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The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in the team’s history, beating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 on June 24. The Panthers, after winning the first three games, had to stave off a fast and furious Oilers team which won three straight games to force a Game 7.
All of us at the Keys Weekly would like to wish our readers a happy, healthy and safe Fourth of July. For more on Marathon’s festivities, see page 14.
SOMBRERO FLOODING EARNS HEAVY CRITICISM AT MARATHON COUNCIL WORKSHOP
Marathon’s June 25 city council workshop outlined plans underway to alleviate severe flooding along the perennially problematic Sombrero Boulevard – but not without a healthy dose of resident input on the severity of the situation and its culprits. Plans for the city’s proposed fix to the flooding were previously outlined in a detailed question-and-answer piece with Marathon officials in the June 20 edition of the Marathon Weekly. (To read, scan the attached QR code.) Those plans were explained again Tuesday night, with engineer Steve Suggs of Weiler Engineering describing an upgraded $1 million drainage and pump system estimated for completion in October 2025.
Currently in the permitting stage, the project is expected to be put out for bid by late July, with an award to be voted on by the council in September and construction to begin in October 2024.
Planned features include a raised sidewalk with lighting along the southern edge of Sombrero Boulevard, with a re-graded road designed for water to flow into a drainage apparatus between the road and sidewalk. From there, three pumps will force water down available injection wells at rates upwards of 1,200 gallons per minute each.
Suggs emphasized that the road’s low elevation, the increasing severity of storms and rising tides mean that even the new system will not prevent the road from flooding altogether. “What we can do is try to make it go away
faster,” he said. “But I want to be very clear on the expectation that you can’t stop it (from flooding) without raising that entire road, which is a huge undertaking and would affect all the surrounding properties.”
Dockside Boot Key Harbor owner Simone Mullis said the flooding has already caused multiple days of little to no business for her restaurant compared to previous years, and has even forced her to close as conditions became too dangerous for employees to report to work. Using historical sales numbers, she estimated that just two instances of severe flooding cost Dockside an estimated $12,000.
“You’ll never know the proven total cost of what we lost on that particular day,” she said. “I don’t know how many days I can close and lose $5 or $6,000.”
“We’ve had water within inches of coming into condos recently, and we had so much water in our lift station that it was tripping the breaker and causing sewage to start to back up into our condos,” said boulevard resident Robin Rivera. “Who’s going to be re-
sponsible for payments for the losses that are starting to be incurred with the flooding? The rain that has been occurring over the past few years has continued to get worse and worse. It’s not just this year.”
Developer Mike Aranda Jr. and charter captain Dave Perry took aim at the project in progress at the Florida Keys Country Club adjacent to the flooding, responsible for a heavily-criticized berm exacerbating stormwater retention along Sombrero Boulevard’s south side.
“What I'm hearing now is that taxpayers are going to pay for (the drainage system),” Aranda said. “When you come to do a development, would it not be reasonable for the taxpayers to ask the city council or staff to ask the developer, ‘Have you done an assessment of the area surrounding it? And if so, how is it going to impact it?’
“I don’t see how in the world you expect taxpayers who had their homes flooded from a guy developing a golf course into a resort to pay for these improvements. It was a catastrophic oversight.”
continued on page 19
ONE-DAY FRAY
Locals react to lobster sport season extension
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Floridians will have one extra day of “bug-hunting” in July with an expansion of the annual lobster mini-season – and it’s leaving several Keys locals and officials scratching their heads at the reasons for, and impacts of, the change.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a June 19 press conference at Dockside Boot Key Harbor in Marathon that Sunday, July 14 will mark a one-day Floridians-only addition to the traditional lobster sport season, set for July 24 and 25 this year. The regular spiny lobster season begins Aug. 6 and runs through March 31 each year.
“I hope everybody is able to do that, and I hope they have fun with it,” DeSantis told a crowd of Keys leaders and dignitaries.
“This is an excellent opportunity for residents here in Florida and for locals here in the Florida Keys to enjoy their time with our resources, making those memories that will last lifetimes and generations,” said FWC executive director Roger Young.
A locals-only day to target the prized crustaceans follows a series of moves by the governor to give Florida residents greater access to the state’s resources at a reduced cost. Earlier this month, DeSantis announced that a toll relief program providing a 50% credit to frequent highway drivers has so far saved $42 million for more than 1.2 million SunPass users. In 2023, House Bill 109 allowed state residents to make reservations at Florida’s state parks an extra month in advance.
The one-day expansion of lobster mini-season will reportedly be made possible by an executive order from DeSantis. But the vast majority of Keys officials and business leaders told the Keys Weekly that they had learned of the extra day at the same time as, or just barely before, the public.
“None of us knew that was coming,” said FWC Capt. David Dipre.
Ordinarily, FWC law enforcement brings 20 additional officers to the Keys for increased patrols during mini-season week and the start of the regular season, with 10 extra officers coming down in the week prior to mini-season to head off poaching attempts.
That’s still the plan, Dipre said, but the first group will now head to the Keys before the expanded weekend.
“We are 100% behind our governor, and we’re going to make it work,” he added. “We don’t know what to expect, whether there will be thousands of people or just a couple thousand people. Mostly, we expect there will be more day trippers than people coming for an extended stay.”
A shot in the arm for tourism?
With the driving forces behind the extra day still unclear, popular theories among Keys residents suggested the increased tourist traffic could provide a boost to area businesses, hotels and vacation rentals during a “down week” of the summer, or that the Floridians-only designation would allow residents a prized “first shot” at lobster “honey holes” in the Gulf
Knowing the rules for a legal harvest will be as important as ever on Sunday, July 14 with a new one-day Floridiansonly extension of lobster mini season. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
or Atlantic. But according to some vacation rental professionals, that’s not the case.
Of the 85 Middle and Lower Keys rental units managed by the team at American Coastal Vacation Rentals, owner Leslie Christensen said “maybe 10 to 15” were still available for the week of the new harvest day, consistent with other summer weeks. And of the crews booking for the traditional mini-season, “probably 95%” are already in-state rentals.
“I was really curious to see if this week was going to fill up really quickly, and it hasn’t,” she said. “I think with the timing this year, it doesn’t seem that it’s really going to make any difference for us. We’ve had maybe three bookings since it was announced.”
Keys Ocean Vacation Rentals’ Mallory Pinto said that of the 16 rentals she manages during mini-season week, five are booked with Florida renters, with another four filled with out-of-state groups. Seven rentals block off the week from renters entirely due to a higher likelihood of overcrowding and damage to the home, she said.
Consequences for the catch
In an island chain where increasing numbers of locals have soured on mini-season in recent years with ever-growing traffic and environmental issues, those who directly depend on the lobster fishery for their livelihoods share the concern.
“We know from the existing two-day mini-season that some of the greatest environmental damage in the Keys takes place during that period, and this is only going to increase it even more,” said Bill Kelly, the recently-retired executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “It could have a substantial impact on our commercial catches, but I think our biggest concern is the environmental impact.”
“I understand what the governor is trying to do, but we’re subject to pretty strict fisheries management plans, and all of the limitations we have are based on years of catches and research,” added commercial fisherman Jerome Young, who took over the FKCFA’s executive director reins from Kelly in January.
Young said that to his knowledge, the decision for the extra day was made after minimal consultation with fisheries management professionals. He emphasized that his opinions weren’t a case of a clash between commercial and recreational lobstering, but a comment on a need for measured changes to the fishery.
“If we wanted to throw our traps in the water a week earlier, we’d have to go through the entire regulatory process,” he said. “I can assure you that biologists and fisheries management planners would be up in arms. … The reason we don’t throw our traps earlier in the month, and the reason we were pushed back into August, was because of eggbearing females. Once you catch them, who knows what happens?”
Keys Weekly reached out to FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto for a comment about the change on June 24, but as of presstime, had not received a response. Similarly, a public record request sent to FWC on June 24 sought documentation of the additional mini-season day. The agency confirmed receipt of the request, but replied in an automated email, “Due to an increased number of public records requests … you may experience a delay of a few weeks or more.”
Is the season ‘one and done?’
As of press time, it is still unclear whether the 2024 mini-season expansion will continue in future years and if the date will remain fixed, as the full text of DeSantis’ executive order is not yet available. The Keys Weekly has submitted a request to the governor’s press office for clarification on these items.
“It will be really interesting to see how it shakes out next year,” said Christensen. “Will the die-hard mini-season people come for their regular dates, or is it going to be more of a priority to have ‘first pick’ on the opening mini-season day?”
Know the rules
Early indications are that rules for July 14 will mirror already-established mini-season regulations, including municipality-specific requirements. And while the Florida-residents-only restriction at first begged questions of enforcement, Dipre said routine stops on the water will look largely the same.
“Any time you check anybody on the water, you must present a valid form of photo ID, so it’s what we do anyway any time we check a fishing license,” he said. “If you’re not a Florida resident, that doesn’t mean you can’t go on the boat. But if you have four people on the boat, and only one is a resident, then you should only have six lobster on that boat. (The others) can go in the water and still recreate … but they should not be harvesting lobster at all.”
Kill lionfish, get lobster
In the 30-minute press conference focusing primarily on funding for coral and artificial reefs along with water quality issues, DeSantis also announced that recreational lobster hunters can up their bag limits during the sport season by two lobsters per person per day through successful completion of FWC’s annual Lionfish Challenge — up from the one-per-day boost in prior years of the program.
Targeted at removing the invasive species from Florida waters, the annual program challenges divers to harvest a minimum of 25 destructive lionfish. Upon submitting removed tails from the lionfish as proof of harvest, challenge participants are presented with a challenge coin that permits the additional lobster harvest.
To view the governor’s full press conference, scan the QR code:
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
PROPERTY INSURANCE RATES COULD RISE AGAIN
Keys’ largest policy writer seeks big premium hike for 2025
Florida Keys property owners who are insured through Citizens Property Insurance Corporation could witness another double-digit increase when they renew their policies in 2025.
At a June 19 meeting, the nine-member Citizens Board of Governors unanimously approved a request for an array of rate hikes, which average 14% statewide for homeowners and those living in condominium units.
The state Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) must approve the rate increase proposals before they would take effect Jan. 1, 2025. A public hearing is expected before OIR makes a decision.
In the Florida Keys, roughly 20,000 homes, duplexes, condo units and commercial properties are insured through Citizens. Those policies range from coverage for wind-only damage from hurricanes and tropical storms to coverage for a multitude of perils.
Per the current proposal, more than 18,000 Monroe County homeowners and condominium owners, whose current average premiums cost roughly $5,000, would see a 16.6% bump in their rates. It’s the second highest increase in the state; 480 policyholders in Glades County are facing an 18.1% hike in their rates.
While state law caps base rate hikes to 14%, Mel Montagne, the president of Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe (FIRM), said added fees and surcharges push the increase to about 16%.
“It’s very disappointing to see the upward spiral,” said Montagne, who continues to lobby state officials to institute a 10% rate increase cap for Monroe County. “We have major issues here with housing and all these guys can do is pump increases.”
Tasha Carter, Florida’s insurance consumer advocate, is planning to participate in OIR’s public hearing on the rate proposals to determine how it affects policyholders throughout the state and the Keys. Created by the Florida Legislature in 1992, the insurance consumer advocate actively engages with consumers and works with stakeholders to find consumerfocused solutions on all insurance matters.
“While Citizens is statutorily required to increase its rates, and I understand the importance of the corporation being actuarially sound, my goal during the hearing is to ensure that all options were considered to have the least impact on policyholders,” Carter said in a statement to Keys Weekly.
Considered an insurer of last resort, Citizens Insurance provides coverage to property owners who are in good faith and can’t obtain a policy through the private market. Citizens Insurance is required by law to charge rates sufficient enough to fund liabilities, all while complying with the glide path which caps rate increases at 14% in 2025.
Officials with Citizens Insurance say Citizens’ premium rates remain “well below” other private insurance companies providing coverage.
“Eighteen companies are actively writing policies in Florida,” said Brian Donovan, chief actuary for Citizens.
Citizens Insurance officials say the insurance market continues to improve due in part to the state Legislature’s approval of Senate Bill 2-A in 2022. Taking effect in June 2023, the
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is proposing an average 14% rate hike on premiums for policyholders throughout Florida. The request must be approved by the state Office of Insurance Regulation. CONTRIBUTED
legislation eliminated assignment of benefits under residential or commercial property insurance policies. Litigation costs also were addressed through the removal of one-way attorney fees.
