Key West Weekly 24-0815

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30

• 11am-7pm Sloppy Joe's Sloppy Hoppy IPA Launch Party

• 1-4pm Belly Flop Pool Party with Islamorada Brewing at Southernmost Beach Resort

• 3-7pm Biergarten at 24 North

• 6-8pm Brews & Bites Bash at First Flight

• 4-8pm Jimmy Buffett Tribute Concert and Cheeseburger Beach Battle at Southernmost Beach Resort

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

• 8am-2pm Brewery Brunch Pairings at The Perry

• 3-8pm Brewfest Main Beer Tasting at Southernmost Beach Resort VIP 3pm, GA 5pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

• 11am-3pm Sunday Funday Sandbar Trip with Beach Weekend

• 11am-5pm Sloppy Joe's Sunshine State Tap Takeover at Joe's Tap Room

• 1-4pm The After Party at Havana Cabana Pool with DJ

• 1-4pm Pool Party and Acoustic Jimmy Buffett Tribute Concert at The Marker

• 6-8pm Cayo Hueso Brewery Dinner at The Perry

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

• 7-9pm Bingo at The Green Parrot

Every home has a story

THE SOUTHERNMOST HOUSE IS A RARE GEM IN THE HEART OF KEY WEST.

• Home of renowned American artist Seward Johnson and his wife, Cecelia Joyce Johnson

• Historic home with modern amenities

• 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

• Nightly transient license

• 17,000 sq ft lot, 4,008 interior sq ft

• Concrete construction

• Viking & Sub-Zero appliances

• Elevator

• Outdoor 50 x 20 ft pool

• Direct Atlantic Ocean views

• Prime Old Town location

• Ideal investment property

5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5

Key West, FL 33040 Office: 305.453.6928 www.keysweekly.com

Publisher / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Editor / Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

Account Executive

Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com

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Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Comptroller Sarah Simcic sarah@keysweekly.com

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Members of

Several seats are up for grabs in the Aug. 20 primary election. According to the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections, 7,175 voters have cast their ballots (as of Aug. 14) out of the 50,456 eligible voters. A total of 5,934 mailed their ballots, while 1,240 went to the polls early to cast their votes.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

KEY WEST LAYS GROUNDWORK TO BEGIN CITY MANAGER SEARCH

Special meeting on Aug. 26 will decide whether to rehire Al Childress

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

TAl Childress.

he Key West city commission will decide whether to rehire city manager Al Childress at a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 26, the first meeting for the new mayor and at least two new city commissioners. But four current commissioners, three of whom will be out of office in the coming month or so, voted on Aug. 8 to authorize the city’s human resources department to begin a statewide search for a new city manager, regardless of whether Childress is rehired, a move supported by commissioners Sam Kaufman and Mary Lou Hoover.

The positions of incoming Mayor DeeDee Henriquez, commissioner Donie Lee and the other two incoming commissioners to be determined at the Aug. 20 primary or Nov. 5 general election are unknown.

Mayor Teri Johnston was not present at the Aug. 8 meeting, and also skipped a reception the night before for outgoing city officials. Jophnston’s absence followed a significantly contentious vote in late June to oust Childress.

The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 20, but early voting is available through 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at all three Supervisor of Elections offices. See page 10.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Johnston, along with Kaufman and Hoover, both of whom will remain in office, voted in support of Childress. The three outgoing commissioners — Clayton Lopez, Jimmy Weekley and Billy Wardlow — voted to fire Childress, as did Lissette Carey, who also will remain in office.

Carey said on Aug. 8 that the hiring of an executive search firm was not necessary.

“I don’t know if we necessarily got everything we needed from the firm last time, and I think there was information that we could have used, about prior employment for the city manager candidates,” said Carey, who was publicly critical of Childress during his time in Key West.

During the Aug. 8 discussion, Carey wondered whether the search parameters for a new city manager should disqualify any candidate who had been fired from the city in recent years. That proposal was not approved.

Following lengthy discussions, the commission ultimately voted 4-2 to begin the initial stages of a city manager search in the event Childress is not rehired on Aug. 26.

Childress indicated to the Keys Weekly on Aug. 9 that he wants to return to the position.

“None of this means that something can’t change based on what happens at the Aug. 26 meeting,” human resources director Bridget Flores told the commission, add-

ing that her office would begin the preliminary process of finalizing the job description and application processes.

In the meantime, Todd Stoughton remains in place as the interim city manager, having been temporarily promoted from assistant city manager to replace Childress.

On a more positive note, the city commission on Aug. 8 learned that Baptist Health plans to reopen the cancer treatment center on North Roosevelt Boulevard that has been closed for more than a year.

Kaufman expressed serious concern about the lack of available radiation and chemotherapy infusions in Key West.

“We’re thankful that Baptist will enter the market down here to provide cancer care, hopefully within the next year, because my concern is if another year goes by without local cancer care, it’s very bad news for our community.”

The newly sworn-in mayor and commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26 to consider the rehiring of Childress.

ELECT MARGARET ROMERO SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

• KEY WEST FIRE FIGHTER LOCAL 1424 UNION

Margaret has the INTEGRITY, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY and COMPETENCY to be our next Supervisor of Elections.

Mirna and Dennis Ward wholeheartedly support MARGARET ROMERO as the Republican Candidate for MONROE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS!

• JOHN DICK

I, John Dick, endorse Margaret as the best person for SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. She is a no nonsense person, tells the whole truth, and will not bend the rules for anyone. Her proven honesty, openness, and professional business skills assure that the office will continue to run with integrity and impartiality.

I WILL PROTECT YOUR VOTE … FROM START TO FINISH

• MIRNA AND DENNIS WARD www.chooseromero.com

Dedicated to Public Service.

The Experience to Lead.

IT'S TIME TO VOTE!

Election Day is Tuesday, August 20th.

Whether you plan to vote on Election Day, Vote Early, or Vote-by-Mail, make your plans to participate today!

AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, HOLLY WILL WORK TO:

Address workforce housing challenges to promote a robust local economy.

Tackle major infrastructure improvements to combat threats from sea-level rise and ensure the safety and quality of life of our residents.

Preserve and protect our environment, which is intimately tied to our economy and essential for our livelihood and lifestyle.

Vote Holly Merrill Raschein for Monroe County Commission!

EARLY VOTING OPEN THROUGH SATURDAY, AUG. 17

14% of Keys voters already cast ballots for Aug. 20 primary

Election workers constantly monitor five ballot dropbox locations. MANDY MILES/ Keys Weekly

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

The presidential election is still two months away on Nov. 5, but several Florida Keys political races will be decided in the primary that ends on Tuesday, Aug. 20. And plenty of Monroe County voters have already cast their primary ballots either through vote-by-mail or by voting in person at one of the three county election offices.

As of Aug. 14, 14% of eligible voters in Monroe County — 7,158 of 50,456 voters — had voted. Republicans make up 48% of the early voters; Democrats 42% and voters with no partisan affiliation make up the other 10%, according to the supervisor of elections website, which keeps a running tally of early votes, where they are cast and by which party.

Races to watch

The county commission District 5 race features three Republicans and no Democrats, so all Monroe County voters will determine the outcome of that race on Aug. 20, regardless of party affiliation. In District 5, incumbent Holly Merrill-Raschein faces challenges from Melissa Ptomey and Paul Wunderlich.

School board races are nonpartisan in Florida, so all Keys voters will elect either Yvette Mira-Talbott or Zach Bentley, who are running for the District 2 seat long held by Andy Griffiths, who did not seek reelection.

The Key West City Commission races are nonpartisan, so the District 1 race between Monica Haskell and Ben Hennington will be decided Aug. 20, but only by Key West voters who live in the district.

The Key West District 6 commission race features three candidates — Aaron Castillo, Thaddeus Cohen and Marci Rose. Voters living in that district will choose their preferred candidate on Aug. 20. If one of them receives more than 50% of the vote, they will be declared the winner. If no one garners a majority, then the top two vote-getters will face each other on Nov. 5.

Supervisor of elections race gets attention

In the supervisor of elections race, registered Republicans will decide next week which Republican candidate — Margaret Romero or Sherri Hodies — will face Democrat Ron Saunders in November.

The race to succeed longtime Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin, who is retiring, has prompted some controversy in Monroe County.

Republican Dennis Ward endorsed Romero, although he’s a member of the countywide Republican Executive Committee, which had endorsed Hodies despite opposition from several members about the decision to endorse in a primary that included another Republican candidate and about the voting and vetting process itself.

An ongoing Facebook feud is unfolding between Ward, whose page is called GoodMorning Islamorada, and REC chair Rhonda Rebman-Lopez.

Ward said he is concerned about the MAGA-aligned, election-denying faction of the REC, including Hodies, potentially overseeing Keys elections.

“Wacko Right Wing republicans led by Chief Wacko Rhonda Lopez, are trying to convince you that there are serious problems with our ELECTION SYSTEM in Monroe County,” Ward posted on Aug. 13. “I believe in JOYCE GRIFFIN and the excellent job she’s done keeping our system pristine. Don’t fall for their SCARE TACTICS. Vote MARGARET ROMERO for SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS for MONROE COUNTY!!!”

For complete election and candidate information, visit keyselections. org.

CANDIDATES MAKE FINAL PITCH WITH PRIMARIES LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY

County commissioners and school board candidates tussle over several issues

ZACK WOLTANSKI www.keysweekly.com

Candidates for Monroe County District 5 commissioner and school board District 2 gave their positions at an Aug. 10 open-forum debate presented by the Key Largo Civic Club. As the last debate before the Aug. 20 primary, the event offered candidates a final opportunity to present their platforms to the public ahead of the ballot.

The first debate was among candidates for county commissioner. In an opening statement, prospective commissioner Melissa Ptomey introduced herself as a dedicated marine scientist who’d been inspired to run after witnessing the degradation of local reefs. Ptomey also noted the lack of communication between the Monroe County commission and the community in approving the development of a Publix and workforce housing project at MM 92.5, which had faced stringent opposition from the county’s Planning Commission and the Planning Department, as well as many other local interests and individuals.

Paul Wunderlich introduced himself as a Florida native who served the county for decades as an inspector of roads and bridges, who was likewise moved to run by environmental concerns and issues

related to tourism and a lack of affordable housing.

Holly Raschein, the current mayor of Monroe County, spoke about her extensive experience in government service, in both state and local office. Her concerns regarding a shrinking middle class and environmental degradation had motivated her throughout the last four years during her tenure on the board of county commissioners, she said.

Candidates were asked how they intended to support housing for essential workers. Ptomey’s response detailed Monroe County’s drastic increase in budget over the past four years with its corresponding increase in rent. She spoke of the problems of unregulated online and short-term rentals and recommended a tier system to favor essential workers in providing housing. She proposed a department to take charge of ensuring affordable housing, and stressed that “we will never build our way out of workforce housing.”

Wunderlich responded that the county should require big investors and resorts to build onsite housing.

“Affordable housing in the Keys is not affordable,” said Wunderlich. “Essential workers should have the cost of their apartments included as part of their individual salaries.”

Raschein said that she considered this to be “one of the most critical issues facing our community.” She expounded on various housing projects she’d supported during her tenure, including 10 homes on Conch Key paid for by a disaster recovery grant. She clarified that the tier system proposed by Ptomey was already in place, beginning with county employees all the way to law enforcement officers. She admitted the problem of affordable housing still has a lot of hurdles to overcome and “no perfect solution.”

In a rebuttal, Wunderlich responded that in his last 24 years serving the county, he’d seen few real improvements in affordable housing.

“If we keep building, adding on, we’ll never catch up with it,” he said.

“Workforce housing is a bait-and-switch to have development pushed through for projects we’d otherwise not want to happen,” Ptomey responded, referencing Raschein’s support of the Publix and workforce housing project.

Candidates were asked generally what they’d do for the community if elected. Wunderlich said he’d focus on the concerns of the community, not those of tourism or big business. Ptomey said her goal would be to reinstate the relationship between the county commission and the community, putting the people of the Keys first, and creating advisory boards for topics of concern such as tourism and real estate. Raschein planned to continue to fight for the Keys, with the environment remaining a key priority in her agenda.

Referencing the recent Trauma Star scandal, in which a local flight nurse was reportedly in possession of stolen narcotics and two others have been indicted, the candidates were asked what should be done to clean up corruption in the county fire department. Raschein and Wunderlich spoke about the need for greater transparency and more oversight in the hiring process. Ptomey, whose husband is a firefighter, said many firefighters have known about this issue for years. Ptomey called for an audit of both the fire department and the BOCC.

A final question asked candidates how they perceived the importance of policymaking based upon the voice of the constituents. Ptomey emphasized that the commission has lost touch with its constituent base, and that the commission’s best interest should be the interest of the constituents.

“I think everything that goes on in the county should (be guided by) the voice of the people and the constituents,” said Wunderlich.

