This community is ideal for those who enjoy seclusion and amenities galore. Unit 104 in Building 6 features two bedrooms plus a bonus room (used as an office) and two updated bathrooms. Feel one with nature amidst views of the natural hammock and peek-a-boo views of the on-site marina. Step into the stunning Chef's kitchen featuring Carrera quartz countertops and backsplash with a modern, waterfall-edged peninsula, white-oak cabinets, and all-new appliances, including two dishwasher drawers. Find updated ''ocean blue'' interior and closet doors with glass paneling. Open the new impact sliders to enjoy a true indoor-outdoor space and plant sanctuary amidst the 400 square foot screened-in porch. The primary bathroom is complete with a marble-topped double vanity and a new glass shower enclosure. Contemporary guest bathroom with custom tile flooring and walls, opaque glass and black hardware shower enclosure, glass sink, and Carrera quartz-topped vanity. With an additional bonus room that would easily convert into a third bedroom, enjoy room for all. If that is not enough, stay active at the tennis & pickleball courts or work out at the on-site gym. Relax by the brand new million-dollar pool and spa. Store your vessel, boat trailer, or even golf cart in the storage barn with 35-foot tall ceilings. With all of these amenities, you'll never want to leave... but if you do, enjoy immediate access to the Gulf or Ocean through Vaca-Cut from the on-site marina (boat slips for rent). With the conveniences of Marathon's private airport, grocery stores, and restaurants nearby, this is the way to enjoy the finer things in the Florida Keys!
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That’s the estimated total cost of the Mars Observer mission, launched on Sept. 25, 1992. The probe failed 11 months later, three days prior to its orbital insertion around Mars.
FUN, AWARDS & PHILANTHROPY
Best of Marathon brings community together
JASON KOLER jason@keysweekly.com
This past Saturday, a linebacker, a carving station, some politicians and the leaders of Marathon’s business community hit the red carpet as the 2025 Best of Marathon winners celebrated at Hawks Cay Resort. Launched in 2008 as a benefit for the Marathon Jaycees, the party has grown into one of the most highly-
anticipated events of the year. A night filled with philanthropy, jokes and a chance to catch up with old friends.
Hosted by Hawks Cay Resort, and benefiting the Marathon Rotary Club, guests were treated to a massive buffet including paella, gnocchi, salad bar, a coffee-crusted ribeye carving station and a dessert display courtesy of Sweet Savannah’s.
“This event fits so well with what Rotary stands for – highlighting the heroes of our community while help-
ing the club support kids, and having a blast while doing it,” said Marathon Rotary Club president Mary Ann Royse. “We love being a part of the Best of Marathon.”
The program was typical – jokes at the expense of the guests, some semi-fake Google reviews featuring local businesses and a video featuring aspiring Marathon actor Matt Pitcher tackling local celebrities.
2025 Best Bartender Rachel Bowman and Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach get in on the laughs at the Best of Marathon Awards on Sept. 20 at Hawks Cay Resort. Full event coverage starts on page 24. NATALIE DANKO/Keys Weekly
Food & Drink
Best Bar: Sparky's Landing Fish n Cocktails
Best Bartender: Rachel Bowman
Best BBQ: Irie Island Eats
Best Beer Selection: Herbie's Bar & Chowder House
Best Bloody Mary: Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Best Breakfast: The Stuffed Pig
Best Burger: Burdines Waterfront
Best Catering: Chef Heather
Best Conch Fritters: Cracked Conch Cafe
Best Cook your own Catch: Lazy Days South
Best Cuban Sandwich: LJ's Café
Best Cup of Coffee: LJ’s Café
Best Dessert Spot: Sweet Savannah's of the Florida Keys
Best Fine Dining: Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House
Best Fish Sandwich: Fish Tales Market & Eatery
Best Food Truck: Irie Island Eats
Best Happy Hour: Sparky's Landing Fish n Cocktails
Best International Food: Frank's Grill
Best Key Lime Pie: SS Wreck & Galley Grill
Best Late Night Spot: Brass Monkey
Best Live Music Venue: Dockside Boot Key Harbor
Best Lunch: Brutus Land & Sea
Best Margarita: Sparky's Landing Fish n Cocktails
Best Overall Restaurant: Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House
Best Pizza: Coast To Coast Pizza Company
Best Seafood: Keys Fisheries
Best Server: Brennan Bye @ Fl Keys Steak & Lobster
Best Steak : Plaza Grill Restaurant
Best Sushi: Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Best Taco: Takeria La Palapa
Best Waterfront Dining: The Island Fish Co. Restaurant & Tiki Bar
Best Wings: Driftwood Pizza, Pasta, & Subs
Best Band/Musician: 79th Street Band
Best Bathroom: Monroe County Public Library, Marathon Branch
Best Celebrity Pet: Zeke
Best Educator: Mac Childress
Best Elected Official: Sheriff Rick Ramsay
Best Event: Marathon Seafood Festival
Best Local Celebrity: Mike Puto
Best Non-Profit Organization: FKSPCA
Best Place to Have a Wedding: Isla Bella Beach Resort
Best Place to Take a Date: Butterfly Café
Best Place to Take a Selfie: Old Seven Mile Bridge
Best Place to Take the Kids: Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
Best Sports Coach: Joey Gonzalez
Best Summer Camp: Pigeon Key
Best Sunset: Keys Fisheries
Best Thespian/Performing Artist: Ella Dunn
Best Tourist Attraction: Turtle Hospital
Best Volunteer: Megan Hughes
Best Auto Repair: Island Tire
Best Bait & Tackle Shop: The Tackle Box
Best Bank: Keys Federal Credit Union
Best Business: Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Company
Best Car Wash/Detailing: Tyrone's Mobile Car Wash
Best Customer Service: Conch Custard
Best Day Care: Grace Jones
Best Dive Shop: Captain Hook’s Marina and Dive Center
Best Family Owned Business: Royal Furniture
Best Fishing Charter: Main Attraction
Best Fishing Guide: James Simcic
Best General Contractor: D'Asign Source
Best Gifts & Threads: Bayshore Clothing
Best Health and Wellness Service: Cara O'Neill
Best Landscape Company: Alex Landscaping and Lawn Services Inc.
Best Law Firm: Wolfe Stevens PLLC
Best Marina: Faro Blanco Marina of Suntex
Best Marine Detailing: Cool Running
Best Marine Repair: Small Town Marine
Best Medical Professional: Shelly Bish, APRN
Best New Business: Rafa Management Group LLC
Best Pet Service: Sailor's Dog Spa
Best Photographer: Yeni Matie Photography
Best Pool Service: Spotless Pool Cleaning
Best Real Estate Office: Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co.
Best Realtor: Nate Bartlett
Best Resort/Hotel: Hawks Cay Resort
Best Salon: Salon Blanco
Best Specialty Contractor: Ernest E Rhodes Plumbing
Best Vacation Rental Company: American Coastal Vacation Rentals
Best Vet: Dr. Mike Dunn
Best Water Sports/Leisure Cruise: Captain Hook’s Marina and Dive Center
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IT’S BEEN BUGGY
Mosquito control district holds info sessions amid surging populations
JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District held a series of public meetings from Sept. 15 to 17 in Key West, Marathon and Key Largo to address the recent surge in saltmarsh mosquito populations. Residents had the opportunity to learn about the challenges the district has faced this summer and get questions answered.
This past year, the Keys have experienced an unusually high number of saltmarsh mosquitos, a significant nuisance with their persistent bites.
During the sessions, officials revealed that this species, Aedes taeniorhynchus, makes up a remarkable 83% of the 45 mosquito species found in the Keys. These resilient insects have been documented as far as 66 miles out to sea and at altitudes of up to 500 feet. Officials also noted that these pests can transmit heartworms to animals, so it’s recommended that pet owners ensure their animals are on preventative medication.
Despite a global rise in mosquito-borne diseases in humans, the Florida Keys have remained remarkably free of such illnesses, mosquito control officials said. And saltmarsh mosquitoes aren’t known to be disease vectors for humans like their Aedes aegypti cousins.
But according to operations manager Mikki Cross, four major challenges are contributing to the rising mosquito numbers.
“One of the biggest issues has been the weather,” she said. “High winds and heavy summer rains have led to frequent mission cancellations and created an abundance of standing water. This has provided ideal conditions for the saltmarsh mosquito, whose larvae can develop into biting adults in as little as one week, significantly boosting their population.”
Topographical changes also present a challenge for the district. A combination of sea level rise, rainfall and tidal activity has created new breeding sites for mosquitoes. Wind direction has been a major factor as well. The varying winds are conducive for mosquito migrations, often blowing the insects out of treated zones and into areas that have already been sprayed. This is compounded by the fact that the district is legally prohibited from treating a number of protected lands. While the agency can effectively treat specific areas, these untreated sanctuaries allow new mosquito populations to thrive and be carried by the wind into populated areas.
To counter this, the agency is implementing several new strategies, including advanced mapping tools to pinpoint these areas more effectively. The district has also begun earlier reconnaissance missions to identify and treat breeding sites before they become a major problem and is in the process of revisiting its long-term management plans.
released by
A new treatment notification app, available for download on iPhone and Android, allows residents to receive alerts for scheduled helicopter and truck sprays in their area and view detailed maps of both recent and planned treatments.
In response to questions from concerned citizens about more organic methods for mosquito control, such as introducing more dragonflies or bats, director of research Larry Hribar provided a detailed explanation.
“It’s a common misconception that we can simply introduce more dragonflies or bats to solve our mosquito problem,” said Hribar. “The reality is much more complex. Dragonflies, while they do eat mosquitoes, are also highly territorial and even cannibalistic. If we were to release them in large numbers, they’d simply end up eating each other instead of making a significant dent in the mosquito population. As for bats, they’re not a silver bullet either. While they will eat mosquitos, their diet is incredibly diverse and they much prefer larger, more calorie-rich insects like moths and beetles. We’ve seen in past experiments, even here in the Keys, that bats won’t just stick around and eat what we want them to; they’ll follow their natural instincts and forage for a wider variety of prey. It’s not a reliable or effective method for the kind of widespread control we need to protect public health and comfort.”
For residents seeking assistance with mosquito issues, service requests can be submitted directly through a form on the agency’s home page. For general inquiries, residents can email questions@keysmosquito.org. Information on the district’s approved products and control methods is at www.keysmosquito.org.
This year, the estimated population of black saltmarsh mosquitoes (Aedes taeniorhynchus) has seen its most significant increase since 2020, with numbers far exceeding those of last year.
Aerial treatments of mosquito larvae by helicopter in the Lower, Middle and Upper Keys from 2024 and 2025, showing a significant jump in the Upper and Lower Keys.
Due to the recent rise in mosquito populations, aerial adulticide treatments have seen monumental increases from 2024 to 2025.
While they don’t carry deadly diseases like their Aedes aegypti counterparts, black saltmarsh mosquitoes still pack an irritating bite – and are booming in the Keys. CONTRIBUTED
Data
the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District shows adulticide treatments in the Middle Keys have increased 159% since last year. FLORIDA KEYS MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT/Contributed
JAIL DEPUTIES ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS
Two Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detention deputies were arrested on Sept. 19 for allegedly conspiring and attempting to smuggle about 6 grams of fentanyl into the Stock Island jail.
