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.
Another Fourth of July has come and gone, and so has another Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island in New York City. It’s no surprise the winner was Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. But what’s astonishing is the number of hot dogs eaten, a whopping 70-and-a-half hot dogs, beating second-place finisher by 24 hot dogs. It was Chestnut’s 20th appearance and 17th win.
KEY COLONY INN CLOSES
Restaurateurs leave town as building’s owner promises a comeback
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
As the holiday weekend came to a close, one of the Middle Keys’ most popular eateries shut its doors – and both the staff and the building’s owner say they were just as surprised as the patrons.
Questions began percolating on social media as the Key Colony Inn did not open for normal business hours on July 6 and 7, leaving kitchen staff, bartenders and servers in limbo until Monday afternoon.
“On Saturday, I went in there and I noticed we were running out of food,” bartender Ashley Seiple told the Weekly. “The beer was low, and the wine, and I noticed that there was no schedule put out – we always get a schedule.”
Marlin (Ian Reyes, left) and Nemo (Ryan Bryk, also played by Isla Mann) are the famous father-son duo in ‘Finding Nemo, Jr.,’ on stage this weekend at Marathon Community Theatre. See page 12. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
been no word on the status of outstanding paychecks and tip-outs.
The 11,000-square-foot building at 700 West Ocean Drive is owned by Harry and Donna Kirchner, the original owners of the Key Colony Inn restaurant since its inception in 1990. It is currently listed for sale at $3.5 million, with 100% of the space listed as leased. The Bakers purchased the business, long regarded as a community center in Key Colony Beach, in 2020 from previous owner Lena Proudnik.
Speaking with the Weekly on July 8, Harry Kirchner said the closure was a complete surprise to him as well, learning from acquaintances that the restaurant hadn’t been open on Sunday before eventually getting a call from Malafy.
Kirchner said he’d met with the Bakers just six weeks prior to discuss proceeding with the second half of their “5+5”-year lease signed in August 2020. At that time, he said, potential buyers for the property were also interested in buying out the business – an offer the Bakers eventually declined.
Members of
The next morning, Seiple said, she got a text from the restaurant’s daytime bartender asking why the Inn was closed.
“I said I had no idea,” she said. “I thought he was (messing) with me.
Only one person got a text (from the owners). The kitchen staff showed up here yesterday and were told ‘no work today.’”
Calls and texts to owners Ali and Andy Baker reportedly went unanswered until July 7, when staff received a text message from the Bakers’ attorney, Rich Malafy.
“Unfortunately, I have been given the very difficult task of informing you that as of last night the Inn under the ownership of Ali and Andy is no longer and is closed,” the message read. “Ali and Andy would like you to know that they tried their best and literally put everything they had into keeping the Inn alive but ultimately were unable to do so.
“Ali and Andy have asked me to pass along that they are truly thankful for everything you have done to try to make the Inn a success and that they are sorry it has come to this.”
Employees told the Weekly the apartment above the restaurant, where the Bakers had been living, had been cleared out, and that there had
“They said, we feel like we’re there and we’re going to take our next five (years) because we think we can turn this thing around,” Kirchner said. “So this was a shock to me, because I gave (them) an out, and they didn’t take it.”
“I never heard from the tenants (directly), and I still haven’t,” he added. “It wasn’t any kind of bad blood thing – I’ve had a very decent relationship with them as a landlord for a long time. The final straw, what it is, honestly, I have no idea.”
On Tuesday, Malafy told the Weekly the Bakers were exploring options to resolve payroll issues after leaving Marathon and turning the property back over to Kirchner.
Asked if the building would eventually reopen as a restaurant, Kirchner said: “That’s a definite yes.”
“I’ll be coming down there now to clear it all out, clean, paint, put the whole thing back together and make sure it’s in top shape,” he said. “And the next thing we’ll be looking for is a buyer to come in there and put the place back on the map.”
A call and voicemail to Ali Baker had not been returned at press time.
The Key Colony Inn restaurant closed its doors on July 6 after owners Ali and Andy Baker left the Middle Keys, telling staff a day later via text message. As of July 8, the building had no sign announcing the closure. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
From left, Key West City Commissioner LIssette Carey, Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, and commissioners Donie Lee and Aaron Castillo listen to a resident urge them not to sign a cooperative agreement between local police and federal ICE agents. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
KEY WEST REVERSES COURSE AS THE COUNTRY LOOKS ON
City officials approve cooperative agreement between local police and ICE agents
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Acapacity crowd filed out of City Hall shortly before 9 p.m. on July 8, their palpable hope and optimism from the prior three hours replaced with disgust and disappointment, after the city commission voted 4-2 to enter into an agreement between Key West Police Department and federal ICE agents to conduct immigration enforcement.
The commission could have postponed its decision on the so-called 287(g) agreement and awaited a legal determination by the courts about whether it is mandatory for city, or municipal, police departments to enter such agreements.
The pending lawsuit, filed by the City of South Miami against the state of Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis, claims local law enforcement agencies are not obligated to sign such agreements, according to Florida Statutes. That South Miami case is still making its way through the courts and commissioner Monica Haskell on Tuesday proposed postponing their vote until it is decided. Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover agreed, as did commissioner Sam Kaufman, although he was absent from the meeting and could not vote. But four other local lawmakers — commissioners Lissette Carey, Aaron Castillo and Donie Lee and Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez — instead voted to direct the city manager to enter into the ICE agreement.
In explaining his vote, Commissioner Lee recalled his time as police chief, when the city occasionally sought an attorney general’s opinion to clarify a law.
“There were times I didn’t agree with the law, but still had to follow it,” Lee said. “The current Florida attorney general has opined that the statute requires municipal police departments to enter into 287(g) agreements, so until the courts rule on South Miami’s case,
I will vote tonight with my head and not my heart and move to approve the agreement.”
The vote was seen by the more than 200 residents who filled city hall to capacity — the commission chambers and two additional conference rooms — as cowardice and capitulation to political pressure and threats from the Florida attorney general that the police chief and other officials could be removed from office for refusing to sign an agreement.
“The country is watching and I’m tired of being ashamed of being a Florida resident,” one of the 30-plus speakers told the commission during the meeting. “I’d like to be proud of where I live and of the people who represent me.”
The nation had been watching Key West since the city’s June 30 vote that determined its prior 287(g) agreement was void because it was signed by the police chief and not the city manager. The commission voted 6-1 on June 30 to consider that agreement void with Carey as the lone dissenting vote. National news stories followed, putting Key West in the spotlight as the tiny island opposed its state officials.
Resident Daria Wood told the commissioners, “A mandatory agreement? That’s literally an oxymoron. Silence, overriding and coercion? That’s not democracy, commissioners; that’s dictatorship. … The governor and attorney general want to fire you, but they didn’t hire you; we did.”
After hearing three hours of emotional input from more than 40 residents who opposed the ICE agreement — and just two who supported it — the commission voted 4-2 to direct the city manager to sign a 287(g) pact with ICE. Haskell and Hoover voted against the agreement, wanting instead to wait for the legal determination about whether the agreements are mandatory for city police departments. There is no doubt that county sheriff’s offices must sign such agreements, as they operate county jails, and the Monroe County
Sheriff’s Office is in compliance.
Kaufman was out of the country and absent from the special meeting, which was scheduled on July 2, two days after the commission had voted on June 30 to designate the 287(g) agreement, which had been signed by the Key West police chief, as void. July 2 was also the day the city received a letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claiming the city was violating the law and threatening to remove officials from office if they did not sign an agreement.
Henriquez told the Keys Weekly on July 7 that her vote on June 30 to view the 287(g) agreement as void was only done because the agreement had been signed by the police chief, and not the city manager, and was therefore invalid. “I’m not caving when I vote for the agreement at tomorrow’s meeting,” Henriquez said. “Because if it would have been signed by the city manager in the first place, I would have absolutely voted to keep it in place and to ensure the city of Key West is in compliance with state and federal laws.”
Henriquez added that she was disgusted by many of the social media comments she had been seeing and said, “I am sick and tired of this city being legislated via Facebook.”
Though absent from the hastily scheduled meeting, Kaufman submitted a letter that was read into the record at the start of the meeting. It states in part:
“I am out of the country on a long-planned family trip, but this meeting — one of the most important we’ve faced — was scheduled without checking if all commissioners could attend. That’s not just disrespectful; it’s unacceptable. … Why? How was this date chosen? Was there any discussion? Any transparency? Or is this another behind-closed-doors move — like how the former city manager was ousted?
“Nevertheless, let me be clear: I support our police. I fully support our chief. And I absolutely stand with our immigrant community — our neighbors, our workforce, our friends.
“Unfortunately, we landed in this legal mess because we didn’t get proper guidance before the June 30 vote. We should have had expert legal counsel from the start. Why didn’t we? Now, instead of slowing down and considering all of our options — including joining South Miami’s legal challenge — the mayor rushed to reverse course. The city’s expert legal counsel has confirmed we are in a strong position by doing nothing. We haven’t entered or rescinded an agreement. There’s no legal liability. So why panic? The mayor scheduled this meeting prior to discussing the legal options with the attorneys. Why not wait for the courts to decide whether the 287(g) agreement is mandatory or voluntary? Florida law does not require cities to sign 287(g). It only applies to sheriffs. Our police chief signed that agreement without public input or commission approval. That’s a problem. And we were right to recognize it as void.
“If the mayor’s resolution is approved (which I do not support) to enter into the 287(g) agreement, then at least let’s fight it in court alongside South Miami. But make no mistake — entering into the 287(g) agreement is the worst option for our community.”
“Key West depends on tourism. We depend on trust. Turning our police into ICE agents erodes both. This isn’t about politics, it’s about public safety and economic survival.
“Please. Do not let fear win. Do not rush. And do not abandon the people we swore to protect.”
Kaufman’s words went unheeded by his fellow commissioners.
See keysweekly.com for a collection of comments from local residents who spoke for more than three hours at the July 8 meeting.
THANK YOU!
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!
We couldn't do it without you
Mike Cunningham, George Garrett, Jesus Parra, Kelly & Sam Williams , Mia Williams, Mike and Brandi Card, Erin Arnett, Gerrit Hale, Kurt and Lisa Joseph, Cara O'Neil , Amanda Matyi, Keith & Diane Douglass, Charlotte Quinn , Natalie & Bill Danko, Mary Ann Royse , Carlos Garcia, Kelly Judd, Kathleen Pouser, Alex Welbaum, Maddy Judd, Marianne Finizi, Richard Nadelian, Carolyn Campbell, Kelly & Jereme Wensel, Lorna Sanchez, Brian Tewes, Denise Peterson, Mazzy Wensel , Jack Thorley, Pete Snow, Brian Capo , Josh Koler, Betsy Snow, Heath Lopez
Many thanks to the wonderful
CREW AND PRODUCERS
Chief Pyrotechnician: Randy Mearns
Pyros: Mike Puto • Lyle Cameron • Billy Diaz
Denise Pankow • Chris Pankow • Michael Mearns
Buddy Cameron • Hammer Runyon
Producers: City of Marathon • Fire Power Displays
Radio Active Productions • Florida Keys Media
Marathon Electric Sign & Light
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Monroe County Sheriff Department • FWC • USCG • Marathon Fire & Rescue • Richie Moretti • Scott Williams • Hammer Runyon & City of Marathon Staff • Kelly Vaughn Williams • Coca Cola • Publix
Sunbelt Rentals • Marathon Garbage Service • Eagle Brand of the Florida Keys • First State Bank
EVENT CHAIR & COMMITTEE
Mike Puto, George Garrett, Brian Tewes, Sam Williams, Kelly Williams, Jesus Parra
FIGHT SPORTS CLUB
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
MARATHON
LINCOLN ITURREY P.A.
