July 31, 2025
CHAMP BRINGS THE THUNDER
Marathon’s Casillas scores second-round knockout | P. 22
HOW DO YOU SPLIT $20 MILLION?
Keys governments don’t agree | P.4
BUSTED WITH BUGS Big-time lobster violations | P.6
The one that’s a secluded sanctuary
Escape to quintessential No Name Key to find this waterfront sanctuary. No Name Key is a secluded paradise; free of commercial development with fewer than 50 homes nestled in a one-of-a-kind conservation setting. This location offers unmatched stargazing and serene surroundings—yet it's just over 10 minutes from the amenities of Big Pine Key, 45 minutes from Marathon and 1 hour from Key West. Situated on a 13,980 square foot double lot with 120 ft of waterfront, this property boasts deep water, immediate Gulf access, recently upgraded 25-ft dock with low-maintenance decking, 15,000 lb boat lift, and 8 x 10 foot floating dock—perfect for boating enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Originally built in 1995 by a concrete contractor as his personal Keys escape, this three bedroom, two bathroom home features poured concrete columns and balcony, metal roof, and storm-conscious design. Inside, you'll find nearly 1,700 sq ft of living space plus generous screened and open-air porches ideal for catching island breezes. Recent upgrades include updated AC, and connection to the County's electric, water and sewer systems, complementing the nearly 15,000-gallon cistern, solar panels, and propane for off-grid resilience. The main level welcomes you with an open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area, along with two bedrooms and a full bath. Upstairs, the primary suite offers a renovated bathroom, updated flooring, and a private balcony with picturesque views of the Gulf. Ample carport parking for 4 vehicles with expansive room to add a pool and tiki hut to complete your tropical oasis.
12420 Overseas Highway | Marathon 305.735.4095 | oceansir.com
9709 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050
Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com
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Members of
9,970
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s crew offloaded some 9,970 pounds of cocaine — worth $73.7 million — at Port Everglades on July 29. The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, about 120 miles northwest of Ecuador by the crew of the Tahoma.
Water quality improvement projects, like this stormwater drainage system under construction in Marathon, have been funded for years by a $20 million annual allocation from the state. Local governments currently disagree over how future awards should be divided.
STEWARDSHIP SQUABBLES
Unincorporated Monroe, Key West square off with smaller Keys cities over cash
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Since 2016, millions of state dollars from the Florida Keys Stewardship Act have funded crucial water quality improvement acts throughout the delicate island chain.
But as another $20 million is on the way from Florida’s 2025-26 state budget, Keys governments aren’t aligned on how to split it up.
In early years of the Stewardship Act, available funds were divided and distributed based on an interlocal agreement (ILA) among Keys governments, allowing each party access to greater proportions of funds at different times based on the progress of their individual wastewater projects.
From 2016 to 2024, funded initiatives ranged from canal backfilling and muck removal to upgrades of wastewater pumps and filters, stormwater injection wells, rehab of sewer lift stations and more.
But two years ago, as the original agreement expired, state officials directed Keys governments to apply for available funding through a portal managed by the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP), allowing for individual evaluation of the merits of each project.
That portal will continue for the $20 million in 2025-26 funds. But a new agreement proposed and approved in recent months by the cities of Marathon and Key Colony Beach, the Village of Islamorada, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District proposes a different plan for the funding over the next five years – a dead-even split of 12.5% each among the signees, unincorporated Monroe County and the City of Key West.
The city of Layton, left out of the appropriations language for the 202526 funds, was also included in the draft agreement with an equal share.
“Each of the signatories to the ILA and this letter have multiple millions of water quality improvement projects. Each of us realizes that even a consistent annual $20 million in Stewardship funds won’t cover the costs of all our projects,” states a letter sent to the county and Key West by Key Colony Beach City Administrator John Bartus on July 23, along with the proposed agreement. “A fair and equitable distribution allows us all to come together and successfully lobby the Legislature to continue this amount of funding.”
But the county and Key West, the largest governments in the Keys, say they’re not on board with an even split.
Marathon boxer Noah Casillas brings the fury against John Midgette in the main event of Spar Wars: Island Wars Vol. 2 on July 26 at the Marathon Elks Lodge. Casillas slept his opponent in the second round with a vicious knockout. See page 22. KEVIN KLEEBLATT/Contributed
In June, the six signees met to review a new agreement drafted by Marathon City Manager George Garrett, believing that a new ILA signed by all parties before June 30 would supplant the DEP portal process for the 2025-26 funds. Officials from the county and Key West did not take part in the meeting, with Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley asking instead to delay the gathering until after the county’s budget process was finished in July.
Also in June, Hurley told the Weekly, a phone call with DEP deputy secretary Adam Blalock indicated the portal would be opened again for the 2025-26 funds in the absence of an approved ILA by June 30 – a conversation she relayed to Garrett as the new ILA was being reviewed in June.
With the state budget set to begin on July 1, Hurley said, approving a new agreement was an unnecessary rush –especially as the governing boards of some signees didn’t approve the new draft until their July meetings.
On June 29, an email sent by Hurley to all eight proposed stakeholders outlined two new propositions to distribute the funding, based on either each jurisdiction’s population or the cost of projects needed by each city, provided in meetings for the federallybacked Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (FKWQIP). The population-based plan would see Key West and unincorporated Monroe receive $6.4 million each, based on populations of 27,040 and 38,702, respectively. Awards for the other six entities would range from $2.4 million for Marathon – a population of 9,926 – down to $192,260 for Key Colony Beach and $48,124 for Layton.
Splits in the need-based model would be even greater, with the county to receive $11.5 million and Key West at $4.6 million – while Key Colony and Layton would receive $119,760 and $34,217, respectively.
“While Monroe obviously prefers the option based on need, we are willing to support … a distribution based on population as shown in Option 1,” Hurley wrote in the June 29 email.
Key West City Manager Brian Barroso agreed, replying that the Southernmost City would “remain consistent with a ‘fair share’ distribution and can not support the current ‘equal’ alloca-
continued on page 8
ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly
BUSTED WITH BUGS
Early harvests, undersized fish highlight pre-mini-season arrests
While the famed Florida lobster mini-season ran on July 30 and 31 this year, there were plenty of folks caught by Florida Keys law enforcement agencies in recent weeks getting a “head start” – and attempting to take undersized fish for good measure. All reports are allegations and individuals listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Florida’s lobster mini-season runs on July 30 and 31. After these dates, lobster harvest is CLOSED until the regular season begins on Wednesday, Aug. 6. For a full rundown of lobster rules, tips and tricks, scan the QR code to read the Keys Weekly’s OnBoard magazine.
July 14
Islamorada Marine Deputy Jason Farr was on patrol on U.S. 1 near MM 78 around 9 a.m. when he issued mandatory notices to appear in court to Richard Allen Oberhaus, 51, and Jake Allan Sinkovic, 20, both of Saint Johns, Florida, for each possessing six outof-season lobster, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.
July 24
Maria Eugenia Heiser, 49, of Naples, Florida, was given a mandatory notice to appear in court on July 24 for possessing a lobster out-of-season. Deputy Ross Hughes stopped a Dodge pickup truck in Key West for no taillights just after midnight. The lobster was subsequently found. Heiser stated she has been visiting Monroe County for 20 years to harvest lobster, authorities said.
The same day, Brian Rafael De La Torre Cartelle, 25, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was arrested for possessing seven undersized lobster, possession of five wrung tails on the water, possession of lobster during closed season, over-the-limit lobster and having no measuring device. Middle Keys Marine Deputy Willie Guerra was on patrol at the Long Key Bridge around 3:30 p.m. when he observed the suspect diving
with no dive flag. Eight lobsters total were found.
July 26
Juan Carlos Garcia-Martinez, 36, of Miami was arrested on Saturday for possessing nine out-of-season lobster (over the limit), including eight undersized lobster, nine wrung tails in the water and nine speared lobster, as well as a speared, undersized and out-ofseason snook. He was also charged for having no dive flag, measuring device, fishing license, lobster license or snook permit, and tampering with evidence. Middle Keys Marine Deputy Luis Guiardinu was on patrol near MM 60.5 just before 3 p.m. when he saw GarciaMartinez in the water without a dive flag and saw him spear a lobster. He was taken to jail.
July 27
Manuel Barral Panal, 36, and Pedro Sena, 36, both of Miami, were given citations on July 27 for possessing an undersized hogfish and mutton snapper. Islamorada Marine Deputy Nelson Sanchez was on patrol near MM 73 around 10 a.m. when he saw the men fishing and in possession of the illegal fish. Barral Panal stated he thought the fish were legal because they were “plate size — if they fit on a plate, then they should be good.”
In the Lower Keys, a 21-year-old Sebring, Florida man was arrested and charged with a litany of lobster-related violations off Cudjoe Key after he was found with 19 wrung tails. Ethan William Kline was charged with multiple counts of possession of out-of-season lobster, possession of over-the-limit lobster and possession of speared lobster, among other charges. The sheriff’s office was on patrol around 7 p.m. at the Bow Channel Bridge when Kline was observed with the wrung tails. He was taken to jail.
— Keys Weekly staff report
July 14
July 24
July 26
July 27
July 27
MARATHON CINEMA
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2ND CLOSED FRIDAY, JULY 4TH
COMMERCE CORNEr
Established in 2011, King Seafood Market & Restaurant is a family business with family recipes and family size plates. Judith Silva, owner says "our meals are cooked to order and are always hot and fresh." They are proud to offer fresh seafood at the best prices. "Our commercial boat provides us with our fresh stone crabs during season and we also buy from local commercial fishermen," says Silva. This allows them to have the best quality seafood for their customers. They will also cook your catch and have online ordering services.
Denny Valladares Jr 10925 Overseas Hwy, Marathon 305-735-4132 kingseafoodrestaurant.com
from page 4
STEWARDSHIP SQUABBLES
tion at this time.”
In an email exchange between Bartus and Hurley, widely distributed to media outlets by Bartus, Hurley argued that a $2.5 million allocation each year would exceed the costs of projects anticipated by smaller cities such as Layton and Key Colony Beach. Bartus disputed this claim, stating that figures used for project costs in Key Colony were simply a one-year request figure.
“Participation in the ILA ensures that we all come to the table, discuss our needs, and work together,” Bartus wrote. “Every party to the ILA has its own best method for determining our needs, and not one of us needs an ‘oversight’ or ‘coordinating’ agency.”
Speaking with the Weekly on July 28, Garrett said Marathon still believes the ILA is “the way to go,” but that he believed there was “room to talk” about the exact division of funds. The city now plans to use the DEP portal for this year’s requests, he said.