According to the sheriff’s office, detention deputies Alex Caminero, 38, and James Gregory Gardner, 52, both conspired to traffic fentanyl into the jail. Gardner was additionally charged for smuggling contraband into a county detention facility. Caminero is facing charges for attempting to traffic fentanyl, unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
The arrests come following an investigation by the sheriff’s office. Caminero and Gardner were placed on administrative leave without pay pending a pre-termination hearing.
“I remain committed to keeping the public informed of every important event that happens at the Sheriff’s Office — both positive and negative,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, TEACHERS UNION STRIKE NEW AGREEMENT
Bargain includes starting salary of $62,700
for teachers
After months of collaborative negotiations, the United Teachers of Monroe (UTM) and the Monroe County School District (MCSD) have reached a tentative agreement on the teachers’ and schoolrelated personnel contract. The agreement, after seven bargaining sessions, includes significant improvements in the compensation package to include the highest starting teacher salary in the state of $62,700.
“UTM and its team are pleased with the outcome of the negotiations with MCSD,” said UTM president Diana Walker. “Despite the delay due to state budget approval and the uncertainty in public education funding in Florida, both parties were able to come to an agreement on a fair compensation and benefits package. Our educators and support personnel are the backbone of our public schools, and UTM will continue to strive for what is best for them and their families.”
CORRECTION
A school board story in last week’s edition incorrectly stated that most of the property tax funds collected under the heading “Public Schools by State Law” goes to other counties to equalize education opportunities around the state. Correctly, property tax funds collected under the “Public Schools by State Law” stay within Monroe County and do not go elsewhere.
“It is essential that MCSD continues to offer competitive salaries,” said Harry Russell, lead negotiator for the school district and executive director of personnel support and instructional leadership, “in order to attract and retain the best and brightest educators who drive the excellence our community expects.”
“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to both the United Teachers of Monroe (UTM) and the district bargain-
ing teams on reaching a tentative agreement,” said Superintendent Ed Tierney. “This achievement is a testament to the professionalism, collaboration and shared commitment to our students that guided the bargaining process. I want to especially acknowledge Mr. Harry Russell for his leadership of the district team and Ms. Diana Walker, president of UTM, for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of our educators. The district deeply values our employees and remains profoundly grateful for their dedication and tireless efforts in support of student success.”
Mindy Conn, chair of the Monroe County school board, added, “This tentative agreement is a direct result of the hard work and collaboration between UTM and the district. I’m grateful for our continued partnership, which benefits our employees, strengthens our schools and supports student success.”
The tentative agreements will be presented to UTM members for ratification in the coming weeks. Following ratification, the Monroe County School Board will vote on the agreements during its meeting on Oct. 7. Once approved, the agreements will be retroactively effective from July 1.
More information is available from Amber Archer Acevedo, deputy superintendent, at amber. acevedo@keysschools.com, 305293-1400 ext. 53319 or 305-3602355.
MCSD lead negotiator Harry Russell, left, United Teachers of Monroe president Diana Walker and Superintendent Ed Tierney celebrate a tentative agreement after negotiations for teachers and school-related personnel. CONTRIBUTED
Alex Caminero
James Gregory Gardner
— Keys Weekly staff report
WOMAN DIES IN HEAD-ON CRASH IN THE LOWER KEYS
A44-year-old Jacksonville woman died after her vehicle crashed head-on with a truck on U.S. 1 near MM 19 in the Lower Keys on Tuesday.
The driver in the truck, a 63-year-old man from Sugarloaf Key, was airlifted to a hospital in Miami-Dade County with critical injuries.
According to a crash report by the Florida Highway patrol, a Kia sedan operated by the woman was traveling south on U.S. 1 while the Ford pickup was driving north just before 10:30 a.m. FHP said the Kia began traveling south in the northbound lane when it crashed
head-on with the truck.
First responders rushing to the scene transported the woman to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries. The woman’s dog also died in the crash.
FHP says the crash is under investigation. It’s still being determined whether alcohol was a factor. Traffic was backed up for more than an hour due to the incident.
Per FHP policy, the names of those involved in car crashes aren’t released. FHP said they were working to notify the woman’s next of kin.
— Keys Weekly staff report
SCHOOLS RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Special Olympics honors Marathon Jr./ Sr. High & Gerald Adams Elementary
Special Olympics Florida has announced that Marathon Jr./Sr. High and Gerald Adams Elementary schools are receiving National Banner recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Both schools have Special Olympics Unified Champion School programming and are receiving this status after meeting 10 national standards in the areas of inclusion, advocacy and respect. A national panel of educators and leaders from Special Olympics developed the standards.
The primary activities within these standards include sports, leadership and whole-school engagement opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities. The result is a school environment that promotes inclusivity and respect for all.
Marathon Jr./Sr. High has been a Unified Champion School for three years, creating competition
programs for powerlifting and soccer, along with a developmental program called Rising Stars. It focuses on the sports of cornhole and bocce, while also fostering Unified Youth Leadership.
Gerald Adams Elementary has been a Unified Champion School for over six years with programs designed for younger children, including Young Athletes and Little Elites. As the first school on the Law Enforcement Torch Run route each year, it holds a Family Information Night and fosters schoolwide activities throughout the year.
Both schools are actively involved in the yearly Spread the Word to End the Word awareness project, which encourages kindness and respect toward people with intellectual disabilities.
Monroe County is home to five other National Banner schools: Horace O’Bryant, Poinciana Elementary, Treasure Village Montessori, Coral Shores High School and Key Largo School.
OPEN MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 AT 1:00 P.M.
COMMERCE CORNEr
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Whether you are looking to purchase your first or your next, we offer premier boat brands such as Boston Whaler, Scout and Sea Ray…. Hands-on training and factory authorized service. Our waterfront facility is conveniently located just off Coco Plum drive at the beginning of town. Our dry storage department makes it easy for you to be a boat owner!
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DOWN GOES KEY WEST
For the first time in school history, the Marathon Middle School Dolphins defended their home football field against Key West, handing Horace O’Bryant School a 32-20 loss on Sept. 19. The win completed a sweep of the Keys’ middle-school teams for the Fins. Facing a 20-8 deficit, with stands full of fans to cheer them on, the Dolphins responded with electrifying turnovers and long runs, led by backs Miles Murphy (two 40-plus-yard touchdowns), Reef Rella (one touchdown) and Maverick McDonald (one touchdown). As this paper reaches newsstands, the team is on the road traveling to True North Academy to keep the undefeated season rolling. CONTRIBUTED
CHESTER COPPERPOT
2-year-old male pit bull mix.
Looking for: I might be big, but I want to be your lap dog.
Turnoffs: We’re not sure yet, I’m just the new guy.
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.
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
LUCY
2-year-old female domestic shorthair.
Looking for: All the attention you can give me.
Turnoffs: I’m a house cat, not a shelter cat.
JUNIPER
1-year-old male rabbit. Looking for: I would love to be your house bunny. Turnoffs: Rabbits are more than just pets – we’re family too.
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.
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 Shavonne Corbet, a veterinarian at Keys Animal Hospital who earned the nod as a finalist for Best Vet in the 2025 Best of Marathon Awards.
SHAVONNE CORBET Keys Animal Hospital
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I moved to Marathon in 2018. I grew up in South Florida and Atlanta, but South Florida has always felt like home. I used to visit the Keys growing up and always dreamed of moving here, so after practicing in Portland, Oregon for 12 years, I returned to South Florida and met Dr. Dunn, who invited me down to visit Keys Animal Hospital. The rest is history!
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I enjoy paddleboarding, boating, snorkeling and otherwise enjoying the natural beauty and special things the Keys have to offer. Since moving here, I’ve begun to develop my skills in gardening with tropical plants and am starting to learn how to grow food here. I also love the small-town vibe and I like to see familiar faces wherever I go.
If you could have any animal as a sidekick, what would it be and what would its special skill be? An eagle. I would love to be able to fly with it!
If you could give one animal species the ability to speak, which one would you choose and what do you think they would say? That would probably be cats. My dogs are often SO good at communicating with me, but my cats can be mysterious, and I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. So often I just wonder what they’re thinking. My guess is they’d probably ask to speak to the “manager.”
What is the most unusual animal that’s been brought to you? Were you able to help it? When I was in veterinary school, I saw a snapping turtle climb out of the bed of a pickup truck driving on the highway. It was likely on its way to becoming someone’s dinner. I honked to get the driver’s attention, but he didn’t notice. The turtle rolled across the highway and fractured its shell. I ran across the highway, picked up this turtle and drove three hours back to vet school with it in the passenger seat (somehow managing to never get bit). With the help of my mentor, we fixed her shell and she was later released to a wildlife sanctuary.
When clients bring their dogs and cats in costumes or outfits, what is your reaction? It’s photo time, of course!
What is something people don’t know about you? I’m an excellent baker.
JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
A WHOLE NEW ‘HORROR’
Cult classic comes back to MCT stage
the show. So it was pretty easy to then figure out: What did I like from each one, and who do I think Frank is?”
It’s the third time around for familiar faces in the cast of Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” at Marathon Community Theatre.
But with a few major substitutions, hidden Easter eggs and ampedup antics – even in the background – the production team says the cult classic show is anything but a repeat.
That’s not to say the vibes and familiarity didn’t snap right back for a cast composed of roughly three-quarters returning members, who brought the show to life in 2022 and 2023.
“We did a read-through, and the next night a run-through, and we were singing, dancing and having so much fun,” said Karen Shotwell, who adds to the on-stage hijinks as one of four “phantoms.”
“But we’re just trying to make sure we’re all spot-on and a little more technical with it,” said Sharon Young, another “phantom” who took the mantle of dance captain for 2025. And as the whole team pointed out, in a show with a faithful following bordering on religion, there’s little room for error in the “Rocky” script.
“That’s the scary part: If you screw up a line, these people will know it,” said Shotwell.
For the uninitiated, the classic musical tells the story of hapless couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss (John Schaefer and Jeanie Schwenke). Stranded with a flat tire, they’re forced to take refuge in a castle run by transvestite mad scientist Dr. FrankN-Furter (Anthony Kehn) and servants Riff Raff (Dakota Mertyris), Columbia (Michelle Dobler) and Magenda (Abbi Colella). Their arrival, Frank says, is quite timely, as he’s hosting an “affair” to celebrate his lab’s newest creation: a muscled-up man named Rocky.
Some of the show’s biggest changes come from the top of the cast list, with Kehn taking the torch as Frank from her daytime co-worker, JJ Mills.
“It was definitely intimidating, especially being a character that shows up in the fourth song and then doesn't shut up for the rest of the show,” said Kehn. “I had so many Franks in my head – JJ, Tim Curry, and one from when my college used to do
Playing Frank’s not-so-faithful right-hand man is recent Marathon High School graduate Dakota Mertyris – mastering the gaunt face, creepy lean and wandering hands of O’Brien’s own performance from the 1975 film. It’s a showing Mertyris’ castmates say adds to the musical with “off-thecharts” vocals.
“I had never really heard of this show beforehand, but I dove into the West End recording of the show, and some of the movie,” Mertyris said. “I loved that (Riff Raff) was fluid and high-pitched, so I really tried to embody that.”
“Rocky Horror” comes to life under the leadership of director Jimmy Zimmerman, assistant director Deb Shirley and producer Joanne Zimmerman, with vocal and choreography consulting by Jaimie Roberts.
“The harmonies are there, and they worked their butts off to get there,” said Zimmerman of his cast.
“This is the most cohesive version of this show,” said Roberts. “The casting this year has brought everybody to a comfort level where they can bring out the best in themselves.”
