Upper Keys Weekly 25-1204

$11,000,000

Explore Eagle Point

Commanding 170 feet of private Florida Bay frontage and situated on over an acre of precious Islamorada land, Eagle Point is a contemporary coastal estate that captures the essence of refined waterfront living. Designed for both serenity and sophistication, the residence blends clean architectural lines with the natural beauty of its tropical surroundings. Gated and beautifully landscaped, the property opens to sweeping open-water vistas framed by swaying palms and a fruit tree orchard upon your entrance. Expansive glass walls flood the interiors with natural light, connecting elegant living and dining spaces to the outdoors, providing vast screened porches both upstairs and down. The kitchen anchors the home with gorgeous views and a function ideal for entertaining or quiet evenings at home. A downstairs flex room and private gym add versatility and wellness to daily life, while multiple rooftop terraces invite sunset gatherings and panoramic bay views. Outside, the resort-inspired amenities continue with a lagoon-style pool, putting green, and ample deepwater dockage with a boat lift with Bay to Ocean access in minutes via Channels 2 or 5, offering effortless access to world-class boating and fishing. Just off the edge of the channel lies a rare bayside reef teeming with life and providing snorkeling right off your own dock. Located on the Lower Matecumbe island of Islamorada, Eagle Point balances modern coastal luxury with timeless island tranquility—an estate designed for those who seek both beauty and belonging by the water.

$26B

89240 Overseas Hwy. Suite 2 Tavernier, FL 33070 Office: 305.363.2957 www.keysweekly.com

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Se habla español THE UPPER KEYS WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.

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News Deadline

Monday Noon

Advertising Deadline

Tuesday 2 p.m.

The busiest shopping days in the U.S. — Black Friday and Cyber Monday — brought a little more than $26 billion in spending, according to Adobe Analytics. Spending on Black Friday totaled $11.8 billion, a $1 billion increase from last year, while Cyber Monday spending totaled $14.25 billion, up from $13.3 billion a year ago.

Sheriff’s Deputy Julian Garcia, right, and Deputy Richard Rodriguez. Read about Garcia’s return to road patrol after suffering a serious injury in April 2024. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

PRICE-FIXING ACCUSATIONS SPREAD

Members of

New civil suits accuse Keys wholesalers of lobster and stone crab conspiracy

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Two months after one South Florida seafood wholesaler pleaded guilty to price-fixing charges on spiny lobster and stone crab, class-action lawsuits are targeting his alleged co-conspirators in the Keys.

In September, a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release announced that Dennis Dopico, vice president of wholesaler D&D Seafood, pleaded guilty in U.S. Southern District Court to conspiring with his

competitors in order to artificially fix and suppress the prices paid by his company for lobster and crab claws between 2023 and 2025, affecting around $8 million in commerce. As part of the plea agreement, Dopico agreed to fully cooperate with investigators in exchange for a reduced offense level and sentence.

According to court documents, Dopico and other co-conspirators communicated via texts and calls to agree on prices offered to fishermen at the docks for their catch, altering

the prices in lockstep as various harvest seasons progressed.

“For example, on Sept. 28, 2023, following communications with a co-conspirator about spiny lobster prices, Dopico replied ‘don’t show text to anyone. Confidential,’ to which the co-conspirator responded, ‘I give you my word. We’re working together now not against each other,’” the DOJ press release stated.

After the same co-conspirator texted Dopico new prices for each of the four sizes of stone crab claws in Everglades City a few weeks later, Dopico replied, “Let me know what you do. I am matching your prices. It’s the one we like the most.”

Harvests from Keys waters account for about half of Florida’s statewide stone crab catch, while Keys lobsters make up roughly 90% of the fishery. The two shellfish are some of the state’s most vital commercial species, together accounting for $76.3 million of the $240.5 million in wholesale value of catches throughout the state in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Prices for spiny lobster, in particular, are critical in the early stage of a season that runs from August through March, as more than 50% of the annual harvest occurs during the front-loaded months of August and September.

While Dopico pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to fix prices –carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals or $100 million for corporations – his federal complaint referenced, but did not name, four other South Florida seafood wholesalers as conspirators.

But in October, two additional civil suits filed by Keys fishermen sought damages against several Monroe County-based wholesalers in addition to Dopico and D&D, whose Marathon location on Coco Plum Drive is now listed as permanently closed.

Multiple new lawsuits accuse Keys-based seafood wholesalers of colluding to artificially suppress the prices paid to fishermen for spiny lobster and stone crab claws since 2017.

ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

The Key Largo Community Preservation Presents:

16th Annual Light Up Key Largo

Murray Nelson Government Center · Peace Park

We would like to thank everyone that made Light Up Key Largo happen this year! Especially our sponsors! Without them, we wouldn't be able to bring this free, community event to you! We would also like to thank all of our volunteers that rose above and beyond. Lastly but certainly not least, the biggest thank you of all to our Keys community. You come year after year, and have voted us in the top 3 events of the Upper Keys for 2 years straight. You are the real driving magic behind this event.

All photo credits go to Cindy Smith.

KEY LARGO MAN ACCUSED OF TRASHING MONROE COUNTY PROPERTY

AKey Largo man accused of dumping more than 6,000 pounds of trash on Monroe County property was arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 26.

William Montano Balmaceda, 53, was charged with illegally dumping/littering exceeding 500 pounds. Montano Balmaceda allegedly dumped 6,640 pounds of debris/trash including household garbage, couches, plywood, chairs, metal, glass, appliances, lawn equipment, bicycles and vehicle parts, on Monroe County Housing Authority property on Harry Davis Circle.

MCSO/Contributed

Montano Balmaceda told the sheriff’s office he removed the trash after being warned several times, but he never did. A warrant was obtained for his arrest and he was booked into jail.

The sheriff’s office, Monroe County Public Works and the Monroe County Housing Authority removed the trash as part of a community cleanup on Nov. 18.

— Keys Weekly staff report

THREE ARRESTED FOLLOWING REPORTED SEX AT A MARATHON GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT

Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three individuals on Nov. 30 after they were reportedly having sex in a car at a Marathon grocery store parking lot.

The sheriff’s office was called to the Winn-Dixie parking lot at around noon, where deputies said the three individuals – 45-year-old Sharon Helen Czaplinsky of Marathon, 43-year-old Marshall Adam Lowery of Key Largo and 59-year-old Michael McDonald Howard of Marathon – were engaged in sexual acts and were heavily intoxicated. All three were taken to jail.

Czaplinsky was charged with unlawful exposure of sexual organs, disorderly intoxication and resisting without violence. Lowery was charged with committing unnatural and lascivious acts and disorderly intoxication and Howard was charged with unlawful exposure of sexual organs and disorderly intoxication.

In August, Czaplinsky was arrested and charged with indecent exposure, unnatural and lascivious acts and disorderly conduct for reportedly engaging in sex with 60-year-old Vincent Edwards Crews at a Marathon gas station. Crews was charged with unnatural and lascivious acts and disorderly conduct.

— Keys Weekly staff report

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS IN THE UPPER KEYS NET ARRESTS

Customs and Border Protection’s marine operations unit and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers conduct a vessel stop near Rodriguez Key in Key Largo on Nov. 25. A Venezuelan man was detained. CBP/Via Facebook

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Recent federal immigration operations in Key Largo yielded more than a dozen arrests, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

As previously reported by Keys Weekly, parents taking their children to school and workers heading into the Florida Keys the morning of Nov. 21 noticed a helicopter circling in Key Largo. On the ground, federal agents in unmarked and marked vehicles performed several stops, as local resident Nick Rodriguez documented in a video and photos he submitted to the Keys Weekly.

Per a Facebook post by CBP, a Miami Air and Marine Branch Black Hawk crew and marine interdiction agents from the Key Largo unit teamed up with Border Patrol for a “targeted enforcement operation.” With support from Florida Highway Patrol troopers, the operation led to the arrests of 12 individuals, from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and Guatemala.

According to CBP, record checks revealed prior charges and convictions, including re-entry after deportation, driving under the influence, obstruction, illegal concealed carry of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with a weapon, resisting an officer with violence,

A Black Hawk flies in the air as federal immigration enforcement agents, with assistance from Florida Highway Patrol, conduct traffic stops the morning of Nov. 21.

battery, domestic violence and other offenses. All those arrested were taken to the U.S. Border Patrol Marathon station for processing. The status of their cases and whether they’ll be deported remains unknown.

“The operation highlights the critical teamwork and dedication of federal and state law enforcement agencies in safeguarding our communities,” read the post.

Four days later, CBP’s Key Largo Marine Unit arrested an adult Venezuelan who officers said was illegally in the U.S. during a vessel stop near Rodriguez Key. He was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing. Agents said they also found narcotics and paraphernalia in plain view during the stop. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office seized the items for further investigation.

Immigration enforcement operations have intensified in the Keys going back to earlier in the year when the Trump administration took office. In recent weeks, agents have staked out in Key Largo — and not far from Key Largo School — to conduct stops during the early morning hours.

Adam Lowery

MCSO/Contributed

Sharon Czaplinsky

Michael Howard

William Montano

Balmaceda

The first, filed by Marathon’s Paradise Tails Inc., Key West’s Reel Faith Fishing LLC, and Marathon fishermen Erick Bravo and Jose Hernandez, takes aim at Marathon-based Keys Fisheries and former vice president Gary Graves. A second, filed by Islamorada’s The Gourmet Crab, includes wholesaler, retailer and restaurant operator Billy’s Stone Crabs Inc., its president Brian Hershey and its Marathon- and Summerland Keybased affiliate BSC Fisheries LLC, along with D&D Seafood president Mario Dopico and secretary George Teruel.

While not named as defendants, the suits list numerous other Keys-based operators as alleged “known co-conspirators,” including Marathon-based Golden Dragon Seafood and Key Largo Fisheries in the Upper Keys.

