THURSDAY, JULY 11 - MONDAY, JULY 15 10 AM TO 6 PM 50% OFF
Apparel, jewelry, sandals, bags. This includes all of our newest arrivals from top brands like Trina Turk, Farm Rio, Hale Bob, Oliphant, Finley, Jen's Pirate Booty, Kasia Resort, Hobo Original and many more.
There will be so many splurge-worthy pieces at amazing prices. This is our thank you for all the incredible support we have received.
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Members of
The number of recipients of the U.S. Medal of Honor so far. About half of the honorees distinguished themselves during the American Civil War.
Get the lowdown on lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys. See page 20 & 21. LOBSTERSLAPPER.COM/Contributed
KEY WEST CHAMBER HOLDS CANDIDATE EVENT
Election season is at full swing in Florida Keys
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
The general election, when America will choose its president, is still 3 1⁄2 months away on Nov. 5, but some local races will be decided in the Aug. 20 primary, if one candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.
The Key West Chamber of Commerce on July 9 held a candidate meet and greet at the College of the Florida Keys, where candidates were given two minutes to make their case.
School board candidates Yvette Mira-Talbott and Zach Bentley prioritized the recruitment and retention of skilled teachers for local public schools.
County commission incumbent candidates Holly Merrill Raschein and Jim Scholl discussed the expense and importance of infrastructure and bridge projects, as well as the county’s housing crisis. Raschein’s challenger, Melissa
Ptomey, questioned the current commission’s approval of an Upper Keys development despite residents’ opposition. Chris Massicotte, who is challenging Scholl, criticized increased spending and decreased transparency.
Supervisor of Elections candidates Ron Saunders and Margaret Romero emphasized the importance of their political impartiality, with Saunders reminding people of his political experience as a state representative. Candidate Sherri Hodies told the audience the job is not one for a politician, but a committed public servant who will work for the voters.
In the Key West City Commission races, Monica Haskell demonstrated a knowledge of local issues in seeking support for the District 1 seat being vacated by Jimmy Weekley. Her opponent, Ben Hennington, did not attend.
The District 6 race to succeed Clayton Lopez
features Aaron Castillo, Thaddeus Cohen and Marci Rose. Castillo highlighted his lifelong residency and service on city boards. Cohen reminded voters of his administrative experience at the state and city level as Key West’s planning director who helped implement the popular — and free — Duval Loop bus route. Rose said she wants to implement a more user-friendly online agenda and chance to weigh in on issues prior to the commission’s vote.
Utility Board candidates Rachel Oropeza and Tim Root touted their commitment to the Key West community and its power reliability.
State Representative candidate Michael Travis aka Erika Rose, who performs in drag in Key West, criticized Tallahassee lawmakers for stripping local governments of control and women of their reproductive rights.
Phil Ehr, a Democrat, is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who was in Washington, D.C. this week. Ehr said he works for no one but the voters, pointing out that Gimenez recently attended a Donald Trump rally in Doral, Florida.
Hometown will hold a candidate forum at 5 p.m. Monday, July 15 at The Studios of Key West.
Michael Travis
Phil Ehr
Margaret Romero Ron Saunders Sherri Hodies
Chris Massicotte Jim Scholl
County Commission District 3
Rachel Oropeza Tim Root
Key West Utility Board
Supervisor of Elections
Monica Haskell
Key West City Commission, District 1
Marci Rose Thaddeus Cohen Aaron Castillo
Key West City Commission, District 6
State Representative
U.S. Representative
Holly Raschein Melissa Ptomey
County Commission District 5
Yvette Mira Talbott Zach Bentley
School Board
WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS
As
Addressing workforce housing challenges to promote a robust local economy
Preserving and protecting our environment, which is intimately tied to our economy and essential for our livelihood and lifestyle
Tackling major infrastructure improvements to combat threats from sealevel rise and ensure the safety and quality of life of our residents
GWEN FILOSA gwen@keysweekly.com
Boat crashes into Big Pine bridge; spear fisherman killed in separate incident
HOLIDAY WEEKEND TURNS TRAGIC
With two children and six adults on board, a large SeaHunter boat smashed into a Lower Keys bridge in the early morning hours of July 8.
The crash injured at least seven of the eight people aboard.
“The seven people who were hospitalized were six adults and one child,” county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood told Keys Weekly before press time. “The child was airlifted along with two adults. The other four were taken (to local hospitals). I’m not sure who was taken where.”
The accident, which shocked locals, turned into a lifesaving mission for Monroe County Fire Rescue. They made it to the scene within about 10 minutes and used ladders from another bridge to swoop down and remove the people, authorities said.
At about 1:30 a.m., the 35-foot SeaHunter boat hit the South Pine Channel Bridge off Big Pine Key.
The boat was “going at a high rate of speed” and began taking on water, Livengood told Keys Weekly the morning of the crash.
Monroe County Fire Rescue made it to the crash scene before the vessel started sinking, though.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and the Towboat US Big Pine/ Cudjoe Key boat towing service also responded to the scene not long after the crash.
“We were able to get a boat alongside the vessel before it sank and transfer three of the severely injured to our boat and then transported them to Dolphin Marina, where (paramedics) treated and transferred all three to waiting helicopters and transported (them) to a Miami Hospital,” Towboat U.S. posted on Monday afternoon.
FWC is investigating.
The trip was a fishing charter with a local boat captain leading the way, according to sources with knowledge of the incident. And several locals have been vocal on Facebook saying that they know the people were out fishing at night for spawning snapper on a charter trip.
The boat crash with multiple injuries follows a boating hit-and-run fatality reported July 5 on the waters off the Lower Keys. A spearfisherman was struck and killed by a boat at 1:15 p.m. July 5 off MM 39, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.
The 32-foot Contender involved was located later that day in Key Colony Beach after Keys law enforcement put the word out on social media.
But details have not been released by state officials, leaving unanswered questions including whether a required diver-down flag was present or if the boat driver even realized he had struck someone before driving away.
Marathon City Manager George Garrett, in a radio interview and phone call with Keys Weekly on the morning of July 10, said there are questions remaining about the victim’s distance from his own boat and whether a diver-down flag was properly displayed, but Garrett emphasized the reports were not final.
FWC spokeswoman Arielle Callender also told Keys Weekly the reports were not yet available. “Will share as soon as (reports) are available,” she wrote in an email.
The discourse on social media about the Big Pine boat accident ranged from outrage over the time of night that children were out on the water to people asking everyone to pray for the injured people and have patience awaiting FWC’s reports.
Was alcohol involved? Why were children out so late? How fast was the boat going? Comments and questions blaming all sorts of factors filled the threads.
Others asked for peace and patience while waiting for official investigative reports to be finalized and released.
“People just need to keep their negative thoughts and comments to themselves before the facts are displayed,” one commenter wrote. “We are all humans and make our own decisions in life, yet don’t have a reason to judge each other.”
Another replied, “Very naive!”
The South Pine Channel Bridge, off Big Pine Key, is known as a relatively wide passage. Photos of the damaged boat stunned locals.
Capt. David Dipre, a longtime Keys-based FWC officer, urged people to focus on safety regulations and equipment – and the fact that they can work. “Life jackets,” Dipre told Keys Weekly. “Make sure those red and green lights are on.” Dipre is not an investigator, but supervises FWC officers.
Initially, the county reported that seven people were on board, including one child. A second child, age 17, was also on the SeaHunter at the time, sources with knowledge of the trip told Keys Weekly. The other boy is 12 years old.
A large SeaHunter crashed into a Lower Keys bridge off Big Pine Key on July 8, sending at least seven people to hospitals. TOWBOAT U.S Big Pine/Cudjoe
‘TITANIC’ PRODUCER & FORMER ISLAMORADA RESIDENT JON LANDAU PASSES AWAY AT 63
The Keys remember the acts of generosity
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Oscar-winning producer and former Florida Keys resident Jon Landau helped captivate a global audience, from the 1997 film “Titanic” to the recent science-fiction thrillers “Avatar” and “Avatar: Way of the Water.”
He even featured a bit of the Florida Keys’ Seven Mile Bridge in the 1994 action comedy “True Lies,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Arnold.
Landau passed away on July 6 at the age of 63. His death was announced by Alan Bergman, co-chairman for Disney Entertainment.
“Jon was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen,” Bergman said in a statement.
Landau and his wife, Julie, lived at the lushly-landscaped Bali Hai property on the Old Highway in Islamorada before selling it in 2022.
While his productions on the big screen brought accolades and box office records, many Keys residents who came to know Landau remember his many generous acts within the local community. And he wasn’t looking for awards or attention.
“Everyone should know how much Jon Landau loved the Florida Keys and the people who live here,” said Jennifer McComb, president and CEO for the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK).
After Hurricane Irma and during the COVID pandemic, McComb said, Jon and Julie were genuinely concerned for Keys residents and families in need and how to get them money so they could buy whatever they needed most. Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, the Landaus sprang into action to assist the island chain with the Landau Family Hurricane Relief Fund in the Upper Keys. With help from CFFK, grants were given to businesses and residents in need to rebuild and recover. Together with CFFK’s Emergency Relief Fund, more than $1.4 million was raised and distributed for Irma recovery in the Keys.
Jon and Julie Landau. Jon Landau produced the 1997 film “Titanic” and the 2009 film ‘Avatar.’ The two lived in the Keys for a number of years before selling their Islamorada home in 2022. CONTRIBUTED
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon and Julie created the Landau Family COVID-19 Food Fund to help residents in need. The fund complemented CFFK’s Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund, which provided aid through Keys nonprofits to families, seniors, service workers and others who were out of work and affected by COVID-19’s economic impacts.
With help from CFFK and fellow friends, the Landaus granted more than $315,000 to help Upper Keys residents following Irma and after the pandemic.
“What makes the Keys so special is the community of people that call this island chain their home,” Landau said in April 2020.
McComb said she remembers inviting Jon to a foundation board meeting in which he showed up in a T-shirt as he chatted with the board like old friends.
