The bayfront one
This solid CBS home tucked away near the end of a private street offers unparalleled privacy and the sought-after allure of the luxury lifestyle. Experience a masterpiece built to incorporate and withstand nature's elements. Upon entering the residence and ascending the stairs, panoramic waterfront views unfold across the entire home through floor-to-ceiling windows. Fluidity in design is the essence of the concept for this home. This home offers five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and three half bathrooms. The primary suite features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay, two private balconies, an office nook, and a resort-style bathroom. Notable features in the primary suite include a custom walk-in closet, a dual entry rain shower, a stand alone jet tub, and marble tile throughout. Continue up the stairs to access the rooftop terrace where you can enjoy 360 degree sunset views, soak in the hot tub, entertain guests, and serve drinks from the enclosed wet bar! Complete with an elevator accessing each floor up to the third story. Outdoor amenities include an in-ground pool, artificial turf grass, mature landscaping, cabana pool space, a two-car carport, charging station and a pier dock offering deepwater dockage for all your vessels including a 20,000 pound lift and jet ski lift. This location offers unparalleled boating access with close proximity to Adam's Cut & Tavernier Creek for ocean access.
89240 Overseas Hwy. Suite 2 Tavernier, FL 33070
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Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney died on Nov. 4 at the age of 84. Cheney was defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush during Operation Desert Storm. He was then vice president under George W. Bush during the U.S.-led operations against Afghanistan and Iraq.
Rob Dixon practices for the grueling 8-mile Swim for Alligator Lighthouse event in 2023. Dixon is the only swimmer to complete all of the swims solo since the event started in 2013. STEPHEN FRINK/ Contributed
Members of
AND THE PITCH: ARTIFICIAL TURF VERSUS NATURAL GRASS
Debate continues over playing surface at Founders Park ballfield
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Debate continues over the type of playing surface at the Founders Park ballfield, as some experts weighed in during a recent public meeting in Islamorada.
Monroe County School District officials are backing the use of synthetic turf, a manufactured product using synthetic fibers that mimic the aesthetic look of natural grass, on any future field improvements they undertake, including the field at Founders Park. The district uses the field for the Coral Shores High School baseball program via an agreement with Islamorada, which owns the field. The district is planning to spend more than $5 million on improvements to the field, as well as new amenities like a two-story building behind home plate for a press box, concessions and restroom.
But the village, and ultimately the five council members, will have a say over the improvements, notably whether players will be fielding ground balls and pop flies on natural grass or an artificial surface.
A task force formed several months ago by Village Manager Ron Saunders convened recently to get an update on the latest proposal for ballfield improvements by the school district. Saunders mentioned his effort
to eliminate a new multiuse building — in a bid to reduce project costs — was met with support by school board members. School district officials were originally proposing a 1,950-squarefoot building with a player locker room, restroom and spaces for coaches and umpires attached to a new dugout.
Instead, school district officials will be looking to renovate an existing facility at the end of the first-base line.
In a bid to gain a little more clarity and information on artificial turf, Saunders invited Marco Schiavon, University of Florida assistant professor of environmental horticulture and turfgrass science, and Wes Allen, regional sales manager with Florida AstroTurf to present various aspects.
Schiavon and his team studied artificial turf fields in California and found they were watered just to make them usable during the summer. Schiavon acknowledged a lot of his work and research comes from fields in California, but not a lot of data has been collected on playing surfaces in Florida.
“In South Florida, do I see or believe we’d see the same magnitude seen in California? No, the temperature difference would be reduced because we’re in a high precipitation state. It wouldn’t warm as much; however, I will point out at least here in Fort Lauderdale we had a brutally dry
summer, at least at the beginning,” Schiavon said.
In a study by UF professors, average surface temperatures of natural grass are as much as 70 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a dormant brown lawn and 100 degrees cooler than a synthetic turf surface. One professor found a synthetic turf field reached 160 degrees.
And while designed to imitate the look of natural grass, the UF professors say, synthetic turf fails to provide any ecosystem benefits. And savings on water are in question as fields are sprayed to cool them in times of intense heat.
Allen said his AstroTurf company installed artificial playing surfaces at places like the University of Florida, Camping World Stadium in Orlando and the athletic fields in Key West, to name a few. He noted artificial turf has evolved similarly to the way iPhones have over the past 10 to 15 years.
In his remarks, Allen said AstroTurf supplied the summer Olympics in France with a zero-emission turf with GT-B series. It’s 11% biobased and reduces reliance on petroleum products. The surface is also durable and improves drainage and player safety, he said.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Coral Shores pitcher Donovan Thiery delivers a pitch during a home game at Founders Park. FILE PHOTO
SCHOLARS SIGNED
Take Stock in Children inks a record 84 students
Take Stock in Children of Monroe County has accepted 84 new students into its scholarship program, which now serves 382 students across 14 schools in the Florida Keys. This year marks a significant milestone for the program, reflecting a 5% increase in enrollment compared to last year.
The newly-accepted students, ranging from sixth through 10th grade, join a community of learners dedicated to academic success and personal growth. The enrollment includes 176 students from the Lower Keys, 74 from the Middle Keys and 132 from the Upper Keys.
“We are very proud of our new students who have joined our awardwinning mentorship program in Monroe County,” said Chuck Licis-Masson, executive director of Take Stock in Children of Monroe County. “These students will be a part of a 26-year history of providing college scholarships to nearly 1,200 students.”
Take Stock provides Florida Prepaid college scholarships that cover up to 120 tuition credits and local fees at any of the 12 state universities or 28 state colleges. Take Stock students may also apply their scholarship toward a career technical certificate.
“We have a track record of success with nearly 70% of our scholarship recipients earning a college degree or a career certificate,” said Licis-Masson. Monroe County Education Foundation board president Ron Saunders
emphasized the importance of, and his appreciation for, the Take Stock mentors who meet weekly with Take Stock Monroe students.