“The whole premise is that we’ve always done best when we work together to get appropriations,” he said. “The ILA sets a standard in which none of us are arguing with each other, because we always know, if there is an appropriation, what percentage we’re going to get.”
“We all have way more than what the equal share would be in projects,” Bartus said via phone. “Since in Key Colony, we didn't get cut into those big pots of money years ago under FKWQIP, we’re due a bit of an equal share. (The new ILA) is a great way to have a nice collaborative approach to this money every year.”
Hurley told the Weekly that “at this point, none of us will lose with the portal.”
“If we are successful to get the $20 million, then we can all apply for our individual projects, and (the state) will select them based on the project merits,” she said.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Stardust” (2007)
Why: Pure fantasy films are hard to come by nowadays, particularly mature ones. Sure, we can get our fill of it on television via “Game of Thrones” or “Outlander,” but even then, those tend to lean more heavily toward war (like the former) or romance (like the latter). The kind of fantasy that really has a sense of fairy tale magic about it is more of a rarity, and that’s where this film comes in. It’s got a cast filled with familiar faces from both then (Michelle Pfeifer, Robert DeNiro) and now (Charlie Cox, Henry Cavill), and its cheeky, witty screenplay makes it feel like a worthy successor to “The Princess Bride.”
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/contact-us
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada branch.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
Taking the plunge into the waters of the Florida Keys, ‘Destination Dive’ season 4 follows divers and conservationists into these vibrant depths on Sundays at 8 a.m. on Discovery Channel and Discovery+. TONY TIMPANO/Florida Keys News Bureau
‘DESTINATION DIVE’ ENTERS FOURTH SEASON ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL
elevision’s “Destination Dive” returns for its fourth season with all-new episodes airing on Discovery Channel, Discovery+ and Discovery GO every Sunday from Aug. 10 through Sept. 7 at 8 a.m.
With a continued focus on marine conservation and the protection of the undersea environment, “Destination Dive” takes viewers on underwater adventures across the Florida Keys. This 125-mile island chain serves as a backdrop and global epicenter for ocean restoration and preservation.
Marathon: Sunday, Aug. 24
Dive into some of the Middle Keys’ iconic reef and wreck sites. This episode also highlights the rising popularity of shark diving, efforts to remove derelict lobster traps and a look at coral recovery following bleaching events.
Big Pine Key: Sunday, Aug. 31
Experience shore diving from one of the Keys’ most scenic beaches. The episode also follows military veterans discovering healing and renewed purpose through diving.
“The Florida Keys is an area teeming with amazing marine life and people who are passionate about protecting our oceans. Through their eyes, ‘Destination Dive’ shares unforgettable dive experiences and stories in unique and compelling ways,” said Mike Zimmer, the program’s executive producer. “Our audience will be captivated by the stories, the people and the visual beauty.”
EPISODES INCLUDE:
Key Largo: Sunday, Aug. 10
Viewers will discover hidden underwater gems beloved by locals. The episode also explores the role of Coralpalooza in coral restoration — and an unexpected hero in seagrass protection: tube socks.
Islamorada: Sunday, Aug. 17
Explore reefs and wrecks rich in history. Learn how the Trash Derby has grown into one of the region’s biggest conservation events, and meet the interns whose creative thinking is helping shade vulnerable corals from heat and sun.
Key West: Sunday, Sept. 7
Explore the unparalleled concentration of shipwrecks near Key West, including the famed USS Vandenberg. This episode also examines how artificial reefs have transformed the marine ecosystem and bolstered conservation efforts.
“Destination Dive is the only dive show that focuses on the trailblazing work people are doing in the Florida Keys to restore and protect our oceans. We are thrilled to share the stories of the amazing work being done in this part of the world,” said Zimmer. For a sneak peek and to stream full episodes, visit destinationdive.tv. — Contributed
Jeff D. Vastola, Esq.
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSES MORE SPENDING
FRANK DERFLER www.keysweekly.com
Lunch prices to see increase
More spending is proposed for the Monroe County School District heading into the 2025-26 year.
Last year’s proposed local school tax levy for the county was $162,097,294. This year’s is $174,035,881. The spending difference is in capital projects. The capital outlay millage of .6 mils will generate $34,015,836 for new construction, ADA compliance, safety and security, renovation and repair, two new school buses and maintenance vehicles.
The total proposed local school board millage rate for 2025-26 is 2.9470. This is an increase of .1 mills over the 2024-2025 millage rate of 2.8470. One mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
In rough terms, without accounting for exemptions, that means an increase of $36.50 for every $500,000 of assessed property value. The total 2025-26 bill would be $1,473.50 for every $500,000 of assessed property value without counting on exemptions.
Charlene White, school district finance director, asked the school board at its July 22 meeting to approve the placement of advertisements informing the public of the proposed millage rates for 2025-26. The Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices sent out by the property appraiser’s office every year show another line item for state schools. Only a small percentage of the state school tax money comes back to Monroe County.
A decision on the proposed tax increase and school budget was set for a July 29 public hearing at the Key West City Hall. Another budget workshop will be held at Coral Shores High School on Aug. 19. A final budget hearing is scheduled for the Sept. 9 meeting at Marathon High School. In other matters, the board spent a good deal of time examining the conceptual design for the Reynolds School renovation project in Key West. This is part of a plan that allows the district to vacate the administrative headquarters at Trumbo Point so the site can become affordable workforce
housing. Through a public-private partnership, the district will develop 150 affordable housing units at its Trumbo Road property at no cost to taxpayers.
During the review, board members commented on details including the size of offices and the location of facilities. There was a general concern about respecting the building architecture and maintaining an open building facade. Board member Sue Woltanski asked particularly about fencing in the front of the building. Reynolds school is included in the Key West historic registry and board members are cautious about respecting the integrity of the original 1927 architecture.
Pat Lefere, executive director of operations and planning for the school district, briefly reviewed the status of the planned upgrades to the ballfield at Founders Park in Islamorada for the use of the Coral Shores High School baseball program. Planning staff from the school board and the village are moving forward with proposals and statements of need.
School board chair Mindy Conn raised the idea of using a food concession truck instead of investing in a brick-and-mortar concession stand for Coral Shores. She suggested the truck would provide flexibility to serve other sports at the school. Lefere replied that planners at the village liked the idea of having a concession stand available for the other events at the park, but he will provide a report on the comparative costs.
Lefere also reported on the costs and fees for the paid school lunch program. In the coming school year, the price of lunch in primary school will go up by 55 cents to $3.30. Lunch in high school will rise by 40 cents to $3.50. Lunch for adults will rise by a dollar to reach $5. There will be similar increase in the 2026-27 school year with an annual rise of 10 cents in following years.
The school board members discussed the problem of students building up debt and owing the district for unpaid lunches. Board member John Dick noted that the lunch debt is a long-standing problem. Conn asked Lefere to provide more information on the size of the debt.
10 PEOPLE RESCUED AFTER BOAT RUNS INTO THE MANGROVES
No serious injuries were reported after a 24-foot vessel ran into the mangroves near Sunset Point in Key Largo on July 27. Coast Guard Station Islamorada said boat crews assisted 10 people who were on the boat during the incident. The Coast Guard transported the people to Baker’s Cay Resort. A commercial salvage crew worked to recover the vessel. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission was investigating the incident. The Keys Weekly contacted FWC for more information on the incident; a response wasn’t received before presstime. U.S. COAST GUARD SOUTHEAST/Via Facebook
HEROES TAKE TO THE SKIES
Southernmost Honor Flight offers a
D.C.
trip for Keys veterans this September
ALLISON MORGAN www.keysweekly.com
Some of Monroe County’s oldest and most revered World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War heroes will soon get the trip of a lifetime to Washington D.C. on the first dedicated “Southernmost Honor Flight.”
Sponsored by Honor Flight South Florida, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to honoring the most senior veterans in Broward, Dade and Monroe counties, the free flight is a “race against time” to give veterans the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital and reflect at the memorials built in their honor, while they are still physically able. Organizers have been mobilizing community support and spreading the word.
“No one has ever done this type of ‘homecoming’ for our Monroe County veterans, so it will be very special when it happens and we want the entire Keys community involved,” said Ryan Paton, co-founder and director of operations for Honor Flight South Florida.
A kickoff party at Dillon’s Pub on July 26 invited community members to learn how they can get involved in a variety of ways, from cheering on the veterans as they head out of town to helping fund the trip. Steve Caron, the pub owner and a veteran, kicked off the festivities that included a meetand-greet and introduction of 11 vet-
Korean War veteran Douglas Hurtubise, 91 years old at the time this photo was taken, greets admirers as he returns to Fort Lauderdale with Honor Flight South Florida. HONOR FLIGHT SOUTH FLORIDA/Contributed
erans already selected for the flight.
“This is to honor all the veterans who gave so much,” Caron said. “Many of my family members have served and I have also served, so it’s nice to give back.”
Caron has been working closely with other business owners and organizations in the area to pay it forward to South Florida’s most senior veterans. The Elks Lodge, Islamorada Moose Lodge and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, among others, have already committed to supporting the trip. Caron said local volunteer Shy Martin has been instrumental in garnering support and connecting him with others.
The flight will take to the skies on Sept. 6. A Keys sendoff will take the place of the typical homecoming, since the group is flying into and out of Fort Lauderdale. The sendoff will take place at several locations in Monroe County, including Dillon’s Pub, on Sept. 5, where local schools, clubs, businesses, police, fire departments and more will come out to honor Keys veterans as they embark on their historic trip.
The group will stay overnight in Fort Lauderdale for free, thanks to a sponsorship from Aero Engine Solutions, and fly the next day on Spirit Airlines, which sponsors the airfare. Honor Flight South Florida has flown Monroe veterans since 2012, giving veterans police escorts and bus transportation around D.C. for the one-day mission.
More information on how to get involved with Honor Flight South Florida or to submit a veteran for consideration is at honorflightsouthflorida.org.
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APPEALS COURT DENIES PRESTON BREWER’S SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM
Murder trial for shooting death of Garrett Hughes scheduled for Oct. 6
An appeals court has denied Preston Brewer’s self-defense claim in the February 2023 shooting death of Garrett Hughes at the former Conch Town bar and liquor store in Key West.
The May 16 refusal by the Third District Court of Appeal to hear oral arguments pertaining to Brewer’s self-defense claim means Brewer’s murder trial will proceed and is currently scheduled to begin Oct. 6 in Judge Mark Jones’ Key West courtroom. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4 at 9 a.m.
