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According to a Forbes report in April, the total number of billionaires in the world stands at 3,028. The billionaires on the list have a combined net worth of $16.1 trillion. Elon Musk topped the Forbes list with a net worth of $342 billion, followed by Mark Zuckerberg with $216 billion and Jeff Bezos with $215 billion.
For more than 40 years, Marathon locals have had the honor of a world-class guitarist providing the soundtrack to their weekends. For a sit-down with local legend Freddie Bye, see page 10. NATALIE DANKO/Keys Weekly
STATE BUDGET HAS $40 MILLION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
Governor
has the final
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Legislators in the Florida House and Senate ultimately overcame tax cut disagreements — which pushed session from 60 to 105 days — to approve a $115.1 billion spending plan on June 17 in Tallahassee.
The budget includes reductions in revenue, including eliminating a business rent tax. But a proposal by the House to reduce the sales tax was defeated by the Senate. At the end of the 105th day, legislators approved a budget with $3.8 billion less in spending than last year’s $117 billion budget.
Legislators in the House voted 103-2 on the spending plan, while the Senate approved it unanimously.
“We believe in smaller government, lower taxes and greater freedom — and this session proves it,” said Republican House Speaker Daniel Perez following budget passage.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has until June 30 to sign the budget. The governor has the authority to make line-item vetoes as he has done in previous years.
More than $40 million in funding requests for the Florida Keys were included in the legislatively-approved spending plan. Of the funds allocated, $20 million supports water quality projects through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act. The dollars are distributed to Keys municipalities, as well as the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District and Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. The state has recognized the Stewardship program’s importance with $80 million sent to the Keys the last four years.
The budget also earmarks $7.5 million for a Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority reverse osmosis facility on Crawl Key. The money would enable construction of a facility to serve as a backup water source for emergencies while safeguarding against any
say in legislative-approved spending plan
damage or disruptions to transmission lines. FKAA, in its appropriations request, said the facility also addresses the “pressing need for additional water supply due to population growth and restrictions on Biscayne Aquifer withdrawals.” The facility would be complete in 2028.
A shoreside facility project at Boca Chica Mooring Field was included to receive $1.65 million. The shoreside facility provides waste disposal and shoreside access, ensuring a functional, sustainable mooring field. By managing the anchorage, Monroe County can reduce derelict vessels and associated risks while complying with state regulations.
The College of the Florida Keys is in line to receive nearly $2 million for a Marine and Maritime Professional Institute. The college would be able to add an associate’s degree while increasing program capacity 82%, or 330 new students, through certifications with Yamaha, American Boat & Yacht Council, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Diving Contractors International and U.S. Coast Guard. The program prepares students for careers as a merchant mariner, commercial diver, ship builder, marine technician, fabricator and marine restorer.
Funds totaling $3.5 million were included in the budget for the renovation of the historic Bruce Hall and Reynolds School in Key West. The Monroe County School District will vacate the site of its current administration building at 241 Trumbo Road to allow for the development of 150 units of affordable workforce housing to support local teachers and other essential services personnel.
Keys AHEC Health Centers was budgeted to receive $975,000. Keys AHEC provides comprehensive, integrated primary care and oral health services to medically vulnerable children. By offering medical and
Jim Mooney reviews the 2025-26 Florida budget. OFFICE OF JIM MOONEY/Via Facebook dental services directly in schools during school hours, the program reduces barriers to care and improves health outcomes through early identification and treatment.
A county mobile vessel pumpout program is in line to receive $650,000. The service for vessels anchored throughout the Keys aims for compliance with the no-discharge regulation and Monroe County’s proof of pumpout requirement.
Legislators agreed to allocate $1.5 million for a city of Marathon workforce housing project. Also in the budget is $500,000 for a culvert restoration project on Islamorada’s Lower Matecumbe Key and $360,000 for an emergency response vessel for Islamorada Fire Rescue.
Manhole lining and rehabilitation in Key West is in line to receive $500,000. Street safety improvements on Von Phister Street in Key West are also budgeted for $500,000.
A total of $450,000 is included for the operation of the 106-unit Frank P. Toppino Poinciana Gardens Senior Living Center in Key West. Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys is in the budget for $250,000 to identify and
continued on page 6
State Rep.
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ELECTION FIELD GROWS
Four candidates so far are running in the 2025 Marathon City Council race with the official filing of current Vice Mayor Jeff Smith and newcomer Gerrit Hale.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
JEFF SMITH
Smith told the Weekly his second campaign was a case of “unfinished business” that began in 2022, when he was elected with the third-most votes in a nine-candidate field.
“When we ran three years ago, there were three major issues: One was the Boatworks issue, the other was the FOLKs lawsuit over our sewer system, and the other was BPAS (the Building Permit Allocation System),” he said. “I think we’ve done a good job as a council addressing all of those. BPAS will still go on, and we’re addressing our infrastructure needs by putting in the deep well.”
Smith said he was eager to see critical capital projects including the Quay, Seven Mile Marina and Marathon Community Park skate park through to completion – several of which have been ongoing since before even his first campaign.
And while Marathon’s control of vacation rental issues faces heavy opposition from statutory restrictions and lobbying by rental companies at the state level, he said he’s been pleased with the progress made locally through code enforcement and rental tracking software.
“We did what was in our wheelhouse,” he said. “Every year we try and get some traction (at the state level), and I don’t think we’re having much success with the lobbying efforts of AirBNB and VRBO, but that doesn’t mean you give up the fight.”
With new building permits awaiting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature, Smith said in addition to navigating the new construction, his focus would remain on stemming the conversion of Marathon’s affordable housing stock.
“That’s probably more important than whether you’re going to get 80 permits a year for the next 10 years,” he said. “That’s a very small piece, but if you continue to convert your existing housing stock to an alternate use, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done there.”
GERRIT HALE
Hale is a retired stock broker, real estate developer, government consultant and real estate appraiser who has been visiting the Keys since he purchased his home in 2021, eventually becoming a full-time resident in 2023. He’s a current member of the Rotary Club of Marathon and a new volunteer at the Marathon Community Theatre.
“The thing about this community is that it reminds me, to a degree, of where I grew up,” he said. “It was a small, coastal beach town where everybody knows your name, and that’s the feeling you get here.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland and a master’s in international business and strategic planning from Johns Hopkins, Hale said, he first stepped in the political ring in Nevada, running for the county assessor position. Later, he served on a nonprofit board in the D.C. area, tasked with managing a public-private partnership to revamp a dilapidated Glen Echo amusement park.
“We had a $20 million government investment to revitalize the park and bring it back around, and we did a really nice job,” he said. “It’s a great place for families and kids, and it felt good that I was able to be a part of that – and secure the surrounding communities when people show up, because when they have events there, it’s 30,000 people.
“Sitting on that board were pretty high-level people – the superintendent of technology for the school district, the head of the water department. I learned a lot from being around those people – when to talk and when to listen.”
While he said it was too early in the campaign to zero in on specific key goals, Hale said he wants to take a closer look at beautifying Marathon’s U.S. 1 corridor and smoothing out the city’s permitting issues.
“If I were elected, if that’s not moving in a positive direction, I’d try to move it into a positive and cooperative area,” he told the Weekly. “If you’re a public servant, you’re serving the people that put you there, and you have to look at them and treat them like customers.”
The 2025 city council field so far includes incumbents Smith and Robyn Still, and challengers Hale and Debbie Struyf. The council could see up to three new faces in November, as seats currently held by Still, Smith and Mayor Lynn Landry are up for re-election. Though he has yet to officially file paperwork, Landry privately confirmed his intent to run to the Weekly.
from page 4
STATE
BUDGET HAS $40 MILLION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
purchase land for construction of affordable housing for Monroe County’s workforce.
Funds for the preservation of the Truman Little White House in Key West is in the budget for $62,500.
Overall, state Rep. Jim Mooney said, requests from the Florida Keys were well received by the Legislature.
“I’ve been staying in contact with the governor’s office to make sure they understand how important the requests are,” Mooney told Keys Weekly on June 23. “We have no requests that are fluff. We have stuff that needs to be done for the environment, infrastructure and housing.”
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and Florida Highway Patrol troopers in the Keys are in line for pay increases as well as $5,000 annual housing allowance.
As part of the budget deal, legislators in the House and Senate agreed to eliminate the 2% business rent tax on commercial office or retail space. It will take effect Oct. 1.
As for tax holidays, the state legislature approved permanent sales tax exemptions on essential storm preparedness items, including batteries, generators and smoke detectors. School supplies will also be exempt from sales tax through August. Those purchasing outdoor recreational items between September and December won’t pay sales tax.
FRIDAY, JULY 4
WORKS
SOMBRERO BEACH, MARATHON
CEREMONIES
GEORGE GARRETT
VASO REALTY
JAMES RIFKIN & JANE PACKARD
4TH OF JULY
MEET 10 A.M. AT THE MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL 12PM: OPENING
CEREMONIES
AHEC
Andy & Daves Garage
Aquarium Encounters
Big Pine Medical and Minor Emergency
Brandvold Appraisal
Brian Capo
Brandi & Mike Card
Coast to Coast Pizza
D'Asign Source
Dot Palm
Faro Blanco Resort & Marina
Firefighters Association
First State Bank of the FL Keys
Hal Schuhmacher PA
IOA (Insurance O ce of America)
Key Colony Beach Realty
Keys Animal Hospital
Keys Carwash
Natalie Ardis PA
New Life Church
Oceanica - Cesar Mendez
Porky's Bayside Restaurant & Marina
Royal Furniture
SS Wreck Gallery Grill
Stu ed Pig
Superior Electric of FL Keys
Sweet Savannah’s
Wright Barrows PLL
Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA
Keys Tile & Stone
La Palma 101
Mary Ann Royse
Marathon Mermaid Charters
Hiller Mothner Team
Island Fish Co
Midas Touch
Douglas Vaughn
3rd Generation Plumbing
Bishop, Rosasco & Co
Campbell Engineering
Centennial Bank
CHI
Coconut Telegraph Productions
Douglass Marine
Erin Arne
Ernest Rhodes Plumbing
Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce
Promotions Guy
Regan Insurance Agency
Richard E. Warner P.A.
Sarah Bartus
Truist Bank
William J. He ernan
Beth Ramsey-Vickrey
Homes & Land of the Florida Keys
Kelly Electric
Larry & Alice Anderson
Law O ces of Campbell and Malafy
Marathon Lady of the Florida Keys
Sparky’s Landing
MUSIC MAN
Freddie Bye brings Marathon’s night moves
MIKE HOWIE mike@keysweekly.com
For more than 40 years, Freddie Bye has been the soundtrack of late night in Marathon.
He’s worked construction and fished commercially. He’s toured with a band. But for most of his life, he’s played wicked lead guitar in the town where he grew up.
Four nights a week, he takes the stage at 10 p.m. at the Brass Monkey. He straps on a guitar, taps a key or two on a laptop and launches into the first set.
“When the people are having fun, that's what's good about it,” Bye said. “That's my goal. That's not my job. No, that's not my job. That's what I want. I
want people to have fun.”
He’s had some form of that goal since his early teens.
Bye was born April 9, 1951. There was a little drama.
His mother and a friend of hers, Gladys Bass, both pregnant, both went into labor. The thing is, their husbands were both out fishing.
“And so Captain Andy (the only policeman in town) came around and rounded up my mom and Gladys Bass, and put the light on the roof.”
At James Archie Smith Hospital in Homestead, Freddie Bye came into the world.
“At 10 at night.”
How perfect is that?
Music has always been part of his life.
He wound up playing in bands with
Allan Bass, whose mother shared the ride to Homestead and who was born four hours after Bye was.
But he didn’t have to leave the house for musical influence.
“I’d walk into somebody's house and my mom sits at the piano and it's like … all this kind of jumping Dixieland funky jazz stuff. … And I'm like floored, and just dumbstruck about how great she was at that, you know? And then she looked at me and she goes, ‘Oh, Freddie, I'll teach you this if you want me to.’ And I go, ‘no.’ Like a stupid little brat. I could have had such a jump start if I hadn’t been such a brat.”
His first guitar was not a guitar.
“My mom was able to save up and get a ukulele. I was crushed that it was
1. Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys joins Freddie Bye and his band at the Brass Monkey. CONTRIBUTED
2. A band of seniors at Marathon High School: Preban Jorgenson, top left; Glenn Lillibridge, top right; Jimmy Irwin, seated; Tom Diezel, lower left; Freddie Bye, lower right, holding drumsticks. CONTRIBUTED
3. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who played with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, sits in with Freddie Bye, partially visible at top, at the Brass Monkey. CONTRIBUTED
4. Freddie Bye plays and sings at the Brass Monkey on June 20. He wears the NAPA hat because he likes the colors. NATALIE DANKO/ Keys Weekly
a ukulele instead of a guitar. I didn't like the damn thing for a few days, but then I picked it up, tuned it like a guitar, and then that became my best buddy. I was on a skateboard around town. I'd take it to church, I'd take it to school. People were very tolerant of me, with my obsession.”
He attended Sue T. Moore School, where he bonded over music with friends. In a scene repeated across the country, they formed a band.
“This band was running before the Beatles,” he said, “but when the Beatles came out, it was like, all the governors are off, we're running. … And we were practicing pretty much every day. We were good. I mean, it wasn't my fault that we were good. It was (classmates) Jimmy and Allan and
Walter and the whole unit.”
If guitar was an obsession, so were the drums.
