protection and real solutions when citizens feel most vulnerable.

Where were you on 9/11, how did that influence your career or life? I was driving in to work at NAS Jacksonville, where I was stationed with AntiSubmarine Squadron 30. I heard on the radio the first plane struck, then the second. At work, my commander was giving a speech to officers and enlisted saying we were attacked and were now preparing to deploy.

COMMANDER MARK SELLERS, FIREFIGHTER/EMT, KEY WEST FIRE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Key West. Years with the KWFD? 40. What led to your career with KWFD? My family member, Dickie Wardlow, told me to try it. I started right after high school. What’s the best part of the job? The brotherhood and being able to help people.

DETECTIVE SGT. JESSE HAMMERS, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT Hometown: Key West Years in the Keys: 35+ Years of service: 12 What led to a career with KWPD? My father is a retired law enforcement officer from Key West, but I never intended to be a cop. I studied musical performance/acting, then changed to political science, eventually joined the U.S. military, then landed back home to serve the community with the Key West Police Department. What’s the best part of the job? The reward gained from service is like nothing else. From helping victims and survivors of the most horrendous crimes, to simply helping an elderly couple remember where they parked their car, being able to help others is the greatest compensation for this line of work. continued on page 24

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24 First responders continued from page 21

Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in Mrs. Cameron’s fifth grade class at Poinciana Elementary. I remember the teachers’ concern turning into great fear and sadness when the second plane crashed into the second tower. I remember the tears on Mrs. Cameron’s face as she tried to explain that we were all being released early to be with our families because something bad had occurred. 9/11 forever influenced my life. I remember the feelings of anger, sadness, fear, patriotism, unity and love. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? First responders see some of the worst parts of humanity, but there is so much good in this work. There is a great feeling of comradery, high-adrenaline moments, and significant events that make me forever grateful to live in this country and serve our community.

OFFICER WILLIAM HOWELL, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Cochran, Georgia. Years in the Keys: 9. Years with KWPD: 7. What led to a career with Key West Police Department? I moved to the Florida Keys immediately after Hurricane Irma to help rebuild. Arriving just days after the storm devastated entire neighborhoods, I saw firsthand the resolve and character of the people who call the Keys home. Over the following months, I helped rebuild homes from Key Largo to Key West. That experience and the community I found here led me to stay. As the Keys recovered, that same sense of purpose stayed with me. With the “gentle encouragement” of my wife, a desire to give back to the community that had welcomed me grew into a decision to ultimately join the police department. It was a natural extension of the work I had already been doing: showing up, helping neighbors, and commitment to the safety of the place my family and I now call home.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was a junior in high school, sitting in my 11th grade economics class when the unforgettable events unfolded before us on television and computer screens. Observing what occurred that day was a shock that cut through any abstract ideas I had about service and duty. It did not create my interest in the military so much as solidify it. I knew then that I wanted to act rather than wait. Within weeks I convinced my parents to sign the paperwork that allowed me to enlist at 17, immediately after completing high school. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? The badge does not change you, it amplifies who you already are. This job demands a service mindset, because you will meet people on the worst days of their lives, and they will look to you for stability. Emotional resilience is paramount. You will see trauma, conflict and human suffering daily. If you do not learn to process it in a healthy way, it will follow you home. You must embrace accountability. Every decision you make will be scrutinized, and you need to stand behind each one with integrity and truthfulness. Communication is key. Ninety percent of this job is talking people down, not taking them down and/or knocking them out. Your words will be your strongest tool.

SGT. CARTER SIMS, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT, ROAD PATROL Hometown: Valdosta, Georgia. (“God’s country.”) Years in the Keys: 30 years in Key West, three in high school and 27 with KWPD Years of service: Sept. 17 will be 27 years

What led to a career with KWPD? In high school, I joined the Police Explorers, which was the catalyst for my becoming a police officer after attending college. What’s the best part of the job? Every day it is different. The job is what you make of it. It’s both rewarding and difficult. There is no such thing as a “routine” day or call. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was home on my day off. I remember getting a phone call from a relative asking if I was watching the news. I was not. So I turned on the TV and watched in disbelief as the Twin Towers fell. I was early in my career as a police officer. The events on 9/11 definitely opened my eyes and prompted me to be more vigilant in my day-to-day activities. Police officers and the public wondered, “What will happen if the Keys are attacked? What happens if ‘they’ take out a bridge or several bridges?” There was a feeling of dread and unease.

OFFICER RUSSELL J. HOLMES, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Long Island, New York. Years in the Keys: 2½. What led to a career with KWPD? I have always had the desire to help others. I thrive and can remain calm in chaos. I had visited Key West about eight years ago and met the woman who would become my wife, Laura. We had our daughter Josephine in 2023 and I wanted her to be raised near her grandparents, Rob and Maria Sharpe, so we relocated to Key West from Texas. I ran into the chief at an event and we discussed how the department was hiring. I started the police academy about two weeks later.

Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was at work on Long Island, about 20 miles from the Twin Towers when I heard the report of the first plane and then the second. … Quickly we realized it was a terrorist attack and looked for ways to help. I later learned two good friends from high school had been lost in the towers. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? Get ready for one of the greatest rides of your life. The greatest gift I get is knowing at the end of the day I am there for those who need me and doing my part to make the world a better place for my family. It’s the most rewarding job.

MIKE SHOULDICE, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT QUARTERMASTER & RETIRED POLICE OFFICER Hometown: Buffalo, New York. Years in the Keys: 21. Years of service: 20. What led to your career with KWPD? I wanted the chance to serve my community. What’s the best part of the job? Camaraderie. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was on my way to community college the morning of the attack. It made me decide to go back into the Army. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? You are not just enforcing laws; you are part of the community you serve. Building trust off duty matters as much as the work you do on duty. continued on the next page

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 First responders continued from previous page

DAVE BLACK, KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT RETIRED OFFICER AND CURRENT RESERVE OFFICER Hometown: West Palm Beach. Years in the Keys: 32. Years of service: 28. What led to a career with the police department? Transferring out of the military, I wanted to serve my community. What’s the best part of the job? Having a positive influence on my community. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in bed after working a night shift with KWPD. Officer Beerbower called me at home and said, “We are under attack.” So I got up and came into work. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? Treat everyone the way you would want your family treated.

MOLLY SAWYER, EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR, KEY WEST FIRE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Chicago. Years in the Keys: 27. What’s the best part of your job? To be in a position to support an amazing group of human beings. Where were you on 9/11, how did that influence your career or life? I was in my office at the fire department. We all watched those horrible events unfold. Seeing the firefighters run into the World Trade Center to rescue others while risking their lives gave me a deep respect for what first responders do.

CAPTAIN TYRONE CERVANTES, KEY WEST FIRE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Key West. Years of service: 28. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was mopping my bedroom at the fire department and had the TV on. I saw a plane crash into the building and ran into the living room to tell everyone to turn on the TV. I was three years on the job and it taught me to never take anything for granted, because at any point, it can all be over.

BRANDON KOCIS, KEY WEST FIRE DEPARTMENT, DRIVER/PARAMEDIC/ENGINEER Hometown: San Diego, California. Years in the Keys: 34. Years with KWFD: 17. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in high school in Key West, and that day is when I decided I wanted to be a firefighter.

RILEY BARBER, PARAMEDIC/ FIREFIGHTER WITH KEY WEST FIRE DEPARTMENT Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Florida. Years in the Keys: 12. Years with the KWFD? 11. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in high school, and that day is what prompted me to join the military.

DEPUTY BRANDON ROGERS, MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Hometown: San Diego, California. Years in the Keys:11. Years of service: 6 years in the U.S. Navy, 5 years with MCSO. What led you to choose your career? I joined the United States Navy to serve my country and challenge myself. After six years as a parachute rigger, traveling and building lifelong friendships, transitioning into law enforcement felt like a natural way to continue serving and make a meaningful impact in my community. Where were you on 9/11 and how did that influence your career or life? I was in school in Southern California and like so many, I watched our country come together. The courage and selflessness I saw that day reinforced my desire to serve.

DEPUTY ARTHUR ARMSTEAD, MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Hometown: Ridgeland, South Carolina. Years in the Keys: 2. Years of service: 26. What led you to.choose your career? I started volunteering as a firefighter in 1996 when I was 15. My family has always served our country and community, so I started young and felt a calling to do so. In 1999 I started full-time as a paid firefighter in Bluffton, South Carolina. I changed careers to law enforcement in 2003 and joined the North Charleston Police Department. In 2010, I joined the Army Reserves to do my part. I finished my contractual agreement in 2019. I eventually moved back home to help take care of my parents and retired from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in 2024 with 25 years of service. I moved to the Keys and still wanted to give to the community and met Sheriff Rick Ramsey. I felt the calling to continue as a law enforcement professional and started with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in January 2025. Where were you on 9/11, how did that influence your career or life? I was working with the fire department in South Carolina and watched as the events unfolded in New York. It made me continue what I was doing in my life at that time with the fire service. It eventually made me want to serve at a higher level and prompted me to join the Army. Advice for anyone considering a career as a first responder? This job will bring you enjoyment and pain, but the good outways the bad.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

MONROE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HONORS FIRST RESPONDERS

Ceremony includes promotions & award ceremony

onroe County Fire Rescue celebrated the accomplishments, service and professional advancement of its firefighters and personnel during an Aug. 28 awards and promotion ceremony. More than 300 firefighters, employees, retirees, family members and Monroe County leaders attended the ceremony, the department’s first large-scale event since 2020, dedicated to recognizing awards, promotions, retirements and other accomplishments. The ceremony included departmental awards recognizing exceptional service and teamwork, as well as the Phoenix Award for personnel involved in successful cardiac-arrest

resuscitations and the Stork Award for those who helped deliver babies outside a hospital setting. “This was an opportunity to recognize the people behind the work our department does every day,” said Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina. “Our firefighters and personnel dedicate their careers to serving this community, and it was special to bring our fire rescue family together to celebrate their accomplishments and promotions.” Promotions to lieutenant included Brad Baird, Mike Lopez, Sergio Sanchez, Xavier Simancas and Jake Werner; promotions to captain included Michael Bernard, Jen Brack, Josh Eitel, David Millan and Nick Neyra; and Jeff Lauraitis was promoted

to manager of EMS & Air Medical. Phoenix Awards were presented to Roy Mendez, Arturo Aulet, Andre Castro, Mia Anderson, Michael Sirven, Megan Marlow, Kati Foster, Angus Porter, Alejandro Lucio, Jorge Machado, Alexandra Moreno, Luigi Reategui, Michael Summers, Shaun Tome, Jesse Hubman, Alfred Meneses, Josh Carmichael, Luis Guardado, Liz Komoroski, Jonathan Enriquez, Craig Martin, Cesar Lopez, Michael Perez, Jesus Hernandez Lopez, Alfredo Montes, Greg Gutierrez, Adam Batchelor, Jessica Medlin, Aaron Sparber, Brad Baird, Lee Placido, Xavier Simancas, Harold Perez, Michael Bernard, Tony Perez, Matthew O’Donnell, Austin Taylor and David Millan.

