Your piece of paradise
Experience the ultimate in Florida Keys living with this coveted side-by-side duplex in the desirable Key Colony Beach community. Boasting seven spacious bedrooms and six baths, this property offers plenty of room for large families or groups and has excellent rental income potential. You can live on one side and rent the other, use both sides for extended family and friends, or rent both for maximum income potential. Soak up the warm Florida Keys sunshine while relaxing in your private swim spa or under the covered patio overlooking the serene canal, perfect for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The stunning rooftop view is the ideal spot to enjoy the beauty of the community, with its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Whether lounging in the sun or sipping on a cool drink, you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated as you take in the sights from this prime vantage point. The metal roof was recently installed in 2018, and one side of the property has a brand new AC. Take a short walk or bike to the beach, restaurants, and shops, or enjoy Key Colony Beach's many amenities, including its police department, post office, golf course and tennis courts.
9709 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050
Office: 305.743.0844 www.keysweekly.com
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A wildfire in neighboring south Miami-Dade burned a total of 26,719 natural acres over the course of nine days. That’s larger than the Palisades, California fire, which burned 23,448 acres. As of March 25, the Florida Forest Service said the wildfire was 85% contained.
FWC’s Kristene Parsons prepares to place a tag on the dorsal fin of a distressed sawfish in Marathon. After a full day of observation, the 12-foot ray eventually swam away under her own power. See page 6. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
Marathon’s participation in a special taxing district supporting operations at Fishermen’s Community Hospital will be decided in a special call meeting on Monday, March 31. KEYS WEEKLY FILE PHOTO
HOSPITAL TAX RENEWAL HEADLINES MARATHON CITY COUNCIL SESSION
Final review of annual assessment skipped the agenda
alex@keysweekly.com
Renewal of a controversial hospital taxing district nearly slid under the radar at the Marathon City Council’s March 25 session. After a stern outcry from residents, that decision will now head to a special call meeting on Monday, March 31.
Established in 2018, the Middle Keys Health Care Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) is a $15 million pledge from Middle Keys taxpayers in support of Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon. Initially billed as a special taxing district in support of brick-and-mortar construction for
the hospital, destroyed by Hurricane Irma weeks after Baptist Health South Florida’s purchase of the facility, the MSTU eventually shifted to subsidize the cost of uninsured and underinsured “indigent care.”
Annual reviews and city council votes to continue including Marathon taxpayers in the special district have seen varying degrees of opposition from residents and council members, and continued participation passed in 3-2 and 4-1 votes in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The original 2018 ordinance provides that the city council “shall annually review (the) MSTU at its first meeting in March.” But the 2024 renewal took place in February, and discussion of the taxing district was not listed on Marathon’s published agenda for Tuesday’s meeting – originally scheduled as the council’s only meeting in March, due to Florida Keys Day in Tallahassee.
In a radio appearance on March
24, City Manager George Garrett told Florida Keys Media’s Morning Magazine to expect the unpublished discussion in Tuesday’s session, prompting a reaction from concerned Marathon residents.
Referencing multiple emails received that day regarding the tax after word spread on social media, Vice Mayor Jeff Smith told those in the room he “gave clear direction that I wanted it on the agenda, and it got omitted.”
“There’s a lot of other things going on, and with discussions I was having internally, I missed the fact that this had to happen in March,” Garrett told the council. “My apologies both to you folks, and obviously to the public that’s listening in.”
Reports over the past year have conflicted regarding the exact timeline and amount remaining from the initial $15 million commitment. In February 2024, Fishermen’s Hospital CFO Patti Boylan told the council that she expected the taxing district to hit its mark by February of 2025, and that additional funds collected during the 2024-25 tax year could theoretically be returned to the residents of Duck Key, Key Colony Beach and Marathon.
continued on page 29
ALEX RICKERT
made the natural career transition from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor after six years at Dolphin Research Center. His passions include running, watersports, and civil disagreements with sharks while spearfishing.
I’m not a morning person, but there are some days when an early wake-up call doesn’t bother me one bit. March 20 was one of those days.
The call wasn’t to tell me about a typo in my paper (Thursday warriors, you know who you are). It wasn’t trying to reach me about my car’s extended warranty. It was from my buddy Capt. Bill Giliberti of Top Notch Sportfishing.
“Hey man, get down to Keys Fisheries. I just left there, but there was a huge sawfish spinning this morning.”
Let the record reflect: If there’s an endangered animal in distress, you can, and should, call me any time, day or night.
But as fast as I threw my clothes on and got down to the marina, I still wasn’t the first one on site. Not even close. Already scouting the area were FWC’s Lauren Lapham and Kristene Parsons along with FSU biological technician Jake Beretta. Knowing the 12-foot ray was last spotted in a shallow basin next to Keys Fisheries’ bar, Lapham got in a kayak for a closer look.
What seemed like just seconds later, they found what they came for: The iconic hedgetrimmer-esque rostrum broke the surface, and the ailing sawfish thrashed through the seagrass until it reached the shore, snagging its teeth in the mangroves.
The three hours that followed were some of the most rewarding moments of my career as a news editor. Doing my best to provide an extra set of hands but otherwise stay out of the way, I watched the experts go to work –assessing whether the sawfish was responsive, making coordinating calls to figure out a game plan, taking measurements and tissue samples, drawing blood and placing two different identifying tags. As it turns out, the female sawfish was first tagged nine years ago – all the way up in Charlotte Harbor on Florida’s west coast.
Reports of dying sawfish and “spinning fish” in the Keys commanded national headlines in 2024. Research efforts since that day have pointed to neurotoxins produced by the Gambierdiscus family of algae as the likely culprit – but the case is far from closed, as good science is always evolving. After all, it’s nearly impossible to “prove” something mere months after it happens, and an ever-changing marine environment adding new complications every day provides a perpetual puzzle.