“This was pure Jon — accessible, genuine and without airs,” McComb said. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with lots of individuals blessed with fortune and fame. Jon stood out for his remarkable humility, sincerity and being just so crazy unpretentious.”
Jon and Julie were also heavily involved in the academic realm, having launched a scholarship program in the graphic and performing arts for graduating Coral Shores students. The Landaus heard about the Upper Keys Rotary Foundation’s scholarship program and partnered to take advantage of the Rotary’s detailed selection process. The award, which
‘Avatar’
helped students attend prestigious schools for dance, video production and film making, was a four-year scholarship with a significant amount paid every year, if justified by the student’s school record.
“When we found scholarship applicants from Coral Shores interested in performing or graphic arts, we asked the student to create an audition video. We sent that, along with the full application, to Jon and Julie and they were delighted in selecting a special scholarship student,” said Tricia Hynes, Upper Keys Rotary Foundation member.
Inside the classroom, Jon went above and beyond to get students excited about the filmmaking industry. Michele Thiery, video production teacher, said Landau gave her all kinds of materials from his 2019 action sci-fi film “Alita Battle Angel.” From New Zealand, he woke up at 4 a.m. to virtually meet the students.
“Jon also offered many opportunities,” Thiery said. “He did a premiere of ‘Alita Battle Angel’ with the students. Then as a surprise, he brought in Rosa Salazar, lead actress, and Robert Rodriguez, the director, for a question-and-answer session with my students.”
Landau also afforded students the opportunity to visit his production company at the Manhattan Beach Studio, tour Fox Studios and meet the art department for “Avatar.”
Jon Landau loved all things Islamorada and was a huge supporter of the Islamorada Chamber’s events, es-
pecially Holiday Fest and Island Fest. Judy Hull, executive director for the Islamorada Chamber, said he was not only generous with his monetary support, but he also actively contributed ideas and always expressed his love for these events which brought out the community spirit.
“After Hurricane Irma, Jon was the very first person to call, asking what he could do and how he could help,” Hull said.
The Landaus also supported Baptist Health South Florida’s Mariners Hospital as a foundation giving member dating back to 2011. Wendy Gentes, Baptist Health Foundation’s assistant vice chair and chief development office, said Landau was passionate about delivering high-quality healthcare to community members.
“Jon Landau was an exceptionally talented person with a generous spirit that knew no bounds,” Gentes said.
The Landaus also supported Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys, Upper Keys Humane Society and the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center (FKHDC) in Islamorada. Jon designed the FKHDC’s educational theater and headed a committee to select the company to build and equip the facility.
“Jon was so generous with his time, talent and treasure. He was so humble and unpretentious. He personified the term, ‘difference maker,’” FKHDC stated in a Facebook post.
A cause of death wasn’t immediately announced.
producer Jon Landau and his wife Julie’s passions included water activities and community involvement in the Florida Keys. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed
HAVE YOU TRIED KEY WEST’S WORKFORCE EXPRESS?
City expands transit service after successful first year
The City of Key West and Key West Transit launched a new Workforce Express bus route in May 2023 and have since been making adjustments to improve reliability, schedules and performance.
The route that runs from Stock Island to Bahama Village now includes stops at Lower Keys Medical Center, apartment complexes around the 3900 block of South Roosevelt Boulevard, the Senior Center on Kennedy Drive, and Overseas Market. The service runs continuously from 6:45 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. seven days a week.
After the Stock Island and New Town stops, the route includes Truman Avenue, North Roosevelt Boulevard and Duck Avenue.
Key West Transit riders can view more details regarding the upcoming service adjustments at kwtransit.com.
— Contributed
COME WORSHIP WITH US
‘‘The churches of Christ greet you.’’ Romans 16:16 NKJV
ENGLISH SERVICE
Sunday Bible Study 10am Service 11am
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm Evangelist Rodrigue Aleandre Cell 305.296.3331
Domingo Estudio Biblico a las 5pm Servicio de Adoración a las 6pm Jueves Estudio Biblico a las 7pm Ministro Pedro Ruiz Celda 347.430.2263
1700 VON PHISTER ST, KEY WEST
‘‘Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.’’ Psalms 31:24 NKJV
FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR
monroetaxcollector.com
• Local business tax may be renewed beginning on July 1, 2024. The 2024 business tax expires on September 30, 2024.
• Property tax installment bills must be paid by July 31.
• There were 1,756 certificates sold during this year’s tax certificate sale for the amount of $9,745,258.28. In the previous year, there were 1,765 certificates sold.
• The spiny lobster sport season (“mini-season”) begins at 12:01a.m. on July 24 and ends at 12:00 a.m. on July 25.
• A property that is being rented out for six months or less must have a tourist development tax account.
• To sign up for electronic bills, please visit our website or call our o ce for assistance.
• Thank you for nominating us for Best Customer Service and Best Elected O cial for the 2024 Bubba Awards!
KEYS SCHOOLS LAUNCH ENHANCED COMPUTER TRAINING
Local philanthropist offers students cash incentives for IT skills
TDistrict recently announced its IT Premier Pathway, a progressive educational program that encourages students in sixth through 12th grades to integrate information technology skills in their high school experience. The initiative is supported by Key West philanthropist and education advocate John Padget, whose nonprofit Golden Fleece Foundation provides financial incentives for students who succeed in self-paced learning opportunities in computer and technology fields.
“Integrating IT skills is essential for preparing students for future career landscapes,” said Theresa Axford, school superintendent.
“We are grateful for John Padget’s continued support, which enables us to provide these extraordinary learning opportunities.” The IT Premier Pathway offers a structured reward system that motivates students to pursue, and excel in, their IT studies:
• Level 1 certifications: Students receive $50 gift cards for each certification.
• Level 2 certifications: Students receive $150 gift cards for each certification.
• Level 3 certifications: Students earn checks from the Golden Fleece Foundation with a tiered reward system: $300 for the first Level 3 certification, $500 for the
second, $700 for the third (the Silver IT Premier Award), $1,000 for the fourth (the Gold IT Premier Award) and $1,500 for the fifth Level 3 certification (the Platinum IT Premier Award).
Achieving a Level 3 certification also confers three college credits, allowing students to accumulate up to 15 credits before they finish high school. Recipients of the Platinum IT Premier Award could effectively complete half a year of college or university coursework, entirely free of charge.
Students are encouraged to study at their own pace and pass certifications when ready.
Students will receive recognition among their peers in their classrooms. “Certificates and checks will be presented by Golden Fleece Foundation representatives,” said Caroline Bleske, career and technical education coordinator.
“This pathway not only fosters IT skills but also builds lifelong learners,” Padget said. “These awards are designed to recognize significant achievements and inspire a culture of excellence among students.”
More information is available from Bleske at 305-293-1400, ext. 53389, or via email at caroline. bleske@keysschools.com.
Over 120 works of art on view by Florida Keys artists. Support local - 75% of art sales go directly to the artist. GALLERY HOURS: TUE-SAT, 10AM-4PM
LAYING DOWN THE GROOVE
Groove. It’s one of the most difficult aspects of music to define. But music without it is relatively easy to define — boring. Let’s start with a rough definition of groove. Repetition, especially in the rhythm, is one of the main elements of groove. Music without repetition can also be “groovy” but can be more difficult to connect with.
Think for a moment about dancing (even for those of us with traumatic dancing pasts). Once you make “that” move and are waiting to hear the snap of the drum to move onto the next well-thought-out Flashdance pose, and your foot lands right in time with that snare drum strike, that’s groove. The length of time between hits, the velocity and the musical action that happens in between hits is the groove. The feel. When you’re dancing to the drum beat and the guy next to you is dancing to, well, who knows exactly, that is also groove. He is waiting for whatever that thing is to return so he can finish his “man behind glass” pantomime routine.
One way to look at groove may be to consider a single drum hit, either before, on or after the beat. You can hit that drum right on the beat. Sounds like straight rock ’n’ roll. You can hit a little before the beat, giving it a more rushed and aggressive feel. Or you can hit slightly behind the beat, giving it a snaky, funky feel. This a very rudimentary way to look at it, but it gives us an idea of how a simple decision of milliseconds can affect the groove of a whole piece.
RAY WEST
But groove is not limited to dance music. Every type of music has a certain groove. Country music, with its feeling that one should be riding a horse or bouncing down a rough gravel road in a pickup truck while danc ing to it, is a groove. Cajun music has one of the most infectious and upbeat grooves around. When you see that guy listen ing to classical music imagining himself composing, guess what? That’s right. He’s groovin’. Recurring musical elements are another element of groove. This is what gives music without drums the chance to move some hips. If we think of love songs with just an acoustic guitar, the recurring chord progression sets the groove. The way the player strikes the guitar and mutes the strings defines the rhythm. Sometimes lyrics can define a groove, as when you’re humming along, waiting for the singer to get to the part you like again. You’re in a groove then, albeit a slow-burning one.
... a professional musician, singer, actor and executive director of the Key West Music Awards, is known to sacrifice his comfort for that of his cat.
One less definable aspect of groove is what players sometimes call “the sauce.” It’s the magic ingredient, the musical elixir. This is what makes the music come alive. It’s the spice that the chef reaches for seconds before the dish exits the kitchen. The trick is knowing exactly how much spice you need to make the food taste the way you want: groovy.
FLOAT BOUTIQUE RISES TO THE TOP IN ITS 1ST YEAR
Store owners celebrate anniversary with half-price sale to thank customers
Float. The word suggests a sense of leisure and contentment, The fittingly named boutique on Whitehead Street, FLOAT, offers a similarly refreshing respite — the unhurried indulgence often equated with Key West and island life.
Informal and effortlessly elegant, FLOAT celebrates its first year in business on July 14.
Owners Debbie Castillo and Sheryl Steinmeyer decided to mark their first year by offering 50% off everything — yes, everything — from July 11-15.
For Castillo and Steinmeyer, the sale serves as a thank-you to their loyal customers who embraced the shop immediately, and as an opportunity to introduce themselves to new customers.
