15,
STRIDES FOR PASCAL
Race honoring the life of young boy supports local students | P. 25
NEW SUPERINTENDENT
School board makes selection | P. 5
REVIVING AN OLD BOAT LAUNCH?
Village officials seek to help fish guides | P. 4
2
LISTENING SESSION OVER TRAFFIC INVITES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Officials say meeting opens sunshine law issues
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Three Upper Keys organizations want county commissioners to hear from local residents regarding issues over traffic through a listening session on Tuesday, May 20 at the former courthouse building on Plantation Key. County commissioners aren’t expected to attend the listening session, however, due to other obligations that include a ribbon-cutting at the Key West airport on May 20 and a commission meeting in Key West the next day on May 21. In addition, county officials say the Sunshine Act prevents county commissioners from attending the session organized by the Keys Accountability Project, Islamorada Community Alliance and Tavernier Community Association. Together, the group invited commissioners and members of the public to the listening session to address issues of heavy congestion and traffic safety along U.S. 1 in the Upper Keys.
Per the communication, the session initially would give residents an allotted three minutes to speak on their experiences and concerns regarding traffic. At the end of the listening session, county commissioners would have three minutes to speak and respond to constituent concerns while
presenting possible solutions.
“ICA, KAP and TCA are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Florida Keys,” reads the invitation. “Your presence at this Listening Session ensures that the voices of our community are heard by their elected officials, and that actionable steps will be proposed and taken.”
Upon receiving a certified letter, commissioner Michelle Lincoln told the three organizations via email that commissioners wouldn’t be able to participate in the meeting due to sunshine laws. Per County Attorney Bob Shillinger, “While this event seems well intentioned, the announced format is a recipe for a potential sunshine law violation should more than one of you (commissioners) attend and speak on matters that are reasonably foreseeable to come before you for a vote.”
In addition, Shillinger expressed concerns over whether minutes would be taken — and by whom — a key component of complying with sunshine law, which governs public meetings and communication among elected officials.
“To make matters worse, the three-minute speaking limit being placed on each of you (commissioners) has potential to take this session out of the realm of a ‘public meeting,’ which a clever prosecutor or civil plaintiff could use as further evidence of a sunshine violation. In public meetings, public officials generally have an unlimited ability to speak subject to their own adopted rules. The announced format is not consistent with that.”
In her email, Lincoln said a notified BOCC workshop, where everyone in the audience would be allowed to speak with commissioners responding, would be the best way to remedy the situation.
In response to Lincoln’s email, the organization replied by stating the sunshine law prohibits commissioners from conducting official business behind closed doors and out of the sunshine of the public discussion. But when officials do not consider official business, the sunshine law doesn’t apply.
“As with these common types of events, our Listening Session will not include any official business because we have eliminated the Commissioner response section of the event. Commissioners need only to listen,” stated KAP, ICA and TCA. “This removes that
portion of the program identified by County Attorney Shillinger whereby … ‘a clever prosecutor or civil plaintiff could use as further evidence of a sunshine violation.’ Commissioners will not be asked to speak in any capacity.”
Despite the inability for commissioners to attend the listening session, the organizations will still hear from residents about problems on U.S. 1. Organizers note the meeting is not just regarding traffic issues due to the installation of new water transmission main in Islamorada, but more the issues of overcapacity and backups due to accidents, events and more development.
The listening session, which will go from 6 to 8 p.m., will be held at the old courthouse building at 53 High Point Road on Plantation Key.
SCHOOL BOARD SELECTS ED TIERNEY AS SUPERINTENDENT
Palm Beach County Schools leader chosen over 2 local finalists
MANDY
mandy@keysweekly.com
The school board’s five-month search for its next superintendent ended this week, with the selection of Ed Tierney for the school district’s top job.
The board voted to hire Tierney, deputy superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools, over two local finalists — deputy superintendent Amber Archer Acevedo and Coral Shores High School principal Laura Lietaert. Board member Yvette Mira-Talbott
spoke earnestly in support of Acevedo, but ultimately joined the other four members in making the vote for Tierney unanimous.
“He was very, very prepared,” board member John Dick said of Tierney after making a motion to hire him.
“And I think the district is best served by a new person coming in.”
“The thing that touched me the most during Mr. Tierney’s board interview was when we asked him about the things he had done, he
always credited the teachers, and that, I think, speaks volumes about what’s important to him,” board member Sue Woltanski said.
Horan said he watched “everything I could find on him on YouTube. And at our board interview, he commanded that room. You knew that he knew the answers. You only get that when you’ve led a team that instills their trust in you, and you could tell he has a support system that believes in him.”
Northbound traffic on U.S. 1 in Islamorada. Three community organizations will hold a listening session on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the old courthouse building on Plantation Key. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
Ed Tierney, in Key West on May 2 with his wife, Lori, was selected as the school district’s next superintendent at the school board’s May 13 meeting. MANDY MILES/ Keys Weekly
WILDFIRE DISRUPTS TRAVEL BETWEEN FLORIDA KEYS & THE MAINLAND
ROOFTOP SHOOTER HITS COP CARS, TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
Midnight standoff ends in tragedy in Marathon
Heavy smoke billows from a wildfire near Card Sound Road and the 18-Mile Stretch in Miami-Dade County on May 8. Inset: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews battle a wildfire off Card Sound Road on May 8. MDFR/Contributed
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Aparched section of natural lands went ablaze between the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road in neighboring Miami-Dade, forcing transportation officials to shut off the only two thoroughfares between the Florida Keys and Florida City for several hours on May 8.
A small fire soon spread to hundreds of acres as Florida Forest Service and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews teamed up to battle the flames — from the air and ground — into the evening and throughout May 9. Traffic on the two arteries between the Keys and the mainland remained at a standstill for several hours the evening of May 8 due to the proximity of flames and heavy smoke causing visibility issues. Traffic eventually flowed, albeit slowly, on May 9 when the southbound lane of the Stretch
opened. Card Sound Road going north reopened for a while until it was shut down later in the afternoon. Road lane closures affected Upper Keys schools, with no bus transportation available to students on May 9.
All lanes eventually reopened on both thoroughfares by the evening of May 9. Traffic remained unimpeded by the wildfire through last weekend.
A heavy dose of rainfall on May 12 not only provided a much-needed watering for a dry region, but it also aided firefighting crews to gain greater containment of the 400-acre wildfire.
This is the second wildfire near Card Sound Road and 18Mile Stretch on the Miami-Dade side this year. On March 12, a blaze spiraled out of control and burned nearly 26,000 acres by March 21.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
A53-year-old gunman, armed with what police said was an AR-15 rifle on the roof of an apartment complex in Marathon, shot three police cruisers before apparently taking his own life late on the evening of May 8, officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office told the Keys Weekly. No other injuries were reported.
