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360 million glasses of sparkling wine are consumed on New Year’s Eve.
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, MR. EDWARD TOPPINO
Rotary Club of Key West honors WWII veteran & community stalwart
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Edward Toppino smiled quietly, surrounded by family and friends at a Dec. 19 Rotary lunch, where he graciously accepted accolades and proclamations from the city of Key West and Monroe County.
Toppino turns 100 on Dec. 23, 18 months after his older brother, Mr. Frank Toppino, reached the same milestone.
The Toppino name is an unmistakable one throughout the Florida Keys, emblazoned on scores of construction trucks bearing the logo of the family business, Charley Toppino & Sons.
Edward Toppino is one of those sons and would eventually serve as president of the family company, which is now run by the fourth generation of Toppinos.
Edward Toppino moved to Key West in 1940 and worked for the family’s construction business.
But long before he was a Keys businessman and respected Rotarian, he was a soldier in the Army, having enlisted in March 1943 at age 18, and a young husband to Emma Elizabeth Macarth, whom he married in 1943.
Toppino had not yet finished high school, but his country needed him more than he needed a diploma at the time.
Toppino was sent to England in June 1944. He fought in France in the 35th Infantry, and was a sergeant under General George Patton.
Toppino received the Purple Heart after being wounded by mortar fire in November 1944 and suffering severe frostbite three months later.
Toppino would return from the war and graduate from the Convent of Mary Immaculate High School, then continue his life as a successful businessman and community leader.
Edward Toppino has four children — Paul, Edward Jr., Victoria and Cassandra — as well as nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
With Christmas over, it’s time to ring in 2025 at a Key West New Year’s Eve celebration. See page 28 for some of the island’s options.
district governor Dennis
He married Betty Lujan in February 2000.
Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez presented a proclamation to Toppino on behalf of the city, and James Carey, also a veteran and Purple Heart recipient, presented him with a proclamation on behalf of Monroe County.
Rotary’s district governor Dennis Caltagirone changed his travel plans to attend the celebration with his wife Lee, wishing Toppino a happy birthday and thanking him for his decades of “service above self” as a Rotarian.
Edward Toppino is surrounded by family and fellow Rotarians at a Dec. 19 lunch in honor of his 100th birthday on Dec. 23. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
Edward Toppino receives a proclamation from Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez and the city of Key West for his 100th birthday.
Edward Toppino celebrates his 100th birthday at a Rotary Club of Key West lunch, with Rotary’s
Caltagirone.
Glow Party NewYears Eve
KEY WEST TAKES ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
As we wrap up another year in Key West, we take a look at the news and newsmakers from 2024 — the good, the bad and the embarrassing.
JANUARY
• Key West drag queen Christopher Peterson had a big shoe to fill — a red high heel — descending at midnight from the balcony of Bourbon St. Pub.
• KWHS’s Marching Conchs perform in London for the city’s New Year’s Day parade and its 800,000 spectators.
• Wounded Warriors returned for the Soldier Ride down U.S. 1.
• Key West faces busy city election: three commissioners to reach term limits; Mayor Teri Johnston decides not to run again; Dee Dee Henriquez pursues mayor’s gavel.
• City officials ban profane & sexually explicit material from storefront displays.
• State lawmakers propose renaming A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.
• Zach Bentley challenges Yvette Mira Talbott for school board seat being vacated by Andy Griffiths.
• RokIsland Fest offers 4 days of music including Stone Temple Pilots.
• ‘Treehouse Murder’ trial of Franklin Tyrone Tucker ends in mistrial.
• Key West elections office moves to College Road.
FEBRUARY
• Coast Guard ship Barbara Mabrity, named for island’s female lighthouse keeper, visits Key West.
• County officials drop discussions of charter county status — for now.
• Joe and Carnella Bracciale buy Baby’s Coffee at MM 15.
• Chris Massicotte launches county commission campaign.
• Women of country music rock Key Western Fest.
• Capt. Joe Weatherby, who
spearheaded the Vandenberg sinking, dies at 62, months after suffering a stroke.
• State Attorney opens investigation following scathing TDC audits.
• Willie Nelson performs at Coffee Butler Amphitheater — at age 90.
• Tornado damages homes on Cudjoe Key.
• Philly sports legend Pat Croce joins Keys Weekly Podcast.
• Sam Kaufman drops possible mayoral bid; Aaron Castillo enters District 6 commission race.
MARCH
• Beloved teacher and coach Dexter Butler dies after falling into storm drain at Key West High School.
• Newly formed committee wants officials to seek new hospital operator.
• Florida Legislature gives 1-time approval for Monroe County to spend surplus tourism revenue on affordable housing.
• ZZ Top performs at Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
• Tourist, 27, killed in jet ski crash off Key West.
• National legal settlement could affect real estate agents’ commissions.
• Keys deputy shoots armed teen who pointed a gun at him.
• School Board calls temporary time-out on increased stadium costs.
• AH Monroe hosts 29th Taste of Key West.
• Father John Baker retires as pastor at Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea after 16 years.
• TDC board fires marketing director Stacey Mitchell following critical audits.
• Snapchat death threat prompts lockdown at KWHS; police charge Upper Keys student, Isaac Holmes, 18.
APRIL
• Key West Planning Board urges commission to study annexation of Stock Island & Key Haven.
• Bahama Village icon Charles Majors retires after 31 years leading after-school athletics.
• Shirley Freeman, former edu-
cator and county commissioner, dies at 89.
• Emily Schulten Weekley named Key West Poet Laureate.
• School board denies $4 million stadium price hike.
• Keys Weekly hosts Arbor Day cleanup with Keep Key West Beautiful.
• Sheriff’s deputy Alexander Morales, 26, arrested for spying on his ex.
Senior Citizen Plaza on Kennedy Drive hosts ‘senior prom’ for residents.
Key West murder suspect gets 30-year prison sentence in plea deal for killing of Jossue Gomez in 2021.
MAY
Perry Marina donates boat slip for Conch Republic Marine Army’s volunteer cleanups.
Key West Songwriters Festival returns for 28th year, featuring more than 250 musicians.
Miss Island Queen pageant raise $113K for Samuel’s House women’s shelter.
Marathon couple pleads guilty in Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Casa Marina neighbors oppose hotel plan & zoning change for additional hotel rooms.
KWHS film students win statewide competition for video about marching band’s trip to London.
Key West attorney Marci Rose enters District 6 commission race against Aaron Castillo and Thaddeus Cohen.
Somerset Island Prep holds fifth annual jet ski graduation.
Conch gymnast Maya Puig ranks nationally.
KWHS Class of 2024 celebrates graduation at new Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium.
Nominations open for the Keys Weekly’s 11th Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards.
Elwell family’s Royal Furniture empire celebrates 40 years of furnishings.
JUNE
• Key West Pride celebrates diversity and disco.
• Army’s 10th Special Forces Group wins 2nd annual Combat Diver Contest in Key West.\
• Resident Ed Russo and
his
January: KWHS band performs in London’s New Year’s Day parade. CONTRIBUTED
February: Willie Nelson performs in Key West at age 90. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
March: Beloved coach and teacher Dexter Butler dies in tragic accident. CONTRIBUTED
April: Longtime Keys educator & politician Shirley Freeman dies at age 89. CONTRIBUTED
May: Somerset Island Prep holds annual jet ski graduation. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
June: Key West celebrates Pride. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
continued from previous page
water-making company get Nobel Prize nomination.
• Governor vetoes critical Keys funding for arts & disabled adults.
• Scandal at city hall: Hostile meeting ends with 4-3 vote to fire city manager Al Childress.
• Keys tourism agency launches search for new president / CEO.
• Russian warships in Cuba bring back Conchs’ memories of 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Governor announces extra day of lobster mini-season, to mixed reviews in Keys.
• Key West man jailed for offering derelict boats on AirBnB.
JULY
• Rotary Club of Key West once again lights the sky with Fourth of July fireworks.
• 7 people injured when boat crashes at night into Big Pine bridge.
• Keys Weekly’s Britt Myers installed as president of the Rotary Club of Key West.
• 10,000 people cast more than a quarter-million votes in the Keys Weekly’s 11th annual Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards.
• Conch Connect starts offering cheap rides in Key West & Stock Island.
• Election season heats up with Hometown candidates’ forum.
• Bubbas Awards Show brings out the best of Key West.
• Key West to ask voters about $226 million in bonds.
• Tourist Development Council hires Kara Franker as new president/CEO.
AUGUST
• Supervisor of Elections candidate endorsement divides local Republican Party.
• Monroe County gets 8 A schools, 6 Bs and 3 Cs.
• Keys longtime public relations chief faces misdemeanor charges, stemming from TDC audits.
• Keys deputy Jennifer Ketcham faces 19 felony charges for allegedly warning boyfriend about drug raids.
• Former Trauma Star flight nurse indicted for stealing fentanyl & other narcotics.
• Key West starts discussions on new city manager.
• Roman Gastesi, Andrea Thompson, Dr. Sandra Schwemmer indicted in Trauma Star drug theft case.
• Key West Community Sailing Center celebrates 40 years.
• County Commissioner Holly Rachein re-elected in primary.
• Yvette Mira Talbott wins school board seat in primary.
• Monica Haskell & Donie Lee win Key West commission seats.
• Dee Dee Henriquez steps up to the plate as Key West mayor.
• State Attorney subpoenas city hall phone and text records, stemming from city manager’s firing.
• Key West Little Conch Baseball makes semifinals in Little League World Series.
• Grand jury report describes ‘caustic & cronyism environment” in county government following drug scandal indictments.
SEPTEMBER
• ‘Just a Few Friends’ becomes Key West’s new event, honoring legacy of Jimmy Buffett.
• Former TDC chief Stacey Mitchell sues county for wrongful termination.
• New football field gets flooded at start of season.
• A1A renamed Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.
• Key West once again searches for city manager.
• Navy housing at Sigsbee plagued with mold, asbestos & water damage.
• New Key West Airport features take shape.
• Christine Hurley gets unanimous support for top county job.
• Hurricane Helene spares Key West.
• TDC approves big changes; new president adds 3 executive positions.
• Celebrity DJ Cardi joins Keys Weekly Podcast.
• Andy Griffiths’ school board retirement party raises money for United Way.
• Formal complaint filed regarding supervisor of elections endorsement.