Brewer’s attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, had sought in December 2024 to have Jones dismiss Brewer’s murder charge, based on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law that allows people to use deadly force in self-defense without retreating if they are in a place they have a right to be and are not engaged in criminal activity. The defense only applies if the person reasonably believes they are threatened with imminent death or great bodily harm, and it only applies to people who are not the aggressor.
Jones denied the self-defense claim in February 2025, having listened to arguments from Brewer’s attorney and state prosecutors. Jones determined that Brewer, now 59, was the aggressor, writing in his five-page order, “It is clear to the court that the defendant, Lloyd P. Brewer III, instigated his deadly confrontation with Garrett Hughes.”
In his order, Jones summarizes the situation that unfolded that night of Feb. 13, 2023 at Conch Town Liquor & Lounge on North Roosevelt Boulevard, which is now closed. At the time of the shooting, following the 2023 Super Bowl, Brewer’s family had owned the building that housed the bar business and the parking lot where the shooting occurred, but did not own the tenant business.
The judge wrote that the incident started when Brewer exited the bar and saw a drunk Hughes, who had been drinking in the bar moments earlier, in the parking lot, urinating against the wall of a neighboring building. Security video footage shows that Hughes was shirtless and wearing shorts and flip flops at the time of the shooting.
“Unfortunately, at the time, both men were intoxicated,” Jones wrote. “Without a doubt, their respective states of intoxication contributed greatly to the catastrophic decision-making that
ultimately brought about Mr. Hughes’ death and Mr. Brewer’s prosecution.”
The judge acknowledged that Hughes, a Key West native who was 21 at the time of his death, should not have been urinating on the wall and that Brewer, the property owner, had the right to admonish Hughes “and use lawful measures to curtail his inappropriate conduct.”
Jones wrote that Hughes should have listened to Brewer and to his own friends and simply left the property to end the situation.
“Things should have ended with the verbal exchange between the two men,” the judge’s order states. “Unfortunately, Mr. Brewer took it upon himself to drastically escalate the situation by physically confronting and cornering Mr. Hughes. Specifically, Mr. Brewer advanced across the parking lot while simultaneously lifting his shirt sufficiently to display and grasp his holstered and loaded handgun. When Mr. Brewer stopped about 10 feet from Garrett Hughes, Mr. Hughes found himself trapped between the wall and the parked vehicles on either side of him with a gun-packing, angry man blocking his only obvious means of escape.
• “The court finds that stand your ground immunity was not enacted to protect someone like Lloyd Brewer under these circumstances, which he created,” the order states.
• Jones concludes his order by writing, “(S) ome points merit repetition and elaboration as follows:
• “The defendant was armed with a loaded handgun;
• “The defendant shot a half-naked, drunken, unarmed man;
• “The court found no persuasive evidence that Garrett Hughes used or threatened to use a broken beer bottle or anything else as a weapon;
• “The defendant had ample time to assess the situation and withdraw therefrom before Mr. Hughes, who the defendant had cornered, felt compelled to take desperate measures to defend himself;
• “Garrett Hughes only had his arms, legs, hands and feet to protect himself from the defendant;
• “The defendant emerged from the altercation virtually unscathed;
• “The defendant did not have a reasonable belief that he was facing imminent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony.”
Brewer remains in jail despite $3M bond
Preston Brewer, whose full name is Lloyd Preston Brewer III, has been in jail on Stock Island since the night of the shooting, despite Jones’ order in March granting him a $3 million bond that would allow him to await trial outside of jail.
As of July 29, Brewer had not posted the amount needed for the bond and remains in jail.
In addition to the $3 million monetary bond, Brewer would have to remain confined to his home on Key Haven and subject to constant GPS monitoring, according to Jones’ bond ruling.
“The defendant is allowed travel in and around Monroe County, Florida, for ‘life essential’ errands, not to exceed travel beyond the northeast boundary of mile marker 106,” the order states. “‘Life essential’ purposes may include visits with defense attorneys, legitimate work purposes, church, doctor appointments, and emergency medical needs, or other matters pre-approved by pre-trial services.”
Brewer must also relinquish his passport and all firearms, including spear guns, and is prohibited from using the boat he owns. He is prohibited from using drugs or alcohol and will submit to a minimum of three random urinalysis tests per month, the order states.
The judge also ruled that Brewer may have no contact with Hughes’ family, the witnesses in the case, the former owner of Conch Town, or three of his business and financial associates unless legal counsel is present.
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Key West native Garrett Hughes was 21 at the time of his death on Feb. 13, 2023. CONTRIBUTED
Preston Brewer. MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/ Contributed
KEY WEST RALLIES FOR ITS RAINBOW CROSSWALK
Supporters show true colors while officials prepare to oppose state ban
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Hundreds of Key West residents took to the streets on July 26 to show their support for the city’s rainbow crosswalk, which is being targeted by a new state transportation law banning “non-compliant” pavement markings.
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SUNDAY
Brunch 11am - 2:30pm
BOGO Mimosas & Sparkling Wine
Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez and Commissioners Sam Kaufman, Donie Lee and Monica Haskell joined the “Rainbow Rally” event and are seeking ways to protect the pride-striped crosswalk that has marked the intersection of Duval and Petronia streets since 2015. The city commission will discuss the topic at its Aug. 6 meeting.
The new state law, citing a need for “uniform signals and traffic devices” to ensure driver and pedestrian safety, went into effect June 30 and requires all signs and pavement markings to comply with the Florida Department of Transportation Design Manual.
“Examples of non-compliant surface pavement would include any pavement markings … associated with social, political or ideological messages or images and does not serve the purpose of traffic control,” states a June 30 memo from the FDOT.
While state officials claim safety concerns are the basis for the directive, others say it targets the LGBT community, restricts home rule and cities’ rights to govern themselves and improperly threatens to withhold state funding from any city that refuses to comply.
“This new law appears to use public safety as a way to target LGBTQ pride and I certainly don’t agree with that,” commissioner Donie Lee said on July 18.
“Failure to remove non-compliant … pavement markings shall be cause for withholding of state funds,” the memo states. “Permission to allow non-compliant traffic control devices or pavement markings to remain may be granted at the department’s discretion, if the public agency is able to demonstrate good cause for doing so.”
Mayor Henriquez points to the “permission” part of the memo as the potential savior for Key West’s crosswalk. She told the Keys Weekly on July 29 that she has met with the city attorney and other staff to gather evidence and information to present to the state if the crosswalk is targeted for removal. Henriquez has also asked city staff to calculate how much state
transportation funding could be at risk, and whether the city could afford to forfeit those funds and cover the loss with another source of funding.
“We’re compiling all the information we can, including the number of traffic accidents or incidents that have occurred at that intersection, compared to other intersections in town, and we’ll make the state aware of the intersection’s tourism marketing value as a photo spot,” Henriquez said.
At the Aug. 6 commission meeting, commissioner Sam Kaufman will introduce a resolution to protect the crosswalk.
“Whereas Key West has long been a proud destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, with an internationally recognized reputation for inclusion, celebration and community … generating millions in tourism revenue annually … and whereas, the removal of these crosswalks would send a damaging and misleading message to residents, visitors and businesses … and whereas the city commission affirms that local communities such as Key West must retain the right to express their identity, values and culture through reasonable and safe public design decisions, consistent with the principles of home rule and local self-governance under the Florida Constitution … the city commission seeks to explore all legal and administrative avenues to preserve the rainbow crosswalks.
“The city commission affirms its unwavering support for the continued presence of the rainbow crosswalks and directs staff to explore all reasonable options, legal or otherwise, for preserving them in their current location and form,” Kaufman’s resolution states.
Commissioner Monica Haskell, resident Elle Taylor, Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, commissioner Sam Kaufman and commissioner Donie Lee join the Rainbow Rally event on July 26 to support the pride-striped crosswalk. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
City Council
Lynn Landry, Mayor
Jeff Smith, Vice-Mayor
Lynn Del Gaizo, Councilmember
Kenny Matlock, Councilmember
Robyn Still, Councilmember
City Manager
George Garrett
City Attorney
Steve Williams
City Clerk
Diane Clavier, CMC
City Council Meeting
8/12/25 5:30 pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. Planning Commission Meeting
8/18/25 5:30 pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. Code Compliance Hearing
8/21/25 2:00 pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. City Council Workshop
8/26/25 5:30 pm Marathon Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy. (Land Development Regulations)
Agendas can be found here https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/meetings
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at any meeting or workshop noted herein, he or she will need a record of the proceedings and for such purposes he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The City of Marathon complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a disabled person requiring special accommodations or assistance, please notify the City ADA Coordinator at (305) 289-5022 of such need at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance.
cleanup and rebuilding and instantly fell in love with this place. I grew up in a very similar lifestyle so being here felt like coming home.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? There’s a ton of fun stuff to do here, but if I had to pick one thing, it’d be catching the sunset. They’re never the same. I like to sit by the water, talk to God and have my little gratitude moment for the day.
What is the most unusual food you’ve ever eaten? Iguana! My dad served me “chicken” for dinner after a hunting trip when I was 10. I remember running to the bathroom to brush my teeth when I found out it was iguana and not chicken.
What’s a little habit of yours that might surprise people? I actually enjoy ironing my clothes. My dad was in the Navy, so his shirts were always neat and without a wrinkle. I guess that’s something I picked up from him.
What local event or festival do you look forward to every year?
The 7 Mile Bridge Run. After years of trying to get in, I ran it for the first time this year and I can’t wait to do it again and again.
If you could change your name to anything would you?
Nope! I love my name. Someone once called me Jose in front of a big crowd and now for some people I’m Jose Parra. That works too! Thank you Sam W.!
JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
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 Jesus Parra, who is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schmitt. He’s a hard worker, always smiling and sees the glass half full. He loves connecting with people and helping them find their dream homes in the Keys.
JESUS PARRA Coldwell Banker Schmitt
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here?
I’ve been in the Keys since 2017. I came here after Hurricane Irma to help with
What’s your favorite way to support the local community? I’m a proud Rotarian. I love being part of something that gives back and supports so many local causes and foundations.
What are your top three bucket list trips?
• I’d like to see the northern lights in Alaska.
• Definitely to kitesurf in Los Roques, Venezuela.
• Have seafood pasta and a limoncello on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
If you could travel back in time and give your younger self advice, what would you say? I’d tell myself, “We don’t experience life, we experience the life we focus on.” It’s my favorite quote. Be careful where you put your energy, it influences how you see and live everything.