Stork Awards were presented to Jake Werner, Michael Bernard and Brad Morris. The Training Excellence Award went to Brad Baird and Josh Eitel. The Brother’s Keeper Award went to Richard “Moose” Vandervoort. The General Employee Excellence Award went to Lisandro Gonzalez and Chris Ward. The Award of Exemplary Dedication went to Cara Johnson. Matt Hill was named Flight Paramedic of the Year. Randy Gonzalez was named Firefighter of the Year. John Guieb received the Life Saving Award and Harold Perez received the Award of Valor, along with company citation bar to stations 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 and Battalion Chief 1. — Contributed

1. Firefighter of the Year Randy Gonzalez. 2. The Brothers Keeper award goes to Richard ‘Moose’ Vandervoort. 3. Jeff Lauraitis is promoted to manager of EMS and Air Medical. 4. Cara Johnson receives the Exemplary Dedication award. 5. Promotions to captain include Michael Bernard, Jen Brack, Josh Eitel, David Millan and Nick Neyra. 6. Promotions to lieutenant include Brad Baird, Mike Lopez, Sergio Sanchez, Xavier Simancas and Jake Werner. 7. Jen Brack’s daughter pins her for her promotion to captain. TALIA HILDEBRAND/ Contributed

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Callers claim to be FBI to get money and personal data Seava Lamontagne earned distinction as a Vista Foundation Named Scholar during last year’s Take Stock in Children graduation ceremony in Marathon. Presenting her award are Monroe County Education Foundation president Marianne Finizio, left, and schools Superintendent Ed Tierney. ROSS SMITH/Keys Weekly

ake Stock in Children of Monroe County is accepting scholarship applications through Tuesday, Sept. 15. Students in grades 6 through 9 who meet the income and academic guidelines are encouraged to apply. Take Stock in Children is a college and career readiness program that provides a volunteer mentor to each student during the program and a Florida Prepaid college tuition scholarship valued at 120 Florida credit hours upon graduation. Candidates for the scholarship must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average, have earned As, Bs, and Cs, and have good attendance and good behavior during previous years. Additionally, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the Take Stock candidate may not have an annual household income that exceeds the eligibility guidelines set by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and Take Stock in Children. “For over 20 years, Take Stock in Children has changed lives in Monroe County by providing a pathway to post-secondary education and success,” said

Chuck Licis-Masson, executive director of the Monroe County Education Foundation. Take Stock students meet with their mentor each week for 30 minutes during the school year. Additionally, the students participate in college and career readiness workshops, and they receive regular educational and career coaching from a Take Stock college readiness coach. “Whether their goal is to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or an industry certificate,” Licis-Masson said, “our team of TSIC success coaches and mentors along with their teachers and parents help guide and motivate the TSIC scholars towards their dream of attending the Florida college, university, or technical college or their choice.” Take Stock in Children is the flagship program of the Monroe County Education Foundation. More than 1,200 scholarships have been granted since 2001 and nearly 70% of those students have earned a college degree or career certificate. More information is at www. monroecountyedfound.com or 305-293-1546. — Contributed

he Key West Police Department is warning of a recent phone scam involving people impersonating federal law enforcement agents and claiming to be affiliated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Callers claim they are federal agents investigating fraudulent or financial schemes. They warn that the target’s personal, financial and identity data are at risk. The callers may claim they can “protect” or “shield” the individual from becoming a victim of fraud, but only if the victim provides money or sensitive information. These calls are scams. The Key West Police Department said that legitimate law enforcement officers, including federal agents, will never demand payment over the phone in exchange for protecting someone from a crime. Government agencies will also not instruct individuals to transfer money, purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency or provide banking credentials as a means of “protecting” their finances.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or federal agent: Do NOT send money or gift cards. Do not provide any personal information. Do not allow a caller to pressure you into sending money or providing personal information. Scammers frequently use urgency, fear, threats of arrest or claims of official authority to pressure victims into making immediate decisions. If something doesn’t feel right, hang up and verify the caller’s identity by contacting the agency they claim to represent through an official phone number. If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement agency and report the incident. In Key West, the police department is at 305-8091000. — Contributed

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A yellow-crowned night heron posturing recently at Indigenous Park in Key West. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

s herons go, night herons are kind of stubby – short legged, short necked and short billed when compared with, say, great egrets or tricolored herons or any other herons. Like most herons, MARK their body shape can change with their posture. But unHEDDEN like, say, great blue herons, ... is a photograwho retract their neck into a pher, writer, and semi-professional graceful S shape, night herons, birdwatcher. He when they retract their neck, has lived in Key look more like a collapsed West for more than 25 years and telescope, which gives them an even stubbier appearance, like may no longer be employable in depressed, no- neck weirdos. the real world. He When they extend their is also executive necks, though, and stand director of the about 2 feet tall, they project a Florida Keys certain sense of cool, a certain Audubon Society. sense of self-possession, similar to other short kings such as William Defoe, Bruno Mars or Danny DeVito. We get two species of night herons in both North America and the Keys – the yellow-crowned night heron and the black-crowned night heron. To my mind, the yellow-crowned is more common than the black-crowned because I see them more often. But I have a suspicion that black-crowns are more common than I think, that they just have a habit of staying out of the way in the backcountry. It is easy to tell an immature yellow-crowned night heron from an adult because the young are a streaky brown, like an old couch from the 1970s. The adults are a more uniform gray in the same color palette as granite. The drama comes in in their black head, underscored by a long white patch under each eye, the nominate yellow patch on top of the head, and a set of occipital plumes that drop off the back of the head like a combination of a ponytail and a cowlick. Males and females look identical. Their lack of elongation, like all things in nature, has a purpose. About 80% of their diet consists of crustaceans, mostly crabs. Most of the crabs they catch are small enough to be swallowed whole. On the occasions they catch a crab that is too large to swallow, they will grip a leg or two in their bill and shake it until the legs or claws come off. They will do this repeatedly until the crab is no longer ambulatory or able to defend itself. Then they will swallow the carapace whole, unless it is still too large, in which case they will smash or bite it into pieces with their bill in order to swallow it. After that, they will go around and eat up the detached legs and pincers. On the less common occasion when they catch a fish, they will take it a few feet upland so it can’t escape if they drop it. I saw an amazing photo online of a yellow-crown tossing a very small red-eared slider into the air, just about to gulp it down whole. (Fun fact: The red-eared slider is the most widely distributed turtle species in the world, primarily because they were sold as pets for several decades at Woolworth’s and other department stores.) They will also eat the occasional small mouse.

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS & MYSTERIOUS POSTURES

Mostly, though, yellow-crowns eat crabs and crawfish, and their stubbier, 3-inch bill gives them the power and control they need to gulp down their prey. While other egrets and herons wade (it’s why they are classified as wading birds) to hunt, yellow-crowned night herons tend to feed along dry-ish land, usually within 10 feet of the water’s edge. Making long legs less important to them. Contrary to their name, night herons are not necessarily nocturnal. It is thought that their feeding patterns are more connected to the tides. I tend to see them mostly during the day, though that would be another case of correlation not being causation, as I’m pretty rarely out birding at night. Though I do often hear them flying over the island hours after sunset. I saw one last Saturday sitting low on a branch of the small, turtle-filled pond in Indigenous Park on White Street. On the scale of hunched to stretched out the bird was on the latter end of the spectrum, its neck looking almost long. But this was enhanced by the fact that the bird’s wings were dropped low with the underwings turned forward, a posture you see in herons sometimes. I have seen the posture referred to as the flasher posture, as if the heron was a pervert holding open his raincoat to expose his unwholesome wares to innocent passersby. But I’m usually inclined to think of it as the more wholesome Tony Montana posture, the one he takes toward the end of “Scarface,” a minute or two after he says, “Say hello to my little friend,” while defiantly facing down a small army of gunmen from a balcony, just before he gets shot in the back. But this may not be the best frame to describe a bird’s posture, even if Al Pacino, standing at 5 foot 6 inches, is another short king. James Kushlan, a Miami-based ornithologist who is one of the leading heron experts in the

world, and also a very nice man, published an interesting paper in 2011 entitled, “The Terminology of Courtship, Nesting, Feeding and Maintenance in Herons.” While each species of herons and egrets has its own set of behaviors and habits, there is a similarity in them, what he calls a repertoire, across the 75 species in the family. And with the intention of creating a common syntax or diction, so scientists and researchers can each know what the other is talking about, he described and named those habits and behaviors. Most of the paper is taken up with defining the way birds court (attracting maneuvers such as the snap, the stretch-snap, the reverse stretch, the song-and-dance) and hunt (the impale capture, the grasp capture, the head bob, the wing flick). But in the last paragraph of the paper, under the heading of Maintenance, there was the defining description of what the yellow-crowned night heron was doing at Indigenous Park: delta wing sunning. While it is great to have a proper term to describe the pose, the reason for the behavior is still somewhat debated. Some people believe it allows birds to warm themselves by exposing a greater surface area of their body to the sun. Some people believe it lets birds cool themselves by allowing them to expose a greater surface area of their body to the air. Some people believe it allows them to take in a higher dose of Vitamin D. Some people believe it allows them to dry wet feathers. Some people believe such direct solar exposure allows them to kill off the eggs and larvae of certain parasites. Some people believe it is a form of yoga-like stretching. It may be more than one of those things. Or something we are still missing out on. As hot as it was in the park on Saturday, it’s hard to believe the bird was seeking warmth or Vitamin D. And it did not look wet.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

RESEARCH REVEALS LASTING EFFECTS ON WORLD TRADE CENTER RESPONDERS

REEL RECS World Trade Center responders work amid the debris at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11 attacks. FIU researcher Roberto Lucchini studies how the toxic exposures and psychological trauma responders experienced may affect their health decades later. MICHAEL RIEGER/ Fema News Photo

FIU studies long-term effects of exposure, psychological trauma

wenty-five years after 9/11, FIU researcher Dr. Roberto Lucchini is still working with World Trade Center responders to understand how the toxic exposures and psychological trauma they experienced may affect their health decades later. Lucchini has spent years studying the long-term health of 9/11 responders and now leads research at FIU involving responders who have moved to Florida. One study, published in Translational Psychiatry, found that responders with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, showed signs of accelerated brain aging. On average, their brains appeared about three years older than their chronological age. The findings suggest PTSD may be a risk factor for accelerated brain aging among people exposed to severe trauma. “We are concerned that, ultimately, the complexity of the exposure years later can trigger cognitive decline,” said Lucchini, co-author of the study and professor of occupational and environmental health sciences at FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. “That means losing memory and the ability to concentrate.” About 23% — nearly one-quarter — of the men and women who participated in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site experience persistent, clinically significant PTSD, according to the

study. The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that PTSD may be associated with accelerated aging, including evidence from neuroimaging, gene-expression and DNA-methylation studies. Researchers analyzed MRI scans from 99 World Trade Center responders in their mid-50s: 47 with chronic PTSD and 52 without it. To estimate biological brain age, researchers used a deep-learning model inspired by the way neurons in the human brain are connected. By learning patterns from more than 11,000 MRI scans, it can estimate how old a person’s brain appears. Among responders with PTSD, estimated brain age was an average of about three years older than chronological age. Brain age was slightly younger than expected among responders without PTSD. The researchers also found that the amount of time responders spent working at the World Trade Center site influenced the relationship between PTSD and accelerated brain aging. For Lucchini, the research is part of a broader effort to understand health effects that can emerge decades after a disaster. World Trade Center responders faced an unusual combination of hazards. They were exposed to a massive cloud of dust and debris containing carcinogens, neurotoxic substances and other contaminants while also experiencing the intense psychological trauma

of rescue and recovery work. At FIU, Lucchini leads research involving World Trade Center responders who moved to Florida. His work examines the long-term effects of toxic exposures and psychological trauma, including PTSD, sleep disturbances and possible cognitive decline. Lucchini said the recent earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia are reminders that those lessons extend far beyond Sept. 11. When buildings collapse, rescue workers can face exposure to potentially hazardous dust and materials while also confronting the psychological trauma of searching for victims and recovering bodies and human remains. “The sights, smells and other sensory memories can stay with responders for a very long time,” Lucchini said. “Those are the same memories I have heard repeatedly from 9/11 responders and volunteers. They can cause long-lasting psychological trauma, even among people who are trained for disaster response.” Understanding how physical exposures and psychological trauma can interact over time could help researchers and public health officials better anticipate the long-term consequences of future disasters. “Do not underestimate the potential health problems, physical and mental, that can be generated by any type of disaster, even decades after it occurs,” Lucchini said. — Contributed

taff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection. What: “Sense and Sensibility” (2008) Why: Emma Thompson won an Oscar for writing the screenplay of the 2005 film version of Jane Austen’s debut novel. But for all that film’s merits, she was just too old to play Elinor Dashwood. Which is why I was delighted when Andrew Davies, the writer behind the iconic BBC version of “Pride and Prejudice,” took on this story in a three-part series. Every cast member is terrific, from Hattie Morahan as Elinor to the great Janet McTeer as Mrs. Dashwood. Dan Stevens, of “Downton Abbey” fame, is just right as love interest Edward Ferrars and so is Dominic Cooper as the disastrously charming Willoughby. Three episodes lets the story breathe without demanding a longterm commitment. I’d watch the Emma Thompson version again if it popped up on my screen, but this is the one I return to as a reliable comfort watch. Where: This TV series is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming service. How: You can browse and request DVDs by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to keyslibraries.org and click on Kanopy to learn how to set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/contact-us. Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager. See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

