Se habla español THE UPPER KEYS 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.
Postmaster
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050
News Deadline
Monday Noon
Advertising Deadline
Tuesday 2 p.m.
@KeysWeekly
Members of
10,000
According to NASA, a hurricane can expend as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs during its life cycle.
A stilt walker from Dance South Florida Entertainment performs for guests during the Good Health Clinic’s Rio Carnival for Health at Founders Park beach on Oct. 12. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
CANDIDATES FACE QUESTIONS AS ELECTION DAY NEARS
Federal, state and local hopefuls attend forum in Key Largo
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Candidates for federal, state and local offices answered questions and offered their pitch to voters at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo on Oct. 3.
The forum was organized by the Tavernier Community Association, the Island of Key Largo Federation of Homeowner Associations, Upper Keys League of Women Voters and Upper Keys Business and Professional Women. Before candidates tackled the issues, the League of Women Voters’ Barbara Overton provided a brief overview of the six amendments on the November ballot. Overton also delved into the Monroe County School District’s half-mill referendum, which allows the district to move funds from the capital fund to operational fund to help pay for teacher salaries and school resource officers, and the half-cent referendum, which continues the current sales tax for 10 years to fund the district’s capital improvements.
Candidates in each race were then called to the stage. Each candidate had a minute-and-a-half to respond. Questions were prepared by the four community groups.
ISLAMORADA VILLAGE COUNCIL - SEAT 2
The race for Islamorada’s Seat 2 between Anna Richards and Capt. Steve Friedman kicked off the night. Richards was first asked what she would do to bring stability to a village hall that’s seen turnover among managers, department heads and staff the past several years. Richards said the village council members need to start by working together. She also said the council needs to work with the community, because the “community feels like they don’t have a voice.”
“Work together. Stop the division and the negativity,” she said.
As for the turnover at village hall, Richards mentioned the need for continuity in working with department heads.
Richards was also asked how she would address noise and safety concerns on the water without limiting public access. The question was in relation to issues near Sunset Drive Beach, where increased boating activity over the summer holidays brought noise, trash and even boaters and their dogs on private property. Several years ago, the village council established a vessel exclusion zone on White Marlin Beach to address a similar issue.
“You’re opening up a Pandora’s box if you start letting people boat and stop everywhere you go, because if you do it at White Marlin, then you do it at Sunset, and then Port Antigua, and then Plantation Beach and Plantation Key
Colony and Indian Harbor. It’s just going to be a snowball effect. I think we have to be very careful about that. Again, maybe community workshops. Let’s see what the whole town wants.”
Friedman was asked how he would increase housing availability for the working class and affordability in Islamorada. Friedman said he believes he could help, having received a master’s degree in community and regional planning. He said it’s a situation that needs to be addressed, and if elected, he would ensure any future projects would take housing into consideration.
“Being a small business owner myself, every day I’m working with small businesses and interacting with many folks who are qualified for affordable and workforce housing.”
Friedman was also asked how he would balance development in the village with conservation concerns. Friedman said he would work hard to make the decisions fair, respecting property rights, fiscal responsibility and protecting the fisheries, migratory nesting birds and environment.
“When I go out on the water every day I have a plan. I have an idea of what I’m going to do, where I’m going to go and I have to adapt. We have to institute a plan and then work that plan to the benefit of as many as we can.”
ISLAMORADA VILLAGE COUNCIL - SEAT 3
The race for Seat 3 in Islamorada is between former mayor Deb Gillis and Mary Barley.
Gillis was asked how she’d work to ensure waterways and ecosystems remain healthy at the village level. Gillis said she has relationships at the federal and state levels from her previous stint on the council. She also credited the village’s hiring of a resilience officer who’s seeking studies to address the breakwaters, canal cleanups and protecting the islands from storm surge and sea level rise.
She was also asked if she was in favor of changing the 24-hour evacuation window to accommodate more building permits.
“I really don’t think it’s safe to change per se, but there needs to be an adjustment because of the sheer fact technology is so much better today on when and how they (storms) are coming. To do it strictly for more permits, I’m not for.”
“You have to be diligent about taking care of yourself. I needed a path, I needed to be proactive and preventive instead of reactive. A timely mammogram and genetic testing from Baptist Health Cancer Care saved my life, and it could save yours too.”
— Carla, Breast Cancer Survivor
Learn more about our cancer services:
Who is Anna Richards?
• Grew up in the Florida Keys
• Proudly living in Plantation Key Colony since 1987
• Married to Jason for 31 years
• Mother of four, all raised in Islamorada and now active members of the local community
• Over 30 years of experience as a small business owner
• Knowledgeable in village, county, and FEMA planning and building regulations
• Active participant in the community from school PTAs and youth sports to homeowners association
• Serving as the current President of the Rotary Club of the Upper Keys, where she has been a dedicated member since 2015
What does a vote for Anna Richards mean?
• A Vote for Common Sense
• A Vote for Professionalism
• A Vote for Emotional Intelligence
• A Vote for Unwavering Commitment to Village Residents Anna’s Pledge to the Community:
• orough research and preparation for every meeting
• Honest, fact-based assessments
• A strong focus on delivering meaningful results for the village
VOTE TOM RAFFANELLO ISLAMORADA VILLAGE COUNCIL SEAT 4
• Founder, Mariners Hospital
• Upper Keys Athletic Foundation - CSHS
• Diamond Sponsor, Voices for Florida Keys Children
• Silver Hammer, Habitat for Humanity
• Tsunami Wave, Good Health Clinic
• Lifetime Member, International Ass’n of Chiefs of Police
RESIDENTS HAVE A CH OICE!
THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE -- AN EXPERIENCED EXECUTIVE MANAGER OR ANOTHER RECYCLED BUILDER/DEVELOPERS’ ADVOCATE?
♦ I Have 20-years Executive Management Experience
♦ I Solve Complex Problems & Bring Needed New Energy, New Ideas
♦ I Stand for Re- Development, not New Development
♦ Residents’ Needs Should Set the Agenda
I W ILL HOLD VILLAGE COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS MISSION:
♦ To Protect the Residents' Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Life
♦ To Plan for Enhancing Our Village Character
♦ To Preserve Our Community; Its People, Natural Resources, & Pride
♦ To Provide Basic Services to Support our Quality of Life”
I NEED YOUR VOTE! LET’S GET TO W ORK.
Paid by Tom Raffanello for Islamorada Village Council – Seat 4
Barley was asked how she’d work to bolster resilience in Islamorada. Barley said she believes the village is doing a lot of the work already cleaning canals and bringing on a resilience officer.
“We have to follow the science. A lot of what we’re doing is we’re not following the science. We’re following some developer who wants to do this or that.”
Barley was also asked about the top challenges and changes she’d like to make to the village. She said the number one issue is the village’s wastewater system, which has seen a number of breaks in recent years.
“Until you get people who are willing to step outside the box and make a decision that helps your community, you’re not going to find any difference in hope it works out,” she said
Barley also mentioned workforce housing and the need to budget funds.
“You can look around the whole Keys and see it’s not been done,” Barley said.
ISLAMORADA VILLAGE COUNCIL - SEAT 4
The race for seat 4 is between Don Horton and Tom Raffanello.
Horton was asked about congestion and traffic in peak season and how he’d alleviate the issues. Horton said he was told there are roughly 2,499 more vacation rentals south of Islamorada, meaning many vehicles are passing through the two-lane road in the heart of the village.
“We need to look at ways to have intermodal transportation. We’re talking about changing the bridge at Snake Creek; that will help a whole lot. We can use the Old Highway and use it more for a locals-type situation where we don’t have people fighting their way back in. If we can’t do that, look at maybe making Old Highway areas right-turn only. We are stuck with drive-through traffic and we just have to look at ways for us to improve without widening roads and taking parking away from businesses.”
Horton was also asked the top three things he’d like to see changed in the comprehensive plan for Islamorada. Horton said the village fulfilled all elements in the previous
comprehensive plan except for transportation and affordable housing.
“We drastically failed on those issues. I envision us being able to work towards workforce housing; certainly we’ll have to work with the county on this. I think we really need to look at workforce housing, one-bed, onebathroom units that can accommodate the workforce.”
Raffanello was asked what the two most immediate problems facing Islamorada are and how he’d address them. He said he’d protect the individuals, and the first thing that should be on the list is the evacuation plan.
“It shouldn’t be kicked down the road any more. It’s been kicked down the road half the time I’ve been here and I’ve been here 15 years.”
Raffanello said the village should also tackle wastewater and work with Key Largo Wastewater District. He said key issues like the state of infrastructure goes back to leadership.
Raffanello was also asked how he’d approach the tension of providing more housing, dealing with infrastructure issues all while providing basic community services with growing costs and controlled spending. He said the village’s budget is due for a haircut.
“The budget really needs to be analyzed and money moved around, kind of like FEMA where money can be re-programmed to go anywhere. We need to reprogram the money and put it in the places we need in the priorities that we set.”
KEY LARGO FIRE & EMERGENCY
MEDICAL DISTRICT BOARD - SEAT 3
Incumbent Kenny Edge and challenger Ron Mobley will square off in the race for seat 3 on the district board. The race is nonpartisan. Mobley, who joined the fire service following graduation from Coral Shores in 1974, said he wants to continue serving the community. His career in the fire service, coupled with years spent training overseas and through his business, is something he says he can bring to the board.
“I feel those experiences will be beneficial,” Mobley said.
The incumbent, Edge, said he wants to see two bigger projects through, if re-elected. He spoke of
the 4,000 square feet of additional space at Station 24 at MM 99. He sits on the fire boat committee and said it’s a very necessary thing to have in the Keys.
“I was able to help finish up as a board phases 9 and 10 of the fire hydrant program to give us an ISO rating for lower fire insurance. I like projects. I think if my experience being treasurer and currently sitting commissioner, I want to see it through,” Edge said.
KEY LARGO FIRE & EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISTRICT BOARD - SEAT 5
The race for the district board’s Seat 5 is between incumbent Dan Powers and Michael Jenkins. The race is nonpartisan.
Powers was asked the top three challenges faced by the fire and emergency medical district in the years to come. He listed the station expansion so better services are offered while housing firefighters, a study to determine whether to combine the two departments and a fireboat program that would cover 70 miles of shoreline in Key Largo.
Jenkins was asked whether the district should expand Station 24 or acquire four vacant lots from the former fire department. Jenkins said Station 24, which was originally built for volunteer firefighters, should expand to accommodate offices, bunk houses and other things to help provide better services in Key Largo.
COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT 3
The race for Monroe County Commission’s Seat 3 pits Republican incumbent Jim Scholl and Democrat Chris Massicotte.
Scholl was asked why he approved an ordinance to establish an overlay on the CEMEX property to allow for a Publix in Tavernier. Scholl said when it was originally presented to the planning commission and other entities it was a much bigger project than what was finally agreed to.
“It was scaled down, and a major factor of approval was workforce housing,” Scholl said. “The scaling down of the Publix grocery store … It was a different project that finally got approved from the county commission than what was initially proposed.”
Massicotte was asked if it would be safe to alter the evacuation window of 24 hours to a longer time period to allow for more building permits. Massicotte responded with “absolutely not.” Massicotte said the state just saw how fast a storm could strengthen from a tropical storm to a Category 5.
“We need to get everybody out. That’s why I would have opposed the Publix and workforce housing at MM 92. I cannot believe the traffic that will end up there. It was a good project in the wrong place. We can build affordable housing, workforce housing without strings attached and without creating more traffic.”
Scholl was asked why the county commission waives inclusionary housing requirements and what was his main action item to resolve the issue. Scholl said workforce housing is the No. 1 strategic element commissioners have been presented with through meetings throughout Monroe County.
“We hear it from the school boards, we hear it from the hospitals that the requirement for workforce housing is the overriding element, and it got exacerbated by state statutes that allow for there to be vacation rentals anywhere. Any property owner can now transfer what was potential long-term workforce housing into vacation rentals because obviously it helps them make money.”
Massicotte was asked what he would do to represent the interests of the Upper Keys as a Key West resident. He said he believes someone cannot be an effective county commissioner unless one truly knows the entire county.
“I will treat this job as a full-time job. This will be my job. And as hard as you see me working in this campaign, that’s how hard I will work as a county commissioner,” he said.
Don Horton Tom Raffanello
Kenny Edge Ron Mobley
Dan Powers Michael Jenkins
Jim Scholl Chris Massicotte
CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 9
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 120
The race for the Florida House District 120 seat includes Republican incumbent Jim Mooney and Democratic newcomer Michael Travis.
Amid recent discussions at the local level on evacuation times and building permits, Mooney was asked how he’d address growth management concerns at the state level. He said all directives come from the county and cities in the district.
“The county is going to have to come up with directives,” he said. “I don’t get to tell the county what they need to do. The constituents of the cities and county let them know what they want and from there they bring it to me and discussion begins.”
Mooney added he successfully passed a bill last session that included the 24-hour evacuation require
ment, which now included Key West and mobile homes in the Keys.
Travis was asked what proposals he’d pursue to reduce the property insurance burden on Florida homeowners. He said he never owned a home and comes from a generation deciding whether to pay the phone bill or rent this month.