JAMES RIFKIN & JANE PACKARD
AHEC
Andy & Daves Garage
Aquarium Encounters
Big Pine Medical and Minor Emergency
Brandvold Appraisal
Brian Capo
Brandi & Mike Card
Coast to Coast Pizza
D'Asign Source
Dot Palm
Faro Blanco Resort & Marina
Island Fish Co
Midas Touch
Douglas Vaughn
3rd Generation Plumbing
Bishop, Rosasco & Co
Campbell Engineering
Centennial Bank
CHI
Coconut Telegraph Productions
Douglass Marine
Erin Arne
GEORGE GARRETT
VASO REALTY
Firefighters Association
First State Bank of the FL Keys
Hal Schuhmacher PA
IOA (Insurance O ce of America)
Key Colony Beach Realty
Keys Animal Hospital
Keys Carwash
Natalie Ardis PA
New Life Church
Oceanica - Cesar Mendez
Porky's Bayside Restaurant & Marina
Royal Furniture
Ernest Rhodes Plumbing
Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce
Promotions Guy
Regan Insurance Agency
Richard E. Warner P.A.
Sarah Bartus
Truist Bank
William J. He ernan
Keys Contracting Services
Fl Keys Contractors Association
Beth Ramsey-Vickrey
SS Wreck Gallery Grill
Stu ed Pig
Sweet Savannah’s
Wright Barrows PLL
Superior Electric of FL Keys
Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA
Keys Tile & Stone
La Palma 101
Mary Ann Royse
Marathon Mermaid Charters
Hiller Mothner Team
NAPA Auto Parts
Homes & Land of the Florida Keys
Kelly Electric
Larry & Alice Anderson
Law O ces of Campbell and Malafy
Marathon Lady of the Florida Keys
Sparky’s Landing
Bishop, Rosasco & Co
Rapid Permits
Glunz Ocean Beach Hotel & Resort
Jeane e Shannon
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Mon - Fri 11am to Close | Sat & Sun 10am to Close
1-5PM HAPPY HOUR
MARATHON CITY COUNCIL SPOTLIGHTS LOCALS IN SHORT SESSION
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Celebrations of new firefighters and the accomplishments of Marathon residents took up the majority of a light agenda for the Marathon City Council at its July 8 session.
$7 Menu
• Chicken wings, chicken livers and More!
• 32 beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm
uengling
* $2 Pints of Yuengling and Bud Light!
BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 2PM
• Unique & interesting menu
• $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots
LUNCH & DINNER
• New Sandwich Options
• Diver Speared Local Fish
• Prime Rib • Lobster
• Cook Y
• Great Seafood Selections
SUSHI
• Toro • Lionfish • Poke • Hamachi collar
• Fresh Uni arrives on
Fire Chief James Muro opened the evening by swearing in and pinning new firefighters David Conde and Alejandro Ortega, with firefighter Alexander Martinez to be recognized at a later date. The final three hires represent the first time Marathon has had a fully-staffed fire department in roughly seven years, Mayor Lynn Landry told the audience.
“It takes a lot of hard work and support from their families, EMT fire certification, testing screening, an oral interview, swim tests – all sorts of things to get to the point where they are,” Muro said. “This oath has significance for the fire service and police work and the military, because after the oath, every other thing they do is just part of the job.”
Muro also lauded the accomplishments of newly-promoted Lt. Isabella Sanchez, who joined Marathon Fire Rescue after time spent with Key Largo EMS.
“She’s a natural leader, and we’re happy and proud to have her here,” Muro said. “We had a situation in which we had to do two promotional tests within six weeks of each other … a driver’s test and a lieutenant’s test. Ms. Sanchez finished number one on both.”
Councilwoman Robyn Still recognized local FWC biologist Andrew Heise, recognized earlier this year as one of Gov. Ron DeSantis Florida Heroes for saving the life of a man bitten by a crocodile in the Everglades in March 2024.
Dragging the 68-year-old man from the water, Heise used knowledge gained from years in Boy Scouts to apply a tourniquet to his severely injured leg, stopping what could very well have been a fatal bleed until other first responders arrived.
“Due to his quick actions, this gentleman is alive today,” said Still. “I just thought it was important that we have a recognition of him not only as a Florida Hero, but I consider him a Marathon hero also. … Thank you for doing what a lot of people might not have done, or might not have had the skills and knowledge to do.”
In other news:
• Resolution 2025-69, unanimously approved, provides for a potential reimbursement of $32,680 of an estimated $50,000 for installation of 10 navigational aids leading to the redeveloped Seven Mile Marina. Funding would come from the State Boating Improvement Funds, earmarked to aid recreational boating projects. The request will be renewed in August by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners.
• Resolution 2025-67, approved on consent, awarded a $553,582 contract to LPS Contracting for the redevelopment of the docks at the Seven Mile Marina.
• Resolution 2025-70, also unanimously approved, amends an agreement to include the city of Layton in funds divided and distributed from the Florida Keys Stewardship Act. Since 2012, the annual state allocation has funded wastewater and water quality improvement projects throughout the island chain. Under the amendment, eight government entities and utilities would each receive 12.5% of allocated funds each year, with the ability to redistribute funds based on individual cities’ needs. In lieu of the agreement, municipalities and utilities would submit individual projects to a grant portal to earn a share of the funds.
The Marathon City Council recognizes Florida Hero Andrew Heise, third from right, after he saved a man from a near-fatal crocodile bite in 2024.. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
New firefighters Alejandro Ortega, left center, and David Conde, right center, represent a group of three that will bring Marathon Fire Rescue to full staffing for the first time in seven years.
The sets are elaborate. The costumes are handsewn. And Mount Wannahockaloogie even blows bubbles. What more could you ask for?
A cast and crew of more than 40 Keys kids will take audiences beneath the waves for Disney’s familyfriendly “Finding Nemo, Jr.” this weekend at Marathon Community Theatre.
The stage musical builds off the 2003 animated Pixar hit by adding a host of original tunes as Marlin (Ian Reyes) sets off on a quest to find his captured child, Nemo (Ryan Bryk and Isla Mann). But just like the movie, Dory (Gabrielle Doering) is still forgetful as all get-out, Bruce (Emily Rojas) and the gang of sharks still need a serious intervention – fish are friends, NOT food – and the “Tank Gang” led by Gill (Haven Kreps) at 42 Wallaby Way pack the sass.
“It’s kind of cool, because I get to be the boss of (the Tank Gang), planning an escape,” said Kreps, who snagged a principal role in her first-ever audition.
The show on July 11, 12 and 13 marks the conclusion of MCT’s six-week children’s summer theatre program – meaning “Nemo, Jr.” went from casting to curtains in barely a dozen rehearsals under directors Kara Pascucci and Stephanie Zajac.
“I feel like everyone has each other’s backs, and I like that,” said Kreps. “I love the beginning, because everyone’s on stage together.”
“Finding Nemo, Jr.” starts at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Limited available tickets are $17 including fees and are available at www. marathontheater.org or by calling 305-743-0994.
FISH ARE FRIENDS
Kids bring ‘Finding Nemo, Jr.’ to the stage at MCT
1. Carli D’Ascanio plays the fly-in messenger as Nigel.
2. Nemo (Ryan Bryk) gets a first look at Mount Wannahockaloogie.
3. The Tank Gang hatches a plot to escape their aquarium with a clogged filter. Back row, from left: Bubbles (Casey Torres), Gurgle (Sophia Rodriguez), Nigel (Carli D’Ascanio), Gill (Haven Kreps) and Bloat (Jubilee Wiebe). Center: Peach (Gabrielle Wiebe). Front: the two Nemos (Ryan Bryk, left, and Isla Mann).
4. Arguably the most famous street address in a Disney film makes a required appearance.
5. Chum (Savannah Chamberlain), Bruce (Emily Rojas) and Anchor (Maya Christensen) pledge to remember that ‘fish are friends, not food’ … for all of five minutes.
6. Gabrielle Doering plays the lovable but maddeningly absent-minded Dory.
Photos by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
X Receive your bill electronically.
X Pay your bill securely online.
X Enroll in Autopay for more convenience.
X View and track your energy usage data.
X Access your account anytime, anywhere for added security.
X Other features include news releases, Florida Currents magazine, and more.
X Access FKEC’s Live Power Outage Map.
X Contact us 24/7 to report an issue, or submit a general inquiry.
SAVINGS
SAILOR MAKES A SAVE
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Turtle Hospital rescues leatherback hatchling found on pooch’s evening walk
An endangered turtle hatchling in the Middle Keys got a second chance at life on the eve of the holiday weekend, thanks to the combined efforts of Marathon’s Turtle Hospital, caring neighbors – and a dog named Sailor.
When Rick Lee took his fourlegged family member for an evening walk on July 3 near Coco Plum Beach, he wasn’t expecting it to turn into a rare save.
But when Sailor drew his attention to a crevice next to the sidewalk in their condo complex, it was for good reason: trapped in the crack, covered in ants and not moving, was a freshlyhatched baby leatherback turtle.
“We thought it was dead at first,” said Lee’s wife, Candice.
Responding to the Lees’ calls, staff from the Turtle Hospital took the hatchling in for evaluation. Blood tests revealed normal levels in the active youngling, and just hours after its discovery, the hatchling – named “Sailor” after its rescuer – was ready for a sunset release off the beach, just yards away from where it was found.
The largest of all living sea turtle species, a leatherback nest in the Keys is an exceedingly rare occurrence – just her second in 20 years of work with the hospital, manager Bette Zirkelbach told the Weekly.
Two months before the rescue, staff had documented marks from what was believed to be a “false crawl” – tracks on land without a corresponding nest – on the beach. But with tracks from other hatchlings leading toward the water near where Sailor was found, at press time, the location of the nest was still unknown.
“The hatchling most likely followed artificial light away from the ocean – a reminder to please keep your lights off at night during nesting season,” the hospital wrote in a social media post announcing the rescue.
Sea turtle nesting season in the Keys runs from April 15 through Oct. 31. During these months, bright, artificial lights can disorient hatchlings, which rely on moonlight to find their way to the ocean after hatching.
