The Islands of Islamorada is a meticulously designed enclave offering waterfront single-family residences. With every comfort considered, this residence exudes coastal living with four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms and stunning ocean views. The three-floor villa offers 3,137 sq ft of interior and 930 sq ft of exterior contemporary island architecture with an open, airy, and light-filled design. Three bedrooms are king-sized with en-suite bathrooms; the fourth is a bunk or twin room. Residence amenities include a top-of-the-line kitchen, open-concept kitchen, dining and living spaces, elevator, a powder room, ample closets, two oceanfront balconies, a ground floor waterfront loggia, a laundry room, 8 ft interior doors, and a 2-car garage with electric charging and added storage. This turn-key home is maintenance-free, providing the possibility of passive income. The safe and secure environment within the club allows for effortless multigenerational vacations with a gated entry and attentive staff. The property delivers a luxurious experience with its 615 ft of pristine crescent-shaped swimming beach and a private boat basin with ample dockage. Enjoy two oceanfront pools, an oceanfront bar, and pickleball courts for some friendly competition. Surrounded by lush, mature landscaping, this offering provides a plethora of water activities, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the Keys lifestyle.
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News Deadline
Tuesday Noon
Advertising Deadline Tuesday 2 p.m.
Members of
Monroe County Supervisor of Elections office reported 85.59% voter turnout — beating the 84% turnout of the 2020 presidential election. Monroe County has 52,043 active registered voters. A total of 44,546 voters cast their ballots in the 2024 election.
A commanding lead in early and mail-in ballots puts Jody ‘Lynny’ Del Gaizo in the driver’s seat for a spot on the Marathon City Council on Tuesday night. Pictured with her are supporters Beth Ramsay-Vickrey, left, and Aimee Kornetti. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
MATLOCK, DEL GAIZO WIN MARATHON COUNCIL SEATS
Newcomer calls election a ‘redemption’ after 2021 bid
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
The Marathon City Council will see incumbent Kenny Matlock return to the dais along with newcomer Jody “Lynny” Del Gaizo, as the pair earned the two open seats with significant margins on Tuesday night.
Running his campaign largely around calls for slowing growth within the city from large developers, Matlock finished the evening as the top vote-getter, capturing 2,057 votes (31.94%).
“I’ve worked hard, and it’s very validating to see that the people of Marathon have clearly taken notice. I love my community and the people in it.”
— Jody “Lynny” Del Gaizo
“Thank you to the residents of Marathon for giving me the opportunity to continue serving and representing what’s important to our locals in this community,” he told the Weekly by phone Wednesday morning. Del Gaizo finished just behind Matlock, earning 28.97% of the vote with a total of 1,866. Speaking to the Weekly on election night and again by phone the next morning, she said she was “surprised, excited and humbled” to earn the seat.
Following a 2021 election bid that saw her finish as the top runner-up, and a subsequent council appointment in early 2022 that went to now-Mayor Robyn Still in a coin flip decision, Del Gaizo called the result a “redemption” that reaffirmed her belief in her work within the city over the past two years.
“I’ve worked hard, and it’s very validating to see that the people of Marathon have clearly taken notice,” she said. “I love my community and the people in it.”
Former three-term councilman Mark Senmartin finished in third place with 1,326 votes (20.59%) followed by Ray Wood with 1,192 (18.51%).
“Thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey. Though the outcome wasn’t what we’d hoped for, I’m incredibly proud of the campaign we ran — one rooted in respect, integrity and a commitment to our community,” Senmartin said. “Elections are an opportunity to share ideas and advocate for
a vision, and I'm grateful for the conversations we sparked and the connections we made.”
“I had a great time and enjoyed every second,” said Wood. “The people of Marathon are amazing.”
Vote totals for former candidate Dustin Huff, who was closely linked to Matlock’s campaign before his withdrawal in early October, were discarded and will not be counted or publicly available, Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin told the Weekly. Though Huff’s name remained on the Nov. 5 ballot, including for some mail-in voters who may have selected him before his withdrawal, voters visiting the polls in person on Tuesday were informed of his decision.
“Thank you to the residents of Marathon for giving me the opportunity to continue serving and representing what’s important to our locals in this community.”
The new council will be seated at the Marathon City Council’s regularly-scheduled session on Tuesday, Nov. 12, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Incumbent Kenny Matlock, right, will return to his seat on the Marathon City Council along with second-place finisher Jody ‘Lynny’ Del Gaizo.
— Kenny Matlock
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Angler’s Paradise with unmatched boating amenities and deep-draft Ocean access from 200’ wide canal! With 100' concrete dock, complete with two 50' boat slips, davits, two floating docks, fillet station, swim ladder, dock boxes and paddleboard stand, this property is expertly outfitted for the avid boater! This sprawling 4-bed, 3.5-bath, home features an 3,224 sq ft, airy open concept, flooded with natural light and soaring ceilings, located in exciting Marathon!
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MARATHON COUNCIL SET TO DECIDE BUILDING RIGHTS REQUEST
Decision comes before citysponsored public input
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Anew-look Marathon City Council will get a heavy-hitting start in its first session, as a resolution on the agenda for next week could cement Marathon’s recommendation for new building allocations within the city.
Resolution 2024-121 is set to provide “a recommendation to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners regarding the number of additional residential building permit allocations Marathon would like to receive in potential future allocations.” The decision comes as county leaders and Keys municipalities prepare to make requests to the Florida Legislature for statutory changes during the 2025 legislative session that would allow additional development within the island chain.
County staff have organized an extensive series of public meetings and online surveys throughout 2024 to gauge community interest in additional building rights. Input was designed to weigh the possibility of development against infrastructure, environmental, traffic and quality-of-life concerns along with the financial implications of takings cases, triggered if owners of otherwise-buildable lots are denied the opportunity to build on their property.
Results of those surveys and meetings were delivered to the county commission at its Oct. 16 session, during which the commission unanimously voted to request at least an additional 220 units from the state – the maximum number that would allow the Keys to maintain its legally-required 24-hour hurricane evacuation time for permanent residents.
A timeline presented at that same session laid out a special county meeting on Dec. 19 in Marathon to decide a number, if any, of additional units beyond the 220 to request from the state for the entire Florida Keys. That same timeline said the commission expected to receive input from other Keys municipalities with their individual requests in January 2025 if they wished to receive a portion of the 220 units. The potential timeline should the county choose to request more than 220 units did not include a deadline for individual municipal requests.
A final county-sponsored town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7 at Marathon Government Center at 5:30 p.m. A meeting in Marathon on Nov. 20 will see county staff report the results of public input at town hall meetings throughout the Keys and a final online survey, and a Dec. 11 session in Key Largo will present an infrastructure study to determine infrastructure needs with ad-
Potential timelines laid out at the Monroe County Commission’s Oct. 16 meeting show the pathways to request additional building rights from the state. CONTRIBUTED
ditional building units.
The village of Islamorada has previously mirrored the county with a series of locallysponsored workshop sessions and surveys, eventually approving a request for 104 additional building allocations at the village council’s Oct. 10 meeting.
Marathon, however, has yet to hold a citysponsored workshop session or survey related to additional building allocations, and is set to decide its allocation request before the county publicly presents its infrastructure study or town hall and final survey findings.
Speaking with the Weekly by phone on the morning of Nov. 6, Planning Director Brian Shea said the number of units to be requested in the draft resolution was still undetermined at press time. Marathon currently has 575 vacant parcels, he said, but roughly 123 of those are likely unbuildable due to habitat conditions. Transferable building rights and allowable densities on properties that can accommodate more than one building further muddy the waters when determining a number of units needed to stave off takings cases.
Marathon Mayor Robyn Still said she hadn’t had a chance yet to closely examine the resolution, but that she would prefer to hear directly from residents before a request is made.
“Residents need to contact their council members and say that they want to have the opportunity to have their opinion be known in front of the Marathon City Council,” she said. “They should have the option to do this in person, just like everybody else does. They shouldn’t be penalized because they’re not members of some of these other civic organizations that were part of the county speakers’ rounds.”
Fresh off his election victory Tuesday night, re-elected councilman Kenny Matlock told the Weekly by phone that the agenda item
was “a red flag – one that could make locals justifiably mistrust the city.”
“I know that it’s a work in progress, and there’s no number in the resolution (yet),” said Vice Mayor Lynn Landry by phone. “It kind of came out a little quick – I thought we had more time to deal with this, but we’re going to have all the information there to be discussed.
“It’s a difficult situation for everyone. We have to come up with a plan for Marathon and realize that if we ask for nothing, we’re in trouble,” he added. “The biggest thing is to ask and make sure we have control of how they go out.”
Councilman Jeff Smith said that while the compressed timeline could serve to better inform the county’s final request, rather than a January 2025 decision, the distribution of units and types of structures constructed, not the total number requested, should drive conversations moving forward.
“I don’t know if a number will be locked in by the end of the night,” he said. “There’s a lot of noise around the number of units, but the noise needs to be around getting as many as you can, so that then you can decide how you dole them out and for how long.
“I care more about how long we’re going to draw them out, if we’re still going to permit large developments, if you’re still going to allow maximum density. Because you’re going to run out if you do, and those are the hard questions we have to look at.”
The Weekly reached out to City Manager George Garrett for clarification on the resolution, but did not receive a response before press time.
The council’s session is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Public comment on any agenda item is limited to three minutes per commenter.
THANK YOU! TO ALL THE VOTERS IN MONROE COUNTY. It has been my pleasure serving our community and I look forward to doing so for 4 more years.
RENEWING THE VITALITY AND RESILIENCE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS TOGETHER!
Thank you to everyone who voted for me and supported my campaign. I look forward to working with my fellow council members and the residents of Marathon. Together we can achieve more!
Jody "Lynny" Del Gaizo FOR MARATHON CITY COUNCIL
Paid for by Jim Scholl, Republican for County Commissioner District 3
Paid for by Jody "Lynny" Del Gaizo for Marathon City Council
TRIPLE THE FUN
Third
annual Joy on
the Rock Festival fills Marathon Community Park
Fun and fellowship were on the agenda for Marathon New Life Church’s Joy on the Rock festival on Nov. 2. Now in its third year, the free festival brings together local churches throughout the Keys for a familyfriendly day of games, kids activities, vendors and spotlights on ministries and nonprofit service organizations dedicated to tirelessly helping the community – all set against a backdrop of uplifting music to spread a nonpartisan message of inspiration and hope. Photos by Doug Finger. See more festival photos at keysweekly.com.
Congratulations to the winners. And to my supporters, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Although this election did not go the way we would have liked, I appreciate all of the support and trust that came with your vote. THANK YOU!
To my friends, neighbors, every person in Monroe County who took the time to get to know me, and especially those who entrusted me with your vote in this election - I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As a first-time candidate and just a regular person, like you, I am very proud that my campaign stayed true to my promise to remain positive and focus on real ideas to move our Supervisor of Elections office forward. Our world needs much, much more of this!
I am excited for the next chapter; guided always by my principles of Transparency and IntegrityPromised!
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COME SAY HI TO SANTA & MRS. CLAUS
FREE GIFT BAGS FOR THE KIDS | PHOTO WITH SANTA & MRS. CLAUS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH AT 5:30 PM
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EL DíA VIERNES 6 DE DICIEMBRE
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BOLSAS DE REGALO GRATUITAS PARA LOS NIñOS
"When others hate, may you love. When others curse, may you bless. When others divide, may you unite. When others rage, may you calm. When others deny, may you affirm. You are a servant of the light. You need not be afraid of the darkness. God strengthen you to carry on with your work and faithfully live who you are in Christ: Love for stranger, love for enemy, love for neighbor. Amen"
~ Steven Charleston
St. Columba Episcopal Church
Join us Sunday @ 9:00 am or 11 am
451 West 52nd St, Marathon Fl
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Mon - Fri 11am to Close Sat & Sun 10am to Close
HAPPY HOUR 1-4PM
$7 Menu
• Chicken wings, chicken livers and More!
• 32 beers on tap 1/2 off 2pm - 3pm
* $2 Pints of Yuengling and Bud Light!
FACTS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR
NOVEMBER Sam Steele monroetaxcollector.com 305.295.5000
• The 2024 property tax roll is open for collection. If you have not received your tax bill yet, please contact us at 305-295-5044.
• The total certified amount of the 2024 tax roll is $453,410,019.
• The Tax Collector’s O ce distributed a record-high $7 million in unused fees to the taxing authorities for the 2024 fiscal year, which goes towards funding essential services for our community.
• We have launched a new feature on our website that provides a streamlined process for customers to have their electronically held vehicle/vessel titles printed and ready for express pickup in our o ce.
Follow
• As a reminder, online rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
DO NOT remit the 5% tourist development tax to our o ce. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure the tax has been remitted.
• All rental properties must also have a local business tax, regardless of how long they are being rented.
• If you suspect a fraudulent property rental, you may report it on our hotline at 1-855-422-4540
• Our o ces will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 2PM
• Unique & interesting menu
• $3 Mimosas • $5 Breakfast Shots
LUNCH & DINNER
• Lobster Enchiladas
• Diver Speared Local Fish
• Prime Rib • Local Lobster
• Cook Your Own Catch
• Great Seafood Selections
SUSHI
• Toro • Lionfish • Poke • Hamachi collar
• Fresh Uni arrives on Thursday
COUNTY, STATE ELECTIONS
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Election Night results show a number of Republicans winning their races against Democratic opponents. At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez will return to Washington, D.C. as representatives for residents in Florida and the Keys.