“Property insurance is a kind of a far grasp from what comes to me in my daily value, other than I know car insurance, I know people aren’t well informed as to how much insurance they need to have. That needs to come with an education program, to show you own this much home, you actually need this much insurance.
Travis added that there needs to be assurances insurance agencies pay out what they promise to pay. He also said there have been “very good” pieces of legislation in Tallahassee but the “current leadership doesn’t want to hear it.”
U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 28
Gimenez wasn’t in attendance for the forum; a reason wasn’t given during the forum.
Ehr, who attended the forum, was asked how he’d help reduce the cost of living in Florida and the Keys.
Ehr said he’s running to work for things important to everybody. He wants to ensure Washington, D.C. adopts a philosophy articulated by Kamala Harris in growing the middle out and not a trickle-down that barely gets there. For housing, he wants to ensure there’s enough of it.
“I will be a team player with local officials to work on solutions that are good here, and have it not be workcamp-type housing, but family-friendly and being mindful of the 24-hour evacuation plan.”
Ehr, a retired U.S naval officer, said he’s running for the purpose of bringing the country back to the center and away from the extremes and corruption and chaos.
“I don’t work for any president. I work for the people and I demonstrated that throughout my career,” he said.
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Republican Sherri Hodies and Democrat Ron Saunders are vying to be the next county supervisor of elections, following the announced retirement of Joyce Griffin. Hodies didn’t attend the forum; a reason wasn’t given during the forum. Saunders, who attended the forum, was asked how he’d deliver important information to voters.
“It’s important to get out and talk to voters to see if there are any issues they have. You don’t want any conspiracy theories out there or rumors. They want to make sure it’s run properly,” Saunders said. “I will say Joyce Griffin has done an excellent job; she’s been there 40 years and I haven’t seen one single problem down there.”
Saunders said the elections website could be updated and more accessible. He said he’d also like to add a few more early voting sites, including Key West and Ocean Reef.
LOCAL SCHOOL REFERENDUMS ARE IMPORTANT
Keys ballot questions represent no new taxes
FRANK DERFLER www.keysweekly.com
Two school referendum items on the back of all Florida Keys ballots may have dry formal wording, but school officials say they translate to the lives and success of local teachers and children.
“The two school funding referendums are the least controversial items on the November ballot, but they will have the greatest impact on our local communities,” said school board chair Sue Woltanski. “Together, they simply ask to continue our current school funding, something our community has approved for the last 20 years.“
The ballot items use the words “ad valorem tax” and “sales surtax,” and Superintendent Theresa Axford recognizes these can be emotionally loaded words. In an Oct. 12 radio interview, Axford said, “It’s important to get the word out that it is not a new tax. These things have been in place for at least 20 years and probably longer than that. But the half mill is used for teachers’ salaries and having a school resource officer in every school. That’s the most important thing for parents. They want good, qualified staff working with their students and they want their students to be safe. This half mill, if it didn’t pass, would cost each teacher $20,000 of their salary. So we’re working at trying to keep teachers’ salaries up where they can live here and be successful.”
School board member John Dick recently said the funding also covers the cost difference for police officers and deputies in every school.
The two school board referendum items appear on the back of all Florida Keys ballots. School and community leaders ask voters to vote “Yes” and “For” the two initiatives. They stress that these are not new taxes, but the continuance of school funding that has been in place for at least 20 years in this county. CONTRIBUTED
about 60% of that sales tax revenue. “The half cent is for all our capital projects. We have a lineup of capital, or construction, projects and we just would not be able to get to them without that funding. I think our community, once they hear this message, and they know that they want to keep our schools functioning at the high level they are, they’re going to be able to understand how they should vote.”
Monroe County Mayor Holly Raschein voiced her support for both school tax referendums.
“We have incredible schools in Monroe County, some of the best in the state,” she said. “The two ballot initiatives are not new taxes, they are renewals of critical funds that are necessary to keep high quality teachers and schools. I’m proud to support them, and I hope you do, too.”
The race to represent the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County in Washington, D.C. will see Republican incumbent Carlos Gimenez against Democrat Phil Ehr.
Candidates for Islamorada’s Seat 1 weren’t in attendance due to a village council, of which both were in attendance. Mayor Buddy Pinder is facing Van Cadenhead in the race.
“The cost of the school resource officers provided by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Key West Police totals $2.8 million,” Dick said. “The state provided us with $1 million, so additional funds need to come from within the county.”
Axford said the half-cent sales tax really is a sales tax that does not show up on property tax bills. Research shows that tourists pay
Anyone who chose to receive a vote-by-mail ballot should have received the big yellow envelope. Vote-by-mail ballots for the Nov. 5 election went to the post office on Sept. 27. Sample ballots for each area of the Keys are available at keyselections.org under a tab called Sample Ballot List.
The local school referendums “might be on the back of the ballot, but they should be in front of your mind, “ Woltanski said.
Ron Saunders
Jim Mooney Michael Travis
Phil Ehr
RACE WILL DECIDE WHO REPRESENTS FLORIDA IN THE SENATE
Republican incumbent faces Democratic challenger
The incumbent Republican, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, is seeking another term to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate. He faces a formidable challenger in the November general election against the former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
RICK SCOTT
What do you believe is the biggest threat facing Congress and the federal government at the moment?
Washington is completely dysfunctional. The country is nearly $35 trillion in debt, and reckless government spending has caused out-of-control inflation that’s crushing Florida families. The federal government is spending 76% of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars on interest payments on our debt. This is unacceptable. American families and businesses have to balance their budgets every month, so the federal government should do the same thing. We turned our economy around and paid down state debt while I was Governor, and I’m fighting every day to rein in Washington’s wasteful spending and stop efforts by Washington elites to raise taxes, costs, and government regulations on the American people.
With unprecedented migrant events in recent years, many Keys residents are unsure about what happens to those who reach our shores. What can you do to ensure transparency about current procedures and the reality for those who cross our borders?
With Joe Biden and his “Border Czar” Kamala Harris at the helm, we have seen an unprecedented crisis at the border. Millions of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs, terrorists and criminals continue to flood our southern border while the Biden-Harris administration does nothing. No new laws have to be passed for Biden-Harris to secure the border, they could do it today but are purposely refusing to do so. That’s why I signed on to a resolution denouncing the Biden administration’s open border policies and calling on them to immediately enforce the law.
I support immigration, but it has to be legal immigration. I’m fighting for accountability and transparency on the waste, fraud and abuse we’ve seen at the southern border. I also introduced a bill to address reports of unaccompanied migrant children being released to unvetted sponsors. We must start enforcing our laws and encouraging migrants to come here legally.
What is your plan to ensure federal funding (please include any specific grants or federal programs) for pressing infrastructure needs in the Keys as our islands combat aging bridges, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion?
Since my time as governor, I have been fighting to strengthen Florida’s infrastructure and preserve our natural resources. In the Senate, I’ve continuously fought to secure construction funding for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER). I am currently fighting for funding for several essential storm and water management projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will benefit the Keys. I will continue to fight for funding for Florida’s infrastructure and natural resources when I’m re-elected.
What do you believe is the biggest threat facing Congress and the federal government at the moment?
We must end the gridlock in Congress, and that starts with electing leaders who are willing to put partisan politics aside and come to the table to deliver for Floridians. Rick Scott, one of the least bipartisan Senators, has been in elected office for 14 years and all he has done is push an out-of-touch agenda to take away our freedoms, put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block, and raise taxes on the middle class. Time after time, he has tanked bipartisan pieces of legislation –even voting against Veterans’ benefits – and refused to compromise to solve the issues facing Florida. I am ready to work with anyone to tackle the rising cost of living in Florida, expand Medicare and Social Security, and protect our fundamental freedoms.
With unprecedented migrant events in recent years, many Keys residents are unsure about what happens to those who reach our shores. What can you do to ensure transparency about current procedures and the reality for those who cross our borders?
We have to solve the crisis at the border and at our ports. That’s why I supported the Border Patrol Union-backed, bipartisan border security bill this year, which would have secured our border, stopped the flow of illegal drugs, and strengthened our asylum process. I believe the bill was a good step towards protecting our national security, but we cannot solve the border crisis without also addressing violence and authoritarianism in Latin America. Immigrants don’t want to leave their homes – they do so when they have no other choice. It’s fundamental to address the violence forcing millions to flee Latin America. But Rick Scott voted against this bill to secure the border twice.
What is your plan to ensure federal funding (please include any specific grants or federal programs) for pressing infrastructure needs in the Keys as our islands combat aging bridges, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion?
I’m proud to have advocated for hundreds of millions of dollars in resiliency funding and infrastructure investments in South Florida while representing the Keys. As climate change worsens, I will fight for federal funding to protect our state from severe flooding – unlike Rick Scott, who voted against over $1 billion in infrastructure resiliency funding. In Congress, I was proud to co-sponsor the Coastal Communities Adaptation Act and the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, helping our coastal communities prepare for extreme weather and conserving our coastal environment, which contributes hundreds of millions of dollars for our economy. As Senator, I will continue this work to ensure our infrastructure can withstand rising sea levels, flooding, and extreme storms.
DEBBIE MUCARSEL-POWELL
U.S. 1 INTO KEYS TO CLOSE AT NIGHT
Construction begins on a section of the 18-Mile Stretch
A portion of the 18-Mile Stretch in Key Largo near Bikini Beach. FDOT announced night closures on the Stretch as crews begin to resurface the road between MM 108.4 and MM 112.8. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Abumpy stretch of highway leading into the Florida Keys will close at night to allow construction crews to begin a much needed resurfacing. Originally scheduled to begin in late August, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Oct. 14 announced nightly road closures of U.S. 1 from Jewfish Creek Bridge at MM 108.4 to the Miami-Dade County line at MM 112.8. According to FDOT, the construction work will happen in two phases to minimize traffic impacts. The northbound lane closes in Key Largo mid-October, while the southbound lane will close in Florida City sometime in late October. The northbound and southbound closures won’t occur simultaneously, according to FDOT.
Nighttime closures will be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. over a ninemonth period. Traffic will detour to Card Sound Road. FDOT said tolls will be suspended during these closures.
Tish Burgher, FDOT spokeswoman, said in an August interview with
BRIEFLY
Motorist arrested after allegedly brandishing handgun
A 39-year-old Davie man was arrested on Oct. 8 after police say he pointed a handgun at other motorists during a road rage incident in Key Largo. There were no reported shots fired or injuries reported.
Christopher Edward Domes was charged with aggravated assault and improper exhibition of a firearm (a loaded 9mm handgun).
The sheriff’s office was called to Key Largo Kampground & Marina at 2:09 p.m. where two victims stated a man, later identified as Domes, followed them into the campground at high speed. He then drove recklessly before brandishing a handgun and stating he would kill both victims while all were in the check-in lane. Domes was taken to jail.
Altercation at marina severely injures man
A 52-year-old Tavernier man was arrested on Oct. 8 after an incident at a Tavernier marina/bar that left another man with serious injuries.
Farr was conducting resource checks at the Snake Creek Bridge at 6:27 a.m. Liesny Santiago Gutierrez Rivas, 35, of Hialeah and Onesky Lazaro Nodarse Bayon, 35, of Homestead were both cited for possessing 11 over-the-big-limit mangrove snapper and possession of 10 undersized mangrove snapper.
For information on wildlife regulations go to www.myfwc.com.
Sheriff: Man arrested on drug/gun charges
A 23-year-old Venice man was arrested Oct. 11 on drug and firearms charges. Caleb Joseph Martin was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of 0.3 grams of methamphetamine, and a litany of marijuanarelated violations.
Keys Weekly that the work will bring some 70 nighttime detours to Card Sound Road. The project was originally expected to start in June, but Burgher said a postponement gave FDOT the needed time to analyze a revised plan proposed by the contractor to minimize traffic congestion concerns.
The project will include pavement reconstruction, milling and resurfacing, guardrail improvements, signs and pavement markings and reconfiguring the right turn lanes at three locations to accommodate bicyclists. The $19 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2025.
Truck drivers are reminded that Monroe County has posted new weight restrictions on Card Sound Road on the approach to Mosquito Creek and Tubby’s Creek bridges. Weight for these bridges cannot exceed 21 tons. The department has installed signs at State Road 5 and Card Sound Road to increase awareness of those weight restrictions.
Donovan Wayne Steen was charged with aggravated assault. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was called to Mangrove Marina at 8:34 p.m. regarding an incident involving a bar employee and a customer. There was a reported verbal dispute between Steen and a 48-year-old Tavernier customer/victim regarding outside drinks in the establishment, which escalated into a physical altercation in which Steen punched the victim multiple times while the victim was on the ground, according to witnesses.
Steen was taken to jail, while the victim was airlifted via Trauma Star to Kendall Hospital in Miami with the following reported injuries: a collapsed lung; multiple fractures to the face, including a possible fractured jaw; deep lacerations to the back of the head, chin and mouth; and injuries to his eyes, including an orbital fracture.
Sheriff: Men cited for fish violations
Three mainland Florida men were given mandatory notices to appear in court for alleged fish violations on Oct. 13.
A 23-year-old Homestead man was reportedly found possessing undersized fish. Islamorada Marine Deputy Jason Farr was conducting resource checks near the Lignumvitae Bridge near MM 77.9 at about 2:30 p.m. Yoel Rodriguez Nunez, 23, of Homestead was cited for possessing five undersized mutton snapper.
