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NUMBER OF THE WEEK
According to the Associated Press, the crystal-covered ball that dropped down at Times Square on New Year’s Eve weighed 6 tons. The ball featured 2,688 crystal triangles and descended via a 139-foot pole atop One Times Square skyscraper.
Key West lost one of its leading men on Dec. 29. The Keys Weekly pays tribute to Michael Halpern. See story below. LARRY BLACKBURN/ Keys Weekly
‘HE ALWAYS DID EVERYTHING ANONYMOUSLY’
Key West loses powerful attorney, quiet benefactor
MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Key West scrolled in shock on Dec. 30 through social media posts that seemed to suggest Michael Halpern had died.
The news proved to be true. Halpern died on Dec. 29 at age 72. The skepticism on social media succumbed to sorrow and shared memories of the New York City native, who arrived in Key West in 1975 as a young public defender.
The influential attorney, quiet power broker and affable owner at Southernmost Mansion and its Seaside Cafe, had just started chemotherapy treatments for cancer that was diagnosed only recently. Friends had just spoken with him days before.
“I’m in shock. I just spoke with him about a week ago and we had joked about doing an ‘old man’s trip’ through Italy,” Halpern’s longtime friend Michael Browning said. It would have been reminiscent of a trip they’d taken twice before with their combined six kids and Halpern’s wife, Michelle, who lost her own battle with cancer in 2011. “When I first heard he was sick, he made it sound like no big deal. When we spoke again last week, he was in chemo so we only spoke for a minute, but again, he downplayed it completely.”
Halpern’s sons – Rafe, Alexi, Luke and their adopted brother Terry – had lost their mother, Michelle, after her devastating, decade-long battle with cancer. Following Michelle’s death, Halpern helped the boys launch their own nonprofit, Kids Fighting Cancer, which still raises money to help local cancer patients pay their bills while undergoing treatment. The organization’s annual Willy Wonka Chocolate Festival at the Southernmost Mansion
has raised more than $100,000.
Now, 13 years after losing their mom, cancer had claimed their father faster than he could fight it.
And Michael Halpern wasn’t afraid of a fight. He was a formidable development attorney in Key West, where his and his clients’ plans for Key West’s properties and economy often didn’t align with those of city officials and residents.
He wasn’t always the most popular guy in the room, and he was fine with that. He often seemed to relish the tension that was palpable between him and city commissioners. He would smile politely as he strode to the podium, his faded T-shirt and running shorts belying the depth of his knowledge of city laws and loopholes and his lawyering skills. Yes, Halpern was committed to his powerful clients, but also to the Key West community, and especially the powerless residents in it.
Halpern helped in more ways than anyone ever knew. And he got results.
After a contentious fight with a few city officials, who made no effort to disguise their suspicions of his motives, Michael Halpern single-handedly turned the unsightly uppermost block of Duval Street into an art-filled pocket park and later spent more of his own money to alleviate the street’s frequent flooding.
He lived on Shark Key, but was a permanent presence at the 1897 Southernmost Mansion, which he renovated and operated as a boutique hotel with 18 rooms. His pride in the property grew exponentially years later, when he and his son, Rafe, a culinary school graduate, opened the popular Seaside Cafe at the Mansion, which quickly rose in the rankings of Trip Advisor. Halpern was on the property daily, greeting guests and detailing the storied history of the mansion that had hosted Thomas Edison, Al Capone, Tennessee Williams and five presidents. As recently as November, Halpern celebrated the realization of a longtime goal by opening Sky Bar, a rooftop bar atop the mansion.
Michael Halpern, an influential attorney and generous benefactor, died Dec. 29 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 72. CONTRIBUTED
Quiet benefactor
Plenty of people in Key West would describe Halpern, somewhat cynically, as a wealthy development attorney, hotelier, restaurateur and commercial landlord, and while the description would be accurate, it is also woefully incomplete, as it omits much of who Halpern was and what he did for the island he’d loved since his arrival in 1975.
“Michael was paying for 12 to 15 kids’ college tuition when he died. Every year, he paid off all the unpaid lunch balances at Key West schools. He gave $10,000 or so to ensure the high school band would raise enough money for their trip to London. The list never ends, but he always did everything anonymously,” said Nick Wright, headmaster at Somerset Island Prep, who launched the nonprofit Michelle’s Foundation with Halpern in honor of the wife Halpern had lost to cancer in 2011. Its mission was to help all kids
continued on page 9
MANDY
The late Michael Halpern proudly renovated and operated the historic Southernmost Mansion as a boutique hotel.
CITY LEADERS LIGHT MENORAH AT BAYVIEW PARK PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIES FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Hanukkah candles stand alongside Christmas tree
Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg attended the Dec. 29 lighting of the giant menorah at Bayview Park, but not because the Hanukkah celebration required a police presence.
Brandenburg was there as a community leader, along with Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, commissioner Sam Kaufman, who is Jewish, and 100 or so celebrants.
Unlike in many larger cities, where pro-Palestine protests have turned violent against Jews, Key
At Bayview Park in Key West, the community menorah stands alongside the Christmas tree.
West remained peaceful since the October 2023 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group in neighboring Palestine.
Local Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Shimon Dudai and Rabbi Yaakov Zucker, offered prayers, blessings and hope for peace, not just for the eight days of Hanukkah, but for the coming years.
Hanukkah this year took place Dec. 25 through Jan. 2.
Late President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn visited in 2010
City Commissioner Sam Kaufman, far left, speaks during the annual Lighting of the Menorah before inviting Rabbi Shimon Dudai and Rabbi Yaakov Zucker to speak.
In this Dec. 28, 2010, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter, left, with wife Rosalynn Carter, holds an adolescent green sea turtle at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon during a vacation in the Florida Keys. On Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, the Carter Center announced the death of President Carter, who was 100. The former first lady died in November 2023. ANDY NEWMAN/Florida Keys News Bureau
Rosalynn Carter, right, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, center, greets Nemo the dolphin at Hawk’s Cay Resort near Marathon in December 2010.
Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez lights a candle on the city menorah at Bayview Park with commissioner Sam Kaufman’s assistance. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
‘HE ALWAYS DID EVERYTHING ANONYMOUSLY’
Michael Halpern, center, is surrounded by his four sons at a November fundraiser. From left, Luke Halpern, Terry Williams, Michael Halpern, Rafe Halpern and Alexi Halpern. CONTRIBUTED
achieve their highest potential, regardless of their challenges, and its motto is, “Never let your burdens define you.”
Halpern helped ease countless burdens for Key West kids and families.
“When Michael found out that a librarian at Key West High School was bringing in a dozen or so peanut butter and jelly sandwiches each afternoon for kids who would otherwise go home to a house with no food, he launched Food for Thought under the umbrella of the foundation to give kids food to take home for their last meal of the day.”
Michelle’s Foundation includes Keys Learning Center, which provides tutoring for kids, regardless of their ability to pay. Michelle’s Scholars is the college tuition arm of the foundation, which has funded more than 50 college degrees, with 12 to 15 students currently enrolled. The scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated work ethic and desire, rather than grades and test scores.
“Michael always said, ‘Michelle’s Foundation is here for those who can’t do it all themselves,’” Wright recalled. “He basically always gave me a blank check to help any kid who needed it. He paid for basketball sneakers, music lessons, after-school tutoring, prom dresses, field trips. No matter what a kid needed, Michael’s answer was always yes.
“But you know what? Michael would kick my ass for saying all this about what he did for people,” Wright said. “He never wanted any credit or publicity. He never sent photos to the newspapers when he would write a check.”
Steve Torrence, a longtime friend of Halpern, echoed Wright’s sentiments.
“Michael wasn’t one to seek the spotlight, yet his quiet support for numerous organizations made a tremendous impact on our community,” Torrence said. “He had one request for
all his contributions — keep his name out of it. His legacy of generosity and tenacity will endure, but his absence leaves a void. Key West has lost a great man who loved this community with every fiber of his being.”