“It’s important for people during nesting season, when they see something, say something,” said Zirkelbach. “Call the hotline at 305-481-7669 if you’re unsure of what you are seeing. It gives the babies a chance.”
For more information on ways to protect sea turtles with residential lighting, scan the QR code.
Cleared for release by Turtle Hospital staff, leatherback turtle hatchling Sailor awaits the journey home. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Sailor the leatherback turtle meets its rescuer and namesake: Sailor the dog.
William (David) Perry. CONTRIBUTED
3 incumbents, 3 newcomers vie for open seats
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
Aborn-and-raised Middle Keys charter captain became the sixth candidate in the 2025 Marathon City Council race as David Perry filed his election paperwork last week.
The owner of Final Final Fishing Charters, based out of Hawks Cay, was born in Marathon, attending Sue Moore School and Marathon High School. Today, he said, he’s eager to make an impact on the city his two daughters and four grandchildren also call home.
“I’ll retire February 1 of 2026 and sell the last part of my business, and my ex-wife, my kids and a lot of my friends told me, it’s time to help out and give back,” he told the Weekly. “I said I’m more than willing to give back, and if running for city council is the way I can do that, I’m your guy. This is a place I love. My kids are grown up, and my grandkids are going to grow up here. I’ve seen all the changes, heard all the complaints, and now I’d like to help do something for the community.”
“I’ll
retire February 1 of 2026 and sell the last part of my business. ... It’s time to help out and give back.”
— David Perry
DAVID PERRY FILES FOR CITY COUNCIL RACE
He cited prioritizing local residents over outside interests, streamlining Marathon’s permit system and a commitment to open discussion with residents in council meetings as the foundation of his campaign.
“The long story short is that I’d like to see it easier for the residents to live in Marathon. I have contractors, electricians, all saying it’s so hard to open up a permit or close a permit compared to a guy from out of town,” he said.
“If people want a politician, they shouldn’t vote for me. I’m not a politician – I’m going to get in, listen to the citizens of Marathon and try to make the best decision for them and what they want. That’s my goal.”
In 2024, Perry was an outspoken critic in council sessions of what he said was unnecessary overdevelopment and its effects on surrounding neighborhoods, taking specific aim at the Florida Keys Country Club’s golf course redevelopment.
Speaking to the Weekly on July 7, he declined to comment on the golf course, but praised residents’ ability to effect change on items such as a scaled-back hotel/motel redevelopment ordinance from 2023.
He said if elected, he looked forward to seeing more faces and voices in the council chambers.
“I just don’t think there’s enough people up there right now listening to what people are saying,” he said. “I don’t think enough citizens come to the meetings. … If there’s one thing I learned going to meetings at City Hall, it’s that the more people you bring with you, the more you’re going to be heard.”
Though he has previously lived on Duck Key, Perry told the Weekly he rented a property in Marathon as of July 1 to be eligible for the 2025 city council race. He said he plans to sell his Duck Key home if elected. His name is listed in official election documents as William (David) Perry.
COMMERCE CORNEr
Established in 1957 (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Keys Real Estate), with over 20 years of commercial real estate expertise Team Gardner/Langley specializes in commercial real estate sales, leasing, business brokerage, and investment consulting across the Florida Keys. With a track record of over $1 billion in sales and leasing volume, we provide expert guidance to buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in retail, office, lodging, restaurant, and mixed-use properties. Our team offers extensive market knowledge, strategic marketing, property analysis, municipal development assistance, and licensing services. We are committed to helping clients maximize their investments with a professional, integrity-driven approach. Our dedication to professionalism, integrity, and results-oriented service has made us the market leader in Florida Keys commercial real estate.
With the highest commercial real estate sales volume in the Florida Keys, Team Gardner/Langley provides unmatched expertise, negotiation skills, and investment insights. Now, with a special focus on the Marathon market, our team has expanded its expertise with Connor Nelson, a Business Economics and real estate specialist from Brown University. Connor brings deep analytical skills and investment insights, ensuring clients in Marathon and the Lower Keys receive top-tier service and strategic guidance for their commercial real estate goals. Our team is now uniquely positioned to serve investors and businesses in the Marathon market, providing in-depth economic analysis and customized real estate solutions.
RED, WHITE AND BLUE FEVER
RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
Entrants got creative with their wheels in the Rotary Club of Marathon’s annual Fourth of July parade, adding to the usual procession of cars, trucks, golf carts, trailers and bikes with OneWheels and even a sailboat dolly to ring in America’s birthday. After onlookers on Sombrero Beach Road got their fair share of candy, the Rotary Club kept the all-day party alive at the beach before the city’s renowned fireworks show lit up the sky to put a bow on Independence Day.
1. The division-champion Marathon High School baseball team serves as grand marshals aboard the Pigeon Key Express.
2-5 Bikes, golf carts, off-road vehicles and even OneWheels delight spectators in the annual procession.
6. Kids and their families wait for candy at Sombrero Beach.
7. Janny Oliva joins the celebration with Marathon Fire Rescue.
8. Young captains from Middle Keys Sailing keep their rudders straight down Sombrero Beach Road.
9. Altair Watson and her rollerblades win the Most Patriotic award.
10. Michelle Macoskey, left, and Carla Cyphers rescue ‘turtles in trouble’ along the parade route.
11. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Marathon keep bellies and drinks full all day at Sombrero Beach.
12. Keith Douglass, right, spreads some Rotary cheer.
13. Mia Williams keeps the speakers bumping with the Marathon Middle School cheerleaders.
THE PARADE WINNERS
Best Overall: The USA Bikers
Most Patriotic: Altair Watson
Most Spirited: The Turtle Hospital
Best Float: Marathon Middle School Cheerleaders
Best Golf Cart: Debra Struyf
Best Bike: Denise Pankow
Best Float, Best Golf Cart and Best Bike winners received a $100 cash prize, courtesy of the Turtle Hospital’s Richie Moretti.
Photos by Ross Smith and Alex Rickert
TRAILER REPAIRS &
ISLAMORADA’S NOTORIOUS PEACOCKS WON’T BE REMOVED AFTER ALL
Homeowners association expresses concerns with the bird problem
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
They may not be native to the Florida Keys, but peacocks have long called Islamorada’s Plantation Key home.
Drivers traversing the Old Highway around MM 88 often see the large, colorful birds strutting along and across the road. Longtime residents say the peacocks have been seen in Islamorada for many decades.
Their residency in the village almost came to an end, however, after a local homeowners association was seeking to have bounty hunters remove the birds, which have been flocking onto their property. It caused quite a stir in a community with residents who’ve come to adore the peacocks’ existence on the island.
A large response from the community to protect the peacocks led the Port of Call Townhouses Homeowners Association’s board of directors to hold off on their removal.
“While our efforts to humanely remove and relocate the overpopulated and non-native peacocks from our property were in full compliance with Florida law, we have chosen to pause these efforts,” reads a statement from the homeowners association’s attorney to village officials on July 8, the same day bounty hunters were set to round up the peacocks via snaring, for transportation to a Georgia farm.
It all began more than a week ago when information surfaced regarding the impending removal of the peacocks by two bounty hunters. It was directed by the board of the directors for the quaint townhouse neighborhood Port of Call, which consists of 10 privately-owned residences on the oceanside. The move came following issues they were facing with the birds on their property. They say upwards of 60 to 80 peacocks are wreaking havoc on the property.
Per the homeowners association’s attorney, the root cause of the peacock problem was the continuous feeding of the animals by two owners within the community — a violation of the association’s rules. Despite multiple violation letters sent by the association and its legal counsel, the letter states, these owners continue feeding the peafowl and exacerbating the issue.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission characterizes peacocks as nuisance birds, meaning they have no specific protections.
“If the landowner or HOA is seeking removal and there is no local ordinance or regulation prohibiting it, the property owner may remove the birds themselves or hire a third party to do that work for them,” states FWC.
Further, FWC says any live-captured nuisance wildlife must be released legally or euthanized humanely within 24 hours of capture or trap inspection.
Per FWC, nonnative fowl species, including peacocks, have become established in municipalities across the state by escaping from properties or by release. They can exhibit nuisance behaviors when their numbers multiply or when they are being fed by people, which has been the case for Port of Call.
“As a result, our owners are left to contend with the waste they produce, along with their territorial behavior toward children, vehicles and pets, as well as noise disturbances and safety concerns,” reads a statement from the homeowners association. “Unfortunately, the feeding of these wild animals by residents, visitors and guests has also led directly to their overpopulation on our grounds.”
Village Manager Ron Saunders stated in his weekly newsletter that he spoke with FWC officers, who said no permits were issued or needed regarding peacocks. Saunders said the village’s legal counsel researched the issue and found the Monroe County animal control ordinance applies within the village. The ordinance requires any seizures and impoundments must be done “in a humane manner” and any person who seizes an animal must “exercise utmost care to treat the animal humanely and to avoid any injury.”
Mayor Sharon Mahoney said the council will review its ordinances related to farm animals at a July 22 meeting at the Founders Park Community Center.
“This is part of a broader effort to ensure our codes reflect the needs and values of our community as a whole,” she wrote in the recent village newsletter.
FWC
tips from
recently
WILDLIFE AGENCIES NET BUTTERFLY POACHER
Washington State man allegedly had 15 dead butterflies in envelopes
State and federal wildlife agencies netted a Washington State man after he allegedly captured several species of butterflies from a state park in Key Largo.
Tad R. Norman, 76, was charged on June 5 with unlawful take and possession of wildlife.
Since 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), has received multiple reports of butterfly poaching within Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The removal of any wildlife from the park is strictly prohibited.
Despite increased patrols and public reports, the only lead in the case had been a vehicle with Washington State license plates.
On June 5, a witness reported seeing a man, later identified as Nor-
man, using a butterfly net near the park and leaving the area in a truck bearing Washington State tags. FWC and FWS officers quickly responded and found the vehicle. An FWC officer conducted a traffic stop and discovered Norman in possession of 15 deceased butterflies, each individually stored in small envelopes. The butterflies were identified as Julias, Great Southern White (Ascia monuste) and Florida Purplewing (Funica tatila)
Norman was issued a notice to appear. His arraignment was July 9 before Judge Sharon Hamilton at the Plantation Key Courthouse.
"Floridians know our natural resources are our greatest treasure," said Major Alberto Maza, South Bravo Regional Commander. "The poaching of any wildlife will not be tolerated on state lands."
The public is encouraged to report potential wildlife violations by downloading the FWC Wildlife Alert app, calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922), or submitting a tip online at MyFWC. com/WildlifeAlert.
— Keys Weekly staff report
officers, with support from federal partners and
the public,
apprehended a Washington State man in Monroe County, who was allegedly poaching butterflies from a state park. FWC/Via Facebook
KEYS SCHOOLS WELCOME NEW SUPERINTENDENT
Edward Tierney takes Monroe County education reins
Monroe County schools this month welcomed Edward Tierney as the new superintendent of schools. Tierney brings more than two decades of educational leadership from the school district of Palm Beach County — an “A” rated, academically high-performing district — where he most recently served as deputy superintendent and chief of schools.