WHO OWNED INDIAN KEY? W

hen Florida became a territory of the United States, any land not subject to a Spanish Land Grant became government property. There were a handful of islands in the Florida Keys that had been granted to individuals for various FLORIDA reasons – most famously, Key KEYS West. Indian Key was not one HISTORY of them. WITH The island, like every BRAD other parcel that did not fall BERTELLI into the Spanish Land Grant category, could not legally be Brad is a local historian, author, bought or sold until the govspeaker and ernment officially surveyed it. Honorary Conch who loves sharing In the Florida Keys, that prothe history of the cess began in 1872. The survey that included Indian Key was Florida Keys. performed by Charles Smith on Feb. 5-7, 1873. It included Lower Matecumbe Key, Lignumvitae Key and Indian Key. The three islands, designated Township 64 South, Range 36 East, totaled 1,128.34 acres. Indian Key accounted for 8.77 acres. The lone note on Smith’s survey indicated that William Bethel occupied Indian Key. What has long been assumed was that Bethel became the island’s first legal owner. After all, he was deeded the rights to the island on July 19, 1881. One year later, on Aug. 31, 1882, that deed was sold to Lewis D. Pierce, Douglas T. Sweeney, George T. Warren and Peter A. Williams. The group was surprised when the island was sold to W.W. Dewhurst on Aug. 22, 1908. The Miami Metropolis newspaper dated June 20, 1911, ran a story called “Indian Key Purchase.” Part of the header read, “strange account of the purchase of land from government.” According to the story, though the Sweeneys had paid taxes on the island for “twenty-five or thirty years,” the government sold the island to Dewhurst without their knowledge. The newspa-

Charles Smith survey of Indian Key Feb. 5-7, 1873. CONTRIBUTED

per reported: “The history of Indian Key is about as follows as near as can be ascertained. “Originally, the island was preempted by a party who sold it before he obtained a clear title. This was repeated by others who bought it, until finally mortgages were given and taken and deed given to still later purchases. As a matter of fact, none of these parties had clear title to the land. In August of 1908 W.W. Dewhurst purchased the Key from the Government for approximately $68, paid for in Palatka script. A patent was issued in 1910. Later he sold the Key to A.V.S. Smith of Jacksonville who is the present owner.” The account was not entirely accurate. However, according to the state, Pensacola was the first legal owner of the island as it was included in Certificate No. 4, issued Nov. 4, 1885, by the State of Florida to the City of Pensacola. The Miami Metropolis newspaper story included a letter from the General Land Office in Washington dated April 14, 1911, addressed to George McDonald, Box 253, Key West, Florida. “Sir: In reply to your letter of March 8, 1910, you are advised that Lot 1, Sec. 13, T. 64S., R. 36E (Indian Key), was located with Palatka script by W.W. Dewhurst, agent for the State of Florida, on Aug. 22, 1908, in part satisfaction of special indemnity certificate No. 4, for swamp lands in the former Palatka military reservation, under act of June 9, 1880, and patent issued thereof, on April 5, 1909. No. 55654. Very respectfully, S. J. Proudfit, Assistant Commissioner” Dewhurst did not sell the island to Smith, but to Henry Flagler, who subsequently conveyed the island’s deed issued by Trustees of the Internal Improvements Fund of the State of Florida to Elizabeth H. Smith of Duval County. The Louisville Land Title Company in Key West wrote the abstract, and Monroe County recorded the “Trustee’s Deed” dated June 30, 1909, in Deed Book Z, p. 242. The island remained property of the Smith family until Sept. 14, 1928, when A.V.S. Smith and Elizabeth H. Smith sold Indian Key and Tea Table Key to Frederick R. Ryan, New York, for $100 “plus other good and valuable considerations.”

The July 22, 1930, classifieds in the Key West Citizen advertised the island was for sale: “Indian Key, the gem of all the Florida Keys being offered at great sacrifice. Investigate this at once.” On Jan. 20, 1931, Frederick R. and Agnes F. Ryan sold Indian Key and Tea Table Key to Casper Howarth. A Special Warranty Deed in the Monroe County files dated March 9, 1933, assigned the island back to A.V.S. Smith. The Jan. 26, 1940, edition of the Key West Citizen advertised the island as again being for sale: “Indian Key: Famous for fishing, and healthfulness. Sell or lease for development. Reliable boatman wanted to build up and care for property. Address A.V.S. Smith, owner, DeLand, Florida.” Indian Key was transferred again by Quit Claim Deed between Smith and Marian S. Gysland, dated June 18, 1951. Five days later, on June 23, Gysland sold the island to Joseph and Florence Williams. According to the Aug. 12, 1951, edition of the Miami Herald, “Dr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Williams from Ohio purchased Indian Key from estate of Smith in 1951 for what was reported as just under $30,000.” The doctor and his wife sold the island to a group of investors on March 8, 1954. R. Warner Ring and E. B. Moylan Jr. of Miami, and Lindsey McChesney, an attorney from Troy, New York, bought the island from Dr. Williams for $55,000. Ownership was split among the three partners in eighths: Ring 3/8, McChesney 3/8, and Moylan 2/8. On Feb. 24, 1962, Ring sold his 3/8 ownership of the island to Joseph M. Fitzgerald. The island’s next sale was the big one and brought about a full-circle moment. On Dec. 28, 1970, the island’s ownership by Moylan, Reed, Grigsby, Fitzgerald, Ellis, Embry, Conroy, Jones et al was transferred back to the State of Florida Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvements Trust Fund. Clearly, other property transactions occurred that are not part of the Monroe County records. Once state property, the island became part of the Florida state park system and was designated Indian Key Historic State Park.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

WHAT’S COOKING, KEY WEST? Art meets mixology at favorite local spot CAROL SHAUGHNESSY www.keysweekly.com

rtists have been drawn to the island of Key West since artist and ornithologist John James Audubon visited in 1832, drawing new species for his “Birds of America” folio. During the Great Depression era, nationally known artists and writers were imported under the government’s Public Works Art Project to revitalize Key West as a tourist destination. They painted murals and illustrated guidebooks, taught craft classes and established a colony of creative spirits. Their legacy remains on the island today. It’s apparent in the thriving galleries, lively community of working artists and establishments like the Key West Cooking Show and Bar 1 — where the island’s heritage is celebrated with art by modern-day talents. As guests enter the 291 Front St. venue for a culinary or cocktail class, or a craft cocktail, they immediately spot a wall mural of the island’s long-gone Convent of Mary Immaculate. Painted by Raul Carrillo Leon, the mural portrays the Romanesque building’s architecture in vivid detail. Artwork abounds in the Cooking Show’s dining room. Each piece spotlights elements of Key West’s past, just as the learn-and-dine classes spotlight the island’s traditional foods. Among them is a large-scale sculpture of “Frank the Fishmonger,” who pedaled his bike around Key West in the 1960s and ’70s selling fish and conch salad — particularly appropriate as diners can enjoy conch salad during demonstration-style culinary classes. Nearby is a painting by Carrillo Leon that depicts the old Key West shrimp fleet, honoring the island’s seafaring past. At Bar 1 on many occasions, art lovers’ cocktails are prepared by an artist whose images grace the walls. Jessica Tookey, whose work ranges from portraits of lost souls to hyper-realistic paintings, traveled and created art around the U.S. before settling in Key West several years ago.

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Jessica Tookey, a fine artist and bartender at Bar 1, displays one of her pieces commissioned to hang at the Key West Cooking Show venue. KEY WEST COOKING SHOW/Contributed

In 2024, she opened TooKEY’s Gallery in the historic building that became home to the Key West Cooking Show and Bar 1. “I enjoyed watching the Cooking Show construction, getting tours of the space as it was being created,” said Tookey, who was commissioned to paint two images of historic Key West elements for it. Today her portrait of two boys carrying Spanish limes hangs in the heritage-themed demonstration dining room. Her moody interpretation of the island’s landmark Sandy’s Café, featuring Key West icons including Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett, is displayed at Bar 1. “I spent many happy hours in Bar 1, and one day they told me they were looking for bartenders,” said Tookey. “So I said yes, and I can now make a delicious craft cocktail.” She continues to focus on painting while also expanding her talents in the art of mixology — bringing Key West’s heritage of creativity into a whole new realm. LAST CALL Drink of the month: Judy’s Bloom. Saluting world-renowned author and Key West resident Judy Blume, this cocktail features elderflower liqueur, prosecco, club soda and cranberry bitters. Creative and innovative, it’s worth writing about. The Art of Key lime pie-making: Learn to prepare a perfect piece of culinary artistry — Key lime pie. For a schedule of pie-making demonstration classes, which include the opportunity to savor a slice, visit keywestcookingshow. com or call 305-294-COOK.

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HELP KEEP KEY WEST SEPTEMBER CLEANUPS Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Friday, Sept. 11: Dead Man's Curve on S. Roosevelt Boulevard. Meet along the seawall. Hosted by Girls Night Out. Friday, Sept. 18: N. Roosevelt at 7th Street. Meet in the GFS & Mt. Sinai parking lot. Hosted by Mount Sinai Walk-In & Diagnostic Center Saturday, Sept. 19: 8-11 a.m. International Coastal Cleanup at Smathers Beach. Meet in the city-owned gravel parking lot next to Margaritaville Resort. Do NOT park at the hotel. Friday, Sept. 25: Duval & South streets. Meet on South Street between Duval and Simonton. Hosted by Southernmost Beach Resort & Tobacco-Free Florida, Monroe County.

The Sept. 4 morning cleanup was held at the Key West Historic Seaport for the kickoff of the Just a Few Friends festival. In one hour, 88 volunteers collected 114 pounds of trash, 37 pounds of recycling and 4.5 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to our breakfast host, Conch Republic Seafood Co. The next cleanup will be held on Deadman’s Curve on South Roosevelt Boulevard. CONTRIBUTED

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 305-809-3868 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.

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KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

A FRESH START

Now that eclipse season has passed, we are back to our regularly scheduled programming when it comes to lunations. Eclipses are new moons and full moons that have far-reaching effects, whereas your biweekly full moons and new moons have more immediate effects. It’s as if an eclipse is a hurricane and a regular monthly lunation is a summer shower. Similar weather, vastly different intensity. This week’s new moon takes place in Virgo, representing a fresh beginning in how we focus our time, energy and attention. We can only concentrate on certain things at a time, so what we choose affects our lives. The new moon in Virgo has us checking in to make sure we choose to zero in on what’s best for our goals and purposes. Perhaps it’s time to look at things a bit differently. At the same time, Uranus, the planet of unexpected changes and liberation, is turning retrograde, so it appears to sit still in the sky and its influence becomes heightened while it’s turning, due to its stillness and the associated increase in potential energy. We will be confronted with unexpected moments and opportunities that contribute to freedom and liberation. Think people quitting or being laid off, breakups happening out of the blue, last-minute vacations, revolutions big and small, and personal epiphanies. If it’s holding you back, it’s gotta go. In order to work with this week’s energy, find your fresh start. Here are your horoscopes for the Virgo new moon and Uranus stationing retrograde. Read for your rising and sun signs.

the new wardrobe or the new lease on life and show us the new you. Make those big chain-busting choices at work as well. Your reputation is being released from past marring, so ride the wave.

learn a new skill. Choose how your world will grow. And free yourself from unnecessary tasks and habits that no longer serve you. Don’t do things for the sake of doing them; do things for the sake of yourself.

LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 How can you work with your personal demons differently? We all have our inner saboteur, telling us we’re not good enough or that we’re an imposter. In what way will you hear yours differently? Can you listen with constructive ears? However you need to expand your world to experience more freedom, now is the time to cut the cord. Take that last minute vacay, enroll in that art class, seek a bigger world for yourself.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 This new moon, either reconsider how you invest your time and energy or double down on what feels right. What you do with your personal capacity is up to you, but know that where your attention goes, your energy flows. You decide if the return is worth the investment. Also, now is the time to get creative in a way that frees your soul. Throw the paint, play the instrument, write the sappy poem.

SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Every once in a while, it is good to take stock of who makes up our network of support. Quietly cull the folks who sap your energy and reengage with those who encourage your best self. It’s a new beginning with your tribe. Free yourself from people who take more than they give and find ways to invest in causes that contribute to the more beautiful world you know is possible.

PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 Partnerships require regular maintenance, and this new moon sets a clean slate in your one-on-one partnerships, urging you to address small, practical details before they turn into major friction. This is the reset you need with your nearest and dearest. Also, prepare for your home life to get a little shakeup. Whether you rearrange the interior, move locations or reorganize your domestic agreements, release unnecessary obligations.

VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 New moon, new you, Virgo. This new moon is taking place in your sign, so cut the cord on what is holding you back and give yourself a makeover. How do you want to be perceived in a fresh light? Bring out

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 The funny thing about horizons is that they expand and withdraw as we walk toward them. Our world grows in the process, though. This new moon, pick a fresh horizon to chase. Explore a new world, enroll in a class,

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

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 Human beings are not born to work for other human beings. Yes, it is the system we have been born into, but it is an enforced system. This new moon is about saying no to exploitative work scenarios and saying yes to a work life that enhances your well-being. Don’t settle into misery; choose your work with self-care in mind. Also, choose the unexpected liberation in or from partnership.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 Getting started is usually the hardest hurdle, but you are getting some cosmic support in starting a new wellness routine, changing your chore schedule, or shifting your work habits. However you go about your tasks, now is the time to pivot into a better working model. Also, it is prime time to free your voice. If there are things that need to be said, stop ruminating and say them. Let go of communication you’ve been holding onto. TAURUS April 20 - May 20 The adage encourages us to follow our bliss, and it’s a great recipe

for happiness. What it doesn’t tell us is that our bliss can change. If something used to make you smile and no longer does, let it go and turn your sights on new joys. Follow your fresh bliss, Taurus. Don’t hold onto things that hold you back. You can expect a shakeup in your income right now, and it is in your best interest to find the freedom in that. GEMINI May 21 - June 20 You may be feeling particularly electric right now, Gemini. Your structure is being shaken up, and you are finding new moments to let go of rigid expectations. Let your freak flag fly, as they say. Don’t hold yourself back from experiencing what the world has to offer you. Your home life is due for a refresh, so break the old habits and move some things around. If home is where the heart is, give it some defibrillation. CANCER June 21 - July 22 Your voice is getting a reset. Perhaps you are in new spaces where your voice hasn’t been heard, or you are finding that old ways of communicating just aren’t getting through. Try a new way to get your point across. Don’t let yourself feel trapped in a cage of incomprehension. You are on a journey of solitude and challenging your self-sabotage, and this is a pivotal time of release. Let go of the limiting voices in your head. LEO July 23 - Aug. 22 This new moon is about checking in with your finances and sense of self worth. Are your income streams in alignment with what you value? If you need to rearrange your budget, this moon is your support system. Make and spend money in ways that support your best self. And you know what? Shake up your friend group. Find new people who make you feel your best.

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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ALEX RICKERT

alex@keysweekly.com

n the weekend before the anniversary of 9/11, Hawks Cay Resort put on a celebration to honor those who continue a tradition of selfless service in our local community. Their Heroes Salute started off with a 5K race in sweltering conditions on Saturday morning, followed by a parking lot Touch-a-Truck event that let kids take a seat in a few of the coolest rides in town. An evening celebration on the Oasis Cay lawn featuring the Gabriel Key Band, a Color Guard presentation, fireworks and a flyover gave a more formal acknowledgement to the heroes who protect our country and island chain. 1. U.S. Rep. Brian Mast joins the Coast Guard Color Guard at the Heroes Salute tribute and party. 2. Kids get an up-close look at a Monroe County fire engine. 3. A performance by the Gabriel Key Band headlines the evening Heroes Salute tribute party. 4. First responders greet kids with their tech and vehicles in Saturday’s Touch-a-Truck event. 5. Julia Mendoza, left, Molly Joly and Ariella Dworniczak complete the podium for the ladies’ 17 and under division of the 5K race. 6. Local speedsters Lucian Burns and Anthony Vargas go 1-2 in the boys’ 17 and under division. The pair finished in 18:38 and 19:04, respectively, the fastest two times in the 5K race overall. 7. Marathon’s Michelle Mckenna, left, earns second place in the women’s 18-49 division, along with winner Alexandra Little and third-place finisher Andrea McTeer. 8. Big Pine Key’s Navin Periannan tops the men’s 18-49 podium, while Sean Bisesto finished third. 9. Marathon’s Donna Pacheco earns first in the women’s 50+ category, followed by Teri Horgan and Marathon’s Patti Childress (not pictured). 10. Key West’s Maximo Llama wins the men’s 50+ category, followed by Ken Horgan and Eric Willner. Photos contributed

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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Founded by Betty Debnam

An amendment is a change or addition. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. They were added in 1791 to limit the power of the national government over the people. This week, The Mini Page takes a look at the first 10 amendments.

First Amendment • Freedom of religion means that Congress cannot pass a law setting up a religion that everyone must follow. You are free to worship as you please. • Freedom of speech means that you are free to speak out and give your side of things. Others are free to listen. However, there are some limits. You can’t shout “fire” in a crowded room when there is no fire. • Freedom of the press means members of the press do not have to get what they are planning to print or say approved by the government. They are free to print what they wish as long as it is not a deliberate lie. • Freedom of assembly means that you are free to meet peacefully. • Freedom of petition means that you are free to ask the government to correct things that you think are wrong.

Second Amendment • Guarantees the right to bear (carry) arms (weapons). Congress cannot prevent people from owning guns for their own protection. However, states and local governments can make laws about who may own them and how they are carried. Third Amendment • The government cannot force citizens to keep soldiers in their homes. In Colonial times, citizens were forced to allow British soldiers into their homes. Fourth Amendment • This amendment says that before police officers can enter your home, they must have a warrant, or legal paper from a judge, giving permission for a search or arrest. Fifth Amendment Grants the following rights: • A person cannot be brought to trial for a serious crime until a grand jury has studied the charges. • If you have been tried for a crime, you cannot be tried again for the same crime. • A person accused of a crime cannot be forced to say anything against himself. • The government cannot take away your life or property, or put you in prison, without “due process of law.” • If the government has a good reason to take away your property for public use, it must pay you a fair price for that property.

Photo by Mike Mozart

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

MINI FACT: The Bill of Rights is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Sixth Amendment Lists the rights you have if you are charged with a crime. It guarantees: • a speedy trial as soon as possible after your arrest. • a fair jury of citizens who live in the same area where the crime was supposedly committed. • a report of exactly what crime you are accused of. • an opportunity to defend yourself against any witness who testifies against you, and a lawyer to represent you, paid for by the government if you are unable to pay yourself. Seventh Amendment • Extends your right to a trial by jury in civil cases (those dealing with disagreements between two people or people and their governments). These are not punishable by death. Eighth Amendment • The government cannot demand a person to pay bail or fines that are too high and unreasonable. Also, punishment for a crime cannot be cruel or unusual. Ninth Amendment • Entitles you to rights not listed in the Constitution. Tenth Amendment • Powers not given to the U.S. government are reserved to the states or to the people.

RESOURCES ON THE WEB • bit.ly/49SbTBZ AT THE LIBRARY • “The Bill of Rights: A Kid’s Guide to Freedom in America” by Syl Sobel

ECO NOTE FIND IT

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

AMENDMENT, ARMS, BILL, CONGRESS, CONSTITUTION, CRIME, FINES, FREEDOM, HOME, JURY, PEOPLE, PETITION, PRESS, PROPERTY, RELIGION, RIGHTS, STATES, TEN, TRIAL.

R N O I G I L E R T

E I S P R E S S T E

I Y R U T G L R G P X A F H T J V E T D S Z M S Z E Y V N O I T C A P R N M O D

J T J N P S F U O E

S N A I M I E S O K C R E T I S E R I N E T I T P E R E R F

D L L I B C A U L J I E M O H I M E R P T I O N E G N O C L S W Q A P S N O C O T Y P W E S M R A P

A woman in southwestern England has discovered several rare pink grasshopper nymphs in her backyard, a year after spotting a single adult with the same unusual coloration. Wildlife experts say the insects’ bright pink color is caused by erythrism, a genetic mutation that alters pigmentation. Because the vivid insects cannot camouflage themselves like ordinary green grasshoppers, they are usually eaten by birds before reaching adulthood. The survival of several young grasshoppers suggests the mutation has been passed to a new generation. Long grass in Natasha Welch’s backyard, together with four pet cats that discourage bird visits, may have created a safe haven for the rare insects to thrive. Adapted with permission from Earthweek.com

KEY WEST WEEKLY / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS THE SCOREBOARD

SEPT. 1-5

Team

Sport

Opponent

Date

Result

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Keys Gate

9/1

W, 3-0

Marathon

Volleyball

Silver Palms

9/2

L, 3-0

Coral Shores

Volleyball

South Dade

9/3

W, 3-1

Marathon

Volleyball

Horeb Christian

9/4

W, 3-0

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Cardinal Gibbons

9/4

W, 2-1

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Somerset College Prep

9/4

W, 2-0

Key West

Volleyball

Felix Varella High School

9/4

W, 2-0

Key West

Volleyball

Goleman

9/4

L, 0-2

Key West

Volleyball

Palmer

9/4

L, 0-2

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Carrollton School

9/4

L, 2-0

Coral Shores

Football

Pine Crest

9/4

L, 21-14

Marathon

Football

Oxbridge Academy

9/4

L, 50-29

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Somerset South Homestead

9/5

W, 2-0

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Goleman

9/5

W, 2-1

Key West

Volleyball

Cardinal Gibbons

9/5

L, 0-2

Key West

Volleyball

Miami Sunset

9/5

L, 0-2

Key West

Football

Miami Jackson

9/5

canceled

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

Ekon

EDWARDS

Senior, Coral Shores Football

SEPT. 10-17

Date

School

Sport

Opponent

Start Time

9/10

Coral Shores

Swimming

Westminster Christian

4 p.m.

9/10

Key West

Football

@ American Heritage

7 p.m.

9/10

MHS & CSHS

Cross Country

@ King of the Hill

5 p.m.

9/10

Marathon

Volleyball

@ Pinecrest Prep

5:30 p.m.

9/10

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Somerset Silver Palms

4 p.m.

9/10

Coral Shores

Football

@ Marco Island Academy

7 p.m.

9/11

Marathon

Football

Evangelical Christian

7 p.m.

9/11

Marathon

Volleyball

Colonial Christian

5 p.m.

9/12

Key West

Swimming

Westminster Christian

11 a.m.

9/14

All Keys Schools

Golf

@ Marathon

1 p.m.

9/14

Coral Shores

Volleyball

@ Westwood Christian

5:30 p.m.

9/15

Marathon

Volleyball

@ Glades Day

4 p.m.

9/16

Coral Shores

Volleyball

Mater Bay

5 p.m.

9/16

Key West

Swimming

@ Doral

Noon

9/16

All Keys Schools

Golf

@ Key West

2 p.m.

9/17

Marathon

Volleyball

@ Mater Bay

4:30 p.m.

ON THE COVER

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SEPTEMBER 10

Key West golfer Anthony Barrows pulls the pin as Mother Nature sends a shower on Sept. 2. See page 10. ROCKY GONET/Keys Weekly

Ekon is truly a stalwart of our program.” — Ed Holly, Coral Shores head coach

11 tackles

Coral Shores senior Ekon Edwards did his part to keep the Hurricanes in the fight against a strong Pine Crest squad last week. The three-year starter registered five solo tackles, six assists, a tackle for loss and a quarterback pressure, helping Coral Shores keep the game close until the final whistle. Edwards’ impact extends beyond the stat sheet, with his leadership helping keep the Hurricanes focused and battling even when momentum is not on their side. Head coach Ed Holly said Edwards will leave some big cleats to fill when he graduates. “He is an unbelievable student-athlete, he is a school leader and as hard a worker as you can possibly hope for,” Holly said. For his contributions on and off the field, Coral Shores’ Ekon Edwards is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

tackle for loss

Photo by NATALIE GOODWIN/Keys Weekly

tracy mcdonald SPORTS WRITER

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.

