“You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry.” — Abraham Lincoln
MAKE MOTHER’S DAY SPARKLE
BLUE MARLIN JEWELRY MAKES KIDS’ DESIGNS SHINE | P. 6
SCHOOL BOARD STARTS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
THERESA AXFORD RETIRES JULY 31 | P. 4
RED BARN SHAKES UP SHERLOCK HOLMES
HOLMES & WATSON ARE HILARIOUS AS WOMEN | P. 12
January 23, 2025
1626 SIRUGO AVE
This Key West resort-style home sounds like an absolute dream! It combines the perfect blend of luxury, functionality, and tropical charm. With 5 bedrooms, and 3 baths, it's designed for both comfort and elegance. The fact that it's just steps from White Street Pier and the beach makes it an ideal location for those who love coastal living. Some standout features includes an at 7,775 sq ft, there's plenty of space for the lush tropical landscaping and custom amenities like the grilling area, electric gate, and the stunning 20x40 pool with a spillover spa. The heated and chilled pool makes it suitable for year-round enjoyment. Enjoy your own tropical oasis with the daybed swing under the lanai next to a custom water feature is the perfect spot for relaxation. The tiki bar also sounds like a great place to unwind after a swim or a day out exploring Key West. The 12ft elevation and oversized windows let in tons of natural light, making the home feel airy and bright. The 20-foot cathedral ceilings add grandeur to the living areas, and the built-in bookshelves give the space a cozy, welcoming vibe. The high-end kitchen with sleek countertops, stainless steel appliances, and top-notch finishes, the gourmet kitchen is both stylish and functional. This home seems to be a perfect blend of relaxation and luxury with a variety of features to enjoy both inside and out. Separate apartment: The one-bedroom, one-bath apartment is an added bonus—whether for a caretaker or potential extra income, it adds flexibility to the property.
5450 MacDonald Ave. No.5
Key West, FL 33040
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Snow accumulations in northern Florida from a storm system brought more than double the amount ever previously recorded in Florida. According to reports, 9.8 inches of snow fell in Milton. Meanwhile, South Florida temperatures were in the low 80s.
Red Barn Theatre presents ‘Ms. Holmes, Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B,’ a a hilarious new twist on the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, running Jan. 28 through Feb. 22. See page 12.
SCHOOL BOARD PLANS NATIONAL SEARCH FOR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT
Online survey & 3 public forums will collect input from community members
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Turmoil and turnover at the top levels of government have burdened Florida Keys officials for the past two years.
The county needed a new administrator following a drug scandal and indictments. Key West needed a new city manager following a contentious move by four commissioners to oust the one they had hired the previous year. Troubles plagued the Tourist Development Council, which last year replaced its director. And don’t get us started on Islamorada, where the village council changes managers the way most people change socks.
Aside from Islamorada, the storms have mostly subsided as agencies reclaim some semblance of stability.
Now it’s the school board’s turn to fill its top job, as Superintendent Theresa Axford, a 30-year veteran of Keys schools, retires July 31.
But don’t panic; they have a plan. And it doesn’t involve special meetings, last-minute votes, or legal concerns — well, at least not yet.
The county’s five elected school board members next week will finalize a timeline for a national superintendent search that is expected to end with their selection of a superintendent on May 6.
The board has hired consultants from the Florida School Boards Association to guide them through the months-long process that began informally in August 2024.
At their meeting Jan. 28 in Marathon, the board will approve a timeline for the search and an online survey that will ask all community members, with and without children in the school district, to rank their top priorities for a superintendent. The online survey will be available in English, Spanish and Creole and accessible at keysschools.com from Feb. 3-28.
The search consultants also will host in-person community forums at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11, 12 and 13 at Coral Shores, Marathon and Key West high schools, respectively.
Once the public provides input, the consultants will finalize the job description and advertisement. The consultants will post the job opening for superintendent from March 3 through April 1.
The Florida School Boards Association is affiliated with its counterparts in each state, and will ensure the job opening is advertised nationally and in relevant forums, school board member Sue Woltanski told the Keys Weekly on Jan. 21.
Woltanski then emphasized that the national search parameters should in no way discourage current and former school district employees to apply. The goal is to cast a wide net and find the best candidate. She pointed out that a small group of Keys residents, representing the conservative political group Moms for Liberty, had spoken at various board meetings and repeatedly insisted on a national search for a superintendent.
School board members had never opposed a national search, nor did they oppose the possibility of promoting a qualified candidate from within the school district.
Finalists for the job will be brought to the Keys the week of April 28 for interviews and a public reception, where they can interact with community members. The board will select the next superintendent at the May 6 meeting in Marathon.
Contract negotiations will follow. The current superintendent’s salary is $175,000. The chosen candidate will start work July 1, allowing a monthlong transition before Axford’s July 31 retirement. More information is on the Jan. 28 school board agenda at keysschools.com.
Community forums will take place at the following locations. Residents with and without children are invited to share their thoughts and priorities for the next superintendent. Tuesday, Feb. 11: Coral Shores High School, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12: Marathon High School, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13: Key West High School, 6 p.m.
Theresa Axford. CONTRIBUTED
Blue Marlin Jewelry design contest turns kids’ ideas into gifts for Mom
mandy@keysweekly.com
These are the stories I love to write, so don’t skim over the headline and glance at the photo just long enough to realize you don’t recognize anyone in it. Stick with me. (I promise it’ll be more interesting than a school board budget story.)
How many homemade Mother’s Day gifts have you given as a child and received if you’re a mom? Growing up, we all slathered together some glue and glitter on construction paper and came up with some super-clever adjectives that started with the letters M, O and M. We were not only artistic geniuses, but poets as well.
And if you’re a mom, the generational cycle has surely repeated itself once your own kids started gluing macaroni onto paper or shaping a block of brown clay into a lopsided little dish — because you clearly needed some place to store, well, paper clips.
I know. I know. Moms love every single thing their kids have ever glued, glittered, cut and colored for them.
But what if, on this Mother’s Day, you opened a suspiciously fancy-looking box and found an actual piece of jewelry — a ring, a pendant, maybe a bracelet? Yeah, yeah, you said not to spend any money. You told the kids’ dad not to go shopping for them. Homemade gifts are the best because they come from the heart.
We’ve all heard all the platitudes. But now, let’s be honest.
What if your precious child DESIGNED that piece of jewelry, just for you? I’m serious. What if they drew their gold or silver vision on a piece of paper and wrote a really cute tribute describing the story behind their design and why it would matter to their mom? And what if your genius child entered that design and story into a local contest and won? Then what would happen?
Enter Armando Gonzalez, owner of Blue Marlin Jewelry, those stunning and sparkling shops in Key West and Islamorada.
For the past 10 Mother’s Days, Gonzalez and his team have sponsored the Saige Raiche Memorial Junior Jewelry Design Contest. He invites every kid in the Florida Keys to design a piece of jewelry for their mom, submit a
drawing of it and include a short essay. Entries are divided into three age groups — kindergarten through third grade, fourth through seventh grade and eighth through 12th grade.
“Initially, we didn’t divide it into age groups, only because I hadn’t thought about it. But then an elementary school art teacher told me she had stopped having her students enter the contest because the older kids would, obviously, always win,” Gonzalez said.
He didn’t need to be told twice. The following year, he divided the entries by grade and then selected a panel of judges to choose a winning design from each group.
Now, here’s the best part: Blue Marlin’s expert jewelry designers actually create the three winning pieces — at absolutely no cost to the mom, dad or kid.
“The kids are fully the designers,” he said. “We just execute their vision. And then a few days before Mother’s Day, we contact the winning kids’ dad, if he’s in the picture, or their teacher or school principal, so they can help us plan the surprise. I also frame the kid’s original drawing for them as another keepsake.”
Past designs have been done in gold, silver and rose gold. Pendants, rings and bracelets have featured a cat, a palm tree, a rose, an infinity symbol and plenty of hearts.
In fact, it was a heart-shaped locket designed by the contest’s namesake, Saige Raiche, that launched the annual contest.
Raiche was 10 years old and living with her family in Tavernier when she entered Blue Marlin’s first-ever contest. She had designed a locket that opened to reveal three loving words that described her mom. Tragically, Saige died due to respiratory complications from a severe flu before the contest winners were announced. Following her death, Saige’s heartbroken parents found the drawing she had submitted.
Gonzalez didn’t think twice. He made the locket for Saige’s mom. And he’s kept the tradition for the past 10 years, helping three Keys kids create an unforgettable gift for their moms. He named the contest in Saige’s memory.
To participate in the contest, contact Blue Marlin Jewelry in Islamorada at 305-664-8004, in Key West at 305-517-6664 or via email at Director@BlueMarlinJewelry.com.
MANDY MILES
Coral Shores student Jessie Hopley presents his mom with a custom-designed rose ring after winning a previous year’s Saige Raiche Jewelry Design contest for Mother’s Day, sponsored by Blue Marlin Jewelry. CONTRIBUTED
STATE WILDLIFE AGENCY ARRESTS MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY FED A KEY DEER
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the arrest of an Englewood man after he was seen on video allegedly feeding a Key deer last October.
James Lewis Rowe, 25, is facing charges related to illegally feeding, harassing and attempting to capture and collect Key deer, FWC said in a press release on Jan. 17.
FWC investigator Chris Mattson received a tip through FWC’s Wildlife Alert Program of a man feeding and harassing Key deer and posting about it online. Mattson viewed videos posted on the internet of a man enticing a Key deer with food to enter a cottage at the Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp in Big Pine Key.
Mattson identified Rowe and contacted him by phone. Rowe admitted he was the man in the video but denied knowing it was
COOPERSTOWN IS CALLING
Key West 12U baseball team raises money for trip to hallowed ground
illegal to feed the deer — even though the fishing camp requires all guests to sign waivers stating they will not feed the deer. Signs are also posted throughout Big Pine Key stating it is illegal to feed the Key deer.
Key deer are a federally designated endangered species found only in the Florida Keys. Feeding Key deer is harmful because it lessens the fear of humans and causes the deer population to concentrate, facilitating the spread of parasites and disease.
More information is at MyFWC.com/wildlifehabitats. Click on “Species Profiles” and then “Key deer.”
The public can report suspected wildlife violations by contacting FWC through the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or at myfwc.com/ wildlifealert.
— Keys Weekly staff report
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
“Oh, put me in, coach I’m ready to play, today; Put me in, coach I’m ready to play, today Look at me I can be centerfield” — ‘Centerfield’ by John Fogerty
Cooperstown is calling, and a talented Key West team of 13 players will travel in June to the tiny town in New York, where the heart of baseball beats the strongest.
And while the local travel team of players 12 and under is not necessarily ready for induction into the town’s iconic National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, they will spend a week playing ball at Cooperstown Dreams Park from June 6-12 in one of the country’s most sought-after baseball tournaments that honors the American pastime, its past and its future.
When they’re not playing baseball, the team will be immersed in the sport and all that it represents. The kids will visit the Hall of Fame and watch games at the famous Doubleday Field, named for Abner Doubleday, a Civil War soldier who was long credited with inventing the sport and playing its first game in Cooperstown in 1839. (The sport’s legendary origin story has since been disputed, but no definitive account has officially replaced it.)