A standoff with law enforcement, including the MCSO SWAT team, left the entrances to Sombrero Beach Road and Sombrero Boulevard closed for more than two hours as dozens of units from agencies throughout the Keys responded. Area residents attempting to return home were turned away by the team, with cars filling the nearby parking lots until the blockade was lifted.
The incident began shortly before 10 p.m. with reports of a man throwing objects off the roof of the complex at 9 Sombrero Boulevard, MCSO said. As officers were en route, they received reports of gunshots, and heard shots when they arrived on scene. As deputies approached the building, the gunman opened fire on their recently-vacated vehicles, striking three of them.
In conjunction with the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and FWC officers, deputies worked to set a perimeter around the apartments, calling for assistance via helicopter from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Arriving on scene with a spotlight and law enforcement sniper, the helicopters reported a man on the roof of the building who appeared deceased with blood coming from his head, Sheriff Rick Ramsay told the Weekly. As the SWAT team had not heard any recent activity from the gunman, they went up on the roof and confirmed his death via an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Early Friday morning, Ramsay confirmed the identity of the shooter as Duane Clayton Day, a resident of the building who had reportedly finalized a divorce two days earlier and recently lost his job.
Unofficial reports from locals late Thursday night claimed that the incident began at the Wendy’s fast food restaurant at 5150 Overseas Highway before the suspect ran across U.S. 1 and went up to the roof. These reports, Ramsay told the Weekly, were not accurate, as the apartment complex was the shooter’s residence and there was no known incident at the restaurant before the 10 p.m. reports.
“I am relieved no deputies or members of the public were harmed during this incident,” said Ramsay in a 2 a.m. press release after the shooting. “I want to thank the brave deputies and officers who responded and ran toward danger to ensure our community’s safety.”
If you or anyone you know are in a crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles blockade the end of Sombrero Boulevard and Sombrero Beach Road in Marathon during a late-night standoff with a rooftop gunman on May 8. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
VFW POST CELEBRATES WORLD WAR II VETERAN’S 98TH BIRTHDAY
Members of VFW Post 10211 visited Oasis at the Keys Nursing and Rehab Center in Tavernier on May 5 to celebrate World War II veteran Bob Rehbock’s 98th birthday. In coordinating with the center’s activities director Gloria Holmes, the Post greeted Rehbock, fellow veterans of the nursing home and other residents with coconut cake, Bob’s favorite. His wife, Julie, also attended the special celebration. VFW members from Post 10211 included Dom Tameo, Butch Hones and his wife, Cassie Hones, Mark Birk, and other veterans from around the area. Members also met fellow veterans Maynard “Doc” Albert, a Navy veteran, and Arthur “Art” Itkin. “We now have contacts and will come back and visit these heroes on a regular basis,” Birk said. CONTRIBUTED
UPPER KEYS LITTLE LEAGUER TOSSES FIRST PITCH
MOM & BABY MANATEE SAFE AND SOUND
Mother’s Day rescue in Islamorada is a success
Kayakers keep a close eye on a mother manatee in distress and her calf before a successful rescue on May 10. DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER/Contributed
More than one species celebrated Mother’s Day on May 10 in the Florida Keys, as Dolphin Research Center (DRC) led the successful rescue of a mother manatee and her young calf in Islamorada.
The mother manatee had sustained serious injuries from a boat strike, resulting in a life-threatening pneumothorax — a condition in which air becomes trapped in the chest cavity, potentially impairing lung function.
Upper Keys Little Leaguer Jaxen Moreira threw out the first pitch at the Miami Marlins game on May 4. It was the annual Little League game for South Florida teams and Moreira was chosen to toss the ceremonial first pitch. The Upper Keys Little League, consisting of baseball and softball, provides the opportunity for every kid to play while supporting each player to enhance his/her game. For more information on UKLL, visit upperkeysbaseball.com. CONTRIBUTED
The distressed manatee and her calf were safely transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where they are now receiving expert medical care and rehabilitation.
The operation was a coordinated effort with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and included on-site assistance from Aquarium Encounters.
“Rescuing a mother and her calf on the eve of Mother’s Day made this mission especially meaningful,” said Allie Proskovec, director of media and marketing at the Dolphin Research Center. “Every manatee matters, but rescuing a mother and helping ensure the calf’s survival is a double victory for conservation.”
A coordinated rescue team from Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters and FWC load the mother manatee and her calf into a specially-designed rescue boat.
Boaters throughout Florida are urged to remain vigilant and reduce speed in manatee-inhabited waters to help prevent future injuries to these magnificent marine mammals. For more information or to report a sick, injured or distressed manatee, please contact FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
— Keys Weekly staff report
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY SET IN KEY LARGO
AMemorial Day ceremony will be held on Monday, May 26 at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of the Upper Keys Murray Nelson Government Center. The doors will open at 9:30 a.m., to accommodate all those requiring time to set up and prepare for the event.
The ceremony will include music from the Florida Keys Community Concert Band, a flag presentation by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scout color guard, videos and veteran and civilian guest speakers.
Water pipe work will pause
For Memorial Day Weekend, the crew installing the new Plantation Key water main near MM 89 will pause work on Thursday, May 22 and resume work on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. As of May 9, 2025, the crew working north of Snake Creek Bridge has installed 5,931 feet of pipe. More information is at fkaa.com or via email to community@fkaa.com. After-hours support is available at (305) 296-2454.
Man cited for illegal conch
A 39-yearold Miami man was given a court citation on May 11 for reportedly possessing a queen conch. Islamorada Marine Deputy Jason Farr was patrolling near the Snake Creek Bridge at about 7:30 a.m. when he saw Gustavo Garcia Macid and a live queen conch in a still-wet shell nearby. Garcia Macid admitted to harvesting the queen conch. He was also cited for possession of an undersized lane snapper.
Immediately after the ceremony, attendees can enjoy free hot dogs, burgers, fries and discounted beverages at the VFW Post 10211’s Armory Speakeasy, which is located directly adjacent to the Murray Nelson Government Center on the oceanside of U.S. 1.
“We hope you’ll be able to take some time from your busy day, to honor and remember with us the sacrifices of our many soldiers killed in action,” said John Donnelly, veteran and VFW post trustee.
– Contributed
MERRICK JAMES DUNN
August 7, 2009 – May 5, 2025
Busy Memorial Day travel predicted
AAA predicts a record-breaking 2.6 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period. That’s an increase of nearly 95,000 compared to last year.
Nationwide, AAA expects more than 45.1 million to travel for Memorial Day weekend. That’s 1.4 million more domestic travelers than last year. It’s also a new Memorial Day weekend record, surpassing the previous record set back in 2005 with 44 million people.