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

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

Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

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

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

MARKET EDITORS

Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com

Web Master / Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com

Classiﬁeds / Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844

Se habla español

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FLAGS, FLASHES & FOURTH DOWNS

Keys teams battle lightning, penalties and one-score drama in a frustrating week on the gridiron

t was a week of close calls, costly mistakes and Mother Nature for the Keys’ football teams, as all three faced very different obstacles on the gridiron.

KEY WEST Key West was slated to face the Generals of Miami Jackson on Sept. 5 at Traz Powell Stadium. The 5:30 p.m. kickoff made for a hot, muggy start before dark clouds began looming in the distance. The Conchs were in control and driving downfield when the stadium’s lightning horns sounded. Despite the strikes being about 18 miles away, play was halted. A second delay ultimately triggered Miami-Dade’s rules requiring the game to be canceled or postponed. As of press time, the fate of the matchup had not been determined, with the teams’ bye weeks failing to align and a crowded mainland schedule complicating efforts to find another date. Both teams are eager for another chance to settle things, and the scheduling puzzle could potentially work in Key West’s favor by

bringing the Generals south for an additional home game. Up next for the Conchs is a trip to Delray Beach to face American Heritage, the Sunshine State Athletic Association’s top-ranked team. The 4-0 Stallions have scored at least 42 points in every game this season and feature plenty of talent, including a center committed to Army. “They have a good QB and some size up front,” Key West coach Johnny Hughes said. “It should be a good game.” CORAL SHORES The Hurricanes managed to play a full game, but did not have the outcome the team was hoping for. Coral Shores came up just short against Pine Crest last week, falling 2114 to the Panthers in a game that remained up for grabs until the final minutes. The Hurricanes opened the contest on shaky ground, with their first possession ending in an interception, but the Coral Shores defense quickly took over. Despite Pine Crest holding a significant field position advantage, the ’Canes kept the Panthers off the

scoreboard throughout the opening quarter. “Pine Crest had great field position all night. They had a great kicker who could put it into the end zone from just about anywhere. Give that young man all the credit,” Coral Shores coach Ed Holly said. The Panthers’ strong kicking game routinely left Coral Shores with a longer field to navigate, but the Hurricanes proved capable of moving the ball. Following a scoreless first quarter, Coral Shores struck first on a 3-yard touchdown run from Charles Royal. Pine Crest answered just before halftime to send the teams into the break knotted at 7. The Panthers scored early in the third quarter to take the lead, but the Hurricanes answered when Kevin Williams Jr. punched in a 12-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14. Pine Crest broke the stalemate with 3:06 remaining, taking a 21-14 lead. Undeterred, the Hurricanes marched downfield in search of another equalizer, eventually facing fourth down with the game on

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS the line. This time, the Panthers’ defense held, preserving the seven-point victory. Coral Shores did plenty of damage on the ground, piling up 348 rushing yards. David Beltran led the attack with 140 yards on 17 carries, while Royal hit the century mark on 10 attempts. John Oughten added 58 yards on the ground and hauled in a 27-yard reception, while Williams rushed five times for 30 yards. Quarterback Sterling Keefe completed three of six passes for 72 yards and added another 15 yards with his legs. Defensively, Holly said his Hurricanes “played lights-out defense,” with contributions coming from throughout the lineup. Senior Ekon Edwards registered five solo tackles, six assists, a tackle for loss and a quarterback pressure. Noah Gookins made five solo stops and came through with a key defensive play when the Hurricanes needed it most, while Sharly Gongora added five solo tackles. Jack Brown finished with three solo tackles, two assists, a tackle for loss and a pressure, and Billy Holly recorded three solos, three assists and a pressure. Williams contributed four solo tackles and an assist. Kaleb Mesa also made the most of increased playing time, recording two solo tackles and four assists. His performance impressed the coaching staff enough to likely earn the emerging defender additional opportunities going forward. “I’m so proud of their effort,” Holly said. “It was a great environment to play in. We had a good learning opportunity and will use it coming into this week.” That opportunity comes against Marco Island Academy, which will make the trip to Tavernier after scheduling issues with its home field shifted the matchup to Coral Shores. MARATHON Marathon’s home opener against Oxbridge Academy started as a shootout, with the Dolphins and ThunderWolves battling to a 22-22 tie at halftime, before costly mistakes eventually caught up with the Fins in a 50-29 loss. Marathon committed four turnovers and was flagged for an uncharacteristic 150 yards,

with the bulk of the damage coming in a penalty-filled first half. One particularly costly flag erased an Elliott Greenmaki interception when the Dolphins were called for a late hit. “We were really excited for this home opener and it showed — almost too excited,” Marathon head coach Sean McDonald said. “Five emotion penalties in the first quarter really gave Oxbridge a lot of momentum. We have to learn how to control our emotions, stay calm and get the job done.” Despite the miscues, the Dolphins found plenty to like offensively, particularly in a ground game that produced 302 yards and four touchdowns on 47 carries. Aiden Lezcano led the attack with 143 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns, adding a two-point conversion for 20 points. Jesus Gonzalez rushed 21 times for 122 yards and another score. “The offensive line took a lot of flack after the Wildwood game and they really stepped it up against Oxbridge, blowing the other team off the ball,” McDonald said. “It was great to get the running game going the way that we did.” Israel Gonzalez added 23 yards on three carries, while Garrett Ruddy picked up 10 yards on four attempts and Mathew Machado added four yards on his lone carry. Greenmaki connected on three extra points. Marathon remained within one score late in the game before Oxbridge finally pulled away. Defensively, the Dolphins had several strong individual performances, but “breakdowns in missed assignments cost us,” McDonald said. “Players cannot do their own thing; they need to work within our system. Until we correct that, we can’t move forward.” Israel Gonzalez registered three solo tackles and eight assists, while Alnier Mendez added four tackles and seven assists. Charlie Buttner made three solo stops and assisted on four more, and Greenmaki contributed two solo tackles, four assists and two passes defended. James Paskiewicz added six assists, while Ruddy had four assists and a tackle for loss. For McDonald, the loss

2 3

provided plenty of film room material before the Dolphins play at home this week. “We can’t move forward until we correct the mistakes we made against Oxbridge,” he said. Evangelical Christian will make the trip to Marathon for the Dolphins’ next matchup, when the community will honor those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, with multiple tributes at the newly-named Michael H. Puto Stadium.

1. Chace Gaertner returns a punt. 2. Roman Van Loon makes a run down the sideline. 3. Garrett Ruddy fights for extra yards. 4. Maverick McDonald returns a kick. 5. Jesus Gonzalez follows his blockers. SEAN WESTERBAND/Keys Weekly

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

DIVING RIGHT IN

Hurricanes begin season with standout individual performances

oral Shores may not have won the points battle in its Sept. 2 seasonopening quad meet, but a pair of Hurricanes gave the team plenty to be excited about, turning in September times faster than their marks at last season's regional championship. Sofia Figueredo was already ahead of her postseason pace from a year ago in

both of her individual events. Figueredo completed the 200-yard individual medley in 2:27, bettering her 2:28 time from last season. She did the same in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:17.53 after swimming a 1:18.41 at regionals last fall. Parks Dunn also opened the season ahead of his regional pace, completing

the 500-yard freestyle in 6:12. Dunn's regional time last season was 6:14. “While we did not win the meet points-wise, we were very impressed with these swims for our first meet, especially after only a few weeks of practice,” said Hurricanes coach Kelly Owens. Coral Shores returns to the pool Sept. 10 for the team’s next meet.

1 2

5 1. Julia Rusch ascends into a back dive. 2. Tony Khioni flies out of the water doing the butterfly stroke. 3. Mark Porter in his start stance. 4. Liliana Ooms sprints to the wall. 5. Sofia Figueredo cheers on her teammate. NATALIE GOODWIN/Keys Weekly

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS

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KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

ll three of Monroe County’s varsity cross country teams met at Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Miami for the FNU Invitational Sept. 3. Despite multiple lightning delays, racers were able to compete, and Keys athletes did not disappoint. Marathon’s Lucian Burns finished the race in 17:10, 48 seconds faster than his closest competitor, to claim the overall top spot in the boys race. Teammate Antonin Bursa was next, cruising to an 18:43 seventh-place finish. Allan Taylor clocked in at 19:25, breaking the 20-minute mark and helping boost the Dolphins to third place overall as a team. Landon Anderson (21:54), Anthony Vargas (21:59) and Brayden Anderson (22:41) rounded out the Fins’ top six runners. Coral Shores finished 10th overall, with Victor Lopez crossing the line first for

WORTH THE WAIT

Roberts (34:29) and Casey Torres (35:53) completed Marathon’s top six competitors. With such a strong start, Keys runners may be crowned royalty this week. Up next for local racers is the annual King of the Hill event at Tropical Park in Miami.

Burns and Wheatley win FNU titles as Keys runners shine through lightning delays the Hurricanes. Lopez ran a 19:49 race, followed by Garret Gomila (20:55), Tristan Sanchez (21:11), Wyatt Meyers (21:36), Will Theis (22:01) and Dylan Matthews (23:14) in the top six for Coral Shores. The Conchs’ Sawyer Hill was first across the line for Key West’s boys. Hill’s 20:14 placed him 24th in the field of nearly 200 competitors. Close behind was Alejandro Caridad (20:41), followed by Everett Ward (22:36), Cruz Matarazzo (22:47), Noah Taylor (22:54) and Colin Palomino (22:56). The Conchs finished 13th overall as a team. In the girls race, Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley broke the

ribbon, finishing first overall in 21:27. Wheatley was nearly a minute in front of the rest of the pack, with a pair of familiar faces chasing her down. Key West’s Lynn Noah finished second in 22:12 and Marathon’s Molly Joly was third in 22:24, giving the Keys a sweep of the top three spots. Despite Wheatley’s strong finish, the Conchs ended up with the best team finish among the local competition. Key West was third overall, with Violet Jangraw (23:54) finishing seventh individually to give the Lady Conchs two runners in the top 10. Hazel Matarazzo (24:51), Ryah Bushey (26:37) and Emma Brad-

shaw (26:41) completed Key West’s five scoring positions, while Svetlana Snipes (31:18) finished sixth for the team, serving as a potential tiebreaker for scoring purposes. Coral Shores was sixth overall as a team. Behind Wheatley was Kate King (25:20), followed by Aria Boonton (27:47), Hayden Teal (28:15), Isabelle Jacobs (29:49) and Kiri Crockett (29:58). The Lady Dolphins team was composed mainly of middle school runners, including Joly. Rebecca Merryman (25:16) and Ariella Dworniczak (27:04), the team’s only high school athletes, were next. June McKnight (28:58), Sophia

1. The Dolphins pose before the race. 2. Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley and Marathon’s Molly Joly show oﬀ their FNU Invitational medals. Wheatley finished first and Joly was third. 3. FNU Invitational overall girls winner Ali Wheatley and boys winner Lucian Burns hold their trophies after the Sept. 4 race. 4. Coral Shores’ girls know how to have fun during a lighting delay. 5. Key West’s Lynn Noah finished second overall at the FNU Invitational Sept. 3. 6. Sawyer Hill is having a solid start to his cross country season for the Conchs. Photos by Rocky Gonet and contributed images

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS

1 3

HURRICANE SEASON Coral Shores storms through a 6-1 week, claims Silver bracket title at Tri-County Tourney

he Hurricanes traveled to Keys Gate Sept. 1, sweeping the Knights 3-0 on the volleyball court before rolling into South Dade two days later to dispatch the Buccaneers 3-1. Coral Shores then carried its winning ways into the Tri-County Championship at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Center Sept. 4-5, where the Hurricanes went 4-1 over two days and claimed the Silver bracket championship in the Varsity Premier division. The event, which drew more than 50 teams from Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, gave the Lady ’Canes an opportunity to test their skills against some unfamiliar competition and bring some new hardware home to the Upper Keys. The Hurricanes opened pool play Sept. 4 with a 2-0 win over Somerset College Prep before falling to Carrollton School in straight sets. Coral Shores bounced back against Cardinal Gibbons, taking the match 2-1 to finish pool play with a 2-1 record and earn a spot in Saturday's Silver bracket. There, the Hurricanes battled Barbara Goleman High School to a 2-1 victory before sweeping Somerset Academy South Homestead 2-0 to claim the bracket championship.