Located at 624 Whitehead St., in convenient proximity to the Green Parrot Bar, FLOAT invites locals and visitors to explore rack after colorful rack of classy, island-inspired clothing, accessories, jewelry, hats and handbags.
The store began as a simple conversation between two close friends over dinner.
Debbie Castillo and Sheryl Steinmeyer both had harbored thoughts about opening an upscale shopping space in Key West. Then one night in 2023, they decided to bring their ideas for FLOAT to fruition.
The women leaned into their complimentary business backgrounds to build a strong foundation for the boutique. Both have successful careers, Castillo in commercial strategy and asset management, and Steinmeyer in artist and event management for the country music scene.
With the decision to move forward finalized, the pair turned their attention to the fun part – design, curation, aesthetics and display. They wanted to offer women a shopping experience unlike any other in Key West.
Steinmeyer and Castillo were committed to offering brands that were unavailable anywhere else on the island. They started with some of their own favorites, like Farm Rio, that would carry the brand name recognition needed to initially draw shoppers to the store. From there, they branched out, seeking smaller businesses that were creating beautiful designs. Their finds came from connections with designers and artisans, but also from their travels. A trip last fall to Athens and Mykonos yielded some Mediterranean-tinged treasures, Castillo said.
The consistency among the pieces comes from their commitment to quality, and their eye for colors and prints. Castillo, wearing a richhued royal blue and white printed linen dress, noted that each piece in the shop is something she or Steinmeyer would have in their personal closets.
The clothing may take center stage, but an overall cohesive aesthetic is also important to the owners. The shop is pulled together with a bright palette of tropical hues offset by natural fiber rugs, fresh flowers, white walls and soft lighting. The store is housed in a 101-year-old home, which despite its many incarnations over the century, seems to have been waiting the whole time for FLOAT to fill it. The building carries a sense of that history, but feels decidedly contemporary. One aspect that specifically appealed to the owners was the fact that the space contains multiple small rooms. Each room showcases a different color collection – walls of hot pink in one room, subtle denim blues across the hall. The delineation makes it easy for shoppers to find what they are drawn to, but also creates an aesthetic reminiscent of a gallery. The walk from room to room is an engaging exploration of textiles, hats, jewelry and handbags, all meticulously displayed.
After a year in business, the women recognize the unique challenges in owning a small business, but give massive credit to the Key West community. Since the opening, they’ve experienced an outpouring of support and interest and were honored to be nominated for a Bubba Award after less than a year in business, a nod that solidifies the space they’ve created in the Key West community. Go ahead. Float into 624 Whitehead St., and indulge.
Find them online as well as shopfloatkeywest.com and #floatkeywest on Instagram.
ERIN STOVER www.keysweekly.com
FLOAT boutique owners Debbie Castillo, left, and Sheryl Steinmeyer celebrate their successful first year with a half-price sale July 11-15. Photos by MANDY MILES and ERIN STOVER
Receive essential info & personal guidance to begin your degree in August!
Key West Campus & Upper Keys Center Wednesday July 24 11:00 a.m. to
THE LOBSTER LOWDOWN
Want an all-in-one primer as you get ready to hit the water for mini-season on July 24 and 25? Unsure of what rules apply for the new July 14 ‘mini-mini-season?’
The Keys Weekly has
you covered.
THE FINE PRINT MATTERS WHEN HUNTING
• Recreational harvesters are required to possess a valid Florida saltwater fishing license with a current spiny lobster permit. They can be purchased online at gooutdoorsflorida. com/ or by calling 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).
• Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length greater than 3 inches, and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding soft tissue and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace. If a lobster gauge can fit over the end of the carapace, the lobster is TOO SHORT. All recreationally harvested lobster must remain in whole condition while at sea.
• Egg-bearing (berried) spiny lobster must be released unharmed. Stripping egg-bearing females of eggs, and possession of spiny lobster tails from which eggs have been removed, is prohibited. Eggs are orange, yellow, brown or red masses found covering the underside of the lobster’s tail.
• During mini-season, bully netting is the only legal way to harvest lobster at night, defined as one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Night
diving is permitted during the regular season, but NOT during mini-season. Possession of bully nets or hoop nets are prohibited in Everglades National Park.
• It is a felony to molest, damage or take lobster from commercial traps.
• It is illegal to intentionally create “artificial habitat” for lobsters using items like cement blocks, pipes and other debris. It’s also illegal to harvest lobster from artificial habitat in state waters.
• Recreational trapping is prohibited.
LET’S TALK LIMITS
• The bag limit is six lobsters per active, licensed harvester per day in Monroe County, period. Making multiple trips to harvest the bag limit each time is ILLEGAL.
• Possession limits apply both on and off the water. The possession limit, even when off the water, is six lobsters per licensed harvester on July 14 and July 24, or 12 lobsters per licensed harvester on July 25 (six harvested per day of mini-season).
• Gear that could puncture, penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited. It is illegal to spearfish lobster.
THE SEASONS
• New for 2024: A one-day “Floridians-only” sport season begins at 12:01 a.m. July 14 and ends at midnight that same day.
• Sport season/“miniseason”: the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on day one and ending at midnight on day two (July 24-25 in 2024).
• Regular season: Aug. 6 through March 31
STAY AWAY
Most Keys cities have invoked special rules to cut down on neighboron-neighbor – and especially residenton-visitor – “turf wars.” Essentially, local rules establish a “no-go” zone to keep lobster hunters away from private property. In the following areas, there is no diving or snorkeling within 300 feet of enhanced residential or commercial shoreline, any man-made or private canal, or any public or private marina.
In Islamorada, Key West and unincorporated Monroe County, the rule applies during the three days prior to
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR ‘MINI-MINI-SEASON’
• All the same rules that apply during the July 24-25 sport season also apply on July 14, including prohibited areas.
• The extra July 14 harvest only applies in Florida state waters (from shore to 3 nautical miles in the Atlantic, or 9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico).
• On July 14, charter captains who are Florida residents can be hired. All charter customers on July 14 must also be Florida residents with proof of residency.
the sport season (July 21-23 in 2024), the entirety of the sport season (July 24-25) and the first five days of the regular season (Aug. 6-10). In Marathon, the rule only applies during sport season, and in Key Colony Beach, it applies from the four days preceding sport season through 10 days after the opening of regular season. The city of Layton has a prohibition on harvesting lobster any time from waters within city limits.
DON’T GO THERE…
While there are many spots to catch a sizable lobster, there are also many areas protected by a special set of rules. Know where you’re going before you head out.
Don’t lobster in these areas:
Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs) Carysfort Reef, The Elbow, Key Largo Dry Rocks, Grecian Rocks, French Reef, Molasses Reef, Conch Reef, Davis Reef, Hen and Chickens, Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef, Coffins Patch, Sombrero Key, Newfound Harbor Key, Looe Key, Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key, Sand Key.
Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne Bay Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary, Biscayne National Park Coral Reef Protection Areas, City of Layton, John Pennekamp State Park Lobster Exclusion Zones
DIVE FLAG DETAILS
Divers and snorkelers in the water must display a diver-down flag. The flag must measure 12x12” if flown from a buoy or float, or 20x24” if flown from a vessel or other structure. Flags must be flown from a vessel’s highest point and must be visible from all directions. Divers should stay within 100 feet of their dive flags in channels, or within 100 yards of their flags in open water. Vessels inside these distances must fully slow down to idle speed.
KILL LIONFISH, GET MORE LOBSTER
Recreational lobster hunters can up their bag limits during each of the sport season days by two lobsters per person per day through successful completion of FWC’s annual Lionfish Challenge. All information, including detailed instructions to submit proof of the minimum 25 harvested lionfish, is at fwcreefrangers.com.
• Increased bag limits ONLY apply to harvesters who complete the challenge, submit their tails, and receive a 2024 Challenge Coin.
• The increased bag limit applies ONLY to the harvester who completes the challenge, not all divers aboard a vessel.
GETTING THE YIPS WITH THE STILTS
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.
can’t get over the length of black-necked stilts’ legs. They’re incredibly long in proportion to their body – hence the name. Your average blacknecked stilt stands a little over a foot tall. Eight inches of that are their legs, which are also bright red and so skinny they look to be made of coat hanger wire. Whenever I see them I go through a brief phase of disbelief. You’re telling me there is muscle and bone and sinew in something that long and thin, not to mention nerves to relay messages from the brain to the feet?
No. Not possible. I don’t believe you.
There’s an oft-quoted F. Scott Fitzgerald line: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” So if, rationally, I know there somehow is muscle, bone and sinew in the legs of black-necked stilts, but also, I still don’t believe it, I must be some kind of genius, at least in Fitzgeraldian terms. (Any proposals for other methodologies to test my intelligence will be declined.)
I’m always surprised the stilt’s legs don’t snap like dried spaghetti any time they land. But an account in a 1970s edition of the ornithological journal “The Auk” offers a strange testament to the structural soundness of those legs. The journal describes, in great detail, a scene in the Everglades, where a great white heron snatched up a black-necked stilt by one of its legs and carried it, shaking it some, then flying with it, for a good 10 minutes before swallowing the bird whole.
The black-necked stilt’s bill is long and nearly as skinny as its legs. Whereas other shorebirds tend to probe into the mud to pluck out prey items, stilts grab insects and brine shrimp gingerly from the mud or the surface of the water. Their long legs allow them to feed in deeper water than most other shorebirds that are relegated to the water’s edge.
I saw my first black-necked stilt about 25 years ago. They are in the pantheon of birds that make me say wow every time I see one. It’s not just the slender legs and bill, but also the clean, graphically pleasing black above/white below plumage. They are amazingly nimble, stepping as lightly as any creature I’ve seen.
I’ve never seen them attacked by a predator, and have seen them divert the attention of predators. I witnessed it again the other day up on No Name Key, looking for, and failing to find, a particular rarity. So I drove down to the end of the road and made my way to a small,
muddy salt pond. It was early, so it wasn’t too hot and the bugs weren’t too aggressive, and the light on the water made it feel like a tidy little oasis.