• Key West International Dance Co. wows with tango performance.
OCTOBER
• Tats for Tatas breast cancer benefit grows to a block party; raises over $140K.
• Queer Keys hosts grand opening of new community center on Truman Avenue.
• Keys Republican divide deepens, as GOP chair ejects local elected official from meeting.
• 5 finalists named for Key West city manager.
• Hurricane Milton blows past Key West, headed for Tampa area.
• Key West Commissioner Donie Lee wants Navy to replace Sigsbee housing.
• Horace O’Bryant School renames basketball court for late Coach Dexter Butler.
• Andy Griffiths wraps up 32 years on school board.
• Another Fantasy Fest hits Key West.
• Latest audit blasts TDC’s website contract with Two Oceans Digital.
• Fantasy Fest crowns Queen Marjory Lee & King Lisa Zee.
NOVEMBER
• Keys Weekly co-hosts election night radio coverage.
• Retiring Supervisor of Election Joyce Griffin ends career with honors.
• Sherri Hodies elected Supervisor of Elections.
• Aaron Castillo defeats Marci Rose for Key West commission race.
• Incumbent County Commissioner Jim Scholl defeats Chris Massicotte.
• Rachel Oropeza defeats Tim Root for Utility Board seat.
• Preston Brewer remains in jail for Garrett Hughes’ fatal shooting; awaits self-defense hearing.
• TDC cancels contracts with Two Oceans Digital & Tinsley Advertising.
• Dr. Mark Whiteside retires after 40 years in public health.
DECEMBER
• Man arrested for firing shot in downtown fight; bullet hit no one.
• Key West gets lit for the holidays.
• New health clinic opens at College of the Florida Keys.
• ‘Treehouse Murder’ defendant Franklin Tyrone Tucker is released as a free man.
July: The 11th annual Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards celebrates the people & places of Key West.
August: Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez takes the reins. MANDY MILES/ Keys Weekly
September: ’Just a Few Friends’ weekend event honors the legacy of Jimmy Buffett. LARRY BLACKBURN/ Keys Weekly
October: Fantasy Fest parade draws crowds. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed
November: Joyce Griffin oversees final election as supervisor of elections. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
December: Key West gets decked out for the holiday season. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed
MONROE COUNTY YEAR IN REVIEW
Indictments & replacements mark 2024
By Mandy Miles and Alex Rickert
Many of the year’s top news stories in Monroe County were continuations and conclusions of events that began in 2023, as last year’s investigations and audits led to this year’s indictments — and the replacement of top officials. But first, some good news from 2024.
No hurricanes, but a new Emergency Ops Center
Despite some coastal flooding from tropical storm conditions, the Florida Keys dodged the devastation of a hurricane in 2024.
But the county is now more prepared than ever for a major storm, having opened its new, $37 million Emergency Operations Center at the Marathon airport on Sept. 23. The new facility is 17 feet above ground and built to withstand 220-mph winds. It can sustain and protect up to 150 people for up to 96 hours, including food, drinking water, generators, wastewater storage and satellite communications.
On the same day it opened, the new EOC hosted its first storm coordinating call, watching the path of a storm that would become the deadly Hurricane Helene.
Mosquito Control turns 75
Without the efforts of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, life in
the Florida Keys would be unbearable for most of us. Thankfully, the district has been keeping the blood suckers at bay for 75 years. Mosquito control began in the Keys in 1949, when the state Legislature authorized the creation of the Monroe County Anti-Mosquito District, which was overwhelmingly approved by local voters. The name changed in 1970 to the Monroe County Mosquito Control District and in 2002 to today’s Florida Keys Mosquito Control District.
And now for the not-so-good news of 2024….
2023 drug audit leads to 2024 indictments
In August, a grand jury indicted three senior county employees and a former flight nurse. All stemmed from an investigation into the theft, loss and attempted cover-up of more than 600 missing vials of fentanyl, Dilaudid, morphine and other narcotics from the county’s Trauma Star medical helicopter service, whose medical staff is managed by Monroe County Fire Rescue.
Retired county administrator Roman Gastesi, who was slated to return to the top job the following month, was charged with official misconduct, a third-degree felony.
The grand jury also indicted Dr. Sandra Schwemmer, who was the medical director contracted to oversee MCFR and Trauma Star, and Capt.
Andrea Thompson, who was MCFR’s division chief of emergency medical services (EMS) and Trauma Star.
Schwemmer was charged with official misconduct; providing false information to law enforcement and altering patient records. Thompson was charged with two counts of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, two counts of evidence tampering, three counts of witness tampering with witnesses, and one count of altering patient records.
Christine Hurley gets top job
Following the indictment of Gastesi, the county commission enthusiastically promoted Christine Hurley to the position in September. She had been working as executive director of the county’s land authority, and previously headed its growth management division, which regulates development. Hurley also served as assistant county administrator under Gastesi.
Tourism turmoil
And then there was the turmoil at the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC), which also started in 2023, also with an audit that was critical of the agency’s financial management and oversight.
The unrest continued this year as the county clerk released three additional audits of the TDC’s contracts with its public relations firm, its advertising agency and its website provider.
In March, the TDC board fired marketing director Stacey Mitchell as a result of the 2023 audit and began a search for a new president and CEO.
In August, the board hired Kara Franker to lead the TDC. She started work on Sept. 9.
In September, Mitchell filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county.
The three additional audits eventually prompted the TDC to terminate its longstanding contracts with NewmanPR, Tinsley Advertising and Two Oceans Digital.
Franker said she plans to bring much of the PR tasks in-house, while the agency issued Requests for Proposals seeking an ad agency and
new CEO, took over the tourism agency’s top job in September. NICK GARCIA/Contributed
a website/digital services provider. Responses to those RFPs were due Dec. 19 and selections will be made in early 2025.
And finally, the row over ROGO
As the few remaining building rights in the Keys dwindle, it’s been a year of debate, analysis and input for Monroe County and the islands’ municipalities, ending in an eventual request to the state for more allocations. Through dozens of surveys, workshops and community meetings, leaders saw residents and stakeholder organizations clash, pitting environmental, traffic and quality of life concerns against proponents of property rights and the looming threat of millions of dollars in takings cases potentially falling on taxpayers’ shoulders.
Unfortunately for the Keys, communication from state leaders has been a moving target – down to the final weeks of December, when county officials learned that an ask for 220 building rights within the Keys’ 24-hour evacuation model, previously thought of as a done deal, was anything but. A contentious meeting on Dec. 19 eventually produced a request to the state for a change to the statues governing the Keys as an Area of Critical State Concern, potentially increasing hurricane evacuation times up to 26 hours and adding more than 3,500 building rights to the island chain – but the final answer will need to come from the state Legislature.
Warning coordination meteorologist Jon Rizzo shows off the county Emergency Operations Center’s new state-of-the-art equipment at the building’s grand opening in September. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Kara Franker, the TDC’s
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
COUNTY SAW HEATED RACES
Republicans fought over supervisor of elections endorsement
Several county posts go unopposed
Several top county posts went unopposed during the 2024 election cycle. Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward, county Public Defender Robert Lockwood and County Judge James Morgan saw no challengers with the passing of an April 26 deadline for those positions. A qualifying period for county and local candidates concluded June 14. Among those returning to their posts were Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, County Commissioner Craig Cates and school board member Mindy Conn.
Keys Republicans tussle over endorsement
The endorsement of a local candidate for supervisor of elections by Monroe County Republicans topped the 2024 elections headlines. On April 20, the Monroe County Republican Executive Committee voted to endorse its treasurer, Sherri Hodies, ahead of an Aug. 20 primary against fellow Republican Margaret Romero of Key West. Some members of the executive committee questioned the vote, claiming the 20-18 tally to endorse Hodies didn’t meet the affirmative vote threshold of 60%. The endorsement came with a $20,000 check from the Republican Party of Monroe County. Hodies told Keys Weekly she followed the application process and the rules to obtain the endorsement. Rhonda Rebman Lopez, chairwoman for the executive committee, told Keys Weekly “the vote tallies were taken to the highest levels of the RPOF, by me, and they told me, as chairman, to make the call.”
On July 26, Republican voter Phyllis May filed a complaint with Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward alleging “election fraud and unlawful disbursement of funds” by Hodies and Rebman Lopez. Given Ward’s membership in the REC — and his subsequent personal support for Hodies’ Republican primary opponent, Margaret Romero — Ward recused
himself from investigating May’s complaint, to avoid a conflict of interest. As is protocol, Ward notified the governor’s office of the complaint and requested that it be reassigned to another state attorney in Florida to investigate. The governor signed an executive order appointing Amira Fox, state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit, to lead the investigation into allegations. The investigation is still pending, according to Samantha Syoen, communications director for the State Attorney’s Office in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Hodies beat Romero in the August Republican primary and Democrat Ron Saunders in the November election to win the supervisor of elections post. She will assume her position Jan. 1, 2025.
Raschein wins three-person race for county commission
Three Republican candidates competed for a seat representing Key Largo and Tavernier. Entering the race were incumbent Holly Raschien and challengers Melissa Ptomey, a small business owner from Tavernier, and Paul Wunderlich, a Key Largo resident and former construction inspector supervisor for the county Engineering & Roads Department. Candidates addressed issues of development following the county commission’s decision that paved the way for a proposed Publix supermarket, liquor store and 86 workforce housing units at the former CEMEX property at MM 92.5, oceanside in Tavernier. August primary results showed Rashein as the victor with 55.10% of the vote.
Dollars fly during 2024 election season
Individuals, businesses and political action committees contributed more than $1 million to candidates vying for positions and seats in the Florida Keys this election season.
Large war chests brought plenty of spending on direct mailers, and text messages to voters’ phones, among other advertisements. Ads running across television screens attacked one candidate for supervisor of elections.
Florida Keys residents and businesses weren’t the only ones contributing to campaigns. There were also political committees from Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. pumping money into candidates’ war chests.
Keys Weekly Upper Keys cover
Republican divide. CONTRIBUTED
Holly Raschein Melissa Ptomey Paul Wunderlich
Joe Kinosian Starring David Black, Annie Miners, Cassidy Timms, Brian Robinson, Thomas Masat, Chase Taylor and Iain Wilcox
Key West Inspired, Island Style For Women & Men
Ocean Key Resort Zero Duval Street
Boutique& Gallery
JIM
2024 CRIME & COURT NEWS
Deputy gets arrested; feds bust cocaine ring
Local law enforcement stayed busy tracking down perpetrators throughout the island chain in 2024. The Florida Keys also had a visit from FBI agents who arrested more than 20 in a cocaine trafficking ring. Meanwhile, the courts were bustling with activity as high-profile cases took center stage.