Tierney has served in public education for 23 years, beginning at Indian Ridge School, in roles ranging from behavior intervention associate to principal. He later led John I. Leonard High School as principal for five years, increasing the graduation rate by 22% and narrowing achievement gaps in GPA, graduation and access to advanced coursework.
He then served as an instructional superintendent, supporting 15 schools in improving culture, systems and instruction. As chief of staff, he provided direct support to the superintendent and school board, managing districtwide initiatives and serving as liaison to the legislative liaison office, strategic communications and other key departments.
Tierney said he is committed to the belief that education changes lives and that success builds upon itself. In his first year, he plans to listen and learn from school stakeholders and build upon the district’s existing strengths.
“I am so honored to be the superintendent of Monroe County Schools and very appreciative of the warm welcome,” Tierney said on his first official day. “I look forward to working with this talented team to continue to improve outcomes for all students.”
— Contributed
RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT RECALLS
48 YEARS IN KEYS SCHOOLS
Theresa Axford was teacher, principal and then chief
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
In 1976, a young school teacher from Philadelphia arrived in Key West, where she had accepted a job teaching English at a Catholic school then known as Mary Immaculate High School (today’s Basilica School).
Theresa “Terri” Axford spent seven years teaching there and was promoted to principal before the Archdiocese of Miami closed the high school in 1986. At that time, Bookie Henriquez, then-superintendent of the county school district, hired Axford to teach English at Key West High School, launching what would become a 38-year career with the Monroe County School District. That career will end July 31, when Axford retires, having served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, district administrator and finally as superintendent. She will pass the reins to incoming superintendent Ed Tierney. Axford was
eral accomplishments that she views as capstones to her career.
“I’m most proud of having been able to move forward with creating teacher and employee housing on our Trumbo Road property in Key West,” she said.
The school board recently signed an agreement with Vestcor developers to build 150 housing units on the property that currently houses the district’s administrative headquarters, which will be moving into the school district-owned Bruce Hall building on United Street once it is renovated.
Axford two years ago secured $2 million in state funding for the phased plan to renovate Bruce Hall, move the administrative headquarters and make room for new housing for teachers. At this year's legislative session, Axford and the Keys’ elected officials in Tallahassee helped secure an additional $3.5 million “that will allow all the pieces to fall into place.”
Axford also oversaw a 29% increase in starting teacher salaries since she started as superintendent in 2020, raising the beginning salary from $48,000 to $62,100, which has helped alleviate the Keys’ annual teacher shortages.
“Theresa Axford has been more than a colleague — she’s been a mentor, a trailblazer and a fierce advocate for what’s right in education,” deputy superintendent Amber Acevedo said of her longtime colleague. “Her leadership has shaped the heart of this district, and her legacy will continue to inspire us as we build on the foundation she so thoughtfully laid.”
appointed to the district’s top job in 2020, just in time for COVID to upend everything the world had previously known.
“When I took over as superintendent, students were just starting to return to school, with high school kids attending every other day, because we didn’t have the capacity to spread them out as required,” Axford recalled when speaking with the Keys Weekly on July 7. “After the governor issued his mandate that schools reopen for in-person teaching, there was so much fear and ambiguity among students, parents and teachers. So I created a countywide back-to-school task force to navigate all the challenges and questions.”
After dealing for two years with spikes in infections, contact tracing, canceled sports seasons, the maelstrom over masks and constantly evolving variants of the virus, Axford was finally able to return the school district to normal over the past three years, and managed sev-
Under Axford’s leadership, the school district has more than doubled its fund balance, or rainy day savings for hurricanes and other emergencies, from $7.5 million in 2020 to $16 million this year.
“The lack of housing and lower salaries in 2023 really hit me hard,” Axford recalled. “We had to start school that year with more than 30 openings still unfilled.”
The long-awaited employee housing should help prevent such shortages for decades to come.
Axford said she is also proud to have increased the school district’s partnerships with local arts organizations to expose thousands of students to artistic field trips and cultural opportunities, and though she’s retiring, Axford isn’t going anywhere.
“I live in Key West; I’m staying in Key West and will continue to be involved in local education efforts.”
Teaching, leading and guiding the Florida Keys’ young people has been her passion since 1976, and some things never change.
Edward Tierney is the new superintendent of schools in Monroe County. He takes over from the retiring Theresa Axford. CONTRIBUTED
Superintendent Theresa Axford, left, celebrates Kat Yarbrough's District Teacher of the Year Award, center front, as the two are joined by band students from Plantation Key School. CONTRIBUTED
SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH 11am - 2:30pm
Regular menu available and BRUNCH items including chorizo breakfast burrito, guava French toast, crab benedict and BOGO mimosas & glasses of sparkling wine
Rotary Report
Rotary Club of Marathon donation supports local youth at the Marathon Recreation Center
Through a Rotary Club of Marathon donation, the Marathon Recreation Center is able to offer more activities for local youth this summer. The Heart of the Keys Recreation Association, Inc., known as the Marathon Recreation Center, mentors students, ages eight to 18 years old, aﬞer school during the academic year.
The summer program is a great tool that is used to introduce experiences, which allows a continuation of learning and growth. Many of the children have limited access to vacations or trips away from home. The Rotary Club of Marathon has stepped in to help with that.
“Rotary has graciously donated to a worthy cause each summer that allows our summer camp to travel to Orlando for a weekend of fun at the amusement parks,” said Diane Culver, who has been running the Rec Center for more than 20 years.
Culver shared that the trips serve many purposes and create lasting memories.
“Some of the kids who are now adults have shared how the trips have added so many wonderful memories, lasting friendships, and valuable information that has helped them with success in their personal lives,” Culver said. “We are very appreciative of the support and willingness to invest in our kids in our small community of Marathon.”
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.
ANIMAL AWARENESS
A historical look at a dog tax and the hunt of precious Florida Keys wildlife
When Key West was organizing and systems were being put into place, the town council made a declaration that appeared in the island’s first newspaper, the Key West Register & Commercial Advertiser.
The July 2, 1829, edition, Volume 1, No. 25, printed: “Be it ordained by the Town Council of Key West that from and after the passage of this Ordinance each and every Dog in the Town of Key West (Terriers excepted) shall be subjected to a tax of two dollars a year to be paid by the owner of said dog.”
Each dog, except for terriers, was required to wear a collar with the owner’s initials stamped on it. Any dog running around without one, or any dog that had not had its tax paid, “shall be shot or otherwise killed by any citizen.” The town’s marshal collected the tax. Fortunately, views can change over time. Often, it is the result of increased awareness brought about through education. The good news is that it is no longer legal to shoot a dog in Key West because it isn’t wearing a collar, just like it is no longer legal to cull a manatee.
When John James Audubon visited the Florida Keys in 1832, he stayed at a two-and-a-half-story boarding house on Indian Key, run by James Egan — who had other occupations. Audubon hired Egan as a guide, too. Later, he wrote about Egan: “For years his employment had been to hunt those singular animals called Sea Cows or Manatees, and he had conquered hundreds of them, ‘merely,’ as he said, because the flesh and hide bring ‘fair price’ at Havannah.”
Egan was not alone in his endeavors. In 1885, the following was recorded regarding the state of the manatee in Florida: “(T)en years ago the meat could be bought at fifty cents a pound. The animals are becoming far too scarce to admit to its being sold at all. There is no doubt that the manatee is fast becoming an extinct animal. … The sea cow will pass out of existence … and the only remaining trace of its former existence will be a few old bones.”
As it turns out, sometimes animals need protection to ensure, among other things, that populations are not decimated beyond a point of recovery. Often, it is the passion of an individual that brings the right people together and sparks the necessary work.
Once upon a time, flocks of herons, egrets, storks, roseate spoonbills and other brilliantly feathered birds clouded the skies above the Everglades and Florida Bay. In the decades immediately before and after the turn of the 20th century, the demand for their feathers spiked. Certainly, they were used for ornamental purposes for thousands of years, but for a few decades, it became something different, and women’s fashion was the culprit.
Hats decorated with feathers became all the rage. To meet commercial demand, the world turned to Florida, where, at first, pioneer families hunted birds to supplement their incomes. When the public learned of the kind of money at stake, crews from outside the Sunshine State came to hunt. For instance, an ounce of feathers from the snowy egret rivaled the value of an ounce of gold.
Millions of birds were taken every year. In cases like that of the snowy egret, a favorite due to its delicate white plumage, they were hunted to near extinction. Help arrived in 1900 with the passage of The Lacey Act, which prohibited the interstate trafficking of animals and plants taken in violation of state laws. That same year, American painter, naturalist and wildlife advocate Abbott H. Thayer established the Thayer Fund. William Dutcher, chairman of the American Ornithologists’ Union Committee on Bird Protection, administered the fund. Later, it was managed by the Audubon Society. The important thing
FLORIDA
KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
about the fund was how the money was used — to hire wardens charged with upholding laws that protected wildlife.
In 1901, Dutcher came to Florida. In 1902, he hired Guy Morrell Bradley, South Florida’s first game warden. Bradley was born in Chicago on April 25, 1870. He did not live a long life. Although privately funded, Bradley was also deputized by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, where he served from 1902 to 1905.
In every society, there exists a segment that feels as if the rule of law does not apply. On July 8, 1905, while attempting to take suspected poachers into custody, among them Walter Smith, a known (notorious) poacher, Bradley was shot and killed. He was 35. The crime occurred near Flamingo, located in the Everglades, in the backcountry area of Florida Bay.
The first Florida game warden killed in the line of duty, Bradley’s name has not been forgotten. In Flamingo, there is the Guy Bradley Visitors Center. About one mile west-southwest of Flamingo, there is Bradley Key, named to honor the man’s work and his sacrifice. The news of his death and others helped to turn the tide on the feather trade.
The organization of the first Audubon Society didn’t hurt, either. Realizing the toll the feather trade was taking on bird populations, Harriet Lawrence and Minna Hall formed the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1896. Thankfully, Audubon societies spread across the country and are still hard at work, as are nonprofits around the globe, creating awareness about the health, welfare and importance of wildlife.
In the Keys, among other notable groups, we have the Audubon Society, Florida Bay Forever, the Turtle Hospital and Key Largo’s Pawsitive Beginnings. Led by Nicole Navarro, it is as a sanctuary for foxes rescued from the fur trade. Along with her spokesfox, Reef, she tirelessly works to educate the public about the fur trade because awareness is an essential part of change. The foxes at her Key Largo sanctuary are also helping to heal individuals, one survivor to another, with a bit of fox therapy.
It is important to support local history and everyone working to foster a deeper understanding of the world. If you haven’t heard of Navarro, Pawsitive Beginnings, Reef and the other foxes, her sanctuary will open your eyes.