First, a tricolored heron flew in, then stood on the edge of the water like some kind of sentinel. The second bird I saw was a black-necked stilt. Out of nowhere, it flew straight up like a rocket, stopped flapping quickly, then landed on the edge of a small spit of mud 30 yards away. It started yapping, or more realistically, yipping, when it hit the apex of its ascent, making sure I watched it drop and land. Insistent yipping gave way to incessant yipping, with the bird making about three yips per second. It just kept going and going.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website Birds of the World – generally considered the most comprehensive collection of data and information about any species — notes, “After a day of field work near breeding stilts, the yapping echoes in one’s head until the next morning when the sound is renewed by the continuing calls of vigilant parents.”
’Tis the season for distraction displays, the time of year when parents of some nesting species perform a lot of theatrics to distract potential predators from their vulnerable offspring, and at first this seemed a classic one. I expected the stilt to droop a wing onto the ground and do the whole look-how-vulnerableI-am routine.
But like all good performers, the bird had another move. It crouched down, its long skinny legs looking strangely awkward folded under its body, trying to convince me it was on a nest. (I keep wanting to refer to the bird as she, but you can’t tell the sex of a stilt by looking at it, and both genders of stilts brood the eggs and tend the young.)
It’s hard to say whether the stilt was trying to distract me from eggs or chicks. The eggs tend to be camouflaged and difficult to see from a distance. The chicks are precocial
(hatched or born in an advanced state and able to feed themselves and move independently almost immediately, according to Google). They leave the nest within a day and innately know to hide when their parents go into distraction mode.
Black-necked stilts are only known to produce one clutch of eggs a year, though, and it’s pretty well into summer, so odds are the stilt was trying to distract me from chicks.
Years ago I was leading a group of bird photographers on a trip through Trinidad and Tobago when we stopped at a golf course to take pictures of some southern lapwing, one of which started flying around, buzzing us, then landing and dragging a wing, making a lot of noise, then taking off to buzz us again. When it finally dawned on me it was a distraction display, I told the group we were stressing out the lapwing and should leave. Nearly everyone nodded and got back into the van. Except for one guy, who thought himself the dean of bird photography, having started in the pre-digital era. When I again suggested we get in the van, he literally started jumping up and down and stamping his feet, cursing me out à la Yosemite Sam, throwing a tantrum because I was ruining his photography experience. It was kind of physically impressive for a man of his years, but I vowed never to be anything like him.
So on No Name Key the other day, I stayed less than a minute after the stilt started its whole distraction display, maybe time for 100 or so yips. Then I turned and started toward the short coastal trail that led back to my car.
I was only about 15 yards away when the stilt flew over me, leaving a trail of yips, then landing on the sargasso weed, bobbing its head, trying to get my attention. Then its mate flew over, doing pretty much the same thing.
I raised my camera to take a couple shots of the ruckus, then continued on, the birds leapfrogging over each other to show me the way.
A black-necked stilt on No Name Key. MARK HEDDEN/Keys
MARK HEDDEN
WORLD FAMOUS LOBSTER PIZZA
GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA AND VEGETARIAN MENU
KIDS & DOGS
MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW MINI MUSIC FEST IN KEY WEST
Brightwild & Rams Head liven up lobster mini-season July 24-27
Brightwild and Rams Head Presents have partnered to present a new Mini Music Fest in Key West, July 24-27. This festival aims to enhance and expand the annual lobster mini-season weekend into a four-day celebration of music, local cuisine and appreciation for the fishing and wildlife heritage of Key West.
“This year, we aim to transform Florida’s lobster mini-season into a weekend-long celebration that showcases the immense value of our environment and, specifically, our lobster resources,” said Robert Spottswood Jr., a key founder of the event. “We have planned an exciting itinerary of amazing music, food and the camaraderie of like-minded individuals. This event is not just about the catch and the party, but also about fostering a network of advocates committed to sustainable practices and conservation efforts that benefit both our environment and local economy.”
The Mini Music Fest features an eclectic lineup of more than a dozen Nashville acts along with some local favorites. Attendees can look forward to four days and nights of songwriter rounds in venues around Key West, culminating in a headliner festival act at Key West Theater to close out the week. Venues include Tavern N Town restaurant, Beachside Resort and Residences, Brightwild Adventures Sandbar Excursion, Brightwild HQ Offices, KAMP: The
MONROE COUNTY RELEASES SECOND ROGO SURVEY
Penthouse on Duval, Rams Head Southernmost Restaurant and the Key West Theater.
“We are thrilled to partner with Brightwild on this new concept that we hope to grow each year, and to kick off our inaugural Mini Music Fest with an outstanding lineup of artists, including our headliners, Key West Songwriters Festival alums Jerrod Niemann and Abby Anderson, and Wyatt Durrette, famous for penning Zac Brown Band hit songs ‘Chicken Fried’ and ‘Toes,’” said Kyle Muehlhauser, Rams Head Presents co-owner.
In addition to the musical acts, the festival will showcase the best of Key West’s culinary scene. Local restaurants and food vendors will offer fresh seafood, traditional dishes and refreshing drinks.
Mini Music Fest tickets are on sale. For those who desire the full, unedited Mini Music Fest experience, an All Access Pass selection grants entry to all festival events, including exclusive VIP events and performances. Some events are free and open to the public, and individual tickets are available for a special performance at the Key West Theater on Saturday, July 27 at 8 p.m. starring headliner Abby Anderson with other Nashville hit songwriters.
Tickets and information are available at minimusicfestkw.com. Updates are available on social media, including Instagram: @ MiniMusicFestKW.
Surveys completed by Keys residents will help inform requests to the state Legislature in 2025 for additional building allocations, if any, in the Keys. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
Make your voice heard on future development in the Keys
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking robust public participation regarding the state-mandated hurricane evacuation modeling discussions that will continue through January 2025. In the county’s first released survey, more than 1,850 people replied, which helped county officials learn how people receive their information and their basic knowledge of ROGO and BPAS.
A second survey is now available with a focus on housing, commuting and the livability of the Florida Keys. The survey is available until Saturday, July 28 at 5 p.m.
Monroe County community members are invited to take this survey, which is the second of several. To participate, scan the QR code:
The 14-question survey shouldn’t take too long (about 4 minutes). Additional surveys will be available in August to help gauge what the community wants to see moving forward.
“The goal of these surveys is to learn and understand more about the issues and challenges our residents encounter in their daily lives concerning housing, essential services, quality of life and more,” said Kimberly Matthews, Monroe County strategic planner.
“We will also be asking for your
opinions, ideas and desires for the future of our community in upcoming surveys.”
Monroe County continues to host workshops and updates during regularly scheduled BOCC meetings and began meeting with nonprofit and civic groups throughout the Keys regarding the Department of Commerce’s hurricane evacuation modeling. The county is looking to gauge public opinions on everything that affects evacuation timing and the number of additional ROGO/BPAS allocations, if any, the county and municipalities should request from the state in 2025.
The hurricane evacuation modeling is based on a Florida statute requiring that Monroe County residents be able to evacuate the Keys within 24 hours before a storm. Any allocations awarded could be issued over the next 10 to 30 years or at a rate that does not lead to unbalanced growth or additional takings liability.
To learn more about these terms, why they are important, to view the process, or to see upcoming meetings, visit www. monroecounty-fl.gov/rogo2024. — Contributed
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Abby Anderson (left) and country music hitmaker Jerrod Niemann will perform at the inaugural Mini Music Fest in Key West, set to coincide with the annual lobster mini-season in late July. CONTRIBUTED
HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN
JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
A troubling number of cigarette butts and plastic bags have been included in recent hauls. Please remember your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plastic off the streets, parking lots and, most importantly, out of the water. And dispose of cigarette butts in any receptacle rather than the street or sidewalk, as from there, they easily end up in the ocean.
The city of Key West and its residents ask everyone to do their part to help keep Key West beautiful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before putting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and making sure the lids on Dumpsters are closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.
Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.
The day after Fourth of July was not a rest day for the 36 volunteers who showed up for the Friday morning cleanup. The group spread out in all directions from the Custom House, and in one hour collected 98 pounds of trash, 29 pounds of recycling and 2.25 gallons of cigarette butts. After the cleanup, the week’s host, Opal Key Resort and Marina, treated the group to a breakfast buffet. CONTRIBUTED
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help. — Contributed
Join a Friday morning cleanup each week from 8 to 9 a.m.
July 12: North Roosevelt Boulevard by First Horizon Bank. Meet at bank, 3618 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Parking available in the back. Hosted by First Horizon Bank
July 19: Virginia and Watson streets. Meet at Unity of the Keys Spiritual Center, 1011 Virginia St. Hosted by Unity of the Keys.
July 26: Glynn Archer Drive & Duck Avenue | Meet at Poinciana School and Wickers Field.
TAKE ME HOME?
FIND A FRIEND AT THE FLORIDA KEYS SPCA
The Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus.
From cats and dogs to Guinea
pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. 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.
Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.
Say hello to Sunflower, a 3-month-old kitten with boundless energy. Black cats are often overlooked, but how can you say no to a face like that?
Meet Blu, a 1-year-old superstar. He came to the Key West campus in April and has been smiling ever since. This shining star always has a positive attitude and spreads love to everyone he meets.
Have you been wanting something sweet in your life? Look no further than Orla. She’s 10 months old and being the best kitty ever at the Key West campus.
Say hello to Licorice. This dashing man hopped into our shelter in March and spends his days chewing cardboard tubes, munching lettuce and gobbling popcorn (his favorite treat).
a
June
but loves people and attention.
Meet Yael,
3-year-old kitty who came to us in
with her sister, Maggie. Yael is a little timid,
The Rotary Club of
with support from the city of
present another explosive fireworks show for 4th of July. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
KEY WEST ROTARY ‘PAINTS THE SKY’ FOR FOURTH
INDEPENDENCE DAY TRADITION SHINES ON
“The rockets in the air / And the people everywhere / … Oh, that was the night / I painted the sky” — Jimmy Buffett, “The Night I Painted the Sky”
The Rotary Club of Key West did it again — and with explosive results.
