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Aug. 4 marked 235 years of the U.S. Coast Guard. In August 1790, Alexander Hamilton's vision became reality when President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, authorizing 10 revenue cutters to defend a young nation while enforcing tariff laws.
A rescued baby loggerhead turtle is released into the deep blue, courtesy of the Turtle Hospital and Coast Guard Station Marathon. See page 14. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
alex@keysweekly.com
On June 28, postal carrier John Schaefer filled his final mailbox, capping nearly four decades with the United States Postal Service.
For those close to Schaefer, the reaction was universal: “Wow. He actually did it.” Flirting with retirement for what seemed like forever, the relentless mailman always seemed to come back for “one more year” as he kept his route along Sombrero Beach Road.
Schaefer’s 38-year postal career began in 1987 in Lake Worth, Florida after his service in the U.S. Navy. He transferred “back home” to Ohio before eventually escaping to paradise in the Florida Keys, where he’s maintained one of the most visible routes in town while acting in just about every role imaginable at the community theater.
He’s known for taking special care of his customers, and taking on extra routes when others are in need – frequently keeping him on the road until 8 or 9 p.m. during the busy holiday months. Now one month removed from having – well, a LOT – more free time, we sat down with Schaefer to reflect, in his own words, on a wellserved career.
I liked the idea of the postal service because I’m a people person. On a walking route, you’re going to actual doors every day. It’s fun, getting to see all the people.
I’M YOUR
MAILMAN
John Schaefer calls it a
career after 38 years with USPS
I came to the Keys when I was working a desk job with the postal service in Ohio. I was getting kind of sick of it, my boss was about to retire, I didn’t want to work for anyone else, and one of my jobs was to get all the faxes. One of them said “work in paradise,” and I looked at it and said, what’s this all about? I decided to come down and check it out, made it to Founders Park, looked out from the beach they have there, and said “Yeah, I can do this.”
My worst days on the job were up in Ohio when it was 35, 36 degrees and raining. There was nothing you could do – you’re just stuck until the end of the day. You get home, pour a hot bath and try to warm your core up.
One winter (in Ohio), we decided to wear shorts the whole time. Me and another guy, Tim Bowman, always had this competition to see who could be the last person to put on pants as it got colder. Every year, the postmaster would come in one day and say “Tomorrow, both of you, in pants.” I saw
a news story where two postal carriers up in New York were wearing shorts all winter to raise money for a charity. I thought, “If they can do it, we can do it.” At the same time, I knew a school for kids with disabilities was putting in a new playground. That stuff is expensive. So we called it “Freezin’ for a Reason,” and we raised $4,000. I learned that as long as I keep my core pretty warm, I’m fine in shorts down to zero degrees.
But we had a few days where the wind chill was just ridiculous. One day it was 35 below, and I had this part of my route where I walked up this big hill and back down to the truck. I remember getting in between two houses where I was out of the wind and in the sun, just going “Oh my God,” trying to warm up.
Through rain, snow, sleet and hail, you just know that whatever it is, you have to get through it. When I had a walking route, I had a satchel, and I hated that once you put a lot of mail in there, the flap wouldn’t cover it when it’s raining. My mom actually sewed a Velcro strip on my bag so I could keep the people’s mail dry.
I never really thought about it a lot, but that attitude of keeping going, it’s the same thing in the theater. No matter how things are going, you have to step on that stage. You do everything you can to prepare, but eventually it’s go time.
My best day on the job was helping someone on Sombrero Beach Road chase down his dog that had gotten
ALEX RICKERT
windshield wipers. I was trying to get around downed telephone poles.
As a mailman, we love big mailboxes. The ones that are designed for letters only, when they get a magazine or something, you’re screwed.
But we hate delivering huge, lopsided boxes of toilet paper, paper towels – all things you can get at Publix. And furniture. If somebody buys a house and decides to furnish it via Amazon, I’m stuck with bed frames, weights, all that heavy, heavy stuff.
I think it’s important for people to remember that when you order something online, there’s a person in between that transaction and your door. People used to buy 25-pound bags of dog food because they hated carrying bigger bags up the steps – but now they buy 45-pound bags because it’s cheaper on Amazon. Just don’t expect that mail person to take it up the steps.
When I first started, the average number of packages on a route for the day was 15. Now, that base number is around 80 or 90 packages – and that’s not counting the little ones that can fit into a mailbox. On Monday or the day after a holiday, it’s over 300.
I couldn’t tell you a favorite house on my route because there are
John Schaefer wears shorts all winter on his Ohio mail route to raise money for a school playground – a campaign he and fellow carrier Tim Bowman
honestly too many to name. They’re all wonderful. One year, I don’t even know how they knew, but I had a customer leave a birthday card for me in the mailbox.
I loved watching kids grow up on my route. Seeing them at the school, and then they’ll go away to college, and sometimes they’ll come back and remember you.
The thing I’ll miss the most is seeing the people every day and taking care of them. I’m still getting texts from some of them, and I do what I can – I was just at the post office yesterday talking to a supervisor and making sure their mail was okay.
Now that I’m retired, we’re going to travel more. I just got married, and we took a trip to Alaska last month. That was fantastic and eye-opening. I decided to finally try directing at the theater, and this year I’m directing “Little Shop of Horrors.” And I’ve got some NASA rocket models that I’ve had for years. I can’t wait until I can sit down and take the time to put them together.
It's the beginning of Lobster season in The Florida Keys, but it's also the end of a dazzling journey at Jerry's Jewelry and Rock Shop. Everything MUST go, and Jerry still has lots of sparkly, shiny and special pieces for you.We want you to carry part of this legend with you, so we are making and taking offers that you wouldn't believe. Ask about our hidden shelves holding hidden treasures in the back office!
Linda Schaefer waits for her husband at the final stop of his last route before retirement. CONTRIBUTED
called ‘Freezin’ for a Reason.’ CONTRIBUTED
SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES TENTATIVE BUDGET WITH TAX INCREASE
Unlike most districts, county receives minimal state funds for operations
FRANK DERFLER www.keysweekly.com
Monroe County school board members adopted a tentative budget with a tax increase during a July 29 meeting in Key West.
Specifically, the board set a tentative millage rate of 2.9470, which will raise $167 million. A taxpayer with a home valued at $500,000 last year with a homestead exemption of $25,000 and the maximum allowed increase in assessment (2.9 percent or $14,500) would pay an additional $82.16, or 6.04% more in school taxes than they did in fiscal year 2024-25.
Like many businesses in the Florida Keys, the Monroe County school district also faces challenges with seasonal income and cash management. Having enough cash on hand to meet hurricane emergencies and payroll are top issues for Charlene White, school district finance director.
School districts receive money from the state based on a formula described in the Florida Education Finance Program. The program tries to equalize per-student spending across the state to make up for economic differences among school districts.
Some districts get 90% of their funding from the state. However, Monroe County is one of eight in the state that gets 10% of its total funds from the state. The majority of funds for education in this county come from property taxes. That income primar-
ily arrives to the school district all at once in December. It’s like running a business that only has income one month of the year. Bills have to be paid when they happen. Unexpected repairs, project payments and many other expenditures come in lumps and defy a smooth budget process.
Because of this, the Monroe County School District typically runs short of cash in September and needs a source of short-term funds. This is common among municipal taxing authorities.
In 2021, the school board was able to get a private loan for $15 million until the tax funds came in. In 2022 and 2023 the board used bank loans for $25 million and $20 million. This year, board members are being advised by Ford & Associates Wealth Management to do a competitive public offering, essentially a shortterm note, for $20 million starting in August.
During the July 29 meeting, board member John Dick suggested it might be wise to wait until after the September meeting of the Federal Reserve when interest rates might be lower, but White replied that she would rather have the money in place to make sure the district could meet payroll.
“It is important to emphasize that this timing issue is not due to a lack of reserves — the district’s financial position remains strong. As of June 30, our total fund balance is projected at $29.4 million, with an estimated unassigned fund balance of $27 million, representing 18.03% of total revenues.”
A 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 received a detailed statistical report on many of the factors that led to the district recently receiving an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education. Yanelys Ballard, who recently joined the district as the director of accountability and assessment, discussed gains in specific content areas at specific schools.
School board members examined charts that in some cases described what are 26 areas of measurement at eight K-8 schools and 26 different areas of measurement at the high school level.
The Department of Education grades are based on a series of statewide assessments including the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, end-of-course assessments, statewide science assessments and writing examples. Students take various tests
during different school years and are looked at both as a group as they go from year to year and as a school.
Key Largo School is now an A-rated school, joining Poinciana Elementary and Plantation Key schools. The B-rated schools are Gerald Adams Elementary, Stanley Switlik Elementary, Sugarloaf and the three high schools.
There were notable increases in mathematics in the district’s elementary schools.