Threat against KWHS student leads to CSHS student’s arrest
An 18-year-old Upper Keys student was jailed for threatening to kill a Key West teen in a Snapchat post that prompted a March 12 lockdown at Key West High School. Isaac Rodney Holmes, 18, was arrested March 18 on a felony charge of intimidation, which Florida law defines as sending “written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.”
A week before his arrest, Holmes posted a video on his Snapchat account that tagged a Key West teen with the sentence, “w8 for u gon see cheeto.” School officials and police feared Holmes, having threatened to kill the 17-year-old Key West student, was headed to KWHS on a bus with a sports team coming from Coral Shores High School for an event. Deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Holmes on March 14, two days after the KWHS lockdown.
In December, Holmes received 24 months of probation and 100 community service hours.
MCSO deputy warned boyfriend of drug raids
A Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy is facing felony charges after allegedly using police computer systems to help her boyfriend’s drugdealing activities, the Keys Weekly
learned from an arrest affidavit in late July.
Jennifer Ketcham, 40, allegedly used law enforcement computers, networks, databases and her position as an acting supervisor to warn her boyfriend, Ryan Hernandez, about impending drug raids and of narcotics officers patrolling certain areas of the Lower Keys. Ketcham advised Hernandez of areas to avoid on Stock Island in 2023 while she was an acting supervisor, who dictated the zones to which patrol deputies are assigned. Ketcham was later fired. A pre-trial conference is set for Jan. 14 before Judge Albert Kelley in Key West.
Feds
bust Keys suspects in cocaine trafficking case
FBI agents descended on Marathon on Sept. 5, arresting 22 Keys suspects involved in an alleged cocaine trafficking ring. The suspects, which included Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority employees, commercial charter boat operators and a former City of Marathon employee, faced federal drug and firearm offenses.
John Robert Strama Jr., 42, of Marathon, faced additional charges of cocaine distribution, using a child under the age of 14 to engage in drug trafficking and avoid detection and apprehension, and possessing a firearm and ammunition after a previous felony conviction. Nyran Antonio Ross, 32, of Marathon; Tyrell Lamar Williams, 36, of Marathon; Macarthur Junior Sheppard, 36, of Marathon; and Kenyatta Scott Jr., 32, of Key West also face additional federal charges for cocaine distribu-
tion within 1,000 feet of playgrounds in Florida City and Marathon.
The majority of the defendants made their first appearances before Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on Sept. 6. They were released on bonds of $100,000 or $200,000 with requirements to wear GPS monitors and submit to random urine testing.
Boat driver arrested for fatally striking spearfisherman
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation officers arrested a 72-year-old Placida, Florida resident for allegedly striking and killing a spearfisherman off Bahia Honda State Park over the Fourth of July weekend. According to the arrest warrant, Palmer Reid Long Jr.’s 32-foot Contender was the only vessel traveling at high speed through the area where 56-year-old Israel Boza was killed.
In July, a screenshot taken from GoPro footage recorded by Boza’s fellow snorkeler in the water and posted to social media quickly identified Long’s vessel at his residence in Key Colony Beach. Other stills from the same footage show Long’s vessel passing through the area where Boza was swimming and within
OTHER NOTABLE STORIES
roughly 30 feet of the camera operator in the water, FWC investigator Glen Wray wrote in the warrant. A pre-trial conference is set for Feb. 2, 2025 before Judge James Morgan in Marathon.
Brewer attorneys argue self-defense in Hughes shooting
Defense attorneys for Preston Brewer argued at a Dec. 10 hearing that Brewer was acting in selfdefense when he fatally shot Garrett Hughes, 21, in the parking lot of a Key West bar on Feb. 13, 2023. Judge Mark Jones heard statements from defense attorney Jerome Ballarotto and prosecutor Joe Mansfield, as well as testimony from two eyewitnesses – Carson Hughes, Garrett’s brother, and his friend, Blake Arencibia – who were with Hughes the night of the shooting.
Jones did not rule on the Stand Your Ground defense, indicating that the decision — which will determine whether the case is dismissed or goes to trial — will come next month.
Jennifer Ketcham
On Sept. 5, FBI agents arrested more than 20 suspects in the Middle and Lower Florida Keys for alleged roles in a cocaine trafficking ring. ALEX RICKERT/ Keys Weekly
Investigators say GoPro footage taken aboard victim Israel Boza’s boat show an unfurled dive flag that should be visible from the stern of the boat, though not displayed from the boat’s highest point. FWC/Contributed
Preston Brewer, who shot and killed Garrett Hughes in February 2023, sits at the defense table during a break in a Dec. 10 hearing to determine whether the shooting was done in self-defense. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
Isaac Holmes
Woman jailed for allegedly killing puppy Man flees, jumps off Seven Mile Bridge
Arrest made in cold case
Charges filed in human smuggling case
Marathon Capitol rioter sentenced
Daniel Weisberger trial delayed
Deputy hit by alleged drunk driver
SOMETIMES YOU CAN JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Key West Weekly’s favorite covers of 2024
Newsworthy, eye-catching and memorable. Those are the qualities we strive for each week when designing and deciding on a coverfor the Key West Weekly. Some weeks provide better material than others, but thankfully, graphic designer Irene de Bruijn always makes my and others’ words look much better than they should.
Here are some of our favorite covers from 2024, reflecting a combination of newsworthy people, and events.
1. Aug 1: Photographer Lawson Little was gracious enough to let us use this historic photo of Jimmy Buffett in the Aug. 1 paper.
2. June 6: The June 6 cover combines Key West’s Conch Republican flag with the iconic Pride flag.
3. March 7:
4. June 20: Our June 20 cover features high school athlete Grace Andrew while promoting the annual Key West People’s Choice Awards.
5. Aug 15: Graphic designer Irene de Bruijn creates a collage of ‘I Voted’ stickers to kick off early voting in Monroe County for the Aug. 15 paper.
6. May 9: A shoutout to photographer Nick Doll, whose leggy photos helped the Miss Island Queen pageant raise more than $100K for Samuel’s House women’s shelter in May.
7. Feb 15: The island bid farewell to Capt. Joe Weatherby, who was instrumental in sinking the Vandenberg wreck off Key West.
8. Oct 3: Kudos to Danielle Larrabee for letting us use the logo she designed for the annual Tats for Tatas breast cancer benefit at Tattoos & Scars Saloon in October.
The March death of beloved coach and teacher Dexter Butler stunned the community.
Thank You !
YEAR AHEAD HOROSCOPES
ARIES
March 21 – April 19
In 2025, you’ll begin to question whom you surround yourself with — your community, friends and support systems. Pluto is starting a long journey that will revolutionize how you connect and communicate, but this year, just observe and be curious. Change will unfold gradually. In June, Jupiter brings blessings to your home and family life, offering you joy and emotional fulfillment.
TAURUS
April 20 – May 20
Your career and public reputation are in for a powerful shift, and it might feel unsettling at first. This is just the beginning of a long period of transformation in your professional life, so take stock of what feels true to you. You’ll have plenty of time to make changes. In June, Jupiter will help expand your communication skills, offering new ways to connect and a larger audience for your voice.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 – Oct. 23
Creativity and personal expression are becoming long-term themes in your life. Pluto’s energy is pushing you to dive deeper into your artistic side, searching for the inner core of what truly inspires you. 2025 will be the start of this creative adventure. By June, your career will take a turn for the better, as Jupiter brings growth and success in professional endeavors.
SCORPIO
Oct. 24 – Nov. 21
Your sense of home and family will begin to shift in 2025. Pluto is asking you to redefine your roots, the place you come from and the foundations on which you stand. Big changes may be brewing in your domestic life, but take your time navigating them. In June, Jupiter brings opportunities for travel and higher learning, giving you the freedom to explore new horizons.
Well, fair readers, we have traversed another solar year, hopefully more or less unscathed and ideally a little healthier and wiser. While 2024 was marked by anticipation and suspense, Pluto, the planet of power and transformation, finally made its permanent move from Capricorn into Aquarius on Nov. 19, 2024, after a year of teasing us by crossing the boundary between the two. We’ve been living under Pluto in Capricorn since 2008, where it’s highlighted themes of structure, authority, and material power. Now that Pluto has shifted into Aquarius for the next 20 years, we are moving into a whole new reality. This marks the beginning of deep societal changes centered around technology, collective progress and a redistribution of power from the elite to the people.
The changes ushered in by Pluto in Aquarius won’t happen overnight. 2025 will be a year of settling into this new energy, and the adjustments we’ll need to make will feel profound. We will feel shifts in how we think, communicate and navigate our communities and social systems. In addition, Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion, will move into Cancer on June 9, 2025. Jupiter thrives in Cancer, where its energy brings joy, protection and emotional fulfillment. The second half of the year will feel lighter, with themes of home, family and personal security coming into focus for all of us.
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
Here are your 2025 horoscopes, focusing on Pluto in Aquarius and Jupiter in Cancer. Read for your rising and sun signs.
GEMINI
May 21 – June 21
2025 marks the start of a profound new era for how you approach learning, travel and exploration. Pluto’s transit is nudging you to rethink your worldview and what you consider “new experiences.” The way you learn and grow will evolve over the next 20 years, and it begins now. In June, Jupiter brings an exciting boost to your financial life — whether through new income or a great windfall. Expect abundance.
CANCER
June 22 – July 22
Pluto is asking you to reconsider your approach to shared resources, investments and collective efforts. Over time, you’ll see the power of collaboration, but 2025 is a year to start exploring what that might look like for you. In June, Jupiter enters your sign, blessing you with confidence, growth and self-love. Expect a surge of optimism and a chance to shine in your personal and professional life.
