Key West Weekly 22-1201

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

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With a palm tree positioned next to the giant Christ mas tree, the holiday season officially lit up in Key West, where residents and visitors celebrated the city’s annual Christmas tree-lighting on Monday, Nov. 28 at Bayview Park.

Little Otis Weekley, the toddler grandson of Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, did the honors just after sunset by pushing the big red button to illuminate the towering tree.

City officials, including the newly sworn-in City Commissioner Lissette Cuervo Carey, spoke to the crowd and rang in the holiday season.

A giant menorah stands next to the tree at Bayview Park and will be lit during a ceremony at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.

ON THE COVER

CONTRIBUTED

NEW-LOOK SCHOOL BOARD TACKLES

TRUMBO HOUSING DETAILS

Griffiths, Woltanski

to

The Monroe County School Board welcomed one new face and two familiar ones as newly-elected District 1 board member Darren Horan and re-elected District 4 and 5 board members John Dick and Dr. Sue Woltanski were sworn in at the board’s annual organizational meeting on Nov. 22.

Horan, a Key West-based attor ney, secured a victory over Gabrielle Brown with 58% of the vote in August’s primary election. Woltanski will enter her second term on the board after earning a win with just shy of 54% of the vote in a hotly-contested campaign against Alexandria Suarez. Unopposed in August’s primary, former chair Dick will enter his fifth term with the board.

Andy Griffiths will serve as the board’s new chair, with Woltanski cho sen as vice chair.

The evening’s largest agenda item revolved around proposed divisions of units and rental rates for the upcoming housing development at the district’s Trumbo Road property in Key West, slated for construction through SPGL LLC. Designated as affordable housing, an initial draft from SPGL proposed to rent 25% of the development’s units at rental rates calculated from 80% of the area median income (AMI), 45% at rates calculated from 100% AMI, and 30% calculated from 120% of AMI.

In the 80% AMI category, a onebedroom unit would rent for roughly $1,350 per month, with two-bedroom units at $1,500 for households earn ing a maximum of $57,400 for a single family or $65,600 for a two-person family. 100% AMI units would rent for $1,700 and $1,900 for one- and twobedroom units, with income limits of $71,500 and $82,000 for one- and twoperson families. One- and two-bed room 120% AMI units would rent for $2,000 and $2,300, respectively, with income limits of $86,000 and $98,000 for one- and two-person families.

serve

as

chair, vice chair

Board member Mindy Conn said she was concerned that while the pro posed rates may be suitable for some teachers, other critical district person nel would still find the units unafford able.

“I would like to see rent reflect housing that we can have bus drivers and maintenance workers and para professionals live in, not just teachers,” she said. “Some of those rents might still be too high for brand-new teach ers … or filling those other positions that are hourly pay.”

Superintendent Theresa Axford defended the proposed rents, saying the units were “better than anything anybody can get right now” in Key West.

“I understand how amazing they are,” Conn continued. “But if people can’t afford them, it doesn’t matter. I want to figure out … which people would still be able to afford to live there, and if we’re missing some sec tion of our employees that still can’t afford to live there, even at those great Key West rates.”

With no official vote taken, the board asked attorney Gaelan Jones to work with SPGL on several propos als for several splits in unit sizes and rental rates in the upcoming complex. As currently proposed, the develop ment’s 80 units would consist of 16 one-bedroom units, 40 two-bedroom units and 24 three-bedroom units.

“I think everybody, myself includ ed, that are involved in these negotia tions believe that the three-bedrooms are going to be the hardest to fill,” he said.

Jones also cautioned that addition of more 80% AMI units would likely be met with a compensatory addition of 120% units to recoup the lost rental income, decreasing the pool of 100% AMI units.

The board will work to potentially approve a final agreement at its Dec. 13, with Axford and Jones offering to bring an analysis of district salaries to the meeting to inform the final deci sion.

‘CONCH LOVE’ FUNDRAISER FEEDS 200 FAMILIES

PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES TURKEYS AND ALL THE FIXIN’S

Donations collected since Hurricane Ian swept past Key West in late September, flooding hundreds of homes, were used last week to provide Thanksgiving dinners to 200 local families.

Conch Love nonprofit part ners Paul Menta, of Key West’s First Legal Rum Distillery, and Pastor Jonathan Carey, at Glad Tidings Tabernacle, joined forces to provide the dinners that would serve eight people with enough for leftovers, Menta said.

Boxes were distributed on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Bahama Village Masons Lodge and St. James First Missionary Baptist Church.

A GoFundMe fundraiser garnered more than $20,000 in donations to help Key West families who endured floods and a large fire on Flagler Avenue during Hurricane Ian.

Conch Love is currently seek ing referrals of families who need help with food for the Christmas holiday meal. Visit conchlove.org to make referrals.

— Contributed

ARE CITY MANAGER APPLICATIONS PUBLIC RECORD?

SEARCH FOR NEW CITY ATTORNEY BEGINS

Key West’s search for a new city manager has some folks questioning whether the process complies with state laws that would make all applica tions for the position subject to pub lic record disclosure requirements.

The Keys Weekly on Nov. 29 requested the list of candidates who have applied for the city manager position, but had not received the list as of Nov. 30.

The Keys Weekly did obtain a terse email exchange between City Attorney Shawn Smith, whose resig nation is effective Dec. 30, and city manager search consultant Dona Higginbotham in which Smith ques tions whether the city is complying with the state’s public record laws by enabling Higginbotham to keep job applications confidential until the appointed search committee reviews them.

When Smith became aware of a pending request for the city manager applications prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, he contacted Higginbotham to ensure the city was complying with state public record laws.

Higginbotham wrote to Smith on Monday, Nov. 28:

“As you recall, during our meeting … Sept. 21, I told you I had been told there may be an effort to circumvent/sabotage the process for the City Manager recruitment. At that time, you indicated you did not know of any such action. It now appears there may be an effort underway. This is truly dishearten ing, not only for the City but for the applicants and the residents of Key West, to whom you have served for the last 16 years.

“The timeline agreed to by the City specifically indicates all resumes will be submitted to the Advisory (Search) Committee Dec. 15. It is with great reservation that I submit resumes submitted, as you request ed, at this time for the City Manager of Key West. This would mean the City Attorney would have the appli cations before the Advisory Commit tee or the Mayor and Commission.

This would mean the process agreed to by the Commission and Advisory Committee is now broken.

“Applicants have entrusted our firm with their materials in hopes of being a finalist, when the recom mended finalist names would be made public. Such requests at this time may jeopardize one’s current employment for those that may not be on the list of recommendations. This may also jeopardize the future of this recruitment as potential candidates will not want to jeopar dize their current employment by submitting materials prior to the closing date.”

Smith replied to the consultant: “Apparently, you do not understand the public records law in Florida. I do not care who applied or applies. My only intent was to see if we complied with the records request, and to not even look at the applications. … You do not know anything about me or my service to the City so do not presume you do.”

In other news…

The Key West city commission meets Tuesday, Dec. 6 and will consider making Ron Ramsingh the interim city attorney. Ramsingh is currently the chief assistant city at torney.

Officials also will approve a search process, job description and hiring criteria for the new city attor ney. Smith has been in the position since 2006, so no revisions had been made in 16 years.

Commissioners also will ap prove a formal request for $4 million from the Monroe County Land Au thority that will make the purchase price of the new workforce housing homes, known as The Lofts, at Tru man Waterfront more affordable for Key West workers.

Finally, officials will discuss, but not decide, whether to change the name of Bayview Park to Unity Park. Significant renovations are being planned for the park in the center of town.

The commission meets Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 1300 White St.

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THE SCOREBOARD

Team Sport Opponent Date Result

Marathon Boys Soccer Coral Shores 11/28 L, 5-2

Key West Boys Soccer @ Boca Raton 11/28 W, 2-1

Coral Shores Girls Basketball Mater Bay 11/28 W, 41-9

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Mater Bay 11/28 W, 78-24

THIS WEEK IN KEYS SPORTS

Date School Sport Opponent Start Time

12/1

12/2

Coral Shores Girls/Boys Basketball @ LaSalle 3:30/7 p.m.

Coral Shores Girls Soccer @ Florida Christian 4 p.m.

12/2 Marathon Girls/Boys Soccer Pace 4/6 p.m.

12/2

Coral Shores Boys Soccer Key West 6 p.m.

12/2 Key West Girls Basketball Gulf Coast 7 p.m.

12/2 Key West Boys Basketball @ NSU University 7:30 p.m.

ALEXANDRA “ALLIE” BRABENEC

12/212/3

Key West Wrestling @ H-Town Throw Down 3 p.m. & 9:30 a.m. 12/3 Marathon Girls Basketball Gulf Coast 1 p.m. 12/3 Key West Boys Soccer @ St. Thomas Aquinas 5 p.m. 12/5 Marathon Girls Basketball Florida Christian 4 p.m. 12/5 Marathon Girls Soccer SLAM 4 p.m. 12/5

Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ SASP 5 p.m. 12/5

Coral Shores Girls Basketball @ Westminster 5 p.m. 12/5

Key West Boys Soccer @ Doral Academy 6 p.m. 12/6 Key West Girls Soccer @ Mater Academy 3:30 p.m. 12/6

Coral Shores Girls Soccer Keys Gate 4 p.m. 12/6

Marathon Boys Basketball @ Horeb 4 p.m. 12/6

Coral Shores Boys Soccer @ SoHo 4 p.m. 12/7 Key West Boys Soccer @ iMater Charter 3:30 p.m. 12/7

Marathon & Coral Shores Weightlifting @ Gulliver 3:30 p.m. 12/7

Coral Shores Wrestling @ FL Christian TBD 12/7

Marathon Girls/Boys Soccer SoHo 4/6 p.m. 12/8

Coral Shores Girls/Boys Soccer Monsignor Pace 4/6 p.m. 12/8

Coral Shores Boys Basketball @ Mast Academy 5 p.m. 12/8

Marathon Girls/Boys Basketball @ Posnak 5:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. 12/9

Key West Boys Soccer @ Coral Reef 3 p.m. 12/9

Coral Shores Girls Basketball Keys Gate 3:30 p.m. 12/9

Marathon Girls Soccer Westwood 4 p.m. 12/9

Coral Shores Boys Basketball Palm Glades 5 p.m. 12/9

Marathon Girls Basketball Key West 5:30 p.m. 12/9

Marathon High School, Senior Weightlifting

– head coach Jessie Schubert

The only thing small about Marathon’s two-time state qualifier is her size. Alexandra Brabenec has been making gains each year and already has two wins under her belt in the 101-pound weight class early this season. Brabenec is expected to make a third appearance this February representing Marathon at the FHSAA State Championship meet in Lakeland, and if her current lifts are any indica tion, she has a solid chance of medaling. Brabenec, described by her coach as quick, powerful and dynamic, is currently benching 110 pounds with a clean & jerk of 115 pounds. For her year-round dedication to her sport, solid work ethic and steady improvement, Allie Brabenec is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Marathon Boys Soccer Westwood 6 p.m. 12/9

Marathon Boys Basketball Key West 7 p.m.

“Allie has a great attitude, and her presence in the weight room is something people stop to watch.”

Graced with both size and speed, Hawkins was a threat every time he touched the ball. It often took a team effort to bring down the 6’1”, 200-pound running back. Many of his touchdowns were scored late in games, after he wore down the opposing team’s defense with his athleticism and refusal to quit. In just nine games, Hawkins had an in credible 186 carries for 1,839 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns plus a passing touchdown, averaging 204 yards per game.

THE 2022 KEYS WEEKLY ALL-KEYS FOOTBALL TEAM

The 2022 season brought marked progress on the gridiron for many Monroe County foot ball squads. With the highly-an ticipated return of coach Ed Hol ly, the Coral Shores Hurricanes enjoyed their most successful season in recent memory, post ing their highest win percent age in nearly 10 years. Halfway down the Keys, the Marathon Dolphins’ 5-4 record secured the team’s first winning season since 2017. And in the Southernmost City, the Key West Conchs fed off many individual standout perfor mances as the team won their Keys rivalry match against the Hurricanes and faced stiff com petition from some of Florida’s elite squads.

With so many solid play ers deserving of recognition, the decisions throughout these next pages weren’t easy. But for the first time, the Keys Weekly Newspapers are proud to pres ent the 2022 Keys Weekly AllKeys Football Team.

— coach Ed Holly

Arrington is a recognizable force the moment he steps onto the field. His incredible stats speak for themselves: Arrington amassed 64 tackles, 23 of them for a loss, plus 19 assists, 19.5 sacks, one touchdown, one fumble recovery, 28 pressures, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, three blocked punts and two blocked PATs. Ar rington was consistently depend able and dominant for the ’Canes.

— coach Johnny Hughes

An all-around phenomenal athlete, prior to the 2022 football season Otto wrestled, played lacrosse and ran the 200 in track, making him strong enough to handle the best defensive line man but athletic enough to get to the fastest defensive backs. His superior athleticism has caught the attention of more than 20 top colleges, from the Ivies to Power 5 programs. He made an impact everywhere he played on the field and is described as having a great work ethic and high character.

Stay tuned for Keys Weekly’s All-Keys volleyball, cross country, golf and swim teams, coming in December.

Just a sophomore, Eddie Holly did double duty, playing linebacker and serving as the team’s long snapper. He amassed 48 tackles, 21 assists, three sacks, 11 tackles for losses, an interception, three forced fumbles, 24 pressures, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He added 21 pancake blocks on offense and maintained a perfect long snapping record, making him a true asset to his team.

— coach Ed Holly

Described as the most determined player on the team, Jacobsen was the go-to man for the Hurricanes when the game was on the line.

“If it's 4th and 1 for the game, you cannot wait to give the ball to Chuck,” said head coach Ed Holly.

Jacobsen accumulated 1,268 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing this season, plus five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown reception, giving him 1,322 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns.

“His teammates fed off his toughness and deter mination. Malachi absolutely left a positive legacy at MHS.”

— coach Mac Childress

CHUCK JACOBSEN, RB Senior, Coral Shores

“He could single-handedly take over the game. Any time you needed a first down he would get it.”