On top of that, Citizens chief financial officer Jennifer Montero said roughly 360,000 policyholders were moved to other private market insurance companies. It’s due to the state’s efforts to move policyholders away from Citizens when a private insurer offers them a premium that’s within 20% of their Citizens premium.
Tim Cerio, Citizens CEO, said policies could be below a million before the end of the year.
“That’s all because of the success of the reforms,” Cerio said.
Rate hikes, however, are straining many single-family homes and renters who continue to see their rents rise by the year. During the 2021 legislative session, state legislators approved a glidepath which capped annual rate increases for the ensuing five years. By 2026, rates can increase as high as 15%.
Those who renewed their policies with Citizens in 2024 were forced to pull more money out of their accounts, following the state Office of Insurance’s approval last December of a 10.7% increase on wind-only policies for primary homes. Condo owners with a wind-only policy had a 5% to 14.9% increase in their rates. Citizens Insurance was initially seeking a higher average rate hike until Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworksy directed Citizens to calculate new, reduced rate increases across the state.
More dollars could be coming out of the pockets of policyholders if OIR approves Citizens’ request later this year. Montagne said Citizens’ rate calculations fail to reflect Monroe County’s rigorous building standards.
The board’s approval could also see nonprimary residences facing increases as high as 50%. Secondary homeowners aren’t subject to a glidepath, meaning their rate hikes could go beyond 14% when they renew in 2025.
KEY COLONY BEACH WEIGHS BUILDING RIGHTS TRANSFER TO MARATHON, FINALIZES POLICE UNION
Potential move could carry BPAS consequences
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Aproposal considered by the Key Colony Beach Commission at its June 20 session could potentially send 18 of the 22 building rights from a destroyed condo complex to the city of Marathon. But the proposal raises questions of whether KCB could be forced to participate in the restrictive Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO)/ Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS), which governs development in the majority of the Keys, for the first time.
Developer Luis Alonso opened Thursday’s session with a proposal that would see the previous 22-unit Oceanfront Apartments complex on West Ocean Drive, destroyed in Hurricane Irma, rebuilt as four single-family homes. The remaining 18 building rights from the complex, he said, could be sent to Marathon for use within the city limits via an interlocal agreement.
“This proposal will have lower density, less traffic and increased tax revenues for the city of KCB,” Alonso said, adding that neighboring property owners were in favor of rebuilding the now-vacant lot at the lower density.
Speaking to the commission, land use director Donald Craig of the Spottswood Law Firm said that the units in question, built in 1964, are exempt from the ROGO/BPAS regulations enacted decades later, and argued that they would retain that designation if transferred to Marathon. As the move would be an unprecedented transfer, he
said Alonso would agree to reserve $100,000 to compensate for staff time and legal fees needed to accomplish the move.
Marathon Planning Director Brian Shea said that while Marathon was “not averse” to units coming into the city, as has been previously done through agreements with Monroe County, “(KCB) does not have the mechanism in place at this time” to accomplish the task.
“You would have to enter the ROGO/BPAS process first, and then work towards ordinances for Transferable Building Rights (TBRs) and determination of building rights,” he said. “Until that happens, there is no mechanism to move (the rights) from KCB to Marathon.”
“I respectfully disagree with Brian with regard to the need to create a mechanism that recognizes BPAS allocations in Key Colony Beach,” Craig said. “State law allows wide latitude in the adoption of interlocal agreements when it is beneficial for both cities to do so. … If the state for any reason were to say ‘No, you can’t do it,’ then this would end.”
Commissioner Tom DiFransico raised questions of equity for other KCB property owners if a transfer agreement were to only apply to the Oceanfront Apartments units. All five commissioners agreed that the city would have no interest in proceeding if the transfer could jeopardize KCB’s longstanding ROGO-exempt status, a stipulation Craig said was “essential” to consider the proposal.
“That’s something that is man-
SHELF HELP
datory for us,” DiFransico said. “We would not want to go forward with this if there was a risk of that for us.”
City Attorney Dirk Smits called the idea “an undertaking,” reminding the commission that KCB is one small area not bound by regulations governing the rest of the Florida Keys as an Area of Critical State Concern.
“We could be sticking our head into the ROGO noose,” he said. “The ripple effect is what I fear the most … because (the transfer) is so unique.”
The commission granted Alonso’s team permission to begin tentative work with KCB, Marathon and state staff to explore the possibility of the transfer, with explicit clarification that Key Colony could withdraw from the proceedings at any time for any reason.
Police union finalized
Following a year of negotiations, the Key Colony Beach Police Department became the last municipal police force in the Keys to unionize, courtesy of a contract with the South Florida Police Benevolent Association unanimously approved and signed on June 20.
“This is a huge step in the right direction for your law enforcement, and I thank you for that,” said South Florida PBA attorney Andrew Axelrad.
“When you make an investment into public safety, which you have, it will come back to you 10 times over,” said South Florida PBA president Steadman Stahl. “I know sometimes unions scare elected officials … but we’re here to be a partner, not adversarial.”
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection. What: “Tidelands” by Philippa Gregory
Why: Philippa Gregory will always best be known for “The Other Boleyn Girl,” about Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary, who was Henry VIII’s mistress before he fell in love with Anne. That wasn’t her first or last visit to the English royal court. Gregory has written a series of books, centered around the women caught in the battles for the English throne from the Wars of the Roses to the Tudors. This book is a departure, jumping forward to the English Civil War in the 1640s, when leaders of the Parliament rebelled against Charles I, eventually leading to his execution. It’s also a departure because its story centers on “ordinary” people – not royalty or nobility. Alinor is a beautiful but poor woman whose fisherman husband has gone missing. She is scraping to provide for her young daughter and son when she meets a handsome fugitive fighting for the other side in the Civil War. This leads to a lot of danger on the emotional, political and small-town prejudice fronts. “Tidelands” is the first of a trilogy about Alinor and her family and the library has all three books (the last, “Dawnlands,” winds up finding the family entangled with the royal court; like so many of us, Gregory just couldn’t stay away from the drama around the crown).
Where: You can get this book in regular and large print and as an e-book from the Monroe County Public Library system. How: You can request books, including e-books and e-audiobooks, online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries. org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/shelf-help.
The Key Colony Beach City Commission and police department hold a signing ceremony with South Florida Police Benevolent Association president Steadman Stahl and attorney Andrew Axelrad to commemorate the city’s newly-approved police union contract. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
n Represented the Sellers of: 97th St #8, Marathon Sold for $460,000
COMMERCE CORNEr
Established in 2001, Womankind is a non-profit medical center providing family planning, gynecology and prenatal care to women across their lifespan. With a focus on preventative care in a supportive environment, Womankind accepts all health insurances including Medicaid and Medicare, and provides a sliding scale to financially eligible patients. If you yearn to be treated like a whole, adult human person when you go for a medical visit, Womankind is the place for you. Our patients receive personalized care from a team of dedicated invested professionals. Our best client is one who leaves her appointment feeling empowered in her health care decisions. Womankind is thrilled to open our Marathon location after many years of consideration. With the expansion to prenatal care, we are excited to offer this critical service to an area with no OB options. Our continued collaboration with the Monroe County Health Department allows us to treat teenagers for gentle first exams in a trusted, supportive atmosphere.
Located at 5800 Overseas Hwy, #36, Marathon and 1511 Truman Ave, Key West 305-294-4004 info@womankindkeywest.org www.womankindkeywest.org
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Mon - Fri 11am to Close Sat & Sun 10am to Close
HAPPY HOUR 1-4PM
$7 Menu
• Chicken wings, chicken livers and More!
• 32 beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm
* $2 Pints of Yuengling and Bud Light!
BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 2PM
• Unique & interesting menu
• $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots
LUNCH & DINNER
• Lobster Enchiladas
• Diver Speared Local Fish
• Prime Rib • Local Lobster
• Cook Your Own Catch
• Great Seafood Selections
SUSHI
• Toro • Lionfish • Poke • Hamachi collar
• Fresh Uni arrives on Thursday
INDEPENDENCE DAY, MARATHON STYLE
July 4 at Sombrero Beach – a community tradition
July Fourth has always been one of my favorite holidays.
The day’s festivities are what summer is all about: cookouts, fireworks, fun and games … and remembering the reasons why and the principles upon which this nation was founded.
Once again, I am privileged to work with both my Rotary Club and the city of Marathon to help organize the day’s festivities. Suffice it to say that Marathon really does Independence Day well. It literally is our community’s party of the year.
Let’s start with the perfect location: Sombrero Beach. What better place than the shore of our tropical sea to celebrate America? Of course, no Fourth of July would be complete without a parade. This year’s parade starts at Marathon High School at 11 a.m. and heads for the beach, and will feature a number of floats and attractions. Opening ceremonies will commence at Sombrero Beach after the parade at around noon or shortly thereafter.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has organized all sorts of fun and games for kids of all ages. And the kids should all come and check out the park’s awesome new playground equipment!
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Marathon, there will be plenty to eat and drink (burgers, hot dogs, soda, water, beer, snow cones, etc.). Proceeds from food and beverage sales will go to the charitable work of the Rotary Club for scholarships and more. Please come hungry and thirsty – there’s no need to bring your own food and drinks. The prices are more than reasonable, and you can lend a true helping hand as you eat and drink on the Fourth.
Probably the best part about our celebration is the location – a tropical beach park!
Coconut palms swaying in the breeze … sunny skies and sandy shores … it’s what the “salt life” is really all about. And admission is absolutely free! With the beach right there, a cool, refreshing dip in the Atlantic is but a few steps away.
JOHN BARTUS
John Bartus is a singer-songwriter and the former mayor of Marathon.
Live music will echo throughout the beach, beginning with songs from Adrienne Z and yours truly around 1 p.m. Then, the everpopular Lady A Band, with Ric “Bluesfuze” Arra, will rock out from 5 p.m. until the evening’s fireworks sky concert.
I always hear people talking about how awed they are after seeing our community’s fireworks display. Every year gets better and better, and people who see them for the first time are amazed at how a town our size is able to put on such a fabulous display.
The great news is that chief pyrotechnician Randy Mearns has another great show lined up this year. The July Fourth sky concert will begin just after sunset, with fireworks timed to light up the sky in synchronization with a special patriotic musical program that will be heard across the beach. Each year, there is a special tribute to our veterans and active duty military personnel in the sky concert.
Whether you watch from the beach, or from a boat anchored just offshore (as so many boaters do), you’re in for a heck of a show. The city of Marathon and the Marathon Fire Department step up to the plate year after year to make sure that our fireworks are second to none.
I’m sure that there are more than a few people from Rotary and the city who feel the same way. I can’t imagine a better way for a community to get together and celebrate our nation’s birthday. If you want to have one of the best July Fourth experiences anywhere, then
I’ll see you Thursday (July Fourth) on Sombrero Beach!
— Catch John live Wednesday at Dockside, most Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, this Friday with Jade Storm at Lorelei, and Sundays at Skipjack Tiki Bar. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com • johnbartus. hearnow.com
NFL PLAYER ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER CRASH IN KEY WEST
Red Shoe Island Bistro reopened in short order
gwen@keysweekly.com
A23-year-old NFL player was arrested June 19 for driving under the influence after Key West police said he crashed an SUV into the Red Shoe Island Bistro, 411 Petronia St.
Lonnie Phelps Jr., of Cincinnati, who at the time was a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, was booked into the county jail on Stock Island, where he spent the night.
No injuries were reported in the crash that happened at about 9:20 p.m. The restaurant was closed at the time, with the owners having planned to reopen Friday.
“It could’ve been really bad,” states the restaurant’s Facebook page. “Angels were looking out for us all.”
The Bistro indeed reopened within days, after first posting a video that showed the restaurant’s dining room left in tatters by the SUV’s impact.
But on the night of June 19, the restaurant drew a large police and fire rescue presence as well as a crowd of onlookers who were stunned by the damage.
After the black Hyundai SUV with Florida plates crashed into the building, Phelps and a woman got out of the vehicle and began arguing in the street, witnesses told police.
“He said it happened and asked what does he have to pay for,” the police report states.
While talking to Phelps, police observed he had “glassy, watery blood-shot eyes, droopy eyelids and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. Phelps was slurring his words and leaning on the fence. Phelps turned around and placed his hands behind his back (without being asked to do so), stumbled and almost fell over,” the report states.
