Marathon Weekly 26-0115

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

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Jan. 15, 2026

HEALING WHEELS WOUNDED WARRIORS TAKE ON U.S. 1 | P.6

RALLY FOR ‘ROACH’ WEEKEND FUNDRAISER BATTLES BARTENDER’S CANCER | P.10

THAT’S A BIG FISH MARATHON CREW REELS IN 400-POUND MONSTER | P.22

WHEN OTHER HOUSES ARE EMPTY, OUR RENTALS ARE FULL. Proven Results, Powered by a Qualified Management Team

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

WE’VE SOLD MORE PROPERTIES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS THAN THE NEXT FOUR COMPANIES COMBINED CALL US TO FIND OUT HOW • 305.743.5181 JUST SOLD!

JUST SOLD!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY SELLER!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BUYER!

347 GUAVA AVENUE, MARATHON

290 4TH STREET, KEY COLONY BEACH

LEANNE RUESCH

LISA WIEBE, REALTOR®

561.386.4952 | lisa@cbschmitt.com

305.289.4372 | rueschd@aol.com

JUST SOLD!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BUYER & SELLER!

JUST LISTED!

118 SNAPPER CREEK DRIVE, LONG KEY

97 COCO PLUM DRIVE B-27, MARATHON

ASKING PRICE $1,145,500 | 2 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHS

AMY PUTO, REALTOR®

MEGAN N. JONES, REALTOR® 305.395.9567 | Mjsellingparadise@gmail.com

305.766.1745 | WWW.AMYPUTO.COM

JUST LISTED!

480 109TH STREET OCEAN, MARATHON

JUST LISTED!

12411 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, 35A, MARATHON

ASKING PRICE $650,000 | 3 BEDROOMS | 3 BATHS

ASKING PRICE $149,000 | 36 L X 9.73 W X 11.11 H

JESÚS PARRA, REALTOR®

AMY PUTO, REALTOR®

786.282.9281 | jesus@cbschmitt.com

COLDWELL BANKER SCHMITT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

305.766.1745 | WWW.AMYPUTO.COM

Helping Keys Residents since 2002. The Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation was created in April 2002, and is dedicated to helping Keys’ residents whose critical needs are not being met through other means. The funds are donated to the Foundation through the generous hearts of the Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate agents, staff, associates, business partners, and the public. www.gooddeedsinthekeys.org

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

MARATHON | $3,400,000 | LISTING ID: 617541

Open water paradise

Embrace the rare opportunity to own .87 acres in the prestigious, gated community of Stirrup Key. Over 300 feet of direct, open Gulf frontage, you'll enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets from nearly every vantage point, including a charming sunset gazebo overlooking the iconic Seven Mile Bridge in the distance. The custom Mediterranean-style residence captures the essence of resort living with expansive pavered patios, sparkling elevated pool, and spacious lounging areas. Three protected basin docks provide sheltered boating access in the marina, while terraced tropical gardens cascade toward the water, lined with mature palms and lush landscaping for a serene coastal ambiance. Inside, soaring cathedral ceilings, wood plantation shutters, and an airy great room with a real coral fireplace showcase timeless Keys craftsmanship. The split-bedroom layout ensures privacy, with a luxurious primary suite featuring dual closets and skylit bath, plus separate guest quarters. Additional highlights include an elevator, a 12,000-gallon cistern, a huge garage for cars and golf carts, and a large lower-level storage area with workbenches, a pool table, and extra laundry facilities. This gated community, with unique architecture, fewer lots, limited rentals and higher quality restrictions help to sustain a premium and private feel. Only minutes from the Marathon Airport, this one-of-a-kind estate combines open-water grandeur with island tranquility, a true Florida Keys sanctuary. This can also be sold with the buildable Lot 78 next door, which is 38,333 sf and offered for $2,200,000 to create a 1.75 acre compound.

12420 Overseas Highway | Marathon 305.735.4095 | oceansir.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

The final U.S. roster for the Winter Olympics is expected to have around 200 athletes. The qualified Olympians include alpine skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn, cross-country skier Jesse Diggins, snowboarder Chloe Kim and figure skater Alysa Liu. The winter Olympics in Milan, Italy begin Feb. 6.

9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050 Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

Participants in the 2026 Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride take on the Seven Mile Bridge as they pedal from downtown Marathon to Little Duck Key. See page 6.

ANDY NEWMAN/City of Marathon

Publisher / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Marathon Editor / Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Staff Writers

Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

Business Development Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com

Production Manager

Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Graphic Design

Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com Diana Striker keysweekly.com

Finance Director

Carolyn Campbell carolyn@keysweeky.com

Web Master / Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com

Classifieds / Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844

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. All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.

POSTMASTER:

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050

News Deadline Tuesday Noon

Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m.

@KeysWeekly @theWeekly Members of

MARATHON COUNCIL POSTPONES VACATION RENTAL FEE VOTE City weighs recovering costs ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

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potential hike to vacation rental license rates will be settled next month, the Marathon City Council decided in its first meeting of 2026.

A draft resolution to increase annual license fees by $1,000 per home drew around a dozen rental owners, managers and industry professionals to the Jan. 13 session, several of whom asked the council to consider the economic boon and tax benefits of rentals before, in some cases, doubling their annual fees paid to the city.

A state law passed in 2011 prevents Marathon from capping the number, duration or frequency of vacation rentals, but allows the city to raise fees if they are justified by rental-related costs. As proposed Tuesday night, the new fees would be set at $2,100 per year for a new one-bedroom rental ($2,000 per year to renew), all the way up to $3,000 for a new 10-bedroom rental.

Costs factored into the city’s analysis include a portion of Marathon’s legal team salaries, vacation rental agents, vehicles, software, office spaces and code officers. The new proposal would also include 10% of the city’s parks and recreation and fire and emergency medical services budgets ($198,982 and $877,931, respectively). If passed as proposed, the rate hike would generate $1,229,000 for the city’s budget.

“This is not a penalty for vacation rentals – this is just to pay your cost to taxpayers and staffing,” said councilman Kenny Matlock. He requested the resolution after pushing for a change to fees throughout 2024 and 2025 as Marathon’s only legal avenue to account for the effect of rentals.

Both he and mayor Lynny Del Gaizo said they were surprised by the level of community pushback to the proposal, which Matlock said he viewed as a simple numerical calculation and minor increase for rentals that could generate thousands per week in revenue.

But councilman Lynn Landry said additional data to justify the changes was sent by city staff to the council via email at 5:30 p.m. the night before Tuesday’s meeting. He asked for time to review justification for the change, adding that the significant hike could be a political risk for the city.

“There’s a very, very small difference between a regulation fee and a tax,” he said. “With the political climate we have in Tallahassee, somebody might sue us just out of principle, and we need to make sure we protect our vacation rental ordinance.” “(The resolution) takes into account direct costs, but it does not take into account things such as revenues to local businesses paid by those people coming here, (or) other associated businesses – vacation management, house cleaners, pool cleaners, yard maintenance,” said full-time resident and local rental owner Michael Clark. “I don’t begrudge getting costs more in line,

but more than 100% increase all at once seems excessive, and I’d love to see the analysis.”

“I’m glad to hear that this discussion is going to be about cost recovery … (but) what I’m here to argue for is fairness,” Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co. owner Brian Schmitt told the council. “A 100% increase is not fair, in my view, when you don’t have the data to support it.

“We are a tourism-based economy, and the only way this town can compete with other tourist destinations in the Keys is vacation rentals.”

City Attorney Steve Williams told the council that Marathon has amended its fee structure four times since Florida’s 2011 crackdown – in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022 – without legal challenges.

“Vacation rentals are always a hot topic. We’ve added staff, we’ve stepped up enforcement, and that’s helped a lot,” said Matlock.

“But … costs have gone up to keep these under control. We have not increased the fee in four years, and since then we’ve spent a lot more money on it.”

Vice Mayor Debbie Struyf said she hadn’t had a chance to review the additional data, and that flat-rate fee increases would have disproportionate effects on smaller rentals. Councilwoman Robyn Still said she would favor a more gradual increase over multiple years to recover costs.

The council unanimously agreed to table the resolution for consideration at February’s regular meeting. continued on page 33

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

is right here in Marathon Nicholas Smith, MD

For an appointment:

305.674.CARE or msmc.com

Alan M. Nieder, MD

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

HEALING WHEELS Wounded Warriors complete annual Soldier Ride down Overseas Highway

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1-3. Wounded warriors pedaling from VFW Post 10211 in Key Largo arrive at Coral Shores High School, where local students, firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers welcome the riders on Jan. 9.

4. Wounded Warriors cross Cow Key Bridge on their way into Key West.

5. Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez welcomes the Wounded Warriors during a ceremony at Bayview Park.

6. Vietnam veterans line the entrance to Key West and salute the Wounded Warriors.

7. Wounded veterans and their supporters ride adaptive and regular bicycles near the top of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway’s iconic Seven Mile Bridge.