The Key West Cooperstown Dreams Park team of 2025 includes five returning players from last year: Bradley Buigas, Jacob Rodriguez, Jimmy McCain, Landon Caraballo and Miles Murphy. Four additional players — Jacob Sharp, Jaiden Lopez, Jax
A Key West baseball travel team of players 12 and under once again will head to Cooperstown, New York for a week of tournaments and a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. CONTRIBUTED
Mendez and Roman Lepowski — made the cut this year and will play in Cooperstown under the watchful eye and talented leadership of coaches Miguel Gonzalez and Andy Mendez.
But the Key West team needs the Key West community to help them “go to the show” for a big-league experience. The team needs to raise $21,520 and is seeking donations and sponsorships from local businesses whose logos will be displayed on a giant banner that travels with the team and is displayed at Cooperstown Dreams Park during all the games.
“This is a … chance for these 12u baseball players to step on fields that have been played on by so many amazing athletes,” the trip’s organizers said. “The future of America’s favorite pastime begins with youth sports, and making these boys’ dreams come true is the goal. These boys are the future of the high school, college and perhaps even major league teams we all love.”
The 2024 team finished sixth out of 94 teams.
More information is available via email to kwcdpbball2024@gmail.com or at Key West CDP Legacy Baseball Team on Facebook and Instagram.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inducted the inaugural Hall of Fame class of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner in 1936. KENNETH C. ZIRKEL/Wikipedia
FWC/Contributed
COUNTY COMMISSION
SAYS ‘NO’ TO BUILDING MORATORIUM AGAIN
Uncertainty hangs over ROGO in 2025 legislative session
Amid conflicting messaging from state leaders, the Monroe County Commission again denied a proposed moratorium on new building rights at its Jan. 15 meeting.
The decision comes as representatives from each Keys municipality will head to Tallahassee for the 2025 Florida legislative session with significantly different degrees of urgency in their need for new units. Some, like Marathon, will look to immediately combat a rapidly-approaching reported threat of financial liability from takings cases, triggered as each jurisdiction exhausts the last of its few remaining building rights.
In the 3-2 split vote, commissioners Holly Raschein, Michelle Lincoln and David Rice said the proposed pause would fly in the face of direction given by state officials with Florida Commerce, who have reportedly instructed Keys municipalities to fully exhaust their existing supply of building allocations before requesting additional units.
But County Administrator Christine Hurley and Planning Director Emily Schemper told the commission that the moratorium would satisfy state officials’ second mandate: that existing units be used to prioritize workforce housing.
The pause, they said, would allow necessary comprehensive plan amendments to designate many of the county’s 92 remaining market-rate building rights as newly-christened “workforce market-rate” units, reserved exclusively for ownership by those who live and actively work in the Keys.
Continuing to distribute the county’s existing market-rate units while processing those amendments throughout 2025, Schemper said, would leave just 30 left to reclassify in 2026. The moratorium, both Schemper and Hurley said, would demonstrate a more complete commitment to workforce housing.
In October 2024, the commission unanimously elected to move forward with a request to FloridaCommerce for 220 additional building rights to be distributed Keyswide –the maximum number the island chain could theoretically absorb without exceeding its legally-required 24-hour hurricane evacuation time.
Two months later, a second resolution, approved 4-1, petitioned state lawmakers to change the hurricane evacuation clearance time from 24 to up to 26 hours, potentially paving the way for an additional 3,550 units.
However, in December, FloridaCommerce leaders reportedly said the department was unlikely to issue the additional 220 units until existing allocations had been exhausted, and in a Dec. 17 meeting with Keys leaders, state Rep. Jim Mooney said he would support a more limited ask of up to 500 new units for the Keys.
In a separate meeting with county officials, Mooney also expressed support for the moratorium as a mechanism to preserve the remaining units as workforce allocations, Hurley told the commission.
“The county and cities have both been told by the state, both (FloridaCommerce) and the governor’s office, ‘no’ to the 220 units,” Mooney told the Weekly by phone the day after the Dec. 19 session.
“(500 units) was palatable – it would have allowed myself and (state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez) to go to our respective leadership teams and say, ‘Here’s where the governor is, here’s where (FloridaCommerce) is, and here’s what these guys want,” he continued. He said a push to increase development in the island chain while asking for budgeted funds to preserve its delicate ecosystem through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act could be seen as contradictory.
“We're trying to find a happy place, but what I don't want to do is jeopardize anything when it comes to appropriations,” he said. “If we could have just worked on the 220, it would have pushed everybody forward for a couple years, and they could have come back with such a clean slate.”
“It’s the chicken and the egg, but you’re not sure the egg will ever hatch,” Schemper told the commission. “You (could) use what you have and then ask for more, but if you don’t know if you’re getting more, you want to use what you have wisely, which in our world means stretching it out. That’s why it’s a really big conundrum.”
“Well, in my world, we call that a mixed message,” said commissioner David Rice. “They’re mutually exclusive actions.”
“We’re assuming we’re not going to get more, but I think the state understands they’ve got to figure this out alongside us,” said Raschein. “Would it be prudent for us to play our moratorium card now? Or if we get axed at the state level, say, ‘Fine. Then we’re just going to hit the pause button altogether.’”
In addition to creating the new workforce market-rate classification, Lincoln said the county could continue to demonstrate its
“The 3,500 (building rights is roughly 1,500 more than there are vacant lots, so this isn’t about vacant lots and takings cases. I don’t see any movement in the governor’s office, and I don’t think that’s how this is going to work.”
— State Rep. Jim Mooney
commitment to workforce housing by eventually converting some of the county’s remaining 144 administrative relief building rights held in reserve.
With just 12 units held for administrative relief left to distribute, Marathon is the “canary in the coal mine” to test the reality of takings cases, Marathon City Attorney Steve Williams told the commission.
In a meeting with FloridaCommerce Secretary Alex Kelly on Jan. 13, Williams said state officials hadn’t mentioned a moratorium, but instead broached the idea of “sharing” the county’s remaining stock of units, an idea Hurley said could come with a hefty price tag if the state withheld additional units.
“We're not trying to be a thorn to the county, but our needs come up slightly before your needs come up,” Williams said. “In our conversation with the secretary, it was crystal clear that (sharing) is what Secretary Kelly expected of all of us.”
“Marathon hasn't put in a moratorium, and they just want more to spend,” said commissioner Craig Cates. “So how do we have to change our plans to cover that?”
Speaking with the Weekly by phone again on Jan. 21, Mooney confirmed that he had yet to file a bill in support of additional units.
“The 3,500 (building rights) is roughly 1,500 more than there are vacant lots, so this isn’t about vacant lots and takings cases,” he said. “I don’t see any movement in the governor’s office, and I don’t think that’s how this is going to work.”
In contrast, however, Rodriguez said the same day via text that her “inclination is to support lifting the evacuation time from its current form of 24 hours up to possibly 26 hours.”
“While it may sound like a large increase when translated into a number of permits, as a legislature we can set parameters on when these can be issued over the next 40 years,” she said. “I want to keep the dialogue open and continue listening to stakeholders so that we may pass the best possible legislation for our community.”
Greater clarity is expected later this month with the approaching deadline to submit bills to the House Drafting Service for the 2025 session. Due to winter storms, the deadline was extended from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
KEYS CAPTAIN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN CRASH THAT INJURED SEVEN
A large SeaHunter crashed into a Lower Keys bridge off Big Pine Key on July 8, 2024, sending at least seven people to hospitals. TowBoatUS tows the damaged vehicle to shore. TOWBOATUS Big Pine/Cudjoe
AFlorida Keys charter boat captain was arrested by state wildlife officers for allegedly operating a vessel under the influence at the time of a crash that injured seven in the Lower Keys last July.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Laurence Lee Lewis Jr., 42, of Big Pine Key, was arrested and charged with three felony counts of boating under the influence, one felony count of neglect of a child and seven additional misdemeanors. These charges are in relation to a July 8, 2024 crash that seriously injured seven people in Monroe County.
Investigation by FWC determined that Lewis was operating a 35-foot-long vessel with seven occupants on board as a captain for a fishing charter. The group was returning from their fishing trip when Lee collided with the South Pine Channel Bridge at high speed, throwing multiple passengers overboard.
Monroe County Fire Rescue made it to the crash scene before the vessel started sinking. Florida
Lawrence Lee Lewis Jr.
MCSO/Contributed
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and the TowboatUS Big Pine/Cudjoe Key boat towing service also responded to the scene not long after the crash.
All the passengers were injured and had to be rescued from the water. Two of the victims, a 28-year-old female and an 11-yearold male, had to be airlifted. The victims saw Lewis drinking alcohol throughout the day leading up to the crash; alcohol bottles and drug paraphernalia were found at the scene, according to FWC.
To report dangerous boating activity, the public can submit anonymous tips by texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” followed by the location and any information about the violation or by calling 888-404-FWCC (3922).
— Keys Weekly staff report
As the world watches the U.S. usher in the next era of Donald Trump and MAGA policies across the globe, one trending topic is the question of whether Trump will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. The Keys Weekly has various sources that indicate Trump and his team will consult with local, Florida Keys leadership to solicit alternate names for the Gulf of Mexico. As we investigate this story, several of the proposed names have been leaked and are revealed here for the first time. Here are…
‘ELEMENTARY,
WATSON,’ BUT ALSO ENTERTAINING
Red Barn Theatre presents new take on Sherlock Holmes mysteries through Feb. 22
Everyone loves a good mystery. And who better to confound us with one than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who then sends his most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, to unravel even the most convoluted of mysteries for us?
Ah, but there’s a hilarious rub in all of this. Red Barn Theatre’s latest offering, “Ms. Holmes, Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B,” running Jan. 28 through Feb. 22, presents the audience with a tale that cheerfully desecrates the stories of Conan Doyle in an unusual and funny way.
In Kate Hamill’s play, the world’s most famous detective is a frazzled female police consultant whose deductions astound everyone. She takes on a new roommate – a wayward American who Holmes determines is running from a past in which she used to be a doctor and now needs a little help refocusing. Portrayed as a deeply co-dependent, quasi-dysfunctional odd couple, the two embark on a fast-paced romp through multiple violent crimes that all seem to lead to notorious villains.
Their caseload includes the murder of a man found in a motel and a right-wing politician who cheated on his wife. The blend of classic theater and modern comedy
balances mystery with humor, playfully dismantling and, at the same time, celebrating the conventions of Conan Doyle’s stories.
“We’re really having a good time,“ said director Mimi McDonald. “The intimacy of the Red Barn allows the audience to take the ride with the actors. At the heart of it is a real mystery, with twists and turns, and a few real surprises. We know the audience is going to have a ball solving the mystery with us.”
Susannah Wells stars as Ms. Sherlock Holmes, and Mariah Woessner is the perfect complement as Ms./Dr. Watson. Joining them and playing a number of characters are Arthur Crocker and Morgan Fraga Pierson.
“Everyone will love the costumes,” said McDonald, who commissioned Key West costumer Gary Marion – better known as Sushi – to create original costumes for the play. “They’re really something – a kind of apocalyptic theme and a warrior vibe, that adds another whole dimension to the story.”
All curtains are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at keystix.com. More information is available from the Red Barn box office at 305-2969911.