Locally, Republicans cruised to victory in races for supervisor of elections, state representative and county commissioner.
Monroe County voters surpassed 2020’s record-breaking turnout of 84%, with an 85.6% turnout in 2024, according to Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
WHUNTING & FISHING RIGHTS, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ADJUSTMENTS GET THE GREEN LIGHT
Four other measures earn majority support, but fall short of requirement
ith nearly every Florida precinct reporting at press time, only two of the six proposed Florida constitutional amendments or initiatives on the 2024 ballot will move forward. Though all six measures received support from a majority of Floridians, four of the six failed to clear the required 60% margin to take effect.
AMENDMENT 1
PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
FAILED (60% approval needed to pass)
YES: 54.96%
NO: 45.04%
Florida’s school board races will continue as non-partisan elections, as efforts to shift the choices to partisan elections beginning in 2026 fell 5% short. Proponents of the change, including Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters, said the move toward partisanship would avoid voters being “tricked,” as “There’s no such thing as a non-partisan race anymore.” Critics of the change said the move would only serve to create more contentious elections and school boards, detracting from focus on a candidate’s qualifications in favor of partisan politics.
AMENDMENT 2
RIGHT TO HUNT & FISH PASSED
YES: 67.4%
NO: 32.6%
Hunting and fishing will be preserved as a right in Florida’s state constitution, following the resounding passage of Amendment 2. The legislator-initiated amendment comes in response to about 12 states that have recently attempted to enact bans on hunting and fishing, while critics of the change argued that it could be a stepping stone to reopening banned practices or interfering with regulatory agencies’ ability to responsibly manage populations. Text in the amendment says it will not limit the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s constitutional powers under Article IV, Section 9.
AMENDMENT 3
LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS
FAILED (60% approval needed to pass)
YES: 55.86% NO: 44.14%
Though medical marijuana was adopted in 2016 by Florida voters in a 71%-29% vote, recreational marijuana for adults over 21 will remain unlawful in the state, following the failure of 2024’s Amendment 3. Under the proposed initiative, individuals would have been allowed to possess up to three ounces of marijuana, with up to five grams in the form of concentrate. Existing medical marijuana treatment centers would have been authorized under the initiative to sell marijuana to adults for personal use, and the Florida State Legislature could have provided by state law for the licensure of entities other than existing medical marijuana treatment centers to cultivate and sell marijuana products. Recent ad campaigns from critics of the change focused on the sights and smells of excessive marijuana consumption in public spaces.
AMENDMENT 4
RIGHT
TO ABORTION
FAILED (60% approval needed to pass)
YES: 57.1%
NO: 42.9%
Widely considered to be the state’s most pivotal amendment, the failure of Amendment 4, which fell roughly 3% short of the required margin, means Florida’s six-week abortion ban remains in effect. The amendment would have blocked laws from prohibiting, penalizing, delaying or restricting abortions “before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
The Amendment 4 initiative to allow abortions until viability was initiated by a group of citizens known as Floridians Protecting Freedom. The campaign to protect women’s access to abortion spent a year gathering the required number of signatures to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. The group collected 996,512 signatures to place the question on the ballot.
AMENDMENT 5
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS TO HOMESTEADED EXEMPTIONS PASSED
YES: 66.04% NO: 33.96%
With the passage of Amendment 5, Florida homesteaded property owners will see an annual inflation-based adjustment to the homestead exemption used to reduce the taxable value of their primary residence. Before the amendment’s passage, Florida homesteaded property owners saw a static reduction of up to $50,000 in their home values each year.
AMENDMENT 6
REPEAL PUBLIC FUNDING FOR STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS
FAILED (60% approval needed to pass)
YES: 50.42% NO: 49.58%
A roughly even split vote on Amendment 6 will preserve the availability of public campaign funding for statewide candidates who agree to the spending limits. Currently, public campaign financing is available for candidates for governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture. The campaign financing is often intended to aid candidates who may not otherwise be able to compete in political races due to lack of financial support.
SALUTE TO VETERANS
Celebrations set across the Keys
Monroe County offices will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Several events will take place on Veterans Day to honor Veterans in the Florida Keys.
Monroe County Veterans Affairs is co-hosting a Veterans Day ceremony with Key Largo VFW Post 10211 to honor all who served on Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. The Key Largo Community Band will play a selection of patriotic songs. The U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard will be presenting the colors.
Also at the Murray Nelson Government Center, the American Legion Post 145 is sponsoring a Big Red Bus blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During the same time in Key West, Monroe County Veterans Affairs staff will also participate in the wreath-laying ceremony honoring veterans at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park in Key West.
American Legion Post 154 will host a Veterans Day parade from 20th Street in Marathon, making a U-turn at the traffic light at 107th Street, ending at the American Legion at 4115 Overseas Highway. The parade
will start at 11 a.m. Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at the post starting around noon.
Islamorada Fire Rescue Station 20 will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 81850 Overseas Highway, Islamorada at 11 a.m.
Later that day, Monroe County Veterans Affairs and Monroe County staff will participate in the Key West Veterans Day Parade at 4 p.m. JIATF-South hosts the Key West parade that will run along Duval Street. The public is invited to cheer on parade participants and pay tribute to Veterans and service members.
Veterans Day celebrates the formal ending of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 and is a national holiday observed for all honorably discharged Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
“Veterans Day is a time to honor all United States veterans for their unwavering service and sacrifices for our country,” said Monroe County Veterans Affairs Director Cathy Crane. “Engaging in Veterans Day events is an impactful way to express our patriotism and deep pride for those who bravely served.” — Contributed
REMEMBERING MY DAD ON VETERANS DAY
The sharp smell of shoe polish and the swoosh swoosh of the brush across his boots are some of my earliest memories. I would sit and watch the ritual: the pile of cotton balls, the little tin of shoe polish and the bowl of water neatly placed on the table.
My dad retired after serving 24 years in the Air Force. He took great pride in serving his country and wearing his uniform. A regular spit shine was only part of it. It didn’t matter whether it was his daily fatigues or his dress military blues – every patch, stripe, pin, ribbon and oak leaf cluster was perfectly placed because it meant something.
Starting the day with the blast of reveille and ending it with the echoes of retreat, the perfectly-folded flag, the white gloves, the clean snap of the rifle, the cadence of the march, the roar of the jets, the heartwrenching notes of taps – all of these things meant something to him.
Tradition, ritual, honor, duty, respect. These weren’t just words or empty actions, they were deeply embedded in his character and he did his best to pass them on to his daughters. I would like to believe he mostly succeeded.
... spends her working hours connecting with and supporting the business community and believes that if our local businesses are successful, our town is successful.
Master Sergeant Kenneth Wayne Hemmings was laid to rest with full military honors at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in February this year, wearing his dress blues with a high polish on his shoes. As we gathered together waiting for our time at the pavilion, a bald eagle circled slowly overhead, staying until the end. I asked if we ordered the deluxe military package. My sisters and I laughed, then we cried. He would have loved every moment of it.
The 2023 Key West Veterans Day Parade marches along Duval Street. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
PATTI CHILDRESS
Air Force Master Sergeant Kenneth Wayne Hemmings in 1968 and 2018. CONTRIBUTED
HIGH-STAKES ‘SHARK TANK’
In
Marathon High’s ‘Dragon’s Lair,’ it’s either get paid or watch your dreams go up in flames
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Picture “Shark Tank” with fairytale characters, and you’ve got the basic idea for Marathon High School’s newest show. Oh, and one other small detail: If nobody buys in, you get fed to a dragon.
On stage this weekend only with a 6 p.m. curtain on Friday, Nov. 9 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 10, playwright Katie B. Oberlander’s “Dragon’s Lair” features a revolving door of characters ready to make their pitches to “The Dragons”: Rumpelstiltskin (Cameron VanHoose), the Fairy Godmother (Zyan Wiggins), the Evil Queen (Rylee Seligson) and Robin Hood (Dakota Mertyris).
Will “Ogre Botox” make the cut, or will it be beaten out by “Power Porridge,” “The Goodie Basket” or “Giant-Be-Gone Spray”? A tantalizing idea means an investment with the Dragons’ own gold – but a lame-duck pitch means a trip down to see the fire-breathing Azriel the Tormentor.
“It’s high-risk, high-reward,” laughed VanHoose.
A quick glance through the “Dragon’s Lair” playbill shows a top-heavy roster with 12 seniors in crucial cast and crew positions. But despite putting on shows with their third director in as many years, the Class of 2025 members who sat down with the Weekly said their focus this fall was on providing stability, teaching moments and encouragement for the younger members of the school’s drama club, many of whom will step on stage with speaking roles as middle schoolers.
“We’re definitely trying to make the family bigger,” said Mertyris. “We want to leave it so that it’s fun for the new kids and they can get new kids to come in.”
The cast praised the dedication of Rhonda Crutcher, a Coral Shores
Clockwise from top left: Dakota Mertyris weighs his investment options as Robin Hood.
Cameron VanHoose, left, plays the gold-obsessed Rumpelstiltskin alongside Zyan Wiggins as the Fairy Godmother.
Emily Martinez plays Cinderella.
An uninspiring investment proposition means an unfortunate end in Azriel the Tormentor’s lair for Goldilocks (Gabbi Doering).
Samuel Vanderlee plays a hopelessly overwhelmed delivery boy.
Photos by CATHY WALTERS/Contributed
English teacher who stepped in from Marathon’s Upper Keys neighbor when the club needed a director to complement producer and club sponsor Carolyn McKechnie.
“There’s going to be a learning curve with everything, but we’re all so appreciative that she stepped up and made such a big sacrifice to drive down here every day,” Seligson said.
The school’s fall productions tend to feature shorter shows, and “Dragon’s Lair” is no exception, with a run time of a little over an hour. But according to the seniors, it’s a prime opportunity for training in critical crew positions as younger members of the club learn the process of producing a show before a full-length musical hits the stage in the spring. Or, as Seligson put it, “Everyone’s training someone.”
“Right now we have two seniors who know everything (tech-related) with Noah Howell and Caris Jimenez,” said student director Samantha Schofield.
“They’re working really hard to train some middle schoolers so we have someone for years to pass on that knowledge.”
“We’ll have kids who know what they’re doing, and then by musical season, we can do something huge and really leave a mark as seniors,” said Mertyris.
“That’s our biggest thing right now.”
Tickets for “Dragon’s Lair” are $5 for kids and $10 for adults, available at the door or by scanning the QR code.
JOIN US FOR THANKSGIVING
FRIDAY, NOV 8
SATURDAY, NOV 9
SUNDAY, NOV 10 TONY MANFREDI 3PM
MONDAY, NOV 11 CIRCUS MUTT 6:30PM
TUESDAY, NOV 12
TACO
A TRIBUTE TO KEYS ELECTIONS CHIEF JOYCE GRIFFIN
‘Mama Bear’ to retire after 40 years
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Joyce Griffin has been involved with Florida Keys elections since Ronald Reagan was reelected in 1984, with the first George Bush as his vice president. It was the year of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A” and “The Karate Kid.”
That was 40 years ago, for any of you fellow English majors who struggle with subtraction. Forty years.
From Reagan to Bush (the first one), then Clinton, back to Bush (the second one), from Obama to Trump, now Biden to Trump again.
Griffin knows elections — campaign rules for candidates, financial disclosures, voter registration, precincts and poll workers, vote-by-mail, mandatory recounts for close races, qualifying periods, canvassing boards and more. And she’s happy to share that knowledge and those details, having worked hard to make much of the information available to the public on her website at keyselections.org, a priceless resource for candidates, voters, campaign managers and yes, local news reporters.
More important than knowing election laws, Griffin respects them, because she loves the entire democratic process, its history and its future.
“I love my job,” she said. “I come from a long line of patriots who have loved this country. I was asked one time what makes my job so special, and I said, ‘Soldiers have died and are still dying for our democracy. I’m the seed of that democracy, where it all begins with our elections, and I hope I’ve made those soldiers proud, because real heroes don’t wear capes; they wear dog tags.’”
A bedazzled cowboy hat lives in Griffin’s office, a tribute to her father’s Texas roots.
Carl Griffin was a Coast Guardsman who met Joyce’s mother, a Conch, when he was stationed in Key West.
“I didn’t grow up rich, far from it,” Griffin said, smiling at the memory of the silverware in the family’s kitchen drawer.
“I remember doing the dishes one night after dinner. I asked my mom where my dad — Carl Griffin — had gotten our monogrammed silverware, and she just giggled.
“I don’t know how long it took me to realize that the C.G. on all our forks and spoons meant Coast Guard and not Carl Griffin,” she said laughing.
Born and raised in Key West, Griffin has watched the county and its electorate evolve over the decades, with changes in technology, ideology and demographics. Once a reliably blue, or Democratic leaning, county, the island chain is now an arcing line of red Republicanism swinging off the tip of mainland Florida, punctuated at the very end by the still-blue Key West.
But for Griffin, one thing has never changed.
Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin, in her trademark cowboy hat, wraps up her final election after 40 years working in the Keys elections office, the past 12 of them as the elected supervisor. MANDY MILES/ Keys Weekly
“I don’t do anyone any favors. Ever,” she said recently from the Lower Keys’ new Supervisor of Elections office on College Road. “I don’t care if it’s a friend you’ve known since kindergarten and they want to vote without an ID. Nope. Sorry, bubba. I’d be breaking the law.”
The same holds true for candidates who come to depend on Griffin’s office for deadlines, timelines, rules and reminders. A candidate may be the most likable, qualified and committed for an office, but that doesn’t mean Griffin will overlook a noon deadline to file some piece of paperwork when the candidate comes running in, breathlessly, at 12:20 p.m.
“Once you do one favor, you’ve broken the law, and where does it end?” Griffin asked rhetorically, leaning back in her chair while wearing a supervisor of elections golf shirt embroidered with the nickname her longtime staff gave her — Mama Bear.
“My staff is amazing, and I stand on their shoulders,” she said, giving them as much credit as she gets for conducting fair, lawful, impartial and legitimate elections in Monroe County for decades.
“Joyce don’t play,” she recalled one candidate telling another in the elections office one day. Two of her staff members have worked with Griffin for more than 30 years. Another has been with her for more than 20.
But things are about to change in the elections offices countywide, because Griffin is hanging up her cowboy hat, having decided not to seek reelection this year and to enjoy her retirement.
Keys voters elected a new supervisor of elections this week, and Griffin will pass the reins to Sherri Hodies.
“I want someone in here who can walk down the middle of the road, who is strong, who can say no when they need to, and most importantly, someone who can follow the law and fight for my voters — all 51,081 of my voters, regardless of party or politics. That’s what I want.”
Her successor has big shoes to fill. And we at the Keys Weekly tip our hats to Joyce Griffin, in gratitude, respect and admiration for a job well done.
THANK YOU, JOYCE GRIFFIN, FOR DECADES OF FREE & FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Dear Editor,
Congratulations to our Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin on her well-deserved upcoming retirement. During the more than two decades I interacted with Joyce and her staff, I always found them, and especially her, to be knowledgeable, professional and very transparent about the boundaries that constrain when and how much can be advised to candidates and political parties.
My earliest interaction with Joyce was during the 2000 campaign cycle when she was assistant supervisor of elections. During all the drama of counts, recounts and various incarnations of chads, her predecessor, with major assistance from Joyce, ran an election where none of the ballots was in contention. That trend has remained true throughout her time as supervisor. I interacted frequently with Joyce during subsequent election cycles for 2004 and 2008, and my interaction increased when I was chairman of the Republican Party of Monroe County executive committee from 2010-2016. Again, I found Joyce and her entire staff to be helpful, and when questions arose that, for technical and legal reasons, they could not answer, everyone was very straightforward: “I cannot answer that, but go to the statute” was a typical response.
While other Florida counties had curious vote counts and recounts, Monroe County got it right the first time every time by knowing and following the election rules and by treating all candidates and parties with equal respect and guidance.
Whichever current candidate wins the Supervisor of Elections office, he or she will have to meet Joyce’s very high standards of leadership, honesty, integrity, fairness and political neutrality as impartial guardian of the democratic process. Joyce is a great role model on how to manage and run a free and fair election.
I wish Joyce all the best in her retirement. She will be missed.
Sincerely,
Debby Goodman Cudjoe Key
A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
On the morning following the election, our Keys Weekly offices were running on the fumes of tireless election coverage, along with the varying emotions of the outcome of the general election in America. This is the email that was sent to our 25 employees across our three offices in the Florida Keys:
I realize this is an emotional morning for most everyone, on a wide spectrum of varying feelings, as we have a diverse staff (that I’m proud of) on all sides of the political / theological aisles.
With that said, I wanted to take a moment to say how proud I am of each of you. For what you mean to this community. How we present the news and inform the local public, along with our mission to pursue truth with sources, fairness and facts. This includes how we strive to be a source of light and a positive news source in the Florida Keys and beyond. Last night, as we covered democracy at its purest and perhaps most fundamental form, here on the local level, we, alongside our radio partners, presented the local election in a professional and informative manner with coverage across the entire county — with a scope beyond any previous coverage.
To say the least, what we do matters — each and every day. We are one of the last locally owned papers that hasn’t sold out to a conglomerate, and we continue to thrive here in a country where independent papers and journalism are vanishing across every state. What you have accomplished is a feat within itself. And it matters now more than ever.
I realize some of you are pleased with the outcome of last night’s election, while others are worried our democracy is on the precipice of radical change. Either way, I believe we can all agree that the freedom of the press is something we
all must strive to protect, while fighting for truth and fairness — for everyone, in how we cover the news each and every day.
With that, I just wanted to reiterate that what we do affects those we serve, beyond what we can likely comprehend. Whether we are Democrats, Republicans, Independents or other, I hope that within the walls of our offices, we always feel free to express what we believe in a civil and positive manner — all the while, with a pursuit of truth and fairness.
No matter what political power or ideology holds the majority, now or in years to come, we will always fight for transparency, fairness and truth. The Keys Weekly will support the arts, bolster businesses, embrace our medical and education communities and passionately advocate for the First Amendment and all it encompasses.
Please continue your fight for these ideals, which I believe transcend political parties. And realize that what you do matters to the residents and families of Monroe County.
I am endlessly proud of our company. Not the name on the paper, but the names of each of you, who truly define the Keys Weekly. Keep up the fight. And support one another in the process. I am thankful for all of you and what we represent.
Respectfully,
Britt Myers Publisher Keys Weekly Newspapers
MARATHON CINEMA CONCLAVE
COMMERCE CORNEr
Jass Tremblay PA
has been a realtor for 10 years and is an Affiliate of the Middle & Lower Keys Board of Realtors. She is knowledgeable about the Fl Keys market as both a seller and buyer agent. Jass enjoys working closely with her clients to help them achieve their goal in every real estate transaction.
1981
10700 5th Avenue, Gulf, Marathon 305.743.7072
office@ernestrhodes.com www.ernestrhodes.com
you Marathon for your votes
BEER, TACOS, INCREDIBLE ART –WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?
Florida Keys Artist Collective Gallery opens this weekend
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Three of the Middle Keys’ finest artistic talents will have a space of their own to showcase their skills until May 2025, as the Florida Keys Artist Collective Gallery is set to celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 9. Located at 10065 Overseas Highway in Marathon, the showcase brings new life to a space that’s no stranger to art displays as the former Ocean Sotheby’s Marathon art gallery.
Visitors to the gallery will be greeted by realistic oil paintings on ¼-inch plywood by Tom McGettrick before moving deeper into walls of Brittany Cherkes’ layered abstract acrylic paint and resin landscapes and Mike Papish’s immortalized looks into the Keys’ underwater world through photography at local aquatic landmarks.
“Mike and I are neighbors, and we both got puppies at the same time. We started talking, and we both had similar goals (with our art),” said Cherkes. “I was actively working on a new body of work, and I knew the next step was to have it on the walls.”
“And I’m a barfly, and she (Brittany) was my bartender at Overseas,” McGettrick laughed.
Papish said he’d previously sold pieces online and in individual art shows, but like Cherkes, knew “the next step was a space – and this was a really nice space.”
The trio said they aim to maintain visiting hours in the gallery every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but with ever-changing availability, they highly encourage appointments to view or purchase pieces. All three will be on hand for Saturday’s festivities from 6 to 10 p.m., including complimentary beer, wine and tacos.
Patrons interested in private showings or purchases should contact the individual artists directly: Cherkes (brittanyleecherkes@gmail.com), Papish (mike@underwaterexploring.com) and McGettrick (tmcgettrick@gmail.com).
Flanked by ethereal acrylic and resin landscapes from Brittany Cherkes, right, the Florida Keys Artist Collective also includes realistic oil paintings on plywood by Tom McGettrick, center, and underwater photography from Mike Papish.
GREATER MARATHON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS
AFTER HOURS
Who: Sunset Grille & Raw Bar
When: Wednesday, November 13th
Where: Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, 7 Knights Key Blvd
What: Great networking, food & beverages; come promote your business and meet Marathon business owners, executives, and leaders!
MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
Nov. 19th 12pm - 1pm
When: Tuesday, November 19th from 12PM - 1PM
Where: Marathon Grill & Ale House
5800 Overseas Hwy, #12
Speaker: Daniel Samess & Sara Matthis
Topic: New December SantaCon Event & pass the mic
2024 7 Mile SantaCon
Sponsorship Levels and Information
What, When & Where:
The inaugural 7 Mile SantaCon celebrates our holiday season FL Keys style, with drinks, poker, the historic Old 7 Mile Bridge, Pigeon Key, and much more!
Please join us on December 14* for a great time; dress up in your most festive holiday garb, have some drinks with us, and finish up on Pigeon Key Island for their WinterFest Wonderland extravaganza event.
Why:
We have a captured audience that will be exposed to your business, product(s), and/or service(s). Event proceeds benefit many great local non-profit organizations; and primarily the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce's student scholarship fund, which awards annual scholarships to local Middle Keys students.
Our Sponsors are the core of the success for this event and they greatly help to increase the proceeds of the event by underwriting our costs.
Contact us for more info: info@floridakeysmarathon.com / 305.743.5417
7 NIGHTS!
The City of Marathon vacation rental law requires a vacation rental property license for every dwelling unit that rents between 7 and 28 nights, and the unit cannot be rented for less than seven (7) nights. The renting of any private residence for a period of less than seven (7) nights is prohibited The City of Marathon researches and investigates vacation rental poperties to find and fine scofflaws. Violations of vacation rental law can be as high as $500 per day, per offense and can be up to $5,000 per occurrence.
The City also requires that each vacation rental unit be managed by a licensed agent or the owner. To learn more about Marathon’s vacation rental laws visit Marathon’s website at https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us, and you can take the City’s free vacation rental training course.. The training is free and the management license cost is free for owner-managed properties and $500 for agent-managed properties. For other questions regarding vacation rental licensing please contact the City at 305-743-5266.
THIS IS HALLOWEEN
In recent years, an explosion in popularity of Halloween events across the Middle Keys has proved one thing: In the Keys, Halloween isn’t just a holiday – it’s a monthlong celebration. Marathon closed the last week of October with its biggest Trunk-Or-Treat at Marathon Community Park, followed by the time-honored trick-or-treat traditions at Gulfside Village and behind the Marathon airport.
1. The sun sets on a packed park for the 2024 Trunk-Or-Treat.
2. Zulma Jimenez at the Community Park Trunk-Or-Treat.
3. Little ones follow the yellow brick road to candy in the city of Marathon’s Wizard of Oz-themed display.
4. Marathon staff’s annual charity costume contest nets $1,257 in donations for Marathon Community Theatre.
5. Minions are ready for their close-up at Fishermen’s Community Hospital’s booth. 6, 11. Inflatable dinos are a hit behind the airport.
7. Flowers by J&J at the Community Park Trunk-Or-Treat.
8. Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Center staff go all aboard the pirate ship with Peter Pan.
9. The Wolfe Stevens PLLC team brings the Wild West to Gulfside Village. From left: Dale Coburn, Hannah Ziels, Alyssa Perry, Lisa Ziels, Patrick Stevens.
10. Kids dive into the annual foam pit on Tuna Drive – complete this year with a ‘blow-drying’ station from Nick Colella.
12. Rob Christensen offers his blessings to everyone – and everything – on Dolphin Drive.
13. Keys Weekly’s Ghostbusters-themed trunk, masterminded by graphic designer Javier Reyes and family, takes ‘Best Overall’ at the Trunk or Treat.
14. Witches Lily Senmartin, right, and Monica Lorenzo represent Sandy Palms Vacations.
15. Kaleila, left, Kyrus and Kyle Freeman set up outside the Village Barber Shop.
16. Deputy Willie Guerra keeps an eye on costumed partiers like Jay C Mora behind the airport
17. DJ Trae Dae leads the cha-cha slide at the Gonzalez family’s party on Tuna Drive.
Photos by Ross Smith (IslandExposureCo), Alex Rickert, Kaylynn Coburn and contributed images.