The board discussed Horace O’Bryant School in Key West and its unique challenges. HOB, as it is known, is the only C-rated school in the district. It has a large percentage of students who are learning English and the enrollment is declining. The middle school is much larger than the elementary school. Members of the district staff described the targeted efforts for special training and support of the teachers and staff.
Board members also focused on the results of advanced placement testing. There is a difference among the high schools in the district because Key West and Marathon high school students have more opportunities for dual enrollment with the College of the Florida Keys. When students pass dual-enrollment classes, they earn credit for that class within the Florida higher education system, but not necessarily in schools outside the state.
Students at Coral Shores High School have fewer opportunities for dual enrollment, so they take more advanced placement classes than the other two schools. Students in advanced placement classes earn weighted grades on their GPA, but they don’t get college credit for the course unless they pass a standardized examination at the end of the school year. When they pass the standardized advanced placement test with a grade of 3 or better, they earn university credit in that subject that is recognized in and outside of Florida.
Board member Sue Woltanski pointed out that specific teachers in certain schools make the difference in how well students do on the standardized advanced placement tests. For example, 49 students took the test for advanced placement calculus at Coral Shores and 100% of them received a grade of 3 or higher. The other two high schools combined had 82% of the 61 students taking the exam get a high enough score to earn credit.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Charade” (1963)
Why: Could there be a better escape right now than heading to Paris in 1963 for a glossy, gorgeous romantic thriller starring a radiant Audrey Hepburn and a mature but still suave Cary Grant? She’s (unhappily) married when they meet, but not for long – and that kicks off the thriller part of the plot, as a group of her husband’s former friends show up looking for a lost treasure they think he stole. The cast includes a real who’s-who of mid-20th century white guys – Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy all make appearances. Hepburn outshines them all, glamorous but still approachable as she outwits her pursuers and looks incredibly stylish even when she’s on the run for her life. I could watch this movie over and over. In fact, I have.
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: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
SUPERINTENDENT ED TIERNEY INTRODUCES HIMSELF
Dear Monroe County families, staff and community partners,
As we prepare to welcome back our students and educators, I am filled with excitement and pride for the 2025–2026 school year. In just a few short days, our campuses will once again be alive with the energy of learning, collaboration and growth. There is so much to celebrate across the Monroe County School District as we begin this new chapter together.
We are proud to announce that the Monroe County School District has earned an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education. This distinction reflects significant gains in student performance and is a direct result of our educators’ commitment to data-driven instruction and targeted interventions.
The Class of 2025 achieved an impressive overall GPA of 3.4 and was awarded a total of $13 million in scholarships, demonstrating both academic excellence and strong community support. We are also seeing continued growth in industry certifications earned by our students, thanks to the ongoing support of the Golden Fleece Foundation.
Additionally, the district has been recognized as a NOAA Ocean Guardian District, a prestigious designation that highlights our commitment to environmental stewardship. Through hands-on projects that protect local watersheds and marine ecosystems, our students and staff are fostering a culture of sustainability throughout the Florida Keys.
This summer, our staff worked tirelessly to prepare our schools for the new year. Thanks to the voterapproved operational millage and sales tax referenda, we’ve made significant improvements across our campuses, including classroom painting, HVAC maintenance and replacements, technology upgrades, marquee enhancements, playground resurfacing and athletic field improvements. I want to extend a special thank you to our custodial teams for their exceptional work in creating clean, safe and welcoming environments for our students and staff. We also launched a refreshed district website and a new MCSD District app, both designed to improve accessibility and keep families
informed with real-time updates and resources.
The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. In addition to having law enforcement
officers on every campus, our staff participated in public safety tours, threat management training and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers Conference to ensure we are fully prepared.
Tools like the TextTips app (powered by CityHost411) and FortifyFL offer anonymous ways to report concerns and help keep our schools secure. We are also proud to be the only district in Florida designated as a “Suicide Prevention Certified District” by the Florida Department of Education. Every campus is supported by a school counselor and a social worker, reinforcing our commitment to youth mental health and well being.
We are proud to report that nearly all teaching positions are filled for the upcoming school year — a testament to our district’s appeal and the hard work of our Human Resources team. We are also grateful to our community partners — United Way, Kids Come First and Glad Tidings Tabernacle — for collecting and distributing school supplies to families in need. Your generosity ensures that every student starts the year equipped for success.
August 13 will mark my very first “first day of school” as superintendent of Monroe County, and I couldn’t be more honored. I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of our students, families and staff as we begin this journey together. As we move forward, I am committed to strengthening our partnerships with local businesses and community leaders, advancing our school safety initiatives and working collaboratively to ensure Monroe County’s public schools remain among the best in the state.
Here’s to a safe, successful, and inspiring school year!
Warm regards, Edward Tierney Superintendent Monroe County School District
TWO SNORKELERS DIE; BOAT PROP HITS JUVENILE DURING LOBSTER MINI-SEASON
Abevy of boats with bug catchers took to the Florida Keys waters for the two-day lobster mini-season last week. Overall, no major resource cases were reported by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
However, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the arrests of three Broward County men who reportedly harvested a large number of lobsters outside the twoday mini-season.
On Aug. 3, FWC officer Jerry Begera and sheriff’s deputy Jason Farr were conducting resource inspections at Indian Key Fill in Islamorada where they saw a man carrying a bucket containing spiny lobster. They approached the man and his group to inspect what they caught. With the group’s consent, officers searched their vehicles and found two coolers containing 53 spiny lobsters, two speared spiny lobsters, one whole stone crab, a stone crab claw, and a speared, undersized mangrove snapper.
Alfredo Gregorio, Ovidio Sales Gregorio and Marcos Hernandez Gregorio, all of Davie, were transported to jail. They were each charged with 37 misdemeanors related to multiple spiny lobster and stone crab violations.
“Our officers work closely with our local law enforcement partners in Monroe County to protect our natural resources,” said Monroe County area Captain Adam Garrison of FWC. “These regulations are in place to ensure those resources are available for many years to come.”
During the lobster mini-season, the
sheriff’s office said most people they checked were in compliance. In total, the sheriff’s office conducted 526 resource checks, issued 16 court citations. These numbers do not include data from other law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, FWC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The sheriff’s office said there were three significant incidents reported during the two-day season. On July 30, an 82-year-old Palm City man died after he was found unresponsive while snorkeling in the gulf waters roughly 5 miles off MM 60. The sheriff’s office said Clarence Shawver was taken ashore at 10:45 a.m., and then to Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, where he was pronounced dead. Foul play is not believed to be a factor in the incident.
On July 31, 61-year-old Raymond Bruce Sasser, of Loxahatchee, died after he was snorkeling in waters near MM 74 in Islamorada. According to the sheriff’s office, Sasser lost consciousness at about 8:30 a.m. He was taken ashore and then to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier, where he was pronounced dead. Foul play is not believed to be a factor in the incident.
The same day, a juvenile was injured by a boat propeller at about 11 a.m. in gulf waters some five miles off Mile Marker 48. The patient reportedly suffered a leg injury and was airlifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. His condition as of Aug. 4 wasn’t known.
— Keys Weekly staff report
FWC officer Jerry Begera and sheriff’s deputy Jason Farr show lobsters caught out of season by three Davie men on Aug. 3. FWC/Contribute
When things go wrong, these are the guys and gals you call.
On Aug. 5, National Night Out filled the sheriff’s office aviation hangar in Marathon with helicopters, cars, boats and all manner of law enforcement tech as local first responders gave kids an up-close look at the agencies – and more importantly, the faces – that keep their communities safe.
Celebrated each year, the event is a community-building campaign that promotes neighborhood camaraderie by building relationships between civilians and first responders. Events up and down the island chain, organized by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, put kids “behind the wheel” of heavyduty machinery, from Trauma Star helos to Coast Guard vessels, police motorcycles and more.
1. The Levine family visits the Key Colony Beach police department.
2. Koral Foster tries a Trauma Star helmet on for size with mom Kati.
3. Ryan Frederick gives Trey Gonzalez a boost.
4. Grady Lones takes a seat on dad Shaun Lones’ ride.
5. Kids check out a Coast Guard inflatable boat.
6. The Key Colony Beach police department. From left: Ross Bethard, Chief Kris DiGiovanni, Joe Burden and Jamie Buxton.
7. Avery, Artie and Andrew Hrytzay get a tour of a Coast Guard boat.
8. Cristina Pruna makes a scaly new friend.
9. Vinny Gotta gets ready to write some tickets.
10. Marathon City Councilwoman Lynny Del Gaizo is on the wrong side of the law.
11. Anthony Vega, left, and Isabell Rodrigues check out Trauma Star.
12. Trauma Star flight nurse Jessica Medlin, left, gives a tour of the chopper.
Photos by NATALIE DANKO/Keys Weekly
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• Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the 2025 Bubba Awards and thank you for the honor of receiving the award for Best Elected O cial! It is a privilege to serve you!
• The second 2025 property tax installment bills will be mailed on August 31 and are due by September 30.
• Local business tax renewals must be paid by September 30.