9. A wounded warrior enjoys a dip in the Atlantic Ocean off Little Duck Key after completing a ride from Marathon across the Seven Mile Bridge.

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10. Wounded warriors get a streetside welcome from Stanley Switlik Elementary School students and their teachers.

11. A dolphin imitates U.S. army veteran Sarah Harrison swimming on her back.

12. U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Jerry Wayne Padgett II enjoys a smooch with a dolphin at Dolphin Research Center.

13. Logan Wilson, a Walter Reed Medical Center patient on active duty with the U.S. Army, is towed by two dolphins.

8. A Soldier Ride participant acknowledges honking drivers as he rides across the Seven Mile Bridge.

Photos by Doug Finger, Larry Blackburn and Andy Newman

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hey’ve faced some of life’s toughest battles. And now, they’ve ridden together through one of America’s most iconic landscapes.

More than 40 wounded veterans cycled through the Florida Keys this weekend. On Jan. 9, they crossed the legendary Seven Mile Bridge and rode the scenic Overseas Highway from Key Largo through portions of Islamorada and Marathon.

The following day, they rolled to a finish in the Southernmost City, where a welcome ceremony from the Military Affairs Committee awaited them at Bayview Park.

The journey was part of the Wounded Warrior Project’s annual Soldier Ride, with some cyclists using specially-adapted bicycles to accommodate combat injuries, including missing limbs.

The ride builds connection and community among the warriors while supporting healing from physical and mental service-related challenges. And it gives the Florida Keys a chance to honor those who have sacrificed so much, according to local officials.

Continuing a yearly tradition, the veterans cooled off after 53 miles of sweat with a swim at Dolphin Research Center on Sunday, sharing playful flipper shakes and dorsal fin pulls with the nonprofit’s gray-faced pod.

"They pulled me around this lagoon and it's a mental and spiritual release," said Bill Hansen, a former Marine and Army National Guardsman. "A lot of guys and a lot of girls have come back from combat. They need that."

Mandy Rodriguez, CEO and cofounder of Dolphin Research Center and a combat veteran himself, said the marine mammals provide unique therapeutic benefits.

"A lot of times we come back from theater with some anger, maybe some demons, and they're hard to shake," Rodriguez said. "The dolphins do make a big difference on a day like today. We come back with a lot of baggage, and these dolphins seem to unpack that baggage."

– Keys Weekly staff report

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

LEGISLATORS HEAR FROM DESANTIS ON FIRST DAY OF SESSION JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

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egislators in the Florida House and Senate heard Gov. Ron DeSantis praise past accomplishments under his reign while acknowledging more work to do as the legislative session in Tallahassee began Jan. 13.

In his remarks during a joint session of the House and Senate, the governor outlined his desire for the Legislature to approve and send a ballot initiative to voters related to Governor Ron property tax relief. In DeSantis. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/ his remarks, DeSantis said Floridians should Contributed be able to own their home without “paying rent to the government.”

Several resolutions are progressing through the House on certain types of property tax relief, such as those with property insurance or people over 65.

No specific measures are moving in the Senate yet. All proposals in the House safeguard school and law enforcement funding, but property tax dollars could be axed for local municipalities, fire departments and special districts.

“Let’s all work together and get something done and let these people have a say,” DeSantis said.

He also wants legislators to institute measures related to artificial intelligence. DeSantis said while the technology is touted as a way to cure cancer and expand the U.S. military’s edge, there’s concern that artificial intelligence could upend the economy by putting people out of work. He also acknowledged how chat bots are linked to teen suicide, and he shared concerns how power-intensive data centers could harm the environment.

“Some say this could displace human beings,” he said. “We can never relieve ourselves of our responsibility to think for ourselves, as Floridians, Americans and human beings made in the image of God.” DeSantis also lauded recent efforts

by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to reduce premiums. A day before his address, the governor announced that when policy renewals begin this spring, 330,000 Citizens policyholders statewide will see an average decrease

in their premiums of 8.7%. In the Florida Keys, roughly 1,000 policyholders will see a reduction of 11.3%.

Additionally, wind-only policies in the Florida Keys will see a reduction or no increase in their premiums.

“It is welcome news for some of our community members in Monroe County,” said Mel Montagne, president for Fair Insurance Rates of Monroe. For more than 18 years, FIRM has fought for fair, equitable and affordable property insurance coverage for homeowners, residents and business owners in the Florida Keys.

Before outlining his priorities for the 2026 session, DeSantis noted how the state has the lowest amount of spending per capita and one of the lowest number of state employees in the nation. He also noted how restoration projects in the Everglades are sending more water south.

“Salinity levels are the healthiest in decades,” DeSantis said. “Even the flamingos have returned inside the Glades.”

With promising sights of flamingos in the Florida Keys’ backyard, state Rep. Jim Mooney is hopeful his bill to designate the American flamingo as Florida’s official bird clears the legislature and gets signed by the governor.

The bill moved out of the Natural Resources and Disasters Committee via 14-1 vote. The bill, which now sits in the State Affairs Committee, also would designate the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird.

A similar bill sponsored by state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, who represents the Keys and portions of Miami-Dade County, was voted out of the Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee by a 6-0 tally.

American flamingos historically lived in Florida, but overhunting around the turn of the 20th century resulted in their disappearance from the state. By 1925, captive breeding in South Florida had reintroduced them, and there is evidence that some flamingos migrated to Florida on their own throughout the 1900s.

In recent times, American flamingos have been observed along the Florida coast, although they are most commonly seen in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and occasionally in the Keys.

Following DeSantis’ address, the joint session was adjourned. Committee meetings started as another 60-day session began at the state Capitol.

FLORIDA KEYS WATERS SEE RECORD REMOVAL OF DERELICT VESSELS IN 2025

The notorious yellow submarine was taken out of the water in Marathon last year.

BRITTANY BURTNER/Monroe County

More dilapidated boats will be pulled this year

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onroe County has wrapped up a major cleanup effort that tackled a long backlog of derelict vessels across the Keys. Thanks to a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)funded project with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partnership with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 237 vessels have been removed since August 2024, cutting active derelict vessel cases from more than 300 down to just 44 in the Florida Keys.

Specialized vessel salvage contractors worked from Key Largo to Key West. They removed 74 vessels in the Upper Keys, including Tarpon Basin, Buttonwood Sound and Barley Basin, 46 in the Middle Keys and 116 in the Lower Keys, with many coming out of Boca Chica Basin, Man of War Harbor, and Seaplane Basin.

Some removal projects were especially challenging, like lifting a 65-foot cabin cruiser out of Sisters Creek in Marathon, a 53-foot vessel aground in Bahia Honda State Park, a 66-foot shrimp boat off Upper Matecumbe Key and even a 96-foot yellow submarine on Boot Key in Marathon.

“FWC officers searched the water from one end of the Keys

The Dena Marie, a 66-foot shrimp boat, was removed from the waters off Islamorada in 2025.

A 53-foot vessel aground in Bahia Honda State Park was removed last year.

to the other, while our removal contractors worked nonstop over the past year,” said marine resources senior administrator Brittany Burtner. “At one point, through collaboration, 44 boats were removed in under five weeks. It made a huge difference for the safety of other boaters and the environment.”

With new funding secured through November 2026, Monroe County and its partners will continue to keep local waterways safer and cleaner for everyone to enjoy.

— Contributed

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

MARATHON COMMUNITY CHURCH

ALL ARE WELCOME!

OPEN HOUSE TUE. 1/20 11:00 - 2:00PM

THE PERFECT CHURCH FOR THOSE WHO AREN’T

SUNDAY SERVICES 10AM IN THE SANCTUARY Pastor Mary Ashcraft

Stop by the church on Jan. 17th 11am-1pm for a $5 grilled hot dog, chips & cookies lunch.

Monday: Men’s Breakfast 7am at Irie Island Eats.

Tuesday: Sisters in Christ 9:45am.

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305.481.7233

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305-393-0559 lynn@keyshomehunter.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC .

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

RALLY FOR ‘ROACH’ Weekend benefit funds Island Fish Co. bartender’s battle with cancer ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

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ince 2017, Island Fish Company bartender Rachele “Roach” Kruse has poured thousands of drinks for locals and visitors alike. Now, as she battles Stage 4 cancer, the Marathon community is prepping to pour more than a little back.

In September 2025, Kruse’s coworkers, including the Island’s manager Amber Klein and fellow bartender/best friend Tiffany Fossum, noticed the perpetual “worker bee” just wasn’t herself, calling out sick over three weeks from shifts she would never typically give up.

“She came in to do her orders one day, and I’d just never seen her like that,” said Klein.

“We took her to the doctor that day, and it all just snowballed from there.”

Within two weeks of her first appointment, Kruse would undergo two days of radiation.

And on the third day, she was in the operating room for brain surgery, diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma. While the tumor in her brain was removed, Kruse now fights a daily battle with lesions in her brain, lung and liver.

“She’s doing immunotherapy once a month (now), and they did tell her at one of her last appointments that the lesions are shrinking and the therapy is doing its job,” said Fossum. “So that gave her a little boost, and she really is in good spirits.”