— Contributed
Mariah Woessner, left, and Susannah Wells star in the comedy, ‘Ms. Holmes, Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B,’ at Red Barn Theatre through Feb. 22. ROBERTA DePIERO/Contributed
JAN. 28 thru FEB. 22, 2025
A darklycomic, fast-paced romp that cheerfully desecrates the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...
Writen by Kate Hammill Directed by Mimi McDonald
Starring Susannah Wells, Mariah Woessner, Arthur Crocker, Morgan Fraga Pierson ... and, Costumes by Sushi
Curtain times are 7:30PM I 305•296•9911 REDBARNTHEATRE.COM I 319 DUVAL (REAR)
HAPPY HOUR
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
CLASSIC COOKIES & CRAFT BEER BELONG TOGETHER
Cayo Hueso Brewing hosts pairing party Jan. 30
Don’t knock it ‘til you try it — classic cookies with craft beer at Cayo Hueso Brewing, 5635 1st Avenue, Stock Island. CONTRIBUTED
Jorge Quintana, owner of Cayo
on Stock Island, will host a pairing party combining craft beer and Girl Scout cookies at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30. MANDY MILES/ Keys Weekly
Talk about two great tastes that taste great together — try locally brewed craft beer with…wait for it…Girl Scout Cookies.
We’re serious, and don’t knock it until you try it.
Cayo Hueso Brewing, 5635 1st Avenue, Stock Island, will host its second annual pairing event to support Girl Scout Troop 2200, which will have plenty of boxes of Thin Mints, Carmel DeLites, Shortbread cookies, Tag-Alongs and more for sale.
Scoop up your favorites — it’s the last chance to stock up for the year.
But first, sit back, relax and have a couple beers.
Brew master Jorge Quintana had been crafting beers at home since 2011, but opened his brewery and tap room in October 2023 in a building behind Roostica WoodFired Pizzeria, which is conveniently served at the brewery.
But save room for dessert on Jan. 30, when Quintana will share his expertise and particular palate to pair the classic Girl Scout Cookies with a craft beer that complements the flavors.
Visit Cayo Hueso Brewing on Instagram and stop by from 4 p.m. to close on Thursday, Jan. 30.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ATTORNEY WANTS TO CHANGE CITY LAW FOR HOTEL DEVELOPER’S BENEFIT
Dear Editor,
There are unheralded battles being waged between residents trying to protect our residential neighborhoods and preserve our dwindling quality of life versus developers’ attorneys who would eliminate: Art in Public Places, existing building height restrictions, density limits, landscaping requirements, building setbacks and the rights to public input and redress.
Our Planning Department is bullied, besieged, overwhelmed and understaffed. Their researched and well-considered recommendations for denials (requiring applicants to adhere to our building codes and land development regulations, or LDRs) are nonetheless routinely approved by the Planning Board members, sometimes without so much as a question asked.
We live every day with the collective consequences of this board’s recommendations, whether it be the approval of more building density (resulting in an overburdened infrastructure, overcrowding, traffic congestion and less water pressure) or their past mass issuance of transient rental licenses coupled with their current inequitable transference. The latter sum of which fuels skyrocketing housing costs and unaffordable rents, which in turn results in worker shortages and ultimately the unwanted exodus of friends and neighbors who simply can’t afford to live here anymore.
Decades-old zoning, put in place to protect workforce and residential housing on the 3.3 acres adjacent to the Casa Marina, has been recommended by the board to be rezoned for commercial use, with increased density and transient rentals permitted as a matter of right. If ultimately approved by the city commission, this Virginiabased corporate owner, a multibillion-dollar real estate investment trust (REIT) with the stock market symbol PK, will get a $100 million boost to its stock value. In exchange, the city will get four workforce housing units, but another residential neighborhood will be forever lost.
Currently a bullying developer’s attorney, under the cloak of “workforce housing,” has proposed a 19-page application of sweeping and radical changes to our LDRs, but this time the developer’s greed, misrepresentations and lies are not going unchallenged. See the video of the 1/13/25 Special Meeting of the Planning Board, with Jeffery Siegel of Protect Our Residential Neighborhood’s presentation on our website listed below.
Help protect our residential neighborhoods and preserve our quality of life. Support the Planning Department and join the fight at protectourresidentialneighborhoods.com/cta/
Sincerely,
Gregory Lloyd Key West
Hueso Brewing
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
KEY WEST MARCHES FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Churches, charities, civic groups & military honor civil rights leader
Hundreds of Key Westers honored the reason for the Monday, Jan. 20 holiday, taking part in the city’s annual march for Martin Luther King Jr., which started at the civil rights leader’s namesake pool and community center in Bahama Village. Despite foreboding weather, a free, family-friendly picnic preceded the annual parade.
Civic groups, churches, schools, musicians, soldiers and several city leaders, many carrying signs of unity and equality, marched from Catherine Street in Bahama Village down Duval Street.
City leaders, civic groups, military members, school bands and equal rights advocates march down Duval Street on Jan. 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
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 hearthandherald-astrology. com
As the sun enters Aquarius this week, its alignment with Pluto sharpens our awareness of the quiet shifts that have been unfolding since Pluto entered Aquarius in November. A new era is emerging — one that decentralizes power and emphasizes collaboration, innovation and shared ideals. But as the familiar crumbles, the uncertainty of change is both exciting and unsettling. Mars retrograde in Cancer urges us to consider the alignment of our emotional needs with our relationships, while we reconsider our attachment to security and the ways we nurture ourselves and others. Venus in Pisces encourages compassion and connection. This week, small but meaningful transformations are possible, helping us balance self-preservation with deeper emotional bonds. Here are your horoscopes for the sun conjunct Pluto and Mars retrograde trine Venus. Read for your rising and sun signs.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 - Feb. 18
Happy birthday season, Aquarians. This week feels like a moment of deep recognition — you’re standing in the spotlight, but it’s not just about being seen. It’s about acknowledging the power you hold and the way your choices shape your world. Old habits or routines might feel out of sync with the person you’re becoming. Trust yourself to let go of what no longer aligns, even if it feels unsettling at first. Change begins with you.
PISCES
Feb. 19 - March 20
Dreams, whispers and quiet truths swirl around you, asking for your attention. The space between action and reflection holds the most power now. As you listen to your inner voice, you might find the courage to step away from situations or dynamics that dim your light. You’re magnetic to others, but remember, your radiance begins with how you care for yourself.
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
What does belonging mean to you? This week might bring unexpected clarity about the groups or communities you’re part of. Some connections fuel your spirit, while others may no longer fit. At the same time, memories from home or family could resurface, helping you approach the future with a stronger sense of who you are. The world is wide. Don’t be afraid to claim your place in it.
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
Your ambitions are shifting, and with them, your vision for the future. A moment of deep reflection might reveal just how much you’ve grown, especially in areas of work or personal achievement. A conversation with a friend or colleague could provide insight you didn’t know you needed. The answers you’re seeking aren’t far. They’re waiting within the connections you’ve already made.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
A thirst for knowledge or exploration propels you forward this week. It’s not just about learning something new. It’s about connecting the dots between what you’ve experienced and what’s possible. At the same time, something about your career or long-term goals might demand a practical, grounded approach. Keep your eyes on the horizon, but don’t overlook the opportunities already at your feet.
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
Deep waters stir this week, bringing with them emotions you might have tucked away. Whether it’s through journaling, talking to someone you trust, or simply sitting with your feelings, now is the time to process and release. On the horizon, there’s a spark of adventure or inspiration waiting to guide you toward new opportunities. It’s okay to feel deeply, Cancer. It’s what makes your heart so strong.
LEO
July 23 - Aug. 22
Relationships are a mirror right now, reflecting back your needs, desires and the parts of yourself you’re still learning to love. Pay attention to how you show up for others –and how they show up for you. If you’ve been craving a little solitude, don’t hesitate to carve out space to breathe. Sometimes the most profound realizations come when you’re standing still.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
The rhythms of your daily life are shifting, and with them, the way you care for yourself. Something as simple as reorganizing your workspace or revisiting an old habit could open up unexpected energy. Meanwhile, someone close to you might offer a perspective that changes how you approach a lingering question. Small steps toward balance will have a ripple effect. Don’t underestimate their power.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 - Oct. 23
Your creativity is flowing, but it’s coming from a place that feels deeper and more intentional than usual. This week might feel like a call to create, not for an audience, but for yourself. Let the process, not the product, be your focus. Meanwhile, practical matters could demand your attention. Look for ways to bring your creative insights into the tasks of daily life.
A GLIMPSE OF CHANGE
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 - Nov. 21
A sense of home, whether it’s your physical space or the people who make you feel safe, is in the spotlight this week. If you’ve been meaning to make changes in your living situation, now might be the time to take the first step. At the same time, your passions are calling for your attention. Dive into what excites you, and you might find that it feeds your sense of stability in surprising ways.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 - Dec. 21
The conversations you have this week could take you in unexpected directions. Whether it’s a casual chat or a deep heart-to-heart, there’s something powerful about the words exchanged. At the same time, nostalgia might creep in, reminding you of people or places that shaped who you are. Use the wisdom of your past to chart a course for your future. You’re still writing your story.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19
This week invites you to reimagine your relationship with stability and security. You might feel a pull to invest in something, whether it’s time, energy or resources, that aligns more closely with your values. A heartfelt conversation or creative project could provide the perspective you need to make that leap. Trust in the process, Capricorn. You’re building something lasting and meaningful.
MARK HEDDEN
... 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.
Amale sanderling in breeding plumage is something to see, a bird with a classic shorebird profile – horizontal torso, slim, longish bill, respectable set of black gams – wrapped in a complex serape of rufous feathers that range from coffee to deep bronze to wenge to almost black. Or so the field guides tell me. I’ve never seen one in breeding plumage.
Sanderlings are some of the most well-distributed birds in the world. The adjective most often used to describe them is cosmopolitan, which generally makes you think of urban avatars of couth, or at least Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite cocktail, but in reality means they are found on every continent but Antarctica.
Though found on every continent, they don’t breed on every continent. They breed in the high Arctic tundra – the northernmost parts of Alaska, Canada and Siberia, as well as, for some climatic reason, both middle and southerly parts of still-owned-by-Denmark Greenland.
The everywhere-but-Antarctica part of their range map is much broader in non-breeding season, which is the boreal winter. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s generally stodgy and linguistically restrained “Birds of the World” website says the species “may be found on almost any sandy beach, anywhere on the planet!” with the exclamation point seeming almost wanton compared to the rest of the site’s prose.
The females are a little less dramatically colored than the males, but there is still a little warmth in their hues.
When they are inhabiting the world’s beaches, i.e. when we get to see them, neither gender is imbued in the aforementioned 1970s autumnal color palette. Instead, both male and female are a minimalist gray above and white below. It’s a color palette I tend to think of as radically inoffensive, the kind of color schemes you see in Dwell magazine or the homes of people who hire other people to pick out their furniture, and still other people to clean it.
Despite the fact that they breed in the Arctic, you can find them in the Keys year-round. I don’t think I’ve gone a single month in the last two decades or so without seeing one or more sanderlings if I’m in town.
Why shorebirds that breed in other places can be readily found during their breeding months in a place they don’t breed is something of a mystery. Sanderlings don’t breed until their second year. So it’s possible some of the ones we see here in the summer are immatures that didn’t migrate back for the summer.
