Marathon Weekly 25-0717

The one that’s turn key

Now offered in the sought after Jolly Roger Estates, this beautifully maintained, canal front home is just 10 years old and move-in ready. Elevated and thoughtfully designed, the 1,296 sq. ft. residence features three bedrooms and two bathrooms with refined details such as crown molding, tray ceilings, tile showers, and an open-concept living area. A new metal roof was installed in 2018, and the home is fully equipped with impact-rated windows and doors for peace of mind. Enjoy added privacy and nightly sunset views over the pristine salt marsh directly across the street. Boaters will appreciate the excellent access to both the ocean and the bay, with a private dock on a free flowing clear water canal that includes a 7k side lift. The spacious lot provides a large driveway, double covered parking for multiple vehicles, and space for a boat trailer. Downstairs, a full concrete pad and enclosed angler's room offer the perfect setup for storing fishing gear and water toys. Just 24 miles from Key West, the area provides the perfect balance of island serenity and easy access to vibrant city amenities.

9709 Overseas Hwy.

Marathon, FL 33050

Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

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This leatherback turtle nesting season, which runs from March to July, is one for the record books. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1,960 leatherback nests were documented as of June 30. This breaks a previous record set in 2022.

‘Ollie’ the osprey gets to know his new home at the Marathon Wild Bird Center after being rescued on Monday. KELLY GRINTER/Marathon Wild Bird Center

COUNTY KEEPS 50% CUTS TO NONPROFITS, 20 STAFF LAYOFFS & A TAX INCREASE IN PRELIMINARY BUDGET

Leaders say DOGE scrutiny, FEMA uncertainty are to blame

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Facing mounting scrutiny from the state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and uncertainty in future federal disaster assistance, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners may look to a tax increase to build its emergency reserves.

But roughly 20 staff layoffs remain in effect, along with elimination of 20 extra vacant positions. And barring future changes, social service nonprofits will still see a sudden 50% reduction in county funding.

In a preliminary budget meeting lasting more than four hours on July 15, commissioners elected to set a county-wide maximum millage rate of 2.7327, or $273.27 per $100,000 in taxable home value, up from 2.6929 in 2024-25. If preserved, the new rate would represent a 10.25% increase over the rollback rate of 2.4786 – the millage rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as 2024-25, based on increased property values. Those values jumped 9.3% in 2025 to a total county-wide taxable value of $50.2 billion, up from $46 billion in 2024.

Since January, county officials have received increasingly detailed probes from Florida’s DOGE to outline and categorize all aspects of government spending. What began as an initial check-in in March, County Administrator Christine Hurley told the commission, soon spread to comprehensive audits sent down in June and July – including all spending records, job descriptions and even hours worked by staff, among other items.

Last month, a presentation by DOGE team lead Eric Soskin to the Florida Association of Counties outlined the department’s priorities, including pinpointing “trendy or lowROI” spending along with “unnecessary use of taxpayer funds to support (non-governmental organizations)” and “subsidized competition with

private enterprises.”

That same month, software, data and media company Bloomberg reported a leaked federal memo titled “Abolishing FEMA.” It detailed plans by the Trump administration to “drastically shrink” the agency’s key disaster-response functions, including stopping federal aid to disasters that aren’t of “national significance” and stopping new enrollments in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Those developments, combined with looming state efforts to eliminate property taxes, guided the proposed $678.5 million budget presented Tuesday, which begins a march toward a $40 million emergency/disaster reserve fund should federal assistance be slashed.

But the reductions came at a hefty cost.

In early July, 20 county staffers ranging from executive assistants to senior environmental planners, mechanics and even the executive director of transit were told their positions would be eliminated by October at the latest. Seventeen vacant posts also got the axe.

Shortly before Tuesday’s meeting, local nonprofits funded by the county’s Human Services Advisory Board (HSAB) also learned they’d be taking a 50% cut – a $1.1 million hit for organizations like Key West’s MARC House and Samuel’s House, Keys AHEC and Womankind, among many others.

“These cuts have already been made, and it’s the only way we could balance the budget,” said Hurley, separating positions and funding already eliminated in staff’s proposed budget – dubbed Tier 1 and Tier 2 – from a Tier 3 “red plan” debated by the commission on Tuesday. If followed in full, that “red plan” would have included a complete cut to nonprofit funding, along with an additional 12 filled staff positions and seven vacant jobs.

“The further cuts are what we can accomplish to add money into the emergency reserves,” Hurley said.

An hour of public comment saw

The Monroe County Commission hears the details of a proposed budget from Assistant County Administrator Tina Boan, Office of Management and Budget Assistant Director John Quinn and County Administrator Christine Hurley in a preliminary meeting on July 15.

passionate pleas to restore HSAB funding and the Monroe County Extension Service. Several speakers said they would gladly accept a tax increase to continue supporting the affected groups.

“I’m deaf, blind and have multiple disabilities,” Key West resident Tosha Snyder told the commission. “Through no fault of my own, I lost my home, I lost my life, I lost everything. People from Samuel’s House, when I knocked

Tosha Snyder of Key West makes her case for Samuel’s House, which draws funding from the county’s Human Services Advisory Board. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

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AUDIT FINDS GRANT FUNDS

MISMANAGED

WITHIN COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES

AMonroe County Clerk’s audit revealed various issues related to the management of grants administered by Monroe County Social Services.

The audit covered the fiscal years 2022 to 2024 and identified problems with compliance, operational structure and record-keeping. Deficiencies in oversight and outdated practices may have led to a potential budget shortfall exceeding $2 million.

“Monroe County Social Services’ unstructured work environment created an opportunity for MCSS to seriously mismanage its grant funds which, in turn, appears to have created a material budget shortfall for the county,” reads the clerk’s audit report. “In other words, MCSS management did not ensure that grant revenue was available to cover the department’s expenditures.”

The clerk’s audit report says the financial irregularities identified do not indicate employee theft. Rather, they indicate deficiencies in financial recordkeeping, including improper bookkeeping, unreimbursed expenditures, misclassification of expenses and other accounting errors that accumulated over multiple years.

County officials say the issues in the report are being addressed by Tina Boan, the assistant county administrator, and Cathy Crane, the new director of community services who assumed management of these operations in mid-June.

Boan said the county takes the audit’s findings “very seriously and are fully committed to long-term change to make sure the department is remediated.”

KEY COLONY BEACH LOOKS TO REPLACE VICE MAYOR Commission to appoint new

“The county is committed to ensuring the responsible stewardship of public funds and is implementing corrective measures to strengthen internal controls, improve operational efficiency and ensure full compliance with grant requirements,” she said.

The department, under new leadership, has acknowledged the audit findings and is taking steps to improve operations, including establishing defined workflows and implementing new policies and procedures; adding staff training and cross-training; implementing a centralized intake and casetracking system; transitioning from paper-based to digital records, including time-keeping and applications; and improving budgetary tracking and grant reconciliation processes.

The county will hire an outside firm to help with the forensic reconciliation of associated grant cost centers and will conduct a year-by-year review to identify expenditures that were not properly budgeted. Additional training and policy updates are underway to ensure alignment with county administrative requirements and federal and state grant compliance standards.

As part of the constitutional responsibilities, the Monroe County Clerk’s Internal Audit Department provides independent, accurate and timely audits of Monroe County government’s business activities, operations, financial systems and internal controls.

Monroe County commissioners will discuss the audit at their Aug. 20 meeting in Key West.

— Keys Weekly staff report

member after Joey Raspe’s resignation

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Key Colony Beach will seek to replace its third commissioner lost to resignation in less than two years as city leaders convene for their monthly session on July 17.

On June 23, Vice Mayor Joey Raspe tendered his resignation in a short email to City Clerk Silvia Roussin. He did not state a reason for resigning.

“Thank you, all the best to everyone,” he wrote.

Raspe was originally appointed to the commission in December 2022 in the wake of former commissioner Ron Sutton’s passing that October. Before joining the commission, he had served as the city’s Code Enforcement and Planning and Zoning Board chair.

He began another term in 2024, as he went unopposed along with fellow incumbents Doug Colonell, Tom DiFransico and Tom Harding in the November general election.

Per the city’s code of ordinances, the remaining commissioners may fill Raspe’s seat by appointing a new commissioner with a majority vote within 45 days. Review of the applications received thus far is scheduled at the commission’s Thursday session, with a note that the appointment must be complete by Aug. 7.