What’s one local spot or favorite food you just can’t live without? That’s a tough one but I’d have to say Irie Island Eats for their Pork Belly Irie Bowl and Keys Fisheries – their poke bowl and the view are hard to beat.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
OCIVIC DUTY TO THE SEA
Lionfish Invitational trips pair critical science with forward-thinking hunters
ne hundred miles off the coast of Texas, the M/V Fling pulls up to a decommissioned oil rig. Tying off to its towering structure extending hundreds of feet underwater, a team of 32 focused divers descends past schools of sharks and jacks, dispersing across the sunken metal beams brimming with life.
Among those on the line: a pair of ER nurses and a police officer from Dallas, a Florida lawyer, an IT specialist from Colorado – and the Florida Keys’ own “lionfish queen” Rachel Bowman.
The trip is the first of the season for the Lionfish Invitational, a trailblazing partnership meshing investigators from aquariums, universities, Texas Parks and Wildlife and NOAA with “civilian scientists.” (Read: Experienced divers who really, really love the ocean, want to make a difference, and have decent aim with a pole spear.)
For three days, the team navigates their way through the reefs and rigs of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Fitting in a laundry list of fish surveys and projects for scientists on board, the rest of the team has one goal: find as many invasive venomous lionfish as possible, and shoot them. (Don’t worry – they have a special permit.)
First detected more than 40 years
ago as their invasion began in Florida, the visually stunning fish are native to the Indo-Pacific region. Their venomous spines pack a mean punch, and they’re a death sentence for millions of juvenile fish as they Hoover up their meals on reef systems.
“When lionfish first invaded the sanctuary in 2011, we were really worried, because we thought they were going to take over the reef,” said FGBNMS superintendent Michelle Johnston. “We knew that we could not host traditional removal efforts like derbies that were being done in Florida – we can't just let untrained people go 100 miles offshore and handle venomous fish and think that people are going to be safe and also follow the rules.
“We thought, what if we bring skilled divers who are good at this, who are good hunters, and make it affordable, and do surveys and see if we're having an impact? It started like that, as a test. We had an overwhelming response, it took off, and it became like a full-time job.”
Enter Bowman, widely regarded as a pioneer and leading expert in commercial lionfish collection from her home base in Marathon.
“Rachel literally harassed me and said ‘I’ve got to be on that boat,’” said Johnston. “She came the second year
we started doing these (trips), and she just ran with it.”
Fast forward a decade, and Bowman is the president of the Lionfish Invitational, now its own 501c3 nonprofit fielding more than 300 applications a summer just to grab a seat on one of four trips on the Fling.
For divers coming from just about anywhere else in the U.S., the experience is, in one participant’s words, like “diving on the moon.”
In the Florida Keys, where a healthy reef could historically see 30 to 40 percent living coral cover, levels have dropped down to just 2%. Rope,
abandoned “ghost traps” and severed anchors litter the bottom, exceedingly accessible at just three miles offshore.
At some dive sites within the Flower Garden Banks, look at the ocean floor, and living coral is all you’ll see.
“If you’re a coral person, the Flower Gardens are 100% on your bucket list,” said Bowman. “It’s one of the healthiest living coral reefs in America, and that’s their Everest.”
“What makes me so happy is people who’ve never seen it,” said Johnston. “When you see out here what a healthy reef system looks like, it changes you. It changes your under-
Thirty-two divers join the crew of the M/V Fling for the June 2025 Lionfish Invitational. CONTRIBUTED
Divemaster Ryan Clement of Castle Rock, Colorado navigates the underwater structure of an oil rig in search of invasive lionfish. MYKA RAYMOND/Crazy Idea Photography
standing of the ocean.
“This is truly what a National Marine Sanctuary should be. It is special. It is worthy of protection. It's worthy of your time, and it's worth you going home and being excited, talking about it and sharing.”
The experience on the 100-foot Fling, operated by Texas Caribbean Charters as one of the only commercial opportunities to dive the Flower Gardens, is “lionfish summer camp on the water,” in both women’s words. Up to four dives per day are separated by healthy two-hour surface intervals, during which the crew of the vessel – most of whom volunteer their time – keep bellies full and minds clear in preparation for the next sub-sea venture.
“The care and service you get from every employee – they make you feel like you’re the only person on the boat,” said Bowman. “You want for nothing, and they are so insanely helpful, and they’re so glad we’re out there doing what we’re doing.”
But the trip is, at its core, a research expedition for the good of the reef, a factor never lost beneath the camaraderie of those on board.
After each dive, harvested fish are individually measured, with fins clipped for genetic and toxin analysis. Science teams on board coordinate their individual needs and objectives for ongoing studies at each dive site, from collections of other invasive fish to water sampling, monitoring of buoy lines and replacements of acoustic tag receivers on the reefs.
SCHOLARSHIPS GIVE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS STUDENTS REAL-WORLD SKILLS
“I think it’s one of the most impactful things we do, both researchwise and education-wise,” said Johnston. “To get people to care about a place that is 100 miles offshore that they most likely will never see is a challenge for us. It’s a broad range of people who get exposed to this, take it back to where they’re from, and then it’s like a ripple effect.”
And while much more thorough studies are needed, the eye test says the team’s efforts are making a dent.
In the early years targeting the species, removal efforts, including Lionfish Invitational cruises, could eliminate 300 to 400 fish at a time. In August 2018, that number soared to near 800 on an all-rigs expedition.
But on the first trip of 2025, divers found and removed just 99 fish. That could be a good thing, but it’s too early to make the final call.
“It’s the typical boom and bust of invasive species,” said Johnston. “You’ll have your initial boom, and then it drops off. And so a key question for me is, are we going to have a boom again?”
“It pretty much goes with the rest of the numbers in the rest of the Gulf and Florida,” Bowman added, comparing trips in the Flower Gardens to her commercial harvests from 2016 to 2019.
A lack of natural predators has aided the spread of the spiny fish across the Caribbean and into the Gulf. But now, there are even signs that human hunters may be getting assistance from their natural counterparts.
Recently, a lionfish marked at a Flower Garden Banks reef with an acoustic tag by Texas A&M University investigator Marissa Nuttall pinged at a nearby oil rig – and a special device designed to interact with the stomach acid of a predator if the fish was consumed was triggered.
“My hope is that, with us going out and doing our job, we might not ever have an uptick like this again, which is one less thing the reef system has to worry about,” said Johnston.
“As you decrease the staff of the agencies that conduct this research, people such as myself are obligated to step up and fill that void,” said Bowman. “There is still research to be done. We’re just not going to get paid to do it, but it’s going to still happen.”
More information, including applications for divers who have their Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air certifications, is at lionfishinvitational.com. The nonprofit is always accepting donations, and as Bowman said with a laugh, “You can 100% buy your way onto this boat.” To support research and operations within the FGBNMS, visit marinesanctuary.donorsupport.co/page/FGBNMS.
Workforce program makes career studies free
Recent high school graduates in the Middle and Upper Keys can attend college free through the new NextGen Opportunity Workforce (NOW) scholarship, which covers tuition, fees, books and more.
The NOW scholarship at the College of the Florida Keys removes financial barriers for students enrolled in career programs and who plan to build their careers in the Keys.
The NOW scholarship:
• Covers 100% of educational costs.
• Is open to students who may not qualify for other scholarships.
• Allows students to choose from dozens of career tracks.
• Requires that students commit to working in the Keys after graduation.
The scholarship supports programs that train students for in-demand local jobs, from nursing and marine technology to hospitality management and skilled trades like welding and electrical work.
To qualify, students must be a 2025 graduate of Marathon High School, Coral Shores High School, or homeschooled in the Middle or Upper Keys; enroll at CFK for
the fall 2025 semester (deadline to apply for admission to CFK is Friday, Aug. 1); show a commitment to live and work in the Keys long-term.
“What’s especially great about the NOW scholarship is how many program options are available,” said Marissa Owens, CFK manager of recruitment. “There are dozens to choose from, ranging from twoyear degrees in nursing, criminal justice and renewable energy to certificates in diving, culinary arts and emergency medical services.”
The NOW scholarships, designed to invest in students dedicated to strengthening the future of Monroe County, are made possible through the generous support of Ed Hajim and Paul Ferri.
The scholarship application, due by Aug. 10, includes one essay question: “What are your career goals and how do you plan to make an impact in the Florida Keys?” Students have up to 500 words to share their thoughts and vision.
More information is at cfk. edu/discover/cfk-foundation/scholarship-info/.
Assistance with the CFK admissions application is available from Owens at recruiter@ cfk.edu. Information about the NOW scholarship is available from Shania Duarte-Vera, CFK coordinator, alumni and donor relations, at shania.duartevera@cfk.edu.
— Contributed
Students at CFK get hands-on training. CFK/Contributed
Lionfish Invitational president Rachel Bowman measures out a spiny invader in the Flower Garden Banks. CONTRIBUTED
1. Marathon’s Noah Casillas basks in the wellearned glory of his main event win.
2. Marathon’s Luis Diaz, left, faces off against Enzo Cardenas.
3. Local fans bring the energy at the Elks Lodge.
4. Chris Bell, left, battles Essa Mosa Alhiab. Working on just 10 days’ notice for the fight, Bell battled Alhiab to a draw.
5. Coach Rolando Oliva, the fighter of honor at last year’s Spar Wars, takes in the matches with family and friends.
6. Maya Barbosa and Daryn Harris show their fury in the ring.
7. Marathon’s Axel Flores, left, shows a sign of sportsmanship after defeating Jose Taboada in 160-pound boxing.
8. Hunter Johnson, right, takes on Seth Perez in 180-pound boxing.
9-10. Marathon’s Noah Casillas battles John Midgette for the Free Smoke belt.
Photos by KEVIN KLEEBLATT/Contributed
STONE COLD
Second-round knockout earns title belt for Marathon boxer Noah Casillas
alex@keysweekly.com
An amped-up crowd at the Marathon Elks Lodge on July 26 was treated to fists of fury in a 16-fight card for Spar Wars: Island Wars Volume 2.
Featuring fighters from Miami squaring off against Middle Keys athletes training out of Marathon Boxing Studio, the evening’s main event pitted 25-year-old Noah Casillas against John Midgette for the 170-pound Spar Wars Free Smoke Boxing Title.
“It was a movie – it was just insane,” said Casillas’ coach, Dwayne Ellis. “Talk about two guys going at it. The tension had been high for a while.”
Casillas began taking heavy blows from Midgette in the first round, Ellis said, but was able to adjust heading into the second.