“I guess one of my first records was ‘Let There Be Drums’ by Sandy Nelson. (He plays the rhythm on the desk with his hands during the interview. It’s on YouTube; he’s playing it exactly the same.) I just lived on that. And so that's it, I want to be the drummer. And there's a band in town called the Recoils and … Paul Lindsay was the drummer, and he was fantastic. And I watched him play, and then when I got tired of watching him play, I would go watch the guitar player play, and I would take a notebook and I'd write down things that they were doing. And I was like a little twerp, a little kid that people ignored, writing down how to play those drumbeats and how to do those guitar chords and they’re like 16, 17, 18 and I'm 12 in there watching them play. They would chat with me and say, ‘You like this stuff, huh,’ because I'm like zoomed in.”
An early guitar influence was Verb Freeman. “He had a barbershop here and … we would go listen to him play after school. Every melody had a different chord with it, like those jazz players – stuff that I have no clue about, never will have a clue. But it was awesome watching him.”
In the band – the Ultraviolets – he wanted to be the drummer.
“We had a drummer, Walter, and he was okay. I was better. They all knew I was better, but the decision was made. … ‘Freddie, you have to play lead guitar.’ I said, ‘Oh no, I'm the drummer.’ And they go, ‘Well, Walter doesn't know how to play guitar. You know how to play guitar better than all the rest of us.’”
The repertoire initially came mostly from the 1950s – Ritchie Valens, the Ventures. Jimmy Irwin, the lead singer, “knew hundreds of those. He knew all the Jerry Lee Lewis stuff. He knew the Elvis stuff. And he would play rhythm, And we would just watch him. We would just pretty much circle around Jimmy because Jimmy learned from his older brother, Don.”
“I think the first time we played in Marathon, it was at the American Legion. And then we played there again. We're kids. It wasn't really about the money then, at all. We would get paid a little bit. A few dollars, a couple of dollars. My mom actually made a chart of how much we made. And she kept that up for quite a long time: ‘$3 each, $4 each,’ whatever it was. And so we played the American Legion a couple of times, then people had been renting the Chamber of Commerce building (across from the Marathon Yacht Club) … That was where people would dance and things like that.
“This is serious. It's like the Ed Sullivan show. That's what we wanted.
We were practicing all the time. We're working very hard.”
Ed Sullivan didn’t come calling. But soon enough, the world got a little bigger. The band played on Big Pine and in Islamorada.
“We're playing for people that were 60, 65, 70, that would come in and dance,” he said. “In 1963, ’64, we're playing everywhere. We're playing all over town.”
High school came and went. Bye enrolled in college in Key West.
“I would go to Key West, to college down there, and come back and we would play on the weekends and then go back to school. And one day, coming back on the weekend, I guess it was Christmas break. Jimmy goes, Nick Aldacosta has an audition for us at the Pub, and I go, ‘The Pub? … I'm not playing any bar.’
“And that was my attitude about that. It was about concerts, it was about the ‘Ed Sullivan Show.’ It wasn't about bars. It's still a bit of a thorn. And I've been doing it since that audition, because we passed the audition, and then we started working in the bar, and that was the end of college.”
I'm working on the drums. The drums, the drums, all the time.”
He is the first to admit he’s been hard on drummers during his career. Maybe, he said, that’s because he is still that frustrated drummer who had to play guitar in that early band.
And now, he is the drummer.
The drum track that plays along with him? With the exception of a half-dozen or so songs by Marathon native Brendan Miller, that’s Freddie Bye.
“Everybody, if they come to the Brass Monkey, they’re going to hear my drumming. And a lot of people don't know that. They probably figure I bought it from some computer person or it's computer-generated. It's not computer-generated.”
If he has been a fairly constant presence in Marathon for decades, he’s seen changes – including in what is his workplace, especially from before it was his workplace.
“The Monkey was posh. Like, really, really, really posh. Like, upscale, upscale. Same size, same building. There wasn't a stage. … There were small, round tables with massive chairs that you would sit in.”
It was a bar. There was no food.
bar there. Cleaned the place and did everything.”
Still, he almost certainly has played longer at one venue than any other musician in Marathon, and would be near the top in the Keys.
Along the way, he picked up another obsession: tennis.
“John Bartus asked me to play. I said, ‘I don't know how to play.’ And he goes, ‘Well, I'll teach you, I'll show you.’ And so we went out and he beat me really bad, and pissed me off, so I went and bought a couple of tennis racquets.” Bye is still a regular at the Marathon Community Park courts.
Occasionally, musicians who are on vacation have stopped by. Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys joined Bye onstage. So did Clarence Clemons, the late saxophone player for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
The Monkey was posh. Like, really, really, really posh. Like, upscale, upscale. Same size, same building. There wasn’t a stage. … There were small, round tables with massive chairs that you would sit in.”
Eventually, the lead singer left the band.
“So that's when I kind of got thrown into the singing thing,” he said. “Not really my cup of tea. But, you do what you got to do.”
“I know that I sure liked playing music better than fishing. And better than construction work. But that was not an inspiration to grind into it. Grinding into it was natural. It's still natural. I go home and it's what I do. If I'm not eating, sleeping or playing tennis, it’s it. People probably can't tell because I'm playing quite a few of the same songs for the past forever. But
“And they were not going to have any (live music). Time went on and the whole upscaleness of it wore thin after a while. The hoity-toity snooty part. (It got) old to people, even if they were a bit hoity-toity, I think. They ended up going there, then going back to listen to us play in Duck Key or wherever we were at the time.
“So they started a little … calypso band called the Islanders. They played folk songs in the folk era. And they had a pretty little girl singing there. So they were having this background folk thing going, and they were really good. I went and heard them. They were great. They were good at what they did.”
He said that made a path for other musicians, as the country’s taste shifted from folk.
“It's turning into a rock ’n’ roll place,” he said. “I didn't play there for a few years. I was playing other places. We would skip around a little bit, three weeks here, three weeks there. That became part of that rotation. There was a place called the Idle Hour (in Marathon) I played at. Ended up playing there for like seven years straight, pretty much.”
“I started playing … steady at the Brass Monkey when my daughter was 3. So that would be like about ’83. And I've kind of been walking around saying, ‘Well, I've been there 42 straight years,’ but that's not true. I had a little beer and wine bar in between. It was a disaster. Across from Herbie's. It was called Freddie’s Music Bar or something like that. I played there. I tended
“He was a big old guy. Oh, it was amazing. He sat down and we got a microphone for him. The place was fairly busy and I go, ‘Are there any keys that you like to play in more than other keys?’ I want to make this pleasant for him and make it work for him. And he goes, ‘No, just do what you do.’ And so I started playing and it was like the most beautiful thing ever. The sound. I don't know how people usually feel about their voices. I'm not even going to say how I feel about my voice, but I am going to say that when he was playing the saxophone behind my voice, it's the first time I ever really loved my voice, ever. He was so, so good. So I could see why Bruce kept him around. He was magical. It really was magical.”
These days, when he takes the stage, he doesn’t have a prepared set list. He operates on instinct, watching the audience. He can draw from a deep pool of songs by musicians including Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.
All those songs’ drum tracks are on the laptop. “But something usually will pop in my head and go, ‘okay, try this’ or whatever. For the dancing girls, ‘Play That Funky Music, White Boy’ would be one of them. Sometimes ‘Satisfaction' is a good song. The girls like ‘Brown-Eyed Girl.’
“If they're talking, I feel like they're having fun because they're in conversation with somebody that they obviously want to have a chat with. So, that's good. It's not about me, really. It's about whatever works for them. If there's some pretty girls out there dancing and there's a lot of people watching the girls dancing, we're good. It doesn't have to be about me, or the music or whatever.
“I'm just trying to figure out ways to make them have fun, that's all. Just put the most joyous moments that I can put together, that’s the goal.”
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER UPPING MAX HEIGHT ON RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Monroe County commissioners gave planning staff the go-ahead to draft code amendments to increase the maximum height of residential buildings up to 42 feet during a June 18 meeting in Key Largo.
County regulations detail these structures currently can reach heights of no more than 35 feet; it’s measured from the pre-construction natural grade or the crown/curb of the road. Exceptions are detailed in the county code, however, for chimneys, steeples, solar equipment and utility poles, to name a few.
Devin Tolpin, county senior director of planning and environmental resources, told commissioners that residential structures can go up to 38 feet with 1 to 3 feet of additional flood elevation. In this case, structures are limited to two habitable floors.
Tolpin also noted that new FEMA flood maps would allow structures to reach 40 feet in height; it’s unclear when the new maps will take effect.
In April, the county commission deliberated and directed staff to come up with potential amendments to maximum height restrictions in Monroe County. Commissioners ultimately said yes to option two presented by Tolpin at the June meeting to allow for a maximum height of residential structures to 42 feet from the crown or curb of the road with no limit to habitable floors.
Tolpin said that county staff are processing an amendment to the county code’s flood section to eliminate a decades-old requirement and restriction to the amount of square footage that can be enclosed for storage under stilted homes. With FEMA’s approval last April, Monroe County is proceeding with eliminating the maximum 299-square-foot limit for enclosed storage space below flood level. Downstairs storage enclosures would have to remain limited to storage, parking or building access and cannot be used as habitable space. Code amendments take eight months to a year to process.
“What that means is elevated structures that are in flood zones will now be able to enclose their
entire first floor, which is not habitable space and would then have two additional habitable floors,” she said. “Those structures would be able to go up to 42 feet, whereas a non-elevated home in a X flood zone would be able to go up to 42 feet. But because they’re not going to have that inhabitable floor or that downstairs enclosure, they’re limited to two stories, whereas your structure in a flood zone is going to have the appearance of three stories.”
Jordan Mannix-Lachner, Last Stand’s new executive director, acknowledged to commissioners the nonprofit dedicated to protecting quality of life in the Keys supports the development of affordable housing. She told commissioners Last Stand supports a modified version of option one for a maximum height of 42 feet, but allowing more than two habitable floors for multifamily, deed-restricted affordable housing. For market rate housing, including workforce structures, she said, Last Stand supports maintaining the two-story limit.
“We think it strikes a good balance between retaining community character and facilitating development of affordable housing,” she said.
Commissioners all verbally supported option two. Monroe County’s move to a 42-foot maximum height for residential structures would be comparable to Marathon, which also has a height restriction of 42 feet. Islamorada’s maximum height restriction is 35 feet, while Key West is anywhere from 30 feet up to 40 feet in order to meet or exceed base flood elevation.
“We have been having workshops and discussions on king tides, sea level rise and it just makes sense that as we are facing a future with higher water levels that we increase the height of our buildings so that our homes can be on stilts and still have habitable space that’s usable,” said commissioner Michelle Lincoln.
Another code change would allow structures at the Key West and Marathon airports to be up to 45 feet high.
Changes would need to come back through an ordinance; they require multiple hearings and approvals by commissioners.
STATE LEGISLATURE SAVES TOURISM AGENCIES — FOR NOW
Acontroversial proposal this past spring to stop Florida counties from using tourist development tax revenue to promote their destination and attract tourists — and instead use the money to reduce property taxes — did not pass the Florida Legislature.
Tourism officials and business owners in the Keys breathed a huge sigh of relief when the “anti-Tourist Development Council provisions” were removed from the state budget that now awaits the governor’s finalization signature.
A new bill does include some changes to the ways counties can spend tourism-derived tax revenue. For example, the new bill that passed allows counties to use TDC money to pay for beach lifeguards, which Monroe County doesn’t have.
The Monroe County TDC on June 16 posted an update on its website about the removal of the provisions that would have amounted to an elimination of all county TDCs by 2026.
“Thank you to everyone who took action to write, call or email House and Senate representatives about the positive power of tourism and its importance to the Florida Keys.
“However, we can’t rest on this success. We need to continue to educate against undermining our No. 1 economic engine before next year’s legislative session. A coalition of legislators, who are seeking drastic change in their own counties, are building a coalition that could be damaging to several counties in Florida, including Monroe County.”
In April, Monroe County TDC president and CEO Kara Franker told the Keys Weekly of the proposed changes, “Make no mistake: this is not a tax cut — it’s a job killer. This is an existential threat — not just to the tourism industry, but to the communities like ours that depend on it.”
In the Keys, the proposal could have delivered a devastating blow to a tourism industry that generated $61.4 million in tourist development taxes in 2023 and 2024. Visitors booking overnight lodging in the Florida Keys pay a 4% tourism development tax, in addition to a 7.5% sales tax and 1% tourist impact tax. The revenues fund brick and mortar improvements for tourist-related organizations, events up and down the island chain as well as advertising and promotion. The Monroe County TDC manages the local tourism marketing efforts to ensure long-term economic stability resulting from visitor-related revenues.
State Rep. Jim Mooney, who represents the Florida Keys, said there were many unintended consequences with the proposed bill that would have been negative. He noted that Colorado tried a similar proposal in the 1990s.
“The reality is they tried this and it was a miserable failure,” Mooney told the Keys Weekly in April. “They went from the No. 1 tourist destination in this country to dead last. And it took 15 years to recover. We can’t wait 15 years to recover.”
For now, the county’s top tourism and marketing agency is safe from legislative changes, but tourism officials are keeping a wary eye on additional efforts in Tallahassee during the next legislative session.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council promotes the Florida Keys with a variety of advertising and marketing strategies. This image is from a print ad in 2020. MONROE COUNTY TDC/Contributed
WILLIAM WAGNER JR. HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
‘Billy’ guided the Keys through decades of storms, emergencies
ALLISON MORGAN www.keysweekly.com
William “Billy” Wagner Jr.’s outstanding contributions and accomplishments in hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation at the local, state and national level recently earned him the state’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is handed out to one emergency management person a year statewide.