“Despite economic uncertainty and global challenges, travel remains a priority for Americans, with millions eager to make memories with a Memorial Day getaway,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group.
Several boats catch fire at Tavernier business
A fire was reported at about 2:35 a.m. on May 14 at the Unique Marine boat yard in Tavernier. At least four boats were damaged in the fire. There were no reported injuries. A cause of the fire was not available at press time.
With unimaginable sorrow, the family of Merrick James Dunn announces his tragic and sudden passing on May 5, 2025, at just 15 years old.
Born on August 7, 2009, Merrick was the cherished son of John Patrick Dunn and Lauren Hoefert Dunn, wonderful big brother to Colin Dunn, and a proud lifelong “Keys kid.” He was a sophomore at Coral Shores High School, where he shined as an AP student, a member of the National Honor Society, and a natural athlete on the Hurricanes Swim & Dive and Tennis teams.
Merrick also achieved the rank of Cadet Technical Sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary — where he demonstrated leadership, commitment, and a passion for learning and service.
Known for his vibrant spirit and adventurous soul, Merrick embraced every opportunity life had to offer. He loved boating, wakeboarding, snow skiing and traveling with family. From Upper Keys Little League to school activities and weekend getaways, he made lifelong memories and friendships. His quick mind made him a natural at puzzle games — especially Rummikub, where his competitive edge meant everyone else was playing for second place.
Merrick was also a valued employee at Tavernier ACE Hardware, where he took great pride in helping customers and learning from his coworkers.
He was loved for his kindness, engaging smile and natural ability to connect with people of all ages. Those closest to him say he had his dad’s sense of humor, mom’s sense of adventure and gave the world’s best hugs. He was a loyal friend to the young and old alike, a joy to be around, and a young man of great character who made a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Merrick is deeply mourned and forever loved by his parents, John Patrick Dunn and Lauren Hoefert Dunn, and his younger brother, Colin Patrick Dunn; his maternal grandparents, James and Karen (Lawson) Hoefert; and paternal grandparents, Patrick and Nancy Dunn. He is also survived by Aunt Stephanie (Dunn) and Uncle Bobby Zlockie, and cousins Brookelyn and Isla Zlockie; Uncle Robert and Aunt Heather (Hoefert) Regan, as well as many great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, classmates, teammates and dear friends.
A celebration of Merrick’s life will be held on the beach at Harry Harris Park on Friday, May 16, beginning promptly at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made in Merrick’s honor to the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, to help carry his light forward in the community he loved so dearly.
CORAL BABIES COME HOME
More than 1,000 descendants of Florida Keys colonies make the trip from Tampa to Layton
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
While annual bleaching events and diseases continue to ravage coral reefs around the world, the Keys’ reef tract got a little shot in the arm last week as more than 1,000 baby corals made their way from the Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) in Tampa to Keys Marine Lab (KML) in Layton.
What began as an early morning on Florida’s west coast ended well after sundown at Keys Marine Lab on May 7. Aquarium staff and coral restoration partners offloaded coolers of baby elkhorn corals born in 2022 and 2023 at the aquarium, destined to play their part in restoring the Keys’ iconic reefs.
The day served as a homecoming, of sorts, for the young corals – while they came from land-based aquatic systems at the aquarium’s prolific coral propagation facility in Apollo Beach, their parent colonies were rescued from the Keys just before a massive coral bleaching event decimated large portions of Florida’s southernmost reefs.
Bleaching, as its name aptly implies, is a term for when stressed corals release the symbiotic algae that typically live inside them – and give them their color. Without those algae, called zooxanthellae, the corals lose a major source of nutrition and become susceptible to disease and death.
The most recent bleaching event, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative, is the worst global bleaching event in recorded history, shattering records while affecting 84% of the world’s coral reefs since January 2023.
“The summer of 2023 was devastating to Florida’s elkhorn coral population,” said Keri O’Neil, director of the FLAQ’s coral conservation program.
“The coral juveniles we are transferring today are made up of many new mother and father combinations that we hope will be more resilient to future stressors. Without human intervention, these parent corals would not be able to breed due to the extent of the loss. They’re a sign that, even during a crisis, we can make progress.”
After a period of acclimation at KML, Keysbased restoration practitioners Coral Restoration Foundation, Mote Marine Laboratory and Reef Renewal USA will each receive roughly 300 corals, with Sustainable Oceans and Reefs (SOAR) set to receive 100. The corals will make their way out to ocean-based nurseries operated by project partners before eventual outplanting at Mission: Iconic Reef sites inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
One week prior, a group of 150 additional elkhorn corals was delivered safely to the Keys before being outplanted by FWC’s restoration ecology teams at Marathon’s Sombrero Reef and Key Largo’s Horseshoe Reef.
The aquarium said it will also provide restoration partners with about 40 fragments from the original parent colonies, used to grow and create new coral colonies. Monitoring both the new corals and parent colonies will provide crucial information in identifying genetic factors that could help corals survive future stress events.
This month’s delivery is far from the first time the Florida Aquarium has helped return young corals to the Florida Keys’ reefs after devastating events. Three years ago, the Weekly met the Florida Aquarium’s team at KML to witness the delivery of 560 brain and flower corals for outplanting at a site near the Tennessee Reef Research Only Area off Long Key.
Corals delivered in 2022 were the offspring of parent colonies collected as part of the Florida Coral Rescue Project, an initiative designed to retrieve and preserve corals before they could become infected by a deadly outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease.
1: Coral restoration practitioners celebrate a successful transfer from the Florida Aquarium to Keys Marine Lab. From left: FLAQ’s Jessica Kelly, SOAR’s Jim Brittsan, Eva Phair and Keys Marine Lab director Cindy Lewis.
2: The sun sets behind Keys Marine Lab with hundreds of transported corals safe and sound. 3: The Florida Aquarium team takes a moment for a photo op before sending more than 1,000 corals to the Florida Keys for outplanting at Mission: Iconic Reefs sites. 5: A box truck full of coral coolers makes
from Tampa to Layton.
Islamorada, Village of Islands
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
GRANT PROCUREMENT AND CONSULTING SERVICES
RFQ 25-05
Bid Submittal Deadline: 3:00 p.m. June 05, 2025
Islamorada, Village of Islands (the “Village”) is seeking formal proposals from an experienced, qualified consultant firm or individual for Professional Grant Procurement and Consulting Services. Firm that is capable of providing all necessary expertise, tools, materials, and overall services.
to view and download the bid documents for complete information including the full scope of services, eligibility criteria and submittal instructions.