Thankfully, although reports of sawfish and spinning fish resurfaced in late 2024 and early 2025, they’re nowhere near the levels seen last year. According to a March 4 update
IN EXPERT HANDS
3
When a vigilant community and dedicated researchers come together, our marine life wins
from FWC, the agency has received 44 reports of spinning fish since December 2024, compared to more than 500 total reports since December 2023. And with 62 total sawfish mortalities and more than 200 abnormal reports recorded since December 2023, six deaths and 22 reports have come since December 2024.
But as the FWC crew told me more times than I can count last Thursday, fast, accurate, detailed reports are the key to helping animals in distress. That morning, reports from Capt. Bill and Capt. Alex de Melo of Johnny Maddox Sportfishing Adventures helped the FWC crew reach the injured animal in just 30 minutes.
I was elated to find out that at 6:30 p.m. – yes, the crew stayed with her all day – she swam away under her own power. But without those reports, and the team standing ready to assist, that may never have happened.
I’m thankful to live in a place where so many locals are invested in helping our precious wildlife, and know what to do to get them the expert care and attention they need. And in a world that seems to love selective science more and more while turning a blind eye to what’s happening in our oceans, I’m thankful that this island chain is filled with people
who’ve dedicated their lives to protecting our marine environment through research, education, rescue and rehab. I shudder to think what would happen if they weren’t here.
I’m just a guy who puts words on paper, but for a few hours that day, it was a true privilege to watch and work alongside a few of them.
SAVE THESE NUMBERS: If you see a sawfish, healthy or not, report the sighting to sawfish@myFWC.com or call 844-472-9347. Report spinning fish to FWC’s fish-kill hotline at 800-636-0511.
1. First reported in the early morning hours of March 20 near Keys Fisheries’ marina in Marathon, a distressed 12-foot female sawfish eventually swam away under her own power. 2. FWC’s Kristene Parsons installs one of two identifying tags in the injured ray’s dorsal fin. 3. Parsons, left, and FSU’s Jake Beretta prepare to take a blood sample from the underside of the ailing sawfish. 4. Aptly named for the iconic protrusion from its head, the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish uses its rostrum for feeding and sensing its environment. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly
ALEX RICKERT
KEYS FISHERIES RESTAURANT MARKET & MARINA
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U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector announced the arrests of 10 undocumented migrants with convictions of sex crimes during a recent roundup in the Florida Keys. In addition, an undocumented migrant convicted of a major crime was arrested during the sweep. CBP/Contributed
BUILDING CONSENSUS
Bills to reflect new permit allocation figure
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
BFEDERAL AGENTS ARREST 10 UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS CONVICTED OF SEX CRIMES IN FLORIDA KEYS SWEEP
U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 10 illegal aliens over the past three weeks — each with a criminal history as previously convicted sex offenders.
CBP says these arrests were part of a focused, multi-agency effort aimed at securing the Keys and removing dangerous individuals from local communities.
All 10 individuals, who were living throughout the Keys, are registered sex offenders with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The subjects had criminal convictions to include: lewd and lascivious acts on a child under age 16; lewd and lascivious sexual battery with a victim 12-15 years old; statutory sexual seduction and solicitation of a child.
In addition to these arrests, Border Patrol agents with support from ICE made two more significant apprehensions last week. One of the individuals, a Cuban national, had a history of violent crime, including a conviction for homicide. The other, also from Cuba, was arrested on
charges of animal cruelty after witnesses reported seeing him brutally choke and kick a small dog.
CBP says these arrests highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals who enter the U.S. illegally with violent criminal backgrounds, and demonstrate the strength of the partnership among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in tackling this critical issue.
“Each of these individuals posed a threat to the communities which we live in. The Miami Sector Border Patrol remains committed to protecting our communities and enforcing our immigration laws. I am grateful for the work of our agents and law enforcement partners who supported this effort,” said Jeffrey Dinise, chief patrol agent of the Miami Sector.
All illegal aliens arrested were processed and transferred to ICE custody, where they are currently detained pending removal from the United States.
The Miami Sector welcomes assistance from the community. To report suspicious border activity in Florida, contact the Miami Sector at 877-7728146. — Keys Weekly staff report
ills originally filed by State Rep. Jim Mooney and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez were noticeably different in the proposed number of additional building permit allocations for the Florida Keys. Now, the two representatives for the island chain are amending their pieces of legislation to reflect similar requests for allocations – no more than 825 or a figure allowed under a 24.5-hour hurricane evacuation time window, whichever is less.
Changes to the bills came after the governor’s staff recently informed Monroe County officials the 3,550 additional building permits doled out over a 40-year period, as the county supported and reflected in Rodriguez’s bill, was “a little too long” and “not supportable.”
In addition, county officials say FloridaCommerce re-ran an evacuation model to determine the maximum allocations that would be allowed within a 24-hour hurricane evacuation time window. A model run by FloridaCommerce several years ago determined 220 units, but now it says 825 allocations would be allowed under the 24 hours.
Lisa Tennyson, county legislative affairs director, told county commissioners during a March 25 meeting in Key Largo that Rodriguez agreed to change her legislation. That same morning, Rodriguez’s amended bill cleared the Environment and Natural Resources Committee via 8-0 vote.
Mooney confirmed to the Keys Weekly he, too, will amend his bill in the Florida House to fall in line with Rodriguez’s bill in the Senate. Mooney’s bill will go before the House Ways & Means Committee on Thursday, March 27.
Bills by Mooney and Rodriguez sought to change the laws governing the Keys as an Area of Critical State Concern, a designation responsible for several stricter building regulations throughout the island chain. The original bills were vastly different, however.
Mooney’s original HB 995 sought an evacuation clearance time of 24.5 hours and 500 units over at least 10 years. Of those units, 220 were accounted for but not awarded to Keys municipalities. The 280 additional
units, as a result of the evacuation time change to 24.5 hours, would be spread among unincorporated Monroe County, Marathon, Islamorada and Key West.
Rodriguez’s original SB 1326 detailed 3,550 additional allocations with a hurricane evacuation time change from 24 to 26 hours.
Both bills had similar guardrails as requested by Monroe County, with additional units steered to workforce housing. Allocations could only be used on vacant, buildable properties, with one allocation per property.