“No one loved the community of Key West more than Michael,” said Diane Schmidt, his friend and fellow hotel executive. “He had friends in high places, low places and everywhere in between.”
Halpern’s absence is unimaginable because his presence was so profound. His best friend, George Fernandez, was still reeling from the news of the loss, and figuring out how to navigate a world without Halpern.
“For the past 32 years, ‘The Honorable Michael Halpern,’ as I called him, was not just my attorney. He was my best friend and confidential wise counsel in life,” Fernandez told the Keys Weekly. “Through the years, he taught me that in business, as in our daily lives, diplomacy and compromise must always prevail. It is my commitment to honor him in forging his legacy for many years to come. True in every respect, a person can have no better epitaph than that which is inscribed in the hearts of his friends.”
Those hearts are breaking this week as memories are shared and memorial plans are made.
But Halpern’s own words bring comfort to many following his death.
“‘Never let your burdens define you,’ was one of the last pieces of advice you gave me the other day while we were sitting on the best porch on the island,” Halpern’s friend Kelly Norman wrote on Facebook. “Your calls always started with ‘KEL!’ and ended with ‘love you.’ I thought you were larger than life. I thought you would always be here. I don’t know this island without you, but I’ll hold closely to the memories of the past 20 years. The entire island will do the same because you gave so much to so many.”
COUNTY ESTABLISHES PRIORITIES AHEAD OF STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Requests include water quality funds and wind insurance relief
Water quality funding, affordable wind insurance and marine protection are among Monroe County’s priority list for the Florida Legislature in 2025.
Recently, county commissioners approved an agenda of legislative items they hope gain traction as members in the state House and Senate convene March 4 for a 60-day session in Tallahassee.
Funding for water quality projects through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act remains high on the county’s list. Lisa Tennyson, county legislative affairs director, said the county will be looking to secure $20 million for projects, including the ongoing canal restorations throughout Monroe County. The Stewardship Act was approved by the Florida Legislature in 2016. Since then, the county has secured roughly $100 million for projects to protect the Keys’ nearshore waters.
County officials are hoping the Stewardship Act gets funded through the state’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund. That would provide annual funding for the program without the need to request and battle for money in the state budget each session.
Wind insurance, namely the affordability for policyholders in the county insured through Citizens, is another key priority for county officials during the upcoming session. Citizens Insurance provides coverage to property owners who are in good faith and can’t obtain a policy through the private market. With rates continuing to increase via a state-approved glide path, the county will push for a 10% cap on annual
increases for Keys policyholders who are insured through Citizens. Tennyson said Florida House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have insurance high on their priority lists this session.
“Hopefully it means they will consider actions that are more consumer-friendly rather than focusing on the interests of the insurance industry,” Tennyson told county commissioners during a December meeting in Key Largo. “It does give us a glimmer of hope.”
Tennyson added the county will also be supporting a push to roll back a requirement for Citizens policyholders to carry flood insurance even though their homes and properties aren’t at risk of flooding.
The county also wants the state to clarify how local governments can handle the removal of migrant vessels from nearshore waters so they don’t become a detriment to the environment. Currently, the state handles the removal of grounded migrant vessels via an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Once that order expires, Tennyson said, the local governments could be responsible for handling the removal of migrant vessels. Tennyson said the county’s local derelict removal program doesn’t address the issue of migrant boats.
“They typically carry diesel fuel and require an immediate removal process, which currently we don’t have guidelines for,” she said.
County officials also want the state to continue funding road elevation projects in Monroe County. Tennyson said the state has awarded $60 million in grants to the county for various roads in unincorporated Monroe County.
The Florida State Capitol. State legislators will convene for a 60-day session on March 4. CONTRIBUTED
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT FILING DEADLINE REINSTATED
Here’s what small business owners need to know
Attention small business owners: if you run a corporation, LLC or other registered entity that was created in the United States by the filing of a document with a secretary of state or similar office, recent court decisions have reinstated the mandatory requirement to file Beneficial Ownership Information Reports (BOIRs) under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). If your business was created or registered before Jan. 1, 2024, you now have until Jan. 13, 2025, to submit your filing. Newly-registered companies between Sept. 4 and Dec. 23, 2024, also have extended deadlines. This form needs to be filed with the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) at https://boiefiling.fincen. gov/
This change follows a federal appeals court decision on Dec. 23, 2024, that lifted a previous injunction temporarily halting the CTA. If you haven’t filed yet, act soon to avoid penalties. For more information, consult your legal or financial adviser.
Who
needs to file?
The CTA applies to many small businesses, including LLCs, S-Corps, registered partnerships and corporations with fewer than 20 full-time employees and less than $5 million in revenue. Sole proprietors are exempt and do not need to file. These entities must report detailed information about their beneficial owners — individuals with 25% or more ownership or substantial control over the company.
What information is required?
The BOI report asks you to provide: the company’s name, address, state of formation and taxpayer identification number; full legal names, residential addresses, dates of birth and identification numbers (e.g., driver’s license or passport) for all beneficial owners.
For businesses formed after Jan. 1, 2024, the filing must also include information about “company applicants,” or individuals who filed the entity’s formation documents.
Filing is free; no need to pay FinCEN’s BOI filing system is free and user-friendly. Unfortunately, many companies are offering to charge businesses hundreds of dollars to complete the filing. These third-party services are unnecessary in most cases. For complex situations, such as obtaining information from uncooperative beneficial owners, consulting a CPA or an attorney may be helpful. However, business owners should avoid paying for software or services that claim to simplify the process when the official system is free. If you need guidance, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC at FIU) is here to help at no cost.
Avoid penalties; get help for free Don’t risk costly penalties for non-compliance. Your local Florida Keys SBDC consultants provide free consulting to help small businesses navigate the BOI filing process and have regular office hours at many of our county’s libraries. More information is available by emailing Bonnie.Barnes@FloridaSBDC.org or at 904-463-0513. — Contributed
EAT CHEAP — FOR CHARITY
Get 32 entrees for $120 with Woman’s Club Restaurant Card
Treating yourself to a nice dinner out isn’t exactly a selfless act of charity. Or is it?
For 19 years now, the Key West Woman’s Club (KWWC) has combined food and philanthropy, with delicious results.
The club’s annual Restaurant and Theater Card is available for a $120 donation and includes a listing of 32 local restaurants.
Buy two different entrees at any of the participating restaurants and the less expensive one is free. But don’t forget to tip your servers for both entrees — they did the same amount of work. Restaurants also have the option to include a tip on the bill. The new card is valid until Sept. 30, 2025.
The $120 donation for the card goes entirely to local charities. Last year, the card raised $122,500 that the KWWC distributed among 56 local nonprofits.
Recipients included the TIES program at Key West High School, which helps students with intellectual disabilities, and the William Weech American Legion, which needs help with building renovations.
“Your donation of an industrial washer and dryer, and a microwave, were not just equipment, but an invaluable resource that enhances the daily lives of our students,” said Amber Acevedo, deputy superintendent of the Monroe County School District. “The washer/ dryer will teach our students invaluable life skills while the microwave allows them to prac-
tice preparing their own meals, encouraging self-sufficiency and confidence.”
Leaders of the William Weech American Legion were similarly grateful.
“If it wasn’t for the donation from the KWWC Restaurant Card, we would never have been able to initiate the contract to get our plumbing project started. This is a big deal. We also fixed our roof with part of that money. Without the help of the Key West Woman’s Club, we might have had to shut down. Success breeds success. Once you got us started, we had other fundraisers and were able to pay our contractors off in a few months. It’s amazing once the ball gets rolling; everyone works as a team; things start happening,” said Nancy Moulton, commander of the William Weech American Legion Post 168 in Bahama Village.
— Contributed
The Key West Woman’s Club restaurant and theater cards are available for $120 each (cash or check) at the following locations:
• Guild Hall Gallery, 614 Duval St.
• Key West Art Center & Gallery, 301 Front St.