• Any property that is being rented for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account.
• All rental properties are required to pay a local business tax regardless of how long they are being rented.
• If you suspect a fraudulent property rental, you may report it on our hotline at 1-855-422-4540.
• Specialty license plates and vouchers may be purchased on our website.
Follow us on for more imortant tax information.
COZY CRANE HAMMOCK
BABIES ON BOARD
Coast Guard, Turtle Hospital deliver 64 young turtles to the Gulf Stream
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
In the closing weeks of July, calls about baby turtles in distress kept the emergency hotline at Marathon’s Turtle Hospital ringing off the hook.
Over a seven-day period, the hospital fielded calls for 287 tiny hatchlings, all in need of a helping hand after crawling the wrong way when they emerged from their nests on Florida Keys beaches.
A single day yielded four calls for babies that had fallen into three different chlorinated pools.
“It’s one of the highest numbers we’ve ever seen in a short period of time,” Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach told the Weekly.
The culprit: artificial light from oceanside homes, disrupting the natural light from the night sky used by freshly-hatched turtles to get themselves to the water and out to the deep blue.
Thankfully, with rescue staff at the ready, the hospital’s success rate this nesting season has topped 75% – that is, more than three quarters of the babies reported made it to some form of successful release. Of the 287, around 100 were released the night of their rescues.
And on Aug. 1, 61 loggerhead
Turtle Hospital rehabber Maddie Credi and manager Bette Zirkelbach team up with members of Coast Guard Station Marathon to release 64 rescued turtles more than 10 miles offshore from Marathon. Sixty-one turtles were freshlyhatched loggerhead babies disoriented by artificial light, while three other juveniles conquered ailments like plastic ingestion to return to full health.
ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
hatchlings – plus two one-year-old juvenile hawksbills and a yearling loggerhead – got an easy ride out to the Gulf Stream, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marathon. Once there, they were safely delivered into patches of sargassum weeds, where they can find shelter and food before eventually returning closer to shore as mature turtles.
Zirkelbach said the mass intake of hatchlings underscores the importance of conscientious development and careful light use, especially during turtle mating season.
“With the increased number of vacation rentals, I don’t feel people are maliciously leaving lights on,” she said. “But I think we need to do better at educating our visitors about turning lights off at night during nesting season. People just don’t have the knowledge.”
Sea turtle nesting season in the Florida Keys runs from April 15 through Oct. 31. During these months, bright, artificial lights can disorient hatchlings. To report turtles in distress, call the Turtle Hospital’s hotline at 305481-7669.
For more information on ways to protect sea turtles with residential lighting, scan the QR code.
GOING OUT ON TOUR
Satellite-tracked rescued turtle
‘Haven’ returns to the sea
Why be in a hurry to go somewhere else when you already live in paradise? A 35-pound green sea turtle named Haven took her time at her release on Aug. 1 at a crowded Sombrero Beach in Marathon while marking her entry as the only rehabilitated juvenile in this year’s Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles event.
The 8-year-old endangered green sea turtle spent the last six months rehabilitating at the Turtle Hospital after being rescued, wrapped in fishing line and covered in fibropapilloma tumors. Following months of rehab, laser treatment and cancer-fighting eye drops, Haven was declared healthy and ready to return to the sea.
Participants in this “race” are typically nesting female adults that migrate several thousand miles over the course of three months from August to October – proving endurance matters more than speed. The satellite tracking continues for about a year, which is when the transmitters typically fall off. Sea Turtle Conservancy communications coordinator Lexie Beach says that juveniles are “laid back” in comparison.
“We don’t expect them to migrate far distances, so they hang around the Keys and they’re feeding on seagrass, on jellyfish,” she said. “We anticipate Haven will stick close to home and probably just travel maybe a couple hundred miles.”
The turtles are equipped with a small satellite transmitter attached by a special epoxy to the tops of their shells.
“Every time she surfaces, that satellite transmitter will send a ping, and it will update either on the Tour de Turtles website or our STC Sea Turtle Tracker app,” said Beach.
Haven was rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital, which has released more than 3,000 sea turtles since its founding as Florida’s first licensed turtle rehab facility in 1986 by Richie Moretti.
“We’re especially interested to see how her migration pattern and her behaviors might differ from the wild adult nesting turtles that we’re tracking,” said Beach.
The satellite-monitored journey gives researchers valuable data about the migratory patterns of sea turtles while raising awareness about the threats they face. The public can follow each of the turtle entries and root for their favorite at tourdeturtles.org. – Contributed
Haven, a juvenile green sea turtle fitted with a satellite tracker, swims into the waters at Sombrero Beach after her release on Aug. 1. Fully rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital, she now begins her journey as part of the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles event.
Haven, a 35-pound green sea turtle, takes her time at her release on Aug. 1 at a crowded Sombrero Beach in Marathon while marking her entry as the only rehabilitated and only juvenile in this year’s Sea Turtle Conservancy Tour de Turtles event. MARK HEDDEN/Florida Keys News Bureau
As this paper hits newsstands, there are just three days left to nominate your favorite people, places and businesses for the 2025 Best of Marathon Awards. Nominations start off with a flurry, but tend to taper off as the days wind down – when the best of the best need your support the most. We’ve run into some … interesting … reasons that people forget to finish their ballots, so here are our…
TOP 10 REASONS YOU HAVEN’T NOMINATED YET
10. You saw right through the propaganda and realized the Best of Marathon Awards as yet another distraction from the Epstein files.
9. You’re a woke snowflake who believes everyone deserves an award.
8. You’re convinced the balloting server is hosted on the dark web and you don’t want to give away personal insight that could be used to steal your identity.
7. You’re upset that you can’t nominate a business in Layton.
6. The detention center where you currently reside doesn’t have wifi.
5. Every single free moment of your day is occupied with fantasy football research.
4. You misunderstood the process — for the past ten years. The top three nominees in each category aren’t AI-generated and they don’t magically appear in the online ballot.
3. You feel this is just a big popularity contest. (Which it is.)
2. Lobster mini-season. And/or the fish were biting.
1. You’re a veterinarian and understand there is no way in hell you are beating Dr. Dunn.
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 Brandi Card, who lives in Marathon with her husband, Mike. She recently retired after 20 years as a massage therapist, but continues to follow her health and wellness calling through her studio, Island Pilates, which opened its doors in 2017. Last year, she published her first romance novel based in Marathon, “When Will I Sea You Again?” and is working on the next one now.
BRANDI CARD ISLAND PILATES
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? It will be 29 years at the end of July. A month after graduating from the University of Arizona, I came to Key Colony Beach on vacation for a couple weeks. Shortly after, I ran out of money and got a job at Captain Hook’s gassing boats and slinging bait. The rest is history!
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I love to swim in the ocean. It’s where I feel most connected. I love boating (not so much fishing) and I like doing seashell crafts.
Where is one place you want to visit that you still haven’t been to? I want to visit all the islands of the Bahamas by boat!
Why did you choose your career path? I knew I’d be a writer since I was 7. In my 20s I switched from a journalism career at the Keynoter to a public relations position at Hawks Cay – all while my dad was dying from cancer. After his death, I did a lot of soul searching. I decided I wanted a goal bigger than myself, that I wanted to help people in some significant way. That’s when massage therapy became inspiring. Pilates took it a step further. I love inspiring people to create stronger bodies and minds. It’s what life is about for me.
What animal best matches your abilities? My husband said a dolphin, but everyone knows that title goes to Mike, so I’m an otter. I try to keep things light and playful, but I work hard and I care about keeping the people I love happy. Plus, I’m always juggling more than I should, but it somehow always works out.
How do you define success? Success is helping people feel better – in their bodies, their minds or even making them laugh with a dirty joke. It’s about brightening my corner of the world while learning to be authentic to myself.
What is your #1 pet peeve? Intentional unfairness really chaps my a$$!
What was your most recent adventure? Every day is an adventure. My relationship with my husband is my favorite adventure so far. But I’m currently planning the Marathon Fire Rescue Benevolent Wahoo Grand Slam for November. Frankly, I feel very underqualified most of the time. But thanks to a small army of experienced fisherpeople, I’m ready for the challenge. How do you unwind at the end of the day? Sometimes I do a guided meditation on YouTube, others I pour a Jameson on the rocks. Depends entirely on the day.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I cry really easily. Like at every sad commercial (you know the ones), or when that guy plays “Amazing Grace” on his bagpipes on Boot Key Harbor at sunset. Or when I hear taps played by the color guard during 9/11 memorial ceremonies at station 14. It’s definitely weep central for me.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
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FREE FAMILY FUN
Kirk of the Keys rounds out the summer with mini-festival
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
s Middle Keys kids count down the days until they strap on their backpacks again, Kirk of the Keys Church put on a Free Family Fun Day to close out the summer on Aug. 2. On top of a host of school supply and craft giveaways, youngsters were treated to game stations, live animals with Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters and the Marathon Wild Bird Center, hot dogs, smoothies – and the ever-popular bounce house. Live worship music and meet-and-greets with fully-geared Marathon Fire Rescue pros completed the afternoon.