Known to many as “Mr. Hurricane,” Billy was recognized during the 39th annual Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach on May 15. His sons, William Wagner III and Karl Wagner, accepted the award on his behalf.
“I’m incredibly proud and humbled — though I wish he could have been there in person to receive it,” said William III. “He just celebrated his 90th birthday and is currently resting comfortably, surrounded by family.
“A heartfelt thank you to Bill Massey for the nomination, and to Max Mayfield for attending the ceremony in support.
Special thanks to all of my father’s col-
leagues and professional partners across the National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, FEMA, and the broader emergency management community. Your support and collaboration throughout his career have meant so much to him — and to all of us.”
Tracking and responding to storms was in Billy’s blood for as long as his sons can remember. He had a weather station in his home for many years before becoming the emergency management director for Monroe County, a role he served in for 25 years.
His 40-year career was marked by multiple leadership positions in emergency management, public safety and hurricane preparedness, serving as a firefighter and fire chief in addition to the county’s top emergency post. His expertise and leadership significantly shaped disaster response strategies at both the state and national levels.
In the early ’80s, he worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA to develop a regional hurricane evacuation study and evacuation plan for southeast Florida, including the Keys —
At one point, Congress tried to shut down some weather services in Monroe County and make them automated. He testified that it would segregate services, and he saved a lot of offices from being closed.”
—
William Wagner III
one of the first of its kind in the country.
“He understood the significance and importance of the Keys being an island chain during weather events,” said Karl. “He was always bridging the gap between emergency management and weather, long before anyone else was thinking of it. The thing he instilled in us was community involvement and how important that was.”
Karl said his father’s motto was always “be hurricane prepared.” Billy directed and coordinated responses to numerous tropical cyclone events until his retirement in 2006, including six tropical storms, 12 hurricanes and five major hurricanes. According to William III, one of the biggest events that changed emergency operations and federal assistance in Florida during his father’s career was Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
“FEMA began really helping communities and providing robust support,” he said. Throughout his career, Billy went to bat to ensure Monroe County received necessary resources and services for emergency response in the island chain.
“At one point, Congress tried to shut down some weather services in Monroe County and make them automated,” said William III. “He testified that it would segregate services, and he saved a lot of offices from being closed.”
For more than 35 years, Billy worked closely with Massey, the FEMA Region 4 hurricane program manager for over 20 years and the director of hurricanes and emergency management at Dewberry Engineers for 21 years, on national hurricane preparedness initiatives.
“I can personally attest to his extraordinary expertise, unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership in the field of emergency management and disaster resilience,” Massey wrote in his nomination submission for Billy. “His leadership in disaster response has been instrumental in enhancing emergency preparedness, response coordination and recovery efforts throughout Florida and the nation.”
Billy Wagner Jr.’s sons Karl Wagner, second from left, and William III, third from left, accept a lifetime achievement award on behalf of their father at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in May. CONTRIBUTED
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Storm season will wind to a close this fall, but there’s one – and ONLY one – Hurricane that Middle Keys locals can’t wait to see.
There’s still work to be done, but business partners Cesar Sandoval, Bernardo Ornelas and Oscar Islas say the plan is to have the Hurricane Bar and Grill, shuttered for years since the COVID-19 pandemic, up and running – hopefully in time for Fantasy Fest.
To get a few “must-asks” out of the way: Yes, the Marathon staple will still have a stage for live music. And yes, Wing Night is coming back (even with Trash Can sauce). And for whoever thought the restaurant would be a transplanted Lazy Days, the waterfront favorite is staying right where it is.
But the Hurricane has been gutted, in every sense of the word, from top to bottom – the floors, the ceilings, the equipment, plumbing and electric systems, all of it – and Sandoval told the Weekly he can’t wait for the community to see the results of years of hard work.
“We started with ‘Let’s just open the Hurricane in six months and be done with it,’” he said. But as word spread of the restaurant’s reopening, stories from locals chronicling a history dating back to the 1950s made the new owners change their minds.
“We’ve got Lazy Days on 11th Street, we’ve got Paradise Flavors on 96th Street, so we’ve taken advantage of the city, and now it’s time to give back,” said Sandoval. “We thought this would be the way to do it – giving back something that’s been here since the ’50s, restoring what’s already here and keeping the history. That’s the goal: bring back something old, but modernize it.”
“We didn’t know how expensive it was going to be,” he admitted with a laugh.
The restaurant’s left side will remain a sports bar and late-night music venue, complete with a massive new TV array, stage, pool tables and arcade games. And while the right half will continue as a sitdown restaurant, the addition of a raw bar and more upscale alcohol offerings lend a different atmosphere.
The building’s back deck presents another opportunity for live music, along with hosting yoga and zumba classes. A juice bar will be available for postworkout refueling, and Sandoval said the plan is to install lawn games and a kids’ playground next to the deck.
Local art graces everything from the doors to the walls, painted by Marathon favorite Shannon Wiley and muralist Christopher Orr – plus contributions expected to come from Marathon High School students.
STORM ON THE HORIZON
‘The Hurricane’ is set to reopen this fall
The menu is set to include American cuisine, steaks, seafood and sushi, but Sandoval said the ultimate goal is to bring in rotating offerings for timely celebrations of other cultures’ dishes.
“Mexican dishes, Haitian dishes, Caribbean dishes, Cuban dishes, depending on what’s going on in the world for that time of year,” he said. “We also want to make people aware of things that actually happen outside of the Keys. We're very separated from the rest of the world, and it’s really good in a lot of ways. But we also need to be more aware of what's going on in the real world.”
The restaurant’s projected sit-down hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the right side, with the sports bar side open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
1-2. A top-to-bottom renovation for the Hurricane included everything from walls to ceilings, basic systems and equipment. CONTRIBUTED
3. A mahi mural by Christopher Orr is the backdrop to the Hurricane’s sports bar side.
4. Brand new kitchen equipment is nearly ready to fire up the Hurricane’s new-look menu.
5. A raw bar will offer a new twist to the Hurricane’s sit-down dining offerings.
6-7. New art and marine-themed tables will greet patrons on the Hurricane’s sit-down dining side.
8. Co-owners Cesar Sandoval, left and Bernardo Ornelas, right, pose with artist Shannon Paul Wiley, the mind behind much of the Hurricane’s freshly-painted decor.
Photos by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
CHASING THE CROWN
22-year-old Aldo Dominguez is hungry for his first pro MMA title
JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
In the dynamic world of mixed martial arts, 22-year-old Aldo Dominguez is quickly making a name for himself from his home base in Marathon.
With an impressive six championship titles already secured in taekwondo and kickboxing, Dominguez has seamlessly transitioned into the demanding MMA arena, where he's already amassed four amateur victories. He is a three-time champion with Vigilant MMA, a two-time Combat Night champion, and a titleholder with Action Fight League, 305 Fights and World Class Combat Sports (WCCS).
Today, he told the Weekly, he’s singularly focused on capturing his first pro MMA title, a pivotal step on his ambitious journey to turning professional by next year.
“I grew up practicing taekwondo,” said Rodriguez. “For about 12 years I was on a national team that traveled to different countries doing taekwondo competitions, and I’ve been to several Olympic training camps. When I turned 17 I started to do kickboxing competitions and went undefeated. I was 100. I loved the feeling of winning, so I just kept going and now I’ve transitioned to MMA.”
Rising in national popularity, MMA is a full-contact combat sport that brings together a wide array of fighting techniques, blending skills from disciplines like boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to create a comprehensive and versatile approach to combat.
Dominguez's journey began at the age of 5, quickly leading him then to dominate the kickboxing scene. The transition to MMA was a natural progression for him, he said. Under the guidance of his father, Aldo Dominguez Sr., and coach Albert Robleto, Dominguez dedicates himself to intense daily sessions, focusing on technique and conditioning.
“We have very high-level training partners," said Dominguez. "It's just a lot of dedication and consistency and my coaches put in a lot of time and effort. There are a lot of mental benefits as well. The workouts and sparring help me clear my head and my mind. It's just a way of expressing myself, really. It helps me stay out of trouble. When I win the competitions, it’s also a way for me to inspire people to never give up on their goals."
Dominguez has a rigorous training schedule as he prepares for his next bout on July 19 in Fort Lauderdale at a competition called Combat Night, where he'll face opponent Daniel Neil from New York. Training sessions focus on building strength, endurance and agility through a variety of exercises and techniques, including weightlifting, cardio, sparring and grappling. Training also involves drills and conditioning exercises to simulate fight scenarios. When asked about his upcoming fight, Dominguez exudes confidence.
"I feel very confident because I believe my skills are above my opponent's," he said. "I'm not looking for a quick finish; I'm looking for a good fight that will display all my skills."
With ambitious sights set on becoming the youngest world MMA champion, Domin-
guez is steadily building his legacy. Bolstered by the support of local sponsors such as A Divine Home, Water’s Edge Homes, Benoit Management, All Amps Electric, Pink Punch Studio and Kali G Development, his coaches say the rising star is clearly on a path not just to professional success, but to becoming a true champion both inside and outside the cage.
“It’s incredible what he has been able to accomplish,” said Robleto. We call him ‘the dominator’ because that’s what he does. He dominates in every competition he enters. I’m so proud of him and grateful to be a part of his journey.”
As Dominguez continues to refine his skills and push the boundaries of his athletic prowess, his journey from a young taekwondo prodigy to a MMA contender serves as a testament to relentless dedication. The Keys, and the broader MMA world, will be watching closely as Dominguez steps closer to realizing his ambitious future.
Aldo Dominguez attempts a round kick against opponent Parker Appel. CONTRIBUTED
Aldo Dominguez defending his 153-pound Muay Thai belt. WORLD CLASS COMBAT SPORTS/Contributed
EMBER
2-year-old female mixed breed.
Looking for: Excitement, adventure, water and maybe another dog too. Turnoffs: Country music.
SWIPE RIGHT
Adorable furry faces are waiting for families at the Florida Keys SPCA
Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turnoffs to ensure the best fit.
From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
See all the animals waiting for a home at fkspca.org. To contact the Marathon campus, call 305-743-4800 or visit 10550 Aviation Blvd.
SOCKS
1.5-year-old male domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I’m a cuddly, friendly, needy boy in need of a BFF.
Turnoffs: It’s tough being the new guy at a shelter.
2-month-old male kitten. Looking for: A family looking for a playful kitten for endless fun.
Turnoffs: All good here, no complaints.
Hurricane fosters needed. With hurricane season upon us, the SPCA needs volunteers and fosters in case of a storm. Over 100 animals would need to be evacuated, so it is crucial they all have homes in place before an impending storm. The SPCA provides everything you need; all you do is give an animal a safe haven during the storm and return them to the shelter once it's safe – that is, if you don't fall in love. For more information on becoming a hurricane foster, visit https://fkspca.org/volunteer/become-a-fostervolunteer/ or call 305-743-4800.
BOATS TO
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ERIN ARNETT Pearls of Wisdom Consulting
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I did not want to raise my kids in the “big city” known as West Palm Beach. In 2000 I had an opportunity to move to the Keys and I took it. My youngest graduated high school 10 years ago and I’m still here.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I love to dress up in silly T-shirts and costumes. You can find me on the water or at the gym on any given day of the week. Otherwise, I am volunteering at any number of nonprofits. Who is your favorite book character and why? I love Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I used to be like him. Look how far I’ve come!
If you could have one superpower what would it be and why? Operational omniscience. “She sees it. She solves it. She makes it better – usually before anyone knows it was broken.”
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JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
o matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Erin Arnett, who helps businesses run like well-oiled machines with the magic of technology and a few wires. Her business is called Pearls of Wisdom Consulting. She wears many hats, as do most of us in the Keys. She is a real estate appraiser and was also a Best of Marathon “Volunteer of the Year” nominee in 2023 as she devotes a lot of her time helping others in the Keys community.
What is a skill you are always learning or working on? Being the best I.T. goddess. Technology is always changing, and I have to stay on top of it to keep my customers happy. I’m also working on my form at the gym. My form always needs work.
What is your favorite way to relax or unwind? The water! That is the only place that my brain shuts off. Or, I like crafting and making silly T-shirts. What is a quote or piece of advice that has always resonated with you? “I don’t suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.” – Edgar Allan Poe Do you prefer to communicate through text messages, phone calls or emails? Text messages. But I must use emojis, otherwise I can get easily misunderstood. I see it as an exchange of information and don’t ask silly questions like “I hope this finds you well.” What animal do you feel represents your personality? Elephants are my spirit animal and they embody wisdom, overcoming obstacles and protection. The elephant is also the mascot of my favorite college football team: the University of Alabama. Roll Tide!
What is one thing that people don’t know about you? I never graduated high school. I taught myself how to fix computers. My amazing people skills were harder to learn than computers.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED WELLNESS
BRAIN ROT IS REAL
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies showing brain regions with enhanced activities in individuals with excessive smartphone use compared to their counterparts with regular use. CONTRIBUTED
Let’s talk about brain rot. No, it’s not a zombie disease or something you catch from bad sushi. This is a modern epidemic — and it's coming straight for your gray matter via TikTok, Instagram, and that one app you open without even realizing it.