LEO
July 23 – Aug. 22
This year starts a long chapter of deep transformation in your closest relationships. Pluto in Aquarius is pushing you to reimagine what partnership means, whether romantic or otherwise. How you connect with others is about to shift profoundly, but this year, simply let the questions arise. By June, Jupiter will help you find joy and peace in solitude, making space for self-reflection and inner growth.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
Your daily routines and wellness habits are up for a major overhaul. Pluto’s long transit through Aquarius will encourage you to rethink how you care for yourself, both mentally and physically. 2025 will reveal where change is needed. In June, Jupiter opens the door to new friendships and social opportunities, bringing a year of expanded community support and deepening bonds.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
2025 marks the beginning of a long journey of transforming how you communicate and share ideas. Pluto’s presence will make you more aware of the power in your words and how they shape your interactions. Take your time getting used to this new awareness. In June, Jupiter blesses your financial partnerships and investments, offering growth through shared resources.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
The way you value yourself and your resources is going through a radical change. Pluto is starting a long-term transformation of your personal finances and value system, and 2025 will give you the first taste of what needs to evolve. Be patient with this process. In June, Jupiter brings expansion and joy to your relationships, whether through new connections or deepening bonds with loved ones.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Pluto in your sign is a powerful force, and it’s asking you to transform how you see yourself. This is a long process, but in 2025, you’ll start to feel the beginnings of a profound inner shift. Your identity is evolving and you’re becoming someone new. By June, Jupiter will bring growth to your wellness routines, helping you find joy in caring for yourself physically and mentally.
PISCES
Feb. 19 – March 20
2025 is the start of a long period of deep inner work. Pluto’s energy will bring to light the ways you might undermine yourself, offering you a chance to understand your subconscious patterns. This year, start by noticing where you hold yourself back. In June, Jupiter will help your creativity soar, giving you an outlet to express your dreams and bring joy to others through your artistic talents.
CHRIS McNULTY
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2 FLORIDA KEYS IMAGES CAPTURE 1ST-PLACE HONORS
Photos showcase marine life & the Milky Way galaxy
Gabriel Jensen’s underwater photo of an arrow crab in front of a sea urchin wins first place in the ‘life’ category of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ photo contest. GABRIEL JENSEN/Contributed
Dan Eidsmoe’s long-exposure image of the Milky Way over the Florida Keys’ backcountry wins first place in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ photo contest. DAN EIDSMOE/Contributed
Marathon resident Daniel Eidsmoe will sacrifice for his art, even if it means a 3 a.m. hike along Coco Plum Beach — and 70 mosquito bites — to capture the right angle of the Milky Way over the Florida Keys’ backcountry. Eidsmoe’s efforts paid off when his long-exposure image captured first place in the “recreation” category of an annual photo contest sponsored by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Eidsmoe also won second-place honors in the “at-home” category for a drone photo of his wife flying a kite over a sandbar.
Gabriel Jensen won first-place honors in the “life” category for his extreme close-up photo of an arrow crab posed in front of a sea urchin.
A self-described “magnification maniac” who calls underwater photography the best
Dan Eidsmoe’s drone image of his wife flying a kite on a sandbar wins second-place honors in the photo contest. DAN EIDSMOE/Contributed
hobby on the planet, Jensen scuba dives from land in nearshore waters looking for details most would pass over.
The Fort Lauderdale-based chemist regularly visits the Keys in search of off-the-path locations.
Jensen was practically onshore, swimming along the seawall of an abandoned marina in the Upper Keys the day he nabbed the awardwinning photo. The vertical lines of the crab set against the vertical lines of the urchin created an interesting composition, or so said his wife, who works at the Coral Restoration Foundation.
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will feature the images in the next edition of its Earth is Blue social media campaign. For more, visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov.
— Contributed
KEY WEST DROPS INTO 2025
New Year’s Eve events feature wild countdowns, no winter coats
Thousands of revelers watch female impersonator Christopher Peterson at the annual ‘Red Shoe Drop,’ on New Year’s Eve last year at the Bourbon St. Pub Complex. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed
Lighthearted takeoffs on the traditional ball drop in New York’s Times Square highlight New Year’s Eve in Key West. And because “winter” in the subtropical spot means balmy breezes rather than blizzards, revelers can leave their winter coats behind.
Celebrations on Tuesday, Dec. 31, include the midnight “drop” of female impersonator Randy Roberts in a spangled super-sized red high heel shoe. Thousands of people gather outside the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St., as Roberts takes center stage at the annual extravaganza.
A show on the ground below begins at 9 p.m. and features local and national performers.
Just before midnight, the shoe carrying Roberts is lowered from the complex’s balcony, landing as midnight strikes and 2025 begins.
Street viewing of the show and “red shoe drop” is free. VIP tickets are available for exclusive balcony viewing, and include a top-shelf open bar and plentiful hors d’oeuvres. For tickets, call 305-293-9800 or 888-293-9893 (no online sales).
People on lower Duval Street can watch the 31st annual “drop” of a gigantic manmade conch shell to the flat roof of Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St. Festivities are emceed by a rooftop host and, as a huge clock counts down to midnight, the giant shell begins to descend.
At the Key West Historic Seaport, Schooner Wharf Bar is the center of New Year’s Eve merriment. Just before midnight a “pirate wench” is lowered from atop the towering mast of the tall ship America 2.0 — completing her descent as the clock strikes and cannons boom to welcome 2025. The event includes live music, dancing and festivities at the Schooner Wharf.
A “Gatsby New Year’s Eve” gala is planned at the original home of Pan Am World Airways, featuring the midnight “landing” of a replica Pan Am aircraft carrying a costumed flight attendant. Today called First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery, the building now located at 301 Whitehead St. was Pan Am’s first ticket office in 1927. Attractions at the ticketed event include a full open bar, chef-manned food stations, live music and DJ performances. Attendees are encouraged to wear formal 1920s Gatsby-era costumes. Visit firstflightkw.com/nye. — Contributed
SIMPLY INCREDIBLE
The heartwarming side of the headlines in 2024
In the news business, they say “if it bleeds, it leads.” But the Keys Weekly has always been more about telling the stories of the people, businesses and events that make our island chain flat-out awesome. The resilient, caring people of the Florida Keys do their absolute best to do way more right than we do wrong, and this year was no exception. We dare you to read these headlines without cracking a smile – they’re our favorite feel-good stories from 2024.
A1A renamed Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway
It didn’t take long after the passing of music icon Jimmy Buffett in September 2023 for cries to emerge to rename historic State Road A1A as the “A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.” In 2024, those wishes were granted. Following the passage of a bill in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, and its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis, all segments of A1A from Key West to the FloridaGeorgia line are now named the “A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.”
100-year-old Dorothy Bitzer aces Key Colony Beach’s 7 Meter Bridge Run
Dorothy Bitzer, who reached triple digits before her passing in late 2024, had been in a submarine, gone parasailing and walked on the bottom of the ocean, she told the Weekly. But she’d never done a road race, and in her final year, she earned her stripes as the elite athlete of honor in the Key Colony Beach Community Association’s 7 Meter Bridge Run, completing the “seven meters of grueling running” with next to no help. “I’ve done just about everything in my life, but I’ve never done one of these,” she said. “It was a good time to start.”
Fred the Tree goes Hollywood in new ‘Road House’ movie
It’s impossible not to root for an iconic tree growing from a concrete bridge in the middle of the ocean, and when he – yes, he – gets his flowers, the community celebrates. Though the Amazon Prime remake of “Road House” was theoretically set in the Keys, most of the film was actually shot in the Dominican Republic – save for a few shots of iconic Keys bridges, and a great one of Fred the Tree.
Keys deputy who lost leg in accident receives purple heart and massive donation
When 26-year-old deputy Julian Garcia lost his leg after a suspected drunk driver smashed into the back of his patrol car in April, a sea of commu-
nity supporters and first responders stepped up to look after one of their own. A Keys-wide blood drive was set for May 9 in Garcia’s honor, and at an Aug. 7 meeting of the Islamorada Village Council, Sheriff Rick Ramsay presented Garcia with a Purple Heart ribbon taken from his own uniform. On the same night, Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney presented Garcia with a check for $60,619 raised in a June community fundraiser.
Overseas benefit raises $127K for cancer patient Mallory Martin
Overseas Pub and Grill bar manager Andy Sharf’s fundraisers for community members are the stuff of legends in the Middle Keys. So when Mallory Martin, a dear friend and better half of fellow bartender Brian ‘Cheddar’ Geitz, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 30, Sharf pledged to throw his biggest fundraiser ever to give her a helping hand – and he backed it up. “Fight Like Mallory Day” raised more than $127,000 through a combination of donations, raffles, auctions, barbecue dinners and more. And at the Best of Marathon Awards, Sharf earned his overdue award as Marathon’s Philanthropist of the Year.
Conch Republic Marine Army teams up with Isla Bella to clean the Middle Keys
“Making dirty friends in trashy places” is the motto that drives the Conch Republic Marine Army (CRMA), a nonprofit organization aimed at cleanup and restoration of the Florida Keys marine habitats. The mission is simple: Get as many people as possible involved in cleaning up trash from the Keys’ shorelines. As of August, CRMA has removed more than 250 tons of debris and garbage, and the “army” continues to advance, as evidenced by partnerships with local businesses like Marathon’s Isla Bella Beach Resort. Guests and community members can join in on free trips to go on excursions, clean trash and learn about marine life – with a sandbar hangout at the end. In February, CRMA founder and president Brian Vest christened a new 33-foot skiff, made possible by Isla Bella’s donations.
1. Highway signs declaring historic State Road A1A as the ‘A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway’ were unveiled in August in Key West. ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau
2. 100-year-old Dorothy Bitzer, center, explodes off the start with daughter Cindy Casey. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
3. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, right, hands the Purple Heart ribbon to deputy Julian Garcia during a special recognition ceremony on Aug. 7 inside the Founders Park Community Center. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
4. The gang at Overseas Pub and Grill preps for its biggest charitable event yet in support of cancer patient Mallory Martin, center. ‘Fight Like Mallory Day’ went on to raise more than $127,000 to help in her fight against the most hated disease. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
5. Conch Republic Marine Army founder and president Brian Vest leads a cleanup near Isla Bella Beach Resort. MARKY PIERSON/Contributed
TIME FLIES
Expect bigger, better stories in upcoming books
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
People say that the older you get, the faster time flies. They know exactly what they’re talking about because, just like that, Christmas has passed, and Jan. 1 is nearly upon us. The days are passing like blinks of an eye, and before any more time slips away, I need to finish what I started last week.