$3.50
$4
PUTO JOINS RANKS OF KENTUCKY COLONELS
At the Rotary Club of Marathon’s Oct. 30 meeting, Mike Puto was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. Fellow Colonel Keith Douglass presided over the ceremony, assisted by past Rotary district governor and Colonel Roy Gonas. Puto, affectionately known as ‘Mr. Marathon,’ is now being called ‘Colonel Marathon.’ Douglass said Puto’s involvement in charitable organizations benefiting children and disadvantaged residents over several decades drove his decision to nominate Puto. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels originated in 1933, became a nonprofit organization in 1957 and currently donates over $3 million annually for scholarships and relief to Kentuckians in need. The organization also contributes to natural disaster relief efforts in neighboring states. Notable Kentucky Colonels include music icons like Paul McCartney and Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II and multiple U.S. presidents. Pictured, from left: Boy Scouts of America district executive Jayden Ware, Douglass, Colonel and past Rotary district governor Roy Gonas, Puto, Rotarian Kelly Williams, Marathon Rotary Club past president Sam Williams and current club president Brian Tewes. CONTRIBUTED
Internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland made an impromptu visit to the Turtle Hospital on Nov. 3. There he met the loggerhead sea turtle patient –and social media star – ‘Harlow.’ Videos of Harlow’s transformation in rehab at the Turtle Hospital have over 47 million views. Inspired by Harlow’s story, Wyland painted a larger-than-life version of the majestic marine turtle on a wall at the hospital. ‘Not only will Harlow live in our hearts long after her release – she will now live forever on our wall, inspiring guests with her story of resilience,’ said manager Bette Zirkelbach, pictured here with Wyland. The artist’s relationship with the Turtle Hospital and founder Richie Moretti dates back to the early days of the hospital. The famed conservationist donated funds to purchase the first medical equipment for the hospital. CONTRIBUTED
BEYOND HIS YEARS
Marathon tech whiz Giordani Prieto earns first IT Pathway Silver Award
Marathon High School honored sophomore Giordani Prieto on Nov. 1 as the first Monroe County student to receive the IT Pathway Silver Award, along with a $700 cash prize. Joining him in the celebration were his teacher, Tracy McDonald, and Caroline Bleske, the school district’s career and technical education coordinator.
“The IT Pathway is an awesome program and a lot of fun,” Prieto said. “The incentive rewards have motivated me to learn as much as I can.”
“Giordani has the potential to go even further and could be the first to achieve the Gold Award,” said McDonald.
“Prieto has completed three Level III certificates, recognized nationally for IT proficiency, and has earned nine college credit hours, applicable to Florida colleges and universities,” said Bleske. “If he completes two more Level III certificates, he will have 15 college credit hours — equivalent to a semester of college coursework.”
The IT Pathway program, available in all Monroe County middle and high schools, allows students to learn at their own pace. “Marathon students are expected to excel this year, and Giordani’s achievement paves the way for others,” McDonald said.
Prieto began his journey on the IT Pathway in sixth grade at Marathon and continues to set ambitious academic and career goals. Including this award, he has accumulated over $1,500 in certification prizes. He plays on Marathon’s soccer team. Off the field, he dedicates himself to his IT studies and aspires to pursue an engineering degree.
The IT Pathway awards are funded by Key West philanthropist John Padget, co-founder of the Golden Fleece Foundation.
“We are thrilled to see Giordani Prieto’s early success in the IT Pathway,” Padget said. “Creating this program is one of our core philanthropic goals, and we look forward to seeing many more students like Giordani thrive.” — Contributed
Giordani Prieto, center, receives his IT Pathway Silver Award. Joining him, from left, are teacher Tracy McDonald, MHS Assistant Principals Rebecca Keenum and Kirsten Burns, and MCSD career and technical education coordinator Caroline Bleske. CONTRIBUTED
CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
Marathon High School’s Champions for Change members hosted several campuswide events during Red Ribbon Week this year. This year’s theme was ‘Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free.’ Activities included assemblies with guests from the DEA and Florida Army National Guard, lunch-and-learn opportunities and small group sessions. Marathon High’s photo has been entered into the National Family Partnership Red Ribbon Week photo contest and must receive the most votes in the region to win. Scan the QR code here to vote every 24 hours through Saturday, Nov. 16. SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Enjoy our daily specials like Homemade Soup or Chowder, Fresh Fish Sandwich or One of our Daily Specials while overlooking Florida Bay! Open for Lunch & Dinner Every Day!
RETAIL STORE
Fish, Soups and Chowders & Key Lime Pie!
BUOYS PROVIDE REAL-TIME PICTURE OF REEF CONDITIONS
Data aims to benefit coral practitioners
When Hurricane Rafael recently passed the Florida Keys, its thermal benefit to coral reefs can be tracked in real time.
NOAA’s Mission: Iconic Reefs has deployed smart buoys at each of its seven sites with instruments that measure and transmit realtime data on wind speed, ocean temperature and other conditions. Wave action and rain generated by tropical weather have plunged ocean temperatures by as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit, mitigating what was expected to be another sizzling summer on the reefs.
“These data will provide a realtime picture of reef conditions, helping us make decisions on whether to conduct field work on days where the forecast is borderline,” said Katey Lesneski, research and monitoring coordinator for Mission: Iconic Reefs. “This information will also be immensely useful to restoration practitioners for determining if reef temperatures have exceeded the threshold for coral outplanting.”
There are several components to the device, including a basketballsized, solar-powered buoy branded as the Spotter. The yellow mothership is connected to a red buoy that suspends a measurement instrument about 3 feet below the ocean surface, connected to a seafloor anchor where a second instrument collects data.
“There’s a lot of hardware to this system, which means boaters need to navigate carefully around these yellow and red buoys,” Lesneski explained. “And by all means they are not meant for mooring a boat. Because they are deployed in areas that are prominent mooring sites, we want to make sure the public understands that only the white buoys with blue stripes are for mooring.”
Some of the sites feature more than one buoy, and eventually the network will expand to in-water nursery sites. Mariners should steer clear of the buoys, which are visible by reflected sunlight and a blinking light at night. Pencil-shaped spar
be
Iconic Reefs has deployed smart buoys at each of its seven sites with instruments that measure and transmit real-time data on wind speed, ocean temperature and other conditions.
The mother ship uses solar power to transmit the data in real time to satellites. A second sensor measures temperatures just below the ocean surface.
CROW MARY
By Kathleen Grissom
A Crow Native woman named Goes
First is arranged to marry a Yellow Eyes (white) man named Abe Farwell. He is a local fur trader, handsome, and Goes First’s father, the chief, trusts him. Goes First believes it will be good for her people, and after the death of her childhood sweetheart she is ready for change. It is 1872 and Crow Mary – as Abe renames her – is the strongest, smartest woman he has ever met. Much to her surprise, they build a loving relationship. Abe and Mary build a trading outpost in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Canada. Mary manages the physical work, long dark winters and is a better shot than most men. But her honest, quiet nature cannot tolerate the rough-riding whiskey traders who destroy a local Nakota village. Forbidden by her husband to get involved, Mary single-handedly saves the women they have abducted. The massacre spirals into years of court cases highlighting the hateful prejudices the white men have against the indigenous tribes. This astonishing beautiful narrative winds the reader through the magnificent landscape of rural America as the lives and traditions of our Native American people were irretrievably destroyed.
First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www.readingandeating.com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.
WHERE THEY LAST SAW HER
By Marcie R. Rendon
Quill grew up on the Red Pine reservation in Minnesota. Anxious since childhood, Quill found her escape in running. No matter the season, she is out there with her two closest friends, Punk and Gaylen, preparing for the Boston Marathon. She and her husband Crow, a hard-working kind man, quietly raise their two children and focus on their long-held culture and traditions. One day while running in the woods, Quill hears a blood-curdling scream. This marks the beginning of her nightmare. Unable to forget this terrifying noise, Quill finds an earring in the snow and begins to investigate. It is not the first time a native woman has disappeared. While the nearby pipeline delivers jobs and business to the area, it also brings danger and crime. Women have been kidnapped, raped and sold. For the safety of their family, Crow insists Quill leave it to the reservation police, but the understaffed office cannot be trusted. Quill and her friends, with the support of the elder women, will not stop searching until they can feel safe in their village. This Native American author and activist inspires readers, writers and communities everywhere.
Native American Heritage Month celebrates the rich cultures, traditions and contributions of Native American peoples. Books offer an insight into their diverse histories while fostering an understanding of the challenges and triumphs they continue to face.
By Deborah Jackson Taffa
This Native American writer grew up in Yuma, Arizona and Farmington, New Mexico. Her father (Quechan/Laguna) buried a traumatized past of despair and discrimination as his mother (Grandma Esther) pushed her 15 children to leave the reservation for a better life. While some did, others fell into a rebellious existence filled with anxiety, alcohol and violence. Her mother, Rainey, also struggled with her identity as a Catholic and Latina, desperate for her children to fit in to white-centric America. The youngest of four, Deborah led an isolated childhood and was always a reader, writer and observer. While her parents and the tribal elders shared their history and traditions, the extensive racism the children faced in school and outside the reservation told them a different story. While her mother believed formal education was the only way to improve their lives, Deborah lost her faith along the way, falling into the common traps of depression and alcohol. As the author shares her story in this emotional memoir, she is also speaking for the thousands of Native Americans in California, Arizona and New Mexico who endure similar struggles, learning how to embrace the past while trying to succeed in mainstream America.
#WORTHWATCHING
Native American high-school students in New Mexico learn about their culture and traditions through basketball. Motivating and uplifting with a great cast, this sports drama produced by LeBron James is a great hoops movie for the whole family. “Rez Ball” can be seen on Netflix.
WHISKEY TENDER
KAREN NEWFIELD
TRUSTS • WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY LADYBIRD DEEDS
Whether you are a resident or a snowbird, it is important to have your assets properly titled in a way that will avoid those assets going through probate.
Hey Unincorporated Monroe County, Layton, Key Colony Beach & Marathon Your Carts Are Coming!
“Making
Your Neighborhoods Cleaner and Safer”
WHAT IS HAPPENING? RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE COLLECTION – Monroe County Solid Waste is going to switch to one 96-gallon garbage cart, with continued twice per week collection. This cart is for garbage only, no yard waste or recycling.
WHY? – To promote health, safety and pollution control of our neighborhoods.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
2 bedroom, 2 bath mobile home centrally located in mid Marathon. Large screened porch. 50 X 97lot. Reduced $325,000 MLS# 610518
LARGE SOMBRERO WATERFRONT DUPLEX
2 Bedrooms, 2 baths each side in this 2,752 sq ft duplex located on a 10,000 sq ft lot.. Great deep water access to the ocean or Gulf. $1,800,000
HOW DO I GET MY NEW CART? – Carts will be distributed to your residential/physical address on file with Monroe County.
Lower Keys (Stock Island to South of 7 Mile Bridge), beginning month of November 2024
Middle and Upper Keys, beginning month of December 2024
WHEN DO I START USING MY NEW CART? – Week starting December 29th, 2024 ACTIONS FOR RESIDENTS:
• Carts will be dropped off curbside. Please make sure you or someone else (e.g., neighbor, renter, property manager, friend) can move your cart up next to your home, garage, back door etc. It is your responsibility as a homeowner to secure and take care of the cart(s). If you are not available, please make arrangements to secure your cart(s) after delivery.
• Do not start using your cart until the week starting December 29th, 2024. After this date, 32-gallon cans/receptacles will no longer be an acceptable means for garbage collection.
• Lids should always be latched to keep trash contained from animals and winds. No garbage should be placed on top of lid or on the ground. All garbage should be placed in cart. Garbage not in cart will not be picked up.
• After collection, cart(s) must be removed from curbside, and returned to side yard, corner of house, back yard, or under house for proper storage.
• Resident is responsible for replacement cost of lost, stolen, or damaged carts.
• Residential communities (condominiums, cooperatives, apartment complexes, etc.) which receive containerized (dumpster) service will not be issued a 96-gallon cart. Residential communities should contact their local hauler for questions.
• If one 96-gallons cart is not sufficient for your residence, you can contact your local hauler for additional cart(s), at an additional fee.
• For additional questions you may have, please email: solidwastehotline@monroecounty-fl.gov
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM SHINES AT MILE MARKER 22
Icestream at Morning Joint is housed inside a renovated Airstream
trailer
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Once again, there’s something new — and shiny — at MM 22, where the Square Grouper and Morning Joint continue to expand the food, drink and merchandise offerings of the Lower Keys.
Morning Joint opened in early 2023 to complement the ever popular Square Grouper restaurant and its upstairs lounge, My New Joint.
The coffee shop and cafe is equal parts delicious, welcoming and irreverent, playing as it does on the marijuana theme that has made Square Grouper owner Lynn Bell a Keys favorite.
(“Square grouper” is the term Keys boaters, fishermen and smugglers used to describe bales of mairjuana and kilos of cocaine that were found floating in the ocean.)
Bell owns the building that now houses Morning Joint, which is owned and operated by Austin and Miranda Gagnon.
Austin Gagnon has now expanded his irresistible reach by opening Icestream at Morning Joint, a homemade ice cream shop housed inside a shiny renovated Airstream trailer right next door to Morning Joint.
Employee Rachel Moloney makes the handcrafted, small batch ice cream treats every week, with a deep freeze located right on the property.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, she proudly served an apple cider float, which tasted like homemade apple pie in a cup, as well as a slice of coconut ice cream pie, complete with shaved coconut on top and a graham cracker pie crust.
The ice cream flavors and specialty treats change each week, with some popular mainstays remaining on the menu, she said.
Recent flavors included seasalted munchies, strawberry cheesecake, peanut butter & jelly and even sweet corn ice cream. (Don’t knock it ’til you try it.)
Icestream is open six days a week from 2 to 9 p.m., but closed on Tuesdays.
“We’ve really put a lot of work into our outside area to make it a community space that is super kid- and pet-friendly,” Austin Gagnon said. “We’re also pairing it with fun events like upcoming farmers markets.
“We really want to be a fun and inviting place for people in the Lower Keys community, because there really is no place in this neighborhood for people to gather, hold a small meeting, or just relax and hang out,” he added.
A grand opening and ribboncutting celebration will take place throughout the day on Friday, Nov. 8, and the community is invited to see for themselves the latest highlight in the Lower Keys.