County Administrator Christine Hurley told commissioners that they’re unsure how many new allocations will be given to unincorporated Monroe County under the amended proposal.
“As we knew with the 220 that 100 of those would be for the county, in the 825 number, we don’t know what that would yield for the county,” she said. “Because the model evacuates island by island, they have to drill down further to tell us what our share of the 825 would be and we don’t know that number right now.”
Hurley said she asked Commerce what the maximum allocation number would be under 24.5 hours as reflected in the amended bills. She said they didn’t run the maximum number, but they did run a scenario with 1,100 additional building permit allocations. That model stayed under 24.5 hours.
Additional tweaks to Mooney and Rodriguez’s bills would be needed to allow for 1,100 additional units under the 24.5-hour evacuation window.
“(FloridaCommerce) indicated there are probably more than that under 24.5 but unless they do another model run, which costs money and takes time with a consultant, they can’t answer the maximum number of units at 24.5 hours,” Hurley explained to commissioners.
Chris Massicotte, president of Last Stand, told commissioners via Zoom that the group supports Mooney’s original HB 995.
“We believe it strikes the most responsible balance between growth, public input and long-term flexibility,” he said, adding he was encouraged to see Rodriguez was going to amend her bill to shorten the time frame from 40 to 10 years.
County commissioners said they appreciate the cooperation between Mooney and Rodriguez to have similar bills. They also acknowledged the importance of the guardrails within the bill to bring housing for the local workforce.
WILDFIRE WREAKS HAVOC IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Massive inferno shut down roads, causing traffic backups
JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com
Asmall blaze in south MiamiDade County — initially reported on March 12 — spiraled out of control into an inferno that burned 26,000 acres by March 21.
Despite the flames remaining on the Miami-Dade side between the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road, the wildfire brought the heat to the Florida Keys as the workday was ending on March 18. As the smoke and flames encroached on the only two thoroughfares between mainland Florida and Key Largo, the rapidly-spreading wildfire closed Card Sound Road on four straight days. Police were also forced to shut down the 18-Mile Stretch intermittently between Florida City and Key Largo from March 18 to March 21 to give crews space to fight the flames. There were moments where no cars were entering or leaving via the 18-Mile Stretch or Card Sound Road. Closures hindered locals from reaching their homes and outside workers from getting to and from their jobs in the Keys. Visitors faced troubles reaching their destinations, whether it be their hotel on the island chain or the airport in Miami.
Intense firefighting — from the ground and air — over the course of five days resulted in the wildfire being 80% contained by March 22. Road closures ceased as traffic moved again on the Stretch and Card Sound Road. Smoky conditions remained for several days.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown as of press time on March 26, but weather conditions weren’t helping Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service crews’ battle. The National Weather Service in Miami said a long spurt of dry weather, mixed with low humidity and windy conditions, aided the wildfire’s wrath on more than 26,000 acres of natural land in between the 18-Mile Stretch and Card Sound Road.
The forest service said its helicopters made roughly 1,435 water drops, while large air tankers made seven retardant drops at 3,000 gallons per drop. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue also had its helicopters conducting many water drops, while tankers and fire trucks sprayed water on fires near the highways.
On Card Sound Road, flames
FOOD TRUCKS FRUSTRATE SOME RESTAURANT OWNERS
Keys officials face familiar Florida debate
MANDY MILES
mandy@keysweekly.com
Several Stock Island restaurant owners are frustrated by a recent proliferation of food trucks, prompting county officials to consider concerns that have become familiar throughout Florida.
While prior I Love Stock Island festivals have touted food truck tours, owners of brick-and-mortar restaurants are starting to resent the expense of operating a permanent location, while having to compete with an estimated 12 to 14 food trucks on the small island.
“What am I even doing anymore?” said Jeff Tomita, whose family has owned Chico’s Cantina for more than two decades.
DeLuna’s Cafe food truck is located inside Boyd’s Campground on Maloney Avenue on Stock Island, across the street from the brick-and-mortar building where it formerly operated. CONTRIBUTED
of Business and Professional Regulation.
That preemption came in the Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in 2020, reducing regulations on more than a dozen industries.
charred and damaged power poles spanning 4 miles. While electricity never went out for Keys residents, Comcast customers saw an internet and TV outage beginning the evening of March 18 due to downed lines. When deemed safe, Comcast crews deployed to restore service to customers. The lines were back up and service was back by 9 a.m. the next day.
“It was a pretty big restoration,” said Jorge Nieves, Comcast tech operations supervisor. “The biggest obstacle was the fire and making sure it was safe for us to go in there and get to work.”
Despite the fire being reported a week prior as minimal and 80% contained, Monroe County emergency management officials didn’t receive notification that the wildfire was affecting Monroe County, namely through the closure of U.S. 1, until 8 p.m. on March 18.
“We made contact with the State Watch Office to stress the importance that if there's any impact Florida City south that is going to affect U.S. 1 in any shape or form, that we need to be notified just as a precaution,” Cory Schwisow, county emergency management deputy director, said during a March 25 county commission meeting in Key Largo.
In addition, Schwisow said information coming out of Miami-Dade County was contradictory for the first 24 hours. An incident command center was set up in Miami-Dade on March 19, which was when county emergency officials started receiving effective communication.
Restaurant owners pay mortgages or rents, utility bills, insurance, full kitchen staff salaries, impact fees per seats and are bound by parking requirements that mandate a certain number of spots based on the size of the restaurant.
“Food trucks only have one, maybe two, workers, no mortgage, no utility bills,” Tomita said. “I could put two or three food trucks in my parking lot, and be done with it. It’s crazy.”
County commissioners on March 25 had a brief discussion about existing and potential regulations for food trucks in unincorporated Monroe County, which includes Stock Island.
Florida state law prohibits cities and counties from banning food trucks outright in their municipalities, as some towns had tried to do over the past 10 or 12 years in order to protect brick-and-mortar restaurants. But local officials can regulate where food trucks can and cannot operate based on zoning.