The new suits stretch back further than Dopico’s federal charges, alleging that conspirators began meeting at least as early as June 2017 to set initial prices per pound before the opening of lobster and stone crab seasons.

“The defendants would then coordinate throughout the season to adjust prices in lockstep,” the suit states. “If any purchasers offered fishermen prices above the agreed-upon fixed prices, those purchasers faced various repercussions.”

Fishermen who sought higher prices, or fish houses that paid them, were allegedly blacklisted by the price-fixing group, boycotted by other buyers and harassed with frivolous law enforcement complaints.

The price-fixing practices, the suit claims, were especially damaging as the Keys experienced a decade-long drop in stone crab landings beginning in 2012 – one that should have caused dockside prices to spike in a properly competitive market.

The decline was significant enough that in 2020, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sought to address it by increasing the minimum legal claw length by 1/8 of an inch and shortening the season by two weeks.

“This well-documented supply shortage should have resulted in

record-high dockside prices for fishermen as a basic function of supply and demand,” the suit states. “(When) competitive forces briefly prevailed, the scarcity drove prices to unprecedented levels, with wholesale prices for the most desirable claws soaring to as much as $50 per pound. This demonstrates the substantial prices a competitive market could bear and stands in stark contrast to the suppressed prices paid by the cartel.”

Instead, one local fisherman told the Weekly, prices were held to anywhere between $10 and $20 per pound.

While Dopico pleaded guilty to affecting $8 million in sales, Paradise Tails’ civil suit alleges underpayments totaling “at least tens of millions” and seeks three times that amount in damages.

“Price fixing cheats fishermen, squeezes restaurants, and makes families pay more at the table,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones in the release announcing Dopico’s plea. “We will protect honest competition from the boat to the dinner table.”

“These fishermen trusted these companies because they had a relationship for a long time. This lawsuit is not just about antitrust in purely legal terms, it is actually about the violation of our local fishermen’s trust,” said Marathon attorney Richard Malafy, who will work with personal injury firm Levin Pappantonio to represent affected fishermen. “The lawsuit seeks to recover monies for our fishermen, which was and always has been rightfully theirs.”

Dopico’s sentencing is set for Jan. 5 in Miami before Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Existing civil suits are expected to be combined into a larger class action suit throughout 2026, with additional parties signing on.

Speaking to the Weekly on Dec. 2, Paradise Tails owner Morgan Gotti declined to comment on the pending case and investigation. Attorneys for multiple defendants did not return calls seeking comment before press time, while others declined to comment on the pending case.

‘FLONDURAN’ FIRSTS

Could a mysterious reef in Honduras help bring Keys’ corals back?

TIFFANY

DUONG

tiffany@keysweekly.com

In July, scientists planted very special elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) onto a reef in Biscayne Bay. They believe these cross-bred corals, created from a Florida Keys/Honduras pairing, could hold the genetic keys to giving Florida’s elkhorns a fighting chance.

Elkhorn corals are a foundational species on the Florida Reef Tract, which includes the reefs in the Keys. The branching hard corals used to dominate the Caribbean, protecting shorelines from storm surge and providing critical habitat for many species.

But elkhorn populations have declined by more than 99% since the 1980s due to diseases, warming oceans, overuse and other stressors, the University of Miami (UMiami) reports.

As such, and because of how vital these corals are to the entire reef ecosystem, elkhorns have been a key focus of restoration efforts throughout the Florida Reef Tract.

Searching for resilience

“Today there are just 158 genetically unique individual Florida elkhorns in existence,” reports Anthropocene Magazine. “And just 23 of them are found in the wild.”

Genetic diversity gives all species a greater chance to evolve to cope with changing environmental conditions, including warmer water. After the 2023 mass bleaching event that killed off much of Florida’s living coral, scientists agreed our reefs need more diversity.

Given the state of Florida’s reefs, with corals too sparse and distant to meaningfully reproduce, Andrew Baker and his team recognized that they had to look beyond Florida’s waters to truly make a difference. Baker is the director of the Coral Reef Futures Lab at the University of Miami Rosenstiel

School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and the study’s principal investigator.

Their search led them to Tela, Honduras, where over a dozen endangered coral species survive and even thrive — in conditions that normally kill corals. Groves of wild elkhorns stretch further than the eye can see, a site that Conchs in the 1970s and ’80s recall nostalgically.

Even though they look like the reefs of old, these corals might be future-adapted, having endured over a century of pollution, heat and overuse. Nobody understands exactly what’s going on because so little science has been conducted on this spectacular reef.

Why plant a hybrid coral?

In 2024, Baker visited Tela to gather elkhorns and research their ability to withstand heat. Baker’s initial research shows that Tela’s corals have more thermotolerance than other elkhorns, a key adaptation that could help Florida’s struggling corals.

“The reef in Tela, Honduras, routinely experiences temperatures that are about 1-1/2 to 2 degrees warmer than Florida’s warmest temperatures and those are about the same kind of conditions that we saw in Florida in the 2023 bleaching event,” Baker told NPR.

The Honduran corals were crossed at the Florida Aquarium with corals from the Florida Keys that were rescued ahead of a disease front. The “Flonduran” babies have been growing at the aquarium for a year, awaiting their debut.

“Tela Bay’s reefs have shown us that corals can survive and even thrive in challenging, warm-water environments,” said Antal Borcsok, co-founder of Tela Marine, who coordinated efforts with Baker to get Tela’s corals to Florida. “By sharing this resilience and collaborating across borders, we are giving elkhorn coral a better chance not just in Honduras, but across the Caribbean.”

Left: A researcher plants a puck onto Key Biscayne with a ‘Flonduran’ coral, a newly-bred hybrid elkhorn coral created by crossbreeding corals from Florida and Honduras to increase genetic diversity and heat resistance. Above: A researcher removes a protective umbrella – meant to keep predators away – from an older outplant at the Key Biscayne site. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE, ATMOSPHERIC AND EARTH SCIENCE/Contributed

The ‘Flondurans’ are a first

In July, 35 Flonduran (Florida/Honduras) baby corals were planted next to 35 Florida corals that spawned on the same night. Monitoring will show whether, as scientists hope, the hybrid corals will retain more heat tolerance from their one Honduran parent than their Florida-Florida half-siblings.

“It’s the first time ever in the world that an international cross of corals from different countries have been permitted for outplanting on wild reefs,” Baker told CBS. If successful, the research could represent a fundamental shift in conservation science, which, until now, has been a closed-border endeavor.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission granted Baker permission to outplant the Flondurans in Florida’s state waters because they recognized that mixing the Honduran and Floridian coral populations “mirrors natural processes in the wild and is critical to the species’ survival,” UMiami reported.

“Because Tela’s corals have had over a century to figure out how to thrive in much hotter conditions with a lot of runoff, which are like those in Florida today, we hope that their resiliency will be transferred to these offspring,” said Juli Berwald, cofounder of Tela Coral, a U.S.-based nonprofit working in Tela to safeguard these unique reefs.

What’s next?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that Baker has been in talks with NOAA staff at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to determine if the Flondurans might also be suitable for Mission: Iconic Reefs, the $100-million Florida Keys-specific coral restoration effort that’s been underway since 2019.

If the Flondurans survive better than the control Florida crosses in the next marine heat wave, it paves the way for more international hybrids to be used in coral restoration in Florida and perhaps beyond. As of the last, unofficial reports, the Flondurans are still alive and appear to be larger than their Floridian counterparts.

Coral Shores High School’s new marching band rehearses for the upcoming Islamorada Holiday Fest taking place on Friday, Dec. 5. DONNA DIETRICH/ Contributed

not having a program for several years, the

STRIKE UP THE MUSIC

Sidelined for years, Coral Shores High School once again has a marching band

Inside the band room at Coral Shores High School, five students on percussion instruments, 10 on winds, one color guard and one drum major practice “The Grinch” for the upcoming Islamorada Chamber of Commerce Holiday Fest taking place on Friday, Dec. 5.

“It was a lot at first, starting a whole program from scratch,” said sophomore Garrett Gomila. “A lot of us hadn’t even touched the marching stuff before,” added Gomila, who is the band’s drum captain.

The band program is nothing new for Coral Shores High School, but the last time the school had a marching band was eight years ago. That all changed this year when former Coral Shores band teacher Robert Sax was rehired to run the band program. Sax had spent several years teaching in China before returning to the Upper Keys in 2022.

“Everybody was so happy to have us back. It really felt so good,” said Sax.

Fielding a marching band from almost nothing is no easy feat.

“The kids did all the work; I just wave the stick and look important,” said Sax with a laugh.

But the challenges were many. The first involved recruiting students to march in the band. The next challenge was dealing with missing or broken equipment. And the newly formed band was lacking uniforms.

“What you need to understand is that Robert Sax is a really, really fine person,” said Frank Derfler, Upper Keys Rotary past president. When the Rotary learned of the need, members donated $5,000 to get the band proper uniforms.

Derfler said the donation was a win-win.

“We felt that it really helps to build school spirit and it was a benefit to the entire community,” he added.

According to Sax, Key Largo’s Sunset Rotary also donated about $4,000 to the marching band program.

Sax also needed help with running the program. He did not need to look further than Coral Shores High School chemistry teacher Evelyn Betancourt, who graduated from Coral Shores in 2016. She agreed to serve as the marching band coach.

“I was in the marching band as a student and since we were trying to bring back the program, I volunteered myself to do it,” Betancourt said.

The new marching band officially took to the field on Sept. 12 for the school’s first home football game and band members say it’s been a rewarding experience.

“I feel very blessed. It’s an amazing opportunity to have this marching band especially since we haven’t had one for so long,” said freshman Sienna DePaula. DePaula is the color guard member, twirling the flag to the band’s beat.

“We’re the most peppy part of every football game,” she added.

The marching band is distinctly different from the school’s concert band.