While I usually wait until the last column of the year to reflect on reasons I’m grateful, I started a week early. Moving forward, I’ll get the ball rolling with some feelings about the Keys Weekly. To them, I could not be more thankful for the space to tell these stories.
I’m not the first to write about this stuff and not even the only one currently exploring the local history, but I might be having the most fun. It’s hard to believe that my first history column appeared in the canceled Reporter more than a decade ago. I’ll confess that after writing a few hundred of these, figuring out what to write next can be challenging.
Taking that into consideration, I’ve decided to go into 2025 with a plan. It’s not a 52-week plan, but stranger things have happened. Without coaxing the cat out too far, starting Jan. 2, I’ll take a historic (and sometimes not so historic) trek down the Overseas Highway. It won’t be the only thing I’ll be writing about. At some point in the not-too-distant future, I’ll be talking about the release of Volume 3 of my “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli” series.
The books came to life because three years ago, in the evening hours of Dec. 23, 2021, I launched my Facebook group Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli. Because of
its popularity, I decided to, as chef Emeril Lagasse would say, “kick it up a notch.” I love writing these columns, but only so much can be said in under 1,000 words. With the books, I am able to tell bigger, better stories.
While looking forward to getting Volume 3 out to the public, I’m more excited to start working on Volume 4. The tentative title is “The Indian Key Chronicles.” I don’t know if that is the name that will stick, but it’s the one helping me shape how the stories are told. While the page count has increased with every volume, I won’t be surprised if Indian Key morphs into two volumes. For one, it is my favorite. Also, I have more to say about Indian Key than any other island in the chain. Whatever the case, it is highly unlikely that Volume 4 will come to fruition in 2025.
One of the little things I look forward to every year is the unexpected surprise. There is no way to account for it; instead, it shows up unannounced in a meeting, email or phone call, sending a little chill down my spine. For 2024, it was the invitation to speak at the Ernest Hemingway Seminar and to film for a television show’s pilot/teaser.
As 2025 unfolds, I’ll do what I love and sit here, tap-tap-tapping on the computer keyboard. Every day, I’ll post a picture and some historical nuggets on my Facebook group, answer questions from the members, and work to keep the spammers away. I’ll write my column and work on Volume 4. Because those efforts have not created a lucrative enterprise, I’ll pick up freelance work when it comes around and mix up mojitos and rumrunners at Robbie’s of Islamorada to help make ends meet.
Speaking of being thankful, I could not be more grateful to be working at Robbie’s. When it became apparent that I was going to have to dip my toes back into the hospitality pond, there were concerns in the Bertelli
household. Way back when, more than a decade ago, when I was working at Lazy Days, I would come home miserable. I’d leave for work miserable, too.
In my miserable state, I could be unpleasant. When I stepped back into the industry, there was a concern that I would step back into a miserable state, too. I chose well with Robbie’s. While it is true that I usually only work a couple of shifts a week, in two-and-a-half years, I have always walked into the house with a smile. I’m happy to be home, but I’ve never felt miserable about having to go there, either.
Robbie’s is an interesting spot as a historical location, a roadside attraction and a little community. The parking lot was once home to pre-historic freshwater wells that were deemed the most reliable in the Florida Keys. It was where the first permanent residents of Lower Matecumbe Key, the Starck family, lived. Also, since the 1970s, it’s been one of the island chain’s great roadside attractions.
One of the best things about driving off down the road to clock in for one of my bar shifts is being on the property. Robbie’s is also an interesting little community, and when I go to work there, I become a part of it. It might just be me, but Robbie’s has a little magic floating around it. Sure, it doesn’t hurt that I can see Indian Key from the bar, but there is more to it than that.
Robbie’s is also home to this fascinating and wonderful group of people who are consistently positive. It feels good to be there. In fact, not only am I not miserable, but I look forward to getting there and soaking up the vibe. Also, the people-watching is exceptional. In the meantime, I’m going to wrap this up, blink, and embark on whatever adventures 2025 has in store.
‘Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli’ volumes 1 and 2. CONTRIBUTED
MOST-READ POSTS OF 2024
Viewers swarmed Keys Weekly’s Facebook, Instagram and website
MOST-READ STORIES ON KEYSWEEKLY.COM
Brian Bahder in his lab at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IFAS/Contributed
Scientists develop tool to combat invasive Burmese pythons.
On Sept. 5, FBI agents arrested more than 20 suspects in the Middle and Lower Florida Keys on suspected cocaine trafficking. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Feds bust 22 Florida Keys suspects in cocaine trafficking case.
Hundreds gather on March 3 for a candlelight vigil in memory of teacher and coach Dexter Butler. FLOYD JENKINS/contributed
Key West mourns the loss of Key West High School coach.
MOST VIEWED FACEBOOK POSTS
Trek over the iconic Jewfish Creek Bridge into the Florida Keys returns for the 14th year.
From all the community happenings to a wide range of breaking news, the Keys Weekly had it covered in 2024. Readers flocked to Facebook, Instagram and keysweekly. com throughout the year to read content produced by local staff.
— Keys Weekly staff report
MOST VIEWED INSTAGRAM POSTS
We Are Officially Marked Safe: Key
County commissioners approve several measures for the Tavernier
MOST VIEWED VIDEOS
Breaking news: Bank robber arrested on Stock Island.
Miles To Go - Marathon editor Alex Rickert raises funds ahead of a big Boston Marathon.
Marathon High School receives a bomb threat.
West celebrates end to hurricane season.
Publix project.
Key West snow day: Key West editor Mandy Miles films some feisty seas as Hurricane Helene passes wet in late September.
Great white: A Keys charter captain filmed this video of a shark passing by a fishing charter in the Middle Keys in April.
First sawfish rescue: Mote Marine Laboratory filmed its first successful sawfish rescue in April.
KEYS TO SURVIVAL
Artificial reefs, rule changes and a mad dash to restore corals after a devastating blow caught the public’s eye in 2024
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
Wild videos of spinning fish, efforts to restore and supplement a beleaguered reef tract, and a highly-anticipated new set of rules governing one of the country’s most precious marine environments grabbed headlines in 2024. Though this year brought forward some truly unprecedented events, we suspect we haven’t seen the last of these headlines and storylines as we turn the page to 2025.
County artificial reefs director to launch Keyswide program
Out of 54 applicants, the Monroe County BOCC welcomed former Mote staff scientist Hanna Koch as its new artificial reefs director in February. Koch will have the key responsibilities to develop the framework for the future of the artificial reef program, establish goals and objectives, coordinate the needs of the community, handle public inquiries regarding the program, find sites, monitor grant agreements, and oversee the creation, permitting, maintenance and monitoring of the sites and any staffing that may be needed, among many other things. Beginning in August 2023, Monroe County was awarded $15 million from the state to start an artificial reef program in the Keys. The future of the program has seen more than its fair share of debates in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meetings and among natural resource stakeholder organizations.
Researchers assess coral health following marine heat wave
Iconic Reefs field team member Cate Gelston retrieves a transect tape after completing an outplant coral health assessment survey. BEN EDMONDS/NOAA
In February, researchers from NOAA’s Mission: Iconic Reefs program and partners from Mote Marine Laboratory and the Coral Restoration Foundation announced the results of a scientific mission to quantify the effect of 2023’s marine heat wave on corals in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The additional research followed a mission in August 2023 to assess the corals during the height of the heat wave. Across 64 locations, researchers found that less than 22% of 1,500 staghorn corals surveyed remained alive, with only the two most northern reefs retaining any living staghorn coral. Only three sites had living elkhorn coral, and the iconic Looe Key Reef in the Lower Keys did not have any living staghorn or elkhorn corals.
Researchers close in on leads in spinning fish, sawfish deaths
Investigators complete a necropsy on a deceased sawfish. In addition to hundreds of reports of spinning fish, at least 53 endangered smalltooth sawfish died in 2024. FWC/Contributed
The Florida Keys earned national headlines as unprecedented reports of endangered sawfish deaths and “spinning” fish rocked the island chain beginning in late 2023. Social media came alive with reports of the behavior, documented in
more than 35 different species and reported to FWC and partner organizations through online portals and research missions. The first promising lead reported by scientists remains the leading theory at the close of 2024: A buildup of toxic algae in the Gambierdiscus family, possibly triggered by 2023’s heat wave. Reports of the spinning fish eventually subsided, but not until NOAA and FWC greenlit efforts to rescue struggling sawfish and temporarily rehab them at local facilities.
Shakeups in the Sanctuary
Succeeding former chair George Garrett, Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters and Dynasty Marine Associates owner Ben Daughtry was tabbed to lead the FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council in June. Two months later, longtime Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman stepped away to become NOAA’s West Coast region director in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Fangman turned the reins over to acting superintendent Matt Stout, the man who coined the name “Restoration Blueprint” for the updated set of marine regulations throughout the island chain. At the close of 2024, the Restoration Blueprint entered its final stretch before becoming law, though a continued dust-up between FWC enforcement partners and sanctuary staff remains.
Lobster mini-season expands for Florida residents
Depending on whom you ask, lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys is either a quasi-state holiday or the most dreaded days of the year. So when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unexpectedly announced a third day of the traditional two-day sport season, for Florida residents only, at a press conference in Marathon on June 19 – just weeks before the season – locals had a healthy mix of cheers and groans. It remains to be seen whether the third day will continue in 2025 and beyond.
County deploys first artificial reef in new program
Under Koch’s direction, on Nov. 12, the Monroe County Artificial Reefs Department made history by deploying the Keys’ first new artificial reef since the 2009 sinking of the Vandenberg. Ten of 45 available decommissioned power poles were submerged at a new reef area about 16 nautical miles northeast of Key West in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. “This deployment is the first in a long line of projects being developed to provide several ecosystem and economic-related services,” said Koch. “This is just the beginning; we plan to create networks of structures from shallow to deep waters on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides that will provide a variety of quality habitat types to various marine species.”
Hanna Koch is Monroe County’s new artificial reefs director. CONTRIBUTED
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces a third day of lobster mini-season, for Florida residents only, at a press conference in Marathon. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Pole deployment gets underway at Monroe County’s first artificial reef site in 15 years. HANNA KOCH/Contributed
Sanctuary Advisory Council member and lionfish huntress Rachel Bowman, left, and former FKNMS Superintendent Sarah Fangman. CONTRIBUTED
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TRY ’N’ FIND
Words that remind us of Missouri are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
BARBECUE, BLUES, CAVES, GATEWAY, JAZZ, KANSAS CITY, LAKES, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, MUSIC, OSAGE, RIVER, SECEDE, SHOW ME, ST. LOUIS, TRUMAN, TWAIN, WAR, WEST.
