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The U.S. men’s national soccer team advanced to the knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after beat ing Iran 1-0 in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 29. The national team is the second youngest behind Ghana, with an average age of 25 years and two months. The U.S. will face the Netherlands on Saturday, Dec. 3.

KEY DEER SHOOTING RAISES RESPONSE QUESTIONS

ILLEGAL ACT WAS RE PORTEDLY INTENDED AS MERCY KILLING

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

The widely publicized shooting of an endangered Key deer on Big Pine Key remains under investigation by federal au thorities. But for locals, the death of another protected animal has prompt ed a renewed outcry from those con cerned with officers’ ability to respond in a timely fashion to such events.

“On Wednesday, November 16, the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement was informed that a Key deer was shot and killed on a residential lot on Big Pine Key,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) public affairs specialist Jennifer Koches in a statement on Nov. 18. “The Service is working with the State of Florida, and our agents are currently gathering facts as part of an ongoing investigation.”

The FWS oversees the National Key Deer Refuge in the Lower Keys, es tablished in 1957 to protect the small endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer found exclusively in the island chain.

Though this is the second widelypublicized Key deer shooting in 2022, a press release submitted by the non-profit Save Our Key Deer Inc. (SOKD) alleges that though still illegal, the shooting was intended as a mercy killing when it became apparent the distressed animal would not receive immediate medical attention.

According to the release, the case began a week earlier when a Big Pine resident found the large buck stuck between two sections of fencing with rope entangled in his antlers on Nov. 9, causing him to sustain cuts and abra sions on both sides of his body.

The release states that residents contacted the wildlife hotline main tained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife

The Keys Weekly Newspapers are proud to honor Monroe County’s gridiron standouts with our inau gural All-Keys Football Team. See page 19. Photo by Barry Gaukel.

Images reportedly taken on Nov. 9 show the buck with its antlers tangled and abrasions on its side.

An image reportedly taken on Nov. 16 shows con cerned residents attempting to deliver water to the injured buck. SAVE OUR KEY DEER/Contributed

Conservation Commission (FWC) as well as several FWS and FWC officials and volunteers, but the buck rushed off into the woods with his antlers still entangled when he was eventually freed from the fence.

Volunteers and officials attempted to locate the deer over the next week, but were unsuccessful until the buck was found lying in “extreme distress” near Independence Avenue on Nov. 16. Though not yet confirmed, the release states the buck “was likely suffering from organ failure due to ‘capture myopathy’ induced by severe stress.” The release further states that an individual “took it upon themselves to put the agonized buck out of his misery” after more than two and a half hours had elapsed since residents again called the FWC hotline.

“I’m hoping that (officials) can use this unfortunate case to help them get whatever they need to do to to get better staffing,” SOKD president Valerie Preziosi told Keys Weekly. “This was illegal and unsafe for anybody to do that, and we frown on that completely. However, there was a motive. … I wish (officials) were better educated to the level of understanding what that animal might be going through in a situation like that.”

With FWC’s hotline dispatch number routed to the mainland and unclear divisions of jurisdiction among multiple potential responding agen cies, the release claims residents are increasingly less likely to wait for of ficials to respond to incidents.

“The lack of response or lack of appropriate medical action following a call to ‘the Hotline’ has made many residents convinced that such a call is useless, and that the only option is to

deal with the situation on their own, ultimately leading to last week’s shoot ing incident,” it concludes.

“Given the number of positions that we have, FWC is trying to cover the entire Florida Keys and the entire National Marine Sanctuary,” FWC Capt. David Dipre told the Weekly, similarly pointing to staffing concerns and a need for clear communication as the main drivers behind extended re sponse times.

“It’s just not possible for us to al ways be where people want us to be,” he said.

Keys Weekly contacted FWS for an update on the investigation and further clarification of each agency’s responsibility when hotline calls are received for incidents such as these. Per its policy, the service declined to comment on an ongoing investigation, and clarification regarding the han dling of calls was not yet available as of press time.

A Key deer shot in January on Sug arloaf Key was euthanized and trans ported to USFWS’ forensic laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for further analysis. It is unclear whether this deer will receive the same analysis.

With a remaining population of fewer than 1,000 individuals, Key deer are protected by both the federal Endangered Species Act and Florida law. Intentionally killing an animal car ries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. Witnesses are urged to call 888-404-FWCC (3922), option 1 for Monroe County, to report a dead or seriously injured Key deer.

NEW-LOOK SCHOOL BOARD TACKLES TRUMBO HOUSING DETAILS

Woltanski to serve as chair, vice chair

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

The Monroe County School Board welcomed one new face and two familiar ones as newly-elected District 1 board member Darren Horan and re-elected District 4 and 5 board members John Dick and Dr. Sue Woltanski were sworn in at the board’s annual organizational meeting on Nov. 22.

Horan, a Key West-based attor ney, secured a victory over Gabrielle Brown with 58% of the vote in August’s primary election. Woltanski will enter her second term on the board after earning a win with just shy of 54% of the vote in a hotly-contested campaign against Alexandria Suarez. Unopposed in August’s primary, former chair Dick will enter his fifth term with the board.

Andy Griffiths will serve as the board’s new chair, with Woltanski cho sen as vice chair.

The evening’s largest agenda item revolved around proposed divisions of units and rental rates for the upcoming housing development at the district’s Trumbo Road property in Key West, slated for construction through SPGL LLC. Designated as affordable housing, an initial draft from SPGL proposed to rent 25% of the development’s units at rental rates calculated from 80% of the area median income (AMI), 45% at rates calculated from 100% AMI, and 30% calculated from 120% of AMI.

In the 80% AMI category, a onebedroom unit would rent for roughly $1,350 per month, with two-bedroom units at $1,500 for households earn ing a maximum of $57,400 for a single family or $65,600 for a two-person family. 100% AMI units would rent for $1,700 and $1,900 for one- and twobedroom units, with income limits of $71,500 and $82,000 for one- and twoperson families. One- and two-bed room 120% AMI units would rent for $2,000 and $2,300, respectively, with income limits of $86,000 and $98,000 for one- and two-person families.

Board member Mindy Conn said she was concerned that while the pro posed rates may be suitable for some teachers, other critical district person nel would still find the units unafford able.

“I would like to see rent reflect housing that we can have bus drivers and maintenance workers and para professionals live in, not just teachers,” she said. “Some of those rents might still be too high for brand-new teach ers … or filling those other positions that are hourly pay.”

Superintendent Theresa Axford defended the proposed rents, saying the units were “better than anything anybody can get right now” in Key West.

“I understand how amazing they are,” Conn continued. “But if people can’t afford them, it doesn’t matter. I want to figure out … which people would still be able to afford to live there, and if we’re missing some sec tion of our employees that still can’t afford to live there, even at those great Key West rates.”

With no official vote taken, the board asked attorney Gaelan Jones to work with SPGL on several propos als for several splits in unit sizes and rental rates in the upcoming complex. As currently proposed, the develop ment’s 80 units would consist of 16 one-bedroom units, 40 two-bedroom units and 24 three-bedroom units.

“I think everybody, myself includ ed, that are involved in these negotia tions believe that the three-bedrooms are going to be the hardest to fill,” he said.

Jones also cautioned that addition of more 80% AMI units would likely be met with a compensatory addition of 120% units to recoup the lost rental income, decreasing the pool of 100% AMI units.

The board will work to potentially approve a final agreement at its Dec. 13 meeting, with Axford and Jones offering to bring an analysis of district salaries to the meeting to inform the final decision.

‘UNSAFE’ SHIP THAT CARRIED HAITIANS REMAINS GROUNDED OFF ISLAMORADA

Migrants aboard the wooden vessel transported back to home country

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

An American flag waves to the Atlantic Ocean breeze at one of the more popu lar Florida Keys sandbars. Located at Whale Harbor in Islamo rada, hundreds of boats usually line the shallow, sandy bottoms during holidays and busy weekends for a day of sunshine, drinks and loung ing.

For the past week, sandbar visitors haven’t only captured breathtaking views of the ocean on a picturesque Keys day. Not far from where boats anchor, a roughly 50-foot wooden sailboat that car ried almost 200 Haitian migrants from turmoil to hopes for a new life remains grounded.

While chugs hauling Cuban migrants continue to arrive at record levels, the island chain hasn’t witnessed a large vessel carrying Haitian migrants to American soil in several months. That all changed during the early morning hours of Nov. 21, when a good Samaritan alerted the Coast Guard that an overloaded boat carrying well over 100 people was crashing into 6- to 10-foot waves and being whipped by 25 mph winds not far from Rodriguez Key in Key Largo. Res cue efforts throughout the day by the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection proved challeng ing due to the conditions, according to Matt James, Coast Guard Station Islamorada commander.

By evening, the sailboat trav eled south to Islamorada, where it grounded at a sandbar south of Whale Harbor. Rescue attempts intensified as 18 people hopped off the boat and into the treacher ous waters. With help from other agencies, which included Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation and Islamo rada Fire Rescue, CBP was able to rescue all the people in the water.

"These people were packed into an overloaded, unsafe vessel with out safety equipment," said Lt. C. Box, of Coast Guard District Seven. "The weather was so bad, these people are lucky we got to them when we did."

Of the 190 on the sailboat, 89 were men, 55 were women and 46 were children. A total of 180

migrants were put on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, given food, water and medical attention and repatriated to Haiti on Nov. 26. Ten people onboard the vessel were going through a joint interagency process. On Nov. 29, the Coast Guard said seven people were repatriated and three were transferred back to U.S. officials.

A record-breaking 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, saw the Coast Guard interdicting 7,175 Haitian migrants. Since the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2022, crews have intercepted vessels that contained 585 Haitians.

Not far from the famous sandbar, the grounded vessel remains a topic of conversation as boaters pass by and view it from afar. Buckets, netting, bags and other items remain onboard, and so does the story of a dangerous journey to escape a country in Haiti in flicted with violence, economic despair and major uncertainty as to its future.

The sailboat is the latest addition to the Florida Keys’ derelict vessel problem, which has grown with more Cuban chugs arriving by the day. Between 60 and 80 derelict vessels are taken out of the water each year, cost ing a little more than $200,000. Grant funding from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Monroe County Boating Improvement Funds are used to remove derelict vessels.

Removal of the wooden vessel that carried the Haitians now falls into the hands of Florida Fish & Wildlife Conser vation Commission.

“It’ll go onto our (derelict vessel) list and it’ll be treated as such,” said Jason Rafter, public information officer with FWC.

Griffiths,

A roughly 50-foot sailboat used to trans port more than 180 Haitian migrants to the Florida Keys remains grounded on a sandbar not far from Whale Harbor in Islamorada. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

The 2022 Monroe County School Board. From left: board member John Dick, vice chair Sue Woltanski, board member Darren Horan, board chair Andy Griffiths, board member Mindy Conn. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT/Contributed

1.

WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

2. Monroe County Commissioner Syl via Murphy sits at her desk. She rep resented portions of the Upper Keys, from North Key Largo to Tavernier, from 2006 to 2020. CONTRIBUTED

3. Then-Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy presents Jeanette Nuñez with an Honorary Conch certificate during a gathering in Marathon in 2019.