“It’s a lot more physical than a normal concert band where you just sit down the whole time,” said Coral Shores junior and drum major Angelina Ravelo Gonzalez.

“You can get a varsity letter from marching band,” added Sax.

The marching band will be performing “The Grinch” at the 21st annual Islamorada Holiday Fest. It takes place on Friday, Dec. 5 at Founders Park located at MM 87 on the bayside. The marching band will perform at 7 p.m. The festivities run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Coral Shores High School marching band attends a recent Upper Keys Rotary Club luncheon at Capt. Craig’s Restaurant. Band members thanked the Rotary members for the generous donation that enabled them to buy new uniforms. CONTRIBUTED

After

Coral Shores High School Marching Band returned to the bleachers and field this school year, much to the delight of football fans.

Coral Shores High School band teacher Robert Sax returned to the school this year and brought back the marching band program that had been absent for the last eight years.

SOCIAL NETWORKING LUNCHEON

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM

HOLIDAY INN KEY LARGO 99701 Overseas Highway, Key Largo

PLANNING FOR 2026: SETTING GOALS & STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Sponsored by The Houston Insurance Agency

THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 5:30-7:30 P.M

HOSTED BY THE KEY LARGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH FOOD PROVIDED BY ZAIKA INDIAN CUISINE ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE CHAMBER BUILDING

Coffee Roasters

JANUARY 10TH, 2026 AT PLAYA LARGO RESORT AND SPA. THE CHAIRMAN'S BALL WILL BE A HOLLYWOOD RED CARPET NIGHT TO REMEMBER!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE! CONTACT TONYA AT EVENTS@KEYLARGOCHAMBER.ORG

DEPUTY WHO LOST LEG IN BAD ACCIDENT BACK ON THE ROAD

Julian Garcia returns to the job he loves

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Julian Garcia exits his patrol vehicle to speak with a motorist he stopped for speeding during a sunny afternoon in Key Largo on Nov. 21. Garcia admits he still feels some angst conducting stops along U.S. 1 after losing his left leg following a traffic stop turned horrific accident in Islamorada the evening of April 9, 2024.

Garcia lost his left leg from the knee down after a suspected drunk driver crashed into his patrol car. He was walking between his car and the vehicle he pulled over at the time near MM 87 when the woman rammed into the back of his vehicle. Authorities say Alexandra Marlene Baraga was behind the wheel of the vehicle that struck deputy Garcia. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.310, nearly four times the legal limit.

He was pinned and severely injured. Thankfully, his colleagues on the road, Islamorada Fire Rescue and Monroe County Trauma Star swiftly responded to render aid.

He was airflighted to Jackson Hospital in Miami where he underwent numerous surgeries; the decision was ultimately made to amputate his left leg from the knee down.

Through the procedures, getting acquainted with the prosthetic leg and strenuous physical therapy, Garcia admits it was a challenging period as he tried to get back on his feet. But with support from his family, the sheriff’s office and the Florida Keys community, Garcia’s determination and desire to return to the road wasn’t a far-out dream.

In late June, Garcia climbed back into his patrol car for his first shift since the accident. Overall, he’s feeling good doing something he missed. But some days can be tougher than others as he gets to feeling fully comfortable with a prosthetic leg.

“Coming back, I was obviously very excited and everything – nervous too,” he said. “Once I got back, I was trying to get accustomed to how to walk and move around, getting in and out of the vehicle.”

Working nights before the accident, Garcia’s shift now includes half daytime patrol and the other half during the evening until midnight.

“Days are more like fraud reports, traffic crashes, maybe little customer disputes. Nights it’s a little more active with DUIs, domestics, fights, disorderly intoxication,” Garcia said.

Sheriff Rick Ramsay said the schedule gave Garcia and the sheriff’s office time to evaluate his capacities and abilities, all while giving him time to re-acclimate as an officer.

“We wanted to make sure he was comfortable,” Ramsay said. “He’s continued to impress me and others, continuing to achieve goals and objectives and proving to him and others he could make a comeback. And he did make a comeback.”

Injured during an evening traffic stop in April 2024, Garcia returned to work in late June.

Deputy Julian Garcia, right, and Deputy Richard Rodriguez, who aided a severely injured Garcia during the April 2024 incident. The two are back working together during the daytime. JIM MCCARTHY/Keys Weekly

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Julian Garcia conducts a traffic stop in Key Largo on Nov. 26.

•

•

MUSEUM TOURS HIGHLIGHT NAVY, PEARL HARBOR

Special tours through the History of Diving Museum are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. HDM/Contributed

The History of Diving Museum is offering guided tours of its exhibits on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. These tours, included with the admission price, will feature special highlights of U.S. Navy divers’ role during the salvage of Pearl Harbor, in honor of the 84th anniversary of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

The salvage operation was the largest in U.S. Navy history. The tour includes information about how Mark V divers honored those who served aboard the ships dam-

BRIEFLY

First Friday concert at library

The public is invited to the First Friday concert series on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Key Largo library. This month’s musical performance will be from singer-songwriter Grant Livingston. All are welcome. More information is available at 305-451-2396.

Annual Holiday Market in Tavernier

The annual Holiday Market

aged in the attack.

Free admission is offered to active duty members of the military. Discounts are available for veterans, Florida Keys locals and seniors.

The museum is a nonprofit located in Islamorada at MM 83. It has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time featured exhibits, as well as a museum store. The featured exhibit “Celebrating 20 Years!” closes on Dec. 31.

More information is at divingmuseum.org.

— Contributed

CHABAD OF KEY LARGO HOSTS COMMUNITY MENORAH LIGHTING

Chabad of Key Largo will launch Hanukkah with a community grand menorah lighting at Robbie’s of Islamorada on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., marking the first night of the eight-day Festival of Lights.

The free public celebration will feature traditional Hanukkah foods including latkes, donuts and gelt, along with children’s crafts and festive music, creating a family-friendly atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.

“Hanukkah is about bringing light into the world, one flame at a time,” said Rabbi Yisroel Shur, director of Chabad of Key Largo. “A public menorah lighting gives the entire community an opportunity to share in that message of hope and illumination.”

Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, Dec. 14 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 21. The holiday commemorates both the historic Jewish victory over religious oppression and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days — despite there being only enough for one.

Public menorah lightings, now held in cities across the globe, were launched more than 50 years ago by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to highlight the themes of resilience, faith and adding light in times of darkness.

The waterfront menorah lighting at Robbie’s draws participation from locals and tourists.

The event is open to all. More information is at chabadkeylargo. com/menorah.

— Contributed

hosted by the Garden Club of the Upper Keys will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Francis Tracy Garden Center in Tavernier. The event will include vendors displaying arts and crafts, plants, jewelry, clothing, baked goods, as well as food trucks.

Holiday shopping/food tour scheduled – by golf cart

Florida Keys Food Tour is launching a holiday shopping luxury golf

cart food tour in Islamorada, pairing island-inspired cuisine with boutique shopping.

The events are on Saturdays through Dec. 20, exploring local shops, eating handcrafted bites and hearing stories about the island paradise.

“Islamorada is at its best during the holidays,” said Craig Zabransky, owner of Florida Keys Food Tour. “We wanted to create something special for both locals and holiday travel-

ers — a luxury open-air experience that blends food, shopping, and the unique spirit of the Keys.”

The tour offers culinary stops featuring local favorites and islandinspired dishes; shopping stops at handpicked boutiques, artisan shops and pop-up holiday markets; seasonal specials, discounts or unique tastes from participating businesses; and guided transport via luxury golf carts. More information is at flkeysfoodtour. com.

SANTA

TREE PREPARATIONS COMPLETE FOR HOLIDAY FEST

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, Dec. 4

• Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center and Rock the Ocean host a monofilament recycling event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Laura Quinn Sanctuary, 93600 Overseas Highway, Tavernier.

• MarrVelous Pet Rescue’s “Yappy Hour” from 6 to 8 p.m. at Buzzards Roost, Key Largo. Dogs must be leashed, vaccinated and well-socialized.

Friday, Dec. 5

• 21st annual Holiday Fest, presented by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, from 4 to 10 p.m. at Founders Park. Tree lighting at 6 p.m. and parade begins at 7:30 p.m.

• First Friday concert featuring Grant Livingston at 6 p.m. at Key Largo library.

Saturday, Dec. 6

• First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run at 7:30 a.m. Visit keylargobridgerun.com for more information.

• Garden Club of the Upper Keys Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Francis Tracy Garden Center, 94064 Overseas Highway, Tavernier.

• Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks presents a Lignumvitae Christmas from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lignumvitae Key State Park.

• Chi Sigma’s seventh annual Bike, Walk and Wagon ride at 5 p.m. at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, Islamorada. $25 per person.

Kevin Oquendo, of La Isla Tree and Landscape, adjusts the star at the top of a 35-foot-high holiday tree on Nov. 29 at Founders Park great lawn. The planting of the star capped tree preparations for the 21st annual Holiday Fest and parade, set for Friday, Dec. 5. This year’s tree is adorned with buoy balls hand-painted by local residents. The official tree lighting will take place Friday at 6 p.m. Holiday Fest is organized by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce. ANDY NEWMAN/Contributed

GARCIA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Ramsay admits he wasn’t sure if Garcia was going to be able to return to the road. Ramsay said Garcia maintained positive spirits and worked hard throughout his recovery journey

“Never have I heard of someone with an above-the-knee amputation coming back. I initially thought he’d come back as a courtroom security detail. I was hopeful for field operation,” Ramsay said. “I called him every week, and he always said ‘I’m coming back soon.’ I told him, ‘I have a job for you, I’m pulling for you’ and continued giving positive feedback to help him get his spirits up. But his spirits were always high.”

Garcia, too, had some doubts as he began getting acquainted with the prosthetic leg.