“God gave us a beautiful day to love on our community,” said Maria Covelli, a co-organizer of the event along with Michelle Frank and Debbie Martin. “Thank you to everyone who volunteered and all who joined us. It was a wonderful event.”
1.
2.
3. Aquarium Encounters’ Kee Bligh, left, gives Eliana Edmonson an up-close look at a juvenile alligator.
4. Sherri Carol, left, and Michelle Yzenas serve up the pie.
5.
Even in scorching heat, the Marathon Fire Rescue crew shows up in full gear to delight some kids.
Archer Bish is recruited as Marathon’s cutest junior firefighter.
Marathon Mayor Lynn Landry, left, works the smoothie booth with his wife Freida and councilwoman Robyn Still. Photos
SUMMER’S END Parks and Rec wraps up summer camp with talent show and field day
Marathon’s Parks and Recreation department gave campers one last hurrah before school with an end-of-summer finale on July 31. Enlisting the help of Marathon Fire Rescue to douse campers with water in the heat, counselors gave kids a day of fun with a water slide, games and a talent show at Marathon Community Park.
One of the Middle Keys’ favorite camp options, the eight-week program averaged around 40 students per day, Parks and Rec Director Scott Williamson said. Daily sessions begin at Marathon Community Park before frequently venturing out on a myriad of field trips throughout the Keys and South Florida.
1. A dedicated camp staff makes the day –and the summer – possible for Marathon kids. From left: Sam Blyer, Trevor Wofsey, Evan Bravo, Taone Gonzalez, Ethan Bravo, Angelica Perez, Annalise Rosete and Scott Williamson.
2. Aiden DiGennaro tests out the water slide.
3. Parks and Rec Director Scott Williamson, left, and program coordinator Sam Blyer take their turn on stage.
4. Campers celebrate one last fun-filled day in the sun. From left: Isabella Caba, Truly Kerr, Teagan Scarsella, Mariel Candelario, Alex Reisz, Matthew Ferrer, Calynne Houle, Eduardo Velasquez Jr. and Amelia Nealis.
5. Mariel Candelario, left, Truly Kerr, Amelia Powell and Charlotte Saldana sneak in a photo op at the talent show.
6. Truly Kerr, center, gets a lift from Charlotte Saldana, left, and Mariel Candelario.
7. Cadence Houle, left, and Lily Martin get ready for their turn in the spotlight.
8. Trevor Wofsey gives Evan Bravo a good dousing to beat the heat.
9. Roniel Candelario takes the plunge.
10. Chase Houle goes long for the catch.
Photos by NATALIE DANKO/Keys Weekly
COME BY BOAT, BIKE, FOOT
DAILY
MARK HEDDEN
... 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.
Ellen Westbrook texted me two photos from over at the Key West Wildlife Center, where she volunteers on the regular. The first was a tiny egg – about the size of one of the bigger peanut M&MS – sitting in one of those small dishes you use to mix spices when cooking. The second was of a trio of chicks in a nest. Ellen had spent the afternoon feeding them mealworms every 15 minutes. There are two types of bird chicks – precocial and altricial. Precocial chicks can generally walk and/or swim within a day or so of being born. They hatch with big eyes and a layer of down. I generally don’t regard birds as cute, but precocial chicks tend to be pretty cute. Think ducklings.
Altricial chicks tend to be born featherless, blind and loud — little pink blobs that can’t do much but scream for food. And for the first several days of their lives that’s all they do — screech and eat. They are essentially giant mouths with small bodies attached. They are also generally what scientists would call ugly, creatures only a parent or a rehabber could love.
The chicks in Ellen’s photo were altricial, with a lot of pink skin but also a good number of dark spiny-looking feather shafts that had just grown in. If you looked for where you thought their eyes should be you would instead find the yellow corners of their mouths.
She sent it with a note saying, “Carolina wren & egg.”
“That’s not here, is it?” I texted back.
“At the Wildlife Center,” she replied.
“Wow. Crazy,” I typed. Then, “And you guys are sure on ID?”
“Peggy is,” Ellen said. “The chicks are so tiny, eyes closed, almost naked.”
Hmmm, I thought, probably out loud. I don’t like to doubt people. Especially someone like Peggy Coontz, who works incredibly hard to save wildlife every day and who knows so much. But something didn’t add up.
Carolina wrens are common all over the eastern seaboard, all the way up to Massachusetts, then west to eastern Kansas and Texas. There is also something of a population in the Yucatan.
But they have never been recorded south of the Seven Mile Bridge in the Keys, and only rarely north of the bridge. They’ve been recorded breeding on the mainland of Florida, and on the north end of Key Largo, but nowhere south.
There is an old, heavily shopworn axiom in journalism: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. And since this column occasionally approaches journalism, I figured I’d follow that guidance.
I texted the photo of the chicks to my friend Julie Zickefoose, a writer, painter and wildlife rehabilitator in Ohio, who’s pretty
A TRIO OF WAYWARD CHICKS
famous in bird world. She has written and illustrated an entire book about baby birds called –wait for it – “Baby Birds,” which I’m pretty sure is the only book out there about them.
I didn’t give her any info. Just a photo and a note asking if she had any opinions on the ID.
She texted me back in minutes. “Eight-dayold Carolina wrens,” she wrote, with two accompanying illustrations from her book – one of what Carolina wrens look like at eight days old, and one of what they look like at nine days old. (Turns out Carolina wrens are the first species she writes about in her book.)
“I’m envious. (Carolina wrens) are sooo cute and cuddly and total fun to raise. Look what’s on my desk right now!” she added.
She sent me a photo of two Alder flycatcher chicks that she was feeding mealworms to, sitting in a nest she’d built herself, because their old nest had been destroyed and the parents abandoned them. The chicks had enough down to begin looking borderline adorable, like undersized Muppets.
If you look up the migratory habits of Carolina wrens on Cornell University’s “Birds of the World” site, the entire entry reads, “Not migratory, but wanders (see Distribution). Movements primarily diurnal.”
It was great to know that Peggy was right. But also, what the hell? Carolina wrens are not shy, receding birds. They call a lot, they jump around, they are gregarious. I could maybe believe that one of them wandered into town and no one noticed. It was so much harder to believe that two of them – a male and a female, who were both inclined to mate with each other – wandered into town.
So I went over to the Key West Wildlife Center to talk to Peggy and get some answers. It turns out a couple had been camping in their RV up around Kissimmee. The RV was a fifth wheel, a type of trailer. The thing that connects a fifth wheel to the pickup truck that
tows it is called a pin box. And in that pin box, while they were camped in Kissimmee, a pair of Carolina wrens built a nest and brooded their chicks, three of which hatched.
The couple were unaware of them, though, and drove from Kissimmee to the Blue Water Key RV Resort in the Saddlebunch Keys – about an eight-hour drive, if they didn’t stop too much.
While the couple was leveling the trailer, and extending the slideout and the awning, they heard a lot of weird, high-pitched noises coming from somewhere in the trailer. After they traced it to the pin box, and realized it was a trio of fledgling birds, they called the folks at Key West Wildlife Center at Indigenous Park on White Street.
“Our staff member Brittany went and scooped them all up and brought these little tiny pink things down. We had no idea what species they were, but clearly from the design of the beak, they’re gonna be insect eaters. So we started them on the basic insect diet right away,” Peggy said. Later, she had puzzled out their species using a guide she had.
The nest in the pin box had fallen apart on the couple’s drive. And when Peggy opened the cage that held the chicks and showed them to me, they were on a green blanket in a plastic tub, all three sleeping. Their skin had grown darker already, and more feathers had sprouted.
Peggy offered them some mealworms, which they gulped down before falling asleep again.
The folks at the Wildlife Center are still working out the details, but the birds won’t be released here. They’ll be taken to the mainland. Peggy said they hope to get them to a rehabber in the Kissimmee area before they fully fledge, so they have some time to adapt before being released.
A rescued Carolina wren chick at the Key West Wildlife Center. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
BON VOYAGE & A BLESSING
Keys Fisheries heralds the arrival of lobster season
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Fireworks lit the way for midnight departure of the Keys Fisheries lobster fleet at the market’s annual Blessing of the Fleet on Aug. 1.
Starting the night with a dance party and complimentary buffet at the upstairs tiki bar, patrons later joined St. Columba Episcopal Church’s Rev. Debra Maconaughey and San Pablo Catholic Church’s Father Oscar Perez Dudamel for a blessing of the boats, their captains and crew as the vessels fired up their engines.
The upstairs bar, known for its annual name-swap, will go by Shannon’s Shuck Shack in 2025-26, Keys Fisheries’ staff announced. The watering hole’s new name will carry on the memory of beloved bartender Shannon Gosselin, who passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer. Since 2022, Gosselin’s name has been incorporated into the bar’s moniker each year, most recently with Shannon’s Crab Trap in 2024-25.
