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Happy birthday, Florida. On March 3, the Sunshine State turned 180. Florida became the 27th state in the United States on March 3, 1845. William D. Moseley was elected the new state’s first governor, and David Levy Yulee, one of Florida’s leading proponents for statehood, became a U.S. Senator.
FEDERAL TURMOIL
AFFECTS FLORIDA KEYS
Tariffs & travel boycotts could impact tourism; chaotic cuts threaten jobs
The Florida National Marine Sanctuary building in Key Largo is one of hundreds of federal commercial leases that have been terminated in the past week by billionaire Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
The news comes out of the nation’s capital — firings, funding freezes, tariffs and trade wars — but federal turmoil is finding its way to the Florida Keys, where the island economy depends on out-of-town visitors, including those from Canada, who are declaring a US travel boycott in response to President Donald Trump’s recent decision to enact hefty tariffs on all Canadian goods. Could trickle-down turmoil affect tourism?
Trump’s tariffs and the resulting trade war between the neighboring countries have prompted Canadians to reconsider U.S. travel plans, which often include Florida vacations in the winter months.
A U.S. travel boycott by Canadians could have an outsized impact on Florida, where, in 2023, Canadians made up 38% of all foreign tourists to the state, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing agency.
“We have seen that people are starting to pivot away and avoid the U.S.,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, the chief executive of WestJet, the secondlargest airline in Canada, according to a Feb. 25 article in the New York Times.
“We see also an increase of bookings into Mexico, into the Caribbean, into other non-U.S. destinations.”
Florida Keys tourism officials are closely monitoring the situation with Canada as well as European countries. International tourists make up 12.6% of all visitors to the island chain.
Many European countries were angered last week by Trump’s pivot away from U.S. support of Ukraine as it continues to defend itself in a war against Russia, which invaded the country three years ago.
The Keys’ Tourist Development Council “remains committed to welcoming Canadian and European travelers and will continue targeted marketing efforts to keep the destination top of mind in key international markets,” Heidi Barfels, the TDC’s vice president of marketing and communications,
Rising country music star Brett Young joins the Keys Weekly Podcast before his March 8 concert at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. See page 6. CONTRIBUTED
told the Keys Weekly on March 4. “International travelers are considered high-value visitors as they stay longer and spend more in the destination. We are monitoring the situation with tariffs and impacts on international travel closely and will remain nimble to adjust marketing spend as necessary to support. Our strategic approach includes a mix of print, television and programmatic digital advertising being run in Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Italy, France and Scandinavia.”
When asked whether the TDC plans to tailor its advertising message to address Canadians’ concerns about the U.S. president and his trade war, Barfels said, “We are planning to maintain our current creative (material) which is tailored to the interests of each market or outlet. The beauty of the Keys is pretty alluring during the colder months.”
She added that the TDC is closely monitoring potential impacts, and “will execute a measured response based on how this all goes.”
The TDC is not currently planning any financial incentives or discounts to lure Canadian visitors to the Florida Keys, “but we are ready to launch efforts like this if needed. The beauty of shifting toward more digital marketing means we can turn on a campaign pretty quickly,” Barfels said.
What about federal cuts to government agencies?
The Florida Keys may be 1,100 miles away from Washington, D.C., but plenty of critical agencies here in the island chain start with the word “national.”
National Park Service. National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. All play significant roles in the island chain, where employees are bracing for staffing reductions and lease terminations.
The National Park Service, which operates Everglades National Park at the top of the Keys and Dry Tortugas National Park at the very bottom, lost 1,000 employees on Feb. 14 and an additional 700 accepted the early buyouts offered by the new Department of Government Efficiency.
continued on page 9
Country star Brett Young joins the Keys Weekly Podcast (scan the QR code) before his March 8 concert at Coffee Butler Amphitheater. CONTRIBUTED
MEET RISING COUNTRY MUSICIAN BRETT YOUNG
Singer-songwriter joins Keys Weekly Podcast before March 8 concert
Brett Young's star is shining bright, and the country star is just getting started.
Young's piercing eyes and 6'6” athletic frame are a prototype for Hollywood. Instead, the family man and country star made a run at professional baseball before an elbow injury took him down his journey as a singer-songwriter.
Today, the music icon has recorded six No. 1 hits and doesn't appear to be slowing down.
Young joins the Florida Keys Weekly podcast to discuss his love for music and family, while juggling a career from the road. Tickets are at thekeywestamp.com to see Young on Saturday, March 8 at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
— Keys Weekly staff report
‘GOOD VIBRATIONS’ FILL COFFEE BUTLER AMPHITHEATER
MANDY MILES mandy@keysweekly.com
Rams Head brings back Beach Boys for packed concert
Before Jimmy Buffett blew out his first flip-flop, the Beach Boys were “loadin’ up our Woody with our boards inside” to go surfing in the California sunshine.
The original beach music band, which formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, returned on Feb. 28 to Key West, where crowds packed the Coffee Butler Amphitheater to hear — and sing along with — timeless classics like “California Girls,” Surfin’ Safari,” “Kokomo,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Good Vibrations” and “Sloop John B.”
The Beach Boys, in town as part of their Endless Summer Gold tour, originally included the three teenaged Wilson brothers, Brian, Carl and Dennis; their cousin Mike Love; and school friend Al Jardine.
The current lineup still includes Love, along with longtime performer Bruce Johnson, musical director Brian Eichenberger, and Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer.
The Beach Boys, still featuring founding member Mike Love, play to a packed house at Key West’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Feb. 28. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
Our bright and airy space is a treasure trove of fashion forward essentials that embrace the island lifestyle.
Offering fabulous brands including Farm Rio, Trina Turk, Oliphant & more. Stop by and check out Key West’s go to spot for splurge worthy and on-trend styles.
Mario Sanchez
FEDERAL TURMOIL
AFFECTS FLORIDA KEYS
The Everglades park lost 15 employees, while the Tortugas was down one staff member as of late February, according to a list of lost jobs compiled by the Association of National Park Rangers and published by Outside magazine on Feb. 28 and updated March 3.
An email from the Keys Weekly to the public affairs specialist at Everglades National Park was not answered this week.
The consequence of federal cuts to NOAA in the Florida Keys could be twofold, as the agency oversees both the National Ocean Service, which includes the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the National Weather Service, which operates a forecast office on White Street in Key West.
Keys residents, visitors, business owners and government officials rely on the weather service for severe weather warnings, including for tropical storms and hurricanes. A local forecasting meteorologist participates in all countywide storm coordination calls when a hurricane is on the horizon.
A spokeswoman for the National Weather Service declined to comment on any specific potential reductions within the agency.
“Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters,” Susan Buchanan, NWS public affairs officer, wrote in an email to the Keys Weekly on March 3. “NOAA remains dedicated to its mission,
A March 3 protest in front of the federal building in Key West drew more than 60 demonstrators holding signs in support of Ukraine and opposing President Donald Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Photos by LARRY BLACKBURN and MANDY MILES
providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience. We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission. Thanks for your understanding.”
The initial impacts were more immediate for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Since Feb. 28, the Trump administration and DOGE, under the direction of billionaire Elon Musk, moved to terminate one in 10 federal commercial real estate leases, or about 748 leases, including the marine sanctuary’s Key Largo office, an 8,000-square-foot building at 95230 Overseas Hwy. According to DOGE, the rent for the building was $252,011 per year. The Monroe County Property Appraiser website lists the owner of the building as Key Largo Ace Hardware Inc.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
DEVELOPERS’ PROPOSED CHANGES PUT PROFIT OVER COMMUNITY
Dear Editor:
There is a battle raging for the soul of Key West between those that are fighting to preserve and protect our quality of life and the developers that would put profit over community.
Under the cloak of “workforce housing,” local developers are attempting to further undermine the standards that are designed to keep us safe, protect our environment and preserve our quality of life.
In clear violation of our City Charter Article I, Section 1.05, they are proposing (in Old Town) raising building height restrictions from 40’ to a towering 60’ plus parking. In addition to a major reduction in parking space requirements, they also propose an increase in building density, resulting in even more strain on our already overtaxed infrastructure, thereby causing a further lessening of our water pressure and additional traffic congestion.
If these proposals are passed in their entirety, they would kill Art in Public Places and compound our drainage problems by doing away with green buffers and open space ratios. They would eliminate all landscaping requirements and reduce all individual building setbacks to 5’. They
would eliminate all variances including those for hardship and would do away with the public’s right to redress and formal complaint. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, they would substantially expand the footprint of buildings while at the same time reducing the surrounding pervious coverage, leading to ever more flooding and bacterial beach closures.
These misguided policy changes and poor decisionmaking have been made over the strenuous objections of a battered and beleaguered professional planning staff. Observe any planning board meeting and watch as staff comments are routinely ignored and summarily dismissed, drowned out by wealthy developers and their overbearing attorneys.
These proposed changes are a developers dream and a community’s worst nightmare; however, Protect Our Residential Neighborhoods, a grass roots organization, is fighting back. Join the fight at protectourresidentialneighborhoods. com and attend the upcoming Planning Board Workshop on Monday, March 10, at 1 p.m. at city hall.
Sincerely,
Gregory Lloyd Key West
HOSPITAL BOARD HEARS FROM INTERESTED OPERATORS
Community members encouraged by competitive bid process
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
At least three other hospital operators this week are interested in running Lower Keys Medical Center when the current operator’s lease expires in April 2029.
Representatives from Baptist Health, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Tampa General Hospital spoke at the March 4 meeting of the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board to express interest in taking over operations of Lower Keys Medical Center as of 2029.
The hospital’s current operator, Community Health Systems (CHS), which has run the facility on College Road since 1999, is also aggressively pursuing an early renewal of its lease. The company’s regional vice president, Drew Mason, also spoke to the hospital district board on March 4.
Mason promised that his company, CHS, would make significant investments in to the hospital and its services, but only if the board votes to renew the lease immediately.
“This accelerated investment is only possible if the lease is renewed early,” Mason said. “We respect the desire to consider all options, but a long and protracted process in which the lease decision lingers on and on will impact our ability to provide services, recruit physicians and maintain the confidence of the community.”
More than 100 community members attended the March 4 meeting and were encouraged by the possibility of improved health care services at Lower Keys Medical Center in the coming years whether under the same or a new operator.
Gino Santorio, president and CEO of Mt. Sinai, pledged that his company would invest “100% of net profits from Lower Keys Medical Center back into the facility and the community.”
The representative from Tampa General made a similar pledge, while Baptist Health’s spokesman assured increased investment in the community and hospital, but said it was too early in the process to discuss specifics. The newcomers also pledged to fund indigent care for unindsured patients, and Santorio said Mt. Sinai would reduce the number of patients who are transferred out of Lower Keys Medical Center for treatment elsewhere. But the presentations were only a preliminary step.
The board also heard on March 4 from health care consulting companies that would guide the board in seeking formal proposals, identifying the community’s health care needs and negotiating a contract in the best interest of the Lower Keys community. The hospital district board is likely to choose a consultant at its April meeting, when it will also hire a law firm that specializes in health care to assist with the years-long negotiation process.
While Mason of CHS urged the board to renew its existing lease immediately and forgo the competitive bidding process, board member Erica Sterling, who is an attorney, encouraged the board to pursue the hiring of a consultant and attorney to help navigate the competitive process, which is favored by many community members.
“The consultants we heard from today said the competitive process is a good one and that hiring outside counsel is a normal thing to do,” Sterling said. “I think we need to do the normal things and go forward with hiring an attorney and a consultant.” Most of the seven other board members agreed with Sterling.
At the March 4 meeting, Peter Batty, who chairs a committee that acts as a liaison between the district board and the public, reminded district board members that they represent the people of the Lower Keys, not the governor who appointed them, and not CHS, which currently runs the hospital.
What is the hospital district board?
The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District is a special taxing district created in 1967 that exists to provide and maintain a hospital for the people in the district, which stretches from Key West to the Seven Mile Bridge. The hospital district board, whose members are appointed by the governor, can and has in the past levied a special tax within the district to fund the public hospital. That tax hasn’t been charged since 1999, when a private, for-profit health care company began operating the hospital under a 30-year lease.
The district is run by a board whose members are appointed by the governor.
A video of the March 4 meeting is available at ohkw.org.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS AT STATE CAPITAL
Despite past reforms, property insurance issues still loom
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
At the state capital, legislative session kicked off March 4 as leaders in the Florida House and Senate, as well as Gov. Ron DeSantis, presented their priorities and larger issues facing the Sunshine State.