Nevertheless, the treatment and ongoing fight mean that Kruse hasn’t returned to work in nearly five months. And for local fundraising guru Andy Sharf, that meant one thing: “It’s that time again.”

“I’ve only met Roach a few times over the years, but a lot of my really good friends love her, and that’s enough for me,” Sharf told the Weekly.

“She’s just a goofy person, and there’s not a time when she’s not fun,” said Klein. “One year we had a Christmas party, and (Tiffany) dared her to pull the fire alarm, and she did it.”

“She has an infectious laugh and a crazy personality,” said Fossum. “In the last three years, she lost both her parents, and in year three she got melanoma. But even through all that, she just stays positive and she’s strong.

She said to me, ‘I know that this therapy is the only thing that’s going to give me more years, so I’m going to fight through it as long as I can.’”

For the first time, Sharf won’t be behind the bar for one of his benefits, an all-day fundraiser set to run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Island Fish Company.

Instead, he’ll be in the kitchen.

Known for her crazy personality, Rachele Kruse, left, celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day at the Island with Marvin Barrera, Daniel Perry and manager Amber Klein.

Pictured with her husband Brad Hammond, Island Fish Company bartender Rachele ‘Roach’ Kruse is battling Stage 4 melanoma. A benefit this weekend at the restaurant aims to raise tens of thousands to aid in her recovery. CONTRIBUTED

The staples of “Roll it Up for Roach Day” are the same locals have come to expect: 32 pork butts smoked Carolina-style available for lunch with full fixings, live music and a boatload of silent auction items – everything from AirBnBs in Park City, Utah to Marathon hotel stays, fishing charters and gift cards. Tips to bartenders go straight to the cause.

Not satisfied with just one “big ticket” raffle item, Sharf secured three: a pair of e-bikes given at cost for the cause by Marathon Bike Works, a Harley Davidson motorcycle donated

by Fossum’s husband Jesse, and, as always, a golf cart.

One silent auction item in particular might look familiar, doubling its value in the fight against cancer: a brand new Yamaha VX WaveRunner, previously the headliner in Sharf’s 2024 fundraiser for another local cancer patient, Mallory Martin.

With only two hours on the engine, Sharf said the winner of last year’s raffle, Norman Beumel, approached him about “selling” the jetski back when he saw it had the chance to do good once more. His price? Unbeatable.

“He donated the jet ski and a trailer for $1 and a case of Florida Keys Spiny Hopster IPA,” Sharf said.

A GoFundMe established by Fossum has already raised $22,660 for Kruse, with more pouring in each day. And with more than $700,000 total raised across 11 previous events, Sharf said he’s hopeful Saturday has a chance to break his record of $129,000 in a single event.

Fossum and Klein said the weekend is a heartwarming example of karma paying dividends for Kruse, who previously worked as a bartender for Fossum’s husband in Minnesota before moving down to work at the Island. “(Jesse) owned a motorcycle shop up there, and he’d build a bike and they’d do a benefit and raffle the bike off to benefit a camp for underprivileged children,” Fossum said. “She’d always bartend those events, and now it’s coming full circle that we’re doing something for her.”

Scan to Donate

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Mon - Fri 11am to Close | Sat & Sun 10am to Close

COMMERCE CORNEr

NEW HAPPY HOUR 1-5PM $7 Menu

• Chicken wings, chicken livers and More!

• 32 beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm * $2 Pints of Yuengling and Bud Light!

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VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED

BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 2PM • Unique & interesting menu • $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots

LUNCH & DINNER Hennessy Sportfishing is a locally owned and operated fishing charter business established in 2022, offering private, customizable boat adventures in Marathon, Florida.

Led by owner and licensed local captain Kerry Hennessy and a small, dedicated team, the company specializes in reef, wreck, inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing charters, along with snorkeling tours on coral reefs, relaxing sandbar trips, scenic boat cruises, and sunset charters.

Every trip is family-friendly, fully licensed and insured, and includes all necessary fishing gear—guests simply show up ready for adventure. What sets Hennessy Sportfishing apart is a hands-on, personal approach: the team speaks with each client beforehand to customize trips around weather conditions and guest goals, ensuring the best possible experience rain or shine. Whether customers are looking to bring home dinner, catch a personal best, snorkel crystal-clear waters, or enjoy a laid-back day on the water, Hennessy Sportfishing delivers unforgettable Florida Keys experiences tailored to every group.

Hennessy Sportfishing 108 Ave A. Marathon, FL 33050 305.414.1867 www.hennessysportfishing.com

GREATER MARATHON CHAMBER OF COMMERECE 305.743.5417 • 1.800.262.7284 visitus@floridakeysmarathon.com www.floridakeysmarathon.com 12222 Overseas Highway • Marathon, FL 33050

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

January Jamboree & Rummage Sale Gently Used Clothing and Household Items SATURDAY

January 17th 2026 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

at the Marathon Garden Club (mm50, across from Publix Plaza)

Join us for

Visit these Vendors: Baubles by Benny Girl

Juanita's Orchids

Bullis Bromeliads

Keys Art Kim

Casey’s Corner

Keys Greens and Things

Coastal Shellseas

Kreative Gardens

Elizabeth Elliott Arts & Crafts Patricia Kaye

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includes fees includes fees

By Neil Simon

By Neil Simon

Starring: Lee Lawson | Steve Miller

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Tickets $33

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The Marathon Rotary Club congratulates Dennis Bishop on 50 years of service, friendship, and commitment to Rotary and the Florida Keys community.

For more information on what we do and how you can join the “Irresistible Marathon Rotary Club”, visit our website Marathonrotary.org or scan the QR Code.

Call 305 -743 -4971 for more information.

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“Fiﬞy years aﬞer I walked into my first Rotary meeting, I am still enjoying building relationships, giving back, and the fellowship that makes the Marathon Rotary Club special,” he said.

Wanna b’s Nursery

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Dennis also enjoys supporting Rotary beyond Marathon, oﬞen representing the club at events like the Islamorada Rotary Club’s Nautical Flea Market, helping strengthen the ties between clubs throughout the Florida Keys.

Jewelry by Diana

Marathon Community Theatre presents

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Over the decades, Dennis has worn many Rotary hats, including serving as club treasurer several times in earlier years.

These days, you’ll most oﬞen find him at the weekly luncheon meetings, which he

www.marathongardenclub.org

One of Dennis’s favorite Rotary traditions is the club’s Fourth of July celebration at Sombrero Beach, where he fondly remembers cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for the community. Like so many Rotary events, it is a mix of service, fun, and time spent together, exactly what keeps him coming back year aﬞer year.

Seaside Roasting Company

Island Arts of the Florida Keys The Pretzel Bar

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“The camaraderie is what’s kept me in Rotary for 50 years,” said Dennis. “And that is a sentiment many Rotarians understand well.”

Here is your chance to acquire plants grown in the Keys that are specifically geared to our climate and soil conditions.

Quirky Fox Creations

Island Art

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At the time, Dennis was just ge‫מּ‬ing his CPA practice off the ground, and joining Rotary made sense as both a business decision and a way to connect with the community. But what started as networking quickly became something much deeper.

still looks forward to, especially for the guest speakers and the chance to catch up with friends who have become like family.

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This month, the Marathon Rotary Club is proud to recognize a truly remarkable milestone, Dennis Bishop’s 50 years as a Marathon Rotarian. Dennis joined the club in 1975, back when Rotary was still a men-only organization. The meetings were held at places like Sombrero Country Club and Kelsey’s. He remembers joining other Rotarians, including Ralph Cunningham, Paul Mensel, and Larry Albrighton, and becoming part of a group that helped shape the Marathon Rotary Club as it is today.

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Jan 8 -- 31 31 Jan 8 Matinees Matinees Jan 18 & 25

Jan 18

Directed by: Linda Schaefer & Karen Shotwell “The Odd Couple” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

13

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

ICE AGENT ARRESTED FOR DUI ASKS JUDGE TO END PROBATION EARLY

Scott Deiseroth, 42, completed 2½ months of 12-month sentence MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

A

n ICE agent who was arrested in August for drunk driving on the Bahia Honda Bridge while his two young children were in the car pleaded no contest to a driving under the influence charge and on Oct. 30 was sentenced to a year of probation as well as the loss of his driver’s license for a year. The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Scott Deiseroth for child neglect and resisting arrest.

Scott Deiseroth. MCSO/Contributed

On Jan. 8, Deiseroth, 42, through his attorney, asked the court to end his probation early.

In the motion to terminate probation early, Deiseroth’s attorney writes, “The defendant has finished about 4 months of probation with no violations of the probation,” although the calendar shows he completed about two months and one week of probation between Oct. 30 and Jan. 8.

“The defendant is a federal agent and is currently suspended from his job as a result of this case.

We cannot say for sure that they will take him back but, we know that they cannot resolve their internal issues until this case is closed and probation is terminated. The defendant would like to get back to work. He has two children to support,” states the motion to end probation early.