“The Rocky Horror Show” runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from Sept. 25 through Oct. 11, with 3 p.m. matinees on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. Tickets are $38, available at marathontheater.org or by calling 305-743-0994. The show is 18+ due to thematic material, and prop bags for audience participation are available for purchase at the theater.
1. The antics of four ever-present Phantoms (Sharon Young, Catherine McCole, Karen Shotwell and Charla Garrison) ensure there’s always new humor to watch on stage.
2. Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Anthony Kehn) leads a castle full of twisted servants in ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’
3. Dr. Frank-N-Furter announces his newest laboratory creation.
4. Jeanie Schwenke and John Schaefer play Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, a young engaged couple in distress.
LOCALS HELPING LOCALS SINCE
STOP THE STEAL
Sanctuary seeks dive community help to prevent looting of historic shipwrecks
When the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary created its Shipwreck Trail, it established an underwater guide for the public to uncover stories behind nine vessels whose remains rest beneath the waves. These sites invite visitors to explore the maritime history of the national marine sanctuary by providing access to unique and fragile archaeological resources. Unfortunately, looters have recently plundered one wreck resting in shallow water off Marathon for almost 190 years.
“The North America lies in a very accessible location in water no deeper than 14 feet,” said sanctuary maritime archaeologist Matthew Lawrence. “In 2021, we started to see that someone was moving ballast stones and exposing (the) wooden hull. The disturbance has continued since then. They were probably looking for a souvenir, like a nail, but the exposed wooden hull will now degrade even faster.”
Lawrence elevated his concern at a recent meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, explaining that what some might believe to be an innocuous activity, like taking a small memento from their visit, may cause longterm damage and prevent others from enjoying the site.
The North America rests in the sand and grass flats north of Delta Shoal, just east of Sombrero Light. The vessel was lost in 1842 while carrying dry goods and furniture. Florida Keys wreckers saved the cargo, but not the ship.
“Shipwrecks provide unique information about our past that’s not in the written record,” explained Lawrence. “They provide exciting opportunities for recreational and educational experiences that are non-consumptive, as long as visitors respect the history. We have a saying: Take only pictures; leave only bubbles.”
Photos taken in 2022, 2023 and 2025 show a pattern of disturbances and alleged looting of the 1842 shipwreck of the North America, settled on the ocean floor near Delta Shoal off Marathon. NOAA/Contributed
Historical resources, such as shipwrecks and archaeological sites, within the sanctuary are protected by both federal and state laws, but they remain open to the public for diving and snorkeling. Lawrence urged the council to educate their constituencies about regulations that govern historical resources, asking for help in keeping an eye on boats visiting shipwreck sites.
Violations of any kind can be reported via floridakeys.noaa.gov, by clicking on the “Contact” link.
— Contributed
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Flower Sponsors
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Flowers by J & J
Dessert Sponsor Sweet Savannah's
Photographers
Photo Design by Natalie Doug Finger
Thank you to Ma Pitcher, Sheri Ramsay and all the local business owners and individuals who participated in the making of the County Linebacker video.
Special Thank you to our Guest Announcers:
Mayor Lynn Landry
Maggie Sayer
Sam Williams
Sean McDonald
Kelly Williams
Special Thanks to our Volunteers: Erin Arne
Kelly Judd
Kristina Helms
Mike Puto
Annie Wilson
Mike Cunningham
Kathleen Pouser
Sandra Lee
Mary Ann Royse
BEST FINE DINING BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT
We look forward every year to the Best of Marathon Awards Event. Not only because we love those very attractive plaques, but it gives us an opportunity to commune with our neighbors and fellow entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the amazing people and businesses that excelled this year. We are optimistic that this season will be better than ever and we hope to see you all soon at the Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House.
Our sincere appreciation goes to Marathon Weekly for its exemplary news reporting and for hosting such a well-organized event. We are truly grateful for the continued support from our local patrons, whose loyalty sustains our business and strengthens our community ties. Words cannot fully express our thanks.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the Lobster House family, whose daily efforts consistently ensure that our guests enjoy a memorable dining experience from the kitchen to the table.
With appreciation, Maria Ely
THE SPOTLIGHT IS THEIRS
At the Best of Marathon,
all we do is win
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
It’s our favorite night of the year for a reason.
The return of the Best of Marathon Awards on Sept. 20 brought more than 300 guests representing the very best of the Middle Keys Community – from businesses to medical professionals, actors to contractors. Graciously hosted once again at the picturesque Hawks Cay Resort, dozens of award winners took their turns in the limelight between good-natured ribbing of dignitaries and elected officials, comedic takes on “totally real” 1-star Google reviews of local businesses, and even a refreshed style of “law enforcement” in the Keys. And as always, it’s all for a good cause, netting thousands each year for the Rotary Club of Marathon’s mission of “Service Above Self.”
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO:
Scan the QR code to watch the 2025 Best of Marathon comedy video, starring local actor Matt “Matty P” Pitcher and Sheriff Rick Ramsay. We proudly present: “Matty P: County Linebacker.” Please note: NONE of this is real.
1. Kristen Livengood and Cheddar gladly step in to accept the Best Late Night Spot award for the Brass Monkey.
2. Jesus Parra, right, gets in a word with county commissioner Michelle Lincoln.
3. Sparky’s Landing owner Matt Anthony accepts one of his restaurant’s three awards.
4. The Gonzalez family and Rafael Cordova enjoy the show to begin a night of big wins for their businesses.
5. Whitney Simmons shows a little love to boyfriend Miles Murphy.
6. If you’re not laughing at the Best of Marathon, you’re doing it wrong – right, Sam Williams?
7. Hosts Jason Koler and Alex Rickert come prepared with the roasts – and plenty of love for the community too.
8. ‘Project One Star’ – and their son’s alleged involvement in a dubious Google review – has Mary Coleman-Sayer, left, and Maggie Sayer in stitches.
9. Judge James Morgan, left, and attorney Patrick Stevens try to keep it together during ‘Project One Star.’
10. MCSO Capt. Lissette Quintero, left, and Sheriff Rick Ramsay share some laughs.
11. County commissioner Michelle Lincoln celebrates Monroe County’s wins – Best Bathroom for the Marathon Library and Best Place to Take a Selfie for the Old Seven Mile Bridge.
12 ‘County Linebacker’ Matt ‘Matty P.’ Pitcher, right, gets his time in the spotlight with host Alex Rickert.
13. Shelly Bish earns the applause as 2025’s Best Medical Professional.
14-15. A picture-perfect Hawks Cay Resort provides the ideal venue to raise money for the Rotary Club of Marathon.
16. As Best Car Detailer Tyrone Leatherwood will agree, sometimes you just need a good pair of shades.
17. Dubier Rojas brings back the golden pool net as he repeats his 2024 win for Best Pool Service.
18. The Weekly’s Patti Childress, right, and Sam Williams announce the Community Awards.
19. Kelly Williams, right, works the pre-show red carpet, interviewing Sparky’s Landing owners Matt and Carolyn Anthony.
20. Marathon Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Samess, left, with 2025 Best Realtor Nate Bartlett.
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WILDLIFE AGENCIES LAUNCH KEY DEER RESEARCH & RESPONSE TEAM
Key deer. CONTRIBUTED
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), this month launched the Key Deer Research and Response Program, a new initiative designed to engage volunteers to support Key deer conservation by increasing capacity to monitor their population, respond to injured and entangled deer and improve public awareness of the issues Key deer face.
The Key Deer Research and Response Program will train volunteers to assist in field observations, data collection, public outreach and response to wildlife incidents. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen the connection between the community, the refuge and FWC while enhancing the capacity to monitor and protect the Key deer population.
Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are a federally-endangered subspecies of
white-tailed deer found only in the lower Florida Keys. These small, island-adapted deer face ongoing threats from habitat loss, vehicle collisions, entanglement and disease. Despite these challenges, Key deer are known for their resilience.
Community involvement is essential to ensuring their continued survival and the health of the unique ecosystems they inhabit.
More information on the Key deer program is available from Kevin Kalasz at 305-8720774.
The National Wildlife Refuge system protects wildlife and habitat on more than 150 million acres of land and water in the U.S. Refuges also improve human health, provide outdoor recreation, and support local economies.
More information is at fws. gov/program/national-wildliferefuge-system.
— Contributed
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
FEDERAL AGENCY LAUNCHES KEY DEER RESCUE PROGRAM IT PREVIOUSLY BLOCKED
Dear Editor:
Save Our Key Deer Inc. (SOKD) learned through a social media post that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key is accepting volunteer applications for a new “Key deer research and response program,” and recently held an open house and meeting about it.
The nonprofit SOKD has a longstanding commitment to the health, safety and welfare of the endangered Key deer. For many years, we have requested that the USFWS allow us to run a Key deer rehab and response/ rescue program, which would be funded and staffed by SOKD, with no expense or staffing burdens to USFWS, FWC or the public. USFWS repeatedly rejected our ideas and proposals to collaborate.
With no luck establishing a positive relationship with USFWS staff, we approached the state agency that is now most commonly required to react to Key deer field emergency calls – the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) about our forming a Key deer response and rehab program. FWC enthusiastically provided us with all the guidelines and procedures required to gain permits, certifications and also the rehab facility construction guidelines for Key deer (small deer). With their “green light,” we spent tens of thousands of dollars constructing the rehabilitation enclosure and purchasing the best and most appropriate capture and treatment equipment to do the job right. The permit was issued, which includes Dr. Dunn as our medical director. I am a critical care RN and an experienced wildlife rehabber, including deer, so with FWC’s permission, I trained 14 volunteers to assist with response, assessment and assistance for deer-in-distress calls – including capture. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shut down our entire program after our first few response cases (which were successful).
The agency said the FWC shouldn’t have issued me a permit. This was very confusing because both agencies had conference call meetings about it throughout the process.
Save Our Key Deer supports the refuge’s newly announced volunteer initiative, as there is a need for community support in Key deer rescue. We welcome ANY appropriate effort that genuinely aids the Key deer. We do, however, wonder about the timing.
The refuge is now seeking volunteers for an effort it previously blocked. SOKD is dedicated to Key deer rescue, rehabilitation and conservation, so we are willing one more time to open communications about their acceptance of the experience, equipment and assets we have to offer.
SOKD will request a formal meeting with USFWS officials involved with their new program to discuss our role (if any) in their new program. We will likely suggest a formal, shared protocol for responding to deer-in-distress calls and appropriate rehab (for human-caused orphaned fawns, for example). This could involve dispatching either SOKD under our permit, or refuge volunteers, depending on the location and nature of the incident. We will ask them to allow us to exercise our rights to perform rehab under our FWC permit (which includes field response). We have trained volunteers, an outstanding veterinarian experienced in large mammal care, a rehab facility, an electromagnetic capture net, and plenty of appropriate equipment.
For the sake of the endangered Key deer, we hope something agreeable to both SOKD and the refuge can be worked out.
Sincerely,
Valerie Preziosi President,
Save Our Key Deer www.saveourkeydeer.org
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While some categories are cornerstones of the annual Best of Marathon Awards, the Keys Weekly does our best to listen to suggestions from the community, adding, subtracting and combining categories when necessary to make sure we arrive at a competitive slate each year. Every year we’re reminded – there’s nothing like your first BOM win. Cheers to those who made it to the mountaintop for the first time in 2025 – or went down in the record books as the first winners in brand-new categories.