The sheriff’s office was called to the 7-Eleven in Tavernier at 2:36 a.m. regarding a Mazda sedan that hit a curb. Martin was the driver. There was drug paraphernalia in plain sight inside the sedan. The drugs and a loaded 9mm handgun were found in a subsequent search. Martin was taken to jail.
Sheriff’s office receives top honors in reaccreditation
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office recently received its reaccreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation and Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission.
The sheriff’s office also retained its Excelsior status for both, which honors criminal justice agencies that have received such accreditation five times in a row, the highest level of accreditation in Florida and considered its most prestigious achievement.
Achieving Excelsior status is part of the voluntary process to maintain accreditation — a recognition of professional excellence — the standards of which are those pertaining to all issues critical to life, health, safety issues and best practices.
“The accreditation process and maintaining our Excelsior status is a testament to the men and women of this agency who are committed to this community,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Achieving this standard remains part of my law enforcement philosophy in providing residents with the best and most transparent service possible.”
The accreditation commission assessment teams are composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies. The assessors review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other areas where compliance can be observed.
LOCAL BUSINESSES ADVERTISE WITH LOCAL FACES
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Florida Keys Windows, with two locations in Florida and 25 employees, prides itself in being a full-service window and door company. Established in 1992, the company is locally owned and operated in Key Largo. Clients include commercial and residential contractors, property managers and homeowners wanting to upgrade their windows and doors or protect their homes from hurricane damage. Products and services are provided for new construction and renovation professionals. The representatives, designers and installation teams have the knowledge necessary to guide projects, regardless of size or complexity.
"The key to our success is a commitment to excellence, integrity and continuous improvement," said Cindy Ed, who along with her husband MJ, own the business. "We serve the families of our kids' friends, our neighbors and loved ones. Anything shy of 100% isn't enough when it comes to the protection of our community."
In addition to membership with Key Largo Chamber, Florida Keys Windows is a member of Ocean Reef Chamber of Commerce, Marathon Chamber of Commerce and Key Colony Beach Community Association.
CAPT ED & SANDI B
HOME AND AWAY, YOU CAN FIND THESE GREAT TEAMS
ONE THESE GREAT STATIONS
18 CADETS COMPLETE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY
9 join Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; 9 join Key West Police Department
The College of the Florida Keys’ Institute for Public Safety held a graduation ceremony for Basic Law Enforcement Academy 90 on Oct. 11 at the Key West campus. Eighteen cadets successfully completed the 770-hour training program. Upon passing the state certification exam, each will be eligible to become a Florida law enforcement officer.
Through partnerships with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Key West Police Department, all graduates already have jobs. During the ceremony, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg each swore in nine cadets.
Cathy Torres, CFK director of public safety, recognized top performing graduates with special accolades. The leadership award was given to class captain Daniel Wright, while Ross Hughes was recognized for his academic achievement. The
“Top Gun” shooting skills award went to Russell Holmes, and Rudolfo Castillo Perez received the physical fitness award. The “PIG” award, which recognizes pride, integrity and guts, went to Johnasia Harris.
CFK’s law enforcement officer program satisfies the training requirements of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. CFK is accepting applications for two upcoming training academies at the Upper Keys Center. Applications are due on March 28, 2025, for Basic Law Enforcement Academy 93, starting in May 2025 and ending in March 2026. The college is also accepting applications for Crossover Corrections to Law Enforcement Academy 37 through Jan. 31, 2025 for training that will run from March to October 2025. More information is at cfk.edu.
— Contributed
Cadets in CFK’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy 90 stand at attention on the Key West campus. CONTRIBUTED
NEW ARTIFICIAL REEFS ARE ON THE WAY FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
Director details master plan to Sanctuary Advisory Council
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
The Florida Keys are on the doorstep of the first in a new series of state-funded artificial reefs, according to a presentation from county Artificial Reefs Program Director Hanna Koch to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council on Oct. 15.
As expected, the project is set to use 37 decommissioned concrete power poles donated by the Florida Keys Electric Co-op in the summer of 2023, along with an additional eight poles acquired by the Monroe County Land Steward, deployed to three unique areas as clusters of nine patch reefs in 40 feet of water.
Referred to as the gulfside 10 Mile Reef for its location 10 miles offshore from the Lower Keys, the new sites are designed as the first in a proposed Gulfside Network, with sites between 5 and 15 miles offshore in 40 to 60 feet of water outside the current FKNMS boundary. The poles will be stacked in different configurations to create different sizes of structures with varying vertical relief from the sea floor, with additional structures added over time to increase habitat diversity.
The placement will mark the first artificial reef installation in the Keys since the 2009 sinking of the Vandenberg wreck off Key West.
“There’s not much there, and the only time we really see any density of life is if there’s a derelict trap,” Koch said, reiterating her end goal of providing a network of structures in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. “The purpose of the network is to provide complex, diverse quality habitat for a number of species, as well as potentially waypoints for fish migrating from near to offshore.”
Koch’s presentation came the day before an expected vote by the Monroe County BOCC to approve a $440,000 contract with Biscayne Towing & Salvage Inc. to deploy the power poles. Koch said she received her first federal permits for 10 Mile Reef in recent weeks and hopes to complete the first deployment before the end of 2024.
The new program is funded by a $15 million state grant that runs through 2029. But comprehensive, long-term monitoring of the outcomes of all new structures, Koch said, could be possible through an FWC partnership funded by a NOAA RESTORE grant, used to support regional necessities for research, observation and monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico. Funding for the grant will be announced in June 2025, she said.
The locations of the 10 Mile Reef sites are expected to be publicly released, Koch said, in an effort to help alleviate fishing and diving pressures
1
2 3 4
on other stressed sites, further dispersing traffic among the numerous new artificial reefs. Her plan is eventually to add additional unpublished sites to serve as nursery grounds for species’ early life stages, she told the council.
A second set of projects, referred to as the Deep Beyond Reefs, will eventually deploy structures outside the FKNMS boundary in roughly 300 feet of water at sites off Marathon, Islamorada and Key West, though these projects are in the early stages of site selection.
“These sites would provide fish habitat, possibly spawning aggregations because they are deep, and this is where we could really take advantage of creating high vertical relief habitat to support that type of fish behavior,” Koch said.
A third vein of projects, including habitat support structures deployed to nearshore waters, would be the only project group to be placed within the boundaries of the FKNMS. The pilot program will identify areas lacking in specific quality habitats, as well as structures that could fill the gaps in the ecosystem. A prime example, Koch said, is the flattening of offshore coral reefs, where branching species such as elkhorn and staghorn coral previously provided dimensionality and space for organisms living between their branches.
“The base of that habitat is still there, but the quality of it has been compromised,” she said. “The next step is to design, deploy and test habitat support structures that functionally mimic or enhance the physical and biological components that historically provided structural complexity and habitat variety.”
Within each of five identified “habitat deficit areas,” a working group will experiment with dif-
ferent material types – ranging from limestone boulders to hand-made concrete forms and blocks – structures, sizes, styles and scales. Some projects would include a biological restoration component such as corals or sponges, she said.
Questioned on whether the new gulfside sites could function as dive attractions to reduce interactions between novice divers and heavilytrafficked natural reefs, Koch also spoke of the potential for installation of additional dive training reefs, though she admitted the idea was still in very early stages.
“This is actually (FKNMS Superintendent) Sarah (Fangman)’s idea, and I’ve been thinking through how to make this work,” Koch said, adding that the training reefs could potentially pursue capital funding grants offered through the Tourist Development Council. “We could use some more innovative technology, like 3D concrete printing, to create more designs that are still ecologically relevant, but maybe a little more artistic. I’m not necessarily a fan of putting down statues or something that isn’t going to be quality marine habitat for organisms.
“I want it to be functional, but I also want it to be interesting and something they won’t see on natural reefs, so it would actually inspire (divers) to go to these sites where they would see something new. You could use that for education and awareness.”
1. Decommissioned concrete power poles donated by the Florida Keys Electric Co-op will form the basis of the first artificial reef deployed in Monroe County since 2009. CONTRIBUTED
2. Monroe County Artificial Reefs Program Director Hanna Koch addresses the Sanctuary Advisory Council on Oct. 15. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
3. The upcoming 10 Mile Reef will be the first in a series of sites known as the Gulfside Network, with structures deployed between five and 15 miles offshore in 40 to 60 feet of water.
4. Working groups will experiment with a number of different types of structures to provide additional habitat in already-identified deficient areas.
BEST OF UPPER KEYS FINALIST VOTING CLOSES OCT. 20
HISTORY OF DIVING MUSEUM HOSTS HALLOWEEN EVENT
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Atotal of 85 plaques and bragging rights are on the line, as finalist voting in the third annual Best of Upper Keys comes to a close on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Since Oct. 3, people have visited keysweekly.com/buk24 to vote for all their favorites in the food and drink, business and community categories. Finalists were picked during a 17-day nomination process last month, which saw the public picking all their favorites. Those businesses, people and places receiving the top nominations moved on to the finalist stage. More than 50,000 nominations were seen this year — more than double the previous year.
With finalist voting ending Sunday, Oct. 20 at 11:59 p.m., voters still have time to submit one ballot per day. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1 at Playa Largo Resort.
Tickets to attend the Best of Upper Keys awards ceremony aren’t generally made available to the public due to demand. Winners, nominees and dignitaries are invited to attend and additional attendees are selected from a first-come, first-served waiting list. Email Jill@keysweekly.com to be placed on the list.
In the last two years, more than $45,000 raised from the Best of Upper Keys supported the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. With extensive programs to help and counsel children and families in a time of need, the shelter will again be the beneficiary of the Best of Upper Keys.
Event sponsors include Baptist Health Mariners Hospital, Going Aire, Dr. Michelle, audiologist, HNO Productions, First Horizon Bank, Playa Largo Resort and Hotwire Communications.
The History of Diving Museum will host a Halloween-themed event on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
This event will include trickor-treat stations among the museum’s decorated exhibits, a Halloween scavenger hunt, a costume contest at 6:15 p.m. with prizes, kids activities and costumed staff.
Kraving Shavings will have snow cones, nachos and Key limeade available for purchase. Attendees can also enter a raffle to win additional prizes, including a life-size haunted diver decoration.
Admission to the event is free. Donations are welcome. Proceeds go to benefit the museum and the preservation of its collection, as well as outreach and educational programs.
The museum is a nonprofit located in Islamorada at MM 83. It features exhibits
1. History of Diving Museum’s Halloween-themed event is set for Oct. 24. CONTRIBUTED. 2. Attendees can enter a raffle to win a haunted diver decoration.
chronicling over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time featured exhibits as well as a museum store. The current featured exhibit, “Salvaging the Deep,” is on display through Dec. 31. More information is at divingmuseum.org.
— Contributed
MARY BARLEY
Islamorada Village Council, SEAT 3
CLEAR PRINCIPLES: Conservation, taxpayer equity, preserving our natural resources and water supply, protecting property rights, and advocating for future generations
ADDRESS CHALLENGES:
•Seriously Address Workforce Housing; wasted way too much time; DO IT!
•Stop Over Development
•Promise Transparency and Accountability
•Protect our Quality of Life
•Make Traffic impacts a key component of every project
COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION:
•To Protect the Residents' Right to Quiet Enjoyment of Life
•To Plan for Enhancing Our Village Character
•To Preserve Our Community; Its People, Natural Resources, and Pride
PROVEN SUCCESSES:
•Everglades restoration programs and taxpayer equity
•Unyielding Commitment: 2016 named one of 100 most influential people in Florida politics (by Influence magazine); serves on the Board of the Everglades Foundation, WWF National Council, Zoo Miami, and Wild Oceans.
•Continues to fight to protect the extremely fragile ecosystem through education of our next generation, K-College students
CONTEST FOR KEYS’ FASTEST STONE CRAB CLAW EATERS SET FOR NOV. 2
Florida’s stone crab claw harvest season runs from Oct. 15 to May 1, and the Florida Keys’ annual Stone Crab Eating Contest is set for Saturday, Nov. 2.
Staged at Keys Fisheries Market and Marina, located on 35th Street gulfside in Marathon, the munch-a-thon begins at noon. Entrants must register and be present by 11 a.m.
Contestants compete to crack, clean and eat all the meat from 25 stone crab claws in the fastest time.
Although entrants are provided with industrial-strength shell crackers, some choose to employ an effective method that’s popular among Keys locals — smacking the rounded area of the claw’s shell with the back of a large serving spoon or a simple butter knife. Prizes such as overnight stays and passes to Keys attractions and
eateries will be awarded to the top three finishers and top teams. If a tie occurs, the tied contestants must face off in an additional 10-claw competition to determine the winner.
Interested contestants are encouraged to register early to secure a spot at the table. Individual entry fee is $50 and two-person teams can register for $100. Competitors must be at least 18 years old.
Proceeds from the event will benefit a Marathon-based charity.
The Keys are Florida’s top supplier of the claws, considered a renewable resource because of the crabs’ ability to regrow harvested claws after being returned to the water. Every year, about 2 million pounds of stone crab claws are steamed, cracked and served at local markets and restaurants or distributed around the nation.