What is brain rot? It isn’t an official diagnosis (yet), but it’s the internet’s term for that sluggish, overstimulated, foggy-headed feeling you get after scrolling for two-plus hours but retaining exactly zero useful information. Think: short attention span, no motivation and a deep existential ache after watching 73 videos about air fryer hacks and conspiracy theories. And while it sounds like a joke, studies suggest this isn’t just a vibe — it’s structural.
If you remember anything from the ’90s, it was the anti-drug egg commercial. You know the one. There is a whole intact egg, and then the egg gets cracked open and is sizzling in the frying pan while a deep mysterious voice speaks over the sizzling saying, “This is your brain. … This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?” And the commercial would just ominously end.
The picture included here is basically the same. Top left corner: “This is your brain.” Bottom right corner: “This is your brain with smartphone addiction. Any questions?!”
A study from 2023 from Beijing Normal University explains it perfectly. They also used imaging to
...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. Hello@highlymotivatedfc.com
look at the brains of young adults with screen addiction. The results? Reduced gray matter density in areas like the prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making and impulse control, and disrupted connectivity in the default mode network — the part of your brain responsible for introspection, daydreaming and memory consolidation.
These structural changes can happen in as little as three to six months, especially in adolescents or young adults. It can happen faster if screen time exceeds four to six hours per day and includes compulsive behaviors, like doom scrolling or phone checking every few minutes.
Here’s the good news: Your brain is incredibly neuroplastic, which means you can rebuild, rewire and recover.
Try these strategies:
NEVER scroll first thing in the morning. Seriously. Your brain wakes up in a sponge-like state, primed for intention and focus. Feeding it chaotic content sets a reactive tone for the entire day. Instead, hydrate, move or journal before you let the algorithm in.
Reclaim your focus. Try the 30-30-30 rule: 30 minutes of no-screen time after waking, 30 minutes of mindful movement daily, and 30 minutes of screenfree creative play (reading, writing, puzzles — anything analog).
Feed your brain. Omega-3s, B vitamins and antioxidants like blueberries can support cognitive function. Your brain thrives on more than cold brew and cortisol.
Practice “dopamine fasting.” This is the only fast I’ll ever support and not as scary as it sounds. It just means intentionally doing low-stimulation activities to help your brain recalibrate. Walking without music. Cooking from scratch. Sitting outside without a phone. Boring is beautiful.
Protect your sleep. Screens before bed suppress melatonin and reduce REM sleep — crucial for memory and emotional regulation. Set a tech curfew an hour before bed. Your dreams will thank you.
TL;DR? Don’t rot, reboot.
Brain rot is what happens when modern tech hijacks your prehistoric brain. But with intention and consistency, you can reverse the scroll damage and get back to clarity, focus and actual joy.
MAN CHARGED IN NOVEMBER 2024 BOAT CRASH THAT KILLED A WOMAN
Reinaldo Aquit. MCSO/Contributed
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested a 48-year-old Miami Beach man for his involvement in a boat crash in a Key West channel that claimed a woman’s life last November.
On June 20, FWC investigators arrested Reinaldo Aquit on a warrant for nine charges, including a felony charge of vessel homicide and eight misdemeanors. The charges stem from the November 2024 crash, which resulted in the death of 28-year-old Stephanie Rodriguez of Hialeah.
On Nov. 7, 2024, FWC said, Aquit was operating a 39-foot speed boat with seven passengers on board. The boat was traveling from Miami to Key West as part of a poker run event.
According to FWC, Aquit was driving carelessly, traveling at high speed and disregarding navigational rules.
While within Calda Channel, a narrow channel north of Key West, Aquit took a sharp turn, causing his vessel to roll. Six passengers were thrown from the vessel, including Rodriguez who died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the incident.
“The tragic death of this young woman was completely avoidable,” said Major Alberto Maza, South Bravo regional commander. “We continue to think of Ms. Rodriguez’s friends and family as they grieve her loss.”
In addition to the felony vessel homicide charge, Aquit is facing three misdemeanors for violating navigational rules causing serious bodily injury or death and five misdemeanors for reckless operation of a vessel. His bond was set at $500,000. — Keys Weekly staff report
JENNIFER HARVEY
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Rotary Report
Rotary Club of Marathon helps students get hooked on academics through donation to Stanley Switlik Fishing Club
The Rotary Club of Marathon recently supported the Stanley Switlik Elementary School Fishing Club with a donation. The fishing club allows students with good grades, aמּendance and behavior to spend their recess catching fish and occasionally go on fishing trips. Club Organizer Bill Eller and Chris Still, owner of the Tackle Box, helped launch the club and have seen it grow tremendously since its inception four years ago. They are thankful for the support as the program’s popularity increases.
“Brian Tewes, the President of the Rotary Club of Marathon told me, ‘I really think the Rotary could give back and help with this,’” Still said. “And then I got a call from the school and they said, ‘The Rotary just made a donation to the club.’ It was awesome and it’s going right into the community.”
The donation will help with the purchase of branded club merchandise and resources such as upgraded tackle for club participants. Thus far, Still, who owns the Tackle
Box, has donated much of his own gear or collected donations from others, to get the program up and running. He said it all started when Eller came to speak with him at his business.
“He said he was looking for someone who could help with the program and he was wanting to find someone in town to work with the school,” Still said. “He was looking for someone who had a heart in it. I said I was 100% on board, you don’t need to ask any more questions.”
Still said he is very thankful for Rotary’s support in creating the opportunity for some local kids to experience catching their first fish.
“It gives many students a reason to pay more aמּention in class and reach for more academically,” Still said. “We’re grateful for this donation.”
For more information on what we do and how you can join the “Irresistible Marathon Rotary Club”, visit our website Marathonrotary org or scan the QR Code.
CRANE PROMOTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Veterans Affairs and Social Services departments consolidated
Monroe County Veterans Affairs and Social Services will be consolidated under a new Monroe County Community Services department led by Cathy Crane as director. Crane has been with Monroe County since 2018.
The department will continue to offer prioritized services for Monroe County’s most vulnerable residents, including veterans, seniors, the disabled, low-income individuals and families with young children.
Cathy Crane has been promoted to director of Monroe County Community Services. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/ Monroe County
“Cathy’s leadership and dedication make her the right choice to lead this new department and strengthen our community services and support for Monroe County residents,” said Assistant County Administrator Tina Boan.
The county offers assistance to Monroe County’s 8,000 veterans, military personnel, survivors, dependents and family members, as well as congregate meals and nutritional support programs for senior citizens, Special Transportation Services, low-income housing and weatherization funding, in-home and respite services, and more.
Veterans can find more information at monroecountyfl.gov/va. Other community services are at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/socialservices.
— Contributed
BRIEFLY
Judicial commission to hold judge applicant interviews
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 16th Judicial Circuit will meet on Tuesday, July 8 starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Marathon City Council chambers, 9805 Overseas Highway in Marathon. Applicant interviews are scheduled as follows: Don Barrett, 10 a.m.; Jack Bridges, 10:30 a.m.; Jon Byrne, 11 a.m.; Jeremy Franker, 11:30 a.m.; Derek Lewis, 12:30 p.m.; Joe Mansfield, 1 p.m.; Kevin McCarthy, 1:30 p.m. There will be an opportunity for public comment before the start of the morning interviews and after the conclusion of the afternoon interviews. Public comment may also be emailed to JNC16@Monroecounty-fl. gov. The JNC may also meet in closed deliberative session before and after applicant interviews as well as during breaks, if any, between interviews.
Show your red, white and blue in Rotary’s 4th of July parade
The Marathon Rotary Club will carry on its tradition of presenting a 4th of July parade on Independence Day. The parade begins at Marathon High School and travels to the traffic circle at the end of Sombrero Beach Road. Muster is at 10 a.m. at Marathon High School, and the parade begins at 11. The community is invited to be part of the parade. The registration fee is $10 for golf carts and $20 for vehicles and floats, while bicycles may enter for free. Prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated entries. To reserve a spot, text Kelly Williams at 731-6160771.
Sheriff’s deputy arrested after threats with knife
The Key West Police Department arrested Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy Nicholas Joseph Galbo, 42, for felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery after he reportedly brandished a knife during an altercation on June 18 in Key West. “I have notified Deputy Galbo that I intend to terminate his employment pending a pre-termination hearing,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I am committed to keeping this community informed of significant events that occur in this agency, good and bad.” Galbo was arguing with a woman on Simonton Street around 1 a.m. when he grabbed her, according to the Key West Police Department. When a couple attempted to intervene, Galbo punched the man and brandished a knife, threatening both of them. Galbo had been drinking. There were no serious injuries reported. He was hired on Jan. 7, 2020.
Miami man jailed after handgun threats
A 19-year-old Miami man was arrested June 17 for allegedly threatening another man with a stolen handgun. There were no serious injuries reported. Damarcus Amari Butler was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, grand theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and displaying a firearm while in commission of a felony. The 18-year-old male victim told the sheriff’s office that he was physically assaulted in Marathon around 3 p.m. by a group of individuals including Butler, who pointed a firearm at his head. The sheriff’s office identified Butler as the suspect and he was found shortly thereafter. A .40-caliber Glock handgun, reported stolen in Florida City, was located. Butler was taken to jail. The investigation is ongoing and more charges/arrests may be pending.
Public libraries offer access to ad-free film and TV streaming
If streaming services are adding up and you don’t like being interrupted by ads, check out Kanopy, the streaming service that is free with a Monroe County public library card. Choose from over 30,000 documentaries, popular films, international films and learning videos, including selections from The Great Courses. The library has recently added two new collections with unlimited plays: British Film & Television and Kanopy Favorites. You also get unlimited plays with Kanopy Kids, a curated collection for young viewers. Watch online or on your device with the Kanopy app. More information, including how you can pre-register online for a library card and get started right away, is at keyslibraries.org/online.
Habitat for Humanity opens homeownership application
Habitat Middle Keys has opened the application process for its homeownership program. From now until July 15, pre-applications will be accepted for two two-bedroom homes. The pre-application is at www.habitatmiddlekeys.org/home-ownership. More information is available via email to fsm@habitatmiddlekeys.org or at 305-743-9828.
REEL BIG SMILES Youngsters catch them up at 18th KCB Kids Fishing Derby
fish of any species over the rail, chasing winners’ trophies taller than many of the contestants.
The Marathon Lady filled the decks with grinning kids and their catches on June 18 for the Key Colony Beach and Marathon Ron Sutton Memorial Kids Fishing Derby.
The 18th annual contest challenged three age divisions of Middle Keys youngsters to bring the largest
After the free day of fishing, contestants, parents and volunteers retired to the Key Colony Inn for an afterparty and awards ceremony led by derby co-organizers Joey Raspe and Kris DiGiovanni – complete with the smorgasbord of prizes and giveaways that have become a hallmark of the friendly competition.
And the winners are:
6-8 years old
1st place: Richey Worthington
2nd place: Melody Franco
3rd place: Elliana Koeller
9-11 years old
1st place: Lorelei Klein
2nd place: Kayson Young
3rd place: Jayden Arencibia
12-14 years old
1st place: Melanie Olivio
2nd place: Francisco Garcia
3rd place: Adrian Felix
3-4. Smiles on the faces of happy kids with trophies are the true reward for the volunteers who make the annual fishing derby a success.
1. Lorelei Klein, left, earns a first-place trophy in the age 9-11 division.
2. Richey Worthington, left, accepts the top prize in the age 6-8 division from KCB Police Chief Kris DiGiovanni.
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
Ididn’t flush up the yellow-crowned night heron. The Key deer did.
But me slowing down on Watson Boulevard to get a better look at the Key deer might have inspired the half-pint ungulate to start moseying down the shoulder of the road, thus flushing the night heron.
The bird did not climb very high, just three or four feet above the ground. It flew in an unhurried straight line, parallel to my car, for 30 or 40 yards. Then it banked hard and disappeared into a thicket of leafless branches.
I drove on for a while, then got vaguely curious, turned the car around, and parked on the opposite side of the road from its point of disappearance.
At first I wasn’t sure I’d stopped at the right thicket. All I could see was an abstract collection of near-colorless twigs and branches. But then I found the bird right in the middle of it all, two feet tall and weighing about a pound and a half, leaning forward several degrees, staring down towards the ground with its pumpkin orange eyes.
Adult yellow-crowned night herons have something I’d classify as a sartorially puttogether look, borderline dapper and dashing. They are gray in the body, as if wearing some kind of well-cut suit, with some white fringing in the flight feathers. They have a black, oblong head, pleasing as a fedora, underscored by a distinctive white cheek, a pair of feathers trailing to their nape, and a solid, no-nonsense, longish bill. Sometimes you catch sight of the nominate yellow crown.
Immature yellow-crowned night herons, when I see them, often bring to mind a word my friend Robert taught me – frowzy – which at first I thought he made up, but turns out to be legit English. It means scruffy or neglectful in appearance, or generally not put together.
The bird I was looking at was a mishmash of browns and blacks and grays. It takes a yellow-crown three or four years to reach adult plumage. After their first summer, they tend to get a somewhat streaky pattern in the breast and face, and this bird had none of that going on, meaning it was most likely just starting its first summer of life.
Any bird with night in the name sounds kind of cool. It brings an air of mystery. I think it’s why Edward Hopper chose “Nighthawks” for the title of his most famous painting. But the title has always bothered me a bit in its ornithological aptness.