“We are very appreciative of our volunteer mentors who give time each week to meet with their Take Stock mentee, providing guidance and support that truly makes a difference in their lives,” he said.
This year has seen growth particularly at Coral Shores and Plantation Key schools, which experienced close to a 20% increase in enrollment.
Additionally, Marathon Middle High School reported a 12% rise in student participation. With new applications being considered after Jan. 1, the program anticipates reaching nearly 400 students in the near future.
To accommodate this expected increase in enrollment, Take Stock in Children is seeking additional mentors. Volunteers play a vital role in this program, offering support and guidance that help students navigate their academic journeys and prepare for future success.
The Monroe County Education Foundation congratulated the families and students for their commitment to education and expressed gratitude to the mentors who help make these opportunities possible.
More information is available from Licis-Masson at chuck.licis@monroecountyedfound.com or 305-293-1546. — Contributed
MARK WILSON ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE
Judge seeks to succeed retiring Mark Jones
Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson on Nov. 3 announced his candidacy for Sixteenth Circuit Judge, Group 1. The seat will be open following the retirement of Judge Mark H. Jones, who will conclude his three-decade career on the bench when his current term ends in December 2026.
“Judge Jones has been a pillar of our judicial system for many years, and a stalwart example of professionalism and steady leadership,” Wilson said. “His service as a circuit judge has strengthened our courts and deepened public confidence in the justice system. I intend to continue my judicial service to the citizens of Monroe County by succeeding him in that role.”
Wilson was appointed to the Monroe County Court in 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Scott. He has since been elected without opposition. Before taking the bench, he served for 12 years as a Monroe County assistant state attorney, prosecuting public corruption crimes and other felony offenses.
WIlson also served for many years as the legal adviser to the Monroe County Grand Jury. He spent four years as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where he prosecuted federal crimes. Wilson finished his prosecutorial career as chief assistant state attorney.
He is qualified by the Florida Supreme Court to preside over death penalty cases and has handled thousands of criminal and civil matters throughout the Florida Keys in eight years as a county judge.
Wilson has been a law professor at Penn State and Widener
University law schools, a Wyoming state trooper and a U.S. Army paratrooper in the Republic of Panama and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the famed 82nd Airborne Division.
He earned a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Rutgers University, a law degree magna cum laude from Penn State, and a postgraduate law degree from Yeshiva University.
“I’ve always believed that justice should be firm when it needs to be and compassionate when it ought to be,” said Wilson. “The goal of our justice system is to seek the truth and apply the law fairly to everyone. As a judge, my duty is to ensure the rights of all parties are respected, the laws are faithfully applied, and that the decisions we reach are grounded in justice and reason. I intend to continue this as a circuit judge.”
Wilson said he has been endorsed by Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward and the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
The election for Circuit Judge, Group 1, takes place Aug. 18, 2026. Jones will retire four months later in December. — Contributed
Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson on Nov. 3 filed paperwork to become a candidate for Sixteenth Circuit Judge, Group 1. He seeks to replace longtime Circuit Judge Mark Jones, who will retire in December 2026. CONTRIBUTED
Take Stock in Children of Monroe County accepts 84 news students to its scholarship program. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY POSSESSING GOLIATH GROUPER
AMiramar man is facing charges after state wildlife officers say they found him in possession of a goliath grouper at a local RV resort and marina.
On Oct. 17, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner officers Alexander Oravec and Paris Winter responded to a report of an individual walking around Fiesta Key RV Resort and Marina in Layton and carrying a goliath grouper.
Wildlife officers say the man, later identified as 47-year-old Javier Rodriguez, admitted he caught the goliath grouper earlier in the day. He proceeded to lead officers to a freezer inside his rental apartment where the goliath grouper was located.
Officers arrested Rodriguez and took him to the Plantation Key Detention Center for illegally possessing a goliath grouper. Investigation revealed Rodriguez was on federal probation.
Per FWC, harvesting a goliath grouper is prohibited without a permit. Those who capture a goliath
grouper without permit should immediately release the fish alive, unharmed and using proper fish handling techniques.
— Keys Weekly staff report
MAN ARRESTED AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY COMMANDEERS TAXI IN MARATHON
AFlorida City man was arrested by sheriff’s deputies after he reportedly got behind the wheel of a taxi in Marathon and drove it to the Upper Keys.
Deputies say the report of a stolen taxi came in at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 2 at the 5500 block of the Overseas Highway in Marathon. The taxi’s keys were left inside with the doors unlocked, and that’s when 43-year-old Misael Asaria Bocio allegedly got inside the vehicle and went for a ride.
The taxi was spotted driving erratically by deputies in Islamorada. Deputies stopped the vehicle and later identified the driver as Bocio. He was
Misael Asaria Bocio. MCSO/Contributed
arrested and charged with grand theft auto and driving with a suspended license. The sheriff’s said Bocio is a habitual offender and had just been released from prison on charges of robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment and burglary with assault on an occupant.
— Keys Weekly staff report
Islamorada Village of Islands Meeting Schedule November 2025
Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Hwy., Islamorada
Goliath grouper allegedly harvested by Miramar resident Javier Rodriguez. FWC/Contributed
Javier Rodriguez. MCSO/Contributed
ballfield from January to roughly May. However, a proposed use agreement could give the village use during that period by checking with the school district.
Outside of baseball season, the village would have priority to use the field. The school district, however, could come to village officials and ask for use of the ballfield.
ELECTIONS OFFICE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
“We have a USDA-friendly product that is recyclable,” Allen said. “That is a huge thing coming up in the turf industry right now.
“What we’re starting to see in our industry is people want greener turf, more environmentally- friendly turf, safer turf and recyclable turf,” he said.