Plume hunter Leigh M. Pearsall posing with a black-crowned night heron on Santa Fe Lake in 1900. FLORIDA MEMORY PROJECT/Contributed
AUTHENTIC
Transform Your Outdoor Space! Professional Hardscape & Artificial Turf Installation
Specializing in Premium
Artificial Turf by Shaw - Perfect for lawns, patios, pet areas and putting greens
“Let us bring beauty, durability, and value to your property”
LICENSED & INSURED
305-930-7351 | info@paversofthekeys.com
LOCALLY OWNED | CONTACT US TODAY! Serving the FL Keys since 2001
• World Famous Cheeseburgers
Fried Egg Avocado Brat Cheddar Burgers
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Lobster
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Bacon Wrapped BBQ Shrimp
Blackened Dolphin Sandwiches
Grilled Ribeye Sandwiches
Grilled Bratwurst
BBQ Baby Back Ribs Chili Cheese Dogs DRINK SPECIALS
PROTECTING ANIMALS ISN’T A TREND, BUT RATHER A LEGACY
become fully industrialized. No more trapping in the wild — just confinement, cages and conveyor belts of death. Foxes, mink, chinchillas, raccoons, rabbits, even domestic dogs and cats (not kidding) were being bred to die. In the U.S. alone, there were over 6,000 registered fox farms by the 1940s. Electrocuted. Gassed. Necksnapped. Skinned. All for fashion. Not survival. Not warmth. Just to “look rich.” Sound familiar?
Let’s get something out of the way: I’m adorable. And I almost became a coat because of it.
And speaking of rich — let’s talk about the Fromm brothers. You might know them today as the folks behind Fromm Family Pet Food, selling holistic kibble in pretty packaging. But they got their start in fur farming. Back in the early 1900s, they were the first to successfully breed silver foxes in captivity for commercial fur production. The Fromms didn’t just dabble in fur—they pioneered large-scale fox farming in the United States. So yeah, the fur trade’s fingerprints are everywhere, even in places you’d least expect.
If that sounds dramatic — good. It should. Because while humans have evolved in many lovely ways (yay for not shooting dogs without collars anymore, love that for you), the fur trade is one industry that refuses to die, no matter how morally obsolete it’s become.
a fur farm. He now lives in Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro.
“Certainly, feathers had been used for ornamental purposes for thousands of years, but, for a few decades it became something different and women’s fashion was the culprit,” Bertelli said. He meant birds — but honestly? He could’ve been talking about me.
Now, my buddy Brad Bertelli, local Florida Keys historian and a human I actually trust not to turn me into a hood trim, writes how animals were once casually wiped off the map for fashion, food, and “fun.” Manatees were hunted for hides. Birds were slaughtered for feathers. And the heartbreaking story of Guy Bradley, the Everglades game warden killed while trying to protect those birds, is one that still echoes.
The fur trade isn’t just some outdated relic from powdered wig days. It’s a global, modern-day industry built on greed, exploitation and a complete disregard for animal life. It dates back thousands of years, starting with indigenous cultures who used animals for survival and respected them deeply — but that changed with colonization. By the 1600s, European demand for luxury fur exploded, driving species like beaver and sea otter nearly to extinction. Fur became currency and a sign of power, a symbol of wealth and a tool of environmental destruction. By the 20th century, fur had
The difference between then and now? You know better. We have alternatives: faux fur, sustainable fabrics, recycled materials. Countries like the United Kingdom and Israel have banned the sale of new fur. Designers like Stella McCartney, Gucci and Prada have gone fur-free. But make no mistake — the industry still exists. Fur farms still operate. Animals are still suffering.
I’m here to show you what change looks like. Because here in the Florida Keys, at Pawsitive Beginnings, we’re flipping the narrative. We rescue foxes like me — born in cages, destined for coats — and give them a second chance. A real life. Not a runway death sentence.
And it doesn’t stop there. We help humans heal too — survivors of trauma, kids who’ve been through hell, people who’ve felt disposable. Our stories become bridges for healing. Bertellli’s article reminds us that protecting animals isn’t a trend. It’s a legacy. Guy Bradley gave his life for that legacy. Now it’s your turn to carry it forward. The difference between history and progress is what you do next.
P.S. If you think wearing vintage fur is okay — it’s not. Recycled suffering is still suffering.
Coral the fox found a safe sanctuary at Pawsitive Beginnings in Key Largo in 2021. PAWSITIVE BEGINNINGS/Contributed
Reef is a red fox that was saved from
FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED
WELLNESS
THE POWER OF PROTEIN AT EVERY AGE
Let’s be honest: protein has been having a bit of a moment — and it deserves it. Whether you’re someone who lives in the gym or someone whose main exercise is walking to the mailbox, protein is a game changer for your health. It’s not just about biceps and six packs. It’s about staying strong, energized and feeling like your best self, whether you’re 25 or 75.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks your body uses to create, repair and maintain just about everything — muscles, skin, hair, nails, hormones, even your immune system. If you’re skimping on protein, your body is basically trying to build a house without enough bricks.
So how much do you really need? It depends. For most generally healthy adults who aren’t super active, 0.5 grams per pound of body weight per day is a good baseline. If you weigh 150 pounds, that’s about 75 grams daily — enough to cover basic repair and maintenance without stressing about it.
But if you’re exercising regularly, trying to get stronger, recovering from surgery or noticing that your jeans are fitting a little differently as the years go by, your needs can go up. Resistance training in particular creates tiny microtears in your muscles that need extra protein to rebuild. For active folks, 0.8–1.0 grams per pound is more appropriate. That means a 150-pound person might be aiming for 120 to 150 grams a day.
And if you’re really pushing it — think serious athletes, older adults trying to fight off muscle loss or anyone on a weight-loss plan who wants to hang onto lean muscle — you might need even more. Around 1.2 to 1.5 grams per pound is fair game in these situations. Yes, that’s a lot of chicken breast and cottage cheese, but the payoff is real: more muscle, better recovery and a stronger metabolism.
Not all protein is created equal, though. Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids your body can’t make on its own. These usually come from animals — eggs, dairy, poultry, fish, beef and good old whey protein powder. They’re efficient, convenient and easy to absorb.
Then you’ve got incomplete proteins, which are missing one or more essential amino acids. Most plant-based sources — beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, whole grains — fall into this camp. The good news? Combin-
JENNIFER HARVEY
...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. Hello@highlymotivatedfc.com
ing them fills in the gaps. For example, rice and beans together become a complete protein powerhouse. Quinoa and soy products like tofu and tempeh are also strong plantbased options if you prefer to skip the meat.
If you’re trying to level up your protein, here’s a pro tip: don’t dump it all into one giant dinner. Spread it evenly across your meals to keep your body humming all day. Breakfast could be Greek yogurt with berries and walnuts or scrambled eggs with veggies. Lunch and dinner might look like grilled salmon, a lentil stew or a tofu stir fry. Even snacks can chip in – think cottage cheese, roasted chickpeas or a protein smoothie.
And no, protein isn’t just for gym buffs. It helps kids grow, helps older adults stay independent and keeps everyday humans feeling their best. Even if the most strenuous thing you lift is your laptop, getting enough protein helps you hang onto muscle and keep your metabolism from slowing down.
The bottom line: Protein isn’t a trend. It’s a lifelong essential, like water, fresh air and that morning coffee you can’t live without.
OBITUARY
DAVID PATRICK KIRWAN 1948-2025
David Patrick Kirwan, 77, of Marathon, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on July 2.
Born in an Air Force family, David was the eldest of three children and grew up with a deep sense of service and leadership. He attended Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville, Indiana, where he was a standout student, senior class president and developed a love for music and theater. It was during his high school years that he met his future wife, Mary Lloyd Struck, in 1963. They married in 1969, beginning a partnership that would last for over 56 years.
David graduated from Florida State University with a BA in History in 1969 and went on to earn his Juris Doctor (JD) from FSU Law School in 1972. He devoted much of his professional life to public service, beginning his career as a public defender before transitioning into private practice. David’s exemplary career in law led to his appointment as county court judge in 1978, followed by his service as a circuit court judge from 1982 to 1988. After stepping down from the bench, he returned to private practice, focusing on real estate law and mediation until his retirement from the Florida Bar in 2024.
Beyond his legal career, David was a passionate advocate for his community in the Florida Keys. He played an instrumental role in the early years of the Seven Mile Bridge Run and was a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys, helping to build homes for those in need. He also worked behind the scenes on many other local causes and initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on the community he loved.
David and Mary shared a deep love for adventure and spent many wonderful years traveling together. They explored Europe, Ireland and Costa Rica, and journeyed across the United States in their mini travel home, discovering new places and always returning to Marathon each winter to enjoy time with family and friends. David’s love for music was evident in his playing the piano and ukulele, both of which brought joy to his home and community. More than anything, David cherished the moments shared with his children and grandchildren, creating treasured memories that will live on in their hearts.
David is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Mary Kirwan; his children, Sean Kirwan and wife Heather, and Katie Kirwan; and his beloved grandchildren, Tommy and Grace Kirwan. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas Kirwan and partner Carolyn of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and his sister, Teresa Kirwan Ide and husband William of Jackson, Tennessee.
David was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 15 at 9:30 a.m. at San Pablo Catholic Church in Marathon, followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. The family welcomes all who wish to pay their respects and celebrate David's life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to KAIR, 3010 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33030, a charity that was close to David’s heart and dedicated to providing support to families in need.
David's legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched through his dedication to his profession, his family and his community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
MARK HEDDEN
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
The flamingo was in the ugliest part of the pond. Out in the middle, where it was probably about a foot deep, the surface was smooth and unbroken, reflecting the lovely hues of a later summer early evening. But the flamingo was working the edge of the pond, where the water looked to barely cover its feet and the surface was pocked with little piles of mud, giving it a somewhat blotchy, and decidedly less photogenic, appearance. The flamingo had been there in the same pond on Grassy Key for more than a week. A half-dozen photographers I knew had posted photos – great photos that showed that flamingos aren’t just pink, but a subtle melange of rose, apricot, salmon, tangerine, Halloween orange, ecru and tacao. Great photos that showed the flamingo with its neck curved into a perfect S, or with its leg lifted, or with water droplets dripping off the end of its bill, big puffy clouds and a moonstone-blue sky reflected in the water.
And I had gone to the effort to get in my car, deigned to cross Cow Key Channel Bridge, and then drove an hour farther north. What did I get? A distant pink bird wading through the aquatic equivalent of acne.
Which proves once again that nature doesn’t care about your ego, your sense of entitlement, your aesthetic sensibilities or your artistic insecurities. Or at least she doesn’t care about mine.
Still, it was a real live American flamingo, just standing there out in the wild, as if it was some sort of everyday bird. I figured I might at least watch for a while.