CONTRIBUTED

4. Sylvia Murphy is recognized as mayor emeritus during a Dec. 8, 2021 meeting of the Monroe County Com mission. MONROE COUNTY BOCC/ Contributed

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

FORMER KEYS COMMISSIONER SYLVIA MURPHY PASSES AWAY AT 86

‘ULTIMATE PUBLIC SERVANT’

Former Monroe County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy was in strumental in broker ing a deal for Rowell’s Park in Key Largo. She also played a pivotal role in saving lives during her career as an EMT.

A Keys resident dating back to her late teenage years, Murphy passed away during the morning hours of Nov. 26. She was 86.

Feisty, a walking history book and a true public servant, Murphy served 14 years as a county commissioner. But she was also a contributor to the community in ways many people didn’t see. A few weeks before the 13th annual Light Up Key Largo on Nov. 19, Murphy called Nola Acker, one of the event organizers. The two have known each other for many years. Murphy ap pointed Acker to serve on the Tourist Development Council’s District Advisory Committee in 2017.

Murphy was a regular contributor to Key Largo’s holiday event and donated funds so every kid could enjoy a hot dog and a drink. Acker told Murphy they were having some difficulties obtain ing everything they needed for the event. Murphy stepped up to help fill the holes.

“It was a two-hour conversation that night,” Acker said. “She was so excited when I talked to her three weeks ago. She’s like, ‘Nola I’ll give you $1,000; $250 to the kids and take the difference and put it where you need to put it.’”

Murphy spent much of her life serving the public, including her years as an EMT with Monroe County Emergency Medical Services, from which she retired in 1996, and two decades with the Tav ernier Volunteer Fire Department. She was elected to Monroe County Commission’s District 5, which serves North Key Largo and portions of Tavernier, in 2006. She kept serving and running for reelection until she decided to retire in November 2020.

“At 86, was I going to be a county commissioner at 90? Come on,” Murphy said during a sitdown interview with the Keys Weekly in December 2021.

County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln served two years with Murphy. But her time getting to know Murphy dates back to Lincoln’s days on the Marathon City Council.

“The first time I met her professionally, she said, ‘I’m going to give you some advice. You’re go ing to make some votes that won’t always make you popular. But do your homework, make your vote and move on to the next one.’ I loved that advice she had for me,” Lincoln said.

Murphy’s commitment to the job and Florida Keys residents was recognized by fellow commis

sioners, as she was named mayor emeritus on Dec. 8, 2021. She joined Wilhelmina Harvey as the only two to have the title.

“Sylvia is very active out in the community,” County Commissioner David Rice said in a 2021 in terview on Murphy’s recognition. “She truly seemed to enjoy her job. As a county commissioner, she ran up and down the Keys, going to everything. And you never have to question where Sylvia’s thoughts are, because they are at the tip of her tongue. And she would agree with that. I love Sylvia, and I think that she would appreciate the honor. It hasn’t been done that many times, so why not?”

Murphy told the Keys Weekly one of her proud est accomplishments was Key Largo’s Rowell’s Park at MM 104, bayside. She knew the owner of that land and was instrumental in brokering the deal.

“It doesn’t matter if the park sits vacant, it belongs to the county,” she said. “One day, after hurricanes pass and roads are raised, it will be a beautiful park. I arranged for Roman (county administrator Roman Gastesi) to meet with the owners of the marina with the price he quoted me. Roman met them for lunch and finalized it.”

State Attorney Dennis Ward was a close friend to Murphy. Describing her as frank, candid and a supporter of the county and its natural resources, Ward said Murphy was the ultimate public servant. He also said she was a walking history book.

“We used to travel together a lot to Key West for events. Every time you get into an area she’d tell a story when she was an EMT and the different calls she went on,” Ward said. “The history and knowl edge of the community that she had was incredible. Things would come up and she would know what people were around at that period of time and the events.”

Acker will remember Murphy’s passion and feistiness.

“All I had to do was say ‘I have a problem,’ and she’d say, ‘Let me send an email,’” Acker said. “Every time I asked her for anything she helped. She even got into a dunk tank for me during a 4th of July picnic.”

An outpouring of social media posts followed Murphy’s passing. Steve Torrence worked with Murphy on the county Health and Services Advisory Board. In a post, Torrence said Murphy was a tena cious spirit and had a wicked sense of humor.

“She said what she thought and thought what she said,” he wrote.

State Rep. Jim Mooney said Murphy was a life long public servant and truly loved the island chain.

“The Keys lost a fruitful part of the community,” he said.

A celebration of life for Murphy will be held Monday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center.

Pictured from left, David Rice, county commissioner; Bob Shillinger, county attorney; Sylvia Murphy; and Lisa Tennyson, legislative affairs director, at Keys Day in 2014. KEYS

NEW VESSEL TURN-IN PROGRAM

FWC NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

HOLIDAY ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS

KEYS ENERGY SERVICES OFFERS DOS & DON’TS

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis sion (FWC) is accepting applications for a recently approved and newly created Ves sel Turn-In Program (VTIP), a key component of Florida’s derelict vessel prevention program.

VTIP is a voluntary program designed to help owners dispose of their unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Upon approval of an application, VTIP will take a surrendered vessel and dispose of it at no cost to the boat owner. Removing the vessel before it deteriorates into a derelict con dition will prevent legal ramifica tions for the vessel owner and will protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life, and human life, safety and property.

A derelict vessel upon waters

of the state is a criminal offense and can carry serious penalties and fines or possible jail time.

“Acting now is the best way to prevent legal action from oc curring if the vessel becomes derelict,” said Phil Horning, VTIP administrator.

To qualify for VTIP, a vessel must be floating on waters of the state of Florida and cannot be already determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written at-risk warning or citation and possess a clear title to the vessel.

To apply for or view program guidelines, visit MyFWC.com/VTIP or call the FWC Boating and Water ways Division at 850-488-5600 for more information.

— Contributed

What is typically known as the most joyous season of the year can also be one of the most hazardous. Around the country, millions of people are decorating for the holidays, but unfortunately, many will unknowingly create numerous electrical hazards in and around their home.

Each year thousands of fires start as the result of over loaded outlets, faulty or worn electrical wires, and decora tions used improperly. As part of an effort to reduce holiday accidents and to keep the holidays merry, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has compiled these tips for holiday electrical safety:

1. Never use nails or staples to secure light strings or electrical cords.

2. Do not overload exten sion cords and electrical outlets or connect more than three light strings together.

3. Inspect decorations be fore plugging them in, checking for frayed or loose wires and loose connections.

4. Turn off holiday lights while you are away from home or before going to bed at night.

5. Unplug strings of lights before replacing bulbs, and replace burned-out bulbs promptly with ones of the same wattage.

6. When placing lights or decorations outdoors, use only decorations and extension cords certified for outdoor use.

7. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupt ers (GFCIs) to avoid potential shocks.

8. Do not string outdoor lights on trees that are near or touching power lines.

9. On outside lights, point sockets down to avoid mois ture build-up, wrap a plastic bag around connections and tie ends with electrical tape.

10. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Faulty bulbs could make the tree become charged with electricity. — Contributed

Derelict vessels, like this one in Boot Key Harbor in late 2021, aren’t just eye sores – they pose a significant threat to marine life, seagrass beds and human safety. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH, JUST START S.M.A.R.T

Iinto smaller steps until you have a clear vision of what needs to be done.

If that seems like too big a challenge, start by using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. to help you set a goal.

Specific: Clearly defined, not ambiguous.

JENNIFER BOLTZ HARVEY

...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified per sonal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC.

thought for the first ar ticle of this new health column, I would start by encour aging readers who want to improve their health –whether that be physical, mental or emo tional – to “just start.” Start somewhere, anywhere. Start with something you feel needs some tend ing to. Maybe you’ve been thinking you need to start exercising, or you’ve noticed your sleep habits aren’t very good, or maybe you’ve been told by a physician you must start eating better (I will get more into these topics in future columns).

I have found over my 11 years as a personal trainer and nutrition coach that many people get easily overwhelmed when starting a new health habit. The idea of changing can create anxiety and before the person even starts, they’ve talked themselves out of it altogether. Have you been there? I know I have. Which is why I think it impor tant to take things little by little. Below is an outline I use when starting a new habit or helping a client to make a change. Having a guide to help you define your new habit and defining why you are doing it will make your goals less overwhelming and much easier to adhere to.

Start by choosing the habit you’d like to achieve, along with why you want to achieve it and three things you need to accom plish to help you achieve it. Then, think about what will change when you achieve the habit. How will you feel when you achieve it? And finally, when would you like to achieve this habit?

Once you’ve filled out the guide, start the next step: break ing the goals down to make the habit happen. Break each goal

Measurable: What criteria are you measuring and how will you measure your progress?

Achievable: Is the goal attain able?

Realistic: Is this goal reason able and within reach?

Timely: Create a specific start and target end date.

For example:

Perhaps a habit you’d like to start is to get 8 hours of sleep each night. One of your goals to achieve this habit may be to start going to bed earlier. By using the S.M.A.R.T. method, the breakdown of that goal would look like this:

Specific – Start by going to bed by 9:30 p.m.

Measurable – Keep a calendar next to my bed and check off each day I make it into bed by 9:30 each night.

Achievable – Yes, I don’t need to watch TV past 9:30 p.m.

Realistic – Yes, I am the only one responsible for making this happen. Nothing else is in my way.

Timely – I am going to start my new bedtime routine today, and in three weeks I want to be consis tently going to bed by 9:30 p.m.

There are other methods you can use when goal setting, but I find this one to be the most effective. The method you choose is up to you, but no matter what, if you want to live a healthy and happy life, you must actively com mit to pursuing it. Healthy and happy looks different for every one, but the challenge of getting there is the same. Consistent small changes over time become habits. Consistent habits over time become a way of life. Consistency is the common denominator in the equation of achievement. If you wait for motivation to strike to make a change, you may be wait ing for a very long time. So start now – you are worth it!

If you invested in crypto, you’re likely coming to the realization that the money could have been better spent on scratch-off tickets and slot machines. Billionaires have been reduced to rags over night, as the crypto craze crashed and came tumbling down this past week. The biggest loser was possibly FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that lost billions for investors in a matter of hours.

But with every loss comes an opportunity. The FTX Arena, home of the Miami Heat pro basketball team, is seeking a new namesake sponsor for the arena, and the online porn mogul Bang Bros has reemerged as a potential suitor. Seriously.

Bang Bros first offered $10 million to name the venue in 2019, suggesting Bang Bros Center and a more appropriate abbreviation, the BBC.

Yes, this opens the door for a flood of jokes and innuendo. And while we hope the Miami Heat avoids this partnership, we couldn’t help but capitalize on the juvenile appeal of this story.

So we apologize in advance and present our…

POTENTIAL TAGLINES FOR THE MIAMI HEAT’S BANG BROS CENTER

We do rim jobs.

Welcome to the Bang Bros Center: Must be 18 or older to enter.

That other team has the Splash Brothers; we have the Bang Bros.

Bang Bros: Your husband’s preferred online “weather” site. 4. NSFW Arena.

3. Bang Bros Center: We’ll have 2 weeks before Gov. DeSantis shuts us down.

2. Welcome to the home of the Miami Heat: This place has gone to shit ever since Wade left.

1. Bang Bros Center: Home of the world’s most inappropriate bobble head.

OHLE & OHLE

TRIPLE TRIUMPH

Three rescued and rehabilitated manatees return to Keys waters in Key Colony Beach

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

The exhaustive efforts of four manatee rescue and rehabilitation organizations came to fruition on Nov. 29 with the release of three healthy manatees in Key Colony Beach.