• Soul House, 600 Frances St.
• Lady Nails, Winn Dixie Shopping Center
• Amri Spa, 1204 Simonton St.
HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN
JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS
The final cleanup of 2024 took place Dec. 27 on and around Duval, Simonton and Whitehead streets. In one hour, 49 volunteers picked up 131 pounds of trash, 19 pounds of recycling and 4 gallons of cigarette butts. Special thanks to host Kilwans at 505 Duval St. for providing breakfast. The cleanup wraps up another productive year with Keep Key West Beautiful and Plogging the Keys. CONTRIBUTED
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.
— Contributed
Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 3: N. Roosevelt @ Walgreens. Meet in the rear parking lot of Walgreens next to Home Depot
Jan. 10: Duval Street at Rose Lane. Meet across from the Key West Woman’s Club, 319 Duval St. Hosted by Key West Woman’s Club
Jan. 17: Truman & Whitehead. Meet in the parking lot of the Key West Lighthouse Museum. Hosted by Key West Art & Historical Society, 928 Whitehead St.
Jan. 24: Key West Cemetery | Meet at main entrance
Jan. 31: N. Roosevelt Blvd & Toppino Drive | Meet in the back parking lot of First State Bank. Hosted by First State Bank
The graphic here tracks the progress of Keep Key West Beautiful over the past three years. None of it would be possible without our volunteers, who are both locals and visitors.
CHRIS McNULTY
is an astrologer, wanderer, bartender and advocate for queer justice. He is a loquacious Gemini with a cozy Cancer rising. Find him at hearthandheraldastrology.com
Happy New Year and happy Capricorn season, dear readers. Having crossed the winter solstice, we can celebrate our survival of the darkest part of the year. We’ve hopefully learned something about trust and faith, and can start to regain confidence in ourselves.
Capricorn season is about using the lessons learned in the darkness to get to work achieving our goals. You don’t have to commit to resolutions, but it is an ideal time to recommit to yourself. This changing of the year is marked by a challenging planetary transit that began in early November and will conclude in early May. Mars and Pluto are engaging in a long-time face-off, staring each other down in a 180-degree opposition. Due to Mars’ retrograde period, this transit is lasting about 6 months rather than the usual 10ish days of a Mars transit. We are currently sitting in a high crescendo of this transit. Now, these two planets represent different forms of volatility and change. Mars is highly active, aggressive, confident, passionate and willful. Pluto is intense, slow yet unwielding, volcanic, impersonal and transformative. When these two planets oppose each other, we can expect power struggles, unexpected blowups, high activity and passionate entanglements. Buckle up and try your best to funnel this time of high energy into purposeful activity rather than chaotic fury. This powder keg can be a rocket to outer space or a destructive explosion.
Here are your horoscopes for retrograde Mars opposite Pluto. Read for your rising and sun signs.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
Happy birthday season to you, Cap! You may notice some tension
with issues regarding your stuff and other people’s stuff. Perhaps you’re being asked to contribute more than your fair share or your savings are at risk because of other people’s decisions. At any rate, acknowledge the power struggle and find a compromise that serves all parties. You may need to put in some work.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
It’s important to lock horns with your closest partners at times. In fact, it can be one of the healthiest things you can do to face off and reach agreement. Right now, there is some true frustration with a romantic partner, business partner, or other life partner. Assert your position, but also hear them out through the ire. Find your common ground and build something.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
There is so much to do. It may feel as though obligations and chores are piling up despite a really strong need to take respite. How can you fulfill your checklist while also honoring your time to recharge? There is a way to fulfill your needs without exploding in a fit of rage, and perhaps the way forward is finding your meditation in action.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
Be mindful about potential conflicts that can arise within your friend group, particularly around your own creative work and how your friends may or may not be supporting you. Support doesn’t always come at us the way we would prefer, and sometimes support can feel like criticism. Avoid a short fuse right now and focus on your goals.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
Issues at home and issues at work seem to be vying for your attention in a way that may feel like a death match. However, in this ring, both of these important areas
of your life must emerge. How can you honor the activities taking place with your family and with your colleagues in a way that serves both? Find your inner referee and prioritize your actions.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
You’re locked in a battle between the new and the old, grand adventure and your hometown, new ideas and familiar musings. The conflict between a need for the new and a need for the familiar is strong, yet these two needs are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Find your compromise by acknowledging and honoring both.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
Money, security and self-worth might feel like a battlefield this week. You’re working hard to maintain stability, but someone else’s needs or demands could be tipping the scales. Resist the urge to emotionally withdraw; instead, lean into your strength to nurture. By tending to the heart of the issue, you’ll find a solution that doesn’t just balance the books but restores trust.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
You’re center stage, but not everyone is cheering. Conflicts with a partner — whether personal or professional — could push you to reassert your independence. Your challenge now is to hold your ground without overshadowing the other person’s needs. Take a breath before roaring; the key to harmony lies in collaboration, not domination.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
Invisible pressures may feel like they’re draining your energy, especially as work or health demands clash with your need for solitude. If your efforts aren’t being recognized, remember that not every battle is worth fighting out loud. A quiet re-
CAUTION: EXPLOSIVE!
treat can help you recalibrate. Your power lies in the details you handle behind the scenes.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Friends and creative passions are pulling you in different directions. It’s tempting to prioritize social obligations, but your inner artist craves the spotlight. Say “yes” to the projects that truly inspire you, even if it means saying “no” to others. Balancing these energies will remind you that community and self-expression are not at odds.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
Professional demands and personal roots are wrestling for dominance, and you might feel stretched thin. Whether it’s a family matter or a career challenge, take a moment to clarify your boundaries. This isn’t about choosing sides but ensuring both realms respect your time and energy. You’re building a foundation that supports your ambitions.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
Ideas are flying fast, but so are opinions, and not everyone agrees with your adventurous plans. A dispute over beliefs or communication styles could feel like a roadblock. Instead of forcing your vision, try listening more deeply. By blending your optimism with curiosity, you’ll find a way to bridge the gap and keep moving forward.
Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.
Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a custom-designed 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
and
Our bright and airy space is a treasure trove of fashion forward essentials that embrace the island lifestyle.
Offering fabulous brands including Farm Rio, Trina Turk, Oliphant & more. Stop by and check out Key West’s go to spot for splurge worthy and on-trend styles.
Larry Shue’s
THE FOREIGNER stars David Black, Marjorie Paul Shook, Chase Naylor, Cassidy Timms, Thomas Masat, Brian Robinson and Iain Wilcox
“I laughed start to finish at one comic surprise after another.” — THE
Birding, 14 x 24, Acrylic and Oil Stick
PIRATE WENCH
Evalena Worthington descends the mast of Schooner America 2.0
Evalena Worthington, owner of the Schooner Wharf Bar, practices Dec. 30 for her annual New Year’s Eve descent from the towering mast of the Schooner America 2.0. The lowering of the pirate wench is one of several midnight ‘drops’ in Key West that celebrate the arrival of 2025. See keysweekly.com and social media for photos from Key West’s New Year’s Eve festivities. CAROL TEDESCO/Contributed
Comic brings her quick wit back to Key West Theater on Jan. 9
BRITT MYERS britt@keysweekly.com
The nonconforming but enduring legacy of comedian Paula Poundstone returns to Key West on Thursday, Jan 9.
One of the world’s most recognized and authentic comedians, Poundstone returns to Key West Theater on Jan. 9. Hailed for her quick-witted improv and for “never doing the same act twice,” Poundstone has blazed a path in her industry for over four decades. Her career has included an
acclaimed HBO series, standup shows, acting, news commentary and podcasts.
Poundstone’s comedy is infused with a raw honesty that is always relatable and relevant.
The Florida Keys Weekly Podcast caught up with Poundstone before she arrives in Key West, with the full interview at keysweekly.com/ podcast. For ticket information, visit thekeywesttheater.com.