For legislators, a return to Tallahassee for a 60-day session comes on the heels of a bombshell report regarding the state’s insurance crisis and how executives likely caused it by diverting hundreds of millions to shareholders and billions of dollars to affiliate companies between 2017 and 2019. As a result, it left insurers in a weak financial position — some were even unable to pay claims.
The 2022 report commissioned by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation was never given to legislators, according to a report by The Tampa Bay Times. OIR told the Times the study was not given to lawmakers because it was “not a formal examination report.” It was produced months before lawmakers met in emergency legislative sessions in 2022 and left in a “draft” status.
In his address to the House, new Speaker Danny Perez, a Republican from Miami, was met with applause when he said the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will be digging into the matter.
“They (the subcommittee) will have access to the full range of tools — including issuing subpoenas, putting witnesses under oath, and hiring outside experts,” Perez said.
Insurance companies’ profits are regulated and limited to about 4.5%, which is not enticing to investors, especially with the risk of hurricanes any given year. But as the Times reported, insurance executives in Florida have used financial workarounds to reward not only themselves, but also investors. Profits and executive compensation of the insurance company may be capped, but the profits of affiliate and parent companies are not.
DeSantis never touched on the 2022 report during his address to the House and Senate. Instead, he lauded various property insurance reforms by previous legislatures, including the elimination of one-way attorney fees related to assignment
of benefits and ending the incentive for attorneys to mislead claimants. Legislation also prohibited roofers from paying or absorbing insurance deductibles.
Another bill tightened eligibility for those insured through Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by steering potential and existing policyholders to private carriers if a comparable policy was available.
“The fact is that the Legislature has devoted more time and effort to address insurance reforms over the past few years than at any other time in the history of Florida,” DeSantis said.
Senate President Ben Albritton, a Republican from Wauchula, stated in his address that the Senate will hold insurance companies accountable for rates they charge and services they provide when disaster strikes.
“They aren’t going to manipulate the system. And, neither is any other industry,” he said.
Last month, state insurance regulators approved rate increases averaging 6.6% for Citizens policyholders who have the more common multi-peril coverage. Details weren’t provided in the order on specifically how much more policyholders in the Keys would pay. They can expect an increase, however, as the new rates take effect June 1.
Last June, Citizens’ board of directors approved asking OIR for a 13.5% increase for all policyholders. As prescribed by law, Citizens must charge actuarially sound rates which aren’t competitive with the private market. The insurer must also comply with a glide path that only allows annual rate increases of 1%; in 2025, that cap was 14%.
Bills filed by state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Rep. Jim Mooney would provide for rate increases not exceeding 10% in areas like the Florida Keys where there isn’t a reasonable degree of competition among property insurers. According to Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe (FIRM), 95% of Monroe County’s wind policies are insured by Citizens. Monroe has 15,000 wind-only policies with Citizens, second only to Miami-Dade. FIRM has long advocated legislators to get Monroe County to the 10% glide path.
“Monroe’s strict building codes and past loss history support this,” says FIRM.
DESANTIS AXES MARINE SANCTUARY RESTORATION PLAN IN STATE WATERS
Governor cites preservation of FWC’s fisheries authority, artificial reef support as drivers of veto
In a move striking a critical blow to the Florida Keys’ marine ecosystem, Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed all components of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s (FKNMS’) newlyfinalized Restoration Blueprint in state waters.
In a March 3 letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, DeSantis wrote that the final proposed plan “repeals longstanding references to the State of Florida’s sovereign right to manage marine life and sovereign submerged lands within the state’s jurisdictional waters. Further, NOAA’s regulations will prevent the expedited restoration of coral reefs using artificial habitats.”
Restoration Blueprint is a comprehensive proposal to restore the sanctuary, ignited by a worrisome 2011 condition report on the state of Florida Keys waters. After 14 years of drafting and input by the public and stakeholder organizations, the final rule for Restoration Blueprint was signed on Jan. 16, kicking off a 45-day review period on DeSantis’ desk.
The document was the first overhaul of regulations within the FKNMS since the sanctuary’s establishment in 1990. Under the new rule, sanctuary boundaries expand by roughly 20%, mostly along the FKNMS’ Atlantic edge.
Included in the document’s laundry list of changes are: alterations, eliminations and additions of Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs); new Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to protect nearshore habitats and vulnerable species; changes to catch-and-release fishing inside SPAs; prohibition of discharges by cruise ships; prohibitions on attracting and feeding wild fish and sharks by boaters and divers; and protection of areas undergoing active coral restoration, among others.
Both items specifically cited by DeSantis in Monday’s letter, signed on the final day of his review period, were points of contention between officials with NOAA and FWC during the final stages of Restoration Blueprint’s revisions.
In November, a letter sent from FWC chairman Rodney Barreto to then-Sanctuary Superintendent Matt Stout reignited a debate from earlier in the year over regulatory language in the blueprint, criticizing a change that would only allow DeSantis to veto fisheries regulations in state waters.
It ultimately listed 10 remaining “essential” items of disagreement between FWC and sanctuary officials slated for inclusion in the final rule, including continued allowance of drift fishing, bait fishing and catch-and-release trolling in certain portions of SPAs, and support of new artificial reefs within sanctuary boundaries.
“While FKNMS has consistently stated that it does not intend to circumvent FWC’s authority over fisheries regulations in state waters … (the changes are) contrary to how fisheries regulatory authority is set up in the State of Florida,” Barreto wrote.
DeSantis’ letter on Monday echoed the prominent sticking points from Barreto’s statement.
Tension from the November letter carried over into a December meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC), where sanctuary officials said the letter was received too late in the review process to make significant changes to the Blueprint. But FWC federal fisheries section leader CJ Sweetman said the sticking points raised in the letter were “common knowledge … throughout the entire process. So nothing in that letter should have been a surprise in any capacity.”
Both sides pledged to meet in the weeks following December’s SAC session, but in follow-up emails and calls by the Weekly, FWC representatives would not confirm the outcome of the meeting, or if it took place.
Former Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman, who held the post throughout most of Restoration Blueprint’s drafting and review
process, repeatedly expressed hope that DeSantis would review the Blueprint with a “scalpel, not a sledgehammer,” vetoing individual items rather than the plan as a whole.
Although DeSantis’ pen nixed updated regulations in state waters, the provisions of Restoration Blueprint remain in effect in federal waters – covering roughly 51% of the sanctuary. In the Keys, state waters extend from shore to three nautical miles in the Atlantic Ocean and to nine nautical miles in the Gulf.
“The new science-based management plan reflects a balanced approach and responds to challenges that are putting the environment and economy of the Florida Keys at risk, including marine heat waves, coral diseases, intensified hurricanes and increased human uses,” said FKNMS communications and outreach manager Scott Atwell in a press release following DeSantis’ letter.
“We believe the actions we are taking in federal waters will support improvement of the sanctuary’s delicate ecosystem and marine resources. We will continue to work with state agencies to protect this critical area for years to come.”
“The reality is that we need both the state and federal partners to get together and comanage the Florida Keys marine ecosystem, for the benefit of all people that live and visit here,” Sanctuary Advisory Council chair Ben Daughtry told the Weekly.
He pointed to a new adaptive-management group, established to provide a faster regulatory response to critical events such as 2023’s devastating marine heat wave, as a critical component of increasing communication and finding common ground between agencies moving forward.
“I have high hopes that the adaptive-management group we’ve been working on will be a key component to helping to make that happen,” he said.
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
After 14 years of drafting, input and review by sanctuary officials, Keys residents and stakeholder organizations, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto will block changes in Restoration Blueprint from taking effect in state waters. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
MIND ALTERING LUBRICANTS FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE
SPRING
DINNER COCKTAILS MUSIC
MONDAY - SATURDAY | 6P - LATE 524 DUVAL ST. | 305.296.1075
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025
5:30PM: VIP Champagne Reception & Appetizers
6:30PM: Doors open for General Admission THE TRUMAN LITTLE WHITE HOUSE
• MC: STEVEN CRANE • MUSIC BY THE FKSPCA'S FAVORITE DUO: CARMEN RODRIGUEZ & MICHAEL THOMAS
• CATERED DINNER BY CATERED AFFAIRS OF KEY WEST (VEGETARIAN OPTION AVAILABLE!)
HONORING KING BEN HENNINGTON WITH OUR 2025 CHAMPION OF ANIMALS AWARD!
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• Purchase Tickets & Tables: FKSPCA.org/Humane-Education-Events Poster design donated by Admiral JT Thompson & LUCKY DOG (another awesome Shelter Puppy).
The Women of I egrity & Men of Valor
TO CELEBRATE THE 2025 HONOREES
LINDA TUREK, Overall Community
YVETTE MIRA-TALBOTT
KRYSTAL THOMAS,
MARIA GONZALEZ, Womens Advocacy
JACQUELINE LUHTA, Overall Community
DR ERNESTO GRENIER, M.D Health Care
SCOTT SAUNDERS, Philanthropy
SUSHI, The Arts
FATHER JOHN BAKER, Faith Based DAVID JOHNSON, Philanthropy
BILL & AMY LAY, Overall Community
AS WE CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY WE WOULD LOVE PRIOR HONOREES TO ATTEND.
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025
BEACHSIDE HOTEL, KEY WEST
COCKTAIL HOUR & SILENT AUCTION START AT 5:15 PM 3 COURSE DINNER & LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM BEGINS AT 6:30 PM
Our new location boasts the same unforgettable fresh & local seafood, craft cocktails, and fantastic wine selection that has made our sister restaurant one of the most popular dining destinations in the Florida Keys for the past 15 years.
Unforgettable Dining Experiences at Café Marquesa
Elegant Fine Dining by Chef Laurence Gottlieb
Easter Dinner
A three-course prix fixe celebration of spring April 20 | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Morning Menu
A gracious island breakfast experience 8:00 am – 11:00 am daily
Southern Happy Hour
Enjoy 30% off wines by the glass & signature cocktails and small plate specials 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm daily
Curated Tasting Menu
A sumptuous seven-course prix fixe menu 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm daily
Exquisite Evenings
An exceptional dinner menu, vintage wine list and exclusive cocktails 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm daily
Special Occasion Gift Card
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CHOICE VOTING 5-6:15PM AWARDS/PRIZES 6:30PM
information? Go to www.keywestartcenter.com/plein-air-key-west (To apply for a need based scholarship, email keywestartcenter@gmail.com)
Forget shoveling snow and cursing the cold! Here in Key West, we’ll be busy attending amazing social events, gala theater openings, concerts, legendary festivals... and LES has YOUR fresh new “Winter” look! We look forward to seeing our returning friends and clients! Call today for an appointment to look and feel fabulous!
Maggie Ruley, 2024
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Key West Cooking School: Island history never tasted so good
The Key West Cooking School, which opens March 11 on the second floor of the Shops at Mallory Square, features a demonstration kitchen, a full bar and a lounge that offers cocktail history and mixing classes. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly
Maybe it happened very quickly, or gradually over time, but whatever happened, Key West has become a bona fide food town. Dozens of distinctive restaurants in Key West today offer everything from fresh seafood to Omaha steaks. We are blessed to have the talent and the operators of these establishments.
The Key West Cooking School is, indeed, a restaurant, but it is much more. We are calling it a love letter to Key West because it speaks to so much of what makes this one of the most interesting places in a world of sameness.
It all started in the earliest days of the 1800s when Key West became a naval outpost on the farthest frontier of a young America. The first settlers were New Englanders, many of whom made their way through the Bahamas after the Revolutionary War. They brought their traditions and cuisine from coastal cities of the colonies. Wrecking became an immediate success story for this small island because of its geographic position on the Florida Straits, through which passed literally all the trade from the southern hemisphere to the coastal cities of the United States and then to Europe and back again. The influences on the food were dramatic. In addition to the New World flavors came input from enslaved people from Africa, the southern Crackers, Central America, Cuba and the Bahamas. Our food culture is every bit as
diverse, interesting and compelling as any other great city known for its food like New Orleans. As a dividend of becoming one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the country from wrecking, early Key Westers were able to take advantage of the vast amount of goods passing by this little island and avail themselves of foods that were only available through expensive importation.
Take out a big mixing bowl and drop into it the wealth of a small community, a network of influences from virtually all over the world, an abundance of every sort of sea life that one can imagine and then necessity as the mother of invention. Mix it well and bake it for 200 years to get the food that now defines Conch cuisine.
At the Key West Cooking School, locals and visitors will get not only a lesson in how to prepare the dishes one would have enjoyed at grandma’s house for Sunday dinner that are inspired by the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook, but also the history that defines the island’s history, society and culture.