“When I tried it on, I tried to walk, I was like, ‘Yeah I’m not going to be able to do this.’ I was like ‘I don’t see how.’ It’s because I’m impatient,” he said. “I wanted to start walking as soon as I got it. I had to take some time and realize it’s not going to be super easy. I hadn’t been standing in months, so just being able to stand up straight was enough for me.”

posted speed limit. Rodriguez sped off and turned his light to pull over the Move Over Law offender.

The law requires motorists to move to an adjacent lane or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when they approach emergency vehicles, tow trucks as well as disabled vehicles displaying flashing lights. Ramsay said the law is particularly important for the safety of officers and others working alongside the road. The accident which injured Garcia is an example of why the law is in place, he said.

“Yes, she was a drunk diver, but she failed to comply with the Move Over act. If she complied, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Sunday, Dec. 7

• Guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the History of Diving Museum, Islamorada.

Dec. 9-10

• JOY Center activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Plantation Key Community Center, 53 High Point Road.

Wednesday, Dec. 10

• Florida Keys History & Discovery Center presents “Southwest Florida’s Golden Age of Railroads” lecture by Elaina Gyure, Collier County Museum education curator, at 6 p.m. at the Islander Resort. Register at keysdiscovery.com.

Dec. 12-13

• Hazardous waste collection from 9 a.m. to noon at Founders Park. Free disposal for Islamorada residents.

Saturday, Dec. 13

• Keys Community Concert Band’s Pops in the Park at 4 p.m. at the Founders Park Amphitheater, Islamorada.

• Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club’s annual lighted boat parade at 7:30 p.m. on Blackwater Sound, Key Largo.

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Islamorada Fire Rescue’s Santa and holiday helpers parade beginning at 5:30.

And he remembers being so tired from physical therapy that he’d sit in his car for a time before getting out to enter his house.

“I had a really great physical therapy and occupational therapy,” Garcia said. “They were pushing me to my limits and it made me realize I could do more.”

Garcia’s day shift has given him the opportunity to work again with deputy Richard Rodriguez. The two worked nights on the road in Islamorada until the accident in April 2024.

Rodriguez was one of the first to arrive at the scene alongside deputy Landon Gardner. Rodriguez, who applied the tourniquet to Garcia’s leg during the accident, said it means everything to be back working with his close colleague.

“The fact he still loves the job and still wants to serve the community, it encourages me and motivates me to come out here and be better,” Rodriguez said. “Knowing that he was able to recover and fight his battles and still come out the same person but better, I know he’s going to be such an impactful individual when it comes to his future trainees and people he instructs in the academy.”

Rodriguez’s patrol car was positioned behind Garcia’s as he conducted a traffic stop on the speeder alongside U.S. 1. That was until a vehicle failed to move over for the traffic stop or slow 20 mph below the

Garcia credits many people in his journey to recovery and getting back to doing what he loves. His fiancée and family especially helped him through the tough times. The community also came to his side through a fundraiser organized by Islamorada Mayor Sharon Mahoney to help him get back on his feet. The fundraiser generated $60,000 for Garcia.

“I don’t think it would have been possible,” Garcia said. “Everyone from my friends to the people I’ve worked with at the sheriff’s office, including my command staff, always reached out. It felt great knowing so many people were wondering how I was doing and asking how I was progressing.”

Garcia said being a police officer is something he always wanted to do, even after the accident. And he didn’t want to lose his job from losing his leg.

“It’s a fun job, especially when you have good people working with you,” he said.

Ramsay said anybody can gain inspiration from Garcia’s story.

“This guy never let his faith down. He had a can-do attitude, remained positive and was never down on himself. He always said, ‘Look, I’m coming back.’”

Baraga’s case is scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 18 before Circuit Court Judge James Morgan at the Plantation Key Courthouse. Garcia, too, filed a lawsuit against Baraga for auto negligence.

Garcia and deputy Richard Rodriguez conduct speed checks on passing motorists in Key Largo on Nov. 26.

TEXAS ANGLER WINS CHEECA LODGE BACKCOUNTRY TOURNAMENT

Colorado fishing duo wins team division

The Cheeca Lodge and Spa AllAmerican Backcountry Tournament in Islamorada kicked off Nov. 13 on the beach at Cheeca Lodge and Spa. Anglers across the United States came to fish in the threeday backcountry event.

Grand champion angler Jason Rubenstein, of Bellaire, Texas, fishing with Islamorada captain Jack Given, released all five species the first day and three species on the second day. Rubenstein was awarded additional points for releasing five species for a grand total of 4,140 points. Using bait, Rubenstein released one permit, one bonefish, one tarpon, six snook and four redfish, along with four redfish on artificial tackle. Rubenstein also received the most outstanding catch award for an IGFA fantasy slam, five species in one day.

Runner-up angler Jeffrey Parrish, of Buffalo, New York, released three species for a total of 3,488 points. Fish captain Dave Denkert led his angler to nine snook and 10 redfish on artificial tackle, along with one bonefish on bait. Parrish’s 19 fish on artificial won him the Artificial Division Champion Angler award.

Brian McCullis, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, along with Paul McCullis of Castle Rock, Colorado, took home Team Grand Champion Awards with a team total of 4,830 points. Led by fish captain Eric Hersted, the team released two bonefish, 13 snook and 19 redfish, all on bait. McCullis took home the Bait Division Grand Champion Angler with 20 of those releases.

This year, U.S. military veterans fished in this tournament, including South Florida residents Army Specialist Chad Golliher (Ret.) and Army Capt. Kevin Decker (Ret.), who fished with captain Mike Makowski. The team released one tarpon, six snook and nine redfish on bait, plus one redfish on artificial. The team was awarded team runner-up trophies.

Jim Bokor Jr. of Buffalo, New York, fishing with captain Richard Black, released seven fish on fly. He was awarded the Fly Division Championship with one tarpon, one snook and five redfish caught on the flyrod.

A total of 153 fish were released during the tournament, with 15 on fly rod, 29 on artificial tackle and 109 using bait. The winning anglers were awarded amazing photographs from

Cheeca Lodge and Spa Backcountry Tournament grand champion Jason Rubenstein, right, who fished with captain Jack Given. TARABETH PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed

Tim Rahn Photography.

“This is a very special event with Cheeca Lodge and Spa bringing veterans to the Keys to fish every year,” said Cheeca Lodge general manager Bill Coteron. “Our commitment to this tournament and our veterans is heartfelt. We hope you will join us next year to fish this great event.”

Proceeds from the tournament benefit Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, a nonprofit organization setting out to conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education and advocacy.

— Contributed

lighting of the Christmas tree “Holly,” Santa’s visit and a surprise flash mob were among the highlights during the 16th annual Light Up Key Largo at Murray Nelson Government Center and Peace Park on Nov. 22. Organized by the elves at the Key Largo Community Preservation Committee, the evening allowed kids to ride the train and play in fluffy snow while parents enjoyed food, drinks and arts and crafts vendors. With the countdown to the tree lighting also came personal visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. — Keys Weekly staff report

The grand champion team, from left, Brian McCullis, fish captain Eric Herstedt and Paul McCullis.

1: Volunteers with the Key Largo Community Preservation Committee with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 2: The Mangrove Swamp Band performed various holiday music classics.

surprise flash mob takes to

Florida Keys FISH REPORT

NESTLING INTO EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

Cold fronts bring hungry bonefish

1: An angler with a bonefish. 2: Rich Hastings shows off a snook. 3: An angler with a redfish. CONTRIBUTED

November fishing is just about as comfortable as it gets in the Florida Keys. Sunny and 75 degrees with a little wind, making it great weather for all species.

Cold fronts are bringing more flocks of birds south, giving a beautiful backdrop to fishing in the Everglades National Park. In between the cold fronts you’ll find hungry bonefish schools –ocean and bayside – willing to eat larger shrimp flies this time of year.

FISH TIP

RICH HASTINGS

specializes in sight fishing, targeting inshore sport fish with fly or spinning tackle, in the Florida Keys.

Floating a live shrimp under a popping cork is a good way to fish for redfish. They also chase crabs, mullet, pinfish and killifish (mud minnows).

We’re still seeing quite a few permit patrolling the flats, but those shots are limited. Bonefish bite would be the best if you only have a half day to fish. Catch larger fish, which are more resilient to colder water temperatures. Wind and cold send me back into the Everglades National Park. It’s always a place to hide from the wind and find some happy fish. The snook and redfish bite is phenomenal. With a lot of mullet still in Florida Bay, there is plenty of food for all species. Finding these fish where they are actively feeding is a show for all to see. A snook “pop” around the corner is a sign of good things to come.

FISH FACT

The state record for largest snook is 45 pounds and 12 ounces. It was caught in August 2015 near Sebastian.

JOURNALISTS

TRUSTED EXPERTS IN THE FIELD

Jim

305.850.8034 jim@keysweekly.com

Mandy Miles, Editor Key West Weekly

305.923.6012 mandy@keysweekly.com

Alex Rickert, Editor

Marathon Weekly

401.256.0645

alex@keysweekly.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

FROM RAMS HEAD PRESENTS - KEY WEST!