Monroe County currently requires food trucks to be located on private property, and allows them to operate in any zoning areas where restaurants are allowed with no requirement that food trucks be located a certain distance from any permanent restaurants. Licensing, permits and fees for food trucks are preempted by the state, meaning local governments cannot impose additional fees or permit requirements on food trucks once they obtain a license from the Florida Department
“The new law also clears up a longstanding disagreement over whether state or local officials control the licensing process for food trucks by placing health and safety issues under state authority,” states a 2020 article on the libertarian website reason.com, which supported the deregulation bill. “Local officials will still be able to keep food trucks out of certain areas with zoning laws, but they won’t be able to pile additional licensing requirements on top of existing state rules to block vendors from operating.”
Monroe County commissioners this week did not vote on any changes to the Florida Keys’ food truck regulations, but further discussions are likely. Officials in other Florida cities and counties have passed proximity regulations that prohibit food trucks from operating within a certain distance of a permanent restaurant.
Food truck proponents have claimed that cities and counties that restricted mobile food vendors were playing favorites and protecting brick-and-mortar restaurants.
“It’s not the government’s job to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. That right belongs to consumers,” said Justin Pearson, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that helped food truck owners sue Florida cities and counties over restrictions. But frustrated restaurant owners are seeking further discussions and eventual decisions by county officials.
Florida Forest Service helicopters made 1,435 water drops to help quell the wildfire in south Miami-Dade County. FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE/Via X
HE CAN BE YOUR WINGMAN ANY TIME
MHS teacher Rob Driscoll goes supersonic with the Blue Angels
ALEX RICKERT
alex@keysweekly.com
He’s the go-to guy for all things STEM at Marathon High School, a beloved senior class sponsor – and he just got a day off work to break the sound barrier in an F-18.
Four days before the opening of the Southernmost Air Spectacular, Rob Driscoll headed to Naval Air Station Key West to channel his inner Tom Cruise, strapping into the cockpit of the #7 Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet jet behind United States Marine Corps Major Scott Laux.
For the next hour, he’d be put through the paces in the skies off the Southernmost City as Laux led him through the gravity-defying moves that make the Angels a can’t-miss headliner at air shows around the U.S.
“We did all the maneuvers they’d do in the show – the high bank turn, the barrel rolls, flying upside down for a while. It was ridiculous,” Driscoll said.
“We did one thing where we were around 500 feet off of the ocean, and (Laux) just cranked it straight up and did two barrel rolls on the way up. It felt like two seconds, but when we were done, we were at 15,000 feet.”
Sucked into his seat by more than seven times the force of gravity during the stunts, he told the Weekly he “didn’t pass out, but I definitely got that tunnel vision. Everything just starts fading away into geometric patterns and shapes.”
OPEN MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2025, AT 1:00 P.M.
FKEC TAVERNIER HEADQUARTERS, BOARD ROOM
Breaking through the clouds, Laux got the go-ahead to go Mach 1.1 – and Driscoll was prepared with a surprise for a few of the favorite kids in his life.
“I’d brought some coins with the birth years of my kids and some of my students, just to give to them and say ‘This quarter went supersonic with me,’” he said.
And though he admittedly hadn’t eaten much for breakfast that day in anticipation of the flight, Driscoll wasn’t afraid to say it: he puked.
“They gave you two little baggies strapped into your thigh straps, preprepped and ready to go. They were prepared,” he laughed. “I just said (to Laux) ‘Keep doing whatever you’re doing.’ I didn’t even care.”
Driscoll’s opportunity came courtesy of the Key Influencer Program, designed to give the ride of a lifetime with the Navy and Marines’ premier demonstration team to civilians who positively affect the lives of local youth.
After a tour of his classroom during programming with Leadership Monroe County, Driscoll earned the nominating nod from N.A.S. Commanding Officer Capt. Beth Regoli and public affairs specialist Danette Baso Silvers.
The full Blue Angels flight team will take to the skies over Key West this Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30 in the Southernmost Air Spectacular at NAS Key West. Along with a day chockfull of exhibitions and flight demos, the Angels’ takeoff is set for 2:30 p.m. each day. More information is at keywestairshow.com.
7 MILE BRIDGE CLOSED
SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH 6:00AM - 9:00AM
FOR THE 44TH ANNUAL
Marathon High School teacher Rob Driscoll preps for takeoff in an F/A-18 Super Hornet piloted by the Blue Angels’ Major Scott Laux. CONTRIBUTED
TAX SEASON, ROUND 2
BELVEDERE
Spanish Fly Shark Tournament makes TV debut with toothy targets
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
For a second year, the Florida Keys’ local “tax men” are in the spotlight for the Spanish Fly Shark Tournament, kicking off Thursday through Saturday, April 3-5.
Building off the success of the inaugural 2024 tournament, in which 27 sharks were caught and safely released by competing boats over two days, the rules for the 2025 tourney remain almost identical: most bull sharks wins.
In 2025, for the first time, the weekend’s action will be caught on camera, as the tournament will make its television debut on Outdoor America.
Krissy Wejebe is the daughter of legendary angler Jose Wejebe, the host of the popular TV show “Spanish Fly,” who passed away in 2012. She’s leading the charge to preserve Jose’s legacy, values and respect for the Florida Keys ecosystem as executive director of the Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation, the tournament beneficiary that makes fishing dreams come true for children and families facing life-changing challenges.
“If the foundation is going to continue and we want to build these events, there has to be some kind of media element to the whole package that’s going to continue to introduce the next generation and new generations to Spanish Fly, to who my dad was,” she told the Weekly.
“The purpose of the tournament was to do something where we know we’ll get fish on the board, to have tight lines, and be able to get the fishing community together both inshore and offshore,” she added. “Let’s get everybody together for a good time and get some real data that we can deliver about the sharks that were caught in this area at this time.”
Wejebe acknowledged before
starting the tournament in 2024 that although bull sharks may be harvested legally, targeting an apex predator, even in a no-kill tournament, could prove controversial. But with issues of shark depredation on the rise – in other words, when fishermen are “taxed” by reeling in severed heads in predator-laden waters – the need for change has even caught the attention of the federal government.