XAVYER ARRINGTON, DL Senior, Coral Shores

“He has the best first step I have ever seen. He takes over the game at the DT position. No one will be able to fill his shoes.”

CHRISTOPHER ANDRE OTTO, OT/DL Senior, Key West

“Andre is a freak athlete with great feet. He is the best drive blocker I have ever coached.”

“Eddie was 100% on all snaps this season. He can snap the ball 15 yards in less than a second.”

— coach Ed Holly

ELIJAH PALMISCIANO, LB

Senior, Coral Shores

Described as a tough and ag gressive player who consistently performed on Friday nights, Pal misciano is regarded as one of the hardest, most physical play ers in the Hurricanes’ defensive unit. Palmisciano had 48 tackles this season, three of which were for a loss. Additionally, he forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery.

AARON DOLTON, DL Senior, Marathon

Dolton started on offense, defense and special teams for the Fins. He had a solid pass rush, doing an excellent job keeping the quarterback in the pocket and locking down receiv ers in coverage when asked. In just nine games played, Dolton amassed 15 total tackles (11 solo) and three tackles for a loss.

THOMAS EUBANK, LB Senior, Marathon

The leader of Marathon’s de fense, Eubank played middle linebacker, a role which required him to make a majority of the team’s tackles. Eubank used his size and speed to not only make tackles at the line of scrim mage but also to chase receiv ers downfield. He had 30 total tackles, 18 of which were in one game, 19 solo tackles and two for a loss.

JACOB LAVALLEE, LB Senior, Key West

A three-year starter, Lavallee has been the leading tackler for the Conchs in as many years. The fast, physical linebacker captained the Conchs’ defense this season.

DEREK SMITH, DB Senior, Coral Shores

Smith secured Coral Shores’ safety position, constantly mak ing explosive plays at the most opportune times. He had 11 tackles and 12 pass breakups this season.

KEVON MILLS, DB Senior, Key West

A dynamic defensive player, Mills played corner the past two seasons. This year, his ability to lock down the other team’s best receiver paid dividends for the Conchs.

SHAMAR WRIGHT, DB Freshman, Marathon

Fast and athletic, Wright excelled in pass coverage, locking down any receiver he was assigned to. His 12 total tackles, 10 of which were solos, do not speak to his abilities as the coverage he applied neutralized the other team’s receivers, negating the threat to the Fins’ defense. Only a freshman, Wright has the po tential to be a game changer on both offense and defense.

TE’VON WATSON, DL Sophomore, Key West

The sky's the limit for the Conchs’ defensive lineman. Watson brought size, speed and athleticism to the D-line this sea son and added a lot of pressure from the edge.

JOHN HOLLY, OL Senior, Coral Shores

Dubbed the Iron Man of the ’Canes, Holly’s ability to pull and run for downfield blocks enabled the Coral Shores offense to be successful. The 6-foot-5-inch 285-pound senior tackle always gave 100% effort, improving ev ery week while he anchored the Coral Shores offensive line. He recorded 21 pancake blocks over the span of the season.

YEMCEL MORENO, QB Sophomore, Coral Shores

Described by his coach as a “great kid and even better player,” Moreno has a great future ahead of him. He led the Hurricanes to an 8-3 record this season, rushing 52 times for 540 yards and nine touchdowns. He was 32 for 63 through the air with 575 yards, six touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

ISAAC HOLMES, WR Junior, Coral Shores

As Coral Shores’ premier of fensive target, Holmes was able to pull down passes in heavy coverage and used his size to tack on extra yardage on the run. Described as a very talented player, Holmes has consistently produced on the field for the ’Canes on Friday nights.

TANNER ROSS, OL Sophomore, Marathon

As smart as he is athletic, Ross’ ability to understand offensive blocking schemes and make the right blocking call for the Fins made him an asset to his team. Ross was flawless in his snaps this season and played every single offensive down.

CARLOS LEZCANO, WR Sophomore, Marathon

Lezcano’s ability to block from his position allowed the Mara thon offense to rush for more than 3,000 yards this season. Even from the wide receiver po sition, Lezcano was a threat on the ground. In just seven games played, Lezcano had 19 carries for 226 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

FRANZ NOEL, OL Senior, Marathon

In his first year of varsity foot ball, Noel became a crucial player for the Fins. In the single wing offense, the outside tackle position is called the “tip of the spear.” Noel capitalized on his deadly combination of speed and strength to tear holes into the opposing team’s defense, providing big opportunities for Marathon to score.

JAMES REYNOLDS, RB Senior, Key West

Described as a workhorse, Reyn olds dealt with injuries but was able to turn it on by the end of the season. At over 200 pounds, he runs a sub-11-second 100 meter dash, giving him the speed to elude tackles. Reynolds had 149 carries for 831 yards with 11 touchdowns on the ground and one reception for seven yards in just seven games played this season.

RALPH RICHIE, OL Junior, Key West

Participating in wrestling last year has helped Richie develop his skills on the gridiron, making him a better athlete all around. He is dependable, has a strong work ethic and loves practice and the weight room. Richie has a lot of potential and Coach Hughes expects huge things from him next season.

THE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

Welcome reception at 7pm, dinner at 7:30pm. $175 per person (excluding tax and gratuity)

Amuse WILD MUSHROOM ARANCINI Truf e, mozzarella, red pepper pesto Belle Gloss, Taylor Lane Pinot Noir 2011

First Course GROUPER CRUDO Avocado mousse, mint, cucumber, yuzu vinaigrette, crispy ginger Quilt, Chardonnay 2020

Second Course ROASTED BROCCOLI RABE Parmesan and shrimp brood, chilis, pinenut gremolata Belle Glos, Balade Pinot Noir 2019

Third Course BEEF TARTARE BEIGNET Gherkins, hot mustard, black garlic aioli, gnocchi fritto Quilt, Cabernet 2019

Fourth Course GRILLED LAMB CHOP

Pumpkin hummus, pomegranate, crispy Lebanese rice, lamb & Noni’s mayhaw jus Quilt, Red Blend 2020

Fifth Course TRIPLE CREAM CHEESE Fl citrus, local honey comb, chocolate ganache Quilt, Cabernet Reserve 2017

Reservations are strongly encouraged by calling the hotel at 305-294-3200

A small flock of willets on Ohio Key. MARK

... is a photogra pher, 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 Audu bon Society.

STALKING THE QUIET AND THE GRAY

You spend enough time in Key West and you forget there’s such a thing as quiet. There’s always a wood chipper or an ambulance or an incoming jet or a dozen partying tourists yell ing “Woooo!” at random intervals in the illegal vacation rental three doors down.

You forget about it, at least until you drive up the Keys, past the Hurricane Ian-wracked boats still sitting hard aground above the boat ramps, past the low mangroves of the Saddlebunches where that creeping sense of claustrophobia that had been slowly building since the last time you got off the rock begins to dis sipate, over the high arc of the Niles Channel Bridge, which some days can feel like the top of the Empire State Building, and then slowly down Key Deer Bou levard, minding the speed limit, because only bastard people speed on Big Pine.

In the parking lot at the Blue Hole, after the click of the car door, you hear it: nothing. So much of it. You can’t remember the last time you didn’t hear so much as leaves shaking in a gentle breeze. Quiet. You’d forgotten it existed. You say the word out loud in your head.

You revel in it in the parking lot for a while, but then get a little antsy. You walk down the path to the platform at the edge of the borrow pit, and the quiet is swept aside by an eight-person conver sation about the best times and places to see manatees in Florida. (Winter, somewhere on the Gulf Coast.) It’s a fine conversation for people to have, but you don’t have much interest in participating, and besides, the gator isn’t even there, so you head back to the car.

You drive around to your usual spots – the salt ponds along Koehn Avenue, the bend in the road on Watson Boulevard, the floating sargassum mats at the dead end of No Name Key. There is some damn lovely quiet to be found, though not so many birds. You wonder where they are. They had to be somewhere. You remind yourself that birds generally set their own agenda and it is unwise to take it personally. Then you remind yourself again.

You drive further up the road, over the Bahia Honda Bridge – site of the occasional Florida Highway Patrol speed trap that is so long standing and traditional that it should have its own historic marker – to Ohio Key. Your wife once covered a trial for some men who were caught illegally fishing there, where she learned that Ohio Key translated into Spanish is Cayo de Ohio, and you can never not think about that fact when you go there.

You pull as far as you can off the highway, not on the trailer park half, but on the half – well third, really – named after Rachel Carson. Carson wrote “Silent Spring,” the book that largely put an end to the profligate use of DDT in most places in the world after making the case that it was killing off large swaths of birds, espe cially ones at the top of the food chain. She’d done some research for one of her other books while camping on the island, but you’ve never quite figured out what kind of research and for which book. The one book of hers you did read was a lot about the known geology of the time and the mysteries of deep water currents, but

you put it down halfway through, vowing to pick it up again during your next bout of insomnia.

You have to park behind a Sheriff’s Office cruiser, and worry about getting ticketed for something or other, but it turns out to be one of the decoy cruisers they’ve been parking up and down the Keys to try and slow traffic.

You’d recently talked to a birder you knew who used to make his way down the Keys pretty regularly, and he asked if the reddish egret that used to do its crazy feeding dance routine in the salt pond was still there, and you couldn’t remember the last time you stopped and checked. Which was part of the reason you were there now. But when you scan the pond, it is egret-free.

You make your way down the gravel incline without break ing your ankle. You notice the sign that had Rachel Carson’s name on it, the one that said it was part of the National Wildlife Refuge system, is missing and you wonder which storm – Ian? Irma? – took it out.

You walk the scrim of a beach – always a good spot for shore birds, but shorebirds tend to feed in soft sand and the tide is high, so there is not much soft sand for them to feed in. It’s hot. The surface of the sea glitters like a rhinestone jacket, or at least like the effect a rhinestone jacket is intended to create. Way out there are a couple of brown pelicans. After a while you notice two people walking up ahead of you, so any birds you might see are going to get flushed, and you turn around.

You decide to give the salt pond one last scan, and then your binoculars snag on an old buttonwood snag in the middle of the pond. There’s a handful of birds there, nine of them, all willets –shorebirds on the larger end of the shorebird size spectrum, with longish legs and longing bills.

Most of them are standing one-legged, and they’re all facing in different directions, like members of some ’90s band looking too cool to be in the promo photo, even though they showed up to have their photos taken in the first place. None of them move. With their wings folded they are all pretty much the same gray as the buttonwood snag. It’s a monochrome bouquet of birds.

You scan around the other snags in the pond and many of them are also filled with birds, though it’s more of a mixed bag –willets, but also black-bellied plovers and short-billed dowitchers. No doubt they were riding out the tide until there’d be enough beach to start feeding again. You count up to about 200 birds, but then realize there are a lot more than that, so you stop counting.

There’s a lot of highway noise from all the cars, trucks and RVs passing. There is no quiet here. But seeing all those birds after see ing so few birds feels a little bit like remembering what quiet was like again.

KEY DEER SHOOTING RAISES RESPONSE QUESTIONS

ILLEGAL SHOOTING WAS REPORTEDLY INTENDED AS MERCY KILLING

The widely publicized shooting of an endangered Key deer on Big Pine Key remains under investigation by federal authorities. But for locals, the death of another protected animal has prompted a renewed outcry from those concerned with officers’ ability to respond in a timely fashion to such events.

“On Wednesday, November 16, the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement was informed that a Key deer was shot and killed on a residential lot on Big Pine Key,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) public affairs specialist Jennifer Koches in a statement on Nov. 18. “The Service is working with the State of Florida, and our agents are currently gathering facts as part of an ongo ing investigation.”

The FWS oversees the National Key Deer Refuge in the Lower Keys, established in 1957 to protect the small endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer found exclusively in the island chain.

Though this is the second widely-publicized Key deer shooting in 2022, a press release submitted by the non-profit Save Our Key Deer Inc. (SOKD) alleges that though still illegal, the shooting was intended as a mercy killing when it became apparent the distressed animal would not receive immediate medical attention.

According to the release, the case began a week earlier when a Big Pine resident found the large buck stuck between two sections of fenc ing with rope entangled in his antlers on Nov. 9, causing him to sustain cuts and abrasions on both sides of his body.

The release states that residents contacted the wildlife hotline maintained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as well as several FWS and FWC officials and volunteers, but the buck rushed off into the woods with his antlers still entangled when he was eventually freed from the fence.

Volunteers and officials attempted to locate the deer over the next week, but were unsuc cessful until the buck was found lying in “ex treme distress” near Independence Avenue on Nov. 16. Though not yet confirmed, the release states the buck “was likely suffering from organ failure due to ‘capture myopathy’ induced by severe stress.” The release further states that an individual “took it upon themselves to put the agonized buck out of his misery” after more than two and a half hours had elapsed since residents again called the FWC hotline.

“I’m hoping that (officials) can use this un fortunate case to help them get whatever they need to do to to get better staffing,” SOKD presi

An image reportedly taken on Nov. 16 shows con cerned residents attempting to deliver water to the injured buck. SAVE OUR KEY DEER/Contributed

dent Valerie Preziosi told Keys Weekly. “This was illegal and unsafe for anybody to do that, and we frown on that completely. However, there was a motive. … I wish (officials) were better educated to the level of understanding what that animal might be going through in a situation like that.”

With FWC’s hotline dispatch number routed to the mainland and unclear divisions of jurisdic tion among multiple potential responding agen cies, the release claims residents are increas ingly less likely to wait for officials to respond to incidents.

“The lack of response or lack of appropriate medical action following a call to ‘the Hotline’ has made many residents convinced that such a call is useless, and that the only option is to deal with the situation on their own, ultimately leading to last week’s shooting incident,” it concludes.

“Given the number of positions that we have, FWC is trying to cover the entire Florida Keys and the entire National Marine Sanctuary,” FWC Capt. David Dipre told the Weekly, similarly pointing to staffing concerns and a need for clear communication as the main drivers behind extended response times.