New category winners included:
Best Celebrity Pet - Zeke (accepted by owners Darby Sheehan and Jake Long)
Day Care - Grace Jones Day Care Center
Best Water Sports/Leisure Cruise - Captain Hook’s (can’t find their actual one from this award?) First-time local champs were:
Photos by Doug Finger
FAUBER ACES STATE TESTING
Stanley Switlik Elementary School fifth-grader Luna Fauber received a perfect score on her fourth-grade Florida Assessment of Student Thinking mathematics and writing assessments, given in May at the close of the 2024-25 school year. ‘Luna is a student who consistently shows determination and has a natural curiosity about the world,’ said Switlik assistant principal Tanya Sly, left, with Fauber and her mother Kali Fauber. CONTRIBUTED
ILLEGAL CONTRACTOR FRAUD INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ‘CHAOTIC’ PURSUIT IN THE UPPER KEYS
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Three out-of-county individuals were arrested after they sent various law enforcement agencies on a chaotic chase through the Upper Keys the morning of Sept. 22.
Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies and the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office were assisting the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in an unlicensedcontracting investigation near MM 90 in Islamorada around 11 a.m., when three individuals jumped into a truck and drove away.
Officers started chasing the vehicle north on U.S. 1. The truck’s tires were spiked during the chase. At one point, the truck was driving the wrong way on U.S. 1 as other vehicles moved out of the way.
The truck eventually stopped at Gilbert’s Resort & Marina parking lot. According to Sheriff Rick Ramsay, a man and woman got out of the vehicle while a younger man took over and attempted to drive away and hit several police cars.
Deputies, with assistance from Florida Highway Patrol, arrested a mother and son, 44-year-old Denise Michelle Bennett, of Fort Lauderdale, and 19-year-old Jonathan Mitchell. The father, however, managed to escape during the chaotic moments. A search ensued with help from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
During the search, Ramsay said a law enforcement officer spotted two individuals fishing. They approached the men and asked if they saw anything unusual. They replied “no” and that they had been fishing for hours.
Officers were working to retrieve information about the registered owner of the truck. When they did, they realized that the man who had escaped them had changed his clothes and was fishing alongside another man. They returned to arrest 46-year-old Butch Anthony Stevens, of Fort Lauderdale. Ramsay said the 69-year-old man who was originally fishing, but lied to help Stevens evade capture, received a notice to appear in court. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office identified the man as Felix Esquijarosa of Miami.
“It was a chaotic scene that went on for hours trying to get containment,” Ramsay said. “We tried to get a drone to find the guy around the bridges, restaurant and mangroves.”
Ramsay said Stevens had several out-of-county warrants for unlicensed contracting and other related crimes. He was charged with fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, unlicensed contracting, obstruction of justice and having no driving license.
Bennett was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, while Mitchell was charged with fleeing and eluding, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
Denise Bennett
Jonathan Mitchell
Butch Stevens
THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: RAMROD KEY AND NILES CHANNEL
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
is a respected historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch based in the Florida Keys.
Iwas done writing about the Great Florida Keys Road Trip when Mile Marker 0 came out in August. I need to save some of the stories for the book, right? But then, I received a letter.
A gentleman wrote, “Flagler should have built the bridge to Cuba, then we could have kept your columns going.”
A sucker for a personal letter sent to the newspaper and forwarded to my home address, the Great Florida Keys Road Trip is returning to the Lower Keys and trekking across Ramrod Key and the Niles Channel Bridge. Ramrod is a small island tucked between the Torch and Summerland Keys. In my imagination, if the Torch Keys were a pea pod, Ramrod Key would be a pea that fell out of the pod but didn’t roll too far away — a big pea, though. It was called Roberts Island on DeBrahm’s 1772 chart. The modern name is the result of a ship named Ramrod wrecking just south of the island in the 19th century. Shortly after driving onto the island, the Looe Key Dive Resort appears on the south/ocean side of the road. The big visual marker is a large tiki hut. Underneath the dried, brown palm fronds is a bar. Looe Key refers to a shallow offshore reef. It is one of the top snorkeling sites in the Keys. The inner reef line developed about 5.5 miles offshore of Ramrod Key in water ranging from around 6 to 30 feet in depth. Charter boats from Bahia Honda to Ramrod Key visit the reef twice daily, weather permitting.
Why is there a reef called Looe Key? The story of Captain Utting and the HMS Looe sheds light on the reason. It was early February 1744 when the 44-gun HMS Looe began navigating the dangerous Straits of Florida. In the late evening hours of Feb. 3, the crew was dropping sounding leads every 30 minutes to confirm the ocean’s depth. Around midnight, after several measurements
recorded a depth of several hundred feet, Captain Utting retired to his cabin below deck. A short time later, under the light of the moon, the men on watch saw waves breaking over a shallow reef.
Alarms were sounded; evasive actions taken. The Looe’s rudder struck the reef, broke off and the ship, unable to steer, was pounded by swells and beaten against the coral beds. The ship was taking on water. Captain Utting and 274 sailors escaped to a nearby spit of land. Utting described it in his records: “a small beach of an islet was approximately 300 yards long and 100 yards wide.”
The small stretch of land became known as Looe Key. However, it has since disappeared, and today the shallow coral reefs are recognized as Looe Key. Since 1985, it has been home to one of the more offbeat Florida Keys events, the Looe Key Underwater Music Festival. Bill Becker, a former disc jockey and news director at US1 Radio, 104.1 FM, and Dr. Fred Troxel conceived the event. Scuba divers and snorkelers are invited out to the reef to swim with the fish, explore the corals and listen to music broadcast through a series of strategically placed underwater Lubell System speakers.
It has occurred on the first Saturday after the Fourth of July every year since. In addition to Buffett tunes, reggae and the Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden,” recorded public service announcements from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary promoting diver etiquette and coral reef awareness are played. Whether it is the first Saturday after the Fourth of July or some other day, Looe Key is an excellent snorkeling destination.
For a little fun on dry land, just a little bit down the highway is Boondocks. A big tiki hut covers a bar there, too. While a tiki bar in the Florida Keys is nothing unusual, this one also features a miniature golf course.
It is not long before Ramrod Key ends, and the Niles Channel Bridge begins. The bridge crosses Niles Channel, named for the Niles family. Garibaldi Niles made a homestead claim to land on Summerland Key on April 1, 1892. The family farmed chickens and livestock. A real estate developer bought the Niles homestead in the 1940s and turned the old farmland into a residen-
tial community. You can see those houses as you approach Summerland Key.
Next to the automobile bridge, on the ocean side, is the old Henry Flagler railroad bridge. People like to fish from the old bridges. At almost a half-mile, it was the longest of the bridges in the Lower Keys. When Henry Flagler rolled down to Key West on Jan. 22, 1912, the bridge had yet to be completed.
Because Flagler was in poor health, several temporary bridges had been established to ensure he could experience the trip to Key West. When Flagler arrived in his private railcar at the Key West terminus, it wasn’t just the Niles Channel Viaduct that hadn’t been finished.
Flagler’s personal railcar traveled across a series of temporary bridges, including those connecting Lower Matecumbe Key to Long Key. The Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges were wooden trestle bridges during Flagler’s trek. In 1913, they were replaced with concrete viaducts. The Channel 5 Bridge was also fitted with a Bascule drawbridge to enable boats to navigate the channel.
The Long Key Viaduct had 1,512 feet of temporary wooden trestles allowing Flagler to cross. They were replaced with the last 35 concrete arches necessary to complete the 1.72-mile Long Key Viaduct.
In the Lower Keys, the wooden trestle bridges at Little Duck Key, Missouri Key and Ohio Key were replaced by spandrel arch bridges in 1914. The permanent bridge connecting Ohio Key to Bahia Honda was completed in 1914, too. The temporary bridge connecting Torch Key to Ramrod Key and the one crossing Kemp Channel between Summerland Key and Cudjoe Key were replaced with permanent bridges in 1915.
At about one-half mile long, the Niles Channel Viaduct was the longest of the bridges in the Lower Keys. Work to convert the bridge to a permanent viaduct was completed in November 1915. It was the last of the permanent railroad bridges completed. Henry Flagler died on May 20, 1913.
Next stop: Summerland Key.
Ramrod Key Post Office, 1938. Photo from the Wright Langley collection. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Monroe County Library
Two or more Marathon City Councilmembers may be present together at the forum and may speak on various topics. No o cial business will be conducted.
SEASONS DON’T CHANGE MUCH IN FLORIDA … BUT YOUR BOOKSHELVES WILL
MEET FALL’S HOTTEST NEW READS
HEART THE LOVER
By Lily King
KAREN NEWFIELD
In her senior year of college, Jordan meets Sam and Yash in literature class. They are brilliant debaters, widely read and living in a gorgeous old house belonging to a professor on sabbatical. Both are handsome, their intellect and command of language matched only by their confidence. With Sam, the chemistry is immediate and complicated by his religious vow to wait until marriage. The three spend countless evenings playing cards, dissecting literature and bantering with the ease of childhood friends. Initially nicknaming her “Daisy” (after Daisy Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby”), they switch to “Jordan” when they learn she began college on a golf scholarship — a nod to Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend in the novel. Jordan’s relationship with Sam is an intense, on-again, off-again storm of emotion. But as graduation rolls around, it is Yash who captures her heart. Together, they make choices that alter their lives forever. Told in two parts — Jordan as a young woman and later as a wife and mother — this emotional roller coaster unfolds slowly and captures the essence of young love. A deceptively simple story, told with such power and grace that it lingers long after the final page. On sale Sept. 30.
First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.
By Catherine Newman
Rocky lives with her husband, Nick, her grown daughter, Willa, and her father, Mort, in a small town in western Massachusetts. She tries to help Willa navigate an anxiety disorder while applying to Ph.D. programs. Mort moved in after her mother’s passing, and their shared longing for her is palpable and heartbreaking. Her son, Jamie, newly married, has moved to New York to take a high-paying job at a controversial conglomerate. This leaves Rocky — who has become a magnet for everyone else’s worries — carrying their tension like a second skin. When a tragic local train accident occurs, she becomes obsessed with the bereaved mother and the burden of knowing Jamie’s company was involved. The frenetic pace, quirky characters and laugh-out-loud humor hit their stride when Rocky faces a battle with her own mysterious health issues. You feel as if the author is your friend, confiding in you, telling you her story over coffee. Exposing a family’s emotional underbelly and a mother’s unwavering devotion, this fast-paced, relatively short novel is simply impossible to put down. After all, you can only be as happy as your least happy child — and Rocky proves just how true that is. On sale Oct. 28.
By Heather B. Moore
Years before Julia Child became a household name, she was a California girl who recently finished college and spent her days golfing and playing tennis. Intelligent and creative, it was no surprise that Julia McWilliams was not prepared to sit on the sidelines. As many men, including her brother, enlisted to fight in the war, a friend suggested Julia join the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). She was stationed abroad in Ceylon. There, she met Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer. Although she towered above him at 6’ 2”, Paul took Julia under his wing and introduced her to the food, sights and culture of this foreign land. As their relationship grew, it was no surprise that after the war they married. A lifelong civil servant, Paul was put in a cultural position in Paris. This is where Julia fell in love with cooking and French food. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu, and quickly realized this was her life’s calling. While many books discuss her career, which began much later in life than is typical, this one shares the earlier Julia – her family, Paul and their worldwide travels. A well-written, easy-to-digest work of historical fiction that will leave you hungry for more.