Typical turf products use polyethylene, but Allen said his company switched to soybean-based backing. And instead of rubber pellets, AstroTurf uses sand and brockfill, or a sustainable, organic infill for artificial turf made from engineered wood particles.
As for water collection, Allen said the AstroTurf product allows water to drain through the artificial turf, through the backing, a pad, sand and stone. He also noted that several fields they installed have collection systems containing pipes that send water to a management facility onsite.
“If you play on turf, you want it to play like a natural field because you want kids who are using that field to use it and to be able to participate the same way they would if it were a grass field,” Allen said.
Sandi Bisceglia, former Plantation Key School principal who lives across the street from the park, wondered how the mahogany trees located next to the field would still get water, if artificial turf were installed on the Founders ballfield. Allen answered that he wasn’t an engineer and didn’t have a hydraulic analysis of the site or dirt. Saunders said it’s a good point to bring to the school district as discussions continue.
The nearly four-hour meeting also dug into license and use agreements between the village and school district for use of the field. The use agreement is tied to the Coral Shores baseball schedule, and gives the team use of the Founders
Ed Davidson, a former school board member, has long stated his opposition to the process in which the planned improvements came to be, as well as the increased use of the field by sports programs other than baseball. He also noted the use and license agreements allow for “dramatic intensification” of use of the ballfield that was never intended in the last 24 years.
Several task force members believed another survey related to the ballfield improvements was necessary to get residents’ thoughts. Jamie Engel proposed a five-question, unbiased survey for residents to answer in a 30-day period. Richard Black proposed that each of the five task force members come up with two questions each, for a total of 10, for the public to answer in a two-week period. Alina Davis liked Black’s idea, but thought it should run for a month.
To date, no new survey has been released related to the ballfield improvements.
In recent months, school board members gave several approvals to the design for the Founders ballfield improvements. Pat Lefere, school district executive director of operations, told members during an October meeting the delivery of construction documents would be the next phase set to take place in March. Approvals from the village council, however, will be needed before any improvements proceed at the Founders Park ballfield.
The Monroe County Supervisor of Elections office on Oct. 6 launched a redesigned website with a new web address: votemonroeflkeys.gov. CONTRIBUTED
Upgrades unveiled in time for Marathon races & new campaigns
MANDY
MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Did you update your address when you moved last year? Do you know your new polling place?
Want to know who’s running for office — and who’s funding their campaigns?
Is your ballot coming in the mail? (Not if you haven’t renewed your request, as those now expire after every election.)
All this information and more is available on the Monroe County elections website, which has a new look, a new online address — and a new web hosting company.
“We are no longer being hosted by VR Systems,” Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies said on Nov. 4, referring to the Tallahassee-based company that, until this year, had hosted 64 out of 67 Florida counties’ elections websites. In 2024, as millions of users visited 64 county websites to check election results, the digital demand overwhelmed the hosting platform, and dozens of counties fielded frantic calls from candidates and voters as online results weren’t updating and websites were crashing, forcing users to find election results elsewhere.
Hodies added that while the website upgrade was her priority, the new web address — votemonroeflkeys.gov — was not.
“The state made a rule years ago that all election websites had to end in .gov,” Hodies said. “But our site had never been updated for that requirement.”
So the former keyselections. org is now votemonroeflkeys.gov. The old address will automatically redirect users to the correct one until March 2027, Hodies said, but encouraged users to update their bookmarks and saved sites.
The new site went live on Oct. 6 and launched “without a hiccup,” she said, hoping for the same smooth operation for Marathon’s city council elections on Nov. 4.
“Those election results for Marathon will be the test,” she said the day before the election. As of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Marathon results were posted on the site’s home page.
“Transparency and trust have been folded into this website and into our new social media series, ‘Election Connection’ and ‘Behind the Ballot,’” Hodies writes in a letter to voters on the website’s home page.
of Florida turfgrass scientists. This image shows why occasional weed treatments may still be needed because seeds can settle in surface layers or sneak through edges if not properly sealed. CONTRIBUTED
“So instead of using the same hosting company that everyone does, we spread out the traffic,” Hodies said. “We worked with Iowa Computer Gurus to redesign the website, which took about three months, and it’s hosted by Azure, so we shouldn’t have any freeze-ups or blackouts. And the ones that happened last year weren’t the fault of my predecessor or anyone here.”
“For the first time ever, the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections office is on Facebook and Instagram, and I’ll be launching a monthly newsletter later this month,” she said, adding that people can opt in to receive the newsletter via email on the elections website. Hodies credited the county’s election employees for their experience, knowledge and commitment to ensuring clean and accurate elections in Monroe County.
“I’m surrounded by amazing people, and I’ve been attending training and education sessions around the state,” she said.
Islamorada’s Founders Park serves as the home to the Coral Shores High School baseball program. Millions of dollars in upgrades are in the works by the Monroe County School District for the ballfield owned by the village. FILE PHOTO
Even with artificial turf, weeds can sneak in, according to University
A LUMINOUS CAUSE
Reignite the Light Gala raises money for critical lighthouse restoration
jim@keysweekly.com
Standing tall for 150 years, Alligator Reef Lighthouse is more than a structure rising above the Atlantic Ocean.
Named after the U.S. Navy ship Alligator, the lighthouse helped guide the way for mariners. Today, it serves as a symbol of the Islamorada community’s resilience and maritime heritage.
The lighthouse represents the shipwrecks, pirates, pirate hunters, the earliest stories of lighthouse keepers, divers and anglers. The lighthouse and its surrounding turquoise waters have hosted weddings and burials at sea. In June, a former lighthouse keeper’s ashes were spread not far from Alligator Lighthouse. Jeffrery Kime, a U.S. Coast Guard member from 1959 to 1965, spent several months manning the towering, majestic lighthouse roughly 4 nautical miles off Islamorada.