“We knew John was a big puncher,” Ellis said. “He’s not a guy who fights in flurries of punches – he tries to go for the big blows. Noah had to sit on his punches and make that adjustment, and he did just that.”
Losing both his mouth guard and his head gear to blows from Midgette in the second round, Casillas’ resolve never wavered.
“We hit him with a clean punch and got a standing 8-count,” Ellis said, referencing the precautionary count used by referees after a solid blow to determine whether a fighter can continue.
“I told him: no mercy.”
Seconds later, a vicious left hook from Casillas sent Midgette crashing to the floor unconscious as the hometown hero jumped into his corner of fans.
Beyond the thrill of the fights, proceeds from the night went to benefit the Pay it Forward Scholarships, administered every year by Wendy Bonilla and distributed to graduating Marathon High School seniors.
STANLEY CUP GETS THE ULTIMATE KEYS EXPERIENCE
Florida Panthers GM brings trophy to Islamorada sandbar, Theater of the Sea
From the frozen ice to the hot and steamy Florida Keys: the Stanley Cup and general manager for the back-to-back champions in the Florida Panthers had quite the memorable weekend in Islamorada.
A tradition unique to the National Hockey League sees members of the championship organization getting the chance to spend time with the shiny, yet hefty trophy. On June 17, the Panthers secured a second straight Stanley Cup, beating the Edmonton Oilers in game six of a seven-game series.
Last weekend, it was Panthers general manager Bill Zito’s turn to take the Stanley Cup on an adventure. He went Keys-style by spending some time in Islamorada.
The cup stopped at several notable establishments, including Florida Keys Brewing Co., Key Lime Pie Factory and Papa Joe’s. The Stanley Cup and Zito also stopped by to see some marine mammals at Theater of the Sea. Video captured of the visit saw a sea lion enjoying some food out of the cup. There were also some acrobatics on display by dolphins.
The visit was capped off with a stop to the sandbar off Whale Harbor. Many people enjoying the day in the knee-deep water came by to get a glimpse and snap a photo as the cup basked in the sun for a few hours.
As Zito said on X, “Everyone in the Keys wanted to see the cup.”
1: Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito brings the Stanley Cup to Theater of the Sea to meet some marine mammals. Photo courtesy of Bill Zito/Via X 2: Artist Pasta Pantaleo gets to hold the cup alongside Zito. Pantaleo said he helped paint a gold panther as part of ‘Panthers on the Prowl’ fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society, supported by Bill and Julie Zito. CONTRIBUTED. 3: Marine deputy Nelson Sanchez had the chance to see the cup as he was out on patrol at the Islamorada sandbar. CONTRIBUTED 4: A sea lion at Theater of the Sea gets an up-close look at the cup. Photo courtesy of Bill Zito/Via X
Alan M. Nieder, MD
Nicholas Smith, MD
OREO II
10-year-old female terrier mix.
Looking for: A loving home, any kind, I’m not picky.
Turnoffs: Some people call me old, but I don’t feel that way.
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.
1.5-year-old male domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I love people, pets and playing with toys.
Turnoffs: Other cats. I’d prefer to be your one and only.
TANGERINE SWIRL
4-month-old male kitten. Looking for: Playful interactions, exploration and naps.
Turnoffs: Not a thing –being a kitten is the best.
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. More information is at fkspca.org/volunteer/ become-a-foster-volunteer/ or 305-743-4800.
COSMO
Nearly 250 derelict boats removed in the past year
vessel near the Seven Mile Bridge removed in September 2023.
Monroe County Marine Resources reached a historic milestone in the removal of derelict vessels.
A total of 248 derelict vessels were hauled out of the Florida Keys waters during the past 12 months.
In partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the program, funded through a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant, has shattered previous removal records. Removing derelict vessels enhances boater safety and protects the marine environment.
Currently, there are fewer than 80 vessels under investigation or pending removal, which is a significant decrease from the historical range of 300 to 400 cases at any given time in the Florida Keys.
The grant began on Aug. 6, 2024, with the first vessel removed just weeks later. In June 2025, a record 36 derelict vessels were removed, marking the highest single-month total.
“This remarkable accomplishment is thanks to the dedication and expertise of pre-qualified contractors working tirelessly across the Florida Keys and the consolidation of our efforts under one comprehensive contract,” said Marine Resources Senior Administrator Brittany Burtner. “We’ve streamlined the removal process, cutting the average removal time from about three months to about one.”
The vessel removal contract will be in effect through the end of 2025. Notable upcoming projects include the removal of a 96-foot submarine in Marathon, a 66-foot commercial trawler, “Dena Marie,” off Islamorada and a 53-foot cabin cruiser off Bahia Honda State Park, which can be seen while driving along U.S. 1.
Kearns Construction Company removed this vessel out of Lake Surprise in Key Largo this past June. KEARNS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY/Contributed
The Dena Marie off Islamorada is scheduled to be removed this year. JASON RAFTER/FWC
A
MICHELLE ROBINSON/Contributed
Friday, August 1st | 9pm -
Boston Whaler 380 Outrage Aquila 47 “Molokai” Scout 530 LXF
POUR YOUR HEART OUT AT TROPICAL EPOXY
Marathon’s newest creative outlet celebrated its grand opening on July 23 as Tropical Epoxy Vibe and Flow Studio welcomed guests, local dignitaries and the Marathon Chamber of Commerce to its new location at 10694 Aviation Blvd. The studio marks a new evolution for business owner Whitney Simmons, whose epoxy art, countertops and designer finishes can be seen at dozens of businesses and private homes throughout the Middle Keys. Simmons has been hard at work curating a palette of paint pouring and epoxy classes open to the public – no experience necessary. For class details and artwork samples, visit tropicalepoxy.com. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
TURTLEY OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Turtle-loving shoppers – both visiting and local – have a new spot for retail therapy as the Turtle Hospital opened its new store with a Christmas in July celebration on July 28. Purchased last summer, the site of the former Keys Cycles shop has been fully reimagined and stocked with merchandise ranging from souvenirs for travelers to housewares perfect for marine-ecology-minded locals. The building also serves as overflow parking for the bustling hospital’s educational programs. Photo ops with Tina the Turtle, staff dressed for the occasion and Turtle Tracks ice cream from Conch Custard completed the celebration on Monday before an official ribbon cutting ceremony with elected officials and the Marathon Chamber of Commerce. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
BOOKS TO BROADWAY
THREE BRILLIANT NOVELS FIND A SECOND LIFE CENTER STAGE
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
By Sara Gruen
KAREN NEWFIELD
Jacob Jankowski hops on a train and accidentally enters the world of elephants, tightrope walkers and oddities of the strangest kind. As a veterinary student, he finds himself adrift and gladly follows the local circus across the depression-era country, offering to care for the animals. People await the circus passing through with bated breath as the bleak and impoverished times offer little hope or entertainment. He meets Marlena, an outstanding and beautiful performer – it’s love at first sight. She is married to August, a charming yet cruel superintendent of the circus animals. Jacob realizes he must find a way to save Rosie the elephant, Marlena and himself. Told in alternating time periods by Jacob, now 93 years old, as he reminisces about his life and unveils the magic and mystery behind the big top. In 2006 I had the good fortune of reading this incredible story and meeting author Sara Gruen. What a pleasure to watch this magical world come to life on the big screen (Reese Witherspoon, 2011) and stage. The Broadway musical begins touring across the U.S. in fall 2025. Check the schedule to catch a performance near you.
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.
THE OUTSIDERS
By S.E. Hinton
Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1964, two rival gangs — the working-class Greasers and the affluent Socs — are locked in a longtime feud that erupts into violence and heartbreak. One night a fight turns deadly when Ponyboy’s friend Johnny kills a Soc named Bob in self-defense, forcing the two boys to hide out in an abandoned church. Their escape ends in heroism and tragedy when they rescue trapped children from a devastating fire, leaving Johnny fatally injured and Ponyboy forever changed. The gang rumble that follows settles nothing and emphasizes the senselessness of the ongoing feud and the shared emotions on both sides. Told in Ponyboy’s voice, “The Outsiders” is a coming-of-age tale about loyalty, identity and the deep desire to belong. S.E. Hinton wrote this book in 1967 – when she was only in high school! In 1983, Francis Ford Coppola produced an iconic movie adaptation, bringing the story to film. Not only was the movie incredible, but each cast member went on to become a household name. Today, the novel that defined a generation is a phenomenal musical on Broadway and the lights have never shone brighter. “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.”
By Christopher Isherwood
This novel is linked through a set of sketches chronicling Isherwood’s life as an English expatriate living in Berlin between 1929 and 1933. Through his detached observations, we meet a cast of eclectic characters — his lonely landlady Fräulein Schroeder, the hedonistic cabaret singer Sally Bowles, the down-on-their-luck Nowaks, and decadent socialites the Landauers. Their everyday dramas unfold against the backdrop of a city turning away from carefree Weimar excess into economic despair and the rise of Nazism. Published in 1939, the book portrays the glitter along with the darkening shadows of pre-war Berlin, ending with Isherwood’s departure as the terrifying political reality closes in. In 1966, “Cabaret” opened on Broadway as a musical, loosely based on “Goodbye to Berlin,” and later Bob Fosse created a film version starring Liza Minelli, cementing the story into pop culture history. In 2024, “Cabaret” returned to Broadway at the Kit Kat Club, a unique circular space with bars and tables mirroring an actual cabaret. The performance is outstanding, not a bad seat in the house. It is incredible that all these years later, the story still resonates with what is going on in our complicated world.
#WorthWatching: A musical retelling of how green-skinned Elphaba and popular Glinda forge a friendship in Oz before destiny recasts them as the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, this is a modern spin on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (circa 1900). “Wicked” has been headlining on Broadway since 2003 – talk about timeless! Beginning July 25th, “Wicked, Part 1” can be seen on Prime Video for FREE.