ENTER SANDERLING
It’s also possible they are birds of breeding age that just didn’t migrate for some reason, like illness or a general disinclination.
I’ve always wondered why the sanderlings we see here in the summer keep their gray and white non-breeding plumage. Maybe the hormonal change that was supposed to inspire them to fly north didn’t happen, and the same hormonal shortfall kept the breeding plumage from coming in. Maybe returning to their breeding territory is what triggers the plumage change in sanderlings. The only thing I do know is I haven’t seen a sanderling looking remotely rufescent down here.
The sanderling is one of those rare species in North America with a mononym – a single word name. It’s that cosmopolitan-ness again. There is no northern sanderling or southern sanderling. There is just sanderling.
The name is derived from Old English. Some sources say the etymology is simple – a diminutive moniker for a creature that lives on sandy beaches. Other sources say it comes from sand-yrðling or sand-yrthling, the yrðling or yrthling part meaning plowman, or more specifically, farmer, as in a creature that farms the sand. Still other sources say the word derives from sand and eel because, I don’t know, pulling tiny crustaceans out of the sand is somehow eel-like?
They are often described as feeding in small, conspecific flocks, meaning generally feeding only with other sanderlings. But when I first started birding it seemed I always saw them working the same patches of sand and seaweed as ruddy turnstones. They were the Abbott and Costello of the shorebird world, the peanut butter and jelly. You rarely saw one without the other.
Ruddy turnstones are also a rather cosmopolitan species, a little bigger than sanderlings, a little bulkier, with a stubbier bill, orange legs,
a somewhat more fiery rufescence in breeding season, and a striking black pattern in the face that is usually described at harlequin-esque.
In recent years sanderlings seem to have become more common and ruddy turnstones less so. I can’t remember the last time I saw a ruddy turnstone. Which doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Birds move around a lot. Whether you cross paths with them or not doesn’t always have a lot to do with whether they’re around or not.
But I got curious and went to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List page, which tracks the general population health of over 166,000 birds, mammals, reptiles, trees, corals, fish, and members of the plant and animal kingdoms.
According to the IUCN, the sanderling is a species of least concern, with a population decreasing in some parts of its range, but increasing in others. As of 2019 the ruddy turnstone was also considered a species of least concern. But in July of last year it was re-ranked as nearly threatened, with an estimated decrease in its population of 20%-26% over the last 18 years.
While that decrease in population is troubling, it would not account for me not seeing any in the last year or two. So I went to eBird to look for recent records, and yes, they are still seen pretty commonly at places like Higgs Beach, White Street Pier and Fort Zach. (If you ever want a nearly sure way to see a ruddy turnstone, have lunch at Keys Fisheries in Marathon. But don’t give them any French fries. It is really unhealthy for them.)
So I’m going to keep my eyes a little wider, and hopefully catch sight of a ruddy sometime soon.
I’m also considering heading to the far north one of these days, if only to see sanderlings in their seasonal finery.
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FEBRUARY 20& 22 JAN/FEB 31 & 1
WRITTEN BY HY CONRAD
A recently divorced Joanne submits her novel under a pseudonym, complicating love and identity, in this witty romcom set in New York’s publishing world.
WRITTEN BY TONY MENESES
When Marco meets Marco, an unlikely friendship begins over a mutual love of comic books between two boys with the same name but different outlooks on life.
$45, $35 mbrs. per show. Executive Producer of First Look: Jeffrey Johnson AT THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST, 533 EATON ST. | TSKW.ORG
FEBRUARY 9TH @12PM
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THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP
Bridge construction connected a series of islands
When the first version of the Overseas Highway opened in 1928, it stopped at the end of Lower Matecumbe Key. It didn’t stop for good but for 40 miles or so.
It picked up again at No Name Key and, from there, traveled the rest of the way to Key West – though not along the same path as it does today.
Automobile ferries were used to bridge the gap between the Upper and Lower Keys. Two ferries were in operation and departed the terminals daily at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. However, the ferry system was not the most reliable mode of transportation as it was challenging to stick to a business schedule while navigating the ebb and flow of the tides, weather and all the things that go wrong with boats.
The plan to eliminate the ferry system was to build a series of automobile bridges between Lower Matecumbe Key and Big Pine Key that would have roughly paralleled Flagler’s railroad bridges. The first workers for the bridge projects began arriving in November 1934. Most of them were World War I veterans who were brought in and housed in three work camps, one on Windley Key and two on Lower Matecumbe Key.
The first task at hand was to build a bridge connecting Lower Matecumbe to the next island in the chain, Jewfish Bush Key. Today, that island is called Fiesta Key. The work halted on Sept. 2, 1935, when a Category 5 hurricane devastated the area and took hundreds of lives, many of them those veterans. Remembered as the Labor Day Hurricane, it still registers as the most powerful storm to make a North American landfall.
Driving away from Lower Matecumbe in the direction of Key West, the remains of two of the veteran’s projects are still visible. One is more concrete than the other.
Back in 1935, before the storm, there were dredges out in the water scooping the bottom from one area and dumping it into another until a stretch of land began to appear. On that land, a causeway was to be built that reached out from the edge of Lower Matecumbe to what would have been the first new automobile
bridge in the chain. (Today, driving from Lower Matecumbe Key to the Channel 2 Bridge is across the fill, too.)
The remnants of the 1935 causeway have since become hidden in plain sight. Left to its own devices, the fill was slowly taken over by trees until it became disguised as an island. Driving between Lower Matecumbe and the bridge, it is there on the right. The manufactured island was named Veterans Key to honor the men who worked to build it, many of whom perished in that horrible hurricane.
Between Veterans Key and the modern Channel 2 Bridge, out in the shallows of Florida Bay, are eight bridge piers that have been haunting the shallows ever since. Had the hurricane not struck and the job been completed, the piers would have supported the bridge linking Lower Matecumbe to Fiesta Key. Once or twice, people have asked if some of the veterans were buried in them because that is a story that is occasionally passed around. Of course they weren’t, though locals often refer to them as the Coffins, which they represent in a metaphorical sense.
The first bridge after Lower Matecumbe is the Channel 2 Bridge. There are two Channel 2 bridges. The modern one was built in 1981. The former bridge, originally a railroad bridge, can be seen on the bayside. Usually, there are people standing on it and fishing.
When Henry Flagler traveled in his private railcar between the mainland and Key West on Jan. 22, 1912, the Channel 2 Bridge wasn’t finished. Because of Flagler’s failing health, there was a push to finish enough of the railroad for the train to make the trip. In 1912, at Channel 2, Flagler crossed a temporary wooden trestle bridge. The railroad viaduct from which people fish today was not operational until 1913. The entire railroad project wasn’t officially completed until 1916. Henry Flagler passed away at the age of 83, on May 20, 1913.
After driving over the Channel 2 Bridge, the highway crosses more railroad fill that has since become known as Craig Key. In the early 1930s, Roland Craig, a Miami-based charter fishing
captain, leased the stretch of roughly J-shaped railroad fill from the Florida East Coast Railway and established Camp Panama. That camp grew into the town site of Craig, named for Roland. In addition to a hotel, gas station and docks, a post office was established. Craig survived the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane by clinging for dear life to the railroad tracks.
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.
The small town of Craig moved on after Hurricane Donna, a destructive Category 4 hurricane, blew through the Keys in 1960. It was the most powerful storm to strike the Keys since 1935. The post office was moved to Layton, a small community on nearby Long Key. Before arriving at Long Key and passing through Layton, there is the modern, high-arching Channel 5 Bridge that was built in 1982. Like the Channel 2 Bridge, when Flagler rocked and rolled across Channel 5, the railroad tracks traveled over a temporary wooden trestle bridge.
People like to ask about Channels 1, 3, and 4. Because there are Channels 2 and 5, the others should be around, too, right? I have never come across an answer to the question. A similar question arises when talking about the work camps created to house the World War I veterans. Three of them were created, one on Windley Key and two on Lower Matecumbe Key. Camp 1 was on Windley Key. Camps 3 and 5 were on Lower Matecumbe. For whatever reason, Camps 2 and 4 were located in Florida, but in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
As for the highway, before we get to Long Key, there is still more railroad fill to cross.
In 2025, I’ll be exploring the Overseas Highway, its history, attractions, and points I find interesting.
Channel 5 Bridge after it was transformed into an automobile bridge. SCOTT DeWOLFE COLLECTION, FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY CENTER/Monroe County Library
HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN
JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS
Three cleanups in the first three weeks of 2025 and records are still being broken. The Jan. 17 cleanup around the Key West Lighthouse and Whitehead Street drew a record number of volunteers in the rain. A group of 45 volunteers met at the Key West Lighthouse and in one hour picked up 164 pounds of trash, 24 pounds of recycling and 2 gallons of wet cigarette butts. Special thanks to Key West Art and Historical Society, which hosted the event and provided breakfast and hot coffee to everyone for their hard work.
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
A troubling number of cigarette butts and plastic bags have been included in recent hauls. Please remember your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plastic off the streets, parking lots and, most importantly, out of the water. And dispose of cigarette butts in any receptacle rather than the street or sidewalk, as from there, they easily end up in the ocean.
The city of Key West and its residents ask everyone to do their part to help keep Key West beautiful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before putting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and making sure the lids on Dumpsters are closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.
Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.
It takes committed community involvement to keep Key West beautiful and we are making progress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted. Call Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 to find out how your business, nonprofit or club can help.
— Contributed
Join a one-hour Friday morning cleanup. All events are 8 to 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 24: Key West Cemetery.
Jan 31: N. Roosevelt Blvd. & Toppino Drive. Meet in back parking lot of First State Bank. Hosted by First State Bank of the Florida Keys.
TAKE ME HOME?
FIND A FRIEND AT THE
FLORIDA
KEYS SPCA
The Keys Weekly family loves animals as much as our friends at the Florida Keys SPCA do, and we’re honored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adoption at the organization’s Key West campus.
From cats and dogs to Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
The SPCA’s Golden Paw program also provides special assistance with vet bills and medications for special-needs and older animals that require a little extra TLC.
Check these pages each week for just a few of the animals waiting for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.
Meet Nina, the adorable little black bean. This wiener dog-Chihuahua mix (we think) is as sweet as they come. If you’re curious about her exact breed, you’re welcome to do a DNA test, but what really matters is her love for belly rubs and her obsession with treats.
Ziti, a 3-year-old black cat with a vamp-like look and a charming heart. He’s
a little
and full of
only
Double Bubble is a 4-year-old tabby with a gentle and independent spirit. Though shy at first, he’s the perfect match for someone looking for a calm companion who isn’t overly clingy, but still appreciates affection in his own way.
Licorice, an all-black bunny with a big, bright personality. While we’re not sure of his age, we do know he’s friendly, energetic and ready to bring some joy to a new home.
convinced
is the perfect mix of spooky and sweet, ready to brighten your home with his goofy personality.
Pudge is an orange and white tomcat adjusting beautifully to our indoor life. Originally an outdoor cat, Pudge has quickly come out of his shell and shown just how much he loves people and a good petting session. He’s still a little nervous, but that only adds to his charm.