Rescued from Marathon and Duck Key, all three male manatees underwent significant treatment and rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando after collaborative rescue efforts by Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters and FWC’s manatee rescue teams along with many concerned community volunteers.

Rescued April 19 from grass flats off Marathon’s 63rd Street Ocean, one animal suffered skull fractures when hit in the head by a propeller. Transported with an extremely guarded prognosis, the animal made an incredible recovery after having bone fragments removed, along with antibiotics and nutritional support. It reached a weight of 1,200 pounds upon release.

A second severely emaciated animal was rescued from Duck Key on June 10. Named “ManaKey,” the eightfoot animal weighed only 460 pounds when first rescued – healthy manatees should weigh roughly 100 pounds per foot. A five-and-a-half month rehab

period with treatment for gastric issues and nutritional support resulted in a weight gain of 545 pounds as the animal attained a release weight of 1,005 pounds.

Named “Duval,” the third animal was rescued from a Marathon residential canal on July 6. The underweight sea cow was treated for inflammatory changes in his blood as well as dehydration and potential constipation, reaching a release weight of 1,175 pounds.

A waiting crowd cheered as crews carried all three manatees back to the water behind Key Colony Beach’s city hall on Tuesday afternoon.

“Three animals in the same day – there’s nothing better,” said DRC veterinarian Dr. Scott Gearhart. “To take in an animal that needs your help and to see them released is fantastic.”

“We share the waterways with these animals,” he cautioned. “They’re very slow moving and they get into stuff, and you really need to be careful about what your activity is on the water.”

All reports of injured or stranded manatees should be directed to 888404-FWCC. When healthy, ribs and other bones should not be visible on manatees, and stranded animals should never be returned to the ocean before evaluation and approval by licensed organizations.

Rescue and rehab staffers take final measurements and mark existing scars with a temporary marker before ManaKey’s release. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed

ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

A small flock of willets on Ohio Key. MARK

HEDDEN/ Keys Weekly

MARK HEDDEN

... is a photogra pher, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audu bon Society.

STALKING THE QUIET AND THE GRAY

You spend enough time in Key West and you forget there’s such a thing as quiet. There’s always a wood chipper or an ambulance or an incoming jet or a dozen partying tourists yell ing “Woooo!” at random intervals in the illegal vacation rental three doors down.

You forget about it, at least until you drive up the Keys, past the Hurricane Ian-wracked boats still sitting hard aground above the boat ramps, past the low mangroves of the Saddlebunches where that creeping sense of claustrophobia that had been slowly building since the last time you got off the rock begins to dis sipate, over the high arc of the Niles Channel Bridge, which some days can feel like the top of the Empire State Building, and then slowly down Key Deer Boule vard, minding the speed limit, because only bastard people speed on Big Pine.

In the parking lot at the Blue Hole, after the click of the car door, you hear it: nothing. So much of it. You can’t remember the last time you didn’t hear so much as leaves shaking in a gentle breeze. Quiet. You’d forgotten it existed. You say the word out loud in your head.

You revel in it in the parking lot for a while, but then get a little antsy. You walk down the path to the platform at the edge of the borrow pit, and the quiet is swept aside by an eight-person conver sation about the best times and places to see manatees in Florida. (Winter, somewhere on the Gulf Coast.) It’s a fine conversation for people to have, but you don’t have much interest in participating, and besides, the gator isn’t even there, so you head back to the car.

You drive around to your usual spots – the salt ponds along Koehn Avenue, the bend in the road on Watson Boulevard, the floating sargassum mats at the dead end of No Name Key. There is some damn lovely quiet to be found, though not so many birds. You wonder where they are. They had to be somewhere. You remind yourself that birds generally set their own agenda and it is unwise to take it personally. Then you remind yourself again.

You drive further up the road, over the Bahia Honda Bridge – site of the occasional Florida Highway Patrol speed trap that is so long standing and traditional that it should have its own historic marker – to Ohio Key. Your wife once covered a trial for some men who were caught illegally fishing there, where she learned that Ohio Key translated into Spanish is Cayo de Ohio, and you can never not think about that fact when you go there.

You pull as far as you can off the highway, not on the trailer park half, but on the half – well third, really – named after Rachel Carson. Carson wrote “Silent Spring,” the book that largely put an end to the profligate use of DDT in most places in the world after making the case that it was killing off large swaths of birds, espe cially ones at the top of the food chain. She’d done some research for one of her other books while camping on the island, but you’ve never quite figured out what kind of research and for which book. The one book of hers you did read was a lot about the known geol ogy of the time and the mysteries of deep water currents, but you

put it down halfway through, vowing to pick it up again during your next bout of insomnia.

You have to park behind a Sheriff’s Office cruiser, and worry about getting ticketed for something or other, but it turns out to be one of the decoy cruisers they’ve been parking up and down the Keys to try and slow traffic.

You’d recently talked to a birder you knew who used to make his way down the Keys pretty regularly, and he asked if the reddish egret that used to do its crazy feeding dance routine in the salt pond was still there, and you couldn’t remember the last time you stopped and checked. Which was part of the reason you were there now. But when you scan the pond, it is egret-free.

You make your way down the gravel incline without break ing your ankle. You notice the sign that had Rachel Carson’s name on it, the one that said it was part of the National Wildlife Refuge system, is missing and you wonder which storm – Ian? Irma? – took it out.

You walk the scrim of a beach – always a good spot for shore birds, but shorebirds tend to feed in soft sand and the tide is high, so there is not much soft sand for them to feed in. It’s hot. The surface of the sea glitters like a rhinestone jacket, or at least like the effect a rhinestone jacket is intended to create. Way out there are a couple of brown pelicans. After a while you notice two people walking up ahead of you, so any birds you might see are going to get flushed, and you turn around.

You decide to give the salt pond one last scan, and then your binoculars snag on an old buttonwood snag in the middle of the pond. There’s a handful of birds there, nine of them, all willets –shorebirds on the larger end of the shorebird size spectrum, with longish legs and longing bills.

Most of them are standing one-legged, and they’re all facing in different directions, like members of some ’90s band looking too cool to be in the promo photo, even though they showed up to have their photos taken in the first place. None of them move. With their wings folded they are all pretty much the same gray as the buttonwood snag. It’s a monochrome bouquet of birds.

You scan around the other snags in the pond and many of them are also filled with birds, though it’s more of a mixed bag –willets, but also black-bellied plovers and short-billed dowitchers. No doubt they were riding out the tide until there’d be enough beach to start feeding again. You count up to about 200 birds, but then realize there are a lot more than that, so you stop counting.

There’s a lot of highway noise from all the cars, trucks and RVs passing. There is no quiet here. But seeing all those birds after see ing so few birds feels a little bit like remembering what quiet was like again.

RALPH MORROW

... a veteran sports columnist, says the only sport he doesn’t follow is cricket. That leaves plenty of others to fill his time.

ralphmoro1936 @gmail.com

SPORTS & MORE

MORE MEMORIES OF A NEWSPAPER WRITER

Last week, I wrote a column recalling some people I’ve met, interviewed and/or written about in my 65 years as a journal ist, mainly as a newspaper sports writer or other. This is the second “chapter” of those memories, which come from a speech I gave several months ago to the Sunrise Rotary.

Three sports writers, Hal Mc Coy, Si Burick and Ritter Collett, who worked with me in Dayton, Ohio have been elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. I’m the only sports editor who can claim three of his people in the Hall. I’m very proud of that fact, of those people and of many others with whom I’ve worked.

Wilt Chamberlain, seen here in 1967, is this columnist’s favorite athlete of all time. The two became acquaintances following multiple interviews. WIKIPE DIA/Contributed

When I was a reporter at the Marco Island Eagle, I interviewed singer Amy Grant and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann. Grant overwhelmed me with her honesty about what was going on in her life. I didn’t know until after my story was published that Swann had just lost his job as a network pro football announcer. My interview was not a good one.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus showed me and some other people how he handles each club in a golf prac tice session. Lee Trevino sat beside me at a luncheon at a Dayton country club, then took me out to the course and showed me how he hooked and sliced toward a target.

A friend of mine, Bernie Boston, won White House Photographer of the Year and invited me to join him at the party in Washington, D.C. At a post-dinner party, we joined a dozen or so people along with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who said to me, “Any friend of Bernie’s is a friend of mine.” At that intimate gathering, I talked at length with Fannie Flagg, the comedian and author who had entertained at the dinner.

I have covered 17 college basketball Final Fours and had many one-on-one interviews with partici pants, including Magic Johnson, coach Bob Knight, coach Dean Smith (who bummed a cigarette back when we were both smokers) and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, whom I had also covered when he was a high school player in upstate New York.

Coach John McVay (not to be confused with his grandson, Sean McVay, coach of the Los Angeles Rams) was football coach at the University of Dayton when the Flyers played Division I. He died last week at age 91.

I became good friends with Milt Kantor, who owned a minor league basketball team in Dayton, the Dayton Wings, and tried to buy the San Antonio Spurs.

When I graduated from Ohio Wesleyan, I got a sports-writing job at the Times-Union, thanks to Pro fessor Verne Edwards Jr.

I covered some basketball games in Syracuse,

which had a team called the Nationals.

One night in Syracuse after a game against Philadelphia, I wandered down to the bowels of the War Memorial and came across my writing idol back then, Leonard Koppett of the New York Post, interviewing Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain looked up, saw me patiently waiting and told Koppett he wanted to talk to “this young fellow.” I got my chance, in terviewed him then and sev eral more times, as we at least became acquaintances. He’s my favorite athlete of all time.

During that period in Roch ester, I interviewed several pro basketball players, people like Bob Cousy. Les Harrison, who had owned the Royals, intro duced me to many players of that era: Jerry Lucas, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Pistons owner Fred Zollner. After a playoff game, in which Syracuse and Kerr beat Phila delphia and Chamberlain, I asked Kerr, in the privacy of the dressing room, how he had at least slowed down Chamberlain. Kerr, 6’10”, who was naked dur ing the interview, with a big cigar stuck in his mouth, illustrated how he had guarded Wilt. And, yes, he was a natural redhead.

It was during that time that I met Oscar Robert son. That became an acquaintanceship because I later became friends with Bucky Bockhorn, who was good friends with Robertson as they had been guards to gether on the Royals. I liked to kid the Big O by saying to him with Bockhorn nearby, “Aren’t you the other guard who played with Bucky Bockhorn?” They would both laugh.

Robertson, of course, is in the running for great est basketball player of all time.

I also got to know, during that time, George Mi kan, who visited Rochester every year for the Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year festivities. Mikan was named the best basketball player of the first 50 years of the 20th century. I met and wrote about a lot of famous athletes at those dinners.

I knew a kid, a nephew of friends, who was a good high school football player. He wanted to play at Syracuse and, at one of those dinners, he wanted to meet football player and former Syracuse athlete Jim Brown. I let the high school player accompany me to a pre-dinner cocktail party and introduced him to the famous player. Brown may have acknowledged the young player and me, but I don’t remember it. He and I may have shaken hands, but he certainly didn’t converse with the young man who idolized him and wanted to attend the same college.