GOODBYE TO BERLIN
Our Community
Best Place to take the Kids
Best Event
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Best Sunset
Best Place to Have a Wedding
Best Elected O cial
Best Tourist A raction
Best Local Celebrity
Best Volunteer
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Best Place to Take a Date
Best Band/Musician
Best Place to Take a Selfie
Best Summer Camp
Best Sport Coach
Best Educator
Best Thespian
/Performing Artist
Best Celebrity Pet
Nominations start July. 24 noon to Aug. 10 midnight
Final Voting Begins
Aug. 21 noon to Sept. 7 midnight
Winners & Awards
to be presented Saturday, Sept. 20
The Businesses
Best Resort/Hotel
Best Law Firm
Best Gi s & Threads
Best Fishing Guide
Best Fishing Charter
Best Dive Shop
Best Bait & Tackle Shop
Best Customer Service
Best Medical Professional
Best Health and Wellness Service
Best Landscape Company
Best Auto Repair
Best Car Wash/Detailing
Best Marine Repair
Best Photographer
Best Marina
Best Marine Detailing
Best Water Sports
/Leisure Cruise
Best Vet
Best Pet Service
Best Realtor
Best Real Estate O ce
Best Bank
Best Vacation Rental Company
Best General Contractor
Best Specialty Contractor
Best Pool Service
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The Food & Drink
Best Key Lime Pie
Best Cuban Sandwich
Best Fish Sandwich
Best Fine Dining
Best International Food
Best Breakfast
Best Lunch
Best BBQ
Best Cup of Co ee
Best Bar
Best Bartender
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Best Happy Hour
Best Waterfront Dining
Best Live Music Venue
Best Pizza
Best Bloody Mary
Best Margarita
Best Late Night Spot
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Best Beer Selection
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Best Wings
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Best Cook your own Catch
Best Overall Restaurant
BEYOND THE ISLAND CHAIN
The Keys were a small part of old Monroe County
It is always interesting to see where a column goes. I start with an idea and then let the history unfold as it needs to.
Often, the story takes a turn I wasn’t expecting, as was the case with this foray onto the mainland. More about that later.
I started this column because Monroe County boasts a substantially larger footprint than just the string of islands connected like pearls on a string by the Overseas Highway. Of the county’s 983 square miles, the Keys account for about 13%. In terms of population, the island chain houses a smidge over 99 percent of it.
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
In 2020, Monroe County’s population was 82,874. Key West was home to 26,444 of those people — nearly a third. About another third were in Marathon (9,689), Islamorada (7,107), and Key Largo (13,878). The last third lived on the other islands throughout the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. Fewer than 20 people lived on the mainland of Monroe County, which comprises 87% of its land mass.
The county’s population has always been concentrated in the Keys, even when it was a whole lot bigger than it is today. Monroe was established on July 3, 1823, and predates Florida’s statehood. It was the territory’s sixth county. Initially, it stretched from Key West, the county seat, north to the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee, and west to Charlotte Harbor.
It is easy to understand the winning argument behind the creation of Dade County on Feb. 4, 1836. Legislators agreed it was an undue inconvenience for those living on the mainland to report to Key West for jury duty. A line was drawn from Bahia Honda to the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee. East of the line was Dade County. West of the line remained Monroe County.
The Dade County line stood intact for 30 years. And then, on Dec. 8, 1866, not quite all of the Florida Keys were reestablished as Monroe County. The county line was moved up the island chain from Bahia Honda, past Key Largo and what is today the
Ocean Reef community, to where Palo Alto Key, Linderman Key and Rose Key are separated from Swan Key by Broad Creek. The rest of the Northern Keys remained in Dade County and still do.
It was a different story on the west coast, where Monroe County continued to reach for decades until a second county splintered off. On May 2, 1887, Lee County was formed. Fort Myers was named the county seat. Charlotte County and Collier County were carved out of Monroe on May 8, 1923. Three days later, Hendry County was formed on May 11. LaBelle was named the county seat.
Monroe still covers a lot of ground up on the mainland, with county lines reaching surprising places. Driving out of the Keys, the Monroe County line ends, along with the Overseas Highway, near MM 115. On the other side of the county line is Miami-Dade and the South Dixie Highway. Though Monroe ends on the 18-Mile Stretch, it picks back up again out in the Everglades.
Moving west, the islands of Florida Bay remain a part of Monroe, but the Miami-Dade line captures the mainland until about the midpoint of Snake Bight, where Monroe picks up again.
The county line travels in a generally north direction until it meets U.S. 41, where it makes a 90-degree turn west and runs toward the coast in what starts as a straight line, but snakes around the coastline, creeks and islands just below Chokoloskee and Ted Smallwood’s old store.
The big mainland Monroe attraction is Flamingo. Back in the late 1800s, it was home to a small community. The name was chosen in 1893 when a post office was assigned to the community. They decided to name their town after the tall, colorful birds that were once commonplace in South Florida. By 1900, 50 families called the community home. The people who lived there worked as farmers, fishermen and charcoal makers. The fruits of their labor, as well as the charcoal, were shipped to Key West.
The post office was short-lived and closed in 1909. The community lasted a little longer. In 1922, the Ingram Highway, connecting Florida City to Flamingo, opened with the hopes of reviving the outpost community. Instead of opening up Flamingo to new residents, it allowed those who already called the community home an easier access point by which to leave the harsh realities of living in the Everglades.
This detail of an 1827 map shows major rivers, lakes, coastal features, settlements and roads in the mainland of Monroe County. FLORIDA CENTER FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY/University of South Florida
The isolation did benefit the community during Prohibition when Flamingo was used by bootleggers and those brewing their own alcohol. When plans were made to create a park in the Everglades, those who still called the outpost home were unsure if they would be allowed to remain. They were not. Everglades National Park opened in 1947. The last remaining residents of Flamingo were ordered to leave by June 1, 1951.
Today, the only permanent residents of Flamingo are those working for the park service, the Flamingo Lodge and the Guy Bradley Visitors Center. The lodge is the only hotel accommodation within park boundaries. The lodge, which opened in 1966, closed in 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma damaged it. The lodge reopened in 2023 and offers camping and hotel rooms.
Flamingo is not the only former Monroe County outpost up on the mainland. There was also a community called Pinecrest, which, like Flamingo, was home to hunters, fishermen and the Gladesmen who made their living in the Everglades by doing whatever was necessary. It is rumored that the notorious Al Capone had a mansion in Pinecrest, as well as a brothel. However, hurricanes and the Great Depression took their toll on the outpost community. Once found on the old Loop Road, Pinecrest was home to about 200 people who lived without electricity, running water or telephone lines.
Pinecrest’s last big hurrah was a legendary bar called the Gator Hook Saloon. It opened in 1958 and closed in 1977. It was a Gladesmen’s bar and not for the faint of heart or outsiders. The sign out front said no guns or knives. Inside, everyone was packing. There are more stories to tell about mainland Monroe and the Gator Hook, but they will have to wait. Fortunately, it turns out that I know a family member who used to run the Gator Hook, and I’ve already begun picking his brain.
Pinecrest, circa 1930. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Contributed
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
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The manicured tropically landscaped yard features an outdoor shower and a substantial side yard with raised flower beds for gardening. A covered downstairs patio o ers an ideal spot for grilling your up steaks or dining al fresco. Enjoy an abundance of covered and open parking, as well as room for trailer or RV storage. Situated on a deep-water canal with approximately 36 feet of concrete dockage, boasting fillet station and swim ladder, this exceptional property is tailor-made for enjoying the coveted Florida Keys lifestyle! Nestled within a quiet, established neighborhood but just minutes to delectable dining options and stores in town, this fantastic property has it all!
BRIEFLY
Marathon man arrested for animal abuse
Benjamin Franklin Cook, 48, of Marathon was arrested July 29 for reportedly dragging, throwing, kicking and injuring a Chihuahua dog. The sheriff’s office responded to reports of animal abuse on 107th Street and First Avenue in Marathon around 10:45 a.m. Multiple witnesses reported observing Cook physically abuse the dog. The dog suffered injuries to its face and throat that required veterinarian care. Cook was charged with animal cruelty and disorderly intoxication. He was taken to jail.
Meet the real-life heroes at National Night Out
In early August, the Keys’ law enforcement, military and first responders will join communities across the nation to celebrate National Night Out. Meet local partners while checking out vehicles, boats and equipment at informational booths. Play, eat and have fun while you collect handouts and freebies from the men and women who keep our communities safe. The Middle Keys event will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the sheriff’s office aviation hangar at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. More information is at keysso.net/locations.
Hialeah man cited for stabbing undersized shark
Vladimir Martinez Risco, 58, of Hialeah was given a mandatory notice to appear in court on July 19 for allegedly possessing and attempting to harvest an undersized nurse shark. Deputy Rodolfo Castillo was on patrol at the Channel Five Bridge around 4 p.m. when he observed Martinez Risco carrying fishing equipment as well as what was found to be the undersized shark. There were several visible stab wounds in the gill area and Martinez Risco stated the shark “just won’t die.” The shark was still alive when it was returned to the water.
Satellite-tracked turtle to be released on Friday
Haven, a juvenile green sea turtle, was rescued on Jan. 15 off Stock Island, where she was found floating, completely entangled in fishing line with a heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. Haven has beaten the odds and made a full recovery through treatment at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. She will be fitted with a small transmitter satellite tag and returned to her ocean home on Friday, Aug. 1 off Sombrero Beach. The satellite tagging is part of Sea Turtle Conservancy's Tour de Turtles program, an educational journey through science, research and geography of sea turtle migration using satellite telemetry. After Haven returns to sea, her journey can be tracked at tourdeturtles.org. The Turtle Hospital ambulance will arrive with Haven at 9:10 a.m. and release will be at 9:30 a.m.
Get business and legal forms with the Law Depot app
With Law Depot, you can create customized legal documents for a wide range of personal and business needs – free with your Monroe County public library card. There are hundreds of quality legal forms to choose from, including power of attorney, bill of sale, last will and testament, employment contract, prenuptial agreement, landlord/tenant notices and more. For more information, including how you can pre-register for a library card online and get started right away, go to keyslibraries.org/ online.
SHELF HELP
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “We Should All Be Birds: A Memoir” by Brian Buckbee
Why: In this fascinating memoir, the author details his mysterious illness, as well as his encounter with an injured pigeon that seems to be seeking his help.
Sadly, Buckbee does not get a clear diagnosis while dealing with terrible symptoms of the mystery illness. But he shows how coming to the aid, care and friendship of this pigeon he names Two-Step –and many other pigeons and birds continuing to this day – is what gets him through it all. This story can give much comfort and understanding to so many who have terrible mystery illnesses that go undiagnosed, and they have to still live and cope best they can.
Where: You can borrow this as an e-book and e-audiobook from the Monroe County Public Library.
How: You can request books, including e-books and e-audiobooks, logging in to your account at keyslibraries. org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries. org
Recommended by: Eva Stafford, cataloging manager
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/postshelf-help.
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
Up on Boca Chica Beach the other day, the sargassum was teeming with a diverse legion of shorebirds – sandpipers, dowitchers, willets, turnstones and plovers. Some were feeding, digging their bills down into the seaweed and coming up with gastronomical treasure. Some were loafing. Occasionally a bird would get annoyed with another member of its own species and run head down and head on at them, like a spatula after a pancake, to drive them off. Once or twice a white ibis walked through the scene, out-sizing the other birds, a kid too big to be on the playground.