The service organization has been lighting up the Fourth of July over Key West with its annual fireworks display for more than 30 years, and the tradition continued last week.
Independence Day started early for those who participated in the club’s Firecracker 5K run/ walk. An evening picnic down by the Edward B. Knight Pier was made possible through the hard work of Rotary volunteers and
generous contributions by local businesses.
The holiday culminated with a brilliant fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean, delighting residents and visitors. All proceeds from the events benefit the Rotary Club of Key West’s scholarship fund.
“I’m so proud of Rotary’s legacy in the Florida Keys and what this event means to the community,” said club president Britt Myers. “So many incredible people have served in this club for over 100 years. And to be a part of that tradition, alongside so many people I admire for their service, compassions and empathy for a greater cause — that’s what Key West is all about for me.”
Key West,
Key West,
From left, dedicated volunteers from the Rotary Club of Key West, Cathy Crane, Jill Black, Nathan McDaniel, Britt Myers, Krystin Guerra and Debbie Mason, work tirelessly for the club’s 4th of July 5K run/walk, afternoon picnic and annual fireworks show. CONTRIBUTED
Friday July 12th 5pm - 8pm
Saturday July 13th 9am - 3pm
FRIDAY JULY 12SUNDAY JULY 14
Recycle Right Every Day.
Sunday July 14th 11am at Sunday Worship
5pm the children will take part in our Christmas concert followed by an optional Christmas dinner
Children ages PK - 5th grade are invited to join us for a weekend of Bible learning and fun! Experience Bethlehem the night Jesus was born and learn how a tiny baby changed the world! Crafts, games, snacks (lunch on Saturday), music, Bible fun and much more!
SUGGESTED DONATION OF $10 PER CHILD
Register online at: https://bit.ly/3X7PDyw
Or scan the QR code
Key West United Methodist Church | 600 Eaton Street | Key West
AVOID THE LONG DRIVE TO MIAMI AND HAVE ALL YOUR CHILDREN’S NEEDS MET RIGHT HERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.
Remember these three simple rules each time you recycle:
Need A BAGSTER®? BUY. FILL. GONE.
• Bagster® bags are available at home improvement stores and online.
• Bagster® bags are easy to use dumpsters in a bag that are strong enough to hold up to 3,300 pounds of debris or waste.
• Schedule your collection online or by phone. AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY AVAILABLE IN KEY WEST
Dr. Christina Smith DDS is now accepting new patients and is thrilled to be part of the 7-time Bubba Award-winning Doc Guzman’s o ce.
LOBSTER MINI-SEASON MADNESS
For better or worse, crawfish catching forever changed in 1975
Barbara Hand, Judy Tynes, Gwen Collins and Cleo Powell are pictured in an Oct. 30, 1976 Miami Herald photo with a large basket of crawfish (or Florida spiny lobster). WRIGHT LANGLEY COLLECTION/Florida Keys History Center
The Dry Tortugas were once fair game when it came time to hunt spiny lobster. In a newspaper article published in the Naples Daily News on Aug. 3, 1975, Jack Clark, superintendent of the Everglades National Park and the Fort Jefferson National Monument (today the Dry Tortugas National Park), said that the Dry Tortugas were closed to fishermen to study the effects the 1973-74 lobster season had on the population.
“According to the study, almost 90% of the lobsters on the area’s shallow reefs were removed.”
Ralph C. Webb, the National Park Service’s management assistant, stated, “During the 16 months since the end of the 1973-74 season, the monument’s lobster population has increased to only one-fourth its previous size.”
In the early 1970s, the Caribbean spiny lobster season opened for recreational and commercial fishermen alike on the same day. Everyone was on the water at the
same time and competing for the same prize. What did it look like? This description was printed in the Playground Daily News (Fort Walton Beach) on August 4, 1974:
“Marathon Key: The first two weeks of the season are a nightmare, said Florida Marine Patrol Capt. E.G. ‘Ed’ Little. ‘Last season we made 250 arrests in the first 10 days. This year, it looks like it will be even more. Every season we’ll have two or three shooting incidents when a commercial fisherman catches a guy diving on his traps,’ he said, ‘and about once a day during the first few weeks we’ll have to break up a fight among some divers.’”
The two-day lobster sport season was introduced for the 1975 lobster season. I always thought the sport or mini-season was developed to put tourist heads in hotel beds. Certainly, it is one of the reasons the two-day event has persevered for 50 years, but it was not the only reason the “sport” season was enacted. One reason the sport season came to fruition was to act as a way to let some
of the steam out of the frantic competition between commercial fishermen and recreational divers that caused the commercial guys not infrequently to break out firearms to protect their livelihood.
In the Florida Today newspaper, dated Aug. 28, 1975, Bill Lyons, marine biologist and crawfish specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, said, “Florida’s laws were set up to accommodate the South Florida lobster. Virtually, it’s a Monroe County law. Down here, the spawning is almost always completed by Aug. 1. Farther north, where water temperatures don’t always increase as quickly, there could be a lag phase. It varies from year to year, depending on the weather.”
The sport season is not just a Monroe County thing but a Florida thing, though the Keys and Biscayne National Park rules are a little different than those in the rest of the state. The limit here and in the park is six lobsters per licensed person per day. For the rest of the state, the limit is 12. Lobsters cannot be speared or hooked and must remain intact until they reach shore. That means that there is no wringing the tails free and dumping the heads and legs offshore.
The lobster’s carapace must measure 3 inches in length to be of legal size. Egg-bearing lobsters, too, are off-limits. However, it is not until a lobster has been “gently” wrangled out of its hiding spot and taken in hand that the tail can be inspected to see if it is full of eggs. Responsible hunters will return the egg-bearing lobsters to their holes. What has become clear to everyone who has lived in the Florida Keys for any length is that, too often, responsibility is replaced by selfish behavior.
At least for Monroe County residents, the two-day lobster mini-season inspires a mixed bag of emotions. For years, residents have been clamoring to end the two-day event that occurs on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July. The good news is that even though law enforcement is already stretched beyond their limits to patrol such a vast area, the two-day lobster sport season has been expanded to include an
additional day. This addition to the calendar is intended only for Florida residents, though the majority of those indulging in the event already call Florida home. In this inaugural year, Sunday, July 14, will be the day added for state residents only.
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.
Before the housing market crashed, we rented a house on a canal. For seven lobster sport seasons, I sat on the screened-in patio overlooking the Tequesta Street canal as boats left their docks to grab their limit of spiny lobster. Every year, some boats returned after the day’s hunt and settled in for a big lobster feast.
The thing about canals is that sound carries over the water, and you can hear what people are talking about from a good distance. Every year, some of the boats unloaded their limit of lobsters and went back out to the warm, clear waters for another round. My observation is just from one canal on Plantation Key, and there are hundreds of canals up and down the Florida Keys where the same scenario plays out year after year.
While the FWC and the Marine Patrol do good work, for every catch of lobster that is checked for legal size and limits, hundreds go unchecked, and those looking to cheat the system understand the risk versus reward of their actions. If caught, some offenders will plead ignorance.
Others believe that rules and regulations are for other people and treat the natural resources and the Keys themselves without regard.
It is no wonder why some of the natural resources that make the Florida Keys such an amazing place to live and visit have become scarce commodities. In the years to come, other natural resources, too, will undoubtedly follow.
CHRIS McNULTY
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
The sky is busy this week. There are three major transit formations among seven different planets emerging more-or-less simultaneously. This will bring up some challenges in our relationships, having us confront our unconscious impulses and emotional survival needs. The way through the challenge will require keeping our ideals in focus and tapping into genuine empathy. Also, the sun is forming a 120-degree trine to Saturn, eliciting support between the ego and our creative striving and the structures and authorities in our lives. Keep an eye out for your mentors because they will naturally be teaching you the lessons you need to learn. Early next week, Mars forms a conjunction with Uranus, which will bring about explosive changes and fights for freedom. We will be feeling this transit now, but it will be ramping up over the weekend. With all this activity, my biggest recommendation is to breathe and keep your wits about you. It’s easy to get swept up in all the hullabaloo, but you only have control over your own actions and reactions.
Here are your horoscopes for the Venus-Pluto-Neptune wedge and the sun-Saturn trine. Read for your rising and sun signs.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
It may feel like you’re in a standoff with an important obligation in your life, and it may seem that you are the one prioritizing personal relationships while people are pushing your unconscious triggers. Take the time to dream new ways of achieving goals rather than trying to maintain familiar routines. Pay attention to people you admire who push you out of your comfort zone.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
As you enjoy the peaceful quiet time before Leo season bursts onto the scene, listen to teachers in your life who encourage you to conserve your energy. Taking time to yourself can ultimately help you to be more effective when the right time to act presents itself. If a challenge emerges in an important partnership, protect the relationship by idealizing your shared purpose.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
A tension may be emerging between a deep desire to be with friends and an almost impulsive need to get your work done. Relying on a partner in your life to help you to dream and let go of real world challenges will do more than just provide an escape. Focusing on partnership will provide important lessons regarding who you are in the social sphere.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Your creativity is important and it is a part of your personal power, but focusing on your projects requires time away from friends and community. Your heart is with your people right now, and that can make your work feel like a shadow. Let your routines become your escape so that they give you energy rather than take it away.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
There is a tension building in an important relationship, and the release is right on the horizon. Let your partner surprise you, but remember that your integrity is also really important. Your creative impulses, almost as if they were external teachers, are showing you how to do things differently. Listen to your muses. The challenge between work and home will ease when you let your creative angels guide you.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
As you focus on how to invest your time, energy or money, there is a very important lesson or teacher presenting itself from your family history. Perhaps it is a lesson of conservation. Be sure to heed this teaching before making any big decisions, because it is wisdom. As you enter a new chapter in a relationship, there may be a strong, dark desire for familiarity. Dream about home.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
A partner in your life is taking center stage, and it is important to give your people their time in the spotlight. Your role right now is to remind them of the importance of communication and the world that they come from. Be their voice of reason. If money issues come up in relationships, be sure to have empathy when it comes to different methods of talking about money.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
We all go through phases of being spendy and bring thrifty, and this sky is encouraging your thriftiness. As you conserve, you will fall into fresh daily routines in order to get your needs met. You will really start to analyze how you do things, allowing you to adjust accordingly. If you find that you are struggling in an important relationship, really pay attention to your ideal needs to help make decisions.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
You are probably finding a love for getting your hands dirty in some project, but that also seems to be accompanied by an almost obsessive need to be alone. Be careful not to over-isolate when you are diving deep into your work. You need and deserve to be with others. Focus on the things in life that bring you bliss because that is where you build your confidence.