Officers described Phelps as uncooperative, talking over them and shouting at times. He agreed to the field sobriety exercises, but when he wouldn’t follow through with instructions, police stopped the exercises and arrested him.
Phelps faces a misdemeanor charge of DUI with property damage. He was very talkative on the ride to jail, police said.
“Phelps talked about how thirsty he was, how he did not know what I was going to do to him because females are the worst, asked me not to kill him, asked me how long it takes to bail out, how long I was the detective and informed me I was Russian,” Officer Andrea Bernatova wrote in the report. “Phelps complained about the handcuffs and took his seatbelt off.”
At the jail, Phelps refused a breathalyzer test as police brought him to the breath test operator room.
“Phelps requested to go to the bathroom,” an officer wrote in the report. “I explained to Phelps again that he can use the bathroom after the breath test part is over and Phelps insisted, he had to go now. Phelps said, ‘I’m peeing, bro,’ and he did. Phelps urinated while seated on a chair in the (breath test room).”
Phelps was released from jail the following afternoon. The bond amount was listed as zero on the MCSO website. He has a court date set for 9 a.m. on July 2 before Monroe County Judge Albert Kelley.
Phelps, who had been on the Browns’ practice team wearing a No. 63 jersey, was dropped by the NFL team hours after his arrest made headlines on June 20.
Phelps first signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2023 and spent the entire season on the team’s practice squad, the Browns said on their website.
“The Cleveland Browns have waived DE Lonnie Phelps,” the team posted on Facebook without explanation.
GWEN FILOSA
A drunk driver crashed an SUV into the Red Shoe Island Bistro, 411 Petronia St., on June 19, Key West police said. JEAN THORNTON/Contributed
LUXURY ISLAND PROPERTIES
Middle Keys
No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to spotlight our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
This week’s neighbor is a true island hopper who made his way from the vibrant shores of Jamaica to the welcoming islands of the Florida Keys. Marvell Stewart, the executive housekeeping manager at Faro Blanco for the past seven years, is a shining example of hospitality done right. His co-workers describe him as friendly and funny, contributing to the charm that makes the Keys a beloved destination for visitors.
“The Keys is like a family,” he said. Hospitality is important to Keys culture, and Marvell helps keep our island positivity up by making visitors feel at home.
Marvell Stewart
Executive housekeeping manager at Faro Blanco Resort
How did you end up in the Keys? In 2016, I came straight to the Keys from Jamaica to be with my wife.
What can people find you doing when you aren’t working? Fishing. I like to catch jack, mangrove snapper, barracudas … all kinds of fish.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you? I was a professional boxer in Jamaica.
If you could shop for free at any store, what would it be? Nike. That’s where I could get my J’s.
Which unconventional animal would you like to have as a pet? A bear. To have something to keep warm.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be? “Immigrant” by Popcaan. It’s something I can relate to as an immigrant.
Have you ever had a brush with death? The closest was in June 2015, when I got shot in my leg. It was a training accident when I was in the military back in Jamaica.
What are the best and worst parts of the Keys? The worst part is the living accommodations are too expensive. The good part about the Keys, no crime.
Do you have any strange food combinations? Ackee (the national dish of Jamaica) and corned beef.
What is one spot in Marathon you would recommend to visitors? The Faro Blanco Lighthouse Grill.
MARGARET ROMERO SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Masterfully represented by: Frank Griffiths 305.563.1838 fgriffiths@oceansir.com
We are the industry’s best agents who curate with incomparable attention to style and detail. We get to know you. We get to know what that next is for you. Because, when you find it, nothing compares to it. Nothing compares to what’s next. 10055 Overseas Highway, Marathon | 305.735.4095 | oceansir.com
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Store Mon - Sat 8:30am - 5:30pm (cafe closes at 5pm)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ Jesus, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" — 2 Corinthians 5:17 Monday: Men’s Breakfast 7am at 7 Mile Grill. Tuesday: Sisters in Christ 9:45am. All are welcome!
THURSDAY, JUNE 27 ON THE FLY BAND 6:30PM FRIDAY, JUNE 28 GLENN HARMAN 8PM SATURDAY, JUNE 29 TONY MANFREDI 8PM SUNDAY, JUNE 30 TONY MANFREDI 3PM DOCKSIDE SUNDAY JAM 7PM MONDAY, JULY 1 ON
SWIM WARNINGS ISSUED AT KEYS BEACHES
Bacteria presence sparks health department advisories
Founders Park is under a swim advisory due to high levels of bacteria in the nearshore waters. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly
Several Florida Keys beaches are under swim warnings due to the high presence of bacteria in the nearshore waters.
On June 20, the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County said beach water quality testing performed at beaches and parks found elevated levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) in the nearshore waters at six locations. They include Founders Park Beach in Islamorada, Sombrero Beach in Marathon and Bahia Honda oceanside beach, as well as Higgs, Smathers and South beaches in Key West.
“The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage,” states a press release from the health department. “These bacteria may cause human disease, infections or rashes.”
The health department continues to advise the public to avoid swimming or practicing other waterrelated activities in the nearshore waters at these locations until bacteriological results show the water is safe for recreating. High concentrations of bacteria in waters could cause swimmers to have rashes and infections.
The U.S. EPA’s recommended standards classify water containing 0-35 enterococcus bacteria per 100 milliliters of water as “good,” 36-70 as “moderate” and 71 or greater as “poor.” Though a “poor” water quality test may not close a beach, the department issues an advisory for potential health risks in areas with water in the “poor” range.
Per the beach monitoring report, high levels of enterococcus were
Marathon’s Sombrero Beach had elevated bacteria levels in its nearshore waters, per a June 20 water quality monitoring report. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
The nearshore waters at Key West’s Higgs Beach had high levels of bacteria, per a recent water quality report by the health department. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
found at Higgs Beach, 659, and South Beach, 483. Poor water quality was also reported at Bahia Honda oceanside, 124, Smathers Beach, 99, Sombrero Beach, 87, and Founders Park, 75. While no advisories were issued, water quality was deemed “moderate” at Harry Harris Park, 42, and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, 53. Bahia Honda bayside beach, 1, and John Pennekamp State Park, 31, had relatively low levels of enterococcus and water quality deemed “good.” Anne’s Beach in Islamorada wasn’t tested at the time of publication.
— Keys Weekly staff report
from page 4
SOMBRERO FLOODING EARNS HEAVY CRITICISM AT MARATHON COUNCIL WORKSHOP
“(The flooding) has only gotten worse since the property was built up,” Perry said. “I don’t see how the property got built and everybody didn’t have a reasonable doubt of where that water was going to go. I’ve been up and down that road playing golf for 40 years, and I’ve never seen the problems we have now. I want the private people that own the course now to be held responsible.”
Speaking to the Weekly by phone the following morning, Florida Keys Country Club owner Peter Rosasco contended that the slope of the road and impermeable lots across the street had resulted in flooding on his property for years before the berm’s construction.
“This situation has caused harm not only to my neighbors but to my business, and it’s well past time for the city to take steps to correct its problem,” he said. “The city has been well aware of the need to put this utility in for years. I am also anxious and willing to assist the city in any way I can to alleviate this problem, including granting easements to put in this stormwater drainage system.”
Councilman Kenny Matlock and City Attorney Steve Williams discussed the prospect of using LiDAR imaging when approving future projects to predict the stormwater effects of improving previouslyvacant lots, a process both said is already widely used in Florida’s mainland counties.
“We’re just getting to that LiDAR technology here in Monroe County, where the mainland has had it for a decade-plus now, and every lot up there requires it,” Williams said. “The short version is that all development down here was done without that benefit.
“All the good lots were built on a long time ago, so what you’re building on now are low-lying lots, but we’re requiring them to be elevated. When you do that, water that used to run off that neighborhood into that low lot … is going other places.”
Planning Director Brian Shea reminded the room that the city recently completed LiDAR imaging for all of Marathon’s roads and has launched an online reporting tool for residents to manually pinpoint
areas of problematic flooding. The LiDAR maps and reporting tool may be accessed by scanning the attached QR codes.
At the suggestion of multiple public commenters, Suggs said he would raise the question of the golf course development temporarily accepting water pumped back onto the property while the new drainage system is under construction.
In other news:
• With no formal vote taken, council members agreed that Marathon’s public boat ramps will likely remain open during the recently-announced additional lobster mini-season day on Sunday, July 14. The council directed City Manager George Garrett to explore the possibility of staffing the ramps with additional personnel from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key Colony Beach Police Department or other contracted agencies.
• The workshop opened with a session led by Shea on using generative A.I. tools to translate residents’ visions for future design standards in Marathon into sample code language. Working in groups, residents collaborated with city staff to describe their ideas for distinct design districts in Marathon and craft corresponding code language for potential inclusion in Land Development Regulation updates. For full coverage, see the July 4 edition of the Marathon Weekly.
LiDAR Map
Resident Reporting Tool:
TOOKA
4-year-old male American bulldog.
Looking for: I swear I’m just a lover boy, lookin’ for love.
Turnoffs: I secretly hate my cropped ears.
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.
GREGG
3.5-year-old male pit bull mix.
Looking for: I’ve been looking for someone to call my own for eight long months.
Turnoffs: Cats. No cats.
CHIPS
2-month-old male domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I was just a baby street kitten. What’s a “home?” I’d like one.
Turnoffs: Nothing. Well, okay, dogs might be scary but I’ll get used to them (I think).
A ONE-IN-A-MILLION FIND
And now, for your feel-good news of the week: On June 18, Marathon High School teacher and track coach Darby Sheehan, left, reported her uromastyx lizard, a burrowing species native to Africa, had escaped from her terrarium on 95th Street. A desperation post on Marathon locals Facebook groups found no sightings of the 6-inch lizard – until she was found by Brittney Dolan, right, scratching at the door of the Weekly’s neighboring law firm, Wright Barrows PLLC, two days later. ‘I never thought we’d see her again, but out of pure hope and looking for that one-in-a-million chance, I posted on Facebook,’ Sheehan said. ‘It was insane odds and such a demonstration of what an incredible community we have.’ ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
NICE RING TO IT
8U Marathon Man O’War All-Stars’ clutch performances ice the win in the ‘Battle for the Keys’
T2. The Marathon Man O’War players and coaches show off their new championship bling. Front row, from left: Mackie Childress, Issac Simcic, Beau Irwin, Taylor Price, Carson Coletti, Luke Blanton. Second row, from left, Jaythan Bibb, Evan Paul, Owen Loftus, Everett Widney, Blaise Merryman, Alex Ornelas, Andrew Worthington. Third row: coaches James Simcic, Eddy Worthington, Steven Coletti and Ryan Irwin.
o the champions go the rings.
On June 23, the 8U Marathon Man O’War All-Stars baseball team earned some new hardware on the diamond at Key West’s Clayton Sterling Baseball Complex, battling to a walk-off win in the championship game of the Battle for the Keys Tournament.
Organized with four Keys squads from Key West, Big Pine Key and Marathon, the championship matchup from the two-day tourney pitted the Man O’War against Key West’s Bone Island Bombers.
In a back-and-forth affair with the team from the Southernmost City, a mid-game 3-RBI home run blast from the Man O’War’s Jaythan Bibb, his second of the season, breathed new life into his team.
Down by multiple runs with only one at-bat remaining, the Man O’War’s Isaac Simcic and Luke Blanton saved their best hits of the season for last, delivering a pair of championshipcaliber clutch performances.
A 2-RBI double by Simcic landed him on second base, before a timely shot from Blanton over the Bombers outfielders’ heads drove Simcic in for the walk-off double.
“I’m very proud of my team,” Blanton told the Weekly, adding that he was “kind of both” nervous and calm walking up to the plate with the game on the line. “Everybody stepped up their A-game right after Jaythan hit the home run over the fence.”
“The boys worked hard to be prepared for this tournament, and when it came time to take care of business, they did,” said coach Ryan Irwin. “They played with grit and determination. It was a nail-biter until the last at-bat. The second the ball left Luke’s bat, our boys and fans erupted. It was a storybook ending.”
3,9. Blaise Merryman smashes a hit and heads for first.
4. Alex Ornelas gets ready for a pitch.
5. Man O’War players get a tournament pep talk from their coaches.
6. Isaac Simcic makes contact.
7. Jaythan Bibb eyes a long bomb.
8.
1. Andrew Worthington steps up to the plate.
Luke Blanton protects the plate. Photos by Aldo Diaz and Chelsey Perry.