At press time, the city had received two applications for the vacant seat –one from current Utility Board mem-

ber Fred Swanson, and one from real estate investor and former U.S. Postal Service manager Kirk Diehl.

A regular for years at commission meetings and a Key Colony resident since 2007, Swanson cited work in a 40-year career in the oil industry in his application. He said the decades in engineering have provided him insights in project financial analysis as well as corporate, community and project management.

“I appreciate the time and effort required to be a commissioner, and am willing to spend that effort,” he wrote. “I have reviewed all of KCB’s commissioner meeting minutes since 2017 and financial budgets and audits on the city’s website.”

Diehl, a Key Colony resident since 2018, said he looked to “contribute to the momentum that has occurred in the last one and a half years … to ensure that we are able to complete the City Hall project in a timely manner” among other current issues.

He said he concluded a 32-year career with the U.S. Postal Service in 2012, also obtaining his general contractor certification in Maryland in 1983 and working in real estate investments and home improvement projects since then.

Thursday’s selection, if completed, will mark Key Colony’s third commission appointment in less than three years. After Raspe’s appointment in 2022, DiFransico was unanimously appointed in November 2023 to replace recently-resigned Mayor Patti Trefry. Four months later, Colonell replaced former commissioner Beth RamsayVickrey after her resignation in February 2024.

A call and text to Raspe were not returned at press time.

The session gets underway at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.

Joey Raspe. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

The Grassy Key Marina will pay any person a finder's fee equal to 10% of the monthly contracted rate (before taxes) of any boat/trailer customer that is willing to sign a statement that the customer was referred by that person. The Grassy Key Marina will continue to pay the finder's fee for each month of the initial contract term. (renewals and/or future contracts will not be subject to the finder's fee). This o er is not retroactive and only applies to contracts signed after 3/1/25. This o er is voluntary on the part of the Grassy Key Marina and can be cancelled at any time.

BIG PINE KEY MAN GETS PRISON SENTENCE IN CHILD EXPLOITATION CASES

Alexander Louis Morris, 28, of Big Pine Key, was sentenced to six years in a Florida prison after pleading guilty to six felony charges stemming from two separate child exploitation cases, State Attorney Dennis Ward said.

The investigations were led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Morris pleaded guilty to one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a seconddegree felony; and five counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, second-degree felonies. He was sentenced to six years in state prison on count one, and five years on each of counts two through six, with all terms to run concurrently, resulting in a total of six years in prison.

Following his release, Morris will serve four years of sexual offender probation, which includes electronic monitoring, court-ordered treatment, restrictions on internet and social media access, and a permanent listing on the Florida Sexual Offender Registry. He was also ordered to pay fines and court costs.

The investigation revealed that Morris possessed a large collection of digital files involving the abuse and exploitation of minors. Among the evidence were what investigators called “trophy videos,” recordings Morris made of himself engaging in lewd conduct while viewing exploitative material — an act that reflects not only intent but personal investment in the harm being depicted.

“This wasn’t just illegal — it was vile,” said Ward. “The content Mr. Morris possessed was extremely disturbing and flat-out disgusting. These videos showed real children being subjected to unthinkable acts. And to make

matters worse, Morris made personal recordings of himself reacting to that content — turning child abuse into his own private ritual. It’s beyond troubling. Thanks to the outstanding work of FDLE and our federal partners, he is now behind bars and will be monitored for years to come.”

The first investigation began in December 2023, when FDLE agents executed a search warrant at Morris’ Big Pine Key residence and seized several electronic devices. Dozens of files were uncovered depicting egregious abuse of prepubescent children. A second case soon followed, prompted by a series of CyberTipline reports submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These tips traced Morris to multiple online accounts used to download and share illegal content through platforms such as Kik, Discord, Telegram and Snapchat.

“These two separate cases revealed the same pattern: an individual deeply immersed in the online exploitation of children,” Ward said. “Every image, every video, represents a real child who endured real trauma. No one who engages in this kind of behavior will go unnoticed or unpunished in Monroe County.”

Morris is currently serving his sentence in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections.

— Keys Weekly staff report

MARINE SANCTUARY’S KEY LARGO OFFICE OFF THE CHOPPING BLOCK

Lease was eyed for termination by DOGE

Employees with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will continue to operate out of its Key Largo facility, located at MM 95, bayside, after the General Services Administration rescinded a lease termination by DOGE. FILE PHOTO

jim@keysweekly.com

Months of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Key Largo office are officially over.

Serving as the hub for marine operations, an 8,000-square-foot building at 95230 Overseas Highway leased by the sanctuary was under scrutiny by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was headed for a time by billionaire Elon Musk. A DOGE website lists 11,000-plus contracts totaling $44 billion which are up for termination.

According to sanctuary officials, the lease’s termination was officially rescinded by the General Services Administration last week. The sanctuary will have its current lease through 2031 — a win for employees who work at the office and efforts to protect everything from coral and seagrass to shipwrecks.

The sanctuary’s lease, which DOGE calculated to be $252,011 a year, was one of roughly 740 leases up for potential termination. The Monroe County Property Appraiser

website lists the owner of the building as Key Largo Ace Hardware Inc.

NOAA relies on the Key Largo facility as a critical hub for marine operations in the mid- to northern Keys. More than half of the sanctuary’s staff is based at the facility, monitoring the health of ecosystems within the sanctuary and safeguarding vital resources.

David Burke, acting sanctuary superintendent, said the Key Largo Marine Operations Center plays an essential role in supporting NOAA’s mandates under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act by overseeing vessel maintenance, marine research, coastal and ocean monitoring and emergency response. Those activities “directly contribute to the protection and management of the Florida Keys marine resources,” Burke said. “We could not be more excited to continue to support the Upper Keys community through this location.”

Designated Nov. 16, 1990, the sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of waters surrounding the Florida Keys, from south of Miami westward to the Dry Tortugas, excluding Dry Tortugas National Park, starting at the mean high-water mark.

JIM McCARTHY

Alexander Louis Morris. MCSO/Contributed

LEAVING THE HELM

FWC Capt. David Dipre closes 30 years in law enforcement

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

On July 3, flashing lights and dozens of law enforcement officers descended on 79th Street in Marathon. On the street he calls home – which became the name of his must-see local band – FWC Captain Dave Dipre sat in the back of a patrol truck. After 30 years spent serving the citizens of Florida, he took a deep breath, choking back emotions for a moment before giving his final “10/7” over the radio.

“Please don’t play bagpipes,” he laughed.

“Your leadership, courage and unwavering commitment has been an inspiration to us all,” the dispatcher replied. “On behalf of dispatch, it’s been an honor serving with you, sir.”

Dipre’s drive for public service began before he could drive a car, starting as a junior firefighter in Pennsylvania at the age of 14 before joining the army after high school.

“Back in the ’80s, you could do a lot more stuff than you can now,” he said. “Wearing the packs and going into burning buildings at a very young age – we did some crazy stuff.”

Working as a dispatcher, Dipre said he saw the opportunity to get out from behind a desk and on the water as Florida Marine Patrol merged with the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission to become FWC in 1999.

“I was in FWC Academy number 1,” he said. “But I knew in the Keys, we did a lot more than that – we were involved in narcotics, domestic violence, everything.”

Sure enough, on his first day on the job, Dipre was chasing down a murder suspect who’d hijacked a boat out of Garrison Bight Marina in Key West, ending in a sniper standoff with the grounded vessel.

“It wasn’t like that every day, because Monroe County is a great place to be,” he said. “But sometimes, it goes south.”

With all he’s seen, Dipre’s sense of humor is still his calling card for anyone who knows him. Asked how he keeps that alive in spite of the stories he can tell, his answer is simple:

“Because most people are wonderful,” he said. “Those people we deal with in those (bad) situations, they’re 10% of the 1%. But it’s our job to find them.

“Even the ones we deal with who are way down in the dumps, maybe rock bottom, if you treat them with dignity, they really appreciate it, because that’s all they’re looking for half the time. … And many times, they snap back.”

And even in the darkest situations, he said, there’s always a sliver of humor to be found.

“If you don’t laugh about it, the sadness of it … there has to be something there to keep you from being angry,” he said. “We make ourselves laugh about it. … You look at the humor, if you can find it.”

He recalled a night chasing down a domestic violence suspect who’d run his sailboat aground on Eastern Dry Rocks. Commandeering – and accidentally sinking – a small dinghy to try to rescue the victim from the shallow reef waters, the FWC and Coast Guard crews were surprised to find the boat

FWC Capt. Dave Dipre

“Please trust your law enforcement officers. These people all care about our communities. We want to see the wrongdoing dealt with, and we want to protect the good people.”

missing when they returned just minutes later.