Former Key West High School sports stars are the interviews I enjoy most, not necessarily the people I have mentioned here. I’ve been working for newspa pers in various capacities for 65 years and have en joyed nearly every day of what has become my career.

SHELF HELP

Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.

What: “Jerusalem” by Alan Moore

Why: From the visionary au thor of graphic novels like “The Watchmen,” “V for Vendetta,” “League of Extraordinary Gentle men” and “From Hell” comes a novel of epic proportions. Follow the strange members of the Vernal family as they explore all the angles of time, space and its underpinnings in the crumbling industrial city of North Hampton as it struggles into the 21st cen tury. From the mind-expanding speech of the mysterious robed Builders, the mathematical truths of an elder fiend, the ghostly adventures of the Dead Dead Gang, and a whole gaggle of other North Hampton resi dents living and dead from the beginning of time to its pre-or dained end, see how all of these characters’ stories, strange and mundane alike, come together in the fiery conclusion of their fourth-dimensional existences.

Where: This is available as a print book from the Monroe County Library system.

How: You can request books online by logging in to www.keyslibraries.org and get ebooks and e-audiobooks 24/7 at www.estuff.keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org

Recommended by: James Todd, library assistant, Marathon branch

City Council Meeting

12/13/22

Code Compliance Hearing

12/15/22

2:00pm

Planning Commission Meeting

12/19/22

5:30pm

City Hall, Council Chambers 9805 Overseas Hwy.

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at any meeting or workshop noted herein, he or she will need a record of the proceedings and for such purposes he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The City of Marathon complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a disabled person requiring special accommodations or assistance, please notify the City ADA Coordinator at (305) 289-5022 of such need at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance. 11/10/22hp

City Council

Luis Gonzalez, Mayor

Robyn Still - Vice Mayor

Lynn Landry, Councilmember

Kenny Matlock, Councilmember Jeff Smith, Councilmember

City Manager George Garrett

City Attorney Steve Williams

THE SCOREBOARD

Sport

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

ALEXANDRA “ALLIE” BRABENEC

Marathon High School, Senior Weightlifting

– head coach Jessie Schubert

The only thing small about Marathon’s two-time state qualifier is her size. Alexandra Brabenec has been making gains each year and already has two wins under her belt in the 101-pound weight class early this season. Brabenec is expected to make a third appearance this February representing Marathon at the FHSAA State Championship meet in Lakeland, and if her current lifts are any indication, she has a solid chance of medaling. Brabenec, described by her coach as quick, powerful and dynamic, is currently benching 110 pounds with a clean & jerk of 115 pounds. For her year-round dedication to her sport, solid work ethic and steady improvement, Allie Brabenec is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

“Allie has a great attitude, and her presence in the weight room is something people stop to watch.”

By:

THE 2022 KEYS WEEKLY ALL-KEYS FOOTBALL TEAM

The 2022 season brought marked progress on the gridiron for many Monroe County football squads. With the highlyanticipated return of coach Ed Holly, the Coral Shores Hurricanes enjoyed their most successful season in recent memory, posting their highest win percentage in nearly 10 years. Halfway down the Keys, the Marathon Dolphins’ 5-4 record secured the team’s first winning season since 2017. And in the Southernmost City, the Key West Conchs fed off many individual standout performances as the team won their Keys rivalry match against the Hurricanes and faced stiff competition from some of Florida’s elite squads. With so many solid players deserving of recognition, the decisions throughout these next pages weren’t easy. But for the first time, the Keys Weekly Newspapers are proud to present the 2022 Keys Weekly AllKeys Football Team.

Graced with both size and speed, Hawkins was a threat every time he touched the ball. It often took a team effort to bring down the 6’1”, 200-pound running back. Many of his touchdowns were scored late in games, after he wore down the opposing team’s defense with his athleticism and refusal to quit. In just nine games, Hawkins had an incredible 186 carries for 1,839 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns plus a passing touchdown, averaging 204 yards per game.

Stay tuned for Keys Weekly’s

All-Keys volleyball, cross country, golf and swim teams, coming in December.

— coach Ed Holly

Arrington is a recognizable force the moment he steps onto the field. His incredible stats speak for themselves: Arrington amassed 64 tackles, 23 of them for a loss, plus 19 assists, 19.5 sacks, one touchdown, one fumble recovery, 28 pressures, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, three blocked punts and two blocked PATs. Arrington was consistently dependable and dominant for the ’Canes.

— coach Johnny Hughes

An all-around phenomenal athlete, prior to the 2022 football season Otto wrestled, played lacrosse and ran the 200 in track, making him strong enough to handle the best defensive lineman but athletic enough to get to the fastest defensive backs. His superior athleticism has caught the attention of more than 20 top colleges, from the Ivies to Power 5 programs. He made an impact everywhere he played on the field and is described as having a great work ethic and high character.

— coach Ed Holly

Just a sophomore, Eddie Holly did double duty, playing linebacker and serving as the team’s long snapper. He amassed 48 tackles, 21 assists, three sacks, 11 tackles for losses, an interception, three forced fumbles, 24 pressures, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He added 21 pancake blocks on offense and maintained a perfect long snapping record, making him a true asset to his team.

coach Ed Holly

Described as the most determined player on the team, Jacobsen was the go-to man for the Hurricanes when the game was on the line.

“If it's 4th and 1 for the game,

cannot wait to give the ball to Chuck,” said head coach Ed Holly.

Jacobsen accumulated 1,268 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing this season, plus five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown reception, giving him 1,322 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns.

Tracy and Sean McDonald

GIRLS/BOYS SOCCER PACE MARATHON DECEMBER 2 | 4 & 6 P.M.

VS

MALACHI HAWKINS, RB Senior, Marathon

“His teammates fed off his toughness and determination. Malachi absolutely left a positive legacy at MHS.”

— coach Mac Childress

CHUCK JACOBSEN, RB Senior, Coral Shores

“He could single-handedly take over the game. Any time you needed a first down he would get it.”

—

you

XAVYER ARRINGTON, DL Senior, Coral Shores

“He has the best first step I have ever seen. He takes over the game at the DT position. No one will be able to fill his shoes.”

CHRISTOPHER ANDRE OTTO, OT/DL Senior, Key West

“Andre is a freak athlete with great feet. He is the best drive blocker I have ever coached.”

EDDIE HOLLY, LB Sophomore, Coral Shores

“Eddie was 100% on all snaps this season. He can snap the ball 15 yards in less than a second.”

Defensive Player of the Year Special Teams Player of the Year

Lineman of the Year

Offensive Player of the Year

By:

JOHN HOLLY, OL Senior, Coral Shores

Dubbed the Iron Man of the ’Canes, Holly’s ability to pull and run for downfield blocks enabled the Coral Shores offense to be successful. The 6-foot-5-inch 285-pound senior tackle always gave 100% effort, improving every week while he anchored the Coral Shores offensive line. He recorded 21 pancake blocks over the span of the season.

YEMCEL MORENO, QB Sophomore, Coral Shores

Described by his coach as a “great kid and even better player,” Moreno has a great future ahead of him. He led the Hurricanes to an 8-3 record this season, rushing 52 times for 540 yards and nine touchdowns. He was 32 for 63 through the air with 575 yards, six touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

As Coral Shores’ premier offensive target, Holmes was able to pull down passes in heavy coverage and used his size to tack on extra yardage on the run. Described as a very talented player, Holmes has consistently produced on the field for the ’Canes on Friday nights.

TANNER ROSS, OL Sophomore, Marathon

As smart as he is athletic, Ross’ ability to understand offensive blocking schemes and make the right blocking call for the Fins made him an asset to his team. Ross was flawless in his snaps this season and played every single offensive down.

CARLOS LEZCANO, WR Sophomore, Marathon

Lezcano’s ability to block from his position allowed the Marathon offense to rush for more than 3,000 yards this season. Even from the wide receiver position, Lezcano was a threat on the ground. In just seven games played, Lezcano had 19 carries for 226 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

FRANZ NOEL, OL Senior, Marathon

In his first year of varsity football, Noel became a crucial player for the Fins. In the single wing offense, the outside tackle position is called the “tip of the spear.” Noel capitalized on his deadly combination of speed and strength to tear holes into the opposing team’s defense, providing big opportunities for Marathon to score.

JAMES REYNOLDS, RB Senior, Key West

Described as a workhorse, Reynolds dealt with injuries but was able to turn it on by the end of the season. At over 200 pounds, he runs a sub-11-second 100 meter dash, giving him the speed to elude tackles. Reynolds had 149 carries for 831 yards with 11 touchdowns on the ground and one reception for seven yards in just seven games played this season.

RALPH RICHIE, OL Junior, Key West

Participating in wrestling last year has helped Richie develop his skills on the gridiron, making him a better athlete all around. He is dependable, has a strong work ethic and loves practice and the weight room. Richie has a lot of potential and Coach Hughes expects huge things from him next season.

Tracy and Sean McDonald

GIRLS/BOYS SOCCER PACE MARATHON DECEMBER 2 | 4 & 6 P.M.

VS

ISAAC HOLMES, WR Junior, Coral Shores

By:

AARON DOLTON, DL Senior, Marathon

Dolton started on offense, defense and special teams for the Fins. He had a solid pass rush, doing an excellent job keeping the quarterback in the pocket and locking down receivers in coverage when asked. In just nine games played, Dolton amassed 15 total tackles (11 solo) and three tackles for a loss.

ELIJAH PALMISCIANO, LB Senior, Coral Shores

Described as a tough and aggressive player who consistently performed on Friday nights, Palmisciano is regarded as one of the hardest, most physical players in the Hurricanes’ defensive unit. Palmisciano had 48 tackles this season, three of which were for a loss. Additionally, he forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery.

KEVON MILLS, DB Senior, Key West

A dynamic defensive player, Mills played corner the past two seasons. This year, his ability to lock down the other team’s best receiver paid dividends for the Conchs.

THOMAS EUBANK, LB Senior, Marathon

The leader of Marathon’s defense, Eubank played middle linebacker, a role which required him to make a majority of the team’s tackles. Eubank used his size and speed to not only make tackles at the line of scrimmage but also to chase receivers downfield. He had 30 total tackles, 18 of which were in one game, 19 solo tackles and two for a loss.

JACOB LAVALLEE, LB Senior, Key West

A three-year starter, Lavallee has been the leading tackler for the Conchs in as many years. The fast, physical linebacker captained the Conchs’ defense this season.

TE’VON WATSON, DL Sophomore, Key West

The sky's the limit for the Conchs’ defensive lineman. Watson brought size, speed and athleticism to the D-line this season and added a lot of pressure from the edge.

SHAMAR WRIGHT, DB Freshman, Marathon

safety position, constantly mak-

Smith secured Coral Shores’ safety position, constantly making explosive plays at the most opportune times. He had 11 tackles and 12 pass breakups this season.

Fast and athletic, Wright excelled in pass coverage, locking down any receiver he was assigned to. His 12 total tackles, 10 of which were solos, do not speak to his abilities as the coverage he applied neutralized the other team’s receivers, negating the threat to the Fins’ defense. Only a freshman, Wright has the potential to be a game changer on both offense and defense.