ANTHONY RODIA

LAUGH TILL IT HURTS TOUR

DEC. 11, KEY WEST THEATER

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

JAN. 16, KEY WEST THEATER

ROBYN SCHALL'S DAVID NIHILL TAKING TANGENTS TOUR JAN. 11, KEY WEST THEATER

CORAL REEFER BAND

JAN. 16, KEY WEST AMPHITHEATER

TOMMY EMMANUEL

MAR. 22, KEY WEST THEATER

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS

APR. 2, KEY WEST THEATER

GABRIEL RUTLEDGE

DON’T READ THE COMMENTS TOUR FEB. 15, KEY WEST THEATER

FOREIGNER APT. 23, KEY WEST AMPHITHEATER

FALL’S FINEST

Meet our All-Keys cross country, golf & volleyball squads | PGS. 6, 8, 10

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Basilica Boys Basketball Colonial Christian 11/20 W, 77-55

Key West Boys Soccer Marathon 11/20 W, 8-0

Marathon Boys Basketball Everglades City 11/20 L, 69-56

Marathon Girls Soccer Somerset Canyons 11/20 L, 9-1

Coral Shores Girls Soccer St. Thomas Aquinas 11/20 L, 9-0

Coral Shores Boys Basketball MAST Academy 11/20 W, 50-35

Key West Boys Basketball Silver Palms 11/21 L, 72-66

Marathon Boys Basketball Keys Gate 11/21 L, 80-60

Marathon Girls Basketball Barron Collier 11/21 L, 46-12

Key West Girls Soccer Charlotte 11/21 W, 3-2

Key West Girls Basketball Barron Collier 11/22 L, 46-26

Key West Girls Soccer Lemon Bay 11/22 W, 3-0

Key West Boys Basketball NSU University 11/25 L, 82-15

WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

12/4 Key West Boys Soccer @ Hillel

12/4 Marathon Boys Soccer Palmer Trinity 4 p.m.

12/5 Key West Wrestling @ Hialeah 1 p.m.

12/5 Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ Braddock 7 p.m.

12/5 Coral Shores Boys Soccer @ Miami Country Day 7 p.m.

4 - 11

12/5 Coral Shores Girls Soccer Keys Gate 3:30 p.m.

12/5 Key West Girls Basketball Gulf Coast 5 p.m.

12/5 Marathon Girls & Boys Basketball Pace 6

12/6

12/6

12/6 Key West Boys Soccer Deerfield Beach 2 p.m.

12/8 Marathon Girls Soccer @ Franklin Academy 2:20 p.m.

12/8 Coral Shores Girls Basketball @ Keys Gate 3:30 p.m.

12/8 Key West Boys Soccer Coral Shores 4 p.m.

12/9 Coral Shores Girls & Boys Basketball Basilica

12/9

12/9

12/10 Key West Boys Basketball @ St. Brendan 7:30 p.m.

12/10 Marathon Girls Soccer Coral Shores 4 p.m.

12/10 Coral Shores Boys Soccer Silver Palms 4 p.m.

12/10 Key West Girls Weightlifting Marathon 4 p.m.

12/10 Coral Shores Girls Weightlifting @ Gulliver 3:30 p.m.

With the fall sport season fully in the books, it’s time to honor the standout performers, starting with our All-Keys cross country, golf and volleyball teams. Clockwise from top left: Marathon’s Daysi Williams, Coral Shores’ Brock Bynum, Key West’s Gabby Garcia, Marathon’s Justice Lee Isom and Lucian Burns, Coral Shores’ Shelby Lynn. Center: Key West’s Molly McKnight. Photos by Doug Finger, Maicey Malgrat and Natalie Danko.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SEARCY

Mary turnedhasout to be an absolutely solid goalkeeper with three shutouts already this year.”

– Scott Paul, Lady Conchs head soccer coach

When Key West’s girls soccer team found itself without a goalkeeper after last season, junior Mary Searcy was the lone Lady Conch to step up to the challenge. After a few workouts, it became evident that Searcy was a natural, and along with the rest of the Conch defense, she has chalked up three shutouts already this season. “She has continued to improve each and every game as a goalkeeper that can be effective both with her feet and her hands,” said coach Scott Paul. “She is only going to get better.” Her ability to read the field has already proven beneficial, and Searcy has shouldered the responsibility of the position with grace. For her exceptional play and emerging leadership on the back line, Mary Searcy is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Mary

Junior, Key West Girls Soccer

Photo by JENNIFER

fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second-generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.

grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.

The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.

Publisher / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

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Se habla español THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.

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tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

MARKET EDITORS

UPHILL BATTLE

Wheatley, Dolphin boys conquer grueling course at states

On Nov. 22, Coral Shores sophomore Ali Wheatley and the Marathon boys cross country team took their marks at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee for the FHSAA Cross Country State Championships. Wheatley secured an individual invitation with a fantastic showing at regionals the week prior, while the Dolphin boys qualified as a team by finishing fifth, making it their 11th consecutive year to make it to the big show.

Wheatley’s time, 20:27, was good for 61st place, and while a bit shy of her personal best, was excellent given the challenging course. Apalachee follows a hilly, twoloop tree-lined course with twists and turns throughout. In addition to the hills, something very difficult to train for in the Keys, Wheatley raced through the early-morning fog in her first appearance at states after narrowly missing a spot last season.

The Dolphins also found the course to be unforgiving. While none of the athletes registered a personal best on the technical terrain, the team ran to a 16th-place finish, right in the middle of the heap. They averaged 18:35, led by freshman Lucian Burns. Fresh off a stress fracture, Burns cruised to a 17:36 finish, claiming 42nd overall in the race.

Next were a pair of sophomores who paced one another throughout the course. Tony Bursa (18:14) and Allan Taylor (18:16) were 82nd and 83rd, respectively. Senior Caleb Shelar clocked in at 18:39 to finish his cross country career on a high note, and the team’s youngest member, seventh-grader Anthony Vargas, rounded out the scoring five, finishing in 19:51. Junior Landon Anderson and sophomore Thomas Torres finished sixth and seventh for Marathon. The duo earned the trip to states along with the team, though only the top five count for scoring, with an occasional sixth-man tie-breaker.

With Wheatley and all but one of Marathon’s qualifying gentlemen returning for at least another season, the outlook for 2026 looks promising.

1. Sophomore Ali Wheatley finishes strong at states.

2. Marathon freshman Lucian Burns cruises in a fantastic final race of the season.

3. Marathon’s boys cross country team awaits the gun at the start of the FHSAA 1A State Championships.

4. Dolphin sophomore Antonin ‘Tony’ Bursa kicks out the final stretch at Apalachee Regional Park.

Claudia Steling’s intangibles played as crucial a role as her skills this season.

“Claudia brought leadership, confidence and a lot of fun to the course every day,” said Josh Bassett, Key West’s head coach. Steling’s proficiency on the course carried the team much of the season, and a fantastic showing at districts led to an at-large spot at regionals, making her just the second female golfer in the team’s history to make an appearance at that level. PLAYER OF

MEET THE 2025 ALL-KEYS GOLF TEAM

Strong play leads to historic

Aseason

fter inclement weather and poor course conditions hampered the early season, Keys golfers quickly rebounded and made it a season of memorable matches. Each week, the teams took turns playing one another’s home courses. They enjoyed friendly rivalries in a sport where players helped one another with advice, tips and, most importantly, support not seen in most sports. Despite the color of an athlete’s polo, golfers can count on one another for a camaraderie that sets a foundation for success. This season, Marathon and Key West took turns in the lead in the boys competitions while the Lady Conchs ruled in girls play. Marathon and Coral Shores made history by sending their first golfers to regionals, and Basilica School made a midseason appearance to lay the groundwork for 2026.

Key West’s Lexi Finigan won multiple matches this season. Her demeanor and positive leadership made an equal contribution to the Conchs. Finigan plays with confidence and manages to stay strong in the face of adversity, and her teammates can count on her to be their biggest fan even when a match is not going her way.

Just a freshman, Key West’s Mary Alice Davila has already proven she has what it takes to win. Her natural ability coupled with a strong desire to improve make her a force to be reckoned with in the next three seasons with the Conchs.

In just her second season of playing golf, Marathon senior Justice Lee Isom showed she was as adept at swinging the irons as she is at pumping iron. Lee Isom had multiple strong showings this year, with the highlight being shooting her first birdie as she improved steadily throughout the season.

In her first season with the Hurricanes’ golf team, sophomore Valerie Gabriel showed she has exactly the right attitude to excel in the game. Gabriel’s strong work ethic, dedication to improvement and positive attitude gave her an advantage as a golfer, and her improvement was notable as the season went on.

Valerie Gabriel SOPHOMORE CORAL SHORES

Mary Alice Davila

WEST

Justice Lee Isom

Photos by Natalie Danko, Doug Finger and contributed images

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

In his first season with the Hurricanes, freshman Scout Oliver made history. His play at districts earned a spot at regionals, making him the first Coral Shores golfer to do so. Oliver’s contributions go beyond his golf skills. “He consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, sportsmanship and leadership while representing his school with excellence throughout the season,” said coach Danielle Thomas of her freshman phenom.

Hurricane senior Brock Bynum has anchored his team for the past four years. Bynum’s competitiveness and coachability made him invaluable for Coral Shores, and his ability to fine-tune his game made him a solid contributor for his entire high school career.

Conch junior Geo Twyman was in the running every time he teed off this season. Described as the team’s most consistent player, Twyman finished the season with a solid 79 at districts, setting the stage for a strong senior season.

Key West’s Mason Titensor played the game with the maturity of a more seasoned golfer. His offseason work coupled with what his coach describes as exceptional leadership make Titensor one to watch in 2026.

In his inaugural season with the Conchs, sophomore Jakub Krytinar showed he has what it takes to compete by winning multiple matches and rounding out his first season with an 81 at districts.

Consistently Marathon’s topseeded athlete, Piscetello narrowly missed a round at regionals via a tiebreaker. Piscetello took seven firstplace victories for the team and averaged 40 in the nine-hole competition this season.

Freshman Emmett Merryman averaged 41 strokes this season, making him a threat every time he took to the greens. Merryman secured his spot in Marathon’s record books by becoming the first golfer in school history to qualify for regionals after shooting an 83 at districts.

Praised for his leadership and marked improvement, senior Max Childress helped the team break its teamlow record, then re-break it several times this season. The senior athlete pulled off a regular-season win and showed maturity and drive throughout his time with the Fins.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

3

Senior captain Molly McKnight shored up the Conchs’ 5-1 offense with a consistency coach Kim Butler described as remarkable.