FUTURE FAVORITES
2025 RELEASES EXPLORE MENTAL HEALTH, A TWISTED MYSTERY AND A HEARTFELT LOVE STORY
MORE OR LESS MADDY
By Lisa Genova
Freshman year at NYU is not turning out how Maddy imagined. Happy to be distanced from her mother’s country club life, Maddy expected fun and freedom. Instead, classes are difficult, focusing is impossible and as her boyfriend Adam is thriving, she is faking it. The student health center offers Maddy a commonlyused antidepressant. She has more energy than a rocket ship and school, partying and visions as a future comedian become crystal clear. With the fog lifted, Maddy falls into severe mania that lands her in the hospital diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her family cannot understand how Maddy is falling apart before their eyes. She begins a complex rollercoaster of drug cocktails, with side effects leaving her a shadow of her former self. Maddy must learn to navigate this new world she did not choose. This author introduces her readers to the unpredictable world of bipolar disorder, formerly called manic-depressive disorder, a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings and episodes of mania. As these characters capture our hearts we learn about an illness that affects an estimated 4.4% of adults nationwide. This novel educates, fosters empathy and forces us to ask questions. To be released in January 2025.
First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www.readingandeating.com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
By Gillian McAllister
Camilla is a new mom. On the morning she is to return to her job as a book editor, her adoring husband Luke is nowhere to be found. The house is quiet and a note scribbled on a piece of paper lies in his place. One side reads “if anything,” but it’s crossed out. The other side: “It’s been so lovely with you both. Lx.” Camilla is confused but doesn’t have time to worry as dropping her daughter at day care consumes her. Later that day she is summoned by the police. There is a hostage situation in a London warehouse and three people are being held. Frantic that Luke is in danger, she thinks of the note and his leaving earlier than usual. That is when the cops tell Camilla that Luke is the gunman. After the siege goes awry, Luke disappears and Camilla’s world abruptly ends. This fast-paced mystery is filled with suspense, and the puzzle must be put together from a mismatched pile of pieces. As Niall, the hostage negotiator, cannot let go of this bungled case, Camilla knows deep in her heart that the man she loves is out there.
A sure page-turner that will be released in February 2025.
THE LOVE WE FOUND
By Jill Santopolo
Divorced for seven years, Lucy is blessed to get along with her ex-husband Darren’s new wife and children, smoothly transitioning to a large blended family. After the painful scandal of Lucy’s affair with Gabe, she had no choice but to finally move on. A commemoration of Gabe’s award-winning photography is underway at a prestigious gallery. As executor of his estate, Lucy is opening boxes that were sealed long ago. She discovers an address in Rome and a drawing that mysteriously pulls at her heart. Lucy cannot close this chapter until she knows what it means. Chance or fate, she wants to set things right and decides it is time to tell her youngest, Sammy, why he looks different from his siblings, and the truth about his biological father. Brimming with themes of divorce, motherhood, and the complexities of friendship, Lucy discovers that while it may take years, when one door closes, another one always opens. A captivating sequel to my all-time favorite romance, “The Light That We Lost,” this author brings the perfect closure to a beautiful story. To be released in March 2025.
#WORTHWATCHING
Emily and Matt, former spies who left the CIA behind long ago for family life, are dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown in “Back in Action.” This action comedy, with an all-star cast including Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, looks terrific and can be seen on Netflix.
KAREN NEWFIELD
WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS
Dr. Christopher Forsee, DMD is seamlessly taking the reins from the iconic “Barefoot Dentist,” Dr. Troxel, where the laid-back vibe extends even to the choice of footwear.
Dr. Forsee delivers personalized comprehensive dental care tailored to your needs. Whether it's routine maintenance or advanced procedures, trust Dr. Forsee to rejuvenate your smile with meticulous precision and compassionate care.
FINAL CALL FOR FEMALE ARTISTS; APPLY BY JAN. 3
Mimi Hein’s ‘You Go Dorothy,’ a mixed media work on a vintage windowpane, was a 2023 exhibit entry. MIMI HEIN/Contributed
Art & Historical Society brings back women’s exhibit
The Key West Art & Historical Society is reviving its popu lar juried art exhibition, “From a Woman’s Hand,” and invites Florida Keys women to apply by the Friday, Jan. 3 deadline.
The exhibit will feature paint ings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, prints, textiles and ce ramics created by female artists.
Drawn entirely from the Florida Keys community, the exhibit aims to illuminate the achievements of women artists who have been marginalized for centuries, and to celebrate the Keys’ thriving arts community through the eyes of women. The 40 or so artists in cluded in the exhibition come from all walks of life and varying levels of professionalism. Elena Devers, Martha Resk, Emma Starr and Cori Convertito will jury the exhibit.
The submission fee for artists is $25, which will offset the cost of the public opening reception that takes place on Feb. 7.
Interested artists must submit their application and one proposed piece of art by Friday, Jan. 3.
HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY-SATURDAY 4PM-6PM
FRESH SEAFOOD, STRONG DRINKS, OUTDOOR DINING WITH WATERFRONT VIEW, AND PLENTY OF LOCAL CHARACTERS.
legendary killer hogfish sandwich!
BEST PIZZA
ASK THE BIRD GEEK: DINOSAURS,
WOODPECKERS, METAL ROOFS & EXTINCTION
... is a photographer, writer, and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 25 years and may no longer be employable in the real world. He is also executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society.
Why doesn’t North America have any big flightless bird? Africa has ostriches, South America has rheas, Australia has emus and cassowaries. Did we have a big, flightless bird that got hunted to extinction or did we just never have one? — Lalita (temporarily) of the West
Listen, the whole point of doing an Ask the Bird Geek column is to do what in journalism is called a quick and dirty – something you can crank out fast and off the top of your head, something loweffort for the holiday season. And now you’ve gone and made me do research and Google multiple things. What the hell, Lalita?
Thinking about it, there is a strong case to be made that North America was once actually heavily populated with flightless birds, or at least birds that couldn’t fly yet. By which I mean dinosaurs. Birds are the dinosaurs that lived.
But let’s talk about the post-archaeopteryx era, a.k.a. feathered bird era. Big flightless birds evolved in the southern hemisphere and for some reason rarely left it. It is hard to say why, but maybe North America just seemed like too far of a walk.
There actually was one species of big flightless bird whose skeletal remains were found in Texas and Florida called Titanis walleri, a member of the terrorbird – yes, terrorbird – family. The species was thought to stand 5 feet tall and weigh up to 300 pounds, and may have been an alpha predator or a scavenger.
The Florida Museum of Natural History has a small collection of their leg bones, as well as a metal scale likeness of the whole skeleton, on display.
While we humans have hunted quite a few species to extinction, you can’t pin the demise of the Titanic Terrorbird on us, as it died out about 1.8 million years ago.
We did also once have a species of flightless birds called the Great Auk here, which humans drove to extinction in the mid-1800s, but it stood less than 3 feet tall, so I don’t think you could call it big.
Why does the new woodpecker in our yard insist on hammering his beak into our metal roof?
—Danny Who Is Not on Vacation
Woodpeckers are not dumb, despite smashing their faces into trees thousands of times every day. Woodpeckers hammer on metal roofs and poles and hollow logs for the same reason young – and sometimes not-so-young – men drive up and down the main drags of their hometown with the windows down: to attract females and intimidate other males. A male woodpecker announces his territory with sound. If you can hear it, you’re in their turf. A metal
roof or pole or gutter for a woodpecker is like a P.A. system, a way to amplify sound as much as possible. Banging on that makes the sound carry farther, possibly enticing the ladies into thinking his territory is larger than it might be, and making the banger seem like a more fit mate. It also intimates to potential rivals that maybe it’s better to set up their territory a little farther away.
Is the Ivory-billed woodpecker extinct? — I. Noah Guy
Oh great, the third rail of ornithological debate. Thanks for making this easy. Did you not see the comment above about trying to have an undemanding, blow-off column?