The motion also states that Deiseroth has voluntarily used a breath-testing device, attended alcohol treatment through the VA and attended 12-step meetings, which were not required as conditions of his probation.

Judge Derek Lewis of Marathon had not ruled on the request to end probation early as of Jan. 13, according to court records.

Deiseroth’s Aug. 13 arrest occurred after a motorist called 911 to report a southbound pickup truck driving erratically on the Seven Mile Bridge and then going south in the northbound lanes after the bridge.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Col. Chad Scibilia and Deputy Jonathan Lane stopped Deiseroth on the Bahia Honda Bridge at MM 36.5.

Once the vehicle was stopped, authorities reported an “overwhelming” odor of alcohol, a driver with glassy eyes, who stumbled when he got out of the vehicle, and whose two sons, ages 7 and 9, were in the truck.

Deputies asked Deiseroth where he was coming from, and he said he had driven from Miami to Islamorada and was now on his way back to Miami, the report states.

“I informed Scott he was driving the wrong direction and he informed me that I was wrong,” Lane wrote. “I asked (Deiseroth) where he thinks he is and he began looking around (while sitting on top of the Bahia Honda Bridge) and said, ‘I’m on the stretch,’ referring to the (18-Mile Stretch) between Key Largo and Florida City.

“I informed Scott he was approximately 70 miles or so away from there and he again informed me that I was wrong,” the report states.

When asked what he had been drinking, Deiseroth reportedly became defensive and said that “he is a federal HSI agent with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and that he had four drinks,” the report states. He couldn’t tell the officers what he had consumed, only saying that the bartender had made the drinks.

Deiseroth stumbled when exiting his pickup truck, then failed all roadside sobriety tests after asking the deputies for “professional courtesy” and asking them, “Really? Are we really doing this?” the report states.

He repeatedly resisted arrest and had to be forcibly placed in handcuffs and the backseat of a patrol car, where he began slamming his head on the Plexiglass partition and screaming Lane’s name.

The children in the pickup truck gave the officers their mother’s number and arrangements were made for deputies to take the kids to Islamorada, where they were handed over to her custody.

Deiseroth’s ICE supervisor was notified of his arrest when he arrived at the jail on Stock Island, where breathalyzer tests revealed blood-alcohol levels of .170 and .174 — more than twice the legal limit of .08 in Florida.

“Due to (Deiseroth’s) level of impairment, he almost crashed multiple times and was unable to care for even himself,” the report states. “He willfully failed to provide both of his children with the care, supervision and services necessary to maintain their physical and mental health.

“He must have known or reasonably should have known that his culpable negligence was likely to cause great bodily harm or death to both of his children. The Department of Children and Families was contacted and Deiseroth’s supervisor with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was also notified of his arrest.”

SHERIFF: RECKLESS DRIVER FLEES INTO THE OCEAN

A

40-year-old man, who police say was driving drunk and recklessly fled from sheriff’s deputies, was arrested on Jan. 8 after being pulled from the water near U.S. 1.

The sheriff’s office was notified at 10:49 a.m. of a reckless driver in a Chevrolet Tahoe — later identified as Joshua Derek Guajardo — passing vehicles illegally near MM 65. Guajardo fled from the deputies, reaching speeds of 80 mph in a 55-mph zone. Guajardo continued to drive erratically and nearly struck a patrol vehicle during the incident.

Spike strips were deployed near MM 68 and MM 69. The Tahoe finally stopped near MM 70. Guajardo then ran into the mangroves and water on the oceanside. Guajardo was seen with an object, possibly a firearm, when he fled on foot, so U.S. 1 was temporarily closed in both directions until the scene was determined safe for motorists. There was no weapon immediately found.

Guajardo was taken into custody shortly thereafter and taken to jail. He was charged with DUI, fleeing and eluding, and driving with a suspended license. More charges may be pending. His address was not immediately available.

Helicopters and boats provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations as well as officers and troopers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol assisted in the incident.

— Keys Weekly staff report

14

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

FACTS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR

TRIPLE SAVE

Sam Steele

monroetaxcollector.com 305.295.5000

JANUARY • Save 2% on your property tax by paying in January.

• As of January 7, 2026, the tax roll is 80% collected, or $386,274,346.36.

• Any property that is being rented for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account.

• As a reminder, online rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)

DO NOT remit the 5% tourist development tax to our office.

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the tax has been remitted.

Boaters cling to their capsized vessel as the Coast Guard arrives for the save on Jan. 10.

Top photo shows the boat, off Marathon, after the rescue. USCG/Contributed

Coast Guard rescues three from capsized boat off Marathon

A

Coast Guard Station Marathon boat crew rescued three boaters after their 21-foot vessel capsized about 12 miles north of Marathon on Jan. 10.

The three boaters were in stable condition and safely transported back to Station Marathon with no injuries reported.

At 5:49 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received a notification via 911 relay from a mariner in distress reporting that his vessel was taking on water and that he was without life jackets.

Sector Key West watchstanders launched a Station Marathon rescue crew, which found and rescued the three boaters at 6:41 a.m., the Coast Guard said in a press release.

“Thanks to the swift coordination between our crew and the command center, we were able to rescue these mariners today,” said petty officer Brian Deighton, a Station Marathon boat crew member.

“We remind all mariners to either wear their life jackets or have it somewhere easily accessible on board your vessel.”

— Contributed

• All rental properties must also have a local business tax regardless of how long they are being rented.

• All our offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. • Please visit our website and follow us on Facebook for helpful information, forms, applications, and important announcements.

Follow us on for more imortant tax information.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

Which living person do you most admire? I admire my mom the most.

She is an angel walking on this earth.

She is the strongest, most gentle, caring, loving and humble woman I know.

What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show right now? “The Watcher” was the last thing I binge watched.

What is your greatest extravagance? Traveling is most definitely my extravagance. The money flows and goes, but memories are priceless.

What’s a talent you wish you had?

Learning to play guitar is a talent I want to master.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? I would be an octopus.

They’re so mysterious – majestic, smart and beautiful creatures of the sea.

What’s a habit you’d love to break? I would have to say my potty mouth. Bartending for years tends to do that to ya.

N

o matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.

Our neighbor of the week is Dawn Paderick, who is a happy hippie originally from North Carolina living the gypsy lifestyle in the Keys as an Uber and Lyft driver.

DAWN PADERICK What brought you to the Keys?

Jan. 3 marked five years in the Keys. I love the constant warm weather and being surrounded by the ocean.

What’s a local business you couldn’t live without? Definitely Broil for the ambiance, impeccable service, amazing owner and staff. It has the most scrumptious food and is by far my favorite.

What is your greatest fear? With God as my protector, fear is minimal in my life.

What is your greatest regret?

My greatest regret is not having the tools, knowledge and self awareness of my inner strengths and ability to overcome obstacles of life at a much younger age.

What is your current state of mind? I am at peace with my mind, body and soul on this journey and path currently. I’m happy with my life right now and the goals I have set for myself.

What is your most treasured possession? My most treasured possessions are my faith, family and friends.

Without them, life is just mundane.

What’s a secret about you that people might be surprised to learn?

I was ejected out of my vehicle years ago and walked away with just a few bruises, some road rash and two black eyes. This all happened right before Halloween, might I add, so you can imagine my costume.

What are your favorite & least favorite smells? My favorite smells are mama’s home cooking, the ocean and patchouli. My least favorite smells are flood waters.

What’s one of your all-time favorite movie quotes? “Bye Felicia” is my all-time favorite from the original “Friday.”

Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.

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Thanks to Everyone who Volunteered, Sponsored or Attended The Florida Keys Celtic Festival!

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18

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

GRILLS, GUITARS & A GLOW-UP

Key Colony Beach concert welcomes residents, salutes upgrades ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

2 1

W

hen seasonal residents returned to the warmth of the Florida Keys, the city of Key Colony Beach looked quite a bit different than when they left.

And on Jan. 11, a free cookout and concert in a fully-refreshed Sunset Park took a few hours to celebrate the progress made.

An expanded version of the city’s recurring “Hot Dogs with the Cops” series, the event combined support from city leadership, the KCB Beautification Committee and KCB Fishing and Boating Club to provide a free lunch and three hours of live music by the 79th Street Band.

More than $60,000 in funding from the Monroe County Tourist Development Council powered upgrades to the local-favorite spot, including shade sails over the park lawn – and even one to shield the performers themselves.

A new ADA-compliant walkway ensures accessibility for all guests, while refreshed landscaping and flowers bordering the park earned a nod of recognition from the city’s beautification committee. Upgrades in progress for the family-friendly fishing pier will complete the commission’s vision for the park, according to KCB Mayor Freddie Foster.

“This is the rebirth of KCB, and a thank-you to the community for being so patient,” Foster said. He noted widespread ADA and parking upgrades to the city’s parks, along with a new tank for the city’s sewer plant and a redesign of the city’s retention pond to add trees and lighted fountains.