“Her ability to deliver the ball quickly and set up our hitters for success was unmatched. Her leadership on the court was essential,” Butler said. She had 628 assists, led the team in aces with 46 and posted an outstanding 97.6% serving percentage, demonstrating reliability and precision.

Audrey Smith

SENIOR, KEY WEST MIDDLE BLOCKER

With 247 kills, a .276 hitting percentage, 79 digs and 76 blocks to her credit, senior Audrey Smith was a formidable powerhouse whose commanding presence was as strong at the baseline as it was at the net. Smith had a 90.1% serve percentage with 23 aces and an unstoppable determination her team leaned on when challenges arose. The senior captain demonstrated impeccable leadership in addition to her on-court skills.

9

Tess Wright did all the little things to improve her game for years, and it paid dividends this season. The senior middle blocker registered 43 blocks, 95 kills and a .183 hitting percentage this season, and her strong work ethic and positive attitude made her a standout for Key West.

MEET THE 2025 ALL-KEYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM

The 2025 volleyball season in the Keys showcased a wide range of competition across four classifications, with each program carving out its own identity. Coral Shores ended with the strongest record at 13-4, fueled by wins over Marathon, Basilica and a split series with Key West. The 3A Conchs opted for a challenging schedule full of tournament play and finished 16-12, earned a district quarterfinal bye, then won in the semis. Though they lost in the district championship match, their strong play earned them a bid to regionals, where the season ended for the senior-heavy team. Basilica, playing as an independent, went 8-14 but secured a notable win over Marathon. The Dolphins, competing in 1A Rural, battled through a rebuilding year to a 3-14 finish, with one of their three wins being at districts.

Adriana Heinrichs

SENIOR , KEY WEST OUTSIDE HITTER

Touted by head coach Kim Butler as having the best all-around ball control for the team this season, senior outside hitter Adriana Heinrichs tallied 98 kills, 27 aces, 35 assists, 207 digs and seven blocks this season. Her confidence and calm presence served the team well, and a strong work ethic and coachability make her equally missed by teammates and the coaching staff next season.

12

Gabrielle Garcia

SENIOR, KEY WEST OUTSIDE HITTER

Outside hitter and team captain Gabrielle Garcia racked up 216 kills, 31 aces, 169 digs and nine blocks despite battling a nagging injury most of the season. A fouryear starter for Key West, Garcia’s consistency in serving, unstoppable optimism and dependable leadership made her valuable both on the court and off.

3

In her first full season of varsity play, sophomore libero Journey Lamb made a name for herself on the court this year. Lamb had 13 aces, a 96.7% serving percentage, 21 assists and 309 digs to make her a dominant presence for Key West. Lamb continues to hone her skills in the offseason and do the work it takes to improve, making for an exciting future.

Daysi Williams

SENIOR, MARATHON MIDDLE HITTER

Described as having a relentless determination and grittiness to spare, senior Daysi Williams was a force at the net for the Fins. The middle hitter was a no-nonsense blocker and her vertical ability proved deadly all season long. Williams’ teammates voted her MVP of the Dolphins.

1 Journey Lamb SOPHOMORE, KEY WEST LIBERO

Molly McKnight

Tess Wright SENIOR, KEY WEST OPPOSITE HITTER

SENIOR, KEY WEST MIDDLE BLOCKER

Photos by Doug Finger, Natalie Danko, Maicey Malgrat and Bert Budde

14

Addison Collins

SENIOR, MARATHON RIGHT-SIDE HITTER

Senior setter and right-side hitter Addison Collins was a dependable, all-around athlete for the Fins, combining a keen game IQ with a deadly serve. Collins’ ability to make runs at the service line kept the team in games. Her impeccable setting made her an asset to her teammates, who looked to her steady, calm demeanor for leadership and guidance.

13

Celene Walker

JUNIOR, CORAL SHORES OUTSIDE

HITTER

Junior Celene Walker is a powerful combination of athleticism and competitive spirit, fighting for every point on the court. The talented outside hitter racked up 192 kills this season, leading the team in that category and claiming second in digs. With 22 aces, Walker proved that she was a threat anywhere on the court, and ’Canes coach Sam Ovalle praised her passion for the game as well as her leadership.

Mackenzie Morris

SENIOR, BASILICA MIDDLE HITTER

After missing her junior season due to injury, Mackenzie Morris made a fantastic comeback, amassing 13 aces with a 93% service percentage, 21 blocks and 106 kills. Described as focused, coachable and committed to excellence, Morris made her final season with the Mariners count.

Gloria Slavik

SENIOR, BASILICA SETTER

Senior Gloria Slavik combined a strong IQ for the game with athleticism to make her presence known on the court. The right-side hitter and setter had 13 aces, 54 kills and 152 assists with the Mariners and made contributions in multiple positions, transitioning flawlessly any time the team needed her to change roles. Her versatility and willingness to work hard made her a true asset to Basilica.

5

Ivy Tiedemann

SENIOR, CORAL SHORES LIBERO

With a team-high 262 digs as well as 49 assists this season, senior Ivy Tiedemann will be sorely missed next year. The senior libero is credited with giving 100% at all times and never backing down from a challenge. Her competitiveness helped the Hurricanes when they needed it the most, and her versatility was exactly what the team needed this season.

14

Shelby Lynn

SENIOR, CORAL SHORES SETTER

Senior setter Shelby Lynn led the Hurricanes in aces with 53 and assists with 279. Lynn was third in digs with 154, proving her dynamic athleticism on both offense and defense. Credited for playing with a lot of heart, Lynn showed up to each match ready not just to play, but to win.

Olivia Revoredo

FRESHMAN,

BASILICA OUTSIDE HITTER

Just a freshman, Olivia Revoredo made an immediate impact on the court. Credited with being an explosive hitter, strong passer and solid blocker, Revoredo is an all-around fantastic player who manages to make those around her perform their best as well. With three more years of play, Revoredo has the potential to be a force for the Mariners.

55

Coralyn Frimpter

FRESHMAN, CORAL SHORES OUTSIDE HITTER

Freshman outside hitter Coralyn Frimpter had no problem making the transition from middle school to varsity and made a difference from day one. With 167 kills, 47 aces and 101 digs, Frimpter was a clutch performer and head coach Sam Ovalle described her as humble and coachable, setting the stage for three more years of top-notch play.

RUNNER

OF THE YEAR

MEET THE 2025 ALL-KEYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

TThis season, Ali Wheatley brought home a silver medal from districts, where she ran the course in 20:22. One week later, she kicked it into high gear, finishing in 19:38 and earning a spot at the state championship meet. She demonstrates mental toughness, pushing through difficult training sessions. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Wheatley’s accomplishments, like her pace, will not likely slow down any time soon.

junior Mylana Loza embraces challenging workouts and never shies away from giving her full effort. That paid off this season, as Loza was consistently the second Fin to cross the line at races. She ran a personal best 23:30 at regionals, peaking at precisely the right time.

Consistently the Hurricanes’ No. 2 runner, Kate King clocked some fantastic times this season. King picked up the pace for nearly every race, culminating in a 22:27 personal best at regionals and setting the stage for an exciting senior campaign.

he 2025 cross country season was another shining example of Monroe County athletes’ dedication, resilience and competitive spirit. Runners from every school delivered strong performances, with teams and individuals representing the Keys all the way to the state meet. Marathon struck gold and Coral Shores earned silver at districts. Marathon and Coral Shores qualified full squads for regionals and Key West’s boys also advanced. At regionals, Marathon’s boys team and one Coral Shores female runner punched their tickets to the state championships in Tallahassee. Across the board, every program showed meaningful growth and marked improvement, setting the stage for an exciting future in Keys cross country.

The Lady Fins’ top runner also happens to be their youngest; Molly Joly cruised to a season-best 22:10 at the FHSAA 1A Region 4 championships, after bringing home a seventh-place medal from districts the week prior.

In her first season of varsity running, Emma Bradshaw had an impressive showing. Her strong team spirit and perseverance helped whittle down her times throughout the season, culminating in a 24:09 personal best at districts.

In one of the most challenging sports, Ryah Bushey stands out for making it look more fun than it is daunting. She brings a contagious enthusiasm that lifts and motivates the entire team. Her district 25:45 personal best finish at districts proves that she has what it takes to be one of the best.

As the only returning member of the Lady Conchs’ cross country team, Violet Jangraw gave her team the leadership they needed. The hard-working junior had her season best, a 25:34, in the first race of the season, then came close again at regionals. The team relied on her guidance and energy as much as her times this season, and Jangraw consistently delivered without complaint.

GRADE

Marathon

Photos by Rick Mackenzie and Natalie Danko

OF THE YEAR

Antonin Bursa

Just a freshman, Lucian Burns has already made two appearances at the state championships. Burns was sidelined with what could have been a season-ending injury in mid-October. He returned to the starting line at districts, where he struggled, yet finished fast enough to help the Fins qualify for regionals. Burns shaved off nearly two minutes one week later, then led Marathon at states, finishing 42nd.

Dolphin sophomore Antonin “Tony” Bursa ran seven sub18-minute races this season. His PR came at districts, where his 17:19 finish won a gold medal. Bursa has both endurance and speed, often kicking it in at the end of races to surpass runners in front of him. With two more seasons to go and a proven running pedigree, Bursa has the ability to become one of the best runners in Monroe County history.

Delacerda

Sophomore Sawyer Hill has no qualms about putting in the work to get better. His discipline and consistency have become something the team can rely upon. Hill finished his season with a personal best 18:35, setting the stage for upcoming seasons for the motivated sophomore.

Alaric Rodriguez

SHORES

Hurricane harrier Jamie Cary finished his senior season with a PR, racing to an 18:03 finish at regionals. Cary showed incredible improvement this season, a testament to his focus and dedication to training. Race after race, Cary delivered strong finishes to help lead his team in the postseason and end on a high note.