Meet
lovable,
silly
quirks — we’re
he’s
got one brain cell up there. Ziti
Meet
REEL RECS
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Funny Girl” (1968)
Why: This is the film that launched Barbra Streisand’s Hollywood career and earned her a Best Actress Oscar right out of the gate. Loosely based on the life of vaudeville star Fanny Brice, this features some of the greatest songs ever written for Broadway courtesy of Jule Styne (“Gypsy”) and Bob Merrill (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”). Director William Wyler (“Ben-Hur”) famously led a whopping 13 other actors to Oscar glory, and it’s his careful hand at remembering the grounded humanity amid the outlandish moments that gives the film its heart and has you rooting for Fanny. Both heartbreaking and hilarious, this is a prime example of an exuberant movie musical with real weight.
Where: You can watch this film on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
How: You can browse and request DVDs online by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. To view our collection of streaming movies and TV, go to kanopy.com/keyslibraries and set up an account with your library card. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library.
See previous Reel Recs at keyslibraries.org/reel-recs.
SHELF HELP
Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.
What: “Terminal Boredom” by Izumi Suzuki
Why: A stunning collection of short stories by a woman who was a model, an actress and the muse/ spouse of both avant-garde jazz saxophonist Kaoru Abe and photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. But Izumi Suzuki is best known for her trenchant and prescient science fiction. Despite her tragic death by suicide in 1986, her preoccupations with gender, social engineering and media are more startlingly relevant than ever.
In “Women and Women,” a kind of reverse “Handmaid’s Tale,” men are relegated to internment camps, and sex between men and women is a closely guarded artifact of the past. — until a schoolgirl starts experiencing visits from a mysterious figure. In the titular piece, teenagers seek to numb themselves in a futuristic Tokyo through televised violence.
All of the stories share a profound sense of alienation – from one’s gender, from other people, from society and its constraints. Like all great sci-fi, her work is deeply human and familiar, yet distant — like looking at your childhood home through the wrong end of a telescope.
Where: You can borrow this as a print book from the Monroe County Public Library.
How: Request books, e-books and e-audiobooks, by logging in to your account at keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, visit your local branch or register online to get one.
Recommended by: Laura Bernazzoli, library associate, Key West library
See previous recommendations at keyslibraries.org/shelf-help.
ODE TO THE BULLETIN
BOARD
At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds for blocking his sun, there is something I miss. Walking into the music store the other day I realized how much I missed the ol’ music store bulletin board — a vast landscape of opportunity and possibilities, posted just centimeters away from possible crushing rejection and eternal obscurity, covered entirely with layers of papers in varying stages of disintegration. Some were attached with thumb tacks, some with tape; some were simply shoved between others, seemingly held up by sheer will. They were often scrawled with a pen – “Drummer needed,” “PA for sale,” “Singer looking for band” – each saturated with the hopes and dreams of aspiring musicians, hoping to make the connection that will lead them to the place they long to be.
Sometimes overlooked for its costlier “pay for every line” cousin, the Musicians Wanted section of the weekly music publication, the bulletin board had its own particular charm. First, it was generated from within the neighborhood, which has definite advantages. You didn’t need to travel far to rehearse, as the bus is often a crowded place with gear. Carpooling is way more of a possibility and most of the gigs will probably be close. Our finances will probably be similar and therefore so will the quality of our gear and the amount of angst we have for the establishment. Our taste in music may differ, but our general disdain for the most popular band in town will be similar. Living close by increases the odds of getting along with each other for more than a month by at least 25%.
The precise bulletin on that board mattered. In the time before MySpace and all the others that would follow, there was no place for fans to instantly access a band’s audio or video recording. Thus, the presentation of your ad on the board was your first impression. And as a person looking to the board for treasure, you needed to be able discern what the ad for a drummer in a cover band meant when it said they required their members to have “the look.” The person looking for a singer was now forced to create a list of bands they thought their band sounded like. They also had to imply that they wanted the singer to sound like “this guy” without saying they wanted a singer that sounded like that guy. How much work was put into the flyer definitely mattered as well. It could not only show a certain financial investment, but also how much the band cared about what people thought. A clearly written and visually organized flyer seemed to want prospective band members to want the same, as opposed to a flyer made on the bus on the way over, which left room for interpretation. It’s an important factor when you’re 15 and looking for a band with which you’ll conquer the world. I love the internet and realize its numerous benefits to the music industry, and I do not purport to believe the old ways were better. But digging through that bulletin board was like searching for yard sale treasures — something was tucked in there, waiting just for you.
actor and executive director of the Key West Music Awards, is known to sacrifice his comfort for that of his cat.
... a professional musician, singer,
RAY WEST
AQUA IDOL MAKES MONDAYS FUN
SINGING COMPETITION BENEFITS WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE
The Waterfront Playhouse launched a new version of Aqua Idol on Jan. 20 at Aquaplex Nightclub mainstage, 711 Duval St.
Each Monday, through March 10, a group of vocalists will sing to raise money for Waterfront Playhouse.
This year’s contestants include Alexa Loduca, Jordan Upchurch, Zoe Elwell, Stephanie Wise, Jeff Jolly, Ruby Sickmen, Davis Stack, Larry Ketron, River Sienne, Barbara Mundy, Beatrix Dixie, Victoria Moon, Rick Dery, Sarah Perkins and Jaime Weisberg and Rich Damasco.
Organizers Destiny Montgomery and Lynda Frechette are assembling a prize package to recognize and thank the top contestants for donating their time, talents — and cheering section. Each week features local celebrity judges, including Christopher Peterson, “our resident Simon Cowell,” Frechette said.
Aqua Idol is free, but singers collect donations from the audience after each number.
More information is at waterfrontplayhouse.com.
— Contributed
SAILBOATS RACE TO THE REEF IN WRECKER’S CUP RIVALRY
Irreverent regatta recalls Key West’s shipwrecked history
The first Wrecker’s Cup Race of 2025 is set for Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. Additional races take place on the last Sunday of February, March and April. More information is at schoonerwharf.com. SCHOONER WHARF BAR/Contributed
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Schooner Wharf Bar owners Evalena and Paul Worthington launched their first Wrecker’s Cup Race 40 years ago. It was a Sunday afternoon in 1985.
“Miami Vice” was influencing South Florida fashion with pastel Tshirts and linen sport jackets. “We Are the World” was raising millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.
In Key West, seasoned sailors and sunburned spectators boarded boats of all sizes and set sail from Schooner Wharf to Sand Key, where Paul Worthington, who died in 2020, waited at the helm of the official committee boat to record the winners.
The one-way race to the reef became a Key West maritime tradition, taking place each year on the last Sundays of January, February, March and April, when the overall winner is awarded the official Wrecker’s Cup trophy.
This year is no different, and the first Wrecker’s Race of 2025 is set for Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m.
Mandatory captains’ meetings are held on the upper deck of Schooner Wharf at 7 p.m. the Saturday before each race. Captains can enjoy free Pusser’s Rum punch and hors d’oeuvres while reviewing race procedures.
The Awards Ceremony & Party is held at 7 p.m. on Sunday race days. Captains, crews and passengers take part in the Wreckers BBQ while viewing film footage of the day’s race.
Trophies and other prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in six classes — schooner, multi-hull, classic, monohull 29’ and under, monohull 30-39 feet and monohull 40 feet and over. At the start of the race, vessels ranging in size from 16 to 120 feet decorate the harbor with their colorful sails and spinnakers.
Don’t have a boat? Have no clue how to sail? No problem. Local sailboats offer charters for each Wrecker’s Race.
What’s a wrecker, anyway?
The Wrecker’s Cup Race Series is a lighthearted reenactment of Key West’s complicated and bygone era of shipwrecking, or wrecking for short. At its peak, the industry made Key West the richest city in the nation per capita, but its practitioners often employed duplicitous methods. Unconfirmed stories have accused wreckers of extinguishing lights on early lighthouses to sabotage ships by concealing shallows.
From the late 1700s through much of the 1800s, wrecking offered many mariners a lucrative livelihood. Before lighthouses illuminated the shallow coral reefs, and before steamships improved steering in the face of strong winds, wreckers vigilantly watched the reef for stuck ships.
The citywide call of “Wreck ashore” would prompt a race to the struggling vessel. The first wrecker to arrive would rescue the passengers and crew, then salvage the ship’s cargo — hopefully in that order. In the early days, the salvage process was an unregulated and unscrupulous system. Eventually, courts were established to regulate the industry, and a judge would determine a wrecker’s share of the cargo.
In one recorded case, a ship carrying $60,000 worth of cotton wrecked on the reef. The wrecker received $10,000, according to Jerry Wilkinson’s Keys History website.
In another case, a beer-laden ship was salvaged “and considerable cargo was consumed in the process,” Wilkinson writes. The judge awarded the wreckers no additional compensation.
2025 Wrecker’s Race Dates. All races start at 1 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 26
• Sunday, Feb. 23
• Sunday,March 30
• Sunday, April 27
For information, call 305-292-9520 or visit SchoonerWharf.com.
BOUTIQUE HOURS
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 11- 4
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 11- 6
SUNDAY 12-4
Tarec K. Elajami, MD Cardiology
Raymond Rodriguez, MD Medical Director, Mount Sinai Cardiology of the Keys
Remember these three simple rules each time you recycle:
Need A BAGSTER®? BUY. FILL. GONE.
• Bagster® bags are available at home improvement stores and online.
• Bagster® bags are easy to use dumpsters in a bag that are strong enough to hold up to 3,300 pounds of debris or waste.
• Schedule your collection online or by phone.
Founded by Betty Debnam
The Natural State
Arkansas (AR-kensaw) is a Southern state that is landlocked, sharing borders with six other states. It became our 25th state in 1836.
HISTORY
When Europeans arrived, they found Indigenous peoples of the Caddo, Osage and Quapaw, who had been in the area for thousands of years. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase included all of what is now Arkansas.
Although Arkansas was admitted to the Union as a slave state, the people there were divided about the Civil War. However, when President Abraham Lincoln ordered Arkansas troops to South Carolina to fight, the state seceded, or separated from the Union.
NATURAL BEAUTY
Arkansas, nicknamed “The Natural State,” is known for its scenic mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, natural springs and farmland.
The Buffalo National River runs through the Ozark Mountains in the north of the state.
Based on its purity, size, scenic views and natural resources, the U. S. Congress declared it America’s first national river in 1972.
Water from springs is a popular and plentiful resource for the state. Some people believe the water has healing powers. Mammoth Spring is one of the largest springs in the country.
TRY ’N’ FIND
ARKANSAS, CHICKENS, CLINTON, FOOTBALL, FOREST, GRISHAM, INDIGENOUS, LANDLOCKED, LIBRARY, LUMBER, MOUNTAINS, MUSEUM, NATURAL, OZARK, RAZORBACKS, RIVERS, SECEDE, SPRINGS.
WORKING IN ARKANSAS
Agriculture is important to the state’s economy. People there raise rice, chickens, turkeys, cotton and catfish, among other products. Arkansas is also home to several large companies, including Walmart and Tyson Foods. In the forested areas of Arkansas, lumber production is important.
PLACES TO SEE
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville houses hundreds of works covering five centuries of American art. There are also outdoor walking trails and interactive exhibits.
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock is the largest presidential library. It includes items from Bill Clinton’s two terms as president and replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room.
SPORTS
Arkansans are enthusiastic fans of college football, rooting for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and Arkansas State Red Wolves. Baseball, fishing and hunting are other popular sports.