Founded by Betty Debnam
Show Me Missouri
The Midwestern state Missouri is a widely varied place, with large cities, mountains, rivers, lakes and forests. It is our 24th state, welcomed into the Union in 1821.
MISSOURI IN HISTORY
More than 1,000 battles took place in Missouri during the war, but most of them involved Missourians fighting each other.
FAMOUS MISSOURIANS
• Harry Truman, who was born in Lamar, Missouri, and grew up in Independence, became president during World War II. He was the vice president when President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945. He served until 1953.
Truman ordered U.S. pilots to drop two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. World War II ended soon after. Truman served in France during World War I. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1934 and was elected vice president 10 years later.
Before Europeans arrived, the Osage and Missouria peoples lived in the area, with ancestors going back thousands of years. The French and Spanish controlled the area until 1803, when it became part of the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
The capital is Jefferson City, near the center of the state. Kansas City lies on the western border with Kansas and the Missouri River; it’s the largest city. St. Louis, along the Mississippi River on the eastern edge of the state, is sometimes called the Gateway to the West.
COMPLICATED PAST
LIVING IN MISSOURI
More than 6 million people live and work in Missouri. The nickname “the Show-Me State” comes from a speech given by U.S. Rep. Willard Vandiver, who is said to have declared in an 1899 speech: “I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.”
People in Missouri raise cattle, hogs, soybeans, corn and other products. Manufacturing includes aerospace and transportation products, beer, food products and chemicals.
FUN IN MISSOURI
Missouri was admitted as a slave state, but Missourians were divided over whether to secede, or separate, from the Union during the Civil War. Control of the Mississippi River was important in the war effort, as it was used to transport people and goods.
Kansas City is known for barbecue and as a “cradle of jazz music,” and St. Louis is noted for its blues music.
• Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is most famous for his books “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and ‘’The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
He was born in Florida, Missouri, and moved to Hannibal when he was about 4. Much of his writing was based on his experiences in this Mississippi River town.
Twain wrote for several newspapers and traveled throughout the country, often supporting himself by working in print shops.
Kansas City is home to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, the MLB’s Royals and soccer’s Sporting KC and Kansas City Current. St. Louis cheers on baseball’s Cardinals, hockey’s St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis City SC soccer team.
Missourians enjoy boating and fishing on lakes and rivers. Visitors can explore more than 7,000 caves and see music and theater shows in Branson, near the Lake of the Ozarks.
A species of giant European spider is being saved from extinction in its British habitat through a breeding program established after it nearly disappeared 15 years ago. The great fen raft spider almost vanished after its wetland home was destroyed by development. Baby spiders raised in a project at Chester Zoo had to be bred in individual test tubes to prevent them from eating each other. Once the young were strong enough, they were released by the hundreds into restored habitats. The spiders now number in the thousands.
RESOURCES
Mini Fact: The National World War I Museum in Kansas City includes the Liberty Memorial, which opened in 1926.
photo by Natonal
WWI Museum
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a monument to western expansion. Visitors can ride to the top and look out small windows over the city.
Kansas Citian Charlie Parker was a jazz saxophonist and composer. His nickname was “Bird.”
photo by
loonyhiker
Harry S. Truman
Mark Twain
Not Feeling Retirement Ready? Six Painless Ways to Beef Up Your Account.
When asked to share financial regrets, respondents to Bankrate’s 2019 Financial Security Index survey named “not saving early enough for retirement” as their biggest one.
The goal of saving enough money to fund several decades of your life can feel like a daunting (and perhaps impossible) task in the best of circumstances. If you’re among the millions of workers whose income and job security was impacted by the global pandemic, that feat may now seem insurmountable. Though saving for retirement remains a significant long-term financial goal that requires consistency and commitment on your part, rest assured that reaching your retirement savings goal is still feasible – regardless of the number you ultimately need to reach. Here are some ideas you can put into action to beef up your retirement savings, and improve the chances that you’re financially empowered to retire when, how, and where you want.
By First Horizon Bank
account or Roth you’ve established on your own. If you’ve lost income due to the global pandemic, focus on managing your expenses as much as possible, before you assume you cannot afford to put money towards retirement – even if you have to reduce how much you contribute temporarily.
Renowned behavioral economist Richard H. Thaler, author of Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics, calls automation a “nudge” of sorts. He explains that it can help even the most financially savvy resist their most basic (and irrational) human impulses,
5. Make Retirement Real
Saving for retirement is easy to postpone when it’s decades away; it simply doesn’t feel like part of your reality. Dan Goldstein, principal researcher at Microsoft Research and Honorary Research Fellow at London Business School, tested whether images of a “future self” could make retirement feel more real, and if that may encourage people to contribute more to retirement as a result.
Goldstein and his team asked research participants –who were between the ages of 18 and 35 – how much of their hypothetical income they would contribute to retirement. They then showed the participants age-progressed images of themselves, along with a current image; their current and future head shots were placed on either end of a slidingscale style line.
1. Act Small to Save Big
Your total retirement goal may be a large number, but it can be within reach if you consistently work to contribute to your retirement accounts – even if the amounts seem insignificant.
Suppose you cut out one or two small expenses each week that amount to an additional savings of just $25. That may be accomplished by passing on an impulse buy when browsing online shops, finding a favorite at-home workout instead of maintaining a pricey fitness studio membership, or learning to enjoy cooking at home instead of handing over your hard-earned cash to DoorDash.
None of these little actions will dramatically impact your life now – but eliminating them may free up an extra $100 a month to contribute toward retirement. Keep the habit up every year for 30 years, and you’ll have more than $197,000 saved in your retirement account (assuming you earn 10% in interest each year, compounded annually).
2.
Automate Retirement Contributions
If you haven’t already, establish automatic contributions that will dedicate a specific amount of money from each paycheck to go into an employer-sponsored retirement account (if you have one) or an individual retirement
like spending when they should save, or procrastinating when or how much they put into retirement savings.
3. Consider Market Declines an Opportunity
Investing for retirement is a long-term strategy that requires a plan, discipline and the ability to resist getting “spooked” by market ups and downs. While your retirement savings balance may have gone on a roller coaster ride over the last several months, experts at Forbes say retirement savers can consider market downturns as a time to evaluate new investment opportunities that may be “on sale” and available for purchase at a significant discount.
4.
Invest Windfalls in Your Future
Have you received an unexpected windfall in the form of a tax refund, government stimulus check or inheritance? Perhaps you’ve finally paid off that student loan or credit card debt and now find yourself with more cash flow.
You’ll resist the phenomenon known as “lifestyle creep,” which is the tendency to spend a little more freely – and budget less carefully – as your income or cash on hand increases. When you don’t see the money, you won’t miss it, but it will be hard at work behind the scenes, bringing you one step closer to your retirement goal.
Participants were then asked to determine what percentage of their current hypothetical salary they’d allocate to retirement. The researchers found that the majority of participants in the study increased their retirement contributions when they had a visual representation of their future “self” staring back at them.
You can replicate the benefits of this study with a low-cost app that provides age-morphing effects. With an image of your retirement-aged self kept top of mind, you may find it harder to procrastinate on investing in your future.
6. Identify the Meaning Behind Your Retirement Goals
The Allianz Global Investors Center for Behavioral Finance recommends that retirement savers identify goals they hope to achieve with their retirement savings. When you give retirement a meaning beyond money, saving for it can feel less like a sacrifice.
Prioritize these goals in order of most to least important, to remind yourself why it’s as important to invest in the future, as it is in your present.
Explore First Horizon’s resources or connect with market president Dwight Hill at 305-808-2223 or dwight.hill@firsthorizon.com.
STAR-STUDDED
Athletes showed up & showed out in 2024 | Year in Review
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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.
A YEAR OF GREATS
Keys athletes did not disappoint in 2024
It was a big year in Keys sports. Many things happened in the past 365 days, some evoking great joy and some devastating sorrow. Each year brings new and varied talent, and since January, athletes and coaches proved to be adept in a multitude of ways, setting records, earning titles and representing the Keys with pride. Here we look back at the 24 most memorable moments in Keys sports in 2024.
LADIES LIFT THE BAR
Girls weightlifting has been a bright spot in Keys sports since the first Monroe County program opened in Marathon less than a decade ago. In the 2015-2016 season, Fins coach Jessie Schubert took Rachel TorresBrown to states and brought home a silver medal. Each year since, the sport grows in numbers and the athletes stack on the plates, making for one of the most prolific sports in the Keys as far as hardware goes. Now, all three schools have girls weightlifting, and the popularity is on the rise. Last year, in addition to Marathon’s Justice Lee winning dual titles, Jennille Arias of Coral Shores won secondand sixth-place medals, and Ella Dunn and Sierra Earnhardt joined Lee as Dolphin podium members. Dunn won fifth place while Earnhardt won a bronze at states.
Jennille Arias. CONTRIBUTED
LEE BRINGS HOME STATE GOLD
Marathon strongwoman Justice Lee Isom set her goals high last year, then methodically did everything it took to reach them. As a sophomore, she went undefeated in her weight class in girls weightlifting, clinching double gold medals at districts and regionals, then topping her own bests at states to bring home dual gold medals at the FHSAA state championships. Though Coral Shores’ Julian Juvier did it in 2023, Lee is currently the only female Keys athlete to win two gold medals in a single season.
Senior Justice Lee shows off her hardware in her return to MHS.
ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
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.
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CONCHS MAKE IT 15 STRAIGHT
Key West’s wrestling program continued its tradition of success by winning its 15th consecutive district championship. The Conchs crowned eight district champions and sent multiple wrestlers to the state meet. Senior Ralph Riche returned with a fifth-place medal, his second in two years. He will continue his wrestling career at St. Thomas University.
ON THE COVER
For small schools in a 100-mile island chain, Keys athletes made plenty of noise in the state’s upper echelon. Top: AJ Putetti. Second row, from left:
Dylan Ziels, Niks-Davis Suharevskis, Caylaa Makimaa. Third row: Anthony Lariz, Vance Bursa, Layne Smith, Brooke Mandozzi. Fourth row: Ralph Riche, Justice Lee, Ali Wheatley. Photos by Barry Gaukel, Doug Finger, Mark Hedden, Jim McCarthy and contributed images.