Coast to Coast Pizza
Conch Custard, Inc.
Cunningham Miller Rhyne, P.A.
D'Asign Source
Ernest Rhodes Plumbing
First State Bank of the FL Keys
Florida Keys Area Health Education Center, Inc.
Florida Keys Concierge Medicine LLC
Big Pine Medical & Minor Emergency
3rd Generation Plumbing
Aquarium Encounters
Be Local Magazine
Campbell Engineering
Castaway Restaurant
Centennial Bank
Community Health of South Florida, Inc.
Dot Palm
Douglass Marine - Keith
Glunz Ocean Beach Club Resort
Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce
Havana Jacks
Kelly Electric
Keys Contracting Services
Special Thank
Irie
THURSDAY 11AM
Meet 10 a.m. at the Marathon High School
12pm: Opening Ceremonies
Florida Keys Flight Academy
IOA of America
Key Colony Beach Realty
Keys All Area Roofing & Construction
Keys Animal Hospital
Keys Carwash
Mary Ann Royse and Mike Howie
Mermaid Charters
Mothner-Hiler Team Coldwell Banker
Fire Fighters Association
Natalie Ardis PA
New Life Church
Royal Furniture
Shady Palm Photography
Sharf, Andy & Be y
SS Wreck
Sweet Suvannahs
TikiLIVE Inc.
Mike & Brandi Card
Florida Keys Electric Co-Op
Our Be er Halves LLC
Perri Hodies Photography
Photo Design by Natalie
Porky's Bayside Restaurant & Marina aka
FL Keys Food Services LLC
Presents in Paradise
Promotions Guy
Regan Insurance Agency
Richard E. Warner P.A.
Sandra Lee Photogrphy Studio
Sarah Bartus Brawer
Truist Bank
Wright Barrows PLLC
Cash Flow Jewelry and Pawn
Douglas Vaughn
Glenn & Samantha Hastie
Homes & Land of the Florida Keys
Larry & Alice Anderson
Law O ces of Campbell and Malafy
Main A raction Sportfishing Charters
Marathon Lady of the Florida Keys
Michelle Klinger Smith, PA
Sparkys Landing Inc.
Vivian Dodge
Georgies Co ee
Marathon Boat Yard
Skylight Management
Florida Keys Air Conditioning
Bill He ernan
IS IT TIME FOR A DIGITAL DETOX?
Iusually don’t have a hard time choosing which health topic I want to write about. I usually pick based on what happens during the week while I train clients. Many times, a client will ask a very specific question, and I give a pretty detailed answer and get a response like “Wow, I never knew that” or “I wish someone would have taught me this years ago.”
fragment our attention and reduce productivity. By unplugging from digital devices, individuals can enhance their focus and engage more deeply in tasks and conversations, leading to better performance in both personal and professional domains.
While digital communication is convenient, it often lacks the depth and nuance of face-to-face interactions. Taking a break from screens allows for more meaningful in-person engagements and strengthens relationships.
REEL RECS
...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified personal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC. Hello@highlymotivatedfc.com
This week, I have been heavily influenced by what has been an issue in my own extended family: too much screen time. My almost 13-year-old niece has been experiencing some setbacks (missed school assignments, lack of focus, poor communication, disinterest in activities she once really loved, withdrawing, etc.), which does happen from time to time, especially during these formative years.
However, her mom, my sister, became increasingly concerned and decided it was time to take the phone away. This phone was already very monitored and had many parental controls on it, but she did notice that screen time was going up and up and up. More texting, more YouTube, more games being played.
My sister realized a digital detox was needed, not only for her daughter but for the whole family, and since then, things have been slowly improving.
A digital detox refers to a deliberate period during which a person refrains from using digital devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets and the internet. The goal is to disconnect from the digital world to focus on real-life interactions and activities. This temporary break can range from a few hours to several days, depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Why is a digital detox important?
Prolonged exposure to digital screens and social media can contribute significantly to mental health issues. Studies have shown that excessive social media use is linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression and loneliness. According to a 2023 report by the Royal Society for Public Health, young adults who spend more than two hours a day on social media are more likely to report poor mental health outcomes.
The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This interference can lead to poor sleep quality and insomnia. A digital detox, especially before bedtime, can help restore natural sleep patterns and improve overall restfulness. Constant notifications and digital distractions can
How often should you detox?
The frequency of a digital detox varies based on personal needs and lifestyle. Some people might benefit from a daily digital break during meals or before bedtime. Others might prefer a more extended detox, like a digital-free weekend or a vacation. Experts suggest incorporating regular short breaks throughout the day and scheduling longer detox periods at least once a month to maintain a healthy balance between online and offline life.
5 ways to digitally detox:
• Create specific areas or times in your home where digital devices are not allowed, such as the dining room or bedroom. This practice encourages more mindful use of technology and fosters uninterrupted time with family and friends.
• Pursue hobbies or activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading a book, gardening, or playing a musical instrument. Engaging in such activities can be refreshing and rejuvenating.
• Incorporate mindfulness exercises or meditation into your routine. These practices can help reduce stress and enhance mental clarity, making it easier to disconnect from digital distractions.
• Set daily time limits for social media apps and consider using features that monitor and restrict screen time. This can help curb the urge to check social media constantly and reduce its impact on your mental health.
• Consider attending a digital detox retreat, where all participants agree to unplug from their devices. These retreats offer a structured environment to help you disconnect and focus on wellness through activities like yoga, meditation and nature walks.
When our lives are increasingly dominated by screens, a digital detox is more than just a trend; it’s a necessary practice for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. By consciously stepping away from our devices, we can reclaim our time, improve our mental health and reconnect with the world around us. So, is it time for your digital detox? Your mind and body may thank you for it.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection. What: “Summertime” (1955)
Why: Can’t take that luxurious summer vacation you wanted? Let Katharine Hepburn take it for you, and in Venice, no less. Under the direction of David Lean, this film is a true love letter to the city, beautifully showcasing its architecture and sun-drenched atmosphere in glorious technicolor. It’s not just a travelogue, however, as it also offers an effective examination of loneliness and the midlife crisis. If that may sound daunting and depressing, don’t worry. There’s plenty of humor milked out of the fish-outof-water trope, not to mention a steamy romance at its center with Rossano Brazzi.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/reel-recs.
JENNIFER BOLTZ HARVEY
Tracy & Karen Represented the Sellers of: 755 W Ocean Dr 8, Key Colony Sold for $499,000
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.
There is a group of people, wildly varying in age, background and numerous other qualities, who play tennis a couple of nights a week at Marathon Community Park. We consider ourselves a “tennis family.” And last month, we lost a young and very special family member.
Tyler Wright died in Michigan on May 5. He was 29 years old. His dad, Al Wright, told us that Tyler went fishing on Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc, and must have had an accident. His body was found two days later in 14 feet of water about half a mile from shore. Al, Tyler’s mom Pam, and the rest of Tyler’s family are of course devastated, as are all of us in his tennis family.
Al and Pam Wright are residents of Marathon and Garden, Michigan. Tyler grew up in Port Huron, Michigan and earned his bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University. He then began his career at Marathon High School as an English teacher, and coached golf and middle-school basketball for two years. He then relocated to Michigan for some new opportunities, but was in Marathon for an extended visit this spring.
Tyler brought so much joy to our tennis gatherings. He was super fast and would risk life and limb chasing down a shot, but accepted losses with good cheer. He was complimentary of partners – even old ladies like me – and gracious to opponents, but also happy to talk a little goodnatured smack. He brought an equal spark to our post-play socializing and beer-drinking. We all adored him; it was impossible not to. We are guessing he had the same positive impact on his students, friends and co-workers in the Marathon community.
Tyler’s tennis friends have started a scholarship fund in Tyler’s name for graduates of Marathon High School. Over $10,000 has been pledged so far, and we're hoping to reach $25,000 to ensure the continuation of the fund in perpetuity. We invite others to join us in keeping Tyler’s memory alive by donating to the fund.
Tyler Wright shows off a blackfin tuna caught in the Keys. The former Marathon High School teacher passed away in a presumed accident on May 5 in Michigan. CONTRIBUTED
The funds for the Tyler Wright Spirit Award are held and administered by the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. These funds will provide an annual scholarship to a graduating Marathon High School student in honor of Tyler. Donations can be made online through the foundation at https://cffk.org/ tylerwrightscholarship/ or by mailing a check to CFFK at 300 Southard St., Suite 201, Key West, FL 33040 with a note in the memo line that it is for the Tyler Wright scholarship fund.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Royse Marathon, FL
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Julian Garcia says he’s ‘blown away’ by the support
COMMUNITY BACKS INJURED DEPUTY WITH A BIG BENEFIT
Crowds of local community members, dignitaries and business leaders packed Islander Resort on June 23 to support injured sheriff’s deputy Julian Garcia. From auctions and fun games to food trucks and a car show, the benefit was one to remember for Garcia, his family and the community.
Islamorada Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney, the event organizer, said the benefit wouldn’t have been possible without support from local businesses, organizations and residents who stepped forward to donate or volunteer.
“It’s one of the best events I’ve ever organized,” she said. “Every time I picked up the phone and needed something, the community was there.”
Garcia wasn’t sure how he was going to react as he arrived at the benefit in Islamorada. It was his first time being in a large crowd since he was injured during a traffic stop in Islamorada on the evening of April 9. Following several surgeries, the decision was made to amputate his left leg from the knee down. He’s now on the path to recovery and working with a prosthetic leg.
Despite all Garcia’s been through, his spirits remain high and his outlook on the future is positive. Garcia said it’s all due to the support he’s received, from his immediate family, his colleagues in the sheriff’s office and the Keys community.
Garcia told Keys Weekly he was blown away by the event supporting him.
“Having the chance to meet new people and receiving all the prayers and well wishes for me to get better was amazing,” Garcia said. “What they did, from the organizers and volunteers to those who took time Sunday to come out and have a good time, it was amazing.”
Garcia said he’d love to get back into the fold as a sheriff’s deputy. “This is a career I chose and something I’ll never give up on. I want to be out there with my partners and law enforcement family.”
The event concluded at 6 p.m. Mahoney said she was leaving with some boxes around 7:30 p.m. She peered out toward the ocean to find Garcia and his girlfriend still there. They were together looking out at the water. Mahoney said she couldn’t believe he was still there, to which he said, “I don’t ever want to leave. This was the best day of my life.”
“I was so touched and blessed to be part of this community benefit,” Mahoney said. Donations are still flowing into an account for Garcia established by Mahoney. Those wishing to support Garcia can mail a check to P.O. Box 650, Islamorada, 33036. People can also donate to Garcia via GoFundMe by scanning the QR code here.
1. Monroe County sheriff’s deputy Julian Garcia with family members. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
2. From left, Capt. Derek Paul, Lt. Charlene Sprinkle and her son, “Little Mark,” and Capt. Spenser Bryan with daughter, Emma.
3. Sheriff’s Col. Lou Caputo enters a wooden jail constructed with help from Native Construction. Sheriff Rick Ramsay was spotted bailing Caputo out with a monetary donation to Garcia’s cause.
4. Artist Wyland, center, auctions off an original painting, held by emcee Capt. Skip Bradeen.
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Ron and Kitty Sutton
Sutton Bus & Truck Co. Inc.
fysportswear.com
KCB Fishing and Boating Club
Key Colony Inn
City of Key Colony Beach
City of Marathon
Marathon Lady
Marshwood Foundation
Bubba and Karen Foster
Dolphin Research Center
Marathon Sail & Power Squadron
The UPS Store
Captain Pips Marina & Hideaway LLC.
Karen Raspe, Realtor
Vernis and Bowling, Attorneys at Law
Superior Electric of the Florida Keys Vacasa, LLC.
3rd Generation Plumbing
Marathon Garbage Service
JRC Pro-builders, LLC
DK’s Beach Boutique
Larry Mills
Gail’s Island Realty, Inc.
KCB Community Assoc.
Dave Hammer
Marathon Masonic Lodge #323
Continental Inn Beachside
The Tackle Box
Glunz Ocean Beach Hotel & Resort
Keys Animal Hospital
First Horizon Bank
Centennial Bank
D’Asign Source
Marathon Shrine Club
Bigdawgsport shing.net
Captain Hooks Marina
US 1 Graphics LLC
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Tracy Chacks eld
Wolfe/Stevens, Attoneys at Law
HAACK Construction
Mittauer & Associates
We would like to thank our sponsors who made it a free event for the kids and the volunteers. The Derby would not be a success year after year without your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
GOLD SPONSORS
Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co.