Beneath the lighthouse, the waters and coral reef teem with fish for snorkelers to see up close. From land, it’s one of the more visible lighthouses from the Overseas Highway. And it hosts hundreds of swimmers from various states and countries every September for the Swim to Alligator Lighthouse.
REEL RECS
First lit in 1873, the lighthouse stands guard in honor of Islamorada’s past, present and future. In 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard declared lighthouses in the Florida Keys, including Alligator Lighthouse, weren’t needed anymore. It led the General Services Administration, which preserves government buildings and manages real estate, to seek viable suitors for Alligator Lighthouse, so long as they agreed to preserve the light’s historic features while making it accessible to the public.
By September 2022, the U.S. Department of Interior granted the local nonprofit Friends of the Pool Inc. ownership of the lighthouse with the agreement that it would eventually be restored. It was a new endeavor for Rob Dixon, Larry Herlth and the Friends of the Pool. An all-out push for ownership of the lighthouse was successful; a plan to restore the lighthouse was the next gigantic challenge.
Dixon told Keys Weekly they have phase one restoration plans in the works. That includes restoring the platform, walkway to access the lighthouse and stairway up to the light.
A government shutdown, however, has slowed the progress a bit.
“We submitted permitting paperwork to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. They were in the process of reviewing our application, but everything’s been shut down for the last month now. We were also in the process of working with the Army Corps of Engineers on an application as well.”
Dixon added they’ve reached out to contractors regarding bids for phase one restoration work.
And while the government shutdown slowed the permit process, the fundraising efforts to restore the lighthouse to its old glory charges
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
ahead. The Reignite the Light Gala is set for Saturday, Nov. 15 beginning at 5 p.m. at Tea Table Key in Islamorada. Guests will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment from 5 to 7 p.m. Following a dinner catered by Green Turtle Inn, attendees will have the opportunity to place bids on trips, jewelry and more during a live auction.
Those who purchase a VIP table will enjoy a private bar while receiving a special goody bag. The evening will also feature raffles, a walking oyster bar and a Cuban coffee bar later in the night.
Jenn Weiden, event organizer, said the gala isn’t possible without the support of businesses including Keys Audio, HNO Productions, Green Turtle, Coral Keys Party Rentals and Island Time Trolley. Weiden also expressed thanks to Victor Ballestas for allowing the gala to be held on Tea Table Key, and all the sponsors that stepped up big time to support the lighthouse’s restoration.
Dixon said all the people he talks to care about the lighthouse and don’t want to see it toppling over.
“It’s our Statue of Liberty out there. We want it to shine and be a part of our history,” he said.
Visit Savealligatorlighthouse.org or Save Alligator Lighthouse on Facebook to grab your tickets.
What: “WarGames” (1983) Why: I dislike and distrust AI, and now I wonder if part of the reason is that I saw this movie at an impressionable age (15). Matthew Broderick stars as a supersmart teen computer nerd a decade before connecting to another computer became common. He thinks he’s sneaked into a new gaming system – but it’s actually the new autonomous missile control system installed by the U.S. armed forces. So when he tells it he’d like to play “global thermonuclear war,” bad things start popping up on giant screens at missile command. With Ally Sheedy as his love interest/partner in trying to avert World War III and Dabney Coleman as the computer system’s director, this is a time capsule that feels uncomfortably prescient. And, not for nothing, it’s the rare ’80s teen movie that is not all about adolescent relationships and bad behavior. If you’d like to see it on the big screen again or for the first time, it’s scheduled to be shown as the free “Movie Under the Stars” on Eaton Street in front of the Tropic Cinema in Key West on Saturday, Nov. 8. Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? keyslibraries.org/contact-us. Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/post/reel-recs.
JIM McCARTHY
Alligator Lighthouse is located roughly 4 nautical miles off Islamorada. FILE PHOTO
The 2025 Swim to Alligator Lighthouse medals hang during the event on Sept. 13. More than 300 participants swam to the lighthouse and back.
As engineer Jim Hauck looks on, ‘Lighthouse Larry’ Herlth drills into an iron support beam during a recent visit to Alligator Lighthouse.
Rob Dixon, left, and Larry ‘Lighthouse’ Herlth. The two lead the push to secure the iconic lighthouse off Islamorada when the federal government was looking to give it away.
RENOWNED ARTIST UNVEILS ‘RAISING THE FLAG’ AT ARMORY SPEAKEASY
Special tribute to veterans is timely
It is one of the most recognizable photographs from World War II, five Marines and one sailor raising the American flag on Iwo Jima.
“This is the most iconic image ever, in my view, so I wanted to paint it,” said renowned artist Robert Wyland, known to millions of art enthusiasts across the world as simply Wyland.
On Oct. 30, Wyland’s powerful 4by 8-foot acrylic rendition of “Raising the Flag” on Iwo Jima was unveiled at Key Largo’s VFW Post 10211. The post is home to the Armory, a militarythemed speakeasy.
“Wyland’s connection to the military runs deep; his father served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean war,” said the Armory manager Jose Rodriguez. “This art will forever stand as a symbol of gratitude and pride, a reminder that what unites us is stronger than what divides us.”
Before the unveiling, guests were handed flutes of champagne, adorned with military dog tags. Cheers erupted as the black cloth draped over the artwork was removed to reveal the vibrant painting, complete with eye-catching fluo-
rescent colors. Those present raised their glasses to toast the artist and his work. Chants of “Oorah!” – a well-known Marine Corps battle cry –could be heard in the background.
“There’s a feeling in it,” said Wyland. “Great art has a feeling. This one’s pretty great. Not just because I painted it, but the whole idea of it.”
After the unveiling, Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward presented Wyland with a coin commemorating the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, which takes place on Monday, Nov. 10. Ward, a former Marine and commander of VFW Post 10211, commended the artwork, describing it as “a great rendering.”