“In the three or four minutes that we were transporting her back, (the suspect) managed to wake up, pull the anchor and disappear,” Dipre said. “But suddenly we saw red flares going up. Turns out that when he hit the reef, he cracked the hull. So he got maybe 100 yards away and sank the sailboat.

“We got all the boats out of the water, but what a goofy night, man.”

Getting boats out of the water – derelict vessels, specifically – is a specialty for Dipre, and one he can proudly look back on after helping spearhead years of efforts to remove the ecologically-damaging eyesores from the Keys’ mangroves, seagrass beds and canals.

1. Whether they’re cuffing bad guys or wrangling gators on Big Pine Key, it’s all in a day’s work for Dave Dipre and his FWC officers. CONTRIBUTED

2. A young Dave Dipre approaches the end of his time as a dispatcher in 1999.

3. Dave Dipre, right, joins fellow officers and an FWC K9 unit for a resource patrol.

4. Dipre and law enforcement partners take a moment away from recovery efforts for a photo after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

After Hurricane Irma, more than 1,600 vessels were pulled from Keys waters. This fiscal year, he said, they’ve pulled out 130 – in Key West alone.

“The guys make fun of me for it all the time, how I can never go to a meeting without mentioning derelict vessels. But you have to,” he said. “We can’t stop for a minute.”

As he closes the book on more than three decades in law enforcement and public service, Dipre credited FWC major Alberto Maza, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and Robert Spottswood as his mentors. But his greatest accomplishment, he said, is the partnerships he’s been fortunate enough to preserve and grow in a delicate island chain, where cooperation is more vital than ever.

“I don’t want to say proud, because I didn’t do anything magnificent,” he said. “People say it’s so cliche, but if we didn’t have such great partnerships with the sheriff’s office, Key West Police Department, the fire departments, the county commission, we couldn’t have been as successful as we were. I’m really hoping that (new FWC Capt.) Adam (Garrison) can keep that up.”

CRASH COURSE

Osprey rescued after a dive for lunch goes wrong

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Amale osprey is fighting for a second chance at life, courtesy of a timely rescue and the staff at the Marathon Wild Bird Center.

On Monday, local resident Julie Cheon watched as the bird of prey miscalculated a lunchtime dive, crashlanding and struggling in the water before eventually pulling itself onto land.

“The osprey was clearly in distress and unable to fly,” said Cheon. “I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and grateful to help out in a small way. Dana Child from the bird center responded quickly and handled the rescue with incredible care.”

Unofficially dubbed “Ollie,” the injured bird was taken to the Wild Bird Center for evaluation and treatment. Kelly Grinter, the bird center’s founder, gave the Weekly a guarded prognosis when asked about Ollie’s chances for a recovery, noting that he had “decent weight” but “very poor feather condition” and had yet to eat voluntarily.

“This happens to older osprey who are getting tired of raising a family,” she said. “The male does most of the hunting, hence the wear and tear of the feathers, until the babies start to

leave the nest; then the female helps. Usually every year I get one or two or even three old male osprey that are simply tired.”

As of Tuesday evening, Grinter said the bird was “feeling spunkier.”

“The wings out is his flight-beforefight mode, but he hasn’t anywhere to go at the moment,” she said.

Ospreys are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are a common sight along the Florida Keys coastline, often seen nesting or hunting in open waters. Quick, coordinated responses help ensure these birds receive the care they need when injured.

To learn more about wildlife rescue or support the Marathon Wild Bird Center, visit marathonwildbirdcenter. org.

Julie Cheon holds

Ollie takes stock of his surroundings and shows signs of life at the Marathon Wild Bird Center. KELLY GRINTER/Marathon Wild Bird Center

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COUNTY KEEPS 50% CUTS TO NONPROFITS, 20 STAFF LAYOFFS & A TAX INCREASE IN PRELIMINARY BUDGET

on the door, they let me in. … I just urge you to please leave the door open. There are so many people who are just sitting there asking, ‘Is there a place for me?’”

“Eliminating this creates more need with less funds to go around,” said Key West resident Diana Flenard on behalf of the Monroe County Homeless Coalition and MARC House. “Who do you think, when there’s a hurricane and FEMA doesn’t come down, they’re going to reach out to when they need help with water, electric, their bills? They’re going to come back to these HSAB-funded organizations for help.”

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“We are letting (non-homesteaded property owners) use our county for their playground, and touting it as a feather in our cap that we charge them low taxes,” said Womankind executive director Callie Roberts. “We’re saying, you can come down here one weekend a year, but this woman does not get prenatal care?

“You’re not raising taxes, you’re keeping up with the times. If you’re going to charge me an extra $200 a year to live here, I will gladly write you the check.”

All four commissioners present acknowledged the significance of the organizations, while commissioner David Rice argued for a 25% total cut to the HSAB funding, something he said most nonprofits “could survive.”

“They’re not receiving a dollar-for-dollar cut,” he said, adding that a 50% cut “will kill off” several human services nonprofits. “In many cases, that dollar buys them three dollars in matching (grants).”

“I no longer take pride in Monroe County having the lowest millage in the state of Florida,” he added. “I think what we’re doing is going to have an impact on our quality of life that we will only recognize too late.”

But commissioners Holly Raschein and Michelle Lincoln said they struggled with nonprofits’ reliance on government funding and what could be seen as mandated donations, preferring instead for residents to choose which organizations to support directly.

“Government funding is not necessarily a guarantee, and it’s certainly not an entitlement – it’s a bonus,” said Raschein, calling on her experiences with line item vetos in the state appropriations committee. “When you build your budget on government funding, you can never depend on that.”

“We all sit on these boards – we all do everything we humanly can to support every one of our not-for-profit agencies in our county,” said Lincoln. “In some years, more (organizations) have applied (to HSAB) than get money. We’re taking taxpayers’ money to decide which agencies we fund, and that puts all of us in a very tough spot.”

The four commissioners present, with Craig Cates absent, ultimately agreed to a plan that would add $4 million to the county’s $10 million in disaster reserves, made possible by pairing the raised millage with cuts to seven vacant positions in the Tier 3 “red” plan; removal of the county from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact; elimination of FreeBee ride services in Key West and Stock Island; a complete funding cut to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation; and reducing proposed cost of living adjustments for the county’s constitutional officers from 5% to 2.9%, matching those of other staff members.

The proposed millage may be preserved or decreased, but not increased, at two public hearings on Sept 3 and 10, both at 5:05 p.m. at the Harvey Government Center in Key West and the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo, respectively.

Studies over the summer will continue to explore cost-cutting measures, including analyzing expenses eligible for Tourist Development Council funding, analysis of the county’s Parks and Recreation summer camp, additional staffing evaluations and continued monitoring of federal legislation changes as well as state and local revenue estimates.

“Ultimately, we greatly appreciate not being eliminated totally, but it will require most agencies that care for our local residents to simply stop or significantly reduce services,” Keys AHEC CEO Michael Cunningham told the Weekly after the meeting. “Who will be able to fill that gap? This is why we all exist and have full patient caseloads.”

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A PORPOISEFUL PLAYLIST

41st Underwater Music Festival delights at Looe Key

Spending the day on the water isn’t complete without the perfect playlist. But have you ever heard it played underwater?

Last weekend in the Florida Keys, that’s exactly what happened as mermaids, snorkelers and scuba divers made some serious waves, all in the name of coral reef restoration.

Creative costumes, sparkly dresses and red high-heel shoes were on full display during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival. The eccentric event featured a trumpet, harp and even a ukulele and took place on Looe (pronounced Lou) Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.

If you’re wondering whether this event really happens underwater, you’re not alone.

“I have heard of the Underwater Music Festival for years and I never thought it was actually underwater,” said Samantha Queen, one of the festival’s “mermaids” living in Key West. “I assumed that was just a cute Florida Keys name. So when I found it was actually underwater … it was like I’d been missing out for so long.”

The music was simulcast on US-1 Radio and piped underwater from speakers suspended beneath boats, providing a “sub-sea soundtrack.” Songs from Key West’s own Jimmy Buffett, as well as the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and the Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea,” played during the four-hour concert, which featured diver awareness messages aimed at

minimizing the environmental impacts on coral reefs.

“We have the largest living coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere, and we want to bring attention to it and some of the stresses that it faces and just to point out that it’s there and needs our care,” said Steve Miller, executive director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.

