Marathon Weekly 24-0404

Breakfast icon looks back on four decades | P.16

SAVING THE SAWFISH

Two Keys facilities could house sick animals | P.8

FRED THE TREE IS A MOVIE STAR

Behind the cameras of ‘Road House’ | P.30

March confidently into life with the power of better hearing!

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102

Lou Conter, the final survivor of the USS Arizona, the Navy battleship that was sunk – with a loss of 1,177 lives – during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died April 2 at age 102. Conter was a 20-year-old quartermaster when the attack took place on Dec. 7, 1941, marking the U.S. entry into World War II.

Asix-week abortion ban could soon take effect in Florida after the state Supreme Court upheld a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy on April 1. Voters will have a say on removing those restrictions, however, following a separate ruling by the Florida Supreme Court, released the same day, that approved the language of a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion access in the state’s constitution.

On April 1, the court ruled 6-1 on the state’s 15-week abortion ban, which passed in the Florida Legislature during the 2022 session. Gov. Ron DeSantis subsequently signed legislation with a July 1, 2022 effective date.

That same day, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit, bringing a state constitutional challenge to the House bill on grounds that it violated the Florida Constitution’s privacy clause. Adopted by voter referendum in 1980, the privacy clause guarantees the right “to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life.”

Lawyers with Florida’s attorney general’s office told the court that the privacy clause was focused more on informational privacy, like personal records, and not abortion. In the privacy clause, it states that it shouldn’t be construed to limit the public’s right of access to public records and meetings as provided by law. Justice Jamie Grosshans, who wrote the majority opinion, stated there’s no support to the claim that voters understood abortion to be part of the rights recognized under the privacy clause.

“After considering each of these sources and consistent with longstanding principles of judicial deference to legislative enactments, we conclude there is no basis under the privacy clause to invalidate the statute,” Grosshans wrote.

Justice Jorge Labarga, the lone dissenter, stated the majority’s decision “recedes from decades of this court’s precedent.”

This Friday, April 5, Stuffed Pig coowners Mike Cinque, left, and Karen Dennis, along with Jesseray Van Houten, right, and the iconic Willie B. Bacon, will celebrate 40 years of rich history at one of Marathon’s longeststanding eateries. See page 16. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Florida joins other states that banned abortion at 15 weeks or less. Those moves were taken after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and gave authority to the states.

The court’s decision to uphold the 15-week ban thus triggers a newer six-

By Jim McCarthy and Mandy Miles

week ban that state legislators passed during the 2023 session. Legislators wrote the bill in a way that it wouldn’t take effect unless the court upheld the 15-week ban. Now, the six-week ban is slated to take effect on May 1.

The abortion ban won’t apply if two physicians certify in writing that the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the woman’s life or avert serious risk of physical impairment of a major bodily function other than psychological condition. Or, two physicians must certify that the fetus has a fatal abnormality. The law allows for abortions in instances of rape or incest, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner said.

“It is a compromise that addresses where many Floridians are,” he said following the court’s ruling.

Planned Parenthood, in a statement following the ruling, said the abortion ban does nothing to protect a person’s health and safety.

“At Planned Parenthood, the doctors and nurses have seen firsthand the devastating impact abortion restrictions have had on patients in Florida and across the country. Lawmakers should focus on helping ensure greater

access to care and healthier outcomes for patients, rather than interfering in Floridians’ personal medical decisions and attacking health care professionals,” the statement read.

Florida voters get final say in November

The new six-week ban on abortions in Florida may only last six months, as voters in November will be asked whether reasonable access to abortion should be included in the state’s constitution.

The campaign to protect women’s access to abortion, known as Floridians Protecting Freedom, spent nearly a year gathering the required number of signatures to put forth a proposed constitutional amendment. The group collected 996,512 signatures — more than 100,000 above the 891,523 that were needed by Feb. 1.

After hearing oral arguments on Feb. 7 from both sides of the issue — Floridians Protecting Freedom and Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, who opposes abortion — the Florida Supreme Court on April 1 ruled that the language proposed for the ballot question was valid.

With the April 1 ruling, the court enabled voters to decide the state’s abortion policy.

In addition to statewide ballots in which voters choose a president, members of Congress and the Legislature and local officials, they will be asked whether they support a constitutional amendment that states: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

A fetus is typically considered viable, meaning it could survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks.

The two major rulings that came down on April 1 are likely to shine a brighter national light on Florida politics, as abortion has proven to be a tough issue for Republicans, even in historically Republican states such as Kansas, where voters in 2022 overwhelmingly shot down a proposed constitutional amendment in their state that would have limited access to abortion.

The amendment would need the approval of 60 percent of Florida voters to pass.

Welcome to Even More Convenient Care.

The Fishermen’s Community Hospital campus has expanded.

Our new 10,000-square-foot Medical Arts Building will bring multiple services under one roof:

• Primary care

• Physical, occupational and speech therapy

• Oncology infusion for Baptist Health Cancer Care patients

• Physician offices for orthopedics, general surgery and gastroenterology

At Baptist Health, we’ve got the Middle Keys covered — from emergency care and surgery, to wellness appointments and cancer care. Welcome to expert, compassionate care, all on one campus.

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Iconic Key West character at this sprawling 1,859 Sq. Ft. canal front home in desirable Sugarloaf Shores! Generous 55' dock with 10K boat lift provides for excellent boating. An open and airy interior with soaring cathedral ceilings and wood-burning fireplace gives way to five sets of pocket sliding doors opening onto an expansive veranda. An additional, sizable downstairs storage room and a generous serene lawn and mature tropical flora.

Brand New 2024 CBS Construction with gorgeous Boot Key Harbor Views and excellent boating! Every detail has been considered in this turnkey pool home! Open-concept great room is bright and spacious and a wall of impactresistant glass doors leading out to a full-length covered veranda boasting stunning open water views! An opulent primary suite o ers sweeping views of Boot Key Harbor and overlooks sparkling pool and generous T-dock.

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6099 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY #107W MARATHON | $399,000

Idyllic Island Retreat with open water views! Enjoy frequent boating and fishing; this angler's paradise is nestled on a clean, flow-through canal with bubbler, and boasts immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean! Inside, this charming Keys getaway o ers recent upgrades such as LVP throughout, and new A/C and water heater. Generous neighborhood amenity and with great proximity to the excitement of Marathon!

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APRIL 6 11A-1P

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NEW LISTING! 271 WEST INDIES DR. RAMROD KEY | $2,950,000

Build your dream home in the serene Doctor's Arm section of Big Pine Key in the heart of Key Deer territory. 6,000 Sq. Ft. lot on a crystal clear, flow-through canal with approximately 60 Ft. concrete seawall, o ering unrivaled boating access to both Ocean and bay via Bogie Channel. ROGO exempt with an open building permit. In proximity to all the fun in Key West, and just minutes delectable dining and drinks.

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Brand new construction pool home with endless open water views! Sprawling floor plan o ers high-end finishes and tasteful designs. A chef's kitchen with premium appliances and quartz countertops. Walls of sliding glass doors open onto an expansive veranda, with stunning views of the sparkling pool and turquoise ocean beyond. Outside, this manicured lot is adorned with lush native landscaping, all nestled within a quiet neighborhood.

29034 ROSE DRIVE BIG PINE KEY | $699,000

Canal-front home in quiet Eden Pines amongst the Key Deer, this quaint retreat boasts a 50 Ft. wide canal, providing great boating access to both the ocean and bay. Large living space featuring vaulted exposed beam ceilings and immaculately kept laminate floors throughout. Pocket sliding doors grant access to a sprawling back deck, perfect for entertaining. Expansive concrete seawall equipped with davits and loads of downstairs storage!

Smalltooth sawfish in distress due to an unusual mortality event may soon be brought to approved facilities for rehabilitation and eventual release.

DANA BETHEA/NOAA Fisheries

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

RESCUE EFFORT UNDERWAY FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SAWFISH

Two Keys facilities tapped to house ailing animals

For dozens of critically endangered sawfish in the Florida Keys that have seen their numbers dwindle in recent months, a team of emergency rescuers is on the case.

This week, in an effort led by NOAA Fisheries and FWC in partnership with four Florida-based and national organizations including Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Ripley’s Aquariums, Mote Marine Laboratory and Dynasty Marine Associates Inc., teams were given the green light to rescue ailing fish and transport them to quarantine facilities for observation, research and rehabilitation.

Now listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and overfishing even before the unusual mortality event, the smalltooth sawfish was the first marine fish to receive federal protection in 2003 under the Endangered Species Act – after some researchers estimate its population in Florida declined by up to 95%. With lifespans of 30 years or more, the species can take up to 11 years to reach sexual maturity, making population recovery efforts even more daunting.

“As an endangered species, (sawfish) are of the highest concern for everybody, especially when we’re losing such a large number of breeding-age animals,” Dynasty president Ben Daughtry told the Weekly.

Since investigators began tracking the mortality event in late 2023, they have seen erratic sawfish behavior and deaths, paired with widespread reports of spinning and whirling fish throughout the

Keys; 109 confirmed sawfish have been affected, along with 28 documented deaths as of March 24. The majority of affected sawfish have been larger animals, 7 to 14 feet in length, documented along shorelines and stranded on grass flats in the Lower Keys. However, the true effect of the mortality event is likely much greater.

“We suspect that total mortalities are greater, since sawfish are negatively buoyant and thus unlikely to float after death,” said NOAA’s sawfish recovery coordinator Adam Brame in a press release. “Given the limited population size of smalltooth sawfish, the mortality of at least two dozen sawfish could have an impact on the recovery of this species.”

NOAA’s release acknowledged that the effort is the first of its kind ever attempted in the U.S., with “complex” logistics as partner organizations continually evaluate how to address the unprecedented event. Specific care guidelines for ailing fish and degrees of intervention are still being developed, and each animal’s status will be individually evaluated by NOAA’s Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team.

“Our goal is to release all rescued sawfish back to the wild once rehabilitated,” Brame said.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Dynasty are two of the three agencies tapped to house and rehabilitate the sawfish, if the opportunity arises. The other is Ripley’s Aquariums.

“We reached out to NOAA and FWC to offer the immediate assistance and support of our expert

scientists, vets and specialized marine species quarantine facilities for any response deemed necessary,” said Mote president and CEO Michael Crosby in a press release. “Without any clear source of financial support, we have committed Mote resources without hesitation to this significant, challenging and unprecedented initiative because it is at the heart of our mission and why Mote exists.”

“We will do everything we can to prioritize the well-being of the sawfish,” said Kathryn Flowers, Mote’s lead scientist for the rescue initiative. “Attempts to solve this mystery call for robust collaboration.”

As the exact cause of the fish deaths and spinning behavior

WAYS TO HELP:

• Report sightings of healthy, sick, injured or dead sawfish to FWC’s Sawfish Hotline (1-844-472-9347 or sawfish@myfwc.com). Include date, time and location of the encounter, estimated length, water depth and any other relevant details.

• Report sightings of other abnormal fish behavior, fish disease, or fish kills to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline (800-6360511) or scan the QR code to submit a fish kill report.

• Support the Sawfish Rescue Initiative with a donation by visiting www.mote.org/sawfish

remains unknown, scientists are chasing leads from a higher-thanusual abundance of the Gambierdiscus family of algae, known for producing a variety of toxins. Nonetheless, Brame said, the ability to study the animals in a controlled environment could “give us critical information to learn about the nature of the distress.”

Rescue efforts are to be quarterbacked by FWC and NOAA and are currently restricted to distressed animals, Daughtry said.

“What Dynasty can provide is we built a specific transport box for the sawfish, and we’ve got a trailer that we use for transporting our animals that has oxygen and that sort of equipment,” he added.

With a limited population of remaining sawfish, Daughtry was asked whether any consideration had been given to more extreme forms of intervention, such as captive breeding programs used to maintain other endangered species around the world. In July 2023, SeaWorld Orlando welcomed three smalltooth sawfish pups from a pair of breeding sawfish residing at the park since the 1980s – but the park heralded the accomplishment as only the second aquarium in the world to have a successful birth.

“None of the conversations I’ve been involved in are talking about trying to bring in non-symptomatic animals,” Daughtry said. “The concern is always, what if this comes back next year? We’ve got to learn what’s going on and do the best we can to figure out how we might be able to handle this in the future. It’s an evolving set of goal posts right now.”