1-2. The crew of the ‘Deep’ prepare to head out with traps piled high.
3. Fireworks send the Keys Fisheries fleet into the night in style.
4. Honeymooners Alex, left, and Katie Liera take in the fireworks from the roof of their Jeep.
5. The upstairs bar at Keys Fisheries will take on the name of Shannon’s Shuck Shack for 2025-26.
6. Father Oscar Perez Dudamel, left, Rev. Debra Maconaughey and Conch Country’s Steve Miller team up to broadcast the Blessing of the Fleet in English and Spanish.
COLLEGE HOSTS FIRST-EVER TEDX TALKS IN KEY WEST
Tickets now available for event on Aug. 23
The College of the Florida Keys will host the inaugural TEDxCFK, “Paradise Within: Unlocking Human Potential,” Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Tennessee Williams Theater on the Key West campus. Doors will open at 1 p.m. Thirteen speakers will share stories of perseverance, determination and achieving self-transformation through cultivating confidence and happiness from within.
Admission is limited to 100. The ticket price of $100 includes a full-course dinner, admission to the event and a networking hour. A cash bar will be available.
More information is at cfk.edu/tedxcfk or the event’s page at facebook.com/TEDxTheCollegeoftheFloridaKeys25. Tickets can also be purchased directly from keystix.com.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event.
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. The organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. It welcomes people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.
TED began in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment and design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. — Contributed
Speaker: Brian Schmitt, Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate
Topic: Real Estate Market Updates, Trends, and looking ahead
EVERYBODY POOPS –BUT NOT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT
I’m going to say it: Pooping is the ultimate wellness flex. Forget the green juice. Forget your trendy fad diet. If you’re not pooping like a champion, your body is waving a little white flag.
Now before you clutch your pearls, let’s be real — we all do it. Or at least, we’re supposed to. Yet somehow, in a world obsessed with wellness, gut health remains a taboo topic. As someone who’s coached hundreds of clients and seen the inside (and output) of countless routines, I can promise you: Your poop tells me more about your health than your Apple Watch ever could.
Normal isn’t “whenever I remember to eat a vegetable.” We’re aiming for at least once a day, folks. Preferably smooth, sausage-shaped, and easy to pass — like the infamous Bristol Stool Chart Type 4. If your poop is a struggle, a surprise, or a saga, your gut microbiome might be waving a white flag.
Your gut is a whole ecosystem, home to trillions of bacteria that influence not just your digestion, but also your immune system, your mood and even your hormones. Think of your poop as the daily weather report from your gut. Cloudy with a chance of inflammation? Time to pay attention.
Let’s talk fiber. Most people get less than half the daily recommended amount. (The goal is about 25 to 30 grams a day, but the average American gets around 10 to 12.) Fiber feeds your good gut bugs and bulks up your stool, making it easier to pass. If you’re living on protein bars, coffee and vibes, your colon is not having a good time.
And hydration? Essential. Your colon’s job is to reabsorb water, so if you’re dehydrated, it’ll hold on to every drop — turning your stool into something more … cement-like. Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water per day, minimum. Bonus points if you’re adding electrolytes, especially in this tropical humidity.
Then there’s movement — yes, actual movement. Walking, running, lifting weights, dancing around your kitchen – it all stimulates peristalsis (that’s the fancy word for the wavelike muscle contractions that help move stool through your colon). If you’re sedentary all
day, your digestion will be, too.
Pro tip: lying on your left side in a fetal position can help relieve gas and bloating and get things moving. Why? Well, when you lie on your left side, gravity encourages food, gas and waste to move naturally through your digestive system, specifically from the small intestine into the large intestine, and eventually toward the descending colon. Aim for 15 to 20 minutes.
Also worth noting: Stress shuts digestion down. When you’re in fight-or-flight mode (hello, traffic on U.S. 1 or deadlines at work), your body diverts blood away from your gut. That means slowed digestion, gas, bloating and, yes, constipation. Try breathing exercises, gentle movement or even five minutes of journaling to switch your body into rest-and-digest mode.
Let’s not forget the hormonal connection, especially for women. Many experience premenstrual constipation followed by looser stools when estrogen drops. It’s not just in your head — it’s in your hormones.
So what can you do?
Eat more plants — especially leafy greens, berries, chia seeds, and lentils.
Drink your water (and then drink a little
a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. Hello@highlymotivatedfc.com
more).
Move your body daily. Manage your stress with breathwork, cold plunges (if you’re into that), or a walk on the beach.
And take a peek before you flush. (Yes, really.)
Your body is constantly communicating with you, and sometimes, the message is floating right in front of you. So, let’s normalize gut health, daily dumps and what your stool says about your wellness. Here’s your permission to normalize poop talk. Ask your doctor. Talk to your kids. Bring it up at brunch. (Okay maybe not at brunch, but you get the idea.)
Because when we start talking about what’s going out, we get better at caring for what’s going in.
Wonder what the Bristol Stool Chart is?
You’re welcome.
JENNIFER HARVEY
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City of Marathon City Council Agenda
9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:30 P.M.
(*Denotes Item Is Passed By Consent Upon Approval of Agenda)
City Council Items
*A. Approval of Minutes
B. Recognition of Monroe County Sherriff’s Officers Avrian Casanova and Gabriel Rivera for Performing Life Saving CPR.
C. MHS Homecoming Parade October 9, 2025
D. Approval to Allow Alcohol Consumption at Oceanfront Park for Baptist Health Foundation Fundraising Event On April 10th 2026
E. July 4, 2026 Permission To Hold Parade And Sell Beer And Wine At Sombrero Beach As Well As Offer Free Parking And Parking In The Right Of Way On That Day.
City Manager Report
* A. MCSO Marathon Substation Report
* B. Grants Update
* C. Public Works Report
* D. Park and Recreation Report
*E. Marathon Fire Rescue Report
*F. Marina Report
*G. Code Report
*H. Wastewater Utilities Report
*I. Building Report
City Attorney Report
A. Health Insurance MOU with Marathon Fire Rescue Discussion.
Ordinances for Second Public Hearing and Enactment
A. Ordinance 2025—03, Amending Chapter 15 Fire Prevention Article 1 In General, Amending Section 15-6 Entitled Chickees And Tikis, Amending Section 15-7 Entitled Penalty, Amending Sections 15-8 Through 15-26 Entitled Reserved; Of The City Of Marathon Code Of Ordinances; Amending Chapter 110 Definitions Article 3 Entitled Defined Terms; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Repeal Of Conflicting Provisions; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To The Department Of Commerce After Final Adoption By The City Council; And Providing For An Effective Date.
Ordinances For First Public Hearing
A. Ordinance 2025-05, Amending The City’s Code Of Ordinances, Chapter 6, “Building And Building Regulations,” Article 2, “Building Code,” Division 2, “Permits,” Section 6-58, “Expiration Of Building Permit”; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Repeal Of Conflicting Provisions; And Providing For An Effective Date.
Quasi-Judicial Public Hearings
A. Resolution 2025—72, Consideration Of A Request For An Annulment Of A Plat, For Marathon LLC, Pursuant To Chapter 102, Article 10 Of The City Of Marathon Land Development Regulations (“The Code”) Entitled “Subdivision Of Land/Plats And Replats” For The Abandonment Of Seaglass Flats Subdivision; A Plat Of Lands Located In A Part Of Government Lot 1 Section 6 Township 66s Range 33e On Key Vaca City Of Marathon As Recorded In Plat Book And Page 7-97, Monroe County, Florida, Having Real Estate Numbers 00104251-000100, 00104251-000200, 00104251-000300 And 00104251-000400. Nearest Mile Marker 53.
Resolutions For Adoption
A. Resolution 2025-73, Approving A Modification To The City’s Fee Schedule For Building Permits; Providing That There May Be Further Modifications In Future Years; Providing That There Will Be An Approximate Annual Review Of Fees Base On The Statutory Requirements Of 553.80 F.S.; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*B. Resolution 2025-74, Approving And Ratifying The First Extension To The Professional Services Agreement Between The City Of Marathon And Professional Practice Support, Inc., Third Party Healthcare Billing Agreement; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Extension And Expend Budgeted Funds; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*C. Resolution 2025-75, Approving An Agreement With The United States Geological Survey To Install And Maintain Water Pressure Sensors At Coco Plum Beach; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*D. Resolution 2025-76, Awarding Project Specific Agreement For The Construction Phase Inspection Services For The Valhalla Force Main Project Phases 1 & 2 To Weiler Engineering Corporation.; Approving A Not To Exceed Amount Of $98,600.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Appropriating And Expending Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date. This Work May Qualify For Reimbursement Through A Grant.
E. Resolution 2025-77, Impose And Provide For Collection Of Wastewater Special Assessments For Service Areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 And 7 (Including The Supplemental Assessment Program) For Fiscal Year Commencing October 1, 2025; Approving The Assessment Roll; Providing For Collection Of The Assessments; And Providing For An Effective Date.