Though it fizzled out in 2024 due to lack of support in the Senate, in 2025, the U.S. House already passed the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act, directing NOAA to establish a task force to tackle the subject.
“I think we were very clear that harvesting animals for no reason isn’t what we’re trying to do here,” Wejebe said. “It’s important that we’re very conservation-minded, because that was Jose’s way, and it’s a tournament in his honor.”
The strict catch-and-release tournament will follow NOAA guidelines for shark releases as well as exclusive use of circle hooks that will fall out of a caught shark’s mouth in time. All competing captains or boat owners must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species permit with a shark endorsement from NOAA, and Wejebe’s hope is to continue relaying data from caught fish to better inform fisheries assessments in the Keys.
The Spanish Fly Shark Tournament begins on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. with registration and a mandatory captains meeting at the Key West Yacht Club. Fishing takes place on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and an awards dinner and silent auction caps off the proceedings on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the yacht club. More information, including rules and registration, is at keywestsharktournament.com.
3.5-year-old German Rottweiler.
Looking for: I’m a friendly family guy that gets along with everyone. Turnoffs: I’m not mean or scary, I promise.
SWIPE RIGHT
Adorable furry faces are waiting for families at the Florida Keys SPCA
Keys Weekly is thrilled each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for their perfect adoption “match” at the Florida Keys SPCA’s Marathon campus – complete with their best qualities, preferences and turnoffs to ensure the best fit.
From cats and dogs to guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and birds, the perfect addition to your family is waiting for you at one of the SPCA’s two campuses, in Key West and Marathon. The SPCA’s knowledgeable staff will help with advice and care tips while working to ensure a good fit between each pet and its people.
See all the animals waiting for a home at fkspca.org. To contact the Marathon campus, call 305-743-4800 or visit 10550 Aviation Blvd.
TIGGER
3-month-old female domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I get braver and more playful every day. Just go slow with me. Turnoffs: Dogs. What the heck are those things?
JETT
3-month-old male domestic shorthair.
Looking for: I’m a super shy guy, so please be patient with me.
Turnoffs: Too many people at once.
Anglers reel in and eventually release a powerful bull shark during the 2024 Spanish Fly Shark Tournament. The weekend tourney returns on April 3 through 5. CONTRIBUTED
SPIRITS HIGH & STROKE COUNTS LOW
Competitors dialed in their putting game on March 15 as St. Columba Episcopal Church hosted the inaugural Mutiny Island Vodka Bloody Mary Mini Golf Tournament at Porky’s Bayside Mini Golf in Marathon.
Sipping on signature cocktails including bloody Marys, espresso martinis and screwdrivers, participants kicked off their morning with a blessing from St. Columba’s Rev. Debra Maconaughey before hitting the links for 36 holes of friendly competition.
In the tournament’s championship bracket, Team Salt Tooth claimed top honors, with Team St. Columba finishing as the runners-up. In the B-flight,
Team Pancho’s claimed victory.
Proceeds from the tournament benefited St. Columba’s affordable housing initiatives in Marathon, including the church’s workforce apartments at 1655 Overseas Highway that await a highly-anticipated reopening throughout 2025.
Distilled in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mutiny Island Vodka is a growing local favorite. The company’s “Grimal Grove Reserve” uses Florida Keys breadfruit grown in the Big Pine Key orchard.
Teams test out their short game on the links at Porky’s Bayside Mini Golf in the Mutiny Island Vodka Bloody Mary Mini Golf Tournament on March 15. Photos by SANDRA LEE
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WAITING OUT THE BLAZE
Rescued manatee gets first-ever overnight stay at Dolphin Research Center
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
As wildfires torched more than 26,000 acres in South Florida and caused closures of the 18-Mile Stretch entering the Florida Keys last week, angry motorists on U.S. 1 weren’t the only ones who couldn’t make their way out.
On March 20, for the first time in the facility’s history, Grassy Key’s Dolphin Research Center hosted an emergency overnight stay for a 9-foot male manatee with a pneumothorax –commonly known as a collapsed lung – rescued from canals in Marathon’s Coco Plum neighborhood.
Likely caused by a boat strike, a pneumothorax injury causes air from a collapsed lung to fill a space between the lung and the wall of the chest cavity. Unable to release the air from where it doesn’t belong, manatees with this life-threatening condition become positively buoyant and are unable to dive in order to avoid other boats and carry out their daily functions. As the manatee remains tilted at the surface, the other lung can become strained and suffers an increasing risk of collapse.
As the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Keys, a typical rescue for DRC’s crew usually involves a collaborative effort to locate and collect an injured animal, working with members of the public as well as team members from Aquarium Encounters and FWC.
Once secure on land, if an immediate treatment and release isn’t possible, the injured animal is immediately transported to a mainland rehabilitation and critical care facility in FWC’s animal transport truck.
Closures of the Stretch threw a wrench in those plans last Thursday as the fires prevented FWC’s transport crew from reaching the Middle Keys until the morning of March 21. Led by medical director Dr. Scott Gearhart, the DRC team repurposed a quarantine pool to provide a
one-night stay for the overly-buoyant sea cow.
The team eventually celebrated a successful transfer to FWC’s transport crew and a departure to SeaWorld Orlando in the early morning hours on Friday. He was eventually confirmed to have suffered broken ribs and exhibited inflammatory blood values, and at press time, DRC CEO Rita Irwin and Gearhart told the Weekly that his prognosis was still guarded.
“As far as I know, this is the first time that a (manatee) has actually been transported to Dolphin Research Center,” said Gearhart, a former SeaWorld vet himself. “I’ve been dealing with rescued manatees and been involved in their rehabilitation and care for about 33 years, so I’m very familiar with how to care for an injured or otherwise distressed animal.”