Dr. Christopher Forsee, DMD is seamlessly taking the reins from the iconic “Barefoot Dentist,” Dr. Troxel, where the laid-back vibe extends even to the choice of footwear. Dr. Forsee delivers personalized comprehensive dental care tailored to your needs. Whether it's routine maintenance or advanced procedures, trust Dr. Forsee to rejuvenate your smile with meticulous precision and compassionate care.

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

MARATHON TO CONVERT SOMBRERO BOULEVARD FLOODING TO NATURAL TIDAL LAGOON Road lane closure ‘a win-win’ for Marathon

In a shocking turn of events, the city of Marathon will redevelop a constantly-flooded portion of Sombrero Boulevard as a “natural, tidal community lagoon” by the end of 2025.

The stunning development follows mounting resident pressure after passage of a non-binding 2016 referendum asking the city to research the feasibility of a community pool.

According to permitting documents obtained by the Keys Weekly through a public records request (P-24-0401), the often-flooded eastbound lane of Sombrero Boulevard will be permanently closed in favor of the project, which will include dredging the southern boundary of the road to create a swimmable lagoon. The westbound lane, when available due to tidal fluctuation, will continue as a “no-wake zone,” with motorists asked to avoid bathers where possible.

The region’s natural contour will allow for zones of multiple depths, creating areas suitable for children and families, advanced swimmers and wildlife. Moderate rains, which previously drew the ire of area residents with localized flooding, will now provide a freshwater source to refill the lagoon as needed. A pump system, previously touted by the city as the solution to the area’s flooding, will instead be repurposed to power a constant fountain feature in the center of the lagoon.

“This is a win-win for Marathon,” City Manager George Garrett allegedly told a source familiar with the project in the early morning hours at the Brass Monkey. “Our citizens have been asking for a community pool for nearly eight years. This accomplishes that goal with minimal construction costs; it

MARATHON PASTOR ON THE RUN AFTER SKIPPING SEXUAL ASSAULT ARRAIGNMENT

Monte Chitty believed to have left Florida in a white van with out-of-state plates

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

AMarathon pastor accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl is now on the run from authorities after skipping his arraignment, State Attorney Dennis Ward confirmed to the Keys Weekly Monday afternoon.

turns a problem into a solution. This is an amenity typically reserved for highcaliber homes and resorts, and it will be provided for free public use.”

In light of the eastbound lane closure, preliminary plans indicate a city pump-out boat will be repurposed as a shuttle to provide hourly trips from Dockside Boot Key Harbor to 53rd Street. Features in other early renderings include a cable winch system attached to overhead power lines for board sports enthusiasts, removable lane lines to support future competitive swim meets, and an additional boat ramp.

“We’ve heard so much talk for months about Marathon’s boat ramp issues,” one city source, who declined to be identified, told the Weekly. “This is a forward-thinking solution – eventually, when sea levels rise enough, it will become Marathon’s only oceanside ramp.”

John Schaefer is a longtime Marathon resident who currently owns a condominium across from the project site. “When I first heard rumors about this, I was hesitant,” he said. “But as I sat and thought about it, the value of my property can only go up with two waterfronts instead of one. I just bought a new Subaru a few months ago, but now I’ll be looking to trade that in for a small Zodiac or duck boat.”

Additional uses for the lagoon are being explored by the city and partner agencies, and may include rehabilitation for ailing manatees, alligators and sawfish.

City staff contacted by the Weekly declined to officially comment on the proposed project, which has a projected completion date of April 1, 2025.

P.S. … April Fools’!

Monte Chitty, a 62-year-old pastor of Marathon’s First Baptist Church who faces two felony charges and one misdemeanor stemming from sexual assault allegations, is believed to no longer be in the Florida Keys, or even in Florida, after leaving town in a white van with out-of-state license plates, Ward and Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said.

“The last we know, he was leaving Florida and heading west,” Ward said.

“He is a direct threat to not only this community, but any other community he may be traveling through or hiding out in,” said Ramsay. “People like this who are sexual offenders prey on innocent victims, and their desires don’t stop because they’re on the lam. He’s virtually public enemy number one for this county right now.”

Chitty was arrested March 4 after an investigation that began with an anonymous call to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office saying the caller overheard a girl tell an adult she had been raped.

According to his arrest report, as deputies started to look for the girl, another call came in from Chitty himself, saying he believed he was about to be accused of something and “wanted to get ahead of it.”

The victim told investigators Chitty gave her an alcoholic beverage that she believed was spiked with something else, the report said. She said she lost consciousness after drinking it, and awoke to find Chitty molesting her.

Chitty originally told officers that the girl had passed out on a couch after drinking in his church’s library and that he had helped her to lie down on the couch, but had not touched her otherwise, his arrest report said.

Matching text messages detailed in the arrest report were found on both Chitty’s and the victim’s phones that referenced acts performed by Chitty while the victim was uncon-

Monte Chitty, originally arrested on March 4 for sexual assault charges with a 15-year-old victim, is now on the run from authorities. MCSO/Contributed

scious. Though the report said Chitty initially admitted to sending the messages, he later invoked his right to an attorney and denied the sexual contact.

Chitty was initially released from county jail after posting a $75,000 bond. That amount will now be forfeited after he failed to appear with no communication at Monday’s hearing, Ward said. A second hearing later the same day before Judge James Morgan upped Chitty’s bond to $1.3 million in light of his presumed flight and additional evidence.

“People like this who are sexual offenders prey on innocent victims, and their desires don’t stop because they’re on the lam. He’s virtually public enemy number one for this county right now.”

— Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay

Ward confirmed that recorded telephone calls from jail and a probe into Chitty’s internet search history gave prosecutors and detectives additional worries and reason to believe he would leave town. The calls revealed he had told his wife not to pay any bills, Ward said.

Anyone with information on Chitty’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

A constantly-flooded area of Sombrero Boulevard will soon become a permanent tidal lagoon for free public use in lieu of a community pool, according to documents uncovered by the Weekly. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

We would like to thank everyone who played and made our third annual golf tournament a success! A special thank you to our sponsors. We can't do it without your support!

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MORE HOTEL ROOMS?

The Marathon City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that will shape redevelopment of hotel rooms in our community. The council voted 5-0 in March to preserve a rule that allows single-bedroom units to redevelop as units with up to 3 bedrooms and a maximum of 1,500 square feet. Earlier drafts of this rule change allowed for more bedrooms and more square footage, and the ordinance has the potential to change again this TUESDAY.

Marathon residents made a full house in March, and we hope they will share their opinions again in April.

Tuesday, April 9 • 5:30 p.m.

NEW MOORING FIELD PLANNED OFF STOCK ISLAND

Boca Chica Basin, off Maloney Ave., slated for 40 liveaboard anchorages

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

Monroe County is moving ahead with plans to install a new managed mooring field for 40 liveaboard vessels in Boca Chica Basin, just off Maloney Avenue on Stock Island. An additional 100 moorings are planned for the waters around Wisteria Island, a small island across the harbor from downtown Key West. Both areas are currently home to dozens of maintained and functioning liveaboard boats whose owners do not pay for their anchorage, as well as derelict vessels that pose safety and environmental hazards, and are expensive for the government to remove.

County Commissioner Craig Cates is working on the new mooring fields with Brittany Burtner, the county’s marine resources administrator. The two of them hosted a town hall meeting on March 13 at Bernstein Park on Stock Island to update the community about the Boca Chica Mooring Field and reassure some concerned residents who live next door or close to the upland property on Maloney Avenue that will house the shoreside facilities.

The county bought the vacant lot at 6633 Maloney Ave. in 2021 for $500,000 and plans to install a dinghy dock, showers and restrooms for mooring field tenants, a dockmaster’s office and apartment and laundry facilities. But those plans first require a zoning change for the parcel — a change some neighbors were reluctant to support at the March 13 meeting, citing concerns about adding 40 or more people to the mooring field in a neighborhood where parking is already a problem on Maloney Avenue.

Burtner assured the residents that the shoreside property for the mooring field will accommodate as many bikes and scooters as possible, but acknowledged that cars would park on the street.

Longtime fishing Capt. Don Jonas, owner of High Stakes Charters, lives next door to the shoreside lot, where he also owns several trailers that he rents to long-term tenants. He and Cates have butted heads about the mooring field and its potential impact on the neighborhood and residents. Jonas said the mooring field tenants will be coming in and out of the facilities “24 hours a day,” and using a navigable channel that runs right in front of his property.

Cates assured the neighbors the county will do whatever it can to alleviate parking concerns and he emphasized that a managed mooring field will be a significant improvement to the current situation in Boca Chica Basin, where about 60 boats are anchored, most of them derelict, or uninhabited.

“Our priority for the mooring field will be for liveaboard residents, not for boat storage,” Cates said, “Tenants have to pump out their sewage once a week and the boat has to be operational.”

He added that the installed moorings and restriction on vessel size and draft (how deep its hull sits in the water) ensure that the boats aren’t sitting on the bottom at low tide and destroying seagrass and other marine resources.

Cates told the Keys Weekly that a contractor can begin installing the actual anchorages for both the Wisteria Island and Boca Chica mooring fields in the coming months, but the Boca Chica Mooring Field won’t open until the zoning change is approved for the upland property, and the shoreside facilities are completed.

The details of the mooring field are available at monroecounty-fl.gov/634/ Anchoring-Mooring-Management.

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD BRING BIG LOVE TO KEY WEST

Franti joins the Keys Weekly Podcast

GWEN FILOSA gwen@keysweekly.com

Key West will get all the love from Michael Franti and Spearhead, whose “Togetherness Tour” includes a stop at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Friday, April 12.

But before that, the Keys Weekly Podcast caught up with Franti from his home in Bali for a podcast interview, now available at keysweekly.com.

With a career spanning three decades, Michael Franti has secured his place as a musical powerhouse. His songs fuse elements of hip-hop, punk rock and reggae for the signature, joyful sounds behind “Say Hey (I Love You),” “I’m Alive (Life Sounds Like)” and “Hands Up To The Sky.”

Franti & Spearhead’s latest album, "Big Big Love," digs into familiar Franti territory, with themes of love, resilience and personal growth.

“Big love is when you are able to love your family, your friends, your romantic partners,” Franti said. “It takes incredible focus and effort and diligence and forgiveness and healing and trying again just to do that. And then there's the love that goes out across borders, and religion and gender and sexuality and ethnicity, out into the world. And that's even harder to do.”

Franti started out a long way from big, big love. In the 1990s, he was blasting his anger through experimental rap and hip-hop by forming the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy in San Francisco.

“I grew up in an alcoholic family and didn't have a super happy childhood,” Franti told Keys Weekly in a phone call from his home in Bali. “When I first started in punk rock and hip-hop, it was just expressing rage,

and not really understanding where it came from.”

Franti said as he grew, he evolved.

“My music started to take on more of a personal, introspective look at who I am in the way that I'm showing up,” he said.

He built a devoted fanbase from his constant mantra of staying positive no matter what’s happening. But he’s had his own challenges.

In 2021, Franti lost his biological father to COVID and wasn’t able to attend the funeral in person. Franti was given up for adoption at birth and didn’t meet his biological dad until he was 22.

He searched for two years to find him, after having his own son at age 20. He wanted the boy to know his grandparents.

“Staying positive isn't about being happy all the time," Franti said. "For me, staying positive is being able to be who I am in that moment and access whatever emotion is there.”

Franti and his family live in Indonesia, at Soulshine Bali, the yoga retreat resort they built in Bali. The food they serve at the hotel is made from the rice and vegetables they grow in their own organic garden or from neighboring farms.

For the Key West show, Franti has added a yoga session for his fans before the concert on April 12.

Ticket holders can join Franti for a pre-show, one-hour-long Yoga Jam at the amphitheater at 4 p.m. Concertgoers must have their tickets scanned to enter the venue. Yoga doors open at 3:30 p.m.

After yoga, people can either stay at the amphitheater or leave and return. Bring your own yoga mats and towels. They won’t be provided.

Michael Franti’s ‘Togetherness Tour’ includes an April 12 show in Key West. CONTRIBUTED

The county-owned lot at 6633 Maloney Ave. on Stock Island will be the site of the shoreside facilities for the new morning field proposed for Boca Chica Basin. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

40 YEARS OF ‘THE PIG’

BELOVED MARATHON EATERY CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES

Before evolving into a nine-time Best Breakfast winner, the Stuffed Pig’s building was operated as the North Pole motel, along with a store for sweet treats. CONTRIBUTED

By Alex Rickert / alex@keysweekly.com

For Stuffed Pig co-owners Mike Cinque and Karen Dennis, a broken A/C in their restaurant isn’t the massive setback it used to be in 1984. But after 40 years keeping the doors open at one of Marathon’s longest-standing eateries, they’ve earned that right.