SHORES

Hurricane senior Alaric Rodriguez ran his best at Spanish River this year, finishing in 19:33. Rodriguez’s long history in the sport made him a tough competitor who gave his team a shot at winning every time he toed the line.

Prometheus Delacerda provided the Conchs with senior leadership this season, which was exactly what they needed. His competitive spirit and drive to get better elevated not only his own performance, but the entire team. Delacerda crushed his times this season, finishing his senior campaign in style with an 18:37 PR at regionals.

Marathon’s No. 3 man, Allan Taylor, ran a personal best 18:01 at districts this season as he closed the gap between himself and the Fins’ top two. Taylor hawks down his rivals and teammates alike, making it look fun in the process. You would be hard-pressed to find him on a training run without his signature smile and two thumbs up.

Caleb Shelar

SENIOR

MARATHON

Despite being Marathon’s No. 4 runner, senior Caleb Shelar often outpaces the top finishers for the rest of the county’s teams, and his quiet determination and focus are a big piece of the Fins’ success. Shelar clocked in at 18:22 for a PR at regionals this year, helping Marathon secure a spot at states, where he finished under 19 minutes despite a hilly, treacherous course.

Lucian Burns

Sawyer Hill FRESHMAN

RUNNER

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, Robbies of Key West, LLC claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels:

Owned by Luis Amores for unpaid storage fees: a 2011 40’ Beneteau (HIN: BEYKD220K011)

Owned by VH4669 LLC (Donald Rhomberg – Title Manager) for unpaid storage fees: a 1984 42’ Gibson (HIN:GBN42768M84K)

Sealed bids will be accepted on December 19th , 2025 at 12:00am at Robbies of Key West, 7281 Shrimp Rd, Key West, FL 33040. Robbies of Key West, LLC reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Publish:

December 4 & 11, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

DISTRICT I ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC I) (encompasses the city limits of Key West) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a LODGING INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE – shall be owners or operating/general managers assistant general managers, director of sales and/or marketing, director of engineering, director of food and beverage, director of operations/rooms, comptroller as executive (exempt employee level) positions of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations which are subject to bed tax in the tax collection district for which they are applying). Any person wishing to participate on the District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. Friday January 16, 2026. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: December 4, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe

County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request. Notice to Proposers: A local business, as defined in Section 2-349, County Code, may be given preference in this solicitation. The intent and justification for providing a local preference is set forth in Section 2-349 of the Monroe County Code of Ordinances. Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 8, 2026. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Questions regarding this RFQ must be transmitted in writing to Cory Schwisow, c/o Monroe County Emergency Management, 7280 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, or by Email: Schwisow-Cory@ monroecounty-fl.gov.

Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days (from bid opening date), whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the value listed on the Price Response Proposal Form and any document

within the other portions of the response uploaded into Bonfire, the values listed in the “Price ResponseProposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFQ is the amount that will be considered by the County. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Thursday, January 8, 2026. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile:

+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York)

+16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Publish: December 4, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Organic Removal and Backfilling for Canal #82, Key Largo Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/ responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com, no later than 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit

For detailed information please visit the Procurement Department website at http://www.gmx-way.com/business/solicitations, or call the Procurement Department at 305-637-3277 for assistance. The

Publish: December 4, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers

your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/ proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. You may call in by phone or internet using the following:

Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile:

+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York)

+16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location:

+1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Publish: December 4, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-000377-K IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY LESAICHERRE, Deceased. NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

The administration of the estate of MARY LESAICHERRE, deceased, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Freeman Justice Center, 302 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The file number for the estate is 25-CP-000377-K. The estate is testate and the date of the Decedent’s Will and any codicils are January 29, 2001. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative's attorney are set forth below. The fiduciary lawyer-client privilege in Section 90.5021, Florida Statutes, applies with respect to the personal representative and any attorney employed by the personal representative. Any interested person on whom a copy of the notice of administration is served must file with the court, on or before the date that is 3 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on that person, any objection that challenges the validity of the will or any codicils, venue, or jurisdiction of the court. The 3 month time period may only be extended for estoppel based upon a misstatement by the personal representative regarding the time period within which an objection must be filed. The time period may not be extended for any other reason, including affirmative representation, failure to disclose information, or misconduct by the personal representative or

any other person. Unless sooner barred by section 733.212(3), Florida Statutes, all objections to the validity of a will or any codicils, venue or the jurisdiction of the court must be filed no later than the earlier of the entry of an order of final discharge of the personal representative or 1 year after service of the notice of administration. Persons who may be entitled to exempt property under section 732.402, Florida Statutes, will be deemed to have waived their rights to claim that property as exempt property unless a petition for determination of exempt property is filed by such persons or on their behalf on or before the later of the date that is 4 months after the date of service of a copy of the notice of administration on such persons or the date that is 40 days after the date of termination of any proceedings involving the construction, admission to probate, or validity of the will or involving any other matter affecting any part of the exempt property. Unless an extension is granted pursuant to section 732.2135(2), Florida Statutes, an election to take an elective share must be filed on or before the earlier of the date that is 6 months after the date of service of a copy of the notice of administration on the surviving spouse, an agent under chapter 709, Florida Statutes, or a guardian of the property of the surviving spouse; or the date that is 2 years after the date of the decedent's death. Under certain circumstances and by failing to contest the will, the recipient of the notice of administration may be waiving his or her right to contest the validity of a trust or other writing incorporated by reference into a will.

Personal Representative: KIM TESSITORE

Attorney for Personal Representative: Liz C. Messianu, Esq. Florida Bar No. 469017

Patricia D. Blanco, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 1017070

Attorneys for Petitioner Wicker, Smith, O'Hara. McCoy & Ford, P.A.

Attorneys for Personal Representative 2800 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 800 Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Telephone: (305) 448-3939

Fax: (305) 441-1748

E-Mail: miacrtpleadings@ wickermsith.com

Publish:

December 4 & 11, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 25-CP-000377-K IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY LESAICHERRE, Decedent.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Mary LeSaicherre, deceased, whose date of death was July 26, 2025, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Freeman Justice Center, 302 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION

OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. The written demand must be filed with the clerk.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: December 4, 2025. Personal Representative: Kim Tessitore 5021 Wade Drive Metaire, Louisiana 70003 Attorney for Personal Representative: Liz C. Messianu, Esq. Florida Bar No. 469017

Patricia D. Blanco, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 1017070 Wicker, Smith, O'Hara. McCoy & Ford, P.A.

Attorneys for Personal Representative 2800 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 800 Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Telephone: (305) 448-3939

Fax: (305) 441-1745

E-Mail: miacrtpleadings@ wickermsith.com

Publish: December 4 & 11, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2025-CP-000505-K IN RE: ESTATE OF  WILLIAM LAURENCE HARDY  Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE:

The administration of the Estate of William Laurence Hardy, deceased, File No. 2025-CP-000505-K, is pending in the circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 502 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served, must file their claims with the clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 502 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated

claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OF MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

A Personal Representative or Curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this Notice is December 4, 2025.

Dated this 20th day of November, 2025.

M. BARBARA AMARO ESQ. Attorney for Personal Representative FBN 611298 8950 SW 74 Court, Suite 2201, A-19 Miami, FL 33156 (305) 384-7213 (888) 508-5215 Fax Barbara@AmaroProbateLaw. com

Personal Representative: M. BARBARA AMARO 8950 SW 74 Court, Suite 2201, A-19 Publish: December 4 & 11, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2023-CA-747-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 15TH day of December 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5824, Week 30, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) I, II entered in a case pending in said Court, the 4TH day of November 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE II, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST MARY ANN AMARAL, DECEASED; BRIAN

POTENTIAL HEIR TO MARY ANN AMARAL

Defendant

And the Docket Number of which is Number 2023-CA747-K

WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 10TH day of November 2025

KEVIN MADOK

Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Shonta McLeod

Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

Publish: November 27 and December 4, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-688-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 15TH day of December 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit E23, Week 1, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”). Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of October 2025 Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. JOAN ELAINE FARINACCI AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST JOAN ELAINE FARINACCI, DECEASED Defendant

And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC688-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 31TH day of October 2025

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

Publish: November 27 and December 4, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO.: 2024-CC-658-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 15TH day of December 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit E23, Week 46, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) II entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of October 2025

Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff

vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST JOHNSIE H. HUDSPETH, DECEASED AND DANA SHEPHERD, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO JOHNSIE H. HUDSPETH Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC658-K

WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 31TH day of October 2025 KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: November 27 and December 4, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-658-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 15TH day of December 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit C22 Week 48, Beach House, a Condominium according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1510, Page 225, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits attached thereto, and any

amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AS TO COUNT(S) I entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of October 2025

Style of which is: BEACH HOUSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST WILLIAM GERSTNER KUESTER, DECEASED; JENNIFER MERTZ, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO WILLIAM GERSTNER KUESTER; AND JEFFREY KUESTER, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO WILLIAM GERSTNER KUESTER

Defendant

And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC658-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 31TH day of October 2025

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: November 27 and December 4, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-CC-569-K NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE

SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 15TH day of December 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Unit 5813, Week 13, Annual Windward Pointe, a Leasehold Condominium (“Condominium”), according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof recorded in Official Records Book 1803, Page 844, Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all exhibits thereto, and any amendments thereof (the “Declaration”).

Pursuant to IN REM SUMMARY FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 9TH day of October 2025 Style of which is: WINDWARD POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF KEY WEST, INC., A CORPORATION NOT-FORPROFIT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Plaintiff vs. ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES WHO CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSE, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATORS OR AS OTHER CLAIMANTS, BY,

THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST SHEENA HOULT SHUMATE, DECEASED AND TERRY GALLAGHER, AS POTENTIAL HEIR TO SHEENA HOULT SHUMATE

Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CC569-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 31TH day of October 2025

KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Shonta McLeod Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: November 27 and December 4, 2025

The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS WANTED

AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483

AUTOS FOR SALE

2013 Cadillac ATS, 125k miles, needs tires & A/C, 2 owners, serviced at dealership. Located in Marathon. $4,000 Contact: yogaforpeacellc@yahoo.com SOLD IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!