Now in its 41st year, the Underwater Music Festival included free tours of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Research Center, where visitors saw the work being done to protect and rebuild the Keys’ coral reef ecosystem.

The real “lure,” though, was the scores of divers, snorkelers and, you guessed it, mermaids, the festival brings to the Keys.

“We are very proud to say that we have a large contingent of mermaids. By the way, a group of mermaids is called a ‘gossip,’” said Miller with a grin.

– Contributed

No 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 Cara O’Neill. She has her own personal training business and sells real estate with KCB Realty Inc. She also has her community association manager license and helps take care of a couple properties with her family’s business, O’Neill Solutions Group.

CARA O’NEILL KCB Realty Inc.

How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I’ve lived in the Keys my whole life. My parents wanted to ditch the snow and raise us on a sailboat here in Marathon. What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I love this community. I have fun every day, everywhere I go, because I see so many friendly faces throughout my day. I love freediving with my person, Justin, and keeping my eyes on my teenager. I’m grateful it is so safe here.

What is the theme song of your life? “Juicy” by the Notorious B.I.G.

What is the best advice anyone has given you? Don’t get “cocky.” (In an English accent.)

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, what actress would play you and why? Sandra Bullock; people say I resemble her. What is your favorite book and why? “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. Living by these four simple agreements changed my life and it gives me so much peace:

1: Be impeccable with your words.

2: Don’t take anything personally.

3: Don’t make assumptions.

4: Always do your best.

If you were a flower, what type would you be and why? A sunflower because I always try to turn towards the light.

If you won $1,000,000 today, what would you spend it on? I would invest in more real estate, of course!

What would I find in the center console of your car right now? Lots of name tags for all the organizations I’m in and keys to houses I’m trying to sell.

If you could have a conversation with one animal, which one would you talk to and why? My cat Olive. I feel like we have a lot in common.

Know someone that would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?”

JEN ALEXANDER

Creatively-costumed divers hit all the right notes at a makeshift concert on Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys during the Underwater Music Festival on July 12. Front row, from left: Donna Whitney, Kristen Livengood. Back row: Jason Samuse, Ricky Allen and Monroe County Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein. FRAZIER NIVENS/Florida Keys News Bureau

Ricky Allen creates a musical masterpiece with a trusty trumpet. FRAZIER NIVENS/ Florida Keys News Bureau

RESCUERS RUSH TO SAVE FLAMINGO

Bird dies despite attempts to restore its health

FRANK DERFLER

www.keysweekly.com

American flamingos, popularly known as pink flamingos, faced extinction in South Florida. But now they are reappearing in the Everglades and the Florida Keys.

Not every flamingo story is a happy one. On July 12, the staff at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier received calls from people in the area around Harry Harris park reporting a flamingo in distress. According to Erin Allison, the executive director of the Wild Bird Center, two staff members responded to Burton Drive near the park. The bird was reported by multiple drivers on the road who stated the flamingo was extremely disoriented and could not fly away.

“With their long legs, flamingos run to get airborne. This bird could run, but it didn’t have the strength to fly,” Allison said. “Our staff members were able to corral the bird and immediately brought it to our avian hospital. During the initial examination they found that the large bird weighed just under 4 pounds, was weak and emaciated, and covered with mites.”

In the course of an hour, its body temperature dropped from 105.6 to 100.6 degrees, leading staff to put six heat lamps on the flamingo in an attempt to stabilize it. The flamingo was given subcutaneous fluid and an iron dextran injection to treat anemia. It was also sprayed with an antiparasitic to treat the mites.

Wild Bird Center hospital manager Delaney Galbraith developed a master’s degree thesis on re-feeding emaciated birds. This is her area of expertise. Volunteer veterinarian Alison Millington came in to examine the bird.

Despite expert treatment, the pink flamingo died the next day.

“Our team did everything they possibly could for the American flamingo, but unfortunately, it was unstable and actively declining when we admitted it into our hospital,” Al-

Flamingos are returning to South Florida and the Everglades, as evidenced by this flock of 125 flamingos seen in June. MARK COOK/ Contributed

Allie Pydnynowski, Wild Rehabilitation Bird Center apprentice rehabilitator, examines the pink flamingo recovered in front of Ocean Pointe in Tavernier. ADDISON MULVEY/Contributed

lison said.

Allison added it’s the first time an American flamingo was admitted to the rehabilitation center.

There were reports last February of flamingos in Key Largo. Mark Cook, a restoration scientist and avian ecologist, recently photographed a flock of 125 birds around Garfield Bight, just east of the town of Flamingo on the south shore of the Everglades — the backyard of the Upper Keys.

The return of American flamingos to South Florida is tied in part to the winds of Hurricane Idalia in 2023.

The fact that they stayed and grew, doubling in numbers since the 2023 reports, is credited by Cook and others to improvements of the aquatic environment in the Keys.

State Rep. Jim Mooney credits Everglades restoration efforts for the return of flamingos. In the last legislative session, Mooney introduced House Bill 81, a conservation bill, making the American flamingo the state bird – the mockingbird was designated the state bird in 1927 – and naming the scrub jay as the state songbird. Mooney has stated that we are “saving the environment of the flamingo while bulldozing the environment of the scrub jay in central Florida.”

The bill didn’t move forward in 2025, but he intends to make it the first piece of legislation he introduces in 2026.

ILLEGAL CONCH, STOLEN BOATS & BRAWLS ON THE WATER

MCSO & FWC stay busy after July 4

Three highly-publicized cases had the attention of Keys law enforcement agencies in the week following Independence Day.

Hundreds of conch harvested illegally

The FWC is investigating a significant marine resource violation involving the illegal harvest of 291 queen conchs — a species strictly protected under Florida law due to its ecological importance and declining populations.

This incident occurred at or around the waterfront property located at 17 Shoreline Road in Key West (Key Haven) between July 7 and July 10. The FWC is asking for help from the public in gathering eyewitness accounts of suspicious activity or vessel movements in the area; any video footage (including home surveillance, boat cameras, cellphone recordings or drone footage) during the noted dates; or identification of any individuals or vessels potentially involved.

Those with tips may send them to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404FWCC (3922); to tip@MyFWC.com; or to the anonymous tip portal through the FWC Wildlife Alert app.

Stolen rental boat heads to Cuba

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office charged 63-year-old Floyd Dean Devasier of Katy, Texas on July 10 for allegedly stealing a rental boat from a Stock Island marina and taking it to Cuba.

Devasier rented a 26.5-foot Panga boat from Beach Weekend Key West Marina for two days under an agreement that all maritime laws be followed, the vessel was not to be operated at dark, and would be returned before the end of business on July 9. A marina employee noted Devasier bought and filled an extra 20-gallon fuel tank before departing.

Devasier told the marina he would dock the boat overnight on the 6800 block of Front Street on Stock Island in accordance with the no-nightoperation clause of the rental agreement. However, multiple business and vessel owners on Front Street later told the sheriff’s office the vessel was never docked there and they never observed it being there. Security

footage never showed the rental boat arriving, authorities said.

The marina owners observed GPS tracking that showed the rental boat heading south in the Atlantic Ocean before tracking ceased. They attempted to call Devasier with no response and then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

A fisherman reported seeing the vessel off the U.S. coastline and took pictures. The sheriff’s office learned on July 9 that the Cuban Border Guard notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Investigations that the rental boat and Devasier, as well as a 38-year-old adult female, were in their custody.

Devasier flew to Miami on July 10 and was arrested by federal authorities via a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office warrant for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud.

Devasier has multiple prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where a vessel kept past its due date was also located in Cuba.

Marathon captains arrested

Two Marathon captains were arrested July 10 after reportedly attempting to capsize two kayakers. James Christian Gagliardini, 52, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless operation of a vessel and intentionally harassing a fisherman. Eric Robert Wink, 34, was charged with battery.

The sheriff’s office was called to the water behind The Hammocks at Marathon resort around 2 p.m. regarding a boat-related incident. The adult male victim stated he was fishing with his teenage son near the resort docks when the suspects circled them several times in a boat in an apparent attempt to capsize them. The victims stated they were in fear of being run over by the vessel.

The suspect captain, identified as Gagliardini, then pinned the bow of his vessel against the dock, trimmed the boat engine, and sprayed the victims with water, they said. The victim added the suspects were not happy the victims were fishing in the area. Security video from the marina supported the victims’ statements. Both suspects were taken to jail.

– Keys Weekly staff report

FAST TRACK TO FALL!