Tracy and Sean McDonald

GIRLS/BOYS SOCCER PACE MARATHON DECEMBER 2 | 4 & 6 P.M.

VS

DEREK SMITH, DB Senior, Coral Shores

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

With our Neighbor of the Week highlight on pause over the last few months due to individual spotlights like October’s Be Like Mike feature, Keys Weekly figured we’d kick things back off with not one, but four incredible individuals who live in the Middle Keys. It’s no exaggeration to say that one of the three rescued and rehabilitated manatees detailed on page 12 of this paper may very well have met a different fate if not for the quick action, accurate reporting and generosity of the Weston family: Todd Weston and Josie Norgren and their daughters, Rockie and Zeiss. Stranded in the grass flats off Marathon’s 63rd Street Ocean in late April with a fractured skull from a propeller strike, the injured sea cow was properly reported to FWC by the family, who then volunteered their time and the use of their boat to monitor the animal’s condition and transport official crew members out to the flats to assist in the rescue.

How did you come to the Keys? We wanted a winter job that was warm. We build log homes in the summer in Minnesota with our company called Lakes Country Log Homes and started a charter company down here called Gettin’ Tight Charters. Our plan is to be here for six months from November to June, then head back to Minnesota for the summers.

What is your family’s favorite show to watch together?

Fishing YouTube videos by Aaron Young, Kelly Young, Nick Stanczyk and “Life by the Bow.”

What’s your funniest family vacation story? Going to a remote island last Easter and getting stranded right after Todd proposed to Josie. The girls thought that was a hoot! The tide went out and we were stuck from about 4:30 to 11:30 p.m.

What’s one thing you never want to live without? Family & pets.

What’s one thing that’s always on a menu, but you will never try? Fish. We catch our own!

What is your favorite Keys meal? Josie and Todd love mahi tacos, and Rockie and Zeiss like grilled mahi with Old Bay seasoning.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received or given? Don’t eat yellow snow.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? Josie is scared to swim in the deep ocean, Todd and Rockie are very artistic and Zeiss is a great singer.

What was your favorite part of helping with the manatee rescue? Zeiss liked to pet it, Rockie liked that she gets to be in a newspaper, and Todd and Josie loved giving back and helping nature and local manatee rescuers while giving the animal a second chance at life. (Editor’s note: Zeiss was permitted by official release crews to say goodbye to the manatee before his release. Touching wild manatees is prohibited by law in all other circumstances.)

We heard you suggested a name of Northern Beauty for the manatee. Where did the suggestion come from? We wanted to name the manatee after our boat, the Northern Beauty. The boat helped us and the crew rescue him. And of course, we are from way up north in Minnesota and our two girls are beauties.

Todd Weston (kneeling, left), Rockie Weston, Zeiss Weston and Josie Norgren were instrumental in the rescue of this manatee in Marathon in late April. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Spotlighting the amazing individuals who live and work in the Middle Keys

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

COLEMAN-SAYER SIGNS NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT

Family, friends, teammates and supporters gathered near the ninth green of the Florida Keys Country Club’s golf course on Nov. 28 to watch one of Marathon’s top local talents declare his official intentions to continue his career at the next level. As the Dolphins’ unquestioned top golfer throughout the season – and one of the premier talents in the Keys –senior Fisher Coleman-Sayer fielded nearly 20 college offers before signing a national letter of intent to play for Division 1 Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

“I’m just really excited to compete at the highest level,” said Coleman-Sayer, noting that while the team enters high-level competitive tournaments, he felt the small size of Mount St. Mary’s campus and student body would set him up for success, coming from a small Keys community. “They’re playing in big tournaments all over the country. … I’m just looking to give myself the chance to elevate my game as high as it can go with the help of others.”

In addition to crediting his parents Maggie and Mary “MP,” the latter of whom has also served as his coach at MHS for several years, Coleman-Sayer thanked his grandparents, teammates and friends willing to compete with him on the course, offering a special shout-out to swing coach Brad Luebchow.

“(Luebchow) has really changed my mental game and my physical game,” he said. “It was completely instrumental; I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys is a 2022 recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. This grant will be used directly toward the cost of building Habitat's current project, Bell Haven. "This partnership with Bank of America has been vital to the success of our mission of creating affordable homeownership on our island,” said Habitat executive director Chris Todd Young. “We are beyond grateful for the past 8 years of their support." Bank of America looks to drive responsible growth and help address society's biggest challenges by helping to build thriving communities, lending support to affordable housing, like Habitat's Bell Haven, which is critical to ensure Marathon's resiliency and sustainability. Pictured at Bank of America’s Marathon branch are Young, left, Habitat board director Erin Arnett, Habitat board president Mike Puto, Bank of America Financial Center manager Tanya Leird and Habitat construction manager David May. CONTRIBUTED

Fisher Coleman-Sayer, left, signs his National Letter of Intent as coach (and mom) Mary Coleman-Sayer looks on. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Standout golfer will take his talents to Mount St. Mary’s

3-month-old female and male domestic shorthairs.

Looking for: Lovin’ and socializing.

Turnoffs: We were just a pair of street kittens, so this whole domestic world is a little scary. We just need some time.

SASHA

5-year-old female mixed breed.

Looking for: I love walks, swimming and other dogs.

Turnoffs: I need a little time to get to know new men, and then I’m full of kisses!

TAKE ME HOME

Adorable furry faces are waiting for families at the Florida Keys SPCA

Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turnoffs to ensure the best fit.

From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people. The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.

See all the animals waiting for a home at fkspca.org. To contact the Marathon campus, call 305-743-4800 or visit the campus at 10550 Aviation Blvd.

STITCH

1-year-old female rabbit.

Looking for: I’m a mom and I had six babies, so I get along great with other rabbits and enjoy individual attention too.

Turnoffs: Please don’t pick me up. I like to be petted, but not carried.

PAT & SAJAK

could be advantageously grown only where there is complete absence of fresh water, where water is of the right temperature and salinity, where they can be protected from marauders, and where there is freedom from sand, and water is shallow enough to make planting and handling a matter of not too great difficulty.”

Chase’s company quickly grew, and by 1912, a community of about 100 people was living near the area of what is today the Sugarloaf Lodge at MM 17. Many of the community members worked for Chase and his company. The community had homes for the workers, a store, a boat repair shed, a refrigeration plant and – a rarity in the Florida Keys – a telephone. After Henry Flagler’s train made it to Key West in 1912, a depot was established at Sugarloaf Key. To satisfy the needs of the small community that grew up around Chase’s sponge farm, he petitioned to establish a post office. With the approval of the post office, named after Charles Chase, who was also named postmaster, the postal address and town of Chase, Florida, came into existence.

SPONGE OPERATIONS ON SUGARLOAF KEY

WORLD WAR I & MARAUDERS HAMPER A ONCE-THRIVING BUSINESS

Dr. J. Vinning Harris of Key West began experimenting with the cultivation of sponges at his Sugarloaf Key property in 1897. Circa 1901, Harris abandoned his sponges and allowed H. F. Moore, the head of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, who, like Harris, was interested in farm-raising sponges, to move into his house and operate his sponge experiments from the Sugarloaf Key property.

After studying the propagation of the sponge for several years and declaring it a feasible operation, he, too, left Sugarloaf Key. It would not be the end of sponge operations on the island.

The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company was off to a promising start, and the Chase farm of sheepswool sponges was maturing nicely offshore. By 1915, Chase and his company had about 5,000 acres of sponge beds. “A crew of 12 operating from a barge and pontoons alongside it,” Chase said, “could plant 5,000 sponges per day.”

The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company had some 650,000 sponges growing in 3-4 feet of water, an ideal depth for cultivation. The Chase sponges improved on the efforts of Harris and Moore and managed to drop the mortality rate to less than 5%. The company’s sponges growing offshore ranged from 1 to 3 years old, and they needed to be at least 3 to 4 years old before they could be commercially harvested, and maybe even a little older before they were ready. By 1915, about 170,000 sponges were on the cusp of commercial maturity.

is an author, speaker, Florida Keys historian and Honorary Conch. His latest book, “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli, Volume 1,” shares fascinating glimpses into the rich and sometimes surprising histories of the Florida Keys.

Charles Chase stepped in and filled their shoes. Chase had been visiting Key West from London when he learned of Dr. Moore and his work with sponge cultivation. With his interest piqued, Chase partnered with his brother George and a friend named Henry Bate, and the group purchased the Sugarloaf Key property from Harris and developed The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company. In addition to the sponges growing in the shallows surrounding the island, the company planted Key lime and fig trees.

In an article from the Miami Herald dated June 9, 1915, Chase made the following statement about his work at Sugarloaf Key. “We were led to go into this interesting and promising business through the eight years of successful experimental work done by Dr. H.F. Moore of the fisheries bureau of the United States government, and to him we are largely indebted for our success. Dr. Moore demonstrated that sponges

The company shipped a bale of the sponges to the Chicago firm Peter Van Schaak & Sons to be quality tested. The results were “pre-eminently satisfactory, demonstrating that the Chase sponge is greatly superior to the ordinary sheepswool sponge.” The problem for the partners and the company was that they were running out of capital and needed investors to keep their operation moving forward. The Chase brothers took a trip to England to raise funds, and, at first, they were successful. When World War I broke out, however, the funds were frozen, and the Chase brothers returned to Sugarloaf Key empty-handed. Without the capital necessary to continue their work at The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company, it was decided to cease operations.

After they did, poachers swiped the mature sponges from the shallows surrounding Sugarloaf Key. In May 1917, The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company declared bankruptcy. Then, a Miami Beach real estate investor named Clyde Richter Perky purchased the business and 23,000 acres of Monroe County property, including the Sugarloaf Key property. While he initially intended to try to reinvigorate the sponge and fruit business, he turned his eye to the burgeoning tourist industry and developed a fishing camp instead. He also built the world-famous Perky Bat Tower, but that is a story for another day.

Part 3 of this series will explore the sponge war that erupted between Key West and Tarpon Springs, on Florida’s west coast. Stay tuned for more in next week’s Keys Weekly.

BRAD BERTELLI

Planting sponges at Chase Farm on Sugarloaf Key during 1912-1914. MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY COLLECTION/George Cecil Bate

ROYALLY GOOD READS

FROM THE EARLY LIFE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO THE WEDDING OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA AND THE RECENT “SCANDAL” OF PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE, THESE THREE CAPTIVATING BOOKS WILL SURELY SATISFY YOUR ROYAL CRAVINGS.

KAREN NEWFIELD

... a reader and now a writer, has hundreds of book reviews at: www. readingandeat ing.com. For questions and comments, email karen@newfield. org.

THE QUEEN’S SECRET

By Karen Harper

The Queen Mother Eliza beth was a young woman when she ac cepted Bertie’s proposal. She never could have predicted King Edward VIII would abdicate the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, making her husband king. Vowing to make Bertie’s reign successful, Eliza beth improves his speaking confidence and influences complex decisions. In 1939, Elizabeth is horrified to find that World War II has left London and everyone she loves in terrible danger. Elizabeth was a supportive, influential wife, and the couple built an uncom monly close relationship with Winston Churchill, strategiz ing successfully throughout the war. But she had her own secret, one that could destroy her reputation and possibly the monarchy. This intimate portrait of the fam ily of the late Queen Eliza beth II is filled with respect, resilience and love. The king and queen made sure their beloved daughters Prin cesses Lilibet and Margaret had a childhood of warmth and affection, not the cold strictness typically displayed in the royal families. Well aware that Lilibet would be queen some day, they did everything to raise an independent, confident woman with a big heart. After witnessing her reign that lasted over 70 years, it is clear they did a marvelous job.