Please accept our invitation to the new Key West Cooking School, where you will be treated not only to the food of Key West, but also the history of our people and how we developed over the past 200 years. It is a place to savor the food and our culture all in one entertaining, insightful and memorable experience.
(Editor’s Note: Chris Belland is founder and CEO of Historic Tours of America, and creator of the company’s new Key West Cooking School.)
TAKE A WALK WITH WOMANKIND
Health center hosts monthly outings with a doctor
Womankind has partnered with the international nonprofit Walk with a Doc.
Key West will join other chapters around the world, inspiring communities to get moving and chat, with walking groups led by a doctor or other health care provider.
The first walk on Saturday, March 15 will be led by Dr. Kris Kennedy, a retired Ob/Gyn and former medical director of Womankind.
Kennedy is passionate about helping others get healthy and improve their quality of life. She’ll share tips on starting a personal walking plan.
It’s free and open to all. Just show up and bring your walking shoes on Saturday, March 15 at 9
third Saturday of each month
starting March 15 at 1511
9
a.m. in the Womankind parking lot, 1511 Truman Ave., across from Bayview Park.
Walks will take place the third Saturday of each month, always beginning at 9 a.m. at Womankind. More information is at walkwithadoc.org or walk@womankindkeywest.org.
FORMER COASTIE CATCHES 1ST SAILFISH
Madison Curtis, released fish off Marathon
Madison Curtis, 26, celebrates with a smile after catching and releasing her first sailfish on Feb. 26. The fish was caught off Marathon in 112 feet of water. Curtis grew up fishing in the Florida Keys and then joined the U.S. Coast Guard, where she worked as a mechanical engineer. She now lives in Hawaii with her husband and two children and recently returned to vacation with her parents, Mark and Tanya Curtis, in Key Colony Beach. CONTRIBUTED
CHRIS BELLAND www.keysweekly.com
Womankind holds Walk with a Doc the
at
a.m.
Truman Ave. CONTRIBUTED
PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
RAY MALONEY: SALVAGING KEY WEST’S WRECKING HISTORY
has lived in Key West for 40-plus years, witnessing and writing about the island’s renegade past, shipwreck salvage adventures and colorful presentday characters.
Given his easygoing manner, it’s not immediately apparent that Ray Maloney is a Key West hero. But that designation is well deserved, as he has dedicated his life to a quietly heroic effort: preserving a vital part of the island’s early history.
Maloney is a sixth-generation Conch whose ancestors include Walter C. Maloney, a Key West attorney and civic leader. He himself has been a water plant operator, musician, mechanic and shrimp farmer.
But Ray Maloney will always be remembered for something else: discovering and salvaging the Isaac Allerton shipwreck, with his brother and cousin, in the waters off the Saddlebunch Keys.
The 137-foot merchant vessel Isaac Allerton was traveling from New York to New Orleans when it was caught in an 1856 hurricane. The Allerton’s passengers and crew escaped in longboats and were rescued by Key West shipwreck salvagers — then known as wreckers.
The wreckers were Keys locals who raced their own boats out to ships that had wrecked on the treacherously shallow reef. They’d rescue the passengers and crew and be entitled to a portion of the cargo, or its monetary value as determined by a judge.
The mid-1800s marked the heyday of the wrecking or salvaging industry, which helped make Key West the wealthiest city per capita in the United States. While the wreckers could only recover part of the Allerton’s cargo because of the shipwreck’s depth, their award from the salvage court made the vessel the richest yet salvaged in island history.
In 1985, the long-forgotten wreck was rediscovered by Ray Maloney and his brother Steve Maloney, who were fascinated by treasure hunting and maritime history, and their cousin Robert DeGrippo. The trio was out on Maloney’s boat Hazel investigating an area of interest.
“I went down with the metal detector and my cousin went with me, and before I hit the bottom it started screaming,” said Ray Maloney, emulating the noise a detector makes to signal a target. “We started swimming around and saw the copper rods sticking up and the keel — we saw a big piece of marble and all kinds of other iron sticking up on the bottom — that’s when I knew.”
Maloney, whose pleasant New Town home holds his collection of ocean charts and shipwreck artifacts, still gets a faraway look when he recalls that discovery.
“I’ve had two or three monumental days in my life. But the other ones, I didn’t realize at the time,” he said. “I knew it that day. I knew this was going to be life-altering.”
The trio wasn’t aware of the wreck’s identity until, in the local library, Maloney uncovered an early diary that mentioned salvage divers working in 1856 on the sunken Isaac Allerton off the Saddlebunch Keys, offshore of today’s MM 11 through MM 15 on U.S. 1.
He also found information that proved the Allerton’s importance to Key West’s history. Period accounts reported that the salvage crew consisted of 433 men and boys — much of the island’s male population at the time — working from 28 boats.
Additional research revealed that the Allerton was closely entwined with the Maloney brothers’ own heritage. One of their mother’s forbears worked the wreck, and attorney Walter C. Maloney represented one of the Allerton’s original salvors in 1856.
Once the necessary legalities and permits were in place, the Maloney brothers spearheaded modern-day salvage efforts. Using techniques and equipment not available to the wreckers, they began to excavate the vessel.
1. Ray Maloney, who discovered the Isaac Allerton shipwreck with his brother and cousin in 1985, points out the vessel’s path on a chart of Lower Keys waters. CAROL SHAUGHNESSY/Keys Weekly
2. The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum contains a wealth of items, like this telescope, recovered from the Isaac Allerton wrecksite. KEY WEST SHIPWRECK TREASURE MUSEUM/Contributed
Preserving the items found on the Allerton, and telling its story, became the focus of Ray Maloney’s life. When he married in 1987, he and wife Yolanda honeymooned in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where the ship was built — and even met a descendant of the builder.
The Allerton site yielded a diverse collection of objects: a heavy marble “capital” destined for the New Orleans courthouse, 19th-century inkwells, knives, pots, plates, oil lamps, glass bottles, brass candlesticks, navigation instruments, ship fittings and more. There were even two gold coins, dated 1852 and 1854.
“As soon as we started salvaging, we agreed we were going to keep it all together,” said Ray Maloney. “So we decided to open up a museum.”
In the late 1980s, they acquired the downstairs area of Key West’s Old City Hall on Greene Street. A passionate historian, Maloney built the museum himself and operated it for about four years before connecting with local businessman Ed Swift, who had the means and promotional ability to bring the Allerton’s story to a wider audience.
Today, the majority of the artifacts are displayed at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum — operated by Historic Tours of America, co-founded by Swift — where the vessel’s story is told by reenactors. Maloney particularly appreciates the museum’s portrayal of the wreckers’ pivotal role in Key West history, and their true character in rescuing ships’ crews and passengers as well as cargo.
Maloney, who now plans to salvage additional areas of the wrecksite, sometimes ponders whether the Allerton’s discovery was coincidence, good fortune or something more.
“I wondered if something was handed down in my genes about where to steer the boat, because they steered their boats to it,” he said of his wrecker ancestors.
“If we’d have gone 100 feet to either side, we’d have gone right past it and nobody would have known anything about it,” he stated. “I think I was meant to do it.”
CAROL SHAUGHNESSY
SUZANNE MOORE presents
WHERE RE M A R C ABLE CITIZENS THRIVE
MARCH IS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
SCAN THE QR CODE TO JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
CONCH REVIVAL
PICNIC CELEBRATES BAHAMIAN & CUBAN HERITAGE
Family-style meal takes place March 11 at the Key West Lighthouse
The Key West Art & Historical Society, Great Events Catering, and Unity Table at Williams Hall have teamed up to present the annual picnicstyle heritage dinner prepared by local chefs Martha Hubbard and Dave Fuhrman. This year’s Conch Revival Picnic takes place on Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead St. The picnic pays homage to the island’s Bahamian and Cuban culture through food, music and a community atmosphere.
This year’s feast starts off with deviled crawfish, conch fritters and picadillo arepas followed by the main course of whole roasted local fish, roasted pig, Spanish paella, Hukilau’s coconut chicken, conch chowder and Jamaican jerked calabaza stew. Save room for Key lime pie and Miss Etta’s coconut cake. There will be a full cash bar and live music.
Inspired by the late Dianne Zolotow, a board member of the society board, the Conch Revival Picnic was launched in 2016 to increase awareness of Key West/Conch culture by preserving and promoting historic recipes created and consumed by Conch families for generations, but which have been disappearing from memory and tables. Many of the recipes pre-
Key West Art & Historical Society, Great Events Catering, and Unity Table at Williams Hall team up for the annual Conch Revival Picnic, an informal Conch heritage dinner prepared by chefs Martha Hubbard and Dave Fuhrman on March 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse.
sented are inspired by the postwar Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook as well as from other publications in the collection of the society.
“The annual picnic is a marvelous opportunity for all of the island’s heritages to come together and share a meal that highlights some of our delicious culinary traditions,” said Michael F. Gieda, the society’s executive director.
Tickets are $100. Children under 12 are admitted free with adults. More information is at kwahs.org/whats-on or from Cori Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507.
— Contributed
WOMEN TO SUPPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Key
West chapter
of NOW plans March 8 protest
The Key West chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) will mark International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8 with a public show of support for the National Weather Service, which is being threatened with staffing and funding cuts.
The peaceful demonstration is scheduled in front of the NWS Key West Forecast Office, 1315 White St., from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Key West NOW’s Facebook page will have information about additional events throughout March, which is Women’s History Month.
The Key West chapter of the National Organization for Women will host a public show of support for the National Weather Service office, 1315 White St., on Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to noon in light of potential federal funding and staffing cuts. SHARON HAHN DARLIN/ Wikipedia
The group is also sponsoring a Women’s Film Festival at the Tropic Cinema, screening films by and for women every Wednesday in March at 6 p.m.
— Keys Weekly staff report
‘COPS’ TV SHOW FILMS SPRING BREAK IN KEY WEST
The Key West Police Department’s mounted patrol hits the beaches for Spring Break duty. KWPD/Contributed
As Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg said this week, “Spring break has sprung.”
A special spring break edition of the crime show “Cops” features Key West police as they work to ensure a safe and happy community throughout March, when hordes
of college students descend on the island.
“We were honored to be chosen by the program ‘Cops’ for this special spring break edition,” Brandenburg said.
Episodes start Friday, March 7 on Fox Nation.
— Keys Weekly staff report
The annual Conch Revival Picnic takes place March 11 on the grounds of the Key West Lighthouse. KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY/Contributed
Michael Ruiter
Heart attack patient
Treatment
for serious heart attack, here in Key West
When Michael suddenly began having heart attack symptoms, he knew he needed care. Fortunately the Lower Keys Medical Center team was ready to help.
A stent was placed to restore blood flow in a blocked artery in Michael’s heart, and he was back at work within a week. When healthcare is available close to home, treatment is faster, recovery easier, and patients can be surrounded by those who matter most. We’re always working to Keep Care in the Keys for patients like Michael.
Read more of Michael’s story at KeepCareintheKeys.com
The Key WesT ConCh BloWing
Saturday, March 8
In the Tom Majors Garden at the Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St.
Gates open at 10:30am Competition Noon-2 pm
u Past Champion Clinton Curry will teach us how to cut a Conch Shell into a horn.
u Coconut painting with local artist Ben Curry Blacow
u Conch Blowing lessons with Key West High School Band members
u Food by El Mocho, Coasting Cocktails
FREE Register at OIRF.org or at the door until 11:30am Fun to compete or be a
MARCH MOZART MADNESS!
South Florida Symphony Orchestra is mad for Mozart this March! Maestra Sebrina Alfonso closes the 2025 Key West Season with two of his most thrilling works, including the haunting choral masterpiece, Requiem, featuring dazzling guest vocalists and the SFSO Chorus. Plus, experience the drama and intensity of his ever-popular Symphony No. 40, the “Great G minor Symphony.”
March 13-16, featuring TV ghost hunter Dustin Pari. CONTRIBUTED
PARANORMAL WEEKEND IN PARADISE
Supernatural specialists join David Sloan in investigations
March 13-16
Paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters are invited to a weekend of supernatural exploration, expert panels and hands-on investigations during the Key West Paranormal Weekend, March 13-16.
This immersive event, starring Dustin Pari from TV’s “Ghost Hunters,” also features Robert the Doll’s tender David L. Sloan; author-investigators Tim Ellis, Brad Blair and Dan Radomski; and psychic medium Beth Elise Rooney.
The weekend culminates in a special nighttime investigation inside Fort East Martello, the home of Robert the Doll. Other events include a haunted bathroom pub crawl. haunted doll scavenger hunt, a visit to the distillery where Robert the Doll rum is made, and paranormal investigations of the
Historic Key West Firehouse.