F. Resolution 2025-78, Imposing The Annual Stormwater Utility Special Assessments For Fiscal Year Commencing October 1, 2025; Approving The Assessment Roll; Providing For Collection Of The Assessments; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*G. Resolution 2025-79, Approving A Change To The Agreement Between The City Of Marathon, Florida And Synagro, Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Agreement On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*H. Resolution 2025-80, Approving The Work Authorization Agreement Between The City And CW3 Engineering, Inc., For Professional Engineering Services For The Design of the Rehabilitation Of 92nd Street In An Amount Not To Exceed $118,655.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Expend Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
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 such hearing or meeting, one will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose that person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; such record includes the testimony and
the City Clerk at clavierd@ci.marathon.fl.us if you would like to receive any of the items on the agenda by email.
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TASTING HISTORY
Iconic island eats and tidbits of a past Florida Keys
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.
Ientered the workforce at 11. It was in a pet store in 1976. I was paid $1.50 per hour. I didn’t last long in the pet store industry. It didn’t pay well. Also, I would be getting my driver’s license in a few years and needed to save for gas, insurance and a car.
In 1981, I applied for a job as a busboy at a local restaurant chain called the Claim Jumper. Three things that stand out from my days at the Claim Jumper are a tremendous mud pie, the cashew chicken sandwich and long spears of fried zucchini. I still love mud pie and make it from time to time. I make long spears of fried zucchini more frequently. I haven’t thought about cashew chicken in decades. I’m pretty sure the next time I cook up some chicken breasts, I’ll be dicing some up with celery, onion and cashews.
The Claim Jumper, with its oversized mint chocolate chip mud pie, was my first restaurant job; it was not the last. Making tips was so much better than minimum wage. It was 1981 when it dawned on me that I was going to write. I was 16 and a sophomore at Huntington Beach High School. It was a big
year. When my wisdom teeth were pulled, my cheeks swelled up like a chipmunk with a load of nuts, and I was laid up with icepacks instead of heading off to a Friday night drivein movie ritual.
While I was home with icepacks pushed up against my face, the girl I’d been crushing on and Steve, my alleged best friend, were kicking back at the drive-in. Subsequently, they became an item and, heartbroken, I wrote my first poem. Though I gave up poetry decades ago, I’ve been writing daily since, and the restaurant industry has supported the habit that has defined my life.
I turned 60 on June 4. For more than half of those years, I worked as a busser, expediter, server or bartender. Twice I thought I’d left it behind. Twice I’ve gone back. It had not been the plan.
The first time, I had just graduated from the University of Miami with my master of fine arts degree and moved to Plantation Key. That first year, I tried teaching, but it didn’t pay well, and a part-time bartending gig turned into a fulltime stint as a waiter at Islamorada’s now-closed Bentley’s and Lazy Days, where I worked for a decade before the big, unexpected break arrived.
Out of the blue, I was hired to curate the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center. Not everyone is handed the opportunity to go from offering blue cheese, tomato basil or Italian dressing for a dinner salad to creating a museum from scratch. For eight years, I worked to turn blank blue walls into a must-see stop for anyone interested in learning about some excellent local history. On that
note, I’d like to thank Thomas Locklear, who has become a friend, for suggesting to the museum’s board that I might be the right person for the job.
Years later, one of my great pleasures was writing a letter of recommendation on his behalf when Locklear applied for director at the Museum of the Everglades. In any case, the eight years I spent acting as the curator and historian at the museum was, what I thought, the last break. It was not.
For the last two-and-a-half years, I went back to bartending as a means of cobbling together the funds necessary to support my work as a writer and local historian. It is not a coincidence that I got a job at Robbie’s of Islamorada. I was pretty pushy with my barrage of emails and texts highlighting my experience and my love for the property.
It is not the first time I’ve worked on the property. About 20 years ago, I worked at the Kayak Shack renting kayaks, selling souvenirs and giving directions to those paddling out to Indian Key. I had just signed my first book deal for “Snorkeling Florida” with the University Press of Florida and would sometimes work on the manuscript at the shack. Now, they sell more of my books than anyone else in the Keys.
Getting a job at Robbie’s was never just about bartending. It was always about being on the property. Situated on Lower Matecumbe Key, within paddling distance of two amazing state parks, Robbie’s is at the center of some fascinating history and probably the reason I have
been drawn to this property since I moved to Plantation Key in 2001.
Working at the Beach Bar at Robbie’s has kept me close to Indian Key, Lignumvitae Key and the surprising history associated with the property. It has also given me time to figure out a way to bring history to the property.
Guided tours of Indian Key will be added once work on the island’s boat dock is completed. In the meantime, I have stories to tell during an event I’m calling “Tasting History.” Enjoy iconic island eats and unforgettable stories during a one-of-a-kind Florida Keys experience. This tasty, one-hour dive into local history starts with a rumrunner (invented in Islamorada) and ends with a slice of Key lime pie. In between, it’s all about conch, Conch culture and the Conch Republic while you sample two Keys staples, a bowl of conch chowder and two conch fritters. Join me Mondays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. for this intimate, flavor-packed trip through Keys culture and history.
To keep the event intimate, seating is limited to eight. While you are being served, I’ll share some local history, including how the rumrunner was invented, the importance of conch, its role in the island chain’s history, the birth of the Conch Republic and how the sponging industry helped create the Florida Keys dessert, Key lime pie. The cost is $50.
Book your seat and experience local food, history, and culture by visiting www.robbies.com and navigating to the Hungry Tarpon tab, or give me a call at 305-395-9889.
Dive into local history and enjoy a rumrunner, Key lime pie and conch chowder for a ‘Tasting History’ event with Brad Bertelli at Robbie’s in Islamorada. CONTRIBUTED
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
Our Community
Best Place to take the Kids
Best Event
Best Bathroom
Best Sunset
Best Place to Have a Wedding
Best Elected O cial
Best Tourist A raction
Best Local Celebrity
Best Volunteer
Best Non-Profit Organization
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
Best Salon
Best Day Care
Best Family Owned Business
Best New Business
Best Business
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
Best Server
Best Happy Hour
Best Waterfront Dining
Best Live Music Venue
Best Pizza
Best Bloody Mary
Best Margarita
Best Late Night Spot
Best Dessert Spot
Best Beer Selection
Best Catering
Best Taco
Best Food Truck
Best Steak
Best Seafood
Best Sushi
Best Conch Fri ers
Best Wings
Best Burger
Best Cook your own Catch
Best Overall Restaurant
Kyle Way S, Marathon
BRIEFLY
Eight inmates charged in bail bond scheme
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office took a report from a local bail bondsman in December 2024 who stated he was the victim of credit card fraud. He stated his company posted bond for five inmates via an online payment processing platform in which fraudulent credit cards were used. The bondsman was subsequently notified by the banks. That crime was found to be part of a larger alleged fraud operated by jail inmates as well as outside accomplices to conspire to defraud. The suspects identified inmates with low bonds and coordinated to get those inmates bailed out via fraudulent means, MCSO said. Prior to release, the conspirators added money to the bonding inmate’s commissary account via stolen/fraudulent credit cards. Upon release, the inmates were issued a bank card for the balance of their commissary account, exceeding thousands of dollars. The newly released inmates were then intercepted by other conspirators and instructed to withdraw funds from the accounts. Eight suspects face a litany of new charges, including combinations of fraud, larceny, money laundering and racketeering. Those charged include Darrian Antonio Knowles, Eric Cassanova Townes, Tyler Michael Yates, Randy Lamar Barnes and Michelle Renee Session of Monroe County; Pretisha Hill and Christopher Alonzo Sweat of Broward County; and Kourtney Breon Wesley of Miami-Dade County. Additional arrests are forthcoming, the sheriff’s office said.
Louisiana man dies after snorkeling
Richard Sudduth, 67, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was pronounced dead on Aug. 5 at Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon around 1:30 p.m. after losing consciousness while snorkeling off Big Pine Key. Sudduth was snorkeling in around 10 feet of water on a reef when he was found unconscious in the water, taken to Bahia Honda State Park, and then to the hospital. Foul play is not expected to be a factor in the incident. Autopsy results are pending.
No sales tax in August on school supplies
Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is giving families a month of savings on essential supplies for the classroom. Now through Aug. 31, school supplies costing less than $50 are tax-exempt. Also, clothing, footwear and apparel priced $100 or less and learning aids $30 or less are exempt from sales tax. As for personal computers and accessories, items priced less than $1,500 are tax-exempt. More information is at floridarevenue. com/backtoschool.