— Contributed
HUSBAND-WIFE DUO WIN TAKE STOCK BACKCOUNTRY CHALLENGE
Funds raised for students and scholarships
Awife-and-husband duo from Tavernier earned top honors at Key Largo’s annual Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge on Oct. 6.
Despite rainy weather, participants fished night and day from Oct. 4-6 in the annual catch-and-release tournament.
Carmen Perez-Padron took the backcountry champion title with 79.75 combined inches of one redfish, snook and trout. Her husband, Nelson Padron, earned the title of top guide.
“I have been fishing mostly charitable tournaments for over 12 years and truly enjoy the Take Stock in Children tournament format — and it’s such a great cause,” said PerezPadron, whose passion is backcountry fishing in the Keys.
Perez-Padron also was named top artificial division angler and won awards for the adult division’s largest snook at 33.75 inches and largest redfish at 29.25 inches.
Also in the adult division, the award for second-place snook went to Key Largo’s Angel DiGiorgio with a 31.5-incher. Clay Cowart of Tavernier placed third with his 30.25-inch linesider.
Anglers winning awards for adultdivision redfish after Perez-Padron were Kris Todd of Key Largo in second place with a 26-incher, and Reed Tudor of Tavernier with a 24.5-inch red. Taking the adult division’s top trout award was PJ Abolafia of Key Largo with a 22.5-inch fish. Close behind in second place was Reed Tudor with a 20-incher and Jesus Estrada of Tavernier with an 18-inch trout.
In the junior division for anglers age 13-17, the backcountry champion title went to 16-year-old Haley Hanson of Key Largo with a combined threefish total of 70.25 inches. She fished with her father, Key Largo’s Captain Chris Hanson, who was named top pro in the competition.
In the kids division for participants age 12 and under, awards are presented for the largest trout catches. First place went to Dawson DelosSantos with an 18-inch trout caught while fishing with his father, Key Largo’s Captain Tony DelosSantos. Coming in second was Easton Meyers of Key Largo with a 14-incher.
The tournament drew 56 anglers as well as hundreds of supporters, educators, mentors and members of the Rotary Club of Key Largo. The annual challenge and its silent auction raise funds for Take Stock in Children and other scholarship programs. — Contributed
Winners of the annual Key Largo Rotary’s Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge on Oct. 6. KEY LARGO ROTARY/Via Facebook
Participants in the 2022 Stone Crab Eating Contest devour their 25 claws. ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau
We appreciate your votes to make Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty the Best Real Estate of f ice in the Upper Keys!
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION IN ISLAMORADA
Members of the group Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization perform traditional dances and songs during the 2022 event at Florida Keys Brewing Co. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
ADia de los Muertos celebration will take place in Islamorada Sunday, Nov. 3, from 2 to 6 p.m., with a sugar-skull-making workshop for kids and live music.
The free event is presented by Community Arts and Culture with activities beginning at Limelight Studios and Gallery and continuing in the adjacent beer garden at Florida Keys Brewing Co., 81611 Old Highway, in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District.
Unlike Halloween events that embrace mischief and spooky elements, celebrations for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, are happy occasions that unite the living and the dead. Events are often an explosion of color and life-affirming joy, where the living invite their dearly departed to join them in a celebration of their life and heritage.
Families traditionally attend Dia de los Muertos events in calavera style — wearing face paint and
attire that reflects a skeleton or the dead — to celebrate and honor departed loved ones.
Activities will begin at 2 p.m. at Limelight with a calavera sugar skull-making workshop and face painting that is $15 for kids and young adults, and $25 for adults age 21 and over. Registration is available on Eventbrite.
World music by the Fabi World trio begins at 3 p.m. in the beer garden, followed at 4 p.m. by the Mariachi Veracruzano Miami band.
Attendees are invited to wear bright colors, with or without calavera-style face paint and costumes.
Community Arts and Culture is a nonprofit organization that presents the arts as a tool for education and nurtures local and international musical artists that exemplify the diversity of the South Florida community.
More information is at communityartsandculture.org/day-ofthe-dead
— Contributed
GOOMBAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES BAHAMIAN HERITAGE
Bahama Village hosts annual event Oct. 18-19
and musicians
Revelers can experience sights, sounds and flavors recalling Key West’s Bahamian heritage at the family-friendly Goombay Festival scheduled Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1819.
The street festival takes place in the Bahama Village neighborhood, settled in the early 1800s in part by Bahamians seeking a new island home.
The Goombay Festival marks the start of Key West’s Fantasy Fest, a 10-day costuming and masking celebration whose 2024 events continue through Sunday, Oct. 27.
Goombay’s action is centered on Petronia Street, just off Duval Street in the heart of Bahama Village. Events are scheduled from noon to midnight both days.
Highlights include Friday night’s “Junkanoo Rush” and Saturday’s traditional Junkanoo parade of costumed marchers. Both will feature the Bahamas’
renowned New Generation Cultural Group, with Saturday’s parade starting at 6 p.m. and following a route that includes portions of Duval and Petronia streets.
Attendees can savor the flavors of Caribbean and ethnic dishes offered by vendors, discover island-influenced arts and crafts, and dance to live music by popular Bahamian, Floridian and local musicians and bands.
The main entertainment stage will be at the corner of Emma and Olivia streets, with performers offering nonstop music in multiple genres. The entertainment lineup includes “soul man” Robert Albury, soca singer Hebrew Edwards and the Caribbean Explosion Band presenting reggae and soca rhythms.
More information is at facebook.com/keywestgoombay2018 and fantasyfest.com. — Contributed
Caribbean-style dancers
march in the Bahama Village Junkanoo Parade during the 2022 Fantasy Fest Goombay Festival. FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed
COMPASSIONATE POLICING
Pawsitive Beginnings meets with sheriff’s office
REEF THE FOX
Reef is a red fox that was saved from a fur farm. He now lives in Key Largo with his human, Nicole Navarro.
Hi friends!
Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” Last week, my mom, Pawsitive Beginnings Inc. founder Nicole Navarro, gave a special presentation to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) about compassionate policing. She shared her own personal story of her journey to recovery and how that experience allowed her to build trust with law enforcement through the positive experiences she had with them. In her presentation, she explained that compassionate policing isn’t just about enforcing laws—it’s about understanding the challenges people face and offering support. She encouraged the deputies to approach individuals who are battling addiction with empathy, the same way the officers did for her. My mom believes that one act of kindness from law enforcement can help someone feel valued and guide them toward recovery.
She also talked about the work we do at Pawsitive Beginnings, and how our animal-assisted therapy program is helping heal hearts in Monroe County, one paw at a time. Our stories of survival are powerful tools in therapy, helping people who have gone through trauma and addiction to find hope and healing. My mom’s message
Top: Nicole Navarro, center, meets with Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and K9 Mako. CONTRIBUTED. Bottom: Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s Vince Weiner with a young Reef the fox.
to MCSO was that the foxes’ ability to heal mirrors the potential for humans to recover from their own struggles, if they have the right support. She hopes that through compassionate policing, officers can offer that support to people in need.
Mom got to see my old pal K9 Mako, which reminds me, I need to get him in for an interview soon for the Keys Weekly. Commander Vince Weiner with MCSO is the one who invited mom to come give this presentation. Vince (I am on a first-name basis with him) is one of the first humans I met when I arrived in the Florida Keys back in 2021. He has been a good friend to my mom and a good friend to the foxes, even though he is always too busy to come see us; we know he cares. And now I’ve put pressure on Vince in print to come visit so one can assume I should be expecting him soon.
In other news, we have a really exciting fundraiser happening here at Pawsitive Beginnings on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. We have teamed up with Linking the Keys to offer a permanent jewelry experience right here with the foxes. There are limited time slots available so you must sign up by going to the events page on our website at pawsitivebeginnings.org.
Anywho, that’s all for this week. Until next time, Reef, over and out!
HHYDRO
ydro is a loyal pit mix with a big heart. This healthy 3-year-old is ready to meet his new family. He will need an active family with a fenced yard. Hydro loves to play and is learning new things daily. Please apply today at MarrVelous Pet Rescues by visiting www.MPRescues.org or calling 305-453-1315.
Thursday, Oct. 17
• Adult fall craft from 2 to 4 p.m. at Key Largo library.
• Morada Way Art Walk, a celebration of local fine artists with extended gallery hours, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Morada Way Arts & Cultural District.
Saturday, Oct. 19
• Book release and signing of Ian Wilson-Navarro’s “Dry Tortugas - Stronghold of Nature” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hale Gallery, 81888 Overseas Highway, Unit 2, Islamorada.
• Amoray Dive Center’s 26th annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest at the dive center, 104240 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. Visit amoray.com to learn more.
• Halloween Pinfish Bash from 3 to 10 p.m. at Pinfish Entertainment Center, Tavernier.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
• Spooky Trash Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Harry Harris Park.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
• Florida Keys History & Discovery Center welcomes Krissy Wejebe, founder of the Jose Wejebe Foundation, for a lecture at 6 p.m. Register at keysdiscovery.com.
Oct. 24-26
• Mobile Dental Unit at First Baptist Church Islamorada from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Register by phone at 305-306-7842.
• Key Players “The Addams Family” musical comedy at 7 p.m. at Coral Shores High School.
Thursday, Oct. 24
• Treasure Treat Night at 5:30 p.m. at History of Diving Museum, Islamorada.
Friday, Oct. 25
• Owl-O-Ween from 4 to 8 p.m. at Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, 93600 Overseas Highway, Tavernier.
SAVE THE DATE
NOTICE
SAM STEELE, MONROE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF THE 2024 PROPERTY TAX ROLL. BOTH REAL PROPERTY AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ARE PAYABLE.
Taxpayers are encouraged to pay online through the Tax Collector’s secure and convenient website, MonroeTaxCollector.com. Online payments made using your bank account (e-check) are FREE and no additional fees are charged.
Early payment discounts are available as follows: 4% if paid in November 3% if paid in December 2% if paid in January 1% if paid in February
No discount is available if paid in March. As of April 1, 2025, the 2024 taxes become delinquent, and any payment must be made in certified funds. If payment is not received by May 31, 2025, a tax certificate will be sold no later than June 1, 2025.
Ownership and current address information are received and certified by the Monroe County Property Appraiser. If you do not receive your tax bill within two weeks, or need additional information regarding property taxes, please call our o ce at 305-295-5044.
SAM C. STEELE,
CFC CONSTITUTIONAL TAX COLLECTOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Islamorada, Village of Islands
REQUEST FOR PROPOS ALS
PICKLEBALL COURTS AN D BASKETBALL COURT RESURFACING
RFP 24-17
Bid Submittal Dea dline: 3:00 p.m. November 12, 2024
Islamorada, Village of Islands (the “Village”) is seeking form al proposals from qualified co ntracto rs to resurface three (3 ) existing pickleball courts, replace vinyl chain -link divider fencing between the pickleball courts, resurface the existing basketball co urt, and line the basketball co urt for multisport use as two (2 ) pickleball co urts at F ounders P ark, the “Project”
To minimiz e impact on park pro gram s and general use o f the co urts, all Pro ject activ ities must be com pleted during the tim e period of March 1, 20 25 , to May 31, 20 25 B efore preparing a proposal, po tential propo sers are directed to co nsider whether their schedule will perm it the com pletion of the Project during this tim eframe
Scan the QR code to view and download the bid documents for complete information including the full scope of services, eligibility criteria and submittal instructions.
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
NOTICE OF DRAFT PERMIT
The Department of Environmental Protection hereby provides notice that it has prepared a draft permit for the proposed project as detailed in the application, subject to the conditions specified in the draft permit and summarized below. The applicant, Florida Keys Resort Holdings, Peter Rosasco, President, 4000 Sombrero Boulevard, Marathon, Florida 33050 applied on Jan 20, 2023, for a Class V injection well operation permit. The project is located at Resort Reverse Osmosis Concentrate IW-1, 4000 Sombrero Boulevard, Marathon, Florida 33050, in Monroe County (File 0352748-002-UO/5O, WACS ID 103551).
The permittee will maintain or operate one non-hazardous Class V, Group 4 injection well (IW-1) built for the disposal of reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate from the Florida Keys Resort reverse osmosis plant. The RO plant produces fresh water for golf course irrigation. The maximum injection rate for IW-1 shall be 191 gallons per minute (gpm) and the maximum injection volume for IW-1 shall be 0.275 million gallons per day (mgd). The injection well is constructed with an 8-inch diameter casing set to 62 feet below land surface (bls) with a cemented annulus and a total depth of 97 feet bls. The injection zone is a non-underground source of drinking water.
The injection system is currently inoperable. An inspection is required prior to restarting the injection system.
The Department has permitting jurisdiction under Chapter 403 of the Florida Statutes and the rules adopted thereunder. The project is not exempt from permitting procedures. The Department has determined that an Underground Injection Control permit is required for the proposed work.
Any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit and may request a public meeting within 30 days after publication of this public notice. A request for a public meeting shall be submitted in writing and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the meeting. If a public meeting is later scheduled, there will be another 30-day notice period for that meeting. Written comments or a public meeting request shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Aquifer Protection Program, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3530, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, which is the office processing this permit application. All comments received within the 30-day period will be considered in formulation of the Department's final decision regarding permit issuance.
The files associated with this order are available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays, at the Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast District, and at the Department of Environmental Protection, Aquifer Protection Program office in Tallahassee.