“I’m glad you guys like it,” Wyland said. “I had so much fun doing it.”
Wyland is best known and celebrated for his colorful aquatic-themed artwork, including famous murals like the “Whaling Wall” at the Key West Historic Seaport depicting sea creatures. Recently, Wyland restored an iconic mural in Marathon, adding a mother and baby manatee to the scenery of the mural, first painted in 1991.
But military-themed art is new to Wyland.
“It means everything to me. I’m just so proud I could add a little bit to this space. Our military are the reason artists like me get to do what we do,” said Wyland.
“It’s priceless too. I don’t even know the value of it,” he said.
“You wouldn’t look at this and think it was a Wyland; I’m very pro military,” said Wyland, whose father was in the Navy and was shot during the Korean War.
“He used to say, ‘Touch here, Wyland, you can feel the metal in my chest,’” he said.
Wyland and the Armory’s owner, Janessa Silvestri, have discussed collaborating on a piece for a few years. To see it come to life just ahead of Veterans Day and the Marine Corps’ milestone anniversary is especially rewarding.
“It’s so special that he did this for us,” said Silvestri. “We’re going to be doing a big bash here for the 250th Marine Corps birthday.”
Mark Birk is the quartermaster for VFW Post 10211. He spent 30 years in the Marine Corps and retired out of the Pentagon.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It couldn’t be more perfect or more fitting for 250 years of the Marine
Corps. All my friends are going to be jealous now.”
Wyland donated the piece to the VFW Post 10211, home of the Armory, and went on to make another generous offer.
“I’m going to give them all the rights to do whatever they want to do,” said Wyland. “If they want to publish it and sell prints of it and 100 percent of the proceeds can benefit our military,” he added.
Wyland has been painting since he was 4 years old. Now 69, he has no plans to slow down.
To see Wyland’s Raising the Flag, head over to the Armory Speakeasy located at 102255 Overseas Highway.
“This is the original,” said Wyland. “And if you want to see it, you have to come to Key Largo, baby.”
The Marine celebration takes place on Monday, Nov. 10 from 4 p.m. to close at the Armory Speakeasy.
Half of the proceeds of every cocktail sold will be donated back in honor of the Marines. There will be a cake-cutting ceremony commemorating the milestone birthday, along with live toasts and a patriotic atmosphere. The celebration is open to all: veterans, active duty and civilians alike.
Artist Robert Wyland stands next to the piece of art he donated to the Armory inside the VFW Post 10211 in Key Largo. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/Keys Weekly
KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL www.keysweekly.com
Top: Monroe County Commissioner Holly Raschein, Wyland, VFW Post 10211 Commander Dennis Ward, Armory owner Janessa Silvestri , and VFW Post 10211 quartermaster Mark Birk stand next to the newly donated artwork. Above: Before the unveiling, guests were handed flutes of champagne adorned with military dog tags to raise for a toast.
Scan for Tickets
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the ongoing efforts to Preserve Alligator Reef Lighthouse
NOVEMBER 15, 2025 | COCKTAILS AT 5:00PM Tea Table Key - 79775 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
Cocktail Attire - White & Silver
Florida Keys FISH REPORT
FROM CLASSROOM TO CATCH
Anglers reel in 150 fish during ladies tournament
1: Betty Trueba shows a 26.75-inch redfish. The Key Largo resident took second place in the inshore division. 2: Key Largo’s Maryann Lemak takes first place in the inshore division with a 30-inch jack crevalle. 3: Offshore division winner Noelle Goulart with a 10.9-pound mahi. CONTRIBUTED
Women from Florida and other areas cast off for adventure and learning at the award-winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, held Oct. 17-19 at the Elks Lodge in Tavernier. Participants learned from top captains and pros before testing their new skills on the water, where they caught and/ or released 150 fish from seven boats during the friendly tournament.
Winner in the offshore division was Noelle Goulart of Belle Isle, Florida, with a 12.17-pound bonito aboard Kay K IV. She also caught a 10.9-pound mahi.
Inshore, Key Largo’s Maryann Lemak caught and released a 30-inch jack crevalle on the Scales 2 Tales. Second place went to Betty Trueba, of Key Largo, with a 26.75-inch redfish on the Scales 2 Tales. Trueba also had the top tarpon release.
The events kicked off with a meet-andgreet, followed by hands-on education from fishing captains on Oct. 18. The sessions featured basics with Lee Lavery, offshore instruction by Jeanne Towne, conservation insights from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and inshore and fly casting with Rob Modys. Ladies took to the water on Oct. 17 and Oct. 19 for offshore and inshore charters, learning from professional guides while landing a variety of species including blackfin tuna, mahi, yellowtail snapper, bonito, tarpon, snook, redfish, and trout.
“This event is perfect for beginners and intermediate anglers to learn, practice and go fishing,” said Betty Bauman, founder of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing.
Visit ladiesletsgofishing.com for more information on upcoming fishing events. — Contributed
VISIT WITH CARE
Come to the Keys, but don’t trash them
Ah, the sweet sound of crashing waves, squawking gulls and the soft crunch of a Styrofoam cooler lid being ripped from its base by a light coastal breeze.
Paradise can be a place where your vacation trash comes to retire.
is the Monroe County recycling coordinator and outreach liaison.
Let’s be honest. You’ve probably thought about it and maybe even said it aloud while chucking an empty water bottle into a trash can: “What does it matter? I’m only one person, and it’s my vacation anyway.”
Yes, you are. And you know what? So is every other person who said the same thing right before tossing their unrecycled soda can, plastic bag or fishing line into the nearest mangrove, rock ledge or ocean breeze. When 8 billion of those “I’m only one person” decide their waste doesn’t matter, we get floating islands of garbage, choking sea turtles and more microplastics than plankton in our oceans.