#WorthWatching: “Black Rabbit” is a gripping psychodrama series set in New York City. Jude Law and Jason Bateman star as brothers whose very different lives collide when Law’s character, the owner of a popular venue, lets his brother back into his life, sparking dangers that threaten everything he’s built. Check it out on Netflix.
WRECK
JULIA
POOL CLEANING
A LOGGERHEAD TURTLE RODEO
... 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.
Loggerhead turtles are called that because their disproportionately large heads reminded people in the 1700s of a logger, which was a big chunk of wood used to hobble a horse. And it was those big chunky loggerhead heads we were looking for.
“We” might be an overstatement. I was sitting on a cooler, taking notes, down below Ryan Welsh, who was driving the boat from up in the tuna tower. Caitlin Lustic, who worked for the Nature Conservancy and, like me, was along for the ride, was up there with him. Ryan worked for Inwater Research Group, along with Aaron Garstin, Yvette Fernandez and Ness Michaels, who were all standing on the bow of the customized 24-foot Carolina Skiff. (There was a short, Festivusstyle pole inserted into the elevated deck that they could grab onto for balance.)
Inwater is a nonprofit based out of Jensen Beach in the Port St. Lucie area. Where most sea turtle study is done when females come up onto beaches to nest, Inwater, as the name suggests, specializes in studying turtles in the water, especially males. They have five main research spots around the state and have worked in the Keys since 2004.
Everyone had their eyes peeled left, right and center as Ryan drove through a slow search pattern I couldn’t quite follow between Little Pine Key and the Johnson Keys.
It was relatively bright, with clouds coming in occasionally, but then drifting off. We could see big, dark storm clouds both toward Key West and Marathon, but we seemed to be in the clear. At least for a while.
After about a half hour, Ness yelled, “Loggerhead. Left side,” and everyone went into action.
Ness and Yvette geared up with snorkels, masks and fins. Aaron went to the depth finder and read out numbers in meters. “One-point-four. One. Onepoint seven.”
Ryan slowly drifted the boat up to a pale shape below the surface that Ness was pointing at. Ness dove in.
More than a few seconds later she popped up, holding several hundred pounds of turtle by the back of its shell, the way you’d hold a fussy toddler. Ness swam slowly toward a dip in the boat’s gunwale, and when she was close enough, Yvette and Aaron carefully grabbed the loggerhead by the armpits (flipper pits?) and pulled the turtle in.
I was advised to be careful of my toes, as it was something the turtle could chomp on and do some damage.
In Australia, where this technique of catching large, hard-shelled marine reptiles was devised, the process is generally called a turtle rodeo. But the Inwater folks prefer the term rodeo capture because it reflected more the science-based reasons for the capture, and probably because it sounded a little less yeehaw. The crew had put a pad down on the deck, and
the turtle was half off and half on it. It slapped his flippers, spinning and moving in jerky movements. Occasionally he would let out a loud breath.
“This is a young one. A subadult. Basically a teenage turtle,” Ness said. Though not a mutant.
The shell was covered with a thin layer of algae and a few barnacles.
“Loggerheads are crusty,” Ness said. “They tend to sit on the bottom a lot. They’re very slow moving as far as sea turtles go. They just kind of sit in the muck and everything grows on them. But it’s a healthy load of epibionts.”
Epibionts are living things that make their home on a turtle’s shell.
The first thing they did was scan the turtle with a wand, looking for a subdermal chip similar to what dogs and cats get at the vet, in case it had been captured before. When they didn’t find one, they inserted a chip of their own.
The turtle was too young to know its sex, but they might be able to tell later by a blood sample they took.
They took a biopsy for genetic data, attached metal tags to the inside of the two front flippers, measured it and weighed it in a sling.
Fifty-six-point-seven kilograms, or 125 pounds in real numbers.
They checked the turtle’s mouth for growth, hooks, plastic ingestion – anything that would cause them to take it to a rehabilitation facility.
Then they slid the turtle to the cutout, and gently slipped it back into the water.
Ryan started the search pattern again. Less than 20 minutes later, it was Yvette diving off the bow, disappearing, coming up with an even larger loggerhead.
This one was a young adult, male, by the large tail, weighing a little over 86 kilograms, or 160 pounds. They dubbed him Hawk, in honor of it being hawk migration season in the Keys.
This was the crew’s sixth and last day on this trip. They’d brought six satellite tags, each costing about $5,000, with them, and had attached five of them to loggerheads, which they considered a success. Hawk was large enough that they could now attach their last one, making the trip even more of a success.
They pulled a Bimini over the deck and got to work.
Hawk, like his young predecessor, was slapping, spinning, sliding, making noises similar to what my dog makes when she snores. They clocked that he was missing about 45% of a back flipper, possibly from a shark attack.
He was tagged, sampled, measured. Then they went to work scrubbing a clear spot on the carapace, then sanding it with fine grain paper, to get rid of any loose flakes on the keratin shell. The sanding seemed to calm Hawk, like he was having a spa day. They said that’s how most turtles respond.
They glued the satellite tag, a wedge-shaped box that was about six inches long with an antenna on top, onto the shell, then edged it with epoxy, then covered it in marine paint to keep the algae and barnacles off. The whole process took about 40 minutes.
Ness said the tags usually lasted about six months before they were shed, but they currently had a turtle whose tag had stayed attached for 16 months.
“With our research site out here in the Johnson Keys the cool thing we’re finding is that there is a very high density of these male loggerheads. We don’t see that at any of our other research sites. Which is why we’re coming out here putting the satellite tags on these males,” said Ness.
Ryan said the male loggerheads come to the area after their “lost years,” which are five or 10 years after they hatch on distant beaches and disappear out into the middle of the ocean.
“They actually stay out longer than other species. But then once they get biggish, they’ll start to come in and they’ll try to establish a residency somewhere. So this is a really common area for them,” Ryan said. “They appear to have high site fidelity.”
Part of what they are hoping to learn from these trackers, is where the males meet up with the females to mate.
“They do undertake a breeding migration when they’re adults. When they’re immature and not fully grown, they tend to just hang out here,” Ryan said. When the marine paint was dry, they slid the hawk to the gap in the gunwale and let him slip back into the water.
The satellite tag is already sending tracking data. You can see it, along with the tracks of several other turtles, at inwater.org/research/trackingseaturtles/.
From left, Ryan Welsh, Ness Michaels, Yvette Fernandez and Aaron Garstin release a loggerhead turtle dubbed Hawk back into the wild. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
MARK HEDDEN
BRIEFLY
Habitat for Humanity opens homeownership application
Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys has opened the application process for their homeownership program. Until Oct. 15, pre-applications will be accepted for one 3-bedroom half-duplex home. The pre-application can be downloaded at www.habitatmiddlekeys.org/homeownership. For more information, email fsm@ habitatmiddlekeys.org or call 305743-9828.
MHS cross country team to host car wash
The Marathon High School cross country team will host a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Keys Federal Credit Union in Marathon (5050 Overseas Hwy.). Stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get your car sparkling clean while supporting the team.
United Way announces ‘Feed the Keys’ food drive
United Way of Collier and the Keys will hold its annual Feed the Keys food drive on Friday, Oct. 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. This communitywide event boosts nutritious food supplies at local food pantries, supporting the 45% of residents who live paycheck to paycheck and often struggle with food insecurity. Held in memory of Monroe County commissioner and United Way local advisory board member “Mangrove Mike” Forster, the event celebrates his legacy of generosity and community service. Community members can drop off nonperishable food donations at three main collection sites: Burton Memorial Church (BMC) in Tavernier, KAIR (Keys Area Interdenominational Resource) in Marathon and Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS) in Key West. The United Way is also seeking partner sites to collect donations from Oct. 13 to Oct. 17. Organizations and businesses interested in participating can sign up by scanning the QR code. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Brittni.Brown@uwcollierkeys.org. For general questions, contact Laura.Collett@uwcollierkeys. org.
Swim with mermaids at Aquarium Encounters
Mermaids will visit Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters at 11710 Overseas Highway on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4 and 5. The mermaids will perform swim shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, with meet-and-greets after each show. Guests may sign up to swim with the mermaids in Aquarium Encounters’ tanks. More information is at 305-407-3262.
Float-in movie night at the Lagoon on Grassy Key
The Lagoon on Grassy Key in collaboration with the city of Marathon will present a float-in movie night featuring “Jaws” (rated PG) on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Sunset takes place at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at dark, so please arrive early to get settled before the start of the movie. Attendees are asked to carpool when possible. Entry is free, but registration is required by scanning the QR code. Guests may bring their own floats, but are asked to be mindful of those around them with the size of their floats. Guests may bring chairs or blankets to “stay safe” on land and watch the film from beachside seating. Please stop at the sign-in table, which opens at 5:30 p.m., to complete your registration at the event. Waivers will be required for all participants of the float-in movie night. Bongos Botanical Beer Garden and Cafe will be open for food and drinks. No outside refreshments will be allowed. Children under age 12 must always have an adult present with them. Children ages 13 to 17 may be in the Lagoon without parents as long as parents are on site at the park and have signed the required waiver.
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.
NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS GATHER IN MARATHON
More than 100 leaders explore resilience in challenging times
Over 100 nonprofit professionals from across the Florida Keys convened on Sept. 10 at Marathon City Hall for the fourth annual Florida Keys Nonprofit Day. This year’s theme, “Resiliency in Uncertain Times,” addressed how organizations can strengthen their operations to tackle challenges while positioning themselves for future success.
The annual gathering is organized by the Florida Keys Funders Alliance, a partnership of the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, Ocean Reef Community Foundation and United Way of Collier and the Keys.
This year’s event centered around a keynote presentation by Sara Gibson, founder of Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit consultancy 20 Degrees. Gibson’s leadership experience includes award-winning service organizations such as Miriam’s Kitchen, AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation and Sitar Arts Center.
Named a 2021 Washington Business Journal Woman Who Means Business, she specializes in building equitable, financially-
resilient organizations and is recognized for her innovative approaches to nonprofit finance and sustainability.
The program included a speednetworking session connecting nonprofit leaders from Key Largo to Key West, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Elizabeth Brown, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.
Panel experts included Bonnie Barnes, consultant with the Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU; Wendy Gentes, assistant vice president of development at Baptist Health Foundation; Scott Pridgen, executive director of A.H. Monroe, Inc.; and Gibson.
Together, they tackled topics including financial sustainability, strategic collaboration, organizational mergers, sector trends and adaptive strategies for navigating uncertainty.
First State Bank of the Florida Keys sponsored the networking reception, which featured cuisine prepared by locally-acclaimed Chef Heather of Marathon.
Florida Keys Nonprofit Day attendees gather outside Marathon City Hall.
Photos by ALISSA HUDAK/United Way of Collier and the Keys
Panelists Sara Gibson, left, Bonnie Barnes, Wendy Gentes and Scott Pridgen, moderated by CFFK president and CEO Elizabeth Brown, discuss challenges facing nonprofits in the Keys.
Tiffany Pellicier, left, vice president of strategy and impact for United Way of Collier and the Keys, ‘speed-networks’ with Crane Point CEO Charlotte Quinn.
10/2 Key West Volleyball @ St. Brendan School 5 p.m.
WHEATLEY
Sophomore, Coral Shores Cross Country
Her drive and unshakable determination make her the kind of athlete and human being you feel lucky to know and even luckier to coach. Ali is the team’s rock.”