City of Marathon City Council Agenda
9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 5:30 P.M.
(*Denotes Item Is Passed By Consent Upon Approval of Agenda)
Public Comments taken on all times and at 6:30 p.m. time certain for items not on the agenda or as soon as possible thereafter of after the last agenda item; whichever comes first.
Resolution 2024-107, Accepting The Results Of The Municipal General Election Held November 5, 2024 For The Election Of Two At Large City Council Seats; And Providing For An Effective Date
A. Swearing in of Council Members
B. Mayor and Vice Mayor Selection
City Council Items
*A. Approval of Minutes
B. Carlos Solis, P.E., Public Works Director Recognition of 15 Years of Service
City Manager Report
*A. MCSO Marathon Substation Report
*B. Grants Update
*C. Public Works Report
*D. Wastewater Utilities Report
*E. Marathon Fire Rescue Report
*F. Marina Report
*G. Code Report
*H. Building Report
I. Updated Vehicle Policy
J. Beach Raking Contract Discussion
Ordinances for Final Public Hearing and Adoption
A. Ordinance 2024-10, Amending the City’s Land Development Regulations Relating to Chapter 107, Article 5, “Setbacks and Height”, Section 107.36 “Exception To Setback”; Providing For The Repeal Of All Ordinances Or Parts Thereof Found To Be In Conflict; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To Florida Commerce After Final Adoption By The City Council; Providing For Inclusion In The Code Of Ordinances And Providing For An Effective Date.
Ordinance for First Public Hearing
A. Ordinance 2024-13, Amending Chapter 2, Article 6, Division 2 Of The Code Of The City Of Marathon, Pertaining To Purchasing Requirements; Providing For Severability; Providing For Inclusion In The Code; And Providing For An Effective Date.
Resolutions For Adoption
*A. Resolution 2024-108, Authorizing The City To Extend The Agreement With Ballard Partners, Inc. For Professional Consulting And Lobbying Services Before The Legislature Of The State Of Florida; Authorizing The City Manager To Expend Budgeted Funds, And Execute The Extension Agreement; And Providing An Effective Date.
*B. Resolution 2024-109, Awarding Change Order #2 For the SA7 Filter Upgrades Project To Reynolds Construction.; Approving A Change In Contract Amount From $11,413.33; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Expend Budgeted Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*C. Resolution 2024-110, Waiving The City’s Purchasing Policies And Procedures And Approving A Sole Source Purchase Of Wastewater Treatment Membrane Upgrades For Service Area 5 Wastewater Treatment Facility From Kubota Membrane USA, In An Amount Not To Exceed $269,183.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Purchase Orders and Appropriating Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*D. Resolution 2024-111, Approving An Agreement With Culver’s Cleaning Company For Cleaning Services At Marathon City Hall, Fire Station And Utility/Public Works Building In An Amount Not To Exceed $53,300 Per Year; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*E. Resolution 2024-112, Amending The City’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*F. Resolution 2024-113, Approving An Amended Agreement Between The City Of Marathon And Jeff D. Vastola, Esq. For Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Services; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*G. Resolution 2024-114, Amending A Grant Agreement With The Florida Department Of Environmental Protection LP44044; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Grant Amendment On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date
*H. Resolution 2024-115, Amending A Grant Agreement With The Florida Department Of Environmental Protection For Deep Well, Transmission Piping & Pumping Station Project LP0724; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Grant Amendment On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date
*I. Resolution 2024-116, Approving A Lease Agreement Between The City Of Marathon, Florida As The Owner, And Boot Key View Condominium As Lessee For Submerged Lands Identified By Real Estate Number 00355400-000000; Including, But Not Limited To Establishing A Lease Area, Lease Amount, Lease Duration, And Release Of Liability; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Lease Agreement On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*J. Resolution 2024-117, Authorizing The City To Continue An Agreement With The Southern Group For Professional Consulting And Lobbying Services Before The Legislature Of The State Of Florida; Authorizing The City Manager To Finalize And Execute The Agreement; And Providing An Effective Date
*K. Resolution 2024-118, Accepting The Responsible Bid And Approving A Contract Between The City And Advanced Construction Corp.; In An Amount Not To Exceed $153,480.68 For The Tiki Structure At Oceanfront Park; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Appropriate Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date
*L. Resolution 2024-119, Authorizing The Purchase If A New CCT Rescue Under Bid #16-VEF12.0 From Emergency Tactical Rescues For An Amount Not To Exceed $289,154. This Resolution Authorizes The City Manager To Permit Department Head To Engage And Accept The Proposal. Authorizing The City Manager To Expend Budgeted Funds And Appropriating Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date
*M. Resolution 2024-120, Approving The Purchase With M&M Stellar Technologies, LLC to provide SCADA computer/software and On-Going Maintenance, In An Amount Not To Exceed $35,000.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement, Appropriating And Expending Budgeted Funds; And Providing For An Effective Date.
N. Resolution 2024-121, Providing A Recommendation To The Monroe County Board Of County Commissioners Regarding The Number Of Additional Residential Building Permit Allocations Marathon Would Like To Receive In Potential Future Allocations; Providing For Transmittal Of This Resolution To Certain People With The County; Providing For Transmittal Of This Resolution To Florida Commerce; And Providing For An Effective Date.
*O. Resolution 2024-122, Approving Change Order #2 To The Contract With Pedro Falcon Contractors, Inc. In An Amount Not To Exceed $80,587.18 For The Power Conditioning Project; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract And Expend Budgeted Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at such hearing or meeting, one will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose that person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ADA Assistance: Anyone needing special assistance at the City Council hearing due to disability should contact the City of Marathon City Attorney at (305) 289-4130 at least five days prior thereto. Please contact the City Clerk at clavierd@ci.marathon.fl.us if you would like to receive any of the items on the agenda by email.
Rachel Moloney is the ice cream maker at Icestream at Morning Joint, preparing handcrafted, small-batch ice cream every week or so. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
CITY OF MARATHON TURNS 25
Celebrating two-and-a-half decades of local home rule
This past Saturday marked a special anniversary for the Middle Keys. Before we get there, let’s turn the clocks back a bit.
It was November 1997. People throughout the Keys watched as residents of Islamorada voted to form their own municipal government – and the Village of Islamorada became real.
Early the following year, a group of residents met with Islamorada founder Ron Levy at the Stuffed Pig restaurant in Marathon. For years, many in Marathon thought they were getting short shrift from Monroe County. Islamorada had shown them the path to local control — could the same thing happen in Marathon?
Among the people attending this first meeting and subsequently getting involved were Stuffed Pig owners Mike Cinque and Karen Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Bob Miller, Bill and Karen Farley Wilkinson, Dick Ramsay, Dick Schultz, Glenn Robinson and yours truly. The group Citizens Incorporate Marathon was born, and the struggle to become our own city had begun.
There were a number of issues driving incorporation, including the following:
Infrastructure tax spending inequity: In the first 10 years of the infrastructure sales tax, less than 10% of the taxes collected in the Middle Keys went to Middle Keys projects.
Home rule: The one-size-fits-all ordinances and regulations enacted by the county commission often did not fit all areas of the Keys the same. Each island community is different, and what works in Key Largo might not work in Big Pine.
Parks and recreation: Having lost the Marine Bank field to the new Publix in the late 1990s, the town needed an events field and recreation space. While the county did find funds for Community Park Phase I – largely in response to the incorporation movement – that money came from Florida Forever grants, which would prohibit just about any event except for passive recreation. The lack of an events field was addressed upon the completion of Community Park Phase II, a multi-use athletic field and amphitheater facility complete with a modern skate park, all of which merged seamlessly with Phase I of the park. Sombrero Beach improve-
JOHN BARTUS
John Bartus is a singer/songwriter, city administrator for Key Colony Beach and the former mayor of Marathon.
ments made our beautiful beach park one of the Middle Keys’ most used attractions. Since then, Rotary Park and Jessie Hobbs Park have been developed and improved, and Marathon’s parks host awesome programs and events for all ages.
Wastewater and the 2010 mandate: When confronted with the potential controversy, the county commission punted all wastewater responsibility to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority in 1998. Marathon felt it necessary to control the utility decisions to be made for our community. The city took over, redesigned the system and got both wastewater and stormwater done by the original 2010 deadline.
After numerous public meetings, and with the help of State Rep. Ken Sorenson, the Florida Legislature voted to authorize Marathon’s incorporation referendum to be held Nov. 2, 1999. When the votes were counted, the referendum passed by nearly 70%.
The first city council election was held in February 2000, and the original five council members were Bob Miller, John Bartus, Randy Mearns, Frank Greenman and Jon Johnson. Ken Sorenson swore in the original council, and Miller was chosen Marathon’s first mayor. (I was chosen as the first vice mayor, and served as the town’s second mayor.)
The history of Marathon continues to be written. Two new city council members will be sworn in on Nov. 12, and let’s all hope that the future will bring prosperity and happiness to the residents of our Middle Keys community. Happy 25th birthday, Marathon! Here’s to many, many more!
— Catch John live Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, Fridays at Isla Bella, and Sunday afternoons at Skipjack Tiki. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus.com • johnbartus. hearnow.com
BRIEFLY
FWC accepting boats for Vessel Turn-In Program
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is accepting applications for its Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), a key component of Florida’s derelict vessel prevention program. VTIP is a voluntary program designed to help owners dispose of their unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Upon approval, VTIP will take a surrendered vessel and dispose of it at no cost to the boat owner, preventing legal ramifications for the vessel’s owner and protecting Florida’s valuable seagrasses, marine life and human safety and property. A derelict vessel in state waters is a criminal offense and can carry serious penalties, fines or possible jail time. To qualify, a vessel must be floating in Florida state waters and cannot already be determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written at-risk warning or citation and possess a clear title to the vessel. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/VTIP or call 850-488-5600.
Celebration of life for Katherine “Betty” Walker
On Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m., St. Columba Episcopal Church will host a celebration of life for Katherine “Betty” Walker, a longtime visitor and resident of Marathon since the 1950s who passed away earlier this year. Reverend Debra Maconaughey will officiate, and a small reception in the church hall will follow the service.
Monroe County offers election sign recycling
Monroe County and Waste Management are working together this election season to help recycle corrugated plastic election signs by providing dropoff points at Florida Keys transfer stations to dispose of them. These signs require special handling as their shape makes them unfit to be processed like normal recycling at the recycling plant. Sign dropoff is free to all Florida Keys residents and will be available Monday, Nov. 11 to Friday, Nov. 15 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Be sure to remove the metal posts from the signs, as there will be a specific container for the signs and the metal posts. Dropoff locations include Rockland Waste Management transfer station, 143 Toppino Industrial Drive; Long Key transfer station, MM 68 Overseas Highway, Long Key; and Key Largo transfer station, 11180 County Road 905, Key Largo. More information is available via email to tuschel-melody@ monroecounty-fl.gov.
CPR and first aid courses available
UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County will be offering American Heart Association CPR (adult, child, and infant) and first aid certification courses. There will be several courses offered throughout the Florida Keys. The CPR/first aid combo course costs $50. Participants will receive an American Heart Association certification after the course. CPR/ first aid combo courses will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Plantation Key Community Center, 53 High Point Road, Islamorada and on Monday, Nov. 18 on the second flood of the Marathon Government Center. More information is at 305-292-4501.
Middle Keys EAA to host Young Eagles rally
The Middle Keys Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1241 is again hosting a Young Eagles rally along with Aviation Day on Saturday, Nov. 9. Youngsters ages 8 to 17 can experience a flight with a local pilot. Pilots fly the youngsters over the Seven Mile Bridge, out to Sombrero Lighthouse and back to the airport. The event will be at the EAA Air Museum at the Marathon airport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents or guardians can register their children online at YEDAY.org.
Come take a class at the Marathon library
The Marathon library has a wide variety of class offerings, ranging from photography to book clubs, robots, virtual reality and more. Scan the QR code here to see the schedule and get involved.
11-month-old male mixed breed.
Looking for: My dream is to be in a home with other animals, dogs and cats.
Turnoffs: I have some stranger danger!
SWIPE RIGHT
2.5-year-old weimaraner mix.
Looking for: I need a cuddle buddy.
Turnoffs: I’m choosy about my canine companions.
Adorable furry faces are waiting for families at the Florida Keys SPCA
Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turnoffs to ensure the best fit.
From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
See all the animals waiting for a home at fkspca.org. To contact the Marathon campus, call 305-743-4800 or visit 10550 Aviation Blvd.
MS. TERI
9.5-year-old female terrier mix.
Looking for: People. I love people. I just want to lie in your lap all day.
Turnoffs: Being alone – I am one social butterfly.
REMMY
BLIPPI
25 CLAWS, 12 MINUTES
Big Pine’s Hanousek wins Stone Crab Eating Contest
AFlorida Keys commercial fisherman took first place in the Keys Fisheries’ Stone Crab Eating Contest held Saturday in Marathon.
Bobby Hanousek (HAN-ah-sek) of Big Pine Key, triumphed over 46 other individual contestants in the raucous amateur eating competition. It was his second time as champion; he also won in 2022.
Contestants had to crack and eat 25 stone crab claws and pick them completely clean in the fastest time. Participants received a 30-second penalty for each piece of claw meat left behind.