THE PEOPLE’S PRINCESS

By Flora Harding Lady Diana Spencer is 18 when she begins dat ing Charles, the Prince of Wales. At the time she is rather lost, removing herself from for mal schooling and holding a few menial jobs. When things with Prince Charles become more serious, Diana has one goal: to become Princess of Wales. She is young, convinced she is in love and confident that over time Charles will reciprocate these feelings. As their wedding plans are made in 1981, Diana’s sense of loneliness intensifies. Hidden away for propriety’s sake in Buckingham Palace, Diana swallows her sadness, creating a frightening eating disorder. She becomes obsessed with a diary from the 1800s written by Prin cess Charlotte of Wales, the only heir of George IV. Charlotte was a young wom an in an equally lonely castle, awaiting a marriage arranged by her egocen tric father. Dreaming of marrying for true love, Charlotte created unending chaos, doing anything to interfere with the King’s wishes. As Diana plans the wedding of the century to be viewed by millions of adoring admirers, she learns the fate of Charlotte, the queen who never was. Narrated between the royal worlds of two very different times in history.

FINDING FREEDOM

By Omid Scobie & Carolyn Du rand

Meghan, Duchess of Sus sex, is the first American-born woman in the royal fam ily. Divorced in her 30s, Meghan was a working actress on a television series when a mutual friend arranged a date. Prince Harry, with his history of playful antics and partying, was, at 36, ready to settle down. Making headlines was part of Harry’s social history and Meghan was a television sweetheart, but the couple managed to keep the beginning of their relationship very private. They married in May 2018 and it wasn’t long before they had two children, a boy and a girl. But the constant scrutiny, bullying and limitations on every aspect of their lives was not how they envisioned their future. In 2020, they stepped back from their royal duties and settled down in California. They still hold their titles but no longer partake in previous respon sibilities. Both are extremely involved with various charities and wish to focus on building a humanitarian legacy. This book delves into their lives prior to their meeting and how that fortuitous day changed everything. An intimate por trait of a forward-thinking young couple determined to follow their hearts as they break with tradition.

WATCH TIP: Peek behind the palace doors with Netflix’s popular series “The Crown.” Five captivating seasons (50 episodes!) covering the royal family starting in 1947.

BRIEFLY

Hedden to headline Wildlife Society lecture series

The Florida Keys Wildlife Society will kick off its lecture series with speaker Mark Hedden on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Nature Center, 30587 Overseas Hwy. on Big Pine Key. Hedden is a photographer, writer and semi-professional birdwatcher. He is the executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society and writes a column for the Keys Weekly. His photos have appeared in many publications including the New York Times, the Miami Herald and Birder’s World. Hedden will be talking about his photo project “South of Southernmost” which focused on wildlife and environs of Ballast Key, a once private island that has now been incorporated into the National Wildlife Refuge System. Free and open to all.

Keys orchestra and choir plan Christmas concerts

The Keys Chamber Orchestra and the Lower Keys Community Choir will perform Christmas cantatas on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Big Pine United Methodist Church, 280 Key Deer Blvd., BPK; Wednesday, Dec. 7 at San Pablo Catholic Church, 550 122nd St. Ocean, Marathon; and Thursday, Dec. 8 at Venture Out Resort, 701 Spanish Main Dr., Cudjoe Key. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and last about an hour. The concerts are free, there is plenty of free parking and there will be a goodwill offering collected at each to help pay for next season’s music. All are welcome.

December events

at the Marathon Library

Friday, Dec. 2: Book Club: “Love & Ruin” by Paula McLain, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Photography: phone and camera tips and tricks, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Friday Film Night: “White Christmas,” 1955 film (adults) 5 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3: Easy Yoga: Adaptive yoga for those with injuries or limitations (adults) 10 a.m.; Arts and Crafts (kids) 1 p.m.; Open Lab: Robots, games and virtual reality for a family fun afternoon, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 5: Insurance Enrollment Assistance: Get help during open enrollment, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 3D Printing Lab, 10 a.m.; Teen Book Club, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, December 6: Fine Art: Sketch, paint or use acrylics. Supplies included or bring your favorite tools (adults/teens) 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Mahjong: Game of Tiles. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Storytime: Songs, crafts, stories and rhymes, 10:30 a.m (ages newborn-5); Paradise Quilters, 1 p.m.; Sketching workshop (teens & young adults) 3 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons (adults), 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 7: Mindfulness meetup with Carolyn Sant Angelo: A free weekly course until Dec. 14. Registration required, see website and social media to register or call library for info (adults) 2 to 4 p.m.; R.E.A.D. Tutor: Improve kids’ out-loud reading with our specially trained dog (kids) 3 p.m.; Dungeons & Dragons (teens) 3 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 8: Homeschool learning activities, 10:30 a.m.; Kids D & D: Fun, imagination and kid story adventures (ages 9-12) 3:30 p.m.; Lego Maker Lab: Lego building, disassembling electronics and much more (kids) 4 p.m.

2022 candidates and friends advised to remove signs

It is time for 2022 political candidates and friends to take down campaign signs.

“This is harder than it sounds because candidates do not always put up all of their campaign signs,” said Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin. “Friends, family, supporters take signs and hang them in places unknown to the candidate. Please help your candidate take down those campaign signs.”

By law, candidates must make a good faith effort to remove political campaign advertisements within 30 days after withdrawal of his or her candidacy, elimination as a candidate, or election to office.

SOME HUMANS AIN’T HUMAN

When politics overrides human decency

Back in 2005, legendary songwriter John Prine released a song titled “Some Humans Ain’t Human.” The lyrics speak to those who have apparently lost their sense of basic decency:

“Some humans ain’t human, some people ain’t kind, You open up their hearts, and here’s what you'll find, A few frozen pizzas, some ice cubes with hair, A broken popsicle, you don’t wanna go there.”

JOHN BARTUS

his daughter’s friends was performing in the show. On the first shot, Fierro’s Army instinct kicked in. Fierro tackled the gunman, disabled him and kept him pinned until police arrived. Sadly, five people were killed, including Fierro’s daughter’s boyfriend. Police say that without Fierro’s quick action, many more would have been killed.

That song was way too prescient, especially considering the political climate of 2022. Newsmax founding wretch Alex Jones has been rightfully ordered by the courts to pay nearly a half-billion dollars to parents of children slaughtered at Sandy Hook. His vicious diatribes about how the mass shooting was a false-flag operation, and that the murdered children and grieving parents were actors, finally earned Jones a penalty he won’t forget. (Sadly, he may have moved a huge chunk of his assets away from the court’s jurisdiction.)

When Republican Congressman Steve Scalise was shot at a softball practice, there was a bipartisan outpouring of support. That same amount of bipartisan courtesy has not been extended to outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her husband was brutally attacked by an intruder in their California home. In addition to some awful comments from unsympathetic officials, a local Facebook political group allowed the posting of a meme of Nancy Pelosi with the caption, “After finding out that your husband has gay underwear hammer parties with a Canadian nudist cameraman you hired for the January 6th scam.”

As if that isn’t bad enough, nine people clicked the “like” button and four people posted positive comments or memes.

This brings us to Richard Fierro, an Army veteran who disarmed the Club Q shooter in Colorado. Fierro is now the victim of hate speech from far-right and QAnon extremists. Fierro attended a drag show at the Colorado Springs nightclub along with his wife, daughter and daughter’s boyfriend — one of

Richard Fierro is a legitimate hero who saved many lives. Because of this, he is now on the receiving end of a whirlwind of hate and harassment. These extremists are calling him a groomer and other derogatory slurs, with some questioning his sexuality for attending a drag show. One such online poster wrote, “He’s helping to molest children and he’s all for it.” Other visitors to online forums are questioning the veracity of the story, calling it another false-flag operation. Tell that to the families of the five killed and the multiple injured.

Fierro is an Army veteran with 15 years of experience. He served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His actions saved multiple lives. He humbly stated that he’s not a hero and wishes he could have done more. He deserves so much better than the absolute crap and unadulterated hate he’s getting.

This is, however, the world in which we live. It’s so easy for cowards to lob firebombs from the safety of a computer keyboard and not have to deal with any consequences for their actions. But their words do indeed have consequences … like when hate speech inspires someone to take their personal arsenal down to a gay nightclub or a mosque or a synagogue or a school.

Lord, protect us all from the humans who ain’t human.

- Catch John each Monday at Boondocks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Key Colony Inn, and Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com

John Bartus is a singer-songwriter and the former mayor of Marathon.

MM 1 - Inez Martin Child Care Center (C16M0012) 1100 Varela St., Key West, FL 33040 Contact: Christine Patterson • 305-809-5055 • christine.patterson@wesleyhouse.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 2 - Sunbeam Christian School (C16MO0034)

1311 5th St., Key West, FL 33040 Contact: Jerlyn Matthews • 305-2946018 • sunbeam@fsbckw.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 5 - Lighthouse Christian Academy (C16MO0014) 5580 MacDonald Ave, Key West, FL 33040 Jennifer Sisco • 305-292-5582 • lcaoffice@cwckw.org Vacancies: 1 floater

MM 22.9 - Banana Cabanna Academy Inc. (C16MO0054) 22673 Pieces of Eight Rd, Cudjoe Key, FL 33042 Contact: Roxanne Rosado • 305-745-1400 • banana.cabanna@att.net Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 47 - Kreative Kids Christian Academy (X16MO0001) 4711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 Contact: Maria Vaillant • 305-743-7165 Kreativekidsca@bellsouth.net • vaillantmaria@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 49 - Grace Jones Community Center, Inc. (C16MO0048) 230 41st Street Gulf, Marathon, FL 33050 Kelly Ullrich • 305-743-6064 • gjcckids@gmail.com Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 87.5 - St. James Children’s Center (C16MO0033) 87500 Overseas Hwy, I slamorada, FL 33036

Contact: Sue Ellen Bennett • 305-852-2161 • childrenscenter@stjamesthefisherman.org Vacancies: 1 teacher

MM 92 - Burton Memorial CDC (C16MO0018)

93001 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070

Contact: Nilda Bernaldez • 305-852-0250 • acabar11@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 part-time floaters

MM 99 - First Baptist Church Jack Hill Child Care (C16MO0021) 99001 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Contact: Leeanna Woods • 305-451-2125 • fbcjhccc@yahoo.com Vacancies: 1 teacher

HUFFIN’ FOR THE STUFFIN’

Grassy Key Turkey Trotters start the day off right

Dozens of Grassy Key resi dents and visitors paid their turkey day dues early as the island celebrated its annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Nov. 24. Dressed in their own version of their holiday best, participants ran, walked and rolled their way through the neighborhood 5K course spear headed by residents Marie and Tyler Blanton. Of course, a Thanksgiving road race would be incomplete with out an unconventional added stop – a snack station halfway through.

— Alex Rickert

More than 60 runners and walkers took to the course – several in fitting costumes –to preemptively burn some calories ahead of the day’s feast in Grassy Key’s annual Turkey Trot. Photos courtesy of Marie Blanton and Lara Rutskin Martin.