— Coral Shores coach Lyndie Meyers
at Spanish River
2A Screams from teammates bring a Lady Conch swimmer to the finish in a Sept. 20 home meet against Archbishop McCarthy. See page 10. JENNIFER SEARCY/Contributed
Coral Shores sophomore Ali Wheatley has already left her mark on the school’s record books and continues to improve every time she laces up her shoes. Wheatley’s workouts not only improve her own performance, but also set an example and raise the level of those around her. “I am watching Ali grow into not just an incredible cross country runner, but a truly remarkable person,” said coach Lyndie Meyers, whose star sophomore stabilizes the team while she steadily hawks down the school record. For her unwavering work ethic, positive leadership and exceptional speed on the course, Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
Ali
Ali Wheatley holds up her Top 10 medal from the annual Spanish River cross country meet. CONTRIBUTED
fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second-generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.
sean mcdonald
grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.
The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.
Se habla español THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
Five Fins pose after their historic match play on Sept. 15. From left: Emmett Merryman, Brett Clark, Cullen Coleman-Sayer, Max Childress and Roco Piscetello. Not pictured for the record-book match are Luca Picariello and Jackson Millard. CONTRIBUTED
HISTORIC LOWS
Fins win two matches, break scoring record on home course
On Sept. 15, the Dolphins made history at Florida Keys Country Club in Marathon. The Golfin’ Dolphins scored 167 as a team, turning in the lowest total on a team scorecard in program history. The new low was fueled by Roco Piscetello’s 38, just two above par, which sealed first place. In second, Marathon’s Emmett Merryman and Key West’s Mason Titensor tied at 39. Geo Twyman of Key West was fourth, followed by Max Childress of Marathon in fifth, with scores of 41 and 43, respectively. Dolphins Cullen ColemanSayer and Brett Clark tied for sixth at 46 each, and teammate Jackson Millard was one stroke behind in eighth. Key West’s Logan Markey tied with Marathon’s Jack Dunn, Luca Picariello and Aldo Badalamenti for 9th at 48. Key West finished 13 strokes behind Marathon in second place. Two days later, the teams met at Ocean Reef for another nine holes. The Fins won again, this time scoring 179. The Conchs’ team total was 187, with Coral Shores finishing at 197 for third place. Merryman turned in the lowest score, a 40, finishing one ahead of Titensor. Coral Shores’ Scout Oliver was third with a 43 and Twyman shot a 44 for fourth place. In fifth, Piscetello tied with Coral Shores’ Brock Bynum at 45. ColemanSayer, Childress, Key West’s Chad Stolka and Coral Shores’ Jacob Bohnstedt rounded out the top 10, all with scores at or under 50.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.
In the girls competition, the Lady Conchs swept the top three spots in both matches. Mary Alice Davila placed first on Sept. 15, shooting a 50 with Lexi Finigan in second and Claudia Steling in third. Marathon’s Makenna Haines and Justice Lee were fourth and fifth, with Key West’s Berkeley Tripp and Mia Feola claiming sixth and seventh place. Melanie Estevez of Coral Shores was eighth. Two days later, Steling was number one, shooting a 54 at Ocean Reef. Finigan finished in second again with a 56 and Davila finished third, scoring a 58. Lee was fourth, followed by Tripp, Haines and Coral Shores’ Valerie Gabriel.
Local golfers have a little under a month of regular season matches to go before their district competitions scheduled for the end of October. Marathon, classified as 1A, plays Oct. 28 while Key West and Coral Shores, both 2A, head to districts the following afternoon.
tracy mcdonald
CLOSING IN Wheatley,
Burns move up in team record books with strong performances at
Spanish River
After a month of uncooperative weather, Monroe County harriers toed the line at the Spanish River Invitational on Sept. 19. Leading the pack for the Keys in the boys race was Lucian Burns. The Marathon freshman PRed last week and did it again at Spanish River, finishing in 16:50, which was 11th place overall and fifth overall in the 1A division.
Burns’ time was the best of any freshman at the meet and moved him up a few notches in the Fins’ all-time record books. Behind Burns was teammate Tony Bursa, whose 17:43 was good enough for 15th place in 1A competition and helped boost the team’s standings to second place out of 20 teams attending. Allan Taylor was third for Marathon, finishing in 18:22, followed by Caleb Shelar in 19:30. Anthony Vargas and Landon Anderson rounded out the top six Fins who, despite being a relatively young crew, ran a faster average than the state-qualifying team did in 2024.
Coral Shores and Key West competed in the 2A division and showed lots of promise in the early-season finish. The Hurricanes’ Jamie Cary was first for Coral Shores. Cary completed the course in 19:24, with teammate Alaric Rodriguez next in 19:35. Tristan Rios, Nathaniel Shugarman and Tristan Sanchez all finished under 21 minutes, and sixth man Bruce Davis crossed the line right over that mark.
Key West had three varsity finishers, with senior Prometheus Delacerda leading the Conchs in 19:37. Sawyer Hill was next for Key West in 20:29 and Alejandro Caridad was just 10 seconds behind Hill. The race was the first competition for the Conchs after multiple rainouts and lightning cancellations.
1. Coral Shores sophomores Emma Sogegian (761) and Catalina Armstrong (750) pace one another at Spanish River.
2. Hurricane Ali Wheatley receives her 2A 10th place medal at Spanish River.
3. Lady Conchs Ryah Bushey, Violet Jangraw and Emma Bradshaw with coach Keara McGraw.
4. Coral Shores runners await the start of the annual Spanish River Invitational.
5. Marathon’s boys team holds up the second-place award at Spanish River on Sept. 19.
6. Key West boys cross country runners Sawyer Hill, Prometheus Delacerda and Alejandro Caridad await the start of the race.
Contributed
The boys weren’t the only ones setting the course on fire. Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley cruised to a 20:35 finish, good enough for 17th place overall and a top-10 finish in 2A competition. The time moved Wheatley into third place for the all-time Hurricane record books and was just shy of her PR at regionals at the end of her freshman season. The sophomore was more than three minutes ahead of any Keys competitor. Behind her for the Hurricanes was Kate King in 23:58. Olive Welch, Tess Hill, Hayden Teal and Isabelle Jacobs rounded out the top five for Coral Shores, with all athletes breaking 30 minutes.
Marathon’s Molly Joly was first for the Lady Fins. Joly finished in 23:33 and was followed by Mylana Loza, Kaya Skarup, Ariella Dworniczak and Danaica Bessy for the top five Marathon finishers. Joly and Loza are the Fins’ only returners this season and are doing a great job setting the tempo for a green but hard-working squad.
Key West freshman Emma Bradshaw was the first Lady Conch to cross the line at Spanish River. Junior Violet Jangraw, the team’s captain and most seasoned runner, was next, with freshman Ryah Bushey close behind. Key West is also rebuilding this season and the disruption in scheduled races has given the team time to bond and learn how to work together as well as individually in races.
Cross country season runs through Nov. 1, the final day for regular-season events. Districts and regionals follow, with the state meet scheduled for Nov. 22 in Tallahassee. Both teams and individual runners can qualify for the big show, making a team-centered strategy important for small schools like those in the Keys.
LADY CONCHS RED HOT Key West on a streak after two in-county wins
The Lady Conchs are hitting their stride this season on the volleyball court, making it four in a row after wins against county opponents Marathon and Basilica School. Now 12-6, Key West sealed the deal against Basilica School Sept. 17 with a 3-0 win on their home court. Audrey Smith picked up nine kills and three blocks while Gabby Garcia registered 11 kills, 17 digs and three aces. Tess Wright added five kills to the team total while Adriana Heinrichs had six kills, five aces and 15 digs. Molly McKnight kept the offense going with 27 assists and a pair of aces.
The following night, coach Kim Butler wasn’t ecstatic with her team’s performance against Marathon, but chalked it up to their frequent road trips this season.
“We will take the win, but definitely not our A game,” she said. “I don’t know if they were tired from Tampa and last night’s game, but we had a lot of mental errors and didn’t play like we did last weekend.”
Key West did not need their A game to defeat the Dolphins 3-0 in Marathon. Smith had 13 kills and two blocks against the Fins, with Heinrichs adding six kills, an ace and 15 digs. Wright earned seven kills and McKnight had another pair of aces and 30 assists in the win.
The Conchs will play the rest of their regular season incounty with the exception of their Oct. 2 contest against St. Brendan. That match will be the team’s first taste of the 4A District 16 pool. Key West’s strength of schedule, achieved through a lot of tournament travel, has boosted their rankings and should give the team all the confidence they need to go far into the postseason.
Key West isn’t the only Monroe County team with a winning record this season; Coral Shores is holding strong at 7-5 and ranks toward the top of their 3A District 16 opponents. On Sept. 17, the Hurricanes lost 3-2 against Somerset South Homestead, a team with just one loss this season. Somerset’s only blemish was dealt to them on Aug. 25 by Coral Shores. This time around, the ’Canes came up just shy of the win, taking Somerset to five sets and losing the final one by just two points. Celene Walker and Coralyn Frimpter were credited with strong performances and a bevy of kills in the close contest.
The Lady ’Canes have a flurry of activity left on their schedule, with three matches against district opponents. Coral Shores, like Key West, has a solid strength of schedule, boosting them in the rankings. But to bring home a district championship in the eight-team district, the Hurricanes will need to upset some formidable opposition. That includes perennial powerhouse Gulliver Prep, ranked fifth in all of 3A and 40th in the state for all classifications.
After losing two matches last week, Marathon’s hopes for postseason glory are certainly not over. The Lady Fins are yet untested in Rural District 8 play. The 1-9 Fins faced similar odds last fall, when the team, despite just three regularseason wins, brought home a runner-up trophy in their classification. The team’s schedule is markedly more difficult than the other teams in their pool, and with several winnable matches left on their schedule, it would be foolish to count the Dolphins out of the running.
Though the plans are in the works, Basilica School is not yet part of the FHSAA and will not be eligible for the playoffs. That alone makes the final stretch of the Mariners’ season all the more important. The Mariners close out their season Oct. 8 at home against Key West for a second Bone Island Battle.
The Key West Lady Conchs and Basilica School Mariners do battle on the volleyball court on Sept. 17. Key West prevailed 3-0.
MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
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WINNING WAYS
1. Jeff Dejean and Walson Morin are leading the Conchs in rushing this season.
2. Israel Gonzalez hands the ball off to his twin, Jesus.
3. Israel Gonzalez and Aiden Gilday jump to block a Palmer Trinity kick.
4. Jesus Gonzalez follows brother Israel’s block.
5. Mathew Machado catches the kick and makes a run for it.
6. Jesus Gonzalez follows brother Israel’s block.
7. Coral Shores senior Nick Calderon is making a positive impact this season via strong play and stronger leadership.
JUSTICE LEE, MAICEY MALGRAT and DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
After 0-2 start, Conchs turn season around with three-game win streak
Key West rolled the Raiders of Gulliver Prep on Sept. 19 in an exciting 32-15 win. The victory made it three in a row for the team, who will use the lessons learned from the win against Gulliver as they head into district matchups in their next two contests.
“It was our best game so far, as far as offense, defense and special teams go,” said head coach Johnny Hughes.
On offense, the team amassed 385 yards rushing and tacked on some rare passing yards to make it 402 in total. Walson Morin rushed for 194 yards on 25 carries for two Conch touchdowns. Jeff Dejean had 18 touches for 147 yards and one TD and Leo Batista bullied one into the end zone, as well.