“If you look at everything we’ve done in the last 12 to 14 months – we’ve just been all over this city,” he said. “Where we’ve really done well is finding state and local grant resources to do all these kinds of things.”

3

6 4

1. The Key Colony Beach Police Department works the grills. From left: Sgt. Jamie Buxton, officer John Buckwalter, Chief Kris DiGiovanni, officer Nicholas Niemiec.

2. New shade sails over the event lawn keep guests out of the sun.

3. The Key Colony Beach Fishing and Boating Club welcomes residents and visitors. From left: Peter Schliep, Dean Williamson and Tim Husel.

4. The Key Colony Beach City Commission shows up in full. From left: Mayor Freddie Foster, Vice Mayor Doug Colonell, commissioner Kirk Diehl, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Harding, commissioner Tom DiFransico.

5. The 79th Street Band preps for their set.

5

6. Good food means long lines at Sunset Park.

Photos by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

19

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

CELTS & KILTS BREAK RECORDS Florida Keys Celtic Festival sees massive turnout ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

D

espite ongoing construction and occasional showers, the Florida Keys Celtic Festival shattered expectations, packing Marathon Community Park on Jan. 10 and 11 for a celebration of faith, tunes and tradition.

Organizers told the Weekly the festival’s Saturday attendance was the highest ever recorded in the event’s 13-year history. With the music of the Screaming Orphans, Albannach, Sean Heely Band, Piper Jones Band and more filling the air, guests visited dozens of vendors, watched sheepherding mastery, cheered on feats of strength in the Highland Athletic Games, and ate and drank as much as they could muster.

Little ones played in the Children’s Glen or made new friends at the PopUp Ponies petting zoo, while Try-It clinics throughout the festival gave guests hands-on experiences in art, dance, Scottish athletic contests and more.

Organized by St. Columba Episcopal Church, proceeds from the festival benefit the Hammock House – providing a safe, secure and enjoyable environment for children by offering recreational and educational experiences at no cost to families.

Record crowds enjoy the 2026 Florida Keys Celtic Festival at Marathon Community Park.

Now in its 13th year, the festival has become one of Marathon’s premier annual events – a celebration of all aspects of Celtic culture, music and tradition. Photos by NATALIE DANKO/Contributed

21

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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Carl Schnitter, left, Matt Pelphrey, James Bicknell IV and Anthony Famularo need the help of a chain hoist to weigh their monster 400-pound swordfish, caught in 1,500 feet of water off Duck Key last week. CONTRIBUTED

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or Little Torch Key’s captain Matt Pelphrey, his personal best swordfish catch was also one of his quickest fights.

On Jan. 7, it still took his four-man crew around an hour to pull a 90-inch, 405-pound swordfish up from 1,500 feet of water off Duck Key. But that was a welcome departure from his last monster haul, a 2023 fish that tipped the scales at 350 pounds after an eighthour fight that pulled his boat 21 miles.

“We headed offshore, and on our first drift, I think we got a 48-inch fish,” Pelphrey told the Weekly. “You never know how big they are until you see them. On this one, we got the weight up, unhooked it, and all of a sudden, the line went ripping under the boat at what felt like 50 miles an hour.

“They can do that – they’ll come up and jump, then go right back down to 1,000 feet, and you’ll be hand-pulling inch by inch to get them back up.

They’re an intense fish, and one of the only fish on the planet I wouldn’t want to be in the water with.”

Lacking the proper scale to weigh the trophy catch at their Duck Key dock, the crew brought the fish to Pelphrey’s crane hoist at his house in the Lower Keys. And while the 90inch length trailed the 96-inch fish he reeled in three years ago, the robust body more than made up for it.

“If you take a fish and put it in a body bag overnight, he’s going to lose weight, so the one I weighed at 350 pounds would have been more,” Pelphrey said. “This fish was 90 inches long, but it was a lot fatter. So it’s probably my personal best by weight standards.”

With a growing YouTube channel, “Marathon Sport Fishing,” set to post a complete video of the catch next week, Pelphrey said sword fishing has become a singular obsession of his as he works to perfect his technique.

“I used to do some chartering, but now all I want to do is swordfish,” he said. “I’m on a mission, and I want to be one of the best sword guys out there, period.”

Have a newsworthy catch that tips the scales? We’d love to hear about it.

Email alex@keysweekly.com.

23

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

COLLEGE WORKING TO PUT BIG PINE KEY SITE TO USE Long-vacant prison camp could offer job training & educational programs

M

onroe County officials recently cleared the way for the College of the Florida Keys to pursue an expansion to Big Pine Key, where the county’s environmental review found the project would have “no significant impact on the human environment.”

The college leases the former Big Pine Prison Camp site from the state of Florida and wants to offer workforce programs such as commercial driver license (CDL) and law enforcement training on the property.

More specifically, college officials released a statement saying, “The potential programs and uses for the site may include a marine aquaculture facility, shared community spaces, construction apprenticeships, commercial driver’s license (CDL) training and motor vehicle training for law enforcement. These programs advance CFK’s mission to deliver student-centric academic programs and services, workforce development, continuing education and to engage with diverse partners.”

The college originally shared its ideas in 2019 at a county commission meeting. In 2021, after leasing the property from the state, the college held two community meetings in Big Pine Key. Since then, CFK has pursued funding opportunities to support expansion of programs and services in the Lower Keys.

“CFK is dedicated to partnering with our Florida Keys community. Our programs are geared to benefit our residents,” said Jonathan Gueverra, CFK president. “This includes both economic prosperity and respecting what makes the Keys special.”

In 2023, the college applied for and was awarded a $2 million Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. Prior to the college accessing the funds, a “responsible entity” had to complete an environmental review. HUD identified Monroe County as the entity tasked with completing the environmental review. The county published a notice on Dec. 18, 2025, stating, “the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.”

The Big Pine site is not located within the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge, and the college has replaced the perimeter fence to secure the property and keep wildlife out.

The College of the Florida Keys is leasing the long-vacant Big Pine Prison Camp site and working to use it for workforce and educational opportunities for the college. CONTRIBUTED

Per Florida Statute, the college is exempt from obtaining building permits for development on the site.

But any development must be consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. The county will work with the college to review the proposed project to ensure it meets these requirements.

Two of the potential programs, law enforcement vehicle and CDL training, would increase accessibility to high-demand career opportunities allowing Keys residents to prepare for and become certified close to home instead of going to the mainland. Many local organizations and businesses, from utilities and public works to tourism and schools, require employees to have CDLs. And the safety of every community hinges on the quality of its law enforcement. The size and variety of the college’s fleet of vehicles for CDL training will reflect the demand from the community and may include passenger buses, garbage trucks, school buses, construction trucks and tractor trailers. Most of the training will take place in classrooms and in vehicles on the site. On-the-road training will primarily use routes similar to those used by commercial vehicles currently serving the community.

Workforce demand and funding availability will determine the future program opportunities.

More information is available from communications@cfk.edu. While no timelines have been announced, stay tuned to keysweekly.com for a more detailed follow-up.

— Contributed

OREO 10-month-old female domestic longhair.

Looking for: Someone to pamper me and my gorgeous hair.

Turnoffs: A black and white cat named Oreo?

How original.

SWIPE RIGHT

MAX 2-year-old male Siamese mix.

Looking for: I’m a wild guy that needs lots of interaction and playtime.

Turnoffs: I’m going to jump on your shoulder, whether you like it or not.

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 305743-4800 or visit 10550 Aviation Blvd.

FRACK 5-month-old domestic shorthair.

Looking for: My very first home.

Turnoffs: Being the last kitten to get adopted.

25

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED WELLNESS

YOUR BODY ISN’T BROKEN – IT’S JUST TIRED OF BEING MICROMANAGED

W

hat if you didn’t know how old you were? Not on paper. Not on your driver’s license. Not on Facebook when it reminds you someone you barely know from high school is having a birthday. I mean REALLY didn’t know.

Close your eyes for a second and think about it. If you had to guess your age based purely on how your body feels, how your mind feels, how you move, how you recover, how you live JENNIFER … how old would HARVEY you say you are?

Okay, now open ...is a Marathonyour eyes. based ACSMIf you answered certified personal trainer and younger than your precision nutrition chronological age, coach who owns congratulations. and operates That usually means Highly Motivated you’re doing someFunctionally Caffeinated LLC. thing right for your body and nervous system – or you recently took Advil.

Either way, that’s a win in my book.

If you answered older than your actual age, don’t panic. This is not the beginning of your demise era. But it is your body politely waving a little white flag. And that flag usually doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’re tired of being micromanaged.

We live in a time where our bodies are under constant supervision. We track our steps, our calories, our sleep, our heart rate, our stress, our macros, our fasting windows, our hormones, our supplements, our workouts, our recovery, and sometimes even our bowel movements. (If you’re offended by that last one, you’re probably guilty.)

Of course, if you are working through a physical or mental condition, or it’s been recommended by a health care provider, by all means keep on tracking. But remember: It won’t be forever, and it’s not sustainable.