CALM IN THE STORM
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
A big surprise is on the horizon, and it has to do with your finances or your material goods. Somehow or another, you will be freed from a burden that you’ve been carrying. The surprise will very likely not be what you are expecting, however, so stay vigilant. As your home and family take your focus, let your metime be a teacher for you. Listen to your stream of thoughts as you sit alone.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
There’s no place like home! You get to dive deeply in love with your home and your family right now. As you do, your work and career may be looming like that giant demon in “Fantasia.” Why must your public obligations be so heavy? Fear not. Turn your attention to your friends who share your ideals. They will help you find your way.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
Focusing on your own needs will help an important mentor offer lessons that will help you achieve your goals. If you build your own house, this person will come to help you because they see what you are doing. Listen when they arrive. A strong love for your immediate community and familiar world is palpable right now. What is your dream work in this space?
WOMAN RECOVERS FROM ELECTROCUTION AT LOCAL PARK
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Awoman was airlifted to a hospital on July 8 following a reported electrocution at Rowell’s Waterfront Park in Key Largo.
The person was situated near a light pole, which she touched and received a shock, county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood told Keys Weekly. According to the Key Largo Fire Department, “the victim’s husband stated that his wife touched one of the street light poles and was electrocuted.”
The woman was airlifted to Jackson Hospital in Miami in abundance of caution by Key Largo EMS. She was listed in stable condition.
John Tuckus, the husband of the woman who was shocked, told Keys Weekly by phone that they live not far from the park. John said they frequently take their dog on walks to Rowell’s. He said his wife, Elizabeth, simply leaned her hand on the pole and was shocked. He said his wife suffered from a quarter-sized burn mark on her knee as a result of the electrocution.
“She was really messed up last night, twitching and shaking with muscle spasms. She’s doing a little better today,” John told Keys Weekly on July 9.
On the morning of July 9,
FACES
officials with Monroe County Parks and Beaches along with electricians from Wire Nuts had an area near the restrooms cordoned off with yellow tape as they worked to investigate what happened. Wire Nuts was hired by the county to conduct the repairs. Wire Nuts wasn’t involved with the installation of the lighting poles and had nothing to do with the incident.
Livengood said the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative was notified of the incident. FKEC said none of its equipment was involved in the incident.
“All light poles at Rowell’s Park are being checked to make sure they are safe,” Livengood said, adding the park remained open with exception of the area where the incident occurred.
John said something like this should have never happened. He said “the whole pole was live.”
It wasn’t immediately known what caused the pole to be energized.
“Someone should have caught this. Thank god a child didn’t touch this,” he said.
An 8-acre waterfront park located along Florida Bay, Rowell’s Park underwent a series of improvements in recent years. The park features new restrooms, shared-use paths, site lighting and electricity and a Wi-Fi network.
Left: A light pole is taped off on the morning of July 9 after a woman was reportedly electrocuted when she touched the pole the evening of July 8. Right: County crews and local electricians check to ensure light poles at Rowell’s Park in Key Largo are safe on July 9. CONTRIBUTED
SHELF HELP
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “After I Do” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why: After 10 years of living together and then being married, Lauren and Ryan have reached a point where they can’t stand each other. Do you just throw in the towel or try something ... perhaps different? Separate for 12 months and then reconnect. Rules: no contact whatsoever. We all think about leaving our spouse at some point, but the temporary nature of Lauren and Ryan’s arrangement makes this book a great philosophical exercise. Without society’s rules, what would any of us do differently? Am I still a wife if I step outside society’s rules? I highly recommend this book.
Where: You can get this as an e-book and e-audiobook 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: Amy Skerly, library assistant, Key West library
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/shelf-help.
DROWNING PREVENTION
Florida Lt. Gov. Nuñez stresses water safety as summer recreating begins
ZACK WOLTANSKI www.keysweekly.com
Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nu-
ñez made a visit to the Upper Keys on July 2 to speak on the importance of water safety — a crucial issue as summertime kicks off in the Sunshine State.
In a morning press conference at Jacobs Aquatic Center, Nuñez touched on the necessity of affordable kids’ swim education and the governor’s signing of legislation providing free swim lessons for kids 4 and under for families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, and Nuñez believes the bill will help alleviate this ongoing issue.
“This is just one more tool in the toolbox to help make sure our families can enjoy our waters and do so safely,” said Nuñez.
Additionally, Nuñez spoke on several water safety tips, encouraging parents to place door alarms to keep track of their young children, learn CPR and follow life jacket laws.
“Supervising children is extremely important,” Nuñez said. “We want to make sure people safely enjoy our beaches, our pools, our springs, our rivers.”
Other guests echoed her concerns, providing statistics and anecdotes concerning drowning deaths.
“Being around water is a way of life here in our state. … (But) it’s important to stay vigilant,” said Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris. “More than 80% of drowning deaths of children reported to our hotline were during non-swim time. … We cannot leave our guards down.” Children with special needs are at particular risk of drowning if not properly instructed.
“In the Keys, there’s a serious, absolute risk of drowning despite all the beauty that points in another direction,” said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo.
Mention was made of the Keys Kid Swim Program, a pilot program started by Key Largo School in 2023 providing no-cost swim lessons over the course of two weeks to kindergarteners with goals that were echoed in the swimming legislation.
“It’s amazing to see the kids on day one not be able to put their faces in the water but by the end of the week be able to swim the length of the pool,” said John Allen, Monroe County director of parks & beaches.
The event concluded as youth from the Jacobs Aquatic Center summer camp demonstrated the rescue techniques they’d learned from this week’s lesson. Nùñez encouraged citizens to visit watersmartfl.com to learn more about the layers of protection involved in water safety.
FREE TALKS TACKLE TOUGH TOPIC
Unity of the Keys helps with end-of-life legal decisions
Reverend Daybree Thoms from Unity of the Keys will offer two free workshops about the “Five Wishes” legal documents — a tool for adults of all ages to articulate their preferences for end-oflife care.
The workshop is open to all and will be offered at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 15 at Unity of the Keys Spiritual Center, 1011 Virginia St., Key West.
Also known as an advance directive or living will, “Five Wishes” covers medical, legal, personal and spiritual considerations, ensuring one’s wishes are known and respected.
Thoms will guide attendees through completing these forms to ensure people learn their rights and express their end-of-life wishes.
— Contributed
Young graduates and certified instructors of Keys Kids Swim stand with Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and state officials. Keys Kids Swim, started by Key Largo School in May 2023, offers free, no-cost swimming lessons to local youth. ZACK WOLTANSKI/Keys Weekly
FRENCH CARIBBEAN
By Dr. Kellee Reed
yourself with these essential sun safety tips
Summer is a fantastic time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends, whether hiking, swimming, biking, picnicking, or golfing And, while the intake of vitamin D is important for our bone, cardiovascular, and immune health, it's crucial to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays emitted by the sun Although sunlight offers some benefits, it can also be harmful depending on the amount and type of UV rays you ' re exposed to To enjoy the sun safely:
Apply
generously 15 minutes before going outside Reapply every two hours
Protective Clothing: Long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses shield your skin.
Especially between 10 a m and
If you have concerns about sun exposure or skin
feel free to speak with one of our Key West primary care physicians today Same or next day appointments can be made by calling
Abel Berlanga, 4, beams while accepting the Grand Prize trophy for the annual Key Lime Pie Drop at the Key West Lighthouse. Abel, with help from his mother Amanda, assembled his pie protector with a laundry basket, water balloons and bubble-blowing toy lawn mower. CAROL
Key Lime Festival features tasty — and messy — events
ew York might have its July 4 hotdog-eating contest, but competitors in Key West gobbled sweeter fare during the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship — and Hector Rodriguez consumed it faster than anyone else.
The 19-year-old student from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, devoured a whipped-cream-topped 9-inch Key lime pie in just one minute and 58.52 seconds, besting 24 rivals
in the oceanfront contest that highlighted the annual Key Lime Festival.
Contestants weren’t allowed to use forks, spoons or their hands — resulting in inventive and messy methods of consuming the Florida Keys’ signature dessert.
Other Key Lime Festival events include the gravity-defying Key Lime Pie Drop in which 31 individuals and teams attempted to create a pie-protecting device and test it by dropping a pie from the 88-foot Key West Lighthouse.
The competitions were two of numerous Key Lime Festival events held July 3–7.
TEDESCO/Florida Keys News Bureau
Hector Rodriguez, 19, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, savors the taste of victory after devouring a 9-inch Key lime pie in 1 minute and 58.52 seconds, defeating 24 others in the 2024 World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship on July 4 in Key West. CAROL TEDESCO/Florida Keys News Bureau
UPCYCLING A TURTLE MASTERPIECE
The Keys and New York collaborate on environmental awareness project
ZACK WOLTANSKI www.keysweekly.com
In the months before World
Oceans Week in early June, Keys resident Tiffany Duong worked with Islamorada sponsors, New York students and artists, to create “Trash Turtle,” a sculpture of a leatherback sea turtle made from the marine debris that threatens its existence.
Exhibited in New York City in early June, the “artivism” project was a collaboration by students from New York Harbor School, artists Nikki Riddy, Jenny Marketou, Ben von Wuong and former Keys resident Vic Cassarr. Panamanian biologist Callie Veelenturf and sponsors Eye Catcher Signs, SFDS Design House and NOAA fisheries were also involved.