Receive essential info & personal guidance to begin your degree in August!

Key West Campus &

Upper Keys Center

Wednesday July 30

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

MS. TERI

10.5-year-old female terrier mix.

Likes: Humans. I love them all, the big ones and the small ones.

Turnoffs: It’s been over 500 days. I really need a family.

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.

SCOTT

6.5-year-old male domestic shorthair.

Likes: Lasagna and being lazy.

Turnoffs: Mondays.

TOOTSIE ROLL

3-month-old male kitten.

Likes: It’s in the name. JK. … I can’t have candy.

Turnoffs: Not a thing –I’m one purrfect kitten.

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.

THURSDAY, JULY 17 CANDACE 6PM

FRIDAY, JULY 18 LUKE SOMMERS & GLEN HARMOND BAND 7:30PM

SATURDAY, JULY 19 79TH STREET BAND 8PM

SUNDAY, JULY 20

SAME

MONDAY, JULY 21 MTR TRIO 7:30PM

TUESDAY, JULY 22

SAME AS LAST WEEK

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 LUKE SOMMERS 6:30PM

IN TECH WE TRUST THREE GREAT READS EXPLORING OUR DIGITAL WORLD

WHAT KIND OF PARADISE

By Janelle Brown

Jane Williams has never known any life other than the one she has led in Montana with her father Saul. They hunt, chop wood and live off the grid, having little contact with the outside world. Jane is homeschooled, which means she learns anything her father is in the mood to teach. With three Harvard degrees, it could be science, history or philosophy. As she becomes a teenager she wonders what other young people do and what they think. She is an avid reader and gleans what life could be like through an endless supply of books. Jane explores Saul’s locked office when he is not home and is confused by a photo of her dead mother as the inscription has a different name. When Saul’s rants about technology worsen, Jane devises a plan to find proof of her mother’s death and escape the precious cocoon that has become a trap. A fine line divides what the internet can do for our world and the dangers of our addiction to even the simplest devices. Suspenseful doomsday peek at an intimate father-daughter relationship and the impact of technology.

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

WHEN THE ENGLISH FALL

By David Williams

After a solar storm wipes out most of the world’s power, Jacob and his Amish family are among the few unaffected, relying on their self-sufficient lifestyle in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As society collapses, violence and desperation grow, and their faith and values are tested. Narrated by Jacob, the story explores his struggle to reconcile faith with survival in a world that’s falling apart. Faced with the collapse of modern society, Jacob and his family must confront what it means to live in a world where survival often means abandoning core beliefs. This quiet, compelling story raises questions about technology, morality, and human resilience. It’s a meditation on the choices we make every day and how quickly the world we know could unravel. What begins as a simple survival tale deepens into a profound reflection on the lives we lead and the things we take for granted. Williams’ novel evokes “A Prayer for the Dying” by Stewart O’Nan, blending a slow, haunting narrative with sharp insight into humanity’s fragility. The ending will leave readers reflecting not only on what we need to survive but also what makes life worth living.

By Sarah Wynn-Williams

Growing up in New Zealand, Sarah dreamed of changing the world. After law school she worked for the United Nations, learning about diplomacy efforts with lightning speed. Sarah visualized her ideal job at Facebook, a social media app gaining great popularity as a means to connect the world. In 2010 Sarah perceived that as Facebook expanded, it would be forced to navigate complicated foreign policies, privacy laws, government oversight, taxes and human rights issues. She pitched her idea and was eventually offered a position. This brave and very personal memoir of Sarah’s journey through seven years at Facebook examines what it was like to be the only woman in the room while nine months pregnant – including convincing Mark Zuckerberg he cannot be late to meet with Brazil’s president simply because he does not enjoy getting up before noon. This mesmerizing peek at the inner workings of a company that has changed the life of billions is an absolute page-turner. If you are going to use Facebook or spend any significant amount of time online, it is vital to understand what this means politically, economically and personally. If tech giants have responsibility to the world, so do we.

#WorthWatching: “Mountainhead” is a dark, satirical film capturing the chaos of technology gone haywire. With a bizarre premise, the movie pushes the boundaries of absurdity. Its depiction of a world where tech spirals out of control feels eerily plausible. The message about the dangers of over-relying on technology is all too real.

CARELESS PEOPLE

KAREN NEWFIELD

Having Fun in the Middle Keys

18TH ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET

Friday, August 1st | 9pm - Midnight

KEYS FISHERIES RESTAURANT MARKET & MARINA

THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: SHARK, BIG COPPITT AND GEIGER

In the Lower Keys, near MM 12, Shark Key is announced by a building with a beautiful blue-tiled roof. The long, thin island sitting off to the right of the highway was developed in the 1980s as a private, upscale gated community. It is bigger than it was when the 1878 U.S. Coast Survey Chart No. 169 identified it as Shark Key.

The island is connected to the next one in the chain, Big Coppitt Key, by railroad fill created during the building of Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad. With a name like Big Coppitt Key, you might expect there to be a Little Coppitt Key or Middle-Sized Coppitt Key somewhere nearby, but there is just the not particularly large Big Coppitt Key. Why the fairly unusual name? While there does not appear to be anything definitive about the origin, it is thought to be derived from “coppice,” the English word for thicket.

Texas is home to the Big Thicket National Preserve (I camped there as a kid), so it is not like Big Coppitt (Thicket) Key is an outrageous choice for a name. The island is not a huge tourist draw and more of a locals’ destination. It is home to Bobalu’s Southern Café, a longtime local favorite, and a hyper-local watering hole known as the Purple Porpoise Pub — I’ve never been, but have always been curious about the dive bar.

Big Coppitt Key is also the gateway to Geiger Key. Shortly after crossing the railroad fill connecting Big Coppitt to Shark Key, a Circle K will appear on the left. Immediately before the Circle K is Boca Chica Road, which is a highly recommended left turn. The road leads to Geiger Key.

There are two prevailing theories as to the name’s origin. One is that it was named for Captain John Huling Geiger, who served as a pilot for Commodore David Porter and his anti-piracy squadron when he sailed up to Key West in 1823. Geiger remained in the Keys long after Porter became a legendary memory and worked as one of the island’s wreckers, too.

It was on the back of the wrecking industry

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.

that Key West grew to become the richest city, per capita, in a growing United States. Stories told about the Florida wreckers, and the wrecking industry in general, have a habit of casting their “ilk” in the same category as pirates. As with every profession, there are bad apples. Not every lawyer, used car salesman or wrecker is, or was, out to rip you off. However, all it takes is a single example to cast a shadow — or a single white, furry blueberry to spread its spoil through an entire carton.

One aspect of their job was to sail up and down the Florida Reef in search of ships wrecked on the shoals and coral reefs. Often, they were the first responders of their day. Venturing into gale-force conditions was sometimes part of the job, even if occasionally men were washed overboard or were crushed between the colliding hulls of ships. The work was high-risk, but with that risk, sometimes, there were high salvage awards.

In every operation, the task was threefold: save the crew, save the cargo, save the boat.

When determining salvage fees for services rendered, several factors were considered, including manpower, weather and whether or not divers were needed to swim down into the holds of a bilging ship to secure cargo.

Geiger became a successful Florida wrecker and one of Key West’s wealthiest residents. He built a home befitting his growing family’s standing in the community. It stands, still, at the corner of Whitehead and Greene Streets. While the family occupied the house for more than a century, it fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, it was purchased by the

Wolfson family, wired for electricity and restored to its previous glory. On March 18, 1960, they dedicated it as the Audubon House and offered it as a public museum.

The home’s connection to Audubon is tenuous. Some stories suggest that John James Audubon stayed there when he visited the Keys in 1832. However, the home was built after the 1846 Havana Hurricane ravaged Cuba, destroyed the Sand Key Lighthouse and delivered a double hurricane punch of high winds and tidal surge to Key West. Audubon was friendly with Geiger. It is said that one day, while standing in Geiger’s garden, he saw a tree and named Cordia sebestena the Geiger tree in honor of the captain.

It is a medium-sized tree with sticky leaves and stunning orange flowers. Other varieties produce white flowers or yellow flowers. When walking dogs, it is best to avoid letting them walk through piles of Geiger tree leaves, especially small dogs with long fur. I imagine cats are smart enough to avoid them, as I never see them walking around the neighborhood with leaves stuck to their fur.