As a highlight of the event, guests will engage in an experiment to create a haunted doll inspired by the Philip Experiment, which explores the boundaries between psychology and paranormal activity. Sloan will present theories drawn from his nearly 30 years of research and care for the spirits that he says inhabit Robert the Doll.
“Key West is an ideal location for a weekend filled with ghost hunting and exploration,” Pari said. “From Robert the Doll to the island’s numerous haunted sites, a captivating allure draws people into the mystery.”
Presenters will stay at the Artist House, one of Key West’s most iconic and haunted locations. Guests may contact the Artist House directly to book a room.
Tickets provide access to panels, ghost investigations and exclusive experiences.
More information is at HauntedKeyWest.com/paranormalweekends.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
KEYS LAST STAND SUPPORTS BILL FOR 500 NEW BUILDING PERMITS
To the Editor:
Keys Last Stand strongly supports House Bill 995, introduced by Representative Jim Mooney, as a responsible and balanced approach to managing development in the Florida Keys. At the same time, we oppose Senate Bill 1326, introduced by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, and Senate Bill 1730, introduced by Senator Alexis Calatayud — both of which threaten to accelerate overdevelopment, strain infrastructure and permanently alter the character of the Keys.
HB 995 responsibly allocates 500 new Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) permits over 10 years, ensuring that development remains measured and adaptable to future conditions. The vast majority of these permits must be used for workforce housing or affordable housing, addressing the severe housing needs of working families. Additionally, more than 600 existing unallocated affordable housing ROGOs, along with hundreds of future affordable housing units on ROGO-exempt properties, already exist to support responsible growth.
In contrast, SB 1326 authorizes 3,550 new ROGOs over the next 40 years, with nearly half open to market-rate housing that is neither workforce housing nor affordable housing. This would create a dramatic spike in development, increasing traffic congestion, environmental degradation and infrastructure stress.
SB 1730 is even more concerning. Unlike SB 1326, which at least defines the number of ROGOs, SB 1730 raises the hurricane evacuation time to 26 hours without specifying how many ROGOs can be issued or when, with no requirements for affordable or workforce housing. This could lead to more than 4,000 new ROGOs and would effectively remove all guardrails on development, giving big developers free rein to overbuild the Keys faster than ever before. It is an open invitation to unchecked growth, eliminating decades of carefullyplanned regulations that protect our fragile environment and livability.
Based on Monroe County’s own surveys, Keys residents overwhelmingly prefer Rep. Mooney’s bill over the two Senate bills. The community has made it clear that they support responsible growth — not a developer-driven expansion. Yet, despite this, Monroe County and the Keys municipalities continue to push for the maximum possible ROGO allocations.
Furthermore, claims that limiting ROGOs will lead to a surge in takings lawsuits are unfounded. Public statements from both the Monroe County Attorney and the Marathon City Attorney confirm that HB 995 presents no takings liability risk over the 10-year period. Meanwhile, the excessive ROGO allocations in the Senate bills far exceed the number of buildable lots in the Keys, proving that the takings argument has been a red herring used to justify unsustainable development.
“This fight is about overdevelopment, plain and simple,” said Chris Massicotte, president of Keys Last Stand. “Representative Jim Mooney is taking a stand against the unchecked growth being pushed by Monroe County and the Keys municipalities. His bill protects our islands’ future by ensuring measured, responsible growth focused on affordable and workforce housing. On the other hand, SB 1326 and SB 1730 open the door for large-scale development with no meaningful checks in place — prioritizing profits over the long-term sustainability of our community.”
Keys Last Stand is committed to working with state legislators to educate them on the importance of regulating growth responsibly and ensuring that building permits are allocated over a 10-year period rather than locking in unchecked development. We urge residents to contact their state representatives and demand support for HB 995 while rejecting SB 1326 and SB 1730 to prevent overdevelopment from jeopardizing the future of the Florida Keys.
For more information, visit www.keyslaststand.org.
– Chris Massicotte, president, Keys Last Stand
Key West entrepreneur and tender of the ‘haunted’ Robert the Doll will host the first-ever Key West Paranormal Weekend
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.
There is a semi-old adage that says if something walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. It was derived from a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, who died in 1916. But the notion, called the Duck Test, reached its heyday in the 1950s when it became a way to smear someone as a communist without having any actual proof.
The phrase came to mind the other day while I was walking along the edge of the moat at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, and heard what could only be described as wussy little flute-y sounds coming from multiple places in the mangroves. It took me a while to remember what they were – a blue-winged teal.
If a bird looks like a duck, swims like a duck, but does not quack like a duck, is it still a duck?
We, as a species, have learned lately that the various languages of birds are far more nuanced and communicative than we have given them credit for. While we hear what we think are two identical notes, they could be hearing two vastly different things with two vastly different meanings, such as “Hey, I’m over here,” and “Careful, there’s an eagle circling up there.”
Not to be vain, but I assumed all the duck chatter was about me. Blue-winged teal are hunted pretty heavily, and even in a place like the Keys, where it would be illegal to hunt them, they are justifiably wary of people.
I could see the ducks through the mangroves, but I couldn’t get a shot of any of them without a lot of leafy green in the periphery, giving the images, when I chimped them on the back of the camera, a certain sense of furtiveness. So I walked until I found a low spot in the mangroves and waited. Eventually a quintet of them – three males and two females – swam into view.
They didn’t seem to mind me until I lifted my binoculars, then they all did neat little pivots, the webbed footwork that propelled them and changed their direction hidden beneath the water. When I raised my camera, which to them might have looked like lifting a gun, they flew 20 or 30 yards out of frame and landed.
The name duck actually comes from the verb duck, as in to duck or dive. The name teal means to reproduce or have a brood. The color teal is named after the green-winged teal, a species in which the males have a bold green comma on each side of their face, and both males and females have similarly hued patches on the trailing edges of their wings, which is most apparent in flight.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK…
Blue-winged teal are closely related to the green-winged. They too have green patches on the trailing edges of their wings, but they also have much bigger powder-blue patches on the leading edges of their wings, which are dramatic when they fly. Hence their common name.
The blue-winged teal’s Latin name is Spatula discors. Spatula means “spoon shaped” and probably derives from their cousin species, the northern shoveler, which has a shovelshaped bill, with spoons and shovels both being concave tools. Discors means conflict. According to “The Dictionary of Birds of the United States,” the idea of conflict is “thought to be a reference to the call, but disagreement exists on this derivation because the call of this teal is not loud or unpleasant.” (No doubt “not loud or unpleasant” is just a polite way of saying “wussy.”)
The dictionary suggests that the idea of a conflicted sounding noise may derive from the sounds a blue-winged teal makes when it takes off. Blue-winged teal are dabbling ducks, though, which means they have proportionally smaller feet than diving ducks, meaning dabbling ducks can simply leap into the air from the surface of the water to take flight, where diving ducks have to leap up and then run across the surface of the water to take flight. On the scale of duck-taking-off noises, dabbling ducks, like blue-winged teals, tend to be on the quieter end.
Then again, the Latin name for the species, which only breeds in North America, was given by the famed taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1766, who described it from a dead specimen, so he probably didn’t know much about how they moved or sounded.
And that’s probably enough about names that were given a quarter of a millennium ago in a foreign language. Though I should point out that Marc Catesby, an elder of Carl Linnaeus who actually saw the species alive in the future United States, called the species the white-faced teal, which to my mind is a stronger name.
Male blue-winged teals, also known as drakes, have a dramatic white crescent, like a South Carolina moon, on each side of their black head. It’s a field mark you can see both when the bird is in flight and when it is not. They also have these beautiful coppery, densely spotted flanks that come off looking almost like leopard print but, you know, classy.
Female blue-winged teals, also known as hens, like the females of most sexually dimorphic species, have more subtle plumage, generally brown and streaky and less attentiondrawing. Which makes sense, as they are less expendable than the males, who will defend their nesting territory, but not contribute much other effort to the raising of their offspring.
Back to the Duck Test. I didn’t do it standing on the side of the moat, but when I got home I pulled up the Sibley app on my phone. The first audio recording on there was the male, with the same feeble sounding peeps. The second was called the “male chux” which, if you cocked your head right, could almost sound something like a quack.
But the third recording was of the female, and it sounded like a lower version of the male chux at first, but then rolled into something that sounded like full-on quacking. Thus passing the Duck Test. Though there is still no proof they are communists.
A male and female blue-winged teal swimming in the moat at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
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 Biggie, the little Chihuahua with a big attitude. At 12 years old, he knows what he wants, and he’s not changing his ways. Think Statler and Waldorf from “The Muppet Show” — grumpy, opinionated and absolutely hilarious. He tolerates other dogs (or just ignores them), but if you have one, a meet-andgreet is required.
This is Oreo, an 8-year-old black and white sweetheart who looks just like his namesake cookie. This affectionate boy came to us with some bald spots due to food allergies, but now that he’s on the right diet, he’s thriving — soft, happy and ready for love.
Meet Venus, a 1-year-old tortie with a past as unique as she is. Rescued from a hoarding situation, she’s already been a young mama, but now she’s spayed and ready for a fresh start. With just one eye, she’s got an extra dash of character — and plenty of love to give. She may be a little shy at first, but once she warms up, she lives for gentle pets and affection.
HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN
JOIN A 1- HOUR CLEANUP FRIDAY MORNINGS
The Feb. 28 cleanup was held at the corner of White and Eaton streets near Strunk Ace Hardware. Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez, Commission Donie Lee and city manager Brian L. Barroso joined 60 volunteers, who collected 439 pounds of trash, 32 pounds of recycling and 2 gallons of cigarette butts in one hour. Hosts this week were the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and Destination Catering, which together provided breakfast for the volunteers. CONTRIBUTED
One hour a week makes a huge difference, and volunteers are welcome every Friday and some Saturday mornings, from 8 to 9 a.m., when the Key West Ploggers clean up a designated area of the island.
Gloves, pickers, buckets, vests, hand sanitizer and a parking pass are provided to all volunteers.
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.
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.
March 7: Eaton and Whitehead streets. Meet at the trailer in the front parking lot of First Horizon Bank, which is the host.
March 14: Varela & United streets. Meet in front of the Montessori Children’s School. Park in the City Hall parking lot.
March 21: Kennedy Drive & N. Roosevelt. Meet next to H&R Block.
right? She’s a sweet, gentle lady who enjoys pets and quiet companionship. Ashanti isn’t demanding; she just wants a cozy spot, some love and maybe a lap to curl up on.
With striking black markings around her eyes, Ashe looks like she’s always rocking the perfect smokey-eye makeup. This 3-year-old black and white rabbit is as elegant as she is adorable. She’s a calm, curious girl who enjoys gentle attention and a cozy space to call her own.
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
March 28: Emma & Olivia streets. Meet in the parking area along Olivia Street at the Frederick Douglass Community Center, 830 Emma St.
Meet Ashanti, a 12-year-old black cat with a tiny white tuft on her chest that looks like a forever milk drip — adorable,
Now Hiring FINANCE MANAGER
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Qualified candidates are proficient with Quickbooks, possess great communication skills, are able to track income and expenses across multiple revenue streams along with the ability to create budgets and establish efficient processes.
This is a full time, salaried, administrative position with health benefits, IRA contributions and more.
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Caribbean Club had a big role in a classic film
THE GREAT FLORIDA KEYS ROAD TRIP: JEWFISH CREEK BRIDGE INTO KEY LARGO
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.
Because Key Largo is the largest of the Florida Keys, and the Overseas Highway stretches 19.2 miles over the island, it has a lot of stories to tell. We will take it slow because this is the Florida Keys, and that’s the whole point, right?
With just one road, there is only so fast a car can safely go. However, every year, speed, coupled with impatience and bad decisions, wrecks vehicles and kills people (and Key deer). Take a breath, slow down and enjoy the drive, especially over the Jewfish Creek Bridge. At 65 feet, it is the highest point in the Keys.
However, it is not the only place along the island chain that is 65 feet high. If you are feeling energetic, at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum near Mallory Square, there is a 65-foot-tall tower you can climb for another spectacular view.
The modern, arching Jewfish Creek Bridge is its third incarnation. The first was a swing bridge built for the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway. It linked Key Largo to the mainland in 1907. The original railroad bridge was replaced by a bascule bridge when the third incarnation of the Overseas Highway, the one that incorporated the 18-Mile Stretch, opened in 1944. The drawbridge was in operation until the modern Jewfish Creek Bridge opened in 2008. When driving over it and traveling down Key Largo, the southbound lane of the Overseas Highway follows the original right-of-way of Henry Flagler’s train. Be on alert, just a mile or two down the road is a world-famous roadside attraction, the Caribbean Club.