Islamorada, Village of Islands
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROFESSIONAL STATE OF FLORIDA
LOBBYING SERVICES
RFQ 25-04
Bid Submittal Deadline: 3:00 p.m. June 06, 2025
Islamorada, Village of Islands (the “Village”) is accepting qualification statements for professional state lobbying services. To represent the Village’s interests before the States Legislative and any executive branch, body, committee, state agency and/or other entity.
to view and download the bid documents for complete information including the full scope of services, eligibility criteria and submittal instructions.
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GETTING TRASHY
Net collections from I.CARE Trash Derby smash previous record
TIFFANY DUONG
tiffany@keysweekly.com
“It takes a village,” said I.CARE Co-Founder Mike Goldberg of the effort necessary to keep the Keys clean.
A village spanning the length of the Keys responded in force for the third annual I.CARE Trash Derby. New faces, healthy competition and better organization made the annual event, which took place the first weekend of May, an unexpected and smashing success.
In two days of Keyswide cleanups, 898 participants removed a whopping 36,459 pounds of marine debris from our waters, mangroves and coastlines. This surpassed last year’s record of 14,000 pounds.
“There was so much (trash), we didn’t know where to put it. We filled nine 20 yarders (Dumpsters), and we could have filled 20,” said Goldberg.
What made a difference
Trying to explain the huge jump in impact, he cited several factors:
• More enthusiasm and healthy competition among locals groups and dive shops.
• Scouting for debris by dive shops for weeks in advance.
• More land cleanups available so people could find and join more easily.
• Better event organization and communication, so people could jump on multiple cleanups.
Cortney Benson, the marine debris removal stewardship coordinator for National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, credited Keys nonprofits already engaged in cleaning up our slice of paradise with a lion’s share of the difference.
For example, Conch Republic Marine Army (CRMA) is a boat-based nonprofit that regularly brings locals and visitors to mangrove islands to remove hard-to-reach trash and storm remnants — for free. This was their first year participating in the derby, and they ended up winning the private boat division for most overall trash collected: 8,866 pounds.
“We had an absolute blast and we cleaned a lot of stuff out of the mangroves,” said CRMA executive director Carla Burns. “My favorite part was a big snotball of rope. Literally, a thousand pounds in one knot that took six guys to get out of the water, onto the boat and to the side where we cut it up in pieces.”
“Groups like CRMA, Surfrider, Reef Relief made all the difference — we leveraged their expertise, their knowledge, their ability and their infrastructure,” Goldberg added.
Whatever it takes
Many people went above and beyond. The twoman team of Bob Murray and Terry Helmers won the land division by removing 2,258 pounds, including a
concrete dock that was “definitely an Irma casualty.” They sledgehammered it into pieces, smashed it up and carried it out in 5 gallon buckets that weighed around 35 pounds each. Then, they had to cross mangrove roots and coral rock to a boat anchored offshore.
“It was kind of like a crossfit thing,” Murray joked. “We wanted to get a ton, and we did.”
Benson, like others, participated in numerous cleanups throughout the weekend. She started with two dives with Captain’s Corner in Key West, followed by a land and snorkel cleanup along the seawall by the Key West Airport. Day two, she went out with Captain Hook’s Big Pine for two more dives, followed by a land-based cleanup on Indian Key Fill. Goldberg gave a nod to the Florida Keys Tourism Development Council for their partnership and support.
“The TDC agreeing to fund a program like this — picking up trash — as a ‘tourism’ event is not what they’d normally consider, but they saw through that and supported us financially. That allowed the dive operators to be a part of it and offer free diving to visitors and locals.”
With all diving for the event completely sponsored, dive boats were fully booked months in advance. This also brought an unexpected boon to our islands: of the 534 divers, 81.5% were from out of county, and many stayed at local hotels, ate at area restaurants and contributed to this communitywide effort.
Empowering people
Benson explained why, generally, trash cleanups and debris dives work. “Marine debris is such a big and daunting topic and problem, I think lots of people feel helpless about it. But people feel more empowered when … they can come and physically remove the debris with their own hands and … can be a part of the local solution.”
“There are so many things you do in life that you don’t feel like have an impact. Here, you can see what you’ve done and the impact,” added Burns. “You feel so good.”
There’s already buzz about the 2026 derby, with second-placers rethinking their strategies, winners enjoying their bragging rights and the community feeling really connected and positive about the power of many to create real change.
Murray said, “I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about it. I am going to vote for it as the best event in the Best of Upper Keys.”
He decided to donate his half of the winnings ($1,000) back to I.CARE, and Helmers will donate his half to the Friends of John Pennekamp. Helmers has also found another dock, and the two already have plans to try to remove it.
“There will be something else,” Murray said. “Sadly, there is no shortage of stuff to clear out. But, that’s why we’re not stopping. It’s all of our responsibility.”
1. Mangrove ecosystems are littered with derelict trap lines brought in by storms. Conch Republic Marine Army removes much of it. 2. The Conch Republic Marine Army uses floating boards to help bring gear out from deep in the mangroves. 3. Winners of the land division, Terry Helmers and Bob Murray, cleaned up ‘a literal ton’ of debris — 2,258 pounds with just the two of them — focusing on debris left over from Hurricane Irma in 2017. Photos by CONCH REPUBLIC MARINE ARMY and BARBARA OVERTON
JULES’ UNDERSEA LODGE UNDERGOES MAKEOVER
Visitors, locals encouraged to plunge into this local treasure
a kind experience for its guests. CONTRIBUTED
KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL www.keysweekly.com
For nearly 40 years, Jules’ Undersea Lodge has sat at the bottom of a 30-foot deep manmade lagoon in Key Largo’s Undersea Park.
“We’ve set all of the legitimate world records for living under the water,” said habitat designer and Marine Resources Development Foundation founder Ian Koblick.
When 85-year-old Koblick designed what is now known as Jules’ Undersea Lodge back in the 1970s, the technology was considered cuttingedge. The habitat is essentially a 20-foot-wide by 50-foot-long barge; inside the barge are two cylinders that are 8 feet in diameter and 20 feet long.
“The reason it was designed like this is because when buoyant it can be towed on site to a place where it would be deployed for a mission,” said longtime Koblick friend and fellow aquanaut Mark Ward. “In this case, when it started in the ’70s, it was deployed off Puerto Rico in 100 feet of water and scientists would stay down there for a couple of weeks.”
The 400-square-foot former research facility was moved to its Key Largo lagoon location in 1986 and transformed into a lodge, a place where divers could spend a night or several nights, surrounded by lagoon creatures, including manatees, a variety of fish species and sea horses. The lodge is only accessible by suiting up in scuba gear and diving in.
“It’s really for divers and non-divers,” said aquanaut and explorer Koblick.”You can take a little resort course for an hour or two and then an instructor will take you down,” he continued.