“I couldn't be prouder of the way these girls played together as a team,” Coral Shores coach Sam Ovalle said. “They showed heart, determination and fight all weekend long. They trusted one another, stayed together through the tough moments, and finished the tournament as champions.” The strong tournament showing capped a perfect week outside of their lone loss to Carrollton and improved the Hurricanes' record to 11-3. Key West also made the trip to Miami for the two-day Tri-County Championship. The Conchs opened tournament play Sept. 4 with a 2-0 win over Felix Varela before falling to Goleman and Palmer Trinity in straight sets, finishing third in their opening pool. On Saturday, Key West fell 2-0 to Cardinal Gibbons, then closed out tournament play with a 2-0 loss to Miami Sunset. The Conchs finished the event 1-4. Marathon did not attend the tournament but managed to get in two matches last week. The Dolphins traveled to Somerset Silver Palms Sept. 2, falling 3-0 to the Stallions before returning home two days later for a strong performance against Horeb Christian. The Fins swept the Mustangs 3-0 to pick up their second win of the season.

1. A strong sophomore crew takes a break for a photo after Coral Shores’ road win. 2. The Lady ’Canes pose after their 3-0 win over Keys Gate. 3. Addison Grady returns the ball in the Hurricanes’ win over Keys Gate. 4. Bella Villalba goes for a kill. 5. Celene Walker prepares to pass the ball to a teammate. 6. Miracle Woods dives for a ball. 7. Coralyn Frimpter gets air as she hits the ball toward Keys Gate. MICHELE THIERY/Contributed

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

SWINGING IN THE RAIN Key West takes the ﬁrst Keys matchup as golfers battle each other and the elements

eys golfers teed off Aug. 31 at Florida Keys Country Club in Marathon. When the scorecards were tabulated, the Conchs compiled the lowest team tally with 165 strokes. The Dolphins finished at 171, while Coral Shores scored a 229 to finish third. Key West’s Geo Twyman had the lowest individual score of the day, shooting a 39. Marathon’s Emmett Merryman and Roco Piscetello joined Key West’s Jakub Krytinar in a three-way tie for second at 40. Key West’s Mason Titensor shot a 41 for fifth place, while Ethan Wohlers of Marathon and Scout Oliver of Coral Shores tied for sixth at 42. Marathon’s Cullen Coleman-Sayer and Key West’s Anthony Barrows tied for eighth, each shooting a 45. Rounding out the top 10 were Marathon teammates Jackson Millard and Jack Dunn, who tied at 46. The Lady Conchs were the only school with enough athletes to register a team score, giving them the automatic win. Key West’s Lexi Finigan had the lowest score in the girls competition with a 47. Teammates Mary Alice Davila, Charlize Lopez and Stella Tutlewski finished second

1 through fourth, shooting 57, 58 and 61, respectively. Marathon’s Makenna Haines broke the Conch streak in fifth place, shooting a 62, while Key West’s Gabriella Rodriguez and Marathon’s Elleanna Mowry rounded out the girls competition. On Sept. 2, teams met again, this time in the Southernmost City, but Mother Nature had other plans. Driving rain left both the course and the golfers soaked, and the match was called after just four holes. The golfers will try again, with matches this week across the island chain as teams test their skills on each of the Keys’ home courses.

1. Lexi Finnigan up to swing. 2. Anthony Barrows putts in the rain. 3. Marathon seniors Cullen Coleman-Sayer, left, Roco Piscetello and Jack Dunn. Photos by Natalie Danko and Rocky Gonet

THE REGAN ROTH TEAM IS HERE TO PROTECT YOU... YOUR FAMILY, YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR HOME!

Family owned and operated since 1958 Tavernier 305.852.3234 | Marathon 305.743.3414 | Email Response@ReganRoth.com

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Notice is hereby given that Big Pine Storage, pursuant to the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Florida Statutes (Section 83.801–83.809), will sell at public sale by competitive online bidding to satisfy the owner’s lien for unpaid rent, fees, and other charges. Sale to be held online at 11:00 AM on September 18, 2026, at storagetreasures.com. Contents of the following unit(s) will be sold: Unit 310- Farzan Nabbie, 295 Sunset Ridge LN, Lexington, NC 27295 – Personal items. Property is stored at Big Pine Storage, 30677 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043. All items are sold as is, where is, and must be removed within 48 hours of purchase. Publish: September 3 & 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the Zoom meetings or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@keysarts.com Membership & Development Committee Meeting September 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/814 95227125?pwd=p8R5Euk1NaL Pw2M6ngGdxnj0bAjKdI.1

Meeting ID: 814 9522 7125 Passcode: 843471 Art In Public Places Committee Meeting September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81 263311116?pwd=nypNYm0QO DJFEwAd8NyC35teaAtZN8.1 Meeting ID: 812 6331 1116 Passcode: 537054 Executive Board Meeting September 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/895 95591212?pwd=k7jtd8u0wcVj Vqbtge051btTdiYReM.1 Meeting ID: 895 9559 1212 Passcode: 552334 Membership & Development Committee Meeting September 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/854 79435734?pwd=Z6KXuwVGKw o6vLaZpdJdwci3sX3tlA.1

INVITATION TO BID: ITB 2026-04 The City of Key Colony Beach cordially invites interested contractors to complete and submit sealed bids by October 2, 2026, no later than 10:00 a.m., for the following project: CLEAN AND CAMERA APPROXIMATELY 38,000 FEETOF 8-INCH SEWER GRAVITY MAIN LINE ITB 2026-04 SCOPE: Clean and camera sewer gravity main line within the City of Key Colony Beach, consisting of one hundred twenty (120) manholes and approximately 38,000 feet of eight-inch (8”) width pipe of the City’s main wastewater gravity conveyance line, and the proper disposal of all debris in compliance with all federal, state and local requirements, all in accordance with the plans and specifications incorporated herein. All bids must be received no later than October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051. Bids must be delivered in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Sealed Bid for the City of Key Colony Beach “ITB 2026-04” along with the name of your firm. The bid manual, requirements, and specifications are available on DemandStar/Open Bids at www.Demandstar.com. All questions regarding the bid process should be directed in writing to City Administrator John Bartus at cityadministrator@keycolonybeach.net

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ITB 2026-04 (all times ET) September 11, 2026

10:00 a.m.

Release Solicitation

September 25, 2026

4:00 p.m.

Last Day for submission of written questions to the City

September 28, 2026

4:00 p.m.

Last day for the City to post answers to questions

October 2, 2026

10:00 a.m.

Bid Due & Opening*

October 20, 2026

10:00 a.m. Utility Board Meeting

Review by Utility Board & Recommendation to City Commission**

October 22, 2026

10:00 a.m. Award of Bid** City Commission Meeting

*The bid opening is open to the public and will be held at City Hall (Trailer) at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. **All meetings are open to the public and will be held at the temporary meeting place for the City of Key Colony Beach, at the Key Colony Inn, Back Patio, 700 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida, 33051.

Publish: September 10, 2026. The Weekly Newspapers

LEGAL NOTICES Meeting ID: 854 7943 5734 Passcode: 442896 Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers DISTRICT I ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC I) (from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing angela@fla-keys.com. Completed applications should be emailed to angela@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC 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. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

DISTRICT II ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC II) (from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District II Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing angela@fla-keys.com. Completed applications should be emailed to angela@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC 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. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be owners or operating/general managers assistant general managers, director of sales and/or marketing, director of engineering, director of food and beverage, director of operations/rooms, comptroller as executive (exempt employee level) positions of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations which are subject to bed tax in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing angela@fla-keys.com. Completed applications should be emailed to angela@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC 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. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing angela@fla-keys.com. Completed applications should be emailed to angela@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC 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. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT III ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC III) (from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a LODGING RELATED BUSINESS

DISTRICT III ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC III) (from the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels,

John D. Verghese, M.D.

Keys Plastic Surgery & Dermatology 2901 Overseas Highway, Suite # 2 Marathon, Florida 33050 Dr. John D. Verghese will be retiring and closing his practice, Keys Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, located at 2901 Overseas Highway, Suite # 2, Marathon, Florida 33050, effective October 12th, 2026. Please call the office at 305-289-1975 with any questions. Patient’s medical records will remain with Dr. John D. Verghese. Patients who wish to receive their medical records may contact the office at 305-289-1975. Publish: September 10, 17 & 24 and October 1, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT V ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC V) (from Mile Marker 90.940 to the Dade/Monroe County Line and any Mainland portions of Monroe County) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District V Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing angela@fla-keys.com. Completed applications should be emailed to angela@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC 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. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: September 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NUMBER: 26-CP-000436-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF: RALPH PLACENCIA, JR. Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of RALPH PLACENCIA, JR., deceased, File Number: 26-CP-000436-K, whose date of death was November 7, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 302 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040. The name and address of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served, must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

LEGAL NOTICES

AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The 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 sections 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211. The date of first publication of this notice is September 3, 2026. Personal Representative Thomas Charles Grassi 1605 Trinidad Dr, Key West, FL 33040 (305) 797-5055 Attorney for Personal Representative Gabriel Bodner, Esq. Florida Bar No. 43340 Bodner Law Group, PLLC 382 NE 191st Street, PMB 18238 Miami, Florida 33179 Telephone: (305) 963-7211 E-mail Address: gabriel@ bodnerlawgroup.com Publish: September 3 & 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

Address: 4200 Estate St. John Unit A-201 St C Condominium St. Croix Within the time limited by law (see note below) you are hereby required to appear before this Court and answer to a complaint filed against you in this action. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment by default will be taken against you as demanded in the complaint. Witness my hand and the seal of this Court this October 9, 2025. Tamara Charles Clerk of the Court By: Kimberly Rolle Tonya C. Saffir, Esq. (Attorney for Plaintiff) NOTE: The defendant, if served personally, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty-one (21) days after the service of this summons, excluding the date of the service. The defendant, if served by publication or by personal service outside of the jurisdiction, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the attorney for the plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the completion of the period of publication or personal service outside of the jurisdiction. Publish: September 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) Defendant(s). NOTICE OF ACTION FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS-PROPERTY TO: Michael F. Papish: 57463 Goodley Street, Grassy Key, FL 33050 and Unknown Spouse of Michael F. Papish: 57463 Goodley Street, Grassy Key, FL 33050 Residence unknown, if living, including any unknown spouse of the said Defendants, if either has remarried and if either or both of said Defendants are dead, their respective unknown heirs, devisees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, and trustees, and all other persons claiming by, through, under or against the named Defendant(s); and the aforementioned named Defendant(s) and such of the aforementioned unknown Defendants and such of the aforementioned unknown Defendants as may be infants, incompetents or otherwise not sui juris. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action has been commenced to foreclose a mortgage on the following real property, lying and being and situated in Monroe County, Florida, more particularly described as follows: LOT 18, BLOCK 3, SUNSET BAY, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 5 AT PAGE 46 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. more commonly known as 57463 Goodley Street, Grassy Key, FL 33050. This action has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defense, if any, upon LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP, Attorneys for Plaintiff, whose address is 750 Park of Commerce Blvd., Suite 130, Boca Raton, FL 33487, within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this notice and file the original with the clerk of this Court either before October 5, 2026 with service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. WITNESS my hand and seal of this Court on the 27th day of August, 2026. Kevin Madok,CPA Circuit and County Courts By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.540 Notices to Persons With Disabilities If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Cheryl Alfonso, ADA Coordinator, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. SPANISH: Si usted es una persona discapacitada que necesita alguna adaptación para poder participar de este procedimiento o evento; usted tiene derecho, sin costo alguno a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Favor de comunicarse con Cheryl Alfonso, Coordinadora de A.D.A Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 por lo menos 7 días antes de que tenga que comparecer en corte o inmediatamente después de haber recibido ésta notificación si es que falta menos de 7 días para su comparecencia. Si tiene una discapacidad auditiva ó de habla, llame al 711. KREYOL: Si ou se yon moun ki kokobé ki bezwen asistans ou aparêy pou ou ka patisipé nan prosedu sa-a, ou gen dwa san ou pa bezwen péyé anyen pou ou jwen on seri de èd. Tanpri kontakté Cheryl Alfonso, Co-ordinator ADA, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652O'mwen 7 jou avan ke ou gen pou-ou parèt

nan tribunal, ou imediatman ke ou resevwa avis sa-a ou si lè ke ou gen pou-ou alé nan tribunal-la mwens ke 7 jou; Si ou pa ka tandé ou palé byen, rélé 711. Publish: September 3 & 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

or cashiers check, in the exact amount of the bid, in hand. The proceeds to be applied as far as may be to the payment of costs and the satisfaction of the above described execution. Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 14th day of August, 2026. Richard A. Ramsay Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida By: Donald Stullken Deputy Sheriff In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Civil Division no later than seven days prior to the proceeding at (305)809-3041 Publish: August 20 & 27 and September 3 & 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on ROBERTO LEONARDO DOMINGUEZ SAINZ, whose address is 27962 SNAPPER LANE, SUMMERLAND KEY, FL 33042 on or before SEPTEMBER 25, 2026, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 WHITEHEAD STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings. Dated: August 20, 2026 Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Sheryl LaTorre Deputy Clerk Publish: August 27 and September 3, 10 & 17, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