“Our team comes together no matter what the challenge is and focuses on what’s best for an animal,” said Irwin. “This crew, which was so busy in the height of the season, was not only able to get the animal, but at 7 a.m. the next morning they were ready to lift it into FWC’s
truck. The commitment and professionalism of our team is awe-inspiring, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Manatees are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 – meaning feeding, harassing or deliberately interacting with them is illegal. If you see a manatee in distress, call 1-888-404-3922. Do not attempt to approach or assist the manatee, and do not enter the water with any wild marine mammal.
1: Manatee Rescue Team kayakers keep close tabs on the injured male manatee in Marathon’s Coco Plum canals. 2: Rescue team members from DRC and Aquarium Encounters combine their strength to remove the hefty 9-foot manatee from the water in Coco Plum for treatment. 3: Rescue crew members from DRC work to keep the injured manatee damp and cool en route from Coco Plum to a quarantine pool at the research center. 4: Crews from FWC and DRC work in the early morning hours of March 21 to load up the injured manatee for transport from Grassy Key to SeaWorld. DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER/Contributed.
OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
FROM THE OUTBACK TO THE PAGE
THREE AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS WHO LEFT ME GOBSMACKED
By Charlotte McConaghy
The Salt family has spent the last nine years living in a lighthouse on the remote island of Shearwater, near Antarctica. As caretakers of a oncethriving seed bank, they have watched the world’s climate deteriorate into chaos. With the weather growing increasingly hostile, they are tasked with organizing the final seed crates while awaiting naval rescue. Dominic Salt, a tireless problem-solver who can fix anything, has raised three children who have become brilliant autodidactic scientists, each specializing in their own field. Their love for nature, animals and one another is unwavering. After losing their mother, the family sought refuge on this isolated island, finding solace among seals, birds and whales, far from human interference. Everything changes when 17-year-old Fen discovers an unconscious woman washed up on the shore — an impossible event in this remote location. As they nurse her back to health, they learn her name is Rowan. But the truth of how she arrived unfolds slowly, revealing secrets that threaten to upend everything. This recent release is filled with beauty, loss and moral dilemmas. Loosely inspired by Macquarie Island and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, it will haunt you long after the final page.
First and foremost a reader, she has reviewed hundreds of books on her blog www. readingandeating. com. And, more recently, this new Keys resident has also begun writing.
PICTURES OF YOU
By Emma Grey
Waking up in a hospital hooked up to monitors would be terrifying to anyone.
But when Evie Hudson opens her eyes, she does not recognize her 30-year-old face. In her mind, her memories stop at 16. She has just survived a horrific car crash that killed her husband Oliver, whom she does not recall. Evie finds herself with a traumatic form of amnesia that the doctors say will “most likely” return over time. Evie has no choice but to attend Oliver’s funeral with her cold overbearing in-laws. Where are her mom and dad? Where is her best friend Bree? As Evie puzzles her life back together, she reconnects with Drew, a handsome photographer who knew Evie in the past and has never let go of hope that she would one day return to his life. The scariest part for Evie is that as the memories begin to trickle in, she becomes more confused about who she really is. Evie cannot imagine how she pushed her loved ones away and tolerated Oliver’s manipulative abuse. This fast-paced story is filled with family, friendship and the one who got away.
WHAT ALICE FORGOT
By Liane Moriarty
While Alice is cycling in her Friday morning spin class, she becomes dizzy, falls and hits her head — setting in motion “What Alice Forgot.” When she wakes up, Alice has lost the last 10 years of her memory. She believes she’s 29, happily married and child-free. In reality, she’s 39, with three kids she doesn’t remember, and is in the midst of a bitter divorce. Her younger, carefree self is stunned by the busy, hardened woman she has become. As Alice tries to piece together her life and waits for her memory to return, she grapples with her lingering love for her soon-to-be ex-husband, a strained relationship with her sister, a remarried mother and an apparent new boyfriend. This witty, relatable novel explores how the joys of young love can be destroyed by the exhaustion of parenting, career sacrifices and the slow drift between partners. It’s heartfelt, thought-provoking and filled with moments of humor and deep reflection. With 10 books and multiple TV adaptations, Liane Moriarty has become one of my favorite Australian authors. I first read this novel over a decade ago, and have been a devoted fan ever since.
#WorthWatching:
“Tracks” follows Robyn Davidson’s remarkable 1,700-mile solo trek across the Australian desert in 1977, accompanied by her dog and four camels. She faces isolation, brutal landscapes and personal struggles, while National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan documents her journey. A visually stunning film about resilience, self-discovery and the power of solitude. This true story based on Davidson’s memoir can be seen on Prime Video.
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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.
Send your confidential resume and credentials to jobs@keysweekly.com.
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Florida Department of Health in Monroe County HEALTH TO YOU SALUD PARA TI SANTE POU OU
Friday, April 4, 2025, Noon–4 p.m.
Frederick Douglass Gym
111 Olivia St., Key West, FL 33040
Gift card for all participants.
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• Blood Pressure Checks and Cu s
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• Learn more about the digestive system with our fun and interactive Giant
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Sponsored by University of Miami, CHI, & City of Key West and More!
¡Todos son bienvenidos! Tout se akeyi!
Tarjeta gratis de regalo para todos los participantes.
• Cascos para bicicletas y equipo de seguridad
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• ¡Aprende más sobre el sistema digestivo con nuestro divertido e interactivo Colon Inflable Gigante!
Patrocinado por University of Miami, CHI, & City of Key West ¡Y mucho más!
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Patwone pa University of Miami, CHI, & City of Key West Ak plis ankò!
HOSPITAL TAX RENEWAL HEADLINES MARATHON CITY COUNCIL SESSION
At press time, Monroe County Tax Collector Sam Steele told the Weekly his office has so far distributed a total of $14,438,498 from the taxing district. According to the original MSTU ordinance, any revenues collected “shall be used solely for payments to hospital operators for delivery of hospital services.”
Monroe County originally adopted the MSTU with the support of Key Colony Beach and Marathon to “opt in” to the district. Because of that structure, City Attorney Steve Williams told the council, while Marathon can informally request a lowered tax rate for the 2025-26 tax year to bring the total MSTU revenues as close to the $15 million mark as possible – negating the need for refunds of excess taxes – the city only has two legal options: opt in to continue the tax, or opt out.