NIGHT HERONS AT THE DINER
Nighthawks, for one, aren’t actually hawks. They’re in the nightjar and goatsucker family. (Goatsucker is derived from the belief that they stole milk from goats while everyone was sleeping. Which is not true.) In an anthropomorphic sense nighthawks don’t have a lot of edge. They are not cool, composed birds that spend their evenings staring off into space. Behavior-wise, they come off more on the frenetic end of the spectrum, bordering on spastic, flying through the dark skies of the late hours in a constantly changing and discursive pattern. Of course the pattern is not random so much as improvised, guided by their ability to change direction in an instant and nab the airborne insects that make up the vast bulk of their diet. But all of this doesn’t necessarily jibe with a painting of a small group of people in a mostly empty diner, in postures that convey a sense of inarticulable beauty underscored by a rumbling of loneliness and existential dread.
Night herons, by comparison, are actual herons, built for a life of grabbing up aquatic things at their feet. Though the yellow-crown’s diet is more limited than most members of the ardeidae family, with about 80% of it made up of crabs, if they live near salt water, or crayfish if they live further inland. Of the eight species of herons found in North America, they are considered the most sedentary forager.
They used to be classified in the same family as the black-crowned night heron, but were recently moved to a family in which they are the only extant member.
In 1978, the South Florida ornithologist James Kushlan described 38 feeding tactics employed by herons. The yellow-crowned night
heron has been observed to use five of them: standing, head swaying, neck swaying, pecking, and walking slowly. About 75% of their foraging time falls into the category of standing, interspersed with short periods of slow walking, which takes up about 20% of their foraging time.
My point here being that if any type of nocturnal bird feels behaviorally simpatico with the scene of what Tom Waits described as cold caffeine in a nicotine cloud portrayed in “Nighthawks” – what with their flannel gray feathers and their staring-into-space demeanor – it’s night herons, not nighthawks.
The problem, of course, is that “Nighthawks” is a poetic title. And poetic truth doesn’t always match real world facts. (There are quite a few people who will argue that poetic truth runs deeper than the facts.) And the mechanics of poetry are largely about rhythm and flow, and sadly “Night Herons” falls short, not scanning very well, lacking the same cool ring.
Also, Hopper finished the painting in 1942 and died in 1967, and the painting is one of the most well-loved images in the American visual canon. It seems unlikely to be changeable now, no matter the lack of ornithological correctness.
The yellow-crowned night heron I was watching on Big Pine spent a long time hunting in standing mode. So long that I thought about moving on before he did. But then he dropped suddenly down into the muddy puddle at the base of the thicket, snatching up some crustacean-derived calories he needed to continue on the path to adulthood.
A juvenile yellow-crowned night heron seen recently on Big Pine Key. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
MARK HEDDEN
Lynn Landry, Mayor
Jeff Smith, Vice-Mayor
Lynn Del Gaizo, Councilmember
Kenny Matlock, Councilmember
Robyn Still, Councilmember
TRAILER REPAIRS & SERVICE
6/27/25 11:00am
City Council
7/08/25 5:30pm
Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. Code Compliance Hearing
07/21/25 5:30pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. City Council Special Call Budget Meeting
7/22/25 5:30pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy.
Agendas can be found here https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/meetings
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at any meeting or workshop noted herein, he or she will need a record of the proceedings and for such purposes he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The City of Marathon complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a disabled person requiring special accommodations or assistance, please notify the City ADA Coordinator at (305) 289-5022 of such need at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance.
THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: FAT DEER KEY, COCO PLUM BEACH & VACA CUT
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
In the Middle Keys, between Curry Hammock State Park and Key Vaca, is Fat Deer Key. Historically, it is a small group of islands.
In an 1861 report, Alexander Dallas Bache, American physicist, educator, superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, and the great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, noted the island as Fat Deer Key. He also reported finding the remains of a settlement on the island.
In his 1873 survey of the Keys, Charles Smith identified the small group of islands as the Fat Deer Keys. They and Key Vaca are part of the collection of islands known as Marathon.
Marathon has something that many other islands in the Keys cannot claim — easily accessible beaches. Sometimes, locals are hesitant to share island secrets, and I won’t reveal any super-secret spots here. However, I will point out Coco Plum Beach.
It is not difficult to find. Turn toward the oceanside at Coco Plum Drive and drive slowly down the road until signs direct you to the beach. These are not beaches like those found on mainland Florida or on barrier islands like Sanibel and Captiva. The Keys are not known for their sandy beaches. The islands were built on the backs of ancient limestone coral skeletons. Also, they are surrounded by seagrass beds. The limestone and seagrass are two reasons the water is so clear. First, there is not a ton of sediment in the water because, unlike barrier islands like Sanibel and Captiva, they are not composed of sand and subject to erosion. Second, one of the jobs of seagrass is to trap sediment in the tangled mat of their root systems. They might be underwater, but plants still require sunlight to thrive, and cloudy, mucky water is no place for seagrass to grow.
As for the local sand, you might be surprised to learn how some of it gets here. Parrotfish are a colorful species of wrasse with beak-like mouths they use to munch on coral. Parrotfish chew on the limestone houses that corals build to get to the tasty coral morsel inside. When snorkeling or diving, a parrotfish feeding on coral sounds a lot like someone chewing on a celery stalk. Parrotfish digest the coral. The limestone is ground down, passed through the alimentary canal, and pooped out as sand. Some of that sand washes up onto local beaches.
Coco Plum Beach is not a great swimming beach, as the water is quite shallow. It is an excellent lounging beach and a great dog beach. However, be cautious of the sand spurs. They
hurt to step on and are a pain to untangle from your dog’s coat.
Continuing west down the highway, after Coco Plum Drive, the turn to the Sadowski Causeway presents itself. It is named for Phillip Sadowski, who developed what was once a 90-ish-acre island called Shelter Key into the 285acre Key Colony Beach. A separate municipality from Marathon, the city of Key Colony Beach was incorporated in 1957. It is home to one of two golf courses in the Keys.
The bridge to Key Vaca crosses Vaca Cut, which has an unexpected and curious story to tell. Before Henry Flagler’s men arrived, water coursed through the creek known in some circles as Pull-and-Be-Damned Creek. When railroad workers were done building the right-of-way, it did not. A stretch of the creek was filled in with rocks and marl, a project referred to by those doing the work as Hell Hole Fill.
In the 1950s, the decision was made to restore the creek to its natural state, which is how it appears today. On the other side of the cut is Key Vaca. It is one of the oldest place names in South Florida. According to testimony presented in the Archive of Seville, Spain, in 1677, the island was identified as Cayo de Bacas. On a Spanish chart identifying the location of ships wrecked by a 1733 hurricane, the island is recognized as Cayo de Baca.
In William Roberts’ 1763 work, First Discovery and Natural History of Florida, the group of islands was referred to as Cayos de Vacas. The 1772 DeBrahm chart used the name Vacas Islands. In 1849, Gerdes wrote in his pamphlet, “Reconnaissance of the Florida Reef and all the
Keys,” “the large island W. of the Grassy Ids. and E. of the Cow Harbor is called the Vaca or Cow Key.”
In a 1935-36 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, the writer stated: “The spelling of the name of this key is uncertain. All local authorities agree that a final ‘s’ should be added and this checks the local pronunciation. Opinion is divided as to whether the key was named ‘Vaccas’ by the original owner, (Don Francisco Ferreira, who named it after a friend) or ‘Vacas,’ Spanish for the cattle which local legend has grazing on the key at a distant date. Authority 1 (Charles Pinder of Key West) who must have had some good information from the inhabitants of Conchtown on the Southeast section of the key gives the name ‘Vaccas’ and the name is recommended.”
John Lee William wrote in his 1837 work, “The Territory of Florida,” “The Vacas or Cow Keys are ten or twelve in number, and extend about 15 miles in length. Some of them are four miles in length, while others are scarcely half a mile long; some are covered with tall pines, some with hammock trees, and some almost entirely with grass. On the north side of the group they are generally rocky, and bear many small palmetto trees. There are from 10 to 15 families scattered over them. Knight’s Key, the southwest key of this cluster, has a good house and cleared field, that appears to great advantage from the water. Most of these keys possess good springs and wells of fresh water, and turtles are abundant in the neighborhood.”
Key Vaca represents the heart of Marathon. Buckle up; there is a lot to explore before we reach the Seven Mile Bridge.
Key Colony Beach under construction on Aug. 1, 1956. ARCHIVES OF EDWIN O. SWIFT III / Florida Keys History Center
$7 Menu
• Chicken wings, chicken livers and More!
• 32 beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm
* $2 Pints of Yuengling and Bud Light!
BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 2PM
• Unique & interesting menu
• $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots
LUNCH & DINNER
• New Sandwich Options
Speared Local Fish
COMMERCE CORNEr
LOCAL FILM BEGINS WORLDWIDE STREAMING
‘Marathon After Midnight’ joins Amazon Prime Video library
“MLisa Nunn brings 32 years of experience offering loving and dependable in-home pet visits and daily walks. "Going on vacation? Working long hours? Whatever the reason I take great pride in my loving pet service", says Lisa. Your fur baby will love being able to stay in their environment and enjoy pawfect playtime. They will be pawsitively happy with the love and attention Lisa provides. Contact her to schedule your free consultation and start your in-home pet visits and daily walks. Your pets are in good paws with Lisa.
arathon After Midnight,” a locally-produced Halloween dark comedy feature film, is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Keys filmmaker and director Richard E. Warner recently released an 88-minute theatrical dramatic cut of the movie, which premiered in 2020 as a longer musical. But a new version Warner called “much weirder” caught the attention of both Amazon and Apple TV, which will both feature the movie internationally.
The film stars Marathon Community Theatre (MCT) actress Lesley Aaron as the maniacal owner of a large bed and breakfast – actually Warner’s Grassy Key home – on Halloween 2017. Aaron’s character, Roxanne Van Pendelton, is a stunning, sinister genius, controlling all of her employees via body cams she has strapped to them. Roxanne’s brother Mandrake Van Pendelton, played by Bruce Schmitt, wanders around Marathon, Dumpsterdiving, offending innocent citizens and zapping people he doesn’t like.
Meanwhile, a series of odd trick-or-treaters show up at the B&B gates, adding mayhem. The next-door neighbor Anita Little, played by Key Largo pastry chef Gina Johnson, tries to destroy the Van Pendletons and their B&B, claiming the family’s strange escapades have ruined her home’s
value. Li’l Peadie Van Pendleton, Roxanne’s assistant played by Jonathan Poortman, drowns an IRS agent doing a dock audit at the B&B by “accidentally” knocking him into the Gulf.
MCT actor John Schaefer is unforgettable as “Chickenman,” a squawking character who ends up severely punished when he offends Mandrake. Marathon attorney Bill Heffernan turns in a memorable performance as a hit-and-run victim who recovers enough to give a rousing performance on his harmonica, while MCT actress Kathryn Rummery sings and dances with him as Jacquie O – complete with a pink Dallas outfit. Child star Katerina Axelsson sparkles as she burglarizes the B&B in search of its hidden treasure as intruder Tracey Tobias.
Former Marathon city manager Mike Puto plays himself to realistic effect as the doomed city manager who befriends Anita Little. Keys radio newsman Bill Becker plays a bumbling live-eye TV reporter on Keys Channel 69 named Buz Herschberger. A large cast of other current and former Keys residents share screen time along with Boston area singer-songwriter JP Goldman, who performs renditions of Warner’s dark comedy campfire songs “Love Day” and “Way Down There.”
Even with a warped comic edge, the film would still earn a G rating, Warner said.
— Contributed
Lesley Aaron plays the lead role of a twisted B&B owner in ‘Marathon After Midnight,’ now available on Amazon Prime Video. CONTRIBUTED
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
TRACY MCDONALD www.keysweekly.com
MEET THE 2025 ALL-KEYS BASEBALL TEAM
Monroe County athletes carved out a historic season
2025 was the Year of the Diamond. For the first time in history, all three Monroe County baseball teams won district titles. For Coral Shores, it would be their first-ever district championship. The Hurricanes finished 19-5-1 in Florida’s 2A District 16 designation. Marathon’s 18-11 season spelled success in their first year participating in the Rural division, with their first district championship since 1979. The Fins also won their second consecutive South Florida Baseball Conference title. Meanwhile, Key West finished 20-12 in Florida’s 4A division, capping off their season with district title number 34. In the only event of intra-Keys action, Coral Shores beat Marathon 2-0 in an early-season matchup.
Donovan Thiery
JUNIOR | CORAL SHORES PITCHER/INFIELD
Coral Shores junior Donovan Thiery batted .482 with 40 hits, pounding 11 doubles, a pair of triples and going yard four times for an .807 slugging percentage. He batted in 37 runs, leading the Hurricanes and the district. On the hill, Thiery struck out 101 batters and secured seven wins, both district-leading stats. His lights-out pitching led to just 17 walks, and his .875 win percentage helped boost Coral Shores in its record-breaking season.
9
Dylan Williams
SOPHOMORE | MARATHON INFIELD/PITCHER
Dylan Williams added a spark as the Fins’ leadoff batter, earning a .395 batting average with 32 hits, 22 RBIs, four doubles, a pair of triples and a home run. Williams was also effective on the mound for Marathon, striking out 31 batters with five saves during his sophomore campaign.
5
SENIOR | CORAL SHORES OUTFIELD
Senior AJ Putetti batted an incredible .495 this season, a stat which included two home runs, a triple and eight doubles. Known for his hustle and giving every game his all, Puteti stole 21 bases and crossed the plate 42 times this season.