Found at MM 104, there are a lot of stories told about the club. Spoiler alert: not all of them
are true. The good news is that the Caribbean Club is absolutely connected to Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s classic film “Key Largo.” Though some locals might try to argue, no scenes for the movie were filmed at the property. According to stories written by the people involved with the movie or those writing about them, with the exception of the opening scene of a bus traveling over the Overseas Highway, the rest of the movie was filmed on a soundstage back in Los Angeles.
However, the Caribbean Club played a significant role in the film’s pre-production. The movie was adapted from the 1939 Maxwell Anderson play of the same name. The director, John Huston, liked the title but not the content, so he hired screenwriter Richard Brooks to rework the screenplay to better suit his vision. Huston brought Brooks to Key Largo for inspiration. The two men spent about two weeks at the Caribbean Club.
Though the club was officially closed for the summer, Mr. Hanley, the club’s manager, brought in help to cook and keep their rooms clean. He also opened up gaming tables where Huston and Brooks spent time gambling. In the stories written about their stay, it is alleged that Huston lost about $25,000 playing craps and roulette, and Brooks gambled away around $6,000.
For Brooks, the sum roughly equaled what he was being paid to rewrite the screenplay.
On the day they left the club and drove home to the mainland, Huston and Brooks tried their luck at Hanley’s tables one last time. While they gambled, a storm was building. By the time they left, both men had managed to win back a good chunk of their losses. Also, with the weather outside getting worse, parts of the road were underwater.
The film left an impression on the local community that is still felt. Back when Brooks was rewriting the screenplay, and doing a little gambling on the side, the postal address for the Caribbean Club was Rock Harbor, Florida. In those days, Rock Harbor and Tavernier were the two towns recognized by the post office on the island. Because of the movie’s success, people were drawn to Key
Largo. However, one of the problems with the trip was that, after arriving on Key Largo, it was not possible to send a postcard with a Key Largo postmark to friends and family to commemorate their visit.
The notoriety of the Caribbean Club brought money into the Rock Harbor community. So, the community banded together, as Florida Keys’ communities up and down the island chain have always done, and circulated a petition to change the official postal address from Rock Harbor to Key Largo. Successful in their efforts, the Rock Harbor Post Office ceased to exist on May 31, 1952. The Key Largo Post Office opened on June 1, 1952. From that point forward, when a postcard or letter was sent, it was postmarked with the words “Key Largo, Florida.”
More than just a cool place to tip one back or catch one of those world-famous Florida Keys sunsets, there is an original mile marker from the Henry Flagler era that has been restored and stands behind the club. There are only two left in the Keys, neither of which is in its original location. The other is on Big Pine Key.
After leaving the club and continuing down the road, you will come to a bridge where, prior to 1960, there was no need for a bridge. In an effort to cut through the island and create a quick passage between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the island was cut into two pieces.
The idea was conceived by Marvin Dow Adams, who worked in the insurance industry and developed the nearby Anglers Park subdivision, which borders the cut on the Atlantic side of the highway. The exposed coral rock walls of the onehalf-mile-long manmade canal are 15 feet tall. The passage, which opened on Feb. 26, 1961, has an average depth of 25 feet.
There are still more Rock Harbor stories to tell before reaching Tavernier, Tavernier Creek and the next island in the chain, Plantation Key. Don’t worry. We’ll get there.
In 2025, I’ll be exploring the Overseas Highway, its history, attractions and points I find interesting.
The original railroad swing bridge over Jewfish Creek. JERRY WILKINSON COLLECTION/Contributed
Lady Fins plate 75 in 3 games | P.5
THE SCOREBOARD
Team Sport Opponent Date Result
Coral Shores Baseball Coral Park 2/25 W, 15-4
Key West Girls Lacrosse Archbishop McCarthy 2/25 L, 13-9
Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Coral Reef 2/26 W, 14-5
Coral Shores Softball Pinecrest 2/26 W, 25-22
Marathon Softball Ransom Everglades 2/26 W, 19-9
Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Westminster Academy 2/26 L, 12-2
Marathon Baseball NSU University 2/27 L, 9-0
Key West Softball Schoolhouse Prep 2/27 L, 11-2
Key West Girls Lacrosse Westminster Christian 2/28 L, 20-9
Coral Shores Boys Lacrosse Westminster Christian 2/28 W, 15-4
Coral Shores Baseball Hialeah 2/28 W, 15-0
Key West Boys Lacrosse Coral Reef 2/28 W, 16-11
Marathon Baseball Miami Country Day 2/28 W, 25-6
Key West Baseball NSU University School 2/28 W, 6-4
Key West Baseball NSU University School 3/1 L, 5-0
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
3/7
MARCH 6 THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS
DROZDETSKAIA
On
the tennis court Eva is focused, easy to coach and driven.”
– Joie Switzer, Lady Conchs tennis coach
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CONTRIBUTED
Last week, Key West’s Eva Drozdetskaia faced a giant at Gulliver Prep, and rather than losing her resolve, methodically went about dispatching her opponent. “Her composure, poise and positive attitude were steady throughout the match,” said head coach Joie Switzer. “She chose correct shots at the right time and continued to hit powerful shots, giving her the opportunities she needed to win points.” Drozdetskaia, who remains undefeated this season in both singles and doubles action, holds court for her team in the No. 1 singles spot and on the No. 1 doubles team, using her positive attitude and attention to detail to win points. For her relentless work ethic and astute practice of the nuances needed to make her the best, Key West’s Eva Drozdetskaia is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
THIS WEEK Eva
Junior, Key West Tennis
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.
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.
After eight top-four finishes at regionals, four Conchs and a Lady Conch, above, and three Hurricanes, below, will head to Kissimmee to battle through the brackets in the 2025 FHSAA State Wrestling Championships. CONTRIBUTED
EIGHT FOR STATE
Corrales captures regional gold as Keys grapplers secure spots in Kissimmee
Key West and Coral Shores sent their best wrestlers to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale on March 1 for the FHSAA 1A Region 4 championships. There, the Conchs and Hurricanes competed against the top talent from a pool of 34 teams.
When the final match was scored, Key West was third in the region, with Coral Shores in eighth. Key West’s impressive team placement was fueled, in part, with a first-place finisher in 175-pound Alfredo Corrales. Corrales, a senior, is the new regional champ, and will represent the Southernmost City at the FHSAA 1A State Championships at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee this week.
Corrales will not be the only athlete wearing a Conch singlet at states; three more Key West grapplers qualified with top-four finishes at regionals. Abram Canet was the regional runner-up at 132 pounds and Jake Ferguson (120) and James Searcy (150) each placed fourth for an automatic bid to the big show. Joining the gentlemen will be Maria Halushka, who placed third in the girls competition on Feb. 22.
Also making the trip will be a trio of talent from the Upper Keys. Coral Shores’ Sebastian McCoy punched his ticket by securing the regional runner-up spot at 120 pounds. Costa Tuttle at 106 pounds and David Beltran (150) each finished in the third-place spot in their weight classes, making it a total of eight athletes from the Keys competing at the highest level in prep wrestling.
Weigh-ins and round one begin Thursday, March 6, with later rounds and the semifinals on March 7. Finals are scheduled for March 8, when state medalists will be determined.
tracy mcdonald
sean mcdonald
TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING FOR LADY FINS
Marathon brings home 46 runs in two games
Less than a week after opening their season with a 27-14 onslaught, Marathon’s softball team traveled to Ransom Everglades on Feb. 26 to take on the Raiders in Miami – and showed no signs of slowing down. The Lady Fins racked up seven hits against Ransom, including three from Madelyn Thornton, who homered and tripled, plus two from seventh-grader Shaina Robinson, who doubled.
Dani Perdomo and Elena Eubank each added a hit for Marathon. The Lady Fins stole a dozen bases, with Perdomo leading the pilfering with four. Thornton teamed up with Sara Robinson in the circle to strike out five Raiders. The 19-9 win put the Fins at 2-0 in early-season action with 46 runs scored in just two games.
Coral Shores found success at Pine Crest School
Coral Shores found success at Pine Crest School on Feb. 26, defeating the Panthers 25-22. According to the coaching staff, the Hurricanes had an impressive showing at the plate, with consistent hitting and solid base running. Addison Grady led the charge with four base hits. Melanie Estevez registered two singles and a double, and Presley Bagwell and Abby Vogt each added a pair of hits to the total.
The Lady ’Canes have struggled the past two seasons, but coach Lesa Bonee is confident this year’s group is headed in the right direction.
“We’re excited,” she said, adding that her group of athletes has plenty of talent.
struggled with numbers, but the 17-athlete roster
“They’re young, they’re learning the game, but they’re athletic,” she said. Last season, the team struggled with numbers, but the 17-athlete roster this season, with the majority being freshmen, gives the Hurricanes a lot to look forward to in the coming seasons.
The Lady Conchs fell to 3-2 after a loss to Schoolhouse Prep in Miami. Aaliyah Mcleod, Tavyn Gage and Vera Rodger each had a base hit for Key West in the 11-2 defeat.
Madelyn Thornton, left, and Shaina Robinson. BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly
DROZDETSKAIA & AGUERO
REBUFF RAIDERS Hurricanes breeze past Dolphins
Key West’s tennis teams traveled to Gulliver Prep on Feb. 25 to play against some of the best competition in South Florida. The Raiders are renowned for their prowess on the courts, with 21 state titles between their girls and boys teams in the past 30 years. The Gulliver program’s reputation is enough to shake the resolve of most athletes, but not Key West’s Eva Drozdetskaia and Gabriela Aguero, who defeated Gulliver’s No. 1 doubles team 6-2 on Gulliver’s home court.
Drozdetskaia made it two wins for the Lady Conchs by winning her No. 1 singles match 8-5 over the Raiders’ top player, an athlete ranked No. 32 in women’s tennis for the country of Chile. The Lady Conchs’ head coach Joie Switzer was very excited about her team’s wins over Gulliver, attributing much of the success to her athletes’ positive attitudes and tennis savvy.
“They (Eva and Gaby) are friends off the court and that showed with how well they communicated, had fun, covered the court and encouraged each other after every point,” she said. “They did a great job of taking control of the points with their powerful serves and groundstrokes, which allowed them to be on offense for a majority of the match.”
While Key West was busy in Miami, Monroe County’s other two teams played closer to home. Coral Shores made the quick trip Feb. 27 to take on the Fins on the courts at Marathon Community Park. The Hurricane boys defeated the Dolphins 5-2 with wins from Zach Bolano, Max Smith and Tony Khioni in singles action plus both doubles teams, consisting of Bolano and Aidan Althouse and Smith and Merrick Dunn. The Dolphins did have a pair of bright spots, first in No. 1 singles player Adrien Holdinga, and in Anthony Iarocci, who captured a win in the No. 5 singles spot.
The Lady Fins started off strong, with a win from No. 1 singles player Emily Alvear. Alvear defeated her opponent 8-4, but it would be the only win for the Fins. Coral Shores’ Chloe Koval, Emma Sogegeian, Harlee Beeler and Kameron Vetter won their singles matches. Koval teamed up with Vanessa Gabriel to win the No. 1 doubles match and Sogegeian paired with Emily Rosu to take the No. 2 doubles win to beat the Dolphins 6-1.
Coral Shores’ Vanessa Gabriel, Tony Khioni and Max Smith.
Photos by DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
REGAN ROTH PUTS THE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ON
STACKING UP
Lifters adding more plates as district competition nears
Gulliver Prep and Coral Shores visited Marathon on Feb. 26 for a boys weightlifting meet with one month to go before districts. Marathon won both the traditional and Olympic events, with Coral Shores taking second place and Gulliver placing third. The Hurricanes had individual winners in Nick Brown and Tyler Bettner, who each won both events in their weight classes. Brown competes at 119 pounds while Bettner is in the 139-pound category.
Marathon had a half-dozen double winners, starting with senior Chase Leird in the 129-pound class. Damian Stasiewicz (169), Vitalii Konyk (183), Max Childress (199), Tanner Ross (229) and Braulio Garcia (238) all won both Olympic and traditional in their weight classes. Matthias Martinez-Velez won the traditional event in the 154-pound class.
Athletes continue to perfect their form and add more weight. Childress and Ross surpassed the 500-pound mark last week in the traditional event. Childress combined 250-pound lifts in the clean and jerk and bench press to hit 500. Ross benched 280 and added a 265-pound clean to make 545 pounds in total weight lifted.