For almost four decades, Jules’ Undersea Lodge has hosted everyone from celebrities, to researchers, to dignitaries, to average Joes – divers from all walks of life, all fascinated by the sea and eager to spend a night below the surface.
Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau’s son JeanMichel spent the night here; so did rocker Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was a repeat guest, staying inside the lodge at least a half dozen times. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his father Pierre stayed in the 1990s.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is just remind people what an amazing iconic attraction this is, especially in the Keys,” said Ward. He and his fiancée, Trudie Baker, are travel consultants submerged in promoting scuba diving experiences.
Recently the couple teamed up with Koblick to help promote the undersea lodge, which although undoubtedly a local treasure, has not been getting as much attention as of late due to economic challenges post-COVID.
“We talked to Ian about trying to implement some new marketing programs and some physical improvements too to make it a little more approachable for people,” said Ward. Those physical improvements and marketing strategies are now underway.
Recently, new countertops were installed inside the lodge, along with a fresh coat of paint. It’s not an easy undertaking, considering a diver has to bring all of the supplies inside the lodge in a watertight container. And in the lagoon that houses Jules’, new fans are being used to push the silt out in an effort to improve the water clarity.
“We’re experimenting with different ways to keep it clean,” said Jardin MacDonald, general manager of Ocean First, which has partnered with Jules’ to promote diving experiences in and around the lagoon.
The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce visitor center is also helping remind visitors about the underwater lodge. A detailed replica of Jules’ has been placed inside the center at the entrance to Key Largo and new brochures explain different offerings, from spending the night to having lunch inside the lodge.
“We get a lot of people coming through there and they’re always looking for something to do,” said Key Largo Chamber president Suzi Youngberg. Youngberg estimates some 150 to 200 people pass through the visitor center daily during the busy tourist season.
Besides going inside the lodge, the lagoon where it is located is ideal for diving 365 days a year.
“This is one of the few places in Florida where you can go and dive when you can’t go out on the reef,” said Koblick.
Koblick has spent half a century studying and protecting the ocean. The octogenarian says he will never retire. He hopes by giving others the chance to explore and learn about the ocean, more people will do their part to protect this beautiful and fragile ecosystem.
“Our ocean’s dying,” he said. “Will we be able to save it? I doubt it, I doubt it, in fact the answer is no, it’s just a matter of time, but we can slow it down a little bit if we get enough people involved.”
To visit the Key Largo Undersea Park, home to Jules’ Undersea Lodge, head over to MM 103 in Key Largo. The park is located at the end of Transylvania Avenue at 51 Shoreland Dr. More information is at 305-451-2353 or www.jul.com.
Travel consultants Mark Ward and Trudie Baker have been brought in to help market Jules’ Undersea Lodge. From spending the night below the surface to visiting for lunch, the former research habitat offers a one of
This detailed replica of Jules’ Undersea Lodge is now on display inside the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce visitor center. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/Keys Weekly
Travel consultant Trudie Baker explains how day-today items, like towels and cleaning supplies, going into Jules’ Undersea Lodge must be placed inside this watertight container and brought into the lodge by a scuba diver.
Travel consultant Mark Ward takes us inside the command van at Jules’ Undersea Lodge. When divers are staying in the lodge the command van is staffed to ensure the safety of the guests.
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TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN CELEBRATES 81 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Grads represent 12% of the Class of 2025 in Monroe County
Take Stock in Children scholars from Coral Shores High School’s Class of 2024. Eighty-one students will graduate from the scholarship program this month. CONTRIBUTED
Take Stock in Children of Monroe County announces the graduation of its 25th class of scholarship recipients, marking a milestone in the program’s history. This year, 81 students from four county high schools are set to graduate, representing 12% of the Class of 2025 in Monroe County.
With a collective achievement of over $2 million in awarded scholarships, this cohort has exemplified dedication and perseverance, boasting an average GPA of 3.65. Throughout their time in the Take Stock in Children program, students have met weekly with their volunteer mentors and engaged in rigorous academic pursuits, successfully completing 221 Advanced Placement courses and earning 256 dual enrollment credits.
Twenty-eight percent of these students have earned the Bright Futures scholarship. The students also have collectively completed 182 college applications, resulting in 131 college admissions. Approximately 42.5% of the class will enroll in a college or technical school, while 55% will pursue higher education at a university.
“We are so very proud of this group of students,” said Chuck Licis-Masson, executive director of Take Stock in Children - Monroe. “While in the Take Stock in Children program, these students have faced challenges, dismantled obstacles and worked hard to begin their post-secondary educational career. We thank their parents for their support and their mentors who have guided them along the way. Our students have earned their scholarships and are prepared for continued success in college and career.”
The graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Marathon Middle High School. The public is invited.
Take Stock in Children of Monroe County is the flagship program of the Monroe County Education Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships and mentorship to low-income students in Monroe County and ensuring that they have the opportunity to pursue higher education.
More information is available from Licis-Masson at chuck. licis@monroecountyedfound.com or 305-293-1546.
— Contributed
CARE & CONFIDENCE
‘Hello Summer’ initiative gathers hygiene
products
In a display of community compassion and collaboration, the Upper Keys responded by ensuring no girl goes without essential feminine hygiene products this summer.
Through a new initiative called “Hello Summer,” community groups including Project D.A.W.N., the League of Women Voters, and Keys for Democracy identified about 100 middle- and high-school girls in need — girls who normally rely on their schools for these necessary supplies during the academic year.
Thanks to the support of the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, which donated over 6,000 pads, and the Florida Keys Electric Co-op, which generously provided tote bags, the foundation of the effort was quickly
established. The remaining items were gathered in under 72 hours via a Facebook virtual event and an Amazon wish list.
The collected products will be distributed discreetly through the schools in May, just in time for the end of the academic year.
“This project is a reminder of the power of community,” said school board member Sue Woltanski, who helped create the project. “We want every girl receiving these supplies to know they are valued and supported by the people around them. The ‘Hello Summer’ program is a shining example of what’s possible when neighbors come together with a shared purpose — to uplift, support and make a real difference in the lives of young people.”
— Contributed
Darren Pais, Key Largo School principal, thanks school board member Sue Woltanski and Karen Beal for the delivery of essential feminine hygiene products. CONTRIBUTED
THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: THE CRAWL KEYS
Survey finds the name developed from turtle storage pens
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, kraal is defined as “1) an African and especially a southern African village in which a group of dwellings surrounds a livestock enclosure; 2) an enclosure for animals, especially in southern Africa.”