One of the wonders of Boca Chica Beach is you can get relatively close to shorebirds without scaring them off.
It had been a long time since I’d had such a good look at so many shorebirds. Partly because summer birding can be a little slow in the Keys, and partly because I’d shipped my damaged 20-year-old Swarovski binoculars off to be repaired two months before, and had just gotten them back. The repair folks realigned the barrels, fixed the focusing mechanism, replaced the rubber eyecups, tested things like resolution and focus uniformity and, if I’m reading the packing slip right, refilled the nitrogen. All at no charge. Thanks Swarovski Optik North America Limited if you are reading this (which you probably are not).
Looking through my rejuvenated binoculars felt like being gifted with a super power. My eyes had so much reach.
Almost all of the species on the beach could be seen here year-round, but not in such big numbers. Most breed far north of here –some as far away as the Arctic Circle. But it was close enough to the end of nesting season that some of the birds had yet to lose their breeding finery.
Not the black-bellied plovers, who either hadn’t migrated and molted, or had molted enough by the time they returned that they did not have their nominate black bellies. Which was a bit of a disappointment. (Do better, black-bellied plovers.)
There were a good number of peeps, nearly all least sandpipers, though I did manage to pick out a trio of western sandpipers, with their ruddy scapulars and black legs.
The short-billed dowitchers were the most glam of the shorebirds. Predominantly, when we see them in the Keys, they have a white belly and dull brown everything else. But most of the birds in front of me were flashier, with deep mahogany patches on their wings and a strong infusion of ochre, tiger orange and
MURMURS AND SUCH
burnt sienna in their belly and throats. Driving home, I started to think about what to call the group of shorebirds I’d seen. A riot seemed too dramatic. A scrum seemed too violent, which didn’t seem right, considering there wasn’t much argy-bargy going on. A pageant seemed too insubstantial. A mixed flock would work, but it sounded too much like an accountancy term.
A couple weeks ago I’d been talking with someone about nouns of aggregation, which some people call collective nouns, nouns of multitude or if you want to be olde about it, terms of venery. They are the codified terms for groups of critters, usually birds. (We’re going to just sail right past the fact that there is no standardized term to describe the standardized terms used to describe groups of animals.)
The most well known collective noun is a murder of crows. I suppose the second-most well known, at least in our era, is a murmuration of starlings.
The whole murmuration thing has something of a pop culture/product of the zeitgeist feel to me. I’m pretty sure its modern popularity traces back to a video posted in 2011 of two women canoeing across an autumnal lake in Ireland, when suddenly a huge flock of Eurasian starlings flies overhead, a cloud of thousands of birds moving under a graphite sky, constantly changing and undulating, reforming, then reforming again.
It is really mesmerizing to watch, and it has had over 11 million views on YouTube, and more on Vimeo. But I don’t think I’d heard the term murmuration applied to starlings before that.
Here in the Keys we have a small population of Eurasian starlings, but not enough for a noticeable murmuration. We hardly have enough to form a boy band. If they get together and fly around in a small cloud at dusk I
have never noticed it.
I have seen the phenomenon a few times, though, most notably in Rome, overlooking the Forum, where hundreds of thousands of starlings gathered at dusk to swirl around in giant, nebulous flocks, looking alien and unreal. (While I was writing this, a song from Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” came onto my Spotify playlist. I don’t think I’d noticed before that the album cover is a grainy photo of a Peregrine falcon speeding toward a flock of starlings.)
I remember after the video came out, as the term murmuration came into vogue to describe a flock of starlings in flight, a birder friend – a man far more erudite than me, and also a bit crankier – got kind of annoyed about it, offended by what he called the term’s “preciosity.”
I’ve always felt two ways about it. I mean, I get the fear of preciousness when applied to the natural world, because it tends to frame nature as a crystallized idyll, as a gauzy ideal, something sentimental.
But alternately I’m a big fan of the more poetic aspects of the English language. And also, to my mind, anything that makes people feel connected to nature is a good thing.
Reading up on it, it turns out that murmuration isn’t some kind of newfangled term as a collective noun. Its first known usage as such was in “The Boke of St. Albans,” first published in 1496. I’m not sure how often it has been used in the intervening centuries, but it does have a solid historic basis.
“The Boke of St. Albans” actually has a list of 146 terms of venery, amongst them a parliament of owls, an exultation of larks and rout of wolves.
As of yet, I still haven’t come up with a satisfactory collective noun for the shorebirds I was seeing. I want to avoid the whiff of the twee. But I do want to come up with something.
MARK HEDDEN
ISLAMORADA COUNCILMAN’S RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ FAILS TO GAIN SUPPORT
JIM McCARTHY
jim@keysweekly.com
Concerns over a migrant detention facility’s potential effect on the Everglades and Florida Bay led backcountry guide and councilman Steve Friedman to present a resolution opposing such development at a July 22 meeting.
His colleagues didn’t support the measure.
Led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, state emergency management officials constructed a migrant detention facility — referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz” — at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. On the 57-year-old airstrip is a facility consisting of white tents, RVs and portable buildings. There are also vehicles and thousands of people — migrants in federal custody, and their guards.
With capacity to house thousands, the facility is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to remove migrants who are believed to have entered the country illegally. Recently, flights have transported migrants from the facility to other countries. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Garrett Ripa said at a July 25 press conference that 100 illegal migrants were removed.
Noting the Everglades’ fragile ecosystem and its importance to South Florida’s drinking water, Friedman’s resolution sought to inform state leaders, including DeSantis, state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and state Rep. Jim Mooney of the village’s opposition to the facility. It also urged the state to identify and select an alternative location more environmentally suitable for a detention facility.
In his statements to the council, Friedman said his resolution solely focused on the environmental aspect of the facility, and not the specific type of development.
“I would be bringing forth this resolution
should it be a school, a hospital or church that’s going in there,” he said. “We don’t want any prisons, we don’t want any development and we don’t want any incinerators.
“That’s another thing happening with this development that’s going on,” Friedman said. “It’s invited others to think if this indeed is a temporary detention center as they allude to. … One Miami county commissioner suggested that it should be a site to consider for a garbage incinerator.”
Councilwoman Deb Gillis and Vice Mayor Don Horton acknowledged their preference to support the “good things” going on in the Everglades, such as the $4 billion Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir. Recently, DeSantis and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reached an agreement allowing the state to take the lead on the reservoir. Located south of Lake Okeechobee, it will store over 78 billion gallons of water and deliver up to 470 billion gallons of clean water annually to the Everglades and Florida Bay. It also supports the Biscayne Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for the Keys.
“We need to put faith in our governor if he’s going to put millions of dollars on an airstrip still existing out there that he’s not going to damage the Everglades by using this site that’s previously developed,” Horton said.
Councilwoman Anna Richards said Friedman’s resolution should be taken up by advocacy groups including Captains for Clean Water and Florida Bay Forever.
“Those are the people who should be dealing with this. This is not Islamorada business,” she said.
Mayor Sharon Mahoney applauded Friedman’s enthusiasm, but she said he was trying to equate the environment with the deportation of people.
1: Soils are the basis of the different habitats in the Everglades, from tree islands to sawgrass ridges to sloughs. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO. 2: Councilman Steve Friedman and councilwoman Anna Richards during a July 22 meeting inside the Founders Park Community Center. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
“I really don’t think it’s in our jurisdiction to do that. Protect the Everglades one-hundredmillion percent, but by going against this we’re saying we’re going against what our governor is doing,” she said.
Friedman said anything happening in the Everglades affects Islamorada.
“This is about leaving the Everglades alone and that’s why we’re trying to protect our community, because of how we rely on that area and clean water coming south,” he said.
Friedman’s motion didn’t receive any second for a vote. As a result, the resolution failed.
Several groups are fighting the migrant detention camp in the Everglades. On June 27, Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Miami-Dade County for what they say is a “reckless plan for a massive detention center” in the heart of the Everglades. Per the lawsuit, the plan didn’t go through any environmental review as required under federal law, and the public had no opportunity to comment.
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In The Bleachers
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
Carlos Abundez, 35, of San Ysidro, California, couldn’t really explain to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent on June 25 how 14 keel-billed toucans got into the dashboard of his Volkswagen Passat, The New York Times reported. Customs and Border Protection officers were alerted to the strange cargo when one of their dogs picked up a scent; the threatened birds appeared to be sedated, and some of them were injured. Abundez said he had left his temporary home in Tijuana, Mexico, to get McDonald’s in the U.S. He claimed his car had been parked and locked in his driveway overnight. On July 7, he was charged with smuggling and illegal importation and was released on $10,000 bond.
Adam Dailies
Brevity
Milton Friedman (1912-2006), economist; Primo Levi (1919-1987), chemist/author; Geoffrey Lewis (1935-2015), actor; Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1951- ), tennis player; Michael Biehn (1956- ), actor; Mark Cuban (1958- ), businessman/TV personality; Kevin Greene (19622020), football player; Wesley Snipes (1962- ), actor; J.K. Rowling (1965- ), author; Zac Brown (1978- ), musician; B.J. Novak (1979- ), actor; DeMarcus Ware (1982- ), football player; A.J. Green (1988- ), football player.
In 1964, the American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted the first close-up photographs of the moon.
The first U.S. patent was issued to inventor Samuel Hopkins on this day in 1790, for a process of making potash, an ingredient used in fertilizer.
“I live in my house as I live inside my skin: I know more beautiful, more ample, more sturdy and more picturesque skins: but it would seem to me unnatural to exchange them for mine.”
Brevity
— Primo Levi, “If This Is a Man”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces a PUBLIC HEARING for the FWC Lead Managed Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area located in Monroe County, Florida.
6:30 P.M. Tuesday, August 12
Marathon Government Center 2nd Floor
2798 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050
PURPOSE: To receive public comment regarding considerations for the FWC’s ten-year Management Plan for the FWC Lead Managed Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA).
This hearing is being held EXCLUSIVELY for discussion of the DRAFT Florida Keys WEA Management Plan, otherwise referred to as the Management Prospectus. This meeting will not address area hunting or fishing regulations. For more information on the process for FWC rule and regulation development visit our Proposed Rules Changes scan QR code.