Raschein said her goal was to rely on the opinions of the public and their input.

“You’re not always going to make everybody happy. If you land somewhere in the middle, you know you’ve done something right.”

School board District 2

A debate was then held for candidates Yvette Mira-Talbott and Zach Bentley, running for school board District 2, the seat held by outgoing member Andy Griffiths. Bentley introduced himself as a former hospitality worker and small business owner who found his vocation and calling as a fishing guide.

A graduate of Key West High School, he believes Monroe County public schools have seen some erosion over the past decades.

“My children go to St. Mary’s Basilica ... and they are so happy there. It’s a better educational opportunity for them (than our public schools),” said Bentley. As a school board member, he sees it as his duty to reinstill confidence in public schools, focusing on the well-being of the teachers and the students.

Mira-Talbott, a long-time Keys resident, spoke about her decades of educational advocacy and the need to find creative and innovative ways to keep teachers and staff working in Monroe County.

They were asked how they’d make nonpolitical decisions. “The litmus test for me is if (the school board) benefits the children,” said Bentley. “You won’t consider if it benefits Republicans or Democrats.”

“There’s no place for partisanship,” said Mira-Talbott. “The only decision is to do what’s best for the kids, the teachers and the school system.” Both candidates emphasized their relationships and communication with the current school board.

Asked how he’d support teacher retention, Bentley stressed the need to focus on attracting great educators by creating a culture and institution with a reputation for teaching with dignity. He said he believed there are isolated instances of corruption in the teaching institution, much like in the fire department.

Mira-Talbott argued that attracting great teachers isn’t the primary issue; instead, she would focus on teacher retention. Although local teachers are among the highest paid in the state, Monroe County has one of the highest costs of living in Florida.

“I’m very interested in finding different ways to help teachers offset the cost of living,” said Mira-Talbott.

The candidates were asked how they’d see themselves negotiating influence as one of five. “It’s very important that you understand who your fellow board members are,” said Bentley, who cited the need for close connections among board members. In her response, Mira-Talbott spoke about her years of experience communicating with board members.

A final question asked how they’d advocate not only for teachers but for the rights of parents and students. Bentley responded that attracting and retaining great teachers creates a positive culture between teachers, parents and students. “I (also) think it’s important to have school board members that are actively parenting,” he said.

“As a school board member I will do what I’ve done for the last 10 months,” said Mira-Talbott. “I’ve visited every school, listened to administrative staff. ... I have been involved with teachers and education since my children were in school.”

The event concluded with short introductions by the Republican candidates for state committeeman and committeewoman. Bethany Bartlett, Jill Davis and Michael Washam spoke about their backgrounds and experience.

On Aug. 13, school board and commissioner hopefuls, as well as other candidates running for local and state seats in the November election, appeared at Crooked Palm Cabana on Plantation Key in Islamorada for a meet-the-candidates mixer.

Holly Raschein Melissa Ptomey Paul Wunderlich Zach Bentley Yvette Mira-Talbott

DISTRICT 5 COMMISSIONER

SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2

2 MORE INDICTED IN FENTANYL THEFT CASE

Andrea Thompson & Dr. Sandra Schwemmer

face felony charges

Grand jury indictments have been issued against Dr. Sandra Schwemmer and Capt. Andrea Thompson in Monroe County.

Schwemmer, 72, the medical director of Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star, has been charged with one count of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, and one count of altering patient records. Bond for Dr. Schwemmer has been set at $100,000.

Thompson, 45, division chief of EMS & Trauma Star, faces two counts of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, three counts of tampering with witnesses, and one count of altering patient records. Bond for Thompson has been set at $250,000.

The bonds for both individuals were set and signed by Judge Mark Wilson.

These latest indictments follow the grand jury’s recent decision to indict Lynda Rusinowski, the former chief flight nurse for Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star, who was involved in related misconduct within the same department.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office initially reported Rusinowski’s arrest, adding that officials with MCFR received an anonymous tip in late July 2022 about Rusinowski altering controlled substance inventory logs in an effort to pilfer the drugs. As chief flight nurse, she was an employee of Monroe County Fire Rescue, not the Sheriff’s Office.

Monroe County Fire Rescue is in charge of the flight nurses, Trauma Star’s medical supplies, patient records and oversight of all three. The Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the pilots and the Trauma Star helicopters that annually transport 1,200 to 1,300 patients, often with life-threatening conditions, to mainland hospitals.

The audit report noted no wrongdoing on the part of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, but was highly critical of Monroe County Fire Rescue and senior county administration.

The charges stem from a scathing audit the county clerk’s office conducted of MCFR’s controlled substances protocols that was released in May 2023. The nearly 80-page audit

left, and Dr. Sandra Schwemmer, both of Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star, face felony charges. CONTRIBUTED

report details massive discrepancies in controlled substance inventory records due to theft, stating that “controlled substances were being diverted by MCFR staff along with a widespread lack of management oversight.”

The report cites a lack of attention by Schwemmer as a “primary reason that the chief flight nurse’s alleged drug diversion activities went undetected for so long.” Schwemmer was counseled three times by then-Chief Steve Hudson about proper procedures and oversight, according to the audit report.

Thompson was investigated for allegedly removing syringes, tourniquets and other medical equipment from Rusinowski’s vehicle that could have been used as evidence in the criminal case. Thompson drove Rusinowski to a South Florida rehab facility before she could be arrested.

The same report criticizes the “sloppiness of MCFR’s inventory and patient care records” and finds that “County Administration (did) not have effective preventive or detection measures to ensure … that controlled substances are secure from drug diversion.”

The audit details a total of 623 vials of controlled substances missing from inventory logs during the audit period — June 2021 through July 2022 — including 242 vials of Dilaudid and 219 of fentanyl. Though it acknowledges that some discrepancies could be due to sloppiness in record-keeping, which are extensively criticized throughout the report, it estimates that 246 missing vials – including 91 of fentanyl and 84 of Dilaudid – were likely stolen via the intentional falsification of records.

In an Aug. 9 statement, Monroe County officials said they were in the process of terminating the county’s $124,842.50 annual contract with Schwemmer’s company for medical director services immediately. Thompson, they said, has been suspended without pay pending a pre-determination hearing.

IS KEY WEST’S BOND PROPOSAL STILL A BAD IDEA? HOW MUCH DEBT DO OTHER CITIES HAVE?

Is Key West’s bond proposal still a bad idea? Let’s take a look at the amount of long-term debt other Florida cities have. The figures below represent the total long-term government debt of the named cities, including notes and general obligation bonds.

A slim majority of the city commission, 4 to 3, suggests Key West authorize long term debt of: $226 million.

Where did $226 million come from? The former city manager requested a wish list from every department — for every expenditure that they could think of, for the foreseeable future. What does the city really need for the next five years?

The proposal was passed by the Key West City Commission, by a razor-slim 4-3 majority. The perpetual line of credit bond program, with no expiration, is just not done by cities the size of Key West, allowing no more public votes on future bond issues.

The amount proposed might well last Key West in excess of 30 years. It is essentially suggesting a “line of credit” to fund projects that are not yet selected, costed or designed. If approved, the voters are passing a potential huge tax increase while giving up their right to ever vote again on the funding of capital projects until the $226 million is spent.

State law requires that a public referendum be placed before the voters any time a general obligation bond is proposed. By suggesting this “line of credit” theory, the slim commission majority is essentially bypassing that requirement by asking the voters to approve possibly 30 years, or more, of bond issues.

Commissioner Sam Kaufman tried to talk some sense into the issue at the July 18 meeting

by reducing the dollar figures proposed, but the 4-3 majority insisted on approving larger numbers. The mayor said the community pool will cost $42 million. City staff suggested it can be done for $15 million. City staff suggested that they could live with $50 million for sustainability projects. The 4-3 majority insisted on raising that to $65 million. Staff also said they are waiting to hear about a grant request for $20 million for the fire station. That would change everything.

The lack of clear commission consensus is yet another negative on the entire question. It actually could decrease our bond rating because of the lack of support on the commission. Word on the street is that if a vote of city hall employees was taken today, the bond would not pass.

Planning for a new Fire Station No. 3 is underway. Design it and price it. Then do the same for the pool. See what grants are available. Then place a bond proposal before the voters next year for the amount actually needed instead of pie in the sky requests. This might be the practical common-sense way to finance Key West’s capital projects.

Vote NO on four bond referendums Nov. 5. Vote YES next year to bond a new fire station and pool.

Sincerely,

George Edson Key West

Capt. Andrea Thompson,

As a mother who guided 3 children through Monroe County public schools, a vote for Yvette means:

• Keeping talented teachers here in Monroe County

• Support for students to feel safe and inspired in our schools

• Ensuring our teachers and students have the resources they need to make Monroe County a leader in education

A vote for Yvette Mira-Talbott is more than policy; it's a vote for the future of our children and our teachers.

COME SAIL AWAY

Key West Community Sailing Center celebrates 50 years

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

You’ve seen them from Palm Avenue bridge. Small boats with colorful sails zigzag across Garrison Bight, the speed, skill level and size of the sailors on board ranging from a 10-year-old expert to a 50-year-old first-timer. And that’s the point.

For 50 years now, the Key West Community Sailing Center (KWCSC) has been teaching Key West residents to sail – residents of all ages and experience.

“As long as you can swim, you can learn to sail here,” said Ben Hermelin, executive director of the nonprofit center located at the foot of the Palm Avenue bridge.

The group recently combined its 50th anniversary celebration with an end-of-summer send-off for the 230 or so kids who spent one or more weeks learning to tack, jibe, duck and center the tiller — after learning what each of those words means, of course.

An informal group of sailors started the group in 1974, and always welcomed new members and students. The center always operated as a nonprofit, but received its formal status in 2011, Hermelin said.

The KWCSC now maintains about 40 small sailing vessels and since 2021 has welcomed nearly 700 kids to its after-school, weekend and summer camp sessions.

one of our most valuable resources is the waters surrounding us. That is why it is so important for us to keep our fees affordable to all, and to raise money every year to fund our scholarship program.”

With two full-time staff members and one part-time employee, the center depends on 13 volunteer board members and about 20 youth volunteers to conduct its summer camps and adult lessons.

Hermelin said students are able to sail on their own after a week of lessons, but added that sailing is a lifelong skill that allows for constant improvement and different experiences.

“There are so many valuable lessons to be learned from this sport — independence, adaptability, teamwork, coordination, finetune adjusting and many more. That’s why so many sailors continue sailing for their entire lives.”

“And that’s not counting returning participants, adult programs, private lessons or member sailing, which would put us well into the thousands, just since 2021,” Hermelin said. “This summer alone we had over 230 participants, and roughly 20% of them receive financial aid scholarships each year. One of our main goals is to make sailing affordable and accessible to the community. In many cases, sailing is an expensive sport not available to most people. We do not want this to be the case in Key West, where

The KWCSC is the only facility of its kind in the Lower Keys, and unlike in other cities, like Annapolis, Maryland, that are known for sailing, the sport can be done yearround in Key West.

“Sailing is a sport that appeals to so many people: the social butterfly who wants to sail with friends and enjoy time on the water; the introvert who wants to improve their individual skills and experiment with racing, and the family that wants to get away and experience nature together,” Hermelin said. More information is at keywestsailingcenter.org, on Facebook or via email to Hermelin at executivedirector@kwcsc.org.

A group of young sailors and instructors wrap up a summer camp session on Aug. 11 at the Key West Community Sailing Center. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

The Misadventures of Holly Raschein

“Exactly.”

Holly doesn’t listen to Keys residents, never has.

She’ll be your strong voice on the County Commission. Melissa Ptomey will.

Cooper Hewitt mounted a retrospective of her textile designs. Her ne art pieces, monochromatic or vivid in color, would incorporate classic literary in uences; mermaids, unicorns, and Biblical references. A large ceramic tile composition graces the Monroe County Library. She also created originals for the Pier House and painted the piano for the bar. Other examples of her work include the entire ceiling, walls and doors of David Wolkowsky’s fabled Ballast Key residence, elegantly treated with colorful painting on wood. Suzie

Zuzek de Poo,

West’s artistic archives well into her ninth decade.

Bottle Beach Bouquet #2, 12 x 12, Porcelain Tiles on Panel

‘JUST A FEW FRIENDS

KEY WEST’ CELEBRATION TO HONOR BUFFETT

Events and tributes take place Aug. 30 through Sept. 2

The late singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett will be honored with a celebration set for Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in Key West, where he developed the signature “tropical rock” style and laid-back persona that helped make him a worldrenowned musical icon.

“Just a Few Friends Key West” will commemorate the island city’s favorite son with events including a “second line” memorial walking parade, concerts by Buffett’s musical friends and tribute bands, beach parties, walking and biking tours of the entertainer’s favorite spots, sailing excursions and other activities that recall the Key West lifestyle he chronicled in his music.