And if a recycling bin isn’t immediately visible, your car has cupholders for eight but seats for five — you could bring your trash with you until you find the proper bin.
Remember when seat belts were annoying? They wrinkled your shirt, pinched your gut and made it hard to reach the radio dial. But we adapted, didn’t we? Now, we instinctively “click it” before reversing out of the driveway. Waste reduction is the same — it starts as a hassle and becomes a habit.
For those on vacation, you’re visiting someone else’s home. This charming seaside island you’re visiting is not a rental car with unlimited miles — it’s an ecosystem teeter-
ing on the edge of collapse. That “inconvenient” broken umbrella you left next to the overflowing trash barrel? It’s now airborne and en route to the nearest dolphin nursery.
And that chum box you crammed half-shut with old tackle is leaking a symphony of stink into the sand, ready to turn your last fishing line into a pelican’s next medical emergency.
Many of us in the Keys rely on tourism to make a living. We want you to come, enjoy, relax and maybe even fall in love with our corner of paradise. But love is a two-way street. It means respecting the place you’re visiting enough to leave it better — or at least not worse — than you found it.
It’s not about shaming. It’s about setting a standard. Locals, businesses and community leaders all share the responsibility of modeling good stewardship. This involves providing access to proper waste and recycling receptacles, educating visitors and setting an example. If you’re a resident reading this, ask yourself: Are you doing everything you can to make waste diversion as normal as buckling your seatbelt?
As the busy season approaches, let’s be clear: We welcome visitors. But we also expect them to treat this place like more than just a backdrop for Instagram photos.
Let’s show them what it means to care for the environment — one water bottle, one fishing line and one trash bin at a time. Because while you may not be alive when the worst of the consequences rolls ashore, your choices today are writing tomorrow’s headlines..
As a resident, take the time to greet visitors and offer some information about the area and the delicate environment. Demonstrate stewardship by picking up trash and choosing reusable shopping bags and water bottles.
And to that, we say: Welcome to paradise. Don’t trash it.
GROUPS TACKLE GHOST TRAP PROBLEM IN THE KEYS
Lurking in the waters off the Florida Keys, a haunting presence is luring marine life to their untimely demise and trapping their spirits in an underwater purgatory.
This isn’t the plot of a new Halloween blockbuster, it’s the unfortunate impact of derelict fishing equipment known commonly as “ghost traps.”
To help tackle the problem, Ocean Aid 360 was awarded $150,000 through the National Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment and Prevention (TRAP) program administered by William & Mary’s Batten School & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Beginning in 2026, they will mobilize commercial fishers alongside dedicated trap data collectors and volunteer coastal residents and local watershed groups to detect and remove derelict spiny lobster and stone crab traps in the Florida Keys. This intervention will include a robust pre- and post-removal monitoring component to measure natural resources and economic benefits related to the removal efforts.
Each year in the United States, commercial fishing traps are lost due to vessel-gear interactions, storms and gear degradation. These ghost traps become inaccessible to fishermen but continue to function, resulting in mortality of both target and non-target species, habitat damage and reduced fishery landings. A 2016 report found that removing just 10% of derelict crab pots and lobster traps could result in an additional $831 million in global landings annually.
This is the second year that Ocean
Aid 360 has received clean up funding through the TRAP program, which is supported by an initial $8 million, four-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program. Their firstyear efforts focused on the removal of marine debris and derelict traps in the Tampa Bay estuary — an area that is critically important for commercial and recreational fishing. These efforts resulted in the removal of 3,478 derelict spiny lobster and stone crab traps. Ocean Aid 360 will now shift focus south to target the Keys.
Data from each TRAP program partner is fed into a national database to evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of the removal efforts and to inform future policies.
“We are thrilled with the initial results from our inaugural TRAP program recipients. Their success is a testament to the impact that locallydesigned solutions can have on global issues,” said Kirk Havens, director of the Batten School & VIMS Center for Coastal Resources Management, which administers the TRAP program under the direction of co-principal investigators professor Donna Bilkovic and associate professor Andrew Scheld. “Our second round of recipients have demonstrated that same creativity, thoughtfulness and local community engagement in their project proposals, and we are proud to support them as they work for the benefit of their communities and marine ecosystems.”
More information is at trapprogram.org.
Divers use dual lift bags to extract a ghost commercial fishing trap from the waters. NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION/Contributed
ANNIE & ROCKY
REMEMBERING JASPER
Jasper arrived at Key Largo’s Pawsitive Beginnings on July 17, 2020 after spending four horrific years on a fur farm. He passed on Nov. 3, having known more time being loved and respected than exploited by the fur trade. CONTRIBUTED
Fox who escaped the fur trade horrors passes away in peace
Hi friends.
Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” I’ve got my serious paws on the keyboard today because I need to tell you something that’s been hard for all of us here at Pawsitive Beginnings. My brother, my mentor and the calm to my chaos, Jasper, recently crossed the rainbow bridge.
REEF THE FOX
fur farm. He now lives in Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro.
Mom says his body just couldn’t keep up anymore. One day he was sunbathing like usual, and the next, his back legs stopped working. He got scared, confused and frustrated because all he wanted was to stand tall like he always did. His favorite vet, Dr. Geraldine Diethelm, dropped everything to rush over, and mom made the hardest but kindest deci-
sion anyone could make. She helped him pass peacefully, right in the yard he loved so much.
The sun was shining on his fur as the breeze moved through the trees, and mom said it was like the universe itself was wrapping him up in light. She refused to let him go out the way he came into this world — trapped and broken. Instead, Jasper left free, loved and surrounded by the people who adored him most.
If you ever met him, you know Jasper had this quiet strength. He didn’t need to brag or boast; he just was. He showed the world that life after trauma isn’t just possible, it can be beautiful. He taught me a lot about patience and grace (even though I still forget both sometimes).