LEGAL NOTICES

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

QUARTERLY MEETING NOTICE:

LOCAL COORDINATING BOARD FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED

The Monroe County Local Coordinating Board (LCB) will be holding its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. at the Marathon Government Center, BOCC Room, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. To join virtually via Zoom or teleconference, please email talbury@healthcouncil.org.

The primary purpose of the Coordinating Board is to provide information and advice to the Community Transportation Coordinator on the coordination of services provided to the transportation disadvantaged population of Monroe County, pursuant to Chapter 427.0157, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting due to a disability or physical impairment, and any related questions or inquiries concerning this meeting should be directed to Tiffany Albury at the Health Council of South Florida, Inc. at (305) 592-1452 ext. 121 at least 72 hours prior to the date of the meeting.

Publish: December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI

Notice is here by given that on December 12th, 2022, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse

LEGAL NOTICES

any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows:

103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL. 33037.

James Stogner Unit 1652 $865.60

Sheila Chamberlain Unit 1167 $641.50

Norma de la Torre Unit 1581 $1,434.28

Publish: November 24th & December 1st, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on December 7 2022, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, at the Monroe County BOCC Chambers at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners will consider adoption of the following resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF Monroe County, FLORIDA ELECTING TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LEVIED WITHIN THE County FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND SEA LEVEL RISE IMPROVEMENTS; STATING A NEED FOR SUCH LEVY; PROVIDING FOR THE MAILING OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The resolution, if adopted, would indicate the County’s intent to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments to be levied

LEGAL NOTICES

within the County as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, for the cost of providing roadway improvements and sea level rise improvements for the Fiscal Year beginning on October 1, 2023 and continuing until discontinued by the County.

The proposed resolution, which contains the legal description of the real property subject to the levy and states the need for the special assessment, can be inspected by the public by viewing the agenda packet for this meeting at: http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx

All interested persons are invited to attend, either in person or by zoom. The zoom link can be found at: http://monroecountyfl. iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 2924441, between the hours of 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 1st day of November 2022. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and

Dr. Roberto Leoni, D.O. will be relocating North, and is no longer practicing at Islamorada Medical Center at the following location e ective December 13, 2022: 90130 Old High way, Tavernier, FL 33070.

Patients are encouraged to continue receiving their medical care at Islamorada Medical Center with Dr. Leoni until his last day, and after December 13th, with one of our many excellent physicians at Islamorada Medical Center including Dr. Miguel Diaz, Dr. Julio Gonzalez, Dr. Bledar Haxhiu, Dr. Kelvin Ong and Dr. Douglas Guevara.

Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may contact the o ce by calling 305-852-9300, or by sending an email to scheduling@islamoradamedicalcenter.com, to request a records release.

Publish: November 17 & 24, and December 1 & 8, 2022. The Weekly Newspapers.

LEGAL NOTICES

ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on December 7, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, at the Monroe County BOCC Chambers at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners will consider adoption of the following resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF Monroe County, FLORIDA ANNOUNCING NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LEVIED WITHIN THE County BEGINNING WITH the TAX BILL ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2023 FOR CANAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ON CANALS 82, 83 AND 84 IN KEY LARGO; CANAL 105 IN TAVERNIER; CANALS 255, 287, 290, 295, 297 AND 315 IN BIG PINE KEY; AND CANAL 474 IN GEIGER KEY; STATING A NEED FOR SUCH LEVY; PROVIDING FOR THE MAILING OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The proposed resolution, which contains the legal description of the real property subject to the levy and states the need for the special assessment, can be inspected by the public by viewing the agenda packet for this meeting at: http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx

All interested persons are invited to attend, either in person or by zoom. The zoom link can be found at: http://monroecountyfl. iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 2924441, between the hours of 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 1st day of November 2022.

KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida (“the County”) hereby provides notice, pursuant to Section 197.3632(3)(a), Florida Statutes, of its intent to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments, for the cost

NOTICES

of providing certain wastewater capital improvements and connections, to be levied within the unincorporated area of Monroe County encompassing the Stock Island, Key Haven, Big Coppitt, Lower Sugarloaf through Big Pine Key, No Name Key, Long Key, Duck Key; excluding Indies Islands, and three (3) parcels on Boca Chica: RE# 122870-000000, 012288000000, and 122890-000000 for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2023 and continuing each year until discontinued by the County. The County will consider the adoption of a resolution electing to use the uniform method of collecting such assessments authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, at a public hearing to be held on December 7, 2022 in the Commission Chambers, Murray E. Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Mile Marker 102 and by Communications Media Technology (CMT). Such resolution will state the need for the levy and will contain a legal description of the boundaries of the real property subject to the levy. All interested persons are invited to attend.

The proposed resolution may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the December 7 BOCC meeting which will be posted beginning on November 25, 2022 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx. The resolution may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.

The public can participate in the December 7, 2022, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx.

Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodation in order to participate in these proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292- 4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida this 2ndt day of November, 2022. Kevin Madok, Clerk and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Engineering Design and Permitting Services for the Stillwright Point Road Elevation and Stormwater Project Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a

LEGAL NOTICES

searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Tuesday, January 10. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows:

Engineering Design and Permitting Services for the Stillwright Point Road Elevation and Stormwater Project 1-102023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on January 10, 2023. 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 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose) Publish: December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Transportation Planning Professional 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 DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your

subject line on both emails must read as follows:

Transportation Planning Professional Services 1-18-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. 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 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose) Publish: December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

KEY WEST DIVISION Case Number: 22-10082-CIVMARTINEZ IN RE: THE COMPLAINT OF LIGHTHOUSE PARASAIL, INC. AS OWNER OF A 2009 31’ OCEAN PRO PARASAIL BOAT TITLED “AIRBORNE” BEARING THE HULL IDENTIFICATION NO. CNX00096B909

ITS ENGINES, TACKLE, APPURTENANCES, EQUIPMENT, & ETC., IN A CAUSE OF EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, Petitioner.

_________________________/

ORDER APPROVING AD INTERIM STIPULATION, DIRECTING ISSUANCE OF MONITION AND INJUNCTION

A Complaint having been filed herein on the 26th day of September 2022, by Petitioner, Lighthouse Parasail, Inc. as owner of the 2009 31’ Ocean Pro Parasail Boat "Airborne" bearing the Hull Identification No. CNX00096B909 its Engines, Tackle, Appurtenances, Equipment, etc. (the “Vessel”) for Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability as provided in 46 U.S.C. § 30501 et seq. and pursuant to Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for any and all loss, damage, deaths, personal injuries, damage or destruction of property or other occurrences allegedly resulting from the incident that occurred on or about May 30, 2022, referred to in the Complaint;

And Petitioner having deposited with the Court as security for the benefit of Claimants, an Ad Interim Stipulation not less than or equal to the amount or value of his interest in the vessel and pending freight, if any, as required by the rules of this Court and by the law;

IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Ad Interim Stipulation for the value of Petitioner’s interest in the Vessel for no more than the amount of $100,000 plus costs of Court and interest at the rate of six (6%) percent per annum from the date hereof and filed herein by Petitioner as an Ad Interim Stipulation for the purpose of this action, is hereby approved as to form and amount.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Petitioner and any claimant who may properly

become a party hereto may contest the amount or value of Petitioner’s interest in the Vessel as fixed in the Ad Interim Stipulation, subject to such increases or decreases in its amount, together with adequate security, as the Court may from time to time order according to the rules and practices of this Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that if the amount of the Ad Interim Stipulation is not contested by any claimant herein, the Stipulation shall stand as a Stipulation for Value and an appraisal by a Commissioner will not be required.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that a monition shall be  issued by the Clerk of this Court advising and  admonishing all persons asserting claims for any and all losses, damages, injuries, deaths or destruction allegedly as a result of the occurrences and happenings recited in the Complaint, to file their respective claims with the Clerk, United States District Courthouse for the Southern District of Florida located at 301 Simonton Street, Key West, Florida 33040, and serve on or mail copies thereof to Petitioner’s attorney, Mintzer Sarowitz

Zeris Ledva & Meyers, LLP, on or before December 16, 2022, or be defaulted. If any Claimant desires to contest Petitioner’s right to exoneration from or limitation of liability, Claimant(s) shall file and serve on Petitioner’s attorney an answer to the Complaint, on or before said date, unless his claim has included an answer to the Complaint so designated.  Failure to do so will result in default.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that publication of the aforesaid notice in the form required by Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Monroe County area once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date fixed for the filing of claims.  No later than the date of the second weekly publication, a copy of said notice shall be mailed by Petitioner to every person or corporation known by the Petitioner to have a claim against Petitioner arising out of the accident set forth in the Complaint.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the commencement or further prosecution of any action or proceeding against Petitioner, the vessel or other property of Petitioner with respect to any claims for which Petitioner seeks exoneration from or limitation of liability herein, including any claim arising out of or incident to or connected with any loss, damage, injury, death or destruction, more fully described in the Petition, be and the same is hereby STAYED and RESTRAINED until the hearing and determination of this action.

IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the service of this order as a restraining order in this District may be made in the usual manner as in any other district of the United States by delivery by the Marshal of the United States for such district of a certified copy of this order on the person or persons to be restrained or to their respective attorneys or, alternatively, by mailing a conformed copy of it to the person or persons to be restrained or to their respective attorney.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida this 20 day of October, 2022.

JOSE E. MARTINEZ

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Publish: November 10, 17, 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

CASE NO.: 2022-CP-000102-M

IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, Deceased.

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

The administration of the estate of FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, deceased, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, Plantation Key Courthouse, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, file number 2022-CP000102-M. The estate is intestate.

The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative's attorney are set forth below. The fiduciary lawyer-client privilege in Florida Statutes Section 90.5021 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 is who challenges the validity of the will or codicils, qualification of the personal representative, venue, or the jurisdiction of the court is required to file any objection with the court in the manner provided in Florida Probate Rules WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is 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, or those objections are forever barred.

A petition for determination of exempt property is required to be filed by or on behalf of any person entitled to exempt property under Section 732.402, WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is 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 person or the date that is 40 days after the date of termination of any proceeding involving the construction, admission to probate, or validity of a will or involving any other matter affecting any part of the exempt property, or the right of such person to exempt property is deemed waived.

An election to take an elective share must be filed by or on behalf of the surviving spouse entitled to an elective share under Sections 732.201732.2155 WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is 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, or an attorney in fact 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. The time for filing an election to take an elective share may be extended as provided in the Florida Probate Rules.

Personal Representative: Felicita Franco Lopez 1570 Overseas Hwy, Lot 64 Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Alexandra J. Sanchez, Esq./FBN 154423

Attorney for Petitioner Heller, Zion & Sanchez, LLP 1428 Brickell Avenue, Suite 600 Miami, Florida 33131

Tel: (305) 373-8001

Publish: November 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

CASE NO.: 2022-CP-000102-M

IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, deceased, whose date of death was January 15, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. 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 WITHIN 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.

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 OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Felicita Franco Lopez 1570 Overseas Hwy, Lot 64 Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Alexandra J. Sanchez, Esq./FBN 154423

Attorney for Petitioner Heller, Zion & Sanchez, LLP 1428 Brickell Avenue, Suite 600 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: (305) 373-8001

Publish: November 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-91-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF HELEN BARBARA MUSACCHIA Deceased.