Any additional information concerning this project may be obtained by contacting Walsta Jean-Baptiste at 850-245-8386 or Walsta.JeanBaptiste@FloridaDEP.gov.
THE BEGINNINGS OF ALABAMA JACK’S
A legend and bar live on
FLORIDA
KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
Two roads lead in and out of Key Largo: the old railroad route and the old highway route. Eventually, both connect to the Overseas Highway, the asphalt conduit bridging mainland Florida and Key West. For those interested in getting to where they are going as quickly as possible, and judging by how most people seem to drive on the highway, the old railroad route is the one most people take. It follows the 18-Mile Stretch carved out by those working for Henry Flagler while building the Key West Extension of his Florida East Coast Railway.
The Stretch connects to the Overseas Highway at the Monroe County line, around MM 115, rolls over the Jewfish Creek Bridge and onto the island. The alternative is taking Card Sound Road and following the original path of State Road 4A, the first Overseas Highway that opened to traffic in 1927. It takes longer unless you’re headed to North Key Largo, Ocean Reef or the Anglers Club. For those people, it is a shortcut.
These days, it is the path less traveled and shamefully overlooked. While it is not the most direct route, it is a scenic drive through a picturesque setting. Also, it passes one of Monroe County’s classic dive bars, a local fixture known for more than 50 years as Alabama Jack’s.
The bar is named after Jack Stratham, born circa 1901 in Sumter County, Georgia, somewhere between Columbus and Americus. He made his living working in construction around the world. He helped to build a light plant in Moscow and the first South American oil refinery “that was for a British company, in Colombia.”
He worked as a riveter when the Empire State Building was being built in New York City and on the city’s water pipelines “that started at Flatbush, went over the river, under the river, through Harlem and over to Yankee Stadium.”
While many stories are told about him (and some about his pet raccoon, Coonie), the April 18, 1971, edition of the Miami Herald tells a story about Alabama Jack. Too often, stories about the good old days are just that — stories about someone (Stratham) but not told by that someone (Stratham). This rare document provided quotes and pictures of Stratham and Coonie.
How did a Georgia boy become known as Alabama Jack? Apparently, several Jacks were working on a construction job, and because of the southern tones of his accent, the foreman nicknamed him Alabama Jack. How he found his way to Monroe County is a familiar story. It started in 1924 when he came to South Florida for a two-week vacation. An avid fisherman, he never forgot the local waters. By 1937, he was coming back every winter.
In the early 1940s, he bought a little place, moved to the area full-time, and spent a great deal of time fishing. One day, when he stopped at a gas station, the attendant noticed the fishing gear in Jack’s car. He said to Stratham, “I’ll tell you about the best place…”
That place turned out to be Card Sound, where Stratham bought the lease to just under an acre of right-of-way from a Miami plumber in 1953. “I bought the place first as more or less a party place, a place to entertain our friends.”
He acquired a small, abandoned railroad building used before the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane ended the run of the Over-Sea Railroad. He set it on pilings so that part of it stood over the water. He anchored it down and installed jalousie windows, doors and counters. He also built docks.
As word of the excellent fishing around Card Sound spread, Alabama Jack’s grew, and as hurricanes came and went, damaging his building, he
Alabama Jack’s at Card Sound. FLORIDA MEMORY PROJECT/ Contributed
always rebuilt. In 1965, “I had just finished work on two 16-by-16 rooms that summer. We moved in king-sized beds that hadn’t even been slept in.” When Hurricane Betsy stormed through, it knocked his building off its original pilings; he lost the two rooms, both mattresses, a barge with 18 new motors strapped to it, and hundreds of feet of docks. When it was over, he was left with two side walls, part of a roof, and some of the floor. Stratham bought a barge, rebuilt Alabama Jack’s on top of it, and reopened in March 1966.
The bar has been a Monroe County fixture ever since, in good times and bad. It was not the only business operating in that Card Sound community, one that has been described as a relative no-man’s land. At its peak, the community of about 100 people was largely squatters who built homes and scratched out a way of life fishing, selling blue crabs, running a bar or a fish camp and doing anything they could.
All of it encroached on a sliver of right-of-way that had been built up to support the road during the construction of State Road 4A with feet in both Dade and Monroe counties. For decades, the community was largely left to its own devices. One thing that set Alabama Jack’s apart from the vast majority of the others along Card Sound Road was ownership.
Stratham had a lease with Monroe County and the state for $300 a month. In 1971, it was extended for 10 years with an option to renew. Also, he had his wife, Alice. Alabama Jack’s was not the only place to rent a boat to go out fishing or grab a beer, but it was the only one offering Alice’s cooking. Once upon a time, her lima bean soup and crab cakes were legendary.
Twenty years after building the first Alabama Jack’s, Stratham sold the property. He died in 1977; Alabama Jack Stratham was 76 years old. Though the man has moved on, his legend and bar have lived on through better and worse. Those stories will be continued next week.
CHRIS
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
McNULTY Raffi encouraged us all to shake our sillies out and wiggle our waggles away. Under this full moon in Aries, that’s the best advice. The full moon in Aries is a time when our feelings run hot and anger or frustration can be quick to boil to the surface. With the sun in Libra, we are in a season of focusing on other people and working for social balance. But there is a counterpoint that arises when catering to others: “What about my needs?” Under the Aries full moon, seek independence in a world that requires connection, but find constructive outlets rather than impulsive releases of steam. While there is great potential for frustrated feelings, I would also contend that when the tension reaches its highest point, there is a great possibility for emotional catharsis and mutual understanding. Unclench the fist.
Here are your horoscopes for the Aries full moon square Mars in Cancer. Read for your rising and sun signs.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Your focus shifts toward relationships, where unresolved tensions may come to the surface. A partnership or close connection might feel strained, but this is your moment to find balance between compromise and standing your ground. While the temptation to smooth things over is strong, don’t ignore what needs addressing. Honest conversations can clear the air if you’re willing to speak up.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
Daily routines may feel more stressful than usual, with a strong push to handle everything at once. There’s a need to assert control over your schedule, but it’s essential to avoid burning out. Take a step back to reassess what’s truly urgent and what can be adjusted. The tension you feel is temporary, and finding an escape that works for you will help ease frustrations.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Creative projects or hobbies might hit a roadblock this week, and financial stress could add to the pressure. While you want to push forward, it’s important to avoid acting on impulse. Take a breath and consider where adjustments can be made, especially if others are involved. Collaboration can help you reach new insights, even if tensions flare at first.
Capricorn
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
Home life is feeling emotionally charged, and you might be confronted with issues that demand immediate attention. You could feel torn between your personal goals and family responsibilities, but try to avoid making snap decisions. Instead, focus on creating a stable foundation that supports both your ambitions and your relationships. Let a partner take the lead.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
Tensions in communication could arise, and you may feel frustrated by misunderstandings or delays. While you might want to assert your perspective forcefully, take a moment to consider how your words affect others. A balanced approach will go a long way in resolving conflicts or bringing clarity to the situation. Dialogue is key, but so is listening. Fall into a routine.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
Financial matters or questions of self-worth come to a head this week, as tension builds around balancing your needs with external pressures. While you may feel the urge to take immediate action, be mindful of impulsive decisions. Consider the long-term impact and focus on aligning your resources with your deeper values. It’s about finding equilibrium between what you want and what you can sustain.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
The full moon brings your personal goals into sharp focus, creating tension between where you’re headed and how your actions affect others. While the urge to act quickly is strong, it’s crucial to consider how your decisions impact your relationships. By balancing your independence with the needs of those around you, you can navigate challenges and emerge stronger.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
Time for some deep introspection. You may feel restless or uncertain about what lies ahead, but pushing for immediate clarity will only increase the tension. Trust that answers will come with time, especially if you allow yourself moments of quiet reflection. Releasing old patterns or expectations will help you create space for new growth.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
Your social dynamics are highlighted, with a potential for tension in group settings or friendships. This isn’t the time to rush into conflict, but rather to weigh your responses carefully. Finding balance between your personal needs and your social obligations is key to easing any friction. Maybe counterintuitively, actively spending some moolah can be a balm.
SQUEEZE AND RELEASE
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
Career and home life are at odds, and the full moon may bring emotions to the surface in both areas. While you might feel the need to make a decisive move, consider how to balance your ambitions with your need for personal security. It’s not about choosing one over the other, but finding a way to create harmony between your professional and private lives. You’re in charge.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
Your desire for adventure or expansion is in conflict with dayto-day responsibilities. Whether it’s travel, education or personal growth, you might feel held back by obligations. Don’t let frustration push you to act recklessly. Instead, consider how you can gradually work toward your goals while maintaining balance in your routine. Patience will yield better results than rushing ahead.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Emotional or financial entanglements come to the forefront, and you may feel pressured to make quick decisions. While it’s tempting to resolve everything at once, take a step back and assess the situation carefully. This week calls for a balance between managing details and keeping an eye on the bigger picture. By pacing yourself, you’ll find solutions that bring greater harmony.
Je e Johnson, 28, was a ested on Sept. 24 in Gilbert, Arizona, a er thr instances in which he a egedly spied on women’s f t as they vac med their cars, AZFamily reported. Police said Johnson’s M.O. at the Super Star Car Wash in Gilbert was to park next to a woman’s car at the vac m sta on, then slide underneath her car for a few minutes before climbing back out. One vic m said she felt “very violated and I’ve b n having nightmares.” It’s not the rst me Johnson has b n caught lus ng a er f t: Court documents revealed that he had b n cited at least four mes in Nebraska, and that he had touched a woman’s ankle in a grocery store.
ALMANAC | Oct. 17
On this day: In 1931, Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
In The Bleachers
Adam
Brevity
Brevity
Nancy
News of the Weird
TRY ’N’ FIND
Words that remind us of the Electoral College are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Nov. 5, 2024, is Election Day. People 18 and older will vote for president and vice president of the United States, along with other offices. The candidates from each party run as a team. They are on the same ticket.
Our country uses the Electoral College system of voting for president. Each state is allotted a certain number of votes, called electoral votes.
The votes cast by individuals are called the popular vote. This week, The Mini Page learns more about how this system works.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Voting is a citizen’s most important duty. But there is another step after individuals vote. It is called the Electoral College.
On election night, follow the results online, on TV or on the radio. Color in blue each state that votes Democrat. Color Republican states in red. Circle your state.
The map shows how many electoral votes each state gets.
This is not a college with a campus and students. Another meaning for “college” is a group that meets and has special duties.
The Electoral College has the duty to elect the president of the United States. Its members vote based on how the people in each state voted.
ELECTORAL VOTES
Each state gets a number of electoral votes equal to the number of members it has in the U.S. Congress. For example:
North Carolina has 14 representatives and two senators, so it gets 16 electoral votes.
The political parties in each state nominate a set of electors equal to the state’s number of members of Congress. So North Carolina has 16 Republican and 16 Democratic electors.
Nearly 1 person in 3 around the world is now suffering from an increased number of hot nights brought on by human-induced climate change, according to a new study. It also found that around 2.4 billion people have experienced at least two weeks of temperatures that didn’t fall below 77 degrees at night over the past decade. The United Nations says this is just above the threshold where sleep often becomes uncomfortable for humans. The Indian city of Mumbai endured 60 more days of hot nights than normal during the past 10 years.
If the popular vote goes for the Republican candidate in that state, the Republican electors cast their votes for him or her.
The electoral votes total 538. This number is based on the total number of members of Congress.
VOTING DAY
On the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, voters go to the polls. The winning ticket in each state gets all of that state’s electoral votes (except in Maine and Nebraska, where the electoral vote may be split between the candidates).
We usually know who the winner is on election night by counting the electoral votes. However, there are other steps to make it official.
PRESENTING THE VOTES
In December, the winning electors, or special voters from each state, meet in their state capitals and cast their votes. These electoral votes are put into sealed envelopes and sent to the president of the U.S. Senate.
On Jan. 6, he or she opens the envelopes. The results are read before a meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
RESOURCES
the library:
“The Electoral College: A Kid’s Guide” by Cari Meister
Mini Fact: About 66% of people who were eligible to vote in 2020 went to the polls.
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, join Keys FCU in celebrating 76 years of International Credit Union Day® with treats and give aways in our branches.
Credit Unions bring people together to grow financial inclusion and make local communities stronger, even in our divided times.
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.
FINS VS. WIND
Marathon Middle School, Key Largo School clash on the gridiron
In a setting befitting an in-county rivalry that’s certain to grow through the years, the Marathon Middle School Dolphins and Key Largo School Tornados took their turn under Friday night lights, battling for yards on Oct. 11. In a largely defensive battle, the Dolphins prevailed, 16-6, before turning the field over to the sixth-grade teams for a customary 20-minute “fifth quarter” that gave younger players a chance for game action. Photos by DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly.
GHOULISH MUSICAL COMEDY
‘The
Addams Family’ to open ahead of Halloween
KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL www.keysweekly.com
The last time Jose Garcia was in a theatrical production was 14 years ago when he was a senior at Coral Shores High School. Today, the almost-31-year-old is taking on the role of Gomez in the upcoming Key Players production “The Addams Family,” a new musical comedy.
“It’s fun,” said Garcia, who tried out for the musical at the nudging of his wife.
“There’s a lot of adrenaline that goes on with it when you’re trying your best to perform.”