Kraals were used in the Florida Keys to pen turtles. Some can still be seen at the Key West Bight, on the docks at the end of Margaret Street. When turtles were considered a kind of livestock, they were brought to Key West and kept in watery pens until they could be processed. The local cannery operated where Turtle Kraals Restaurant stands today.
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.
Turtle pens were not isolated to Key West. Once upon a time, they were found up and down the island chain. In
the Middle Keys, there are a couple of islands that were, allegedly, named for them. They fall under the Marathon umbrella which, like Islamorada, is not a single place but a collection of islands that includes Grassy Key, Crawl Key, Little Crawl Key, Long Pine Key, Fat Deer Key, Deer Key, the East and West Sister’s Islands, Stirrup Key, Key Vaca, Hog Key, Knights Key and Boot Key.
Unlike Islamorada, when you drive through the collection of islands under the Marathon umbrella, it is often difficult to distinguish where one island ends and the next begins. Surprisingly, they are bereft of bridges and of the green and white road signs that declare each and every island along the rest of the drive.
Grassy Key is an interesting exception. The Tom’s Harbor Channel Bridge almost reaches it, but comes up short. Railroad fill connects the bridge to the island, where a green and white sign announces Grassy Key — technically, the sign marks the fill before the road reaches the island.
Traveling down the Overseas Highway and through Marathon, the distinction between Grassy Key and the next island is difficult to ascertain. One minute you are driving on Grassy Key, and the next you are not. The linking element is a line of railroad fill constructed by the men building the right-of-way for the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s train that has since been taken over and disguised by mangroves and other flora.
Crawl Key is the next island, going south/west. Charles Smith’s 1872 official government survey identified it as Kraal Key. Decades later, in a field report written for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey 1935-6, the following can be found: “The name [Crawl Key] is well established and in general use. Authority I (Charles L. Pinder of Key West) gives the spelling as Kraal. Local information states that the name developed from the turtle crawls (storage pens) that were early established here. The name is recommended.”
There will not be a sign announcing the island’s presence. The first real marker is Banana Boulevard. If you take the turn to the oceanside and drive a short distance down the boulevard, you will arrive at Valhalla Island, the future site of Bass Pro’s Johnny Morris’ nature resort. Continue down the highway, and an unmarked road will be on the gulfside. Take it and you will end up at the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s building and no one wants to end up there.
Just ahead is Little Crawl Key. The 1935-6 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey offered: “Local authorities sometimes refer to this island as Little Crawl Key or Crawl Key Mangrove as there is little navigation in the area. There is probably no established name and the (first) name is recommended as being as good as any.”
Little Crawl Key is home to Curry Hammock State Park, the largest undeveloped parcel of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key — thanks to the Curry family. Alfred Bates Curry was born circa 1867 in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. Like many Bahamians, he left the islands and, in 1885, arrived at the harbor in Key West. The young man worked hard, married, had a single child and grew up to be a significant landowner in the Florida Keys. One of the properties he owned was a large section of Little Crawl Key. Upon his death, his property holdings were left to his only child, Lamar Louise Curry.
In 1991, the state of Florida acquired 1,112.5 acres from Miss Curry. The land was used for the state park that was named in her honor. She lived a long life and passed away on Dec. 3, 2012, just eight days before her 106th birthday. The park offers camping, hiking, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and small beaches. When the wind is blowing, it is a popular spot for kiteboarders.
Too often, people are in a hurry to get to Key West or some other destination and miss out on so much of the natural beauty of the Florida Keys. If you have a little time, visit the park and let the ocean breezes brush against your skin.
Just beyond the entrance to the park is Burnt Point Road. It is on the gulfside and marks the location of another one of Marathon’s unmarked islands, Long Point Key. The island was unnamed on the Charles Smith 1872 survey. The 1935-6 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Report stated: “Authority I (Charles L. Pinder of Key West) gives the name Long Point Key and some local authorities call it Burnt Point Key.” Burnt Point Road ends at a remarkable, though private, estate.
Continuing down the Overseas Highway, the road travels over Long Point Key until it reaches, again with no fanfare, Fat Deer Key. Fat Deer Key signals the beginning of what most people visualize when talking about Marathon. When the Great Florida Keys Road Trip returns to Marathon, it will begin at Fat Deer Key, talk a little bit about the coco plum, and then we’ll let the tires roll down Coco Plum Drive.
Valhalla property on Crawl Key, 1955. WRIGHT LANGLEY COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center
FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED WELLNESS
If you can’t pronounce it, should you eat it?
...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. Hello@highlymotivatedfc.com
Ifelt like a true rockstar when one of my clients recently told me they wanted to start incorporating electrolytes into their daily nutrition routine after reading one of my articles. I mean, that’s the goal, right?
To empower people to take control of their health in small but meaningful ways. That superstar glow lasted about 24 hours. The next day, I caught that same client sipping on a bright red drink that looked like it could double as car engine coolant. I blinked. Surely, this couldn’t be their new “hydration upgrade,” right?
I gently walked over and said, “Hey, I am SO proud of you for making hydration a priority. Seriously. But ... not all electrolyte drinks are created equal.” I explained that while yes, the body needs minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium to stay balanced, what he was drinking was also loaded with artificial colors, preservatives and chemicals that were likely doing more harm than good.
That’s when he hit me with a question that nearly made me face-palm right there in the gym:
“What’s Ester of Rosin? It says it right here on the bottle.”
Cue me taking a deep breath and explaining that Ester of Rosin is a chemically-modified substance — originally derived from tree sap — that’s used as an emulsifier to keep ingredients from separating in shelf-stable drinks. Sounds “natural” enough, right? But when something has to undergo a chemical makeover just to sit on a store shelf for a year without separating, you have to ask yourself if that’s something your body really needs.
He tried to keep reading the label out loud, but it started to sound less like English and more like he was speaking in tongues. Very cherry tongues, to be exact.
That moment lit a fire under me to write about why reading food labels matters more than ever — and why it’s not as complicated (or boring) as it sounds.
It’s easy to get sucked in by marketing. Words like “natural,” “immune-boosting” and “electrolyte enhanced” are everywhere. But the truth is, front-of-package claims are advertisements. The real story lives on the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel — the stuff they hope you don’t read.
A general rule of thumb: If you can’t pronounce it easily, your body probably won’t recognize it easily either. Whole foods and cleanly formulated products should have ingredients you could find in a regular kitchen, not a science lab.
Some quick tips for smarter label reading. Number one: shorter is better. Look for ingredient lists that are short and simple. The more ingredients — and the more complicated they sound — the more likely the product is ultra-
processed. Number two: sugar by any other name is still sugar. Added sugars hide under names like “maltose,” “syrup,” “nectar” and “-ose” endings. Electrolyte drinks especially love to sneak in sugar bombs under the guise of “energy boosts.” Watch for it. Final tip: the first three ingredients tell the truth. Ingredients are listed by weight. If sugar, corn syrup or artificial colors show up in the top three, that product’s priorities aren’t aligned with yours.