So tonight, when the stars come out, look for the brightest one. That’s Jasper. Running again. Painfree. Probably lying under a fig tree, smiling that gentle Jasper smile.
We’ll keep telling his story, because that’s what he deserves. Until next time, Reef, over and out!
Annie and Rocky are the sweetest of bonded pairs that you will meet. They are both 4 years old and chihuahua mixes. Both have been through a lot and stuck through it together. They must stay together. They love people and other dogs. If you are interested in meeting them, please contact MarrVelous Pet Rescues at 305-453-1315.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, Nov. 6
• MarrVelous Pet Rescues’ “Yappy Hour” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Caribbean Club, Key Largo. Dogs must be vaccinated, leashed and well-socialized.
Friday, Nov. 7
• Corals and Brews at 6 p.m. at Florida Keys Brewing Co., Islamorada. Proceeds support I.CARE and Reef Renewal USA.
• First Friday concert featuring the folk duo Jennings & Keller from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Key Largo library.
Saturday, Nov. 8
• Free guided bird walk at 8:30 a.m. at Green Turtle Hammock Preserve, Islamorada.
• Treasure Village Montessori’s Nautical Nights Around the World Gala at 7 p.m. at Islander Resort, Islamorada. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Monday, Nov. 10
• Islamorada Village Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center.
Nov. 11-12
• JOY Center activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Plantation Key Community Center, 53 High Point Road.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
• Mark Margolis teaches hydroponic orchid growing at 6 p.m. at the Key Largo Civic Club.
• Presentation by Chad Huff, Florida Keys Mosquito Control public information officer, on 75 years of fighting the bite at 6 p.m. at Islander Resort.
Friday, Nov. 14
• 14th annual Spayghetti and No Balls Gala benefiting MarrVelous Pet Rescues, at 6:30 p.m. at Snook’s Bayside, Key Largo. Learn more at spayghetti.com.
• Beats on the Bay music series welcomes Almighty Queen at 6:30 p.m. at Founders Park Amphitheater. Admission is free.
Saturday, Nov. 15
• Old Highway Run at 7:30 a.m. at Coral Shores High school. Signup at oldhighwayrun.com.
• A Night in White to Reignite the Light fundraiser at 5 p.m. at Tea Table Key, Islamorada.
Reef is a red fox that was saved from a
A PIGEON KEY STORY
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.
Driving along the Overseas Highway, vehicles roll over islands and past islands. Crossing over the Seven Mile Bridge offers a rare opportunity to pass over an island. Well, it used to.
Railroad piers supporting the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway were erected on Pigeon Key, allowing the train to roar 22 feet above it.
The Jan. 21, 1912, edition of the Indianapolis Sunday Star printed a story mentioning Pigeon Key: “The camps are in charge of a resident or division engineer with the one at Pigeon Key presently the most active. At high tide, Pigeon Key is about two acres in extent and perhaps three acres at low tide. There are four bunkhouses, each designed to hold 64 men; one of them for the foremen, who are housed apart from the laborers. Each has a reading room with good lights. Good mattresses are provided on standard double-decked bunks, with plenty of clean bedclothes; all laundry work being done by the company. Once a week all beds are washed and thoroughly disinfected to keep any parasites from getting a start.”
The following day, Henry Flagler rode his train from the mainland to Key West for the very first time. When the train rambled over Pigeon Key, passengers were given a bird’s eye view of Pigeon Key and the little community calling it home.
The island was surveyed in 1908, and a construction camp was established for railroad workers, including dormitories, a mess hall and a cement warehouse. Tents were also erected to house as many as 400 workers, assigned to build the bridges linking Knights Key to Pigeon Key and Little Duck Key.
While the train reached Key West in 1912, daily railroad service was established through the Upper Keys and the Middle Keys in 1908. Essentially, the railroad was delivered in two parts. The first part ended at a temporary terminus just offshore off Knights Key, the small island at the foot of what is today the Seven Mile Bridge. It took several additional years to complete the section stretching between Knights Key and Key West.
One of the most ambitious railroad projects was bridging the roughly 7-mile gap separating Knights Key and Little Duck Key. The feat was accomplished by constructing a series of bridges to cross the watery span where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico mix. Four spans were constructed; one of them was not like the others. The Knights Key Bridge, Pigeon Key Bridge, and the Moser Channel Bridge were built on piers like those erected on Pigeon Key. The Pacet Channel Viaduct used formed arches as its support system.
The train chugged over Pigeon Key for 23 years, until Sept. 1, 1935. Sept. 2 brought the Labor Day Hurricane, which destroyed 40 miles of track and officially ended the railroad’s operation. With the railroad finished, the state purchased the right of way. In 1938, when the second version of the Overseas Highway opened, some of Flagler’s abandoned railroad bridges were widened to accommodate automobile traffic, including the four bridges linking Knights Key to Little Duck Key.
When they were incorporated into the highway, the pass became known as the Seven Mile Bridge. It cost a great deal of money to convert them. In 1937, the Public Works Commission approved a $3.6 million loan for the project. To recoup the costs associated with the highway improvements, the new section was established as a toll road. Two toll booths were erected, one near the old automobile ferry landing at Lower Matecumbe Key and one at Big Pine Key. The toll was $1 for drivers and an additional quarter for each passenger. It was not cheap. That $1 price in 1938 would equal almost $22 in 2025.
Included in the purchase of the F.E.C. right of
way was Pigeon Key. The island became the headquarters for the Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District. All of the toll booth money collected was counted at the Pigeon Key headquarters until 1954, when the Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District closed. On April 15, 1954, all tolls were lifted, and the booths were picked up and hauled away. Signs popped up along the side of the road that declared the highway was now the “Florida Freeway.” The communities in the Florida Keys protested the “renaming” of their road. Their voices were heard, the signs removed and the road once again became known as the Overseas Highway.