Usually, when I see flamingos feed, they almost fully extend their neck and plunge their head down a few inches beneath the water, close to their feet. But this bird wasn’t doing that. Instead he was slow-stepping through two or three inches of water, his head upside down, but just breaking the surface of the water like a boat, or more specifically, a tugboat pulling his body along. Which got me curious.
It feels disingenuous to say flamingos are a rarity in the Florida Keys, at least in recent times, when a few have been reported consistently every year. I’ve probably had about two dozen sightings in the U.S., which is not something I take for granted.
Multiple early naturalists in the Keys reported flocks of 500 flamingos off Indian Key. W.E.D. Scott, head of ornithology at Princeton University, wrote of seeing a line of flamingos over a mile long while sailing off of Cape Sable. But the species was essentially eradicated in the U.S. by the plume hunters of the late 1800s and early 1900s, and any birds seen in the decades after were thought to be escapees from Florida institutions like Hialeah Race Track or Cypress Gardens.
Recently, 125 American flamingos were counted during an aerial survey of Florida Bay, 122 of them in flight in the same flock. The number has been pretty steady in size since Hurricane Idalia blew them all over from the Yucatan in 2023. And a flamingo known as both Peaches and US02 was spotted in the Yucatan helping to raise a chick,
THE FLAMINGO VORTEX
meaning once-broken migratory pathways may be being repaired.
The American flamingo seems to be slowly repopulating its historic ecological niche. At least that’s what many people hope these more regular sightings mean.
The reason for the Grassy Key flamingo’s solo status was known only to him, but flamingos spotted in the U.S. are often alone, possibly because they are on the edge of their range.
One of my favorite things about flamingos is how they feed. They are filter feeders, kind of like whales. But where whales use a ram filtration feeding model, propelling themselves through clouds of krill and filtering them through their baleen, flamingos rely on their tongues and feet.
Flamingo tongues are so muscular they were once served as a delicacy. The muscularity allows the tongue to work like a piston, drawing water in and then expelling it.
For a better understanding of the subtleties of a flamingo’s mouth, I tracked down a paper with the approachable title of “Filter Feeding in Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber),” which was published in the journal The Condor in 1995. Everything that came after the title sent me scuttling to Google or the dictionary. The paper’s abstract contained such easily penetrable linguistic gems such as, “We present a provisional morphospace of avian filter feeding mechanisms derived by nomological deduction from an initial pecking mechanism and develop in this domain preliminary historical-narrative hypotheses of the evolution of avian filter mechanisms.”
Despite my English-major understanding of the world, I bravely carried on, which was good, because the actual text of the paper was far more comprehensible. Plus, there were pictures.
Essentially, flamingos want to eat things between 0.1 mm and 4 mm in size. Brine shrimp, fly larvae, seeds, small mollusks, the occasional bit of algae found in the muck. To do this they tend to leave a gap of 1 to 4 mm between their upper and lower mandibles. A series of spiny tooth-like structures along the edges of each mandible called lamellae work as a kind of mesh to keep oversized objects out. Food gathers on the tongue, then is swallowed, shepherded by a series of lamellae on the back part of the tongue.
If they had a long, straight bill like, say, a heron, it would be hard to keep that gap consistent, as it would widen the closer it got to the end of the bill. But flamingo bills bend about 60 degrees at their midpoint, allowing the gap to stay consistent.
More recently (May of this year), a paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences with the title “Flamingos use their L-shaped beak and morphing feet to induce vortical traps for prey capture,” a less succinct title at the top of a far more readable paper.
The paper documented how flamingos – specifically closely-related greater flamingos and the American flamingos – use hydrodynamics to catch their (very small) prey in four different ways. Flamingos feed with their heads hanging upside down, sometimes partially under water, sometimes totally under water.
Sometimes you see them seemingly march in place, stamping their feet up and down while locomoting anywhere. This creates vortices, or little tornadoes that swirl up, concentrating prey inside of them, which they can then dip into and filter with their bill. Sometimes they will do what’s called chattering, opening and closing their bill quickly, which can increase what they capture by about sevenfold.
Sometimes they will push their head down to the bottom of the water and lift it up, creating a vertical vortex, from which they will filter prey.
The behavior I was witnessing is described in the paper as a recirculation trap, wherein they drag their partially submerged bill upside down along the surface of the water, like a boat, with eddies that concentrate the prey forming at the backward-facing tip of the bill. Which was edifying to learn.
A few days after I went up to Grassy Key, I ran into photographer Rob O’Neal while we were both taking pictures of people eating Key lime pie without using their hands. Rob asked if I’d gone up to see the flamingo. I told him my experience. He said he’d gone up twice, but the flamingo had stayed at the far end of the pond.
So I guess I’m ahead of the game. Unless I make a little more effort.
An American flamingo seen feeding recently on Grassy Key. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
CHRIS McNULTY
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
The big astrological news this week is Uranus shifting from Taurus into Gemini. Uranus, the planet of disruption and liberation, has been shaking up Taurus since May 2018. We witnessed radical shifts in financial systems, body autonomy movements, sustainability innovations and climate crises.
TAURUS LIKES STABILITY; URANUS DOESN’T. Over these past years, we’ve been learning that security isn’t the same as safety, and that the things we thought were solid aren’t as immovable as we believed. Now, Uranus moves into Gemini, where its revolutionary charge finds a new playground: the mind. Communication, technology, travel, education and how we share ideas will be the next frontiers of collective change. Expect shakeups in the way we think, speak, learn and move. Language will evolve, identities will multiply, and the internet as we know it may start to splinter into something else entirely. This is a time to speak up, to challenge norms with ideas instead of inertia, and to use social networks not just for visibility, but for real liberation. The future is being written in real time, and our words are the ink.
Here are your horoscopes for Uranus’s ingress into Gemini. Read for your rising and sun signs.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
The revolution begins in your inner world. Thoughts you’ve kept tucked away begin to stir, asking for air and light. Over time, you may feel called to explore therapy, spirituality or private creative practices that shift your understanding of yourself. Sudden insights may arrive in dreams or solitude. Don’t rush to share what’s still ripening in the dark. Not all transformation needs an audience.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
Your communities are changing, and so are you. Over the next several years, your social circles may expand in unexpected directions, challenging your sense of belonging. New movements, friendships or digital platforms might awaken your voice in a more collective way. You are not just seeking applause, you are seeking connection that sparks change. Let your roar evolve into dialogue.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Your public presence becomes a lightning rod for ideas. A restless urge to pivot your career, change your role or speak out on important issues may take hold. What you do and how you are seen could change drastically. This is not about chasing recognition. It is about breaking the mold. Your true calling may arrive not in a straight line, but as a signal interrupting the usual broadcast.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
The horizon cracks open. Uranus urges you to question the beliefs and systems you once relied on. What do you know, and what are you still learning to unlearn? Over the years ahead, you may be drawn to study, travel or explore philosophies that once seemed foreign. Freedom comes from questioning the story you have inherited and daring to write your own.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
The revolution touches your deepest bonds. Shared resources, intimacy and power dynamics become places of awakening. You might find yourself renegotiating agreements, releasing entanglements or uncovering truths long buried. This is not just about money or trust, it is about shedding skin. The more you let go of what no longer resonates, the freer you will be to love and live with clarity.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Uranus lights up your house of partnership, sparking change in how you relate. Whether romantic, platonic or professional, your relationships will shift sometimes suddenly. This is not about instability for its own sake, but about breaking free from patterns that limit your growth. You are being asked to love with more honesty, to collaborate with more freedom and to expect surprise where you once expected certainty.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
The habits that once structured your life may no longer hold. Uranus shakes up your routines, health practices and work environments, asking you to redefine what it means to be well and productive. Innovation becomes your ally, whether through technology, new skills or unconventional paths to healing. Liberation is found not in control, but in adaptability.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
Creative blocks, beware. Uranus jolts your zone of play, romance and self-expression, encouraging experimentation. Whether it is falling in love differently, exploring queerness more openly or changing your artistic medium, you are being asked to shake up what joy looks like. Trust your spark. The way you make meaning is evolving, and the world is ready for it.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
Home is where the change begins. Your living situation, family dynamics or sense of emotional grounding could shift dramatically over time. But what is being rebuilt is your relationship to security. Let go of what no longer feels like true shelter. You are allowed to redefine comfort on your own terms, even if others do not understand at first.
REVOLUTION OF THE MIND
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
Your mind is the revolution’s front line. Uranus activates your thoughts, communication style and daily interactions. You might experiment with new technologies, radical ideas or different ways of thinking and speaking. The way you process the world will not be the same by the end of this transit, and that is a good thing. Stay curious, even when your certainty is shaken.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
After years of Uranus shaking your identity, the focus now turns to your values. What is worth your energy, time and trust? How do you define abundance on your own terms? Over time, you may develop unusual income streams, new relationships to money or a deeper understanding of self-worth. What you build next will reflect not what you have inherited, but what you believe in.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
The revolution is you. Uranus enters your sign and electrifies your identity, asking you to become even more authentically yourself, even if it shocks a few people. Change may come quickly and often. You will shed skins, rewrite your self-image and experiment with how you move through the world. Let yourself evolve. You are not meant to be consistent, you are meant to be true.
PLASTIC-FREE JULY
Break free from dependence
Plastic-Free July is a nationwide movement that encourages individuals, businesses and communities to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and adopt reusable alternatives.
Ironically, plastic was initially invented to protect wildlife — as a substitute for ivory, thereby preventing elephant poaching. But today, when you Google “plastic,” you’ll find heartbreaking images of animals entangled in plastic, starving with stomachs full of synthetic waste.
We are now finding microplastics in our food, air and water — and, therefore, in our bodies. Scientists are linking plastic exposure to hormonal disruptions, birth defects, diabetes and learning disabilities. Some experts warn it may take generations to purge plastics from our DNA.
History of plastic
• 1869 – John Wesley Hyatt invented the first synthetic polymer as a substitute for ivory.
• World War II (1940s) – Plastic production in the U.S. increases by 300%.
• Utensils, straws, plastic bags, condiment packets, and napkins are provided upon request only.
• 1960s – Plastics are first documented in the ocean.
• 1980s – Public concern for plastic pollution surges; the plastic industry introduces “recycling” to calm backlash.
• 2025 – Less than 7% of plastic water bottles make it into the recycling bin in Monroe County.
Plastic crisis in the Florida Keys
• Plastic recycling is at an all-time low.
• Plastics are visible along roadsides, beaches, mangroves and waterways throughout the Keys.
• Wildlife and marine ecosystems are suffering daily from plastic ingestion and entanglement.
Small shifts, big impact
• Switch to reusable bags instead of plastic shopping bags.
• Bring your coffee mug to cafés — Starbucks offers 10% off when you do.
• Use a refillable water bottle — your water stays colder and tastes better.
• Buy in bulk and avoid individually packaged products (e.g., buy a quart of yogurt instead of 4 packs).