“It’s just not possible for us to always be where people want us to be,” he said.

Keys Weekly contacted FWS for an update on the investigation and further clarification of each agency’s responsibility when hotline calls are received for incidents such as these. Per its policy, the service declined to comment on an ongoing investigation, and clarification regarding the handling of calls was not yet available as of press time.

A Key deer shot in January on Sugarloaf Key was euthanized and transported to USFWS’ forensic laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for fur ther analysis. It is unclear whether this deer will receive the same analysis.

With a remaining population of fewer than 1,000 individuals, Key deer are protected by both the federal Endangered Species Act and Florida law. Intentionally killing an animal carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. Witnesses are urged to call 888-404-FWCC (3922), option 1 for Monroe County, to report a dead or seriously injured Key deer.

BRIEFLY

Key West honors World AIDS Day

Key West will honor World AIDS Day with a candlelit march from City Hall to the Key West AIDS Memorial at the Edward Knight Pier, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Thurs day, Dec. 1. A brief ceremony with speakers and music will take place at the memorial, and all names that ap pear on the memorial are read aloud during the march.

Kia of Key West hosts Family Day at

Truman Waterfront Park

Kia of Key West invites the local community to its free Family Day event starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Truman Waterfront Park. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pastries and beverages will be provided, along with free t-shirts, mini-footballs, sunglasses and other give aways.

Cotton candy, bounce houses, corn hole, face paint ing and live entertainment will be available for the kids. The police department’s horses and K-9 officers will be on hand for demonstrations and photos.

Storm victims can get help with insurance deductibles

United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) and AH Monroe are helping Monroe County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian. Each agency will provide matching funds, up to $100,000 total, to help residents with home and automotive insurance deductibles. The program is available to full-time residents who sustained Hurricane Ian damage to their primary residence or vehicle.

Eligible applicants must make less than $75,000 annually for individuals or $150,000 for households. Qualified applicants may receive up to a $2,500 limit per household for automotive or $5,000 limit for home insur ance deductible. Applicants may apply for one category only. Determination is based upon need and funding availability. Proof of damage, income, insurance cover age, and proper identification are all required to apply. Call 305-735-1929 to apply.

Get a homemade ceramic bowl at the college’s Mud Pi dinner

The College of the Florida Keys’ student ceramics club invites the community to its annual Mud-Pi Din ner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 at CFK’s Ceramics Studio on the Key West campus. Attendees of the fundraiser select their own student-crafted ceramic bowl to eat from and take home as a souvenir. Students in CFK’s culinary program are catering the event with three multicultural food stations serving Cajun, Texan, and Mexican cuisines. A mocktail bar, staffed by students in the hospitality program, will serve creative beverages. Attendees can watch live demonstrations and will be able to purchase art through a silent auction and ceram ics sale. Admission is $50 at the door.

Stock Island Lighted Boat Parade scheduled for on Dec. 9

The Rotary Club of Key West and the Perry Hotel & Marina, in cooperation with I Love Stock Island, present “The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of Stock Island 2022” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 on the Lawn of the Perry Hotel in Stock Island. The family-friendly event includes games, activities and treats for the children along with a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus.

The parade starts at 7 p.m. Entry fee is free with cash prizes awarded in three categories. For more informa tion on registering contact Lauren at 305-394-323 or visit keywestrotary.com. The club is also collecting un wrapped children’s gifts in support of the Wesley House.

MANDY MILES

drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. She’s married to a saintly — and handy — fisher man, and has been stringing words together in Key West since 1998.

IN FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL

This column origi nally appeared in the Keys Weekly’s latest Holiday magazine, avail able now inside local businesses and online at keysweekly.com.

Ah, holiday travel. This is when things get interesting, for me at least.

Flights to points far north — places marked by snow flakes and swirling winds on TV weather maps — present a challenge every year.

And therein lies the prob lem. (OK, one of my problems.)

It’s not the cold weather per se, although I’m quick to admit that 24 years in Key West have done nothing to make me more tolerant of or amenable to freezing temperatures.

But when it comes to our Thanksgiving and Christmas trips to visit family in Boston, Jersey or North Carolina, it’s the packing that poses the prob lem. And the weight.

First the luggage.

We live in lightweight clothes and strappy sandals down here. We could pack for an entire month in Key West without exceeding the airlines’ weight limits for checked bags.

The same cannot be said for winter travel up north. Sweaters, jeans and sweat shirts weigh significantly more than T-shirts, flowy pants and sundresses — and they occupy a lot more space.

But luggage weight isn’t my only issue. (I have plenty of issues, but that’s neither here nor there.)

I wear jeans about three times a year here in Key West on those sporadic, cooler days when the mercury drops be low, say, 65. Yes, visitors to our island from other wintry places are still in shorts and tank tops on those days, while we locals

are wearing scarves, sweaters and boots.

But for us year-round locals, that winter wardrobe tends to shrink each year with every closet purge, apartment move and decluttering frenzy.

Unfortunately, for me, my waist has not shrunk in several years, so it’s always an adventure when packing my two remaining pairs of jeans for our holiday trips. (I’ve finally parted with the ones that are no longer even an aspirational size for me.)

Sure, I could try them on in advance and build in an extra hour or two of travel prepara tion that would allow me time to run to TJ Maxx for some appropriate replacements, but where’s the excitement in that?

Apparently, I’d much rather roll the dice each winter, throw those jeans into a suitcase three minutes before the airport Uber shows up and just hope for the best.

My personal packing chaos leaves no room for error, so it’s no surprise that I’ve spent at least one Thanksgiving week end in the same pair of black leggings when the jeans I’d packed were about three sizes ago.

I tell myself every year that I’ll do better. Of course, I also tell myself I’ll lose 30 pounds and fit back into the jeans I finally gave away. But I’m also a realist. I know myself and I’m quite familiar with my own shortcomings.

So for this year, I’ll just throw my jeans AND a few extra pairs of leggings into the suitcase — and still hope for the best.

When it comes to my holiday travel adventures, it’s about family (with a healthy dose of food and booze), not wardrobe. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Happy Holidays, Florida Keys. Stay warm, wherever you may be.

WHEN LOCAL NEWS MATTERS

IT SHOULD COME FROM LOCAL WRITERS

1.

WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

2. Monroe County Commissioner Syl via Murphy sits at her desk. She rep resented portions of the Upper Keys, from North Key Largo to Tavernier, from 2006 to 2020. CONTRIBUTED

3. Then-Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy presents Jeanette Nuñez with an Honorary Conch certificate during a gathering in Marathon in 2019.

CONTRIBUTED

4. Sylvia Murphy is recognized as mayor emeritus during a Dec. 8, 2021 meeting of the Monroe County Com mission. MONROE COUNTY BOCC/ Contributed

‘ULTIMATE PUBLIC SERVANT’

Former Monroe County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy was in strumental in broker ing a deal for Rowell’s Park in Key Largo. She also played a pivotal role in saving lives during her career as an EMT.

A Keys resident dating back to her late teenage years, Murphy passed away during the morning hours of Nov. 26. She was 86.

Feisty, a walking history book and a true public servant, Murphy served 14 years as a county commissioner. But she was also a contributor to the community in ways many people didn’t see. A few weeks before the 13th annual Light Up Key Largo on Nov. 19, Murphy called Nola Acker, one of the event organizers. The two have known each other for many years. Murphy ap pointed Acker to serve on the Tourist Development Council’s District Advisory Committee in 2017.

Murphy was a regular contributor to Key Largo’s holiday event and donated funds so every kid could enjoy a hot dog and a drink. Acker told Murphy they were having some difficulties obtain ing everything they needed for the event. Murphy stepped up to help fill the holes.

“It was a two-hour conversation that night,” Acker said. “She was so excited when I talked to her three weeks ago. She’s like, ‘Nola I’ll give you $1,000; $250 to the kids and take the difference and put it where you need to put it.’”

Murphy spent much of her life serving the public, including her years as an EMT with Monroe County Emergency Medical Services, from which she retired in 1996, and two decades with the Tav ernier Volunteer Fire Department. She was elected to Monroe County Commission’s District 5, which serves North Key Largo and portions of Tavernier, in 2006. She kept serving and running for reelection until she decided to retire in November 2020.

“At 86, was I going to be a county commissioner at 90? Come on,” Murphy said during a sitdown interview with the Keys Weekly in December 2021.

County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln served two years with Murphy. But her time getting to know Murphy dates back to Lincoln’s days on the Marathon City Council.

“The first time I met her professionally, she said, ‘I’m going to give you some advice. You’re go ing to make some votes that won’t always make you popular. But do your homework, make your vote and move on to the next one.’ I loved that advice she had for me,” Lincoln said.

Murphy’s commitment to the job and Florida Keys residents was recognized by fellow commis

sioners, as she was named mayor emeritus on Dec. 8, 2021. She joined Wilhelmina Harvey as the only two to have the title.

“Sylvia is very active out in the community,” County Commissioner David Rice said in a 2021 in terview on Murphy’s recognition. “She truly seemed to enjoy her job. As a county commissioner, she ran up and down the Keys, going to everything. And you never have to question where Sylvia’s thoughts are, because they are at the tip of her tongue. And she would agree with that. I love Sylvia, and I think that she would appreciate the honor. It hasn’t been done that many times, so why not?”

Murphy told the Keys Weekly one of her proud est accomplishments was Key Largo’s Rowell’s Park at MM 104, bayside. She knew the owner of that land and was instrumental in brokering the deal.

“It doesn’t matter if the park sits vacant, it belongs to the county,” she said. “One day, after hurricanes pass and roads are raised, it will be a beautiful park. I arranged for Roman (county administrator Roman Gastesi) to meet with the owners of the marina with the price he quoted me. Roman met them for lunch and finalized it.”

State Attorney Dennis Ward was a close friend to Murphy. Describing her as frank, candid and a supporter of the county and its natural resources, Ward said Murphy was the ultimate public servant. He also said she was a walking history book.

“We used to travel together a lot to Key West for events. Every time you get into an area she’d tell a story when she was an EMT and the different calls she went on,” Ward said. “The history and knowl edge of the community that she had was incredible. Things would come up and she would know what people were around at that period of time and the events.”

Acker will remember Murphy’s passion and feistiness.

“All I had to do was say ‘I have a problem,’ and she’d say, ‘Let me send an email,’” Acker said. “Every time I asked her for anything she helped. She even got into a dunk tank for me during a 4th of July picnic.”

An outpouring of social media posts followed Murphy’s passing. Steve Torrence worked with Murphy on the county Health and Services Advisory Board. In a post, Torrence said Murphy was a tena cious spirit and had a wicked sense of humor.

“She said what she thought and thought what she said,” he wrote.

State Rep. Jim Mooney said Murphy was a life long public servant and truly loved the island chain.

“The Keys lost a fruitful part of the community,” he said.

A celebration of life for Murphy will be held Monday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN KEY WEST

KEY WEST HOLIDAY FEST OFFERS ARRAY OF EVENTS FOR SEASON

Yes, we know, we ran this schedule of holiday events in last week’s paper, but there’s a lot going on this month. So in case you missed it during last week’s Thanksgiving festivities, here you go.

Whether you delight in the fun and funky, the enchantingly elegant, or all the above, revelers of all ages can immerse in a solid month of tropical warmth-infused holiday magic and merry-making.

Through New Year’s Eve, Key West Harbor Walk of Lights at the Historic Seaport: Lighted palm trees, Christmas trees, ships, shops, restaurants and watering holes.

Through Christmas Eve, the MARC annual Christmas tree lot: Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, accessories, ornaments and gifts. More than 1,500 trees are available until they run out or Christmas Eve, whichever comes first. 1401 Semi nary St.

Friday, Dec. 2, 4 to 8 p.m. Wes ley House Family Services Holiday Village & BeLighted Bike Ride at Coffee Butler Amphitheater: A family-friendly party with Santa Claus, music, games, food trucks, goodies. Admission fee benefits Wesley House Family Services. Bike ride through the streets departs at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pet Pictures with The Grinch at Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon, 409 Caroline St. Proceeds benefit River’s Wish, Inc., a non-profit senior dog sanctuary.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. Key West Hometown Holiday Parade kicks off at Bayview Park and travels along Truman Avenue and Duval Street.

Sunday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. Pet Pictures with Santa at the Christmas tree at the foot of William Street at the Key West Bight Marina. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Keys.

Dec. 7-11, Nutcracker Key West: Sixty local children and adults and 15 professional dancers present this recreation of Key West’s version of “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Tennessee Williams Theater.

Dec. 8, 11-13, 16-23, Conch Tour Train Holiday Sights and Festive Nights Tours depart from Key West High School and convey caroling passengers through streets and neighborhoods to revel in the illuminated city of Key West.

Friday, Dec. 9, Holiday Historic Inn Tours – Night 1, 6 to 8 p.m.: Tour four decorated island locales: Key West Butterfly Conservatory, The Mermaid & the Alligator, Win slow’s Bungalows, and Weathersta tion Inn.

Friday, Dec. 9, 5 to 9 p.m. 5th annual Holiday Concert & Bazaar at Custom House Museum fea tures local artisans, musicians and choirs, along with a holiday light show.

Friday, Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. Stock Island Lighted Boat Parade pre sented by the Rotary Club of Key at The Perry Hotel.

Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (9 a.m. check-in), 9th annual Parade of Paws & Holiday Bazaar at Higgs Beach / Higgs Dog Park: Benefits the Florida Keys SPCA. Cos tumes encouraged.

Saturday, Dec. 10, 8 p.m. Schooner Wharf annual Key West Lighted Boat Parade. Arrive at the Key West Bight Marina at the His toric Seaport early in order to stroll through the Key West Harbor Walk of Lights.

Saturday, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 16, Visit Santa at the North Pole, noon to 2 p.m. at the South ernmost “North Pole,” upstairs at the Shops at Mallory Square, 291 Front St. Letter-writing stations and a mailbox will be available for the younger set.