Getting back to Geiger Key, the other story about the origin of the island’s name is that it was chosen because of the trees growing on it. In that case, the name also goes back to Geiger. In the notes of an 1861 Coast Survey conducted in the Keys, A.D. Bache wrote: “Geiger Key is 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. It was in good cultivation in 1855, and was inhabited by an industrious German, from whom it derived its name.”

When driving down the Overseas Highway, it’s always worth taking the turn immediately before the Circle K and driving down Boca Chica Road to Geiger Key, where you’ll find the not-so-hidden gem, the Geiger Key Fishing Camp. This is the perfect spot for some good food, cold drinks and waterfront views.

If not, there are only Rockland Key, Boca Chica and Stock Island before the highway comes to an end at MM 0 on Key West.

The Geiger House (Audubon House) at 205 Whitehead St. in 1890. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Monroe County Library

2010 Sombrero Beach Rd, Marathon

$985,000 | 2BD/2BA | 1,290 SqFt Tracy Chacksfield (305)912-2177

201 E Ocean Dr 110, Key Colony

$545,000 | 2BD/2BA | 994 SqFt Tracy Chacksfield (305)912-2177

22988 Port Royal Ln, Cudjoe Key

$825,000 | 3BD/2BA | 1,122 SqFt Walter Ceballos (305)562-0819

2010 Sombrero Beach Rd, Marathon

$4,175,000 | 4BD/4BA | 3,458 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)393-0559

$1,147,300 | 2BD/2 5BA | 1,840 SqFt Walter Ceballos (305)562-0819 95 Coco Plum Dr 4C, Marathon

$925,000 | 3BD/3BA | 1,857 SqFt Walter Ceballos (305)562-0819

501 11th St, Key Colony

$1,795,000 | 3BD/2BA | 1,776

298 116th St, Marathon

$1,045,000 | 2 BD | 2 BA | 808 SQ FT Tracy Chacksfield (305)912-2177

7090 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key

$1,299,000 | 3BD/3BA | 1,320 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)393-0559

In The Bleachers

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

A couple in Thailand went to the hospital three times after the woman swallowed a fish bone while eating fish soup, Oddity Central reported on June 27. She tried various home remedies, but couldn’t dislodge it from her throat, and at the hospital, doctors couldn’t see anything on an X-ray. The wife, Sang Lan, still felt pain, but assumed the bone had moved on. When her neck became swollen, she returned to the hospital, but again X-rays were negative. At home, the woman was applying a pain relief patch to her neck when she saw a pointy object poking her skin from within. She applied pressure, and the fish bone poked through her skin. Back at the hospital, doctors removed the 2-centimeter bone; they said they had never seen anything like it before.

Adam Dailies

Brevity

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970), author/lawyer; James Cagney (1899-1986), actor; Art Linkletter (1912-2010), TV personality; Phyllis Diller (1917-2012), comedian/actress; John Cooper (19232000), automobile designer; Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), composer; Diahann Carroll (1935-2019), actress; Donald Sutherland (19352024), actor; David Hasselhoff (1952- ), actor; Dawn Upshaw (1960), opera singer; Luke Bryan (1976- ), singer-songwriter; Brett Goldstein (1980- ), actor/writer.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet Premier Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met at the Potsdam Conference in Germany.

Disneyland’s opening day, intended as an exclusive event with limited invitations, was a disaster. Counterfeit passes and thousands of uninvited guests led to backed-up traffic, overcrowding, malfunctioning rides and depleted concessions.

“Maybe it’s true that life begins at 50. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.”

Brevity Nancy Dailies

— Phyllis Diller

Founded by Betty Debnam

Power Up

Electricity makes our modern life possible. We use it to power our lights, heat, computers, music, elevators, refrigerators and thousands of other things.

But most important, we would not exist without electricity. Electricity is necessary to make our brain, heart and other muscles work.

This week, The Mini Page learns more about electricity.

ELECTRON POWER

Matter is made up of tiny atoms, and they are made up of even tinier particles: protons, electrons and neutrons.

Protons and electrons have an electrical charge. They each have the same amount of charge, no matter what material they’re in. Neutrons have no charge.

Protons have a positive charge, and electrons have a negative charge. There are always the same number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom, or one with no charge. They balance each other out.

Protons and neutrons stay close together in the center, or nucleus, of the atom. Electrons speed around the nucleus in a kind of cloud.

Sometimes electrons leave their atom to join another atom. These traveling electrons are moving electrical charges. They make up an electrical current.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT

Some atoms can lose or gain electrons more easily than others. For example, in metals such as copper, electrons are more likely to leave their atom and join another atom. The electrons move from atom to atom.

These moving electrons form an electrical current. They flow through a wire much like a current of water flows in a stream. The electrons in a current tend to move in the same direction.

Materials such as copper are good conductors of electricity because electrons can move easily between atoms. Atoms that do not easily lose or gain electrons can make materials known as insulators. For example, rubber is a good insulator. So are glass, plastic and dry wood.

ELECTRICITY AROUND US

Have you ever gotten a shock after walking on the carpet? When you rub your feet on the rug, electrons flow from the carpet to your skin. You build up an electrical charge until you touch something that is a good conductor. If you touch something metal, or your pet, or another person, an electrical current forms between you and what you’re touching, and you get a shock.

A lightning bolt is a much bigger version of what happens when you drag your feet across the carpet.

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

ATOM, CHARGE, CONDUCTOR, CURRENT, ELECTRIC, ELECTRON, GRID, INSULATOR, LIGHTNING, LINES, MATTER, NEGATIVE, NEUTRON, NUCLEUS, POSITIVE, POWER, PROTON, STATION, WIRE.

ELECTRIC BODIES

Our bodies need electricity to work. Just like everything else, our bodies are made of atoms. The electrons in those atoms create electricity.

Electrical signals make our muscles worka by causing them to contract, or become tighter. They tell our hearts when to beat. We can think because electrical signals flash from cell to cell in our brains.

ELECTRICAL POWER

Electricity is a wonderful part of our lives. But remember: It is powerful. Be careful around electrical outlets or machines. Here are some safety tips:

• Don’t put your fingers or anything else into an outlet or appliance, such as a toaster, even if it is turned off.

• Keep electrical devices such as radios away from water (a good conductor).

• Don’t take apart an electrical appliance, even if it is unplugged.

• Stay away from fences around electrical equipment.

• Don’t fly kites near power lines.

TODAY’S QUOTE

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPelectricity

At the library:

• “Electricity for Kids: Electric Power —

Generation, Transmission and Storage” by Alex Rayn

ECO NOTE

Scientists have found that more than 20% of the oceans have darkened over the past 20 years, shrinking the sunlit “photic zone,” home of 90% of marine life. The darkening, revealed through satellite data and modeling, is caused by increased sediment and organic material, and changing conditions that block light. In some areas, the photic zone has become up to 330 feet shallower, forcing marine organisms to compete closer to the surface. The trend could disrupt ecosystems, affect fisheries and weaken the ocean’s role in regulating climate. The

Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

photo courtesy Washington State Department of Commerce

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Sugarloaf Pontoon Adventure Tours located at 20141 Kings Row, Sugarloaf Key, Florida 33042, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.

By: Professional Charters LLC

Publish: July 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI

Notice is hereby given that on August 4th, 2025, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold.

Location: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037

The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: Molina, Emilio 1569 Welsh, William 1730 Cox, Michael 1426 Trent, Cheryl 1203 Ancheta, Jose A 1319 Edwards, Jennifer 1201 Adams, Melinda 1302

Publish: July 17 & 24, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West, FL (KWHA) will accept applications for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY

PUBLIC HOUSING, located at the Lang Milian Apartments, Fort Village, Robert Gabriel Apartments, and George Allen Apartments in Key West, Florida.

Opening Date & Time: July 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Closing Date & Time: August 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Applications may only be submitted at https://cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com.

If you are not currently on any of our housing wait lists, you may submit a new application for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING or any other housing program(s) by logging onto cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com and then clicking “Apply for Housing.”

If you are already on any of our housing wait lists, you may apply for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING or any additional housing program(s) by logging onto cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com and then clicking “View Your Application.”  For assistance with submitting an online application, or to request a Reasonable Accommodation to allow disabled applicants to access the waiting list application and submission process, please contact the Applications Office at (305) 292-3330. Applicants without online access may access a dedicated kiosk at our main office located at 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL 33040 during normal business hours 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. In-person assistance is available every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 pm or by appointment. Please read the following

John Sheldon, O.D.