On-site festivities on Friday, April 5 are set to commemorate the four decades of support for ‘The Pig,’ as locals call it. Or, in Cinque’s words, “40 years of dribs and drabs” after Dennis’ lunch truck “Mobile Munchies” found a permanent home with the purchase of the restaurant’s current property in 1984.

“I used to go from job site to job site, but then traffic got so bad, so I would park at lunch time for two hours at Russ’s Tires,” Dennis said. Her top menu item? Sausage and biscuits.

A 1975 transplant from upstate New York, Dennis met Cinque, then a hitchhiker from New Jersey who settled on Grassy Key in 1972 after losing his Key Largo-based job with the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, at the site of the current Key Colony Inn in 1981. Three years later, the pair were in business together.

“I said to her, ‘If you want to run a restaurant, I’ll buy the building,’” Cinque told the Weekly. “I put up the original couple grand that we needed, but she’s taken care of it ever since.”

What began as a continuation of Dennis’ lunch truck eventually tested the waters of breakfast service with donuts – an admittedly illfated venture at first.

“We’d make 120 donuts, and maybe sell 20,” she laughed. “So then I started adding bacon and eggs on Saturdays and Sundays.”

By the mid-’90s, the pair said, the Stuffed Pig had become the breakfast mainstay it’s known as today, serving up boxed lunches for fishermen and functioning as the daily 7 a.m. breakfast pit stop for

workers who punched the clock at 8. Dennis said she still remembers bringing her son Christopher in at 3 a.m., putting him in a bed in a back room of the restaurant, and preparing to open at 4 or 5.

“It was a one-woman show for 10 years,” Cinque said. Though he said the restaurant has turned from locals’ breakfasts being its bread and butter – pun intended – tourists and residents alike still enjoy a budget-friendly menu. Case in point: The heaping platter known as the “Pig’s Breakfast,” originally introduced for $3.95, is still just $15 after four decades.

“I put up the original couple grand that we needed, but she’s taken care of it ever since.”

— Mike Cinque on co-owner Karen Dennis

There’s a reason the restaurant has claimed “Best Breakfast” in the Best of Marathon awards in nine of its 13 years.

When food service for the day is done, The Pig holds plenty of memories for Marathon families who celebrated political campaign kickoffs, fundraisers and birthday parties – some across multiple generations.

“We’ve got kids graduating now whose parents probably had their graduation parties here,” said Cinque.

The restaurant’s footprint and amenities have grown steadily through the decades, from the addition of its walk-in cooler to its outdoor seating, workstation and, most recently, an outdoor bar. One such expansion in September 1996 arguably birthed the now-incorporated city of Marathon.

“I put out some concrete tables and chairs, and I got redtagged on them by the county,” Cinque said. “They said I increased the use of an established business without acquiring a conditional use permit.”

An eventual court victory as Cinque stared down $100-a-day fines soon turned into a $350 check delivered to Keys Sign Services owner Dick Schultz in exchange for four banners reading “Welcome to the Future City of Marathon.” They hung above the Pig, Marathon Lumber, Keys Sign Services and former Marathon Mayor Dick Ramsay’s Surfside Auto Repair – which, of course, triggered another string of red tags, Cinque said.

Nevertheless, the banners kick-started a political campaign, with early meetings frequently taking place at the Stuffed Pig, that would culminate in 2,700 Marathon residents voting 67% in favor of the nascent city on Nov. 2, 1999. And in 2007, Cinque would win his first election as a city councilman with nearly 29% of the total vote – at the time the highest percentage achieved by a

single candidate in Marathon’s at-large elections.

Though they regrettably ended just a year before this writer moved to town, longtime locals will remember the Pig’s legacy of charity – and hilarity – as it hosted “National Pig Days,” complete with live pig racing as its centerpiece, to raise nearly $50,000 per year benefiting Grace Jones Community Center and Kreative Kids Christian Academy.

Staged behind the restaurant and on the property of what is now the Marathon Library, the annual carnival provided a well-rounded spectacle with bounce houses, a petting zoo, games and a famed bucking pig on loan each year from Islamorada’s Hog Heaven Sports Bar.

“You’ve got businesses complaining that they don’t have employees. Well, they’ve got kids, and they need a place they can trust to take care of the kids, so day care is very important,” Cinque said. “This is where we figured the money would do some good and wouldn’t get wasted. Little things like that are what make a community work.”

Dennis and Cinque said they take pride in the restaurant’s incremental expansions from its small beginnings in 1984. But even though the bustling eatery is a well-oiled operation today, it hasn’t forgotten its roots – just keep an eye out for the door of Dennis’ old food truck, nestled at the back of the outdoor seating area.

“Life’s been good,” Cinque said. “But we earned it.”

1. Mike Cinque, left, and Mike Puto get up close and personal with the swine before races on National Pig Day. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

2-3. Live racing swine provide a spectacle, but bouncing pig races make for their own photo finishes. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTOS

4. For several years, hundreds gathered to raise tens of thousands of dollars for day care centers by betting on racing pigs during National Pig Days at the Stuffed Pig. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

5. Stuffed Pig co-owner Karen Dennis takes a ride with a young Josh Koler at the restaurant’s 2012 National Pig Days. JASON KOLER/Keys Weekly

6. One concrete table outside ‘The Pig’ stands as a lasting reminder of the final straw that prompted the incorporation of Marathon. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

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SEARCH PARTY

Kids descend on Rotary Park for Marathon club’s annual Easter egg hunt

It may have taken Marathon’s Rotarians hours to fill and hide thousands of eggs in every nook and cranny of Children’s Rotary Park. But once the floodgates opened for dozens of Middle Keys kids on March 30 at the club’s annual Easter egg hunt, the search was over in mere minutes. As always, the Easter Bunny took some time out from the busiest weekend of the year for photo ops and a chance to meet everybody’s favorite rabbit, and a select few egg hunters went home with super-sized baskets of prizes after finding one of only a few gold and silver eggs.

1. You’re never too old for the Easter Bunny … right, Mr. Marathon? CONTRIBUTED

2. The Easter Bunny opts for a few warm-up poses before a long line of meet-and-greeters.

3. Kids lead the charge through the bunny-eared archway at Children’s Rotary Park to search for thousands of Easter eggs.

4. Marathon Mayor Robyn Still, right center, and Rotarians Kelly Williams, left, and Sarah Bartus seize their opportunity for a picture with the Easter Bunny.

5. Molly Cropper picks her prize basket, topped off with a free ice cream coupon from Conch Custard, after finding one of just a few golden eggs.

6. Camila Caridad meets the Easter Bunny.

7. Elle Mowry, left, and Luke Blanton take their turn for an Easter Bunny photo shoot.

City Council

Robyn Still, Mayor

, City Manager George Garrett

Lynn Landry Vice-Mayor

Luis Gonzalez, Councilmember

Jeff Smith, Councilmember

Kenny Matlock, Councilmember

City Attorney

Steve Williams

City Clerk

Diane Clavier, CMC a

Please note that more than one Marathon City Council/Board/Committee member may participate in the meetings listed. To view the City of Marathon’s full calendar, please visit www.ci.marathon.fl.us/calendar

City Council Meeting

4/9/24 • 5:30pm • Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy.

Code Compliance Hearing

4/18/24 • 2:00pm • Council Chambers, 9805 Overseas Hwy.

City Council Workshop

4/23/24 • 5:30pm • 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, 7

City of Marathon City Council Agenda

9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 5:30 P.M.

(*Denotes Item Is Passed By Consent Upon Approval of Agenda)

Public Comments taken on all times and at 6:30pm time certain for items not on the agenda or as soon as possible thereafter of after the last agenda item; whichever comes first.

City Council Items

* A. Approval of Minutes

B. Proclamation for Marathon High School Female Weightlifting State Championships (Still)

C. Publix Week of Giving Back (April 21-27) and Cleanup of Coco Plum Beach on April 24th (Gonzalez)

D. Non-Profit Grant Funding Distribution

E. Leadership Monroe County Request For Approval Of Alcohol On City Property For A Special Event On April 27th

* F. 44th Annual 7-Mile Bridge Run (April 5, 2025) Approval

City Manager Report

* A. MCSO Marathon Substation Report

* B. Grants Update

* C. Building Report

* D. Park and Recreation Report

* E. Marathon Fire Rescue Report

* F. Marina Report

* G. Code Report

* H. Wastewater Utilities Report

* I. Public Works Report

Ordinances for Second Public Hearing and Enactment

A. Ordinance 2023-15, Amending Chapter 104 “Specific Use Regulations”, Article 1

“General Provisions”, Updating Section 104.25 “Hotels Or Motels”; Providing For The Repeal Of All Code Provisions And Ordinances Inconsistent With This Ordinance; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Transmittal Of The Approved Ordinance To The State Land

Or Parts Thereof Found To Be In Conflict; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To The State Department Of Commerce After Final Adoption By The City Council; Providing For Inclusion In The Code Of Ordinances And Providing For An Effective Date.

F. Ordinance 2024-08, Amending Chapter 107, Article 13 (“Concurrency Management”) By Amending Section 107.113 Titled “Enforcement” To Clarify The Penalties; Providing For The Repeal Of All Ordinances Or Parts Thereof Found To Be In Conflict; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To The State Department Of Commerce After Final Adoption By The City Council; Providing For Inclusion In The Code Of Ordinances And Providing For An Effective Date.

Resolutions For Adoption

*A. Resolution 2024-33, Awarding A Work Authorization For Design, Permitting, Bidding And Construction Phase Engineering Services For Force Main & Pumping System For Areas 3, 4 & 5 To Deep Injection Well To Weiler Engineering In An Amount Not To Exceed $1,375,360.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Agreements In Connection Therewith, Appropriating And Expending Budgeted Funds; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*B. Resolution 2024-34 Awarding A Work Authorization For Design, Permitting, Bidding And Construction Phase Engineering

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BAPTIST UNVEILS MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING

On April 3, Baptist Health South Florida celebrated the Middle Keys’ most significant health care expansion in years with the grand opening of the Walsh Family Medical Arts Building at Fishermen’s Community Hospital. The highly-anticipated facility will expand access to chemotherapy infusion for cancer patients and centralize primary care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and specialty services in one location adjacent to the hospital. The honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon went to hotelier and philanthropist Mark Walsh, left, and his family for their donation of $5 million to support health care in the Middle Keys.

Walsh is pictured with Baptist Health South Florida Foundation vice chair Barbara James and board chairman Jay Hershoff.

“For us, partnering with Baptist Health was a match because we believe in our business it’s all about caring,” said Walsh.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this community.” For full coverage of the grand opening, check out keysweekly.com later this week and the April 11 edition of the Marathon Weekly. JASON KOLER/Keys Weekly

Buyers

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CAPTAIN JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

‘SPRING’ING BACK INTO REEF ACTION

CAPT. JOEL BRANDENBURG

…is a fifth-generation Floridian and second-generation fishing captain who owns and operates Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon. His passions include fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.

The Florida reef stretches more than 350 miles from north of Key Largo to the southwest of Key West. It’s the thirdlargest reef system in the world, behind only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System off the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. It’s also the only living reef system in the United States. All three reef systems were built by living organisms, but over the years, many of those organisms have died, to the point where some question whether areas of all three reefs are dead. Challenges faced by all three systems include oil spills, cyclones, changing water temperatures, coral bleaching and overfishing, among many other factors.

Doing our part here in the Keys means keeping fuel and oil out of our water, anchoring carefully, disposing of fishing line properly, not littering and staying within legal bag and size limits.

We love to fish the reef between 15 and 125 feet deep, depending on the time of year and what species we are targeting. This time of year we like to stop at the reef before heading offshore to catch ballyhoo, speedos and other baitfish. It can give our clients a chance to warm up their fishing skills and catch some yellowtail snapper and other species prior to fighting a big gamefish offshore. Stopping at the reef first before we go offshore is also a great test to see if any clients get seasick prior to a 30- or 40-mile venture.

Many anglers like to anchor up on the reef when coming back from an offshore trip. Many times, especially times when offshore fishing is slow, the reef can provide a grand finale on the day.