Oddly enough, I’ve been reading a bit about quantum physics lately – not that I fully understand it – and the status of the ivory-billed woodpecker reminds me of the whole Schrödinger’s Cat thing.
For those who haven’t had it geeksplained to them before, Schrödinger’s Cat is a scientific paradox in which a theoretical cat is enclosed in a theoretical box with a vial of theoretical poison, which has a 50/50 chance of going off and killing the cat. But until the theoretical box is opened, it is impossible to know whether the cat is dead or alive, so therefore, as far as we know as observers, the cat simultaneously exists as both dead and alive.
The ivory-bill situation is something like that. The last accepted sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker in the United States was in 1941 in what was known as the Singer Tract, a large patch of forest in Louisiana owned by the sewing machine manufacturer, who sold the logging rights to the Chicago Mill and Lumber Co., which cleared the tract despite having decent offers from multiple groups to buy it from them at a reasonable rate. They said it was to support the war effort, though the War Department said that it wasn’t really important, and the tract should be saved. The company also said it would be horrible to take jobs away from American workers at such an inopportune time, though the work of clearing the forest was done by German prisoners of war.
“We are just money grubbers,” the company’s chairman said. “We are not concerned, as are you folks, with ethical concerns.”
Richard Pough, who worked for the National Audubon Society at the time, and who went on to co-found the Nature Conservancy, was one of the last people to see an ivory-billed woodpecker in the U.S. He stood in freezing rain for six hours watching as the Chicago Mill and Lumber Co. closed in on the nest.
The ivory-billed woodpecker also lived in Cuba, though the last accepted sighting there was in 1987.
Note that I’ve been using the phrase “accepted sighting.” Which brings us to the Schrödinger woodpecker situation. While there have been no accepted sightings since those dates, there have been a number of alleged sightings without documentation, or with ambiguous documentation, in Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. It has happened as recently as 2020.
People have produced recordings of their distinctive kent call, but blue jays sometimes make a similar sounding call, and blue jays are everywhere. People have produced recordings of their distinctive double wrap knocking sound, but the recording also sounded similar to the wing collisions of ducks flying in flocks. Also, in at least one instance, it was determined that the distinctive double knock was actually distant gunfire.
Ivory-billed feathers have been found in the hollows of trees, but it was impossible to say how old they were.
There have also been photos and short videos that the observers believed to be of living ivory-billed woodpeckers, but which critics contend are actually very similar-looking and still-very-much-extant pileated woodpeckers.
This sounds a bit like people seeing Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, but most of these sightings come from credible field biologists who just haven’t been able to fully convince their peers.
You can say there is no evidence that something exists, but it is impossible to prove something doesn’t exist. Species thought extinct have been re-discovered in the past. Currently the ivory-billed woodpecker might be extinct. It also may still exist. And I think it will exist in those two opposing states simultaneously unless someone finds some very convincing evidence.
MARK HEDDEN
1: Invasive EnVogue co-owner Dawn Davis holds an invasive green iguana with a morphed tail. 2: A beer koozie made from the dorsal spines and skin from an invasive green iguana. 3: Invasive green iguana claws wrapped around shot glasses and rocks glasses are a unique souvenir for hunters to take home after trips with Invasive EnVogue.
THE WAR ON IGUANAS
Invasive EnVogue takes aim at invasive reptiles
Editor’s note: Beginning in 2019, FWC urged the public, in no uncertain terms, to eradicate invasive and destructive green iguanas on their own property with humane methods whenever possible. Iguanas may be eliminated on other private properties with the property owner’s explicit permission. Iguanas may not be captured and relocated or released, and owners who can no longer care for pet iguanas must surrender them to FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program (888-483-4681).
JEN ALEXANDER www.keysweekly.com
Acolorful yet destructive creature, the invasive green iguana has plagued South Florida since the 1960s. They are believed to have made their way into Florida as stowaways on ships from Central and South America. Some were also kept as pets, but when they outgrew their cages they either escaped or were released into the wild.
While these reptiles may captivate tourists with their vibrant hues, they pose a significant threat to the region's delicate ecosystem. These non-native invaders and voracious feeders consume a wide range of native vegetation, making landscaping a challenging endeavor for local residents.
Their appetite extends beyond ornamental plants, as they devour sea turtle and bird eggs, pluck off the endangered Stock Island tree snails from the branches and feast on the essential food sources of native insects. The impact of these invasive reptiles is particularly devastating for species like the Miami Blue Butterfly, which has been driven to functional extinction due to the loss of its host plants, not to mention the deadly bacteria that iguanas carry with them while crawling around.
Key West-based Invasive EnVogue is on the front lines of the charge against the
invasive green iguana menace. Founded in 2021 as a personal mission to protect South Florida's fragile ecosystem, this environmentally-conscious company, helmed by Brandon Vise and Dawn Davis, is employing a unique approach to eradicate these pests. By capturing, consuming and repurposing these invasive reptiles, the company aims to minimize their ecological impact and promote sustainable practices.
“When the iguanas leave droppings, they have harmful salmonella that can get into the water and on surfaces,” said Vise, co-owner of Invasive EnVogue. “For example, when a person touches a surface with iguana droppings on it such as a boat, pool deck or furniture, it can lead to people becoming very sick from the bacteria if they ingest it. This can be really dangerous for people’s health and problematic for our native animals and for property owners who want a nicely landscaped yard.”
Much like the notorious lionfish invading and wreaking havoc on the Keys’ precious marine ecosystems, because iguanas reproduce so rapidly and are getting out of control, FWC also encourages the removal of these pesky creatures by the most humane methods possible.
“We wanted to do something to help the environment that was incredibly different,” said Davis. “We knew that people eat iguanas in Central America, so we decided to try it and we loved it!”
She praised Vise’s creativity for the pair’s first creations: “Brandon is incredibly creative, so one night when we were skinning an iguana we decided to keep the claws and skin,” she said. “The next day, he wrapped the skin around a koozie and voila – the iguanaskin koozie was born.”
The two kept tinkering, creating items like claw earrings, back scratchers, shot glasses, flasks and necklaces, along with sharing their journeys with their YouTube channel, “Invasive EnVogue.”
“We are still experimenting all the time to come up with exclusive ideas,” Davis said. “We have even experimented with how to cook the iguana meat. I love making iguana pot pie and dip and I have about 20 really amazing iguana recipes I like to make for my family here. They are actually very healthy for people as they are free-roaming, have no harmful antibiotics and hardly any fat.”
From modest beginnings, Invasive EnVogue has become a recognized force in the fight against invasive iguanas, securing licenses from both Monroe County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their hunting techniques, involving specialized air rifles that can sometimes be mistaken for more powerful firearms, have raised eyebrows and attention. The company has been tirelessly removing thousands of these invasive reptiles from the Florida Keys since 2021. To share their passion and expertise, they now offer guided iguana hunts tailored to individuals of all skill levels and physical abilities.
EnVogue owner Brandon Vise aims at a green iguana in the bushes.
“Green iguanas are causing millions of dollars of damage undermining sea walls and foundations alone,” said Davis. “The removal of green iguanas from your property is a task that you should leave to professionals who know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to solving your iguana problem. Instead of facing the problem alone, we encourage homeowners to seek our assistance in removing these pesky animals that endanger native species in the canal banks and other areas of South Florida. They are constantly invading other burrows, eating any eggs or baby animals they find, including endangered sea turtles, marsh hares, birds, gopher tortoises, burrowing owls and land crabs.”
Invasive EnVogue manages iguanas from Key West to Key Largo. More information is at www.invasiveenvogue.com, 251-402-4402 or InvasiveEnVogue@gmail.com.
Invasive
CELTIC FESTIVAL TO
Celtic culture, music, food and history will be celebrated at the annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival, a favorite family event in the Middle Keys set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11-12.
The festival takes place at Marathon Community Park, MM 49 oceanside, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event supports Hammock House at St. Columba Episcopal Church that provides free after-school care and summer and school break camps for children in Marathon.