“You have no authority to lawfully alter the millage or put any other conditions on that thumbs up or thumbs down,” Williams said. “Key Colony Beach has already (requested the change), and there’s no harm in us doing the same, but your only true vote is in or out.”
“For me personally, it’s a deal we need to fulfill, because what kind of city will we be if we make a deal for something and then halfway through back out?”
—
Mayor Lynn Landry,
“For me personally, it’s a deal we need to fulfill, because what kind of city will we be if we make a deal for something and then halfway through back out?” said Mayor Lynn Landry, speaking in favor of a continued tax with a lower millage rate. “While it’s not perfect, we have a hospital. My family has been there quite regularly, and they give great care.”
“I think we got seven or eight emails within an hour of the public knowing that this was on the agenda,” said councilman Kenny Matlock. “Good luck finding a majority that thinks we should keep paying that tax. I don’t feel ethically obligated to someone else’s deal, and it comes up before us once a year for a reason: to be renegotiated. I feel like they got what they needed, they got out of a hard spot, and we got through Irma.”
“Without a hospital, I would hate to think what would have happened after Irma,” said Smith. “When Baptist did step in, the hospital was broke and couldn’t even make payroll. Before we did this, they came to the rescue to keep the hospital open because that’s part of their mission statement.”
Discussion of the MSTU is the only item scheduled for Monday’s meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
For additional coverage of the March 25 Marathon City Council meeting, see the April 3 edition of the Marathon Weekly and keysweekly.com.
MARATHON’S WILLIAMS GETS THE STAR TREATMENT
Vote for sophomore slugger as FSPN’s Player of the Year
ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com
On the diamond, two-way sophomore playmaker Dylan Williams has been a crucial component in Marathon Dolphins baseball’s 10-7 start. At press time, Williams leads the team in numerous statistical categories including batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.629), stolen bases (10), hits (23) and slugging percentage (.674), along with his dependable presence on the mound.
“Dylan has been a tremendous offensive weapon for us this season during his sophomore campaign,” said head coach Joey Gonzalez. “He consistently finds ways to barrel the ball and gets on base two to three times every game. He has also been extremely versatile defensively, seeing time at shortstop, working a lowto mid-80s fastball on the mound, and recently transitioning to the catcher role depending on our pitching situation.”
Williams’ stardom hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he is a nominee for the inaugural Florida Sports Programming Network’s FSPY awards. Vote for Williams to take home Sophomore Player of the Year out of 16 South Florida nominees by scanning the QR code and commenting with Williams’ name.
Dylan Williams is a nominee for the Florida Sports Programming Network’s Sophomore Player of the Year award. SEAN WESTERBAND/Keys Weekly
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
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Shhhhhhhh - Don't tell Alex but we want to help him reach his fundraising goal! Never one to aim low, he's tackling 26.2 miles in the 129th Boston Marathon this April to raise $15,000 to combat cancer in the Dana-Faber Marathon Challenge.
If you would like to help in the ght against cancer scan the QR code to donate and email Alex@keysweekly.com to add a song to his running playlist.
— Sincerely, The Keys Weekly Sta
MARATHON CINEMA SNOW WHITE
God's Love is Unconditional, Unending Unfathomable and Unmistakable. St. Columba Welcomes All PeopleUnconditionally!
Join Us This Sunday at 9:00 or 11:00 am
What's Happening at St. Columba
March 29th - $5.00 Bag Sale 8:00-12:00
April 13th Palm Sunday Services 9:00 & 11:00
April 16th Taize Service 6:00 pm
April 17th Maundy Thursday Service 5:00 pm
April 18th Good Friday Service Noon
April 19th Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 All are Invited
April 19th Easter Vigil 5:00 pm
April 20th Easter Sunday Services 9:00 & 11:00
St. Columba Episcopal Church
451 West 52nd St, Marathon Fl J oin U s Sunda y 9 a m o r 11am
UNDERWATER PIPE INSTALLATION UNDERWAY AT TAVERNIER CREEK CROSSING
Traffic pattern will remain in place 24/7 until work is complete
Contractors for the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority work to install a new water main underwater near Tavernier Creek Crossing. FKAA/Contributed
Acrew is working at Tavernier Creek Crossing to install new water main. The pipe is being installed underwater to protect it from high winds and storm surges.
Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority says directional drill work is complicated and working during the day helps reduce the chances of frac-outs — the unintended return of drilling fluids during the directional drilling process, which could cause environmental harm and project delays. If the drill end point is not reached by the end of the workday, the crew must continue drilling into the night until they reach it.
The drill rig must remain in place for six to eight weeks until this work is complete. As a result, the traffic control plan is required to remain in place around the clock.
At Tavernier Creek Crossing, the work area runs from Royal Poinciana Boulevard to just south of Ocean Boulevard. In the work zone, the crew needs room to operate the directional drill rig, bring large seg-
ments of pipe in and out, and weld them together.
At Woods Avenue, northbound traffic is already one lane. At Royal Poinciana Boulevard, the traffic normally shifts to two lanes.
If the northbound lane shift were to begin north of Royal Poinciana, then traffic would go from single lane to double lane for a very short stretch and need to be transitioned back to single lane to meet the Florida Department of Transportation’s required buffer zone of about 500 feet as motorists approach the rig. This would cause added congestion and encroach on the Bessie Road intersection. Therefore, the Florida Department of Transportation has approved the single northbound lane to continue from Woods Avenue through the work zone.
More information is at fkaa.com (click on “Projects in progress”), or via email to community@fkaa.com. After-hours support is at 305-2962454.