Buffett, who died Sept. 1, 2023, discovered the island in the early 1970s and its influence is widely credited with inspiring many of his most enduring songs, including the classic hit “Margaritaville.” He called Key West home during some of his most productive years and frequently referenced its characters, landmarks and freewheeling vibe in his lyrics.

“Just a Few Friends” will begin Friday, Aug. 30, with highlights including the 11 a.m. reading of a Florida State Legislature proclamation designating Jimmy Buffett Day. Civic leaders, regional celebrities and Buffett fans will gather for the waterfront reading and welcome ceremony outside his Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio in the Key West Historic Seaport.

Friday’s schedule also features a welcome party on the beach with live music by a tribute band.

The schedule Saturday, Aug. 31,

recalls some of the entertainer’s classic songs with activities including a margarita bar crawl and “Blue Heaven Rendezvous” trop-rock jam.

Events Sunday, Sept. 1, are highlighted by the Second Line Memorial Walking Parade, a procession for fans of Buffett’s music and the island lifestyle it promotes. Beginning at 5 p.m. in the 100 block of Duval Street, the march will be characterized by strolling musicians, participants wearing tropical attire and an easy camaraderie reminiscent of Buffett’s concerts.

While taking part in the procession is free, souvenir parade passes can be purchased to benefit local nonprofit organizations.

Marchers will proceed up Duval Street past the singer/songwriter’s original Margaritaville Store and Margaritaville Café, turn right onto Southard Street and end at Truman Waterfront Park for the Party in the Park celebration.

Set for Sunday from 6 to 11 p.m., the free gathering features nonstop live music by talents including Will Kimbrough, co-writer of Buffett’s posthumous hit “Bubbles Up.” Attendees can sample offerings from local food trucks and vendors, browse wares crafted by local artisans, share Buffett tales and enjoy a Key West sunset from the park.

The festival concludes on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, with a schedule that includes a “pencil thin mustache” contest inspired by Buffett’s song of the same name. The two final events also reference his song titles: a “Come Monday” seafood boil from 5 to 8 p.m. and a “Nautical Wheelers” sunset tribute concert starring Roger Bartlett, the original guitarist for Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band.

More information is at justafewfriendskeywest.com.

— Contributed

BREWFEST IS ON TAP AUG. 29 - SEPT. 2

Belly up: Rotary Club event raises money for scholarships

Fans of beers and ales can sample more than 150 of them, while also discovering the flavors of the continental United States’ southernmost island, during a festival “brewed” especially for Labor Day weekend.

The annual Key West BrewFest is scheduled Thursday through Monday, Aug. 29 through Sept. 2. Activities on tap include beerfocused dinners, pool parties, live music and the beachfront Key West BrewFest Signature Tasting Event.

The event, presented by the Key West Sunrise Rotary Club of the Conch Republic and hosted by the Southernmost Beach Resort, benefits local Rotary scholarships and charitable initiatives.

Featured beers range from offerings such as Fat Tire Ale and Cat 5 Key Lime Lager to local favorites from Florida Keys Brewing Co., Waterfront Brewery, Cayo Hueso Brewing and Islamorada Beer Co. among others.

The 2024 BrewFest features new offerings including the Brews & Bites Bash at First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery, 301 Whitehead St.; and the Jimmy Buffett Tribute Concert and Cheeseburger Beach Battle at the Southernmost Beach Resort, 1319 Duval St., featuring the national touring tribute band Buffett’s Margaritaville. Both events are set for Friday,

Aug. 30, with ticket prices of $65 per person and $20/$30 per person, respectively.

The festival highlight is the BrewFest Signature Tasting Event. Featuring more than 150 beers from leading, boutique and smallbatch breweries, the tasting extravaganza is set for Saturday, Aug. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the beach at the Southernmost Beach Resort.

While enjoying the evening beside the Atlantic Ocean, attendees can stroll from booth to booth, savoring live music and unlimited samples of beers, lagers and ales.

General admission is $50 per person. Also available are VIP tickets for $100 per person that include early admission to a VIP tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. with passed appetizers from the Southernmost Beach Café.

Fans of brews and on-thewater adventures can participate in a sandbar trip with Beach Weekend Key West Sunday, Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The trip is limited to 28 people and includes complimentary beer. Tickets are $30 per person, available by calling Beach Weekend at 305-296-0364.

Other festival events include brewery dining experiences, a “Biergarten” and a tap takeover. Activities conclude Monday, Sept. 2, with a bingo gathering at Key West’s iconic Green Parrot Bar, 601 Whitehead St.

More information and a full schedule are at keywestbrewfest. com.

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, left, plays a concert at Key West Theater with his Coral Reefer Band the year before his death. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed

The Key West Sunrise Rotary Club presents its annual Brewfest Aug. 29 through Sept. 2. CONTRIBUTED

... 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.

My initial notion of Arthur Cleveland Bent was one of those nebbishy little guys who spent most of their lives indoors, looking at birds and their parts through a magnifying glass, trying to figure out where in the avian tree of life they should be classified. Brilliant, no doubt, but living a life without much room for anything outside of ornithological study. This came from knowing very little about him, other than the fact that he spent much of his life in the early 20th century collecting, editing and writing the contents of “Life Histories of North American Birds,” a massive, 20-plus volume assemblage of all the then-known information about the bird species found in North America.

Copies are still in print, though a complete set will cost you. I’ve only seen a complete set of “Life Histories of North American Birds” once, at a friend’s house. It took up a solid 3 feet on his bookshelf.

What I imagined, of course, turned out to be the opposite of the truth. Bent was your classic old-school Teddy Roosevelt type of naturalist — rugged, with a kind of boundless energy and apparent enthusiasm for the world you don’t see in many people. In one photo, he had a climbing rope thrown over his shoulder, though he was also wearing a tie.

He was born in 1866. His mother died when he was 6. Apparently a sickly child, his father took him on nature walks to build up his stamina, unintentionally kindling in him a lifelong fascination with birds. He went to the local schools, then to Harvard, where he took up boxing and had his nose smashed in. It remained “bent” for the rest of his life. He also took up exercising with weights and, somehow, axes, a practice he continued into his 80s.

His initial passion was said to be the now largely frowned upon field of oology, or the study and collecting of eggs, though I’m guessing at the root of that was the love of adventure – climbing tall trees and sheer cliff sides to snatch eggs from nests. In his early 20s, Bent experienced a “27 Hours” type scenario when he fell from a high tree while trying to collect eggs from a barred owl’s nest. He managed to break his fall by wedging his arm in a crevice in the tree’s trunk on the way down, but hung there for half an hour. When he managed to extricate himself, he fell further, landing with a serious thud on the forest floor. It left him with a permanent tremor in his hand, and made his handwritten notes look as if composed during a small but steady earthquake.

BENT ON BLUE - GRAY GNATCATCHERS

Though now known for his ornithological work, it was merely a side gig for most of his life. His real career, or at least his profitable one, was as a businessman. He started his career working for a company called the Seamless Pocket Co. (No idea what a seamless pocket is, or why you would sell pockets separate from the clothes they are supposed to be attached to.) He went on to manage a local machine works, then was an owner of several companies that electrified a good part of Massachusetts.

He lived almost all of his 88 years in the town of Taunton, Massachusetts, where he served as an alderman, president of the chamber of commerce, president of alma mater academy, and a member of the yacht club, the rod and gun club, the Boy Scouts, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, three Harvard clubs, and a fistful of nature and ornithology-related societies.

He traveled all over the country – including South Florida and the Keys. He was also married with three children.

And he somehow put together the monster that is “Life Histories of North American Birds,” published by the Smithsonian Institution. I’ve been trying to figure out exactly how many species accounts he published and the only number I can find is 1,200, which seems a lot, considering there are only about 800 bird species that breed in North America. But a lot of what are now considered subspecies were considered full species then, so maybe. But 20 volumes published in his lifetime, three published posthumously, two put together from his notes, all of them tomes.

He didn’t write all of it. He included large blocks of text, many from both his predecessor and his contemporaries. He was said to have been in correspondence with over 1,000 amateur and professional ornithologists. All work was credited. The books actually have multiple

typefaces and sizes, as if instead of resetting the texts, they were simply cut out from other sources and pasted in.

The constant, though, throughout all those volumes, is Bent’s shaping and curation of all that material, but also, more importantly, his voice, which is almost always clear, personal in a rather polite manner, and engaging.

I went down the rabbit hole on Bent because I went over to Fort Zachary Taylor the other day and saw a blue-gray gnatcatcher, a slim little bird that looks like a warbler, but is actually more closely related to wrens. It was an early migrant, spinning in a bare branched tree over one of the bird paths. I hadn’t really looked at “Life Histories of North American Birds” for a while, but suddenly I wanted to know what Arthur Cleveland Bent had to say about them.

“Our acquaintance with a new bird dates, it seems to me, not from the moment we learn to identify it in the field but rather from the first time we really have a glimpse of its ‘personality.’ Thus, my ‘first’ blue-gray gnatcatcher was certainly not the one my ornithological mentor first pointed out to me, but another that came along months later, flitted to a bush within arm’s length of where I stood and, between snatches at insects too small for me to see even at that short distance, spent several minutes looking me over,” he wrote.

“It was upon the foundation laid in those few minutes that I have built whatever else I may have learned about the gnatcatcher. In the course of writing these pages, the memory of that first meeting has come back to me many times, almost with the clarity of a visual picture, and I feel that I am telling of the later adventures of one little bird rather than of the habits of its myriad kin,” he said.

And then I was wondering if I, too, had now somehow seen the same one little bird on an even later adventure.

MARK HEDDEN

Dr. Christopher Forsee, DMD is seamlessly taking the reins from the iconic “Barefoot Dentist,” Dr. Troxel, where the laid-back vibe extends even to the choice of footwear.

Dr. Forsee delivers personalized comprehensive dental care tailored to your needs. Whether it's routine maintenance or advanced procedures, trust Dr. Forsee to rejuvenate your smile with meticulous precision and compassionate care.

PLAYING THROUGH THE PAIN

Yesterday I found myself shopping for a chair to use for solo acoustic gigs. What should have been a “find a cheap chair and be done with it” project has now become an actual decision. I started thinking about that pain in my back when I have been playing a lot of solo gigs. I thought about how nice a back rest would be and how my leg feels if the chair is too high or too low while I’m trying to operate my foot pedals. I have been noticing lately that my posture during playing is causing me issues. And I found out I’m not alone in this.

A survey recently showed that 64% to 76% of orchestra musicians suffer from what are called repetitive strain injuries — something we all know. If you are out pulling weeds for several hours one day, and the last time you pulled weeds, tik tok was just the sound a clock made, your hand and back may be sore the next day. Now if you pulled weeds for six hours six days a week, not only would your hands be strong, but you can imagine the toll on your back from years of bending and stooping. Musicians, like all people who work hard, suffer the same ailments.

Not only are repetitive motions detrimental to our physical health, postural dysfunction is also high on the list of culprits when it comes to work injuries.

RAY WEST

... 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.

When one spends hours sitting or standing in a particular way, the body reacts. For musicians, the top physical concern is centered in the path from your neck to your fingertips. Whereas the anatomy of this pathway is beyond the scope of this article, the numbness it can cause in the hands and fingers of musicians is common knowledge. Tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bursitis are just a few of the diagnoses a musician can hear. The compression of the nerves of the hand passing through the elbow and wrist often causes tingling and numbing of the fingers. When this happens, your fingers feel like sausages and you can’t feel the strings under your fingers. It’s not conducive to good times — or good music. Horn players often spend hours with their arms in a particular position. This can cause joint dysfunction in the shoulders where nerves can be compressed and inflamed. Drumming is perhaps the most physically demanding on the entirety of one’s body, with so many joints and muscles working continually from a seated position.

The list goes on and each instrument comes with its own set of potential issues. As with all things, prevention is key. But many of us learn on our own and by the time we are aware of the incorrect posture and bad playing habits that help to lead to these issues, it’s because we feel the results.

Among the more difficult aspects of the entertainment business to treat are the mental health issues that artists suffer. If you find yourself needing help with stress, anxiety or extreme stage fright, you are not alone. Reach out to someone. We all get it. We all deal with it. We learn to handle it. So will you.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE ROLLS OUT NEW WEBSITE

Don’t worry, mugshots & traffic reports still easy to find

The new MCSO website is optimized for both mobile and desktop usage. KEYSSO.NET/Contributed

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay announced a fresh new look for the sheriff’s office website — keysso.net. The new site has a mobile-friendly, modern look that users will notice this week. The new website will still contain all the popular features and tabs the previous website offered, with updates throughout.

Keys Weekly’s digital partner, Overseas Media Group, a locally owned and operated digital marketing agency specializing in web design and development, social media and online enhancement, worked extensively with the sheriff’s office to design the new website.

The popular mugshot page on the sheriff’s office website can be found in the same place on the new website.