Nelson Ong
18 AJ Putetti
SOPHOMORE | KEY WEST OUTFIELD
6
Campbell Lavoie
Batting .330 this season, Roman Garcia registered 30 hits, crossed the plate 23 times and drove in 23 runs for the Conchs. Garcia pounded out five doubles, two triples and two home runs to boost his slugging percentage to .459 in his sophomore campaign. 1
SENIOR | CORAL SHORES PITCHER/INFIELD
Coral Shores’ Campbell Lavoie finished his senior season with a 5-1 pitching record with three saves, 55 strikeouts and just 10 walks. Offensively, Lavoie hit .375, driving in 23 runs. His stats include eight doubles, two triples and a home run.
Nelson Ong had a red-hot bat for the Conchs this season, batting .330 and leading the team in on-base percentage at .442. The sophomore slugger also led Key West in hits with 33 and tied for first in runs with 31. Ong was 5-5 in stolen bases and batted in 19 runs this season. Defensively, he was .959 in the field.
12
Roman Garcia
SOPHOMORE | KEY WEST INFIELD
Photos by Joy Smith, Sean Westerband and Maicey Malgrat.
9
Riley O’Berry
JUNIOR | CORAL SHORES PITCHER/INFIELD
A .395 hitter, Hurricane junior Riley O’Berry drove in 19 runs this season. O’Berry saw action on the mound in 16 games and gave up a stingy 12 earned runs. He logged 33 strikeouts and registered three wins and three saves for the ’Canes. O’Berry also turned a team-high seven double plays.
10
Gavin Leal
SENIOR | MARATHON INFIELD
Dolphin senior Gavin Leal batted .391 this season with 10 doubles and three home runs. The Fins’ captain was nearly perfect defensively with a .990 fielding percentage. Leal capped off his senior season with a massive seven-RBI, two-home-run game in Marathon’s SFBC conference title win.
3
Kasey Kasper
SENIOR | KEY WEST PITCHER
Kasey Kasper finished his senior season with a 2.58 ERA and two shutout wins for the Conchs. Kasper struck out 28 batters in 38 innings on the mound for Key West and threw one complete game to cap off his high school career.
27
Vinny Moline
SENIOR | KEY WEST PITCHER
Key West’s Vinny Moline earned six wins in a dozen starts for the Conchs. Moline struck out 61 batters in 52.1 innings, and Key West’s ironman registered two complete games. He finished out his senior season with a shutout to his credit.
20
Gabe Leal
SENIOR | MARATHON PITCHER/CATCHER
Gabe Leal logged his 100th career hit for the Fins this season, batting .351 with 33 hits, 26 RBIs, five doubles and a pair of triples. Defensively, Leal struck out 42 batters and registered a shutout on the mound in five wins for Marathon.
2
Mason Thornton
SENIOR | MARATHON PITCHER/INFIELD
Marathon’s ace secured six wins for the Fins this season, finishing with a 2.93 ERA, 54 strikeouts and two championship wins, one in the conference and one in the district. The tall righty’s offensive assets were also notable, including a .347 batting average, 26 hits, 28 RBIs, five doubles, two triples and a home run.
16
Jon Carlos Lampas-Gormley
SENIOR | KEY WEST PITCHER
Key West pitcher Jon Carlos Lampas-Gormley secured six wins in eight starts this season for a .750 win percentage, which included a shutout. The senior hurler struck out 50 batters for the Conchs in 55.1 innings on the mound.
11
Kade Maltz
FRESHMAN | KEY WEST OUTFIELD
Kade Maltz batted .310 for the Conchs this season, logging 31 hits, 31 runs and 21 RBIs. The outfielder’s stats include six doubles, two triples and two home runs. Defensively, Maltz was .957 in the field, and with three years of eligibility remaining, Maltz has a very bright future with Key West.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
Hosted by Jen Davis
Over 10 years of weekly rental success
Hosted by Kristina Boswell
LOTS OF BOATS, FEW OPERATION REQUIREMENTS
Vessel safety stressed in area leading the state in accidents
In 2022, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the state reached 1 million registered boats by recreational users.
If you add in the number of commercial boats for charters, flats guides, trap fishers and pleasure cruises, that equals a ton of boats out on the water.
Everyone needs a driver’s license to drive a car legally, but unbelievably, there is very little required to operate a boat — or even rent one. Unfortunately, Florida also leads the nation in boating fatalities and boating accidents. There were 81 boating fatalities in Florida in 2024 and FWC found 65% of the boat operators involved in fatal accidents did not have any formal boater training.
In 2024, Monroe County ranked No. 1 for boating accidents, followed by Miami-Dade County. Of course, we have a lot of coastline and we can boat year-round; however, knowing how to safely operate a boat and having the necessary safety equipment can prevent accidents and save lives.
Anyone born in 1988 or after is required to take a boater safety course and have a boat safety ID card when operating a powerboat over 10 horsepower. Luckily, there are many free online courses and the FWC has links to all of the approved boating courses at myfwc.
com/boating/safetyeducation/courses/.
do not count toward the required three unexpired flares.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Clue” (1985)
is the University of Florida, IFAS Monroe County Extension Florida Sea Grant Agent. Shelly is a marine biologist and provides science-based education about coastal environments.
The local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Key West Power Squadron offer online and in-person classes regularly. Boat USA has free online courses. Some insurance companies offer discounts for completing boating courses. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has a free online boater education course that is very useful to learn specific regulations that exist in waters of the Florida Keys, with course topics on zones and special protection areas, protecting our resources and the consequences of careless boating.
When you own a boat, you know there is a lot of required safety equipment, and it is a good idea to make sure it is all up to date and in working order. On a friend’s boat, ask if they have the required safety equipment since safety is a priority. Flares expire every 42 months (or 3.5 years). Three unexpired flares are required on boats 16 feet and over in length. You can keep the older expired flares onboard, but they
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will accept expired flares. Do not dispose of them in household waste, since they are a fire hazard.
One life jacket per person is required in addition to at least one throwable floatation device. Boats over 26 feet need to have a fire extinguisher. Boaters must maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from diver-down flags on open waters — that is the distance of a football field (not including the endzones) and at least 100 feet from diver flags on rivers, inlets or navigation channels.
Boaters must slow down around snorkelers, divers and swimmers. A diver-down flag is required from a vessel when there are snorkelers or divers in the water.
Kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders – there are also requirements for you. While on the water, you need to have a lifejacket and a noisemaking device on-board. Keep a whistle on your personal flotation device and that will suffice. Between dusk and dawn, a flashlight or headlamp must be on to alert other boaters of your location. Avoid loitering in navigation channels. Boats need time to stop, and navigation channels in the Florida Keys are very narrow, typically with seagrasses and shallow water on both sides.
Why: The idea of a film based on a board game is preposterous, but this film is a masterclass in comedy, both physical and verbal. It embraces the insanity of its situation, making full use of its talented roster of actors including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn and Martin Mull. The plotting is also impressive, as three different endings were shot to simulate the possible endings of the game (all of which are presented back-to-back here), and the film is careful to make sure everyone is where they need to be for any outcome to work.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/ contact-us.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
Florida Fish & Wildlife and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vessels patrol the Islamorada sandbar during the recent Memorial Day Weekend. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
Founded by Betty Debnam
Forward to Wisconsin
Wisconsin is our 30th state, having joined the Union in 1848. This Upper Midwest state lies in the Great Lakes region, bordering Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many immigrants arrived in Wisconsin, mostly from Germany and Scandinavian countries. Wisconsinites still enjoy foods such as bratwurst and kringle, a sweet pastry, that are part of these cultures.
Early peoples
When Europeans arrived, they found people of the Ojibwe, Sauk, Meskwaki, Kickapoo and Potawatomi tribes.
French explorer Jean Nicolet is thought to have arrived near Green Bay after canoeing through the Great Lakes in 1634. Other French explorers came to the area to trade furs.
The region was controlled by the British until 1783, when it became a territory of the United States.
Wisconsin today
Wisconsin is home to almost 6 million people. It is sometimes called the Badger State. The capital, Madison, is the state’s second-largest city. Milwaukee is the largest.
Wisconsin business Agriculture and lumber became important industries in the 1800s, and later, many farmers growing crops switched to dairy production.
Cheese-making helped the state become known as America’s Dairyland. In cities, workers brewed beer and made tools and heavy machinery.
Today, agriculture and manufacturing are still important to the state’s economy, along with tourism. Wisconsin is a major supplier of paper and packaging products.
Fun in Wisconsin
People in Wisconsin enjoy outdoor sports during the winter, including snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing and hunting. Outdoor music festivals entertain people during the summer months.
Green Bay is home to the Packers, an NFL team that’s been in the league since 1921. The Milwaukee Bucks play in the NBA, and the Milwaukee Brewers play Major League Baseball. Hockey and soccer teams also draw many fans.
The University of Wisconsin and many other colleges offer educational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of students.
Words that remind us of Wisconsin are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Wisconsin Fact-a-Roonies
• In 1884, five brothers started a circus in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The Ringling Brothers Circus became one of the biggest traveling shows in the nation. Today, the Circus World Museum, with a steam calliope and circus acts, is in Baraboo. The Ringling Brothers came from there and wintered their circus there.
• The ice cream sundae was invented in Two Rivers in 1881. Every year, Wisconsinites eat 43 million gallons of ice cream.
• The first kindergarten in the U.S. was in Watertown in 1856.
• The snowmobile was invented in Wisconsin. Skiing, ice skating and sleighing add to the winter fun.
• Yodeling competitions are part of the rich heritage residents have brought from lands such as Germany and Switzerland.
• World-famous magician and escape artist Harry Houdini spent part of his childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Fires in the Brazilian Amazon fell nearly 70% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to new government data. March alone saw a 71% decline in fire outbreaks year over year. The drop comes as welcome news after 2024, when the rainforest endured its worst fire season in 17 years, with more than 140,000 reported fires. That devastation contributed to the loss of nearly 45 million acres of Amazon vegetation — 58% of all land burned in Brazil last year.
Welcome to “Cayo Casa Cudjoe,” a tropical haven where the island lifestyle seamlessly blends with world-class fishing. Nestled on a beautifully landscaped
27325 BARBUDA LANE | RAMROD KEY | $879,000
Nestled in the tranquil Breeze Swept Beach Estates of Ramrod Key, this fully updated 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom waterfront home captures the essence of Florida Keys living. Designed with durability and comfort in mind, the home features
The heart of this angler’s paradise are the 2 covered boat slips, each equipped with their own lift; your gateway to the best fishing, diving and boating in the Florida Keys. Whether you’re setting out for an early morning catch or cruising the calm waters at sunset, these private boat slips make every adventure e ortless.
The elevated main house features 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, with soaring vaulted ceilings and warm original wood flooring that bring a natural island feel to your living space. The open-concept great room is perfect for entertaining or unwinding after a day on the water, with stunning canal views just beyond your windows. Below, the “pre-firm” guest quarters provide a comfortable and private retreat for visitors, or the perfect spot to relax after a day spent fishing, diving, or exploring the nearby islands.
With 18,564 sq ft of land, you’ll have room to spread out, add a pool or just fully embrace an abundance of privacy. Whether it’s hosting outdoor gatherings, parking your boat trailers and RVs, or simply soaking in the lush surroundings, “Cayo Casa Cudjoe” is designed to maximize your enjoyment of this beautiful tropical setting.
Don't miss the chance to call this island retreat your own and experience the best of Florida Keys has to o er!
The brand-new metal roof and Hardi Board siding o er long-lasting protection from the elements, ensuring the home remains low-maintenance for years to come. Inside, the open-concept main living area is a bright and airy space, perfect for entertaining or relaxing.
The kitchen is a standout feature, boasting abundant cabinetry for all your storage needs, stainless steel appliances, and a peninsula with seating, ideal for casual meals or hosting guests. This charming home features two spacious bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own ensuite bathroom, along with an additional full bath for guests.
Outdoor living is at its finest here, with a spacious screened-in patio that provides the ideal spot to enjoy your morning co ee, entertain friends, or simply soak in the sea breeze. The expansive yard o ers endless potential, whether you envision lush landscaping, a pool, or additional outdoor seating areas to fully enjoy the Florida Keys lifestyle. Situated on a deep-water canal with no bridge access to the Atlantic Ocean, it provides direct, easy access to some of the best fishing, diving, and boating spots in the Keys.
The private dock is perfect for securing your vessel, while the 10k boat lift makes storage and maintenance a breeze. The convenient filet station adds functionality, allowing you to clean and prepare your fresh catch right at home. The lower level features a covered carport, providing ample space for parking vehicles. This property embodies the best of Florida Keys living with its thoughtful updates, unbeatable location, and views.
At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on May 17, a lost DoorDash driver made it past a security gate and onto the tarmac, driving a significant distance before being stopped by airport personnel, WKRC-TV reported. The 36-year-old driver stopped near a grounded aircraft and showed the food receipt and meal he was trying to deliver; he was released without any citations. However, the security employee at the gate was relieved of her duties after letting the car pass through her post.
Adam Dailies
In The Bleachers
Brevity
In 1870, the U.S. Congre recognized Christmas as a federal holiday. The United Na ons cu ently has 193 member states.
“Fate is unalterable only in the sense that given a cause, a certain result must fo ow, but no cause is inevitable in itself, and man can shape his world if he does not resign himself to ignorance.”