Somewhere along the way, wellness became less about listening to

your body and more about managing it like a misbehaving employee. But here’s the science part most people don’t talk about: Your nervous system does not thrive under constant correction.

When your body feels watched, restricted, rushed, judged or forced into rules it doesn’t agree with, it shifts into a low-grade stress response. Cortisol rises. Recovery drops. Inflammation becomes more welcome than it should be and stays around longer, like a cousin visiting from Buffalo in the winter.

Muscles stay tight. Sleep gets lighter. Energy feels unpredictable.

And suddenly everything feels harder than it should. That’s not weakness.

That’s physiology.

Your body doesn’t want to be controlled. It wants to be supported.

Micromanagement looks like: forcing workouts when your body is clearly exhausted. Eating according to rules instead of hunger. Resting with guilt.

Needing data to validate how you feel.

Believing every ache means something is wrong. Thinking discipline has to hurt to work.

And eventually, the body starts to respond the only way it knows how: by slowing you down. Fatigue. Stiffness.

Brain fog. Low motivation. Random aches. Emotional flatness. The feeling that your body is “aging faster” than it should.

But it’s not aging – it’s asking for permission to breathe. Age isn’t about how many candles are on your cake.

It’s about how much freedom your body feels inside itself.

When people start treating their bodies with trust instead of control, something wild happens: They move better. They recover faster. They sleep deeper. They crave simpler foods. They feel lighter — not just physically, but mentally.

Your body doesn’t need more discipline, it needs more safety. And the beautiful thing? Safety doesn’t come from doing nothing. It comes from doing things with respect. Movement that feels good. Food that feels grounding. Rest that feels earned instead of avoided. Boundaries that protect your energy. And expectations that match the season of life you’re actually in.

So if you answered older than your age earlier, here’s the good news: Your body isn’t broken.

It’s just tired of being micromanaged.

And the moment you stop treating it like a problem to fix and start treating it like a partner to support, you might be surprised how young it lets you feel again.

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026 An osprey seen recently in the Keys backcountry. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

Y

ou didn’t notice the nest immediately, but you could feel the yellow-eyed stare.

It seemed best to throw the anchor first, and get a good MARK look at whoever was doing the HEDDEN staring afterward.

We were at Destroyer Key, ... is a photograsometimes called Split Rock pher, writer, and semi-professional Key, on the far side of the birdwatcher. He Northwest Channel from Key has lived in Key West.

West for more The lore is that a U.S. Navy than 25 years and destroyer once lost control and may no longer be employable in plowed into the tiny island, the real world. He cleaving it, and that the deep is also executive water pool with the slow rip director of the Florida Keys Audu- of current flowing through it, as well as the two 15-foot-high bon Society. spoil piles on each side of the now bifurcated island, were created when the Navy dug the destroyer out. Which always seemed like bushwa hooey to me.

The waters surrounding the island are notoriously shallow. And the island is two miles from the near side of the Northwest Channel, the closest route a destroyer might have sailed. The idea that a 2,200-ton, 370-foot ship with a 15- to 18-foot draft would somehow have been able to wash up there, even at full steam in the highest of tides, just seemed unlikely. And if, by some defiance of nautical competence and gravity, it did happen, the surrounding very shallow subaquatic topography would absolutely still be scarred and screwed up. Which it isn’t.

Also, cameras existed before destroyer class warships. Wouldn’t there be pictures? There were no images of such a mishap on the Monroe County Public Library’s Florida Keys History Center Flickr page, which has a pretty comprehensive collection of photos from most of the important and dramatic events in the Keys.

To be sure about this, I spoke with Corey Malcom, the lead historian at the Florida Keys History Center. Could it possibly be true that a destroyer accidentally plowed into Destroyer Key, and then was subsequently removed?

“I’ve never seen anything that indicates that in any way whatsoever. No news articles, no documentation,” Malcom said.

What do you think happened out there?

“I have no good answers. My guess is someone with a drag line or dredge was trying to dig a channel and it didn’t work,” Malcom said.

That conversation happened when we got back to civilization. While we were out there, once the anchor line went taut, I grabbed the binoculars and scanned around until I saw the nest high up on one of the plant-covered spoil piles. There was an adult osprey in there, most likely sitting on eggs, waiting for their partner to return and either spell her or feed her. (Females do about 70% of the incubating.)

I handed the binoculars to my friend Mad, who was on her first trip into the backcountry.

She looked at the bird and seemed dutifully impressed.

Osprey are fierce looking. Possibly because they can be very fierce.

OSPREY CAN YOU SEE

While osprey are found on every continent but Antarctica, their cosmopolitan ubiquity does not take away from the fact that they are such singular creatures, so unlike any other bird they are the sole occupant of their taxonomic family.

They are purpose-built to catch fish. They have long, lanky wings that, when they flap, often look rubbery to me, though they are not. They give the osprey the ability to circle around out over the water without expending a great deal of energy while they try to find food. They also allow them to hover in place when they do spot something.

When they dive, they do it from 30 to 120 feet up, feet first, wings up in a triangle, taking on an arrow shape that points the opposite direction of their motion. They are the only raptor that can swing their feet up in front of their face so they can keep their eyes on the prize when they hit.

They will sink as much as a foot into the water before bobbing back up, and prefer hunting in shallower waters.

Their talons are incredibly sharp, their feet big with zygodactyl toes, meaning two facing forward and two facing backward, all the better to pierce and grip their slippery, writhing prey.

The fish they catch are usually between 10% and 30% of their 3-1/2-pound body weight, though occasionally they catch fish up to half their body weight. It takes an incredible strength of wing to get themselves out of the water and airborne again, something they must do quickly.

In some places, up to 95% of osprey nests are built on artificial habitats. Osprey platforms yes, but also channel markers, radio towers, rooftops and such. Which seems about right for what you see in the mainline Keys. But in the backcountry, they tend to nest on more natural structures. And in a place without any mammalian predators, even on the ground, like this one.

Which gets me to the fierce part. They will defend their nest if you get too close. You hear stories. For instance, Tom Wilmers, a wildlife biologist who used to work in the Keys, had one come after him while he was in a bucket truck, banding

some osprey chicks in the nest. The bird got close enough to him to steal his hat. After that he always brought someone else along with a trashcan lid to use as a shield.

Mad and I had both spent a good chunk of the last week at the San Carlos Institute for the Key West Literary Seminar, Mad working as assistant technical director, me mostly just listening to novelists like Jane Smiley, Rachel Kushner, Colm Tóibín, Richard Russo and Marlon James talk about their work. (Full disclosure: My wife is on the seminar board.)

After all that erudition and all that time indoors, it was nice to be out on the water, under all that sky, staring at a creature that holds its mysteries no matter how often you see one of its kind.

The one counterpoint to all that narrative prose was the poet Billy Collins, who comes to the seminar nearly every year. Is there such a thing as a visiting house poet? There aren’t many people who can hold a room the way Billy does when he reads – deadpan, wry, wily, able to flip your worldview on its side and make you laugh about it at the same time. (Good Lord, if you’ve never heard him read, Google him. Start with “The Lanyard.”)

He read a lot of poems over the weekend, some about not being a novelist, many of them about dogs, because he just published a book of poems about dogs called “Dog Show.”

One of the poems he did not read was about being on a rowboat on a lake and seeing an unfamiliar bird.

He starts, “Oh, large, brown, thickly feathered creature / with a distinctive white head,” then goes on to describe landing his boat after seeing the bird, and all the things he did immediately afterward, including contemplating what he wanted for his post-boating drink: I’m thinking a vodka soda with lemon — I will look you up in my illustrated guide to North American birds and I promise I will learn what you are called.

But you already knew. Because he titled the poem “Osprey.”

29

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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Womankind, Marathon’s non-profit provider of family planning, gynecology, and prenatal care, is hiring a front desk assistant for a two-day-per-week position (T,Th). Fluency in Spanish is a plus.

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30

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

WHEN WRITERS TEAM UP SOME OF TODAY’S HOTTEST READS ARE WRITTEN

BY PAIRS — HERE ARE THREE FAVORITES

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK

By Liv Constantine When Jade lost her father a decade ago, she didn’t think her heart would ever recover. Feeling alone and adrift in the world, she spends her birthdays at the restaurant where they once celebrated her special day. One year, the worst yet, Jade cannot shake her incessant guilt and returns to sit for what she hopes is the last time. When she glances at the busy New York City street, Jade shockingly catches a glimpse of her beloved father in the window. She may be sad and hopeless, but she is not imagining this. As Jade begins investigating what everyone thought was put to rest, the clues and uncovered secrets send her down a mysterious path of no return. Liv Constantine isn’t one writer, but the shared pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie. A true divideand-conquer partnership, the authors swap scenes, trade edits and sharpen twists and turns until the voice feels seamless. The result is a suspenseful short story that is free on Amazon Prime.

KAREN NEWFIELD

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.