Monroe County, Florida By: Katherine Soto Deputy Clerk Publish: August 20 & 27 and September 3 & 10, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers

SUMMONS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DISTRICT OF ST. CROIX CASE NUMBER: CV-2025-SX-196 ACTION: DEBT AND FORECLOSURE Association of St. C Condominium Owners Plaintiff vs Joseph Estes, Heather Estes and Vagabond Holdings, LLC Defendant To: Joe Estes Address: 4200 Estate St. John Unit A-201 St C Condominium St. Croix Within the time limited by law (see note below) you are hereby required to appear before this Court and answer to a complaint filed against you in this action. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment by default will be taken against you as demanded in the complaint. Witness my hand and the seal of this Court this October 9, 2025. Tamara Charles Clerk of the Court By: Kimberly Rolle Tonya C. Saffir, Esq. (Attorney for Plaintiff) NOTE: The defendant, if served personally, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty-one (21) days after the service of this summons, excluding the date of the service. The defendant, if served by publication or by personal service outside of the jurisdiction, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the attorney for the plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the completion of the period of publication or personal service outside of the jurisdiction. Publish: September 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers SUMMONS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DISTRICT OF ST. CROIX CASE NUMBER: CV-2025-SX-196 ACTION: DEBT AND FORECLOSURE Association of St. C Condominium Owners Plaintiff vs Joseph Estes, Heather Estes and Vagabond Holdings, LLC Defendant To: Vagabond Holdings, LLC

SUMMONS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DISTRICT OF ST. CROIX CASE NUMBER: CV-2025-SX-196 ACTION: DEBT AND FORECLOSURE Association of St. C Condominium Owners Plaintiff vs Joseph Estes, Heather Estes and Vagabond Holdings, LLC Defendant To: Heather Estes Address: 4200 Estate St. John Unit A-201 St C Condominium St. Croix Within the time limited by law (see note below) you are hereby required to appear before this Court and answer to a complaint filed against you in this action. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment by default will be taken against you as demanded in the complaint. Witness my hand and the seal of this Court this October 9, 2025. Tamara Charles Clerk of the Court By: Kimberly Rolle Tonya C. Saffir, Esq. (Attorney for Plaintiff) NOTE: The defendant, if served personally, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty-one (21) days after the service of this summons, excluding the date of the service. The defendant, if served by publication or by personal service outside of the jurisdiction, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the attorney for the plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the completion of the period of publication or personal service outside of the jurisdiction. Publish: September 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION CASE #: 26-CA-000241-M Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc. Plaintiff, -vs.Michael F. Papish; Unknown Spouse of Michael F. Papish; United States of America Acting through Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Unknown Parties in Possession #1, if living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s); Unknown Parties in Possession #2, if living, and all Unknown Parties

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 2022-002703-CP-02 ALEX JESUS ANTON, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Beatriz Rodriguez Guerra Plaintiff Vs. MICHAEL T. GUERRA, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Oresme Gil Guerra, Defendant AMENDED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE (TO CORRECT A SCRIVENER’S ERROR) NOTICE IS HEREBY given that pursuant to a Writ of Execution issued in the Circuit Court, of Miami Dade County, Florida, on the 19th day of March, 2026, in the cause wherein ALEX JESUS ANTON, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Beatriz Rodriguez Guerra is Plaintiff and MICHAEL T. GUERRA, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Oresme Gil Guerra, was defendant, being Case No. 2022-002703-CP-02 in said court, I, Richard A. Ramsay, Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida have levied upon all right, title, and interest of the defendant, in and to the following described real property to wit: SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY The following described land, situate, lying and being in Monroe County, Florida, to-wit: Legal Description: Lot 12, Block 32A, BIG PINE COVE, as recorded in Plat Book 3, page 131, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida. AND A tract of baybottom land in Bogie Channel, East of and adjacent to Lot 12, Block 32A, BIG PINE COVE, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 3, page 131, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows: COMMENCING at the N.E. corner of Block 32 of SANDS SUBDIVISION, as recorded in Plat Book 1, page 65, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and bear East for a distance of 540 feet, more or less, to the mean High Water Mark of Bogie Channel; continue to bear East for a distance of 400 feet; thence bear South 112.1 feet, to the Point of Beginning of the tract of baybotton hereinafter described; thence continue to bear South 87.9 feet to a point; thence bear West for a distance of 280 feet, more or less, back to the mean High Water Mark along the Easterly boundary of Lot 12, Block 32A, of the aforesaid BIG PINE COVE; thence meander the Mean High Water Mark in a Northwesterly direction to a point due West from the Point of Beginning, thence bear East back to the Point of Beginning. Property Address: 31641 Avenue D., Big Pine Key, FL 33043 (the “property”) Parcel ID/Folio# 00308710-000000 All bidders must have a valid Driver’s License with them and must register with the civil clerk at location of sale prior to start time of sale. I shall offer this property for sale, at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building located at 5525 College Road Key West, Florida 33040 in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, on the 30th day of September 2026, at the hour of 10:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible. I will offer for sale all of the said defendant’s right, title, and interest in the aforesaid real property at public auction and will sell the same subject to all taxes, prior liens, encumbrances and judgments, if any, to the highest and best bidder for cash

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA FAMILY DIVISION CASE NO.: 2026-DR-000345-M IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF OMAR FLORES RIVES, Petitioner/Husband, and MABEL ARZUAGA PEREZ, Respondent/Wife. NOTICE OF ACTION TO: Mabel Arzuaga Perez Respondent/Wife 7151 Overseas Hwy, Apt. 301 Marathon, FL 33050 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on the petitioner’s attorney, ADA M. BARRETO, P.A., whose address is 782 N.W. 42ND Avenue, Suite 440, Miami, Florida 33126, on or before October 10, 2026, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at the Family Division, 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, before service on Petitioner’s attorney or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file a Notice of Current Address, Florida Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings. Dated: September 8, 2026 KEVFIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Monroe County, Florida By: Leslie Turner Deputy Clerk Publish: September 10, 17 & 24 and October 1, 2026 The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 44-2026-DR-000695A0-01-KW ROBERTO LEONARDO DOMINGUEZ SAINZ, Petitioner, and YANET ANDARCIO RIVERO, Respondent. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: YANET ANDARCIO RIVERO RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 6535 WATERFRONT XING, UNIT 04-210, LAKE WORTH, FL 33467 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 26-DR-902-P CLAIRE GUAZZELLI SEHNERT, OBO LCL, Petitioner, and In Re: Name Change, Respondent. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME (MINOR CHILD) TO: PHILIP LOVKA III RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 1530 TALLY CIRCLE, OVIEDO, FL YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME (MINOR CHILD) has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on CLAIRE GUAZZELLI SEHNERT, whose address is 178 CORAL AVE, TAVERNIER, FL 33070 on or before SEPTEMBER 21, 2026, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 88770 Overseas Hwy, Ste. 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings. Dated: August 17, 2026 Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Circuit Court

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

AUTOS FOR SALE 2017 CORVETTE STINGRAY for sale. Only 21k miles. Blue in color with removable hard top. $35,0000. Located in Marathon. Call George at 3 0 5 - 7 8 3 - 0 8 8 6 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 SLIP/RACK FOR RENT

Boat Slip &/or Rack For Rent in Marathon at The Boat House, Vaca Key. Call Tony 561-346-6400 PLACE YOUR BOAT SLIP FOR RENT AD HERE! $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly. c o m COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT

PRIME COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ON US 1 available for rent in Marathon. 3,000 SF and 2,000 SF avail. Let's make a deal! Call or text Tony at 860-428-1506 R2tpinc@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT HIRING: Office Administrator in Marathon. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), experience with QuickBooks or other accounting software preferred and must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Full time – Mon-Fri. Pay TBD - based on skill. Email: Natalie@cecflk.com Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a Line Cook. 20-30 hours a week at a private club, primarily dinner shifts, Tuesday-Saturday. $24/ hr or negotiable based on experience. Must provide photo ID, social security card, and checking account. Email office@marathonyachtclub. com or call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview. S.S. Wreck on Grassy Key – looking for management, line cooks, fryers and prep. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305-433-0515

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

305.743.0844

EMPLOYMENT

HOUSING FOR RENT

HOUSING WANTED

WANTED TO BUY

Experienced FT Line Cook needed at the Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club. 10AM - 5PM, Good Pay. Small friendly staff. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time dishwasher. Private club, evening shifts TuesSaturday, 4-8 pm. Pay raise negotiable if you can also help with prep work. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Email office@marathonyachtclub. com or call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview. HIRED IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!!!

ANNUAL RENTAL - Key Largo - 3BR/2BA new kitchen, Spacious Doublewide modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community $3500/month 7 8 6 - 2 5 8 - 3 1 2 7

WANTED TO RENT: Long-term rental at Cobia Point, Marathon. Will pay top dollar. Current Daytona Beach resident. Former Keys resident who wants to return. Call Jan Burch 2519 7 8 - 6 2 6 7

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

3 BR/2 BA home for rent in Key Colony Beach. 75' premium dock. $4,000/month + utilities. F/L/S 786-229-0228

MISC. FOR SALE

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. The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Full-time Carpenter, Journeyman Electrician, Grounds Caretaker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: greenel@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 225. 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.

HANDYMAN WANTEDSeeking a reliable handyman in Marathon for general home repairs & misc. maintenance items. This is a part time position and hours may vary. Must be dependable, expierenced, and have references. Call 305-395-0478 HIRED!!! Specialty Hardware of Marathon - Looking for full time or part time person. Hardware knowledge an absolute must. Must have knowledge of hardware, plumbing and electrical. Apply in person at 10730 Overseas Hwy. Marathon 1-305-743-3382 HIRED!!! PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-7430844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com

LONG TERM RENTALS: EFFICIENCY, $1,400/ month, 1 Bedroom $1,950/ mo, 2 Bedroom $2,200 limited elect. included. Located in Marathon. On the water, gated property. Section 8 possible. First/ Security Call 305-610-8002 Studio Rental in Marathon, long-term, partially furnished, price includes internet, water, electric gas, garbage, pest, and lawn @ $1,800/ mo + utilities. Call or text 305-433-0515 RENTED!!! PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE! $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly. c o m

Scooter For Sale - excellent condition, 7,541 miles, all service records, individually owned. $400 OBO. Located in Key West. Call Denny 305-294-5568 SOLD IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!!! PLACE YOUR AD HERE! $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com VACATION RENTAL

TURN YOUR CARDS INTO CASH! Marathon collector buying any and all Pokemon cards & collections. Call 401-256-0645. PLACE YOUR COLLECTIBLES AD HERE! $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com

YARD SALES PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE! $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-7430844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com

2 BR/2 BA Half Duplex for rent in Key Colony Beach. On canal with dockage. Newly renovated & furnished. 3 - 6 month rental. $5,500 month for Winter 26/27. Call 239-285-1639

WANTED TO BUY

HOUSING WANTED

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

BOAT RENTAL STAFF

FLEXIBLE HOURS & COMPETITIVE WAGES Need to have experience driving boats and a working knowledge of the Islamorada area by water. Duties include taking reservations, giving captains lessons and routine boat maintenance. Email Matt at eliteboatrentalsmatt@gmail.com. Please include contact information and any relevant experience.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

• Take Out Kitchen - Team Members Experience Required • Security

• Barback

Full and Part-Time Posiions Available

Apply in-person at 724 Duval Street: Pizza Joe’s or New Orleans House Front Desk. English Speaking required with valid idennﬁcanon. Call 305-293-9800 for more informaaon Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Transmission & Distribution Department:

SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN

(High Voltage Substation Electrical Technician) Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $48.47/hr. - $54.28/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.