Friday, Dec. 16, Holiday Historic Inn Tours – Night 2, 6 to 8 p.m. Tour four decorated island locales: Hemingway’s Library @ Papa’s Pilar Distillery, The Marquesa Hotel, The Gardens Hotel and Island City House.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 a.m. check-in, 8 a.m. start, A Positive Step 5K Rudolph Red Nose Run starting and ending at the South ernmost Beach Café, 1405 Duval St. Don your festival holiday jammies. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome; first 100 regis trants receive a free T-shirt.

Two

Sunday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Holiday Classic Car Show at the Conch Republic Seafood Co. parking lot at the corner of Greene and Elizabeth streets. Bring an un wrapped toy for the Monroe County Domestic Abuse Shelter.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. City of Key West Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Bayview Park. Dec. 25, Holiday Jazz in the Gardens, 5 to 7 p.m. The Gardens Hotel, 526 Angela St. hosts outdoor jazz in its garden, with a full cash bar on site and a 20% Christmas dis count on bottled wine and bubbly.

Saturday, Dec. 31 – For your midnight toast, chose from an abundance of Key West New Year’s Eve Celebrations: The Conch Shell Drop at Sloppy Joe’s Bar on Duval Street; the Red High Heel Drop with Sushi the Drag Queen at Bourbon St. Pub; the Pirate Wench Drop at the Historic Seaport; and the Key Lime Wedge in a Margarita Glass drop at Ocean Key Resort.

SHELF HELP

Staff from your Monroe County Public Library recommend some of their favorites from the collection.

What: “Jerusalem” by Alan Moore

Why: From the visionary au thor of graphic novels like “The Watchmen,” “V for Vendetta,” “League of Extraordinary Gentle men” and “From Hell” comes a novel of epic proportions. Follow the strange members of the Vernal family as they explore all the angles of time, space and its underpinnings in the crumbling industrial city of North Hampton as it struggles into the 21st cen tury. From the mind-expanding speech of the mysterious robed Builders, the mathematical truths of an elder fiend, the ghostly adventures of the Dead Dead Gang, and a whole gaggle of other North Hampton resi dents living and dead from the beginning of time to its pre-or dained end, see how all of these characters’ stories, strange and mundane alike, come together in the fiery conclusion of their fourth-dimensional existences.

Where: This is available as a print book from the Monroe County Library system.

How: You can request books online by logging in to www.keyslibraries.org and get ebooks and e-audiobooks 24/7 at www.estuff.keyslibraries.org. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? info@keyslibraries.org

Recommended by: James Todd, library assistant, Marathon branch

FROM MUSIC CITY TO THE SOUTHERNMOST CITY

ISLAND REVIVAL BRINGS NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS THIS WEEKEND

Island Revival brings some of Nashville’s hottest music writers to Key West Dec. 2-4 for shows at Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier.

CONTRIBUTED

mandy@keysweekly.com

Anew music festival arrives in Key West this weekend, featuring some of the biggest songwriters from Music City, USA — Nashville, Tennessee.

Island Revival Key West is pro duced by Nash West Entertainment, a partnership of Key Wester Dave Thibault and Nashville music heavy weight Rob Snyder, who founded the original Revival in Nashville.

“Island Revival will be a yearly event to celebrate the end of hurricane season and the beginning (revival) of a prosperous tourist season,” Thibault said. “This year will target our local community as a two-day music event and party. The objective is to build up a new five-day annual event that will at tract locals and tourists going forward.”

“For the past nine years Nashville has been home to the Revival, a gath ering of the town’s biggest hit writers who share their songs and introduce the next new faces,” Thibault said. “The Revival highlights the best music in Nashville — by the talented people whose music makes the room stand still.”

In 2022, the Revival’s songwrit ers hit the road on a tour known as the Revival Roadshow. That tour ends in Key West this weekend for the Island Revival, with shows from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sun day, Dec. 2-4 at Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier.

“Island Revival is honored to be showcasing some of the best talent Nashville has to offer in Key West this weekend,” Snyder told the Keys Weekly. “Revival’s mission since 2014 has been to celebrate the writ ers behind the hit songs that we all know and love. Key West has always been a welcoming harbor for Nash ville talent. We’ll also be taking this opportunity to introduce some of Nashville’s best up-and-coming art ists. Come out to see us this Friday and Saturday at Sunset Pier.”

The Key West lineup features: Wyatt Durrette, Bobby Pinson, Trent Tomlinson, Erik Dylan, Rob Snyder, Chris Canterbury, Vinnie Paolizzi, Tom O’Connor and Key West local Cliff Cody.

One- and two-day passes are available for $40 and $66.50 plus tax and fees. More information is at revivalroadshow.com.

CELEBRATE ON STOCK ISLAND

I STOCK ISLAND HOSTS HOLIDAY CULINARY TOUR

The I Stock Island festival is back with a holiday edition on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Don your best Hawaiian holiday outfits and board the Old Town Trolley for a culinary tour of Stock Island’s favorite restaurants. At each stop, participants will enjoy a specially selected small plate and beverage.

Each trolley is limited to a small number of guests with a tour led by a local guide.

Check-in takes place dockside along the parking area at The Perry Hotel on Shrimp Road. Check-in opens at 3:30 p.m. for a 4 p.m. start.

The chef or owner will welcome everyone at each stop and introduce their dish, while a sommelier or brewmeister shares their beverage pairing notes.

Guests will receive a souvenir festival cup & I Love Stock Island sticker.

Stops Include Matt’s Sock Island Kitchen, Sloppy Joe’s Dockside, Salty Oyster, El Mocho, Roostica, Hogfish Bar & Grill, Fishbusterz, The Docks, Yellowfin @ Oceans Edge and the newly opened Cayo Hueso Brewing Co.

The event is a fast-paced, hop-on/hop-off tasting experience that requires some walking. If you or a participant in your party has mobility issues or is in a wheelchair, please contact event coordinator Liana Pyne for accommodations at 603-651-9797.

What’s included:

• 10 chef-inspired small plates & a small dessert.

• 10 wine, beer or signature cocktail pairings.

• Trolley transportation to each stop.

• Knowledgeable local host aboard each trolley.

• Meet the locals who make Stock Island so unique along the way.

• Souvenir beverage cup.

• Trolleys depart from and return to The Perry Hotel. — Contributed

A DOGGONE GOOD TIME

SPCA HOSTS PARADE OF PAWS DEC. 10

WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE ROCKS

’80S MIX-TAPE MEMORIES

‘ROCK OF AGES’ RECALLS BYGONE ERA OF HAIR BAND BALLADS

The talented cast takes audiences back to the ‘80s era of high hair and hard-rock anthems. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Some might say the music of the 1980s is best viewed as a gauzy reflection in the rearview mirror.

But then we wouldn’t get to enjoy “Rock of Ages,” the campy mix-tape, hard-rock, hair-band romp of a musical now playing at Key West’s Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Square.

Anyone old enough to remember the ’80s also recalls the leather-clad, long-haired music heroes who ruled the arenas and airwaves of that era, when Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” blared from the speakers of a Camaro.

Skillfully produced and directed by Tom Thayer, the opening act finds us in a seedy club on LA’s Sunset Strip. Eighties nostalgia bedecks the stage with cigarette vending machines (yes, they did exist), a wall-mounted pay phone and other reminders of those boombox, mix-tape days.

by

The performing cast from “Rock of Ages” slings equal weight with voices that soar throughout the 152-seat theater. Standouts include, but are not limited to, Sarah McKinney as Sherrie (yes, the girl immortalized in 1984 by rocker Steve Perry), her love interest Drew (Brendan Dougherty) and the show’s joke-cracking narrator (and Keys Weekly music columnist) Ray West as Lonny Barnett. Michael Spa ziani is the debauched lothario Stacee Jax, who belts out Bon Jovi’s “Wanted, Dead or Alive,’’ with all the rapacious ness of a true rock star. Olivia White is brilliant as the cagey strip club owner Justice Charlier, who sprinkles salty humor from beginning to end.

The Florida Keys SPCA is gearing up for its ninth annual Parade of Paws from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Higgs Beach Dog Park.

The event celebrates all the dogs in the Key West and Lower Keys community while raising money for the SPCA’s shelter pets.

The festivities start with a blessing of the animals by Rev. Steve Torrence at 10 a.m. with a pet parade to follow, along with pet photos with Santa.

The event also includes a holi day bazaar with local vendors, live music, a Smooch-a-Pooch booth, raffles and more.

A “royal coronation” will crown local dogs king, queen, prince,

princess, duke and duchess for their fundraising efforts. Entries are closed for fundraising candidates, but make plans now for next year. Every dollar raised through your pet’s page will directly benefit the needs of the homeless animals of the lower Florida Keys such as vac cinations, food, bedding, medical care, enrichment and more.

Prizes are available for raising a minimum of $100, including a grand prize of a stay in Costa Rica. By creating your own pet page, friends, family and coworkers can easily donate directly to your pet’s campaign for next year.

For more information, contact Tiffany at 305-294-4857 or Tiffany@ fkspca.org.

The rags-to-riches story of rock fame flameouts and love found, lost and found again, is a familiar trope from NYC’s Broadway, where the goofy but endearing “Rock of Ages” stage play originated in 2009. The show’s whirlwind, tune-driven narrative fol lows the lives of a small-town girl and a city boy facing the LA club’s impending demolition.

But every rose has its thorn, right? Thayer’s cast is solid and clearly has a lot of fun with the material, not only by erupting in one-liners at each turn, but also engaging audience members, the fourth wall crumbling at times.

The production values of the musi cal numbers are slick and brash with keyboardist and conductor Roberta Ja cyshyn at the helm of some of the ’80s’ most crackling glam rock anthems. The show’s onstage band neatly evokes this post-punk, pre-grunge musical era

Zachary Franchini is delightful as the flamboyant Franz Klinemann, son of the German-born land developer Hertz (Andrew Theede) who’s orches trating the club’s demise. Franchini’s singing voice stays solid throughout the show and his character’s antics are infectious, even if his and Theede’s German accents occasionally waver.

With all this local talent tuned to the avalanche of songs from Styx, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister and Poison, it will be no surprise to see audiences join the cast in “Come On Feel the Noize.”

The power of hope and the folly of love drive the “Rock of Ages” story.

In the end it appears this majes tic acid wash of a musical is living the dream to which its characters can only aspire. Through its amusing narrative, the show aptly delivers glam-metal’s death rattle, signaling the end of an era.

‘ROCK

OF AGES’

AT WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE through Dec. 17. Tickets: $40 to $85 waterfrontplayhouse.org

SAVED BY THE ... KEY DEER?

The Keys may never have a white Christmas, but 17-yearold author Holly Eddleston has written a children’s book about an island Christmas adventure in which a Key deer saves the day.

The book, aptly titled “Can a Key Deer Save Christmas,” follows the journey of Winnie McKee, a Key deer who must travel throughout the Keys to help a stranded Santa when one of his reindeer loses a magic bell. Along the way, she visits many famous and charmingly illustrated Keys landmarks, and gets help from other Keys animals. Proceeds from the book are being donated to Big Pine Key’s National Key Deer Refuge, and Eddleston’s goal is to raise $500.

Eddleston moved to the Keys with her family from Rhode Island when she was 14, but said she never really thought of herself as a writer until about two years ago.

“Since then, it’s been a really fun journey, figuring out what my style of writing is,” she said. “And children’s books are fun to write.”

Growing up as a fan of Junie B. Jones and Dr. Seuss books, Eddleston enjoys the upbeat, positive story tell ing of children’s books and combining writing with illustration.

“I’m not really the best artist,” said Holly about the book’s art. “We reached out to Blueberry Illustrations to find a good illustrator who matched the style I wanted in the book. Every children’s book has a different style, and I wanted a very bubbly, happy and colorful one. It took a good five to six months for every drawing to be done. I’m very happy about it; everything is perfect to what I imagined.”

Holly knew right away that her first book would “of course” be a Christmas story. “My family puts the Christmas tree up on Nov. 1, and I’ve always loved Christmas,” she said. “It’s been my favorite holiday since I was little, so that was an easy choice right off the bat. Christmas has always been a big deal to my family.”

For other writers who are just starting on their craft, Eddleston advised, “If you have an idea that you think works, just start writing. Write it all down. And write multiple drafts.

Holly Eddleston, 17, shows off her latest release, ‘Can a Key Deer Save Christmas?’ Proceeds from the children’s book will go to support the National Key Deer Refuge in Big Pine Key. CONTRIBUTED

Eventually it’ll all come together. If you think it’s good, it is probably good. It took a lot of encouragement from my family to finally get (this book) pub lished, so I think another important thing is having people around you who support your ideas and your vision.”

With more Winnie McKee story ideas in the works, Eddleston’s vision is to continue featuring different Keys animals like manatees and sea turtles while still continuing Winnie’s journey.

For a chance to meet the artist in person, visit Eddleston at the Islamo rada Holiday Fest on Friday, Dec. 2 for a book signing. “Can a Key Deer Save Christmas?” is available online from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and has already sold more than 100 copies. It is also sold in Islamorada at Florida Keys Kayak and Ski at Robbie’s, the Sea Turtle Gallery and Gifts, One Drunk Monkey gift shop, the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Center and in Duck Key at Hawks Cay Resort.

’TIS THE SEASON TO SUPPORT MARC’S CHRISTMAS SHOP

O CHRISTMAS TREE...

It’s beginning to look — and smell — a lot like Christmas on Seminary Street in Key West.

MARC’s Christmas tree lot and holiday shop opened, as always, the day after Thanksgiving.

The scent of fir trees fills the air, and makes even a hot Key West afternoon feel like Christmas.

The tree lot will be open daily until Christmas Eve, or until all the trees are sold.

Sizes range from tabletop minis to 9-footers and prices range from $40 to $150.

The Monroe Association for Re markable Citizens (MARC) is a non profit organization that provides life skill training and job opportuni ties for developmentally disabled adults in the community. Through out the year, MARC operates a day program for its clients, along with a nursery and plant store.

Its Christmas tree lot and pumpkin patch have been holiday traditions in Key West for more than 30 years.

In addition to the trees, MARC’s holiday shop offers decorated wreaths, garlands, poinsettias, or naments, tree stands and gifts.