Words that remind us of Arkansas are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
FAMOUS ARKANSANS
• Our 42nd president, Bill Clinton, was born on Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, and grew up in Hot Springs. As a boy, he loved music and playing the saxophone. He wanted to become a musician.
As a teenager, he became interested in politics when he met then-President John Kennedy at the White House.
Clinton was elected attorney general of Arkansas in 1976 and governor of Arkansas in 1978. He served two terms as U.S. president, starting in 1993.
His wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, ran for president in 2016.
• Author John Grisham was born on Feb. 8, 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He wanted to become a professional baseball player but did not think he had the talent. He decided to become a lawyer. While he was practicing law, he got the idea for his first novel.
Grisham has written more than 50 books, including the Theodore Boone series for kids. Many of his books have been adapted for movies.
RESOURCES
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPArkansas
At the library:
• “Arkansas” by Ib Larsen
• “Cracking the Wall: The Struggles of the Little Rock Nine” by Eileen Lucas
ECO NOTE
Human activities such as overfishing and trophy hunting are affecting Earth’s oldest and most experienced animals, which play key roles in maintaining ecological balance. In a study published in Science, lead researcher R. Keller Kopf from Charles Darwin University explains how older animals often share their knowledge, enhancing survival within their species. For instance, in elephant herds, older females guide group movements and decision-making based on decades of experience. Similarly, older fish and sea turtles produce significantly more offspring, contributing to population stability.
Mini Fact: Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains in the northwest include the White River.
photo by Jeff Sharp
The Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
President Bill Clinton
Author John Grisham
photo by
Gage
Skidmore
MAD HATTER
6 goals in 2 games for Carroll | P.10
Proudly serving Key West to Islamorada as the ONLY locally owned and operated concrete company in the Florida Keys.
Whether you’re building a large commercial building, FDOT bridge, or a customdesigned home, we have concrete mix designs for every project. Thanks to decades of experience, our team can create custom mixes with high-quality additives for specific project needs. We offer the largest variety of materials and operate the only FDOT-certified ready-mix plants in the Florida Keys. Call us for all ready-mix concrete, block, aggregate, rebar and bagged good needs.
Team Sport Opponent Date Result
Key West Boys Soccer American Heritage 1/13 T, 2-2
Coral Shores Boys Soccer Keys Gate 1/13 L, 6-4
Marathon Girls Soccer Archbishop Carroll 1/13 W, 4-1
Coral Shores Girls Soccer Gulliver 1/13 L, 4-0
Marathon Boys Basketball Palmer 1/13 L, 84-50
Key West Girls Soccer Coral Shores 1/14 W, 1-0
Key West Boys Basketball South Dade 1/14 L, 56-39
Marathon Girls Basketball True North 1/14 W, 64-56
Key West Girls Basketball Mater Lakes 1/14 L, 77-50
Marathon Boys Basketball Ransom 1/15 L, 58-39
Coral Shores Boys Soccer St. Brendan 1/15 L, 6-1
Key West Girls Basketball Coral Shores 1/15 W, 48-36
Marathon Girls Basketball Ransom 1/15 L, 49-46
Coral Shores Boys Basketball Mater Bay Academy 1/16 W, 52-49
Key West Girls Soccer Marathon 1/16 W, 4-0
Key West Boys Soccer Marathon 1/16 W, 8-0
Basilica Boys Basketball Horeb Christian 1/17 L, 62-50
Key West Boys Basketball Westminster Christian 1/17 L, 65-38
Coral Shores Girls Soccer Marathon 1/17 W, 5-1
Coral Shores Boys Soccer Marathon 1/17 W, 6-3
Key West Girls Soccer Lemon Bay 1/18 L, 4-2
Key West Girls Basketball Archbishop McCarthy 1/18 L, 71-42 Key West Boys Basketball IMG
THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS
ON THE COVER THE SCOREBOARD
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
BOWDEN
He has a great work ethic and willingness to learn, and is still only a sophomore.” — Nic Farrar, Conchs head coach
As Key West prepares to make a run into the postseason, Sonny Bowden has been doing all the little things to help boost his team. Last week, Bowden had a hat trick against Marathon. He is a steady contributor to the team’s scoring this season. According to coach Nic Farrar, the hard-working sophomore “puts in 100% effort into every game and is improving day to day.” For his talent and relentless willingness to improve, Key West’s Sonny Bowden is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
Sophomore Key West, Soccer
Photo by: MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys
Goals vs. Marathon
Coral Shores’ Preston Carroll, left, had the offensive dials turned up to 10 last week, leading his team with hat tricks against Keys Gate and Marathon. See page 10. RACHEL RUSCH/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.
grew up in Miami and moved to the Keys in 1997. He has spent the last 25 years teaching physical education and coaching virtually every sport for Florida Keys kids ages 4 to 18. If you are reading this and live or lived in the Florida Keys, he has probably taught, coached, or coached against someone you know.
Marathon - Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Upper Keys - Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com
Key West - Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com
The Keys Weekly Sports Wrap is proud to be the only locally-owned publication providing prep sports coverage from Key Largo to Key West. Together with our writers and photographers, we are committed to providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Keys sports with photography that allows our readers to immerse themselves in game action.
Publisher / Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com
Publishing Partner / Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com
Managing Editor / Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com
Copy Editor / Mike Howie mike@keysweekly.com
Business Development
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Executive Administrator Charlotte Hruska char@keysweekly.com
Graphic Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com
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Se habla español
THE MARATHON WEEKLY (ISSN 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted materials.
Senior RJ Brown slams his opponent at the regional duals championships held in Key West last week. Brown was 1-1 in the tournament, helping Key West to win its first regional title and advance to the state’s elite eight Jan. 24. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
CONCHS BREAK THROUGH TO ELITE EIGHT Lady Conchs make statement in Immokalee
Key West made history last week, earning its first bid to the State Duals Elite Eight on Friday, Jan 24. The Conchs battled their way through Region 4 1A to become a contender at the FHSAA State Duals for the first time in program history. The Conchs join seven other teams hoping to grapple their way into the final four teams in 1A.
Coral Shores, also a regional duals qualifier, did not advance to states, but the Hurricanes made school history as well by earning a bid to the regional quarterfinals.
9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL 33050 Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com
While the boys were making history, the Lady Conchs were laying the groundwork for some history of their own. Six athletes found their way to the podium Jan. 18 at the Lady Indian Tournament at Immokalee High School. The team was led by Sheyla Figueira, a state-qualifier last season, who took second place at the tournament in the 105-pound class. Maria Halushka (125) was third while Wenxin Yu (110), Sunisa Kuhn (155) and Yarnesie Corrales (170) were fourth. Isabella Cosme took fifth place at 145 pounds to help the team secure sixth place out of the 28 teams who entered.
tracy mcdonald
sean mcdonald
MIXED RESULTS AT THE HOOP
Four Keys teams saw action last week as district play looms
In its first year of varsity action, Basilica School played the second of three games scheduled this season on Jan. 17.
2.
3. Key West senior Kameron Roberts helped Key West return to the win column last week with 17 points against IMG Gray.
4.
The Mariners hosted the Mustangs of Horeb Christian back in November and paid them a visit in Miami last week. The Mariners were down by 17 in quarter two, but rallied to come within four by the final quarter. Horeb pulled away late in the fourth to beat Basilica 60-52.
Noah Wright registered a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Miguel Ontiveros scored 12 while Blade Hanousek and Alex Bouttier added nine and seven, respectively. Basilica is without a single senior this season, and Hanousek, a junior, is the lone upperclassman, making for an exciting future for the young team. The Mariners close out their inaugural season Saturday, Feb. 1 in a home matchup against Abundant Life Christian Academy.
Coral Shores made the most of its single game last week, beating the Rays of Mater Bay 52-49 on Jan. 16. The ’Canes, celebrating Senior Night, had the energy of the crowd behind them as they went to work against the Rays. Mater Bay focused on junior Donovan Thiery, freeing up senior Ayden Lane to score a game-high 28.
“It was a great back-and-forth game the whole way,” said assistant coach Andy Thiery. “Lane carried the team through the first three quarters on the scoreboard.”
three from Thiery tied the game at 47, breaking the Rays’ spirits
In quarter four, it was anybody’s game, but a dunk by Thiery electrified the crowd and gave Coral Shores some momentum. A three from Thiery tied the game at 47, breaking the Rays’ spirits late in the game and giving the ’Canes the boost they needed to seal the deal. Thiery ended the night with 13 points and fellow junior Austin Vogt added eight in the win.
the recipe they needed against a visiting IMG Academy Gray team. Kameron Roberts had the hot hand with 17 points and seven rebounds. David Aviles added 16 while Josue Thanus and Zach Levering were good for six each. Tramane Scott pulled down 10 rebounds to help feed Roberts under the basket and secure the 54-49 win for the Conchs.
The Conchs suffered a series of losses last week, but ended on a positive note. The team’s greatest loss was their scoring leader, junior James Osborne, who had just returned from a wrist injury. Osborne is likely now out for the season with an ankle injury, forcing the Conchs to shore up their game plan and figure out how to win without the 21 points per game he was averaging.
Key West lost Jan. 14 at South Dade, then again on Jan. 17 at home against Westminster Christian, but by the 18th, they found
Marathon lost a pair of games last week, but it wasn’t without a good fight, particularly from junior Daeshawn Holmes. Holmes registered a pair of double-doubles, the first occurring during the Dolphins’ Jan. 13 loss to Palmer Trinity School. Holmes sank 15 points and pulled down 13 rebounds while fellow junior Briggs Roberts scored 14. Freshman Jack Chapman had 10 points for the Fins, but it would not be enough to overcome the Falcons, who ultimately won 84-50. Two nights later, Holmes scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 58-39 loss to Ransom Everglades. Chapman added 11 to his stats and Roberts added 10.
date teams can play to deter-
for regular-season games. This
school in the Keys, is classified
Jan. 25 marks the final date teams can play to determine their district seedings, with Feb. 1 being the final date for regular-season games. This year, each of Monroe County’s teams faces a different postseason path. Key West, the largest school in the Keys, is classified as 4A. Coral Shores falls into the 3A class and Marathon, the Keys’ smallest public school, qualifies for the rural classification. Basilica, not part of the FHSAA yet, is not eligible for postseason play. Holmes. Holmes registered a
1. Coral Shores’ Ayden Lane drives between defenders.
Jaxen Cabrera soars in the paint.
Marathon’s Daeshawn Holmes registered two double-doubles last week for the Fins.
Photos by Rachel Rusch, Barry Gaukel and Maicey Malgrat.
BREAKING THROUGH
From left: Marathon’s Marti Kilbourne, who led her team with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double on Jan. 14;
Photos by Barry Gaukel and Maicey Malgrat
BREAKING THROUGH
Lady Conchs’ 50 rebounds make the difference in first win since 2023
The Lady Conchs ended a two-year dry spell on Jan. 15, earning a win over the Coral Shores Lady Hurricanes. Their last win was also over the Hurricanes back in January 2023, when a very young Key West team pulled off the upset at home.
Last week’s 48-36 victory was on the road, and a determined Conchs squad worked hard to bring home the win. The game-changer for Key West was their physical play, which included 50 rebounds for the team.
Their hustle and drive was led by Jaylin Greene, who scored 14 points, and Damarla Thompson, who earned a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Lilee Gage pulled down 15 rebounds and scored six while also collecting four blocks in the big win.