GRIMI BETANCOURT
“I love working for Regan Roth Insurance, managing the Marathon office and selling insurance. This is a tight knit working family. I’ve seen and have personally experienced the generosity of this organization. They always make the employees feel appreciated! Regan Roth Insurance was voted the best Insurance agency! Let’s keep it that way!"
A Keys resident since 1987, Grimi joined Regan Roth Insurance in the Marathon o ce nearly six years ago. She is the o ce manager and handles sales. In the insurance business since 1978, Grimi got her start in high school working part time for the life insurance department at the American Bankers Insurance Company in Miami. When not in the o ce or out networking, Grimi can be found exercising, dancing or socializing. She plans to learn to play pickleball in 2025 and take more time for herself enjoying her home just like the vacationers do. She is a member of the Marathon Rotary Club and a past board member of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce.
Coral Shores’ Nick Brown, left, and Marathon senior Chase Leird topped the leaderboard in both events for their weight classes on Feb. 26. Photos by Barry Gaukel and Doug Finger.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Hurricanes double up on wins; Carballo nets five goals against Warriors
The home field made all the difference in lacrosse for the Hurricanes last week, as Coral Shores improved to 4-2 on the season, thanks to wins against Coral Reef and Westminster Christian.
After a resounding 14-5 win against Coral Reef on Feb. 24, the Hurricanes traveled to Fort Lauderdale’s Westminster Academy on Feb. 26, where the Lions had the upper hand, defeating Coral Shores 12-2. On Feb. 28, the Hurricanes reclaimed the homefield advantage, using it to dismantle the Warriors of Westminster Christian 15-4. Lucas Carballo scored five goals and added two assists. Reed Tudor netted four goals and one assist. Lucas Hajec and Yandel Chaguaseda had two goals apiece, with Hajec adding an assist.
Zane Martinez scored one with an assist and Noah Myers accounted for one. Nathaniel Shugarman was credited with an assist in the big win. In goal, Brock Bynum had 13 saves for the ’Canes, and coach Chris Carrow praised Jace Jackson for his outstanding faceoffs. After a
three-game week, Coral Shores will find no rest for the weary – three more games are scheduled for this week.
Key West’s boys split the week, with a 16-11 win against Coral Reef on Feb. 28, then a 13-11 loss to Westminster Christian in Miami. Key West also stands at 4-2 on the season.
Both of Monroe County’s girls teams struggled last week. Coral Shores’ girls are still in the hunt for win number one this season after a loss to Coral Reef. Key West slipped to 2-4 after losses to Archbishop McCarthy and Westminster Christian.
In the loss to McCarthy, Kaitlyn Piloto accounted for five of the Conchs’ nine goals plus a pair of assists. The Lady Conchs played four games in seven days and succumbed to fatigue.
“We were gassed and couldn’t keep up,” said Key West coach Marissa Giacopuzzi. “When we connected, beautiful things happened.”
Lucas Carballo’s five goals and two assists powered Coral Shores’ 15-4 thrashing of Westminster Christian. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly
HEAVY HITTERS
Hurricane offense explodes for 28 knocks in two games
Coral Shores upped their baseball wins last week after two impressive offensive onslaughts over their opponents.
On Feb. 25, the ’Canes defeated Coral Park in a 15-4 road win, racking up 15 hits against the Rams. AJ Putetti and Riley O’Berry had three hits each, with two apiece coming off the bats of Donovan Thiery and Campbell Lavoie. Lavoie earned the win pitching for the Hurricanes in three innings on the mound. Glade Harrelson and Eddie Holly teamed up to finish off the Rams in win number one of the week.
Win number two came on Feb. 28 at home against the Thoroughbreds of Hialeah. Thiery continued his spectacular season on the mound, striking out 12, walking none and giving up a single hit in four innings. Four frames was all the Hurricanes would need before the mercy rule applied, ending the game at 15-0. Thiery was 4-4 at the plate with a single, a pair of doubles and a triple, with five RBIs. Maykol Bonito added three hits and Putetti notched two of the 13-hit total for Coral Shores.
Marathon went 2-1 last week, evening out their record to 4-4. The Fins started off strong at Ransom Everglades on Feb. 25, beating the rival Raiders 6-5 in a late-game rally. A Gavin Leal home run scored two in inning six, and a three-run push in the seventh iced the win. The Fins registered seven hits, including two each from Dylan Williams and Jack Chapman, and were error-free in the field. Williams got the start against Ransom, striking out five in two innings; Mason Thornton earned the win, striking out six in the final five frames.
Two nights later, NSU University School paid a visit to the Keys, stopping in Marathon before going to Key West for a pair of games. Against Marathon, the Sharks had a no-hitter and were a single error from a perfect game in their 9-0 win against the Dolphins.
Marathon quickly recovered with a Feb. 28 win over Miami Country Day. The Fins beat the Spartans 25-6 in Miami, amassing 19 hits, four walks and seven hit batters. Roco Piscetello, Bryan Broche, Jack Chapman, Jack Dunn, Jason Stubblefield and Gavin Leal had two hits apiece in the Fins’ romp. Piscetello was 3-3 at the plate and accounted for two of the Fins’ seven stolen bases. Four Dolphins saw time on the mound, collectively striking out nine batters, walking eight and surrendering six hits. Chapman started for the Fins, earning the win. Broche, Curren Nicolay and Shane Dieguez pitched in for the road win.
Key West handed NSU University School its first loss of the season on Feb. 28 after taking advantage of a pair of Shark errors in inning two. The Conchs capitalized on the NSU miscues, adding three hits and a pair of walks to score four in the second frame. A back-and-forth game kept Key West fans on the edge of their seats, but the Conchs would not need their final at-bat to put a blemish on the Sharks’ record.
Nelson Ong’s three hits and two RBIs were clutch in the 6-4 victory. Freshman Kade Maltz added a pair of hits to the team total of nine. Vinnie Moline pitched the first three and two-thirds innings, striking out six batters, walking four and surrendering five hits. Jon Carlos LampasGormley came in to close it out for the Conchs.
The following night, the Sharks cleaned up their defense, and their error-free play helped contribute to a different outcome. University School strung together a trio of pitchers to put a damper on the Conchs’ batting, walking four and giving up just two hits the entire game. Sam Holland’s double and Kaine Dickerson’s single were not enough to get the Conchs on the board in the 5-0 loss, which put Key West at 4-2 on the season.
Clockwise from top: AJ Putetti, Donovan Thiery, Riley O’Berry, Maykol Bonito and Campbell Lavoie. JOY SMITH/Contributed
THROWING THE DISTANCE
Conch boys dominate tosses at Panther Relays
Key West’s track and field team made the trip to Fort Lauderdale on March 1 for the 19th annual Pine Crest Panther Relays, where athletes were able to show off their skills in their usual events as well as some relays not held during regular meets.
The boys showed their strength with impressive results in the field events, particularly in throwing. Shane Lavallee was the lone Conch to bring home an overall win for Key West. His 157’6” toss was the best of 32 competitors. Teammates Anthony Jenner and Jeremiah Harvey finished second and third, with all three athletes’ best distances separated by just over four feet – a foot closer than the nearest competitor from another school could manage.
Also proving their prowess in the throwing events were Josh Johnson and Noah Mercer, who finished second in the shot put and discus events, respectively. The Conchs had a good showing in the jumping events, too; Jeff Dejean had third-place finishes in long and triple jump while Malachi Telisma was third in high jump.
The Lady Conchs’ best finish was also in a field event. Ariel Newton was second in the pole vault. On the track, Violet Jangraw, Emerson Jackson, Naima Thomas and Caylaa Makimaa went the distance, running a mile each to capture third place in the 4x1600 meter relay. Alyssandra Camargo, Lilia Mook, Jordan Greene and Newton did the same in the 4x200.
This week, the Conchs competed against their nearest neighbors in a meet at Coral Shores on March 4, which included Marathon as well as Barbara Goleman High. Results were not available at press time.
Shane
Lavallee. MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
11TH STREET OCEAN MINI
STORAGE
Notice is here by given that on March 8th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., 11th Street Ocean Mini Storage 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. 11th Street Ocean Mini Storage does reserve the right to refuse any bids. The sales will be held at 200 11th Street, Ocean, Marathon, Florida 33050. Units to be sold: Unit #20
Publish: February 27 and March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT I ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC I) (encompasses the City Limits of Key West) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council has an opening for a TOURIST RELATED BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE - Shall be persons involved in business which is interdependent upon the tourist industry who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development but who shall not be employed in any position within the lodging industry (motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, and other tourist accommodations and whose business is in the tax collection district for which they are applying).
Any person wishing to participate on the District I Advisory Committee of
the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below: Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040
The deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday March 21, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application.
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY COMMISSION of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida will hold a Public Hearing First Reading on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits. This meeting will be at the Key Colony Beach City Hall Commission room located at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida, 33051. The City Commission will hear the following Ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-497
AN ORDINANCE OF KEY COLONY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE FUTURE LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, COASTAL MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ELEMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; ADDING A PROPERTY RIGHTS ELEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING GOAL, OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES; AS MANDATED BY FLORIDA STATUTES 163.3177; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE STATE LAND PLANNING AGENCY; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. This meeting will be available virtually via ZOOM Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may join the Zoom Meeting at https://us02web. zoom.us/j/81251683838?pwd =1HgjibnvJbgl2KifRl405qoStVCWae.1
Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach.
The City Commission requests an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in order to guide and control the future development of the City to preserve, promote, and protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. This proposed amendment is required by Florida law in areas of critical state concern. Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested code amendment.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. If you are unable to attend the Hearing on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Clerk, P.O. Box. 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or cityclerk@keycolonybeach.net and your comments will be entered into the record.
Silvia Roussin
Publish: March 6, 2025.
DISTRICT III ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC III) (from the West End of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
has an opening for an “At Large” representative - Any resident who is not directly involved in a tourism business and who shall represent the general public and shall live or work within the tax collection district for which they are applying. (The operative word within this description is directly. This word means someone who is not in business, nor whose business or economic activity is dependent upon tourists.)
Any person wishing to participate on the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below:
Department DAC Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040
The deadline for receipt of application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application.
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
DISTRICT III ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC III) (from the West End of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a LODGING INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE – Shall be owners or operating/general managers of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations which are subject to bed tax in the tax collection district for which they are applying. Any person wishing to participate on the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below:
Department DAC
Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040
Deadline for receipt of
application at the above address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application.
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (District III Representative) of the MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has an opening for a District III Fishing Advisory Committee Representative (from the West End of the Seven Mile Bridge to the Long Key Bridge) Must reside full time in the Florida Keys and have a fishing related business or represent and have knowledge of fishing tournaments that utilize/ request funding from the specific bed tax district they are representing. Any person wishing to participate in the Fishing Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council within the district so noted above, may request an application by emailing sydney@fla-keys. com. Completed applications should be emailed to sydney@ fla-keys.com or may be sent via U.S. mail to the address below:
Department FAC
Monroe County Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, FL 33040
The deadline for receipt of application at the above email address is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. A resume may be attached to the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm the email was received.
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 10:00 A.M., at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway Key Largo, FL 33037, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners is providing an opportunity, if requested, to receive public comment on: Monroe County’s Intent to Submit an Application to FDOT for Grant Funding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 5310, “Formula Grants for Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities.”
All interested parties within Monroe County are hereby advised that Monroe County, by and through the Social Services Department, is applying to the Florida
Department of Transportation for a capital grant under Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act of 1991, as amended, for the purchase of two (2) para-transit vehicles (to wit: ADA Chrysler Voyager minivans, with an estimated Federal Funding: $126,000; Cost to Monroe County: $14,000 = aggregate cost of $140,000) to be used for the provision of public transit services within Monroe County.
This notice is to provide an opportunity for a Public Hearing on this application/ project. This public notice is to ensure that this application/ project and the contemplated services will not duplicate current or proposed services provided by existing transit or paratransit operators in the area.
This hearing will be conducted if and only if a written request for the hearing is received by 03/13/2025.
Requests for a hearing must be addressed to Sheryl Graham, Sr. Director, Monroe County Social Services, at 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-257, Key West, FL 33040 (or sent by email to GrahamSheryl@MonroeCounty-FL. Gov) and a copy sent to Raymond Freeman, Passenger Operations Manager, FDOT District Office, 1000 N.W. 111th Avenue, Room 6108, Miami, FL 33172. Please Note: Florida Law and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibits Discrimination in Public accommodation on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability,income or of marital status.
Persons believing they have been discriminated against on these conditions may file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations at 850-488-7082 or 800-342-8170 (voice messaging).
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH NOTICE OF CODE AMENDMENT HEARING “SECOND/FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025-498” NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach, Florida, will hold the following Public Hearing to hear amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances.
DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 20th, 2025, 9:35 am OR at the conclusion of the Public Hearing
LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach, Marble Hall, 600 W. Ocean Dr., Key Colony Beach. The proposed Ordinance to be heard by the City Commission is [ORDINANCE NO. 2025-498],
The following is an upcoming GMX procurement opportunity:
City Clerk, City of Key Colony Beach REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
PROCUREMENT/CONTRACT NO.: RFQ-25-06 GMX WORK PROGRAM NO.: 83618-001.013
PROJECT/SERVICE TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT SERVICES FOR KENDALL PARKWAY SEGMENTS 1 AND 2
For detailed information please visit the Procurement Department website at www.gmx-way.com/business/solicitations, or call the Procurement Department at 305-637-3277 for assistance.
Publish: March 6, 2025. The Weekly Newspapers
entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH FLORIDA, AMENDING CODE OF ORDINANCE ARTICLE VI – FINANCE, SECTION 2-75 TO INCREASE THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING THRESHOLD; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
The Business Impact Statement is available for review on the City of Key Colony Beach’s website at www.keycolonybeach.net and at City Hall at 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach. Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available for inspection at the City Hall of Key Colony Beach. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Key Colony Beach City Commission with respect to any matter considered at the Code Amendment Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceeding and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to: City Clerk, P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, and your comments will be entered into the record. To be published: On or before March 10th, 2025 City Clerk City of Key Colony Beach, Florida Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON:
City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, April 17th, 2025, 9:30 A.M. LOCATION: City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’ 600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051 To hear a Variance Request from Joseph Suarez, Agent to the Property Owner 15th Circle LLC, Owner of the property located at 230 15th Circle, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. The applicant requests a variance to the Key Colony Beach Land Development Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 101-8, to construct a 5-foot reinforced concrete retaining wall at 230 15th Circle. The wall will allow the builder to stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion. It is consistent with neighboring homes that have similar 5-foot retaining walls. Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the
• CLASSIFIEDS, PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES •
proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, or Thursday, April 17th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net, and your comments will be entered into the record.
Published: On or before March 9th, 2025 City Clerk, City of Key Colony Beach
Publish: March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF KEY COLONY BEACH WILL BE HOLDING THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
DATE/TIME:
Planning & Zoning Hearing:
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
City Commission Public Hearing: Thursday, April 17th, 2025, 9:30 A.M.
LOCATION:
City of Key Colony Beach City Hall Auditorium ‘Marble Hall’
600 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051
To hear a Variance Request from Joseph Suarez, Agent to the Property Owner 15th Circle LLC, Owner of the property located at 260 15th Circle, Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051. This meeting will be available via Zoom Meetings. Members of the public who wish to attend virtually may email the City Clerk at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net or call 305-289-1212, Ext. 2 for further instructions on attending via Zoom Meetings. The applicant requests a variance to the City of Key Colony Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Article III, Division 3, Sec. 5-35, requesting to construct 2 (two) “T”-shaped docks along the existing seawall, maintaining compliance with the setback requirements and avoiding encroachment on neighboring properties. Current regulations specify no more than one (1) dock per lot Interested parties may attend the Hearing and be heard with respect to the requested variance.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission of the City of Key Colony Beach with respect to any matter considered at the Variance Hearing, that person will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
If you are unable to attend the Hearings on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, or Thursday, April 17th, 2025, but wish to comment, please direct correspondence to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 510141, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051, or via email at cityclerk@ keycolonybeach.net, and your comments will be entered into the record.
Published: On or before March 9th, 2025 City Clerk, City of Key Colony Beach Publish: March 6, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION CASE NO.: 24-CP-445-M IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RICHARD KAUFFMAN, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of RICHARD KAUFFMAN, deceased, whose date of death was July 22, 2024, Case: 24-CP-445-M, is pending in the Circuit Court, 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, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.
The date of first publication of this Notice is: March 6, 2025.
Personal Representative: KATHY LYNN KNIGHT
c/o Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040
Attorney for Personal Representative: Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq. Florida Bar No. 0144304
Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A. 3130 Northside Drive Key West, Florida 33040 Email designation for service: Service.Probate@ samkaufmanlaw.com Telephone: (305) 292-3926
Fax: (305) 295-7947
Publish: March 6 & 13, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-58-K DIVISION: LOWER KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF EDGAR FRANKLIN MOORE III aka FRANKLIN MOORE III, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of EDGAR FRANKLIN MOORE III aka FRANKLIN MOORE III, deceased, whose date of death was November 5, 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: March 6, 2025.
Personal Representative: Glenda M. Moore 3901 Osprey Lane Big Torch Key, Florida 33042
Attorney for Personal Representative: Richard E. Warner
Attorney
Florida Bar Number: 283134
RICHARD E. WARNER, P.A. 12221 Overseas Highway MARATHON, FL 33050
Telephone: (305) 743-6022
Fax: (305) 743-6216
E-mail: richard@rewarnerlaw. com
Secondary E-Mail: pamela2@ rewarnerlaw.com
Publish:
March 6 & 13, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 25-CP-56-M
DIVISION: MARATHON
IN RE: ESTATE OF BONNIE KEYS CARL Deceased.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The administration of the estate of Bonnie Keys Carl, deceased, whose date of death was December 29, 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 representatives and the personal representatives’ 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: March 6, 2025.
Personal Representatives: Margot E. Everett 650 Delancey St, Apt 217 San Francisco, California 94107
Lauren Carl 1806 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, California 93101
Attorney for Personal Representatives: 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: March 6 & 13, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO. 25-CP-13-K IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY ANN FINLAY, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE: The administration of the Estate of Mary Ann Finlay, deceased, File No. 25-CP-13-K, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 502 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040. The name and address of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent's estate including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served, must file their claims with the clerk of the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Address: 502 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040 ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.
All other creditors of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (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 Personal Representative or Curator 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. 732.216732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. The date of first publication of this Notice is February 27, 2025. Dated at Miami-Dade County, Florida this 12th day of February, 2025. Personal Representative: EDWARD W. FINLAY Attorney for Personal Representative: M. BARBARA AMARO ESQ. FBN 611298 156 Hillside Dr., Neptune, NJ 07753 8950 SW 74 Court, Suite 2201, A-19 Miami, FL 33156 (305) 384-7213 (888) 508-5215 Fax Barbara@AmaroProbateLaw. com
Publish:
February 27 & March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 24-DR-941-P JON KONRAD, Petitioner, and JONATHON RANDOLPH, Respondent.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR ADOPTION TO: JONATHON RANDOLPH RESPONDENT’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 9323 WELBY TERRACE, THORNTON, CO 80229
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for Adoption has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Jon Konrad, whose address is 103041 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 on or before March 27, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, FL 33070, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.
Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: February 18, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Jennifer Havengar Deputy Clerk Publish: February 27 and March 6, 13 & 20, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2024-DR-914-K
DIVISION: FAMILY TOMAS ZINDULKA, Petitioner, and WARD LEROY HAFNER, Respondent.
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: WARD LEROY HAFNER Respondent LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 3806 CINDY AVENUE KEY WEST, FLORIDA 33040 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on the Petitioner, TOMAS ZINDULKA, through his counsel of record Samuel J. Kaufman, Esq., The Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A., whose address is 3130 Northside Drive, Key West, Florida 33040 on or before March 13, 2025, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at the following address: 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, before service on the Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. The action is asking the court to decide how the following real or personal property should be divided: NONE Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the address(es) on record at the clerk’s office. WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: February 6, 2025 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Destiny Johnson Deputy Clerk Publish: February 13, 20 & 27 and March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE BY THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Kevin Madok, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, will, on the 21ST day of March 2025 at 11 o’clock a.m., at 500 Whitehead Street, Monroe County, in the City of Key West, Florida, offer for sale and sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for CASH the Following described property situated in Monroe County, Florida, to wit: THE WESTERLY 40 FEET OF LOT 12, LOT 13 AND LOT 14, BLOCK 29, SANDS SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1, PAGE 65, IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. Property Address: 31132 AVENUE E, BIG PINE KEY, FL 33043
Pursuant to FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE entered in a case pending in said Court, the 3rd day of February 2025 Style of which is: U.S. BANK N.A., SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR TO LASALLE BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF
OF THE HOLDERS OF THE WASHINGTON MUTUAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, WMALT SERIES 2005-5 Plaintiff
vs. MATTHEW RYAN PARROTT A/K/A MATTHEW R. PARROTT; WORTHY H. MAYNARD; VALDINE S. PARROTTMAYNARD A/K/A VALDINE SCHWILM PARROTTMAYNARD A/K/A VALDINE PARROTT MAYNARD; UNKNOWN TENANT IN POSSESSION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY Defendant
And the Docket Number of which is Number 2024-CA001080-K WITNESS my hand and the Official Seal of Said Court, this 5TH day of February 2025 KEVIN MADOK Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk Florida Statute 45.031: Any person claiming as interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale. Publish: March 6 & 13, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
NOTICE OF ACTION RE: MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB II ASSOCIATION, INC MONROE County, Florida NON-JUDICIAL TIMESHARE FORECLOSURE PROCESS TO: Unit Owner(s) Last Known Address Unit Week(s)
John W Cummings 109 Poland Hill Place Lafayette, IN 47909
B201/03
$6,443.14 B201/04
$6,443.14 B201/47 $6,443.14 A202/21
$6,443.14
David B Denholtz and Rhonda J Denholtz 13231 Shetland Lane Ft Myers, FL 33912 D202/31 $2,951.14 D202/32 $2,951.14 Troy Gonyea and Michelle Gonyea 16 Silver Street Meriden, CT 06450 E102/20 $1,514.85 Jennifer L Hill 931 Cordova Avenue Ormond Beach, FL 32174 C101/21 $5,402.08 Ralph W Hoffman 21225 Railroad Avenue High Springs, FL 32643 B102/25 $1,517.30 Anita Holt 12 N 269 Factly Road West Sycamore, IL 60178 B102/50 $4,047.55
Lorraine Khoury 7545 Oso Blanca Road Las Vegas, NV 89149 B101/05 $4,712.06 B101/06 $4,712.06 Isadoro Perez and Miladys Perez 13460 SW 66th Street Southwest Ranches, FL 33330 A102/27 $2,960.14 Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc
E101/12
$4,048.94
Anne E Richardson 5000 S Centinela Ave #213 Los Angeles, CA 90066
B102/36
$2,960.14
Kennella L Rowzie
604 Deen Road
Bunnell, FL 32110
C102/01
$1,516.58
Joseph A Viani and Mary Viani
7263 Halleck Street
Viera, FL 32940
C201/40
$1,517.30
Louis J Wilder
405 Southwind Drive, Apt 1 North Palm Beach, FL 33408
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED of an action for non-judicial foreclosure of timeshare units on the Claim of Lien on the following described real property, located in MONROE County, Florida, to-wit: Unit Numbers and Annual Timeshare Use Periods (as set forth above) in MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB CONDOMINIUM II, and all appurtenances thereto, according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof, as recorded in Official Records Book 859, Page 786 of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida and all amendments and exhibits thereto. has been filed against you. If you fail to cure the default as set forth in this notice or take other appropriate action with regard to this foreclosure matter, you risk losing ownership of your timeshare interest through the trustee foreclosure procedure established in Section 721.855, Florida Statutes. You may choose to sign and send to the trustee an objection form, exercising your right to object to the use of the trustee foreclosure procedure. If you would like an Objection form, you should contact the undersigned Trustee, Thomas L Avrutis, Esquire, in writing. Upon the trustee’s receipt of your signed objection form, the foreclosure of the lien with respect to the default specified in this notice shall be subject to the judicial foreclosure procedure only. You have the right to cure your default in the manner set forth in this notice at any time before the trustee’s sale of your timeshare interest. Objections must be made in writing to:
Thomas L Avrutis, Esquire
TRUSTEE FOR MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB II ASSOCIATION, INC 201 Fletcher Avenue, Second Floor Sarasota, FL 34237 within 30 days of the first date of publication of this Notice. If you do not object to the use of the trustee foreclosure procedure, you will not be subject to a deficiency judgment even if the proceeds from the sale of your timeshare interest are insufficient to offset the amounts secured by the lien. Dated this _19th__ day of ___FEBRUARY_______, 2025.