Visit marchouse.org for more information.

NEW VESSEL TURN-IN PROGRAM

FWC NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis sion (FWC) is accepting applications for a recently approved and newly created Ves sel Turn-In Program (VTIP), a key component of Florida’s derelict vessel prevention program.

VTIP is a voluntary program designed to help owners dispose of their unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Upon approval of an application, VTIP will take a surrendered vessel and dispose of it at no cost to the boat owner. Removing the ves sel before it deteriorates into a derelict condition will prevent legal ramifications for the vessel owner and will protect Florida’s valuable seagrass resources, marine life, and human life, safety and prop erty.

A derelict vessel upon waters of the state is a criminal offense and can carry serious penalties and fines or possible jail time.

“Acting now is the best way to prevent legal action from oc curring if the vessel becomes derelict,” said Phil Horning, VTIP administrator.

To qualify for VTIP, a vessel must be floating on waters of the state of Florida and cannot be already determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written at-risk warning or citation and possess a clear title to the vessel.

To apply for or view program guidelines, visit MyFWC.com/VTIP or call the FWC Boating and Water ways Division at 850-488-5600 for more information.

Contributed

Weekly

MIGRANTS ABOARD

VESSEL

BACK

An American flag waves to the Atlantic Ocean breeze at one of the more popular Florida Keys sandbars. Located at Whale Harbor in Islamorada, hundreds of boats usually line the shallow, sandy bottoms during holidays and busy weekends for a day of sunshine, drinks and lounging.

For the past week, sandbar visitors haven’t only captured breathtaking views of the ocean on a picturesque Keys day. Not far from where boats anchor, a roughly 50-foot wooden sail boat that carried almost 200 Haitian migrants from turmoil to hopes for a new life remains grounded.

While chugs hauling Cuban migrants continue to arrive at record levels, the island chain hasn’t wit nessed a large vessel carrying Haitian migrants to American soil in several months. That all changed during the early morning hours of Nov. 21, when a good Samaritan alerted the Coast Guard that an overloaded boat carry ing well over 100 people was crashing into 6- to 10-foot waves and being whipped by 25 mph winds not far from Rodriguez Key in Key Largo. Rescue efforts throughout the day by the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection proved challenging due to the conditions, according to Matt James, Coast Guard Station Islamorada commander.

By evening, the sailboat trav eled south to Islamorada, where it grounded at a sandbar south of Whale Harbor. Rescue attempts intensified as 18 people hopped off the boat and into the treacherous waters. With help from other agencies, which included Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation and Islamorada Fire Rescue, CBP was able to rescue all the people in the water.

"These people were packed into an overloaded, unsafe vessel without safety equipment," said Lt. C. Box, of Coast Guard District Seven. "The weather was so bad, these people are lucky we got to them when we did."

Of the 190 on the sailboat, 89 were men, 55 were women and 46 were children. A total of 180 migrants were put on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, given food, water and medical attention and repatriated to Haiti on Nov. 26. Ten people onboard the vessel were going through a joint interagency process. On Nov. 29, the Coast Guard said seven people were repatriated and three were transferred back to U.S. officials.

A record-breaking 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, saw the Coast Guard interdicting 7,175 Haitian migrants. Since the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2022, crews have intercepted vessels that contained 585 Haitians.

Not far from the famous sandbar, the grounded vessel remains a topic of conversation as boaters pass by and view it from afar. Buckets, netting, bags and other items remain onboard, and so does the story of a dangerous journey to escape a country in Haiti in flicted with violence, economic despair and major uncertainty as to its future.

The sailboat is the latest addition to the Florida Keys’ derelict vessel problem, which has grown with more Cuban chugs arriving by the day. Between 60 and 80 derelict vessels are taken out of the water each year, cost ing a little more than $200,000. Grant funding from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Monroe County Boating Improvement Funds are used to remove derelict vessels.

Removal of the wooden vessel that carried the Haitians now falls into the hands of Florida Fish & Wildlife Conser vation Commission.

“It’ll go onto our (derelict vessel) list and it’ll be treated as such,” said Jason Rafter, public information officer with FWC.

‘UNSAFE’ SHIP THAT CARRIED HAITIANS REMAINS GROUNDED OFF ISLAMORADA

THE WOODEN

TRANSPORTED

TO HOME COUNTRY

... a veteran sports columnist, says the only sport he doesn’t follow is cricket. That leaves plenty of others to fill his time.

@gmail.com

SPORTS & MORE

MORE MEMORIES OF A NEWSPAPER WRITER

Last week, I wrote a column recalling some people I’ve met, inter viewed and/or written about in my 65 years as a journalist, mainly as a news paper sports writer or other. This is the second “chapter” of those memories, which come from a speech I gave several months ago to the Sunrise Rotary.

Three sports writers, Hal McCoy, Si Burick and Ritter Collett, who worked with me in Dayton, Ohio have been elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. I’m the only sports editor who can claim three of his people in the Hall. I’m very proud of that fact, of those people and of many others with whom I’ve worked.

When I was a reporter at the Marco Island Eagle, I interviewed singer Amy Grant and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann. Grant overwhelmed me with her honesty about what was going on in her life. I didn’t know until after my story was published that Swann had just lost his job as a network pro football announcer. My interview was not a good one.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus showed me and some other people how he han dles each club in a golf practice session. Lee Trevino sat beside me at a luncheon at a Dayton country club, then took me out to the course and showed me how he hooked and sliced toward a target.

A friend of mine, Bernie Boston, won White House Photographer of the Year and invited me to join him at the party in Washington, D.C. At a post-dinner party, we joined a dozen or so people along with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who said to me, “Any friend of Bernie’s is a friend of mine.” At that intimate gathering, I talked at length with Fannie Flagg, the comedian and author who had entertained at the dinner.

I have covered 17 college basketball Final Fours and had many one-on-one interviews with participants, including Magic Johnson, coach Bob Knight, coach Dean Smith (who bummed a cigarette back when we were both smokers) and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, whom I had also covered when he was a high school player in upstate New York.

Coach John McVay (not to be con fused with his grandson, Sean McVay,

coach of the Los Angeles Rams) was football coach at the University of Day ton when the Flyers played Division I. He died last week at age 91.

I became good friends with Milt Kan tor, who owned a minor league basket ball team in Dayton, the Dayton Wings, and tried to buy the San Antonio Spurs. When I graduated from Ohio Wes leyan, I got a sports-writing job at the Times-Union, thanks to Professor Verne Edwards Jr.

I covered some basketball games in Syracuse, which had a team called the Nationals.

One night in Syracuse after a game against Philadelphia, I wandered down to the bowels of the War Memorial and came across my writing idol back then, Leonard Koppett of the New York Post, interviewing Wilt Chamberlain. Cham berlain looked up, saw me patiently waiting and told Koppett he wanted to talk to “this young fellow.” I got my chance, interviewed him then and sev eral more times, as we at least became acquaintances. He’s my favorite athlete of all time.

During that period in Rochester, I interviewed several pro basketball play ers, people like Bob Cousy. Les Harrison, who had owned the Royals, introduced me to many players of that era: Jerry Lucas, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Pistons owner Fred Zollner. After a playoff game, in which Syracuse and Kerr beat Philadel phia and Chamberlain, I asked Kerr, in the privacy of the dressing room, how he had at least slowed down Chamberlain. Kerr, 6’10”, who was naked during the interview, with a big cigar stuck in his mouth, illustrated how he had guarded Wilt. And, yes, he was a natural redhead.

It was during that time that I met Os car Robertson. That became an acquain tanceship because I later became friends with Bucky Bockhorn, who was good friends with Robertson as they had been guards together on the Royals. I liked to kid the Big O by saying to him with Bock horn nearby, “Aren’t you the other guard who played with Bucky Bockhorn?” They would both laugh.

Robertson, of course, is in the run ning for greatest basketball player of all time.

I also got to know, during that time, George Mikan, who visited Rochester every year for the Hickok Professional

Wilt Chamberlain, seen here in 1967, is this columnist’s favorite athlete of all time. The two became acquaintances following mul tiple interviews. WIKIPEDIA/Contributed

Athlete of the Year festivities. Mikan was named the best basketball player of the first 50 years of the 20th century. I met and wrote about a lot of famous athletes at those dinners.

I knew a kid, a nephew of friends, who was a good high school football player. He wanted to play at Syracuse and, at one of those dinners, he wanted to meet football player and former Syracuse athlete Jim Brown. I let the high school player accompany me to a predinner cocktail party and introduced him to the famous player. Brown may have acknowledged the young player and me, but I don’t remember it. He and I may have shaken hands, but he certainly didn’t converse with the young man who idolized him and wanted to attend the same college.

Former Key West High School sports stars are the interviews I enjoy most, not necessarily the people I have mentioned here. I’ve been working for newspapers in various capacities for 65 years and have enjoyed nearly every day of what has become my career.

HELP KEEP KEY WEST CLEAN

JOIN A 1 HOUR CLEANUP EVERY FRIDAY MORNING

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 re member your reusable bags when shopping so we can keep the plas tic 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 beauti ful. With simple steps like making sure you bag your trash before put ting it in your Waste Management trash cans or Dumpsters, and mak ing sure the lids on Dumpsters are

closed, will keep a lot of trash from blowing into the streets. Call Waste Management at 305-296-8297 for any furniture items left on the city right of way.

Please pick up around your home or apartment complex. Every piece of trash picked up is one less that may end up in the ocean that surrounds and sustains our island community. It is not just the large items you can see easily when you are walking, but the smaller items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts that are collected by the volunteers that make the biggest difference.

It takes committed community involvement to Keep Key West Beautiful and we are making prog ress with every cleanup event and every spot that’s adopted.

Please call Dorian at the city of Key West at 305-809-3782 to know more about how your business, nonprofit or club can help.

Join a Friday morning cleanup in December. Note that all cleanups are from 8 to 9 a.m. except for a special three-hour event on Friday, Dec. 23.

Dec. 2: Atlantic Boulevard Bike Path (Meet in the west parking lot of 1800 Atlantic.)

Dec. 9: Lazy Way Lane (Meet in parking lot across from Breakfast Club, Too)

Dec. 16: South Roosevelt at the end of Flagler (Meeting spot TBD) Dec. 23: (8:30 to 11:30 a.m.): Truman Waterfront Park (Meet in the big parking lot to the right of the Ingham)

Dec. 30: 14th Street and Duck Avenue (Meet in the parking lot at 14th and Duck.)

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 hon ored each week to showcase some “furever” friends that are ready, waiting and available for adop tion 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 pro gram also provides special assis tance 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 wait ing for a home and see them all at fkspca.org.

Puppycat is a 2-month-old male domes tic shorthair. He’s a fun, sweet kitten looking for a home full of toys and love.

Mocha is a 1½ year old female Ameri can pit bull terrier. She’s energetic, treat-motivated and will need a family willing to help her confidence as she becomes an adult.

Lele is a 4½-year-old female medium mixed breed. She’s active and needs plenty of exercise. She would do best in a home with no other pets, lots of treats and continuous training.

Babs is an adult female rabbit. She’s adventurous, loves her toys and enjoys carrots as treats.

UBud Kitty is a 14½-year-old female domestic shorthair. She’s independent, happy to be the only kitty in the home and loves soft blankets.

NALOXONE KITS AVAILABLE TO KEYS RESIDENTS

INCREASING ACCESS CRITICAL TO COMBATING OPIOID EPIDEMIC

but it is not intended to substitute for professional medical care. Individuals should call 911 immediately when an opioid overdose is suspected, before administering Naloxone.

People requesting a kit from DOHMonroe must be 18 years old or older, individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose and caregivers who may witness an opioid overdose or others likely to experience or witness an opioid overdose.

Naloxone kits can be obtained, no questions asked, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at DOH-Mon roe offices at the following locations:

• Gato Building, 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040, 305-2937500

• Ruth Ivins Center, 3333 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, 305293-7500

• Roth Building, 50 High Point Road, Tavernier, FL 33070, 305-2937500

OPEN ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR

TO MONROE COUNTY RESIDENTS

Providing Naloxone through county health departments will increase support to individuals across the state dealing with substance use disorder and help prevent overdose deaths in Florida. CONTRIBUTED

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe) is announcing the availability of free Nalox one (Narcan) nasal spray kits. This life-saving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state.

Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experi encing an overdose, friends, family members and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Nalox one nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care profes sional present.

“Last year almost 8,000 people in Florida lost their lives to drug over doses,” said Carla Fry, assistant county health administrator. “Addressing the opioid epidemic is a top priority for the state. DOH-Monroe is very excited to proactively address this issue locally here in Monroe County by offering Naloxone (Narcan) directly to people who may benefit from this life-saving intervention.”

Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of being administered to a person who has overdosed. Naloxone can be admin istered by a bystander (non-health care professional) before emergency medical assistance becomes available,

Naloxone kits are also available, no questions asked, at the following Guidance Care Center locations:

• Upper Keys: 99198 Overseas Hwy, Suite 5, Key Largo, FL 33037, (305) 434-7660

• Middle Keys: 3000 41st Street, Ocean Marathon, FL 33050, 305-4347660

• Lower Keys: 1205 Fourth St., Key West, FL, 33040, 305-434-7660

Naloxone kits are free, and no ap pointment is necessary. People using Naloxone will receive educational ma terial, optional referrals and connec tions for substance abuse intervention.

Increasing access to Naloxone is a critical component in battling the opioid epidemic, especially in rural areas or counties with limited access to health care. Providing Naloxone through county health departments will increase support to individuals across the state dealing with substance use disorder and help prevent over dose deaths in Florida.

The Florida Department of Health is working with the Florida Depart ment of Children and Families through the Overdose Prevention Program, or iSaveFL, which facilitates the distri bution of Naloxone kits to families, friends, and caregivers of those at risk for an opioid overdose. The iSaveFL website provides information on find ing Naloxone in your community and resources on treatment, overdose education, and prevention. — Contributed

Free assistance with the annual Open Enrollment application process is available now to Monroe County residents who would like to shop, compare and enroll or re new their health insurance plans with coverage beginning in the 2023 plan year.