KEY WEST LOSES HOMETOWN HERO
One of the greatest losses of 2024 was the tragic death of Key West basketball coach Dexter Butler. Butler left a legacy as a player, teacher, coach and mentor on countless student athletes. His positivity and energy was infectious and he lived his life with the epitome of Conch Pride. Butler’s impact on the entire community was a positive one, and a scholarship was created in his name.
Top: Dexter Butler taught at Horace O’Bryant School and coached KWHS basketball. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT/Contributed) Bottom: Hundreds gather on March 3, 2024, for a candlelight vigil in memory of teacher and coach Dexter Butler. FLOYD JENKINS/contributed
tracy mcdonald
MARSHALL CROWNED SPEED KING; LEE OWNS THROWS
Marathon’s Mikail “Jay” Marshall broke the 100- and 200-meter school records at Marathon and beat all of his Monroe County competitors on the track in 2024. Teammates Fabbianho Louis Jeune and Mason Buxton broke the school records in triple jump and javelin, respectively. Mikkel Ross set a school record in the 3,200-meter run, and Cami Wrinn did the same in the 400 hurdles. In the field events, Daysi Williams cleared the bar for a new record in high jump and strongwoman Justice Lee dominated the throwing events. She set records in javelin, shot put and discus and brought home a fourth-place medal in shot put at the state meet.
CONCHS DAZZLE ON THE DIAMOND
Key West is synonymous with excellence on the diamond, and 2024 was no outlier. Five Conchs signed to play at the collegiate level: Anthony Lariz, University of Central Florida; Felix Ong, University of Florida; Jacob Burnham, Boston College; Hunter White, Inspiration Academy; and Steel Mientkiewicz, Georgia Highlands College. The Conchs fought to the regional semifinals after one of the toughest schedules in high school baseball in the country.
Left: The Key West Conchs earn their 15th straight district wrestling championship. Right: Ralph Riche, left, and coach Chaz Jimenez revel in Riche’s fifth-place medal at states. Photos contributed.
TRACK RECORDS FALL AT KEY WEST HIGH
Conchs broke records on the track and in field events in 2024. Grace Andrew set a record in the 400 hurdles for the Lady Conchs. On the boys side, Suharevskis Niks-Davis claimed a pair of school records – the first in 400 intermediate hurdles and the second in pole vault, in which he won a bronze medal at states. Jean Louis broke the shot put record by more than 3 feet, and Peyton Zubieta and Shane Lavallee both broke the record in javelin, with Zubieta’s longest toss taking over the No. 1 spot in the history books.
Grace Andrew. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
Mikail ‘Jay’ Marshall. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
Clockwise from top: Hunter White, Jacob Burnham, Felix Ong, Steel Mientkiewicz. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
CORAL SHORES BASEBALL SENDS TWO TO THE NEXT LEVEL
The Hurricanes had a strong season on the diamond, winning 10 games, including an all-out pitching duel with Marathon. The team made it all the way to the FHSAA 3A District 16 semifinals. Two athletes, Zeke Myers and Grayden Ross, signed to continue their careers at the next level. Myers was recruited by Freed-Hardeman University and Ross signed his letter of intent with Columbia International University.
Zeke Myers & Grayden Ross. JOY SMITH/Keys Weekly
Key West’s competitive cheer squad earned a trip to states after a strong showing at regionals. CONTRIBUTED
KEYS’ ONLY COMPETITIVE CHEER SQUAD REPRESENTS AT STATES
Coach Ariana Corsi and the Key West competitive cheer team hit their moves at regionals to secure an at-large bid to the state championship meet in Lakeland. The Lady Conchs placed seventh in the small, non-tumbling division with a difficult performance they perfected throughout the season. Though all three public high schools have cheerleading squads, only Key West has an FHSAA-sanctioned competition team which goes head-to-head against other squads as they are judged in areas such as stunting, choreography and crowd appeal.
UPPER KEYS LEGEND UNRETIRES HIS WHISTLE
When Coral Shores found itself without a baseball coach last spring, it didn’t take long to find a perfect fit for the job. Tony Hammon has been a fixture in Upper Keys sports since 1972, when he became Coral Shores’ second-ever baseball coach. In 1974, he started Island Christian School and the following year started sports there as well. Hammon coached baseball, football, basketball and soccer at some point or another in his long career, hanging up his whistle six years ago for what he thought would be a quiet retirement. That is, until 2024, when his community needed him to fill a role for which he was uniquely qualified. Hammon will continue on as an assistant coach this season, explaining that “It’s a lot harder to run a practice at 75 than it is in your 20s.”
Tony Hammon. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
CONCH LACROSSE DOES A 180
After winning just two games one season earlier, Conchs head coach Alberto Piceno and the Key West boys lacrosse team turned things around. The team finished the season 11-4, winning over 60% of their faceoffs and scoring 137 goals in 2024. Senior standout Mack Hill signed on to further his career at Quincy University.
After leading his team to an 11-4 finish, senior star Mack Hill will continue his career at Quincy University. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
FINS CLAIM FIRST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
According to head coach Joey Gonzalez, the Marathon Dolphins entered the South Florida Baseball Conference roughly 17 years ago, when Miami Country Day School founded it. The conference is composed of eight to 10 non-recruiting teams across South Florida, and prior to the 2024 season, Marathon had made it to the finals four other times, though a title eluded them. The fifth time was a charm for Gonzalez and the Dolphins, as they finally won the conference cup after an impressive 18-6 season which culminated in pitcher Dylan Ziels signing to Palm Beach State after a stellar high school career at Marathon.
The 2024 Marathon Dolphins finally broke through a formidable barrier to end their season as conference champions. CONTRIBUTED
ROSS EARNS HONORS PAIRING ATHLETICS WITH ACADEMICS
Mikkel Ross was one of Marathon’s most decorated athletes, making state appearances in cross country, weightlifting and track and field. But Ross’ prowess did not end with her athletic gifts; she excelled in the classroom, too. Ross was selected as one of just 24 student-athletes across the state to be awarded with the Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team, a prestigious recognition program run in tandem with the FHSAA. Ross is the fifth Marathon athlete in four years to earn the award.
Mikkel Ross. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
TOMMY ROBERTS GETS REVAMP
BASILICA ADDS VARSITY PROGRAMS
2024 marked the first year since Island Christian School closed its doors that the Keys had four varsity teams in a sport. After successful junior varsity campaigns at Basilica School with their volleyball and basketball programs, the Mariners added a fourth Monroe County team to girls volleyball and boys basketball, with plans in the works for more as the school expands.
The Basilica School Mariners celebrate an earned point against Key West in early September. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
Opened in 1955, Key West’s football stadium went unnamed until it found a worthy namesake. In 1988, after the passing of the beloved principal Tommy Roberts, the field had its moniker. Roberts taught and coached at Key West High for over 30 years, finally landing his dream job as principal but tragically passing away in his first year at the helm. Key West High athletics historian Judd Wise called Roberts “infectiously positive and the dream administrator” due to Roberts’ dedication to the job. The stadium, long in need of refurbishment, got just that, reopening in 2024 with new bleachers capable of seating 3,100 loyal fans as well as new locker rooms, grass, goalposts and a training facility. The press box and concession stand are now expansive and state-ofthe-art, giving the Conchs a home stadium they can be proud of.
Then: Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium takes shape in 1955. DON PINDER/Contributed
HURRICANES CLINCH FIFC TITLE
Coral Shores football had one of the greatest seasons in school history, winning eight games and securing the Florida Independent Football Conference. Senior AJ Putetti crossed into the end zone 22 times, the most in the Keys in 2024, and accumulated 1,973 all-purpose yards, 1,288 of which were on the ground. The seniorladen squad also managed to stretch the Hurricanes’ Battle of the Keys total win margin to 30-25 in their favor.
Coral Shores senior AJ Putetti racked up 1,973 yards under the lights this fall.
DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
HOLLY NAMED TO ELITE ROSTER
Coral Shores’ gridiron great Eddie Holly earned one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon a high school football player when he was selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-Star Team. Holly was chosen for his stellar performance on the field in 2024 and became only the second Monroe County player in history to take the field in the FACA All-Star Game, which was held in the Villages. Players need to be nominated by their region, then are voted on to make the cut. Holly racked up 134 total tackles in 2024, 22 of which were for a loss.
Eddie Holly. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
| Now: The revamped stadium reopened in 2024. CONTRIBUTED
FIGHTING CONCHS CLAIM PLAYOFF VICTORY
After a pair of early-season losses, the Conchs found themselves in an uphill battle to make it to the FHSAA 3A playoffs, but that’s just what they did. Key West surpassed several milestones on their trek toward the postseason, including win number 400 for the program and number 70 for head coach Johnny Hughes. The Fighting Conchs won their first playoff game since 1995 and ended with an 8-4 record, their best in a decade. Senior Jaden Fox had 21 touchdowns, leading the Conchs with 1,731 rushing yards and scoring an incredible 132 points for Key West, while fellow senior Jayden Gist reeled in five interceptions in 2024.
Jayden Gist, left, and Jaden Fox. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
MARATHON MAKES WAVES IN RURAL DIVISION
Marathon moved to the 1A Rural classification in 2024 and would have made the playoffs had a pair of storms not pared down the bracketing. Senior Fabbianho Louis Jeune racked up 1,131 yards and found himself second in Rural in field goals made and total points scored. He was third in total kicking points and extra points. The volleyball team also benefited from the reclassification, making it to the district championship match in their first season playing in the new division.
Marathon’s volleyball team made their mark in the rural classification, earning a trip to the district championship. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
LADY ’CANES GO ON A RAMPAGE
Coral Shores’ volleyball team had a standout season, finishing 12-2 in 2024. The team was without a coach during the preseason, but once Jarrod Mandozzi picked up the reins, they did not lose a single match in August or September, going on an 11-game win streak that did not end until the ’Canes faced larger Key West in early October.