“I’m excited to bring this new, modern website online and I want to thank our IT department here at the sheriff’s office for their hard work as well as our friends at Overseas Media Group, who really stepped up to the plate when I approached them about this project,” Ramsay said. “This is what strong community partnerships are all about.”

Users who have specific tabs bookmarked from the previous website are encouraged to change those bookmarks when the website goes up within the next 48 hours. The URL remains the same: keysso.net

Users are still encouraged to download the MCSO mobile app for smartphones at the Apple Store or Google Play. Its features remain unchanged. Users can also follow the sheriff’s office at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

— Contributed

Lobsterfest sizzles on Duval Street

’TIS THE SEASON — FOR SPINY LOBSTER STICK FIGURE DRAWS A CROWD

Drawn butter, anyone?

The annual Lobsterfest Key West took place Aug. 8-11 to mark the start of another spiny lobster season here in the Florida Keys.

The main event, as usual, was the Aug. 10 street fair that featured coconut fried lobster tails, grilled tails, chilled tails and everything in between. Local restaurants and chefs offered their own lobster specialties, from appetizers to full dinners, while local bars set up drink booths.

A free outdoor concert provided the soundtrack for the event, featuring performances by Just George, Fried Newt, the Killer Dudes and headliners the Durtbags performing from a stage at the intersection of Duval and Greene streets.

Other street fair attractions included art, crafts and merchandise from artisans and vendors.

Coffee Butler Amphitheater sold out months in advance

The hugely popular reggae band Stick Figure packed the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Aug. 12, with tickets selling out months before the show.

The Southern California band formed in 2006 and has sold well over 1 million albums. Its music has been streamed more than 3 billion times.

On the live side, Stick Figure averaged over 4,200 tickets sold per show on an almost entirely sold-out 2022 tour, according to Pollstar, and has played major multigenre festivals in 2023 and 2024.

“These numbers would be impressive by any metric, yet Stick Figure has achieved this rarified air completely independently, with no label or outside producers,” states the band’s website.

The live band lineup features Kevin Bong (KBong) on keyboards, Kevin Offitzer on drums, bassist Tommy Suliman, John Gray (Johnny Cosmic) on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, and Will Phillips on percussion, with founder Scott Woodruff up front on guitar and vocals. Bong, Offitzer and Suliman have been with the band for 10 years and the camaraderie on stage is infectious.

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com

Stick Figure reggae band draws a sold-out crowd to the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Aug. 12. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

The annual Key West Lobsterfest street fair takes place in the 100 to 500 blocks of Duval Street on Aug. 10. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Words that remind us of football are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

AMERICAN, DOWNS, END ZONE, FIELD, FOOTBALL, GAME, GOAL POST, OFFENSE, POSITION, RECEIVER, SAFETY, SCRIMMAGE, SEASON, SPECIAL, SPORT, TACKLE, TEAM, TOUCHDOWN, UNIT.

Founded by Betty Debnam

FALL FOR FOOTBALL

Does your family have a favorite football team? As football season heats up, The Mini Page takes a close look at how this popular American sport is played. Use this issue to guide you as you watch a game.

WHAT IS FOOTBALL?

Football is a complex team sport played in every corner of the United States. It is played by kids and adults alike.

Many people begin playing football as kids and later play in high school.

HOW IT’S PLAYED

In football, the offense tries to put the ball in the opponent’s end zone (6 points) or kick it through the goal posts (3 points).

The defense tries to prevent the offense from doing so.

To move closer to the end zone, a team has four chances, or downs, to move the ball 10

yards. If the offense moves the ball at least 10 yards, it gains a new set of downs.

The line of scrimmage (SKRIH-mej) is an imaginary line where the football is placed. The offense lines up on one side, and the defense is on the other.

SCORING

Touchdown: A team scores 6 points if the ball reaches the opponent’s end zone.

Extra point: After a touchdown, a ball kicked through the goal posts adds 1 point.

2-point conversion: After a touchdown, a team may try to move the ball into the end zone again for 2 extra points instead of kicking it.

Field goal: The offensive team may kick the ball through the goal posts for 3 points.

Safety: If the defense tackles an opposing player in his own end zone, it is given 2 points.

WHO’S WHO ON THE FIELD

There are three units, or groups, oneach football team.

Offense: The offense tries to get the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.

Defense: The defense works to stop the other team’s offense.

Special teams: These units come on the field for kicking plays: kickoffs, punts and field goal attempts.

There are always 22 players on a football field at once — 11 for each team. Each player has a specific job to do.

ECO NOTE

Hundreds of millions of people are threatened with water shortages due to low levels of snow this year in the Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountains in Asia. Snowmelt brings a quarter of the total water flow to the region’s 12 major river basins, and this year’s snow cap is the second smallest for the past 22 years, trailing only slightly behind the record low set in 2018. Scientists said the lack of adequate snow could have devastating consequences in the future for large populations that rely on runoff.

SOME OFFENSIVE POSITIONS

Quarterback: the leader of the offense; takes the snap from the center and may hand off the ball to a running back or throw a pass; may also run with the ball.

Wide receiver: often very fast and able to catch passes far down the field.

Tight end: blocks like a tackle on running plays; can also catch passes.

Tackle: left and right tackles block defenders for running backs; also responsible for protecting the quarterback’s “blind side” — an area behind the thrower where he can’t see.

Running back: takes a “handoff” from the quarterback, or may go out for a pass.

SOME DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

Tackle: two tackles line up to the left and right of the football; they rush the quarterback, knock down passes or try to slow down a running back.

Cornerback: two cornerbacks defend the left and right edges of the defensive formation; usually responsible for guarding the wide receivers.

Safety: one or two safeties are the last line of defense; “free” safeties guard areas down the field against long passes and running plays; “strong” safeties cover tight ends and help stop runners.

RESOURCES

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPfootball

At the library:

• “Incredible Football Stories for Young Readers” by Trevor Fields

• “It’s a Numbers Game! Football” by Eric Zweig and Patrick Mahomes

Mini Fact: Early players didn’t use helmets or pads. Many players were killed playing football, and it was nearly outlawed.

photo by Mike Hoff

photo by prayitno

The goal post and field at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

PIRACY ACCOUNTS ‘ARGH’ ASTONISHING

Recalling an 1819 encounter around the Florida Keys

FLORIDA

HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI

Idid not consider studying a relevant part of the school experience in high school and those early community college semesters. Better stated, I chose to wait until those last few hours before a test to look at the material. Waiting until the last minute to cram for a test or write a paper produced armpit-dripping, sweatypalm anxiety for me. Thankfully, I am a reformed procrastinator. Through trial and error, I discovered that procrastination creates pressure, and I do not do well under some kinds of pressure. Historically, there have been moments when I have demonstrated some level of grace under pressure and some success. Still, there have been far more personal implosions that I conveniently fail to talk about.

Lack of interest did little to help the situation, and it was only when I went back to school in my late 20s that I started to care. The difference was that I wanted to attend classes. I wanted to learn. What it took a shockingly long time to figure out was the level of comfort afforded by even a modicum of preparation.

Astonishingly enough, when I began to read and study as the work was assigned, my grades improved. As it turns out, tests are easier when you are familiar with the material. Also, when you put the time in to learn and understand the material, writing about it becomes fun.

I’ve been writing about the Florida Keys for more than two decades and talking about the history of the island chain for more than a decade. One of the most surprising things I’ve learned from studying the history of the Keys is that talking about history, whether it is to tens or hundreds of people, is actually a really good time.

As I’ll be flying out to Idaho in a couple of weeks to talk about pirates and piracy in the Keys, I have been working out how to break the news that Key West and the Florida Keys were not home to swashbuckling buccaneers. Locals will tell you they were. In fact, on any given day in Key West, you can see someone dressed up like a pirate. However, the lack of documentation of their presence on the island chain tells a different story.

Pirates and piracy were real threats to any boat sailing in the waters of the West Indies. Otherwise, Commodore David Porter’s antipiracy squadron would never have set up shop at what is now Mallory Square in Key West. One of the last little pieces of the Florida Territory, the island’s location and deep natural harbor proved invaluable to Porter’s work. While Porter and his men were stationed at Key West to quell piracy’s threat, only a handful of documented accounts of piratical activity can be attributed to the Keys and the waters surrounding them.

Jean Kirke, Patrick Hemingway and John ‘Bumby’ Hemingway playing pirates in the Hemingway Garden, circa 1933-34. THE HERITAGE HOUSE COLLECTION/Contributed

A great example of this idea is a chart titled Map of the West Indies and History of Piracies Committed on American Seamen and Commerce (1818-1825). In addition to the colorful map outlining the West Indies, 89 accounts of piracy against American interests are listed. Some of those accounts reveal the violence enacted by pirates. For instance, an event dated March 1, 1823, stated: “The brig Bellisarius, Perkins, at Kennebunk, was boarded in the bay of Campeachy, and robbed of everything. They stabbed the captain in several places, cut off his arms, and one of his thighs – then put oakum dipped in oil in his mouth and under him, and set the whole on fire, which soon put an end to his sufferings.”

The document’s lone mention of the Keys occurred in 1819: “Schooner Adeline, Ellis was boarded off the Florida Keys by a piratical boat, which robbed her of everything, and left her.”

According to the 89 events documented on the map, three West Indian piratical hotspots were identified: the Yucatan Peninsula, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Other newspaper accounts, letters, and reports tell similar stories. However, from his stronghold in Key West, Porter was well situated to address those threats and, by 1825, had largely eliminated the threat of pirates in the area. However, like cockroaches showing up on kitchen counters in the middle of the night, the threat of piracy was never totally eliminated.

Because I will be addressing a Hemingway crowd when I fly out to Ketchum to give the closing talk at the community library’s 16th annual Ernest Hemingway Seminar, I thought it might be fun to break the ice with the picture of a small band of pirates frolicking in the garden of Ernest Hemingway.

These fearless buccaneers are Jean Kirke and two of Hemingway’s sons – Patrick, his first son with Pauline, and John “Bumby,” his only child with his first wife, Elizabeth Hadley Richardson. The picture serves as a great introduction to pirates and piracy in the Florida Keys. While pirate lore is passed from barstool to barstool like gospel up and down the island chain, an old picture of some kids playing pirates in a Key West garden is as close an image of actual pirate activity on the island chain as anything else that I could share.

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

KEYS

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS

The Friday morning plogging was close to city hall this week at the Montessori Children’s School on Varela Street. The group set another record for this year with 76 people in attendance, including several students from the school. In one hour, the volunteers picked up 154 pounds of trash, 17 pounds of recycling and 2.25 gallons of cigarette butts. Thank you to Alex and the school staff for providing the volunteers with breakfast after the cleanup.

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.

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 morning cleanup each week from 8 to 9 a.m.

Aug. 16: White & Eaton streets. Meet in the parking lot at 1111 Eaton St. Hosted by Mike and Dee Hower.

Aug. 17: Special beach cleanup from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Meet in the parking lot to the left of the entrance to Margaritaville Beach House. Do not park in the hotel lot.

Aug. 23: North Roosevelt & Toppino Drive. Meet in the back of First State Bank. Hosted by First State Bank.

Aug. 30: Greene Street to Simonton Beach. Meet in the parking lot by Conch Republic Seafood Co. We will finish at Simonton Beach. Hosted by Just a Few Friends, Key West.

The Rotary Club of Key West and Sunset Rotary present

The Rotary Club of Key West and Sunset Rotary

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

If you wake up nice and early to take a stroll outside before sunrise, you will see Mars and Jupiter conspiring in the eastern sky. What about?

Well, Mars is always trying to encourage high energy, willpower over planning and striking while the iron is hot. Jupiter, on the other hand, brings about largesse, abundance, a party-all-the-time exuberance and saying “yes” to everything. When Mars and Jupiter come together, you can expect an enormous burst of energy. Whether that energy is productive or conflicting has everything to do with our own choices. It will be prudent to show constraint when it comes to the desire to throw oneself into any whirling festivities.

Here are your horoscopes for the Mars-Jupiter conjunction square Saturn. Read for your rising and sun signs.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 22

There is a lot of action swirling about in your friend group right now, and they are showing up to support you in a way that might actually be a bit overwhelming. Throw yourself into the party, but be sure to draw the line when you sense that your obligations are being compromised. If the choice is between one more drink and one more hour of sleep, take the slumber. But have the time of your life up until that moment.