EAB Certi ed Inspections Services
Tom and Eileen Burke
Kelly & Son Electric Cabana Club
Rich Tompkins
Law O ces of Campbell and Malafy
Monroe Concrete Products, Inc.
Charley Toppino & Sons, Inc.
The Weekly Newspapers
The Turtle Hospital
Bob and Deb Graham
Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
Sweet Savannah’s
Crane Point Hammock
Two Conchs Charters, Inc.
Wright Barrows Law
Daryl Rice Management
KCB Realty
Shelter Bay Marine
Bayside Bait and Tackle
Frank’s Grill
Cash Flow Jewelry & Pawn
A Deep Blue Dive
Bishop Rosasco & Co.
Burdine’s Bar & Grill
Island Physical Therapy
Tracy Chacks eld, Realtor
BLIND FAITH, BIRTHDAYS & HURRICANE HAM
FLORIDA
KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
The only way I could have arrived in Florida the way I did and accomplished what I have so far is blind faith. The thing about trusting something, a feeling, is that you can’t know the direction it might lead. For those who believe, faith, blind or otherwise, goes where it has to go, and you trust that if there is worse, it is for the better.
Most of the time, I just put one foot in front of the other and move forward. However, when it comes time for the birthday clock to ring, I tend to become reflective and question things. I don’t usually think about getting older and where I am in my life versus where I think I should be. Birthdays are historically tricky and dredge up ideas that do not usually grow in the fields I tend to cultivate. That kind of thinking generally produces a particular type of fertilizer, which I find no benefit in spreading.
Through my 30s and 40s, it seemed like I was taking my birthdays in stride. As the numbers have grown, I have stumbled a bit at the annual June marker. More and more, this time of year, I get pensive, which influences my work and is at least one of the reasons I have been inserting more of myself into the column. It does not help that I started writing about the chain of
events that brought me to Florida, landed me on Captiva Island, and led me to the Florida Keys for my new Patreon page. On that platform, I share history, sneak peeks into future projects, write about my trek to South Florida, and my as-yetunfinished novel, “Wrestling Alligators.”
I’ll be 60 this time next year, and I hope that there is no tripping when it happens. I am certain that the 60s will be a banner decade, and if not, on my 70th birthday, I will have a banner made that says something like “Sayonara 60s.” In the meantime, there is still some last-minute business to take care of before blowing out the ceremonious candle marking the end of my 50s (11 months, one week, and counting).
A great deal can happen in a year. The evidence has been mounting since I left Southern California in 1989 and landed in the Sunshine State. Putting one foot in front of the other and trusting I was headed in the right direction has been a faithful act. Looking back, I have a solid track record of forward progress. As they always do, even the blips have provided excellent learning experiences and only one or two regrets.
Leaving everything I knew and coming to Florida with nothing was a giant leap. Hitchhiking out to Captiva Island was a big leap. Borrowing a little extra on my student loans and moving to Plantation Key after graduating from the University of Miami was a leap. Marrying Michelle was a no-brainer, as was buying our little house when the market crashed.
The trip has led to some interesting destinations, and all these decades later, I still feel like I’m just getting started.
It is time to shake off the birthday blues
and see what attractions are waiting to pop up a little farther down the line. Unfortunately, my birthday coincides with the opening week of hurricane season, so other things come to mind at this time of year, too. One of the things I was not expecting to learn about was the idea of hurricane ham.
Because of my affinity for local history, I am not infrequently contacted regarding questions about historical topics via email, phone calls, texts and direct messages through social media platforms. Recently, I was asked to review a novel set in the Keys in general and Indian Key in particular. While reading the story, I came across the term “hurricane ham,” which I did not recognize. I ignored the phrase the first time I read it. The second time the writer mentioned it, my eyebrows furrowed. Just because I had never heard of it didn’t mean it wasn’t a real thing, right?
Hurricane ham was once part of hurricane preparedness in the islands, at least in the Bahamas. Hurricane ham is cured conch. To prepare for hurricane season, Bahamians (and Conchs?) would gather a bunch of conchs, remove their shells, tenderize the snails, soak them in salt water and let them dry in the sun for two or three weeks. Should a storm develop and island residents become unable to gather fresh food, they had salted, dried conch to chew on.
While I could not find any references to the term relating to the Keys, I am hoping that after reading this, the old Conchs will reach out, share their hurricane ham stories and set me straight. Also, to answer the lingering question, it is called hurricane ham because they say the conch turns pink when it is cured.
Conch shells in Key West. BRAD BERTELLI/Contributed
CHRIS
M cNULTY
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
Well, that full moon was a doozy, huh? It’s not so often we get a full moon on the shortest night of the year, and the ego check that coincided with the planetary patterns seemed to be all around. I hope humility and accountability emerged in your world. This week, the big planetary moment has to do with the cosmic curmudgeon, Saturn. On Saturday, Saturn stations retrograde in the sign of Pisces. Saturn is retrograde for about 5 months of the year, so Saturn’s retrograde movement is hardly unusual. However, when it stations to turn retrograde, it appears to stop moving in the sky from our perspective. When a planet’s apparent motion stops, its influential potency increases, like the power of antici………..pation. Saturn represents boundaries, maturity, time, failure, coldness and pretty much everything our inner child hates, but our inner wisdom requires. Prepare to face some cold hard truths. Approach any moral conundrum or responsible obligation with an editor’s discerning eye, and you’ll be uniquely positioned to integrate the lessons of this transit. Here are your horoscopes. Read for your rising and sun signs.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
You’ve been growing wiser in your belief systems lately. Perhaps you’ve been studying at a high level, traveling more or challenging the beliefs you had when you were younger. Prepare to reevaluate this path you’ve been on with a more critical eye. Is there something you’ve been avoiding? In particular, how must you rethink yourself in relation to your maturing beliefs? The hard choices are the right choices now.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
Have you been cutting out some investments, financial or social? Letting go of certain obligations allows you to focus more on the projects that you deeply value. Prioritize. It is high time to consolidate your commitments. Think about how your solitude is important, and let your need for alone time guide your editing process. Saying “no” to new commitments will be helpful.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
A powerful turning point is taking place in an important partnership in your life. This could be a romantic relationship, a business relationship or a lifelong friendship. Follow your mature growth and use what you’ve learned. Think about your social circles and listen to your support network. How this partnership affects your access to supportive community should answer your questions.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Grumbling is almost always wasted energy, unless of course it provides access to a deeper truth about the futility of your toils. Are your routine labors and daily habits contributing to your growth and wisdom, or are they lacking in maturity? As a guide, it would be helpful to think about how your reputation would be affected if your habits were public knowledge.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
It looks like you’ve been digging into your artistry lately, as if you’ve learned how to nurture your creativity like a caring parent. Like a parent, though, you need to allow your creative output to have a life of its own. Are you incorporating new ideas into your work or recycling old motifs? Give your mind freedom to explore and see how your work takes on a new air of dignity.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Some difficult but necessary decisions are being called upon at home or with family. You may need to step into an authority role when you haven’t had to do so before. If this is difficult, think about how your time, heart and money are invested in important projects outside of the home. Keeping your mind on your priorities will help you to be the adult with your nearest and dearest.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
Your familiar world is the place where you are maturing right now. By that, I mean you are stepping into your authority in your local neighborhood, you are communicating with more weight, you are a leader among siblings. Perhaps the impetus of this newfound confident wisdom is an important partnership you’ve established. Think on this person to understand your new role.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
You’re either becoming more careful with your money or your income stream is drying up a little bit. In other words, either you are actively saving or you are being forced to scrimp. Either way, you are making more mature financial decisions. This is beneficial whether it is voluntary or imposed. Think about how your labor translates to income. Getting clear on this alchemy will guide you.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
As Saturn stations retrograde in your sign, Pisces, you get to reevaluate yourself as a keeper of the universe’s wisdom. We all contain the breadth and the depth of the entire universe within us, but you are in a time when you get to step into that authority with clarity and a sense of responsibility right now. Don’t know what the hell I’m saying? Think about the things in life that bring you bliss.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
There are many paths in life that we must walk alone. Yes, we have friends and family and lovers around us, but there is a portion of our life here on Earth that is uniquely solitary and introspective. You have the opportunity to dive deep into this solitude and emerge with wisdom. Thinking and communicating with your familial roots will support this process.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
Quantity is not always better than quality when it comes to friends and people in your social realm. You are in a period where trimming the fat will be greatly beneficial to your personal growth. When deciding whom to keep close and whom to push out into further orbit, think about the people who help you to speak more clearly and who hold you accountable like siblings.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
You are experiencing a newfound appreciation and reputation as an authority in your chosen line of work. You now have the choice of what to do with this status. Think about how this credibility can open up new income streams. Maybe not for you personally, but for your business or organization. Money is not everything, but it can fuel innovation and help people.
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I... 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.
was walking my dog through the Meadows, thinking some very non-specific thoughts, when I heard the screaming. I had my suspicions about the source, but wanted to be sure. So we found a little spot in the shade and waited. The dog kept herself entertained by amiably sniffing at some weeds in the gravel.
There were a lot of competing noises – sirens, scooters, Harleys, Airbus A319s, a crew of roofers unloading a truck to work on a house down the street. But then there would be the occasional scream.
Given the nearby fences, cars and a few big, densely leafed trees that either bounced or absorbed sound, it was hard to tell where the screams were coming from.
They periodically would stop, so I would give up and start to walk again. Then they’d start all over – clear and angry sounding, an expansion followed by a contraction in a steep bell curve of sound.
After half a dozen cycles, I saw a lightphased short-tailed hawk fly down the street, coming toward the screams. It gave a halfhearted version of the call I’d been hearing, and looked about to land, but then was mobbed by a gray kingbird that didn’t want it in their airspace, so it flew off over the horizon.
I moved around the corner, and peered over a fence. Through a small hole in the foliage I finally saw it – a short-tailed hawk. It had a tawny shade in the breast, where an adult’s would be a clean white, and its face didn’t seem to have fully grown in with adult plumage, so I was pretty sure it was a young bird.
It was a relief knowing what I was hearing. I didn’t have binoculars or a camera, so I continued walking the dog. When I passed the spot again 20 minutes later, the young short-tail was still in the same spot, so I decided to run home for my camera. But I ran into Key West Poet Laureate Emily Shulten in the park and talked with her a bit, so when I finally made it back to the Meadows with my camera the bird had stopped screaming and moved on.
I have had suspicions about the short-tailed hawks nesting in the Keys for years. (I am not alone in this.)
Short-tailed hawks are one of the most interesting species in Florida. While common and populous in Central and South America, there is a separate, much smaller population – about 500 birds – in North America, all in Florida. The population is thought to be relatively steady, but at risk from loss of breeding habitat – primarily the mahogany swamps or other densely wooded areas.
They also come in two color phases – light and dark – which interbreed all the time but result only in either light-phase or dark-phase birds.
SHORT-TAILS AND SHORT WALKS
The birds are known to spend the breeding season in the upper two thirds of the state, and the winter in the lower two thirds of the state. But over the years I have had repeated sightings of them during every month on the calendar. It wasn’t proof they were breeding here, but it is hard to come up with a reason you would see them in June, July or August if they weren’t.
Two years ago I got a message that there was a breeding pair of hawks in a tree near the cemetery, and I suspected short-tails, but by the time I made it over to the nest it was empty. It was on a property being renovated by the former member of a famous boy band, and the tree was gone a few months later.
Last summer the folks at the Key West Wildlife Center had been keeping track of some young short-tails that were hanging around and making a ruckus on the other side of the cemetery. Unfortunately the young hawk that was seen was somehow electrocuted, and slowly grew more and more feeble, ultimately dying while the people at the center tried to rehabilitate it.
A few months ago Bernard Rasch told me he suspected there was a hawk nest in a tree in the Meadows, and said he and a friend were going to camp out in lawn chairs and watch to see if they could figure out where it was. I never really heard anything from him after that, but I drove and walked by the tree pretty regularly and didn’t see any hawks.
Parts of Bayview Park, and much of the sky above it, are visible from my back deck, and in the last few months I’ve seen a light-phase short-tail – presumably the same one – flying over the ball field several times. So I had my suspicions, which were confirmed, I felt, by the screaming young short-tail. Which wasn’t the same as finding a nest.