The 2023 winner, Scott Milison of Chicago, returned to compete on Nov. 2 and narrowly missed taking first place after being penalized for leaving crab meat behind.
Hanousek’s final time to finish 25 claws was 12 minutes and 3 seconds. A commercial lobster and stone crab fisherman, he said he always sells his catch because the Florida seafood favorite is in such high demand.
“When the first day of season comes, everyone is just grabbing it because stone crab is just a delicacy down here,” Hanousek said. “The only time I eat them is at this event every year,” he added.
“It feels good to be the champion again,” he said.
Marathon residents Tom Zajac and Justin Hare claimed the top team title for the second consecutive year, finishing in 5 minutes and
SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH 11am - 2:30pm
the individual
56 seconds to break their previous record.
Stone crabs are considered a renewable resource because of the crabs’ ability to re-grow harvested claws. The Florida Keys are responsible for about half of the state’s stone crab harvest that averages about 2 million pounds annually, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Keys Fisheries is the largest processor of stone crab claws in Florida. Stone crab harvest season runs Oct. 15 to May 1. — Contributed
Regular menu available and BRUNCH items including chorizo breakfast burrito, guava French toast, crab benedict and BOGO mimosas & glasses of sparkling wine
4-6pm
HAPPY HOUR
Contestants compete in the individual division of the Keys Fisheries Stone Crab Eating Contest on Nov. 2. MIKE ZIMMER/Florida Keys News Bureau
Jason Boyd, left, general manager of Keys Fisheries, presents Bobby Hanousek, right, a first-place plaque for winning
division of the Keys Fisheries Stone Crab Eating Contest. MIKE ZIMMER/Florida Keys News Bureau
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
TRY ’N’ FIND
Words that remind us of national parks are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
ASSATEAGUE, BAY, BEAUTY, CANYON, CHINCOTEAGUE, DENALI, GEOGRAPHY, GEYSER, GLACIER, GRAND, HORSE, ICE, ISLAND, NATIONAL, PARK, TORTUGAS, TRIBAL, YELLOWSTONE.
Founded by Betty Debnam
Spectacular Beauty
view the breath-taking
Some of the most glorious places on Earth belong to you. These amazing sites are all part of our national park system.
For Geography Awareness Week, Nov. 11-17, The Mini Page takes you on a tour of a handful of America’s most beautiful and varied natural sites.
THE GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona has deep canyons cut out by the Colorado River over millions of years. Its layers of rock go down as far as 6,000 feet and date from close to 2 billion years ago to today.
The park sits on the ancestral homelands of 11 present-day tribal communities, including the Havasupai and Navajo people.
GLACIER BAY
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska was covered by ice just 200 years ago. The bay then was a small 5-mile break in a glacier that was 20 miles wide, 100 miles long and 4,000 feet thick in places. Only about one-fourth of that area is still under ice today.
to Glacier Bay might hear the howls of wolves, icebergs “burping,” humpback whales and harbor seals calling and moose grunting.
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
Wind and waves are always building up or tearing down the land on Assateague (ASS-uh-teeg), off the shores of Virginia and Maryland. Storms can change the shoreline in a few hours.
Assateague is famous for its wild horses called Chincoteague ponies. They may be the descendants of horses brought over by Colonists in the 1600s. The horses are not technically ponies; their short size comes from the salty diet they eat. About 75 horses live on the island.
YELLOWSTONE
Yellowstone National Park, in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, is home to wildlife such as wolves and grizzly bears. Yellowstone is best known for its hot springs and geysers (GUY-zerz). A geyser is a fountain of boiling water and steam. Yellowstone has more than 1,200 geysers, of which about 465 are active in any given year.
Saudi and American researchers have discovered a new “grumpy” fish species swimming among the coral reefs of the Red Sea. Despite its small size — less than 1 inch in length — the grumpy dwarfgoby stands out with its long canines and fierce expression. The team first encountered the species in the Farasan Banks of Saudi Arabia. The fish’s bright red coloration helps it blend in with the walls and overhangs of the coral reefs, while its large canines are used to catch passing prey.
DENALI
The highest mountain in North America, Denali, at 20,310 feet, is in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. “Denali” means “high one” in the language of the Athabascan native people.
feet high.
The park and preserve cover more than 6 million acres, with forests, tundra, glaciers and snow. Grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and moose make their homes in the park, along with many species of smaller mammals and birds.
DRY TORTUGAS
Seven islands made of coral reefs and sand form the Dry Tortugas off the west coast of Florida. “Tortugas” is Spanish for “sea turtles.” The islands were discovered by explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513. Explorers named them “dry” because they have no fresh water for drinking.
The park was established in 1992 to protect the islands and marine ecosystems surrounding them. Visitors must use seaplanes or ferries to access the islands; cars are not allowed.
RESOURCES
Mini Fact: Visitors
Grand Canyon at sunset from Mather Point.
Visitors
photos courtesy NPS
Harbor seals hang out on the ice in front of a glacier.
Old Faithful is the most popular geyser at Yellowstone.
Mount Foraker is about 17,000
BEST BALL
THE SCOREBOARD
LYKINS
THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS
11/12
11/12
11/13 Coral Shores Boys Soccer Westland Hialeah 4 p.m.
11/14 Marathon & Key West Boys Basketball Preseason Classic @ Marathon 5 & 7 p.m.
He has been a natural on the boards, but has also worked really hard to master his technique and improve his dives.”
– Hurricanes coach Kelly Owens
On Oct. 29, Coral Shores junior Aaron Lykins secured the FHSAA 1A District 12 gold medal in the one meter diving competition, the only Keys athlete to win a district championship this season. Not bad for an athlete who took up the sport less than two months ago. In September a pool member recommended Lykins try it out and between then and now, he has learned an 11-dive series required for the state meet. Coach Kelly Owens noted that Lykins’ natural talent and athleticism are matched only by his serious work ethic and dedication to improvement. For his exceptional skills and willingness to dive right in and bring home the gold, Aaron Lykins is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
With two birdies and a score of 80 to finish ninth overall at districts, the Conchs’ Peyton Zubieta, seen here at a match earlier this season at Ocean Reef, will be the first Key West golfer to represent the team at regionals in years. See page 4. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
Junior, Coral Shores Swimming & Diving
gold medal
fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second-generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.
sean mcdonald
grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.
THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.
Seen here in a match earlier this season, Key West’s Peyton Zubieta will be the first Conch golfer to compete at regionals in several years. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
tracy mcdonald
District matches reflect hard work, improved play from Keys golfers
Key West played 18 holes at Killian Greens Golf Course on Oct. 29 in the FHSAA 2A District 16 Championships. The Conchs’ five earned fourth place overall and advanced their first athlete in several seasons to the next level of play.
Peyton Zubieta birdied on holes 4 and 18 for a score of 80 and ninth place overall. Zubieta’s play was strong enough to send him to the regional match held at The National at Ave Maria Golf Course in Naples Nov. 4. If he plays well there, he could qualify for the state match at Howey-in-the-Hills Mission Resort & Club.
“I'm excited to bring Peyton up and watch him represent Key West against some of the bigger schools in our region,” said Key West golf coach Josh Bassett. “I'm confident that he will show that Key West has as much talent in golf as these other schools do.”
Geo Twyman had a fantastic round, shooting an 84 for 12th place overall. Twyman, who was paired
ZUBIETA PUNCHES REGIONALS
with the eventual winner, had a rough start, then heated up. The sophomore shows a lot of promise for next season. Hole 18 proved to be lucky for the Conchs; Zubieta, Twyman and Mason Titensor were all under par on the final hole. Titensor, just a freshman, birdied on hole 12 as well, tying with Andrew Bassett with a score of 88. Jackson Barroso was the fifth Conch to help boost Key West to the fourth overall spot at districts.
The Lady Conchs captured sixth place overall, and the combined experience of junior Claudia Steling, who finished in 31st place with a 106, and a trio of golfers a bit newer to the sport helped the team beat out several other schools. Senior Monica Bueno shot a 108 for 33rd place, but it was a pair of sophomores who had the top scores of the day at Killian Greens.
“Lexi Finigan and Charlize Lopez had an awesome day on the course,” Bassett said. “Lexi played with the Lady Conchs last year and this is Charlize's first year with the team, but to go out with some fierce competition and play the best round of the season, it just shows that they have what it takes to stay focused and pull through adversity. I can't wait to see what the Lady Conchs do next season.”
Finigan broke the elusive 100 mark, shooting a 98 for 25th place overall while Lopez was close, with a 101 in 29th place.
Smaller Marathon and Coral Shores, classified as 1A schools, played at Redland Golf & Country Club in Homestead on Oct. 29 for their district championship match. The Fins finished fourth and the ’Canes fifth in a competition with athletes from 10 teams. Junior Hurricane Brock Bynum was within a few strokes of making regionals. Bynum cracked the top 10, finishing ninth overall with an 88 over 18 holes. Seniors Derek Ramos, Preston Carroll and Aidan Althouse finished next for Coral Shores. Ramos shot a 92, good for 15th place, while Carroll finished 20th with a 98 and Althouse turned in a 106 on his scorecard, ending the round in 26th place. The final Hurricane was junior Jacob Bohnstedt, who shot a 110 and finished in 29th place.
“Golf is often thought of as an individual sport, but the camaraderie and mutual support I witnessed this season truly set our team apart,” said Hurricane coach Danielle Thomas. “I am going to miss all of my seniors; they have been with me since I started this program. Next year will definitely be a building year, but I am excited to see new golfers come out and others returning.”
For Marathon, a pair of seniors finished in the top spots. Leo Mendez scored a 90 in 12th place and Mason Thornton was three shots behind in 16th. Fins head coach Mary Coleman-Sayer said of the pair, “I couldn’t have asked for two better seniors to lead and carry our team.”
Freshman Luca Picariello and sophomore Roco Piscetello both broke 100. Picariello finished 18th with a 95 while Piscetello was one stroke and one place behind. Sophomore Cullen Coleman-Sayer rounded out Marathon’s scoring five. “Our younger players are ready to continue the success of our program, and I am proud of the strides they made this season,” said their coach.
The 1A girls event was held at Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami Beach on Oct. 30. Three Keys athletes completed the course. Coral Shores senior Gabby Thomas had the best round at the Shores, finishing in 17th place overall. Thomas is one of the seniors the ’Canes’ coach started with, and her coach was pleased with her improvement this season. “Gabby found her driver and worked hard; she is now consistently driving 210 to 240 yards,” Danielle Thomas said.
Marathon’s Justice Lee Isom participated in her first-ever district event. The junior picked up the sport this fall and proved that she is an athlete of many talents, finishing in 18th place overall. Teammate Makenna Haines, a sophomore, was 20th.
All three coaches expressed excitement about next season’s returning talent and look forward to the camaraderie they share. In this sport, competition is important, but building one another up, regardless of the team uniform a player wears, is even more so.
BURSA STRIKES GOLD
B4.
5.
3.
6.
Photos by RICK MACKENZIE/ Contributed
oth teams from Marathon qualified for the next level of competition on Oct. 29 at Palmer Trinity School’s cross country course. The boys team, anchored by district champion Vance Bursa, brought home the runner-up trophy, finishing second out of 10 teams competing. Bursa finished in 16:33, well ahead of the next runner. Tony Bursa was eighth, finishing in 18:08. Also bringing home a top-15 medal was Allan Taylor, whose 18:33 was good for 13th. Lucian Burns (18:48) and Caleb Shelar (18:50) crossed in 16th and 17th place, respectively, just outside of the medals, but their times helped boost the Fins into second. Anthony Vargas was Marathon’s final finisher.
The Lady Fins were led by sixth-grader Molly Joly, who finished 10th in 22:52. Ella Dunn also earned an individual medal, finishing 13th in 23:10. Maeve Merryman (24:56), Sara Robinson (26:08) and Rebecca Merryman (26:38) rounded out the top five for the Fins with Madelyn Thornton and Mylana Loza also finishing the race. Marathon’s average time put them in fourth place, sending the entire team to regionals with a chance to qualify for states later this month.
The following day, Key West and Coral Shores participated in the FHSAA 2A District 8 race held at Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Miami. The first finisher in the boys race was Sawyer Hill of Key West, whose 20:03 time placed him 21st in the overall competition. William Forester was next for the Conchs, clocking in at 20:27, then Prometheus Delacerda (21:00), Jerven Louis (22:02), Rayan Barrios (22:03) and Alejandro Caridad (22:05) rounded out the Key West’s boys team finishers. The Conchs placed 11th out of 18 teams, but did not qualify for the
next level, as only the top eight teams move on to regionals.
Coral Shores’ boys did make the cut for regionals, placing seventh at the event. Alaric Rodriguez crossed the line in 19:08, in 24th place overall. Tristan Rios (19:26) and Jamie Cary (19:32) finished next, followed by Nathaniel Shugarman (19:48) and Garret Gomila (20:13) to round out the scoring five. Other finishers for the Hurricanes were Adrik Gadea, Tristan Sanchez, Corey Dickerson, Erik Moerner and Lochlain James.