• Encourage your favorite restaurant to join the Skip the Stuff Summer Initiative, where:
• Businesses benefit from lower waste, reduced costs and promotional support from: Monroe County, Islamorada and Key West, Monroe County Tourist Development Council, NOAA, Scouts and 20-plus Florida Keys environmental organizations
Every action counts
The plastic problem is overwhelming, but every single action matters. Reducing your plastic use this July (and beyond) helps protect our unique Florida Keys environment, our wildlife, and our health.
Let’s skip the plastic and opt for reuse instead. Learn more about the Skip the Stuff Summer campaign by scanning the QR code here.
is the Monroe County recycling coordinator and outreach liaison. MELODY TUSCHEL
Top junior angler Justin Deno of Ramrod Key wins $500, a new Penn fishing rod and a trophy for his 6.16-pound dolphin. CONTRIBUTED
COPS HELP KIDS WITH AUTISM
5th annual PBA fishing tournament raises & pays money
The fifth annual PBA Dolphin Fishing Tournament took place June 27-29 at Oceans Edge Resort & Marina on Stock Island and raised $25,000 for the Autism Society of the Keys.
Organized by Key West Police officers Frank Betz and Mike Pettee, the tournament’s entry fees, silent auction and donations raise money for the Autism Society of the Keys and the KWPD’s Love Fund, which helps officers and their families experiencing financial hardship.
A captains meeting took place on June 27, with fishing and weigh-ins on June 28 and 29. An awards ceremony on June 29 ended the tournament and included the presentation of trophies and bragging rights.
For more information or to get involved in next year’s tournament, email keyspbadolphintournament@ gmail.
The winning mahi, worth $7,500 in prize money, weighed 24.04 pounds, was caught by Joe Trotta of Key West with Capt. Mike Macko on the vessel Diggin’ Life.
Additional winners were as follows:
The winning dolphin, weighing 24.04 pounds, was caught by Joe Trotta of Key West with Capt. Mike Macko on the vessel Diggin’ Life. CONTRIBUTED
2nd place dolphin – $3,000 17.50 pounds
Caught aboard: Gray Eagle
Captain: Rob Harris
Angler: John Timura
From: Islamorada
3rd place dolphin – $1,500 15.70 pounds
Caught aboard: No Doubt
Captain: Desi Perez
Angler: Desi Perez
From: Key West
4th place dolphin – $750 11.68 pounds
Caught aboard: Halftime
Captain: Fred Deno
Angler: Justin Deno
From: Ramrod Key
TOP JUNIOR ANGLER — $500
6.16 pounds
Caught aboard: Halftime
Captain: Fred Deno
Angler: Justin Deno
From: Ramrod Key
TOP FEMALE ANGLER — $1,000 12.46 pounds
Caught aboard: Fin Crusher
Captain: Murry McDonald
Angler: Elizabeth Goeman
From: (Not provided)
TOP PBA MEMBER — $1,250
9.28 pounds
Caught aboard: PBA - Leviathan
Captain: Frank Betz
Angler: Frank Betz
From: Key West
BIGGEST TUNA
(blackfin or yellowfin) — $500
17.42 pounds
Caught aboard: Fin Crusher
Captain: Murry McDonald
Angler: Hope Drewry
From: Ponce Inlet
BRIEFLY
Marathon theater to hold ‘Rocky Horror Show’ auditions
Marathon Community Theatre will hold auditions for its upcoming musical, Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show,” on Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and July 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Open roles include Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Riff Raff, an Usherette, a singing and dancing phantom, additional nonsinging phantoms, and understudies for all roles in the production. The show will run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Sept. 25 through Oct. 11. An audition packet is available at www.marathontheater.org.
Leadership Monroe switches recruitment social location
A summer recruitment social for Leadership Monroe County, previously scheduled for Thursday, July 17 at the Key Colony Inn, will now take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Marathon Community Theatre on the same date. The public is encouraged to attend the open event, which will acquaint interested individuals with the program and its components and meet some of the program’s alumni. Established in 1992, Leadership Monroe County is an educational nonprofit community leadership organization developed to address the rapidly changing needs and concerns of the county, develop a group of welleducated leaders, help guide the community in a positive direction and foster countywide effective and nonpartisan alliances. More information is at leadershipmonroecounty.org. The deadline to apply for Class XXXIII is Aug. 11.
Dive into local history online with Florida Keys History Center
When the Monroe County Public Library redesigned its website earlier this year, the Florida Keys History Center also got an upgrade at keyslibraries.org/keyshistory. You can read the popular “Today In Keys History” column and the “Island Chronicles” feature by lead historian Corey Malcom, or browse the online archive of 24,000 historic photos. If you want to do your own research and can’t make it to the History Center in Key West, check out the selection of “Links We Like” – they include the Sanborn insurance maps of Key West dating back to 1889, digitized archives of
historic newspapers from the Keys, admiralty court records and more. Also featured is the History Center’s YouTube channel, with talks on Keys history from Malcom and the late historian emeritus Tom Hambright.
Habitat for Humanity opens homeownership application
Habitat Middle Keys has opened the application process for its homeownership program. From now until July 15, pre-applications will be accepted for two two-bedroom homes. The pre-application is at www.habitatmiddlekeys.org/ home-ownership. More information is available via email to fsm@ habitatmiddlekeys.org or at 305743-9828.
Learn a new language with free app Mango Mango Languages, a languagelearning program, offers more than 70 world languages and 20 different English courses led in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Russian, among others. Mango is free with a Monroe County Public Library card, and you can include up to five family members on a Mango account (they don’t have to have their own library cards). Mango also has programs designed for homeschoolers. It can be used on a browser or with the app, available on the Apple and Google Play stores. For more information, including how you can pre-register for a library card online and get started right away, go to keyslibraries.org/online.
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.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
The U.S. Sun reported on June 26 that a woman aboard Aeroflot flight SU734 from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Egypt finally had to be restrained after she launched into a tantrum about not being upgraded to business class. The woman screamed at flight attendants that she had “pain in my butt” and needed business class “because I was working.” She then threatened to open the emergency exit and began to remove her shirt, presumably hoping that would help her cause, but no: Some burly passengers moved her to the back of the plane, where she was restrained until Egyptian authorities took her off after landing.
Adam Dailies
In The Bleachers
Brevity
John Calvin (1509-1564), theologian/reformer; Nikola Tesla (18561943), physicist/engineer; Marcel Proust (1871-1922), author/critic; Carl Orff (1895-1982), composer; David Brinkley (1920-2003), TV journalist; Alice Munro (1931-2024), author; Arthur Ashe (19431993), tennis player; Arlo Guthrie (1947- ), singer-songwriter; Urban Meyer (1964- ), football coach; Sofia Vergara (1972- ), actress; Chiwetel Ejiofor (1977- ), actor; Jessica Simpson (1980- ), actress/ singer.
In 1940, Nazi forces began an air attack on southern Britain that would last 114 days and become known as the Battle of Britain.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, which battled the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, counted 11 American pilots among its 2,900 members.
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
Brevity
Nancy Dailies
Founded by Betty Debnam
Get the Scoop
During the heat of summer, cool, smooth ice cream is a favorite treat. But where did this sweet confection come from? Sunday, July 20, is National Ice Cream Day. This week, The Mini Page learns all about the tasty goody we all scream for.
HOW IS ICE CREAM MADE?
To make ice cream in a dairy might take eight hours from start to finish.
It starts with milk and cream and then goes through these steps:
1. At the dairy, milk and cream are mixed with sweeteners and flavorings.
2. The mixture is heated in a pasteurizer to kill any germs.
3. A homogenizer beats the mixture so it is creamy and smooth.
4. The mixture is cooled to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. In a barrel freezer, blades whip the mixture, adding air to it. Fruits, nuts and other solid foods can be added during this process.
6. The softened ice cream is packaged in cartons.
7. The ice cream is hardened in a blast freezer so it won’t melt on the way to the store.
8. Delivery is made to stores or restaurants. Ice cream history
Some historians can trace dishes similar to ice cream back to the first and second centuries. In China and Persia, ice or snow were mixed with fruit and
honey. Later, Italian explorer Marco Polo brought recipes for frozen desserts from China to Europe.
Making ice was difficult. In the 1700s, people collected frozen river ice in the winter and stored it in sawdust. Horse-drawn wagons delivered it to homes. In the mid-1800s, Nancy Johnson invented the first hand-cranked freezer for making ice cream. The first manufacturing plant for ice cream opened in 1851 in Baltimore. People in the early 1900s enjoyed going to “ice cream parlors” or got ice cream directly from dairies.
Around the middle of the 20th century, ice cream became available in grocery stores, and people could eat it at home.
SUNDAES
Drinking sodas was so much fun that some people thought they should not be served on such a serious day as Sunday.
Soda fountain owners came up with a new dish using only ice cream topped with syrup and candies. Since these were served on Sunday, they were named after that day. The spelling was later changed to “sundae.”
Words that remind us of ice cream are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
• Nearly three-quarters of Americans eat ice cream at least once a week.
• The average American eats about 19 pounds of ice cream per year — about 4 gallons!
• Ice cream sandwiches are the most popular novelty product.
• President George Washington was a fan of ice cream. It was made at his home at Mount Vernon.
• Dolley Madison, the wife of the third president, John Madison, often served ice cream at the White House.
• Cones were probably invented when Ernest A. Hamwi set up his Syrian waffle stand at the 1904 World’s Fair next to one selling ice cream. When the ice cream stand ran out of cardboard dishes, Hamwi shaped one of his pastries into a cone.
• In 1920, Harry Burt Jr. of Ohio came up with the idea of ice cream on a stick. He called it the Good Humor Bar. Burt’s customers did not have to come to him: He used specially decorated white carts to bring the treats right to customers.
TODAY’S QUOTE
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPicecream
At the library:
• “Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better” by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman
ECO NOTE
All 28 of the most populated U.S. cities are sinking to some degree, largely due to excessive pumping of groundwater, according to a new satellite-based study published in the journal Nature Cities. In 25 of those cities, at least 65% of the land is subsiding. Some neighborhoods are sinking faster than others, putting buildings and roads under stress.
Metropolitan Houston is sinking the fastest, with more than 40% of the area dropping more than 0.2 inch per year and 12% sinking at twice that rate.
Mini Fact: Chocolate, cookies ‘n’ cream and vanilla are the top three flavors in the United States.
INVITIATION TO BID ITB 2025-04
SHELTER BAY DRIVE - WET DETENTION POND FOUNTAIN SYSTEM – PHASE 2.1
CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA
Sealed Bids for the construction of the Shelter Bay Drive – Wet Detention Pond Fountain System project will be received by the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida at the office of the City Administrator, Key Colony Beach City Hall, 600 West Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, until July 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. local time. At that time, the Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud.
The Project includes the following Work: Furnish and install electrical service and fountain system for wet detention system being constructed through a separate contract.
Bids are requested for the following Contract: Shelter Bay Drive – Wet Detention Pond Fountain System.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: CPH Consulting, LLC, 580-1 Wells Road, Orange Park, Florida 32073, (904) 278-0030. Prospective Bidders may access and download the Bidding Documents online at www.mittauer.com upon submission of contact information and registering as a Plan Holder. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including
addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.