It was raining the next morning, but I texted Ellen Westbrook, who volunteers quite a bit at the Key West Wildlife Center, to see if she’d heard anything about the short-tails. She said
no, but headed over after the rain stopped. A short time later she texted that she was hearing the screams from the young one.
I went over with my camera and saw the same young short-tail screaming in the same palm tree I’d seen it in the day before, and managed to get a few not great pictures. But we also found the adult light-phase short-tail sitting in a tree across the property, wings out, drying from the rain, looking, like many parents of screaming young offspring, a little stressed.
After a while it stepped out into the air, flapped a few times and landed in another tree across the block. Then she let out a call.
Ellen and I figured this was a parent trying to coax her reluctant young fledgling, who had just started flying very recently, to fly a little more. The fledgling stayed in the same spot, though, emitting regular screams.
Things started happening quickly after that. The light-phase adult took off and disappeared, but a few minutes later a dark-phase adult flew in and landed in a Norfolk pine way down the block. When we looked with binoculars, we could see two dark-phase short-tails up there –the perched adult, and a younger looking bird that was flapping and making short hops on the branches, but not leaving the tree. (We had the feeling the young dark-phase bird hadn’t actually flown yet.)
The original, light-phased young bird then left his palm tree and flew up into the Norfolk pine. Then the adult took off, and as soon as he left the pine, a mob of gray kingbirds went after him, chasing him out of the neighborhood.
I took a few more shots, especially of the two young birds up in the Norfolk pine.
In total, we’d seen four short-tails, two adults, and two young. Which is a good sign of breeding birds.
It wasn’t until I went home, offloaded my photos onto my laptop, and blew them up on the screen, that I saw the nest, high up in the Norfolk pine. So finally, proof of short-tails nesting in Key West. Game, set, match.
MARK HEDDEN
MARATHON’S GENEROSITY SHINES AT CLASS NIGHT
Funding the futures of MHS seniors
On May 24, the Marathon High School class of 2024 gathered in the Marathon Performing Arts Center for class night, an evening filled with scholarships from local residents, organizations and businesses. Principal Christine Paul revealed at graduation that the community had raised over $420,000 toward scholarships. This sum will support students pursuing both college and technical education. These organizations reached out to the Weekly to show their recipients.
1. The Marathon Chamber of Commerce awarded 10 Marathon High School seniors $1,000 scholarships each. Five of these scholarships were specifically for students pursuing trade-related degrees or certifications. Pictured from left: Daniel Samess, Rain Banks, Resee Elwell, Bethann Hewlett, Jayda Lugo,Tyler Garcia, Hannah Davis, Allison Garcia, Franklin Norris, Alexander Lewis, Kayesha Christian, Teri Hiller, Alexia Mann.
2. The Marathon Garden Club announced Rain Banks as its scholarship winner. She was presented with the award by member Debbie Maggio, left, and scholarship committee representative Toni Appel, right.
3. The Marathon Moose Lodge 1058 awarded Neek Perez with a $2,500 scholarship and Taylor Sipe with a $1,500 scholarship. The funds were presented by Sandra Van Dusen, far left, and Holly Kepcha, far right.
4. Zonta Club of Marathon announced eight scholarship recipients. ‘With such strong candidates, choosing was no small feat, but it’s a challenge we welcome with open arms each year,’ said Erin Arnett, Zonta board member. Six senior scholarships were awarded to the following: Marquisha Abraham, Lilly Rodriquez, Emma Momaly, Tommy Norris, Rain Banks and Elise Dolton. The Katrina Wiatt senior scholarship was awarded to Jayda Lugo and Young Women in Public Affairs scholarship to Taylor Sipe.
BRIEFLY
Marathon Community Theater hosts story slam
Join the Marathon Community Theater for a Story Slam on Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. Share your true, personal story about "Brushes with Greatness" in 5 to 6 minutes for a chance to win a $50 cash prize. Admission is free and open to all ages. Located at 5101 Overseas Highway, Marathon, next to Marathon Cinema. More information is at www.marathontheater.org.
Isla Bella donates
$10,000 to Reef Relief
Isla Bella has donated $10,000 to support Reef Relief’s growing programs. Since September 2023, Reef Relief has reached over 15,500 students in 18 countries and 45 states, promoting marine ecosystem knowledge and environmental stewardship through its free Marine Science for All Initiative. Isla Bella's donation will help support and expand Reef Relief's Coral Reef Youth Education Program.
St. Columba Episcopal Church hosts classical guitar concert
A classical guitar concert featuring Mateo performing original works will be held at St. Columba Episcopal Church in Marathon on Sunday, July 7 at 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the door. A complimentary potluck dinner will take place at 5 p.m. For more information, call 305-743-6412 or visit stcolumbamarathon.org.
Two men arrested for fishing gear theft
Two Miami-Dade County men were arrested June 22 for allegedly stealing fishing rods in Monroe County, following an investigation by Sheriff's Office detectives. Ryan Alexander Oliu, 20, of Homestead, and Daniel Aleman, 18, of Miami, were both charged with multiple counts of burglary and grand theft. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office stated that they have been investigating thefts of fishing rods, primarily in the Middle Keys this month, with Aleman and Oliu as suspects. A be-on-
the-lookout alert was issued for a Honda sedan in relation to the investigation, and deputies stopped the vehicle around midnight June 22 on U.S. 1. The two suspects admitted to fishing rod thefts in Monroe County, the sheriff’s office said. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges, as well as more arrests, may be pending.
Arts Council seeks grant applicants
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts invites Monroe County arts and cultural organizations, as well as artists of all genres, to apply for three grant opportunities, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000: Art Builds Community, Artists in Schools and Special Project grants. The deadline is June 30 at 5 p.m., with applications available at www.keysarts.com. For assistance, contact the council at 305-295-4369 or director@ keysarts.com. The council, as Monroe County's nonprofit arts agency, promotes local arts and culture through grants, Art in Public Places, and various events.
Monroe County libraries offer summer reading programs
Every summer, the Monroe County Public Library offers programs to keep kids and their families reading. The community tradition promotes reading for fun and lifelong enrichment. The libraries create an encouraging framework for learning for all ages during the summer. Reading together as a family helps prevent summer learning loss and encourages strong communication and bonding. Summer reading isn’t just for kids, but for teens as well. Families can pick up reading logs, find books (including e-books), attend programs and more at every branch of the Monroe County Public Library – in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West. This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins At Your Library.” More information is at keyslibraries. org/summer-reading-2024/, at the library branches and via email to info@ keyslibraries.org.
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.
PLASTIC PROBLEMS
Minuscule marine debris plagues wildlife
As the Florida Keys gear up for water activities, lobster mini-season and fishing seasons, we must pause and consider a pressing issue: the alarming presence of plastics in our waterways. Items improperly disposed of on land can be carried into the ocean by wind, canals and stormwater runoff. Improper methods of disposal include littering, dumping and poor waste management. Debris from maritime activities such as shipping, fishing and offshore drilling can directly enter the ocean, adding to the urgent issue of marine pollution. This includes discarded fishing gear and cargo lost overboard.
Marine debris can damage habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. It can also transport invasive species, disrupting local ecosystems. Animals can become entangled in debris or ingest it, leading to injuries, starvation and death. Birds, fish, Key deer and marine mammals are particularly vulnerable.
Debris can affect human health through seafood contamination. Economically, it affects tourism and fishing industries due to polluted beaches and damaged fishing gear.
Plastics in marine debris
Plastics make up a significant portion of marine debris due to their durability, light weight and high production volume. They can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Macroplastics are larger items like bottles, bags and fishing nets. Microplastics are small plastic particles less than 5 millimeters, including microbeads from personal care products, plastic pellets from manufacturing and fragments from larger plastic debris.
Upcoming recycling events
• Food waste and compost workshop on Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at Key West children’s library.
• Food waste and compost workshop on July 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Coral Isles Church, Tavernier.
• Recycling forum on July 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Big Pine Key Community Center.
Plastics can leach harmful chemicals into the water, affecting marine life and potentially entering the food chain. Plastics ingested by wildlife can cause physical harm, blockages and exposure to toxic substances. Entanglement can lead to injury and death. Microplastics have been found in seafood and drinking water, raising concerns about their effects on human health.
Prevention and reduction
Implementing bans on single-use plastics, enforcing stricter regulations on waste management, and promoting producer responsibility can reduce the amount of plastic entering the oceans. Developing biodegradable materials and promoting alternatives can decrease dependence on plastic products.
As a responsible consumer, you have the power to make a difference. By increasing your awareness of plastic pollution and making conscious choices, you can significantly reduce plastic waste. Every small step counts in this collective effort.
Cleanup and mitigation
Organizing and participating in beach cleanup activities can help remove existing debris and prevent it from entering the ocean.
Developing technologies for better waste collection and processing and innovative solutions like ocean cleanup devices can help manage and reduce marine debris. Collaborative efforts among countries, organizations and communities are essential for addressing marine debris globally.
Marine debris in the ocean. CONTRIBUTED
is the Monroe County recycling coordinator and outreach liaison.
MELODY TUSCHEL
ALMANAC | June 20
On this day: In 1950, President Ha y S. Truman sent the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy to ght in the Korean War.
In The Bleachers
If your July 4 tradi ons include watching Nathan’s Hot Dog Ea ng Compe ion, st l yourself: Joey Chestnut is out. The contest in Coney Island has taken place since 1916, and Chestnut has prevailed a total of 16 mes, and every year since 2016, the New York Post reported. His record, set in 2021, was 76 dogs and buns. Sadly, Chestnut won’t compete this year. Major League Ea ng (MLE), which runs the event for Nathan’s, said Chestnut’s recent deal with Impossible F ds to rep their vegan dogs was beyond the pale.
Adam
Brevity
News of the Weird
Korean refugees in front of a U.S. M46 Patton tank
TRY ’N’ FIND
Words that remind us of firework safety are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, (BOCC) will conduct a Public Hearing to consider reimposing solid waste service assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2024, against certain improved residential properties located within Monroe County, the City of Marathon, the City of Layton, and the City of Key Colony Beach, to fund the cost of solid waste collection services, facilities and programs provided to such properties, and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.
The Public Hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m., on July 17, 2024, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The public can attend the Public Hearing in person, or via Zoom, for the purpose of contributing or receiving public comments on the proposed assessments. The Zoom link can be found in the electronic meeting agenda at the following address: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx.
All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing, in person or virtually, and to file written objections with the County Commission, within 20 calendar days of the first publication date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings, and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator’s Office at 305-292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing or voice-impaired, contact the Florida Relay Service Number, by dialing “711” for assistance.
The total annual solid waste assessment revenue to be collected within Monroe County, the City of Marathon, the City of Layton, and the City of Key Colony Beach for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $19,310,016.00. The rate of assessment for the upcoming fiscal year shall be $548.58 per residential dwelling unit. The maximum rate of assessment that can be imposed in the Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2024, and future fiscal years, shall be $548.58 per residential dwelling unit. Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request by contacting the County Administrator’s Office at (305) 292-4441, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. If you have any questions, please call the County Solid Waste Management Department at 305-295-4323 or 305-292-4536, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2024, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property, which may result in a loss of title.
A person may submit written or other physical evidence on a particular agenda item for consideration at the July 17, 2024 BOCC meeting to: Krystal Gomez, via email at: Gomez-Krystal@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by mail to: The County Administrator’s Office, 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040. The documents must be received by 3:00 p.m., on July 12, 2024, and must include the submitter’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the agenda item number to which the documents refer.
Dates at Key West, Florida, this 22nd day of June, 2024. Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Serenity Studio located at 30136 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL, USA. By: Colleen Mulligan Publish: June 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Tide Line Interiors located at 813 Largo Road, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State,
Tallahassee, FL, USA. By: Miguel Sanchez
Publish: June 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI
Notice is hereby given that on July 8th, 2024, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows: |103530 Overseas
Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, MilesHawk Marine, LLC dba-Shelter Bay Marine claims a possessory lien on the following described vessels.
1st, owned by Frank Calabrese for unpaid storage fees: a 1998, Mako 17, Florida Registration # FL 4388KK and HIN #MRK0421LA898. 2nd, owned by Mike Olszewski for unpaid storage fees and repair charges: a 2005, Boston
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ANNUAL RATE RESOLUTION − CANALS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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, FL 33050, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, will hold a public hearing to consider approval of the following County Resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE CANAL RESTORATION PROGRAM; IMPOSING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CANAL RESTORATION MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT; APPROVING THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT ROLL; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This below depicts the Assessment Areas within the Canal Restoration Municipal Service Benefit Unit subject to the assessments.