Garcia’s former high school drama teacher is directing the musical and says her former student was a natural for the role.
“He wanted to come back and do it and he is a perfect Gomez,” said director Michele Zofchak.
Zofchak is the drama teacher at Key Largo School. For this latest Key Players production, Zofchak, or Ms. Z as she’s often affectionately called, is directing a cast of 40-plus actors, made up of kids and adults alike. She’s anticipating a smash hit.
“Our rehearsals have been better than any I can remember because everyone has come in prepared, they’ve learned their music, they’ve had their lines memorized, so we’re able to really get into the technical aspect,” said Zofchak.
This is Phoenix Bello’s first time on stage. The Coral Shores High School senior was cast in an understudy role, playing Lurch. He says being part of a production can be challenging.
“I think it’s just getting everything right, like all the lyrics, singing in the right tone and all that,” said Bello. Backstage show preparations are in full gear as well. John Pettit is just one of several volunteers helping to build the intricate and quite spooky set.
“My friends and I made this stretcher torture machine that some guy’s going to get on and get stretched and then we made this gothic chair,” said Pettit, who recently joined the Key Players and had an acting role in “Escape to Margaritaville.” Pettit says working behind the scenes is just as rewarding as being on stage. “Whatever they need help with, I’m enjoying the heck out of it,” he added.
“The Addams Family” musical centers on a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things gruesome and morbid. The central plot revolves around Wednesday Addams, who falls in love with a normal young man named Lucas from a conventional family. Chaos follows when Lucas and his parents are invited over for dinner.
Jayden Ferrell, an accomplished actor and singer, who also happens to be blind, plays Lucas. He graduated from Coral Shores High School in 2023 and now attends Florida International University. This is Ferrell’s first leading role in a Key Players production.
“I like theater. It makes me feel included in society. It’s like one of the only things you can be blind and still be able to be really good at,” explained Ferrell.
“To be able to have a blind person on stage in a lead role, that’s what Key Players is all about,” said longtime Key Players director and producer Jonelle Kop.
For Kop, this upcoming production is especially meaningful. Kop has been part of the volunteer theater troupe for the last 23 years and has been involved in 28 productions.
“This is my first time in a lead role in a musical,” said Kop. “This is actually a dream come true for me.” Kop became choked up talking about her emotional journey with the theater. The 68-year-old always wanted to be an actress, but very early on was dissuaded from chasing her dream.
Top: Actors with the Key Players prepare to present ‘The Addams Family’ musical. The show opens Thursday, Oct. 24 at Coral Shores High School. KELLIE BUTLER FARRELL/Keys Weekly. Bottom: Director Michele Zofchak chains Victoria Hoffman to a prop rack. Hoffman plays the role of Pugsley.
“When I grew up, I loved the drama and I wanted to be an actress, but my teachers and counselors told me that my voice wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t pretty enough, I wasn’t thin enough, my dancing was subpar and I would never get any kind of a lead role or even be on stage in a musical, it just was impossible,” recalled Kop.
Zofchak encouraged Kop to audition and she landed the role of the grandmother.
“I bucked up, I got on stage, I turned on the music and I sang,” recalled Kop of her audition. “It took me 50 years to get here; what can I say, it took me 50 years to get on stage in a musical,” said Kop, who is also co-producing this musical with Zofchak.
“The Addams Family” will take place at the Coral Shores High School Performing Arts Center. It’s a large venue and organizers are hoping to bring in 200 to 300 people a night. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 24 and there will be a total of seven performances. More information is at thekeyplayers.org.
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (1981) Why: Douglas Adams’ hilarious radio program-turnednovel is adapted into a 6-episode BBC miniseries with winning results. Unlike the more widely seen 2005 film adaptation, this series has the benefit of Adams himself being actively involved. The comedic beats and pacing the radio show and book are known for (that the later film couldn’t quite tap into) are here in full force. Sure, the production values are minimal and unconvincing, but that only adds to the off-kilter charm. Anyone familiar with classic “Doctor Who” will feel right at home here, and the energetic cast rises to the task of giving this wacky world the color and life Adams’ imagination demands.
Where: This series is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/reel-recs
BIG KAHUNA CROWN
Mary Houston raises more than $31,000 for Good Health Clinic
For the past several months, seven individuals and three duos went on a fundraising campaign for Good Health Clinic in hopes of becoming the next Big Kahuna. On Oct. 12, the clinic held a Rio-carnival-style party to crown the winner at Founders Park beach in Islamorada. In total, the Kahunas raised $140,000 for the clinic, which provides health care services for low-income and uninsured residents of the Florida Keys. Big Kahuna winner Mary Houston, of Houston Insurance Agency, raised $31,000. “We’re really pleased with how it went,” said Kate Banick, Good Health Clinic executive director. “We had more candidates than ever before, and they held so many events. As a result we saw an increase in patients registering for the clinic. While we love the money, we’re grateful it’s connecting people to the clinic, which is the other purpose of this.”
1. Josh and Jaime McNew, owners of J-Kindred Salon, pose with a stilt walker. 2. The Good Health Clinic’s 2024 Big Kahuna participants are recognized. 3. From left, nurse practitioners Cristel Anzoategui and Keila Paulino, registered nurse Scott Williams and medical student Alexandra Perez with Keys Mobile Medical. 4. Last year’s Big Kahuna winner Emily Strain crowns new winner Mary Houston. 5-6. Rio Brazilian Samba dancers, Batucada drummers and a stilt walker from Dance South Florida Entertainment perform for guests. Photos by DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly. Visit keysweekly.com for the full gallery.
BE THE B.E.S.T. VOTE
YES BACK EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS TODAY
ON NOVEMBER BALLOTS, VOTERS WILL SEE TWO REFERENDUMS RELATED TO FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
PASSING THESE TWO REFERENDUMS IS CRUCIAL FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SECURE ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR TEACHERS SALARIES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
REFERENDUM 1.) 1/2 MILLREFERENDUM 2.) 1/2 CENT-
GATOR HUNTING
Conch swimmers thrash Barbara Goleman | P.8
Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.
Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.
THE SCOREBOARD
Team Sport Opponent Date Result
Key West Volleyball Coral Shores 10/7 W, 3-1
Coral Shores Football Archbishop Carroll 10/11 W, 15-13
Key West Football Miami Northwestern 10/11 L, 50-14
Key West Boys Swimming Barbara Goleman 10/11 W, 90-79
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Key West Girls Swimming Barbara Goleman 10/11 W, 125-27 THIS WEEK William
THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS
OCT. 17
Date School Sport Opponent Start Time
10/17 Key West Swimming Doral 1 p.m.
10/18 Marathon Volleyball Fort Meade @ Moore Haven TBA
10/18 Marathon Football Gateway Charter 7 p.m.
10/21 Key West Boys Golf @ Mavericks Invitational TBA
10/23 Key West Golf @ Wolverine Classic TBA
FORSTER
Senior, Key West Cross Country
ON THE COVER
His growth mindset this year has been an honor to watch and is a great example to a younger generation of athletes. I can’t wait to see how this season unfolds in the next few weeks.”
— Keara McGraw, Conchs cross county coach
“HIS WORK ETHIC AND LEADERSHIP HAVE MADE HIM AN ASSET TO HIS TEAMMATES.”
When it comes to team success, it is not always the star athlete whose contributions make the greatest impact. Key West’s William Forster is a shining example of this.
“His work ethic and leadership have made him an asset to his teammates,” said head coach Keara McGraw of Forster’s efforts to improve both himself and his entire team. “Will goes above and beyond to do the miles even when scheduling makes it difficult,” she added.
Forster leads by example, making time to run even when there is no official practice. HIs leadership reaches beyond his hard work, though; when McGraw is stretched between both teams, he steps up and makes sure all is well while his coach tends to the girls team. For his constant endeavor to improve and his willingness to give his best to his team in every way possible, Key West’s Will Forster is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
Photo by MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
Jason Frankel explodes off the starting block in the Key West Conchs’ home meet against Barbara Goleman on Oct. 11. MAICEY MALGRAT/ Keys Weekly
tracy
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.
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.
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.
VOLLEYBALL ENTERS POSTSEASON
Conchs, ’Canes and Fins vie for district glory
After their first loss of the season at the hands of Key West, the Lady ’Canes spent some time regrouping and reloading for their upcoming district quarterfinal matchup against Somerset Silver Palms on Oct. 15 (results not available at press time). Coral Shores, seeded third, will play Somerset in a bonus home match against the sixth-seeded Stallions. Silver Palms has proven that they will not just allow Coral Shores to roll them, however. In earlier matches, the ’Canes came away with 3-1 and 3-2 wins, but the teams match up well, setting the scene for an exciting quarterfinal round. Should the Hurricanes, still undefeated in district action, prevail, they move on to the semis the following day. The FHSAA 3A District 16 title match is Thursday, Oct. 17 at Ransom Everglades HIgh School.
A match against NSU University School and another against Basilica were canceled due to Hurricane Milton, giving the Marathon Dolphins some extra practice time before their postseason stretch. Marathon will take a road trip for its first-ever FHSAA Rural District 8 championship tournament on Friday, Oct. 18. The Fins earned a bye in round one with their FHSAA power rankings. The 3-14 Dolphins’ strength of schedule was impressive enough to earn them the No. 2 seed and an automatic trip to the semifinals, where they will play the Miners of Fort Meade. If the Dolphins come away with the victory over the third-seeded Miners, they will head to the district championship match at 7:30 that same night.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials. 9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050
Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com
After winning the Queens of the Keys title against Coral Shores, Key West’s match against Boca Raton was canceled due to the storm. Instead, the Conchs hunkered down to prepare for their FHSAA 4A District 16 quarterfinal match against the Rockets of Miami Central. The Conchs, who claimed the No. 3 seed with their 9-6 record, hosted the 6th-seeded Rockets on Oct. 14 in the quarterfinal round, blanking them in three sets. They then faced No. 2 seed Ronald Reagan High in the semis on Oct. 15 (results not available at press time). The potential district championships will be played at Reagan, with the finals on the 17th.
The Mariners of Basilica closed out their first season with a 5-11 record. They finished a week early, after their Marathon match was canceled along with just about every sporting event across the state due to Hurricane Milton. The Mariners do not participate in the FHSAA, thereby eliminating them from playoff action.
mcdonald
An onside kick recovery by Connor Dixon, right, put an end to Archbishop Carroll’s comeback bid on Oct. 11. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
Hurricanes seal Florida Independent Football Conference with win over Archbishop Carroll
Coral Shores traveled to Harris Field to play Archbishop Carroll on Oct. 11 in what head coach Ed Holly described as “an unusual night.” Archbishop Carroll’s home contests are held in the afternoon, as they do not have adequate field lighting, but to accommodate their homecoming event, they scheduled their game to be played across town with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. Referees are easy to come by for afternoon games, but not so much for evening contests. The crew was late to the start, pushing back the kickoff more than half an hour.
Once the game was underway, down came the rain, which started and stopped intermittently throughout the night, causing some unpredictable conditions. Holly described the event as “a tale of two halves.” In the first two quarters, everything went right for the ’Canes. Yemcel Moreno hit A.J. Putetti with a 60-yard touchdown pass early in the game, giving the Hurricanes a quick 7-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
While Archbishop Carroll was attempting to kick the ball away on a fourth-and-long situation, the slippery ball and sloppy field caused the punter to step out of bounds, resulting in a safety for Coral Shores.
“The rain definitely worked to our advantage,” Holly said. The ’Canes’ defense was strong, allowing a grand total of just 3 rushing yards the entire first half. Putetti punched in another TD late in the second quarter to give Coral Shores a 15-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
The second half would not go quite so well for the ’Canes. Right at the start, the lights went out. Stadium lighting is scheduled, often offsite, and lights must warm up properly, making for a long wait. Thirty-five minutes later, the half was finally underway with both teams wet, muddy and weary. The Bulldogs chipped away at Coral Shores’ lead and the ’Canes’ offense was no longer hot. Archbishop Carroll had narrowed the gap to just 2 points and tried for an onside kick with 3:35 left in the game. Connor Dixon decided enough was enough and recovered the ball to give the ’Canes possession. Coral Shores managed to eke out a first down, allowing
the clock to run down and preserving the win.
The victory meant not just spoiling the Bulldogs’ homecoming, but also guaranteed the Hurricanes at minimum a shared conference championship. Coach Holly said that his team set several goals early this season. One was to have a winning record, which the now 7-1 ’Canes secured several wins ago. The second was to win the conference championship, making last week’s game even sweeter.
The Hurricanes are off this week, then return to action the following week against St. John Neumann, who will head to Tavernier from Naples. Their final game is at Key West on Nov. 1.
Marathon enjoyed a week of rest and recuperation last week. They play Gateway Charter at home on Oct. 18, then host John Carroll Catholic the following week. The Dolphins’ final regular-season contest will be at Pinecrest on Nov. 1. Marathon’s postseason prospects will come down to their win-loss record and strength of schedule. They
hope to make the FHSAA 1A Rural playoffs in their first year in the classification.
Key West suffered a loss at home Oct. 11 at the hands of Miami Northwestern. The Bulls were heavily favored in the matchup, and their online roster includes 145 players. A quick glance at the Bulls’ sidelines made it clear their coaching staff likely needed its own bus. They traveled with 22 coaches, but the Conchs were up to the challenge.