Joining Coral Shores’ boys at regionals will be Ali Wheatley. Wheatley’s seventh-place 20:52 time was fast enough to make the top three at-large spots for District 8. Teammates Tess Hill (25:06), Kate King (25:09), Kai Guth (28:16) and Julieanna Oddo (28:49) were the top five for the Lady Canes’ 11th-place team. Other finishers were Hayden Teal and Saige Ensign, who will be back next season.
Key West’s girls finished in fifth place at districts, qualifying the entire team for regionals. Naima Thomas crossed the line first for the Lady Conchs in 20:51. Thomas’ sixth-place finish would have qualified for an individual spot had the team not performed so well. Caylaa Makimaa, typically the top runner for Key West, was not feeling her best at districts but still managed 14th place in 22:03. Violet Jangraw (23:50), Laira Anaya (26:21) and Mia Steer (26:59) were the rest of the top five whose times set the pace for the qualifying finish. Also running for Key West were Ava Gonzalez and Deanna Mercier. Regionals for 1A and 2A competitors are at staggered times on Friday, Nov. 8 at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. This year’s state meet is at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee Saturday, Nov. 16.
1. Marathon’s boys team wins the second-place trophy at districts last week. From left: Caleb Shelar, Vance Bursa, Allan Taylor, Lucian Burns, Tony Bursa and Anthony Vargas.
2. Key West’s Naima Thomas, left, and Caylaa Makimaa show off their district medals.
Marathon’s Molly Joly (59) leads a small pack of runners at Palmer Trinity last week. Teammate Ella Dunn (55) is close behind.
Hurricane harrier Tristan Rios crosses the line at districts.
Coral Shores’ Ali Wheatley (22) tries to hawk down Key West’s Naima Thomas (145) at their district championships last week. Wheatley finished in seventh place, just behind Thomas.
Marathon’s girls huddle up prior to their district race.
CONCHS CONQUER ’CANES
Key West awaits regular-season finales to learn playoff fate
November 1 was a big night in the Southernmost City. The Conchs celebrated Senior Night, Homecoming, and then a victory over rival Coral Shores in a 28-7 win that put Key West in solid contention for a playoff bid.
The Conchs started their scoring onslaught early in the game, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The first touchdown came from a short run by Jaden Fox, who was seemingly unstoppable despite playing under the weather. Coral Shores managed to drive the ball against a
bend-but-don’t-break Key West defense, but stalled short of the end zone.
Five seconds into quarter two, Fox did it again, putting the Conchs up 14-0. With just under a minute left in the second, Coral Shores had great field position after holding Key West on defense, but a fumble was picked up by the Conchs, who immediately began a 70-yard march down the field. Roman VanLoon, who has been carrying the quarterback duties for an injured Teak Guyet, connected with Jayden Gist to give Key West a 21-0 advantage heading into
the locker room for the half.
Coral Shores is not the sort of team to give up the fight, though, and the third quarter belonged to them. The ’Canes started the second half with their typical grit and fire and quickly went to work, driving down the field. Yemcel Moreno was good for a 14-yard pass caught by AJ Putetti, narrowing the gap to 21-7.
The ’Canes continued to move the ball, but Key West’s defense refused to give up the big plays, which inevitably won them the game. A final score on an 8-yard run from Shane Lavallee
Key West running back
Fox
Key West’s Noah Mercer throws a block on Coral Shores’ Jamoris Davis.
Jamoris Davis shoots a peace sign to the Conchs.
Coral Shores’ AJ Putetti was on the receiving end of the Hurricanes’ only touchdown.
Key West’s Jeff Dejean dodges a would-be tackler.
Tricia Desroches is crowned Key West High School’s Homecoming queen next to her escort Alfredo Corrales.
put the game out of reach for the Hurricanes, who will end their season 8-2 with a shared Florida Independent Football Conference title.
By securing the win, Key West gave themselves the best possible advantage in the FHSAA playoff brackets. The 7-3 Conchs must now wait while other teams in their region play this week to see where their chips fall. Depending on the wins and losses of the rest of the region, Key West could get a bid to the playoffs the following week.
Marathon all but lost its hopes of a playoff spot in the FHSAA 1A Rural brackets in a trip to Pine Crest on Nov. 1 to take on the Panthers in Fort Lauderdale. An uncharacteristically low-scoring game went more than three quarters before either team saw any points on the board.
Marathon’s typically relentless offense could not capitalize in multiple visits to the red zone, and
Key West’s defense refused to give up the big plays, which inevitably won them the game.
three missed field goals kept them off the board for most of the game. The Fins’ defense kept their hopes alive, however, preventing the Panthers from hitting paydirt until quarter four when Pine Crest kicked a field goal, making it 3-0 as the minutes ticked off the clock. Marathon kept fighting, and in the final moments, Fabbianho Louis Jeune managed to split the uprights late in the game, sending the game into overtime.
The Dolphins were unable to move the ball on their overtime possession, allowing Pine Crest to win the game with a field goal on their OT drive. Marathon finishes the season 5-5 and is not in contention for a spot in the playoffs due to a change in how playoffs will be handled this season. The change occurred midway through the season after many teams in the Rural classification were affected by a pair of hurricanes and lost games.
Clockwise from left: The Conch defense preps for the snap from Coral Shores QB Yemcel Moreno (5).
Jaden
meets a pile of Hurricane defenders and his own teammates.
Photos by RAE TORRES/ Contributed
LYKINS WINS DISTRICT GOLD
Keys swimmers make waves as they head to regionals
Equipped with district hardware, Coral Shores and Key West will each send a dozen athletes to the FHSAA Region 4 swimming championships in their respective divisions.
Both teams qualified athletes via automatic and wild card bids. Swimmers who claim the top two spots at districts, plus the top 22 times from the remaining districts in a region, make it to the next level, and with some of the fastest competition in the state right here in South Florida, swimmers finishing well past that second-place mark sometimes make the trip while others who touch the wall in third are denied.
The Hurricanes brought home plenty of hardware from the 1A District 12 meet on Oct. 29. The top finisher was junior Aaron Lykins, whose performance in diving earned him a gold medal in the event. Lykins will compete at the regional event Nov. 8 at Nova Southeastern Aquatics Center along with teammates Anthony Jeffrey, Anton Khioni, Evan Osipov and Mason Osipov. The Osipovs, Jeffrey and Khioni were all part of Coral Shores’ fourth-place 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
The girls team will also be well-represented at regionals. Abbie Sargent, Layne Smith, Sofia Figuredo and Allegra Fucaraccio proved that their breakout performances in 2023 were certainly not flukes. All four have been on the podium often this season and helped the team finish fourth overall at districts. Sargent was part of Coral Shores’ second-place 200 freestyle relay team and third-place 200 medley team and was the individual silver medalist in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM events.
Smith was a member of the same relays and brought home a pair of district silver medals in the 200 and 500 freestyle individual events. Figueredo took seventh in the 200 IM and eighth in the 100 breaststroke with times fast enough to make the cut for regionals. Figueredo was also a member of the 200 medley and free relay teams. Fucaraccio was sixth in the 100 butterfly event, qualifying her for regionals. She was the fourth member of the 200 medley team and swam a leg of the fifth-place 400 freestyle relay team, which also qualified.
Joining Fucaraccio on the final relay team will be Stella Hodder, Sophia Jackson and Larkin Dunn. Hodder will also have a chance to swim as the second alternate in the 100 breaststroke event and Parks Dunn will make the trip and serve as first alternate for the 400 relay team.
Both of Key West’s teams finished in fifth place at the 2A district event. Seven Lady Conchs will represent the Southernmost City on Saturday, Nov. 9 for the regional event held at Gulliver Prep. Two qualified for individual events including Aly Camargo, whose seventh-place time in the 100 freestyle race was fast enough to make the cut. Hadley Bardoni was 10th in the 500 free, but a fast field of swimmers in District 12 ensured she would qualify in the distance race. Camargo and Bardoni will be joined by Mary Searcy and Molly Martinez in the 200 medley relay. Key West’s team finished fourth in that race and fifth in the 400 free relay, which will also make the trip. Swimmers in that event are Searcy, Ashlyn Picco, Charlotte Murray and Reeghan Davis.
Five male swimmers will join the girls at regionals. Santiago Gonzalez was the lone individual qualifier with an eighth-place finish in the 200 free race. He will also swim a leg of the 200 freestyle relay and 400 free relay
A powerful Coral Shores quartet of Layne Smith, left, Abbie Sargent, Allegra Fucaraccio and Olivia Figueredo will be put to the test at regionals after capturing plenty of district medals. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
teams, both of which captured fifth place. On the 200 relay, Gonzalez will be joined by Hugo Blinckmann, Max Blinckmann and Sebastian Camargo. For the 400 relay, it will be Gonzalez, Camargo, Jason Frankel and Jacob Perez. Eli Morris, Kieran Smith, Matthew Robertson and Hugo Blinckmann were members of the 200 medley relay team, which also finished in fifth place but will have to settle as alternates should another team be unable to compete.
In addition to the regional qualifiers, coach Lori Bosco made mention of a slew of swimmers turning in personal bests at districts. Included in the athletes who peaked in their final race were many of the qualifiers as well as David Anthou, Caber Bausmith, Wesley Farrer, Nazar Matiushenko, Matthew Robertson, Devon Soni, Stone Turbeville and Jackson Way.
Regional meets were scheduled from Nov. 4-9 for both the 1A and 2A classifications (results not available at press time). States will be on Friday, Nov. 15 for Coral Shores and Nov. 16 for Key West. All divisions compete at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training Center in Ocala.
Marathon’s Ella Evans was the top overall lifter in the traditional category in the opening meet of the season. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
WE HAVE LIFTOFF
Girls weightlifting season officially opens
irls weightlifting competitions commenced last week, signaling the start of winter sports Keyswide. All three teams traveled to Tavernier on Oct. 30 to check the results of their training since last season. Though many competitors were still participating in fall sports, a majority of the athletes were at Coral Shores’ weight room to contend for first place in each of the events for the various weight classes as well as the top lifter, calculated using each athlete’s best lifts and taking their individual body weight into consideration.
check the results of their training since last season. press,
The Olympic category, which combines lifts in clean and jerk and snatch, was won by Coral Shores with a score of 32. Marathon scored 30 and Key West totaled 27 in that event. The traditional category, which combines clean and jerk plus bench press, was even between the ’Canes and Fins at 33, with Key West totaling 21 points in that event.
The 154-pound class was split between Alexa Condella of Key West, who won Olympic, and Brizni Vargas of Marathon, who won the traditional category. The rest of the weight classes saw double winners last week. Althea Olsen (101), Shylo Sanchez (139) and Adelaide Sir (183) were the double winners for Key West. Ayme Maradiaga (110), Rilynn Richards (119) and Ella Evans (129) were Marathon’s winners. Karla Guitierrez (169), Elaina Kerns (199) and Sydney Eysenbach (unlimited) were Coral Shores’ double winners. Evans took the overall title in traditional lifts while Condella won the Olympic category.
The athletes were due back in action in Marathon on Nov. 6 (results not available at press time). Each meet brings the lifters closer to the state meet, where Monroe County was well-represented the past few seasons.
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Emerald Key AI, located at 58336 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
By: Emerald Key Partners, LLC
Publish: November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Florida Keys Countertops, located at 17222 Snapper Lane, Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042, intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
By: Florida Keys Bobcat and Trailer LLC
Publish: November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statues
83.805 / 83.506, Tavernier Mini Storage, 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070 will sell or otherwise will dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.
All Contents in:
Unit B-13 –Tyler Drakas Sale of all goods will be 11/18/24 at 10:00 am at 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070. Tavernier Mini Storage reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Publish: October 31 and November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
LEGAL NOTICE
Cemetery Plot Ownership
Transfer Intent
The Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum seeks to take ownership of cemetery lots #45 and #46 within the Key West Cemetery. Key West’s volunteer firemen originally purchased these lots, but the volunteer organization no longer exists. The Museum intends to improve, maintain, and utilize these lots as part of our mission to honor the legacy of Key West’s firefighters. As part of this process, we are notifying the public and any potential next of kin for the following individuals buried in these lots.
Pembroke W. Bethel, buried March 6, 1933 Herman Fillmore Roberts, buried April 3, 1961
Clarence M. Roberts, died 1968, burial date unknown John W. Roberts, buried December 4, 1932, Thomas Alexander Johnson, buried June 16, 1939
If you are a next of kin and have any inquiries or objections to this transfer, please contact the Cemetery Sexton and the Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum within the next two weeks from the date of this notice. After this period, if no objections are raised, ownership of the plots will be transferred to the Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum. Inquiries may be directed to: Rosa Diaz, Cemetery Sexton rdiaz@cityofkeywest-fl.gov
Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum 1024 Grinnell Street, Key West, FL 33040 keywestfirehouse@gmail.com
Publish: November 7 & 14, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH
NOTICE OF CODE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances.