Tips for reef fishing:

• Line: use the lightest line that you can get away with. Go light, get tight. Go thick, can't trick. Our water on the Florida reef is so clear that the lighter your line is, the more bites you will get. However, if you go too light you'll lose too many fish during the fight. Of course we wish we could use 100-pound test all the time, and if the fish bit on 100-pound test the same way they hit on 10-pound test we would hardly ever lose a fish. At Ana Banana, we’ve done a good bit of research and development fishing chum lines on the reef, where you can be hit by everything from a quarter-pound yellowtail to a mutton snapper, barracuda, shark, cobia, grouper or dozens of other species. We experimented with 10-pound and 12-pound line. We got a lot of bites, but lost a lot of fish. Then we bumped it up to 15-pound test. We didn't get as many bites, and we were still getting broken off a lot. We increased to 20-pound test and didn't break off nearly as much, but had a lot less action. It was obvious to us that 20-pound test spooked off a lot more fish. Then we dialed it down to 17.5-pound test, and that's what we fish the reef with today. It seems to be the perfect happy medium with many bites and not losing many fish.

• Weights and hooks: Like the line, use the smallest possible weights and hooks that will hold your catch. Know your tides and currents, and how to adjust your weights accordingly.

• Chum: Use a chum ring and use green Tournament Master chum.

• Bait: "Match the hatch.” Do your homework and figure out what your target species is naturally feeding on during that time of year. If a species feeds on pilchards, don't use shrimp.

Spring is one of the best times of the year to fish and explore the Florida reef. Good luck and enjoy.

To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.

The Florida reef can be a prime destination for huge ‘flag’ yellowtail snapper. JOEL BRANDENBURG/Contributed

GWEN FILOSA gwen@keysweekly.com

FRED THE TREE GOES HOLLYWOOD IN ‘ROAD HOUSE’

New movie stars famous pine — and some guy named Jake Gyllenhaal

“R

oad House,” the new release from Amazon Prime starring a shredded Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor, purportedly takes place in the Florida Keys.

But the movie doesn’t resemble the island chain in either scenery or plot.

It was filmed in the Dominican Republic, because that’s where filmmakers are welcomed these days with tax incentives and other economic breaks.

“Road House” is about a down-on-his-luck and troubled ex-UFC fighter hired to clean up a beachside “Keys” bar riddled by patrons who constantly ruin the tropical vibe with fights and table-smashing and villains who want to force the owner to sell the property.

Glass Key, however, is total fiction, along

with the idea that the Keys are a dangerous place to visit a tiki bar and (still) famed for drug trafficking.

“Why do you think they call it the Keys?” one character tells the 2024 version of Dalton, the expert bouncer. (That’s not the etymology of Cayo Hueso, by the way. Not at all.)

But “Road House” got one Keys classic right.

Fred the Tree and the Old Seven Mile Bridge, two Florida Keys icons, have cameos in the new “Road House,” a remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze vehicle that was a cable TV guilty pleasure-turned-cult-classic.

Famous Fred – the sturdy Australian pine that survived Hurricane Irma – and the breathtaking aerial view of the Middle Keys

are absolutely real and filmed in person.

The anonymous Keys crew that decorates Fred for Christmas each year even agreed to hold off for two weeks during the movie filming so Fred could be filmed in its natural glory. The delay was chronicled on Fred’s hugely popular Facebook page.

No one expected “Road House” to be a documentary. It’s an Amazon Prime original movie made for the streaming giant that’s gotten decent reviews.

The resiliency of Fred the Tree, though, is an emotional thread that runs through the plot.

Fred is seen in the film’s beginning, as Gyllenhaal’s Dalton looks out the window of a bus headed to fake Glass Key for a job he initially turned down.

A bookstore owner’s daughter then welcomes Dalton with a book about Fred the Tree – also fake, although there is a very real children’s book called “Fred the Tree” by author Leigh H. Guest that tells a moving story of hope after a Category 4 Hurricane Irma devastated parts of the Keys in 2017.

But the rest of the “Keys” shown in “Road House” in reality are locations in the DR.

Florida used to have a revolving door of movie crews coming in for long stays, lured by the Sunshine State’s once-competitive film incentive program. That’s over.

Twenty years ago, Florida was the no. 3 destination for filming in the U.S., after Los Angeles and New York, said Chad Newman, Florida Keys film commissioner.

“We’re not in the top 25,” Newman said. “There’s no money here. It’s not that we even need a huge incentive, we just need something to get us in the room.”

The Keys get plenty of Hollywood work: car commercials, travel shows, reality TV, including a Jersey Shore cast-goes-on-vacation. Star chef Gordon Ramsay shot a new show in the Keys. And many films have come down for exterior shots or weeks-long on-location filming.

The series “Bloodline” became a Keys tourism success story and still brings people down to see the Rayburn house and other movie locations.

“They spent $30 million in Monroe County,” Newman said. “That generated $60 million of tourism impact.

But when it comes to Hollywood films set in Florida, movie studios are taking their business elsewhere. They skip Florida for states that will subsidize their multimillion-dollar budgets through film incentive programs that often lead to the creation of Hollywood-style industries in states like Georgia, a huge current favorite location.

An incentive is money provided by local governments to lure producers to their area.

But Florida ended its film incentives.

Monroe County Mayor Holly Raschein, the former two-term state representative from the Keys, said she’s a huge fan of film incentives, but it’s an area of policy lawmakers

“They spent $30 million in Monroe County, that generated $60 million of tourism impact.

— Chad Newman

simply disagreed on years ago.

During her eight years in the Florida House, Raschein watched the film incentive program fade to black.

“There was just an extreme philosophical belief from the Legislature leadership, at the time, of not expending taxpayer resources on private enterprise, specifically the film industry,” Raschein told Keys Weekly.

“I championed it,” Raschein said, of the film incentives program. “I worked closely with Film Florida. Other states are rolling out the red carpet.”

As for “Road House,” Raschein put out a light-hearted statement that gently points out some liberties the movie took with depicting the Keys.

“We are very lucky to live in the fabulous Florida Keys, with a law-abiding sheriff, ‘Margaritaville’ playing in our bars at happy hour, friendly bikers sharing our roadways, and an occasional docile croc sighting,” Raschein said.

“The most accurate depiction of the Florida Keys was our very own Fred the Tree waving Dalton across the Seven Mile Bridge,” she said. “We invite Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor to our Florida Keys anytime to see and feel what it is like here, since they didn’t experience it while filming Road House. I will gladly give them a ‘locals’ tour of the islands myself.”

1.

2. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Road House.’ LAURA RADFORD/Prime Video photo

3. On the set of ‘Road House.’ LAURA RADFORD/Prime Video photo

4. Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal star in ‘Road House.’ DAVE FOGARTY/Prime Video photo

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DISENCHANTED!

Catch Marathon Community Theatre’s great musical

Marathon is really lucky to have our Marathon Community Theatre. For quite a few decades — 80 years — this group of dedicated performers and volunteers has staged some pretty amazing productions. Whether comedies, dramas or musicals, our theater produces wonderful seasons of fantastic productions.

“Disenchanted!” is this season’s musical, and it ranks with the best the theater has ever done.

Sarah and I got to see “Disenchanted!” last weekend, and I was quite blown away by the quality of the production. For those unfamiliar with the play, it takes on the “fairy princess” stories from a more jaded perspective of life after the fairy tale ends. Directed by Trish Hintze, “Disenchanted!” fires on all cylinders and delivers one of the finest shows I’ve ever seen in local theater.

The casting is spot on. Abbi Colella is perfect as Snow White, and she serves as the Mistress of Ceremonies as she introduces each princess and helps them tell their stories of life after happily ever after. Kara Pascucci plays the role of Sleeping Beauty and barely wakes up in time to tell her story. Stephanie Zajac plays the role of Cinderella. As music director, Zajac is responsible for the musical timing and amazing harmonies this group of actors and singers pull off perfectly.

Aubrey Kehn plays the dual roles of the Little Mermaid and Hua Mulan. Leigh Sanchez also plays dual roles – hers are Rapunzel and Princess Badroulbadour (from “Aladdin”). Their quick backstage costume changes accent their talents at portraying the different characters. Karen Shotwell does a humorous turn as Pocahontas, with forest leaves tossed all around as she enters and exits the stage.

Two Marathon High School drama students play the remaining two characters and deserve special mention: Rylee Seligson plays Belle (from “Beauty and the Beast”) to a disturbed perfection — just don’t look into her eyes for too long. And Zyan Wiggins plays the Princess Who Kissed the Frog. Both these students add their incredible vocal and acting talents to the production.

Hats off to the direction and the talent that make “Disenchanted!” so

JOHN BARTUS

worth seeing. A whole lot of time and rehearsal goes into pulling off such a seamless stage show. The cast’s timing is excellent, and the musical solos and harmonies are exquisite. These are credits to Hintze’s direction, Zajac’s musical direction and Lisa Scobba’s choreography. I can’t say enough just how good it was.

There are people who put in a great deal of time and effort offstage, and they are essential to putting on a show like this. They certainly deserve mention as well.

Claudia McEwen is the producer for “Disenchanted!,” and Sherrie Schwab is the stage manager who keeps things moving backstage. Karen Foley was the prop mistress, with lots of props to keep moving to the right places. Nick Colella was the lighting technician, with Donna Nussenblatt handling the spotlight. John Schaefer ran the sound, assisted by Michael Wagner. Karen Diehl, Art Gauthier, Phil Vachon and Jason Naber built the set with their crew, with additional set painting done by Laura Naber. I’m sure there are names I am missing, and I know the entire theater comes together for each production. MCT is a great group of volunteers dedicated to making quality live theater happen here in the Middle Keys.

This weekend — April 4, 5 and 6 — is the final weekend of “Disenchanted!” I wish I had seen it previously so I could have written this column earlier in the run of this stellar production. Please don’t miss out. Get your tickets now and enjoy the final weekend of tarnished tiaras and jaded princesses live on the Marathon Community Theatre stage.

- Catch John live Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, Friday night at Havana Jack’s, Sundays at Skipjack Tiki Bar, and this Monday at Havana Jack’s. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com • johnbartus. hearnow.com

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

FUNCTIONALLY CAFFEINATED WELLNESS

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF OPTIMIZED SLEEP

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, one of the most neglected aspects of our well-being is often sleep. This is my biggest health struggle. Yet the significance of a good night's rest cannot be overstated. From enhancing cognitive function to strengthening the immune system, the benefits of quality sleep are many. However, achieving optimal sleep isn't just about the duration; it's also about understanding the intricate stages of sleep and how to navigate them effectively.

The stages of sleep

Sleep is a complex process characterized by distinct stages, each serving a unique purpose in rejuvenating the mind and body. These stages are broadly categorized into two main types: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

During NREM sleep, the body undergoes a series of stages, including light sleep (Stage 1), transitioning into deeper sleep (Stage 2), and finally the deepest stage of NREM sleep (Stage 3). It's during Stage 3, also known as slow-wave sleep, that crucial physiological processes such as tissue repair and growth occur. This stage is vital for physical restoration and recovery.

REM sleep, on the other hand, is characterized by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity and vivid dreams. While the body remains largely immobile during REM sleep, the brain is highly active, processing emotions, consolidating memories and facilitating learning. This stage is crucial for cognitive function and emotional regulation.

Optimizing sleep

For the best sleep, it's essential to prioritize both the duration and the quality of each stage. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate your body's internal clock, optimizing the quality of your sleep cycles.

• Create a relaxing sleep environment. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool to promote uninterrupted sleep. Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows to ensure proper spinal alignment and reduce discomfort. The optimal temperature for sleeping is typically between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit as this range promotes the body's natural temperature regulation and helps facilitate the onset and maintenance of sleep. Cooler tempera-

tures help initiate the body's natural sleep process by promoting the release of melatonin while also preventing overheating, which can disrupt sleep cycles.

• Limit screen time before bed. The blue light emitted by electronic devices can disrupt the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime to promote relaxation and prepare your body for sleep.

• Engage in calming activities such as meditation, deep breathing exercises or gentle stretching before bedtime to quiet the mind and prepare for sleep.

• Limit stimulants and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can interfere with sleep quality by disrupting REM sleep and increasing wakefulness during the night.

3 truths and a lie about sleep:

Truth: Sleep is essential for memory consolidation and learning. During REM sleep,

the brain processes and stores information acquired throughout the day, facilitating learning and memory retention.

...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. jenniferlynnboltz@gmail.com

Truth: Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to a myriad of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and impaired immune function. Prioritizing adequate sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being.

Truth: Taking short naps, typically lasting around 20 to 30 minutes, can offer a quick boost in alertness and productivity without causing grogginess, making them beneficial for enhancing cognitive function and mood. However, longer naps, especially those exceeding 60 minutes, can disrupt nighttime sleep patterns and may lead to feelings of drowsiness upon waking, potentially diminishing overall sleep quality.