Island Vision Care 6400 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050

before applying:

All applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on August 22, 2025. The wait list application process will be closed immediately at closing date and time, and no additional applications for KEY WEST MULTIFAMILY PUBLIC HOUSING will be accepted after that time (or until the wait list is once again opened). Any future openings will be noticed at kwha.org and in a local newspaper of general circulation. Applicants will be placed on the waiting list according to KWHA preference(s) claimed and the date and time their complete application is received by the KWHA. Only 1 application per household will be permitted. If more than one application is submitted for a household, each application will be disqualified.

Only applications submitted to the website address above will be accepted. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Housing assistance is available only to individuals who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or noncitizens that have eligible immigration status. At least one family member must be a citizen, national, or noncitizen with eligible immigration status in order for the family to qualify for any level of assistance.

The KWHA will perform criminal background checks through local law enforcement and/or other reputable source such as Merchants Credit Bureau Inc. for all adult household members.

Placement on the waiting list does not indicate that the family is eligible for admission. When the family

Dr. John Sheldon will be closing his optometry practice, Island Vision Care, located at 6400 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, e ective August 8, 2025. Patients wishing to pick up their medical records may do so until August 7th, 2025. Please call 305-743-2020 before August 8th if there are any questions.

Patient’s medical records will remain with Dr. John Sheldon. He will be joining Key West Optical, located at 1444 Kennedy Dr, Key West, Florida 33040, beginning on September 2nd, 2025. Please call 305-294-9711 to schedule appointments, to request records or for any questions starting September 2nd.

Publish:

July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

is selected from the waiting list, the KWHA will verify any preference(s) claimed and determine eligibility and suitability for admission to the program. Income limits are used to determine eligibility at admission. Eligibility is established by comparing a family's annual income with HUD’s published income limits. To be income-eligible, a family must be an extremelylow, very-low, or low- income family. Below are the current maximum income limits for the Public Housing Program for Monroe County, FL, effective April 9, 2025:

1 Person Household: $73,000

2 Person Household: $83,400

3 Person Household: $93,850

4 Person Household: $104,250

5 Person Household: $112,600

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Publish:

July 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

AVISO PÚBLICO

La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Key West, FL (KWHA) aceptará solicitudes para VIVIENDAS PÚBLICAS

MULTIFAMILIARES DE KEY WEST, ubicadas en los apartamentos Lang Milian, Fort Village, Robert Gabriel y George Allen en Key West, Florida.

Fecha y hora de apertura: 23 de julio de 2025 a las 9:00 a. m.

Fecha y hora de cierre: 22 de agosto de 2025 a las 4:00 p. m. Las solicitudes solo pueden enviarse a través de https://cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com. Si actualmente no esta en nuestras listas de espera de vivienda, puede presentar una nueva solicitud para VIVIENDA PÚBLICA

MULTIFAMILIAR DE KEY WEST o cualquier otro programa de vivienda. Para ello, inicie sesión en cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com y haga clic en "Solicitar Vivienda". Si ya esta en nuestras listas de espera de vivienda, puede solicitar para VIVIENDA PÚBLICA MULTIFAMILIAR DE KEY WEST o cualquier otro programa de vivienda. Para ello, inicie sesión en cityofkeywest. housingmanager.com y haga clic en "Ver su solicitud". Para obtener ayuda con la presentación de una solicitud en línea o para solicitar una adaptación razonable que permita a los solicitantes con discapacidad acceder al proceso de solicitud y envío de la lista de espera, comuníquese con la Oficina de Solicitudes al (305) 292-3330. Los solicitantes sin acceso en línea pueden acceder a un quiosco exclusivo en nuestra oficina principal, ubicada en 1400 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL 33040, en horario de atención de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. También se ofrece asistencia en persona todos los miércoles de 8:30 a. m. a 4:30 p. m. o con cita previa. Por favor, lea la siguiente información antes de presentar su solicitud: Todas las solicitudes deben recibirse antes de las 16:00 h del 22 de agosto de 2025. El proceso de solicitud para la lista de espera se cerrará inmediatamente en la fecha y hora límite, y no se aceptarán solicitudes adicionales para VIVIENDAS PÚBLICAS MULTIFAMILIARES DE KEY WEST después de esa fecha

(o hasta que la lista de espera se abra de nuevo). Cualquier vacante futura se anunciará en kwha.org y en un periódico local de circulación general. Los solicitantes serán incluidos en la lista de espera según la(s) preferencia(s) declarada(s) por KWHA y la fecha y hora en que KWHA reciba su solicitud completa. Solo se permitirá una solicitud por hogar. Si se presenta más de una solicitud por hogar, cada una será descalificada. Solo se aceptarán solicitudes enviadas a la web social mencionada anteriormente. Los solicitantes deben tener al menos 18 años para presentar su solicitud. La asistencia para vivienda está disponible únicamente para ciudadanos estadounidenses, nacionales estadounidenses o extranjeros con estatus migratorio elegible. Al menos un miembro de la familia debe ser ciudadano, nacional estadounidense o extranjero con estatus migratorio elegible para que la familia califique para cualquier nivel de asistencia. KWHA realizará verificaciones de antecedentes penales a través de las autoridades locales y/u otra fuente confiable, como Merchants Credit Bureau Inc., para todos los miembros adultos del hogar. La inclusión en la lista de espera no significa que la familia sea elegible para la admisión. Cuando la familia sea seleccionada de la lista de espera, KWHA verificará cualquier preferencia solicitada y determinará la elegibilidad e idoneidad para la admisión al programa. Los límites de ingresos se utilizan para determinar la elegibilidad al momento de la admisión. La elegibilidad se establece comparando los ingresos anuales de la familia con los límites de ingresos publicados por el HUD. Para ser elegible por ingresos, una familia debe tener ingresos extremadamente bajos, muy bajos o bajos. A continuación se muestran los límites máximos de ingresos actuales para el Programa de Vivienda Pública del Condado de Monroe, Florida, vigentes a partir del 9 de abril de 2025:

1 persona: $73,000

2 personas: $83,400

3 personas: $93,850

4 personas: $104,250

5 personas: $112,600

Nos comprometemos con la letra y el espíritu de la política estadounidense para lograr la igualdad de oportunidades en materia de vivienda en todo el país. Promovemos y apoyamos un programa de publicidad y marketing afirmativo en el que no existan barreras para obtener vivienda por motivos de raza, color, religión, sexo, discapacidad, situación familiar u origen nacional.

Publish: July 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-290-P DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF DOMINICK E. ARICCHI

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Dominick E. Aricchi, deceased, whose date of death was March 19, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having

claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: July 17, 2025.

Personal Representative: Anita L. Aricchi

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner

Attorney

Florida Bar Number: 283134

RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-6022

Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.

com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com

Publish: July 17 & 24, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO: 25-CP-000277-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF WELDON JOSEPH CUMMINGS, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Weldon Joseph Cummings, deceased, whose date of death was March 30, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228,

Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is July 17, 2025.

Personal Representative: Cassandra Cummings Bogatz 731 44th Ave. NE St. Petersburg, FL 33703

Attorney for Personal Representative: Kit Van Pelt, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 106754

Older Lundy Koch & Martino 200 N. Garden Ave. Clearwater, FL 33755

Telephone: (813) 254-8998

Fax: (813) 839-4411

E-Mail: kvanpelt@ olderlundylaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: camatucci@ olderlundylaw.com

Publish:

July 17 & 24, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-249-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RHONDA LYNN KUNTZ, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of RHONDA LYNN KUNTZ, deceased, whose date of death was April 27, 2025, Case: 25-CP-249-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: July 10, 2025.

Personal Representative: DENNIS KUNTZ

c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq.

Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com

Telephone: (305) 292-3926

Fax: (305) 295-7947

Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCIIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY

CASE NO: 2025-CA-129-K Premier Capital, LLC Plaintiff, Vs Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado Defendant, NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY given that pursuant to a Writ of Execution issued in the Circuit Court, of Monroe County, Florida, on the 21st day of May, 2025, in the cause wherein Premier Capital, LLC is Plaintiff and Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado was defendant, being Case No. 2025-CA129-K in said court, I, Richard A. Ramsay, Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida have levied upon all right, title, and interest of the defendant, in and to the following described real property to wit: SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:

From the warranty deed that states the following described land, situate, lying and being in Monroe County, Florida to-wit:

Legal Description(s) –

On the Island of Key West, Monroe County, Florida, and known on William A. Whitehead’s map delineated in February A.D. 1829, as part of Tract 11 but better known as part of Lot 3, Square 9, Tract 11 according to Charles W. Tift’s Map of said Island recorded in Deed Book “L” Page 564, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the Southwesterly right of way boundary line of Duval Street with the Northwesterly right of way boundary line of United Street and run in a Southwesterly direction along the said right of way boundary line of United Street a distance of 100 feet to the Point of Beginning of the parcel of land herein described, thence at right angles in the Northwesterly direction 84.17 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southwesterly direction 26.3 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southeasterly direction 84.17 feet to a point in the Northwesterly direction along the said right of way line of United Street a distance of 26.3 feet back to the point of Beginning. SPECIFIC LOCATION OF REAL PROPERTY: 421 United Street Key West, Florida 33040

All bidders must have a valid Driver’s License with them and must register with the clerk at location of sale prior to start time of sale. I shall offer this property for sale, at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building located at 5525 College Road Key West, Florida 33040 in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, on the 28th day of August, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible. I will offer for sale all of the said defendant’s right, title, and interest in the aforesaid real property at public auction and will sell the same subject to all taxes, prior liens, encumbrances and judgments, if any, to the highest and best bidder for CASH IN HAND. The proceeds

to be applied as far as may be to the payment of costs and the satisfaction of the above described execution. Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida this 9th day of June, 2025. Richard A. Ramsay Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida By: Donald Stullken Deputy Sheriff In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Civil Division no later than seven says prior to the proceeding at (305)8093041.

Publish:

July 17, 24 & 31 and August 7, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, Plaintiff, v. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, CEDAR OAK REI, INC., an Idaho for-profit corporation,MARK RAY GERENGER, personal guarantor, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S) WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN OCCUPANT(S) or TENANT(S) of 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050 AND 57468 AND 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050, Defendants. NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 23rd day of July, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., on the front courthouse steps at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Property Address: 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050; AND 57468 and 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY

KEY, FLORIDA 33050. Pursuant to the FINAL JUDGMENT of FORECLOSURE SALE SCHEDULED FOR July 23, 2025 AND SALE DATE entered in a case pending in said Court, of July 23, 2025, the Style of which is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, et al., Defendants, and the Docket Number of which is 23-CA-000268-M. WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 27TH day of June, 2025.

KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within sixty (60) days after the sale.

Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-677-K DIVISION: FAMILY BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, Petitioner, and ANTHONY D. HENDERSON, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: ANTHONY D. HENDERSON RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: NEVADA YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, whose address is 926 TRUMAN AVENUE, KEY WEST, FL 33040 on or before August 11, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents

upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: July 2, 2025

Kevin Madok, CPA

Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Sheryl LaTorre

Deputy Clerk

Publish:

July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO.: 2025-CA-342-K HENRY GUERRIOS an individual,, Plaintiff and FREDERICK J. HUGO, Defendant.

NOTICE OF ACTION

TO: FREDERICK J. HUGO 1408 SE 2nd CT

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Key West, FL 33040 (last known address)

Current address unknown Current residence unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a lawsuit for breach of contract has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, on JOHN MARSTON, Esquire, attorney for plaintiff, at 1011 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040, on or before August 4, 2025 and file the original with the clerk of this court immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

Dated: June 23, 2025

KEVIN MADOK CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

By: Shonta McLeod

As Deputy Clerk

Publish:

July 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED

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

2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. $3,500.00 OR BEST OFFICER. Located in Marathon area. CALL 305-417-0169

PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

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

EMPLOYMENT

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

Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006

Handyman needed for residence in Marathon. Call: 305-395-0478 bbrayman@proton.me

AFFORDABLE HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! Earn $100+ daily! No experience required!. Call our 24-hour voicemail hotline: 904-680-2909

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing ManagerFT-Marathon, CarpenterFT, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

Full time office position with strong computer skills, KCB Condominium, $78K per yr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531. HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!

Fantastic part-time Housekeeper position available in Key Colony Beach! Immediate start date. Primarily on weekends, with excellent pay for the right candidate. Reach out to Continental Inn Beachside at Vivian 952-208-2850 or Cheryl 305-505-8747 HIRED IN EIGHT WEEKS!

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

COLLECTOR

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

2BR/2BA waterfront rental in Key Largo. Annual rental $3200 per month, fenced yard, fully furnished, light bright, plenty of parking, pet accepted with additional deposit. First/ last & security. Call 305-588-6723

UNFURNISHED 2/2

HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $3000/month, security negotiable, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com

Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876

3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Available now. $3,500/mo. 618-559-9143

2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Tile & carpet floors, new appliances, gated property. No pets. Avail in July. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dockage available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002

2BR/1BA for rent in Key Colony Beach. 800 sq. ft., fully furnished, across from park, one block from beach. 3 month min. REDUCED to $2750/month + sales & TDT taxes if less than 6 mos.. F/L/S 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@ gmail.com

1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!

Available Now, Stock Island near CVS. Traveling nurses/ Working professionals only. No pets, smokers or drugs. Gated, safe, quiet, has parking and a pool. Fully furnished room w/private bath, smart TV, washer/dryer. House and kitchen privileges always, w/ fridge and cabinet space. Monthly rent REDUCED to $1,400.00 All Included. First and Last due at move in time. Call 305-797-5600 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!

1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!

PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.

RV FOR SALE

2017 Fleetwood Discovery 39F Diesel Pusher for Sale. Only 35k miles. Located in Grassy Key. $135,000 757-477-2450

RV LOT FOR SALE

RV Lot For Sale in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. Full hookup, close to marina. $59,900 or $2,000 down & $500/month. Call Nate 317-440-4709

PLACE YOUR RV LOT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.

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

YARD SALES

SARA’S ESTATE SALE: Fri, July 18 and Sat, July 19 from 9a to 1p, both days, 1544 East Ho Lane, Marathon in the Crane Hammock ‘hood! Longtime locals’ style is New Orleans meets Keys meets Old Florida. Selling 100+ plant pots, outdoor décor & Adirondack chairs. Tables of blue & white dishes / décor and rare Myott Son & Co. “Pink Bermuda” Staffordshire china. Selling hardcover novels, MCM armchair, antique loveseat. Jars of shells, Cobalt blue collection & original art by Florida artists. So many baskets! 50+ purses (some designer), XL clothes, shoes 8 & 8.5. Antique, Vermont Maple bleached dresser & full bed frame, holiday décor in bulk, hardwood king frame & sturdy armoire & designer bedding. Look for art, mirrors, accent chairs & sm furniture. Follow signs from 52nd St. Gulf & park with consideration. Photos at estatesales.net.

PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

SUNSET GRILLE NOW HIRING

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

OPERATOR/MAINTAINER

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

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

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

IS HIRING

ACCOUNTING PERSON

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

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

NOW HIRING

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!

is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:

ELECTRICAL PROJECT ENGINEER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually

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

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.

We have the following opening available. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.

MARINA CASHIER

Looking for a friendly, dependable team member who can handle a busy retail environment with a great a itude. Customer service experience and willingness to learn our sales system is ideal. Duties include assisting customers, restocking, placing orders, and keeping the store clean and organized.

This is an hourly position with pay based on experience. Flexible hours with a consistent weekly schedule. Morning and a ernoon shi s available.

Please respond by email (Ma at islamarinama @gmail.com) with any relevant previous experience and at least two references.

e Turtle Hospital in Marathon wants you to join their team!

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES

Full and part-time. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start.

Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org NOW HIRING!

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE (Full-Time, Permanent) GUEST SERVICES (Part-Time, Weekend)

DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.

COME JOIN THE FAMILY!

Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER

58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS

HIRING!

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

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

KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health 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.

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.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier

- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, Upper Keys-Gastro, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, LPN, EMT or Paramedic, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus

- Pool Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology, Per Diem

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Cook, Dietary

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

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department

- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department

- AC Mechanic-Licensed

- Manager Imaging Services

- Pool Medical Technologist

- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab

- Patient Access Associate, $1k Bonus

- Patient Scheduler 2, Radiology, PT

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus

- Patient Financial Associate, Patient Access, $1k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, ICU, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, ICU, PT

- Registered Nurse, PACU, Per Diem

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

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

- Pool Pharmacy Tech 2

- Pool Occupational Therapist

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

- Sr. Phlebotomist

- Security Officer, FT

- Patient Financial Associate, $1k Bonus

- ED Team Coordinator, Emergency Department

- Inventory Control Administrator, Keys/Marathon Supply Chain

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

- Patient Care Nurse Supervisor, PT, Nights

- Registered Nurse, Oncology, PT

- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Bonus All