DATE/TIME: Thursday, November 21st, 2024, 9:35 AM or after the Public Hearing LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2024-495], entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED GARBAGE & TRASH, SECTION 7-8 YARD TRASH PREPARATIONS AND SECTION 7-8.1 YARD TRASH LOCATION FOR COLLECTION; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; REPEALING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@keycolonybeach. net and your comments will be entered into the record. To be published: On or before November 11th, 2024
City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on November 19, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, will hold a public hearing to consider approval of the following County Resolution: A RESOLUTION OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA ELECTING TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LEVIED WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS AND ADDRESSING SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS FOR TWIN LAKES; STATING A NEED FOR SUCH LEVY; PROVIDING FOR THE MAILING OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments and collection of the assessment on the ad valorem tax bills. All affected property owners have the right to appear and provide input at the hearing, and may file written objections with the County Administrator
at any time prior to the public meeting or within twenty (20) days following publication of this notice, whichever is greater. The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill, commencing with the tax bill to be mailed in November 2024, as authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the real property which may result in a loss of title. If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Haag at (305) 453-8774 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The public can participate in the November 19, 20024 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida by attending in person or via Zoom. The zoom link can be found in the agenda at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens.default.aspx.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, F.S., if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made.
ADA Assistance: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact the Administrator'sCountyoffice at (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call ‘711.’ Dated at Key West this 19th day of October, 2024.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court an ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: October 24 & 31 and November 7 & 14, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
Florida Keys Council of the Arts Notice of Upcoming Meetings
The Florida Keys Council of the Arts will hold the following meetings via Communications Media Technology using a ZOOM webinar platform. The access points to view the Zoom meetings or for members of the public to provide public input will be: JOIN ZOOM via the Zoom app and use each meeting ID and password listed. Meetings are open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Questions, or to RSVP, please email Liz Young at director@keysarts.com
Art in Public Places Committee Meeting Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 813 8393 8465 Passcode: 856178 Executive Board Committee Meeting Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 886 4557 5630 Passcode: 055158
Publish: November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION
CASE NUMBER: 24-CP000057-M DIVISION: MARATHON FLORIDA BAR #980810 IN RE: THE ESTATE OF NOEL FAUSTINO CORDOVA Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the
estate of NOEL FAUSTINO CORDOVA, deceased, whose date of death was January 6, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: November 7, 2024.
Persons Giving Notice: Eduardo Cordova 23237 Lehigh Avenue Port Charlotte, Florida 33954 Attorney for Persons Giving Notice: Christopher B. Waldera, P.A. Christopher B. Waldera, Esq. Florida Bar No: 980810 Attorney for Personal Representative 5800 Overseas Highway, Suite 7 Marathon, Florida 33050 Telephone: (305) 289-2223 Facsimile: (305) 289-2249 email: chris@cbwpa.com Publish: November 7 & 14, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 2024-CP-451-P IN RE: ESTATE OF HAROLD L. YOH, JR., Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
OU ARE NOTIFIED that the administration of the estate of Harold L. Yoh, Jr., deceased, whose date of death was June 21, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, File Number 2024-CP-451-P, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Hwy., Suite 1, Tavernier, FL 33070. The name and address of the personal representatives and the personal representatives’ attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons, who have claims or demands against the estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, and who have been served a copy of this notice must file their claims WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons who have claims or demands against the decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims WITHIN THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION
OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The personal representatives have no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. THE DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE IS: OCTOBER 31, 2024.
Personal Representatives: Harold L. Yoh, III 309 Winfield Road Devon, PA 19333
Michael H. Yoh 41 Tunbridge Road Haverford, PA 19041
Jeffrey M. Yoh 5631 Quail Trail Lane Clover, SC 29710
William C. Yoh 9 Allens Lane Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Attorney to Personal Representatives: Leon N. Patricios, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0012777 Zumpano Patricios, P.A. 312 Minorca Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33134 Tel: 305-444-5565
Fax: 305-444-8588
Email: lpatricios@zplaw.com
Publish: October 31 & November 7, 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-529-P IN RE: ESTATE OF MARGARET A. WALSTON Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of, MARGARET A. WALSTON, deceased, whose date of death was 17 September 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 88770 Overseas Highway, 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.
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 31, 2024.
Personal Representative Meg Pizzano aka Meg SimonPizzano 65 Nathan Blvd.
Parlin, NJ 08859
Attorney for Personal Representative Tom Woods, Esq. Florida Bar No.: 0525197 116 Porto Salvo Drive Islamorada, Florida 33036 Phone 305.664.2200 Fax 2205 email: tom@tomwoodslaw. com
Publish: October 31 & November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
NATURAL FATHER
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
HARRISON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA IN RE: P.F. 24-JA-28-1
TO: ARTHUR GASSER or UNKNOWN FATHER
The purpose of the above action is to determine guardianship of the child, P.F. born on October 25, 2022, to Nicole Faraco. The petitioner, the West Virginia Department of Human Services, is seeking permanent legal and physical custody of the said infant child.
It is ORDERED that Arthur Gasser or the unknown biological father, appear in the Harrison County Circuit Court, Division I, 4th Floor, Harrison County Courthouse, Clarksburg, West Virginia on the 17th day of December 2024 at 11:00 o’clock a.m., or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, for the adjudicatory hearing of Arthur Gasser or the unknown biological father. Said person is instructed that he has thirty (30) days from this Notice to answer the Petition herein. Said person is given notice that he must object, or, otherwise permanent legal and physical custody of the said infant child may be granted to the West Virginia Department of Human Services and his parental rights may be permanently terminated. Said Arthur Gasser or unknown biological father, shall have the right to be represented by counsel and if he cannot pay for the services of counsel, counsel will be appointed. Said Arthur Gasser or unknown biological father is represented by Christopher Wilson, Esquire, at 300 Adams Street, Fairmont, WV 26554-3104, at phone number 304-333-1500. Publish: October 31 & November 7, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-189-P
DIVISION: FAMILY TERESITA PEREZ, Petitioner, and ANAIS LORENZO, WILLIAM GONZALEZ, Respondents.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR MOTION FOR MODIFICATION OF LEGAL GUARDIAN TO: WILLIAM GONZALEZ RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 416 E 27TH STREET, HIALEAH, FL 33013 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Custody Case has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Teresita Perez, whose address is 142 Dickie Way, Apt. 1, Tavernier, FL 33070 on or before December 2, 2024, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 88770 Overseas Highway, Plantation Key, FL 33070, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.
The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: October 25, 2024 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jennifer Havengar Deputy Clerk Publish: October 31 and November 7, 14 & 21, 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
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
Place your AUTO FOR SALE ad here for $25/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!
BOATS FOR SALE
2021 Zodiac Inflatable 12' w/25hp Yamaha, only 100 hrs. Excellent condition. Located in Islamorada. $6,000 Call John 305-216-2747
14' Aluminum boat, 9.9 Mercury Outboard, Elec. start, Trolling motor in bow, NEW gas tank, battery, GPS, Depth Finder & trailer tires. Located in Marathon. $3500 305-395-1015
FOR SALE: 2019
Walker Bay fiberglass RIB mod. 325ST LOA 11’ with 9.9 HP Yamaha. Located in Marathon. $3,850 970-901-1138
Place your BOAT FOR SALE ad here for $25/week for up to five 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
Place your COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT ad here for $25/week for up to five 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.
Lead mechanic needed ASAP. Come in person to apply at 2525 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL. Pay based upon experience. 305-289-9884
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time line cook. Private club, friendly atmosphere. Flexible lunch/dinner shifts available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com.
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring part-time servers and bartenders. Private club, friendly atmosphere, guaranteed gratuities. Flexible lunch/dinner shifts available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a service-orientedcustomer Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am- 7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Administrative Asst. to Executive Director, Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Med Tech, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@kwha.org or 305-296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968.
Place your EMPLOYMENT ad here for $25/week for up to five 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.
SUPPORTED LIVING COACH
Responsibilities include management of developmentally disabled clients in independent living environments, management of office and in-home support staff. Must be available for some evenings and weekends. Bachelor’s degree in related field or experience working with developmentally disabled clients in lieu of degree. Salary commensurate with experience.*
DIRECT CARE STAFF
NIGHTS/WEEKENDS GROUP HOMES 24/7 FT
This position is available at our Windsor Group Home. Providing direct-care services and support to our clients in their home. Must be willing to work flexible shifts including days, overnights on Thursday. A minimum of high school completion or GED and 1 year of experience with care giving or 30 hours of college coursework is required. *
*ALSO REQUIRED FOR ALL POSTIONS: Fluent in English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must. Level 2 background screening and valid Florida driver’s license. EOE
PRIVATE
COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
Place your HOBBIES/ COLLECTIBLES ad here for $25/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!
HOUSING FOR RENT
2 BR/2BA unfurn. apt. for rent in Key Largo. W/D $1,600/monthall utilities included. F/L/S 305-504-1757
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
FOR RENT in Tavernier. 2BR/1.5BA Mobile Home, unfurnished, W/D.$2800/month F/L/S 786-263-8433
2BR/1BA Condo Unit for rent in Marathon. Canal view. Close to Sombrero Beach. No Pets. $3900/ month 305-431-0577
1 upstairs bedroom for rent in Grassy Key (East Marathon). Unfurnished. Mostly private bathroom with shared W/D. Other upstairs occupants are the homeowners: A probation officer, his wife, and their very small dog. $1200/month F/S 305-393-5049
1BR/1BA Unfurnished Apt. for Rent in Grassy Key (East Marathon). Lovely neighborhood. W/D available. Brand new countertop, sink, cabinets, and carpet. Beautiful glass sliding doors and windows with pretty views of tropical plants. $2000/month F/S 305-393-5049.
Conch House - Studio for rent, newly furnished in Marathon. $960/ month + utilities. Dockage avail. for additional $. No Pets. 305-610-8002
Place your HOUSING FOR RENT ad here for $25/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Executive Department:
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $102,164$105,024/annually
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.
KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.
Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
Heavy duty, hard wood Futon Bed for sale in Marathon. Excellent condition. Couch turns into double bed. $250.00 305-849-0975
Place your MISC. FOR SALE ad here for $25/week for up to five 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
RV FOR SALE
2018 40’ Phaeton X5H, Factory ordered, 450hp Cummins, Diesel Pusher 10kw w/Onan Generator, 39k miles, 4 Slides, 4 TVs. Loaded with extras. Can be seen by appointment in Marathon, FL. Asking $225,000. Call or text Jerry at 305-664-1286 Email: LC1082@comcast.net
Place your RV FOR SALE ad here for $25/ week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!
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 RV SITE FOR RENT ad here for $25/week for up to five 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 YARD SALE ad here for $25/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!
YOUR CLASSIFIED AD PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD for $25/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
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.
*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
D’Asign Source is seeking the following professionals. Overtime and benefits are available. For full details, please visit: DAsignSource.com/careers
Competitive Salary Opportunity for Growth
Landscape Designer/Sales
Seeking a talented Landscape Designer/Sales professional. Bring your creativity and passion for outdoor spaces to our company! Ideal candidates will have design experience, hardscaping and soft scaping and strong sales skills.
Technical Marketing Assistant
Support Coastal Source’s marketing & R&D teams by crafting technical content, graphics, and presentations. Manage project data, assets, and communication, ensuring efficient documentation.
- Medical Assistant 1, Upper Keys Internal Medicine, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant 2, Primary Care Marathon, $5k Bonus
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.
THEME: FALL’S IN THE AIR
ACROSS
1. Furry bamboo consumer
6. Cuban dance syllable
9. 100-meter race, e.g.
13. S-shaped moldings
14. Excessively theatrical actor
15. Chap
16. Will alternative
17. Sailor’s affirmative
18. At full speed
19. *Cause for fall celebration
21. *Apple-related game
23. European Union, acr.
24. Hawaiian tuber
25. Pen on a farm
28. Color of a bruise
30. *Pumpkins and squash, e.g.
35. “Give me your tired, your ____....”
37. “____ Free,” movie about
lions
39. Disdain
40. Caribbean color
41. Shiny suit
43. Spaghetti aglio and ____
44. Peevish
46. Half a round, in golf
47. ____-do-well
48. Battles royale
50. Change for a twenty
52. Banned insecticide, acr.
53. *Back-to-School event
55. Hermey the Dentist
57. *Apple sauce
61. *____ weather
65. Cell phone bill item
66. Bar association
68. Wombs
69. Begin, began, ____
70. Cut grass
71. Romanov rulers
72. Command with “at”
73. Stiff grass bristle
74. “Hobby” animal
DOWN
1. Beckham of “Spice Girls”
2. Turkish honorific
3. Not far
4. Look into
5. In the Land of Nod
6. Online conversation
7. *Cushion for certain seasonal ride
8. Naked protozoa
9. Obtuse, as in person
10. ____ bowl, frozen dish
11. Largest human organ
12. Precedes Kong
15. Hindi courtesy title, pl.
20. Modern-day aqua-lung, acr.
22. Domain
24. Wood-eating house hazard
25. Involuntary contraction
26. Chef’s headgear
27. Phil Collins’ “____ Be in My Heart”
29. *Maze plant
31. Upward and onto
32. Wide-____ notebook
33. *Like leaves in fall
34. Stall call
36. *Much-used fall garden tool
38. Not any
42. Extend subscription
45. Unquestioning ones
49. Fraternity house
51. Miss Marple, e.g.
54. “Is Your Mama a ____?”
56. Dom DeLuise in 1980 role
57. Rubik’s puzzle
58. Away from port
59. The state before riches?
60. Malaria symptom
61. Saw, sawed, ____
62. Drop of sorrow
63. Makes a mistake
64. Precedes shine 67. Gift topper
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.