In the first half, Key West held its own, heading into the locker room down 28-14. Coach Johnny Hughes knew that in order to upset the Bulls, his team would need to be perfect, and would need a little luck. Fortune was not with the Conchs, though, and quarterback Teak Guyet went down with a broken collarbone. The Conchs’ backup QB was already out with an injury, putting the snaps into the hands of Jaden Fox. With Fox moved from running back to quarterback, the Conchs running game lost some of its power, and against a team like Northwestern, that meant a rough half. The final score was 50-14, making the final two games for Key West vital if they hope to make the playoffs.
Key West will recuperate with a bye this week before facing Miami Jackson the following Friday. Jackson, like Northwestern, is in the Conchs’ district, making the game an important one.
“It’s a good week for a bye week,” Hughes said. Key West closes out the regular season at home against Coral Shores on Nov. 1. After that, they will need to see where their record and strength of schedule place them in FHSAA’s 1A District 16, with the hopes of a wild card bid to the postseason.
99 YEARS & COUNTING
Keys gridiron history spans nearly a century
It should not be surprising that a place so rich in history as the Florida Keys also boasts a wealth of prep sports history. The annals of high school sports in Monroe County stretch back as far as 1913, when the Hargrove Institute in Key West put together a basketball team just 22 years after the sport was invented. Fast-forward another 12 years and Monroe County officially kicked off its gridiron history.
Prep football was first noted in Key West 99 years ago. Football was not new to the Southernmost City; it was just new to high-school athletes. In fact, the first teams faced by the Fighting Conchs of Monroe County High School, later Key West High School, were the enlisted men stationed on the island. The Conchs played against groups including the Navy, the Navy Hospital and the Marines. Games were played at the Army barracks, now Peary Court, and the field conditions we complain about so vehemently today were likely far more terrible then.
As far as actual competitions against other high school teams, the Conchs did have a few that first year. The records for Key West’s inaugural season are sketchy and difficult to come by, but it is clear that coach Peter Christiansen was at the helm of an 11-man gridiron squad that traveled via train and ship to the mainland to play against Miami High, Saint Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale (to face the Flying Tarpons) and to Lemon City, which was the area of Miami near Little Haiti today.
That first team had hopes of traveling to Cuba with the local Navy crew, which was going to face the University of Havana, but it is unclear whether that ever happened. What did occur was the worst thumping a Keys team ever endured in a football contest when St. Petersburg, the state champ that season, scored 96 points on the scoreless Conchs.
The Conchs were back for more in year two and continued to play a mix of high school and adult teams. Their opening game was a rematch against Saint Petersburg, where Monroe County High School lost 28-0, far better than their first encounter. The Conchs made a three-day trip to play the Green Devils aboard the steamship Cuba. The trip was not a sightseeing extravaganza; it took that long to get the team and a dedicated fanbase of 20 to and from St. Pete, making our modern transportation seem a bit less worrisome.
Later that year, the team had to be rescued at sea when their transportation began to leak a few miles offshore. It is said that the team helped bail as they waited for the Coast Guard, who eventually transported them to Fort Myers for their game. The school’s yearbook the following spring states that the trip took 25 hours, a bit different from the high-speed ferry you can hop aboard today. But it was not all doom and gloom for the Conchs; they picked up their first win against Lemon City High School that season. Lemon City, no doubt, was still digging out from the Miami Hurricane of 1926, a
Category 4 monster that destroyed much of Miami and Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 20 of that year.
In 1927, Monroe County High School officially changed its name to Key West High School, but many already called it that. In the first official year of being called Key West High School, one could argue that the first win was that season, against a team of Marines stationed in town. Regardless, it would be the last year of prep football in the Keys for many years. The effects of the Great Depression were just too much for the time and expense of football to overcome.
3
Florida Governor
3. Football star Red Stickney,
4. Monroe County High School football team in 1925-26. The school would be renamed to Key West High School in 1927. Front row, from left: Leslie ‘Rope' Russell, Kermit Baker, Joe ‘Ramrod’ Pierce, William ‘Billy’ Arnold and Stewart ‘Slim’ Walker. Second Row: Earl Jackson, Robert Knight, Floyd ‘Dizzy’ Roberts, Theron Gato, Fred Carbonell and Maurice Cruz. Third row: Gerald Hernandez, George Adams, Reggie Trevor, Isadore ‘Izzy’ Weintraub, Philip Cosgrove and Munson Johnson. Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Library Collection.
Football returned to the Keys in 1948, when the Tigers of Douglass School fielded a team. At that time, schools were still segregated by race, and the Black students attended Douglass High. Their football games were the only prep gridiron contests that year and were played at Ocean View Park. Some of Key West’s best athletic teams wore Tigers uniforms.
By the time Conch football kicked off again, it was 1951, and several of the athletes from the inaugural season had sons playing for Key West. That season, the Conchs’ travel was a bit less difficult; they took an airplane to play against Cristobal High School in Panama. The Keys had their first All-State player that season in Ken Bazo, who later played at FSU. Two seasons later marked the first undefeated season in Keys gridiron history. Key West was 8-0-2 in 1953 and won the Gold Coast Conference Championship. No Key West team has gone undefeated since.
Marathon opened for business in 1957 and fielded a flag football team. The Dolphins and Hurricanes enjoyed an annual flag football game, beginning their rivalry prior to the first Battle of the Keys event. The 1950s produced some of the greatest gridiron athletes in Keys history, including Red Stickney, Boog Powell and George Mira. Powell and Mira were wooed heavily by colleges in baseball and football, with Powell choosing the former and Mira the latter.
1964 marked Coral Shores’ first year of tackle football, when they put together a six-man team. The ’Canes went 5-0 that season, marking the only Keys football team to finish the season undefeated and untied. The following year, Douglass School closed and the students and athletes of Monroe County experienced integration. However, that same year, Mary Immaculate put together an 11-man tackle team after not being able to field enough athletes for six-man the year before. The ’60s saw talented athletes from Keys teams including Mike Blatt, Joe Mira, Charles Powell and Bobby Menendez, the namesake of Key West’s gymnasium.
In 1966, Coral Shores had an 11-man football team for the first time. They traveled to Freeport in ’69 for an international matchup in the Bahamas. Then in 1970, Marathon added 11-man football to its offerings and the first (and second) Battles of the Keys took place. Coral Shores won both contests between the two teams in a rivalry that continues to this day. In 1979, Island Christian School added a team, making it five Keys teams competing that season. Mary Immaculate closed its doors in 1985, and Island Christian had a short hiatus, then scaled back to eight-man football between 2009 and 2016. For the last eight years, only the three public schools have taken snaps across the Keys, and it appears that will be unchanged next season, which will mark a century of prep football in Monroe County.
"We have been loyal customers of the agency for more than six decades. We love the personal touch we get when coming into the o ce with questions about our policies. Holly Redding and Jennifer Paul are always so helpful, nice and there to help if we have a problem or just a question. You always keep us up to date on the new laws and changes that come up. It is our pleasure to be your customers."
1. Douglass High School football team on Nov. 19, 1955, before schools were integrated. Photo by Don Pinder
2.
Leroy Collins with Key West High School baseball team, 1959. George Mira second from left; Boog Powell fourth from the right.
Photo by Don Pinder
shown here on Aug. 30, 1957. Photo by Don Pinder.
GATOR HUNTING
Conchs take care of business against Barbara Goleman
Key West hosted Barbara Goleman High school for a swim meet on Oct. 11 at the College of the Florida Keys pool. The Conchs outswam the Gators 90-79 in the boys competition and 125-27 in girls. Individual first-place finishers for the boys team were Santiago Gonzalez (200 free), Jacob Perez (500 free) and Eli Morris (100 back). Lady Conchs winning at home were Tessa Hughes (200 free), Hadley Bardoni (200 IM and 500 free), Aly Camargo (50 free), Colbie Turner (100 fly and 100 free), Mary Searcy (100 back) and Karis Dryer (100 breast).
1. Hadley
wins in the 500 free and 200 IM help pace the Conchs to a massive win over Barbara Goleman.
2. Tessa Hughes’ win in the 200 free helps pave the way for a Lady Conchs win in the CFK pool.
4-7. Paced by strong performances from both the boys and girls teams, the Key West Conchs make short work of Barbara Goleman on Oct. 11.
8. Reeghan Davis gets off to a fast start.
Bardoni’s
3. Eli Morris’ first-place finish in the 100 backstroke helps the Conchs outswim the Gators on Oct. 11.
Photos by MAICEY MALGRAT/ Keys Weekly
SETTING THE BAR
A look ahead to girls weightlifting
The first sports of the winter season officially opened for business in the past weeks, marking the beginning of the end for fall athletics as some athletes and coaches prepare for the inevitable overlap of their seasons. The arrival of winter sports seems to come earlier and earlier each season, with start dates occurring on a rolling basis.
Competitive cheerleading, offered only at Key West High, began practices on Sept. 30. Their competition season officially opens on Oct. 21. Next is girls weightlifting, which started practicing Oct. 7 and can begin competing on the 28th. Boys and girls soccer could start practices Oct. 14, with matches beginning the first week of November. Basketball practices begin on Oct. 28, and the window for girls wrestling opens Nov. 4, with the boys starting one week later.
One of Monroe County’s newest sports, weightlifting, has proven to be quite prolific in the hardware department. Girls weightlifting is offered at all three public schools, and the teams somehow top themselves each year.
Key West will be under the tutelage of a new coach this season in Brett Fink, who was officially hired Oct. 4, just in time for the season to begin. With two days lost to storm cancellation, Fink is still settling into the position, but he has solid goals for the upcoming season.
“Generally my goals for any team are for them to give their best effort, to focus on doing things correctly and to work together as a team. In other words, play hard, play right, play together, a play on (North Carolina) coaching legend Dean Smith's ‘Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together,’” he said. “I include Play Right as a character-building component, which I feel is important at the high school level.”
Fink stepped up to the challenge after he learned there was no coach for the team. Many of his students were on the team and he decided to shoulder the duty for them. Fink expressed much appreciation for Jessie Schubert and Erin Hamilton, coaches for Marathon and Coral Shores, saying, “They both reached out to me when I was hired to help get us scheduled and to offer to teach me the ropes of running/ organizing the meets. Just a fantastic welcome from our competitors that I am truly grateful for.”
Key West returns several key athletes, including senior Alexa Condella and junior Shylo Sanchez. Condella will serve as team captain this season, and Sanchez brought home a pair of fourth-place medals from districts last year.
Coral Shores returns a bevy of talent this season. Sydney Eysenbach is the current district champ and was a state qualifier last season. Vanessa Gabriel was second only to Eysenbach in traditional lifts and claimed bronze in Olympic. She joined the state qualifiers with an excellent showing at regionals. Jennille Arias is the two-time defending district
champ and looks to make the state meet for the third time as a junior this year. Senior Rachel Rusch and sophomore Julia Rusch return in the lighter weights for the ’Canes. Rachel won district gold in traditional lifts last season while Julia won bronze, and both sisters qualified for the state meet. Kali Gomer should also make some room for more hardware this season. The senior was a district and regional runner-up in Olympic lifts and made the trip to states last season.
Marathon also returns a remarkable core of strong lifters. Senior Ella Dunn already owns one FHSAA state medal from her fifth-place performance in Olympic lifts last season. Dunn added it to a variety of district and regional medals from her past two seasons. Sabrina Schofield returns for her senior season as the defending district champ. Schofield earned a trip to states and has been working hard in the offseason in hopes of a repeat this year. Junior Ayme Maradiaga is also back after a trip to states last season.
But all eyes are on another Lady Fin: junior Justice Lee will be defending dual state titles for Marathon this season, and she did not take the offseason lightly. Lee added a Florida AAU gold to her state titles this summer, and when she is not at a meet, she is in the gym.
“I have an amazing community cheering me on from the start, as well as amazing coaches.”
Lee steadily improved each week last season, culminating in her unprecedented performance at states, but she is mitigating the pressure of defending her titles the only way she knows how.
— Marathon junior Justice Lee
“I do feel a little bit of pressure, but not much,” she said. “I believe that if I keep training as hard as I have been, then it will go well. I have an amazing community cheering me on from the start, as well as amazing coaches.”
And just what does an athlete with two years left of eligibility do when they are already a dual (triple with the AAU title) state champion? In Lee’s case, they set the bar higher.
“My goals this season are to make it to states and hopefully get a couple of state records as well as go undefeated,” she said.
Lee can begin her quest for perfection on Oct. 30, when Marathon joins Key West at Coral Shores for the first meet of the season.
Left page: Ella Dunn (top) and Justice Lee (bottom).
This page:
Top, from left, Julia Rusch and Rachel Rusch. Center, from left, Sabrina Schofield and Sydney Esenbach. Bottom, Vanessa Gabriel.
Photos by Doug Finger and Barry Gaukel
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
NOTICE OF ELECTION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AN ELECTION HAS BEEN CALLED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AT THE REQUEST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA FROM 7:00 A.M. UNTIL 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, THE FIFTH DAY NOVEMBER, 2024, AT WHICH TIME THERE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DULY QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:
RENEWAL OF OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS:
The School District seeks to continue its current funding for operational expenses including teacher salaries and safe-school officers. Such funds will be shared with local charter schools proportionally based on their full-time student enrollment.