Pre-festival kickoff parties will take place at two Marathon locations Friday evening, Jan. 10, the first from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dockside at Boot Key Harbor, 35 Sombrero Blvd., for appearances by the West of Galway duo and the Police Pipe and Drum Corps of Florida. The pipe and drum corps will then make its way to play at the second kickoff party beginning at 7 p.m. at Keys Fisheries, 3502 Gulfview Ave.
The weekend festival will be filled with Celtic musicians, including Scottish band Albannach; the West of Galway duo; the high-energy five-piece Irish band Jamison; and Ireland’s four-sister group, the Screaming Orphans.
Weekend highlights include performances by the pipe and drum corps; a Highland Athletics competition, including the nation’s only sanctioned women’s Scottish Highland Games challenge; sheepherding demonstrations;
Irish and Scottish dancing; a Florida Keys Art in the Park art show; and a Children’s Glen with pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, games and more.
Other attractions include Celtic merchandise, offerings by local vendors and booths representing various Scottish clans, as well as Celtic food and beverages, including high tea in the Iona Tea Garden, vendors offering Scottish eggs and fish and chips and a selection of Keys food vendors.
Tickets are available for a special Afternoon Tea at 3 p.m. Saturday with Mary Queen of Scots that includes a lunch plate, tea and scones.
Non-enthusiastic runners can register to participate in the Zero K Nessie Fun Run, a “run” so short that it isn’t even measured. All registered participants will receive a T-shirt and medal.
Those seeking to delve deeper into Celtic culture or celebrate their own Scottish or Irish heritage can take advantage of workshops in the Celtic Crossroads area. Participants can learn about Celtic history, literature, food, dance, clothing, storytelling and even how to play bagpipes.
Single-day admission tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $12 per person, while a two-day pass is $17. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Parking is free.
More information is at floridakeyscelticfestival.com
— Contributed
The Screaming Orphans, scheduled to return to this year’s Celtic Festival, close out Saturday night’s musical lineup at the 2024 festival. SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
Kellee Reed, DO, FACOEP, FACEP
Christina Kemp Sawyer, MD
off and perform a vertical landing on a target. CONTRIBUTED
ALLISON
MORGAN www.keysweekly.com
In just five years, Marathon native Alejandro Parrado has gone from breaking the mold as a first-generation college student to breaking orbit as a spaceflight company engineer.
Not long ago, these dreams seemed out of reach, but with the help of Take Stock in Children Monroe and some hard work, his career has taken off as an engines test manufacturing engineer at Blue Origin.
“I remember thinking I wanted to go to college but didn’t know how I was going to pay for it,” Parrado said. “I was presented with the opportunity to apply for the Take Stock program and that’s when I realized I had the opportunity for postsecondary education.”
Parrado was awarded a four-year full-ride Florida Prepaid scholarship from Take Stock, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children in low-income families by providing scholarships, mentors and hope. He applied and was accepted to several Florida universities, but when he visited the University of Central Florida, he fell in love with the campus.
“I decided to pursue an industrial engineering degree,” Parrado said. “I focused on the manufacturing side because I enjoy working with carbon fiber and fiberglass.”
Parrado completed five internships while working on his bachelor’s degree. During his college years, he discovered his passion for rockets.
“Growing up, I never got to see a shuttle launch or landing, but I always read books about
TAKE STOCK GRAD SECURES DREAM JOB AT BLUE ORIGIN
The Blue Origin team poses with the reusable autonomous New Shepard rocket system.
it,” he said. “I never thought I’d get so involved with rockets, but once you start working with them you become passionate, and then you get to see what you worked so hard on launch. It’s something that is prideful and the possibilities are endless.”
Before graduating, he interned at Blue Origin and dreamed of working there in a permanent position. In September 2024, those dreams came true when he accepted a position with the company in Van Horn, Texas.
In the past few months, he has already been a part of two rocket launches: a payload launch and an astronaut launch. Parrado wrote the work instructions necessary to get the engine tested and ready for flight.
According to Parrado, none of this would be possible without Take Stock and the mentorship of Chuck Licis-Masson, the program’s executive director.
“I went from a kid from a small town in the Florida Keys to now being a part of the space industry,” Parrado said. “I was able to tell Mr. LicisMasson ‘This is what I’m doing now, and I wanted to tell you this investment you made in me was worthwhile.’ I stand out as an example of what is possible with the help of Take Stock.”
Licis-Masson has seen Parrado’s determination since the latter was a 10th-grade student at Marathon High School. “To see him go from where he came from – not knowing what his future would hold – to living out his dream makes you proud of him,” Licis-Masson said. “I hear the joy in his voice and see the smile on his face because he’s doing what makes him happy.”
More information about Take Stock in Children Monroe is available from Licis-Masson at chuck.licis@monroecountyedfound.com or at 305-293-1546.
Named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space, the New Shepard rocket is Blue Origin’s fully-reusable system developed for space tourism with six passengers. The system is intended to take
Marathon native Alejandro Parrado.
THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP
Infrastructure investments brought a new era
Several months ago, I was driving home from the Fort Lauderdale airport. It was late afternoon when I exited the turnpike and rolled into Florida City. The light at Palm Avenue flashed yellow and turned red. I stopped and stared out through the windshield. The sky out over the Everglades was beginning to soften and change colors.
The stoplight turned green, and I put the Jeep into gear. The road through Florida City is called South Dixie Highway. As you drive down it, between Palm Avenue and the Last Chance Saloon, the mainland begins to slip away and the Everglades takes over. The saloon appears on the right. On the left, just before you get there, is a turn lane. Take the left, and you’ll travel along the original path of the Overseas Highway.
Once upon a time, it was the only way to drive in and out of the Keys. Building the road, even agreeing to develop it, was a gradual process. The rumbles from island residents grew louder after Henry Flagler showed up. For many pioneer families who arrived in the county’s adolescence and continued to arrive in the early years of the 20th century, farming was a way of life. In the latter half of the 1800s, there was a time when the pineapple was king in the Florida Keys. Most of the pineapples shipped around the country were grown here.
It wasn’t just about pineapples but coconuts, tomatoes, melons, limes, onions and grapefruits. Before Flagler decided to build his railroad, all of that produce was shipped out of the Keys aboard boats. The islands were boat cultures. Life in the Keys relied on the water, not just for exporting goods but to bring mail, ice, coffee, sugar, friends, family, news and information.
The introduction of the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway transformed life along the island chain. His train moved its lifeline from the coastline and
away from a reliance on ships, weather patterns and the successful navigation of the Straits of Florida. It was moved, for the most part, to the interior of the islands.
While the Over-Sea Railroad did not arrive in Key West until 1912, daily rail service was established between Miami and Knights Key in 1908. Knights Key is part of the collection of islands recognized as Marathon in the Middle Keys and is the last island crossed before driving over the Seven Mile Bridge. Twice a day, the train was rocking and rolling with a full head of steam up and down the Upper and Middle Keys.
It was also 1908 when farmers in the Upper Keys began voicing to the county their need for roads to help them adapt to the change. The packing houses boxing up the fruits of their labor for shipping were moving closer to the efficient new option offered by Flagler’s train. Local farmers needed better ways to reach them. While communities did what they could to pave some better way to transport their produce, it was not until 1917 that the county began responding to the need of better roads up and down the island chain. The county issued $100,000 in bonds to build roads on Key Largo and Big Pine, and a bridge linking Stock Island to Key West.
It was not just farmers asking for roads. The Miami Motor Club wanted to offer their members a “suburban” fishing ground in the Keys. In 1919, people lobbying on their behalf worked to allocate funds to develop roads and a bridge that linked the mainland to Key Largo. In 1922, $300,000 was set aside for roadwork in Key West, the Lower Keys and projects that benefited Upper Keys farmers, though not for a bridge between Key Largo and the mainland.