ROYAL SPIN

By Omid Scobie and Robin Fenway BP — aka Buckingham Palace — is an intimidating location for a job interview. At 28 years old, American Lauren Morgan is determined to rebrand herself far away from the White House. After six years of grit and determination in D.C., she was ousted with a broken heart when her ex-love and ex-bestie became the “it” couple. After accepting the position of BP director of communications, Lauren learns the palace is pure chaos. She must master the protocols and British lingo as she navigates these halls of history, protecting the royals at any cost. Her quick-witted team is busy determining how she takes her tea when Lauren falls for a handsome journalist named Oscar. This well-paced novel (reminded me of “The Royal We”) makes it no surprise that this co-authored gem is already heading to the big screen — proof that when two writers click, the spark on the page can be electric. Scobie’s fiction debut and Benway’s first adult novel, also the first time either writer has co-authored, releases Feb. 10.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN

By James Patterson and Susan DiLallo Elinor Gilbert is an average middle-aged woman who teaches music class to children.

Waiters ignore her requests, coffee shops she frequents daily forget her name and Elinor feels invisible. But it wasn’t always this way. Elinor was an attractive rising star in the FBI until it all fell apart, and it has been years since she has felt valued. When her nemesis from the agency calls, Elinor cannot resist the chance to get her old life back.

Ironically, Elinor will need to become even more invisible to get the job done. They arrange a costume so she looks older and even more frumpy. She is sent undercover to nanny at the home of a distinguished art dealer where they believe money from a cartel is being laundered. Elinor must fly under the radar while snooping, eavesdropping and observing this family and their business — all while caring for an infant. Having never had children, Elinor cannot decide if she is more afraid of the baby or the undercover role. James Patterson is famous for teaming up with other writers, and Susan DiLallo is an accomplished lyricist and columnist.

Together they bring this sharp, humorous mystery to life.

#WORTHWATCHING “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” is one of my favorite co-authored books and book-to-screen movies. Set just after World War II, it follows a London writer as she corresponds with Guernsey islanders about the quirky book club they formed during the German occupation. Drawn into their stories, secrets and surprising friendships, this warm and romantic movie is perfect for any book lover. Check it out on Netflix.

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026 continued from page 4

BRIEFLY Child wanders near highway; Key West couple arrested A man and woman were arrested on Jan. 6 on Big Coppitt Key after a child was found wandering alone near U.S. 1. There were no injuries reported. Etzer Louis, 36, and Flerette Matelus, 32, both of Key West, were both charged with child neglect.

Witnesses were driving home around 6 p.m. when they saw a 2-year-old child wandering by himself at Dolphin Road and Boca Chica Road near U.S. 1. Deputies discovered two more children — one 9-month-old and the other 12 years old — asleep in a nearby home that was unlocked. It was discovered the children were left alone unsupervised for hours. It was also discovered this was not the first such instance, deputies said. The two suspects eventually arrived and were taken to jail.

The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified.

Visit Marathon Garden Club for Florida Arbor Day Florida Arbor Day is Friday, Jan. 16. Celebrate by visiting the plant nursery at the Marathon Garden Club, 5270 Overseas Highway, every Thursday for locally-grown plants. Stop by on Saturday, Jan. 17 for the January Jamboree to get expert plant advice, shop the nursery and visit several vendors, including three commercial plant sellers.

Marathon Community Church’s hot dog lunch is back The Marathon Community Global Methodist Church at 3010 Overseas Highway will resume its $5 lunch on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each lunch includes a quarter-pound grilled hot dog, a bag of chips, cookies and cold water. Funds will be used to continue the care of the church, built in 1948 to serve the community. Today, the church houses KAIR, community Bible study groups and a Haitian church, and serves as a meeting place for numerous community organizations. The church also supports missions in Cuba and Guatemala.

Dunedin man cited for undersized snapper Harold McGreevy, 73, of Dunedin, Florida, was given a mandatory notice to appear in court on Jan. 9 for possession of

an undersized mangrove snapper. Lower Keys marine deputy Luis Guiardinu was on patrol near the Seven Mile Bridge when he reportedly saw McGreevy cutting up the undersized snapper for bait.

Marathon Moose hosts weekly bingo night The Marathon Moose Lodge, located at 11601 1st Ave. Gulf, hosts a weekly bingo night open to the public, beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the lodge’s renovated, smoke-free hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. Six-game packets are available for purchase, plus two bonus games (shotgun and coverall).

Players must be 18. Water, soda and light snacks are available for purchase.

BBQ teams wanted for January contest The city of Marathon, in partnership with the Mid-Keys Booster Club, will host a barbecue pork butt contest and community cookout – “Sauced and Tossed” – on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 3 to 6 p.m. The city is seeking teams to enter the competition, with a $100 entry fee and a minimum of $500 in winnings guaranteed for first place. Teams may set up and begin smoking Friday night. Registrations are due by Jan. 16. For questions, call 305289-4109 or email events_committee@ci.marathon. fl.us. Scan the QR code to register: Join the Elks Club for breakfast specials The community is invited to join the Marathon Elks Club at 8239 Overseas Highway each Sunday for weekly breakfast specials, served from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Every $10 plate served helps support the Elks’ local charitable efforts.

All are welcome.

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.

IN OTHER NEWS • At the request of multiple council members, Marathon’s Jan. 27 council workshop will be an open-format question-and-answer session, with residents encouraged to bring any and all questions or pressing issues for discussion. The workshop begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

• Marathon Fire Rescue officially welcomed three new firefighters in Brandon Alvarez, Giancarlo Rodriguez and Aroldo Zuriarrain. The department honored Lieutenant Shana Rogers for 21 years of service to the city.

• City leaders recognized code enforcement administrative assistant Maria Thorley for 20 years of service to Marathon.

• Resolutions 2026-01 and 202602, both unanimously approved, provide for Marathon to accept and distribute $1.5 million in grant funding for the demolition and code-compliant reconstruction of 15 affordable housing units on Coco Plum’s Avenue D by VC Seaview Ltd.

• Struyf asked city staff to move forward with all open code cases, saying the city’s efforts to work amicably with violators could give the appearance of selective code enforcement.

1. Maria Thorley, center, marks 20 years of employment in Marathon’s code department.

2. Lieutenant Shana Rogers, center, is recognized for 21 years of service to Marathon Fire Rescue.

3. The Marathon City Council and Fire Chief James Muro welcome new firefighters Brandon Alvarez, Giancarlo Rodriguez and Aroldo Zuriarrain.

4. New firefighter Giancarlo Rodriguez is sworn in as a member of Marathon Fire Rescue.

Photos by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

34

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

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$100

35

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

The New Year is underway, and it’s already a is an astrologer, wanderer, bardoozy. With tender and the constant advocate for queer whiplash of justice. He is a news and world loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer events, you may rising. Find him at have noticed hearthandheraldyour relationastrology.com ships are going through a shift as we all try to negotiate the changing terrain. Last week, Venus met up with the sun and started a brand new 19-month cycle. We can think of this as Venus shedding her skin and being reborn as a freshfaced goddess. For us, it means our relationships and values went through a correlated transformation, and we may be reconsidering how we want to show up in our relationships and who we want to keep close. Our values and priorities are also getting reworked as we orient ourselves to the changes taking place. This week, we are due for a pleasant surprise as Venus, fresh off her conjunction with the sun, forms a supportive 120-degree trine to Uranus, which is retrograde in Taurus. Uranus is the planet of liberation and the unexpected. This planetary aspect portends an out-of-the-blue phone call or visit from an old friend, or a flash of insight concerning a personal investment, or a romcom style whirlwind romance with a beautiful stranger. Expect the unexpected when it comes to friendship, love or money. As this is a supportive trine being formed by these two planets, go with the flow to receive the benefits.

Here are your horoscopes for Venus in Capricorn trine retrograde Uranus in Taurus. Read for your rising and sun signs.

CHRIS McNULTY

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 You are at the beginning of a fresh new relationship with yourself, so treat yourself as you would a valued friend. Speak kindly about yourself and be generous.

You will have the opportunity to try a new creative outlet this week,

so pick up a new instrument or give a new hobby a try. Don’t shy away from being a beginner. For some of you Capricorns, there is a surprise love affair in the mix.

Have fun.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 You are still relishing in your quiet retreat, Aquarius. Keep it up. Your solitude is serving you well by allowing you to get reacquainted with who you are and to fall in love with yourself anew. Be prepared for a surprise at home, whether it is a visitor, an unexpected project, or a whole new set of furniture. Whatever changes on the home front, go with it to release an old family pattern or stagnant energy.

PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 There are folks out there who love you, Pisces. They want to see you succeed and they want to help you achieve your goals. Pay attention to the people who are showing up for you. An unexpected connection with someone in your neighborhood or a surprise call from a sibling may be the key that unlocks the door to a torrent of supportive energy. Let what is familiar to you be the catalyst for something new.

ARIES March 21 - April 19 Work and money are looking really good this week. You are probably feeling valued for the work you do, or you are particularly keen on appreciating your workplace. Soak it in. The more you imbibe gratitude at work, the more you open yourself up to an unexpected windfall in income.