Shall the District continue to enact a yearly ad valorem tax of no more than 0.5625 mill, for four (4) years beginning January 1, 2027, to fund safe-school officers and operational expenses of Monroe County Schools? ______ YES ______ NO
September 26, October 3, 10 & 17, 2024. The Weekly Newspapers.
AVISO DE PLEBISCITO
MARTES, 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2024, EN EL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA QUE LA JUNTA DE COMISIONADOS DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, HA CONVOCADO A UN PLEBISCITO A SOLICITUD DE LA JUNTA ESCOLAR DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, EL CUAL SE CELEBRARÁ DESDE LAS 7:00 A. M. HASTA LAS 7:00 P. M. DEL MARTES 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2024, EN CUYO MOMENTO SE PRESENTARÁ A LOS ELECTORES DEBIDAMENTE CALIFICADOS DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, LA SIGUIENTE PREGUNTA:
REFINANCIAMIENTO OPERATIVO PARA LAS ESCUELAS DEL CONDADO DE MONROE:
El distrito escolar busca continuar con el financiamiento actual para los gastos operativos, incluidos los salarios de los docentes y de los funcionarios de seguridad escolar. Los fondos se compartirán con las escuelas subsidiadas locales proporcionalmente en función del número de estudiantes matriculados a tiempo completo.
¿Deberá el distrito continuar promulgando un impuesto anual ad valorem de no más de 0.5625 mill, por cuatro (4) años a partir del 1 de enero de 2027, para financiar a los funcionarios de seguridad escolar y los gastos operativos de las escuelas del condado de Monroe? ______ SÍ ______ NO
September 26, October 3, 10 & 17, 2024. The Weekly Newspapers.
NOTICE OF ELECTION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AN ELECTION HAS BEEN CALLED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AT THE REQUEST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA FROM 7:00 A.M. UNTIL 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, THE FIFTH DAY NOVEMBER, 2024, AT WHICH TIME THERE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DULY QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:
FACILITATING SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL PROJECTS THROUGH SALES TAX LEVY RATHER THAN RAISING LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES:
Renewed funding is required for the School District's capital improvement plan such as new construction, renovations, additions, security needs, technology implementation, school buses, and permitted capital improvements. The revenues collected must be shared with eligible charter schools based on their proportionate share of the total school district enrollment.
Shall the School Board of Monroe County, Florida continue to levy a one-half cent sales surtax for a period of ten (10) years beginning January 1, 2026?
______ FOR THE ONE-HALF CENT TAX
______ AGAINST THE ONE-HALF CENT TAX
September 26, October 3, 10 & 17, 2024. The Weekly Newspapers.
AVISO DE PLEBISCITO
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, IN MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA QUE LA JUNTA DE COMISIONADOS DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, HA CONVOCADO A UN PLEBISCITO A SOLICITUD DE LA JUNTA ESCOLAR DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, EL CUAL SE CELEBRARÁ DESDE LAS 7:00 A. M. HASTA LAS 7:00 P. M. DEL MARTES 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2024, EN CUYO MOMENTO SE PRESENTARÁ A LOS ELECTORES DEBIDAMENTE CALIFICADOS DEL CONDADO DE MONROE, FLORIDA, LA SIGUIENTE PREGUNTA:
FACILITAR LOS PROYECTOS DE CAPITAL DE LOS DISTRITOS ESCOLARES MEDIANTE LA RECAUDACIÓN DE IMPUESTOS A LAS VENTAS EN LUGAR DE AUMENTAR LOS IMPUESTOS LOCALES DE DERECHO INMOBILIARIO:
Se requiere refinanciamiento para el plan de mejoras de capital en el distrito escolar, el cual abarca construcciones, renovaciones, ampliaciones, seguridad, tecnología, autobuses escolares y mejoras permitidas de capital. Los ingresos recaudados deberán compartirse con las escuelas subsidiadas que califiquen en función de su participación proporcional de la matrícula total del distrito escolar.
¿Debe la Junta Escolar del condado de Monroe, Florida, continuar recaudando un impuesto a las ventas de medio céntimo por un período de diez (10) años, contados a partir del 1 de enero de 2026?
A FAVOR DEL IMPUESTO DE MEDIO CÉNTIMO ______ EN CONTRA DEL IMPUESTO DE MEDIO CÉNTIMO
September 26, October 3, 10 & 17, 2024. The Weekly Newspapers.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property under the Florida Self Storage Facilities Act Statutes (Section 83.801 – 83.809). The undersigned will sell online by competitive bidding on November 8, 2024, at 9am. #324 Thomas Beaudry –personal property #109 Shammah Fleurelus –personal property #321 Faime Desrochers –personal property Will be auctioned online by Storage Treasures via website at storagetreasures.com. All purchased items sold as is. Items are located at Big Pine Storage at 30677 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 and must be collected within 72 hours of auction.
Publish:
October 17 & 24, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT IV ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC IV) (between the Long Key Bridge and mile marker 90.939) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a LODGING INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE – shall be owners or operating/general managers of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations which are subject to bed tax in the tax collection district for which they are applying. Any person wishing to participate on the District IV Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@fla-keys.com, or may be sent via U.S. Mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040 The deadline for receipt of applications at the above address is 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 15, 2024. A resume may be attached to the application. Publish: October 17, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Key West Art & Historical Society located in 281 Front Street, Key West, FL is seeking bids on the Custom House Elevator Modernization and Upgrade Project. Interested parties should email Bender & Associates Architects at info@ benderarchitects.com for details related to the bids and the project with the subject line: Custom House Elevator Modernization and Upgrade. Publish: October 17 & 24, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-510-P DIVISION: UPPER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF YVES PASCHKES Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Yves Paschkes, deceased, whose date of death was July 19, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, Florida 33070. The
names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. 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: October 17, 2024.
Personal Representative: Anthony W. Allen 9818 Magellan Dr. Key Largo, Florida 33037 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: October 17 & 24, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-502-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF CLARA ANN MAYETTE, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Clara Ann Mayette, deceased, whose date of death was September 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. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held
at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes.
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: October 17, 2024.
Personal Representative: Gerald Edward Mayette 1129 Calle Ensenada Marathon, Florida 33050
Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION REF NO. 24-CP-000474-K IN RE: ESTATE OF JAMES R. ENSMINGER, DECEASED. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The name of the decedent, the designation of the court in which the administration of this estate is pending, and the file number are indicated above. The address of the court is Monroe County Courthouse, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The name and address of the ancillary personal representative and the ancillary personal representative’s attorney are indicated below.
If you have been served with a copy of this notice and you have any claim or demand against the decedent’s estate, even if that claim is unmatured, contingent or unliquidated, you must file your claim with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF A DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with the court ON OR BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 3 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. EVEN IF A CLAIM IS NOT BARRED BY THE LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, ALL CLAIMS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WILL BE BARRED TWO YEARS AFTER DECEDENT'S DEATH.
The date of death of the decedent is January 13, 2024. The date of first publication
of this notice is October 10, 2024.
Ancillary Personal Representative: ANDREW MARAZZOENSMINGER 256 Wilcox St. Wilson, NY 14172
Attorney for Ancillary Personal Representative: TERRY J. DEEB, ESQ. DEEB ELDER LAW, P.A. 6699 13th Avenue North, Suite 4B
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
E-Mail: servicejcj@ deebelderlaw.com
E-Mail: servicekat@ deebelderlaw.com
E-Mail: servicedck@ deebelderlaw.com FL Bar No. 997791
Publish: October 10 & 17, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-484-M
DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA D. SCHMITT aka DELORES PATRICIA SCHMITT, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Patricia D. Schmitt aka Delores Patricia Schmitt, deceased, whose date of death was August 9, 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.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. 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: October 10, 2024.
Personal Representative: Bruce A. Schmitt 11100 Overseas Highway 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: October 10 & 17, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 24-CP-442-K
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF KATHLEEN S. SNAVELY, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of KATHLEEN S. SNAVELY, deceased, whose date of death was June 15, 2024, Case: 24-CP-442-K, is pending in the Circuit Court, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is: October 10, 2024.
Personal Representative: JAMES M. SHAVER
c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A.
3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040
Attorney for Personal Representative: Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0144304
Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A.
3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040
Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com
Telephone: (305) 292-3926
Fax: (305) 295-7947
Publish: October 10 & 17, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
FILE NO. 24-CP-000074-K
IN RE: ESTATE OF RONALD W. HABYL, DECEASED.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of RONALD W. HABYL, deceased, whose date of death was December 28, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate 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.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. 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 October 10, 2024.
Personal Representative: Darren Habyl 27913 Rexford Road Bay Village, Ohio 44140
Attorney for Personal Representative: Chad E. Brocato, Sr., Esq. Florida Bar Number: 110730 Moiguer Brocato Law 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Telephone: (954) 998-7914 Fax: (786) 800-9488 E-Mail: service@mylawyer. legal Secondary E-Mail: chad@ mylawyer.legal Publish: October 10 & 17, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-971-K DIVISION: FAMILY JOSEPH MOISE, Petitioner, and LUCRETIA GREEN, Respondent. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR EMERGENCY PETITION FOR TEMPORARY CUSTODY TO: LUCRETIA GREEN RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: UNKNOWN YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Emergency Petition for Temporary Custody has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Joseph Moise, whose address is 126 Avenue F, Key West, FL 33040 on or before November 17, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 530 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.
You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current
address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office.
WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: October 15, 2024
Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jaquelyn Fonseca
Deputy Clerk Publish: October 17, 24 & 31 and November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS WANTED
2006 Bluewater 23 1/2 ft. CC with T-Top, outriggers, rod holders, rear deck light, electronic box, 200 HD Evinrude, Continental trailer. Everything in execellent shape - too much to list. Located in Lower Keys. 305-481-6980
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today. COMMERCIAL SPACE
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
BOATS FOR SALE
One acre commercial space for rent in Big Pine. Fenced, electric, water, sewage hookup, easy access. Rent all or part. Option to buy. 305-481-6980
Place your CLASSIFIED 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.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Administrative Asst. to Executive Director, Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Housing Choice Voucher Asst., Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@kwha.org or 305-296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.
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.
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
HOBBIES/COLLECT
PRIVATE
COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
The Harry Truman Little White House Museum is looking for OLD FISHING GEAR to be used as a display in the museum. Fishing gear MUST be donated. Please contact Dean at 305294-8346 or email: Dean. Taylor@HistoricTours.com
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
SUNSET GRILLE IS HIRING
• Hosts
• Waitstaff
• Bartenders
• Bussers
• Line Cooks
• Dishwashers
• Bar Backs
Apply in person at Sunset Grille & Raw Bar,
7 Knight’s Key Blvd, Marathon
We
ANNUAL RENTAL -
Key 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
Downstairs apartment of a duplex to rent to 1 person (no pets). Large living room/bedroom and separate kitchen. Large screened porch with its own washer/dryer and driveway. Utilities include wifi/tv. 150 ft to the ocean. MM96 Key Largo. $1850/ month. F/L/S 305-853-3779
Conch House - Studio for rent, newly furnished in Marathon. $960/month + utilities. Dockage available for additional $. No Pets. 305-610-8002
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. RENTED!!
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
MISC. FOR SALE
Heavy duty, hard wood Futon Bed for sale in Marathon. Excellent condition. Couch turns into double bed. $250.00 305-849-0975
RIKON Band Saw, $150.00. Located in Key West (Old Town). 305-849-1080 SOLD IN ONE WEEK!
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
PERSONALS
BEACH HOUSE VACATION! Caretaker couple needed for Bahamas Beach House for 3-4 months. Call or text 305-439-9991
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
RV SITES FOR RENT
RV site / Camping available at marina in Marathon. Monthly/Daily rates. Free use of dingy & fishing on dock. Dockage available for additional $. No Pets. 305-610-8002
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
YARD SALES
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
YOUR CLASSIFIED
Place your CLASSIFIED AD HERE! $25.00/week for up to 5 lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today.
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.
WE ARE HIRING!
PLANT STORE/NURSERY ASSOCIATE PT/FT
Position requires a min. of high school completion, and 1 yr. exp. Must be knowledgeable in tropical plants and have good social/business skills, above average computer skills (knowledge of POS a plus). Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds.
Also required for this position: 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 at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary St., Key West. Or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32
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.
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT 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 WEST
Peer Support Specialist
Case Manager (Adult, Child)
Substance Abuse Counselor Prevention Specialist (HIV)
MARATHON
Care Coordinator (PT)
Driver – PT (CDL not required)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Child)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT/PT)
Peer Support Specialist/BHT
*Behavioral Health Technicians
– 3 shifts (FT/PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living, FT)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP COMPETITIVE PAY! EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!!
Apply at guidancecarecenter.org
Search Employment/Portal/Location/zip
LIVE IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have the following openings available. Please scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE
APPRENTICE
(Full-Time, Permanent)
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
(Full-Time, Part-Time, Permanent)
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray) Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Medical Technologist 2, Laboratory, $50k Bonus
- Patient Scheduler 3, Radiology-Diagnostic
- Radiology Technologist 1, Radiology, $40k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Multispecialty Acute Care Center
- Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, $15k Bonus
- Security Officer 1, Security/Safety
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
*Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.
APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net or call 786-243-8507