A Management Prospectus for the Florida Keys WEA and a copy of the agenda is available upon request from Elizabeth Norregaard or Christina Omran by mail at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-160; by telephone at (850) 510-1823; or by email at Ann.Norregaard@MyFWC.com or Christina.Omran@MyFWC.com.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify the agency at least five calendar days before the meeting by calling (850) 488-6411 or contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or (800) 955-8770 (Voice), if you are hearing or speech impaired. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more information, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at:
FWC, Office of Human Resources 620 S Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850) 488-6411
Or write to:
Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statues 83.805 / 83.506, Tavernier Mini Storage, 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070 will sell or otherwise will dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.
All Contents in:
Unit B-59 – Curtis Drinkard & Laura Herrick Sale of all goods will be 8/8/25 at 10:00 am at 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070. Tavernier Mini Storage reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Publish:
July 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the Zoom meetings or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@keysarts.com Board Meeting/Retreat & Advisor Orientation August 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM
Monroe County Public Library Community Room
3490 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050
Or Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom. us/j/ 86024677767?pwd= vbiZdSQJkhu8iGth JKkvY0Z67DUbSG.1
Meeting ID: 860 2467 7767
Passcode: 370767
Art In Public Places
Committee Meeting August 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom. us/j/ 88337135232?pwd= 7QCZq93ug8KOjR Md4SayhD2RMEEkz9.1
Meeting ID: 883 3713 5232
Passcode: 657545
Publish: July 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has funding available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations for capital projects for a second round for only District II (from city limits of Key West to west end of Seven Mile Bridge) and District V (from Mile Marker 90.940 to the Dade/Monroe County Line and any portions of mainland Monroe County).
The project/facility must have the primary purpose of promoting tourism and must fall into one of the following categories:
Convention Center, Sports Stadium, Sports Arena, Coliseum, Auditorium, Aquarium, Museum, Zoological Park, Nature Center, Fishing Pier, Beach or Beach Park Facility, Channel, Estuary, or Lagoon, Public Facilities in Accordance with Conditions set forth in the Florida Statutes.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5:00 p.m. on August 27, 2025, and applications must be downloaded from the County’s Bonfire platform. For more information, please email maxine@fla-keys.com.
July 31 and August 7, 14 & 21, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers
John Sheldon, O.D.
Island Vision Care 6400 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050
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
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 9:00 A.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: FY 26 2nd Round Capital Project (Bricks and Mortar) Funding Application
DAC II and DAC V Monroe County, Florida
Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.
Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.
The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 5:00P.M. on August 27, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 9:00 A.M., on Thursday, August 28, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156 One tap mobile:
+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York)
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Publish:
July 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Back Up Emergency Management Logistics Services Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.
Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.
The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP
is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal.
The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom.
us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
One tap mobile:
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+16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Publish:
July 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION
File No. 25-CP-000270-K
Division: Probate IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN BROWN EVANS, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of John Brown Evans, deceased, whose date of death was May 12, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, 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 on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of
this notice is July 31, 2025.
Personal Representative:
John Caleb Evans
504 SW South Carolina Dr Stuart, FL 34994
Attorney for Personal Representative:
Aliana M. Payret
Florida Bar No.104377
Robinson Pecaro & Mier, P.A. 201 N. Kentucky Ave., Suite 2 Lakeland, Florida 33801
Telephone: (863) 816-6808
E-Mail Addresses: apayret@ lawdrive.com melinda@lawdrive.com
Publish:
July 31 & August 7, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-250-K IN RE: ESTATE OF RICKY LEE SMITH
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Ricky Lee Smith, deceased, whose date of death was May 12, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 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 on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: July 24, 2025.
Personal Representative: Brian Joe Smith 1800 Massachusetts Avenue St. Cloud, Florida 34769
Attorney for Personal Representative: Tracy Hensel, M.D., J.D.
Attorney for Petitioner
Florida Bar Number: 127358
HENSEL, BAILEY & HARRIS, PA
701 13th Street
Saint Cloud, FL 34769
Telephone: (407) 957-9686
Fax: (407) 386-7451
E-mail: tracy@hbhlawfl.com
Secondary E-Mail: heather@ hbhlawfl.com
Publish: July 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, CASE NO.: 25-CP-37-P UPPER KEYS DIVISION
JUDGE: MORGAN IN RE: THE ESTATE OF BRUCE HORN, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The Administration of the Estate of BRUCE HORN, deceased, whose date of death was December 19, 2024 is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, FL, Upper Keys Division; Case Number: 25-CP-37-P; the address of which is Plantation Key Government Center, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 1, Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and his/her 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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (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 THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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 24, 2025. Personal Representative: Lynda Munshower Attorney for Personal Representative: JORGE JAILE, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 1020005 Los Cayos Law, P.A. 100410 Overseas Hwy, Suite 303 Key Largo, FL 33037 Tel.: (305) 204-8814 Email: jorge@loscayoslaw.com
Publish: July 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-292-PK IN RE: THE ESTATE OF LEIF AUSTIN MOE Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Leif Austin Moe, deceased, whose date of death was April 27, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and
the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. 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 24, 2025.
Personal Representative: Tiffany Irene Moe 101644 Overseas Highway, #25 Key Largo, Florida 33070 Attorney for Personal Representative: Nicholas W. Mulick, Esq. E-mail Addresses: reception@ mulicklaw.com and Lisa@mulicklaw.com
Florida Bar No. 337757
Nicholas W. Mulick P.A. 91645 Overseas Highway Tavernier, Florida 33070 Telephone: (305) 852-9292
Publish: July 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO: 25-CP-000134-M IN RE: ESTATE OF SUE FOLTZ DICKES a/k/a SUE F. DICKES
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The Administration of the Estate of Sue Foltz Dickes a/k/a Sue F. Dickes, deceased, whose date of death was September 6, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the Personal Representatives and the Personal Representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s Estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
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 24, 2025.
Personal Representatives: Kimberly D. Kenney 140 Southbrooke Court Decatur, Illinois 62521-3740
Frederic L. Kenney 140 Southbrooke Court Decatur, Illinois 62521-3740
Attorney for Personal Representatives: Cyrus Malhotra, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0022751 THE MALHOTRA LAW FIRM P.A. 3903 Northdale Blvd., Suite 100E Tampa, FL 33624
Telephone: (813) 902-2119
Fax Number: (727) 290-4044
Email: filings@ FLprobatesolutions.com
Secondary Email: cortney@ FLprobatesolutions.com
Publish:
July 24 & 31, 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-CA-129-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
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 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
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs greathave svc. records from 89k miles, A/C works. REDUCED to $3000OBO Bring an offer! Located in Marathon. Call Evan 305-417-0169
BOATS FOR SALE
17' Montauk Whaler, 90hp Yamaha-50 hours only, GPS, Depth Finder, Radio, Aluminum Trailer, excellent condition. Located in Marathon. $11,000 OBO 305-849-5793
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
Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006
Night Monitor –FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/
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 Manager-FTMarathon, 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.
Handyman needed for residence in Marathon. References needed. Call: 305-395-0478 bbrayman@proton.me
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am-7pm daily. Full time/Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
HOBBIES/COLLECT.
PRIVATE
COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
$3,000 OBO. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. Located in Marathon. Call Evan 305-417-0169
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
2BR/1BA with outdoor patio for rent in Marathon. $2,100/month F/L/S Taking applications. 305-849-5793
3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Available now. REDUCED to $3,300/mo. 618-559-9143
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Competely remodeled. All appliances. No pets. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dock available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876 RENTED IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!!!
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
PENDING!
PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
RV FOR SALE
2017 Fleetwood Discovery 39F Diesel Pusher For Sale. Only 35k miles. Located in Grassy Key. $135,000 757-477-2450
5th Wheel 27' Forest River Travel Trailer For Sale. Located in Key West. $13,000 OBO 305-848-7070
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
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
FACILITY MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR – FULL TIME WITH BENEFITS.
40 hours per week at the Keys Marine Laboratory (KML), Layton, Florida.
KML supports research and academic programs conducted by universities/colleges throughout Florida, the US, and internationally. Duties include all facility maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment (e.g. janitorial, preventive, repair).
To apply for this opening visit: Careers@USF and search for Job ID 41130.
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.
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. Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:
is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
ELECTRICAL PROJECT ENGINEER
Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate.
Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002 ACCOUNTING PERSON
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!
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.
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!
Permanent)
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida,
GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.
IS HIRING!
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT 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.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP
EXCEPTIONAL
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
THEME: AT THE CIRCUS ACROSS
1. *Jumbo The Elephant or Sirius in space
5. “But I heard him exclaim ‘____ he drove out of sight” 8. Young salmon
12. Blood component 13. What Lizzie Borden did 14. Leather razor sharpener 15. “The Famous Five” author ____ Blyton 16. Back of the neck
17. Letter-shaped girder 18. *Feats-of-strength circus performer
20. Indian restaurant bread
21. In need of a muffler
22. Away’s partner
23. Backward
26. Same as ruin
30. Greek R
31. Net sales minus cost of goods sold
34. Europe/Asia mountain divide
35. Approximately, as in date
37. Overnight lodging
38. Inflicted a blow
39. Celestial bear
40. Goose egg
42. ____-AFTRA
43. Frying pan
45. Eating establishment
47. Type of English crs.
48. Traffic accident
50. Wading bird
52. *Sara Gruen’s novel “Water for ____”
56. *Lion tamer’s tool or counter seat
57. Justice’s garb
58. Hit it on the head
59. Run off, as in couple
60. Was in the hole
61. Japanese zither
62. Something ____
63. Movie “Saturday Night” subject matter, acr. 64. FedEx, verb
DOWN
1. Tom Jones’ “____ a Lady”
2. *Big Top
3. Gulf V.I.P.
4. Remodeled
5. Tests
6. Settle a debt
7. Biblical place of bliss
8. *”The Greatest Showman” protagonist
9. Equals length times width
10. Multicolored horse
11. Dashboard acronym
13. Type of heart pain
14. Moses’ mountain
19. Hollywood legend ____
Shearer
22. *Like circus audience’s experience, hopefully
23. Bow-like structure
24. Dodge
25. Trunks
26. *Three-____ circus
27. What phoenix did
28. Batu Khan’s people
29. JD Vance’s “Hillbilly ____”
32. Civil disorder
33. African grazer
36. *Sound of circus
38. Money under mattress, e.g. 40. *Aerialist’s bouncy safety device
41. Piled
44. Twisted cotton thread
46. Give it generously
48. *Funny one
49. James Dean’s famous role
50. It will
51. *Unwelcome reception, pl. 52. Cupid, to the Greeks
53. Sodium hydroxide
54. ____caca, South American lake
55. Trough stuff
56. Witness