Lie: The myth that everyone needs exactly eight hours of sleep per night is not entirely accurate. While seven to nine hours is recommended for most adults, individual sleep needs can vary based on factors such as age, genetics and lifestyle.

Resources for further reading

For those seeking to delve deeper into the science of sleep and strategies for optimizing rest, several reputable resources are available:

National Sleep Foundation (sleepfoundation.org): A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving sleep health and promoting public understanding of sleep.

Sleep.org: An educational website developed by the National Sleep Foundation, offering comprehensive information on sleep disorders, tips for better sleep, and resources for improving sleep quality.

"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker: A groundbreaking book exploring the science of sleep and its impact on every aspect of our lives, from health and productivity to creativity and emotional well-being.

JENNIFER BOLTZ HARVEY

TRUSTS • WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY LADYBIRD DEEDS

Whether you are a resident or a snowbird, it is important to have your assets properly titled in a way that will avoid those assets going through probate.

KATHLEEN HENDRICKSON ATTORNEY AT LAW MASTERS OF LAW, ESTATE PLANNING 5701 Overseas Hwy • 305 393 2598

FACTS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR

Sam Steele monroetaxcollector.com

305.295.5000

APRIL

• Property tax installment applications for the 2024 tax roll are due by April 30.

• All unpaid property tax became delinquent as of April 1. Payments must be made in certified funds and must include 3% interest on the March amount.

• All unpaid tangible personal property tax payments must include interest at a rate of 1.5% per month and a $10.00 collection fee.

• A property that is being rented out for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account.

• As a reminder, online rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) DO NOT remit the 5% tourist development tax to our o ce. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the tax has been remitted.

• A local business tax is required for ALL property rentals, regardless of how long they are being rented.

• Please visit our website for helpful information, forms, applications, and important announcements.

Follow us on for more important tax information

Karen Bill

LARGE WATERFRONT HOME

1,920 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 160' of dockage on the ocean side of Marathon.

$999,999 MLS# 606254

MARINA & STORAGE

One plus acres with two plus acres of Bay bottom. Currently used for storage, lease expires in August 2024. Owner has plans for 300 boat storage on Racks and approx. 50 in wet storage using the bay bottom. There is a 150 foot dock on the property now. The sewage connection is to the property and paid for. $3,900,000 MLS#607041

305.743.2300

MS. TERI

9-year-old female mixed breed.

Looking for: Sunshine, belly rubs and lots of cuddles.

Turnoffs: I’m dog “selective.”

SWIPE RIGHT

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 10550 Aviation Blvd.

BENDER

7.5-year-old male Korean bobtail.

Looking for: I’m an easy, laidback dude looking for a place to chill.

Turnoffs: Not getting what I want.

MOMMA FOO FOO

1.5-year-old female dwarf lionhead rabbit.

Looking for: A free range home for my husband and me.

Turnoffs: When people get rabbits just for Easter – not cool.

‘BATTING’ THE MOSQUITO PROBLEM

Lower Keys tower was a roadside attraction

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI

In 1879, Richter Clyde Perky was born to parents living in Denver, Colorado. The boy grew up, moved east and began dealing in the South Florida and Florida Keys real estate market.

If his name sounds familiar, Perky was also associated with one of the island chain’s more unusual roadside attractions.

Richter Clyde Perky settled in Miami, and by 1914, his Island Holding Company was buying up real estate. In 1924, in the Florida Keys alone, Perky and the Island Holding Company had accumulated 25,000 acres that included more than 50 islands. On Key Largo, the company owned a reported 10,000 acres, about half of the total acreage of the largest of the Florida Keys. A large tract on North Key Largo was named Perkyland and included grapefruit and lime groves.

It was in the Lower Keys, on Sugarloaf Key, where Perky really left a footprint. The parcel, purchased in the 1920s, included the land previously owned by Key West’s Dr. Harris and later sold to the Chase brothers, who developed their Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company. Harris and the Chase brothers shared a desire to establish a commercial sponge “farming” industry in the clear shallows offshore. Both failed, for different reasons. When Perky bought the property, he, too, is said to have dabbled in the idea of commercial sponge farming.

R.C. Perky had big plans for Sugarloaf Key and envisioned a luxurious Florida Keys retreat in the area of what is today MM 17. He hired Fred L. Johnson to manage the property and the sponges. Johnson was from Key West and supervised the construction of Sugarloaf Key’s

most memorable structure — the aforementioned future roadside attraction.

When considering his plan to develop the property, one concern was those blood-thirsty needletoothed monsters known as mosquitoes. Perky had an idea. He had read about Dr. Charles Campbell of San Antonio, Texas, who wrote a book called “Bats, Mosquitoes, and Dollars.” One thing the book did was detail the vital role that bats can play in controlling mosquito populations. The book also promoted a bat tower of the doctor’s design capable of providing a welcoming home for a colony. He sent away for the blueprints.

Perky apparently claimed that between the cost of the plans, the lumber and the labor, he spent $10,000. According to an interview published in the Jan. 2, 1985 edition of the Miami Herald, Fred Johnson, who supervised the two carpenters who built the 30-foot tower, said the five-month project was cheaper to build — he did not say how much cheaper.

When the bat tower was finished, two things happened. For one, the tower was fitted with a plaque that read, “Dedicated to good health at Perky, Fla., by Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Perky, March 15, 1929.” The other was that Perky sent Dr. Campbell $500 for a shipment of his special “bat bait.”

When Dr. Campbell’s shipment arrived, the bait was placed on the floor of the 30-foot tall tower. The bait was a mixture of bat guano (poop) and Campbell’s secret blend of additional ingredients. According to Johnson, the stench, and it was smelly, never attracted any local bats. Perhaps the local bats preferred the fresh ocean breezes and did not care for the smell of Dr. Campbell’s special blend. Before Perky was able to purchase a second batch of the doctor’s bat bait, Campbell died and with him went the recipe.

Despite the failure of the tower to attract bats, nearly a decade after it was dedicated, Perky’s luxury stop “twenty miles or thirty minutes from Key West” was being advertised in the March 11, 1939 edition of the Key West Citizen. “The Old Established

Village name Perky, Florida – owning its own water, electric and other utilities and with its many fine buildings and docks, post office, telephone, telegraph, etc. Heretofore the 5,000 acre Perky Estate now at long last is open to a discriminating public. The Tavern, with its handsome, new Sugar Loaf Room for dining, ready with food that is the best. See the lights of Key West from our Observation Tower.”

Advertising being what it is, the Perky Estate boasting 5,000 acres is interesting, as Sugarloaf Key, where his fine buildings and tavern were located, totals out at about 14 acres. What is clear is that the Sugarloaf Key property was not his only one in the Lower Keys. To this point, there was an interesting letter published in the October 13, 1938 edition of the Key West Citizen.

W. Curry Harris, the legal advisor to the Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County, Florida, wrote it. In part, it read: “At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held yesterday afternoon, I was instructed to prepare and forward to you for your consideration, deeds for that portion of the abandoned right of way of the Florida East Coast Rail-

way owned and held by your various companies between Big Pine Key and Key West. … As near as I can figure from the right of way maps which were loaned me by the State Department, there is approximately 13,800 linear feet involved (approximately 2.6 miles). This is simply my estimate and the true figures may actually be less or greater. I hope that you will find it possible to give the county this property. ... I realize that you have had difficulties with the State Road Department, but in the final analysis Monroe County, and not the State Road Department, will be the beneficiary upon the completion of the new highway.”

When the third incarnation of the Overseas Highway opened in 1944, it incorporated Perky’s land donation. As for the roadside attraction, Perky’s Bat Tower fell in 2017. After nearly 90 years, the boards that once held the failed roost together were knocked about by the 130-mph winds of the Category 4 Hurricane Irma. The boards have since been removed and, in the best world possible, have been repurposed and now decorate the island chain in some alternative designs.

Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.

The bat tower on Sugarloaf Key circa 1967. J.F. BROOKS/ Monroe County Library Collection

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

The turkey vulture swooped low over the moat at Fort Zach, and I raised my camera because I knew it was going to shoot back up again and I would get a good shot. Except the bird didn’t shoot back up. It disappeared behind the bushes on what I presumed was the path.

Turkey vultures spend most of their day in the air, riding the winds, looking for food. They tend to land on the ground only when they have found something to eat. What do they eat? Almost exclusively dead things. Preferably dead things that have gone a little ripe.

Vultures are serious dietary opportunists. They’ll eat things as small as dead frogs, songbirds and mice, to things as large as the carcasses of cows, deer and alligators. They have been seen pulling bits from floating corpses of manatees. They will sometimes take a slow-moving, ground-dwelling chick, or a fish in very shallow water. They will also eat the occasional bit of coyote or sea lion poop.

And while all this is pretty gross, I will make the obligatory point that turkey vultures and other carrion eaters help keep the world clean. Without them the world would actually be a grosser – more gross? – place with a lot more dead things lying around for longer periods of time. Turkey vultures are one of the few carnivores that rarely take a life, but their guiltlessness, and their usefulness on the planet, generally don’t earn them a lot of love. The fact that they’re known for projectile vomiting as a mode of self defense probably doesn’t help.

At Fort Zach I started moving slowly toward the spot where the turkey vulture – the name usually shorthanded in birder world to TV –disappeared.

The path between the moat and the berm at Fort Zach is pretty well traveled. It was hard to imagine anything sizable, or noticeable to humans, dying and just being left there by the park staff. Thinking about what the vulture might be interested in, I believed it would most likely be an iguana.

I managed to advance far enough up the path to catch sight of the bird without scaring it off. Not that it didn’t notice me. It stood up a bit, straightened its posture, moved from the moat side of the path to the middle, fidgeting very slowly.

I’d say he looked like he was up to no good, but turkey vultures always look that way. It’s the lack of feathers on the head, and the wrinkled,

TURKEY VULTURES AND THE SWEET SPOT FOR STINK

red bare skin, which is functional for a creature that spends a good bit of time shoving its head into rotting corpses, but makes them look a bit like an aged, creepy viscount in a turtleneck. There is also the high, arching set of nostrils that are so wide and open that at least one birder was known to keep a list of plant species seen through turkey vulture nostril holes.

Their method of finding food was, for a long time, a controversial and bitterly debated subject. In John James Audubon’s era it was thought they found things by smell. When he was a young upstart in the world of ornithology, Audubon decided that no, that wasn’t the case, and wrote a paper with the brief and pithy title, “An Account of the Habits of the Turkey Buzzard (Vulture) particularly with the view of exploding the opinion generally entertained of its extraordinary power of smelling,” which he delivered to the Edinburgh Natural History Society in Scotland in 1826.

Audubon reported that to prove his point, he dragged an old pig carcass into a field and covered it with straw, and none of the turkey vultures in the area came to investigate. To further his point, he took a freshly dead rabbit and laid it near the straw-covered pig. Turkey vultures found it in a number of hours. He said he repeated this with several variations of dead animals and the results were always the same.

Some believed his conclusions. Many did not. Charles Waterton, a prominent English ornithologist of the era who had studied the turkey vulture, disagreed so violently that he suggested Audubon “ought to be whipped” for such a radical opinion. He went on to write at least 19 angry and virulent letters to the “Magazine of Natural History,” full of personal insults and withering grammatical critiques, ultimately inspiring the magazine to stop printing his letters and helping to shift public opinion in Audubon’s favor.

All of which demonstrates the pitfalls of a false dichotomy. Turns out TVs can find meals by both sight and smell. Audubon’s methodology was flawed. It is thought that the meat he used was too old and far gone. More modern

experiments show that TVs are rarely interested in carrion that has been dead longer than four days. There is such a thing as too rancid, even for turkey vultures. There is a sweet spot for stink.

Multiple experiments in the modern era, which generally involve hiding corpses or meat of the right age under coverings or in forests, have shown that turkey vultures have an amazingly perceptive sense of smell, something that has allowed them to become the most populous vulture species on the planet.

One interesting use of the turkey vulture’s olfactory abilities was that of the Union Oil Co., which in the 1960s started putting ethyl mercaptan – the terrible smelling chemical that dead creatures emit – into their natural gas pipelines. They would then look for turkey vultures circling low over their pipelines in order to find the leaks.

Recent studies of turkey vulture brains have shown they have an olfactory bulb four times the size of a black vulture’s, as well as twice as many mitral cells, which transmit information about smells to the brain.