The public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments and collection of the assessment on the ad valorem tax bills. All affected property owners have the right to appear and provide input at the hearing, and may file written objections with the County Administrator at any time prior to the public meeting or within twenty (20) days following publication of this notice, whichever is greater. The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill, commencing with the tax bill to be mailed in November 2024, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the real property which may result in a loss of title. If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Haag at 305-453-8775 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The public can participate in the July 17, 2024 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida by attending in person or via Zoom. The zoom link can be found in the agenda at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens.default.aspx.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, F.S., if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made.
Whaler 220 Dauntless, Florida Registration #FL 1626MU and HIN# US-BWCE0899L405. These vessels to be sold or disposed of on or after 8:00AM, July 12th, 2024, at Shelter Bay Marine, 77 Coco Plum Dr., Marathon, FL 33050. MilesHawk Marine, LLC dbaShelter Bay Marine, reserves the right to reject any and all/ bids.
Publish: June 27 & July 4, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA WITH RESPECT TO NOT TO EXCEED $40,000,000 OF PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY SPECIAL FACILITIES REVENUE BONDS (MILLION AIR THREE LLC GENERAL AVIATION FACILITIES PROJECT), SERIES 2024 ISSUED TO FINANCE FACILITIES AT FLORIDA KEYS MARATHON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
On July 17, 2024, a public hearing, as required by Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), will be held by the Monroe County, Florida (the “County”) with respect to the portion of the proposed issuance by the Public Finance Authority, a joint powers commission created under Sections 66.0301, 66.0303 and 66.0304 of the Wisconsin Statutes (the “Authority”), of its Special Facilities Revenue Bonds (Million Air Three LLC General Aviation Facilities Project), Series 2024 in one or more series (the “Bonds”) to be used to finance the facilities described below at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (the “Airport”). Such portion of the Bonds (the “MTH FBO Bonds”) are expected to be issued in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40,000,000. The hearing will commence at 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, and will be held at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050.
June 27, 2024
ADA Assistance: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator's office at 305-292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call ‘711.’
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 22nd day of June, 2024
Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
Publish: June 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
The MTH FBO Bonds are expected to be issued as exempt facility bonds for airports pursuant to section 142(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and Section 66.0304 of the Wisconsin Statutes, as amended. The proceeds from the sale of the MTH FBO Bonds will be loaned to Marathon Aviation Associates LLC , a Florida limited liability company (the “Borrower”), and will be used to (a) finance the acquisition, construction and/or equipping of certain fixed base operator airport facilities (the “Facilities;”), (b) pay the portion of the issuance costs of the Bonds which is allocable to the MTH FBO Bonds, (d) pay capitalized interest with respect to the MTH FBO Bonds and (d) fund the portion of the debt service reserve fund for the Bonds which is allocable to the MTH FBO Bonds (collectively, the “Project”). The Facilities will be owned by the County and will be used and operated by the Borrower in its business of providing services to general aviation aircraft operators. The Facilities will be located in part on a 5.75-acre site with a street address of 8800 Overseas Highway (US Route 1), Marathon, Florida and in remaining part on a 8.61-acre site with a street address of 9850 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida. All of Facilities will be located at the Airport, which has street address of 9400 Overseas Highway in the City of Marathon, Monroe County, Florida and which occupies a 197 acre site along Overseas Highway between 72nd Street
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
and 106th Street. The Bonds will be special limited obligations of the Authority payable solely from the loan repayments to be made by the Borrower (and by the borrower of the proceeds of the portion of the Bonds other than the MTH FBO Bonds) to the Authority, and certain funds and accounts established by the trust indenture for the Bonds. The Bonds will not be obligations of the County. The hearing will provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard for persons wishing to express their views on the merits of the Project, the nature and location of the Facilities, the issuance of the MTH FBO Bonds or related matters. Oral comments will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. A person wishing to speak at the hearing will
be asked to provide his or her name, address and the person(s) or entity(ies) he or she represents, if any, prior to speaking. Written comments will be accepted by the Monroe County, Department of Airports, 3491 South Roosevelt Street, Key West, Florida 33040, Attention: Richard Strickland, but must be received by the close of the hearing. Any persons needing special accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act should call the County Administrator’s Office by phoning 305-292-4441 not later than 24 hours prior to the time and date of the hearing.
Publish:
June 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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 JULY 18, 2024 THROUGH JULY 17, 2026. The public can participate in the July 17, 2024 meeting of the Board of County
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY RESOLUTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the adoption of the following County resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONTINUING THE ASSESSMENTS OF WASTEWATER SERVICE TO PROPERTIES IN THE BIG COPPITT, DUCK KEY, STOCK ISLAND, CUDJOE REGIONAL CENTRALIZED INNER AND OUTER ISLAND SERVICE AREAS, EAST/WEST LONG KEY, NO NAME KEY, MIDDLE/BIG TORCH KEY, AND EXPANDED PARCELS WITHIN THE CUDJOE REGIONAL SERVICE AREA FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator's Office, by phoning 305-292-4441, 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”.
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2024, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
The public can participate in the July 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.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 22nd day of June, 2024.
Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
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 27th day of June, 2024. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: June 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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 adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AMENDING SECTION 19-4 OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE PROVIDING FOR REVISED TOLL RATES AND TOLL-BYPLATE RATES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 17, 2024, meeting, which will be posted beginning on July 11, 2024 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.
NOTICE OF HEARING TO REIMPOSE AND PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF DUCK KEY SECURITY SERVICES
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the County Commission, Monroe County, Florida will conduct a public hearing to consider re-imposing security services assessments for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2024, against certain improved and unimproved properties located within Duck Key, to fund the cost of security services provided to such properties and to authorize collection of such assessments on the tax bill.
The public hearing will be held at 9:00 A.M., on July 17, 2024, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. attend the Public Hearing via Communication Media Technology (”CMT”)/Zoom at the following virtual address: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx, for the purpose of contributing/receiving public comment on the proposed assessments.
All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the County Commission within 20 calendar days of the publication date of this notice. Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the County Administrator’s Office, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., at 305-292-4441, at least 48 hours prior to the date of the hearing. If hearing impaired, dial “711” for assistance.
The annual Duck Key security assessment is based on the number of improved or unimproved lots contained within the Duck Key Security District. The total annual assessment revenue to be collected within Duck Key for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $126,308.00 The annual assessment rates for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024 (remain the same as the current year) at $292.00 per improved lot and $28.00 per unimproved lot.
Copies of the legal documentation for the assessment program will be made available upon request, by contacting the County Attorney’s office at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact the County at 305-292-3470, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November, 2024, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
The proposed Final Assessment Resolution may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 17, 2024, Monroe County Commission meeting, which will be posted as of July 10, 2024, may be viewed on the County website at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx.
The public can participate in the July 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.
Dated at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, this 27th day of June, 2024.
Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
com/citizens/default.aspx. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040. The public can participate in the July 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 22nd day of June, 2024. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: June 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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 adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AMENDING SECTION 19-5 OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE; PROHIBITING FISHING FROM CERTAIN COUNTY BRIDGES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 17, 2024, meeting, which will be posted beginning on July 11, 2024 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the July 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.
Publish: June 27, 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 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 27th day of June, 2024. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
Publish: June 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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 adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AMENDING MONROE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 21 SOLID WASTE, SECTION 21-46, DEFINITIONS, TO REDEFINE CERTAIN TERMS TO ALIGN TO OUR SOLID WASTE AGREEMENTS; OUTLINING SOLID WASTE SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING CONTAINER AND RECEPTACLE REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GARBAGE, RECYCLING, YARD WASTE AND BULK WASTE PICK-UP; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 17, 2024, meeting, which will be posted beginning on July 11, 2024 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx.
The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the July 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 22nd day of June, 2024.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
Publish: June 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on July 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 adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BOCC) OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 23-199 MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE, TO REVISE PROVISIONS TO CLARIFY THAT MEMBERS OF THE TDC SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOCC AND MAY BE REMOVED BY AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE BOCC; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the July 17, 2024, meeting, which will be posted beginning on July 11, 2024 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx.
The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the July 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 27th day of June, 2024. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: June 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-320-P
KENNETH STEVENS and CLIFFORD BROWN, Plaintiffs, -v.WOLF CAPITAL FUNDING, LLC, LEOPOLD BALESTRIERI, POOL TECH OF MIAMI, INC., EL MAMEYAL NURSERY, INC., CLOSET PROS, INC., ISLAMORADA VILLAGE OF ISLANDS, CHARLES VIRGIL ROGERS, ONLY AUTHENTICS, LLC, and, AMERICAN ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS, INC., Defendants.
________________/ FIRST AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION
TO: LEOPOLD BALESTRIERI
Last Known Address: 10055 Yamato Road, Suite 110 Boca Raton, FL 33498
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action seeking the foreclosure of a mortgage upon the real property located at 81975 Old Highway, Islamorada, Florida 33036, has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Richard A. Malafy, of the law firm of Campbell & Malafy, Plaintiffs’ attorney, whose address is 10887 Overseas Highway, Suite #201, Marathon, Florida 33050, on or before July 15, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiffs’ attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Dated on: May 21st, 2024
KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Court
By: Daniella Lafontant
Deputy Clerk
Publish:
June 20 & 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-320-P
KENNETH STEVENS and CLIFFORD BROWN, Plaintiffs, -v.WOLF CAPITAL FUNDING, LLC, LEOPOLD BALESTRIERI, POOL TECH OF MIAMI, INC., EL MAMEYAL NURSERY, INC., CLOSET PROS, INC., ISLAMORADA VILLAGE OF ISLANDS, CHARLES VIRGIL ROGERS, ONLY AUTHENTICS, LLC, and, AMERICAN ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS, INC., Defendants. ________________/ FIRST AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION TO: WOLF CAPITAL FUNDING, LLC
Last Known Address: 101 N. Clematis Street, Suite #306
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action seeking the foreclosure of a mortgage upon the real property located at 81975 Old Highway, Islamorada, Florida 33036, has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Richard A. Malafy, of the law firm of Campbell & Malafy, Plaintiffs’ attorney, whose address is 10887 Overseas Highway, Suite #201, Marathon, Florida 33050, on or before July 15, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiffs’ attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Dated on: May 21st, 2024
KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk Clerk of the Court By: Daniella Lafontant
Deputy Clerk
Publish: June 20 & 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO. 2022-CA-239-M HAWKS NEST BOARD OF TRUSTEES President, GARY TUCKER, Plaintiff, vs. NON-VOTING GROUP OF HAWKS NEST, Defendants.
___________________/ NOTICE OF ACTION
TO: NON-VOTING MEMBERS OF HAWKS NEST BALLOT TO REBUILD DESTROYED CONDOMINIUM
Lots 9 & 10, KNIGHTS KEY VILLAGE, as recorded in Plat Book 5, at Page 84, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action seeking the partition upon real property located at 1 Kyle Way South, Marathon FL 33050, has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on James J Dorl, Esquire of the law firm James J Dorl PA, Plaintiffs’ attorney whose address is 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 12, Marathon FL 33050, on or before July 15th, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiffs’ attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Dated: June 13th, 2024 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida
By: Leslie Rodriguez
Deputy Clerk
Publish:
June 20 & 27, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO. 24-CP-000270-P IN RE: ESTATE OF EWA W. TARASIEWICZ Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the Estate of Ewa W. Tarasiewicz, deceased, whose date of death was December 26, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, 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 on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of
this notice is: June 27, 2024.
Personal Representative: Ewa Matuszek-Soja c/o Sloto & Diamond, PLLC 9100 S. Dadeland Boulevard, Suite 1607
Miami, Florida 33156
Attorney for Personal Representative: James R. Sloto, Esquire Florida Bar Number: 223867
Sloto & Diamond, PLLC 9100 S. Dadeland Boulevard, Suite 1607
Miami, Florida 33156
Telephone: (305) 379-1792
Fax: (305) 379-2328
E-Mail: eservice@slotolaw.com
Publish: June 27 & July 4, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000292-P IN RE: ESTATE OF GEORGE BRAINARD LUCAS, JR. Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of George Brainard Lucas, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was November 4, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, Florida 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representatives are Ralf Sellig, 60 Johnson Street, Bay Head, NJ 08742; Patricia W. Lucas, 10 Bay Ridge Road, Key Largo, FL 33037; Russell Lucas, 904 Barnegat Lane, Mantoloking NJ 08738; Nancy Mignon, 61 Johnson Street, Bay Head, NJ 08742 ; and the name and address of the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below.