A Pre-Bid conference will not be held.
To be considered qualified, Bidder must be licensed to engage in the business of contracting in the State of Florida by the Construction Industry Licensing Board. In addition, the Bidder shall have successfully completed, as prime contractor, a minimum of 3 projects of a similar nature within the past 3 years.
The City of Key Colony Beach, Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Instructions to Bidders.
For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.
Sealed Bids for the construction of the Shelter Bay Drive – Wet Detention System Landscaping project will be received by the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida at the office of the City Administrator, Key Colony Beach City Hall, 600 West Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, until July 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. local time. At that time, the Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud.
The Project includes the following Work: Furnish and install landscaping package around a wet detention system as shown on the Drawings.
Bids are requested for the following Contract: Shelter Bay Drive – Wet Detention System Landscaping.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: CPH Consulting, LLC, 580-1 Wells Road, Orange Park, Florida 32073, (904) 278-0030. Prospective Bidders may access and download the Bidding Documents online at www.mittauer.com upon submission of contact information and registering as a Plan Holder. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including
THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS
To: Property Owners within 300 feet of 150 11th Street
From: The City of Key Colony Beach
Key Colony Beach Planning & Zoning Board and the Key Colony Beach City Commission NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON:
DATE/TIME:
Planning & Zoning Hearing: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, August 21st, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
LOCATION:
City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’
600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051, To hear a Variance Request from Dale and Jennnifer Hamill, owners of the property at 150 11th Street, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@keycolonybeach. net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. The applicant requests a variance to the City of Key Colony Beach Land Development Regulations, Article IV, Sec. 101-26, for the construction of a residential pool that would encroach into the setback by 5 feet. Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made
LEGAL NOTICES
by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025, or Thursday, August 21st, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net, and your comments will be entered into the record.
Published: On or before July 13th, 2025
City Clerk, City of Key Colony Beach Publish: July 10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Native Habitat Restoration Project on Monroe County Conservation Lands 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
John Sheldon, O.D.
Island Vision Care 6400 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050
at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.
Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.
The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00P.M. on August 7, 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 Thursday, August 7, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
One tap mobile:
+16465189805,,4509326156#
US (New York)
addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.
A Pre-Bid conference will not be held.
To be considered qualified, Bidder must be licensed to engage in the business of contracting in the State of Florida by the Construction Industry Licensing Board. In addition, the Bidder shall have successfully completed, as prime contractor, a minimum of 3 projects of a similar nature within the past 3 years.
The City of Key Colony Beach, Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Instructions to Bidders.
For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.
ISSUING OFFICE
CPH CONSULTING, LLC
580-1 WELLS ROAD ORANGE PARK, FL 32073
904-278-0030
PLEASE CONTACT THE ISSUING OFFICE WITH QUESTIONS!
Dr. John Sheldon will be closing his optometry practice, Island Vision Care, located at 6400 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, e ective August 8, 2025. Patients wishing to pick up their medical records may do so until August 7th, 2025. Please call 305-743-2020 before August 8th if there are any questions.
Patient’s medical records will remain with Dr. John Sheldon. He will be joining Key West Optical, located at 1444 Kennedy Dr, Key West, Florida 33040, beginning on September 2nd, 2025. Please call 305-294-9711 to schedule appointments, to request records or for any questions starting September 2nd.
Publish: July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: East Martello Casemate Windows Replacement Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request. Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00P.M. on August 21, 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 Thursday, August 21, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES
The administration of the estate of RHONDA LYNN KUNTZ, deceased, whose date of death was April 27, 2025, Case: 25-CP-249-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
The date of first publication of this Notice is: July 10, 2025.
Personal Representative: DENNIS KUNTZ
c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq.
Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040
Attorney for Personal Representative: Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0144304
Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040 Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com Telephone: (305) 292-3926 Fax: (305) 295-7947
Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, Plaintiff, v. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, CEDAR OAK REI, INC., an Idaho for-profit corporation,MARK RAY GERENGER, personal guarantor, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S) WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN OCCUPANT(S) or TENANT(S) of 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050 AND 57468 AND 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050, Defendants. NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 23rd day of July, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., on the front courthouse steps at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale
and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Property Address: 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050; AND 57468 and 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050. Pursuant to the FINAL JUDGMENT of FORECLOSURE SALE SCHEDULED FOR July 23, 2025 AND SALE DATE entered in a case pending in said Court, of July 23, 2025, the Style of which is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, et al., Defendants, and the Docket Number of which is 23-CA-000268-M. WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 27TH day of June, 2025.
KEVIN MADOK, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within sixty (60) days after the sale.
Publish: July 10 & 17, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 25-DR-677-K DIVISION: FAMILY BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, Petitioner, and ANTHONY D. HENDERSON, Respondent. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)
TO: ANTHONY D. HENDERSON RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: NEVADA YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on BEKA MTCHEDLISHVILI, whose address is 926 TRUMAN AVENUE, KEY WEST, FL 33040 on or before August 11, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: July 2, 2025
Kevin Madok, CPA
Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Sheryl LaTorre
Deputy Clerk Publish:
July 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 2025-CA-342-K
HENRY GUERRIOS an individual,, Plaintiff and FREDERICK J. HUGO, Defendant.
NOTICE OF ACTION TO: FREDERICK J. HUGO 1408 SE 2nd CT Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Key West, FL 33040 (last known address)
Current address unknown
Current residence unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a lawsuit for breach of contract has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, on JOHN MARSTON, Esquire, attorney for plaintiff, at 1011 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040, on or before August 4, 2025 and file the original with the clerk of this court immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition. Dated: June 23, 2025
KEVIN MADOK CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk
Publish:
July 3, 10, 17 &24, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 25-DR-36-K
DIVISION: FAMILY
TARA PATRICK, Petitioner, and BRYAN CASTRO, Respondent. AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: BRYAN CASTRO RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 44 KROG ST. N.E. UNIT 602, ATLANTA, GA 30307 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 Tara Patrick, whose address is 201Coppitt Rd, Apt. 301A, Key West, FL 33040 on or before July 19, 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: Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card debt $9,247.00. All charges made solely by Bryan after we split up.
Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address.
(You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or
e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: June 12, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson
Deputy Clerk
Publish: June 19 & 26 and July 3 &10, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
2003 Ford Explorer. 174k miles, runs great, A/C works. $3,500.00 Or best offer. Located in Marathon area. CALL 305-417-0169
PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
19’x40’ slip in Marathon, could handle somewhat larger boat with approval from dockmaster. Desirable location in marina, easy in, easy out. Available thru Oct 25, possibly long term lease. $1,400/ mo. Please contact Vern Rozier, 904 626 5279, or 904 626 8224 and leave call back info. Or email vrrozier@yahoo.com.
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
EMPLOYMENT
Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www. westcare.com/join-ourteam/
Boat rental company in Marathon needs workers – Boat drivers, Truck drivers, Boat cleaners & Boat detailing. Call 305-481-7006
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring for the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing ManagerFT-Marathon, CarpenterFT, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
Full time office position with strong computer skills, KCB Condominium, $78K per yr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@ aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531. HIRED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!
Fantastic part-time Housekeeper position available in Key Colony Beach! Immediate start date. Primarily on weekends, with excellent pay for the right candidate. Reach out to Continental Inn Beachside at Vivian 952-208-2850 or Cheryl 305-505-8747 HIRED IN EIGHT WEEKS!
PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Pease call 305-4170871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
HOBBIES/COLLECT. PRIVATE COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
2BR/2BA on the water w/ dockage in Pirates Cove, Key Largo. Fenced & fully furnished. Short and long term available. From $3500/month. Credit check required. 28 day minimum. Call 305-588-6723
UNFURNISHED 2/2
HOUSE FOR RENT ON CANAL, MM27, Ramrod Key, recently refurbished and painted, w/d, utilities paid by owner, $3000/month, security negotiable, fenced yard, available now. Pete 786-649-9833 or pprm1119@aol.com
Furnished Studio Apt. for rent in Marathon. 1 person only. No smoking. No pets. $1,100/ month incl. water and electric. 305-743-9876
3BR/3BA fully furnished home for rent in Marathon. Avail July 1. $3,900/mo. 618-559-9143
2BR/1BA house for rent in Marathon. Tile & carpet floors, new appliances, gated property. No pets. Avail in July. $2700/mo incl. electric only. F/L/S Dockage available for sep. fee. 305-610-8002
2BR/1BA for rent in Key Colony Beach. 800 sq. ft., fully furnished, across from park, one block from beach. 3 month min. $3000/month + sales & TDT taxes. F/L/S 786-285-9476 fjvillegascpa@ gmail.com
Available Now, Stock Island near CVS. Traveling nurses/ Working professionals only. No pets, smokers or drugs. Gated, safe, quiet, has parking and a pool. Fully furnished room w/private bath, smart TV, washer/dryer. House and kitchen privileges always, w/ fridge and cabinet space. Monthly rent REDUCED to $1,400.00 All Included. First and Last due at move in time. Call 305-797-5600 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
1BR/1BA fully furnished Apt. for rent in Marathon. Ideally one person. On canal w/boat lift, W/D, Wifi. $1,950/ mo. 850-376-7137 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!
PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871. HOUSING FOR
RV Lot For Sale in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. Full hookup, close to marina. $59,900 or $2,000 down & $500/month. Call Nate 317-440-4709
PLACE YOUR RV LOT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871.
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
YARD SALES
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-417-0871 or email Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com
All things CHRISTMAS!! YARD SALE: Sun. July 13 from 9 am -12 Noon. 1901 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Las Brisa, Key West
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Generation Department:
OPERATOR/MAINTAINER
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
JOIN OUR TEAM!
The Keys Collection is seeking a Complex Sales Manager and a Sales & Events Coordinator to drive revenue and build lasting client relationships across three properties: Blue Flamingo Resort, Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Inn. Ideal candidates will have hospitality sales experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for delivering exceptional results.
Apply today at highgate.com/careers
IS HIRING IN THE UPPER KEYS
ACCOUNTING PERSON
Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate.
Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002
is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
ELECTRICAL PROJECT ENGINEER
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $136,979/annually$140,815/annually For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace. Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
NOW HIRING
GENERAL OFFICE HELP
Captain Pip’s & their sister properties are looking to hire for general of ce help.
Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have the following opening available. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
e Turtle Hospital in Marathon wants you to join their team! EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GUIDES/GIFT SHOP SALES Full and part-time. Public speaking and & retail sales experience helpful. $19/hour to start.
Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.
IS HIRING!
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!
We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Children, Adult) (FT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult, PT) Prevention Specialist Advocate
MARATHON
Prevention Specialist Care Coordinator (PT) Driver (CDL not required) (PT)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT,PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)
*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT,PT)
*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP 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
- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus
- Pool Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology, Per Diem