While I was watching, the TV on the path at Fort Zach would occasionally disappear into the bushes, but then come back pretty quickly to his spot in the middle of the path. I’m not sure how long I watched. Five, 10 minutes. I watched until a German tourist couple came walking down the path, saw the vulture, paused briefly, then continued on, flushing it, the bird gaining purchase on the air in an instant and disappearing over the horizon in a matter of seconds.

When everyone was gone, I walked over to where the vulture had been. Despite looking carefully, I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t smell anything, either, though I do have a terrible sense of smell. But then I realized I was hearing a low undertone of soft buzzing, and I followed the sound until I found it – a dead iguana under a bush, swarmed by flies.

I wondered if anyone had ever done any experiments to figure out how far away a turkey vulture can hear the buzzing of a fly.

MARK HEDDEN

A turkey vulture seen recently at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

BRIEFLY

Free flights for youths on Young Eagles Day

On Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Middle Keys EAA will host a Young Eagle Rally at the Experimental Aircraft Association Museum at the Marathon airport. During the event, youngsters ages 8 to 17 can take a free flight in an airplane, provided by EAA member pilots in order to inspire kids through an introduction to the world of aviation. Parents or guardians can go to youngeaglesday.org to register and get more information.

UF/IFAS Extension offers CPR and first aid courses

UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County will be offering American Heart Association CPR (adult, child and infant) and first aid certification courses. There will be several courses offered throughout the Florida Keys. The CPR course costs $31 per person and the CPR/first aid combination course costs $41. You will receive your American Heart Association certification after the course. Courses will be offered at the following locations: Wednesday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at the Marathon Library; Thursday, April 25 at the Plantation Key Community Center; and Tuesday, April 30 at the Gato Building in Key West. For more information or to register for a course, call Monroe County Extension at 305-292-4501.

Dual enrollment opportunities at CFK

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) will hold a virtual event for Monroe County high school students and their parents/guardians to learn more about its dual enrollment opportunities on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. Through dual enrollment, high school students can simultaneously earn college and high school credits at no cost to the student. The program provides a head start to college for students while potentially saving families thousands of dollars. At the virtual event, CFK will discuss the benefits of taking dual enrollment classes, requirements to participate, and the application process.

More information is available at www.cfk.edu/de or from Marissa Owens, director of recruitment, at recruiter@cfk.edu.

MHS football set to host live pro wrestling in May

On Friday, May 3, the Marathon High School football team is set to

host a live pro wrestling fundraiser as Coastal Championship Wrestling visits the MHS gym for “Trouble in the Tropics.” The evening’s show will feature wrestlers Cha Cha Charlie, Ariel Levy, Ruthie Jay, Chris Farrow, Jackal Stevens and many more. The event is family-friendly, and doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets and additional details are available at ccwrestlingfl.com.

Leadership Monroe festival to celebrate 2024 grads

Leadership Monroe County (LMC) will celebrate its Class XXXI graduation with “Leadership Spring GradFest,” a community festival and alumni reunion to be held Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Marathon Community Park. The family-friendly event will feature food trucks, games, a bounce house, artist booths, members of the Key West Police Department mounted patrol unit, music, vendors, Monroe County non-profit booths and a Class XXXI raffle and graduation ceremony. Admission is $10; children aged 12 and under are admitted free. LMC is an educational, nonpartisan, nonprofit community organization that brings together existing and emerging leaders to build constructive alliances in the Florida Keys. More information is at leadershipmonroecounty.org or 305-394-3804.

Literacy tutors needed in Middle and Upper Keys

If you have two hours a week to help an adult in your community learn to read, write, speak, understand and better communicate in English, please call, text or email Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) Middle Keys coordinator Maria Triana or Upper Keys coordinator Raymond Reigadas. There is no charge for training and every volunteer gets to choose his or her own student or students. Please reach out to Triana at (305) 393-6064 or trianamaria@ comcast.net; or Reigadas at (305) 338-8067 or rrrr6491@gmail.com.

Marathon band seeks instrument repair sponsors

The Marathon High School band is asking for the community’s help in providing working instruments for the growing number of students in the program. Currently there are 60 older wind and percussion instruments that are in need of repair and maintenance. Most repairs are more than $150 to $200 per instrument this year. The band is seeking community members to “adopt” an

instrument for repair. Each sponsorship is for $100 and will include the sponsor’s name, foundation name or business name in a prominent location on a new band website. Each instrument repair sponsor will also be listed in the band concert programs for the remainder of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Support of these repairs helps keep participation for band and steel drum programs free. Please make checks payable to the Marathon Band, with “instrument repair sponsorship” in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to the school or dropped off in the front office.

ECMC, Champions for Change set BBQ dinner fundraiser

The Educational Coalition for Monroe County and Champions for Change will hold a barbecue dinner fundraiser at the Marathon Elks Lodge, 8329 Overseas Hwy., on Sunday, April 7 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Food will be served until 8 p.m., and takeout is available. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Dinner will include pork prepared by local pitmasters Matt Pitcher and Andrew Sharf along with sides, a roll and dessert. The evening will include a cash bar, 50/50 raffle and silent auction along with live music by Brian Roberts and the 79th Street Band beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com. Please call 305-731-0771 with any questions or to reserve a table with 10 tickets.

Healthy Start Coalition announces doula program

The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition (FKHSC) is seeking passionate individuals to join its community doula program. Through this program, FKHSC will sponsor qualified candidates’ tuition and liability insurance as they equip themselves with the skills and knowledge needed to support families during pregnancy, childbirth and the early postpartum period. Once students begin the doula program, they will have flexibility to complete the training within two years, which includes attending three births. Their support will go on to create positive birth experiences throughout the community for years to come. Doulas play a vital role in improving maternal and child health outcomes in the Florida Keys. FKHSC is seeking candidates who are passionate about maternal and child health, culturally competent and sensitive to diverse needs. Being fluent in English, Spanish and/or

Haitian-Creole is a plus. To apply for the program or learn more about FKHSC, visit keyshealthystart.org or call 305-293-8424.

Come take a class at the Marathon library

The Marathon library has a wide variety of class offerings, ranging from photography to book clubs, robots, virtual reality and more. Scan the QR code here to see the schedule and get involved.

MLKAR to offer scholarships for high school seniors

The Marathon and Lower Keys Association of Realtors is once again offering four $1,500 college scholarships for graduating seniors. These scholarships are open to any graduating senior who lives between Layton and Saddlebunch Key, regardless of where they attend school or if they are home schooled. An application essay of no more than 500 words must be typed, doublespaced and answer the prompt:

“How do you perceive Realtors as being an asset to the economy and our community?” Students should check their high school websites or call or email MLKAR at 305-743-2485 or CEO@MLKAR.com for important essay guidelines. The deadline for submission is April 15.

Marathon Garden Club invites scholarship applicants

Marathon High School collegebound seniors are invited to apply for the Nancy Miller Garden Club Scholarship. The scholarship is for a student with an interest in the environment, horticulture and science who intends to major in the areas of STEM. The application is on the Marathon High School website under the “CCAPS Scholarship Opportunities” tab, with additional hard copies available at the high school. Applications are due Friday, April 12, and the award will be presented on Class Night.

THE SCOREBOARD

In a challenging year for the Keys’ girls basketball teams, the stars on the court never fail to shine. Meet Brooke Mandozzi, top, Olivia Gibson, right, Marti Kilbourne and the rest of the 2023-24 All-Keys Girls Basketball Team. See page 8. Photos by Doug Finger, Barry Gaukel and Grace Andrew.

THIS WEEK

Jay has stepped up big-time this year. He’s become such a great inspiration for the younger kids on the team.”

– Darby Sheehan, Marathon head coach

100M

Watching Marathon’s Jay Marshall on the soccer pitch, one quickly realizes that he is fast, but it was not until track season that we understood just how fast the junior is. Marshall has been putting effort into his starts, focusing on the little things that make a big difference in shorter sprint races, and his times have been steadily speeding up.

“He’s at practice every day putting in the work, and we are beyond thrilled to see his work paying off,” said Fins coach Darby Sheehan.

Marshall owns the school records in the 100- and 200-meter races and most recently broke his own record in the 100. He consistently crosses the line before athletes from larger schools and has all that it takes to bring home some hardware from districts, regionals and even states this year. For his dedication to improving his times and his positive contributions in teamwork and sportsmanship, Marathon’s Jay Marshall is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Mikail “Jay”

Junior, Marathon Track & Field

Photo by BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

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

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

Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

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Se habla español

THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050.

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All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.

After the team’s runner-up finish at districts, some high-ranking Marathon lifters are still waiting on results from other meets to see if they will qualify for regional competition. BARRY

9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050

Office: 305.743.0844

www.keysweekly.com

On this week’s Keys Weekly Sports Wrap Podcast, Sean and Tracy break down all the games and events from the past week. You will hear which boys weightlifters who were on the bubble made the cut to regionals as well as any last-minute lacrosse news on the ever-changing rankings which determine postseason matchups and game locations.

tracy mcdonald

sean mcdonald

ACES DUEL IN THE BATTLE OF THE KEYS

’Canes edge Fins in critical district matchup; Key West wins a pair

The March 25 baseball battle between Marathon and Coral Shores did not disappoint. In their only regular-season matchup, Coral Shores traveled to Marathon with the upper hand, but all bets are off whenever Keys teams face off against each other.

While both teams have been hitting well all season, the game last week came down to a pitching duel between Marathon’s Dylan Ziels and Coral Shores’ Campbell Lavoie.

The game remained scoreless until inning 6, when Coral Shores senior AJ Putetti singled on a hard ground ball. Putetti used his hustle to get to second, then advanced to third on an error. That error, the lone mistake for either team, would cost the Fins dearly when Putetti reached home on a wild pitch. It would be the only time a player from either team crossed the plate the entire night. Coral Shores won the game 1-0, fueled by a surgical performance from Lavoie, who struck out 10, walked 3 and allowed just 3 hits from the Fins.

Eighth-grader Jack Chapman had 2 of those hits, with one being a double. Freshman Roco Piscetello, in his first varsity start, had the remaining Marathon hit.

Ziels pitched a gem of his own, dominating the Hurricanes’ lineup with 13 strikeouts, walking just one batter and allowing 4 hits. Coral Shores’ Lavoie, Putetti, Ben Friedman and Donovan Thiery each singled in the district win.

On March 29, the Hurricanes traveled to Keys Gate for another district matchup. This time, pitching duties would be shared by four ’Canes. Riley O’Berry, Tate Brumbalow, Grayden Ross and Thiery collectively struck out 7 batters, walked 9 and allowed 10 hits from Keys Gate in the 16-10 loss. Six errors would cost the ’Canes the win, dropping their record to 5-7. Zeke Myers and Putetti each had a pair of hits. Lavoie, Thiery, O’Berry, Maykol

Bonito-Rodriguez, Keller Blackburn and Eddie Holly accounted for the rest.

Coral Shores, Keys Gate and Marathon are ranked within five places of each other in 3A District 16 action, making every game count as the teams march toward playoffs at the end of April. Up for grabs are coveted home game bracket positions.

Key West got back to its winning ways last week, picking up a pair of wins against two ABF Academy teams. On March 29, the Conchs played the ABF Homestead Bandits, winning 5-0. Anthony Lariz had another phenomenal night on the mound, striking out 13 batters over 6 innings. Felix Ong closed it up for the Conchs, securing the win with 1 inning of relief. Key West needed just 5 hits to beat the Bandits. Caden Pichardo hit a triple and Roman Garcia had a double. Noah Burnham, Jacob Burnham and Nelson Ong each singled in the win. The following night, Key West played ABF Academy Hialeah. The Cowboys, considered the better of the two ABF teams, gave Key West some trouble early on, putting up a defensive wall and preventing the Conchs from scoring until inning 3. By inning 6, Key West pulled ahead enough to enjoy some breathing room. The Cowboys racked up 9 hits to Key West’s 5, but the Conchs made theirs count. Nelson Ong led the charge with a pair of hits, one single and one double. Garcia, Steel Mientkiewicz and Noah Burnham had the other 3. Jacob Burnham went the distance on the mound for Key West, striking out 6 and walking just 1 Cowboy. The Conchs faced a big test April 3 against 7A Columbus on the road before returning to Rex Weech to play Sarasota this weekend.

Above: The Fins’ Dylan Williams (11) extends for the ball as the Hurricanes’ Grayden Ross (1) reaches second base.

Above left: Coral Shores’ pitcher Campbell Lavoie struck out 10 Fins in the 1-0 win on March 25 at Marathon.