Coral Shores’ Grace Leffler had a game-high 17 points plus eight rebounds in the Hurricanes’ loss. Melanie Estevez scored nine and Alex Burson added six plus five steals for Coral Shores, but it was not enough to overcome a hungry Key West squad.
Marathon had one win and one loss last week, with the win coming Jan. 14 at True North Academy. Marti’yana Kilbourne had a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds plus six steals. Elena Eubank and Daysi Williams added 19 each in the 64-56 victory. The following night, the Fins came up just a little short, falling 49-46 to Ransom. Eubank had the top score for the team with 15. Williams scored 13 and Kilbourne added 11 in the road loss.
Lilee Gage, Damarla Thompson and Jaylin Greene paved the way for Key West.
COUNTY
From left, Maicee Gage, Maddie Kilduff and Kaitlyn Franco worked together to manufacture the lone goal against Coral Shores for a Conchs win. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
QUEENS
Conchs beat Keys competitors in final week of regular season
ey West hosted Coral Shores on Jan. 14 with their sights set on avenging an early-season loss to the Lady ’Canes. The Conchs were able to capitalize on a corner kick by senior Kaitlyn Franco. Franco’s kick was right where Maddie Kilduff wanted it, and Kilduff headed it toward the goal. Coral Shores’ goalkeeper was able to make the stop, but the deflection led to a scrum in front of the cage. That’s when sophomore striker Maicee Gage sent it into the back of the net for the lone goal of the match.
“After losing 5-0 to Coral Shores early in the season, it was a very satisfying result,” said Conchs head coach Scott Paul, adding that play against their Upper Keys foe is “always a tough, physical match with a great rival. This match was no exception to that
is proving to be an asset on that front line.”
Senior keeper Courtney Grabus notched her fourth shutout of the season against the ’Canes, then added number five in a 4-0 romp over Marathon on Jan. 16. In their final game of the regular season, Key West fell to Lemon Bay, putting them at 8-9 on the season with a good chance of evening their record in district playoff action this week against St. Brendan School.
Key West skips the play-in round of districts, heading directly for the semis against the Sabres on Jan. 24. Should they win that one, it is a quick trip to the district championship match four days
that history.” at one, it is a quick trip to the district championship match four days later.
Marathon traveled to Archbishop Carroll Jan. 13 to take on the Bulldogs. Despite being down several key players, the Fins came home with a 4-1 win. Jordan MacDonald scored twice while Ashley Strama and Shilo Yeider added one goal each in the victory.
“The team is bouncing back after some tough injuries,” said coach Cathy Warner. “We are still down a starter with a torn ACL, and some of our starters are nursing some injuries, but we are fighting till the end.”
The Fins called up the reserves to field a full team, adding members of the middle school team to the varsity roster.
“They are hungry to play and get on the varsity field, and it is encouraging others to step up as well,” said Warner. “Ashley (Strama) has proven to be a powerhouse as a seventh grader and
fourth-ranked Somerset South
The Lady Fins dropped their final two games against Key West and Coral Shores, finishing with a 4-10-1 record that placed them in the middle of their district’s rankings. Their strength of schedule helped boost them past several teams in the rankings, but despite moving down into the 2A classification, their district bracket is actually more formidable this season. The Fins, ranked number five in their district, are scheduled to play fourth-ranked Somerset South Homestead on Jan. 22 for their quarterfinal match.
After a pair of losses to Gulliver Prep and Key West, the Lady ’Canes came out kicking Jan. 17 when they hosted the Dolphins. Coral Shores was celebrating Senior Night, and Sofia Jans and Ali Beth Wilson both scored in their final home games for Coral Shores. Bayley Catarineau, Jenna Mandozzi and Lela Goodrich also added goals to make the score 5-1.
others of their district’s rankings. Their rankings,
some stiff competition in their 3A District 16 pool, including son, blanking them both times.
The 9-4 Hurricanes have some stiff competition in their 3A District 16 pool, including Gulliver Prep in the semis if they win on Jan. 23 against Keys Gate. The ’Canes had no problems with the Knights in their first two matches this season, blanking them both times.
Ali Beth Wilson found the back of the net in a Senior Night romp over Marathon. JIM McCARTHY/ Keys Weekly
TWO HAT TRICKS FOR CARROLL
Bowden blasts Marathon with three goals
The regular season is officially closed for prep soccer, and two Keys teams are proving to be red-hot when it comes to scoring.
The Keys’ southernmost squad hasn’t lost a match since Dec. 20, and the 9-3-3 Conchs added a win and a tie last week as they await the district brackets. Their first opponent was American Heritage on Jan. 13. The Conchs tied the Patriots, a team they could face again if they make it past districts, 2-2. Emmanuel Innocent and Loubins Fleuridor scored one each in the win.
Key West then ended their regular season with a statement, defeating Marathon 8-0 in a decisive mercy-rule win. Sophomore Sonny Bowden had a hat trick, scoring two of his three goals off of penalty kicks. Innocent, Sebastian Camargo, Niko Sulak and Chase Hoffman scored one apiece while Camargo and Kieran Smith each had an assist. The eighth goal came from a cross deflected off a Marathon player. The Conchs’ small district and their solid record punched their playoff card for a direct trip to semifinals, where they will play Terra Environmental on Jan. 24.
Monroe County’s most prolific scorer last week was Coral Shores’ Preston Carroll, whose dual hat tricks led the Hurricanes in scoring for the week. Carroll scored his first three plus an assist in a 6-4 loss to Keys Gate on Jan. 13. Xol Placencia scored the Hurricanes’ fourth goal.
returned to the win column Jan. 17 when they hosted Marathon.
accounted for the other two goals in the 6-3 victory over their the of on Jan. 22. The sixth-seeded Hurricanes lost to the third-seeded Stallions twice in the regular season but showed improvement in
The Hurricanes lost again at St. Brendan School Jan. 15 but returned to the win column Jan. 17 when they hosted Marathon. Carroll added three more while Placencia also found the back of the net against the Fins. Tony Khioni and Armando Picado accounted for the other two goals in the 6-3 victory over their nearest neighbor. Coral Shores, 8-13 in the regular season, will participate in the 3A bracket of district 16 play this week. Up first for the Hurricanes was Somerset Silver Palms in the quarterfinals on Jan. 22. The sixth-seeded Hurricanes lost to the third-seeded Stallions twice in the regular season but showed improvement in their second pairing.
Marathon’s losses last week put them at 2-11-1 as they prepare for combat in the 2A division of FHSAA’s Region 4 District 16 competition this week. The Fins, seeded eighth, drew the No. 2 seed, Archbishop Carroll, for their quarterfinal match, to be played in Miami on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Top: Preston Carroll. RACHEL RUSCH/ Keys Weekly
Left: Key West’s Niko Sulak and the Conchs are primed and ready for districts. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly
NEXT STOP: DISTRICTS
Girls weightlifting enters the postseason
Marathon’s lady lifters bested their Keys competitors again Jan. 15 at Coral Shores in a final meet before the postseason. The Dolphins won both the Olympic and traditional events with Coral Shores coming in a close second and Key West taking third.
Key West’s weight class winners were Shylo Sanchez at 139 pounds and Alexa Condella at 154. Both athletes won the Olympic event in their classes.
Coral Shores’ Jennille Arias swept both events in the 169-pound class and Sydney Eysenbach did the same in unlimited. Rachel Rusch was first at 110 pounds in the traditional event.
The Fins’ Ella Dunn and Ayme Maradiaga split the 101-pound weight class, with Dunn winning the Olympic competition and Maradiaga earning the top score in traditional. Katriya Wright was first in Olympic lifts at 110 pounds while Ava Merryman and Brizni Vargas were first in traditional at 139 and 154 pounds, respectively. Rilynn Richards (119), Ella Evans (129), Justice Lee (183) and Sabrina Schofield (199) were double winners, registering top lifts in both events.
The Lady Conchs travel to their district event Thursday, Jan. 23 while the Lady ’Canes and Fins have their competition on Saturday, Jan. 25. As the girls vie for a shot at district, regional and state hardware, the boys weightlifting season, the harbinger of spring sports, gets underway Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Coral Shores.
Marathon’s Ella Dunn, left, Ayme Maradiaga, Sabrina Schofield and Justice Lee were all winners at the final regular season meet held Jan. 25. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
From left, Coral Shores lifters Rachel Rusch, Sydney Esenbach and Vanessa Gabriel. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI
Notice is hereby given that on February 10th, 2025, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows:
LOCATION: 103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 Knight, John 0016 Robertson, Jeremy 1162 Bangert, Philip 1670
Cafarella, Deborah 1191
Murgas, Alex 1580 Cox, Michael 1426 Fellhauer, Amy 1023 Trent, Cheryl 1180, 1203 Adkins, Taylor 1561 Chamberlain, Sheila 1167
Publish: January 23 & 30, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Please take notice that in accordance with Florida Statute 328.17, Silent Hunter Boat Yard, LLC dba-Marathon Boat Yard claims a possessory lien on the following described vessel:
Owned by Darryl Wayne Hansen, deceased, for unpaid storage fees: a 1981 Formosa 51’ 6” vessel by Formosa Boat Bldg Co., “Dragonfly”, Florida Registration # FL4642RH and HIN #FBB510330481.
Sealed bids will be accepted on February 3, 2025 at Marathon Boat Yard, 2055 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. Silent Hunter Boat Yard, LLC dba Marathon Boat Yard, reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
Publish: January 23 & 30, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statutes 83.805/83.506, Upper Keys Commerce Center, 97300 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 will sell or otherwise dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.
All contents in:
Unit 73 – Margaret Edwards
Sale of all goods will be 2/10/25 at 10:00 am at 97300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo Florida 33037. Upper Keys Commerce Center reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Publish: January 23 & 30, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Seizure that in accordance with Florida Statues 83.805 / 83.506, Tavernier Mini Storage, 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070 will sell or otherwise will dispose of the personal contents of the following unit to satisfy the delinquent storage lien.
All Contents in:
Unit D-56 –Robert Entwistle
WOLFSON FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC required to be filed under section 6033 Internal Revenue Code, is available for public inspection at its principal office 56283 Ocean Drive, Marathon, FL 33050 305-743-5060 for inspection during regular business hours by any citizen upon request, within 180 days after the date of this publication.
Cheryl Wilcox
Principal Manager
Dated: January 17, 2025
Publish: January 23, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 9:00 A.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: FY 2026 Capital Projects
Funding Application
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.
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Publish:
January 23, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 9:00 A.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: FY 2026 Destination/ Turnkey Event Funding Application Monroe County, Florida
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NUMBER: 24-CP00079-M FLORIDA BAR #980810 IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MURIEL BEAUMONT Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of MURIEL BEAUMONT, deceased, whose date of death was July 23, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.
LEGAL NOTICES
AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
Sale of all goods will be 2/10/25 at 10:00 am at 135 Hood Ave., Tavernier, Florida 33070. Tavernier Mini Storage reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Publish: January 23 & 30, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
The
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 5:00P.M. on Tuesday, April 22, 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.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 9:00 A.M., on Wednesday, April 23, 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,,
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 5:00P.M. on Tuesday, April 8, 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.