People must enroll on or before Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 for coverage to begin on January 1, 2023. People who enroll between Dec. 16, 2022 and Jan. 15, 2023 will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2023.

Four local organizations are able to provide free expert assis tance with the process:

• Womankind (305-879-1965 or 305-294-4044)

• Health Insurance Navigation Pro gram at Epilepsy Alliance Florida (877-553-7453)

• Community Health of South Florida (CHI) (Key West or Taver nier – 786-387-9260; Marathon –305-926-0259)

• Rural Health Network (305-5176613, ext. 517)

Carolyn Thomson is a feder ally certified “Health Insurance Navigator” with scheduled events throughout the Open Enrollment period to make it convenient for Monroe County residents to come see her in person to ask questions and get personalized help.

"If you need health cover age, or just have questions about health insurance, I'm here to help, and it's free!" said Thomson, ACA Health Insurance Navigator with Epilepsy Alliance Florida. "The best thing about my job is helping people understand the Market place, how health insurance works

and the different options avail able to them. But my favorite thing to do is to enroll people in an affordable health plan that fits their needs."

Thomson will be avail able at the following locations throughout the Open Enroll ment period, which ends Jan. 15, 2023:

Mondays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Gato Building, 1100 Simonton St., Key West Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Mount Sinai/ Key West Medical Center, 2505 Flagler Ave., Key West Community Health of South Florida (CHI) will have a certi fied health counselor available in Marathon and Tavernier for in-person free assistance. For dates, times and locations, visit chisouthfl.org/acainsurance.

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County encourages everyone without health insurance to take advan tage of the free assistance for the following reasons:

Four out of five consumers are eligible for health coverage for $10 a month or less.

People cannot be denied health insurance due to any pre-existing conditions.

Quality health coverage is now more affordable with lower premiums.

All health plans must cover 10 essential benefits including preventative care, emergency services, maternity and more.

Health insurance provides financial assistance for medical expenses, reducing the un certainties of the high costs of sickness and injury.

WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH, JUST START S.M.A.R.T HOLIDAY ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS

KEYS ENERGY SERVICES OFFERS DOS & DON’TS

What is typically known as the most joyous season of the year can also be one of the most hazardous.

Around the country, millions of people are decorating for the holidays, but unfortunately, many will unknowingly create numerous electrical hazards in and around their home.

Each year thousands of fires start as the result of over loaded outlets, faulty or worn electrical wires, and decora tions used improperly. As part of an effort to reduce holiday accidents and to keep the holidays merry, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) has compiled these tips for holiday electrical safety:

1. Never use nails or staples to secure light strings or electrical cords.

2. Do not overload exten sion cords and electrical outlets or connect more than three light strings together.

3. Inspect decorations be fore plugging them in, checking for frayed or loose wires and loose connections.

4. Turn off holiday lights while you are away from home or before going to bed at night.

5. Unplug strings of lights before replacing bulbs, and replace burned-out bulbs promptly with ones of the same wattage.

6. When placing lights or decorations outdoors, use only decorations and extension cords certified for outdoor use.

7. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupt ers (GFCIs) to avoid potential shocks.

8. Do not string outdoor lights on trees that are near or touching power lines.

9. On outside lights, point sockets down to avoid mois ture build-up, wrap a plastic bag around connections and tie ends with electrical tape.

10. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. Faulty bulbs could make the tree become charged with electricity.

— Contributed

...is a Marathonbased ACSMcertified per sonal trainer and precision nutrition coach who owns and operates Highly Motivated Functionally Caffeinated LLC.

thought for the first ar ticle of this new health column, I would start by encour aging readers who want to improve their health –whether that be physical, mental or emo tional – to “just start.” Start somewhere, anywhere. Start with something you feel needs some tend ing to. Maybe you’ve been thinking you need to start exercising, or you’ve noticed your sleep habits aren’t very good, or maybe you’ve been told by a physician you must start eating better (I will get more into these topics in future columns).

I have found over my 11 years as a personal trainer and nutrition coach that many people get easily overwhelmed when starting a new health habit. The idea of changing can create anxiety and before the person even starts, they’ve talked themselves out of it altogether. Have you been there? I know I have. Which is why I think it impor tant to take things little by little. Below is an outline I use when starting a new habit or helping a client to make a change. Having a guide to help you define your new habit and defining why you are doing it will make your goals less overwhelming and much easier to adhere to.

Start by choosing the habit you’d like to achieve, along with why you want to achieve it and three things you need to accom plish to help you achieve it. Then, think about what will change when you achieve the habit. How will you feel when you achieve it? And finally, when would you like to achieve this habit?

Once you’ve filled out the guide, start the next step: break ing the goals down to make the habit happen. Break each goal

Iinto smaller steps until you have a clear vision of what needs to be done.

If that seems like too big a challenge, start by using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. to help you set a goal.

Specific: Clearly defined, not ambiguous.

Measurable: What criteria are you measuring and how will you measure your progress?

Achievable: Is the goal attain able?

Realistic: Is this goal reason able and within reach?

Timely: Create a specific start and target end date.

For example:

Perhaps a habit you’d like to start is to get 8 hours of sleep each night. One of your goals to achieve this habit may be to start going to bed earlier. By using the S.M.A.R.T. method, the breakdown of that goal would look like this:

Specific – Start by going to bed by 9:30 p.m.

Measurable – Keep a calendar next to my bed and check off each day I make it into bed by 9:30 each night.

Achievable – Yes, I don’t need to watch TV past 9:30 p.m.

Realistic – Yes, I am the only one responsible for making this happen. Nothing else is in my way.

Timely – I am going to start my new bedtime routine today, and in three weeks I want to be consis tently going to bed by 9:30 p.m.

There are other methods you can use when goal setting, but I find this one to be the most effective. The method you choose is up to you, but no matter what, if you want to live a healthy and happy life, you must actively com mit to pursuing it. Healthy and happy looks different for every one, but the challenge of getting there is the same. Consistent small changes over time become habits. Consistent habits over time become a way of life. Consistency is the common denominator in the equation of achievement. If you wait for motivation to strike to make a change, you may be wait ing for a very long time. So start now – you are worth it!

MM 1 - Inez Martin Child Care Center (C16M0012) 1100 Varela St., Key West, FL 33040 Contact: Christine Patterson • 305-809-5055 • christine.patterson@wesleyhouse.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 2 - Sunbeam Christian School (C16MO0034) 1311 5th St., Key West, FL 33040 Contact: Jerlyn Matthews • 305-2946018 • sunbeam@fsbckw.org Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 5 - Lighthouse Christian Academy (C16MO0014) 5580 MacDonald Ave, Key West, FL 33040 Jennifer Sisco • 305-292-5582 • lcaoffice@cwckw.org Vacancies: 1 floater

MM 22.9 - Banana Cabanna Academy Inc. (C16MO0054) 22673 Pieces of Eight Rd, Cudjoe Key, FL 33042 Contact: Roxanne Rosado • 305-745-1400 • banana.cabanna@att.net Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 47 - Kreative Kids Christian Academy (X16MO0001) 4711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 Contact: Maria Vaillant • 305-743-7165 Kreativekidsca@bellsouth.net • vaillantmaria@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 teachers

MM 49 - Grace Jones Community Center, Inc. (C16MO0048) 230 41st Street Gulf, Marathon, FL 33050 Kelly Ullrich • 305-743-6064 • gjcckids@gmail.com Vacancies: 3 teachers

MM 87.5 - St. James Children’s Center (C16MO0033) 87500 Overseas Hwy, I slamorada, FL 33036 Contact: Sue Ellen Bennett • 305-852-2161 • childrenscenter@stjamesthefisherman.org Vacancies: 1 teacher

MM 92 - Burton Memorial CDC (C16MO0018) 93001 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070

Contact: Nilda Bernaldez • 305-852-0250 • acabar11@yahoo.com Vacancies: 2 part-time floaters

MM 99 - First Baptist Church Jack Hill Child Care (C16MO0021) 99001 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Contact: Leeanna Woods • 305-451-2125 • fbcjhccc@yahoo.com Vacancies: 1 teacher

could be advantageously grown only where there is complete ab sence of fresh water, where water is of the right temperature and salinity, where they can be protected from marauders, and where there is freedom from sand, and water is shallow enough to make planting and handling a matter of not too great difficulty.”

Chase’s company quickly grew, and by 1912, a community of about 100 people was living near the area of what is today the Sugar loaf Lodge at MM 17. Many of the community members worked for Chase and his company. The community had homes for the workers, a store, a boat repair shed, a refrigeration plant and – a rarity in the Florida Keys – a telephone. After Henry Flagler’s train made it to Key West in 1912, a depot was established at Sugarloaf Key. To satisfy the needs of the small community that grew up around Chase’s sponge farm, he petitioned to establish a post office. With the approval of the post office, named after Charles Chase, who was also named postmaster, the postal address and town of Chase, Florida, came into existence.

SPONGE OPERATIONS ON SUGARLOAF KEY

WORLD WAR I & MARAUDERS HAMPER A ONCE-THRIVING BUSINESS

Dr. J. Vinning Harris of Key West began experi menting with the cultivation of sponges at his Sugarloaf Key property in 1897. Circa 1901, Harris abandoned his sponges and allowed H. F. Moore, the head of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, who, like Harris, was interested in farm-raising sponges, to move into his house and operate his sponge experiments from the Sugarloaf Key property.

After studying the propagation of the sponge for sev eral years and declaring it a feasible operation, he, too, left Sugarloaf Key. It would not be the end of sponge opera tions on the island.

The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company was off to a promising start, and the Chase farm of sheep swool sponges was maturing nicely offshore. By 1915, Chase and his company had about 5,000 acres of sponge beds. “A crew of 12 operating from a barge and pontoons alongside it,” Chase said, “could plant 5,000 sponges per day.”

The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company had some 650,000 sponges growing in 3-4 feet of water, an ideal depth for cultivation. The Chase sponges improved on the efforts of Harris and Moore and managed to drop the mortality rate to less than 5%. The company’s sponges growing offshore ranged from 1 to 3 years old, and they needed to be at least 3 to 4 years old before they could be commercially harvested, and maybe even a little older before they were ready. By 1915, about 170,000 sponges were on the cusp of commercial maturity.

is an author, speaker, Florida Keys historian and Honorary Conch. His latest book, “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli, Volume 1,” shares fasci nating glimpses into the rich and sometimes sur prising histories of the Florida Keys.

Charles Chase stepped in and filled their shoes. Chase had been visiting Key West from London when he learned of Dr. Moore and his work with sponge cultivation. With his interest piqued, Chase partnered with his brother George and a friend named Henry Bate, and the group purchased the Sugarloaf Key property from Harris and developed The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company. In addition to the sponges growing in the shallows surround ing the island, the company planted Key lime and fig trees.

In an article from the Miami Herald dated June 9, 1915, Chase made the following statement about his work at Sugarloaf Key. “We were led to go into this interesting and promising business through the eight years of suc cessful experimental work done by Dr. H.F. Moore of the fisheries bureau of the United States government, and to him we are largely indebted for our success. Dr. Moore demonstrated that sponges

The company shipped a bale of the sponges to the Chicago firm Peter Van Schaak & Sons to be quality tested. The results were “pre-eminently satisfactory, demonstrating that the Chase sponge is greatly superior to the ordinary sheepswool sponge.” The problem for the partners and the company was that they were running out of capital and needed investors to keep their operation moving for ward. The Chase brothers took a trip to England to raise funds, and, at first, they were successful. When World War I broke out, however, the funds were frozen, and the Chase brothers returned to Sugarloaf Key empty-handed. Without the capital necessary to continue their work at The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company, it was decided to cease operations.

After they did, poachers swiped the mature sponges from the shallows surrounding Sugarloaf Key. In May 1917, The Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit Company declared bankruptcy. Then, a Miami Beach real estate investor named Clyde Richter Perky purchased the business and 23,000 acres of Monroe County property, includ ing the Sugarloaf Key property. While he initially intended to try to reinvigorate the sponge and fruit business, he turned his eye to the burgeoning tourist industry and developed a fishing camp instead. He also built the world-famous Perky Bat Tower, but that is a story for another day.

Part 3 of this series will explore the sponge war that erupted between Key West and Tarpon Springs, on Florida’s west coast. Stay tuned for more in next week’s Keys Weekly.

ROYALLY GOOD READS

FROM THE EARLY LIFE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO THE WEDDING OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA AND THE RECENT “SCANDAL” OF PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE, THESE THREE CAPTIVATING BOOKS WILL SURELY SATISFY YOUR ROYAL CRAVINGS.

... a reader and now a writer, has hundreds of book reviews at: www. readingandeat ing.com. For questions and comments, email karen@newfield. org.

THE QUEEN’S SECRET

The Queen Mother Eliza beth was a young woman when she ac cepted Bertie’s proposal. She never could have predicted King Edward VIII would abdicate the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, making her husband king. Vowing to make Bertie’s reign successful, Eliza beth improves his speaking confidence and influences complex decisions. In 1939, Elizabeth is horrified to find that World War II has left London and everyone she loves in terrible danger. Elizabeth was a supportive, influential wife, and the couple built an uncom monly close relationship with Winston Churchill, strategiz ing successfully throughout the war. But she had her own secret, one that could destroy her reputation and possibly the monarchy. This intimate portrait of the fam ily of the late Queen Eliza beth II is filled with respect, resilience and love. The king and queen made sure their beloved daughters Prin cesses Lilibet and Margaret had a childhood of warmth and affection, not the cold strictness typically displayed in the royal families. Well aware that Lilibet would be queen some day, they did everything to raise an independent, confident woman with a big heart. After witnessing her reign that lasted over 70 years, it is clear they

did a marvelous job.