VIRGO

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

You are setting boundaries and molding the reality of an important relationship right now, Virgo. Let that process inform how

you manage all of the action going on at work and with your public reputation. There is a lot of joy and willpower getting infused into your work life, but it is possible for that power to get out of hand. How you define your “other” will keep it together.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Where are you off to in such a hurry? It’s like you’re excitedly hurrying to the airport for your first plane ride. Yes, there are places to see and people to meet and new things to experience. Go after it. However, remember to get all of your ducks in a row before embarking on your grand adventure. Keep up your daily routines even while on vacation – because you’re worth it.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

There is a lot of collaboration going on in your world right now. Are you consolidating or paying off your debt? Are you coordinating several multiperson projects? Are you issuing a big award? Throw yourself into the fray because there are big payoffs for you. However, remember that your own creative inspiration is important. Don’t get so caught up in other people’s stuff that you set your own projects aside. Let that be your edge.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

There is potential for big loving or disastrous fighting in your partnership right now. How you channel this infusion of energy is up to you and your partner, but you would do well to let the needs of home and family be the line you draw in the sand. Don’t get so carried away in either direction with your partner that your home life is compromised. Your roots are your maturity.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Roll up your sleeves because it is time to get to work. There is a huge focus on your habits, Capricorn, and you would do well to pay attention to them. Either you have so much to do you can barely keep up or your health is telling you to make some big changes. Now is the time to heed the lessons from some siblings or extended family. If they’re giving you advice, it is probably for the best.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

You have so much inspiration welling through your veins that it might just be difficult to contain. There is a high chance of whirlwind romance, artistic output and joyous overconfidence. Dive right in and experience the best of life. However, the caveat here is that you need to pay attention to your financial constraints. Don’t put yourself in the hole because you were inspired.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Be wary of drama at home and with your family. It is quite possible that there is some conflict taking place with your nearest and dearest; however, it also reads as some really hyped-up celebrations. However this energy is emerging at home, be sure to hold yourself together. And by that I mean your self. Keep your own needs in check and don’t revert to old ways.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Is that a block party going on outside? Do people still have those? The aggressive party energy of Jupiter-Mars is taking place in your immediate neighborhood or with your siblings and extended family. What is happening out there that is pulling you into the fray or the fête?

SKIRT THE BOUNDARY

Be a part of it all, but remember that you need to spend some time to yourself.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

“Hey big spender, spend a little time with me!” But really, you have a serious impulse to spend your money right now, so I wouldn’t mind being around. The inverse is that you may be throwing wads of cash into your savings. At any rate, money is moving. Avoid being too loose-handed or miserly, however, because you have friends to calm the extremes.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

It may feel like you have so much fire moving through your veins that you don’t quite know what to do with all the energy. It is a great time to throw yourself into exercise or moving your body in new ways. Perhaps you just want to change your entire look. Use this time to celebrate yourself, and let your work be your structure and your channel.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

Do not be afraid to hole up on your lonesome right now, Cancer, because there is a lot that you can get done when you cut the rest of the world out for a little while. Harness all of the energy available to you in your isolation by maturely materializing new paths that you’ve never walked down. Use the time apart to see what new horizons you can pursue when you emerge.

Ricardo I. Palmerola, MD Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Division of Urology at Mount Sinai Medical Center

Leonardo D. Borregales, MD Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Division of Urology at Mount

BENT PROP BAR & GRILL BENDS THE RULES, TASTEFULLY

WATERFRONT RESTAURANT MARKS 1-YEAR MILESTONE ON CUDJOE KEY

JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com

Nestled beside the Cudjoe Gardens Marina with indoor and outdoor dining, the Bent Prop Bar & Grill offers authentic Keys fare with innovative flair. Carolyn Butler and Chuck Miller acquired the waterfront property before the pandemic struck, and unveiled the eatery a year later. They’re now celebrating a full year of fresh seafood, savory steaks and creative classics.

“We came to the Cudjoe Gardens area years ago and always said we’d be down here permanently once the kids were grown,” Butler said.

While house-hunting, the pair spotted a dilapidated, abandoned restaurant building on the market. The entrepreneurial couple with construction experience snapped up the property as an investment, envisioning a renovation and resale.

”Our intention was just to fix the real estate and be done with it,” Butler said. “Then, three-quarters of the way through, we started doing more and more research on restaurants and said, ‘Let’s give this a try and see what happens if we surround ourselves with professionals and learn as much as we can.’ Some couples golf; some couples go fishing. We tear things up and rebuild them. It’s who we are.”

They transformed the onceforlorn building into an inviting waterfront restaurant. Bent Prop Bar & Grill, 457 Drost Dr., Cudjoe Key, serves something for every appetite –from seafood and steaks to pasta and pork chops, each with a chef-inspired twist. For their escargot appetizer, the chef offers the traditional snails, as well as a version made with lobster medallions baked in garlic herb butter.

Boasting nearly 200 feet of waterfront, the restaurant invites boaters to arrive in style, and a sophisticated bar completes the experience.

NAVY GROUP HOSTS BASH FOR MILITARY KIDS

Morale Welfare & Recreation hands out 300 backpacks & school supplies

Backpacks filled with school supplies were handed out to military families at the Sigsbee Youth Center last week to support children whose families are stationed in Key West.

WYATT SAMUELSON/Keys Weekly

WYATT SAMUELSON www.keysweekly.com

“We wanted to offer a little bit of everything, as long as it was of excellent quality,” Butler said. “We want the best quality and the best presentation at the most economical price. And now that we’re a year into it, we’re finding what works. We are a scratch kitchen, but we know people still want Keys staples, so the menu is constantly evolving.”

The Bent Prop is currently open 3 to 9:30 p.m., but closed on Tuesdays, with the bar area open later. Happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. offers drink specials and appetizers like coconut crusted grouper cheeks and Bang Bang shrimp. Signature cocktails include the Overboard, made with coconut, mango and pineapple rums; the Fuzzy Starfish with strawberry gin, elderflower and champagne; and the Cast Off, which has vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and cream soda. On Wine Down Wednesdays, all bottled wine is half-price.

“We really just want people to know we’re here,” said Butler. “Not being right on the Overseas Highway poses a bit of a challenge, but we are so grateful for this amazing community that has welcomed us with open arms. We have outstanding chefs, front- and back-of-house staff and are always looking for good talent to join our team. It’s a great place for birthdays, dates, rehearsal dinners, engagements, corporate parties and anniversaries. We’ve even had a few weddings here.”

More information is at bentpropkeys.com, info@bentpropkeys.com or 305-741-7017.

With around 1,600 active duty military personnel stationed between Truman Annex and Boca Chica Naval Air Station, and their 1,200 children, the back-to-school season can be a significant financial strain on families. To alleviate some of the burden, Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Key West hosted its third annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 7, at the Sigsbee Youth Center. The event featured 300 backpacks filled with essential school supplies that were given away to military families.

Organized by NavyMWR Key West, the backpacks and supplies were provided by the Child and Youth Program on Sigsbee and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization committed to supporting military families by offering services that ease financial strain and offer community support. Donations were collected through boxes placed in local businesses such as Office Depot, which helped fund the school supplies.

Operation Homefront’s involvement in Key West is relatively new. Jamie Tovar, the team captain for Operation Homefront in the area, initiated the chapter, after seeing the need for such services in Key West.

“This event is designed to lessen the burden on parents who have to buy large amounts of school supplies each school year,” said Tovar.

Tovar is an active-duty service member with four children. She spends her spare time volunteering with Operation Homefront and the Sigsbee Youth Center.

The MWR made an entire day for Key West’s military kids at the Sigsbee Youth Center. Kids enjoyed a 20-foot bounce house, free bags of cotton candy, movies and games set up in the recreational area.

Local businesses and organizations also rallied around the event. The Fleet & Family Support Center, Fury Water Adventures (which raffled off two water activities) and BlueCross BlueShield came out to support military kids heading into their next school year. They set up booths with informational brochures and professionals for parents, and provided additional treats like coloring books and various knick-knacks.

Misty Acevedo, the youth director at Sigsbee Youth Center, has been a cornerstone of NavyMWR Key West for 28 years, supporting military families through her various roles in Key West.

“Many military families face financial challenges and limited resources,” said Acevedo. “This event helps their kids start school on the right foot, easing some of the worries that come with back to school preparations.”

NavyMWR Key West is committed to supporting military families throughout the year, organizing events that provide both fun activities and essential resources. The Back to School Bash is one example of its dedication to improving the quality of life for military families stationed in Key West.

Bent Prop owners Chuck Miller and Carolyn Butler mark the restaurant’s one-year milestone. JEN ALEXANDER/Keys Weekly

SMOOTH SEAS FOR SKILLED SAILORS

Middle Keys Sailing hosts ‘Mixer in the Middle’ regatta

Instead of angry waves, young sailors found a different type of challenge as they contended with light winds and smooth seas for Middle Keys Sailing’s “Mixer in the Middle” youth regatta on Aug. 10.

Open to sailors ages 7 to 18, the day of racing Optimist, Laser, 420 and Dragon sailboats – plus a post-race pool party at the Marathon Yacht Club – supported the efforts of the Marathon Yacht Club Educational Foundation (MYCEF), a nonprofit dedicated to teaching fun and safety on the water for kids of all backgrounds.

More information on MYCEF and Middle Keys Sailing is at www.mycef. education.

winners receive their awards at the post-race pool party. From left: Alexia Dryer, Reif Wallen, Wyatt Katon, Hayden Matusicky, Piper Brehm, Sophia Rodriguez, Jovanna Garcia, Tsunami Sumlin, Hurricane Sumlin, Henry Rodriguez, Richie Girard, Saylor Ray.

THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Optimist Class

1st: Tsunami Sumlin

2nd: Piper Brehm

3rd: Hurricane Sumlin

Sunfish Class

1st: Sophia Rodriguez

2nd: Saylor Ray

3rd: Jovanna Garcia

420 Class

1st: Reif Wallen/Alexia Dryer

2nd: Wyatt Katon/ Hayden Matusicky

3rd: Henry Rodriguez/ Richie Girard

Sailors rig their boats at the Marathon Yacht Club for the Mixer in the Middle regatta.

Middle Keys Sailing director Ellie Maus gives a pre-race welcome.

Sailors in the Optimist class hit the water at the 33rd Street boat ramp and make their way to the race course. Photos by ROSS SMITH/IslandExposureCo. See more regatta photos at keysweekly.com.

Class

Racers sign thank-you posters for U.S. Coast Guard and city of Marathon staff for ensuring a safe day on the water.

Calm seas with little wind present a different type of challenge to racers.

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.

Arthas, a 2-year-old pit bull, is a true gem. Surrendered in July, he’s proven to be an amazing blend of energy and calm, whether you want a running buddy or a cuddle companion.

Introducing Moira, the 2-year-old black and white diva of the cat world. This feline superstar is ready to steal the spotlight — and your heart. With her stunning coat and irresistible charm, Moira knows how to make every day feel like a red-carpet event.

Say hello to Ted, the parakeet who’s as friendly as your favorite next-door neighbor. Ted’s the kind of bird who’s always up for a chat, and his cheerful personality makes him the perfect companion.

Meet Reid, a 9-month-old kitten who’s

into a

little companion. Though he started off shy, Reid has warmed up and now loves nothing more than jumping up for pets and head

TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Mentoring program offers Florida Prepaid college scholarships

Take Stock in Children Monroe is accepting scholarship applications. Monroe County students in grades 6 through 9 who meet the income and academic guidelines are encouraged to apply.

Take Stock in Children is a college and career readiness program that provides a community-based volunteer mentor to each student during the program and a 120-credit-hour Florida Prepaid tuition scholarship upon graduation.

Take Stock scholars meet with their mentor each week for 30 minutes during the school year. Additionally, scholars participate in college- and career-readiness workshops, and receive regular educational and career coaching from a Take Stock college success coach.

“For 20 years, Take Stock in Children has changed lives in Monroe County by providing a pathway to post-secondary education and success,” said Chuck Licis-Masson, executive director of the Monroe County Education Foundation.

New income eligibility thresholds for Take Stock Monroe have been released. Licis-Masson encourages eligible families to apply at www.monroecountyedfound. com.

“Whether their goal is to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or an industry certificate, our team of TSIC success coaches and mentors, along with their teachers and parents, help guide and motivate the TSIC scholars towards their dream of attending the Florida college, university or technical college or their choice,” said Licis-Masson.

Take Stock in Children is the flagship program of the foundation. Over 900 scholarships have been granted to Monroe County students since 2001. Nearly 70% of those students have earned a college degree or career certificate, which is well above the national average of the same peer group.

— Contributed

Lilliam Rodriguez Nunez, left, and Marquisha Abraham complete their Take Stock journeys at the program’s 2024 graduation ceremony. CONTRIBUTED

Meet Elvira, the 1-year-old all-black enchantress who’s ready to cast a spell on your heart. Just like her namesake, Elvira is mysterious, captivating and full of charm.

blossomed

lovable

rubs.

BOUTIQUE HOURS

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4

THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6

Voted BEST

by the Key West People’s Choice Awards 2023 & 2024. And mentioned in Forbes magazine!

Cawley and Greer are both wearing pieces from our exclusive retail line Flying Tomato

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Friday Night Lights are back … and so is the Sports Wrap | P.10

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

AUG. 15

Date School Sport Opponent Start time

8/15 All Keys Teams Volleyball @ Coral Shores (preseason) 3 p.m.