Ingredients to be wary of include artificial colors (like red 40, yellow 5), which are linked to hyperactivity and potential inflammation; preservatives (like sodium benzoate), which can form harmful compounds in certain conditions; and emulsifiers (like Ester of Rosin), which, while technically safe, aren’t not doing your body any nutritional favors.
Functional foods, fortified drinks, electrolyte boosters — they all can have a place in a healthy lifestyle. But your health doesn’t come from buzzwords on the label; it comes from what’s actually inside the bottle, bar or box.
The next time you’re shopping, turn that bottle around. Don’t be shy about googling an ingredient if you don’t know what it is. (Pro tip: If it sounds like a chemical compound you once used in high school chemistry, maybe leave it on the shelf.)
Your body deserves real food, real nutrients and real hydration — not cherry-flavored science experiments. And if you ever need a second set of eyes on a food label? Find yourself a coach who will tell you, lovingly, that Very Cherry Red was better left for crayons.
JENNIFER HARVEY
RACE REMEMBERS PASCAL
Annual event supports students
Runners and walkers took their mark for the annual Pascal’s Way 5k Run/Walk on the Old Highway near Treasure Village Montessori in Islamorada on May 10. Bob Arnold, 63, was the overall winner with a time of 21 minutes and 26 seconds. This 5K run/walk honors the life of Pascal Weisberger who passed away 5 years ago, and this year is supporting the Pascal’s Way Scholarship for community service-oriented seniors from the Class of 2025 at Coral Shores High School. Any additional funds will go to support the science programs of Treasure Village Montessori in Islamorada and Ocean Studies Charter School in Key Largo. Over the course of his nine years living in the Upper Keys, Pascal attended both of these schools and they each added greatly to his life and him becoming the special young man that he was known to be in his community. People can still run or walk a 5k virtually through May 31 to honor the life of Pascal. — Keys Weekly staff report
ISLAMORADA COMMUNITY ENTERTAINMENT HELPS NEW BAND STAY IN TUNE
“I love band class!” exclaims an enthusiastic fifth-grader who has joined the Young Band Ensemble at Key Largo School. When Darren Pais, principal at Key Largo School, approved a new fifth-grade band program a few months ago, the response was remarkable.
The class immediately filled with over 30 kids who wanted to be part of the band. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to learn how to read music, play an instrument and just have fun learning how much fun it is to make music with their friends. There was just one problem … not enough instruments to go around.
Islamorada Community Entertainment (ICE) came to the rescue. They donated significant funds
to purchase instruments, which allowed each band student to get one to play, to take home and to start their musical journey. Band director Susan Bazin knows this will help grow an already thriving program, increasing the skills and experience of the middle school band ensemble.
ICE brings entertainment and cultural events to Upper Keys residents and provides art, music, dance scholarships and grants to local students and in-school programs.
Thanks to David Feder and ICE for bringing music to a new group of students.
— Robert Sax, Florida Keys Community Concert Band conductor
Participants in the annual Pascal’s Way 5k started from Treasure Village Montessori, running and walking up the Old Highway to Forest Tek before turning around and heading back to TVM the morning of May 10.
Photos by CINDY SMITH/Contributed
Naxelly Vega | Agency Owner
Phone: 786-949-6499
Email: naxelly@sebandainsurance.com
HISTORY OF DIVING MUSEUM TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS
Featured exhibit unveiling set for May 21
TUESDAY NIGHTS
Steak
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
Steak
SATURDAY NIGHTS
Prime Rib Night @ Green Turtle
SUNDAY BRUNCH
7 a.m.-2 p.m. @ Green Turtle
HAPPY HOUR DAILY
3-6 p.m. @ The Nest
LOCALS SUNSET MENU Tues-Fri, 5-6 p.m. @ Kaiyo
This year, the History of Diving Museum celebrates 20 years since it first opened to the public. The upcoming exhibit will delve into what it took to create the world’s largest collection of diving equipment on public display, how the museum has grown in the past 20 years and what the future holds.
The opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., followed by the “Immerse Yourself!” lecture on “Mistakes Divers Make” with Dan Orr.
Founded by Joe and Sally Bauer in 2005, the museum is the culmination of more than four decades of passionate collecting, curating and researching of diving history. It represents one of the most extensive collections in the world.
The exhibit celebrating the 20 years will open with a preview starting at 5:45 p.m., followed by the ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. The presentation with Orr, diving consultant and former president of DAN, will follow at 7 p.m. His seminar will take attendees through the incidence of injury in scuba diving and mistakes divers make, with recommendations on how to identify and mitigate these risks. Those interested in attending the exhibit opening or lecture in-person, may register at divingmuseum.org or via email to programs@divingmuseum. org. Those unable to attend in person will find a Zoom link at divingmuseum.org. This session will also be recorded and posted to the museum’s YouTube channel. This month’s sponsors are Mark “Sharky” Alexander and Trident Surface Supplied Diving, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
— Contributed
History of Diving Museum founders Joe and Sally Bauer. CONTRIBUTED
SEVERAL SPECIES ARE FACING THREATS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Top: One of the more iconic endangered species, the Key deer primarily call Big Pine Key home. BRYNN MOREY/Contributed. Inset: The Key Largo woodrat is a rare and critically endangered rodent found only in the hardwood hammocks of Key Largo. FWC/Via website
Friday, May 16 is National Endangered Species Day. It is important to raise awareness of some of the most critically endangered species that call the Florida Keys home.
The Keys are known for their breathtaking coral reefs, diverse marine life and unique ecosystems. However, despite their natural beauty, the Keys face significant environmental challenges that threaten the delicate balance of these ecosystems. Among the most pressing concerns is the decline in various species that inhabit the region; many are classified as endangered. These species are at risk of disappearing forever.
From mangrove forests and seagrass beds to coral reefs and pine rocklands, the Florida Keys are home to a wide range of ecosystems. These diverse habitats support an abundance of wildlife, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, rapid development, habitat loss and pollution have all contributed to the decline of many species.
The Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle is a species of marine turtle that frequently nests on the beaches of the Keys. These turtles face numerous threats, including destruction of eggs by raccoons, habitat destruction, entanglement in fishing gear and accidental capture in shrimp trawl nets. Warming oceans and rising sea levels also pose a significant risk to this species, as they could affect their nesting sites. Conservation efforts, including beach monitoring, the protection of nests and policy changes that require turtle-excluding devices on shrimp nets, have proven to be successful. These efforts have significantly increased turtle populations over the years.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “American Oz” (2021)
is the University of Florida, IFAS Monroe County Extension coordinator. BRYNN MOREY
The Key deer is one of the most iconic endangered species of the Keys. With a population of fewer than 800, this small, delicate deer is primarily found in the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. These deer are threatened by habitat degradation, as well as vehicle collisions on roads. Conservation programs are in place to protect the Key deer, including vehicle speed limits and habitat restoration.