— Contributed
BRIEFLY
Sheriff warns against recent phone scams
The sheriff’s office has taken multiple reports in the past week of phone and text scams involving thieves pretending to be law enforcement officials. Criminals often make false claims to potential victims about missing jury duty or some other lie about a fake (or even real) criminal case to extort money. If someone contacts you asking for money, purporting to be from a law enforcement agency, any government organization or utility company, a bank, a credit card company, etc. — hang up and contact the organization yourself. A sure sign of a scam is anyone asking for payment for anything via gift cards or Bitcoin. If you receive a distressing message from a family member or friend needing money immediately, always contact that person before sending money. If possible, save the text, email or any other information and contact the sheriff’s office directly via www. keysso.net/locations
Traffic advisory for Key West air show
The sheriff’s office would like to remind motorists that the 2025 Southernmost Air Spectacular is this weekend, with gates opening at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at Boca Chica Field on Boca Chica Key. The free and public show will include the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, as well as other aerial demonstrations by military and civilian performers, including static military and vintage aircraft. Motorists should expect delays in the four-lane area of U.S. 1 on Boca Chica Key during the show and plan accordingly. There will be no stopping or parking allowed on the shoulder, curb or directly on U.S. 1 during this event. Sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers will be continuously patrolling to ensure this behavior does not occur, particularly the areas between Stock Island and Big Coppitt Key.
Keys AHEC to hold Middle Keys Mixer
Keys AHEC Health Centers will hold a Middle Keys Mixer in support of providing medical and dental care to children in the Keys. The event will take place on Thursday, April 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Palm Deck Rooftop Lounge at Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Keys AHEC’s children’s medical and dental clinics. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together in support of a cause that truly makes a difference in the lives of children," said Michael Cunningham, CEO at Keys AHEC. "Every ticket purchased helps provide critical health care services to kids right here in our community." The evening will include entertainment, appetizers and a selection of beer and wine. Purchase event tickets by scanning the QR code or visiting keysahec.org.
Community orchestra, choir host Easter performances
The Lower Keys Community Choir and the Keys Chamber Orchestra will present three Easter concerts with music celebrating the season. Concerts are Tuesday, April 1 at Big Pine United Methodist Church; Wednesday, April 2 at Venture Out Christian Church on Cudjoe Key; and Thursday, April 3 at San Pablo Catholic Church in Marathon. All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, with an opportunity for a goodwill offering.
Come take a class at the Marathon library
The Marathon library has a wide variety of class offerings, ranging from photography to book clubs, robots, virtual reality and more. Scan the QR code here to see the schedule and get involved.
Having Fun in the Middle Keys
Founded by Betty Debnam
Florida is a southeastern state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
About two-thirds of it is a peninsula, or a piece of land that juts out into the water.
Florida is our 27th state and was admitted to the Union in March 1845. Today, more than 21 million people live there.
FLORIDA HISTORY
Florida was claimed for Spain by explorer Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. He named it “La Florida,” or “land of flowers.”
Before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes lived in the area for about 14,000 years. These tribes included the Apalachee and the Mayaimi — names that are now found in the Florida place names Apalachicola and Miami.
With Spain in control of Florida, many native people died from diseases brought from Europe, for which they had no natural immunity.
Florida was admitted to the United States as a slave state, and it seceded, or separated, from the U.S. in 1861, becoming one of the first Confederate States of America. After the Civil War, Florida rejoined the Union in 1868.
NATURAL FLORIDA
Florida’s peninsula stretches north and west into a panhandle. The state lies the farthest
Sunny Florida
TRY ’N’ FIND
ALLIGATOR, BEACH, COAST, CONTIGUOUS, FLORIDA, GULF, MANGOES, MANGROVE, MARSH, OCEAN, ORANGES, PALM, PANHANDLE, PANTHER, PENINSULA, SECEDE, SOUTH, TALLAHASSEE.
south of the 48 contiguous, or connected, states. Most of Florida is at sea level, which means the land barely rises above the level of the ocean. The land is mostly flat, with the highest point being just 345 feet above sea level.
The state is home to palm and mangrove trees, marshes and freshwater lakes. Alligators, Florida panthers, otters and deer are just some of the animals who live in the hot, humid climate. It’s common to see brown pelicans and seagulls flying by when visiting the coasts.
FLORIDA LIVING
While Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, Miami is the largest city, with about 6 million people. Most Floridians live in cities and within 10 miles of the coast.
Tourism is important to the economy of Florida. Orlando is home to Walt Disney World, Harry Potter World and EPCOT. The warm climate and beaches draw many visitors to the state’s coasts.
Florida also is home to aerospace industries and military bases. Agricultural products include oranges, mangoes, tomatoes, sugar, strawberries and more.
Words that remind us of Florida are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward. See if you can find:
FAMOUS FLORIDIANS
• Author Carl Hiaasen was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has written several middle-grade books, including the Newbery Award-winning “Hoot” and “Wrecker,” which is set in Key West, Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Singer Gloria Estefan was born in Havana, Cuba, and lives in Miami Beach. She’s the winner of three Grammy Awards and is known as the queen of Latin pop music.
• Olympic surfer
Caroline Marks was born in Boca Raton, Florida. She won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She’s the youngest woman to qualify for the women’s championship tour in surfing.
RESOURCES
On the Web:
• nasa.gov/learning-resources
• bit.ly/MPFlorida
At the library:
• “Florida Is for Food” by Jillian R. Childs
• “Otto’s Special Mission in the Florida Everglades” by Travis Hoefle
Urban rat populations are rising in many of the world’s major cities, a trend researchers at the University of Richmond in Virginia link to global warming. Analyzing data from 13 U.S. cities as well as Tokyo, Amsterdam and Toronto, they found rat numbers increased the most in cities that have warmed the fastest. San Francisco, Toronto, New York, Amsterdam and Washington, D.C., saw the highest growth. The researchers suggest that securing food waste to limit the pests’ access to it is the most effective way to curb rat populations.
Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Mini Fact: The Kennedy Space Center at Merritt Island is the main launch site for American spaceflight.
photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky
An alligator in the Florida Everglades.
Carl Hiaasen
Gloria Estefan
Caroline Marks photo © Elena Siebert
www.boydscampground.com info@boydscampground.com Instagram: @boydscampground