There is money to be had, and it might as well be had by you. Now, money isn’t everything, so also pay attention to other forms of value coming your way.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20 Now is the time to try something new. You know what you like, Taurus, and it can be easy to

fall into relating to familiar and habitual people and places. Now is the time to find new vistas and worlds to explore and love. As you allow yourself to be allured by novelty, you free yourself with a different self-image. No matter how old you are, you get to reinvent yourself, and now is your time.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20 What you value is showing up in the ways you share your time, talent and treasure with other people. How are you investing what is yours within a group or collective? Your return will likely come in the quiet, solitary times that you spend alone. When you contribute to a whole that is greater than yourself, the benefit is a quiet liberation. That is available to you now.

CANCER June 21 - July 22 Love hard, Cancer. An important partner in your life is showing up in a meaningful way, and your job is simply to receive and reflect.

When you love for love’s sake, you will find that a whole network of support opens up for you out of the blue. Your freedom this week is built on deep appreciation for your closest relations. Avoid being transactional.

LEO July 23 - Aug. 22 It is the perfect time to start some fresh habits or routines that bring joy into your life. Something like a daily walk around the block or learning to cook a new dish would be ideal. By opening up space for simple joys in your daily schedule, you are inviting a big, hopeful surprise at work, whether or not you can see the correlation.

VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 There is a new creative outlet for you to fall in love with, Virgo.

Whether it is an art form or a romantic endeavor, dive head first into a creative project you haven’t tried before. Pick up the paints,

SPONTANEOUS RELATIONS

borrow an instrument, open the dating app. When you do, you will be opening yourself to a whole new worldview beyond just the immediate creative act.

LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 Your home is your loved one right now, Libra. Look on your living space as you would on a romantic love. Spruce it up. Give it what it needs. Hold up your end of the relationship. When you take care of your home space, you are allowing unexpected investments into your life. Folks will be excited to offer you support or resources in ways you didn’t see coming.

SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 How have you been relating to your familiar surroundings? It is so easy to fall into regular routines by putting blinders on to what you interact with on a day-to-day basis.

However, if you take the time to look around and look upon your usual world with love and appreciation, you will be opening yourself up to a big surprise from an important partner in your life.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 There is a direct correlation between how you manage your money and the freedom you feel in your day-to-day life. Take stock of your values and ensure that your money flows reflect your ethical foundation. When you get this right, you will be shocked by how much free energy you create in your daily schedule.

36

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

Buy well. Sell well. Live well.

(305) 912-2177 TRACY@TRACYCHACKSFIELD.COM TRACYCHACKSFIELD.COM

FEATURED PROPERTY

PANORAMIC OPEN WATER VIEWS OVERSIZED 13,875 SF LOT

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PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT Open Sat 11-1

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$3,600,000 | 3 BD | 3.5 BA | 3,616 SQ FT

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601 W Ocean Dr #407, Key Colony Beach

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30319 Falcon Ln, Big Pine Key

$625,000 | 2 BD | 2.5 BA | 1,475 SQ FT

$485,000 | 1 BD | 2 BA | 795 SQ FT

$1,139,000 | BUYER REPRESENTATION

UNDER CONTRACT REQUIRES STRATEGY Thinking about selling? Let’s talk. © 2026 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

37

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

NEVER BOUGHT. NEVER SOLD. ALWAYS LOCAL.

CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF LOCAL MEDIA UPPER KEYS WEEKLY • MARATHON WEEKLY • KEY WEST WEEKLY

38

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.743-0844

$60 ONLY

Leslie Christensen OWNER

phone 305-743-6881 AmericanCoastalRentals.com Leslie@AmericanCoastalRentals.com 9141 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

PUTS YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

305.743.0844

Liz Samess Interiors

SOLAR DONE RIGHT! CALL US FOR A FREE HOME ESTIMATE

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Liz Samess CELL: (954) 801-7883

Interior Designer

#10080583

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PROUDLY SERVING THE FLORIDA KEYS SINCE 2014

When it comes to solar and power storage for your home in the Florida Keys, turn to the Florida Keys Local Experts at SALT Energy.

A division of SALT Service, serving The Keys since 1989

305-289-1150

Email: interiordesignbyliz@gmail.com

Marathon, FL 33050

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inparadiseconstruction@outlook.com Florida Solar Contractor CVC 56734 Florida Electrical Contractor EC13008657

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Sportfishing Adventures

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SPECIALIZING IN REMODELS & NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER 20 YEARS

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Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm • 6681 Overseas Hwy, Marathon keystilestone@gmail.com • www.keystilestone.com • 305.743.7053

Stephanie Cheever Realtor® 305.481.3067 coconuts@frontiernet.net stephaniecheever.kw.com

Mid-Lower Keys Buying or Selling call me for a free consultation

“SELL+SOLD=SMILES”

Rafael Cordova 786.299.8992

Dale Coburn, Attorney 305.743.9858 Coburn@marathonlaw.com 5800 Overseas Highway, Suite 3, Marathon

Interior & Exterior Painting CGC1535962

rafamanagementgroupllc@gmail.com

39

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

LET’S DO BUSINESS - 305.743.0844 Licensed & Insured #SP33799

KAREN RASPE 305.393.9010 kraspe@oceansir.com www.oceansir.com

ALL KEYS GLASS

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Windows • Doors

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Authorized Dealer

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Capt. Brian's

JO ANN COOK

POOL SUPPLIES & SPA STORE WE SELL HOT TUBS! Delivered & Installed Key Largo to Key West

We DO Weekly Pool maintenance & Bi-weekly Landscape service

Exclusive dealer of USA-made Strong spas in the FL Keys!

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Roller Maintenance Track Maintenance Door Alignment Security Pins Safety Locks Handles

305.360.7968 jcook@oceansir.com

Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES U.S.1 & 109th St, Marathon (Across from Beall’s Outlet)

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ALLY KELLEY

James Nagy

Global Real Estate Advisor 727.459.0493 akelley@oceansir.com

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We Also Repair & Replace Patio Door Screens

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Will Campbell President

BUiLDiNG iNSPECTiONS & PLAN REViEW PRiVATE PROViDER WiLL CAMPBELL - PRESiDENT

Cell: 305-363-8330 Office: 305-735-4626 will@cecflk.com www.CECFLK.com

P.E. Lic. No: 79269 5800 Overseas Hwy. Unit 32 Marathon, FL. 33050

CGC1523838

CGC1523838

12420 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050

GENERAL CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS

SPALLING EXPERTS

Michael Kiraly

Mortgage Lender Supervisor NMLS# 675432 MKiraly@My100Bank.com Direct: (305) 942-1756 Office: (305) 676-3019

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Proud member of:

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40

MARATHON WEEKLY / JANUARY 15, 2026

9141 OVERSEAS HWY MARATHON, FL 33050 (305)743-7636 INFO@KEYSREALESTATE.COM

PARADE OF HOMES | OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND Tranquility Bay Resort

BY APPT ONLY 98250 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo $2,995,000| Commercial Real Estate The Owen Lucas Team (305)923-1902

Open Sat 11-2 341 Sombrero Beach Rd, Marathon $1,899,999 | 2BD/2BA | 1,532 SqFt Alicia Lund (305)431-0577

Open Sun 11-2 7090 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key $1,259,000 | 3BD/3BA | 1,320 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)393-0559

Open Sat 11-2 78 Tingler Ln, Marathon $3,950,000 | 3BD/2BA | 2,313 SqFt Brenda Torrella (305)481-0555

Open Sat 11-2 12690 Overseas Hwy 413, Marathon $855,000 | 2BD/2.5BA | 1,352 SqFt Walter Ceballos (305)562-0819

Open Sun 11-2 996 97th St Ocean, Marathon $3,490,000 | 3BD/2.5BA | 1,999 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)923-1902

Open Sat 11-2 2600 Overseas Hwy 21, Marathon $925,000 | 3BD/2.5BA | 1,320 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)393-0559

Open Sat 11-2 111 Stirrup Key Woods Rd 2B2, Marathon $410,500 | 2BD/1.5BA | 1,176 SqFt The Owen Lucas Team (305)923-1902

Open Sat 2-4 180 Ana Ct, Marathon $2,499,000 | 5BD/3BA | 2,387 SqFt Teresa Yeider (305)879-5474

Open Sun 11-2 95 Coco Plum Dr 4C, Marathon $925,000 | 3BD/3BA | 1,857 SqFt Walter Ceballos (305)562-0819

Open Sun 12-2 230 13th St, Key Colony $2,750,000 | 3BD/3BA | 2,418 SqFt Nate Bartlett (305)800-6283

Open Sun 12-2 97 Coral Ln, Key Colony $945,000 | 2BD/2BA | 1,290 SqFt Tracy Chacksfield (305)912-2177

VISIT KEYSREALESTATE.COM TO VIEW ALL LISTINGS

@BHHSKeysRealEstate ©2026 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.