The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 9:00 A.M., on Wednesday, April 9, 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:
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Publish: January 23, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.
The date of first publication of this notice is: January 23, 2025.
Persons Giving Notice: Stephan Beaumont 311 2nd Street Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051
Attorney for Persons Giving Notice: Christopher B. Waldera, P.A. Christopher B. Waldera, Esq. Florida Bar No: 980810
Attorney for Personal Representative 5800 Overseas Highway, Suite 7 Marathon, Florida 33050
Telephone: (305) 289-2223 Facsimile: (305) 289-2249 email: cwaldera@aol.com Publish: January 23 & 30, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-593-P DIVISION: PLANTATION KEY IN RE: ESTATE OF ANNE ELIZABETH BAGAN Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Anne Elizabeth Bagan, 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 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Plantation Key, FL 33070. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice 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
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 16, 2025.
Personal Representative: Sean P. Bagan 635 South Orange Avenue, Unit 301 Sarasota, Florida 34236
Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq.
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428
Fax: (305) 743-8800
E-Mail: service@ floridakeyslaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com
Publish: January 16 & 23, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-541-M DIVISION: MARATHON IN RE: ESTATE OF ERICH BLEY
Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Erich Bley, deceased, whose date of death was September 12, 2024, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court 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 16, 2025.
Personal Representative: Peter Rosasco 8085 Overseas Hwy Marathon, Florida 33050
Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq.
Attorney Florida Bar Number: 359173
Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050
Telephone: (305) 743-9428
Fax: (305) 743-8800
E-Mail: service@ floridakeyslaw.com
Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com
Publish: January 16 & 23, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 24-CP-561-K IN RE: ESTATE OF KERRY EDWARD KERWIN Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Kerry Edward Kerwin, deceased, whose date of death was October 12, 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 16, 2025.
Personal Representative: Rainy Kerwin 10676 Colonial Blvd. 30-200 Fort Myers, Florida 33913
Attorney for Personal Representative: Gregory D. Davila, Esq.
Florida Bar Number: 886998
Law Office of Gregory D. Davila, P.A. 1111 12th Street, Suite 411 Key West, Florida 33040 Telephone: (305) 293-8554
Fax: (305) 294-9913
E-Mail: E-Filing@ keywestlawoffice.com
Secondary E-Mail: gdavila@ keywestlawoffice.com
Publish: January 16 & 23, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers I
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
BOATS FOR SALE
2000 21' Hydra Sport Center Console w/200hp Johnson, trailer, cover, jackets +. Located in Big Pine. Runs well. $7,400. 919-621-0544
14' Aluminum boat, 9.9 Mercury Outboard, Elec. start, Trolling motor in bow, NEW gas tank, battery, Depth Finder & trailer tires. Located in Marathon. $3000 305-395-1015
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 305-7430844 TODAY!
EMPLOYMENT
Hiring: Lead Gutter Installer - EXPERIENCE REQUIRED – valid Driver’s License - must be comfortable with heights - located in Tavernier. To apply, please call or text Jay 305-587-1581.
Specialty Hardware of Marathon is looking for a full time person, hardware knowledge a must. Apply in person at 10730 Overseas Hwy Marathon. 305-743-3382
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 305-7436739 to schedule an interview or email office@ marathonyachtclub.com.
Serve/Bartend on the ocean! The Cabana Club, an ocean front private swim club is seeking a customer service-oriented Server/ Bartender. Serve on pool deck, beach and/ or bar lounge. Open year round, 9:30am7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, Med Tech, Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker. To apply, please contact Human Resources at: martinezm@kwha.org or 305-296-5621. Applications are available at the Administrative Office located at 1400 Kennedy Dr., Key West, FL 33040 or online at www. kwha.org - EOE & Drug Free Work Place. This opportunity is covered under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968
Office Assistant needed in the Upper Keys, MM 80. Mon-Sat $20/hour. Must have own transportation. Call Patti 305-393-4433 HIRED!!!
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 Text: 786-559-5494 Email: apmz57@yahoo.com RENTED IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH!!
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/ WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY
RV FOR SALE
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/ WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY
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 SOLD!!!
VACATION RENTAL
Key West House For Rent - 28 day minimum. Recently renovated. 2 Units: 3BR/3BA or 2BR/2.5BA. 1 block to Schooner Wharf @ Historic Seaport. Starting $214/night. Sweet CarolineSeaport.com
YARD SALES
PLACE YOUR YARD SALE AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY!
WE ARE HIRING!
STAFF MANAGER – ADULT DAY TRAINING PROGRAM
FT administrative, salaried position. The ADT Manager will be responsible for all phases of the operation of the Adult Day Training Program in accordance with APD and Medicaid Waiver minimum standards. This includes the worksites and contracts, personnel, and training programs. Maintain a close liaison with the Group Home Managers and Medical Staff to maintain program consistency. Must have current, valid FL driver’s license with clean record. Bachelor’s degree required or year-for-year experience in field or supervisory/management required. *
IN HOME SUPPORT (FT) – Key West
FT split-shift, In-Home Support Coach/Trainer to provide companionship and assist clients with training/support. HSD/GED & 1 yr. exp in a related field. 1 year of college can substitute for experience. Must be able to use a tablet for documentation purposes. The shift for this job is split shift 7-9 am then 3-9 pm. We can be flexible. This is a rewarding position for the right person. *
DIRECT CARE STAFF – NIGHTS/WEEKENDS - GROUP HOMES 24/7 (FT)
This position is available at our Windsor Group Home. Providing direct-care services and support to our clients in their home. Must be willing to work flexible shifts including days, overnights on Thursday. Requires a minimum of high school completion or GED and 1 year of experience with care giving or 30 hours or college coursework. *
SUPPORTED LIVING COACH (FT)
Responsibilities include management of developmentally disabled clients in independent living environments, management of office and in-home support staff. Must be available for some evenings and weekends. Bachelor’s degree in related field or experience working with developmentally disabled clients in lieu of degree. Must have a valid FL driver’s license. Salary commensurate with experience.
GROUP HOME MANAGER – (FT) – Key West
FT administrative, salaried position. Responsible for operations of Group Homes in accordance with State and Fed regulations. Oversight of staff and clients. Bachelor’s degree and Florida DL w/clean driving record req. At least 2 yrs of mgmt and admin experience req, and direct or comparable experience w/same or similar population preferred. Computer skills: moderate to advanced.
*ALSO REQUIRED FOR ALL POSTIONS
Fluent in English language, speaking and writing, proficiency is a must.
Level 2 background screening and valid Florida driver’s license. EOE
Come join our family!
Apply at the MARC office, 1401 Seminary St., Key West. Or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32
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. Scan the QR code to visit the careers page on our website.
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE
APPRENTICE (Full-Time, Permanent)
EDUCATION PROGRAM HOST (Full-Time, Permanent)
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER (Full-Time, Part-Time, Permanent)
DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees by offering a competitive total package. DRC currently offers a 401k retirement plan, medical benefits, HSA account, paid holidays, vacation, sick and an employee assistance program. DRC also provides life and disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
COME JOIN THE FAMILY!
Email your resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org. EOE
DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER 58901 O/S Hwy - Grassy Key, FL Teaching... Learning... Caring
e Turtle Hospital in Marathon
Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/ Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful.
$18/hour to start. Send resume to: turtlehospital@turtlehospital.org
DUI EVALUATOR/ INSTRUCTOR
The Advocate DUI Program is hiring for part time positions. DUI instructors and evaluators - 2 days a week, Bachelors or Masters degree in substance abuse eld required. Bilingual preferred, not required. Of ce located in Marathon. Contact Marcia at 305-704-0117.
PLACE TO WORK, WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES GREAT. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
THE GUIDANCE/CARE CENTER, Inc. 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
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier, $5k Bonus
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN/PA-C), Multispecialty, Marathon, $5k Bonus
- Manager Physician Practice, Primary Care, Marathon, $5k Bonus
- Patient Access Associate, Multispecialty, Marathon, $1k Bonus
MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE KEY WEST
- Patient Access Associate 2, Operation Support, $1K Bonus
- Medical Assistant 1, Medical Oncology, $5k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Chemotherapy Infusion, Fl Keys-MCI, $15k Bonus
- Clinical Pharmacist, $5k Bonus
- Radiation Therapist, $12k Bonus
- Director Physician Practice Operations
TAVERNIER MARINERS HOSPITAL
- Cook, Dietary
- Group Exercise Instructor, Mariners Wellness Center
- Mechanic 3, Facility Operations
- Radiology Technologist 1, Imaging-MRI, $40k Bonus
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (X Ray & CT), Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Patient Access Associate 1, Gastro, Tavernier, $1k Bonus
- Customer Service & Membershipe Coord., Wellness Center
- Food Service Worker, $5k Bonus
- Radiology Technologist 1, $40k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
- Registered Nurse, ICU
MARATHON FISHERMEN’S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- Experience Advisor, Patient Experience
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (CT & X Ray) Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Radiology Technologist 1, $40k Bonus
- Registered Nurse, $15k Bonus
- Multi-Modality Imaging Tech 1, (Mammo & X Ray) Radiology, $50k Bonus
- Pool RN, Emergency Department
- Medical Technologist 2, Laboratory, $50k Bonus
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
*Sign-on
AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net
THEME:
SYNONYMS
ACROSS
1. Half of half-and-half
6. *Gratuity
9. Remain unsettled
13. Pita, alt. sp.
14. Uncle Sam wants whom?
15. Played violin, e.g. 16. “Encore!”
17. Young canine
18. Amber warning
19. *Entice
21. *Agreement
23. “____ Te Ching”
24. Goose egg
25. Antonym of keep
28. *Affection
30. Open wine, e.g.
35. Frosts a cake
37. Leave in a bucket
39. *Parlor
40. Coating of aurum
41. Like many bathroom floors?
43. Border pass
44. Full of emotion (2 words)
46. Opposite of talker?
47. Tel ____, Israel
48. Auto____ website
50. *Module
52. Compass point between NE and E
53. *Insane
55. Old-fashioned before
57. *Prevent
60. *Ditch
63. Peninsula of 38th parallel fame
64. Single-____ plastics
66. Donkey + horse, pl.
68. All told (2 words)
69. ‘80s band “____ At Work”
70. Bay window
71. Chapter 11 issue
72. Mouse turf
73. Email option
DOWN
1. Tax pro, acr.
2. Capital of Latvia
3. Bibliographical abbr.
4. Not upright
5. Instructions handbook
6. Use an Underwood
7. Promissory note letters
8. Cocoon dwellers
9. Horse and mallet sport
10. *Pitcher
11. One ridiculed for studiousness
12. Banned insecticide, acr.
15. Kevin ____ and Sir Francis ____
20. Resting spot for a chicken
22. French vineyard
24. *Avid
25. *Correct
26. *Slipperier
27. 4th letter of Greek alphabet
29. *Nothingness
31. Spanish sparkling wine
32. Martini garnish
33. Violinist’s pine resin
34. *Rogue
36. Wall support
38. It often precedes “eye”
42. Laundry room appliance
45. Correspondence friend
49. Feel remorse
51. Seismic shake
54. Card game move
56. Accustom
57. *Sharpen 58. A in UAE 59. Cheesy patty
Be inclined
Paper holder
Dog command
Baby goat
Pirate’s turf
“Rocky” creator