Thomas L Avrutis, Esquire, TRUSTEE TRUSTEE for MARATHON KEY BEACH CLUB II ASSOCIATION, INC
Publish: February 27 and March 6, 2025 The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION
CASE NO.: 25-CA-000047-P JAVIER CERVERA, Plaintiff,
v. ERIC SOULAVY AND CRISTINA BEHRENS DE SOULAVY, Defendants. ____________________/ NOTICE OF ACTION
TO DEFENDANTS, ERIC SOULAVY AND CRISTINA BEHRENS DE SOULAVY, AND ALL OTHERS WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property in Monroe County, Florida:
Legal Description: Condominium Unit No. 33, of ANGLERS CLUB, a Condominium, according to the Declaration of Condominium thereof, as recorded in Official Records Book 1028, at Page 2375, of the Public Records of Monroe County, Florida, and all amendments thereto, together with its undivided share in the common elements.
a/k/a 50 Clubhouse Road #33, Key Largo, FL 33037 has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on JORGE L. FORS, JR., FORS | ATTORNEYS AT LAW, the Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is 1108 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33134, on or before 27th day of March, 2025 and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on the Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
DATED on this 18th day of February, 2025.
KEVIN MADOK, CPA Clerk of the Court
By: Jennifer Havengar Deputy Clerk Publish: February 27 & March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIVIL DIVISION
Case#: 2012-CA-000363-K Federal National Mortgage Association
Plaintiff,
-vs.Joseph Patrick Clements a/k/a Joseph P. Clements and Debra Lynn Clements a/k/a Debra L. Clements a/k/a Debbie L. Clements; Branch Banking and Trust Company, Successor by Merger to Republic Bank; Iberiabank; Unknown Parties in Possession #1, If living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) who are not known to be dead or alive, whether said Unknown Parties may claim an interest as Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, or Other Claimants; Unknown Parties in Possession #2, If living, and all Unknown Parties claiming by, through, under and against the above named Defendant(s) who are not known to be dead or alive, whether said Unknown Parties may claim an interest as Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, or Other Claimants Defendant(s).
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to order rescheduling foreclosure sale or Final Judgment, entered in Civil Case No. 2012-CA000363-K of the Circuit Court of the 16th Judicial Circuit in and for Monroe County, Florida, wherein Federal National Mortgage Association, Plaintiff and Joseph Patrick Clements
a/k/a Joseph P. Clements and Debra Lynn Clements
a/k/a Debra L. Clements
a/k/a Debbie L. Clements are defendant(s), I, Clerk of Court, Kevin Madok,CPA, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash AT THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 500 WHITEHEAD STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33040, AT 11:00
A.M. on March 12, 2025, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment, to-wit: Property Address: 728 Prado Circle, Key West, FL 33040 LOT 23, BLOCK 2, AMENDED PLAT OF COPPITT SUBDIVISION, (A RESUBDIVISION OF PLAT BOOK 3, AT PAGE 116) LOCATED IN GOVERNMENT LOT 5, SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 67 S., RANGE 26 E., BIG COPPITT KEY, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 4, AT PAGE 50, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. ANY PERSON CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS FROM THE SALE, IF ANY, OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER AS OF THE DATE OF THE LIS PENDENS MUST FILE A CLAIM NO LATER THAN THE DATE THAT THE CLERK REPORTS THE FUNDS AS UNCLAIMED. Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Rule 2.540 Notices to Persons With Disabilities If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Cheryl Alfonso, ADA Coordinator, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
SPANISH: Si usted es una persona discapacitada que necesita alguna adaptación para poder participar de este procedimiento o evento; usted tiene derecho, sin costo alguno a que se le provea cierta ayuda. Favor de comunicarse con Cheryl Alfonso, Coordinadora de A.D.A Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652 por lo menos 7 días antes de que tenga que comparecer en corte o inmediatamente después de haber recibido ésta notificación si es que falta menos de 7 días para su comparecencia. Si tiene una discapacidad auditiva ó de habla, llame al 711.
KREYOL: Si ou se yon moun ki kokobé ki bezwen asistans ou aparêy pou ou ka patisipé nan prosedu sa-a, ou gen dwa san ou pa bezwen péyé anyen pou ou jwen on seri de èd. Tanpri kontakté Cheryl Alfonso, Co-ordinator ADA, Court Operations Manager, 502 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-295-3652O'mwen 7 jou avan ke ou gen pou-ou parèt nan tribunal, ou imediatman ke ou resevwa avis sa-a ou si lè ke ou gen pou-ou alé nan tribunal-la mwens ke 7 jou; Si ou pa ka tandé ou palé byen, rélé 711.
Kevin Madok, CPA CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT Monroe County, Florida
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk of Court
Publish: February 27 and March 6, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIVIL ACTION CASE NO.: 24-CA-000958-K CANDANCE ILENE VALLADARES Individually Plaintiff, vs. Equity Link, INC.
A California Incorporated Company NuView IRA, Inc. f/k/a/ Entrust Administration Services, Inc. A Florida Profit Corporation Warren Lloyd Holtzman IRA, MINDY SILVERSTEIN, Individually JOSE MIRANDA, Individually Defendants _____________/ AMENDED NOTICE OF ACTION FOR PUBLICATION To: Equity Link, Inc., Registered Agent Kevin Costa Last known address: 4522 Old Spanish Trail, Jacksonville, FL 32257 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to Quiet Title and to remove the cloud from title of the real property described as: PART OF LOT 51 ACCORDING TO MCDONALD’S SURVEY OF PART OF STOCK ISLAND RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1, PAGE 55 OF MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS AND IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID BLOCK 51, GO WESTERLY ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF THIRD AVENUE A DISTANCE OF 250 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE AT RIGHT ANGLES AND NORTHERLY A DISTANCE OF 200 FEET TO A POINT; WHICH POINT IS THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE CONTINUE NORTHERLY ALONG THE PROLONGATION OF THE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED COURSE A DISTANCE OF 70 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE AT RIGHT ANGLES AND WESTERLY A DISTANCE OF 125 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE AT RIGHT ANGLES AND SOUTHERLY A DISTANCE OF 70 FEET; THENCE AT RIGHT ANGLES EASTERLY A DISTANCE OF 125 FEET BACK TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA with a physical address of: 6430 Sunshine Street, Key West, FL 33040. Folio Number: 00126510-000000 has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it, on Eric J. Sanchez PA, Attorney for Plaintiff, whose address is 4960 SW 72nd Avenue, Suite 206, Miami, FL 33155, (786) 408-9681 on or before March 31, 2025, a date which is within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this Notice in The Keys Weekly and file the original with the Clerk of this Court at Freeman Justice Center, 302 Fleming Street., Key West, FL 33040, either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default and judgment will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
Dated: February 19, 2025
KEVIN MADOK, CPA, Clerk CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
By: Shonta McLeod
Deputy Clerk
Publish: February 27 and March 6, 13 & 20, 2025
The Weekly Newspapers
WANTED
ALL YEARS! Junk or Used Cars, Vans, Trucks.
Truck For SaleHandyman's special: '07 F350 Utility Truck with tools on truck. Located in Key West. $12,000 305-393-6253
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844 TODAY!
BOATS FOR SALE
2021 325 CC World Catlow hours, very clean, new Spot Lock, new anchor puller, life raft, full cover, on a lift at Key Colony Beach. Call Harry 724-689-9085
GREAT DEAL: Key Largo 21' Deep V Center Console w/trailer. New 150hp motor & electronics. Ready to fish. PRICE REDUCED TO $20,000. Located in Marathon. 201-696-8906
BOAT SLIP FOR RENT
Boat Dockage for rent in Marathon. Private bay bottom, up to 40' boat, self containing, offshore water, car & dingy parking space provided. 305-610-8002
EMPLOYMENT
ALL KEYS GUTTER HIRING INSTALLERS $25/$35hrMajor Holidays Off - Benefits - Tavernier. Apply: call or text Jay 305-587-1581
Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight availability at our Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am plus weekly stipend, Drug & background screen required. www.westcare. com/join-our-team/
All Keys Yamaha hiring a Technician Marine Repair specializing in Yamaha outboard engines. Also hiring: Retail Parts/Counter Help - Marine outboard knowledge a plus. Quickbook experience a plus. Hours M-F 8a- 5p for both positions. Apply in person at 2001 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-743-3530
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time line cook. Private club, friendly atmosphere. Flexible lunch/ dinner shifts available Tuesday – Saturday, some Sundays. English proficiency required. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Email office@ marathonyachtclub.com to schedule an interview.
Marathon Yacht Club is hiring a part-time bookkeeper. QuickBooks experience required. Must provide photo ID, social security card or passport, and checking account. Email office@ marathonyachtclub.com to schedule an interview.
Groundskeeper/ Maintenance person, KCB, Sea Isle Condominium, 20 hrs. per week, $25 per hr., apply by e-mail to HardingThomasL@aol.com, text or call 734-476-0531.
Receptionist for law firm in Marathon. Computer and writing skills. Call or email 305743-9428 or service@ floridakeyslaw.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, 9:30am- 7pm daily. Full time/ Part time. Small friendly staff. Above average hourly wage plus tips. Apply in person at 425 E. Ocean Dr. Key Colony Beach or call 404-2193359 and ask for Dave.
The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Resident Care Supervisor with min. 3 yrs. experience of an LPN, CarpenterFT-KeyWest, Housing Manager- FT-Marathon, Housing Assistant FTKey West 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
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 HIRED!!!
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR ONLY $25/WEEK FOR UP TO 5 LINES OF COPY. CALL 305-743-0844
Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches.
Keys Energy Services, in Key West, Florida, is accepting applications for the following position in its Engineering Department:
PROJECT
Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $131,081/annually$134,751/annually
For more information, including job duties and required qualifications,
priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
IN HOME SUPPORT LIVE-IN CARETAKER (FT) – Key West
Seeking a full-time, live-in, 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 with hours in the morning and the evening. We can be flexible on the hours but must be available to work both days and evenings as needed. *
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 years 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
1401 Seminary St., Key West. Or online at www.marchouse.org. For more information, please contact hr@marchouse.org Phone: 305-294-9526 *32
DUI FRONT DESK CLERK & EVALUATOR/INSTRUCTOR
The Advocate Program DUI school is
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
Advocate (FT)
Front Desk Specialist
Behavioral Health Counselor (Children)
KEY WEST
Case Manager (Adult PT, Child FT)
Behavioral Health Therapist (Children)
Behavioral Health Counselor (Children) Advocate MARATHON Care Coordinator (PT)
Driver – PT (CDL not required)
RN/Licensed Practical Nurse (FT/PT) Advocate (PT)
*Behavioral Health Technicians – 3 shifts (FT/PT)
*Support Worker (Assisted Living, PT)
*Night Monitor (Assisted Living - Free Housing)
*No experience required for this position. Will train. A caring heart & helpful hands necessary.
Background and drug screen req. EEOC/DFWP
EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS!!! 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
NOW HIRING
HVAC TECH WANTED
Upper Keys position, reporting in Tavernier. Full time job with benefits, vacation time, and holidays.
Apply at keysschools.com or call 305-293-1400 ext. 53398
OPENINGS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN PRACTICE OPENINGS
- Advanced Practice Provider (APRN-PA-C)Surgical, Ortho, Tavernier
- Social Work Case Manager, Case Management, $10k Bonus
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
*Sign-on bonuses are available only for select full-time positions based on candidate experience.
APPLY AND LEARN MORE careers.baptisthealth.net
THEME: MARCH MADNESS
ACROSS
1. Giant Himalayan
5. *M in MAC
8. Bathtub libation
11. Joie de vivre
12. Do like fly fisherman
13. East side of Jersey
15. Tucked in 16. Diva’s solo
17. Length of a forearm
18. *____ Sunday
20. Osiris’ wife
21. Freshwater fish
22. Stir fry pan
23. Victorian era overcoat
26. Smallest
30. *Like attending band at the NCAA Tournament
31. Kaa of “The Jungle Book”
34. Great Lake
35. Prep mushrooms for steak, e.g.
37. Cooking fat
38. Bible song
39. Second to last word in some fairytales
40. False
42. Dip oreo into milk, e.g.
43. Tiresome
45. Hoariest
47. NBC’s sketch comedy show
48. Misrepresent
50. South American monkey
52. *2025 NCAA Championship game venue
56. Renaissance fiddle
57. “To ____ and to hold”
58. ____-friendly
59. Founding Father Thomas ____
60. Damien’s prediction
61. Reunion group
62. Bancroft to Hoffman in “The Graduate”
63. Agreement word
64. Ages and ages
DOWN
1. Nay opposers
2. River in Bohemia
3. 1.3 ounces, in Asia
4. Owes money (2 words)
5. Angelina Jolie’s 2024 singing role
6. “Kick the bucket,” e.g.
7. *____ Smith, coach of 2 champs and 11 Final Four teams