“Jeff and Walson were just on fire,” said Hughes. Defensively, Key West had to defend against a Gulliver offense that prefers to throw the ball. The Conchs did an exceptional job shutting the Raiders down, despite the speed advantage held by Gulliver. Special teams came up clutch, too, with a pair of onside kicks recovered by Key West.
Gulliver gave the Conchs a run for their money, though.
“They were a track team out there,” said Hughes, “They were so fast they were catching us from behind, and our guys are fast.”
To counter Gulliver’s speed, Hughes’ Conchs simply wore the Raiders down with hard runs and excessive force. “Overall, we were more physical than they were,” said Hughes. “They were faster, but we were stronger up front.”
Hughes credited his offensive line with excellent control at the line of scrimmage. The big line was another component of the overpowering force that Gulliver ultimately could not match.
Now 3-2 after an 0-2 start this season, the Conchs face St. Brendan School at home on Friday, Sept. 26 in their first district game of the season. Hughes is confident that if his team plays as aggressively as they did against Gulliver and can keep mistakes to a minimum, they can earn a big district win. “I like our chances against St. Brendan,” he said.
Coral Shores made the trip to Glades Day on Sept. 18 to take on the Gators. The Hurricanes were up 14-0 before halftime, fueled by a pair of David Beltran touchdowns. But the Gators chomped back, scoring once just before halftime, then piling on another three touchdowns in the final two quarters for a 27-14 final score. “I’m super proud of our kids,” said head coach Ed Holly. “They gave a great effort and played hard till the end.”
Holly went on to praise the phenomenal play of Austin Vogt on defense, also mentioning Nick Calderon and Glad Harrelson – a trio of seniors whose leadership has meant the team has stayed positive and focused, despite the loss. “They don’t give up, and that’s important,” said Holly.
The ’Canes have some stiff competition this week, playing the second half of their contest with Palmer Sept. 22 and then a full game Sept. 26 against a formidable Florida Christian school. The following week, it’s the 56th Battle of the Keys, held this year in Marathon. The Hurricanes have a 30-25 lead in the long-standing series.
Last week, Holly joked with Marathon’s Sean McDonald that it would be great if the Fins could beat up Palmer a little prior to the Hurricanes heading to Miami to conclude their unfinished business. Try as they might, the Dolphins were not able to do much against Palmer in a midday Miami matchup. The Fins could not get their offense going, and ultimately lost 43-0 to the Falcons.
“We’ve got to keep working, simple as that,” said McDonald. “Monday, we come back and watch film and correct our mistakes. We will keep working and getting better every day – that’s the goal.”
The Dolphins will extend their travels with a trip to Moore Haven to take on the Terriers. Like the Fins, Moore Haven is a Rural 1A team and will give Marathon a glimpse into what a school in their own classification looks like in action. On paper, the Terriers have a sizeable line and enough men over 6’3” to form their own basketball team. And just how will the Fins prepare for a team whose roster is nearly half seniors?
“We have to maximize everything we have,” said McDonald. “We can’t afford any mistakes and have to bring the intensity from the first play to the last.”
1. Ameila Korzen comes up for air at the Key West home meet on Sept. 20
2. Lanye Smith receives her first-place award at the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse.
3. Mary Searcy cruises for a win in the backstroke event against Archbishop McCarthy.
4. Layne Smith closes in on the halfway point of the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse.
5. Coral Shores athletes Layne Smith, left, Sofia Figueredo, Larkin Dunn and Parks Dunn hold up their awards from this year’s Swim for Alligator Lighthouse.
Photos by: Margie and Cale Smith and Jennifer Searcy
LADY CONCHS SINK MAVERICKS
Coral Shores hits the open waters
Key West hosted the Mavericks of Archbishop McCarthy on Sept. 20 at the College of the Florida Keys pool. The Mavericks swam away with the victory in the boys competition, but the Lady Conchs outscored McCarthy 83-81 for the win.
Christina Rice had a pair of individual wins for Key West. Rice won the 50 and 100 freestyle events in 27.32 and 1:01.20, respectively. Mary Searcy, Amelia Korzen, Molly Martinez and Aly Camargo teamed up for the 200 medley relay for a Conch win in 2:12. Korzen went on to win the 200 IM in 2:42. Martinez was the individual champ in the 100-meter butterfly event, finishing in 1:15.44 and Searcy touched the wall first in the 100 backstroke race, winning in 1:22.63.
Santiago Gonzalez was the lone first-place winner for the boys. Gonzalez won the 200 freestyle event in 2:02.
Up next for Key West is a home meet against Wellington Sept. 27, then they’re off to Ocala for the Florida Swimming Pool Association meet the following weekend.
FICTITIOUS NAME
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Keys Concierge 360 located at 16 Palm Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037, intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: JJR Ventures LLC
Publish: September 25, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, Robbies of Key West, LLC claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels: Owned by VH4669 LLC / (Donald Rhomberg – Title Manager) for unpaid storage fees: a 1984 Gibson 42’ Houseboat HIN:
GBN42768M84K
Sealed bids will be accepted on October 9th, 2025 at Robbies of Key West, 7281 Shrimp Rd, Key West, FL 33040. Robbies of Key West, LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
Publish: September 25 & October 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI
Notice is hereby given that on October 6th, 2025, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: Location: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037. Molina, Emilio 1569 Adams, Melinda 1302 Stutznan, Pam 1207 Valverde, Nathan 1550 Pinero, Jesse 1298 Fellhauer, Amy M 1185 Pena, Steven 1403
Publish: September 18 & 25, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Art in Public Places Biannual Request for Qualifications 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 October 8, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom.
us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
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+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York)
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Dial by your location:
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Publish: September 25, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 2025-CP-000389-P
DIVISION: HELMS IN RE: ESTATE OF
CATHERINE C. PATTERSON, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the Estate of CATHERINE C. PATTERSON, deceased, whose date of death was May 22, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorneys 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 WITHIN 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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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 September 25, 2025. Personal Representative: FIRST HORIZON BANK (f/k/a Gibraltar Private Bank and Trust Company) 35 Ocean Reef Drive Suite 100 Key Largo, FL 33037
Attn: Janice K. Snyder, Vice President Attorneys for Personal Representative: DUNWODY WHITE & LANDON, P.A.
The following is an upcoming GMX procurement opportunity:
FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 25-CP-395-M
DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF LINDA M. KOHOUT, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Linda M. Kohout, deceased, whose date of death was July 30, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: September 25, 2025.
Personal Representative: Wendy L. Frederick 1625 Harbor Drive Marathon, Florida 33050
Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134
RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050
Telephone: (305) 743-6022
Fax: (305) 743-6216
E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw. com
Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com
Publish: September 25 & October 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against Decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN 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 §733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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 the first publication of this notice is the 18th day of September, 2025.
Personal Representative: James Henry Luikaart c/o Law Office of Jack Bridges, P.A. P.O. Box 1714
Tavernier, FL 33070-1714 (305) 664-9690
Attorney for Personal Representative: Jack Bridges Fla. Bar No. 175950 P.O. Box 1714 Tavernier, FL 33070-1714 (305) 664-9690 jack@jackbridges.us linda@jackbridges.us Publish: September 18 & 25, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA KEY WEST DIVISION IN ADMIRALTY CASE NO.: 4:25-cv-10067-DSL IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF KEY WEST JETSKI, INC. AS OWNER OR A 2025 11’8” YAMAHA WATERJET POWERCRAFT, HIN NO. YAMA1040G425, AND APPURTENANCES, Petitioner, NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF PETITION FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
or be defaulted. Personal attendance is not required. Any claimant who desires to contest either the right to exoneration from or the right to limitation of liability shall file and serve on attorneys for Limitation Petitioner an answer to the Complaint, on or before the aforesaid date, unless the claim includes an answer, so designated, or be defaulted.
DONE AND ORDERED this 10th day of September, 2025. Angela E. Noble
UNITED STATE DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OT FLORIDA
By: Lisa T. Streets
Deputy Clerk Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
SUPPORT) TO: TAVERES DENARD WATLEY 2821 Windsor Forrest Ct, College Park, GA, 30340 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 STACEY ANNE PAULWELL, whose address is C/O Law Office of Wayne Dapser, 300 Southard St, Suite 208, Key West, FL 33040 on or before October 11, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.
For detailed information please visit the Procurement Department website at http://www.gmx-way.com/business/solicitations, or call the Procurement Department at 305-637-3277 for assistance.
Publish: September 25, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers
PROBATE DIVISION
CASE NO.: 2025-CP-370-P
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF BONNIE RAE LUIKAART, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the Estate of Bonnie Rae Luikaart, deceased, whose date of death was April 27, 2025 and the last four digits of whose social security number are 5251, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is
Notice is given that the above named Petitioner, Key West Jetski, Inc. ("Limitation Petitioner") has filed a Petition/Complaint for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability, pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30501 et seq., ("Limitation Petition") for all claims for any damages or injuries, arising out of, or occurring as a result of an incident on the navigable waters of the United States on or about May 9, 2025, allegedly involving a 2025 11’8” Yamaha Waterjet Powercraft, HIN No. YAMA1040G425 and Appurtenances ("Limitation Vessel"), as more fully described in the Limitation Petition.