The smalltooth sawfish is now critically endangered, with the Keys as one of its last strongholds. This unique ray, easily recognized by its long, saw-like snout lined with teeth, prefers shallow coastal waters, mangroves and seagrass beds for breeding and feeding. Habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, disease and slow reproduction have severely reduced its population. Conservation efforts in the Keys focus on habitat protection, research and public awareness to help restore this ancient species to healthier numbers.
The Key Largo woodrat is a rare and critically endangered rodent found only in the hardwood hammocks of Key Largo. With fewer than 50 remaining in the wild, this species is at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, predation by non-native species, and competition for food. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration and the removal of invasive predators to provide a safer environment for this species. Captive breeding programs have been established at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, but captive females average only one offspring per year, while wild females typically have two litters a year with three or four pups.
The Miami blue butterfly is a critically endangered species native to the Florida Keys. Once widespread across coastal South Florida, it has now been reduced to a single wild population in the Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges, with fewer than 100 remaining. This decline is attributed to habitat loss, coastal development and invasive species such as the green iguanas eating the butterflies’ host plant, nickerbean. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding and habitat restoration at Bahia Honda and Long Key state parks, aim to stabilize and recover the species.
Coral species found in the waters around the Florida Keys are in severe decline due to ocean warming, disease, pollution and coral bleaching. Elkhorn and staghorn corals, once the foundation of the region’s vibrant coral reefs, are now listed as endangered. Coral restoration programs have shown promise in helping these species recover, but the ongoing threats of ocean temperatures and human activity remain major challenges.
Why: L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, so what better time to visit this documentary about his life from PBS’ “American Experience” series? More thorough than other documentaries about Baum, this one is nuanced in not only highlighting his strengths and successes but also his flaws and failures. The turn-of-thecentury Midwest era he was from is also examined, giving better context to both his views and the inspirations and in-jokes found in the Oz books. It’s a handsomely produced look at the dreamer whose works still have relevance in our pop culture today.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
Founded by Betty Debnam
Have you ever been to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia? Just outside Washington, D.C., Arlington is the final resting place for more than 300,000 service members and their family members.
Military men and women from every American war are buried there. But Arlington is not the only cemetery where American soldiers, airmen and sailors lie at rest. In fact, all across the world, American cemeteries, memorials, monuments and markers honor military members who have fought for their country.
In advance of Memorial Day on May 26, The Mini Page explores some of these faraway tributes.
MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
• Mexico City National Cemetery
In 1847, as Mexico and the United States fought over territory, American forces moved toward Mexico City. Finally, Mexico surrendered, and the war ended. The United States won the territories of New Mexico and Alta California.
The remains of 750 unidentified Americans are buried together together there.
ARLINGTON, BELGIUM, CEMETERY, COLONIAL, CRYPT, FLAGS, FOLD, FRANCE, GRAVES, MEMORIAL, MEXICO, MILITARY, OVERSEAS, POOL, SERVICE, SOLDIER, SOUTH KOREA, VAULT.
Honoring the Fallen
KOREAN WAR
• U.S. Monument at U.N. Memorial Cemetery in South Korea
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in South Korea contains the graves of 2,300 service members from 11 countries. Thirty-six Americans are buried there. The U.S. monument reads: “Honor, Freedom, Peace.”
The remains of 813 Americans who served in the Mexican-American War and the Spanish-American War are also buried in wall crypts, or vaults, in the cemetery.
WORLD WAR I
• Flanders Field in Belgium
In 1918, just before World War I ended, the U.S. 91st Division fought a battle where Flanders Field American Cemetery is now. With 368 service members buried there, it is the only American cemetery in Belgium.
The famous poem “In Flanders Fields” was written by John McCrae in 1915 after an earlier battle there.
WORLD WAR II
• Normandy American Cemetery in France
A complicated plan to invade German-occupied parts of France in 1944 was called Operation Overlord. It involved U.S., British and Canadian paratroopers dropping from planes during the night to conquer and secure as many areas as possible. Then, at dawn, soldiers stormed five different beaches along the coast of Normandy, France. On the first day alone, at least 10,000 Allied troops were lost.
The cemetery contains the graves of more than 9,000 military dead.
Words that remind us of military cemeteries are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
FOLDED FLAGS
Why do we fold flags for military funerals? The U.S. flag is folded in this special way at ceremonial occasions.
As the flag is folded, the red and white stripes are covered by the star-covered blue field. This represents the light of day disappearing into the darkness of night.
The shape, similar to a Colonial hat, reminds us of the soldiers and sailors who served during the Revolutionary War.
The U.K.’s endangered turtle dove population is making a remarkable recovery, thanks in large part to a recent hunting ban. The Guardian reports that after declining by 98% since the 1990s, the population grew by 25% across Western Europe since a 2021 ban on shooting the birds in key countries along their migration routes, such as France, Spain and Portugal. Conservation efforts in the U.K., including habitat support from over 400 landowners, have also been key to the recovery.
The Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Mini Fact: At Arlington National Cemetery, a soldier places flags on graves for Memorial Day.
photo by Elizabeth Fraser,
U.S. Army
Burial vaults at the Mexico City National Cemetery.
The Reflecting Pool at Normandy American Cemetery in France.
photo courtesy
U.S. DOD
An Army officer presents a folded flag to the widow of a fallen soldier.
Be Storm Ready NOW
Keeping you and your family safe during a weather emegency
Storm Preparedness Checklist
Non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person, per day) for 7 days.
Manual can opener.
30-day supply of medications.
Infant formula, preferably ready-to-eat.
Stay Safe
Battery-powered or crank weather radio.
Pet supplies, including: Food, water, and medications.
First aid kit.
• NEVER use a gas-powered generator indoors, in a garage, or within 20 feet of windows or a window air conditioner.
• Use a battery powered carbon monoxide alarm to prevent CO poisoning.
• Protect yourself from insects when outside by covering your skin (long-sleeved shirt and pants), and use insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Drain any standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Special Needs Shelters
The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, in partnership with Monroe County Emergency Management, provides shelter to those with special medical needs during an evacuation.
• This shelter should only be used as a last resort.
• To see if you qualify or to pre-register for the special needs shelter, visit MonroeCountyEM.com/SpecialNeeds.
For more information, call 305-293-7500 or visit Monroe.FLhealth.gov.