THE PEOPLE’S PRINCESS

18 when she begins dating Charles, the Prince of Wales. At the time she is rather lost, removing herself from for mal schooling and holding a few menial jobs. When things with Prince Charles become more serious, Diana has one goal: to become Princess of Wales. She is young, convinced she is in love and confident that over time Charles will reciprocate these feelings. As their wedding plans are made in 1981, Diana’s sense of loneliness intensifies. Hidden away for propriety’s sake in Buckingham Palace, Diana swallows her sadness, creating a frightening eating disorder. She becomes obsessed with a diary from the 1800s written by Prin cess Charlotte of Wales, the only heir of George IV. Charlotte was a young wom an in an equally lonely castle, awaiting a marriage arranged by her egocen tric father. Dreaming of marrying for true love, Charlotte created unending chaos, doing anything to interfere with the King’s wishes. As Diana plans the wedding of the century to be viewed by millions of adoring admirers, she learns the fate of Charlotte, the queen who never was. Narrated between the royal worlds of two very different times in history.

FINDING FREEDOM

Meghan, Duchess of Sus sex, is the first American-born woman in the royal fam ily. Divorced in her 30s, Meghan was a working actress on a television series when a mutual friend arranged a date. Prince Harry, with his history of playful antics and partying, was, at 36, ready to settle down. Making headlines was part of Harry’s social history and Meghan was a television sweetheart, but the couple managed to keep the beginning of their relationship very private. They married in May 2018 and it wasn’t long before they had two children, a boy and a girl. But the constant scrutiny, bullying and limitations on every aspect of their lives was not how they envisioned their future. In 2020, they stepped back from their royal duties and settled down in California. They still hold their titles but no longer partake in previous respon sibilities. Both are extremely involved with various charities and wish to focus on building a humanitarian legacy. This book delves into their lives prior to their meeting and how that fortuitous day changed everything. An intimate por trait of a forward-thinking young couple determined to follow their hearts as they break with tradition.

WATCH TIP: Peek behind the palace doors with Netflix’s popular series “The Crown.” Five captivating seasons (50 episodes!) covering the royal family starting in 1947.

LEGAL NOTICES

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

QUARTERLY MEETING NOTICE:

LOCAL COORDINATING BOARD FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED

The Monroe County Local Coordinating Board (LCB) will be holding its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. at the Marathon Government Center, BOCC Room, 2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. To join virtually via Zoom or teleconference, please email talbury@healthcouncil.org.

The primary purpose of the Coordinating Board is to provide information and advice to the Community Transportation Coordinator on the coordination of services provided to the transportation disadvantaged population of Monroe County, pursuant to Chapter 427.0157, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting due to a disability or physical impairment, and any related questions or inquiries concerning this meeting should be directed to Tiffany Albury at the Health Council of South Florida, Inc. at (305) 592-1452 ext. 121 at least 72 hours prior to the date of the meeting.

Publish: December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

U-HAUL COMPANY OF MIAMI

Notice is here by given that on December 12th, 2022, Leonard Richford Jr. Storage Auctioneer, Executive Administrator for U-Haul Company of Miami, Will be offering for sale under the Judicial Lien Process, By Public Auction, the following storage units. The Terms of the sale will be cash only. U-Haul Company does reserve the right to refuse

LEGAL NOTICES

any bids. The sales will Begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue day by day until all units are sold. The names of whose units will be sold are as follows:

103530 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL. 33037.

James Stogner Unit 1652 $865.60

Sheila Chamberlain Unit 1167 $641.50

Norma de la Torre Unit 1581 $1,434.28

Publish: November 24th & December 1st, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on December 7 2022, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, at the Monroe County BOCC Chambers at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners will consider adoption of the following resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF Monroe County, FLORIDA ELECTING TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LEVIED WITHIN THE County FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND SEA LEVEL RISE IMPROVEMENTS; STATING A NEED FOR SUCH LEVY; PROVIDING FOR THE MAILING OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The resolution, if adopted, would indicate the County’s intent to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments to be levied

LEGAL NOTICES

within the County as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, for the cost of providing roadway improvements and sea level rise improvements for the Fiscal Year beginning on October 1, 2023 and continuing until discontinued by the County.

The proposed resolution, which contains the legal description of the real property subject to the levy and states the need for the special assessment, can be inspected by the public by viewing the agenda packet for this meeting at: http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx

All interested persons are invited to attend, either in person or by zoom. The zoom link can be found at: http://monroecountyfl. iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 2924441, between the hours of 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 1st day of November 2022. KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and

Dr. Roberto Leoni, D.O. will be relocating North, and is no longer practicing at Islamorada Medical Center at the following location e ective December 13, 2022: 90130 Old High way, Tavernier, FL 33070.

Patients are encouraged to continue receiving their medical care at Islamorada Medical Center with Dr. Leoni until his last day, and after December 13th, with one of our many excellent physicians at Islamorada Medical Center including Dr. Miguel Diaz, Dr. Julio Gonzalez, Dr. Bledar Haxhiu, Dr. Kelvin Ong and Dr. Douglas Guevara.

Patients who wish to receive copies of their medical records may contact the o ce by calling 305-852-9300, or by sending an email to scheduling@islamoradamedicalcenter.com, to request a records release.

Publish: November 17 & 24, and December 1 & 8, 2022. The Weekly Newspapers.

LEGAL NOTICES

ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on December 7, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as it may be heard, at the Monroe County BOCC Chambers at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners will consider adoption of the following resolution:

A RESOLUTION OF Monroe County, FLORIDA ANNOUNCING NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LEVIED WITHIN THE County BEGINNING WITH the TAX BILL ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2023 FOR CANAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ON CANALS 82, 83 AND 84 IN KEY LARGO; CANAL 105 IN TAVERNIER; CANALS 255, 287, 290, 295, 297 AND 315 IN BIG PINE KEY; AND CANAL 474 IN GEIGER KEY; STATING A NEED FOR SUCH LEVY; PROVIDING FOR THE MAILING OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The proposed resolution, which contains the legal description of the real property subject to the levy and states the need for the special assessment, can be inspected by the public by viewing the agenda packet for this meeting at: http:// monroecountyfl.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx

All interested persons are invited to attend, either in person or by zoom. The zoom link can be found at: http://monroecountyfl. iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 2924441, between the hours of 8:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice-impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida, this 1st day of November 2022.

KEVIN MADOK, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF INTENT TO USE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida (“the County”) hereby provides notice, pursuant to Section 197.3632(3)(a), Florida Statutes, of its intent to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments, for the cost

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

of providing certain wastewater capital improvements and connections, to be levied within the unincorporated area of Monroe County encompassing the Stock Island, Key Haven, Big Coppitt, Lower Sugarloaf through Big Pine Key, No Name Key, Long Key, Duck Key; excluding Indies Islands, and three (3) parcels on Boca Chica: RE# 122870-000000, 012288000000, and 122890-000000 for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2023 and continuing each year until discontinued by the County. The County will consider the adoption of a resolution electing to use the uniform method of collecting such assessments authorized by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, at a public hearing to be held on December 7, 2022 in the Commission Chambers, Murray E. Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Mile Marker 102 and by Communications Media Technology (CMT). Such resolution will state the need for the levy and will contain a legal description of the boundaries of the real property subject to the levy. All interested persons are invited to attend.

The proposed resolution may be inspected by the public at the Monroe County website by viewing the agenda packet for the December 7 BOCC meeting which will be posted beginning on November 25, 2022 at: http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx. The resolution may also be viewed at the Monroe County Attorney’s office at 1111 12th St. Ste. 408 Key West, FL 33040.

The public can participate in the December 7, 2022, meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, FL by attending in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link can be found in the agenda at http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/citizens/default.aspx.

Pursuant to section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodation in order to participate in these proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292- 4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”. Live Closed-Captioning is available via our web portal @ http://monroecountyfl.iqm2. com/Citizens/Default.aspx for meetings of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. Dated at Key West, Florida this 2ndt day of November, 2022. Kevin Madok, Clerk and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida Publish: November 10, 17, 24 and December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following: Engineering Design and Permitting Services for the Stillwright Point Road Elevation and Stormwater Project Monroe County, Florida Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a

searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Tuesday, January 10. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your subject line on both emails must read as follows:

Engineering Design and Permitting Services for the Stillwright Point Road Elevation and Stormwater Project 1-102023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on January 10, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following:

Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156 Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile: +16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,, 4509326156# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose) Publish: December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

Transportation Planning Professional Services

Monroe County, Florida

Pursuant to F.S. 50.0211(3) (a), all published competitive solicitation notices can be viewed at: www. floridapublicnotices.com, a searchable Statewide repository for all published legal notices.

Requirements for submission and the selection criteria may be requested from DemandStar at www.demandstar.com OR www. monroecounty-fl.gov/bids. The Public Record is available upon request.

Monroe County Purchasing Department receives bids electronically. Please do not mail or attempt to deliver in person any sealed bids. Mailed/ physically delivered bids/ proposals/responses WILL NOT be accepted.

The Monroe County Purchasing Department hereby directs that bids be submitted via email to: OMB-BIDS@monroecounty-fl. gov, no later than 3:00P.M., on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Please submit your confidential financial information in a SEPARATE EMAIL from your bid and required documents. Your

subject line on both emails must read as follows:

Transportation Planning Professional Services 1-18-2023

Files that do not contain this subject line WILL BE REJECTED. Please note that the maximum file size that will be accepted by email is 25MB. Please plan accordingly to ensure that your bid is not rejected due to the file size. Should your bid documents exceed 25MB, in advance of the bid opening, please email: ombpurchasing@monroecounty-fl. gov so accommodations for delivery of your bid can be made prior to the bid opening. Please be advised that it is the bidder’s sole responsibility to ensure delivery of their bid and waiting until the bid opening to address or confirm your bid submission delivery will result in your bid being rejected.

The bid opening for this solicitation will be held virtually, via the internet, at 3:00 P.M., on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. You may call in by phone or internet using the following: Join Zoom Meeting https://mcbocc.zoom. us/j/4509326156

Meeting ID: 4509326156

One tap mobile: +16465189805,, 4509326156# US (New York) +16699006833,, 4509326156# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location: +1 646 518 9805 (New York) +1 669 900 6833 (San Jose) Publish: December 1, 2022 The Weekly Newspapers

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

KEY WEST DIVISION Case Number: 22-10082-CIVMARTINEZ IN RE: THE COMPLAINT OF LIGHTHOUSE PARASAIL, INC. AS OWNER OF A 2009 31’ OCEAN PRO PARASAIL BOAT TITLED “AIRBORNE” BEARING THE HULL IDENTIFICATION NO. CNX00096B909

ITS ENGINES, TACKLE, APPURTENANCES, EQUIPMENT, & ETC., IN A CAUSE OF EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, Petitioner.

_________________________/

ORDER APPROVING AD INTERIM STIPULATION, DIRECTING ISSUANCE OF MONITION AND INJUNCTION

A Complaint having been filed herein on the 26th day of September 2022, by Petitioner, Lighthouse Parasail, Inc. as owner of the 2009 31’ Ocean Pro Parasail Boat "Airborne" bearing the Hull Identification No. CNX00096B909 its Engines, Tackle, Appurtenances, Equipment, etc. (the “Vessel”) for Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability as provided in 46 U.S.C. § 30501 et seq. and pursuant to Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for any and all loss, damage, deaths, personal injuries, damage or destruction of property or other occurrences allegedly resulting from the incident that occurred on or about May 30, 2022, referred to in the Complaint;

And Petitioner having deposited with the Court as security for the benefit of Claimants, an Ad Interim Stipulation not less than or equal to the amount or value of his interest in the vessel and pending freight, if any, as required by the rules of this Court and by the law;

IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Ad Interim Stipulation for the value of Petitioner’s interest in the Vessel for no more than the amount of $100,000 plus costs of Court and interest at the rate of six (6%) percent per annum from the date hereof and filed herein by Petitioner as an Ad Interim Stipulation for the purpose of this action, is hereby approved as to form and amount.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Petitioner and any claimant who may properly

become a party hereto may contest the amount or value of Petitioner’s interest in the Vessel as fixed in the Ad Interim Stipulation, subject to such increases or decreases in its amount, together with adequate security, as the Court may from time to time order according to the rules and practices of this Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that if the amount of the Ad Interim Stipulation is not contested by any claimant herein, the Stipulation shall stand as a Stipulation for Value and an appraisal by a Commissioner will not be required.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that a monition shall be  issued by the Clerk of this Court advising and  admonishing all persons asserting claims for any and all losses, damages, injuries, deaths or destruction allegedly as a result of the occurrences and happenings recited in the Complaint, to file their respective claims with the Clerk, United States District Courthouse for the Southern District of Florida located at 301 Simonton Street, Key West, Florida 33040, and serve on or mail copies thereof to Petitioner’s attorney, Mintzer Sarowitz

Zeris Ledva & Meyers, LLP, on or before December 16, 2022, or be defaulted. If any Claimant desires to contest Petitioner’s right to exoneration from or limitation of liability, Claimant(s) shall file and serve on Petitioner’s attorney an answer to the Complaint, on or before said date, unless his claim has included an answer to the Complaint so designated.  Failure to do so will result in default.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that publication of the aforesaid notice in the form required by Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Monroe County area once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date fixed for the filing of claims.  No later than the date of the second weekly publication, a copy of said notice shall be mailed by Petitioner to every person or corporation known by the Petitioner to have a claim against Petitioner arising out of the accident set forth in the Complaint.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the commencement or further prosecution of any action or proceeding against Petitioner, the vessel or other property of Petitioner with respect to any claims for which Petitioner seeks exoneration from or limitation of liability herein, including any claim arising out of or incident to or connected with any loss, damage, injury, death or destruction, more fully described in the Petition, be and the same is hereby STAYED and RESTRAINED until the hearing and determination of this action.

IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the service of this order as a restraining order in this District may be made in the usual manner as in any other district of the United States by delivery by the Marshal of the United States for such district of a certified copy of this order on the person or persons to be restrained or to their respective attorneys or, alternatively, by mailing a conformed copy of it to the person or persons to be restrained or to their respective attorney.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida this 20 day of October, 2022.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Publish: November 10, 17, 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

CASE NO.: 2022-CP-000102-M

IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, Deceased.