The Lady Hurricanes brought home nothing but Ws in August and September, ripping off an 11-game win streak to start the season. CONTRIBUTED
In just his first year in the sport, Aaron Lykins made it all the way to states after claiming district gold in diving. DOUG FINGER/ Keys Weekly
’CANES’ DREAM TEAM MAKES STATE APPEARANCE
Coral Shores sent five aquatic athletes to the state competition this season. Layne Smith, Abbie Sargent, Allegra Fucaraccio and Sofia Figueredo worked together to form a formidable relay team, while Aaron Lykins represented the Hurricanes in the 1-meter diving competition.
Allegra Fucaraccio and Olivia Figueredo formed the Hurri-
fearsome foursome that earned a shot at the state meet. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
MARATHON CROSS COUNTRY EXTENDS STREAK
In 15 years as Marathon’s head cross country coach, Jim Murphy has transformed the school’s program into one of the best in the state. In 2024, Marathon’s boys and girls teams both qualified for the state championships – the seventh consecutive appearance for the girls and 10th for the boys. Murphy announced recently that he is stepping down from the position, marking the end of an era at Marathon High School.
Caylaa Makimaa, left, and Naima Thomas are Key West’s first duo to individually qualify for the state meet in a single year. CONTRIBUTED
KEY WEST CROSS COUNTRY MAKES A STATEMENT
In the past few seasons, Key West’s girls cross country team has been steadily improving, much to the credit of head coach Keara McGraw and a solid core of dedicated athletes willing to go the extra mile to reach a goal. This season, two athletes earned an at-large bid to the state meet for the first time in school history. Caylaa Makimaa and Naima Thomas represented the Conchs in Tallahassee, finishing their senior season at the highest level and reaching their preseason goals.
BURSA RUNS DOWN A DREAM
Dolphin distance specialist Vance Bursa already had multiple years of state appearances, a state medal and a 7 Mile Bridge Run win prior to toeing the line at the FHSA 1A State Cross Country Championships in November, where he claimed ninth place and a PR of 16:05 – just six seconds off Jonathan Pitchford’s school record set in 2018. But he didn’t stop there; Bursa was invited to the Garmin Nationals in Alabama, where he competed against the best 18-and-under runners in the nation. There, he finished in the top 100, crossing in 15:46, making him the fastest Dolphin on land.
Layne Smith, left, Abbie Sargent,
canes’
Under the leadership of coach Jim Murphy, pictured in black, small-town teams from Marathon have earned their stripes at the state level in cross country. RICK MACKENZIE/Contributed
Vance Bursa takes a trip to the podium after a ninthplace finish at states. RICK MACKENZIE/Contributed
ALMANAC | Dec. 26
On this day: In 1776, a er staging a surprise a ack, George Washington and the Con nental Army scored a major upset victory over the Bri sh in the Ba le of Trenton.
In The Bleachers
News of the Weird
A Laysan albatro named Wisdom, who lives at the Midway Ato Na onal Wildlife Refuge, laid what experts believe to be her 60th e recently, her rst in four years. Wisdom is 74 years old, the A ociated Pre reported on Dec. 6. Laysan albatro es mate for life; Wisdom’s mate, Akeakamai, has not b n s n for several years, and Wisdom started ste ing out with another male. “We are op mis c that the e wi hatch,” said Jonathan Pli ner, supervisory wildlife biologist at the refuge. E s typica y incubate for about two months.
Adam
Brevity
In 1966, the pan-African holiday Kwanz , founded by profe or Maulana Karenga, was celebrated for the rst me.
FACT
Despite its impact in the Colonies, the Ba le of Trenton was fought by rela vely sma numbers on both sides -- an es mated 2,400 Con nental Army soldiers defeated the 1,500-strong Bri sh/He ian ga ison.
Adam Brevity
Nancy
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
MONROE COUNTY
CONTRACTORS EXAMINING
BOARD
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Notice is Hereby Given To Whom it may concern, that on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 the Monroe County Contractors Examining Board (CEB) will hold a scheduled meeting at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Second Floor, BOCC Room, Marathon, Florida scheduled to commence at 9:30 A.M. This meeting is to hear the following: any person(s) to come before the board; any reports from Monroe County Assistant Attorney; any reports from Monroe County Building Official; any reports from Staff.
The Monroe County Contractors Examining Board (“CEB”) will review Certificate of Competency Trade applications and the Industry Input Section. All public participation in this meeting may be conducted via Communication Media Technology (“CMT”) using Zoom Webinar platform, during the scheduled meeting. Meeting Agenda and Zoom Webinar information is available 7 days prior to meeting date on the Monroe County Web Calendar and the Contractors Examining Board webpage: www.monroecounty-fl.gov
PURSUANT TO FLORIDA
STATUTE SECTION 286.0105, be advised that, if a person decides to appeal the decision made by the Contractors’ Examining Board with respect to any matter considered at today’s hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special recommendations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator's Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441,
between the hours of 8:30
a.m. - 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”.
NOTICE: It shall be the responsibility of each Respondent or other person addressing the Board to have an interpreter if the party is not able to understand or speak the English language. Rick Griffin, Building Official/ Board Secretary Jamie Gross, Senior Contractor Licensing Coordinator – CEB Board Monroe County Building Department Publish: December 26, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Key Largo Transfer Station New Storage Building Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at https://monroecounty-fl. bonfirehub.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request. Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/ mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing
Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https:// monroecounty-fl.bonfirehub. com, no later than 3:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom.
us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
One tap mobile:
+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Publish: December 26, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
Effective December 4, 2024 Barbara Socha, M.D. is no longer practicing with Baptist Health Primary Care at the following location: 91550 Overseas Highway, Suite 215 Tavernier, FL 33070.
Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may log into our patient portal at myBaptistHealth.net, call 305-434-3205 or fax 786-260-0512 to request a records release.
Publish: December 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2024 The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 1:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Long Key Transfer Station New Storage Building Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.comhttps://monroecounty-fl. OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request. Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/ mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https:// monroecounty-fl.bonfirehub. com, no later than 1:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 1:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
One tap mobile:
+16465189805,,4509326156# US (New York)
+16699006833,,4509326156# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location:
+1 646 518 9805 US (New York)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Publish: December 26, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:
Cudjoe Key Transfer Station New Storage Building Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. § 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices. Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from the County’s electronic bidding platform at bonfirehub.comhttps://monroecounty-fl. OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/ BonfireBids. The Public Record is available upon request. Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform. Please do not email, mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Emailed/ mailed/physically delivered bids/proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted. The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform at https:// monroecounty-fl.bonfirehub. com, no later than 10:00A.M. on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. There is no cost to the bidder to use the Bonfire platform. Please do not submit your confidential financial information as part of your proposal. There are separate uploads for each set of documents, including confidential financial information. All proposals will be made public on the platform after an intended decision or 30 days, whichever is earlier, unless the bids/proposals are rejected in accordance with F.S. 119.071. If your proposal document includes financial information, that information will not be considered confidential and will be available and viewable to the public in accordance with public records law. In the event of a discrepancy between the bid amount on the Proposal Form and the bid amount entered in Bonfire, the bid amount listed in the “Proposal Form” provided by Monroe County in the RFP is the amount that will be utilized by the County when considering the bid proposal. The County reserves the right to waive any proposal/bid irregularity. The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 10:00 A.M., on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156
Meeting ID: 4509326156
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Publish: December 26, 2024
The Weekly Newspapers
AUTOS ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks. Runs or Not.$CASH 305-332-0483
AUTOS FOR SALE
1964 Ford Galaxy, 427 Big Block, 5-speed, located in Key Largo. $49,000 954445-6647
EMPLOYMENT
Office Assistant needed in the Upper Keys, MM 80. Mon-Sat $20/hour. Must have own transportation. Call Patti 305-393-4433
Secretary/ Receptionist needed in Key Largo, MM104. Full-time, M-F, must have customer service experience. Call 305-916-5645 or Email admin@bluehorizonfl.com
Hiring: Lead Gutter
Installer - EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED – valid Driver’s License - must be comfortable with heights - located in Tavernier. To apply, please call or text Jay 305-587-1581.
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring 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 305743-6739 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 305743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com.
Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/
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, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@kwha.org or 305-296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY!
HOBBIES/COLLECT.
PRIVATE COLLECTOR
WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
2 BR / 1 BA unfurnished apartment for rent in Key Largo. $1,500/ month includes utilities. F/L/S Please Text: 786559-5494 or Email: apmz57@yahoo.com
Studio with Queen size bed available in Marathon. Furnished, kitchen, dining, newly renovated. No pets. $1,299 + utilities F/L/S 305-610-8002
2 BR/2BA unfurn. apt. for rent in Key Largo. W/D $1,600/monthall utilities included. F/L/S 305-504-1757 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH!!!
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
STORAGE AVAIL.
Gated
LIVE IN PARADISE AND SEE DOLPHINS PLAY EVERYDAY!
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER is a fun, environmentally friendly non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation specializing in education, research, and rescue of marine mammals.
We have the following openings available. Please scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE
(Full-Time, Permanent)
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
(Full-Time, Part-Time, Permanent)
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
(The position is for one year initially, with a possibility of renewal contingent on performance and mutual satisfaction.)
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER
58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL
Teaching... Learning... Caring
SYSTEMS ANALYST HARDWARE
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.
AUTO DIESEL VEHICLE TECHNICIAN
Starting
KEYS is
KEYS
Certain
The Moorings Village is seeking friendly, self motivated, team players for the position:
FRONT DESK
Competitive salary and great bene ts. Previous hospitality experience required. Weekends are a must. Job Types: Full-time
Please email your resume to Sara@MooringsVillage.com or call the reception o ce at 305.664.4708
Hospital
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
APPRENTICE AUTO MECHANIC
Starting
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.
resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
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.
JOIN A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NONPROFIT HELPING PEOPLE COPE AND CHANGE FOR 52 YEARS!
We provide Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Programs to the Florida Keys community while valuing and rewarding our employees.
KEY LARGO
Lead Certified Recovery Peer Support Specialist Peer Support Specialist Advocate (PT, FT)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Adult, Child)
Prevention Specialist (HIV & Children)
MARATHON
Care Coordinator (PT)
Driver – PT (CDL not required)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT/PT) Advocate (PT)
Prevention Specialist
*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT/PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living, PT)
*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP COMPETITIVE
EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! Apply at guidancecarecenter.org
Search Employment/Portal/Location/zip THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc.
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Medical Assistant 1, Upper Keys Internal Medicine, $5k Bonus