The big infrastructure investment came in 1926. Monroe County issued a $2.5 million bond for projects that connected (more or less) mainland Florida to Key West. Included in
the budget was a wooden bridge connecting Key Largo to the mainland. On the Dade County side, commissioners agreed to finance 11 miles of road from Florida City to what became the Card Sound Bridge at Little Card Point.
Officially, the new conduit was called State Road 4A; it was also touted as the Overseas Highway. The celebrated grand opening was on Jan. 25, 1928. The highway looked nothing like it does today. In 1928, the road was incomplete and had a 40-mile gap between Lower Matecumbe and No Name keys that was bridged by automobile ferries. When the second version of the highway opened in 1938, the ferries were eliminated by a series of automobile bridges linking the Upper and Lower Keys.
It wasn’t until the third version of the Overseas Highway opened in 1944 that it began to resemble the road we drive along today. Should you choose to forgo the left turn near the Last Chance Saloon and continue straight, you will arrive at the 18-Mile Stretch. The top of the stretch, around MM 126, is still the South Dixie Highway. The green and white signs posted along the side of the road count down the miles it takes to reach the heart of Key West. Appropriately, they are called mile markers, and you have to pass more than a few of them before your tires start slapping the asphalt on the Overseas Highway.
It happens at about MM 115, at the county line, where Miami-Dade and the South Dixie Highway end and Monroe County and the Overseas Highway begin. Whichever version of the Overseas Highway you choose to take, the original or the modern route, you will come to a bridge leading to Key Largo, the automobile gateway to the Florida Keys. Welcome.
In 2025, I’ll be exploring the Overseas Highway, its history, attractions and points I find interesting.
Brad is a local historian, author, speaker and Honorary Conch who loves sharing the history of the Florida Keys.
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY WITH BRAD BERTELLI
FRIENDLY ANGLER
Program for guides shows commitment to Florida’s fisheries
SHELLY KRUEGER
is the University of Florida, IFAS Monroe County Extension Florida Sea Grant Agent. Shelly is a marine biologist and provides sciencebased education about coastal environments.
We all know fishing is big business in Florida, contributing billions of dollars each year to the state’s economy. Fishing captains and guides are an important part of that industry, providing locals and tourists alike with authentic Florida fishing experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
The Florida Keys have some of the most esteemed fishing guides in the world, and our local guides are fishing ambassadors who demonstrate best practices for ethical angling to their customers. The University of Florida IFAS Extension has developed a program with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and input from fishing captains, called Florida Friendly Fishing Guides. The target audience is offshore and inshore captains, including flats guides, charter boat captains, headboat captains and crew. There is a free recreational version called Florida Friendly Anglers.
The Florida Friendly Fishing Guide certification recognizes fishing guides who are committed to preserving the future of the state’s fisheries through sustainable boating and fishing techniques. Florida Sea Grant provides free marketing for your business, which is a great way to direct customers to your website. The course usually costs $130 but the UF/IFAS Monroe County Extension has free vouchers if you contact our office at 305-292-4502 or email shellykrueger@ufl. edu.
This online course teaches best practices for catch-and-release fishing. Each lesson plan focuses on a different aspect of ethical angling. There are modules on seafood safety, fisheries management and how to teach your customers about the environ-
ment. Learn how to identify barotrauma and the different regulations for descending and venting tools to return reef fish back to deep water.
Since July 2020, in the Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Florida, a descending device is required for head-boats, charter boats, commercial and recreational vessels fishing for reef fish in federal waters. Descending devices are required on-board, rigged and ready when fishing for fish in the snapper-grouper complex in the Atlantic Ocean from 3 miles offshore all the way to the Dry Tortugas.
Since January 2022, in Gulf of Mexico federal waters, anglers are required to have a descending device or venting tool onboard, rigged and ready to use when fishing for reef fish. These regulations also apply in Florida state waters when fishing from a vessel. Barotrauma occurs when fish are caught and brought up from deep water, typically greater than 50 feet of depth. The rapid change in pressure when the fish is brought to the surface causes the swim bladder to expand (or even burst). Common signs of barotrauma are the stomach protruding out of the mouth, bulging eyes and distended intestines. Descending devices use a weight to return the fish to depth, which recompresses the expanded gas and reverses the effects of barotrauma. Science has shown that descending gear is very effective at getting fish back down to depth, and this increases survival rates. Venting tools are
hollow needles used to penetrate the swim bladder and remove the gas pressure onboard prior to release. The Florida Friendly Fishing Guide course will teach you how to identify barotrauma and select the right tool for sending fish back down to the depths.
One environmental impact of fishing is what we call discard mortality — this is when a caught fish is released but does not survive. Up to 60% of fish that are caught recreationally are released, which is why it is so important to know the best practices and regulations to increase survival when releasing fish.
Fishing guides are role models who can teach ethical angling through their onboard behaviors. This is a great opportunity for professional development and a benefit to list your business and contact information on the Florida Friendly Fishing Guides website. The course takes about four hours and you can finish at your own pace, and complete one module at a time. The cost is usually $130 and includes a welcome package with boat decals, and free gear from product sponsors CaddyCan and SeaQualizer, public listing on the Florida Sea Grant website, and an optional social media promotion.
For more information and registration, scan the QR code here or contact your local Florida Sea Grant agent, Shelly Krueger, at shellykrueger@ufl.edu or 305292-4502.
Anglers show off a red grouper and yellowtail snapper. FLORIDA SEA GRANT/Contributed
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Betsy Ross (1752-1836), seamstress/U.S. flag designer; E.M. Forster (1879-1970), author; J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972), FBI director; J.D. Salinger (1919-2010), author; Charlie Munger (1924-2023), businessman/philanthropist; Frank Langella (1938- ), actor; Grandmaster Flash (1958- ), musician; Derrick Thomas (1967-2000), football player; Morris Chestnut (1969- ), actor; Ice Spice (2000- ), rapper.
TODAY’S SPORTS
In 1902, the University of Michigan Wolverines defeated Stanford University, 49-0, in the first college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
ALMANAC | Jan. 2
On this day: In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, freeing enslaved people in Confederate states.
In The Bleachers
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Keys Waterfront Realty at Buttonwood Bay Club located at 653 Cabrera Street, Key Largo, FL 33037 intends to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
By: Keys Waterfront Realty, Inc.
Publish: January 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT IV ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC IV) (between the Long Key Bridge and mile marker 90.939) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
has a vacancy for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity are dependent upon tourists).
Any person wishing to participate on the District IV Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102
Key West, FL 33040 Deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday February 7, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application.
Publish: January 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON:
DATE/TIME: Planning & Zoning Hearing: Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, 9:30 A.M. City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, February 20th, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
LOCATION:
City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’
600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051
To hear an after-the-fact Variance Request from Orestes and Elena Sanchez, owners of the property located at 880 Shelter Bay Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. Applicant requests an after-the-fact variance to the City of Key Colony Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Section 38, for the installation of a wooden dock that requires a 20 foot variance. Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested
variance.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, or Thursday, February 20th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@keycolonybeach. net, and your comments will be entered into the record. Published: On or before January 2nd, 2025
City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach Publish: January 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on January 15, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider adopting the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONROE COUNTY DELEGATION MEETING
via Zoom (link below)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7th, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
MEETING AGENDA Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Welcome Remarks Delegate Roll Call Presenters (Local Bill) Public Comments Adjournment
JOIN ZOOM MEETING https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88680108046?pwd= 2bo3y7WzNNNwFSEP72CbHmAhr5oe9k.1 Meeting ID: 886 8010 8046 Passcode: 119328
If you have any questions or would like to have the link emailed to you, please email: Lee.young@my oridahouse.gov
(BOCC) OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 23-199 MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) OF THE MONROE COUNTY CODE, TO REVISE PROVISIONS TO CLARIFY THAT MEMBERS OF THE TDC SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOCC AND MAY BE REMOVED BY AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE BOCC; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the January 15, 2025, meeting, which will be posted beginning on January 10, 2025 at: http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx. The ordinance may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.