Photos by Joy Smith and Barry Gaukel. See more photos at keysweekly.com

MARATHON LIFTERS WIN RUNNER-UP DISTRICT TROPHY

Coral Shores takes third place as strongmen turn focus to regionals

Marathon and Coral Shores attended the FHSAA 1A District 16 Championships on March 28 at Doctors Charter School in Miami. At the end of the event, five athletes earned district championship medals and an automatic bid to regionals. Additionally, Marathon claimed the runner-up trophy for both the Olympic and traditional events. Coral Shores was third and fourth, respectively.

Marathon’s Chase Leird won district gold in the 119-lb. weight class. Leird won both events by lifting more than 50 pounds over his closest competitor. Max Childress also outlifted his opponents by huge margins, winning both events in the 183-lb. class. Marathon’s final double winner was Tanner Ross in the 199-lb. category. Like Leird and Childress, Ross outlifted the No. 2 athlete by well over 50 pounds in both categories.

Marathon’s final automatic qualifier for regionals was Braulio Garcia, who won the traditional event in the 238-lb. class. Because only the district champion receives an automatic qualification for the next level of competition, other Fins will need to wait until the other three regions complete their competitions to determine whether they made the cut.

Damian Staciewicz, competing in the 154-lb. class, will likely qualify in both events. Staciewicz

won the runner-up spot for both styles of lifting against the top-ranked athlete in the region. Other probable qualifiers are Matthias Martinez-Velez, who took second in the traditional event at 139 pounds. Alex Cruz was second in traditional at 219 pounds and Eduardo Garcia was second in Olympic and third in traditional at 238 pounds.

Coral Shores’ AJ Johnson earned an automatic spot at regionals in the 219-lb. category. Johnson outlifted the runners-up in his events by over 50 pounds, securing a trip to the next level of competition. Xavier Johnson stands a chance to make the cut after claiming a pair of third-place finishes in the 183-lb. class. Liam Bursa, Cody Roberts, Zane Rindom and Rijel Acosta all finished fourth in at least one style of lifting in their respective weight classes, giving them some hope for a regional trip as well.

Once the dust settles and all four districts have posted their scores, the final list for regionals will be set. Those qualifying will make the trip to Frostproof Middle High School on April 4. Athletes who win regional gold are given the golden ticket to states later this month. The top 20 lifters, including the regional champions at each weight, will earn a bid, making it imperative that each athlete performs his best in hopes of making a coveted state championship trip.

Marathon’s Max Childress, left, and Tanner Ross show off their double district gold.

COURT RULERS

Coral Shores takes care of Fins

Coral Shores made light work of Marathon on the tennis courts last week. Both the boys and girls defeated the Dolphins 6-1 on March 28. Makani Burga, Johann Smith, Jaden Heilbron and Tony Khioni won their singles matches, while Merrick Dunn and Max Smith teamed up to win the No. 2 doubles match. Marathon’s Adrien Holdinga and Tanner Snowden claimed the only Marathon boys victory in the No. 1 doubles match.

Marquisha Abraham was the

lone winner for the Lady Fins. Abraham claimed the win in the No. 1 singles match. The Lady ’Canes’ Macy Cakans, Ally Ingold-Thompson and Alice King won the other singles matches, while Cakans and Olivia Hughes and Vanessa Gabriels and Emily Rosu won in doubles.

Two days prior, Coral Shores lost to LaSalle. Kai Redruello had the only win in girls action, taking the No. 4 singles match. Burga won the No. 1 singles match and teamed up with Aidan Althouse to win in doubles.

Macy Cakans. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

THE 2023-24 ALL-KEYS GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

Coral Shores earns top record, but Keys rivals prevent a Monroe County sweep

This year, higher latitudes meant better records in girls basketball. Up in Tavernier, Coral Shores went 13-6, with six of those wins coming in a mid-season streak. The Lady ’Canes won their opening district game, but fell in the semis to South Homestead. While they will graduate two starters, the Hurricanes have plenty of talent left on their roster to come back for another winning season next year.

Marathon had an even 10-10 record, including a pair of wins against Key West and a split with Coral Shores. The Fins graduate just one senior this year, making for a potentially explosive 2024/25 season.

Key West had a challenging year, finishing with a 0-16 record. The Lady Conchs did prove they were on the right path, though; they came within 4 points of a win twice this season. Their closest games were against Marathon and Coral Shores, proving that when a rivalry game was on the line, they could rise to the challenge and give Conch fans a lot of hope for next season.

Described by the Coral Shores coaching staff as “a warrior,” Mandozzi battled through injuries as well as double and triple-team situations to score an incredible 19.6 points per game for the ’Canes. “She just found a way to make winning plays for us,” said head coach Jarrod Mandozzi. The relentless senior had a 61% field goal percentage and averaged 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game, making her a force to be reckoned with offensively and defensively.

Photos by Barry Gaukel, Doug Finger and Grace Andrew.

Brooke Mandozzi SENIOR | CSHS GUARD/FORWARD

MVP

SENIOR | CSHS GUARD

Averaging 6.4 points per game offensively plus 4.7 steals and 4.3 deflections per game defensively, Makayla Hann is capable of big things on both sides of the court. “She really came into her own and was our team leader in both steals and three-point percentage,” said coach Mandozzi of Hann’s skills.

21

Lilee Gage

Just a freshman, Lilee Gage tore up the court this season, putting other teams on notice that Key West girls basketball is most definitely on the upswing. The 5’10” power forward had multiple double-double games this year, and all indicators point to her becoming a powerhouse in the next few seasons.

41

Marti’Yana

Kilbourne

JUNIOR | MHS FORWARD

Marathon’s Marti’Yana

Kilbourne put in the work in the offseason to hone her skills for a strong junior campaign. Kilbourne was key in rebounding for the Fins, using her aggressive style and commanding strength to reclaim loose balls. Though only 5’6”, Kilbourne’s presence on the court is much larger.

30

Grace Leffler

JUNIOR

Hurricane hoopster Grace Leffler’s well-rounded play was key for Coral Shores throughout the season. The junior averaged 8.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game for the Lady ’Canes, making her a jack of all trades and giving her team a lot to look forward to during her senior season.

Elena Eubank

Eubank has been a staple on Marathon’s varsity lineup for four years, serving as a captain since she was a sophomore, and still has a season of eligibility to go. The talented junior uses her athleticism to outhustle opponents on both sides of the ball. Eubank is both physical and dependable, giving every game her all. 3

4 Olivia Gibson

SENIOR | KWHS CENTER/POWER FORWARD

Key West senior Olivia Gibson has been a rock for the Lady Conchs, serving as captain of a pair of very young teams the past two seasons. Gibson’s 5’11” height gave her the advantage in the paint, but her hustle and determination are what set her apart. Her leadership helped steady her teammates during a rebuilding season.

JUNIOR | MHS POINT GUARD

FRESHMAN | KWHS POWER FORWARD/CENTER

| CSHS GUARD/FORWARD

Makayla Hann

MARATHON ATHLETES HAVE STRONG SHOWING AT PACE

Keys teams to compete locally this week

On March 27, Marathon made the trip to Pace in Miami to participate in a meet against multiple South Florida schools. Mikail Marshall beat a field of 30 in the 100-meter dash, crossing the line in 11.17 seconds and setting a new school record in the process. Marshall also won the 200-meter race in 22.83 seconds. Vance Bursa, who has been picking up speed as he comes off an injury, was first in the mile run, finishing in 4:45.98. His younger brother, Tony, finished second in the mile, then took first in the two-mile, finishing in 11:33.07 with teammate Allan Taylor right behind in second place. Mason Buxton’s 135’ 04.57” javelin toss was another first-place win for the Fins.

On the girls team, Mikkel Ross was first in the two-mile run, crossing the finish line in 14:18.80, then claimed second place in the mile. Rebecca Merryman finished fourth in the mile. Hurdlers Caylie Globe and Cami Wrinn had a good showing. Globe finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles while Wrinn took second place in the 400-meter hurdles. Justice Lee had success in the throwing events, with a second-place discus throw that surpassed the school record. Lee also took second place in javelin and fourth place in shot put. Marathon’s next competition will be at its home meet on Monday, April 8.

Up the road, Coral Shores coach Herbert James and a small group of athletes attended the South Florida Invitational at Southridge on March 30. There, a pair of Hurricanes, both seniors, finished in the top 10. Ethan Marguet was third and Cody Roberts finished 10th in the 800-meter run.

Key West was off last week, but will be busy this week. The Conchs will be at Coral Shores on April 4 and in Marathon on April 8. District events are approaching quickly, with the ’Canes and Conchs set to travel to Tropical Park on April 24 for the 2A championships. Marathon will compete at Palmer on May 1 in the 1A competition.

Left: Coral Shores senior Cody Roberts finished 10th in the 800-meter run in the South Florida Invitational on March 30. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

Right: Marathon senior Mason Buxton won the javelin competition at Pace on March 27. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

Far right: Justice Lee placed in all three throwing events at Pace last week.

TOUGH WEEK FOR KEYS LAX

Districts begin in one week

There were no winners in Monroe County lacrosse last week, with Keys teams taking on tougher opponents at the end of the regular season to prepare for the higher-caliber competition they will likely see in the upcoming postseason.

Key West’s 7-3 boys team has not played a game since its March 15 loss to Menendez of St. Augustine. The team has the chance to put its wins into double digits with three regular season games left on the schedule. The Conchs’ record and strength of schedule should give them the No. 2 seed in their district, which could mean a playoff home game as long as they beat Westminster Christian on Saturday, April 6.

Coral Shores was dealt a pair of losses, the first coming at St. Brendan School on March 27, where the ’Canes lost 11-10. Two nights later, Coral Shores hosted NSU University School and lost 10-2. The 1-9 Hurricanes will have a chance to clinch the No. 4 seed

From top:

in the district with a win against Westminster Christian and despite their record, the ’Canes are a talented team with the potential to upset a higher-ranked squad.

The Lady ’Canes and Lady Conchs each played one game last week. The Hurricanes were at Lourdes Academy on March 26, where they fell to the Royal Lions 15-6. Key West fell to the highlyranked St. Thomas Aquinas on March 28, losing to the Raiders 15-1.

Coral Shores and Key West both have an opportunity to host a game for the opening round of district play. Their six-team district will likely have the No. 1 and No. 2 spots claimed by Westminster and Ransom, leaving the third seed up for grabs. The Conchs are currently the higher-ranked team, which would give them the home-team advantage in their quarterfinal game. A Key West/Coral Shores game is a strong possibility for round one, which begins for all districts on Wednesday, April 10.

The Key West boys lacrosse team has three regular-season games left on the schedule. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

The Key West girls lacrosse team fell to the highly-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas on March 28. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

The Coral Shores boys lacrosse team faced a pair of losses on March 27 and 29, playing tougher teams in preparation for the postseason. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of FLORIDA KEYS BABY APPAREL CO., located at 35 Hibiscus Lane, Monroe County in the City of Key Largo, Florida 330374570, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated at Key Largo, Florida this 29th day of March, 2024.

By: Angelica Marie Blanco

Publish: April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

FICTITIOUS NAME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of TROPHY HUNTER SPORTFISHING located at 3635 Seaside Drive, Apt 312, Monroe County in the City of Key West, Florida 33040-5304, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated at Key West, Florida this 29th day of March, 2024.

By: Michael Weinhofer

Publish: April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE WHEATON’S SERVICE CENTER gives notice that on 4/26/2024 at 10:00 AM, the following vehicle(s) may be sold by public sale at 101500 OVERSEAS HWY, KEY LARGO, FL 33037 to satisfy the lien for the amount owed on each vehicle for any recovery, towing, or storage services charges and administrative fees allowed pursuant to Florida statute 713.78.

Wheaton’s Service Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

2LNHM82W88X654258 2008

LINC

Publish: April 4 & 11, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE WHEATON’S SERVICE

CENTER gives notice that on 5/10/2024 at 10:00 AM, the following vehicle(s) may be sold by public sale at 101500 OVERSEAS HWY, KEY LARGO, FL 33037 to satisfy the lien for the amount owed on each vehicle for any recovery, towing, or storage services charges and administrative fees allowed pursuant to Florida statute 713.78.

Wheaton’s Service Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1FTVF14585NA05196 2005

FORD

Publish: April 4 & 11, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given that on dates below these vessels will be sold at public sale on the date listed below at 10AM for monies owed on vessel repair and storage cost pursuant to Florida Statutes 328.17.