8/16 Coral Shores Football @ Varela (preseason) 3:30 p.m.

8/16 Marathon Football Mater Academy Charter (preseason) 7 p.m.

8/16 Key West Football Cypress Creek (preseason) 7 p.m.

8/19 Marathon Volleyball @ Basilica 5 p.m.

8/21 Marathon Volleyball @ Mater Bay 4:45 p.m.

8/21 Coral Shores Volleyball @ Silver Palms 5:30 p.m.

8/22 Marathon Golf @ Ocean Reef Club 1 p.m.

8/22 Key West Volleyball Marathon (preseason) 5 p.m.

8/23 Marathon Football Pompano Beach 7 p.m.

8/23 Coral Shores Football South Homestead 7 p.m.

8/30 Coral Shores Volleyball Westwood Christian 5:30 p.m.

8/23 Key West Football Clewiston 7 p.m.

8/23 Key West Cross Country FNU @ Larry & Penny Thompson Park 5:15 p.m.

8/24 Key West Swimming Port Charlotte High School 10 a.m.

8/24 Key West Volleyball Eustis 10:30 a.m.

8/26 Marathon Volleyball Coral Shores 5:30 p.m.

8/26 All Keys Teams Golf @ Marathon 3 p.m.

8/27 Marathon Golf (girls) @ Redlands 3 p.m.

8/28 Key West Swimming @ South Dade 3 p.m.

8/28 Marathon Cross Country @ Palmer 4 p.m.

8/28 Key West Volleyball Basilica School 5 p.m.

8/29 All Keys Teams Golf @ Ocean Reef Club 1 p.m.

8/29 Coral Shores Volleyball Keys Gate 5:30 p.m.

DONʼT WORRY: COMICS AND GAMES ARE HERE TO STAY

We’ve heard plenty about how much our readers enjoyed the addition of comics, puzzles and games over the summer, and we’re proud to announce they’re not going anywhere. Moving forward, readers can find a two-page puzzles and games section in the main body of each Keys Weekly edition, and we’ll be adding comics to our Sports Wrap section as space allows.

ON THE COVER

WE’RE BACK!

Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is ready for action in the fall 2024 season

High school sports and the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap may have been on hiatus this summer, but the athletes and coaches across the Keys certainly were not. Players were busy participating at camps, playing on travel teams and working hard in the weight room to prepare for a successful fall season. Coaches and staff scheduled games, worked out their systems and created offseason training plans for their athletes to prepare for the beginning of the upcoming school year.

After a two-month break, prep sports are back in action across Monroe County. This season, there are some big changes in store for fans of Keys sports. This fall will see an addition to golf, cross country and volleyball coverage as Key West’s Basilica School has added varsity sports. If all goes well, the Mariners anticipate they will also be added to schedules this winter with varsity basketball.

Key West’s football team and fans will enjoy a renovated Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium this season. The Conchs’ stadium complex received a facelift, including new bathrooms, concession stands, bleachers and locker rooms, which were unveiled Aug. 8. The Conchs have been playing in The Backyard since the renovation began in 2021. Key West fans have been eager to return to their home stadium.

Marathon football fans will have a special treat at home games with the return of a marching band. New band director Paul Anderson recently held a band camp and now the Middle Keys will be able to enjoy the entertainment of a fully-uniformed marching band at halftime. Joining Anderson is Aileen Lafave, who will have a color guard to complement the band for the first time in many years.

And in the Upper Keys, coach Ed Holly and his Hurricanes will have an opportunity open only to them. With a late-addition game scheduled against Key West, Coral Shores is the only football team in Monroe County to play all of its in-county opponents, setting the stage for a possible King of the Keys on the gridiron.

This week, our coverage includes a preseason rundown of golf, cross country and volleyball. Next week we will preview swimming and diving and have coverage of preseason football games, the Coral Shores preseason volleyball tournament and some early golf and regular-season volleyball action. Next week you can also catch the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap Podcast, which will resume with the best coverage of Keys prep sports, including behind-the-scenes information you won’t find anywhere else.

As school gets back in session, the stars in the Keys come out under the bright lights, including Coral Shores’ Eddie Holly, left, Key West’s Jaden Fox and Marathon’s Eduardo Garcia. See page 10. Photos by Doug Finger, Mark Hedden and Barry Gaukel.

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

sean mcdonald

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

Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com

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

Publisher / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

Publishing Partner / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com

Managing Editor / Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com

Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com

Business Development

Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com

Jill Miranda Baker jill@keysweekly.com

Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com

Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com

Graphic Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com

Comptroller Sarah Simcic sarah@keysweekly.com

Web Master / Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com

Classifieds / Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com 305.743.0844

Se habla español

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

All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.

Though Coral Shores will be without its senior leaders from 2023, players like Grace Leffler, left, Abigail Bergeron and Shelby Lynn are expected to take up the mantle for a competitive Lady ’Canes team.

Prep volleyball has been busy practicing since the FHSAA’s official opening day for participation on July 29. Their collective efforts will be put to the test in a preseason tournament scheduled for Aug. 15 at Coral Shores High School. Marathon, Key West, Coral Shores and Somerset South Homestead will be in Tavernier to work out the final wrinkles in their game prior to the official opening date on the Aug. 19. New this season is Basilica School, which has added several varsity sports to its offerings this year, adding a fourth varsity volleyball team in Monroe County.

Head coach Robert Wright’s Mariners may be the newest addition to prep volleyball in the Keys, but they may just surprise the county with a roster full of talent and experience.

“We had a 12-game JV schedule last year,” Wright said, “and we went 12-0 on the season. We hope to continue to build on that.”

Basilica School, a K-12 private school, begins with instruction on fundamentals in volleyball at the club level in the fourth grade. By the time the Mariners join the varsity ranks, they are well-versed on positions, offense, defense and playing with one another. This advantage far outweighs the challenges faced by a small school, whose high school classroom facilities have yet to open their doors.

Like Marathon, Basilica School will rely on some younger athletes to fill out their positions. At least two middle-school students should see significant playing time, including seventh-grade rising star Uma Vogan at middle blocker and eighth-grader Olivia Revoredo, an outside hitter who Wright says is his hardest hitter on the court thus far this season. Other players to watch are juniors Mackenzie Morris and Gloria Slavic. Morris will start as the Mariners’ right side hitter while Slavic is a setter with extraordinary talent.

The Mariners’ key to an undefeated junior varsity season in 2023 was their defense. “We didn’t let the ball hit the floor,” said Wright. This season, they will rely heavily on their stingy defense and focus on attacking to make the most of their matches. The Mariners will find out whether their success at the junior varsity level can translate to a win in varsity when they host Marathon on Aug. 19 for their season opener.

Key West returns to action this season with a strong core and the benefit of having played some of the toughest competition in the state last year. Their experience and depth should benefit them in 2024, especially with the return of setter Reese Haggard, libero Sunisa Kuhn and outside and middle hitters Gabby Garcia and Audrey Smith. Kuhn’s consistency on defense and in passing, coupled with Haggard’s experience and leadership, will keep the Conchs in games this year. Garcia’s talent for putting shots away will serve Key West well offensively and Smith’s explosiveness will be relied upon for getting plenty of air to block as well as hit.

9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050

Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com

Former coach Sarah Eckert handed the reins back to Kim Butler

Marathon’s senior duo of Elena Eubank, left, and Jordan MacDonald will lead a new-look squad. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

tracy mcdonald

DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

SETTING THE STAGE FOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

Basilica School adds a new team to the Keys scene

this season. Butler returns to the helm of a familiar team whose members already know, love and respect her. Butler said a focus this season will be what she calls “teamness.” She said the Conchs will be working on the team’s on-court communication and support system. The team is also set to debut new uniforms, which Butler says will give them a renewed vibe.

spots at the net on Aug. 15.

The Conchs will need to fill in some gaps left behind by graduating seniors, and Butler has been working hard with the team to prepare them for a more challenging level of play. “Our outside hitter two, and middle hitter two will have to adapt to the faster pace in varsity,” she said, adding that, “the play is faster and the players are stronger” compared to what the former junior varsity athletes are accustomed to.

Marathon will be participating in a new district this season, and will compete in 1R (Rural) Region 4 District 8. Several of Marathon’s teams will be participating in the Rural division, open to schools with small high school populations in areas which are not classified as high-density. This new designation gives Marathon competitors similar to those they faced before tiny private schools began to focus more on athletics, making for interesting and often lopsided

Coral Shores had a strong season in 2023, securing the district runner-up trophy. Their winning record was earned, in part, by a trio of talented seniors, making for what one would guess to be a rebuilding year in 2024. However, with the likes of Grace Leffler, Lily Goodrich, Deandra Valverde, Ivy Tiedemann, Shelby Lynn, Sabina Naranjo and Abbie Bergeron gracing the Hurricane roster, Coral Shores has all the talent to pick up right where they left off.

The downside to competing in the new division will be travel. The Dolphins’ district includes Glades Day, Fort Meade and Moore Haven. The vast size of the district led the FHSAA to allow teams to create their own schedules and compete however they prefer until districts, when a tournament will decide the champions.

“This season our greatest strength is going to be our experience. We have many returning players from last year who know what I expect from them and what is needed to be successful this season,” said head coach Sam Ovalle.

“All of our games this season are important since we are in a new district,” said Lady Fins head coach Kelley Cruz. “We do not play the teams in our district in season play, so every game is crucial.”

Cruz anticipates her team’s greatest strength will be leadership this season. Part of that leadership is her senior duo of Elena Eubank and Jordan MacDonald. Eubank’s athleticism makes her a threat anywhere on the court while MacDonald, a setter, is patient and has impeccable timing. Both are multiyear starters for the Fins. Juniors Mackenzie Budi and Addison Collins will also contribute to the team’s leadership as well as depth.

Ovalle said he will find a way to fill the gaps by changing some positions around and work to the strength of his current roster. With plenty of games scheduled this season, Coral Shores will have ample opportunities to figure out the best fit for their athletes. Talent alone won’t cut it for any team, though, as Ovalle explained volleyball is getting more competitive every year.

“We have some strong returning players that I have confidence will lead the team well,” Cruz said.

ence as possible to ensure the younger athletes would have

Cruz said the team anticipated the loss of seven seniors last season, and gave the underclassmen as much experience as possible to ensure the younger athletes would have the confidence they need to be competitive this season. With the wave of new starters, the Lady Fins will look like a different team this year, and to complement the new roster, Marathon will also don new uniforms when they take their

“We will be putting in some hard work to gear up for the season,” he said. “All of our games are going to be competitive.”

IT’S TEE TIME

Camaraderie outshines competitiveness amongst Keys teams

All three of Monroe County’s returning head golf coaches noted the congeniality shared among their teams as one of the greatest assets Keys golfers enjoy as they play one another up and down the islands. Though they compete against one another, they also offer encouragement, tips and genuine friendship, something often lost in prep sports rivalries. The sportsmanship among high school golfers in the Keys is truly remarkable.

At the Southernmost school, Josh Bassett is entering his fourth year as head coach, making this year’s seniors the first group he has coached for the entirety of their prep careers. He has a great balance of new and experienced athletes.

“With every new season we see new faces; it’s the most important thing to a small team and we have no shortage of new faces this year, which is exciting,” said Bassett. The newcomers will join Andrew Bassett, a four-year starter, and Peyton Zubieta, who enters his third year of varsity golf. “The boys team has a lot of experience, so they know what they need to do,” said Bassett, adding, “With their knowledge and leadership, we are looking good.”

The girls team is in the same position with Claudia Steling and Althea Olsen. Both athletes have three years of varsity experience, and Steling has been putting in extra work in the offseason. Breanna Santana and Lexi Finigan also return to the links with experience for the Lady Conchs. “They know the courses and what to expect in match play,” said Bassett, who will work with assistant coach Robert Barrios to help shape the future of Conch golf.

Barrios and Bassett believe enjoyment of the sport is crucial to success, and work to build a positive, fun atmosphere in the hope that the joy of the game translates into solid play. Bassett would like to see his team qualify for a trip to regionals this season, and he knows that it will take more than the efforts of Zubieta and the younger Bassett to do so. He will lean on rising senior Jackson Barroso to help in both match play and leadership, and he praised Barroso’s marked improvement from last season.

In addition to his assistant coach, his team and the coaches and athletes from Marathon and Coral Shores, Bassett is thankful for the efforts of the owners and crews of the courses on which the teams play. Unlike most sports, schools rely upon the community for a place to practice and compete, and in order to do so, the courses must turn away members and customers while the next generation sharpens their skills. “I am at the point where I know how much these courses give up to allow us to play on them, and I’m grateful

to every single one of them for their generosity. Key West Golf Club, Florida Keys Country Club and Ocean Reef, they all take care of these teams and it’s truly humbling to sit back and watch it happen,” he said.