“Leatherback sea turtles eat nearly their weight in jellyfish daily, playing a crucial role in maintaining balanced marine ecosystems,” said Veelenturf, who founded the nonprofit Leatherback Project. “Plastic bags often resemble jellyfish in the oceans and can be consumed by sea turtles — threatening their survival.”
New York high school students
worked under the guidance of Marketou, Riddy and Duong to design and create the sculpture from upcycled marine debris. The life-sized turtle — nearly 6 feet tall with a 9-foot wingspan — consists of a wooden frame covered with upcycled boat vinyl donated by Islamorada’s Eye Catcher Signs and decorated with upcycled household plastics and marine debris, including plastic bags found in and around New York Harbor.
Displayed at New York’s Explorers Club during World Oceans Week, the work provided an urgent environmentalist message, highlighting the leatherback and its near-extinction as a result of pollution.
“(The piece) showcases the threat that marine debris and plastic pollution pose to sea turtles,” Duong said.
“Underlying the piece is, of course, the suggestion of shoreline cleanups, upcycling, diversion, and other measures to combat the marine debris problem currently facing our oceans.”
The work was exhibited publicly until June 11 at the Explorers Club, and will remain on permanent exhibition at the New York Harbor School, in appreciation of their generous support of the project.
The Rotary Club of Key West thanks the City and staff for your ongoing efforts and support to present “A Star Spangled Celebration” 4th of July Firework Event in Key West.
Your dedication to our residents and visitors continues to make our island community the greatest on the globe! "
New York City artists and high school students team up with the Keys resident Tiffany Duong to produce a turtle made out of plastic and marine debris during World Oceans Week in early June and will remain on display at New York Harbor School. TIFFANY DUONG/Contributed
BOUTIQUE HOURS
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6 Voted BEST
CAPTAIN JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES
FIGURING OUT FLOATERS
…is a fifth-generation Floridian and second-generation fishing captain who owns and operates Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon. His passions include fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.
As we are heading offshore, I commonly tell my clients we are looking for four things. Number one: birds – the bigger and blacker the better. Number two: an organized weed line. Number three: a floater, which I define as anything floating on the surface bigger than a water bottle. Number four: a boat that may have found what we’re looking for, so we can do some “monkey see, monkey do.”
In the recent past I have written about how to read birds and troll under birds. I’ve also written about what weed lines to look for and how to troll next to them. Now I’m going to write about floaters.
Some of the floaters we find offshore are tree parts, migrant vessels, tangled ropes and buoys, jugs, barrels, boat and plane debris, pallets, boat cushions – and yes, “packages.” The reason a floater is so important to find is that when a large object is floating in the ocean, it’s like an oasis in the desert. Schools of bait fish hang out underneath the floater to get shade, avoid predators and eat smaller organisms that live underneath. Many large floaters have an entire ecosystem under them from the surface of the water straight down to the bottom of the ocean.
Here is how I fish most floaters: The first thing I do is troll ballyhoo and plastic baits past the floater. Most of the time I’ll catch several fish trolling past the floater, and as long as I’m hooking fish, I keep trolling. At some point, we either catch them all or the ones still there are “educated” and not eating.
Regardless of the reason, when the bite stops and I’m not catching any fish trolling, the next thing I do is I stop my boat a few feet off of the floater and chum with live bait fish or chunks of ballyhoo and squid. Sometimes that brings game fish up from the deep and we start catching them as they are feeding on our chum.
Once the bite stops and we don’t see fish coming into our chum, we stop chumming and start vertical jigging. We jig with a medium size vertical jig with a six- or eight-inch wire leader
in a watery ‘desert,’ full of great fish for the taking.
attached between our main line and our vertical. We drop the vertical jig under the floater and let it sink for a count of 80 Mississippi. Once you’ve counted 80 Mississippi, start jigging and reeling violently – the more violent the better. We catch a lot of wahoo vertical jigging under floaters.
Earlier, I mentioned that the fourth thing we look for is another boat that may have found what we’re looking for and do “monkey see monkey do.” That doesn’t mean that we find another boat and do a hostile takeover on his floater. In my opinion, you should stay at least a football field away from the floater until the other boat is done fishing.
I’ve had several incidents in the past few weeks of captains racing in for what I felt were “hostile takeovers” of floaters where I was trolling. I figured out a long time ago that yelling and screaming might make you feel better, but usually doesn’t solve any challenges.
Here’s an example of the right way to come in on someone’s floater: Last year, I found a floater that was an old barnacled-up half-sunken kayak in about 600 feet of water. I caught several mahi off of it, chummed it and vertical jigged it. Captain Chris Still, owner of the Tackle Box and a local charter guide, was trolling around me three football fields away, catching a few mahi and watching us. I eventually waved him in, and he asked me if I minded him trolling next to it. I told him yes, no problem. On his first troll past it he caught a nice wahoo. I wasn’t upset, and, just like the preacher I take fishing says, “Sometimes it just be like that.” Anyway, captain Chris handled his approach patiently, courteously and professionally.
Keep your eyes peeled for those oases in the desert.
To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.
CAPT. JOEL BRANDENBURG
Floaters, found in hundreds of feet of water and made of just about anything imaginable, can be a tree of life
JOEL BRANDENBURG/Contributed
ALMANAC | July 11
On this day: In 1960, Harper L ’s “To Ki a Mockingbird” was published.
In The Bleachers
Scien sts studying African elephants at Kenya’s Samburu Na onal Reserve and Amboseli Na onal Park have discovered that the pachyderms ca to each other and respond to one another using individual names, the A ociated Pre reported on June 10. The names are expre ed in low rumbles that can be heard over long distances -- by elephants. Many of the noises are low enough not to be heard by humans.
Adam
Brevity
News of the Weird
Nancy
In 1798, the U.S. Marine Corps was r stablished, having b n disbanded since April 1783.
TODAY’S FACT
Wi iam Howard Ta , who was sworn in as chief jus ce of the United States on this day in 1921, is the only person in history to serve as both chief jus ce and president of the United States.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), sixth U.S. president; E.B. White (1899-1985), author; Yul Bry er (1920-1985), actor; David Ke y (1929-2012), actor; Giorgio Armani (1934- ), fashion designer; Leon Spinks (1953-2021), boxer; Sela Ward (1956- ), actre ; Suza e Vega (1959- ), singer-songwriter; Je Corwin (1967- ), naturalist/ TV personality; Lil’ Kim (1974- ), ra er; Patrick Peterson (1990-), f tba player; Ale ia Cara (1996- ), singer-songwriter.
Nancy
Founded by Betty Debnam
Time for Republicans
A political party holds a national meeting called a convention before a presidential election. At that meeting, representatives from each state, called delegates, announce which candidate they have chosen to run for president.
The candidate also may announce his or her choice for a running mate, who would be vice president.
At the convention, members of the party also discuss the party’s platform, or its ideas and goals about different issues facing the country.
This year, the Republican National Convention takes place July 15 through 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Fiserv Forum, a large arena. It is expected that the party’s nominee for president will be former President Donald J. Trump. Trump became president in 2016. In 2020, Joseph R. Biden was elected. He is expected to be the Democratic nominee in 2024.
Past conventions
The first national political conventions were held about 185 years ago, in the 1830s.
At one time in our history, no one knew who the nominee would be until after the convention. Delegates voted for whichever candidate they wanted. In fact, in 1968, Democratic delegates chose a candidate who had won no primary elections!
This will be Milwaukee’s first time hosting
the convention.
Meet Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, a north-central state. About 600,000 people live there. The city lies on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Indigenous peoples have lived in the area for many thousands of years, including Ojibwe and Potawatomi tribes. Later, French explorers settled in the area. Many German immigrants came to the region in the mid-1800s looking for inexpensive farmland. Milwaukee still celebrates a German Fest and Oktoberfest each year.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks play major league baseball and basketball in the city. Residents enjoy the Milwaukee River, many parks, forests and nature centers. Milwaukee has warm, humid summers and cold winters with lots of snow.
SPORTS
In 1914, Babe Ruth made his major league debut, pitching seven i ings for the Boston Red Sox in a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Naps.
REPUBLICAN DELEGATES
Groups of delegates from the same state or territory are called a delegation. A state’s number of delegates is based on population and other factors.
Alabama 50 Alaska 29
43
RESOURCES
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPRepublicans
At the library:
• “Political Parties: A Kid’s Guide” by Cari Meister
Mini Fact: Delegates at the convention listen to speeches and vote on party issues.
photo by Isaac Rowlett
Donald J. Trump
The Milwaukee River cuts through the city, separating the east and west sides.
TRY ’N’ FIND
Words that remind us of the Republican National Convention are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: CANDIDATE, CONVENTION, DELEGATE, FARMLAND, GERMAN, ISSUE, MICHIGAN, MILWAUKEE, NOMINEE, PARTY, PLATFORM, POLITICAL, PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN, SPEECH, TRUMP, VOTE, WISCONSIN.
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of The Greeen House located at 99304 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: TGHFL 99304 Overseas LLC
Publish: July 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of The Greeen House located at 82751 Overseas Highway, Unit B, Islamorada, FL 33036 intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, FL.
By: TGHFL 82751 Overseas LLC
Publish: July 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statutes 83.805/83.506, Upper Keys Commerce Center, 97300 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 will sell or otherwise dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien. All contents in: Unit 82 – Tonya Skillman Sale of all goods will be 7/26/24 at 10:00 am at 97300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo Florida 33037. Upper Keys Commerce Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Publish: July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT I ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC I) (Encompasses the City Limits of Key West) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Has an opening for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are dependent upon tourists) Any person wishing to participate on the District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024. A resume may be attached to the application.
Publish: July 11, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, Plaintiff, v. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida
limited liability company, CEDAR OAK REI, INC., an Idaho for-profit corporation, MARK RAY GERENGER, personal guarantor, ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST THE HEREIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT(S)WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN OCCUPANT(S) or TENANT(S) of 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050 AND 57468 AND 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050, Defendants. NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 23rd day of July, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., on the front courthouse steps at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Property Address: 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON, FLORIDA 33050; AND 57468 AND 57478 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, GRASSY KEY, FLORIDA 33050. Pursuant to FINAL JUDGMENT of FORECLOSURE SALE SCHEDULED FOR JULY 23, 2024, AND SALE DATE entered in a case pending in said Court, of JULY 23, 2024, the Style of which is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Plaintiff, vs. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, et.al., Defendants, and the Docket Number of which is 23-CA-000268-M. WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 24TH day of June 2024.