PLACE YOUR AUTO FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

BOAT MISC. FOR SALE

Two 425 XTO Yamaha outboard motors for sale. Low hours, excellent condition, professionally maintained. $30,000 for both. Located in Marathon. Call for details 305-747-4227

BOATS FOR SALE

GREAT DEAL: Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. $15,000 Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906 SOLD !!!

PLACE YOUR BOAT FOR SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

Boat Slip For Rent in Key Largo - Oceanfront Marina - Up to 46’ x 11.5’ - $20/ft/ month. No Liveaboards. 330-219-5313

Dockage up to 60’ Islamorada - Bayside, 50 amp service. Call 860-982-4517

Boat dockage, 29th Street Canal, Marathon. Up to 33' - water & electric. 305-240-3270

Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002

PLACE YOUR BOAT SLIP FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com

EMPLOYMENT

NIGHT MONITOR - FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility in Marathon. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/

Retail - Tues-Sat 3:00 pm-9:00 pm in Marathon. Must be able to lift large boxes of tee shirts. More hours available if needed. Inside Airstream with AC. Email Carolynsparkyslanding@aol.com

Boat rental company in Marathon looking for help with boat detailing & boat cleaning. Call 305-481-7006

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Full-time Carpenter, Electrician & Housing Assistant. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: wrightk@kwha.org or 305-296-5621 ext. 224. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www.kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

Maintenance Manager needed. The Cabana Club, a private membership swim club, is seeking a full time, hands-on Maintenance Manager. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: pool maintenance (training can be provided), general plumbing and electric, light carpentry, opening and cleaning daily, general "handyman skills". Qualified person is organized, works well independently and observes surroundings in need of attention. Great pay plus benefits. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave HIRED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!

PLACE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@keysweekly.com

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578

HOUSING FOR RENT

NIGHT MONITORFREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility in Marathon. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/

2 Bedroom - All new - AND - Studio - Furnished in Marathon. On the water, gated property. Section 8 possible. $1,300 - $2,000 month. Call 305-610-8002

2-3BR/2BA Beautiful home for year-round rental on Duck Key. Furnished, full size W/D, stainless steel appliances & granite countertops. Gorgeous pool with builtin bar stools, waterfall & Jacuzzi, 1 car garage, and covered porch for outdoor dining w/views of the canal. $3,800/ month. Avail. Dec. 1st. Address: 243 W. Seaview Dr, Duck Key, MM 61. Text/call 774-263-8759 Email: dongamache@ comast.net RENTED IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS!!!

2BR/2BA with outdoor patio for rent in Marathon. $2,100/month F/L/S Taking applications. 305-849-5793 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!

PLACE YOUR HOUSING FOR RENT AD HERE. $25/ week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email: Anneke@ KeysWeekly.com

VACATION RENTAL

Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com

YARD SALES

First Annual Community Yard SaleSat. Dec. 13 starting at 9am. Behind the Airport in Marathon - start on Porpoise Drive and work your way around!

PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD HERE. $25/week for up to 5 lines of copy! Call 305-743-0844 or Email Anneke@ keysweekly.com

FAIR INSURANCE RATES FOR MONROE EMPOWERING CONSUMERS THROUGH EDUCATION, PROTECTION, AND REFORM

As General Manager, you will serve as the operational backbone of FIRM, reporting directly to the Board of Directors and collaborating closely with our President on strategic vision.

Strategic Leadership & Operations: Oversee day-to-day operations, including program development, delivery, and evaluation, with a focus on insurance policy research, consumer complaint resolution, and advocacy campaigns.

Financial & Resource Management: Lead budgeting, financial reporting, and resource allocation, including grant procurement and management, fundraising initiatives, and donor stewardship.

Team & Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate relationships with board members, regulators, industry partners, and community stakeholders to amplify advocacy efforts, such as lobbying for consumer-friendly insurance reforms.

Advocacy & Impact Measurement: Spearhead public awareness campaigns on insurance issues (e.g., rate transparency, claim denials), leveraging data-driven insights to influence legislation and corporate practices. Website and Social Media management.

Risk & Compliance Oversight: Ensure organizational adherence to legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, including data privacy in consumer interactions and risk management for advocacy activities. Serve as a key spokesperson, representing FIRM in media, hearings, and coalitions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Non-Profit Management, or a related field; Master's or MBA preferred. 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in non-profit management, with at least 3 years in advocacy, consumer protection, or insurance-related roles.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews starting in late November. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please submit your resume, a cover letter outlining your vision for leading FIRM’s next phase, and three professional references as a single PDF. Use the subject line: "General Manager Application - [Your Last Name]." E-Mail address: Mel.Montagne@ioausa.com FIRM is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates with lived experience in underserved communities, as well as those from varied backgrounds in insurance, policy, or non-profit sectors. www.FirmKeys.org

SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN

(High Voltage Substation Electrical Technician)

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $46.38/hr. - $51.94/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.

KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

OPERATOR/MAINTAINER

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $40.15/hr - $44.97/hr

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com. KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

Must have experience with Excel. We are willing to train the right candidate.

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS HIRING!

JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!

We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.

KEY LARGO

Behavioral Health Therapist (CAT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)

Behavioral Health Counselor (CAT)

KEY WEST

Case Manager (Adult)

Mental Health Technician (PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Children) (PT) Crisis Counselor

MARATHON

Mental Health Technician

Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver (CDL not required) (PT)

Driver (CDL required) (FT)

Registered Nurse (FT, PT)

*Support Worker (Assisted Living) (PT)

*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT, PT)

*Night Monitor (ALF – Free Housing vs. Salary)

*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.

Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP

BENEFITS!!!

Apply at guidancecarecenter.org - Get Involved/ Join our team/Job Opportunities/location/zip

DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR

The Advocate Program DUI school is hiring for part time positions.

Front desk: 3 days a week, high school diploma and computer data entry skills required. DUI instructors and evaluators: 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required. Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

We are now hiring for the following positions: Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers

CDL Drivers

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier

- Medical Assistant Ortho, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

- Patient Access Associates, $5k Bonus

MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST

- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C) Medical Oncology, Per Diem

- Pool Radiation Therapist

- Registered Nurse, Oncology, $15k Bonus

TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL

- Clinical Pharmacist, $5k Bonus

- Cook, Dietary, $5k Bonus

- Exercise Physiologist, Per Diem

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, CT Scan, $50k Bonus

- Mechanic, FT, 7A-3:30P

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Echocardiography, Per Diem

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, MRI, $50k Bonus

- Medical Technologist, Laboratory, $20k Bonus

- Physical Therapist, $25k Bonus

- Pool Clinical Pharmacist, Per Diem

- Pool Group Exercise Instructor, Per Diem

- Pool Medical Technologist

- Pool Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $25k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Per Diem

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, PT

- Registered Nurse, Surgery, $15k Bonus

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- ED Team Coordinator, 7P-7A

- Inventory Control Administrator, Keys/Marathon Supply Chain

- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 2, (MRI & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray), Radiology, $50K Bonus

- Pool Physical Therapist, Per Diem

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Per Diem

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care, Per Diem, 7P-7:30A

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care, Part Time, 7P-7:30A

- Registered Nurse, PACU, $15k Bonus

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, PT, $12,500 Bonus

- RRT 2, Respiratory Therapy, Per Diem

- Security Officer, FT, 7A-7:30P

- Security Officer, Per Diem

All

THEME: IN THE WOODS

ACROSS

1. Flows’ partners

5. “When Harry ____ Sally...”

8. Sound of laughter

12. *”Hide” behind the bush 13. BÈbÈ’s mother

14. *Age units in the woods

15. Rum cake

16. Placido Domingo’s solo, e.g. 17. Concluded

18. *”Into the Woods” star Anna 20. Come clean, with up 21. Terra ____

22. Urge Spot to attack 23. One of seven gnomes

26. Prior to the present (3 words)

30. FEMA provisions, e.g.

31. Erratum, pl.

34. Int. org. in Brussels

35. Merge

37. Time frame

38. Right-hand page

39. 1920s art style

40. Cause of wheezing

42. Like The Hot Chili Peppers

43. ____ God we ____,” on U.S. currency

45. Some vipers

47. Clairvoyant’s gift

48. Source of chocolate

50. Form of payment

52. *Edible fungus

55. Multi-layered cake

56. MÈlange

57. Utah’s national park

59. Bake an egg

60. Plural of #22 Down

61. *”____ the Woods” play and movie

62. Prefix for multiple

63. Japanese honorific

64. Barely got by

DOWN

1. Singular of #1 Across 2. *Woodpecker’s pecker

3. *One lost in the woods

4. Posture

5. Boy Scout’s badge

6. “Fear of Flying” author ____ Jong

7. *Furniture wood

8. *Conifer’s dropping

9. Peters out

10. Def Leppard’s “Rock of ____”

11. Psychedelic drug, acr. 13. St. Valentine, e.g. 14. Equip again

19. One of Seven Dwarfs 22. Rejuvenating spot

23. ____ Arabia

24. Wrinkle-prone fabric

25. Declaration of Independence, e.g.

26. 2002 Winter Olympics state

27. Mother-of-pearl

28. Weasel’s cousin

29. *Golf’s great

32. Catch one’s breath

33. A in MOMA

36. *Scientific study in woodlands

38. Meteorologist’s tool

40. Nile reptile

41. Masculine one and proud of it, pl.

44. Theater greeter

46. Something extraordinary

48. “Mea ____,” or “my fault”

49. Hailing from the East

50. Type of salmon

51. *Seed covering

52. *Trunk growth 53. Sty cry

Speck 55. Recipe amt. 58. Go-ahead

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Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.