Depth and experience is the theme for Marathon’s Golfin’ Dolphins this season. Head coach Mary Coleman-Sayer credits her team with taking it upon themselves to play recreationally in the offseason and believes it will pay off when their official season opens later this month. In the three years Coleman-Sayer has been at the helm, she has promoted the team in numerous ways, including fundraising to support a scholarship for her team members as well as the regular necessities for a team to compete. Her efforts have proven worthwhile as her roster grows with each season. She has also set up clinics with PGA professional Scott Jones to take the team to the next level.

The Dolphins will have some fantastic leadership from seniors Leo Mendez and Mason Thornton, who Coleman-Sayer said “made tremendous strides all season long.” Thornton and Mendez have the potential to carry the team past districts this season. On the girls’ side, junior Justice Lee has left the gridiron this season to try her hand at golf. The talented athlete is new to the sport, but Coleman-Sayer credits Lee’s positive attitude and enthusiasm and believes she will be a wonderful addition to the team.

Coleman-Sayer understands that in order to be competitive this season, her team will need to fill in the gaps left behind by four seniors last year.

“I foresee that there will be lots of competitiveness among teammates for the top five spots,” she said. She also noted that she is grateful for the facilities offered by the Florida Keys Country Club, which serves as the home course for the Fins.

For Coral Shores, it will be strength in numbers this season. Head coach Danielle Thomas was pleased with the turnout for the ’Canes and anticipates that the core of returners will be advantageous to her team. Seniors Preston Carroll, Derek Ramos, Davis Borders, Tanel Irons, Aidan Althouse and Gabby Thomas bring experience in their final season of prep golf, and their multiple years of match play should benefit the team immensely. Thomas praised her senior core, saying “Our seniors have led our program both on and off the course with their sportsmanship, their willingness to help players get better at the game and the inspiration they give them when a fellow golfer isn’t playing as well as they hoped.”

Thomas hopes to continue to bring down the team’s stroke count as she adds practice rounds to the schedule. Many of Coral Shores’ matches leading into districts will be against fellow Keys teams.

“Our team loves playing against the other Monroe teams. It’s great camaraderie we have with those teams, and the golfers loved talking and joking around in between holes,” she said.

New to the links this season will be a small group of athletes from Basilica School. The Mariners are working on fielding golfers to compete at the varsity level. Their roster is not yet finalized but plans are in the works to practice and play at several matches this season as the Mariners build their varsity programs.

Clockwise from top left: Aidan Althouse, Jackson Barroso, Althea Olsen, Gabby Thomas and Leo Mendez.

Photos by Doug Finger, Alex Behler and Barry Gaukel

KEYS RUNNERS READY TO TOE THE LINE

Strong field of athletes to represent Monroe County this season

With still-sweltering temperatures, runners from Key Largo to Key West are ready to push their limits this season.

A senior-heavy Lady Conchs crew will do their best to repeat last year’s success. When asked what her team’s goal is for 2024, head coach Keara McGraw did not hesitate: “States. We have been working on building a strong, cohesive team over the last few years, and they have been really motivated to get to Tally. My goal is always to see them enjoy the whole season happy and injury-free.” McGraw will be doing double duty this season, serving as both boys and girls coach for the Conchs.

The Lady Conchs’ seasoned crew will toe the line this year with plenty of experience, but it is leadership and camaraderie which McGraw says are their greatest assets. “I see our biggest strength this season is how well our team supports one another. They are always one another’s greatest cheerleaders and it really shows on race days,” she said.

Included in her core of veterans is McGraw’s “natural leader,” Naima Thomas, who works hard to find new drills, add to warmups and keep everyone organized. McGraw also credited Zoe Basham for her organization and help with all of the details.

“I’ve learned cross country teams develop a little more once school starts, so I’m looking forward to meeting new freshman athletes and seeing how they round out our team,” McGraw said. “Our returning athletes have been working really hard this summer, upping their mileage and building a really strong base.” She has already been impressed with incoming freshman Alejandro Caridad, who has been putting in the miles with the veterans in optional summer runs.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing his work ethic play out this season,” McGraw said.

Caridad will join fellow incoming freshman Sawyer Hill. Hill was last year’s middle-school champ at Key West’s

home meet and should give the upperclassmen a run for their money. Providing some leadership for the team will be senior William Forester, whose times dropped precipitously last season.

In order to compete in the postseason, McGraw recognizes that her teams will need to put in some work.

“The boys team will be on a learning curve to see how the new additions round out the team and what we can do this season. The girls team really needs to close that gap between two and five in order to have a championship season,” she explained. The Conchs will start to hash all that out in their first race on Aug. 23 at the FNU meet, held at Larry and Penny Thompson Park in Miami.

The Conchs won’t have the only runners who hail from Key West at the start line. Head coach Jacelyn Gauron of Basilica School has been preparing to field a team this year. Though a complete team is questionable in the inaugural season, Gauron says she will have individual runners in both boys and girls cross country. Freshman Owen Wright and junior Killian Donnelly both have experience running at either the middle school or junior varsity level with the Mariners. Also included with Basilica’s experienced racers is Sofia Balmaceda, a sophomore who showed great promise in her freshman season.

“We are building a program,” said Gauron, who hopes to add a bit each season to her team. Their first scheduled meet will be the Race of the Thoroughbreds Classic held at Larry and Penny Thompson Park in Miami on Aug. 30.

It’s all on the line for Marathon senior Vance Bursa. Bursa burst onto the scene for the Fins as a sophomore and has been their frontrunner ever since. But injuries have plagued the former 7 Mile Bridge Run champ, severely limiting his mileage and putting a third consecutive state appearance in jeopardy.

“We are hoping he comes back from summer healthy and ready to put in the miles that will be necessary for him to be on the podium again,” said Dolphins head coach Jim Murphy. Murphy credited his team’s experience in postseason running, including Bursa’s state showings, as their biggest asset.

“We are entering this season with an experienced group

of runners,” he said. “Most have been around the block a few times and know what it takes for us to get back to the state race at the end of the season on Nov. 16.”

Returning for the Fins are four of the seven state qualifiers in 2023, including Bursa; his freshman brother Tony, whose sub-17-minute pace could set the tempo for the team; freshman Allan Taylor; and senior Adrien Holdinga. Junior Caleb Shelar also returns as a sub-20 runner, giving Marathon’s boys the tools needed for a state nod.

Girls coach Darby Sheehan hopes to return to the state meet with her entire squad again this season. Unlike Murphy, Sheehan lost her top runner last season to graduation, but said Ella Dunn, returning for her senior year, has everything it takes to make it far. Dunn is often seen on the course smiling and waving to friendly faces in the crowd, but don’t let her good nature fool you – she’s a fierce competitor with lots of grit.

Sheehan’s girls team returns state qualifiers Dunn, Maeve Merryman, Sara Robinson, Madelyn Thornton and Rebecca Merryman.

To repeat their success this season, Murphy is well aware of what the teams need to do.

“To be a competitive cross country team, it’s all about your number four and number five runners. Coach Sheehan and myself have to make sure the whole team is ready come districts, not just our number one through three runners,” he said. On the road to states, the teams are looking forward to Boca Raton’s Spanish River course in September, a perennial favorite for the Fins. First up, though, is Palmer Trinity School on Aug. 28.

In the Upper Keys, the Hurricanes will benefit from a strong feeder program at Key Largo School, giving their

rosters some depth with the addition of some freshmen who will join the squad with plenty of miles and experience. Girls coach Lyndie Meyers understands the value of hard work in distance running. “I see our greatest strength being that the girls are willing to put in effort and work hard for themselves and the team,” she said.

Meyers’ team is composed mostly of underclassmen. Her lone senior will be Kai Guth, who qualified for regionals in 2023 and is a solid leader for the team.

“I have also witnessed Hayden Teal running everywhere around the Keys this summer,” Meyers said. “She was hitting a lot of personal records during her track season, too. I honestly see her setting the course on fire.”

Meyers is also excited to see what returners Saige Ensign and Jenna Mandozzi do this season. Both runners are credited with strong work ethics and dedication to the team’s goals.

For the boys, coach Gabe Suarez will also benefit from the addition of freshmen from Key Largo’s program. Joining the new runners will be a solid group of juniors who steadily improved over the past two seasons. Alaric Rodriguez brings speed, talent and an incredible work ethic to the Hurricanes, and could make an appearance in Tallahassee this fall at the state meet. Jamie Cary, Sean Andrews and Nathaniel Shugarman all posted respectable times last season. Sophomores Tristan Sanchez and Connor Daniels also possess the ability to take their running to the next level. Senior Lochlain James’ experience should serve the team well in 2024.

For Coral Shores, which sent just one runner to regionals last season, the goal this season will be steady improvement. “The team goal would be to run consistently throughout the season and by the end, each athlete to hit a new PR,” said Meyers. She said the boys and girls will be working together a bit more this season, which should add to their cohesiveness and team spirit. Meyers also said her team tends to favor the course at Larry and Penny Thompson Park because they are comfortable with it. Fortunately for the ’Canes, that is the location of their kickoff meet this season. They compete at the FNU Invite on Sept. 9.

From left: Naima Thomas, Ella Dunn, Tony Bursa, Vance Bursa and Zoe Basham. Photos by Mark Hedden and Barry Gaukel

TUNE-UP TIME

Keys gridiron gangs get first game action this weekend

For the first time in nine months, football fans in the Middle and Lower Keys will have a chance to watch their teams in action this Friday.

On Friday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m., Marathon hosts the Mater Academy Charter Lions for their preseason classic. The following Friday, the Fins host Pompano Beach for their season opener. Last year, the Golden Tornadoes came away with the win in a heartbreaking 14-13 loss for Marathon. This year, coach Sean McDonald and the Dolphins are hoping to avenge that loss in front of a home crowd.

Key West will play Cypress Creek in a preseason matchup. Conch fans will get a chance to see their team as well as the new digs at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16. The following week, Key West hosts the Tigers of Clewiston High School. Key West lost their last matchup 2821, and coach Johnny Hughes and his Conchs will look to get some revenge by caging the Tigers in their season opener.

Coral Shores fans will have to travel to watch the ’Canes’ preseason game. Ed Holly and his Hurricanes will be at Varela High to take on the Vipers on Aug. 16 at 3:30 p.m. ’Canes fans won’t have to wait too long to see their team at home, though, as Coral Shores hosts Somerset South Homestead on Aug. 23. Last season, Coral Shores won the battle of the Hurricanes, sending South Homestead back to the locker room looking more like a spring shower after clobbering them 45-14.

Next week, be sure to check out full coverage of the preseason games and your 2024 season preview of prep football in the Florida Keys, right here in the Keys Weekly Sports Wrap.

Carlos Lezcano III. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

On this day: In 1914, the Panama Canal o icia y opened.

In The Bleachers

Adam

Brevity

Nancy

The first ship to transit the canal at the formal opening, SS Ancon, passes through on 15 August 1914

• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •

REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

The Pigeon Key Foundation is seeking bids on the HVAC Installation Project. Interested parties should email pigeonkey@aol.com for details related to bids and the project with the subject line HVAC INSTALLATION PROJECT. Bids will be accepted for 21 days from publication.

Publish: August 15, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

The Pigeon Key Foundation is requesting proposals for Professional Engineering Services. Interested parties should email pigeonkey@ aol.com for details related to proposals with the subject line ENGINEERING SERVICES. Proposals will be accepted for 21 days after publication.

Publish: August 15, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS & ST.

JOHN CASE NO.: ST-2023-CV-00219 CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED GUARDIAN INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff,

v. NICKOLAS EBENBECK CARIBBEAN LEASING & ECO TRANSPORT d/b/a BUDGET RENT-A-CAR, BUSINESS BASIC VI, LLC, and INTERNATIONAL RENTAL & LEASING CORP., Defendants.

To: Nikolas Ebenbeck 33701 Clinton Avenue Denham Springs, LA 70706

Within the time limited by law (see note on the next page) you are hereby required to appear before this Court and to answer to the First Amended Complaint filed against you in this action. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment by default will be taken against you as demanded in the First Amended Complaint for damages. Witness my hand and the seal of this Court on this 10th day of May, 2024.

TAMARA CHARLES Clerk of the Court

By: Deputy Clerk

BARNES, D’AMOUR & VOGEL

P.O. Box 10829

St. Thomas, VI 00801

Tel: (340) 774-8188 / Fax: 7748189 /s/Kevin F. D’Amour

Kevin F. D’Amour, Esq.: VI Bar No. 288 Kdamour@usvilawfirm.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff, Guardian Insurance Company

NOTE: The Defendant, if served personally is required to file his/ her answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after service of this summons excluding the date of service If served by publication or by personal service outside of the jurisdiction, the Defendant is required to file his/her answer or other defense with the Clerk of this Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the attorney for the Plaintiffs within thirty (30) days after the completion of the period of publication or personal service outside of the jurisdiction.