HOUSING FOR RENT

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

The Bourbon Street Pub Complex is now accepnng applicanons for:

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

MARINA CASHIER Must have customer service experience working in a retail environment and using a point of sale system. Additional duties include restocking, completing purchase orders, daily ordering of basic items in the store, and maintaining a clean appearance in the store. This is an hourly position and compensation is based on experience. Work hours are flexible and we try to maintain a set weekly schedule. Please respond by email (Matt at islamarinamatt@gmail.com) with any relevant previous experience and at least two references.

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, INC. “Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

IS HIRING for The Heron Assisted Living Facility! Interested in gaining health care experience in a comfortable canal front home? Like giving care & assisting with life skills for 16 residents? Well-rounded team player able to handle a variety of responsibilities? Able to make meals, do paperwork, and hold a clean three yr. driver’s license? Available for PT or FT shifts 8am-4pm, 2pm-10pm Monday-Sunday? If so, you would be a great SUPPORT WORKER! No experience required for this position, we will train. A caring heart and helpful hands are necessary.

We offer flexibility; a minimum 16 hrs. & shift differentials! Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip

WE’RE HIRING

PIZZA MAKERS, PREP & CASHIERS NEW KEY LARGO LOCATION – NOW OPEN: PIZZA MAKERS* PREP & DAYTIME CASHIERS MARATHON: PIZZA MAKERS* *Pizza maker experience is a must. For all positions, applicant must be self-motivated, quick learner and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6% and negotiable based on experience. Please call Nicole at 305-433-0515 or email nicole@themoongroupfl.com

KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS / SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES • 305.743.0844

A Great Place to Bank, is a Great Place to WORK! Key West

Full Time Teller Assistant Maintenance Manager

Stock Island

Assistant Branch Operations Manager

Islamorada

Customer Service Representative Assistant Branch Operations Manager

Apply Online @ KeysBank.com/Careers

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

EOE-M/F/V/D

NOW HIRING

Lead Receiver Seeking an experienced Lead Receiver: 2+ years in warehouse receiving and inventory, forklift required. Must be detail-oriented, efficient, and computer literate. Bilingual (Eng/Span) a plus. Competitive pay and benefits. Full-time, non-climate-controlled environment.

Aquarium Encounters is looking for friendly, dependable, and enthusiastic individuals to join our team! Full-time and part-time positions are available. Benefits available for full-time employees. Guest Services • Welcoming guests, providing excellent customer service • Processing admissions and retail transactions • Answering questions about encounters and programs • Assisting with reservations and guest needs • Maintaining clean and organized guest areas • Working cooperatively with other team members Touch Tank Attendants • Answering questions about habitats, encounters and programs • Educating guests about touch-tank animals and proper interaction Level 1 Biologist • Front of house husbandry • Guest interactions which would include educational tours, public feedings and encounters, answering questions about habitats and marine life • Daily husbandry and tank cleaning tasks • Multi tasking • Open Water Cert. or Dive Instructor status is a plus • Affordable employee housing available for full time employees Dive Instructor • Pay: $160 per day • Guaranteed pay, tips plus commission • Affordable employee housing available

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

Call 305-407-3262 or email info@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com 11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON

D'Asign Source is seeking the following professionals. Overtime and benefits are available. Home Décor Sales Consultant Seeking a customer-focused sales professional with experience in retail or customer service. Creativity and interest in home décor a must. Help customers discover pieces that turn everyday spaces into something special. Finish Carpenter Experienced finish carpenter needed for high end residential work. Must have own tools and reliable transportation. Attention to detail and dependable work ethic required. Interior and Exterior work. Competitive pay and benefits.

NOW HIRING 81029 CARPENTER/ MASON Maintenance Lower Keys/Bruce Hall, reporting in Key West. Full-time job with benefits, vacation time and holidays.

Apply at keysschools.com or call 305-293-1400 ext. 53458

NOW HIRING 81024 AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION MECHANIC Upper Keys, reporting in Tavernier. Full-time job with benefits, vacation time and holidays.

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

NOW HIRING! wants you to join their team!

RETAIL GIFT SHOP ASSOCIATE Full-time. $19/hour to start.

EMAIL resume to: TurtleHospital@TurtleHospital.org APPLY in person: 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL

SUNSET GRILLE NOW HIRING BARTENDERS WAIT STAFF - HOST/HOSTESS BUS PERSONS Apply in person at

SUNSET GRILLE & RAW BAR 7 Knight’s Key Blvd, Marathon

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 / KEYS WEEKLY SPORTS WRAP/LEGALS & CLASSIFIEDS

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC && LEGAL NOTICES • • 305.743.0844 • CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES 305.743.0844 The Guidance/Care Center, Inc. a division of “Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

IS HIRING! JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 53 YEARS! We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.

OPENINGS AVAILABLE PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

Behavioral Health Counselor (Child, FT) Case Manager (Adult)

- Medical Assistant, Ortho-Tavernier, $5k Bonus - Patient Access Associate, Multispecialty Marathon, $5k Bonus - Radiology Technologist, Ortho Surgical, Key West, $25k Bonus

KEY WEST

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

KEY LARGO

Crisis Counselor (PT) *Mental Health Technician (FT)

MARATHON Maintenance Specialist (FT) Driver (CDL NOT required) (FT, PT) Registered Nurse (PT) Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult, PT) *Support Worker (Assisted Living) (FT, PT) *Behavioral Health Technicians (FT, PT) *No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary. Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, INC. “Uplifting the human spirit since 1973”

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE We are now hiring for the following positions:

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers Applicants must apply in person to be considered. 4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

- Pool Radiation Therapist

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Chaplain, Chaplaincy Spiritual Care, Per Diem - Director of Nursing Services, Intensive Care Unit/Oncology, $20k Bonus - Food Service Worker, Dietary, $5k Bonus - MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, MRI, $25k Bonus - Medical Technologist, Per Diem - Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Echocardiography, Per Diem & FT - Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, (CT & X Ray), $25k Bonus - Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 2, (Echo & Vascular w/Ultrasound Preferred), $25k Bonus - Pharmacy Technician, Mariners Hospital, $7k Bonus - Physical Therapist, Outpatient, $25k Bonus - Pool Group Exercise Instructor, Per Diem - Pool Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Per Diem - Registered Nurse, ICU, $25k Bonus - Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Bonus - Registered Respiratory Therapist 2, $25k Bonus - Supervisor Chef, Dietary

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- Cook, Dietary, FT - Diet Concierge, Full Time - ED Team Coordinator, PT & FT - Lead First Cook, Dietary, $5k Bonus - MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT & X Ray, $25k Bonus - MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT & X Ray, Radiology, $25k Bonus - Manager Food Services, Dietary - Manager Plant Operations, Facility Operations - Medical Assistant, Urology, $5k Bonus - Medical Technologist 2, $20k Bonus - Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray), Radiology, $25k Bonus - Patient Care/Nursing House Supervisor (MH/FCH), $20k Bonus - Patient Financial Associate, $10k Bonus - Patient Scheduler, Surgery, FT - Pool Physical Therapist, Per Diem - Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Per Diem - Registered Respiratory Therapist, $25k Bonus - Registered Respiratory Therapist, PT, $12,500 Bonus - Security Officer, FT, 7A-7:30P - Sr Phlebotomist, $10k Bonus All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. *Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.

APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net

THEME: SOLAR SYSTEM ACROSS 1. Ancient Peruvian 5. Hit the slopes 8. Bro or sis 11. Thomas the Engine’s warning 12. *Sun, e.g. 13. Twist and distort 15. Carpenter’s groove 16. *Jupiter’s inner “ring” 17. MC Hammer’s “2 ____ 2 Quit” 18. *It makes up the majority of Jupiter’s mass 20. Narrative poem 21. “When ____ Cry” by Prince 22. Louisville Slugger 23. Chase 26. Puffy cloud 30. Nurses’ org. 31. Frozen drink 34. Ricci of fashion 35. Same as climate 37. Buddy Holly’s “Peggy ____” 38. Knight’s breastplate 39. Flying toy 40. a.k.a. pennant 42. Possesses 43. Appetizer 45. Like certain pine 47. Large edible mushroom 48. ____-Arts, or fine arts 50. Disparaging remark 52. *The largest moon in the Solar System 55. *Jupiter’s Great Red Spot 56. Up it in poker 57. Exclamation of disgust 59. Famous diarist Samuel ____ 60. Like decorated cake 61. Reply from a tunnel 62. Tarzan’s adoptive dad 63. Neither here ____ there 64. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, acr.

DOWN 1. It would 2. Master of ark 3. Buffalo Bill’s last name 4. In conflict (2 words) 5. Coach-and-four 6. Type of leaf cabbage, pl. 7. *Reason for Mars’ redness 8. Kind of palm 9. Author Murdoch 10. Sandwich with acronym name 12. Snow mover 13. Flash of light 14. *Farthest planet from sun in our Solar System 19. Make awake 22. Opposite of vend 23. Gets ready for a trip 24. Dark 25. Indian restaurant yogurt staple 26. ____ Zhen in “Fist of Fury” 27. *The Solar System spans roughly 1.6 ____-years 28. Uniate church member 29. Impudent 32. ____-friendly 33. *Center of the Solar System 36. *The smallest planet 38. Per ____, or yearly 40. Vigor 41. Approved 44. 4 years for a U.S. President, pl. 46. Daisies 48. Bench in Mexico 49. Larger key on the right 50. Pas in ballet 51. Between trot and gallop 52. Effect of pain? 53. Mussolini, with Il 54. Not counterfeit 55. Relaxation location 58. Ornamental pond dweller

THE REGAN ROTH TEAM IS HERE TO PROTECT YOU...

YOUR FAMILY, YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR HOME!

Family owned and operated since 1958 ADMINISTRATION

Joseph H. Roth III President 28 Years

Lorie Head Office Manager 37 Years

Jennifer Roth Assistant Manager 5 Years

ACCOUNTING

Sara Roth, Agent/ Commercial Lines Assistant Supervisor 3 Years

Maria Bell Receptionist 4 Years

SALES

Linda Griswold Agent/Sales

20 Years

Holly Redding Agent/Sales

24 Years

Aileen Joiner Accounting Manager Automation 20 Years

Sabrina Boozer Accounting <1 Year

COMMERCIAL LINES

Grimi Betancourt Manager/Sales Agent-Marathon

6 Years

Christine Thing Agent/Account Manager 1 Year

Lisa Maguire Supervisor

17 Years

Remorna Pottinger Kyra Gonsalves Ochoa Account Processor 5 Years Account Manager

18 Years

Elizabeth Kubishen Account Processor 5 Years

PERSONAL LINES

Paula Sachs Supervisor

Vianey Diaz Account Manager

Jennifer Paul Account Manager

Kayla Soriano Account Processor

Miriam Garcia Account Processor

Courtney Joiner Account Processor

19 Years

4 Years

23 Years

3 Years

2 Years

< 1 Year

Home, wind and flood. All lines of commercial/business insurance. Boats, autos, golf carts and recreational vehicles

REST ASSURED, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP YOU WEATHER ANY STORM! 305.852.3234 90144 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier

305.743.3414 8065 Overseas Hwy. Marathon