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

The administration of the estate of FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, deceased, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, Plantation Key Courthouse, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, file number 2022-CP000102-M. The estate is intestate.

The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative's attorney are set forth below. The fiduciary lawyer-client privilege in Florida Statutes Section 90.5021 applies with respect to the Personal Representative and any attorney employed by the Personal Representative.

Any interested person on whom a copy of the notice of administration is served is who challenges the validity of the will or codicils, qualification of the personal representative, venue, or the jurisdiction of the court is required to file any objection with the court in the manner provided in Florida Probate Rules WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the date that is 3 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on that person, or those objections are forever barred.

A petition for determination of exempt property is required to be filed by or on behalf of any person entitled to exempt property under Section 732.402, WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the later of the date that is 4 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on such person or the date that is 40 days after the date of termination of any proceeding involving the construction, admission to probate, or validity of a will or involving any other matter affecting any part of the exempt property, or the right of such person to exempt property is deemed waived.

An election to take an elective share must be filed by or on behalf of the surviving spouse entitled to an elective share under Sections 732.201732.2155 WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED BY LAW, which is on or before the earlier of the date that is 6 months after the date of service of a copy of the Notice of Administration on the surviving spouse, or an attorney in fact or a guardian of the property of the surviving spouse, or the date that is 2 years after the date of the decedent's death. The time for filing an election to take an elective share may be extended as provided in the Florida Probate Rules.

Personal Representative: Felicita Franco Lopez 1570 Overseas Hwy, Lot 64 Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Alexandra J. Sanchez, Esq./FBN 154423

Attorney for Petitioner Heller, Zion & Sanchez, LLP 1428 Brickell Avenue, Suite 600 Miami, Florida 33131

Tel: (305) 373-8001

Publish: November 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

CASE NO.: 2022-CP-000102-M

IN RE: ESTATE OF FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of FRANKLIN EMIGDIO MEJIA, deceased, whose date of death was January 15, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses

of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against Decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Felicita Franco Lopez 1570 Overseas Hwy, Lot 64 Marathon, FL 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Alexandra J. Sanchez, Esq./FBN 154423

Attorney for Petitioner Heller, Zion & Sanchez, LLP 1428 Brickell Avenue, Suite 600 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: (305) 373-8001

Publish: November 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 21-CP-91-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF HELEN BARBARA MUSACCHIA Deceased.

AMENDED NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of HELEN BARBARA MUSACCHIA, deceased, whose date of death was November 7, 2021, is pending in the Circuit Court for MONROE County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Michele Maria Eichler 22250 County Road 44 Aguilar, Colorado 81020

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: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

FILE NO.: 2022-000311-CP-K IN RE: THE ESTATE OF CLIFFORD R. STEELE, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of Clifford R. Steele, deceased, File Number 2022--000311-CP-K, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 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, 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 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 OF MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this Notice is: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Mary Steele c/o Adams & Adams, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 1200 Coral Gables, FL 33134

Telephone 305-448-9022

Attorney for Personal Representative: Susan Strickroot Adams, Esq. Florida Bar No. 616605 Adams & Adams, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 1200 Coral Gables, FL 33134

E-mail: susan@adams-adams.

com Publish: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION FILE NO.: 22-CP-68-M DIVISION: MIDDLE KEYS IN RE: ESTATE OF J.T. ODOM Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The administration of the estate of J.T. Odom, deceased, whose date of death was April 20, 2022, is pending in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served

must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM.

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: November 24, 2022.

Personal Representative: Jean R. Odom 11260 5th Avenue Gulf Marathon, Florida 33050

Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert K. Miller, Esq. Attorney

Florida Bar Number: 359173 Cunningham Miller Rhyne PA 10075 Overseas Hwy PO Box 500938 Marathon, FL 33050 Telephone: (305) 743-9428 Fax: (305) 743-8800 E-Mail: service@floridakeyslaw. com

Secondary E-Mail: rmiller@ floridakeyslaw.com Publish: November 24 and December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: 2022-DR-87-M

Division: Family DAVID RODRIGUEZ, Petitioner, and KAYE RODRIGUEZ, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: Kaye Rodriguez 43 Morley Close Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0LG

United Kingdom 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 Michelle Klinger Smith, attorney for David Rodriguez, whose address is 5701 Overseas Highway, Suite 7, Marathon, FL 33050 on or before December 12, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 3117 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 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 addresses 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 this 27TH day of October 2022.

Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida By: Shakia Mitchell

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: 22-DR-745-K

DIVISION: FAMILY IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: MARIO TORRES, Petitioner, and, LAURA ZURITA, Respondent.

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: Laura Zurita

LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: Mexico

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 Mario Torres, whose address is 1019 Margaret Street, Apt. 5, Key West, FL 33040 on or before December 12, 2022, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040, 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.

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: November 7, 2022 Kevin Madok, CPA Clerk of the Circuit Court Monroe County, Florida

By: Riza Hall Deputy Clerk Publish: November 10, 17, 24 & December 1, 2022

The Weekly Newspapers

ALL YEARS! Cars - Vans - TrucksRunning or Not. $CASH$ 305-332-0483

BOATS FOR SALE

2006 Willy Roberts, 15' Slo-Poke, 2006 40 hp Yamaha w/250 hours. Call for pics/info 870-615-2750

BOAT SLIP/TRAILER

STORAGE FOR RENT

Boat Trailer Spaces Available. $100 per week. Boat dockage available $100 per week. Easy access to the Atlantic and lighthouse. Boat length 32’ or less! Dockage is eighty feet long with good depth for boats. Phone 336-4088140 or 336-287-3345.

EMPLOYMENT

CARETAKER COUPLE WANTED for small Abaco Bahamas beach resort. Call or text 305-439-9991.

Professional medical practice seeking FT Receptionist in Upper Keys. Computer skills necessary. Send resume: keysinc2@bellsouth.net

Islamorada Mercantile, an upscale island wear & vacation essentials boutique, is seeking a friendly, customer oriented, fashion forward individual to join our team as a part time sales associate. 81900 O/S Hwy, Islamorada. Contact us today by emailing info@ islamoradamercantile.com

Join the Ocean Dayz Team! We are accepting applications for a Sales Associate in Islamorada. Must be outgoing, detail oriented and willing to work weekends. Experience a plus. Starting pay dependent upon qualifications. Apply in person at Island Dreamz, 84001 Overseas Highway, Islamorada or submit resume to: csteele@oceandayz.com

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

EMPLOYMENT

OPEN HOUSE HIRING

FAIR – Sun. Dec. 4 from 3p-6p at Million Air, 8800 Overseas Hwy, Marathon. Join our team – now hiring Line Service Professionals. 305-743-1995

Night Monitor – FREE Private Room in exchange for overnight coverage at an Assisted Living Facility. 5 nights on, 5 nights off 10pm-8am with weekly stipend Drug and background screen required. Apply at www.westcare.com

WANTED - Handyman & Fishing companion in Marathon area. Call 305-481-7544

Coast to Coast Pizza Company in Marathon is looking for an Assistant Manager for the front of the house, full time either Monday - Friday 10-6 or Wed. through Sunday 10-6. Must be outgoing with leadership traits and must be organized, self-motivated, and have a passion for customer service. Salary commensurate with experience and includes tips and 401k. Please call Nicole at 305-4330515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

SS Wreck and Galley Grill on Grassy Key is looking for line cooks, full or part time. Please call Nicole at 305433-0515, or email nicole@ themoongroupfl.com.

Boat rental company in Marathon needs an Outboard Mechanic. Some general marina work, and boat experience a plus. Call 305-481-7006

All Keys Yamaha hiring a Technician Marine Repair specializing in Yamaha outboard engines. Hours M-F 8a-5p. Apply in person at 2001 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 305-743-3530

Immediate positions at the Grassy Key Marina. Under new ownership and looking for smiling faces. Full-time or parttime available. Pay rates are commensurate with experience but we are willing to interview those with no experience who have an interest in working in a marina environment. Please call Randall Glass to schedule an interview at 305-465-1491.

CDL Drivers needed. Must have a clean record & drug free. We are offering competitive wages. Please apply in person at Discount Rock & Sand, 10500 Aviation Blvd, Unit 2, Marathon

City of Marathon Current Job Openings: Support Services/Logistics, Paralegal, Utilities Maintenance, Recreation

Specialist, Right of Way Technician, and Marina Tech/Pump Out Captain. Full Benefits. EOE Please see City website for details www.ci.marathon.fl.us

Immediate openings for experienced plumbers and helpers (with or without experience - we will train the right person). Must have a valid driver's license & clean driving record. Please apply in person at 10700 5th Avenue Gulf, Marathon or email resume to: eerpinc@gmail.com

NOW HIRING: Sweet Savannah's is now hiring for multiple positions: Cashier - must be 16 yrs or older, Full-time Baker & Part-time Baker's Assistant. Stop by for an application at 8919 Overseas Highway, Marathon or email: info@ sweetsavannahs.com

Come Join Our Family and Have Fun At Work! Hiring: Host, Hostess & Servers - Full &/or parttime. AM & PM Shifts. Apply in person at Castaway Restaurant, end of 15th Street, Oceanside, Marathon or email: lobstercrawl@gmail.com

Place your Employment ad here for $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

Tired of

EMPLOYMENT RV FOR SALE HOUSING FOR RENT

The Housing Authority of the City of Key West now hiring the following positions: Maintenance Mechanic (Maintenance Worker), Med Tech, Resident Activities Coordinator. 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.

Place your Employment ad here for $25.00/week for up to five lines of copy. Call 305-743-0844 today!

HOBBIES/COLLECT.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR

WANTS Rolex, Dive Watches and Pilot Watches. Old Model Military Clocks & Watches. Call 305-743-4578

HOUSING FOR RENT

Key Largo - 2BR/2BA Spacious Doublewide, 1400 sq ft modular on canal w/40’ dock, direct ocean access. Very nice community $3200/ month 786-258-3127

LUXURY CONDO FOR RENT IN MARATHON.

Seawatch Condos. 2 BR, 2 Bath, Den. 1650 sq ft plus large open balcony. Beautiful water view. Pool, tennis, full gym. Adults only. No pets. Yearly lease--$5250/month plus utilities or Seasonal rental $7500/month(2 mo min). F/L/S [first, last, and security deposit]. Contact Norman at 800-324-6982.

STUDIO APT FOR RENT

- Furnished Studio Apt w/patio, like new, W/D, off street parking. Key West. $2,300/month including util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-747-1700

Las Brisa - 2BR/2BA

Unfurnished, great view, W/D, covered parking. Tennis, Swimming Pool & BBQ on property. Across from Smather’s Beach, Key West. $3,900/month + util. F/L/S Owner/Agent Douglas Miller 305-7471700 RENTED!!!

RV FOR SALE

RV LOT FOR RENT

Large RV Waterfront Lot with Dockage for rent in Marathon. Full hook up. $2000.00/month plus utilities. 305-731-5042

GARDEN SALE in Marathon. Pottery, plants, yard art, nautical items, lg. & sm. shells. Call 305-3950955 for more information.

SARA’S ESTATE SALE: 144 S. HAMMOCK RD, ISLAMORADA | Fri, Dec. 2 & Sat, Dec. 3, 9am to 1pm both days | GIGANTIC TOY AND CHRISTMAS SALE This sale is so huge, we had to break it into two parts! This weekend is toys and holiday gear. Literally thousands of items, most priced under $10. Toy cars, train sets, Easy Bake, blocks, books, figurines, Hello Kitty, kid-size musical instruments and more.

Holiday items include small trees, ornaments, lighted village sets and pieces, plushies, lights, tree skirts, display décor and more. Lots of things, low prices. Follow signs and park w consideration J Photos: Facebook (@sarasestatesales). Sorry no price quotes.

boring

exciting new challenge?

so, we are offering an opportunity to join our team in a very fast paced, exciting and dynamic role that is structured with details varying on each project.

Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc.

www dynastymarine net

Located in the Florida Keys, is a highly-respected supplier of Caribbean marine life to public aquariums and zoos throughout the world

FRONT OFFICE ASSISTANT- FULLTIME

Duties to include invoice and inventory entry, booking airline shipments, creating and filing paperwork for international shipments, scheduling inspections needed for international shipments, customer communication and tracking, creating and maintaining customer accounts and some customer service. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. This position requires high attention to detail and the ability to multitask. Compensation will be dependent on experience with performance-based incentive program.

Benefits package including vacation, sick days, holidays and 401K PSP retirement plan. Please send cover letter and resume to sales@dynastymarine.net for consideration. No phone calls please.

HIRING: Full Time Marketing Coordinator

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is looking for several temporary D.S.O.s to perform entry-level, semi-skilled work, involving the repair and maintenance of FKAA water distribu tion and transmission systems. This position runs through 9/30/23. Qualifications: H.S. diploma or GED. $25.00/hr. with paid holidays and enrollment into the Florida Retirement System. EEO, VPE, ADA, DFWP. Apply online at www. aa.com/employment

Competitive

CUSTOMER SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVE I

Starting pay rate for this position, depending on qualifications and experience: $19.82/hr. - $22.20/hr.

For more information, including job duties and required qualifications, and to apply for the job, please visit their website at www.KeysEnergy.com.

KEYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KEYS promotes a Drug-Free Workplace.

Certain service members, veterans, the spouses and family members of service members and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment, and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

Monroe County is seeking an energetic multi-tasker with excellent computer skills to join our Benefits Team! Great customer service skills and a working knowledge of MS Office required. Coordinator works in a fluid, fast paced environment maintaining benefits records, data, and reports, as well as Group Health Plan eligibility. Position also supports the County’s Wellness program.

To apply, please contact Human Resources at careers@monroecounty-fl.gov.

Applications available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov. 305-292-4557. Veteran’s Preference Available; E.O.E.

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon

Join our team! Full and part-time Educational Program Guides/Gift Shop Sales. Public speaking & retail sales experience helpful. $16.00/hour to start. Send resume to: TurtleHospitalMarathon@gmail.com