All persons having such claims must file their respective claims, as provided by Supplemental Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, with the Clerk of Court in writing and must serve a copy thereof on attorneys for Limitation Petitioner on or before October 30, 2025
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-1011-K ELENA VISSER, Petitioner, and KEITH RAYMOND VISSER, Respondent. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: KEITH RAYMOND VISSER RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 912 POHALSKI ST. APT. D, KEY WEST, FL 33040 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 ELENA VISSER, whose address is 1621 JOSEPHINE ST. APT. 2, KEY WEST, FL 33040 on or before October 18, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 WHITEHEAD STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: September 15, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-1320-K DIVISION: FAMILY STACY ANNE PAULWELL Petitioner, and TAVERES DENARD WATLEY Respondent, NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL
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: September 5, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: September 11, 18 & 25 and October 2, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-26
Notice is hereby given that, BLUE LOCKER HOLDINGS LLC, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2019/1493 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2019 Account Number: 8557965
Parcel ID: 00489050-000200
Description of Property: 26 62 38 PT LOT 8 BLK 3 BLUEWATER TRAILER VILLAGE SEC 2 PB5-124 OR807-1744
Name in which assessed: VINCENTE G SANCHEZ, GLADYS M SANCHEZ
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 12th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-28
Notice is hereby given that, BEAMIF A LLC, holder of the following
Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/290 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1103357
Parcel ID: 00090500-000100
Description of Property:
5 62 39 ISLAND OF KEY LARGO PT GOV LOTS 1 & 3 (4 AC PER SURVEY) OR795-1307-1309
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025 Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 11th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-29
Notice is hereby given that, SCOTT V MORTON, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2019/920 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2019 Account Number: 1406171
Parcel ID: 00331061-009100
Description of Property:
BK 4 LT 31 & PT OF SANDY AVE
SEA-AIR ESTATES VACA KEY
PB6-91 (AKA BAYBTM) OR847768 RES NO 373-1981
Name in which assessed:
SEA-AIR ESTATES INC C/O
GOSS RICHARD
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 11th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy
Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers NOTICE
holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2019/919
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2019
Account Number: 1406163
Parcel ID: 00331061-009000
Description of Property: BK 4 LT 30 & PT OF SANDY AVE
SEA-AIR ESTATES VACA KEY PB6-91 (AKA BAYBTM) OR847768 RES NO 373-1981
Name in which assessed: SEA-AIR ESTATES INC C/O GOSS RICHARD
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 11th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-31
Notice is hereby given that, SCOTT V MORTON, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2019/922
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2019
Account Number: 1406198
Parcel ID: 00331061-009300
Description of Property:
BK 4 LT 33 & PT OF SANDY AVE
SEA-AIR ESTATES VACA KEY PB6-91 (AKA BAYBTM) OR847768 RES NO 373-1981
Name in which assessed: SEA-AIR ESTATES INC C/O GOSS RICHARD
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 11th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-32
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2022/664
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1288730
Parcel ID: 00221510-000000
Description of Property: BK 2 LT 23 WINDWARD BEACH
ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY
PB4-131 OR455-280-281
OR592-807 OR732-749
OR2525-1126D/C OR25251127/28
Name in which assessed:
OCONNOR LESLIE JACK REV TR
8/30/2010
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-33
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/666
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1288896
Parcel ID: 00221670-000000
Description of Property: BK 2 LT 39 WINDWARD BEACH ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY
PB4-131 OR455-280/281
OR592-807 OR7891809 OR1041-1844QC
Name in which assessed: F N A S BUILDERS
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 12th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-34
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/667
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1288926
Parcel ID: 00221700-000000
Description of Property:
BK 2 LT 42 WINDWARD BEACH
ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY PB4-131 OR532-713
Name in which assessed: ELTON T NAYLON, MERLE A NAYLON
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-35
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/668
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1288985
Parcel ID: 00221760-000000
Description of Property: BK 3 LT 6 WINDWARD BEACH ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY PB4-131 OR560-584 Name in which assessed:
MARGARET TORRES
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025 KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-36
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/702 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1328103
Parcel ID: 00256360-000000
Description of Property: LT 13 LINDA-LOMA SUB PB419 BIG PINE KEY OR123-282283 OR429-276 OR16981812/13EST/ORD
Name in which assessed: RHODES BETTY
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-37
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/669
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1289086
Parcel ID: 00221860-000000
Description of Property: BK 3 LT 16 WINDWARD BEACH
ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY PB4-131 OR427-983
Name in which assessed: CHARLES L HORSTKAMP,LORRAINE HORSTKAMP
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-38
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2022/660 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1289141
Parcel ID: 00221920-000000
Description of Property: BK 3 LT 22 WINDWARD BCH EST LITTLE TORCH KEY PB4131 OR534-998 OR758-453 OR1296-191
Name in which assessed: YIU WEI MAK
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy
Clerk Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-39
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/673
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1289302
Parcel ID: 00222080-000000
Description of Property: BK 3 LT 38 WINDWARD BEACH
ESTATES LITTLE TORCH KEY PB4-131 OR339-127 897-2394
Name in which assessed: CALLENDER JANET
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025 Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-40
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1056
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457019
Parcel ID: 00373940-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 3 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 13th day of August, 2025 KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-41
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES,
INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1055
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457001
Parcel ID: 00373930-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 2 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-42
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2022/1054 Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1456993
Parcel ID: 00373920-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 1 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184 Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025 Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 13th day of August, 2025 KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-43
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2022/1058
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457035
Parcel ID: 00373960-000000
Description of Property:
CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY
KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26
TWP 65S R 33E LOT 5 SQR 54
G30-189/190
OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed:
GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August,
2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED
2025-44
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows: Certificate No: 2022/1057
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457027
Parcel ID: 00373950-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY
KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 4 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025 Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy
Clerk Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-46
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1062
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457108
Parcel ID: 00374030-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26
TWP 65S R 33E LOT 12 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy
Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-47
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1063
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457116
Parcel ID: 00374040-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 13 SQR 54
G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed:
LEGAL NOTICES
GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-48
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1064
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457124
Parcel ID: 00374050-000000
Description of Property:
CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY
KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 14 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed:
GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-49
Notice is hereby given that,
MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1065
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457132
Parcel ID: 00374060-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY
KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 15 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184
Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida.
Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed. com
Sale Date: October 29, 2025
Sale Time: 10:00am.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy Clerk
Publish:
September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TAX DEED 2025-50
Notice is hereby given that, MIKON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND OCEAN BANK, holder of the following Certificate(s) has filed said Tax Certificate(s) for a Tax Deed to be issued thereon. The Certificate Number and year of issuance, the description of property, and Name in which it is assessed are as follows:
Certificate No: 2022/1066
Date of Issuance: June 01, 2022
Account Number: 1457141
Parcel ID: 00374070-000000
Description of Property: CRAINS SUBD OF GRASSY KEY PB 1-51 PT SECS 24-25-26 TWP 65S R 33E LOT 16 SQR 54 G30-189/190 OR900-2496 OR1331-184 Name in which assessed: GORMAN JOSEPH E
All of said property being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida. Unless such certificate or certificates shall be redeemed according to law the property described in such certificate or certificates will be sold to the highest bidder on www.monroe.realtaxdeed.
com Sale Date: October 29, 2025 Sale Time: 10:00am. Dated this 13th day of August, 2025 KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT & COMPTROLLER OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: Aneta Jodkowska, Deputy
Clerk
Publish: September 18 & 25 and October 2 & 9, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great - have svc. records from 89k miles, A/C works. REDUCED to $3000 - OBO Bring an offer! Located in Marathon. Call Evan 305-417-0169 SOLD!!!
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417- 0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOATS FOR SALE
GREAT DEAL: Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. $15,000 Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906
17' Montauk Whaler, 90hp Yamaha-50 hours only, GPS, Depth Finder, Radio, Aluminum Trailer, excellent condition. Located in Marathon. $11,000 OBO 305-849-5793 SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!
PLACE YOUR BOAT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417- 0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
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
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
EMPLOYMENT
Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/
Boat rental company in Marathon looking for help with boat detailing & boat cleaning. Call 305-481-7006
The SS Wreck & Galley Grill (mile marker 59) is looking for a fulltime prep and dishwasher person. Self-motivated, will train, experience very helpful, quick learner, and team player. Salary includes 401k match up to 6%. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515 or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am- 7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
PAVER DAVE INC. is now hiring in the Lower Keys. Must have Driver’s License. Bobcat driver experience helpful. Pay depends on experience. Call 305-304-3966 HIRED IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS!!!
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@KeysWeekly.com
COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
Key Largo - like new fully furnished private ground floor studio. Includes utilities, cable TV, internet. rental application required. $1,800/mo - 786 258 3127
Luxury rental - vacation or long term. 2BR/2BA at 1800 Atlantic, Key West. Pool, beach, zacuzzi. $4,000/mo. 773-421-0332
3 BR/2 BA home for rent in Key Colony Beach. 75' premium dock. $4,000/month + utilities. F/L/S 786-229-0228
2BR/2BA Single Family Waterfront Home for rent in Marathon. Fully furnished. 70' dock. $4,500/month includes all utilities, internet & TV. Available for 4 months - Jan - April. 727-278-1105
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Completely remodeled. All appliances. No pets. $2700/mo for 2+ ppl.- $2,500/mo if less, incl. electric only. F/L/S Dock available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
UNFURNISHED 2/2 HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $2,750/month, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com PENDING!!!
2BR/1BA with outdoor patio for rent in Marathon. $2,100/month F/L/S Taking applications. 305-849-5793RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!! 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
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
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@KeysWeekly.com
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.
We’re HIRING!
IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR SIGN
TECHNICIAN
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Transmission & Distribution Department:
APPRENTICE SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN
Assistant Branch Operations Manager Retail Banking Support Specialist
Full Time Teller Controller
Full Time Tellerrs Key Largo Key West
Experience preferred. CDL required. Applicant must apply in person at:
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $33.25/hr - $37.24/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.
DOCK HAND
Marathon Boat Yard is looking for a Part-Time Administrative Assistant to perform the following duties: Answering the phone, basic bookkeeping, basic data entry and some customer service. Basic computer and email skills are required. QuickBooks experience is a plus. Bilingual is also a plus. Pay will be based on experience.
MARATHON BOAT YARD 2059 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY
MARATHON, FL 33050, 305-735-4594
MARATHONBOATYARDLLC@GMAIL.COM
We are looking for a Dock Hand with excellent customer service to join our team. You would assist with the daily operations of our marina. Responsibilities include assistance with the daily marina tasks including helping guests arrive and depart from their dock, guiding guests over the radio, navigation, marina amenity cleaning, pressure-washing, assisting guests with golf cart rides and requests, and maintaining the marina. Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
NOW H I RI NG!
wants you to join their team! ONLINE STORE FULFILLMENT ASSOCIATE/SPECIALIST
Full or Part-time. $19/hour to start. EMAIL resume to: Bette@TurtleHospital.org
APPLY in person: 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL
and rescue of marine mammals.
DRC provides for the well-being of its employees with a competitive package including: a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays/vacation/sick days, an employee assistance program, in addition to, life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee. EOE
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 are now hiring for the following positions:
Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers
CDL Drivers
Applicants must apply in person to be considered.
4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier
- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant, Upper Keys-Gastro, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant, LPN, EMT or Paramedic, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C) Medical Oncology, Per Diem
- Pool Radiation Therapist
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Clinical Pharmacist, $5k Bonus
- Cook, Dietary, $5k Bonus
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Echocardiography, Per Diem
14. Meat in a casing 15. Larry Bird’s target 16. Narrative poem
17. Richard Bachman to Stephen King
18. *Sherman’s Mr. ____
20. Fence plank
21. Small jar 22. FedEx competitor 23. *Tabaqui of “The Jungle Book”
26. Most vital part
30. a.k.a. Home of the Brave
31. Bewilder
34. Y’all
35. Phonograph media
37. Williams sister’s return
38. “Two mints in one” classic mints
39. Celt
40. Red carpet suit
42. Pirate’s turf
43. Flag on a ship, pl.
45. Solar system model
47. Like a fiddle
48. Sweating room
50. Chesterfield, e.g.
52. *National Crime Prevention Council’s mascot
54. “The Martian” (2015) actor Matt ____
55. Verbal exam
56. Half-man, half-goat
59. Deflect
60. Charge a tax
61. Division word
62. Darn a sock, e.g.
63. Bo Peep follower
64. Long, long time
DOWN
1. Scrooge’s exclamation
2. E.T. transporter, e.g.
3. Photo editing option
4. 1/100th of a ruble
5. Mafia’s top dogs
6. “All joking ____”
7. Risqu
8. *Target’s mascot
9. “Si, mi chiamo Mimi” in La Boheme, e.g.
10. Law school test acronym
11. “____ a Wonderful Life”
13. Interstellar cloud
14. Flying stingers
19. Omani and Yemeni
22. Consume
23. TV Judy’s title
24. Of the Orient
25. Lawyers’ loads
26. Major European river
27. Relating to Scandinavia
28. Like a button, but more so
29. English homework
32. Swine and avian diseases
33. *Maid Marian of Disney’s “Robin Hood” movie (1973)
36. *The Big Red Dog
38. ____copia
40. Blast maker, acr.
41. Sullenly
44. James Dean’s last movie (1956)
46. Basket-making fiber
48. Nut holder
49. Tequila source
50. “____ me a seat”
51. Damien’s prediction
52. Lawn pest
53. *Rubeus Hagrid’s faithful boarhound
54. Beaver’s edifice
57. Beehive State native
58. Us, in Mexico
Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.
Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.