Bag of Cuban cash, gun found in Key Largo
From trash to cocaine bricks, the shores of the Florida Keys can bring some interesting discoveries for residents and visitors. On Aug. 4, one person walking along a Key Largo beach found a black bag containing stacks of Cuban currency, among other items. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the bag contained $51,500 in Cuban cash, as well as a loaded Glock handgun, passports and a cellphone. The discovery was made just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday at Seafarer Resort and Beach, located near MM 97, bayside, in Key Largo. The sheriff’s office turned the items over to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Proper pruning taught throughout the Keys
Monroe County Environmental Resources recently led a hands-on Pruning with Purpose training at the Marathon Government Center, designed to align field practices with local landscaping codes and ANSI A300 industry standards. The training focused on real-world pruning techniques that support public safety, infrastructure protection and the long-term health of vegetation. It included public works professionals from Monroe County, Islamorada and Marathon. More about proper pruning techniques and local regulations is at monroecounty-fl.gov/ prune.
Come take a class at the Marathon library
The Marathon library has a wide variety of class offerings, ranging from photography to book clubs, robots, virtual reality and more. Scan the QR code here to see the schedule and get involved.
SPIKE
4-year-old male American bulldog.
Looking for: Someone big and strong, like me.
Turnoffs: Manners? Who needs ‘em?
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.
JULY
2-month-old female kitten.
Looking for: I love everyone, and I’m a staff favorite.
Turnoffs: I don’t remember how I ended up all alone under a car.
FREDDY
11.5-month-old male domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I love to play, especially with other cats. Turnoffs: I was a “returned” adoption. Will you give me a second chance?
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/becomea-foster-volunteer/ or 305-743-4800.
GREAT LOCATIONS!
27941 PORGIEPATH
LITTLE TORCH KEY
| $750,000
Located on Little Torch Key, this 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,104 sq. ft. home sits on a 6,221 sq. ft. lot with stunning sunset views over the gulf. Step inside to the bright and airy Great Room featuring a well equipped open Kitchen with lots of wood cabinetry and ample counter space. Sliding glass doors lead from the dining space to the Florida Room, an ideal spot to soak in the views while enjoying your morning co ee or evening cocktail. The Primary Bedroom is very spacious with en suite bath and two spacious walk-in closets. The guest bedroom is just as inviting, featuring breathtaking ocean views, a walk-in closet, and sliding doors that open to the porch. Outside, this home is built for waterfront living. The permitted boat ramp makes it easy to get out on the water, whether you're heading out for a day of fishing or a sunset cruise. Ample parking provides space for guests. Durable metal roofing, e cient mini-split ACs, and ceiling fans ensure comfort in every season. This Little Torch Key property o ers stunning Gulf side sunset views and a prime location in the Lower Keys making it an ideal candidate to replace with a single family home.
6800 MALONEY AVE #35 | STOCK ISLAND | $449,000
Welcome to an exceptional opportunity in the quiet, well-kept community of Harbor Shores, just minutes from the heart of Key West. This well-maintained property o ers both comfort and flexibility and is ideal for full-time living, a seasonal getaway, or future development. Step inside to an inviting open-concept great room with a split floor plan, o ering two spacious bedrooms and a large bonus room that can easily serve as a third bedroom, home o ce, or gym. At the heart of the home, the oversized kitchen provides abundant space for cooking your fresh catch of the day or entertaining family and friends. Enjoy the Florida Keys lifestyle with thoughtful outdoor features, including a screened-in back porch, a patio perfect for grilling, and a workshop/storage room for all your supplies and gear. A private spiral staircase leads to a rooftop perch where you can soak in beautiful sunrise and sunset views. The oversized private driveway o ers space for two vehicles, adding to your everyday convenience.
Whether you move in as-is, renovate, or start fresh, the possibilities are wide open since this property is also ROGO-exempt. Located in a well-managed waterfront condominium park, the low $200 monthly HOA covers basic cable, lawn care, sewer, and common area maintenance. Boaters will appreciate the private community boat ramp, with dockage available on a first-come basis for an additional low monthly fee. Enjoy the convenience of being close to local marinas, Lower Keys Medical Center, Key West Golf Club, the International Airport, and all the vibrant shops, dining, and entertainment downtown Key
In The Bleachers
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
For more than a year, Natasha Lavoie of British Columbia has been receiving phone calls about her missing cat, Torbo, United Press International reported. Problem is, her cat’s name is Mauser and is very much not missing. The mix-up mystery was finally traced to a T-shirt sold by Wisdumb NY, which features a lost cat poster that includes Lavoie’s phone number. Wisdumb NY said the shirt is no longer available and the “use of a real number within the art created was not intentional.” But Lavoie doesn’t want to change her number. “I’ve had my number for 20 years,” she said. “I’ll just keep not answering.”
Adam Dailies
Brevity
Ralph Bunche (1904-1971), activist/Nobel laureate; Garrison Keillor (1942- ), writer/entertainer; Wayne Knight (1955- ), actor; David Duchovny (1960- ), actor; Harold Perrineau (1963- ), actor; Jimmy Wales (1966- ), Wikipedia co-founder; Michael Shannon (1974- ), actor; Charlize Theron (1975- ), actress; Sidney Crosby (1987- ), hockey player; Mike Trout (1991- ), baseball player; Kyler Murray (1997- ), football player; Jalen Hurts (1998- ), football player.
In 1947, Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and his crew of five crashed into a reef at Raroia, near Tahiti, aboard their balsa-wood raft, Kon-Tiki. The 4,300mile, 101-day voyage from Peru was undertaken to prove that prehistoric South Americans could have colonized the Polynesian Islands.
“You get old and you realize there are no answers, just stories.”
Brevity
Nancy Dailies
TODAY’S FACT
TODAY’S QUOTE
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
— Garrison Keillor, “Pontoon”
1,350 -- height (in feet) of the wire suspended between the World Trade Center towers and walked by French high-wire artist Philippe Petit on this day in 1974. Petit walked back and forth, sat and even danced on the 131-foot-long wire for 45 minutes before surrendering to police.
In 1789, the U.S. Department of War was established.
In 2007, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 756th career home run, surpassing the record set by Hank Aaron.
In 1942, the U.S. 1st Marine Division landed on the island of Guadalcanal, marking the first major American offensive of World War II.
See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.
In 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in response to reported Vietnamese attacks.
MINI SPY CLASSICS
Mini Spy is taking food to a friend who’s been sick.
Photo courtesy of Jean-Louis Blondeau/Polaris
Kevin Rushforth/Wikipedia
Founded by Betty Debnam
How To Be a Social Helper
Mini Idea: Think about how good it feels for you to receive a smile or a compliment. You can make someone else feel that good!
Are you wondering what school might be like this year? Many kids get a little anxious about the new year beginning.
While it probably won’t take long for you to feel at home, we wanted to pass along some ideas that might help.
WHAT DOES ‘SOCIAL’ MEAN?
When we say someone is social (SO-shul), we mean that he or she gets along with others. They make the right choices. They respond to others’ needs. They are good companions, friends and members of the school community. Sometimes, kids might feel that they don’t fit in or that they don’t belong. We all have social problems at one time or another.
BE A SOCIAL HELPER
That’s where a social helper might step in. These students are aware of the clues when a classmate is in need of a friend, a smile, a pat on the back or a compliment.
By being sensitive to the feelings of others and doing something that helps, kids get a good feeling themselves. True, kids can’t solve all problems, but they can help. It’s the job of teachers, principals and counselors to help, too.
• Responsibility • Hard work
• Self-discipline
• Loyalty
• Caring • Honesty
• Trust • Respect
Kids who are sensitive to others’ feelings also have these traits:
Let’s think about some clues of social problems and what a solution might be.
ON A SCHOOL BUS
Clue: One kid is teasing another kid, who is getting upset at being picked on.
Suggestion for social helpers: Ask the kid being teased to come and sit by you so she can move away from the teaser.
ON THE PLAYGROUND
Clue: A boy is walking around the edge of the playground by himself. He is not taking part in any games.
Suggestion for social helpers: Walk up to the kid with a smile on your face and ask him to join in your group.
IN THE LUNCHROOM
Clue: A girl is sitting at a lunch table. Nobody is sitting on either side of her. She looks like she feels very alone.
Suggestion for social helpers: Go and sit in one of the vacant seats next to her. Talk about something you think she might be interested in. Enjoy lunchtime together.
What other ideas do you have about being a social helper? Share your thoughts with your classmates or your family.
Words that remind us of social helpers are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: ALONE, ANXIOUS, APOLOGIZE, CLASSMATE, CLUES, COMPLIMENT, FEELINGS, HELPER, MODEL, OFFER, POSITIVE, ROLE, RULES, SCHOOL, SENSITIVE, SMILE, SOCIAL, TEASE, VOLUNTEER, YEAR.
WHAT DO HELPERS DO?
Students who are social helpers are usually also leaders in the classroom. We call these kids role models. How can you be a leader in your class?
• Volunteer for a class job. Many teachers choose students to do regular chores in the classroom. Tell your teacher you’d like to have a job.
• Offer to help others. Are you really good at math or art? Talk with your teacher about helping other students with subjects that you love.