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN § 733.702, FLORIDA STATUTES, WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: June 27, 2024.
Personal Representative: Ralf Sellig 60 Johnson Street Bay Head, NJ 08742
Attorney for Personal Representative: Bruce A. McDonald Florida Bar No. 263311 Suite B, PMB # 137 707 E. Cervantes St. Pensacola, FL 32501-3286 Ph. 850-346-7926 bamcdonald@pensacolalaw. com
Publish:
June 27 & July 4, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-275-P IN RE: ESTATE OF DORIS LAW A/K/A DORIS B. LAW, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DORIS LAW A/K/A DORIS B. LAW, deceased, whose date of death was March 5, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, 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 on whom a copy of this notice has been served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIOIDS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: June 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: RICHARD LAW
111 East Ridgewood Avenue, Apt. 1A Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Attorney for Personal Representative: THOMAS R. WALSER, ESQ. E-mail Addresses: trwalser@ floridaprobatefirm.com
Florida Bar No. 116596
Florida Probate Law Firm, PLLC 6751 N. Federal Highway, Ste. 101 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Telephone: (561) 210-5500
Publish: June 20 & 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-272-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF MARIE F. COTTON, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of MARIE F. COTTON, deceased, whose date of death was April 16, 2024, File Number 24-CP-272-P is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Plantation Key Government Center, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, 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 on whom a copy of this notice has been served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE TIME OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.
ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD 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: June 20, 2024. Personal Representative: CHARLES R. MCWHIRTER 253 Sunset Drive Islamorada, FL 33036
Attorney for Personal Representative:
JOE A. CATARINEAU
Florida Bar Number: 0517291 91750 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070 Telephone: (305) 852-4833 Publish: June 20 & 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000299-PK IN RE: ESTATE OF ANN PARKER FLYNNLAMPMAN Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ANN PARKER FLYNNLAMPMAN, deceased, whose date of death was April 28, 2024; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 24-CP-000299-PK, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, 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: JUNE 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: MARK PARKER 44 Sea Meadow Drive Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087 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: June 20 & 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 24-CP-000247-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RAYMOND H. LEWIS, JR. Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Raymond H. Lewis,
Jr. deceased, whose date of death was January 30, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Ste. 2, Plantation Key, Florida 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 on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is June 20, 2024.
Personal Representative: John C. Lewis 831 SE 13 CT Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Attorney for Personal Representative: Nicholas W. Mulick
E-mail Address: reception@ mulicklaw.com
Florida Bar No. 337757
Nicholas W. Mulick P.A. 91645 Overseas Highway Tavernier, Florida 33070
Telephone: (305) 852-9292
Publish: June 20 & 27, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
2004 Chevy 2500 4X4 LT, 110k miles, original owner. Truck is located in Marathon. $9,500 305-481-4838 1964 Ford Galaxy, 427 Big Block, 5-speed, located in Key Largo. $50,000 954-445-6647
Place your AUTO FOR SALE ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
Rampage 25X10 Diesel Center Console. Charter fish rigged. 20 Rods & Reels + equip. Located in Marathon. 305-619-5282
Place your BOAT FOR SALE ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 BOAT
FOR
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
EMPLOYMENT
Marathon: Looking for 2 College Students interested in 2-3 hours of work for 1 day restoring a Trawler Boat. May lead to additional hours. Cleaning, sanding, staining, scraping and painting outside of Boat $25.00 an hour. Contact a Friend and apply together. Call (508) 566-3538
SKILLED PLUMBERS Full Service & Construction. Immediate Openings in Upper Keys. Full-time & Part-time. Motivated - Great Mechanical & Problem Solving Skills
– Read & Speak English - Clean driving record. Pay Rate based on experience, ownership of working tools, and transportation. E-mail: PlumbersinParadise@ outlook.com for application.
ATTENTION- Marathon Auto & Marine Services looking for Auto Techs and for Trailer Service Tech.Pay based on experience. Apply in person at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL. Ask for Steve or Jay.
Looking for Alarm Technicians with current working knowledge of fire alarm systems in Marathon & Key West. Competitive pay. Hours: M-F 8:30a-4:30p. Email deborahg@ barnesalarmsystems. com or call 305-743-7334 for more information
Saturday front desk office person needed to answer phones and greet walk in customers at Big Pine Real Estate Office. Call Frank 561-2839969 or DD 305-289-6486
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring part-time servers and bartenders. Private club, friendly atmosphere, guaranteed gratuities. Flexible lunch/ dinner shifts available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Call 305-7436739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com.
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 305743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open
year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Server at Poinciana Gardens, Med Tech PT/ Nights, PT Housing Assistant, Housing Choice Voucher Asst., PT Receptionist, Housing Manager-Middle Keys, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker, and HVAC Maintenance Mechanic $64.480-$72,800/yr. plus benefits. 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
NOW HIRING
LEAD MARINE MECHANIC
Experienced to inspect, service & repair marine engines, boat steering & hydraulic systems. Ability to work at sea.
ADMIN/OFFICE HELP
Part-time. Must be able to multi-task, stay calm under pressure and have great communication skills. Send resume to captpips@aol.com or come in the of ce to ll out application. 1480 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
CAPTAIN PIP’S IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
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.
PRIVATE COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
2 BR/1BA for rent in Key Largo. Furnished, W/D, & Ice Machine. $2,800/month incl. utilities & strong WiFi. 407-744-2656
ANNUAL RENTALKey Largo - 2BR/2BA Spacious Doublewide, 1400 sq ft modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community. $3,500/ month 786-258-3127
Available for 1 person. 2 1/2 rooms + 8' X 22' screened porch. All utilities incl. wifi, satellite TV, washer/dryer. 2nd house from ocean. Offstreet parking. Private & quiet. MM 96 Key Largo. $1,950/month F/L/S 305-853-3779
Long-term rental on Lower Matecumbe. 2BR/1BA Tile floors, W/D, 2nd floor w/wrap around balcony on canal. Private beach access. $2,900/ mo incl. internet & cable. Call Phil 305-898-2077
Conch HouseStudio for Rent in Marathon. $960/month furnished + utilities. Dockage available. No Pets. 305-610-8002
Large One Bedroom Suite, Conch House, carpet, tile, appliances, available for rent in Marathon. $2,000/ month furnished all included. Weekly payments possible. Dockage available. No Pets. 305-610-8002
2/1-Marathon, furn.,duplex, w/d, near Hospital, 30’ on canal. $2,500/month, 6 mon. minimum , (or) $4,500/ monthly. Pets nego. Call/Text 409-370-0025 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!!
Place your HOUSING FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
HOUSING WANTED
Female teacher seeks living space in Key West. Need Washer/Dryer, Bathroom & Kitchen. Available to pet sit for you. 202-531-9878
RV SITE FOR RENT
RV site at marina available in Marathon. Monthly rates. Free use of dingy & fishing on dock. 305-610-8002
30' X 120' LOT FOR RENT in Marathon. Keys By The Sea, MM50. Cement pad, avail. MayNov $1000/mo plus utilities. 262-716-8987 RENTED IN THREE WEEKS!!!
Place your RV SITE FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated.
Place your YARD SALE ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
We are seeking a full time dedicated in-home caregiver to provide care to our loved one in a comfortable home environment in Marathon.
Responsibilities:
• Provide personal care including bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Administer medications as prescribed
• Prepare nutritious meals and assist with feeding
• Monitor and report changes in health or behavior
Requirements:
• Previous experience in caregiving or a related field
• Certification in CPR and First Aid
• Ability to lift and assist with mobility
• Reliable transportation
• Certification such as CNA, HHA preferred but not required.
Please send your resume to dale@marathonlumber.com or contact 305.743.3688 ask for Dale or Tricia for more information.
PART-TIME POSITION CITY ADMINISTRATOR
The City of Key Colony Beach, Florida is seeking a part-time CITY ADMINISTRATOR, via independent contract. The position is compensated based upon experience and will not provide any benefits.
IS HIRING
FULL TIME PROJECT MANAGER ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IN THE UPPER KEYS
Send resume to admin@cbtconstruction.com Or call 305-852-3002
Call 305-407-3262 or email info@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com 11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON EXPERIENCED ELECTRICIANS AND HELPERS NEEDED
Experience is required. Must have a valid driver’s license. We offer 401K, medical insurance, paid holidays and paid vacation. Positions available in Key West and Marathon. 305-292-3369
Turtle Hospital in Marathon Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/ Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $18/hour to start. Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
Duties will include all referenced in Section 5-5 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. Duties include, but not limited to, following the leadership of the City Commission and assist in implementing Commission programs and priorities, attend City Commission and other appropriate meetings, and represent the City in dealing with other governmental entities, outside agencies and residents as appropriate and necessary.
All interested individuals should contact cityclerk@keycolonybeach.net for an application, and submit the application with a resume and cover letter to cityclerk@keycolonybeach.net.
The City of Key Colony Beach is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, political affiliation, disability, or any other characteristic or basis protected under federal or state law.
WE ARE HIRING!
DIRECT CARE STAFF / DRIVER AT ADULT DAY TRAINING PROGRAM
KEY WEST
This position is available at our Adult Day program. This position provided direct care service and support to our clients in the day program. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED.
PLANT STORE MANAGER
KEY WEST
MARC is looking for a 40-hr/wk. manager. Good social/business skills, above average computer skills required (knowledge of POS a plus). Knowledge of tropical plants is helpful. Requires a lot of manual labor and must be able to lift at least 50 pounds. Must be able to work weekends and evenings as the season requires.*
IN HOME SUPPORT FT KEY WEST
MARC is seeking a full-time, split-shift, In-Home Support Coach/ Trainer to provide companionship and assist clients with training/support. HSD/GED & 1 yr. exp in a related field. 1 year of college can substitute for experience. Must be able to use a tablet for documentation purposes. The shift for this job is split shift 7-9 am then 3-9 pm. We can be flexible. This is a rewarding position for the right person. *
CLIENT MEDICAL SERVICES ASSISTANT
Full-time assisting our clients with dental, medical and transpor-tation appts. Act as liaison between clients, families and support staff. Requires some on-call responsibility. Min. requirement Florida certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant. *
*ALSO REQUIRED FOR ALL POSITIONS:
Fluent in English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. Level 2 background screening and valid Florida driver’s license.
Come join our family! EOE
Apply at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary St., Key West. Or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32
DUI EVALUATOR/ INSTRUCTOR
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.
SUNSET GRILLE IS HIRING
Moorings Village is seeking friendly, self motivated, team players for the
LIVE IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have openings in multiple departments. Please scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package.
DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program.
DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER
58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL
Teaching... Learning... Caring
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. IS HIRING!
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 Advocate (PT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Adult) Case Manager (Adult, Child) Substance Abuse Counselor Prevention Specialist
MARATHON 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.
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN
- Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Marathon, FT
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Cook, Per Diem
- Director of Nursing Services, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, FL
- Exercise Physiologist, Mariners Wellness Center, Per Diem
- Group Exercise Instructor, Mariners Wellness Center, Per Diem
- Lead First Cook, $5,000 Bonus, FT
- Manager Wellness Center, FT
- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $20,000 Bonus, FT
- Nuclear Medicine Tech, Per Diem
- Performance Improvement Nurse, FT
- Phlebotomist, Laboratory, Per Diem
- Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehab, Per Diem
- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, $25,000 Bonus, FT
- Registered Nurse, ICU, $25,000 Bonus, FT
- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, $25,000 Bonus, FT
- Yoga Instructor, Mariners Wellness Center, Per Diem
MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- ED Acute Care Tech, Emergency Department, FT
- Environmental Tech, $5,000 Bonus, FT
- Experience Advisor, Patient Experience, FL
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Radiology, $20,000 Bonus, FT
- Medical Technologist, Laboratory, $15,000 Bonus, FT, PT and Per Diem
- Radiology Technologist, Radiology, $15,000 Bonus, FT
- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, Per Diem
- Registered Respiratory Therapist, Per Diem
- Security Of cer, Per Diem
available positions at: www.westcare.com (search by zip code) EEOC/DFWP
APPLY AND LEARN MORE
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We are now hiring for the following positions:
Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers Applicants must apply in person to be considered. 4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