AMENDED NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of HELEN BARBARA MUSACCHIA, deceased, whose date of death was November 7, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. 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.

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: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Michele Maria Eichler 22250 County Road 44 Aguilar, Colorado 81020

Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134 RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A.

12221 Overseas Highway

MARATHON, FL 33050

Telephone: (305) 743-6022 Fax: (305) 743-6216

E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw.com

Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com

Publish: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 2022-000311-CP-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF CLIFFORD R. STEELE, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Clifford R. Steele, deceased, File Number 2022--000311-CP-K, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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

ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Mary Steele c/o Adams & Adams, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 1200 Coral Gables, FL 33134

Telephone 305-448-9022

Attorney for Personal Representative: Susan Strickroot Adams, Esq. Florida Bar No. 616605 Adams & Adams, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 1200 Coral Gables, FL 33134

E-mail: susan@adams-adams.

com Publish: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-68-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF J.T. ODOM Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of J.T. Odom, deceased, whose date of death was April 20, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. 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.

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: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Jean R. Odom 11260 5th Avenue Gulf Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq. Attorney

Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428 Fax: (305) 743-8800 E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw. com

Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2022-DR-87-M

Division: Family DAVID RODRIGUEZ, Petitioner, and KAYE RODRIGUEZ, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: Kaye Rodriguez 43 Morley Close Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0LG

United Kingdom YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Michelle Klinger Smith, attorney for David Rodriguez, whose address is 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 7, Marathon, FL 33050 on or before December 12, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.)

Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings. Dated this 27TH day of October 2022.

Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shakia Mitchell

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 22-DR-745-K

DIVISION: FAMILY IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: MARIO TORRES, Petitioner, and, LAURA ZURITA, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: Laura Zurita

LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: Mexico

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Mario Torres, whose address is 1019 Margaret Street, Apt. 5, Key West, FL 33040 on or before December 12, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.)

Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: November 7, 2022 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Riza Hall Deputy Clerk Publish: November 10, 17, 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

ALL YEARS! Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483

BOATS FOR SALE

2006 Willy Roberts, 15' Slo-Poke, 2006 40 hp Yamaha w/250 hours. Call for pics/info 870-615-2750

BOAT SLIP/TRAILER

STORAGE FOR RENT

Boat Trailer Spaces Available. $100 per week. Boat dockage available $100 per week. Easy access to the Atlantic and lighthouse. Boat length 32’ or less! Dockage is eighty feet long with good depth for boats. Phone 336-4088140 or 336-287-3345.

EMPLOYMENT

CARETAKER COUPLE WANTED for small Abaco Bahamas beach resort. Call or text 305-439-9991.

Professional medical practice seeking FT Receptionist in Upper Keys. Computer skills necessary. Send resume: keysinc2@bellsouth.net

Islamorada Mercantile, an upscale island wear & vacation essentials boutique, is seeking a friendly, customer oriented, fashion forward individual to join our team as a part time sales associate. 81900 O/S Hwy, Islamorada. Contact us today by emailing info@ islamoradamercantile.com

Join the Ocean Dayz Team! We are accepting applications for a Sales Associate in Islamorada. Must be outgoing, detail oriented and willing to work weekends. Experience a plus. Starting pay dependent upon qualifications. Apply in person at Island Dreamz, 84001 Overseas Highway, Islamorada or submit resume to: csteele@oceandayz.com

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Deputy Clerk Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

EMPLOYMENT

OPEN HOUSE HIRING

FAIR – Sun. Dec. 4 from 3p-6p at Million Air, 8800 Overseas Hwy, Marathon. Join our team – now hiring Line Service Professionals. 305-743-1995

Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight coverage at an Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am with weekly stipend Drug and background screen required. Apply at www.westcare.com

WANTED - Handyman & Fishing companion in Marathon area. Call 305-481-7544

Coast to Coast Pizza Company in Marathon is looking for an Assistant Manager for the front of the house, full time either Monday - Friday 10-6 or Wed. through Sunday 10-6. Must be outgoing with leadership traits and must be organized, self-motivated, and have a passion for customer service. Salary commensurate with experience and includes tips and 401k. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

SS Wreck and Galley Grill on Grassy Key is looking for line cooks, full or part time. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

Boat rental company in Marathon needs an Outboard Mechanic. Some general marina work, and boat experience a plus. Call 305-481-7006

All Keys Yamaha hiring a Technician Marine Repair specializing in Yamaha outboard engines. Hours M-F 8a-5p. Apply in person at 2001 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-743-3530

Immediate positions at the Grassy Key Marina. Under new ownership and looking for smiling faces. Full-time or parttime available. Pay rates are commensurate with experience but we are willing to interview those with no experience who have an interest in working in a marina environment. Please call Randall Glass to schedule an interview at 305-465-1491.

CDL Drivers needed. Must have a clean record & drug free. We are offering competitive wages. Please apply in person at Discount Rock & Sand, 10500 Aviation Blvd, Unit 2, Marathon

City of Marathon Current Job Openings: Support Services/Logistics, Paralegal, Utilities Maintenance, Recreation

Specialist, Right of Way Technician, and Marina Tech/Pump Out Captain. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

Immediate openings for experienced plumbers and helpers (with or without experience - we will train the right person). Must have a valid driver's license & clean driving record. Please apply in person at 10700 5th Avenue Gulf, Marathon or email resume to: eerpinc@gmail.com

NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older, Full-time Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@ sweetsavannahs.com

Come Join Our Family and Have Fun At Work! Hiring: Host, Hostess & Servers - Full &/or parttime. AM & PM Shifts. Apply in person at Castaway Restaurant, end of 15th Street, Oceanside, Marathon or email: lobstercrawl@gmail.com

Place your Employment ad here for $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

EMPLOYMENT RV FOR SALE HOUSING FOR RENT

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker), Med Tech, Resident Activities Coordinator. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@ kwha.org or 305-296-5621. 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.

Place your Employment ad here for $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

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

HOUSING FOR RENT

Key Largo - 2BR/2BA Spacious Doublewide, 1400 sq ft modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community $3200/ month 786-258-3127

LUXURY CONDO FOR RENT IN MARATHON.

Seawatch Condos. 2 BR, 2 Bath, Den. 1650 sq ft plus large open balcony. Beautiful water view. Pool, tennis, full gym. Adults only. No pets. Yearly lease--$5250/month plus utilities or Seasonal rental $7500/month(2 mo min). F/L/S [first, last, and security deposit]. Contact Norman at 800-324-6982.

STUDIO APT FOR RENT

- Furnished Studio Apt w/patio, like new, W/D, off street parking. Key West. $2,300/month including util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-747-1700

Las Brisa - 2BR/2BA

Unfurnished, great view, W/D, covered parking. Tennis, Swimming Pool & BBQ on property. Across from Smather’s Beach, Key West. $3,900/month + util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-7471700 RENTED!!!

RV FOR SALE

RV LOT FOR RENT

Large RV Waterfront Lot with Dockage for rent in Marathon. Full hook up. $2000.00/month plus utilities. 305-731-5042

GARDEN SALE in Marathon. Pottery, plants, yard art, nautical items, lg. & sm. shells. Call 305-3950955 for more information.

SARA’S ESTATE SALE: 144 S. HAMMOCK RD, ISLAMORADA | Fri, Dec. 2 & Sat, Dec. 3, 9am to 1pm both days | GIGANTIC TOY AND CHRISTMAS SALE This sale is so huge, we had to break it into two parts! This weekend is toys and holiday gear. Literally thousands of items, most priced under $10. Toy cars, train sets, Easy Bake, blocks, books, figurines, Hello Kitty, kid-size musical instruments and more.

Holiday items include small trees, ornaments, lighted village sets and pieces, plushies, lights, tree skirts, display décor and more. Lots of things, low prices. Follow signs and park w consideration J Photos: Facebook (@sarasestatesales). Sorry no price quotes.

so, we are offering an opportunity to join our team in a very fast paced, exciting and dynamic role that is structured with details varying on each project.

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc.

www dynastymarine net

Located in the Florida Keys, is a highly-respected supplier of Caribbean marine life to public aquariums and zoos throughout the world

FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT- FULLTIME

Duties to include invoice and inventory entry, booking airline shipments, creating and filing paperwork for international shipments, scheduling inspections needed for international shipments, customer communication and tracking, creating and maintaining customer accounts and some customer service. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. This position requires high attention to detail and the ability to multitask. Compensation will be dependent on experience with performance-based incentive program.

Benefits package including vacation, sick days, holidays and 401K PSP retirement plan. Please send cover letter and resume to sales@dynastymarine.net for consideration. No phone calls please.

HIRING: Full Time Marketing Coordinator

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is looking for several temporary D.S.O.s to perform entry-level, semi-skilled work, involving the repair and maintenance of FKAA water distribu tion and transmission systems. This position runs through 9/30/23. Qualifications: H.S. diploma or GED. $25.00/hr. with paid holidays and enrollment into the Florida Retirement System. EEO, VPE, ADA, DFWP. Apply online at www. aa.com/employment

RV FOR SALE - 2017 Thor Citation RV, 24ft Mercedes V6 Diesel, 2 slides, Cummings Diesel Generator, Low Mileage, Many Upgrades, Call Richard 305-363-8021

BETHLEHEM IN THE KEYS

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Many are familiar with the story of the three wise men visiting the baby Jesus shortly after his birth on Christmas. But what if one or more suffered from, in these actors’ words, “all-timer’s” disease and forgot one of the three iconic gifts for the newborn?

Such is the plight of the three “wise-people” in “Bethlehem in the Keys,” the Marathon Community Church’s dinner theater production set to take the stage this weekend. Co-written by Dayanara Terpos, Margo Murray and Jimmy Ashcraft and directed by Terpos, the interactive show challenges audience members to determine the forgetful traveler – and the gift he or she forgot. A biblical story meets modern hijinks as the three stumble through their heavilysidetracked journey that’s anything but old-fashioned.

“If people are coming here expecting a biblical account, they’ve got another think coming,” said Ashcraft with a laugh.

The show’s opening night is sold out, but tickets remain for the $30 matinee performance on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., featuring light refreshments provided by the Marathon High School Culinary Arts program. To reserve tickets, call 305-481-7233. Proceeds from the show will go to cover the cost of the church’s recent $300,000 spalling repair project. With a cornerstone dated 1948, the building is Marathon’s longest-standing church structure.

The cast of ‘Bethlehem in the Keys,’ from left: Casper (Jimmy Ashcraft), The Merchant (Dimitria Bailey), Beth (Suzanne Terpos) and Mel (Jacob Terpos). ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Competitive

CUSTOMER SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVE I

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $19.82/hr. - $22.20/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.

Monroe County is seeking an energetic multi-tasker with excellent computer skills to join our Benefits Team! Great customer service skills and a working knowledge of MS Office required. Coordinator works in a fluid, fast paced environment maintaining benefits records, data, and reports, as well as Group Health Plan eligibility. Position also supports the County’s Wellness program.

To apply, please contact Human Resources at careers@monroecounty-fl.gov.

Applications available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov. 305-292-4557. Veteran’s Preference Available; E.O.E.

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon

Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $16.00/hour to start. Send resume to: TurtleHospitalMarathon@gmail.com