The public can participate in the January 15, 2025, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx.
ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30a.m.—5:00p.m., prior to
the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voiceimpaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 27th day of December, 2024.
KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish:
January 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Historic Monroe County Courthouse Exterior Masonry Sealant 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,
SUDOKU SOLUTION
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
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 Thursday, January 30, 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 Thursday, January 30, 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: January 2, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION CASE NUMBER: 24-CP000597-K IN RE: ESTATE OF ERNEST MARIO, Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Ernest Mario, deceased, whose date of death was October 20, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida, 33040. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent's
death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT'S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is January 2, 2025. Personal Representative: JEREMY KONRAD MARIO 220 N. Serenata Drive, #623 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Attorney for Personal Representative: CHRISTOPHER M. BAUER, ESQ. Florida Bar Number: 1012136 Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball 818 N. A1A, Suite 104 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Tel: (904) 356-2600 Email: cmb@fishertousey.com Publish: January 2 & 9, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 21ST day of January, 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: Property Address: 329 63rd Court Gulf, Marathon, Florida 33050; and 57468 and 57478 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida 33050.
Pursuant to the Court’s ORDER entered on the 21ST day of October, 2024 in a case pending in said Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, CASE NO.: 23-CA-000268-M, rescheduling the 10/22/2024 FORECLOSURE SALE to JANUARY 21, 2025; the style of which case is: RED MANGROVE HOLDINGS, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Plaintiff, VS. MARATHON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CEDAR OAK REI, INC., AN IDAHO FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION,
WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS, AND ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN OCCUPANT(S) OR TENANT(S) OF 329 63RD COURT GULF, MARATHON,
WANTED 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. $49,000 954-445-6647
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY
BOATS FOR SALE
MAKO Peddle Fishing Kayaks outfitted w/ Bixby electric motors. Located in Key Colony Beach. 724-689-9085
GREAT DEAL: Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/ trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. Ready to fish. PRICE REDUCED TO $20,000. Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY!
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.
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/
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time line cook. Private club, friendly atmosphere. Flexible lunch/dinner shifts available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com.
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring part-time servers and bartenders. Private club, friendly atmosphere, guaranteed gratuities. Flexible lunch/dinner shifts available Tuesday – Sunday. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Call 305-743-6739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub. com.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: 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 305743-0844 TODAY
HOBBIES/COLLECT
PRIVATE COLLECTOR WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578
HOUSING FOR RENT
Studio with Queen size bed available in Marathon. Furnished, kitchen, dining, newly renovated. No pets. $1,299 + utilities F/L/S 305-610-8002
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305743-0844 TODAY!
2 BR/2BA unfurn. apt. for rent in Key Largo. W/D $1,600/month - all utilities included. F/L/S 305-504-1757 RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH!!!
2018 40’ Phaeton X5H, Factory ordered, 450hp Cummins, Diesel Pusher 10kw w/Onan Generator, 39k miles, 4 Slides, 4 TVs. Loaded with extras. Can be seen by appointment in Marathon, FL. Asking $225,000. Call or text Jerry at 305-664-1286 Email: LC1082@comcast.net
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY!
Gated storage & dockage available in Marathon oceanside 305-610-8002
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305743-0844 TODAY
RENTAL
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.)
Competitive salary and great bene ts. Previous hospitality experience required. Weekends are a must. Job Types: Full-time
COME JOIN THE FAMILY! Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
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. DOLPHIN
Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/ Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $18/hour to start. Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
APPRENTICE
MECHANIC
IS HIRING!
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.
Apply at guidancecarecenter.org
Search Employment/Portal/Location/zip
MARATHON GARBAGE SERVICE
We are now hiring for the following positions:
Diesel Mechanic Truck Helpers CDL Drivers
Applicants must apply in person to be considered.
4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Medical Assistant 1, Upper Keys Internal Medicine, $5k Bonus
- Physician Assistant 1-Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier, $5k Bonus
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C), BHMG Multispecialty, Marathon, $5k Bonus
- Medical Assistant 2, General Surgery, Upper Keys, $5k Bonus
MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Medical Oncology Key West-MCI, $5k Bonus
- Patient Access Associate 2, Operation Support Key West-MCI, $1K Bonus
- Medical Assistant 1, Medical Oncology Key West -MCI, $5k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Chemotherapy Infusion, Fl Keys-MCI, $15k Bonus
- Clinical Pharmacist, Key West-MCI, $5k Bonus
- Radiation Therapist, Key West-MCI, $12k Bonus
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Cook, Dietary
- Group Exercise Instructor, Mariners Wellness Center
- Mechanic 3, Facility Operations
- Radiology Technologist 1, Imaging-MRI, $40k Bonus
- Environmental Health & Safety Specialist, Emergency Preparedness
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (X Ray & CT), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, Radiology, $25k Bonus
- Patient Access Associate 1, Gastro, Tavernier, $1k Bonus
- Registered Nurse Utilization Review, Case Management, Part Time, Weekend Days
MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- ED Team Coordinator 1, Emergency Department
- Experience Advisor, Patient Experience
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray) Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Radiology Technologist 1, Radiology, $40k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, $15k Bonus
- MC Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray) Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Pool RN, Emergency Department, PD All
THEME: YEAR-IN-REVIEW
ACROSS
1. Cerberus’ domain
6. Chop 9. Mama’s husband
13. Unsuitable
14. Adam’s partner 15. Echo sounder 16. Sunny prefix 17. Armed conflict
18. In a heated manner
19. *Highest grossing movie based on Broadway musical 21. *Time’s 100 World’s Most Influential People cover model in 2024 (2 words)
23. “____ and the City”
24. Not exciting
25. Accident
28. Rani’s dress
30. Talking points
35. Aflame
37. Spanish sparkling wine
39. Slang for money
40. Velum, pl.
41. *November 5th 2024 winner
43. Short for “and elsewhere” (2 words)
44. Met’s offering
46. River in Bohemia
47. Queen of Hearts’ pastry
48. *Super Bowl winners in 2024
50. Visi____ or Ostro____
52. The Alan Parsons Project’s “Eye in the ____”
53. ____ of passage
55. *Milton’s center
57. *Miley Cyrus’ Grammy-winning Record of the Year in 2024
61. *2024 Summer Olympic Games host
64. Cat’s nine
65. Lowest or highest card
67. Accustom
69. E-wallet content
70. Backstabber
*Sign-on
71. N in RN
72. Whipping mark
73. R&R spot
74. Support person
DOWN
1. “Say what?”
2. All over again
3. *MV ____, cause of 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse
4. Long stories
5. Tends a fire
6. Obscene
7. Spermatozoa counterpart
8. Lost, in Paris
9. *Olympic Gold winner Katie Ledecky’s “court”
10. Dead against
11. Explore by touch
12. Maisie Williams’ “Game of Thrones” character
15. Hello, in Haifa
20. Dead-on
22. Last month
24. Disclose
25. Wreaked state
26. Bet’s predecessor
27. Pileus, pl.
29. Like steak order
31. Maya Angelou, e.g.
32. Itsy-bitsy bits
33. *Caitlin of college basketball
34. Gin and grapefruit juice cocktail, a.k.a. ____ dog
36. Scarlet O’Hara’s home
38. Speaking platform
42. Dinklage or Townshend, e.g.
45. Again but differently
49. Elton John’s title
51. Shenzi of “The Lion King”
54. Russian rulers, pre-1917
56. Tedium
57. “One ____ Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
58. Classroom pests
59. Elliptical
60. Sunset location
61. Sheep’s milk cheese
62.
63.
66.
68. Poetic “always”
Little Miss Muffet’s morsel
Gaelic tongue
Upper limit
Carrying multiple exclusive retail lines. Plus a selection
BOUTIQUE HOURS
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6
SUNDAY 12-4
Voted BEST LOCAL RETAILER by the Key West People’s Choice Awards 2023 & 2024. And mentioned in Forbes magazine!