Eventually, Monroe County was given possession of Pigeon Key where, today, the old wooden railroad buildings stand like a sort of ghost town –but a kind of living ghost town. When the modern Seven Mile Bridge opened in 1982, it skirted the island. However, when driving over it and passing Pigeon Key, you can still look down on the island and see some of the oldest buildings in the Florida Keys outside of Key West.
The Seven Mile Bridge still offers a bird’seye view of the island, but also the old railroad bridges, including the Pacet Channel Viaduct that ends at Little Duck Key. The viaduct is where Fred the Tree resiliently grows. For anyone who doesn’t know Fred’s story, his Australian pine roots, which had dug into the asphalt and concrete sometime after 1982, took hold and grew because, when given the chance, life will fight to survive.
In 1990, Pigeon Key was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Two years later, the Pigeon Key Foundation was formed to “protect the island’s long-standing history from the Henry Flagler era.”
It is still possible to get that same view of Pigeon Key that Henry Flagler saw when he was riding his train. The old bridges stretching between Knights Key and Pigeon Key are still open to pedestrians and bicyclists. You can also ride the tram operated by the Pigeon Key Foundation that goes out to the island. Be prepared: visiting the island can feel a bit like stepping back in time.
Pigeon Key from the bridge circa 1930. FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Monroe County Library
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COMMUNITY INVITED TO EXPERIENCE HEALING THROUGH SOUND ON NOV. 15
Rroshi, of Ciao Bella Islamorada, will host a gong healing experience with Frequency House on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Founders Park Amphitheater CONTRIBUTED
An immersive sound healing event is coming to Islamorada, blending art, science and spirituality.
Osiris Santos from Frequency House will join Gilda Rroshi, of Ciao Bella Islamorada to lead a gong sound experience at Islamorada’s Founders Park on Saturday, Nov. 15. It’s designed to promote deep relaxation and energetic renewal.
The gongs are tuned to specific frequencies said to interact with the body at a cellular level, helping participants release tension and restore balance.
“Born from our own healing journeys, we wanted to offer this freely to the community,” said Rroshi. “It’s a chance to feel a sense of
connection and peace — what we like to call Heaven on Earth.”
The session will take place at 5 p.m. at Founders Park amphitheater, located at 87000 Overseas Highway. The event is free and open to people ages 12 and up.
Space is limited, and guests are encouraged to arrive early for a spot close to the gongs. Participants should bring a yoga mat or blanket, a pillow if desired, and wear comfortable clothing. To help create a fully immersive experience, phones are discouraged.
For more information or to RSVP, visit Ciao Bella Islamorada on Facebook.
— Contributed
THREE WATERS RESORT IS NEW HOST FOR ISLAMORADA SAILFISH TOURNAMENT
Three Waters Resort & Marina will host the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament from Dec. 5-7.
Now in its 62nd year, this tournament is the first and most prestigious leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Series. This new chapter for the tournament continues its legacy as one of the oldest fishing tournaments in the United States.
Contestants will compete for top honors in pursuit of the prized Atlantic sailfish, a symbol of speed, strength and skill. This year, the tournament will launch a new twoday fishing format and both a pro and non-pro division. The non-pro division is designed for anglers who have not been paid to fish over the past year. The pro division will continue to allow anglers, captains and mates to compete.
Each division will award trophies for the top three places, along with other awards, including top lady angler and top junior angler. The festivities will begin on Friday, Dec. 5 with the competition hosted
Presentation highlights ‘Undersea Neighbors’
The Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys monthly program is Monday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Coral Isles Church, MM 90 on Plantation Key. The program is “Meet Your Undersea Neighbors,” presented by Chris Rigano, Scuba Schools International master diver, videographer and photographer. He will discuss Upper Keys sharks, rays, barracudas and dolphin from a historical perspective. The presentation is free and open to the public.
County fire chief, sheriff to speak at Tunnels to Towers Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina and Sheriff Rick Ramsay will speak at the Tunnels to
on Dec. 6-7. Winners will be announced on Dec. 7 followed by an open-air feast at the resort.
The tournament will be held in partnership with the Islamorada Charter Boat Association to raise money toward its mission of supporting those who work continuously to preserve Islamorada fisheries. The tournament is a celebration of camaraderie, conservation and the allure of sportfishing in the Keys.
“As stewards of Islamorada, we are deeply committed to preserving the legacy and future of sportfishing in Islamorada,” said Scott Dawson, Islamorada Resort Collection VP and managing director. “Hosting a Gold Cup Tournament is both an honor and a privilege to support the Islamorada Charter Boat Association and our community of fishing captains.”
Tournament entries are $700. Discounted room packages for participating anglers are available at islamoradasailfishtournament.com.
— Contributed
Towers Foundation 5K on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Big Pine Key Community Park. The foundation, created in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, supports our nation’s fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes and their families. Nicole Gerrard and Naima Thomas (wife and daughter of the late Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighter Herve Thomas), along with Tunnels to Towers, are hosting the event. Many Monroe County firefighters and sheriff officers will be participating in the event.
To register for the 5K, donate, or volunteer, scan the QR code here or go to www.t2t.org. Email bigpinekeyrun@t2t.org for more information.
Gilda
BRIEFLY
MESSAGE SHERIFF FROM THE
I’m happy to announce the Sheri ’s O ce will be returning a total of $5,435,536.17 in excess funds that it did not spend the last fiscal year.
Fiscal responsibility remains one of my priorities and this last fiscal year was no di erent. I will always treat public funds as I would treat my own and continue to be the best financial steward I can be knowing how hard each of you work every day.
Nearly $5 million will be returned to Monroe County and the remaining excess funds returned to the Village of Islamorada, the City of Marathon, and Key West International Airport.
It’s an honor to serve as your Sheri !
Monroe County Sheriff, Rick Ramsay