KEVIN MADOK, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court By: Shonta McLeod As Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within sixty (60) days after the sale.
Publish: July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-323-P DIVISION: PLANTATION KEY IN RE: ESTATE OF LUCY MARY BELL
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Lucy Mary Bell, deceased, whose date of death was May 9, 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 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 or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211.
The date of first publication of this notice is: July 11, 2024.
Personal Representative: Jessica L. Doolen 6637 Secluded Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89110
Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq.
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050
Telephone: (305) 743-9428
Fax: (305) 743-8800
E-Mail: service@ floridakeyslaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com
Publish: July 11 & 18, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000305-P IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RUSSELL BENJAMIN JONES, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of RUSSELL BENJAMIN JONES, deceased, whose date of death was January 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 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 or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211.
The date of the first publication of this notice is July 11, 2024.
Personal Representative: PAMELA THOMAS JONES
131 Peace Ave Tavernier, FL 33070
Attorney for Personal Representative: DAN P. HELLER, Esq.
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 472220
HELLER ESPENKOTTER, PLLC
3250 Mary Street Suite 204 Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Telephone: (305) 777-3765
Fax: (786) 749-5296
E-Mail: probate@ hellerlawgroup.com
Secondary: dan@ hellerlawgroup.com
Publish:
July 11 & 18, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 2024-CP-320-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS
IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT ALAN EALES
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of ROBERT ALAN EALES, deceased, whose date of death was May 6, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: July 11, 2024.
Personal Representative: Andrew D. Eales c/o Legacy Law Associates, P.L.
313 South Palmetto Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Attorney for Personal Representative: W. Denis Shelley
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 273872
Legacy Law Associates, P.L.
313 South Palmetto Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Telephone: (386) 252-2531
Fax: (386) 258-0392
E-Mail: shelley@legacylaw313. com
Secondary E-Mail: troy@ legacylaw313.com
Publish:
July 11 & 18, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NUMBER: 24-CP-333-P IN RE: ESTATE OF DONNA ARNOLD
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DONNA ARNOLD, deceased, whose date of death was 8 June 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, 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, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT 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: July 4, 2024
Personal Representative: Robert Arnold 126 Mohawk St. Tavernier, FL 33070
Attorney for Personal Representative: Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036
Phone: 305.664.2200 Fax 2205
Primary Email: tom@ tomwoodslaw.com
Secondary Email: eserve@ tomwoodslaw.com
Publish:
July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 2024-CP-000321-M IN RE: ESTATE OF GARY W. BURATTI, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of GARY W. BURATTI, deceased, whose date of death was January 17, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, FL, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are
set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against the 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: July 4, 2024.
Personal Representative: Christine M. Watt 66 Coco Plum Drive Marathon, FL 33050
Attorney for Personal Representative: Michael A. Siefert, Esquire Florida Bar No. 042315
Michael A. Siefert, P.A. 121 NW 3rd Street
Ocala, FL 34475
Telephone: (352) 732-0141
E-mail: msiefert@aol.com
Publish: July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.: 24-CP-329-M
DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF DALE DENNING
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of DALE DENNING, deceased, whose date of death was June 11, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform
Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in sections 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under section 732.2211.
The date of first publication of this notice is: July 4, 2024.
Personal Representative: Vesta Medernach Denning 1509 Sombrero Blvd. Marathon, Florida 33050 Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 283134
RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-6022
Fax: (305) 743-6216
E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw. com
Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com
Publish:
July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000328-PK IN RE: ESTATE OF WILLIAM T. SCHEALL Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of WILLIAM T. SCHEALL, deceased, whose date of death was May 15, 2024; is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division; File Number 24-CP-000328-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: JULY 4, 2024. Personal Representative: JOHN SCHEALL, JR. 1304 Perry St. Lakeland, FL 33801 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: July 4 & 11, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO.:
2024-CP-306-P
IN RE: ESTATE OF GLORYANNE SANDREY
Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of GLORYANNE SANDREY, deceased, whose date of death was January 24, 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 representatives and the personal representatives’ 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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE 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: July 4, 2024.
Personal Representatives: Christopher Sandrey 1870 Ocean Way Vero Beach, FL 32963 Ilona Joy Sandrey 1870 Ocean Way Vero Beach, FL 32963 Attorney for Personal Representatives: URBAN J. W. PATTERSON, ESQ. Email: ujwplaw@gmail.com
Secondary Email: ujwplawfirm@yahoo.com Florida Bar No. 382035
Urban J. W. Patterson, P.A. P.O. Box 783 Islamorada, Florida 33036 Telephone: 305-664-5065 Publish: July 4 & 11, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-535-K DIVISION: FAMILY
SUYAPA Y. DUARTE, Petitioner, and MARIO ROBERTO GARCIA, Respondent.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)
TO: MARIO ROBERTO GARCIA
RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN
ADDRESS: GOLF CLUB DRIVE #112, KEY WEST, FL 33040
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Suyapa Y. Duarte, whose address is 3215 Duck Avenue, Key West, FL 33040 on or before August 12, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following
real or personal property should be divided: N/A
Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: July 3, 2024 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jaquelyn Fonseca Deputy Clerk Publish: July 11, 18 & 25 and August 1, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
AUTOS ALL YEARS!
Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
Place your AUTO FOR SALE ad here.
$25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305743-0844
BOATS FOR SALE
Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. Ready to fish. $32,500 cash. Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906
FREE - 2 PONTOON BOATS 24' AND 18' Located in Marathon. Call 305-610-8002
Place your BOAT FOR SALE ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
Place your BOAT SLIP FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
EMPLOYMENT
Frank’s Grill - NOW HIRING: PM SERVER - 4p-Closing. Apply in person at 11400 Overseas Highway, Marathon 305-289-7772
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
Hiring: Lead Gutter
Installer - EXPERIENCE REQUIRED – valid Driver’s License - must be comfortable with heights - located in Tavernier. To apply, please call or text Jay 305-587-1581.
SKILLED PLUMBERS
Full Service & Construction. Immediate Openings in Upper Keys. Full-time & Parttime. MotivatedGreat 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.
Saturday & Sunday front desk office person needed to answer phones and greet walk in customers at Big Pine Real Estate Office. Call Frank 561-283-9969 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 305-743-6739 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 305-743-6739 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: Housekeeper at Poinciana Gardens, 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
HOBBIES/COLLECT.
PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
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. $1,850/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
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
ROOMMATE WANTED
Stock IslandSeeking non-smoking professional female/ no pets. Fully furnished, W/D + TV. Very nice quiet safe place. Gated. $1250/month. First/ Last Call 305-797-5600
RV SITE FOR RENT
RV site at marina available in Marathon. Monthly rates. Free use of dingy & fishing on dock. 305-610-8002
Place your RV SITE FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. SweetCarolineSeaport. com
YARD SALES
Place your YARD SALE ad here. $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
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!
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COORDINATOR
Join a workforce where innovation and teamwork provide support to the employees, retirees, community and citizens of Monroe County!
The Employee Benefits Coordinator handles the eligibility of all participants in the MC BOCC’s health, pharmaceutical, life, dental and visions plans, including enrollment, dependent coverage, terminations, and retirement. Monroe County offers an excellent benefits package and is a member of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). Onsite position in Key West, 40 HPW. Annual salary range: $54,626.40 - $69,648.67, based on experience.
To view job descriptions and apply, visit: www.monroecounty-fl.gov/jobs. For questions, contact Human Resources at: Careers@MonroeCounty-FL.gov or 305-292-4554. Deadline – Open until filled. Veteran’s preference available; E.O.E.
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.
FULL-TIME POSITION POLICE OFFICER
The City of Key Colony Beach is accepting applications for a FULL-TIME Police Officer.
Call 305-407-3262 or email info@floridakeysaquariumencounters.com 11710 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON
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
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
Applicants must posses a current Florida Certification as a police officer. Applicants will undergo a thorough background investigation, including drug screening, medical, polygraph and a psychological exam.
Salary: $60,000.
Full Health & Dental Insurance, 457 (b) Participation.
Email resume to:
Chief of Police at: chief@keycolonybeach.net Or call for additional information: 305-289-1212 ext. 1
Preference in the selection of vacant positions will be given to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans. The Key Colony Beach Police Department is an EEO employer, drug-free and nicotine-free workplace.
WE ARE HIRING!
DIRECT CARE STAFF AT ADULT DAY TRAINING PROGRAM
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. *
DIRECT CARE STAFF
GROUP HOMES 24/7 FT/PT
These positions are available at our Group Homes; evening shift. This position provide direct care services and support to our clients in their home. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED and 1 year of experience with care giving or 30 hours or college coursework. *
IN HOME SUPPORT
FT
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. *
*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
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
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.
(PT)
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 PRACTICE
OPENINGS
- Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Marathon, FT
- Physician Assistant, Surgical Ortho, Tavernier, FT
- Radiology Technologist, Imaging-MRI, $15,000 Bonus, FT
- Registered Nurse, ICU, $25,000 Bonus, FT
- Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, FT
MARATHON FISHERMEN’S
COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- ED Team Coordinator, Emergency Department, FT
- Experience Advisor, FT
- First Cook, Dietary, $5,000 Bonus, FT
- Lead Med Technologist, Laboratory, $15,000 Bonus, FT
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, Radiology, $20,000 Bonus, FT
- Medical Technologist, Laboratory, $15,000 Bonus, FT
- Radiology Technologist, Radiology, $15,000 Bonus, FT
- Security Of cer, Security/Safety, Per Diem All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
*Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.
APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We are now hiring for the following positions: Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers Applicants must apply in person to be considered.
4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
Applicants must posses a current Florida Certification