• Follow the rules when you’re playing a game, and be kind to those who don’t play as well as you.
• Know when to say you’re sorry. If you’ve made a mistake, be willing to apologize and do what’s needed to make it right.
• Be positive. Give a compliment to someone. Smile. Share a joke.
Children who are social helpers might be likely to become teachers, school counselors, health care workers, volunteers or religious leaders.
RESOURCES
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPclique
At the library:
• “Empathy Is Your Super Power: A Book About Understanding the Feelings of Others” by Cori Bussolari
• “It’s Brave To Be Kind” by Natasha Daniels
ECO NOTE
Sulfur-crested cockatoos in Sydney, Australia, have mastered the ability to operate drinking fountains, using their feet and beaks to twist handles and sip water. Researchers observed the birds with remote cameras, capturing over 500 attempts in 44 days with about 70% of the local flock trying the technique. Scientists believe the cockatoos learned the skill by watching people and each other, turning the activity into both social and playful behaviors. This fountain-opening skill follows a previous urban innovation by the same birds — lifting garbage bin lids.
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority has surplus vehicles and equipment for sale. These vehicles can be viewed on-line at www.publicsurplus. com, Region: Florida, Agency: Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR IN PERSON REVIEW ON THE FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES
August 7th & 8th
9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
FKAA Big Coppitt Pump Station
U.S. Hwy. 1 MM 10.5
Oceanside
Bids for vehicles and equipment must be submitted on www. publicsurplus.com, Region: Florida, Agency: Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. Payments for winning bids must also be processed through this site. No physical bids will be accepted.
Bids are due August 11, 2025 by 4:00pm EST. Any questions should be directed to David Jackson, Purchasing Manager, in writing via email to djackson@ fkaa.com.
The Governing Board of Directors of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids, in whole or in part, to waive any irregularities or informalities in any bid, and to award to any party considered to be in the best interest of the Authority The motor vehicles are being sold “as is” with any and all faults. There is no warranty expressed or implied. The Seller disclaims any implied warranty of any type or kind whatsoever, whether originating with the Florida
Keys Aqueduct Authority, the vehicle dealer, or vehicle manufacturer, or of the fitness of the same for any purpose, and the Buyer agrees that the vehicle is being sold “as is.” Gregory W. Veliz, Executive Director Publish: August 7, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT V ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC V) (from Mile Marker 90.940 to the Dade/Monroe County Line and any Mainland portions of Monroe County) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying. (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are dependent upon tourists.)
Any person wishing to participate on the District V Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 The deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday,
September 19, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: August 7, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Perimeter Fence Maintenance, Repair, and Modification
Key West International Airport Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.comhttps://monroecounty-fl. OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.
Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.
The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.com,https://monroecounty-fl. no later than 3:00P.M. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
The Monroe County Value Adjustment Board will hold its 2025 Organizational Meeting on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, BOCC Chambers, 2nd floor, Marathon.
The purpose of this meeting is to appoint Special Magistrates pursuant to the provisions of F.S. 194.035, and any other matters that may properly come before the Board.
Any person who anticipates appealing a decision of the VAB should make sure a verbatim record of the proceeding is made (see s. 286.0105, F.S.).
Any person with a disability who needs special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should call 305-295-3950 prior to the scheduled meeting.
Value Adjustment Clerk, Kevin Madok, CPA, Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller ex-officio to the Value Adjustment Board
Publish: August 7, 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
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, September 3, 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)
+16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location:
+1 646 518 9805 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Publish:
August 7, 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
Publish: July 31 & August 7, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCIIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY CASE NO: 2025-CA-129-K Premier Capital, LLC Plaintiff, Vs Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado Defendant, NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY given that pursuant to a Writ of Execution issued in the Circuit Court, of Monroe County, Florida, on the 21st day of May, 2025, in the cause wherein Premier Capital, LLC is Plaintiff and Carolyn M. Delgado and William J. Delgado was defendant, being Case No. 2025-CA129-K in said court, I, Richard A. Ramsay, Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida have levied upon all right, title, and interest of the defendant, in and to the following described real property to wit: SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:
From the warranty deed that states the following described land, situate, lying and being in Monroe County, Florida to-wit: Legal Description(s) –On the Island of Key West, Monroe County, Florida, and known on William A. Whitehead’s map delineated in February A.D. 1829, as part of Tract 11 but better known as part of Lot 3, Square 9, Tract 11 according to Charles W. Tift’s Map of said Island recorded in Deed Book “L” Page 564, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida and being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the Southwesterly right of way boundary line of Duval Street with the Northwesterly right of way boundary line of United Street and run in a Southwesterly direction along the said right of way boundary line of United Street a distance of 100 feet to the Point of Beginning of the parcel of land herein described, thence at right angles in the Northwesterly direction 84.17 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southwesterly direction 26.3 feet to a point; thence at right angles in a Southeasterly direction 84.17 feet to a point in the Northwesterly direction along the said right of way line of United Street a distance of 26.3 feet back to the point of Beginning.
SPECIFIC LOCATION OF REAL
PROPERTY:
421 United Street Key West, Florida 33040
All bidders must have a valid Driver’s License with them and must register with the clerk at location of sale prior to start time of sale. I shall offer this property for sale, at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building located at 5525 College Road Key West, Florida 33040 in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, on the 28th day of August, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible. I will offer for sale all of the said defendant’s right, title, and interest in the aforesaid real property at public auction and will sell the same subject to all taxes, prior liens, encumbrances
and judgments, if any, to the highest and best bidder for CASH IN HAND. The proceeds to be applied as far as may be to the payment of costs and the satisfaction of the above described execution.
Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida this 9th day of June, 2025.
Richard A. Ramsay Sheriff of Monroe County, Florida
By: Donald Stullken Deputy Sheriff In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Civil Division no later than seven says prior to the proceeding at (305)8093041.
Publish: July 17, 24 & 31 and August 7, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-805-M RICARDO HERRERA TORRES, Petitioner, and ADIANES GOMEZ, Respondent.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: ADIANES GOMEZ RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: UNKNOWN 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 Ricardo Herrera Torres, whose address is 240 Sombrero Beach Road, Apt. D8, Marathon, FL 33050 on or before September 7, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 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 29, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Leslie Rodriguez
Deputy Clerk
Publish: August 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
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
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
PLACE YOUR BOAT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
19’x40’ slip in Marathon, could handle somewhat larger boat with approval from dockmaster. Desirable location in marina, easy in, easy out. Available thru Oct 25, possibly long term lease. $1,400/ mo. Please contact Vern Rozier, 904 626 5279, or 904 626 8224 and leave call back info. Or email vrrozier@yahoo.com.
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
PLACE YOUR BOAT SLIP FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
FOR SALE: Charter Boat Business & Equipment for sale. Located in Marathon, Florida. CALL 305-240-3270
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/
Handyman needed for residence in Marathon. 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, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE.
$25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
HOBBIES/COLLECT.
PRIVATE COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
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
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
2BR/1BA with outdoor patio for rent in Marathon. $2,100/month F/L/S Taking applications. 305-849-5793
RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!
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. $9,500 OBO 305-848-7070
PLACE YOUR RV FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/ night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
YARD SALES
SARA’S ESTATE SALE @ WATERFRONT MANSION in KCB @ 150 12th Street. Fri, Aug. 8 and Sat, Aug. 9 from 9a-1p both days. Think “Caribbean Plantation” w/ hi-quality bedroom & dining sets, & pops of fun: home theatre seating for 5 & outdoor shuffleboard table that closes for party or opens for play! Ernest Hemingway Collection by Thomasville king bed set (4 pieces) is textured: wood, rattan, pewter & stone. A virtual FOREST of faux and silk plants, 100+pieces, from 12” to 8’ tall. Ashley table, solid wood, seats 8 with console and big hutch, amazing carved detail. Plus 2 more dining sets to seat 4 each. Accent furniture: lounger, armchairs, sm cabinets & benches. Plus faux book boxes, area rugs, bedding sets, throw pillows & like new stove and oven range, kid’s books & our famous dollar table! Follow the signs and park across the street at Sunset Park.
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:
OPERATOR/MAINTAINER
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
NOW HIRING
GENERAL
OFFICE HELP
Captain Pip’s & their sister properties are looking to hire for general of ce help. Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
ELECTRICAL PROJECT ENGINEER
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace. Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
NOW H I RI NG!
wants you to join their team!
RETAIL GIFT SHOP ASSOCIATE
Full-time. $19/hour to start.
EMAIL resume to: TurtleHospital@TurtleHospital.org APPLY in person: 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL
e Turtle Hospital in Marathon
Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/ Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start. Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
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.
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS
HIRING!
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NON-PROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!
We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Behavioral Health Therapist (CAT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT) Prevention Specialist Advocate
MARATHON
Advocate 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 COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!
Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip
DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR
The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions.
Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma and computer data entry skills required.
DUI instructors and evaluators: 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required.
Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We
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
- 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
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.