Brevity
Nancy Dailies
— Pearl S. Buck, "My Several Worlds"
NOTICE OF HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF DUCK KEY SECURITY SERVICES SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida will conduct a public hearing to consider re-imposing security services assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2025, against certain improved and unimproved properties located within Duck Key, to fund the cost of security services provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.
The public hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the (Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050). The public can also attend the Public Hearing via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”)/Zoom at the following virtual address: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx, for the purpose of contributing/receiving public comment on the proposed assessments.
All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the publication date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator’s Office, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., at 305-292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, dial “711” for assistance.
The annual Duck Key security assessment is based on the number of improved or unimproved lots contained within the Duck Key Security District. The total annual assessment revenue to be collected within Duck Key for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $128,016. The annual assessment rates for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 remain the same as the current year at $292.00 per improved lot and $28.00 per unimproved lot.
Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request, by contacting the County Attorney’s office at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact the County at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2025, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
The proposed Final Assessment Resolution may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 16, 2025, Monroe County Commission meeting, which will be posted as of July 11, 2025. The meeting agenda may be viewed on the County website at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx.
The public can participate in the July 16, 2025 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person, or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens.default.aspx.
Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 21st day of June, 2025.
KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
Publish: June 26, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ANNUAL WASTEWATER ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that at 9:00 am, or soon thereafter, on July 16, 2025, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, 33050, Monroe County, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the adoption of the following County resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE CONTINUATION OF ANNUAL WASTEWATER ASSESSMENTS BASED ON PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED STUDIES AND PHASED INCLUSION OF BENEFITTED PROPERTIES WITHIN THE FOLLOWING WASTEWATER SERVICE AREAS: SOUTH STOCK ISLAND PHASE 2, BIG COPPITT AND DUCK KEY, CUDJOE REGIONAL CENTRALIZED, EAST/WEST LONG KEY, NO NAME KEY, AND MIDDLE AND BIG TORCH KEY FOR THE 2025 TAX YEAR; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed schedule of assessment (per EDU) is as follows, and is subject to change:
1. South Stock Island Phase 2 Service Area (Resolution No. 116-2017): $211.37.
2. Big Coppitt & Duck Key Service Area (Resolution Nos. 264-2007 & 157-2013): $271.88; $329.24.
3. Cudjoe Regional Centralized Service Area, as expanded (Resolution Nos. 173-2012, 174-2012, 156-2013, 155-2013, 154-2013 & 157-2015) $302.53; $310.29; and $337.10.
4. East/West Long Key Service Area (Resolution No. 157-2015): $337.10.
5. No Name Key Service Area (Resolution No. 157-2015): $337.10.
6. Middle and Big Torch Keys Service Area (Resolution No. 157-2015): $337.10.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Fla. Stat., notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he/she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he/she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator's Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”.
The assessments will be collected by the tax collector on the ad valorem tax bill mailed in November 2025, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Fla. Stat. Failure to pay the assessment will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
The public may participate in the July 16, 2025 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at: https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/89204098700, or Live Closed Captioning is available via the MCTV portal at https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/monroe/video/60832c9dcf67bb7ac0c217 91?page=HOME&type=live. All affected property owners have the right to appear at the public hearing and the right to file written objections within 20 days of the publication of this notice.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 18th day of June, 2025.
Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Buttonwood Bay Club Vacations, located at 653 Cabrera Street, Key Largo, FL 33037, intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. By: Keys Waterfront Realty, Inc. Publish: June 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI
Notice is hereby given that on July 7th, 2025, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 Edwards, Jennifer 1201 Pinero, Jesse 1298 Adams, Melinda 1302 Fellhauer Amy Marie 1185 Publish: June 19 & 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, Robbies of Key West, LLC claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels:
Owned by Phillip Northcutt for unpaid storage fees: a 1974 Coronado Yachts 35’ Sailboat “Starship” HIN: CYNA01840174
Owned by Eric Desantis for unpaid storage fees: a 1972 Morgan 36.5’ Sailboat “Southern Aire” HIN: 623721
Owned by David Vance for unpaid storage fees: a 1984 Hunter 31.3’ Sailboat “Zephyr” HIN: HUN31366G484
Sealed bids will be accepted on July 10th, 2025 at Robbies of Key West, 7281 Shrimp Rd, Key West, FL 33040. Robbies of Key West, LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Publish: June 26 & July 3, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice is hereby given that on dates below these vehicles will be sold at public sale on the date listed below at 10AM for monies owed on vehicle repair and storage cost pursuant to Florida Statutes 713.585.
Southern Marina Stock Island reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids. Publish: June 26 and July 3, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
Publish: June 26, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers
Big & Middle Torch Key System
No Name Key System
PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO
ISSUE AIR PERMIT
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Air Resource Management, Permit Review
Section
Draft Permit No. 0870004-011-
AV Florida Keys Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Charles A. Russell Generation Facility Monroe County, Florida
Applicant: The applicant for this project is Florida Keys Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.. The applicant’s responsible official and mailing address are: Gregory S. Newberry, CEO, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Charles A. Russell Generation Facility, Post Office Box 377, Tavernier, Florida 33070.
Facility Location: The applicant operates the existing Charles A. Russell Generation Facility, which is in Monroe County at 3421 Overseas Highway in Marathon, Florida.
Project: The applicant applied on December 9, 2024, to the Department for a Title V air operation permit renewal. This is a renewal of Title V air operation Permit No. 0870004-010-AV which includes incorporating a new 300-kilowatt emergency diesel generator. The Charles A. Russell Generation Facility is an existing electric utility facility. The facility consists of four non-emergency diesel engines/generator sets that are used to provide electricity to the local power grid. The combined nominal generating capacity of the
engine/generator sets is 11.16 megawatts. This project did not cause an increase in any emissions from pollutants at the facility.
Permitting Authority: Applications for Title V air operation permits are subject to review in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 403, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Chapters 62-4, 62-210, and 62-213, of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
The proposed project is not exempt from air permitting requirements and a Title V air operation permit is required to operate the facility. The Permit Review Section in the Division of Air Resource Management is the Permitting Authority responsible for making a permit determination for this project.
The Permitting Authority’s
NOTICE OF HEARING TO IMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF STORMWATER SERVICE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the City Commission of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will conduct a public hearing to consider imposing stormwater service assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2025, against properties located within the incorporated area of the City, to fund the cost of stormwater management services, facilities and programs provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.
The public hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on July 17, 2025, at the City of Key Colony Beach – Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments. All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to le written objections with the City Commission within 20 calendar days of the date of this notice. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. It is the policy of the City of Key Colony Beach to comply with all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons who need accommodations in order to attend or participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk at 305-289-1212 at least 48 hours prior to this meeting in order to request such assistance.
The Stormwater Service Assessments are proposed to fund the City's cost to provide Stormwater Management Services in the area shown above. The Stormwater Service Assessments are imposed upon each lot and parcel within the City for services and facilities provided by the stormwater management utility. For purposes of imposing the Stormwater Service Assessment, all lots and parcels within the City are classi ed into the following two customer classes: (1) Residential, which includes vacant properties zoned residential and (2) Commercial, which includes governmental, hotels and other.
The Stormwater Service Assessment imposed shall be the rate of eighty dollars ($80.00) per residential unit or residential vacant lot and eighty dollars ($80.00) per commercial parcel. The total annual stormwater assessment revenue to be collected within the City of Key Colony Beach for the upcoming scal year is estimated to be $125,000.
Copies of the ordinance and other legal documentation for the assessment program are available for inspection at the City Clerk's of ce, located at City Hall - 600 West Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051.
If you have any questions, please contact the City at 305-289-1212, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November 2025, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certi cate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
CITY COMMISSION OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA
physical address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida. The Permitting Authority’s mailing address is: 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS #5505, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400. The Permitting Authority’s telephone number is: 850/717-9000.
Project File: A complete project file is available for public inspection during the normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except legal holidays), at the address indicated above for the Permitting Authority. The complete project file includes the draft permit, the Statement of Basis, the application, and the information submitted by the applicant, exclusive of confidential records under Section 403.111, F.S.
Interested persons may view the draft permit by visiting the following website: http:// www.dep.state.fl.us/air/ emission/apds/default.asp and entering the permit number shown above. Interested persons may contact the Permitting Authority’s project review engineer for additional information at the address or phone number listed above. Notice of Intent to Issue Permit: The Permitting Authority gives notice of its intent to issue a renewed Title V air operation permit to the applicant for the project described above. The applicant has provided reasonable assurance that continued operation of the existing equipment will not adversely impact air quality and that the project will comply with all appropriate provisions of Chapters 62-4, 62-204, 62-210, 62-212,
62-213, 62-296 and 62-297, F.A.C. The Permitting Authority will issue a proposed permit and subsequent final permit in accordance with the conditions of the draft permit unless a response received in accordance with the following procedures results in a different decision or a significant change of terms or conditions.
Comments: The Permitting Authority will accept written comments concerning the draft Title V air operation permit for a period of 30 days from the date of publication of the Public Notice. Written comments must be received by the close of business (5:00 p.m.), on or before the end of this 30-day period, by the Permitting Authority at the above address and electronically by David Read at David.Read@FloridaDEP. gov. As part of his or her comments, any person may also request that the Permitting Authority hold a public meeting on this permitting action. If the Permitting Authority determines there is sufficient interest for a public meeting, it will publish notice of the time, date, and location in the Florida Administrative Register (FAR). If a public meeting is requested within the 30-day comment period and conducted by the Permitting Authority, any oral and written comments received during the public meeting will also be considered by the Permitting Authority. If timely received written comments or comments received at a public meeting result in a significant change to the draft permit, the Permitting Authority shall issue a revised draft permit and require, if
Stanley Zuba, M.D.
applicable, another Public Notice. All comments filed will be made available for public inspection. For additional information, contact the Permitting Authority at the above address or phone number.
Petitions: A person whose substantial interests are affected by the proposed permitting decision may petition for an administrative hearing in accordance with Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Petitions filed by any persons other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the Public Notice or receipt of a written notice, whichever occurs first. Under Section 120.60(3), F.S., however, any person who asked the Permitting Authority for notice of agency action may file a petition within 14 days of receipt of that notice, regardless of the date of publication. A petitioner shall mail a copy of the petition to the applicant at the address indicated above, at the time of filing. A petition for administrative hearing must contain the information set forth below and must be filed (received) with the Agency Clerk in the Office of General Counsel, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, Agency_ Clerk@dep.state.fl.us, before the deadline. The failure of any person to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person’s right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a
Dr. Stanley Zuba will be retiring and will no longer be practicing at Florida Keys Pediatric & Adolescent Center e ective June 3, 2025.
Patients’ medical records will remain at Florida Keys Pediatric & Adolescent Center, 91550 Overseas Highway, #209, Tavernier, Florida 33070 under the custodianship of Dr. Manuel Joaquin Gomez and his sta . Patients wishing to pick up their records may do so starting June 3, 2025.
Publish: June 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the approval of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C. A petition that disputes the material facts on which the Permitting Authority’s action is based must contain the following information:
(a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known; (b) The name, address, any email address, telephone number and any facsimile number of the petitioner; the name, address, any email address, telephone number, and any facsimile number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests will be affected by the agency determination; (c) A statement of when and how each petitioner received notice of the agency action or proposed decision; (d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate; (e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action;
(f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and, (g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action. A petition that does not dispute the material facts upon which the Permitting Authority’s action is based shall state that no such facts are in dispute and otherwise shall contain the same information as set forth above, as required by Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the filing of a petition means that the Permitting Authority’s final action may be different from the position taken by it in this written notice of Intent to Issue Air Permit. Persons whose substantial interests will be affected by any such final decision of the Permitting Authority on the application have the right to petition to become a party to the proceeding, in accordance with the requirements set forth above.
Extension of Time: Under Rule 62-110.106(4), F.A.C., a person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s action may also request an extension of time to file a petition for an administrative hearing. The Department may, for good cause shown, grant the request for an extension of time. Requests for extension of time must be filed with the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, or via electronic correspondence at Agency_Clerk@dep.state.fl.us, before the deadline for filing a petition for an administrative hearing. A timely request for extension of time shall toll the running of the time period for filing a petition until the request is acted upon.
Mediation: Mediation is not available in this proceeding.
Objections: Finally, pursuant to 42 United States Code
(U.S.C.) Section 7661d(b)(2), any person may petition the Administrator of the EPA within 60 days of the expiration of the Administrator’s 45-day review period as established at 42 U.S.C. Section 7661d(b)(1), to object to the issuance of any Title V air operation permit. Any petition shall be based only on objections to the permit that were raised with reasonable specificity during the 30-day public comment period provided in the Public Notice, unless the petitioner demonstrates to the Administrator of the EPA that it was impracticable to raise such objections within the comment period or unless the grounds for such objection arose after the comment period. Filing of a petition with the Administrator of the EPA does not stay the effective date of any permit properly issued pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 62-213, F.A.C. Petitions filed with the Administrator of EPA must meet the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section 7661d(b)(2) and must be filed with the Administrator of the EPA at: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Administrator, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code: 1101A, Washington, DC 20460. For more information regarding EPA review and objections, visit EPA’s Region 4 web site at https://www.epa.gov/ caa-permitting/floridaproposed-title-v-permits.
Publish: June 26, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Construction Services for Card Sound Road at Tubby’s Creek Bridge #904982 and Card Sound Road at Mosquito Creek Bridge #904984
Monroe County, Florida
Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.
Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.
The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00P.M. on Thursday, August 14, 2025 There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are
separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, August 14, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following:
One tap mobile: +16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,, 4509326156# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Publish: June 26, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
Effective May 31, 2025, Joseph Sunny, M.D., is no longer practicing with Baptist Health Gastroenterology at the following location: 91550 Overseas Highway, Suite 205, Tavernier, FL 33070.
Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may log into our patient portal at myBaptistHealth.net, call 305-434-3400 or fax 786-260-0513 to request a records release.
Publish: June 12, 19, 26 & July 3, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 25-CP-000193-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF ALCIDES C. GONZALEZ Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS (summary administration) TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: You are hereby notified that an Order of Summary Administration has been entered in the estate of ALCIDES C. GONZALEZ, deceased, File Number 25-CP000193-P, by the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Plantation Key Courthouse, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 1, Tavernier, FL 33070; that the decedent’s date of death was March 2nd, 2025; that the total value of the estate is $7,500.00 and that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such order are:
Name: M ARIA HORTENSIA GONZALEZ PADRON, Trustee of the ALCIDES C. GONZALEZ Living Trust dtd June 23, 2009
Address: 170 Marina Avenue, Key Largo, FL 33037
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT:
All creditors of the estate of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this Notice is: June 19, 2025. ALCIDES C. GONZALEZ Living Trust dtd June 23, 2009
MARIA H GONZALEZ PADRON, Trustee
Address: 170 Marina Avenue, Key Largo, FL 33037 Palmer Palmer & Mangiero Attorneys for Person Giving Notice 12790 S. Dixie Hwy Miami, FL 33156
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-000233-P SECTION: Plantation Key IN RE: ESTATE OF TALLINI, MARY A NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION (testate)
The administration of the estate of MARY A. TALLINI, deceased, whose date of death was 11/28/2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Monroe County, Probate Division, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070-2132. The estate is testate and the dates of the decedent’s will and any codicils are January 19, 2013. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. The fiduciary lawyerclient privilege in Florida Statutes Section 90.5021 applies with respect to the personal representative and
any attorney employed by the personal representative. Any interested person on whom a copy of the notice of administration is served is required to file any objection that challenges the validity of the will or any codicils, venue, or jurisdiction of the court with the court in the manner provided in the Florida Probate Rules WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the date that is 3 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on that person, or those objections are forever barred. The 3 months’ time period may only be extended for estoppel based upon a misstatement by the personal representative regarding the time period within which an objection must be filed. The time period may not be extended for any other reason, including affirmative representation, failure to disclose information, or misconduct by the personal representative or any other person. Unless sooner barred by section 733.212(3), all objections to the validity of a will or any codicils, venue or the jurisdiction of the court must be filed no later than the earlier of the entry of an order of final discharge of the personal representative or 1 year after service of the notice of administration. A petition for determination of exempt property is required to be filed by or on behalf of any person entitled to exempt property under Section 732.402 WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the later of the date that is 4 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on such person or the date that is 40 days after the date of termination of any proceeding involving the construction, admission to probate, or validity of the will or involving any other matter affecting any part of the exempt property, or the right of such person to exempt property is deemed waived.
An election to take an elective share must be filed by or on behalf of the surviving spouse entitled to an elective share under Sections 732.201—732.2155 WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the earlier of the date that is 6 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on the surviving spouse, or an attorney in fact or a guardian of the property of the surviving spouse, or the date that is 2 years after the date of the decedent’s death. The time for filing an election to take an elective share may be extended as provided in the Florida Probate Rules. Deborah M. Weiss, Petitioner: By: Clive M. Ryan, Esq.
Attorney for Personal Representative: FBN: 388955
Ofc: 9555 SW 175th Terrace, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Mailing Address: 13611 S. Dixie Highway PMB 109-405 Palmetto Bay, FL 33176
Tel: 305-833-3079
Email: Service.Cmryanlaw@ gmail.com
Publish:
June 19 & 26, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-000233-P
SECTION: Plantation Key IN RE: ESTATE OF TALLINI, MARY A
NOTICE TO CREDITORS TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: You are hereby notified that a Petition for Formal Administration has been filed in the estate of MARY A. TALLINI, deceased, Case Number 25-CP-000233-P, in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Probate Division, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 330702132. The estate is testate and the dates of the decedent’s will and any codicils are January 19, 2013, that the decedent’s date of death was November 28, 2024; that the total value of the estate is $170,000.00, that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such order are: ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All creditors of the estate of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this Notice is June 19, 2025
Person Giving Notice: Deborah M. Weiss 14 Manor Road, North Greenlawn NY 11740
Attorney for Person Giving Notice: Clive M. Ryan Email: Cmryanlaw@gmail.com 9555 SW 175th Terrace Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Florida Bar No. 388955
Tel: 305-833-3079
Publish: June 19 & 26, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 25-CP-245-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF WILMA JEAN PYLAND CARNER Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of, WILMA JEAN PYLAND CARNER, deceased, whose date of death was 22 May 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is 19 June, 2025.
Personal Representative: Jeffrey Pyland PO Box 651 Islamorada, FL 33036 Attorney for Personal Representative: Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036 Phone 305.664.2200 Fax 2205
Primary Email: tom@ tomwoodslaw.com Publish: June 19 & 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 25-CP-238-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MERRICK DUNN Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of, MERRICK DUNN, deceased, whose date of death was 5 May 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the Co-Personal Representatives and the Co-Personal Representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is 19 June, 2025. Co-Personal Representatives: John Dunn and Lauren Dunn 509
2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.
The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is 19 June, 2025.
Personal Representative: Donnie Williams 6185 State Rd. 11 Deleon Springs, FL 32130 Attorney for Personal Representative: Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036 Phone 305.664.2200 Fax 2205
Primary Email: tom@ tomwoodslaw.com Publish: June 19 & 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-36-K DIVISION: FAMILY TARA PATRICK, Petitioner, and BRYAN CASTRO, Respondent. AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: BRYAN CASTRO RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 44 KROG ST. N.E. UNIT 602, ATLANTA, GA 30307 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Tara Patrick, whose address is 201Coppitt Rd, Apt. 301A, Key West, FL 33040 on or before July 19, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card debt $9,247.00. All charges made solely by Bryan after we split up. 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: June 12, 2025
Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish:
June 19 & 26 and July 3 &10, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA KEY WEST DIVISION IN ADMIRALTY CASE NO.: 4:25-cv-10041-DPG IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF REINALDO AQUIT AS OWNER OF A 2022 DEEP IMPACT, REGISTRATION NO. 4O1327056, 39' HIN DIC39928K122, AND OTHER APPURTENANCES, Petitioner, NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF PETITION FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Notice is given that the above named Petitioner, Reinaldo Aquit ("Limitation Petitioner") has filed a Petition/Complaint for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30501 et seq., ("Limitation Petition") for all claims for any damages or injuries, arising out of, or occurring as a result of an incident on the navigable waters of the United States on or about November 7, 2024, allegedly involving a 2022 Deep Impact, Registration No. DO1327056, 39' HIN DIC39928K122, and Other Appurtenances, as more fully described in the Limitation Petition.
All persons having such claims must file their respective claims, as provided by Supplemental Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, with the Clerk of Court in writing and must serve a copy thereof on attorneys for Limitation Petitioner on or before July 14, 2025 or be defaulted. Personal attendance is not required.
Any claimant who desires to contest either the right to exoneration from or the right to limitation of liability shall file and serve on attorneys for Limitation Petitioner an answer to the Complaint, on or before the aforesaid date, unless the claim includes an answer, so designated, or be defaulted.
DONE AND ORDERED this 12th day of May, 2025.
DARRIN P. GAYLES
UNITED STATE DISTRICT
JUDGE
Publish:
June 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS!
Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. $3,500.00 Or best offer. Located in Marathon area. CALL 305-417-0169
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE.
$25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
19’x40’ slip in Marathon, could handle somewhat larger boat with approval from dockmaster. Desirable location in marina, easy in, easy out. Available thru Oct 25, possibly long term lease. $1,400/ mo. Please contact Vern Rozier, 904 626 5279, or 904 626 8224 and leave call back info. Or email vrrozier@yahoo.com.
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
SUDOKU SOLUTION
ALL KEYS GUTTER HIRING INSTALLERS
$25/$35hr - Holidays Off -BenefitsTavernier. Apply: call or text Jay 305-587-1581
Night Monitor –FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/
NOW HIRING in Marathon. Front DeskSaturday only from 9am5pm. Call 305-289-6500
Fantastic part-time Housekeeper position available in Key Colony Beach! Immediate start date. Primarily on weekends, with excellent pay for the right candidate. Reach out to Continental Inn Beachside at Vivian 952-208-2850 or Cheryl 305-505-8747
Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing ManagerFT-Marathon, CarpenterFT, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.
Full time office position with strong computer skills, KCB Condominium, $78K per yr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531. HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
FOR SALE
2003 FORD EXPLORER 174k miles. Runs great, A/C works. $3,500 OBO Located in Middle Keys. 305-417-0169
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
HOBBIES/COLLECT.
PRIVATE COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
2BR/2BA on the water w/ dockage in Pirates Cove, Key Largo. Fenced & fully furnished. Short and long term available. From $3500/month. Credit check required. 28 day minimum. Call 305-588-6723
3BR/2BA Furnished home for rent on Grassy Key. Available July 7. $3,800/ mo. 708-674-8044
3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Avail July 1. $4,500/mo. 618-559-9143
2BR/1BA for rent in Key Colony Beach. 800 sq. ft., fully furnished, across from park, one block from beach. 3 month min. $3000/month + sales & TDT taxes. F/L/S 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@ gmail.com
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Tile & carpet floors, new appliances, gated property. No pets. Avail in July. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dockage available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
NOW HIRING
OFFICE RECEPTIONIST/ CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
We're looking for a friendly, professional and detail-oriented individual to join our team.
Position: Full Time Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: Marathon
Pay: Competitive based on experience
Key Responsibilities
- Greet and assist customers, answer phones and manage front desk operations.
- Provide excellent customer service to clients.
- Perform general o ce duties, including data entry and filing.
- Use QuickBooks to manage invoices, payments and other accounting tasks.
- Support other administrative and customer service needs as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual preferred but not required
- Experience with QuickBooks
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Professional attitude and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
To apply: Please send your resume to Brenda@discountrock.us
Available Now, Stock Island near CVS.
Traveling nurses/ Working professionals only. No pets, smokers or drugs. Gated, safe, quiet, has parking and a pool. Fully furnished room w/private bath, smart TV, washer/dryer. House and kitchen privileges always, w/ fridge and cabinet space. Monthly rent REDUCED to $1,400.00 All Included. First and Last due at move in time. Call 305-797-5600 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.
RV Lot For Sale in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. Full hookup, close to marina. $59,900 or $2,000 down & $500/month. Call Nate 317-440-4709
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
MOVING SALE: Sat. June 28 & Sun. June 29 from 9A-5P. Furniture, fishing, boating, tools, & misc. household items. 1501 Aqueduct Lane, Key Largo.
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
NOW HIRING
DELIVERY/WAREHOUSE/ RECEIVING POSITION
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:
OPERATOR/MAINTAINER
JOIN OUR TEAM!
The Keys Collection is seeking a Complex Sales Manager and a Sales & Events Coordinator to drive revenue and build lasting client relationships across three properties: Blue Flamingo Resort, Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Inn. Ideal candidates will have hospitality sales experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for delivering exceptional results.
WE ARE HIRING!
NIGHTS/WEEKENDS – GROUP HOMES 24/7 (FT)
These positions are available at our Windsor and Von Phister Group Homes. Providing direct-care services and support to our clients in their home. Must be willing to work flexible shifts including overnights. This position requires a minimum of high school completion or GED and 1 year of experience with care giving or 30 hours of college coursework.*
DIRECT CARE STAFF/DRIVER
ADULT DAY-TRAINING PROGRAM (FT/PT)
This position is available at our Adult Day program. Providing direct care service and support for our clients in the day program. Requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. Prefer experience with caregiving or working with adults with disabilities*
*ALSO REQUIRED FOR ALL POSITIONS: Fluent in English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. Level 2 background screening and valid Florida driver’s license with clean driving record. EOE
Furniture store in Old Town looking for delivery and warehouse staff. This is a part-time position with the possibility of full-time for the right person. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and will drive a company vehicle. Organized team player a must. Hourly position starting at $20 an hour based on experience. Apply at 726 Caroline Street, Key West for more details.
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
IS HIRING IN THE UPPER KEYS
ACCOUNTING PERSON
Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002
NOW HIRING
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.
is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate. LIVE IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
GENERAL OFFICE HELP
Captain Pip’s & their sister properties are looking to hire for general of ce help.
Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
NOW HIRING!
e Turtle Hospital in Marathon wants you to join their team! EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES
Full and part-time. Public speaking and & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start.
Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have the following opening available. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
FACILITIES
MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE (Full-Time, Permanent)
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.
IS HIRING!
Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) KEY WEST
Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult, PT) Prevention Specialist Advocate
MARATHON
Prevention Specialist Care Coordinator (PT)
Driver (CDL not required) (PT)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT,PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)
*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT,PT)
*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP
EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip
DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR
The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions.
Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma and computer data entry skills required.
DUI instructors and evaluators: 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required. Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We are now hiring for the following positions: Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers
CDL Drivers
Applicants must apply in person to be considered.
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier
- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