Publish: August 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

CITATION

Robert E. Hill, Esq.

Nevada Bar No. 8496

THE HILL LAW GROUP 7341 W. Charleston Blvd., Ste.

160 Las Vegas, Nevada 89117

Telephone: (702) 852-1552

Facsimile: (702) 221-1961 admin@myvegaslaw.com

Attorney for Petitioners

DISTRICT COURT

FAMILY DIVISION

CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

CASE NO. G-24-060256-M and G-24-060256-M2

In the Matter of Guardianship of the Person and Estate of:

MAKAYLA ROSE HALE and RYANN MONROE HALE, Proposed Protected Children. CITATION TO APPEAR AND SHOW CAUSE

TO:

MAKAYLA ROSE HALE and RYANN MONROE HALE, PROPOSED MINOR PROTECTED PERSONS; ALL KNOWN RELATIVES OF THE MINORS; AND ANY PERSON HAVING THE CARE, CUSTODY, AND CONTROL OF THE MINOR

NICOLE HALE, Mother; DEBRA HEDMAN, Paternal Grandparent; JACQUELYN NESBITT, Maternal Grandparent; and DOUBLAS EDWARD KUTNEYGRANDPA KUTNEY, Maternal Grandparent

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that BRAD JACOB HALE and SHAWNA KIM HALE have petitioned the court to be appointed the guardians of the proposed protected persons named above.

The proposed protected persons may be determined to be incapacitated or of limited capacity; and a guardian may be appointed for the proposed protected persons. The rights of the proposed protected persons may be affected as specified in the petition.

The proposed protected persons have the right to appear at the hearing and to oppose the petition.

The proposed protected persons have the right to be represented by an attorney; who may be

appointed by the court if the proposed protected persons is unable to retain one. At any time after the filing for a Petition to Appoint Guardian, the court may appoint: (1) An attorney; (2) A guardian ad litem or an advocate; or (3) an investigator, if found to be appropriate or necessary in the best interest of the proposed protected persons.

DATE AND TIME OF COURT

APPEARANCE

YOU ARE DIRECTED TO APPEAR AND SHOW CAUSE why a guardian should not be appointed for the proposed protected persons on the: 8th day of August, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., in Courtroom 03A at: The Family Courts and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101.

DATED this 17th day of April, 2024.

STEVEN D. GRIERSON

CLERK OF COURT BY: Shaun Salcedo

Deputy Court Clerk

NOTE: The proposed guardian(s) and the proposed protected persons (unless excused by a physician) must appear at the scheduled hearing; all other interested parties do not need to appear unless they wish to oppose the guardianship and enter an objection.

Publish:

August 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 24-CP-385-M

DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF TERRELL W. SMITH

Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Terrell W. Smith, deceased, whose date of death was May 2, 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: August 15, 2024.

Personal Representative:

Juana M. Smith

1290 92nd Court Ocean 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: August 15 & 22, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000380-P IN RE: ESTATE OF STEPHEN C. BROWN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Stephen C. Brown, deceased, whose date of death was July 9, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate 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: August 15, 2024.

Personal Representative: Brooks R. Brown c/o Goodwin Procter LLP 100 Northern Avenue Boston, MA 02210

Attorney for Personal Representative: DUNWODY WHITE & LANDON, P.A.

Denise B. Cazobon, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 71616 4001 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 200 Naples, FL 34103

Telephone: (239) 263-5885

Fax: (239) 262-1442

Publish: August 15 & 22, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-000298-P

IN RE: ESTATE OF BRADLEY RALPH SHANK, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Bradley Ralph Schank, deceased, whose date of death was March 23, 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 who have 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 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 SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEAR OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is August 15, 2024. Personal Representative: Susan Elizabeth Bazin 326 Lance Lane Key Largo, 33037 Monroe County, Florida Attorney for Personal Representative: David Hutchison, Esq. Florida Bar No. 997420 Hutchison & Tubiana, PLLC P.O. Box 1262 Key Largo, Florida 33037 Publish: August 15 & 22, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2023-CA-268-M NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT otice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 20th day of August, 2024 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Parcel One: Lot 5 and the southerly 35 Feet of Lot 6, Block 2, Casa Blanca, A Subdivision According to the Plat Thereof, as Recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 86, of The Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, Parcel Two: Lots 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, Block 58, Crains Subdivision According to the Map or Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 51, of The Public Records of Monroe County, Florida Property Address: 329 63rd Court Gulf, Marathon, Florida 33050; and 57468 and 57478 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida 33050. Pursuant to ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO CANCEL AND RESCHEDULE 7/23/24 FORECLOSURE SALE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 23rd day of July 2024 Style of which is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff, VS. 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, Defendant And the Docket Number of which is Number 2023-CA268-M

WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 30TH day of July 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: August 8 & 15, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-381-P IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT MORTON DUNNING, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of ROBERT MORTON DUNNING, deceased, whose date of death was June 20, 2024, File Number 24-CP381-P is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Plantation Key Government Center, 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice has been served must file their claims with this Court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE TIME OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is: August 8, 2024.

Personal Representative: MARY S. DUNNING 81131 Old Highway Islamorada, FL 33036 Attorney for Personal Representative: JOE A. CATARINEAU Florida Bar Number: 0517291

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

CASE NO.: 24-DR-385-P

DIVISION: FAMILY

SA RO MILE, Petitioner, and NANT MARY YIN AYE, Respondent. CORRECTED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: NANT MARY YIN AYE

RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: NO KNOWN ADDRESS

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 Jack Bridges, Counsel for Petitioner, whose address is P.O. Box 1714, Tavernier, FL 33070 on or before September 5, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: None Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.

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

Dated: August 1, 2024 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Jaquelyn Fonseca Deputy Clerk

Publish: August 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2024

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-106-P DIVISION: FAMILY

WAYNE THOMAS LEAHY Petitioner, and TAMIE LEIGH LEAHY, Respondent. CORRECTED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: TAMIE LEIGH LEAHY

RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN

ADDRESS: 1508 Delaware Avenue, Apt. 1B, Wilmington, DE 19806

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 Jack Bridges, Counsel for Petitioner, whose address is P.O. Box 1714, Tavernier, FL 33070 on or before September 5, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 88770 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: None Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.

Dated: August 1, 2024 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Jaquelyn Fonseca

Deputy Clerk

Publish: August 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers

AUTOS ALL YEARS!

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

AUTOS FOR SALE

2005 Chevy Truck for sale in Marathon. $500.00 Call Nicole 305-433-0515

2021 Ford Expedition Ltd. for sale, 71,550 miles. Stealth package & lots of options including: Dual panel vista roof, ventilated seats, wireless charging & more. Good condition.

$31,500. Located in Marathon. Text 305481-1463 if interested.

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

BOATS

FOR SALE

Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/ trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. Ready to fish. REDUCED PRICE

$25,000 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

Dock Space available in Marathon. Up to 32' Electric & water available. 305-619-5282

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

BOAT / TRAILER STORAGE

Gated storage & parking available in Marathon for boats, trailers & RV's - across from boat ramp - MM 54. $8-$10/foot. 305-610-8002

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

Camping site/RV site at marina available in Marathon. Monthly/ Daily rates. Free use of dingy & fishing on dock. No Pets. 305-610-8002

Place your CAMPING SITE FOR RENT ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT

Professional business offices for rent in beautiful building in Islamorada. U.S. 1 frontage and signage for your business. Call 305-7807265 or email srussolaw@ outlook.com for details.

Commercial office/ medical/retail space for rent/lease available in Marathon. High highway visibility, 2100-3500 sq. ft. Call for more information 305-481-3198 or email drice519@aol.com

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

EMPLOYMENT

Hiring: Lead Gutter

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

Marathon 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 305743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com.

Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips.

Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Med Tech PT/Nights, Housing Choice Voucher Asst., Housing ManagerMiddle 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. Off-street parking. Private & quiet. MM 96 Key Largo. $1,850/ month F/L/S 305-853-3779

ISLAMORADA: Very Large 2 BR apt. for rent. Furnished or unfurnished. Utilities & cable included. $2,200/month. First/ Security. Available Sept. 1st. Yearly lease. 305-5222702 Leave message.

Studio Rental Unit in fourplex available for long-term rent in Marathon. Fully furnished. $2,200/month all in. Call Nicole 305-433-0515

2BR/2BA Single Family Waterfront Home for rent in Marathon. Fully furnished. 70' dock. $4,500/ month includes all utilities, internet & TV. Available for 3 months - Jan, Feb & March. 727-278-1105

Single family, elevated canal-front home for long term rental in Marathon. 3BR/2BA, furnished (optional), wrap around balcony, pool, jacuzzi, 40 ft dock, W/D, storage. Call Maria 305-725-8150

Marathon: Waterfront 2/1.5 duplex, monthly, furnished, near hospital. 40' of canal, pool, hot tub, pet friendly. Elec. & water paid. $4,950/mo. F/L/D Call or text James 409-370-0025.

Conch HouseStudio for rent in duplex in Marathon. $960/month + utilities. Newly furnished. 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, $1,600/ month unfurnished,. All utilities included. F/L/S Section 8 accepted. 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

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Heavy duty, hard wood Futon Bed for sale in Marathon. Excellent condition. Couch turns into double bed. $250.00 305-849-0975

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

ROOMMATE WANTED

Stock Island - Seeking 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 ROOMMATE FOUND IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!

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

RV FOR SALE

2010 27' Wildcat RV FOR SALE. 5th wheel, 1 slideout. Located in Key West. $9,000 618-559-9143 Place your RV FOR SALE ad here. $25.00/ week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844

Place

This position is available at our Adult Day program. This position provides direct care service and support to our clients in the day program. This position requires the minimum of high school completion or GED. *

These positions are available at our Group Homes, evening shift. This position provides 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 of college coursework. * *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. EOE

Come join our family! Apply

TREASURE HARBOR MARINA

IN ISLAMORADA IS LOOKING FOR

• Dock Master/General Manager

• Front Desk

• Housekeepers

• Maintenance

Apply in person at: Treasure Harbor Marina 200 Treasure Harbor Dr., Islamorada

Email: info@keysboatrental.com

Call for more information: 305-664-9943

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.

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

e 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

NOW HIRING IN ISLAMORADA

MARINA CASHIERS

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

DOCKHANDS

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

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

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER IS HIRING

Staff Photographer (Full-Time, Part-Time, Seasonal)

Join our Visual Communications Department if you enjoy working outdoors around the water, interacting with people, and watching dolphins at play. Photograph program participants to provide lasting memories of their experiences. Some of the responsibilites include: taking candid digital still photos of guests & dolphins during public programs, all phases of video recording & editing, types of projects include promotional, educational, documentary, narrative, & visual music montages. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k), vacation & paid holidays. Job description available at www.dolphins.org. Email resume and DRC

THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.

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

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

KEY LARGO

Case Manager (PT)

KEY WEST

Peer Support Specialist

Case Manager (Adult, Child)

Substance Abuse Counselor Prevention Specialist (HIV, Child)

MARATHON

Care Coordinator (PT)

Driver – PT (CDL not required)

Behavioral Health Therapist (Child)

RNs/LPNs – 3 shifts (PT/Per Diem)

Peer Support Specialist/BHT

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

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

Search Employment/Portal/Location/zip

OPENINGS AVAILABLE

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE

OPENINGS

- Medical Assistant, General Surgery, Tavernier, $3k Bonus

- Patient Access Associate, Tavernier

- Physician Assistant, Ortho, Tavernier

- Nurse Practitioner Physician Assistant, Upper Keys Cardiology, $5k Bonus

- Nurse Practitioner Physician Assistant, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus

- Medical Assistant, Concierge Key West, $5k Bonus

- Physician Practice Registered Nurse, Concierge Key West, $15k Bonus

TAVERNIER MARINERS

HOSPITAL

- Cook, $5k Bonus

- Director Nursing Services, ICU

- Exercise Physiologist

- Group Exercise Instructor

- Lead First Cook, $5k Bonus

- Multi-Modality Imag Tech, $20k Bonus

- Nuclear Medicine Tech

- Radiology Technologist, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center, $25k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, $15k Bonus

MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

- ED Team Coordinator, Emergency Department

- Experience Advisor, Patient Experience

- First Cook, $5k Bonus

- Lead Medical Technologist, $15k Bonus

- Lead Phlebotomist

- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech, $20k Bonus

- Medical Technologist, $15k Bonus

- Radiology Technologist, $15k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Emergency, $25k Bonus

- Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, $15k Bonus

- Registered Respiratory Therapist, $15k Bonus

- Security Of cer

We are now hiring for the following positions: Diesel Mechanic

Applicants must apply in person to be considered. 4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon

FULL-TIME POSITION POLICE OFFICER

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

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

Salary: $60,000.

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

Email resume to: Chief of Police at: chief@keycolonybeach.net

Or call for additional information: 305-289-1212 ext. 1

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