May 27, 2024 at 10:00 AM

Yacht Club Drive Marina, 107690 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL Yacht Club Drive Marina reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

1994 CTY CTYD0011I495

$9,055.52

Owners: Cincinnati Financial Corp

Publish: April 4 & 11, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statutes 83.805/83.506, Upper Keys Commerce Center, 97300 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 will sell or otherwise dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.

All contents in:

Unit 28 – Jeremy Vallies Sale of all goods will be 4/15/24 at 10:00 am at , 97300 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.

Upper Keys Commerce Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and/all bids.

Publish:

March 28 & April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council will hold their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The Visit Florida Keys Corporation will also convene during this meeting. All Tourist Development Council Meetings are open to the public, and one or more County Commissioners may be in attendance. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, they will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, they 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.

Effective April 1, 2024, Karisa Falden, D.O., is no longer practicing with Baptist Health Primary Care at the following location: 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 17, Marathon, FL 33050.

Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may log into our patient portal at myBaptistHealth.net, call 305-434-1400 or fax 305-743-0962 to request a records release.

Publish: April 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the Monroe 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”.

Publish:

April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on April 17, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the following: ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO SOUTHERNMOST MEDICAL TRANSPORT FOR THE OPERATION OF A CLASS A ALS AND BLS AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICE WITHIN MONROE COUNTY, FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 18, 2024 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2026. The public can participate in the April 17, 2024 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.

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) 292- 4441, between the hours of 8:30a.m.—5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voiceimpaired, 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 4th day of April, 2024.

KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida

Publish: April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the Board of County Commissioners (the "Board") of Monroe County, Florida (the "County") on April17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, in the Board meeting room of the Marathon Government Center - BOCC, 2798 Overseas Highway, 2nd Floor, Marathon, Florida, for the purpose of receiving comments and hearing discussion concerning the County's proposed additional draws of not to exceed $1,340,000 in aggregate principal amount against the Monroe County, Florida Tax-Exempt Master Airport Revenue Note (PNC Bank, National Association Line of Credit), Series 2024 (AMT) (the "Master Note"), pursuant to a resolution to be considered for adoption by the Board on April 17, 2024, as supplemented. Draws against the Master Note will be applied to: finance and refinance the costs of certain capital improvements to the Key West International Airport

(the "Airport"), including the development, construction and equipping of a new second-level concourse of approximately 48,805 square feet ("Concourse A") consisting of:(1) seven gates all fitted with passenger boarding bridges, holdroom areas, passenger circulation space, concession areas, restrooms, a nursing room, a pet relief area, building support areas, including mechanical rooms, IT/ Communication rooms, an electrical room, elevator, storage, janitors closet, and stair areas and (2) a ground (apron) level below Concourse A to support a new baggage make-up area and device(s), tug lanes, airline ramp space, ramp equipment storage and circulation space (collectively the "Project"). The Project will be located at Key West International Airport, 3491 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, Florida. The County will own and operate the Project which will be part of the Airport. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearing and to, either personally or through their representatives, present oral or written comments and discussion concerning the proposed plan of finance. Written comments may also be submitted prior to the hearing at the Office of the County Attorney, 1111 12th Street, Suite 408, Key West, Florida 33040, Attention: County Attorney. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding should 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 at our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl. iqm2.com/Citizens/Default. aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Any person deciding to appeal any decision made by the County after the hearing will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

The public hearing is required by Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Subsequent to the public hearing, the Board will consider whether to approve the issuance of the Master Note as required by Section 147(f) of the Code. Any person interested in the issuance of the Master Note or the location or nature of the Project may appear and be heard. By order of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Holly Merrill Raschein, Mayor Board of County Commissioners

Publish: April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF CODE

AMENDMENT HEARING

SECOND/FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2024-489

The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2024-489], entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCE ARTICLE

VI – FINANCE, SECTION 2-75, TO INCREASE THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING THRESHOLD; AMENDING THE LANGUAGE CONTAINING SCRIVENER’S ERROR, REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”

The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach.

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, April 18th, 2024, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Commission, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, and your comments will be entered into the record.

To be published: On or before April 8th, 2024

City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: April 4, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances. DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 18th, 2024, 9:35 am OR at the conclusion of the Public Hearing LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000139-PK IN RE: ESTATE OF PAUL F. OBRECHT, JR. Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of PAUL F. OBRECHT, JR., deceased, whose date of death was January 26, 2024; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 24-CP-000139-PK, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070. 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, and who have been served a copy of this notice, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED 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: MARCH 28, 2024. Personal Representative: PAUL F. OBRECHT, III 10525 Stevenson Road Stevenson, MD 21153 Attorney for Personal Representative: JOHN MICHAEL LYNN, ESQ. Florida Bar No. 0147273 Turner & Lynn, P.A. 7 Barracuda Lane Key Largo, Florida 33037 Telephone: (305) 367-0911 turnerlynnpa@gmail.com Publish: March 28 & April 4, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers

CASE

24-CP-143-K IN

ESTATE OF

RITA HAWXHURST, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of SUSAN RITA HAWXHURST, deceased, whose date of death was March 8, 2024, Case: 24-CP-143-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s

AUTOS WANTED

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

BOATS FOR SALE

2008 Precision 165 Sailboat for sale. Length: 16.5’ Beam 7’2” Draft 1’9” Fiberglass w/ two 6’8” berths. Trailer and 1.5 hp Honda outboard. $6,500. Located on Summerland Key. Call Kyle 928-231-0442

Place your BOAT FOR SALE ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

BOAT SLIP FOR RENT

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

Place your BOAT SLIP FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

CAMPING SITES

Camping site at marina available in Marathon. $30+/day + misc. Free use of dingy & fishing on dock. 305-610-8002

COMMERCIAL SPACE

FOR SALE OR LEASE

COMMERCIAL OFFICE/ RETAIL SPACE For Sale or Lease, Middle of Marathon. Excellent Highway Exposure, 1,900 + sq. ft. Available May 1st. Call or text 305731-6021

EMPLOYMENT

Las Marias Medical Center- Hiring bilingual: Front Desk, RN, Medical Assistant & Local Driver. Tavernier, MM 91. 305-780-7730

Personal Assitant needed for Key Colony Beach couple. Two times/week - driving to doctor appts, handyman projects, gardening, light housekeeping, must be capable of lifting large male if needed and be good with animals. Must have references. Call Christina 954-483-5426

Joseph Molinaro

CPA, LLC in Tavernier is looking for an Office Manager. Duties include answering phones, client screening, accounts payable and purchasing, accounts receivables, file management and other office duties. Must know Quickbooks desktop and Microsoft suite. Monday – Friday 10-5. Email resume Joe@jmolinaro.cpa

Hiring: Lead Gutter Installer - EXPERIENCE REQUIRED – valid Driver’s License - must be comfortable with heights - located in Tavernier. To apply, please call or text Jay 305-587-1581.

Marathon Auto Air looking for Shop Help - full or part-time. Pay based on experience. Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-289-9884

City of Marathon

Current Job Openings: Administrative Asst. Fire Department and Part-time Custodian/ Maintenance. Full Benefits for full-time positions. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a full-time line cook. Private club, friendly atmosphere, afternoon/evening hours Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide checking account for direct deposit, photo ID, and social security card or passport. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com.

Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time dishwasher. Private club, friendly atmosphere, flexible afternoon/ evening hours available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID and social security card or passport. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com

The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is now hiring for the following positions: Server, $10/hr + tips, 9:30am-7pm, Beach Shop Attendant, $18/ hr, 9:30am-5pm, and Part-time Office Clerk, $18/hr, Thu/Fri/Sat, 9:30am-7pm. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Housing Choice Voucher Asst., PT Receptionist, Housing ManagerMiddle Keys, HVAC Maintenance Mechanic, and Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker). 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. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call

Place your Hobbies/ Collectibles ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844.

The Monroe County Homeless Services Continuum of Care (MC-CoC) is seeking an EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

The position of Executive Director is a full time exempt salaried supervisory position. This position requires a bachelor's degree in public administration, non-profit management, social services or related field - a graduate degree is preferred - and five (5) years of experience in management and supervision. The executive director will work with the Board of Directors to meet the goals and objectives of the agency.

Please send resume or contact Steve Torrence by email: eywsteve@icloud.com

FLORIDA BAY FOREVER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR is the key management leader and is responsible for overseeing the administration, educational programs and fundraising for the organization. Other key duties include marketing, community outreach and volunteer management. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors. For more information email info@floridabayforever.org. Learn more about our work at www.floridabayforever.org.

Place your Housing For Rent ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844.

RV LOT FOR RENT

RV Site for rent in Marathon. Up to 35', private gated property. $1,500/mo plus water & sewer (electric included). Dockage available - inquire for price. 305-610-8002

Place your RV Lot For Rent ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844.

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

YARD SALES

Place your YARD SALE ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

D’Asign Source is seeking the following professionals. Overtime and benefits are available. For full details, please visit: DAsignSource.com/careers

Interior Designer

Apply knowledge & creative skills to projects at our high-end design center. Must possess history of achievement in quality projects and a strong sales background.

FULL-TIME POSITION POLICE OFFICER

The City of Key Colony Beach is accepting applications for a FULL-TIME Police Officer.

Applicants must posses a current Florida Certification as a police officer. Applicants will undergo a thorough background investigation, including drug screening, medical, polygraph and a psychological exam.

Salary: $60,000.

Full Health & Dental Insurance, 457 (b) Participation.

Email resume to: Chief of Police at: chief@keycolonybeach.net Or call for additional information: 305-289-1212 ext. 1

Preference in the selection of vacant positions will be given to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans. The Key Colony Beach Police Department is an EEO employer, drug-free and nicotine-free workplace.

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

MARINA CASHIERS

Must have customer service experience working in a retail environment and using a point of sale system. Additional duties include restocking, completing purchase orders, daily ordering of basic items in the store, and maintaining a clean appearance in the store. This is an hourly position and compensation is based on experience. Work hours are flexible and we try to maintain a set weekly schedule.

DOCKHANDS

Duties include customer service, helping customers with bait and ice and helping cashiers with restocking. Morning & a ernoon hours available.

Please respond by email (Ma at islamarinama @gmail.com) with any relevant previous experience and at least two references.

NOW HIRING ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE HELP

Fast paced, busy resort in need of Of ce Help. Must be able to multi-task, stay calm under pressure and have great communication skills. Be dependable, able to work weekends, 3 to 4 days a week, hours til 7pm.

If you want to be part of a great team, please apply! Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come into the of ce at 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon to ll out an application. CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE

DIRECT CARE STAFF/DRIVER (FT/PT)

KEY WEST OFFICE

This position is available at our Adult Day program. Providing direct care service & support to our clients in the day program. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. FL Driver’s license w/clean driving record, pre-employment training online and in person. Ability to pass a Level II background screening and references.

The Advocate DUI Program is hiring for part time positions. DUI instructors and evaluators - 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required. Bilingual preferred, not required. Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.

GCC offers excellent benefits for full-time employment, but we realize some would prefer part-time to enjoy the Florida Keys lifestyle more.

All positions can be considered for full or part-time unless notated. Apply at westcare.com and enter your availability.

KEY WEST

Peer Support Specialist

Prevention Specialist (any location)

Advocate (PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult)

Behavioral Health Counselor (Child)

Case Manager (Adult, Forensic)

MARATHON

Admission Specialist Care Coordinator (PT)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Child)

RNs/LPNs - 3 shifts (PT/Per Diem)

Peer Support Specialist

*Support Worker – Assisted Living (PT)

*Behavioral Health Technicians

3 shifts (also Per Diem)

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

Administrative Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent)

Facilities Maintenance Apprentice

(Full-Time, Permanent)

Education Program Host (Full-Time, Permanent)

Staff Photographer

(Full-Time, Part-Time, Seasonal)

Media & Marketing Assistant (Full-Time, Permanent)

Visual Communications Coordinator

(Full-Time, Permanent)

Trainer (Full-Time, Permanent)

MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE

We are now hiring for the following positions:

Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers

CDL Drivers

Applicants must apply in person to be considered.

4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER HAS A FT/PERMANENT OPENING FOR A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE

Must work well with animals, in order to support Medical & Animal Care & Training departments & participate on Manatee Rescue Team. Must be physically fit, able to lift 75 lbs., possess general “handy-man” skills, have a clean driving record & be diver certified or willing to become certified –knowledge of dive equipment maintenance is a plus. Successful candidate will be responsible, organized, & motivated with excellent team player skills.

Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k), vacation & paid holidays.

Job description available at www.dolphins.org. Email resume & DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE