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FREEWEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 • VOLUME 30, N0. 28 • 24 PAGES KEYSNEWS.COM
• Key Largo • Islamorada • Marathon
• Big Pine Key
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT No. 469
Key Largo, FL33037
Archaeologists uncover likely Acorn wreck
KEY LARGO — Two NOAA researchers may have stumbled upon some-thing big — or at least swam across it. It is about 163 feet long and 40 feet wide and resting on the ocean’s bot-tom off Key Largo.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary maritime archaeologist Matthew
Lawrence and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary maritime heritage coordi-nator Brenda Altmeier are surveying what has been tentatively identified as the Acorn shipwreck at Elbow Reef, which is directly east of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It’s about 20 feet below the surface.
Elbow Reef is aptly named because it abruptly juts out further into deeper
waters. It’s home to the City of Washington shipwreck and the Hannah M. Bell which was formerly known as “Mike’s Wreck.”
Lawrence believes that Elbow Reef notoriously claimed ships hugging the reef line to avoid following the Gulf Stream’s norther-ly current south and that there may be more wrecks there.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve dis-
covered it. It’s always been there. It’s more like we are identifying it,” Lawrence said.
Altmeier said they found the wreck while staging the Hannah M. Bell in 2012. They’ve been plot-ting measurements for a year now and are halfway through. Time spent below the surface so far has only
PressFREE
Floating an idea
BioBlitzVolunteers needed to help identify moths. 1B
Wildfireseason
Refuge to reduce fire fuels. 9A
Global tastes
Bistro offers flavors from around the world. 10A
NAVIGATING THE ISLANDS SINCE 1987
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL CLIMATE COMPACT
Residents likely won’t see floating homes and roads in the Florida Keys anytime soon, but at a Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact workshop to brainstorm possible responses to sea level rise, those ideas were floated for a Lower Matecumbe Key of the future. See story on page 6A.
INDEX Business & Real Estate ............. 10AClassifieds ...........................10-12B
Crossword .................................. 9BHoroscope .................................. 9B
Opinion .................................... 11ASports & Recreation ............6-7, 9B
Tides .......................................... 7B TV Guide .................................... 8B
FLORIDA KEYS
KEYSNEWS.COM
MARATHON — A Marathon businessman tar-geted in a failed murder-for-hire scheme that sent a former Coast Guard com-mander to federal prison for a decade wants a judge to order the Department of Justice to unredact censored documents in the case in an effort to find unnamed co-conspirators.
The motion is part of a civil lawsuit filed by devel-oper Bruce Schmitt that names former Islamorada Coast Guard command-er and former Marathon Marina and Boatyard co-owner Dennis Zecca as a defendant, as well as two co-conspirators previously identified by federal pros-ecutors as John Doe No. 1
and No. 2.Zecca was convicted and
sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in July 2014 following his Dec. 21, 2012, arrest by FBI agents after he agreed to pay an unnamed informant $20,000, or a
k i l o g r a m in cocaine, to shoot S c h m i t t dead with a 9mm B e r e t t a h a n d -gun over the 2012 Christmas holidays.
Schmitt has been trying to get to the bottom of the conspiracy since Zecca’s arrest and his conviction. The U.S. Attorney’s Office
Murder-for-hire target asks court to name namesBY ADAM LINHARDT Free Press Staff
KEY LARGO — What brought an admitted neo-Nazi wanted in Tampa on explosives charges to a Key Largo Burger King where he was arrested and found to be carrying fuses and two recently pur-chased high-powered rifles with hundreds of rounds of ammunition remains a mystery during the early
stages of his prose-cution in the federal court sys-tem.
A room-m a t e a c c u s e d of slaying two other men in the apartment they all shared told authorities that Brandon Clint Russell, 21, a National Guardsman
and purported leader of neo-Nazi group atomwaffen — German for “atomic weapon” — was planning to attack the Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Homestead, an allegation Russell’s attorney dismisses outright.
That Russell may have been planning to flee the country could be a possibil-ity given that the court order revoking his initial $200,000 bond noted that he has
family in the Bahamas.Federal court paperwork
has revealed details into
the strange 24-hour period that ended with Russell’s arrest in Key Largo fol-
lowing the Tampa Police Department’s arrest of his roommate, Devon Arthurs, 18, who allegedly shot and killed two of their neo-Na-zi male roommates inside their Tampa Palms apart-ment.
Russell, who has been federally indicted for pos-session of a destructive device and for storing explosive materials, was ini-
Questions remain about neo-Nazi’s visit to KeysBY THERESA JAVAFree Press Staff
BY THERESA JAVAFree Press Staff
MATTHEW LAWRENCE/NOAA
Silvana Kreines, left, and Rebecca Hunter of Diving With a Purpose take measurements to create a map of the likely Acorn wreck.See ACORN, page 3A
Russell U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
An M&P 15 Sport 2 semi-automatic assault-style rifle was among the two rifles Brandon Russell purchased on his way to Key Largo.
See NEO-NAZI, page 7A
Schmitt
See TARGET, page 8A
2A • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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Ingeborg M. KossmannAge 89, of Mount Vernon
passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Country Club Retirement Campus.
She was a former resident of Columbus, Ohio and also Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Ingeborg was a proud educator and taught foreign language at Franklin Heights High School for many years. She was born on August 25, 1927 in Alzey, Germany
to the late Adolph and Christina (Schreb) Weiss. Ingeborg is survived by her sons, Tom (Lisa Wayne) Kossmann, Dietmar (Debra) Kossmann, and her daughter Sylvia (Timothy)
Clair Kossmann, Rick Stanczyk, Nick Stanczyk; three great grandchildren, Elaina Setter,
Reed Setter, Felix Stanczyk; and her brother Gerhardt Weiss.
There will be no calling hours. The family will observe a private burial at a later date.
To send the family a condolence online visit:www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
The Dowds-Snyder funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ingeborg M. Kossmann.
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Johnny Earl DeBrule, age 51, of Key Largo, FL,
passed away peacefully on June 13, 2017 at Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL.He was born on July 23, 1965 on NAS JAX in Jacksonville, FL
to Johnny Thomas DeBrule and Gloria Jean Janda. He joined the Marine Corps when he turned 18 years old,
and served in the reserves as well. He co-owned and worked for Upper Keys Marine
Construction in Key Largo, FL before retiring. He married Lisa Sentz on September 5, 2015
in Gulf Hammock. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; children, Stephanie
DeBrule, Corey DeBrule, and Travis DeBrule; mother, Gloria Brady; father, Johnny Thomas DeBrule (his wife Gail); sib-
lings, David DeBrule, Marni Caputo, and Evan Stern; grandchild, Sawyer DeBrule;
and many extended family members.
Visitation and funeral service were held on Saturday, June 17, 2017
at Allen-Beyer Funeral Home. His ashes will be dispersed at a later date on the family farm.
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county & state news
Charles J. Kupper1930-2017
The Lord has recalled one of his own, Charles J. Kupper, Jr., age 87, of Islamorada, FL and Normandy Beach, NJ on June 13, 2017. He has joined his late father, Colonel Charles Kupper, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Municipal Engineer for many of the County’s Townships, and mother, Margret Kupper. Charles passed away at the Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ with family members at his bedside. He was born in Plainfield, NJ and has lived in Islamorada, FL for the past 15 years and Normandy Beach, NJ for several years. A graduate of St. Peter’s High School in Dunellen, NJ, Charles went on to the Newark School of Engineering and received his Master’s degree from the University of Alabama. He served with distinction as a Combat Engineer in the United States Army during the Korean War in both Germany and France where he instructed troops in the deployment of Bailey Bridges to cross rivers and streams rapidly under emergency conditions. Upon return from service he joined his family in engineering, and later became owner and operator of Kupper Engineering in Dunellen, NJ for many years. He was the engineering officer for the Township of Brick in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He owned Kupper Airport in Manville, NJ until 1987. He again answered the call of service as an Emergency Engineer for FEMA following the Northridge Earthquake (1994) helping to rebuild Southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego. He and his unit received a Presidential Citation from President Clinton for reconstruction services for Power and Water rendered to his fellow Americans. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 399 in Ortley Beach and the Moose Lodge 2151 in Islamorada, FL. Surviving are his son Peter Kupper and his wife Kris of Mantoloking and grandsons Zach and Hunter Kupper. The family will receive relatives and friends for a memorial
gathering on Thursday June 22, 2017 from 4-7 pm at Weatherhead Young Funeral Home, 885 Mantoloking Rd., Brick, NJ 08723. A memorial service
will begin at 6:30 pm Thursday evening. Cremation was private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the
Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 399, 1801 Bay Blvd., Ortley Beach, NJ 08751. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:
www.weatherheadyoung.com.
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FLORIDA — The Florida Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance offers an online health care complaint portal. The portal was devel-oped in collaboration with the Agency for Health Care Administration and allows Floridians to more conveniently report everything from health care violations and unlicensed activity, to fraud and more.
The portal also identifies which state or federal agency to contact for a variety of issues ranging from Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act viola-tions to independent living facilities.
Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, the Division of Medical Quality Assurance licenses and regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 health care professions.
For more information, visit flhealth-source.gov.
SOUTH FLORIDA — High water levels have prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue an order temporarily restricting public access to Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land and Rotenberger wildlife management areas.
These three areas are in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
This action is necessary because high water levels force wildlife to take refuge on tree islands and levees, resulting in high levels of stress for these animals, FWC officials said.
The order prohibits vehicle, airboat, all-terrain vehicle and other public access to these WMAs. Boat ramps and fishing in established canals remain open, but a mini-mum distance of 100 yards from any tree island must be maintained to minimize disturbance to upland wildlife.
These special regulations remain in effect until rescind-ed by a subsequent executive order.
For updated closure and reopening information, visit myfwc.com/viewing and click on “Wildlife Management Areas” and then “Open/Closed Status.”
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Rick Scott last week vetoed a far-reaching bill that would have boosted financial aid for high school students heading to college while attempting to lift Sunshine State schools into the ranks of elite counterparts.
The legislation, which was a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, required the state to cover 100 percent of tuition costs for top performing high school students who attend a state university or college. Florida used to pay 100 percent of tuition for those eligible for the top level of the state’s Bright Futures scholarship, but that was scaled back when the econo-my soured.
Scott in his veto letter pointed out that students heading to school this fall will still be eligible for a higher Bright Futures award since that was included in the state budget he signed, but that is only a one-year fix.
The Republican governor, who criticized Florida’s 12 public universities in the past for seeking tuition hikes, said he vetoed the bill because it was too onerous for the state’s 28 colleges. The bill would have placed enrollment limits on four-year college degree programs and would have created a new board to oversee the state colleges.
– The Associated Press
FLORIDA SOUTH FLORIDA FLORIDA
Report provider complaints High water prompts restrictions for WMAs Governor vetoes college aid proposal
State education bill draws mixed reactionsBY MANDY MILESFree Press Staff
MONROE COUNTY — When it comes to div-vying up local property tax revenues that can be
used for school construc-tion projects, the Monroe County School District will have a few extra mouths, or schools, to feed now that some of the county’s charter schools are eligible to share in the distribution.
Gov. Rick Scott last week signed a complex and con-troversial education bill that, among hundreds of other items, requires public school districts to share the locally generated revenues with eligible charter schools in their districts.
Prior to the bill’s pas-sage, school districts had an option — not an obli-gation — to include char-ter schools when distrib-uting the property tax pie. Charter school proponents say the measure evens the playing field for all schools in a district, while support-ers of traditional public schools oppose the change for a number of reasons.
“I don’t think Tallahassee needs to tell us how it is that we can and should work together with our charter
schools,” Superintendent Mark Porter told US1 Radio’s Bill Becker last Friday morn-ing. “These mandates from Tallahassee are onerous and challenging and not a good fit for Monroe County.”
The Palm Beach County School Board opposed the measure in a statement that explained that “taxpay-er dollars will be given to for-profit [charter school] companies to purchase and maintain real estate that will
KEY LARGO — The Monroe County Commission will decide this week whether to sup-port exploring placing a toll on U.S. 1, even though state
transportation officials are opposed to the idea.
The commission meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, at Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center, 102050 Overseas Highway.
Islamorada Village
County commissioners to discuss placing toll on US 1BY TIMOTHY O’HARAFree Press Staff
Councilman Mike Forster has proposed placing a toll on U.S. 1, with pro-ceeds going to local road improvement and water quality projects.
Forster traveled to Washington, D.C., in April and discussed the propos-al with U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Miami, who rep-resents the Florida Keys.
Forster is working with Curbelo’s office and others to determine if the federal and state departments of transportation would allow a toll and if the proceeds could be used for Monroe County projects, he said.
Forster cited local infra-structure and road projects
and Everglades and canal restoration projects as pos-sible benefactors.
If allowable, Forster has called for the toll to go before voters to determine if there is public support for it.
Florida Department of Transportation spokes-woman Ivette Ruiz-Paz said federal code that regulates highways “prohibits the imposition of tolls on the existing free lanes of non-tolled highways like U.S. 1.”
“Under current federal and state law, the existing lanes of U.S. 1 in the Keys cannot be tolled,” Ruiz-Paz said.
Given the Florida Keys’
infrastructure needs when it comes to water quality and local bridge and road projects, the idea of a toll is worth exploring, County Commissioner Heather Carruthers said.
“Laws can be changed if there is a compelling interest or need to do so,” Carruthers said. “Any other sources of revenue outside just using property taxes are worth exploring. ... All peo-ple who enjoy this beautiful place should share in the burden.”
Other upscale communi-ties like Key Biscayne and Sanibel Island have tolls at their entrances.
Monroe County
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, who represents the Upper Keys, has ques-tioned how much the coun-ty would receive after the federal government and the company that administers the toll received their share.
Key Biscayne and Sanibel are only por-tions of a county and plac-ing a toll at the top of the Keys would impact an entire county, Murphy said.
By placing a toll on U.S. 1, there would be no way of driving into the Keys without paying, Murphy said. There is a $1 fee lev-ied on the Card Sound Road bridge.
See BILL, page 3A
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 3A
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from page 1
amounted to eight full days.“We couldn’t have done
it without our dedicated volunteer partners, Diving with a Purpose,” Altmeier said. The group has sent teams of up to 25 highly skilled divers who have taken key measurements of the wreck. “These divers have poured their hearts out to help us.”
Kenneth Stewart, Diving with a Purpose’s program director and cofounder said, “Four years ago, we started with NOAA on the Hannah M. Bell, and within about 300 yards, we found what we think may be the Acorn.”
So far, the measurements plotted are consistent with what is known about the
Acorn, Lawrence said. “But we are trying to piece
its history together still with the archaeological data,” he said before NOAA makes an official determination of the ship’s identity.
The Acorn steamship was built in Paisley, Scotland, and it came to rest at Elbow Reef in 1885. No one per-
ished during its sinking.At 165 feet long, the wreck
is much smaller than the other two nearby, which are both more than 300 feet long. This information alone is a tell-tale clue to its iden-tity, according to Lawrence and Altmeier. Its steel hull, its low-slung sides and it being steam-propelled pro-
THERESA JAVA/Free Press
Maritime researchers Brenda Altmeier and Matthew Lawrence point to the location of the suspect-ed Acorn steamship wreck at Elbow Reef on a nautical chart.
vide a timeframe for the maritime archaeologists.
“It looked to be an older vintage than either the City of Washington or Hannah M. Bell,” Lawrence said. It even has a partially intact hull compartment that has survived more than a centu-ry of waves crashing into it.
These features “make it unusual as compared to the other Elbow wrecks,” according to the NOAA team.
Two of the vessel’s pro-peller blades remain, which confirms how she came to rest.
Altmeier said the well-de-veloped corals and huge tarpon congregating there add to its beauty.
The City of Washington wrecked in 1917 and the Hannah M. Bell wrecked in 1911. The Acorn went down 26 years earlier. Two other steamships, Quoque and Tonawanda, were also lost on Elbow Reef, but they had wooden hulls.
The Acorn was a “tramp steamer” without a set route carrying whatever cargo needed to be shipped around Atlantic ports. It was not a fast ship — its steam engine was only rated at 75 hp, pushing it at “something like 15 miles per hour tops,” said Lawrence.
When the steamer sank, it carried general merchan-dise, grain, lard and oil. Wreckers were unable to save the ship from being a total loss, but they did chase down floating casks of lard and oil floating along the Gulf Stream.
One confirmed pas-
senger according to the Philadelphia Inquirer archives was Francis A. Boyd, an African-American man who served as a chap-lain during the Civil War. Boyd boarded a steam-er with the assurance that it was headed to Jamaica, where he hoped to start a new life. Instead, the captain took him to Cuba, where he feared that he would be sold into servitude.
After many appeals to var-ious consulates, Boyd final-ly secured passage to New
York aboard the Acorn. Boyd eventually relocated to Ohio.
“This is just one story of many that adds a human dimension to this ship’s activities,” Lawrence said.
For more information about Florida Keys mari-time heritage, visit sanctu-aries.noaa.gov/maritime. For more information about Diving with a Purpose, find them on Facebook under that name.
AcornContinued from page 1A
MATTHEW LAWRENCE/NOAA
Diving With a Purpose co-founder Ken Stewart observes the work of lead instructor Kamau Sadiki as he draws a sketch of the shipwreck at Elbow Reef.
likely appreciate in value in Palm Beach County. The law does not prohibit the charter companies from selling real estate funded by taxpayers for a profit.”
On the other hand, Todd German, chairman of the Key West Collegiate Academy, a charter high school that stands to ben-efit from the new capital revenue sharing, said, “This just makes everything fair and levels the playing field for charter schools. We’ve been able to succeed thus far, and now think of what we’ll be able to do.
“We worked very hard to get this done,” German said. “But I also have to say that in Monroe County, for the most part, charter schools have a much better relation-ship with the school district than in other counties.”
German hadn’t crunched the numbers as of Friday but said eligible charter schools could see a 20 to 30 percent boost in their capital funding. Key West Collegiate Academy will use its new slice of the property tax pie to build a middle school facility on the Florida Keys Community College campus in the coming year.
The academy received approval to expand its enrollment to include
middle school grades “the year after next,” German said, “so this should help us build our new facility. But not all charter schools are eligible to share in that millage. I believe charter schools are only eligible if they’re located on property that is not owned by their school district, and if that’s the case, that would mean May Sands Montessori isn’t eligible, but Treasure Village Montessori in the Upper Keys would be, and I’m not certain about the other campuses.”
Six charter schools oper-ate in Monroe County: Key West Collegiate Academy, May Sands Montessori and Sigsbee Charter School in
Key West as well as Big Pine Academy, Treasure Village Montessori in Islamorada
and Ocean Studies Charter in Tavernier.
Their eligibility will
depend on the ownership of their campus.
[email protected] from page 2A
MATTHEW LAWRENCE/NOAA
This propeller blade, which is one of two measured on Elbow Reef, helped tentatively identify the wreck as the Acorn.
4A • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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key largo news
KEY LARGO — Mosquitoes and rain go hand-in-hand — and with above average rainfalls recently, the biting bugs have come out swinging. Daily deluges have sparked the mosquitoes into action, making raindrops and welts hard to avoid.
Emilio Posada, Upper Keys supervisor of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, said mosquito season has begun but it’s too early to declare this year worse than others.
“When we’ve had a lot of rain like this and the winds coming out of the west, we get an assault,” he said.
He said the numbers being swatted will rise or fall based on changes in the weather.
At the beginning of every mos-quito season, the district usually receives an uptick in calls for ser-vice, Posada added.
Beth Ranson, mosquito district
spokeswoman, said the aver-age landing rate of mosquitoes on testers in the field at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during May was 1.23 mosquitoes per minute. The average for the first two weeks of June jumped to 5.45 mosquitoes per minute.
Ranson said the district received 268 service calls last year. So far this year, there have been 400.
“Counts are up in the Upper and Middle Keys,” she said, add-ing that adult mosquitoes migrat-ing from the Everglades contrib-ute to the bite.
During the first 13 days of June, the district conducted eight truck spraying missions and two aerial adulticide missions, she said. In order to warrant an aerial spray, the numbers must show a three-fold increase in average adult mosquito numbers.
Posada confirmed a recent landing rate of 38.6 mosquitoes in one minute at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park on County Road 905 and 25.5
just south of there at Garden Cove.He referred to that as a “prob-
lem area” as it’s sandwiched between the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, both state and federal managed lands where the district cannot spray.
Posada has five trucks and 11 routes under his supervision.
“Our ground efforts are dictat-ed by the weather,” he said. The trucks are highly calibrated to spray a certain amount of insec-ticide, and if the wind blows more than 10 mph or if there is a fine mist in the air, then the spraying must be canceled.
So how much above average has the rainfall been? According to Mike Rapsik with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “We are in a wet pattern.”
Rapsik confirmed the total rain-fall from June 1 to June 15 in Key West to be 5.13 inches, which is 3.32 inches above the average of
1.82 inches.Marathon was at 5.50 inches,
or 3.32 inches above its 2.18-inch average. Gauges at the Ocean Reef Club recorded 4.86 inches, while Pennekamp recorded 4.84 inches. The last two are not NOAA cli-matological sites, so there is no historic data for comparison.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika, dengue, chi-kungunya and yellow fever virus-es, breed in containers that col-lect water. They’re found in small numbers in the Key West area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 136 confirmed Zika cases in the U.S. in 2017 with Florida being hit the second hardest with 15 cases. Monroe County has had one travel-related case report-ed. New York has reported the most cases at 26.
Floodwater species like the black salt marsh mosquito are more prevalent in the Upper Keys. The district’s website describes them as “pesky with a strong bite.”
The black salt marsh mosqui-to doesn’t necessarily need water. The species lays its eggs in moist soil, high enough to be affected only by flooding or rain which triggers the eggs to hatch. The black salt marsh mosquito may also deposit its eggs in contain-er sites similar to Aedes aegypti. Either way, once water hits the eggs, larval development pro-ceeds rapidly.
According to University of Florida etymology research, one female floodwater mosquito has the potential to lay 200 eggs per batch in moist areas.
“These moist areas eventually dry out, and the mosquito eggs also dry and become encased in the cracks and crevices of the dried mud. Because of their unique biology, the eggs need to dry out before they could hatch into larvae,” the UF research notes.
So when it rains, they eventual-ly pour out.
Rains, winds unleash Key Largo ankle bitersBY THERESA JAVAFree Press Staff
KEY LARGO — A revised engineer-ing and design contract for Rowell’s Waterfront Park will return before the Monroe County Commission on Wednesday, June 21.
It’s being resubmitted to the board because omissions on the previous contract submitted for approval. No changes are being proposed.
The county previously approved the engineering and design con-tract with S&ME, formerly known as Little John Engineering, in the amount of $146,944.
“On page five, there was a por-tion of the contract that was unin-tentionally left blank. They [S&ME] were required to submit the names of the foreman and other key per-sonnel but they left it blank,” said Cary Knight, the interim county project manager. “The contract was technically an error.”
KEY LARGO
Rowell’s design contract seeks another OK
UPPER KEYS — Each year, the 90-member Florida Keys Quilters Guild donates handmade quilts to support the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys’ mission of providing comfort, care and compassion to its patients and their families.
“As long as the organization has exist-
ed we have helped out as much as we can,” Florida Keys Quilters Guild member Mary Lou Wilkinson said. “We also donate quilts to be used for silent auctions at fundraising events. Anything we can do to help.”
Each quilt has a label that reads, “One who is sleeping under a quilt is sleeping under love.”
For more information, call Wilkinson at 305-394-3878.
TAVERNIER
Guild donates quilts
CONTRIBUTED
From left, Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice of the Florida Keys’ development and volunteer coordina-tor Becky Love, professional liaison Livia Barbosa, patient care manager Debbie Premaza, Pastor Kerry Foote, medical director Joanne Mahoney, assistant clinical coordinator Aniessa Rittenhouse and nurse Holly Nason show off some of the quilts donated by the Florida Keys Quilters Guild.
KEY LARGO — A 46-year-old local man was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center after his Suzuki motorcycle struck a pickup truck’s trailer last Friday after-noon at mile marker 104, accord-ing to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Thomas Edward Mingo, who was wearing a helmet, sustained serious injuries, FHP reported.
According to the report, Mingo was traveling north on U.S. 1 in the inside lane just before 4:30 p.m. when a Dodge Ram driven by Julio Roman Macias, 63, of Key Largo, attempted to cross the highway from east to west but failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
Mingo’s motorcycle collided with the trailer Macias was pull-ing.
Charges are pending against Macias, according to FHP.
KEY LARGO
Local motorcycle rider airlifted after crash
KEY LARGO — The actu-al employer of the supervi-sor on duty at the Long Key Road incident where three Monroe County contrac-tors perished in a storm-water drain from noxious gases may result in another company being added to the wrongful death claim filed against D.N. Higgins by the family of Robert Wilson of Sugarloaf Key.
Ernest Brown, supervi-sor on duty at the dead-ly Sexton Cove Roadway & Drainage Improvement project, is not a direct
employee of county road project contractor D.N. Higgins, but rather of McKenna Contracting.
Brown hired a lawyer and refused to talk to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office during its investiga-tion of the incident.
The Jan. 16 incident claimed the lives of Wilson, 24, Louis O’Keefe, 49, of Little Torch Key and Elway Gray, 34, of Fort Lauderdale. Gray was the first to descend the drain, while Brown was working on the next street over.
According to worker Kirby Brown, no one was supposed to go down the
hole until Ernest Brown returned from the next street over and measured the gases in the stormwater drain.
According to Marc Lyons, the Wilson family’s attor-ney, McKenna Contracting is a registered agent of D.N. Higgins but a sepa-rate company in the eyes of Florida.
Lyons has issued the company a letter of repre-sentation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration report is due six months from the date of the inci-dent.
D.N. Higgins supervisor was third partyFree Press StaffKEY LARGO — An
18-year-old Pompano Beach man was arrested last Friday after he drove a BMW stolen from West Palm Beach into the Florida Keys, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Alexander Mors was arrested for grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer and driving with no valid driver’s license
Sheriff ’s dispatchers
received notification June 16 from BMW Assist that the stolen 2014 silver BMW had entered Monroe County just before 6 p.m. A notice to be on the lookout was issued to all Monroe County depu-ties about the stolen car.
At 6 p.m., Deputy Jason Farr spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling south at mile marker 98, where it turned into the Domino’s Pizza parking lot. Farr pulled in
behind it and turned on his lights and siren. The vehicle pulled out of the parking lot and continued south on U.S. 1. The BMW then turned off on a side road and onto U.S. 1 north-bound. When it pulled out, it collided with a Mercedes van, also traveling north.
At that point, Farr was able to take Mors into cus-tody. A second man in the
Pompano man arrested in stolen car
See CAR, page 7A
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 5A
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islamorada newsISLAMORADA —
Recording artist and actress Jennifer Lopez visited Islamorada last week to film a video for “Ni Tu Ni Yo,” the first single off her upcoming Spanish language album, which is being produced by her ex-husband Marc Anthony.
The 47-year-old enter-tainer filmed on location at the Parlamee Key property on Lower Matecumbe Key as well as on the patio bar at the Ocean View Inn & Sports Pub, where Lopez was joined by Cuban reg-gaeton group, Gente de Zona.
Security was tight and photography unrelated to the production was pro-hibited, according to local observers.
ISLAMORADA
J.Lo performs at OVISLAMORADA — A 26-year-old Opa
Locka hip-hop artist accused of beating his girlfriend with a curtain rod, biting her, choking her, breaking her finger and cutting her face with a broken beer bottle has been charged with multi-ple felonies, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Yosvanis Arismin Sierra Hernandez, an entertainer also known as the “Chocolate MC,” faces charges of domestic battery by strangulation, domestic battery causing serious bodily injury and kidnapping. All are felonies.
According to the sheriff ’s office, Hernandez was in the Upper Keys for a performance on May 27 and was staying at a resort with his girlfriend when be became angry over posts she made on Facebook to former boyfriends.
Hernandez ordered her to sit on the bed with her hands on her lap when he began beating her with a curtain rod, reports say. He also bit her all over her
body, reports say. He is accused of hitting her with a
closed fist to the face, causing a black eye. He then pressed a broken beer bottle to her cheek, cutting her face, reports say. He then began to choke her, leaving bruises that were also visible days later, reports say.
The woman tried to escape, but Hernandez pushed her to the ground, grabbed her hair and slammed her head on the tile floor, breaking her pinkie finger, reports say. She asked to go the hospital at one point, but he refused to allow her to do so, reports say.
Warrants were issued for his arrest and Hernandez was brought to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island last week, where he remains on a $170,000 bail.
ISLAMORADA
Rapper arrested in horrific domestic battery case
Hernandez
ISLAMORADA
ISLAMORADA — Local Eagle Scout Brian Neuzil created four American flag collection boxes for his 2017 Eagle Scout project.
Neuzil built, decorated and painted the collection boxes which have been positioned at all three Islamorada fire sta-tions and the Founders Park Community Center. Residents and business owners can drop off old American flags in the boxes for proper retirement.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 305-664-6490.
Eagle Scout provides flag boxes
CONTRIBUTED
Local firefighters pose with Eagle Scout Chandler Rowland, third from left, and Eagle Scout Brian Neizil, sixth from left.
I S L A M O R A D A — Proposed amendments to land development regula-tions involving the exchange of lots donated to the village as well as allowing detached affordable housing units in zones deemed residential are two items scheduled to go before Islamorada’s gov-erning board for action this week.
The Village Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at the Founders Park Community Room, 87000 Overseas Highway.
The former item, regard-ing lot swaps, was requested to be brought back before
the board after Councilman Mike Forster admitted to mistakenly voting against the board majority because, according to him, he was on high doses of pain medica-tion from recent oral sur-gery. The item was denied 4-1 and was to be sent back to staff for changes.
During Forster’s June 1 request to revisit the item, Councilman Cheryl Meads was the lone dissenter. Because of that, Forster, later that meeting voted against one of Meads’ items and said it was because of her choice to go against his request.
Also, the board will hear a notice of non-compliance of plat approval for Parmelee
Land development changes to go before councilBY BRIAN BOWDENFree Press Staff
Key’s future owner.Redevelopment of the
40-acre property at mile marker 74 was unanimous-ly approved by the coun-cil in December. Following that, the state Department of Economic Opportunity approved it in January. The applicant was then informed that it had 90 days to update the paperwork with the village’s newly-ap-pointed officials and then get the village surveyor to sign off on it.
Because of errors noted by the surveyor, the appli-cant wasn’t able to resub-mit by the April 17 dead-line. Staff is recommending the applicant, Islamorada Village Estates LLC, be
granted a five-month exten-sion to handle the neces-sary corrections. The board has other options as well such as to pursue code enforcement proceedings or deny the building permit altogether.
According to previously presented plans, the prop-erty will eventually be the future home of a 10-unit neighborhood with acces-sory guest houses and affordable caretaker’s cot-tages. It will also include a community beach and pier, among other amenities.
Other items set for the Thursday meeting include:
• Discussion regarding a proposed amendment to the comprehensive plan
that would require a super-majority vote by the council for any significant changes to the land use regulations as well as a referendum for any changes to the compre-hensive plan. Both items will be headed by Meads.
• Discussion changing the residency requirements for those allowed to be appoint-ed to the village’s advisory boards. Councilman Chris Sante would like to include Islamorada business own-ers who don’t live within the village’s boundaries.
• A motion calling for the $300 installation of two stop signs at the inter-section of Gulfview and El Capitan drives, and at the entrance to the Port Antigua
neighborhood on Lower Matecumbe Key. In recent months, neighbors have complained of speeders in that area. According to vil-lage data from a week in May, 27 percent went over the speed limit of 25 mph there.
• And update on the completed 2017 legislative session by state Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo. The council is also set to hear what its paid state lobbyists accomplished this year.
A full agenda can be viewed at islamorada.fl.us. A live stream of the meeting will also be available there.
I S L A M O R A D A — Residents likely won’t see floating roads and homes in the Florida Keys anytime soon, but at a Southeast Florida Regional Climate
Compact workshop held last fall to brainstorm pos-sible responses to sea level rise, those ideas were float-ed for a Lower Matecumbe Key of the future.
At the four-day Resilient Redesign Workshop, sci-entists, planners, archi-
Workshop uses Islamorada as platform for floating roads, homesBY BRIAN BOWDENFree Press Staff
tecture school students and government officials met to discuss the future of some of South Florida’s most vulnerable communi-ties and to propose creative ideas on how to save them from future flooding. One Monroe County study pre-dicted in 2014 that local sea levels would rise 3 to 7 inch-es by 2030.
Islamorada’s Lower Matecumbe Key near Sea Oats Beach was the focus for the Florida Keys portion of the workshop. It includ-ed the beach, a bayside neighborhood in that same vicinity, a large area of green space and the soon-to-be developed private Parmelee
Key property.One idea showed install-
ing wide, floating “roads” that could handle light-weight vehicles and pedes-
trians. They are set up like typical streets and connect to homes also floating on the same platform. A pilot program for how they work
was tested at a town in Italy, according to the compact.
Another idea showed three-story homes built on pontoon-like foundations at Parmelee Key. According to the diagram, the home’s bottom story would sit underneath the water during its “resting position” and have the ability to rise during times of prolonged flooding.
These ideas don’t hold much water with village officials, though.
“It’s completely concep-tual and not realistic [for the area],” Islamorada Manager Seth Lawless said. “So I
CONTRIBUTED
The workshop targeted the Sea Oats Beach region of Lower Matecumbe Key for proposed responses to sea level rise.
See FLOATING, page 7A
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 7A
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from page 1tially granted a bond with pending conditions just 21 days after being arrested by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies on May 21.
Russell has pleaded not guilty to both charges and U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun of Tampa granted a contingent motion stating that Russell would not be a “flight risk” if placed under house arrest at his grandmother’s Orlando home, which she put up as bond collateral. She was to also serve as a third-party custodian along with Russell’s mother.
But just two days later, a motion to revoke the bond was filed by the U.S. Middle District Court citing sever-al new reasons why Russell should remain behind bars, which prompted McCoun to halt his previous order. The judge mentioned the recently made fuses among the reasons for his ruling.
Revocation paperwork also states that when Russell was asked what he knew of atomwaffen, he abruptly
ended the interview.Russell told police
during their investigation of Arthurs’ murder case, during which they found the National Guardsman’s alleged bomb-making materials and before a crim-inal complaint had been filed against him, that he was going to visit his deputy sheriff father who lives in West Palm Beach. But he did not go there.
Instead, he picked up a fellow neo-Nazi and the two were later stopped in Key Largo after purchasing a M&P 15 Sport 2 semi-au-tomatic assault-style rifle, a Savage Arms Axis .223 caliber hunting rifle with a scope and 500 rounds of ammunition in Dania Beach. Russell was sup-posed to report back for service with the National Guard on May 20.
After Russell left Tampa, police found radioactive materials belonging to him, as well as white supremacy propaganda and a framed photo of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City feder-al building bomber. They found enough explosive materials for the FBI to file
Neo-NaziContinued from page 1A
the criminal complaint that led to his arrest. Russell said the material was used to launch model rockets which he did as an engi-neering student.
Russell later told the court that he does not have a good relationship with his father and has strong ties to the Bahamas, where his mother and sibling cur-rently live. Russell had only moved to Tampa within the last year.
His grandmother said she had no knowledge of his white supremacy beliefs and his relationship with her in court documents was described as “speculative at best.”
“These foreign resources and ties demonstrate that Russell has the means and ability to flee,” the paper-work says.
During the bond hear-ing, federal prosecutors also introduced into evi-dence seven video clips of interviews with Arthurs, who allegedly admitted to shooting and killing the two roommates, Jeremy Himmelman, 22, and Andrew Oneshuk, 18, after they made fun of him for
embracing Salafism, a jihad extremist group that advo-cates the killing of innocent civilians.
During the interview, Arthurs accused Russell of planning an assault on Turkey Point, a seemingly appropriate target for atom-waffen.
Ian Goldstein, Russell’s defense attorney, denies such claims.
“He wasn’t there target-ing anything, which is evi-denced by the fact that he didn’t have any chemical materials with him when he was arrested,” Goldstein told the Free Press. “This Key Largo issue is a red her-ring; a fabrication created by Devon Arthurs in order to justify his own criminal behavior.
“This allegation is solely based upon Devon Arthurs’ statements to law enforce-ment during his interro-gation. The allegation is completely untrue, and without any basis in real-ity. Mr. Arthurs is a very disturbed individual, who was attempting to shift the blame for his murderous conduct onto my client and Mr. Arthurs’ two victims, in
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vehicle said Mors picked him up earlier in the day and told him they were going to a graduation party
in the Keys, reports say. He said he thought Mors had rented the vehicle. He said when Mors began attempt-ing to elude Farr, he told him to pull over, but Mors refused, reports say.
Mors was booked into jail.
CarContinued from page 4A
a misguided attempt to jus-tify the killings he commit-ted just hours earlier.”
According to Goldstein, the interview with Arthurs will be inadmissible at Russell’s trial.
The fellow neo-Nazi who befriended Russell in his online fascist forum group, Iron March, told police that Russell picked him up early on May 20, told him about the murders and said he wanted to go away to clear his head. The friend with-drew $3,000 from his bank account and quit his job on the way out of town.
He thought they were going to visit Russell’s
dad, but as they got closer, “Russell changed his mind because he thought police might be looking for him.”
They had no specific des-tination in mind and had no plans to hurt anyone or do any harm, according to the friend who was with Russell during his arrest in Key Largo.
While the friend is not named in court documents, The Associated Press has identified him as William James Tschantre, 20, of Bradenton.
If convicted, Russell faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison.
doubt it will ever happen.”I s l a m o r a d a
Environmental Resources Program Manager Susan Sprunt, who attended the workshop, agreed.
“It was just thinking of out-of-the-box ideas,” she said. “This [proposal] is if nothing was limiting [such as development restric-tions, regulatory issues, funding and other factors].”
The Nature Conservancy’s South Florida director, Chris Bergh, who also represented the Keys at the workshop, said Lower Matecumbe was chosen because of its low-lying geography. The conservan-cy also owns easements on Sea Oats Beach.
“The area represented all of the design challenges [the compact was looking for],” Bergh said.
He mentioned a previous workshop — the compact holds them annually — that focused on Key West.
Aside from floating roads and homes, the workshop also discussed implement-ing natural shoreline pro-tection and restoration treatments at Sea Oats Beach. One idea showed the installation of multiple rock barriers just offshore there to protect the beach and U.S. 1 from storm surges.
“It’s all feasible [the float-ing roads and homes], but maybe just a bit futuristic,” Bergh said. “These work-shops are meant to be out-side the box, though.”
Proposals for dealing with rising waters in Miami’s
Arch Creek and Shorecrest neighborhoods were also discussed at the workshop. Participants discussed the possibility of relocating the Shorecrest neighborhood, a proposal that recent-ly garnered coverage in national newspapers. The full presentation can be viewed at southeastflorida-climatecompact.org. Bergh said a final report from the
workshop is expected to be released by the compact soon.
The compact was formed in 2010 to foster sustainabil-ity and climate resilience on a regional scale. It is made up of representatives from Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
FloatingContinued from page 6A
CONTRIBUTED
Above, the workshop designed a layout for a proposed home with a buoytant foundation on Parmelee Key. At right, an actual floating home and pedestrian road are shown in use.
8A • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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released some documents as well as Zecca’s indictment since his arrest, but dark clouds and curious ques-tions have hovered over the case ever since, namely, his motive for attempting to kill Schmitt as well as the two mysterious co-conspir-ators Zecca mentions to an
undercover Department of Justice operative who was wearing a wire.
The case began as a DEA investigation into cocaine smuggling, but DEA agents informed the FBI that Zecca was recorded telling their informant to kill Schmitt.
A motion filed earlier this month asks Chief Circuit Judge Mark Jones to force the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement
Administration and the FBI to reveal the redacted names in those transcripts.
“Those [undercover wire] recordings make it clear that Zecca — who barely knew Schmitt and has never confessed to a motive for hiring some-one to kill him — was acting with co-conspir-ators,” Schmitt’s attor-ney, Lawrence Kellogg of Miami, wrote in the motion.
“However, when transcripts of the recordings were released in 2016, the iden-tities of those co-conspira-tors were redacted.”
According to the motion, Zecca had two taped con-versations with the wired informant that are perti-nent to Schmitt’s civil law-suit, including the following exchange:
Zecca: “I gotta go get it. I haven’t even talked to these people yet it’s done. I haven’t said nothing to nobody.”
Undercover operative: “Who?”
Zecca: It ain’t (redacted
name). I gotta go to (redacted people).”
“Schmitt needs the unredact-ed tran-s c r i p t s and other r e c o r d s reflecting the investiga-tion and prosecution of Zecca so that he can amend this suit to bring civil claims against the co-conspira-tors,” the motion states.
The motion comes after Kellogg deposed Zecca in
federal prison last month, but Zecca cited the Fifth Amendment’s protection from self-incrimination numerous times and little or no new information was obtained.
The next court hearing is set before Jones on July 11.
State Attorney Dennis Ward, meanwhile, is mull-ing whether to bring state charges against Zecca upon his release from federal prison.
A trial date has yet to be scheduled.
TargetContinued from page 1A
Zecca
MARATHON — Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives have located and notified the next of kin of Romeo Degani, 52, whose body was found float-ing off the Seven Mile Bridge on June 4.
Degani was a part-time resident of Key Colony Beach and was born in Switzerland.
Initial examination of the body revealed a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives on the case say the wound is consistent with suicide, but they are still investigating the circumstances of the death.
A car, rented by Degani, was located parked at the south end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Major Crimes Detective Matthew Pitcher at 305-289-2410.
SEVEN MILE BRIDGE
Body identified as part-time KCB resident
MARATHON — A presentation by a Florida Department of Transportation engineer on the Old Seven Mile Bridge project opened the June 13 Marathon City Council meeting, followed by a code compliance discus-sion regarding switching to the use of a special mag-istrate that took a surpris-ing turn when it was dis-covered residents’ appeals cannot come before the council due to state law.
The $33.3 million bridge project is to start in August and is expected to con-clude in July 2021, accord-ing to FDOT engineer Pablo Orozco. During that time, access to Pigeon Key by ferry from Knights Key will be maintained.
Though light on details, Orozco said the refurbish-ment of the old bridge from
Knights Key to Pigeon Key is to include directional markings for cyclists and pedestrians as well as new railings. The “bumpers,” or short parking curbs cur-rently delineating paths on the bridge, will be removed. Construction work on the structure may require barg-es, he noted.
“The main goal is to preserve the history of the bridge,” Orozco said, refer-encing the 30-year agree-ment signed in 2014 by FDOT, Monroe County and the city of Marathon. When refurbishment is complete, vehicles weighing less than 15 tons will be able to use the bridge to access Pigeon Key and the speed limit is to be 15 mph.
A proposed ordinance changing from using a code compliance board to a spe-cial magistrate got bogged down when City Attorney David Migut shared that his research and discus-
sion with other municipal attorneys showed no legal avenue for citizens’ appeals of a magistrate’s decision to come before the city coun-cil.
“The state mandates that an appeal goes to court,” Migut said.
The council voted 4-1 in May to ask staff to cre-ate an ordinance to switch from using volunteer citi-zens to a magistrate, citing a magistrate’s impartiality and knowledge of the law. Councilman John Bartus dissented, saying appeal-ing matters to peers on the board was the better way to go.
“The only thing that made me partly OK with [using a special magis-trate system] was the abil-ity to appeal to council,” Bartus said. “I still believe our code board has been responsive to the people of Marathon.”
He said the board and
staff have been effective at resolving code cases.
But Mayor Dan Zieg and Vice Mayor Michelle Coldiron continued to sup-port giving the new meth-od a try due to a desire for impartiality.
The proposed ordinance is to be reviewed after one year and has a 90-day clause for changing the contracted magistrate. The council voted to approve 3-1, with Bartus voting no and Councilman Steven Cook absent.
The proposed ordi-nance, if passed upon a second reading, would be followed by a request for proposals to find the code decision-maker. Migut suggested contracting with two magistrates to help avoid conflict-of-inter-est or scheduling issues. Magistrates do not have to live locally due to the pos-sibility of online hearings.
Bridge work to start in AugustBY JILL ZIMA BORSKIFree Press Contributor MARATHON — The fam-
ilies of two men missing in separate cases for a year from the same harbor are still looking for answers.
Paul Thomas Murray, 48, has been missing since June 2016 and Albert Bosco, 72, has not been seen since September of last year. Both lived on boats in Boot Key Harbor.
Monroe C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’s d e t e c -tives say Murray was last seen on his boat at the harbor where he was planning to help a man named Donny Vanaria move his sailboat from Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island to Boot Key Harbor in Marathon.
Detectives say they later found the sailboat,
called the H o r n e t , g r o u n d -ed on rocks near R o b b i e’s M a r i n a . No one was on b o a r d . Witnesses say Vanaria left town short-ly afterward and detectives have not been able to locate him.
Murray’s credit cards and social media accounts have not been used, nor has he contacted his children.
Bosco’s daughter, who reported him missing in September, said no one had seen him since June 2016.
Detectives found his boat and reported that there were no signs of a struggle on board but can find no one who had seen or heard from him.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Major Crimes Detective Bob Dosh at 305-289-2410.
Info sought on missing menFree Press Staff
Murray
Bosco
CONTRIBUTED
The Coast Guard, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and state wildlife officers responded last Thursday morning to a boat fire in Boot Key Harbor that officials say resulted in no injuries. The fire started on an unnumbered, unregistered and unnamed cabin cruiser about 8:30 a.m. A Coast Guard Station Marathon response boat was the first on the scene, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Capt. David Dipre. The boat was engulfed by fire when crews arrived. No one was found in the water, and it was unclear to investigators if anyone was living or had been living on the boat, Dipre said. The FWC, MCSO and Marathon Fire Rescue cut the anchor line after the Coast Guard extinguished the blaze and towed the boat to a nearby sea wall to make sure it was not a navigational hazard, Dipre said.
MARATHON — A Marathon man sustained a serious inju-ry to his neck on June 4, and detectives are attempting to determine what may have happened.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Amanda Coleman has confirmed Jeffrey Knapp, 55, was last seen uninjured by employees of the Hurricane Restaurant in Marathon. He was escorted by employees from the bar at approximately 9 p.m.
Knapp was interviewed by Detective Bob Dosh at Kendall Regional Hospital. Knapp said he did not remember any-thing after leaving the Hurricane Restaurant. He did remem-ber lying down on a grassy area and not being able to move very well.
Knapp was located at 5 a.m. near the Barracuda Grill after a passerby called the sheriff’s office to report someone in medical distress. At the time, Knapp told deputies he believed he’d had a stroke or a seizure.
Deputies who initially responded said Knapp had no visi-ble injuries. Knapp told Dosh he did not remember being in an altercation with anyone. All of his valuables are accounted for and there was no indication a robbery took place, reports state.
Anyone with any information about what may have hap-pened to Knapp is asked to call Coleman at 305-289-2430.
MARATHON
Local man sustains mysterious injury
BOOT KEY HARBOR
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 9A
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big pine area news
USFWS
The National Key Deer Refuge critter cam captured the circle of life last Thursday shortly after 7 p.m. As the female white-crowned pigeon sat on the nest, a red-shouldered hawk swooped down and chased her away. Things didn’t end well for the day-old hatchling. In the almost three weeks since the critter cam has been focused on this nest viewers have been able to learn more about the habits of these threatened wild pigeons. In the coming days, viewers will see whether the pigeons will return and re-nest or whether they’ll move on. The cam can be viewed at fws.gov/refuge/National_Key_Deer_Refuge.
REFUGE
BIG PINE KEY — The National Key Deer Refuge is seeking volunteers to assist wildlife biologists in the field in identifying, reporting and remov-ing non-native plants from refuge lands.
Volunteers can also participate in outreach events to distribute native plants and educate people in their communities about exotics and native alternatives.
Another volunteer opportunity is assisting in monitoring critical wet-land sites for endangered species through camera trapping and live capture/release of at-risk reptiles. Volunteers will place and retrieve game cameras, review pictures and record data, as well as check live traps for secretive aquatic turtles.
For more information, email refuge biologist Adam Emerick at [email protected].
REFUGE
Wildlife volunteers needed
USFWS
The darling plum, a.k.a. red ironwood, is one of the summer fruits of the hard-wood hammock edge habitats. Fruits can be eaten by Key deer, raccoon, birds and even people. This small tree/shrub is considered threatened in Florida but is relatively common in some areas of the National Key Deer Refuge.
BIG PINE KEY
BIG PINE KEY — The for-mer county-owned home of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at mile marker 30.3 will soon be no more.
Plans by Monroe County to raze the old building, which was deemed unsafe for public use last year, are moving forward start-ing with a request at next week’s Monroe County Commission meeting in Key Largo to advertise for the work.
Habitat ceased public oper-ations on the leased proper-ty in mid-January because the non-profit couldn’t pony up the roughly $575,000 to pay for neces-sary structural repairs. It had been there for over a decade serving as a fundraising thrift store for the affordable home-building Habitat organization. The group has until July to fully vacate. After that, the county will move forward with clearing the property.
A timeline for demolition has not yet been determined. According to paperwork, associat-
ed costs are estimated at $60,000 and will come from the coun-ty’s facility maintenance general funds.
After demolition is complete, the county said it will then eval-uate the best use of the property.
Also at the meeting, the board will receive an update on the for-mer Big Pine Key Road Prison property.
Since the state facility shut down operations of the mini-mum-security prison on Key Deer Boulevard in April due to costly upgrades for sewer connection and repairs, the county has shown interest in obtaining the property.
Last month, staff was directed to research that idea as well as the development potential there.
Protocol for state-owned prop-erty no longer in use calls for it to be offered first to other state entities or universities that might be interested in leasing it. If no takers come forward, then it can be offered up to the local govern-ment in that area for lease. If there are still no takers once all those options are exhausted, it would go to public bid and sale.
According to paperwork, per-mitted uses of the 10-acre site are currently limited to public or hos-pital facilities. Through talks with the state, the county was told that if it obtained a long-term lease for the property and kept it public, such as a park or museum, there would be no need to offer it to any
state entities.However, ideas previously men-
tioned by county officials includ-ed using the site for affordable housing. Staff is recommending that they continue to explore the potential uses of the property.
In addition to serving as a Department of Corrections pris-
on, the property also is used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to store water vessels, trailers and other gear.
Other Big Pine items set for the June 21 meeting include:
• Action on a request to adver-tise for construction-engineer-ing-inspection services for a state-and federal-funded project of a water observation platform at the Big Pine Community Park. The grant amount set aside for this phase of the work is $80,000 and includes improvements at the Higgs Beach pier in Key West as well. This item is listed under bulk approvals.
• Action on a $20,000 contract that calls for the purchasing of a roughly 44,000 square-foot lot on Ixora Drive as part of the county’s habitat conservation plan. The advisory committee tasked with reviewing this approved it unan-imously last month. Staff is also recommending approval.
A full agenda and live stream of the 9 a.m. meeting can be viewed at monroecounty-fl.gov.
County to proceed with building demolitionBY BRIAN BOWDENFree Press Staff
FILE
The former Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 30320 Overseas Highway is set for demolition after the non-profit fully vacates the Monroe County property in July. The non-profit ceased operations there in January when they weren’t able to afford the $575,000 in required structural repairs.
LOWER KEYS — As the summer wildfire season returns, National Key Deer Refuge will be working to reduce fire fuels on refuge lans on Big Pine, No Name and Cudjoe keys.
These actions are to help protect public and pri-vate lands from wildfires sparked by lightning strikes, according to refuge officials.
Select vegetation will be removed mechanically by mowing and trimming using a skidsteer and by hand trimming, with most
vegetation thinning work being completed from June to November. Fire breaks
will also be maintained in this manner to help ensure that wildfires can be con-tained to reduce risk to pri-vate property.
Reducing highly-flamma-ble vegetation within the forest allows firefighters to control the spread of fire, minimizing risk to homes and businesses, officials say.
National Key Deer Refuge also plans to conduct pre-scribed burns in several locations this year on Big Pine Key. Like mechanical vegetation thinning, pre-
Refuge staff preparing for summer wildfire seasonscribed fire is used to reduce the existing natural area fire hazard to both public and adjacent private lands while also improving wildlife hab-itat.
Favorable weather con-ditions must be in accor-dance with fire plans before
burns can take place. Professionally trained fire personnel from other national wildlife refuges, other federal agencies, as well as state, county and volunteer department will assist with the prescribed fires on the refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also uses prescribed fire as an ecological tool to maintain the fire-de-pendent pine rocklands in order to benefit native plants and animals such as
USFWS
The refuge conducts mechani-cal thinning of vegetation with a skidsteer.
See WILDFIRE, page 11A
10A • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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FLORIDA — The state’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in May, down 0.2 percentage points from April and 0.6 per-centage points from a year ago, according to Florida Department of Economic Opportunity figures released last Friday.
There were 435,000 job-less Floridians out of a labor force of 10,147,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in May.
In May, Monroe County had the state’s lowest unem-ployment rate at 2.7 per-cent, followed by St. Johns County at 3 percent and Okaloosa County at 3.1 per-cent.
Hendry County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, followed by Sumter County at 5.9 per-cent and Citrus County at 5.6 percent.
FLORIDAState jobless rate drops to 4.3 percent
DAVID KEITH/IPW
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council sales team and Florida Keys hotel partners attended the recent IPW 2017 in Washington, D.C. From left are Audrey Gonzalez, Hilton Key Largo Resort’s director of sales and marketing; Sabine Pons-Chilton, TDC sales manager; Yves Vrielynck, TDC destination sales manager; Stacey Mitchell, TDC sales director; Rhonda Whitfield, Cheeca Lodge & Spa director of sales; Liana Pyne, TDC sales manager; Maggie Fromm, The Perry Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina’s sales and marketing manager; and Ashley Keeney, Marathon’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites director of sales and marketing. IPW is the world’s top international travel marketplace and largest generator of U.S. international travel.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CONTRIBUTED
Centennial Bank’s Key Largo branch welcomed three Key Largo School students before the end of the school year to work in bank’s drive-thru, identify counterfeit bills, visit the vault, hold hundred-dollar bills and enjoy a few cookies in the branch lobby. Centennial’s Jody Randel, Fausta Moriera and Kathy Elmore are pictured with Andres Fernandez, Karla Gutierrez and Dalani Thomas.
KEY LARGO
ISLAMORADA — Just a month into it, executive chef Nassuby Bernal seems content with the path his new restaurant is on. He purposely opened during the summer — the usual slow period in the Florida Keys — so he would have time to work out all the kinks before tourist season hits.
And he’s doing just that, but he hopes the local com-
munity will give the eatery a try in the meantime.
Bernal runs Just the Thing Global Bistro on Upper Matecumbe Key, 80925 Overseas Highway.
“Welcome to your house,” Bernal says when he greets guests at the restaurant. “You’re in charge here.”
The restaurant opened on June 6, just 35 days after a complete interior overhaul. Part of that work included adding exterior seating for patrons to eat and enjoy the weather, if it’s not too hot. The restaurant sits roughly 70 total and has a separate room for private parties.
Bernal is no slouch in the kitchen and he said thanks to his extensive food back-ground from around the globe, which began during high school in his home country of Venezuela, his restaurant can offer many unique tastes.
Bernal, 47, has two culi-nary degrees and 32 years
Bistro goes global with flavors from all over worldBY BRIAN BOWDENFree Press Staff
in the business. He cred-its a lot of his expertise to his brother Edward Yamid Zambrano and fellow chef Antonio Mendoza. He has cooked for government agencies, corporations, high-profile celebrities and politicians, and more.
Bernal highlighted some of his favorite items on the menu. They included the roast pork bites appetiz-er (at $12), which is slow-cooked roast pork with yuca with mojo sauce. The cool
caprese salad (at $15), deep-fried green tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, mixed baby heirloom tomatoes and pesto sauce with bal-samic glaze. The jacomo monster burger entrée (at $21) features two beef pat-ties injected with cheese and topped with house bacon, ham, a fried egg, let-tuce, tomato, onion, shred-ded plantain, avocado and slaw.
“For what you spend here, you get a lot,” Bernal
said. “It’s a real full meal.”One of Bernal’s employ-
ees said her go-to item is the quesadilla (at $12). Patrons get their choice of chicken, steak, shrimp or fish and each comes with veggies, sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo.
Bernal added that all his meats are smoked in-house daily, too.
The menu has 37 food selections, including six desserts. For a full menu, visit hireachefforanite.com.
The restaurant also offers around 20 red/white wines and 25 beers, including two from the Florida Keys Brewing Co., to pair with meals.
Bernal pledges to provide good food, drinks and ser-vice.
“This is the new spot in town, so come check us out,” Bernal said. “You won’t be disappointed.”
Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Bernal said the bistro will never turn away
a customer, even those that show up a minute before closing time.
Aside from the restaurant, Bernal runs Hire a Chef for a Nite, a private chef busi-ness. For more information on both, visit the website above or call 305-517-6525. The bistro can be found on Facebook as well.
CONTRIBUTED
Fried green tomatoes are one of the offerings at the bistro.
BRIAN BOWDEN/Free Press
The restaurant seats 70 inside and offers 20 different wines and 25 beers.
BRIAN BOWDEN/Free Press
Chef Bernal cooks up some wizardry in the kitchen.
KEY WEST — Harold Wheeler has been touting the Florida Keys and help-ing to put visitors’ heads in hotel beds for the past 21 years. But come September,
the retiring director of Monroe County’s Tourist Development Council will have time to actually enjoy the island chain he’s been marketing for so long.
Wheeler has announced that he will retire at the end of September, when his
current employment con-tract expires. He informed TDC board Chairwoman Rita Irwin and each board member with a phone call last week, but said his deci-sion came as no surprise to them.
“I had told the chairwom-
TDC director Wheeler retiring this fallBY MANDY MILESFree Press Staff
an two years ago that I was g e t t i n g ready to retire and I asked for a one-year e m p l o y -ment con-tract,” said Wheeler, who had been working under a series of three-year contracts with optional two-year exten-sions. “So I did a one-year contract, and then another one-year contract, and have been keeping Chairwoman Rita Irwin in the loop with regard to my plans. I just think it’s time. September will be 21-1/2 years.”
Before he took the helm of the TDC, Wheeler led the St. Lucie County Convention and Visitors Bureau for 11-1/2 years.
“So that’s 33 years work-ing in Florida tourism,” said Wheeler, who was born in Tampa and grew up in Sebring.
His tenure in Monroe County saw the TDC’s bud-get grow from $10 million in its fledgling years to $58
Wheeler
See WHEELER, page 11A
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 11A
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Free Press is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cooke Communications, 3420 Northside Dr., Key West, FL 33040. ©2017 Cooke Communications
There’s one subject upon which almost every resident of the Florida Keys would agree: Iguanas are bad news. We’re all familiar with the most annoy-ing behaviors of this invasive species. They consume flower-ing gardens, fruit and vegetables at breakneck speeds. They carry and spread dangerous bacte-ria. They defecate in the most inconvenient places.
For now, Keys residents most-ly put up with the nuisance of iguanas as a cost of living in paradise, but that relative state of bliss may not last for long.
The subtropical Keys pro-vide an ideal climate for these intruders who have no natural predators here. Green iguanas (the subspecies most common in Florida) can grow up to 6 feet long, nose to tail, and females can lay a clutch of 75 eggs a year. They are agile climbers, excel-lent swimmers and can burrow deep into the rockiest soil to make nests. They elbow indige-nous birds and mammals out of their natural ecological niches.
Puerto Rico has been virtually besieged by iguanas. Agriculture
losses tally in the millions of dollars because of this “Green Plague.” National Geographic reports that roadways and side-walks have cratered around the island from collapsed iguana burrows. Electrical and tele-phone outages are common when iguanas chew through metal cables. Iguanas warm themselves on airport runways causing air traffic delays. There’s no reason to believe these prob-lems won’t strike the Keys soon-er or later. Some already have.
The bacteria nearly all iguanas carry present the most immedi-ate risk to visitors and residents in our county. Zoologists point out that in the wild, iguanas tend to defecate in water. Here in the Keys, that water is likely to be a swimming pool.
The problem is not sim-ply fouled, muddy pool water. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that “Each year in the United States, there
are an estimated 800,000 to 4 million salmonella infections and approximately 500 are fatal.” While relatively few of those infections are thought to be caused by primary or sec-ondary contact with iguanas, they are certainly more com-mon in iguana-infested regions.
More alarming still is the fact that salmonella bacteria com-monly carried by iguanas are increasingly resistant to multi-ple antibiotic therapies making infection far more tenacious — even deadly.
Gardening, playing with out-door pets, keeping chickens and, yes, even a dip in the pool are all contact points for iguana-borne salmonella infection. Kids are at especially high risk: Their devel-oping immune systems are vul-nerable and outdoor play puts them in the middle of these dan-gerous pathogens.
The Keys have a good track record of dealing with danger-ous invasive species. The Nature Conservancy in Key Largo collab-orates with Everglades National Park to identify and trap prolific and predatory Burmese pythons
in the Everglades. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gives prizes for bagging the biggest and most pythons.
Throughout the Keys, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and non-profit Reef Environmental Education Foundation promote lionfish derby days, restaurants serving the fish and lionfish jew-elry workshops where you can sip a glass of wine while learning to craft ornaments from lionfish scales and fins.
It is high time we take a simi-lar approach to invasive, harm-ful iguanas in the Keys. Florida wildlife and environmental agencies have ready-made tem-plates they can apply to igua-na control. The TDC and local environmental not-for-profits have a mission-driven interest in keeping iguana populations from further endangering our environment and safety. We are facing our own “Green Plague” in the Florida Keys. It’s time to take care of our iguana problem.
— The Key West Citizen
It’s time to address the ‘Green Plague’editorial
M A I L L E T T E R S T O F L O R I DA K E Y S F R E E P R E S S, AT T N : E D I T O R , 9 1 7 3 1 O V E R S E A S H I G H W AY, TAV E R N I E R , F L 3 3 0 7 0 • E M A I L L E T T E R S T O D C A M P B E L L @ K E Y S N E W S. C O M
opinion
business/big pine key continued
CONTACT US
Florida Keys Free Press91731 Overseas Highway
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PublisherPaul A. Clarin
Managing EditorDan Campbell
Advertising DirectorMelanie Arnold
million for fiscal year 2018.“It is impossible to measure
Harold’s dedication and the con-tributions he has made to the TDC’s marketing programs for so long,” Irwin said. “He has guid-ed our initiatives through both good and challenging times, and his commitment has never wavered. No doubt he has earned his retirement.”
The TDC board will hold a spe-cial meeting “in the very near future” to establish a procedure for finding Wheeler’s replace-ment and establish the criteria for the new director.
“I think they’ll want someone with prior TDC and destination marketing organization experi-ence,” Wheeler said, expecting significant interest from mem-bers of a statewide association
of DMOs that Wheeler chaired in 2014. “The board will likely be looking at directors and assistant directors who are familiar with state statutes as well as destina-tion marketing efforts, over some-one who has done marketing or press releases for a local business for the past several years.”
In addition to his work with the TDC, Wheeler also served on the Florida Governor’s Commission on Tourism for eight years and was a member of Visit Florida’s board of directors for 10 years. Among other honors, he received the 2010 Margo Golan Community Service Award from the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West.
“While I look forward to a more relaxed lifestyle that retirement affords, I will miss relationships that have been made and am proud of the team’s accomplish-ments,” he said.
WheelerContinued from page 10A
I find it unfortunate indeed that former Islamorada mayor and councilman Bob Johnson must spend so much of his jour-nalistic ability and op/ed space to defend against the spurious, specious attacks of the sycophantic syncro-servo minions of the village’s pro-development faction, which is resolutely and suc-cessfully striving to build something on every lot in Islamorada.
Equally unfortunate is the almost total lack of response from the apathetic, asleep-at-the-switch population to this plainly political propaganda. The town is being stealthily stolen from under the very noses of its complacently sleeping citizens. It’s past time to wake up.
It has been said that what’s true in the microcosm is also true in the macrocosm. As the political corruption, greed and attacks on meritorious officials cripple and obstruct justice in the microcosm of the tiny town of Islamorada, so do the same actions cripple and obstruct us in the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. The incredibly stupid partisan wrangling and internecine warfare in the upper reaches of our government are a joy and delight to all our foreign enemies and a wonderful opportunity for them to do us serious harm.
Honest Abe was correct: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” In the microcosm of Islamorada and the macrocosm of Washington, D.C., we must awake and take action. Get up on your hind legs and bark.
Van Cadenhead, Islamorada
Microcosm vs. macrocosm
Short and sweet Bob Johnson, you were exposed to your ineptness.
Vice Mayor Chris Sante and I have absolutely no professional ties to each other. The “Lisa Shaw” you quoted as me, on the record, is not me.
And I assume that based on your letter, women are not smart enough to write an opinion for the paper. Get over it. You’re a fool on the hill.
Lisa Gaudiello Shaw, Tavernier
Fool on the hill
Re: Major conditional use permit for Southcliff Estates Employee Housing, 95301 Overseas Highway, Key Largo:
After reviewing volumes of documents and listening to local public input, we question the land use density being proposed for the above referenced project and are concerned about the impact on community character of single family residents in adjacent neighborhoods.
Goals and policies are in place to ensure designated suburban com-munities maintain their distinctive characteristics. The Monroe County Commission adopted corridor development guidelines as rules for development of parcels fronting U.S. 1 outside the public right-of-way. They are adopted as an overlay to the existing zoning. The type of devel-opment being proposed should be directed toward a General Urban Zone to prevent urban sprawl and to ensure protection of the suburban community character.
Please take into consideration the participation of community res-idents who worked closely with county planners to design standards that would maintain and increase the unique cultural identity. Many of these residents still live in this suburban area and join with those who are deeply concerned that projects, such as the above referenced, would allow development to redefine community character through unchecked urban sprawl, ultimately chipping away at the Livable CommuniKeys Master Plan for Tavernier Creek to mile marker 97, the Tavernier Creek to mile marker 97 U.S. 1 corridor development stan-dards and guidelines, and the Monroe County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. There is support for a lower-density project in keeping with the intentions of regulations and neighboring single family residential homes.
On behalf of our homeowners association, we would like to encour-age the Monroe County Planning Department to re-evaluate the March 13 staff report and recommend denial.
Pedro Fernandez, president, Lime Grove Estates Property Owners Association
Housing project would create urban sprawl
HAVE A STORY IDEA?CALL 305-853-7277, EXT. 11
the Key deer, Big Pine par-tridge pea, pineland croton and Bartram’s scrub-hair-streak butterfly, officials say. Restoration and maintenance of the pine rockland habi-tat is essential for a healthy, fire-dependent ecosystem.
Community updates, up to and including when prescribed fire dates are proposed and when a pre-scribed fire occurs, it will be announced through local print and radio press releases, the National Key Deer Refuge Facebook page and roadside advisory signs.
Maps of proposed burn areas can be viewed at the refuge visitor center at 179 Key Deer Blvd. and at fws.gov/nationalkeydeer.
WildfireContinued from page 9A
USFWS
A firefighter conducts a prescribed burn at the National Key Deer Refuge.
12A • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
503945
• Living • Learning • Playing • Exploring
Legal thriller for
Grisham, Turow fans
2B
By the numbers Lima named Baseball Player of Year. 6B
Cheers! Islamorada Beer Co. team lands
tournament-record fish. 9B
KEYSNEWS.COM FLORIDA KEYS FREE PRESS • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017
pursuits1B
KEYSNEWS.COM
FLORIDA KEYS — Want to help discover a new spe-cies? In the past 10 years there have been almost 600 species of moths identified in the Florida Keys and through an ongoing survey new species are being dis-covered all the time.
Moths are important pollinators. While they out-number butterflies and other well-known pollina-tors, very little is known about them. This citizen science research project will provide information about the diversity and abun-
dance of these creatures.June is the best time
of year to witness biodi-versity in moths, and the first-ever Keys moths Bio Blitz will be held Thursday, June 22, at the National Key Deer Refuge and Saturday, June 24, at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
The free, family-friend-ly events will provide an understanding of the moth fauna in the Keys and will be guided by “Moth Guy” David Fine in cata-loging as many species of moths as possible.
The National Key Deer Refuge event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and participants should meet at the visitor center in the Big Pine Key Shopping Plaza, mile marker 30.
The Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and partici-pants should meet at Key Largo refuge headquarters at 10750 County Road 905.
For more information, call park ranger Kristie Killam at 305-872-0774.
Volunteers needed to catalog moths of the Florida Keys
KRISTIE KILLAM/Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges
The first Keys moths Bio Blitz events will be held Thursday, June 22, at the National Key Deer Refuge, and Saturday, June 24, at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Key Largo. The citizen science research project will provide information about the diversity and abundance of the area moths.
CONTRIBUTED
A sheet illuminated by lights draws moths for a count.
M A R A T H O N — Musicians Steve Hall and Randy Barnett formed the Middle Keys-based group Fiddle Rock about five years ago. Since that time, the two Boot Key Harbor livea-boards have been perform-ing on the local circuit, belt-ing out classic rock, country tunes and more.
Although born over a thousand miles apart and not originally hailing from the Florida Keys, Hall and Barnett would eventual-ly come together through music and, by some odd twist of fate years later, end up living in Marathon at the same time.
Hall was born in Arkansas before moving to Tampa shortly thereafter and Barnett was born in New York. The two first met in 2006 in Barnett’s hometown when Hall was touring with artist Eric Stone. Hall would return years later to play that same gig only to learn that Barnett had moved to Marathon — the same place Hall was already getting ready to settle down in.
After Hall retired from being on the road full-time
in 2013 and made the move to Marathon, it wasn’t long before he and Barnett were playing together once again.
Both musicians have extensive backgrounds in their craft.
As a kid, Hall’s father worked at the Grand Ole Opry. So he grew up listen-ing to stories his old man would tell about his time there and, of course, they would sit around and listen to some of the performers who hit that famous stage such as Hank Williams and Dolly Parton.
Hall’s grandfather was also a musician, although in a swing band. Hall recalled a framed photograph of him holding a Gibson guitar that hung on the wall of their home.
“I grew up wanting to be just like him,” Hall said.
Around 14 years old, Hall began making that dream a reality. He started play-ing the guitar after watch-ing footage of Jimi Hendrix. Thinking about it now, he laughs when recalling that he didn’t have YouTube vid-eos helping him learn how to play an instrument like much of today’s generation
Duo doesn’t fiddle around, they rockBY BRIAN BOWDENFree Press Staff
CONTRIBUTED
Fiddle player Randy Barnett, left, and guitarist Steve Hall form the band Fiddle Rock, a Marathon-based musical act that per-forms regularly around town.
See DUO, page 3B
A safe haven
TAVERNIER — The sound of seagulls caw-cawing can be heard from the parking lot, and within a short walking distance along a wood-en path, they’re there.
About 20 noisy gulls and terns in a sandy-cordoned section of man-groves squawk at visitors, fluff their feathers and puff their chests at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary.
Before reaching the seagulls, though, there are two parrots at the entrance. The yellow-headed Amazon is Fredericka, who belonged to the late Quinn, founder of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, which now includes the Mission Wild Bird center at mile marker 92, bayside, in addition to the sanctuary. Fredericka is in her 40s now. The other is Nikki, a military macaw, also in her 40s.
The pelicans right next door to the seagulls have a pond with vertical fountains. They are enclosed in a large mesh lanai. There are about 20 or so and a booby too. Their deformi-ties are not as subtle as their neigh-boring terns’ given their size.
The sanctuary provides a home to a flock of about 100 birds that would otherwise probably not have made it in the wild. Something tragic hap-pened to each one that resulted in a major injury. These birds all have
broken wings, mutilated beaks or limps when they walk. Many of the injuries are the result of a car or boat strike.
There are a lot of different birds at the center including hawks, owls, a falcon, ibis, egrets, white-crowned pigeons, cormorants and blue jays, among many more. Each species requires different care and birds of prey require their own habitat.
At the center’s hospital, they rescue injured wild birds, treat them accord-
ingly and release them if possible. On average, they treat about 100 birds per month, according to director Rob Bulkiewicz.
Rehabilitators limit human con-tact to ensure a bird’s best chance of survival after its release.
“We are constantly working to improve the place. It’s a lot of work, but we have a great team,” Bulkiewicz said.
The footprint at the center itself is small but it sits on about 12 acres of land. The bird’s natural habitats are niched out of native foliage, making it as natural as possible. Birds are high-maintenance and require con-stant cleaning up after.
Local volunteer Ken Lorben arrives at 6 a.m. daily to feed the birds. He’s been freely giving his time there for four years.
“It’s not as hot out when I get here, and I just get it done,” he said on a recent steamy morning.
The bird center’s mission is to educate the public about the impor-tance of coexisting with wild birds. It launched a “No Hooks Left Behind” campaign last year publicizing the importance of not letting fishing line or hooks enter the ecosystem.
Earlier this month, the center wrapped up its first program with Plantation Key School. Teacher Tamara Green raised $574 in dona-
Maimed birds convalesce at centerBY THERESA JAVAFree Press Staff
FILE
The Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary is located at mile marker 93.6, bayside.
THERESA JAVA/Free Press
Pelicans and a booby await visitors along the boardwalk at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center’s Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary.
See HAVEN, page 5B
2B • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
faces & placesPHOTO EXHIBIT GARDEN CLUB SCHOLARS
STANDOUT READER
more pursuits
The Indie Bestseller List is produced by the American Booksellers Association and is based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide during the week ended June 10, 2017.
1. Astrophysics for People in
a Hurry
2. Theft by Finding: Diaries
3. Al Franken, Giant of the
Senate
4. Hillbilly Elegy
5. Option B
6. The Subtle Art of Not Giving
A F*ck
7. The American Spirit
8. Make Your Bed
9. Killers of the Flower Moon
10. The Hidden Life of Trees
top 10bestsellers
1. Camino Island (Debut)
2. Into the Water
3. The Ministry of Utmost
Happiness (Debut)
4. Magpie Murders
5. Norse Mythology
6. A Gentleman in Moscow
7. Dragon Teeth
8. Anything Is Possible
9. The Underground Railroad
10. Testimony
H A R D B A C K F I C T I O N
H A R D B A C K N O N F I C T.
Director and screenwriter Alan Hruska is known for his work on several films and plays, includ-ing “Nola,” “The Warrior Class,” “Renunion” and, most recently, 2014’s “The Man On Her Mind.”
Hruska, a native New Yorker and graduate of Yale and Yale Law School, is also a former trial lawyer who has represent-ed such high-profile clients as Henry Kissinger, Sam Walton and Katherine Graham. He is also the author of two legal thrillers. “Pardon The Ravens” is the most recent. As cofounder of Soho Press, he currently serves as chairman of its board.
“Pardon The Ravens” takes place in 1961 and the protagonist is an up-and-coming young law-yer named Alec Brno. Brno is a poor boy who grew up in Queens and, only a couple of years out of law school, has been hired by a prestigious Wall Street law firm. Recently in his career Alec had the skill and beginner’s luck to win a case his firm expected to lose. This leads to his next assign-ment as a junior attorney to one of his firm’s highest profile cases and, by far, the biggest case of his career: a fraud, class-action suit in which billions of dollars are at stake. A New Jersey oil storage facility with tankers that should be loaded with oil are instead full of salt water. The case and
the Angiapello crime family are interrelated. The matter is draw-ing international headlines.
Alec risks it all when he meets and falls madly in love with Carrie, an alluring young woman who happens to be the wife of the Angiapello family’s sadistic don, Phil Anwar, the master-mind behind the scandal. Carrie is a battered wife with a young daughter who is in Phil’s custo-dy. Carrie also has a drug prob-lem, perpetuated by her husband. When she meets Alec she is trying to stay clean to get custody of her daughter back from her sadistic husband. Alec and Carrie end up on the run, but they soon find out there is no place to hide.
This book is a legal thriller. If
you like books by John Grisham or Scott Turow, you will proba-bly enjoy this book. The cinemat-ic chapters are extremely short, often as short as one page. This allows you to pick up the book and read it for a few minutes without getting too lost within it. As some chapters begin, Hruska sets the scene as if he is writing a screen-play as he describes the location and place in time.
The author tells the story from several different points of view. There are many, many characters to keep up with. Some could have been eliminated with no loss to the story. Some readers may not understand the finer points of law being presented. It is dialogue heavy and light on description.
The editing is solid. But I thought straight-shooter, heroic Alec’s head-over-heels, immediate infatuation with a hardcore drug addict, and his instant willing-ness to forfeit everything of value in his life, to be a little unrealistic.
I thought this visit to the “Mad Men” era was fun. I found the story to be fast-paced and had all the ingredients that make a thrill-er. It had wife-beating, drugs, alcohol addiction, racketeering, mobsters, trial scenes and kill-ings, and it kept me wanting to turn the pages to find out the final outcome. All in all, I enjoyed the read.
– David Beckwith is author of the Will and Betsy Black adven-ture series.
A legal thriller for fans of Grisham, Turow
FRIDAY, June 23Bayside Grille: The Catch 6 to 9 p.m.Boondocks: John Bartus & Storm Watch 7 to 11 p.m.Caribbean Club: The Catch 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.Cheeca Lodge: The Little Things 4 to 6 p.m. Gilberts: Bobbe Brown noon to 4 p.m., Ocean Disco 7 to 11 p.m.Hog Heaven: The Little Things 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., DJ 10:30 p.m. to closing.The Hurricane: Simone & The Supercats 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.Island Grill at Snake Creek: Derrick Herring 6 to 9 p.m.Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill: Taylor King Band 6 to 11 p.m.Kiki’s Sand Bar: Roger Jokela 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Looe Key Tiki Bar: Cat 4 7 to 11 p.m.Lorelei: The Carousers 6 to 10 p.m., Magic by Michael Trixx after sunset.Nowhere Bar and Grill: DJ Maja 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Oceanview Lounge: Allan & Luke 7 to 11 p.m.Pilot House: Beatleman 6 to 10 p.m.Postcard Inn: Stereo Underground 8 p.m. to midnight.Safari Lounge: Lady A Blues Band 8 to 11 p.m.Snapper’s: The Outer Band 7 to 10 p.m.Snook’s Bayside: Yishka 6 to 10 p.m.Sparky’s Landing: Karen Weber & The Funkin’ Conchs 6:30 to 10 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 24 Bayside Grille: Steve Venini 6 to 9 p.m.
Boondocks: Jade Storm 7 to 11 p.m.Caribbean Club: Cat Daddies 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.Gilberts: Cutler Stew 1 to 5 p.m., Shane Duncan Band 7 to 11 p.m., Magic with Michael Trixx 8 p.m.Hog Heaven: Taylor King Band 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., DJ 10:30 p.m. to closing.The Hurricane: See Friday listing.Island Grill at Snake Creek: John Mavis 1 to 4 p.m. (beach), Derrick Herring 6 to 9 p.m.Kiki’s Sand Bar: Michelle Dravis 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Looe Key Tiki Bar: Phoenix 7 to 11 p.m. Lorelei: The Dropouts Band 6 to 10 p.m.Nowhere Bar and Grill: See Friday listing. Pilot House: Mike Mitzner 6 to 10 p.m.
Postcard Inn: Brothers of Others 8 p.m. to midnight.Snapper’s: See Friday listing.Snook’s Bayside: The Freddies noon to 4 p.m., Ashba 6 to 10 p.m.Sparky’s Landing: High Tide 6:30 to 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 25Bayside Grille: The Outer Band 6 to 9 p.m. Boondocks: Island Kissed Country 6 to 10 p.m.Gilberts: The Regs 1 to 6 p.m.Hog Heaven: John Cuilla Acoustic 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.Island Grill at Mandalay: Jam Nite with Kenny Channels 6 to 10 p.m.Island Grill at Snake Creek: Kenny
Channels 1 to 4 p.m., Steel Drums (beach) 1 to 4 p.m.Kiki’s Sand Bar: Emily Springsteen 4 to 7 p.m.Looe Key Tiki Bar: Paul Kercher 6 to 10 p.m. Lorelei: TBA noon to 4 p.m., Webb & Davidson 6 to 10 p.m.Nowhere Bar and Grill: Karaoke 5 to 9 p.m.Postcard Inn: Klass 1 Band 1 to 6 p.m. Snapper’s: Live Jazz by Frank Carmelitano 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Catfish 5 to 9 p.m.Snook’s Bayside: The Sweetwater Band noon to 4 p.m., Steel Drums by Sir Cedrik 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.Sunset Grille: Chris Case Duo 6 to 9 p.m.
live entertainmentL O C A L B A N D A N D V O C A L I S T P E R F O R M A N C E S
BY DAVID BECKWITHFree Press Contributor
CONTRIBUTED
The Marathon Garden Club Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to two graduating Marathon High School seniors: Alyssa Turner and Mackenzie Helms. Turner, class salutatorian, has been accepted at Florida State University with a major in environmental science. Helms, president of National Honor Society, also has been accepted into FSU’s environmental science program. From left Turner, garden club’s Barbara Wright and Helms.
CONTRIBUTED
The SALT Gallery at 830 Fleming Street in Key West is hosting an exhibit of two dozen images by National Geographic photog-rapher Don Kincaid. A filmmaker and photographer for more than 40 years, Kincaid’s images document the marine habitat of the Florida Keys and the heyday of treasure-hunting. For more information, call 305-517-6088 or visit saltgallerykeywest.com.
Tinashay Cunningham is enter-ing the fourth grade at Stanley Switlik Elementary School in the fall, and she is one of the standout participants of the Marathon Public Library’s 2017 ‘Build a Better World’ summer reading program, according to the coordinators. In her first week of summer vacation, she completed more than seven hours of reading. In this photo, she is holding up a log that shows the time she spent reading. For more information about the pro-gram, call 305-743-5156.
CONTRIBUTED
Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 3B
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things to do
does. He was all self-taught, he said.
During the 1990s, after a stint in the Navy, he became one of the founding members of an Alabama-based group called the Watermelon Creek Band. They recorded one album before disbanding. Then in 2003, he started touring with Stone. That lasted a decade before he decided to hang his traveling hat up.
Barnett, on the other hand, grew up playing instruments from a very young age. At age 5, he was playing the piano. At age 9, the guitar. At 12, the flute. At 14, the violin.
“I immediately took to the violin learning Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix songs,” Barnett said.
During the ‘80s, Barnett played a barrage of instru-ments for several groups in his hometown of Binghamton, N.Y. In the ‘90s, he played with art-ist Hollywood Joe for Woodstock’s 25th Reunion Tour.
“There is nothing like see-ing over 50,000 people as you play the fiddle,” Barnett said.
Barnett took a break from performing for a few
years and worked behind the scenes with production. He eventually returned to his fiddle in 2006 and made his way to the Keys in 2011, where the local circuit, like in his hometown, beckoned to him.
Hall doesn’t hide the fact that Fiddle Rock is a cover band, but he doesn’t think that defines them.
When asked what sets the group apart from other local acts, Hall didn’t hesi-tate, saying it’s Barnett’s fid-dle — somewhat unique in the Keys — combined with his electric guitar. He added that many musicians here lean toward acoustic shows and that can produce a lot of similar material.
“You won’t get any sunset music from us,” Hall said. “We always come to rock
out.”Fiddle Rock plays week-
ly at four locations: 8 p.m. Monday at the Hurricane, 4650 Overseas Highway; 6 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Grille, 7 Knights Key Blvd.; 6 p.m. Friday at Havana Jack’s, 401 E. Ocean Drive; and 7 p.m. Sunday at Dockside Grill, 35 Sombrero Blvd.
Aside from those gigs, they perform at 7 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Looe Key Tiki Bar, 27340 Overseas Highway, and can also been seen on occasion at the Safari Lounge, 73814 Overseas Highway.
For more information on the band including book-ing, visit fiddlerock.com or find them on Facebook.
DuoContinued from page 1B
CONTRIBUTED
Barnett, above, and Hall, right, perform during a past concert.
KEY WEST — Those interested in learning more about their own per-sonal historic objects and how to preserve them are invited to “Trash or Treasure?” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front Street. Admission is free.
Key West Art & Historical Society curator Cori Convertito, Monroe County Public Library archivist Breana Sowers and Key West artist and architectural historian Sharon
Wells will provide tips on how to best catalog and preserve important per-sonal items for future generations.
The society will present examples from its own permanent collection, samples of archival-grade storage materials, archive and museum cat-alogs for perusal, handouts relating to digitizing photograph and paper collections, and information about collecting oral histories.
“Examples of objects that people are encouraged to bring to ‘Trash
or Treasure’ include family photo-graphs and albums, family bibles or books, local artwork, important fam-ily documents, documents relating to Florida Keys history and 3-D items such as textiles, jewelry, tableware and sculptures,” Convertito said.
The session comes with free muse-um entry for participants, parking behind the museum and refresh-ments. For more information, call Convertito at 305-295-6616, ext. 112 or visit kwahs.org.
Are your items trash or treasure?
CONTRIBUTED
Those with collectables and the desire to learn more about them and how to preserve them are invited to attend the Key West Art & Historical Society’s ‘Trash or Treasure?’ event on Saturday, June 24.
MARATHON — The Marathon Public Library will pres-ent the film, “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” starring Helen Mirren and produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, as part of its free June Cinematheque series, “The Joy of Cooking”
For more information, call 305-743-5156. The library is at 3251 Overseas Highway.
Art on display
KEY LARGO — The Key Largo Library’s community room walls have a rotating display of works by local artists.
Space will be available again starting Aug. 1. Artists can display their works for 30 days. Artists who have not dis-played yet will get preference. An agreement must be filled out and is available at the library’s front desk.
History presentation
ISLAMORADA — Upper Keys historian Jerry Wilkinson will host a new monthly history program at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Coral Isles Church, mile marker 90, oceanside.
The June 27 program will include a screening of the movie, “AeroJet-Dade,” about the AeroJet Corp.’s $10 mil-lion solid rocket engine facility in the eastern Everglades in the 1960s.
Writers to meet
KEY LARGO — The monthly gathering of the Latitude 25 Writers will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Key Largo Library community room, mile marker 101.4, oceanside.
For more information, call Steve Gibbs at 305-451-4164.
Cooking-themed films continue
4B • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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COMING SOONThe Mummy (PG-13)
If you know the location of this week’s Free Press Mystery
Photo, call 305-853-7277, starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. If
you are the first caller with the correct identification, you will
receive one free lunch at Sharkey’s Pub & Galley Restaurant,
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mysteryPHOTO
LAST WEEK’S PHOTO:
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WINNER: No winner
coming soon: Transformers: The Last Knight (PG-13, Action/Adventure and Sci-Fi/Fantasy) - Optimus Prime is gone, and humans and Transformers are at war. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden his-tory of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager, an English lord and an Oxford professor.
now showing: Rough Night (R, Comedy) - Five best friends from college reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most.
All Eyez on Me (R, Drama and Biopic) - This film chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, con-troversial time at Death Row Records. Against insur-mountable odds, Shakur rose to become a cultural icon whose career and persona both continue to grow long after his passing.
Cars 3 (G, Family, Action/Adventure and Animation) - Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legend-ary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns.
The Mummy (PG-13, Action/Adventure and Horror/Suspense) - Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the desert, an ancient queen (Sofia Boutella) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millen-nia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
Wonder Woman (PG-13, Action/Adventure and Sci-Fi/Fantasy) - Raised on the mythical island of Themyscira and trained by Amazonian warriors, a young woman named Diana fulfills a destiny long ago bestowed on her by the gods when her home and the world at large are threat-ened.
Information courtesy of movieinsider.com
future releases:
The House Baby Driver
at the movies …I N T H E K E Y S & S O U T H F L O R I D A
Despicable Me 3
dvd releasesP I C K O F T H E W E E K
Life (R, Thriller, Horror and Sci-Fi/Fantasy) - On the International Space Station, the crew has received a biological sample from Mars that may be the first proof of extraterrestrial life, which could completely revolu-tionize science. But the sample proves to be intelligent and dangerous. Soon the astronauts are racing to save themselves, and the Earth, from lethal consequences.
outdoors
In this series, we’ve discussed how Alligator Reef, Indian
Key, Carysfort Reef, Garden Cove, Looe Key, Pickles Reef and Molasses Reef got their names. If you read those articles, you’d know that locations depicted were typically named for historic events — some of them tragic (shipwrecks, Indian raids, etc.). This week we’ll be going over a
What’s in a Florida Keys name, Part 3BY BOB MUHLYSpecial to the Free Press
few more locations, but on the lighter side.
El Radabob Key is located on the eastern edge of Largo Sound, within the boundaries of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In 1774, El Radabob was initial-ly called Sound Point because it was thought to be the true location of Cape Florida, also known as Sound Point. Later, it became an agricultural set-tlement and was renamed Julia’s Island. The name El Radabob was created from the Radford Crane fami-ly, who owned the island when John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was designated in 1960. When Radford Crane donated a significant amount of land to the park, it included the island, which was renamed El Radabob, using parts of the names of the children: Ellen, Radford Jr., David and Bob.
Lake Surprise, one of the more amusing names in the Florida Keys, was not so humorous to those who discovered the lake. It is one of the first bodies of water traversed by the
Overseas Highway, just past Jewfish Creek. It truly is a lake, contained entirely within the island of Key Largo. Its discovery was a tremendous surprise when encountered by construc-tion crews building Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway. Since the body of water had not appeared on preliminary surveys of Key Largo, it presented one of the earliest obstacles for the project. When the crews attempted to fill in a causeway for the railroad, rather than build a bridge, the fill material simply dis-appeared. After 15 months of arduous work, Lake Surprise was eventually conquered.
In 1849, F. H. Gerdes,
who first surveyed the Keys and wrote “Reconnaissance of the Florida Reef and all the Keys,” reported that the island between Summerland Key and Little Pine Island was called “No Name Key.” Despite Spanish efforts to name all the Keys under their control, this island went unnamed. It is a relatively small island of approxi-mately 1,140 acres, approx-imately 1 mile wide and 2 miles long. Comparatively, its neighbor to the west, Big Pine Key, has about 5,800 acres. In 1870, there were only 22 houses, with 16 of them occupied, when the census enumerator passed through the Lower Keys. Although housing and population counts have increased since then, it is still one of the “best kept secret” locations in the Keys.
If your interest is peaked, Florida State Parks include much of the history of the Florida Keys. Learn more about the stories behind the names and plan your trip by visiting floridastate-parks.org.
Bob Muhly is a park ranger at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Nature’s Corner
What do the Galapagos Islands and
the Florida Keys have in common beside birds that don’t fly away when we walk amidst them? Both have swimming iguanas and the native wild sage or Lantana involucrata. I don’t know how lantana got to the Galapagos, but the birds find the puce drupe of berries irresistible, so maybe the seeds flew to the South American islands in the belly of a migrating bird.
Lantana is a shrub 4 to 8 feet in height and the same in width. It has willow-like, wooden, densely branched stems and rough bark. Lantana means “flexible,” referring to its bendable branches. It grows along sunny hammock edges, pine rocklands and coastal thickets. Wildlife uses its thick cover to hide. Like all the native plants, it likes nutrient-poor, well-drained soil and is drought-, wind- and salt-tolerant.
It is also called wild sage because its rough, ellipsoi-dal leaves smell like sage when they are crushed. The leaves are added to baths to ease heat rash and insect bites. That soothing quality made them useful for the old-time itches of chicken pox and measles. A calming tea is also made from the leaves.
The white inflorescence is a small group of five-lobed flowers with yellow or pink centers. Each flower is approximately a quar-ter-inch across. They bloom year-round, often at the same time that fruit forms. Every butterfly found in the Keys stops by for a slurp of sweet nectar.
The gardener will be well rewarded for planting this hearty shrub. Watching the butterflies is a form of backyard meditation. When
someone asks, “What are you doing?” You can idly reply, “I’m observing the butterflies.” Insects choose which flower to eat from by sensing the ultimate read-iness of the nectar. When the nectar is forming it has a negative electrical output. When it is ripe and ready to eat the signal turns from negative to positive. Insects have the ability to detect that electrical change.
The small fruit forms in drupes and creates a splashy puce accent on the inconspicuous bush. Every seed-eating bird flocks to imbibe on the appealing juices. However, the fruit is poisonous to humans so don’t follow their lead and eat it.
Involucrata describes clustered flowers protected by bracts. That is a compli-cated explanation for a very
small flower. Gardeners can see the bracts around the forming fruit.
Wild sage can be propa-gated from green stem cut-tings or seed. Mash the fruit on a paper towel until the small seeds are released. Let the paper towel dry. Soak the seeds overnight and plant the next day.
Folk medicine used it for cough control, congestion, vomiting and to break fevers. The leaves also were used in cooking. Its oil is used in cosmetics and liquors.
The gardener uses it as a screen, buffer or a hedge. If put in the garden, it is sure to attract a plethora of insects, butterflies, small wildlife and birds to revel in its abundance.
Key West Master Gardener Robin Robinson was a columnist for the Chicago Daily News and syndicated with Princeton Features. Her books are “Plants of Paradise” and “Roots, Rocks and Rain: Native Trees of the Florida Keys.”
All the world’s a sageBY ROBIN ROBINSONKey West Garden Club
ROBIN ROBINSON/Contributed
Lantana is a native shrub that attracts wildlife.
ROBIN ROBINSON/Contributed
Lantana berries are covered with the remaining flower calyx.
ROBIN ROBINSON/Contributed
The flowers cluster together to form bright lights among the dark green leaves.
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tions with her elementary students. The bird center’s education outreach coordi-nator, Jordan Budnik, went to visit the children to teach them about wild birds and what the center does to help them.
To better demonstrate, she brought with her a mer-lin falcon that is a resident at the center.
“The kids really loved it,” Budnik said.
She’ll be working with the Reef Environmental Education Center’s summer camps throughout July to teach children there about birds. She said which bird
she will bring with her depends on its mood that day, though Nikki, the mili-tary macaw, is a likely can-didate. It is Budnik’s person-al bird and both Budnik and Nikki are new additions to the center.
TripAdvisor lists the Tavernier-based bird cen-ter as the fifth most popu-lar attraction in the Florida Keys and has awarded it with a certificate of excel-lence.
Without pausing to observe each bird’s behav-ior, a walkthrough of the center will take about 20 minutes. Those wishing to linger should consider wearing mosquito repel-lant.
The Laura Quinn Wild
HavenContinued from page 1B
ISLAMORADA — The Matecumbe Historical Trust will present the “29 Points of Interest” Historical Trolley Tours on Saturday, June 24, starting at the Islamorada Moose Lodge, 81573 Old Highway.
The hourly tours begin at 10 a.m. Tickets, which may be purchased on site, are $15. Children ages 6 and under are admitted free. A staffed tent will provide information, ticket purchase, books, T-shirts, historic photographs and memorabilia for sale.
For more information or reservations, contact Barbara Edgar at 305-393-0940.
Free library events
KEY LARGO — The Key Largo Public Library is offering a wide range of free events for children ages 6 and up along with its regular summer reading program.
Children need to be registered for the events which take place Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Children do not have to attend the events to participate in the reading program. They do need to pick up a reading log and keep track of their hours. Each time they turn in a completed log, they will win a prize.
The library is located at Tradewinds Plaza, 101485 Overseas Highway. For more information, call 305-451-2396.
Historical trolley tours
Bird Sanctuary is located at 93600 Overseas Highway. Cash donations can be made in a secured box or through a donation station credit card kiosk. For more information, visit keep-themflying.org or find them on Facebook.
THERESA JAVA/Free Press
Rehabilitating birds are kept in cages at the sanctuary.
KEY WEST — More than 120 stocky, bearded men are to gather on the island Ernest Hemingway called home to emulate the author’s appearance and larger-than-life character during Sloppy Joe’s 37th annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest.
Spectators can cheer for their favorite competi-tors during nightly rounds Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 22, at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. The 201 Duval St. saloon was a frequent hang-
out for Hemingway, who lived in Key West for nearly a decade in the 1930s.
The look-alike contest is a highlight of the island’s annual Hemingway Days celebration. Set for July 18 to 23, the festival salutes the writing talent, sporting pur-suits and colorful lifestyle of the American author who was Key West’s most famous literary resident.
Look-alike hopefuls come from around the United States to enter the contest. They typically compete
wearing safari gear or wool fishermen’s turtlenecks, apparel identified with the author in his older years, and attempt to copy the “Papa” persona eventually adopted by Hemingway.
Preliminary rounds are set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, and Friday, July 21, with the finals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The contest is judged by a group of former winners including 2016’s Dave Hemingway, who is not related to Ernest.
Look-alikes also take
center stage at Sloppy Joe’s “Running of the Bulls,” a spoof of the renowned annual event in Pamplona, Spain. More a parade than a fast-paced sporting chal-lenge, the event features mock bulls and begins at 1 p.m. Saturday outside Sloppy Joe’s.
Also scheduled is a Wednesday evening “meet and greet” where contes-tants and their fans can mingle with former win-ners, and a “birthday party” onstage at Sloppy Joe’s on
the 118th anniversary of Hemingway’s July 21 birth. In addition, the look-alikes are to announce the recip-
ients of the Hemingway Look-Alike Society’s annu-al scholarships for Florida Keys students.
Many aspiring “Ernests” attempt to prove their strength in Sloppy Joe’s final festival event, an annual arm-wrestling champion-ship. Registration and a bloody mary gathering are set for 10 a.m. Sunday, July 23, with the contest follow-ing at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit sloppyjoes.com.
‘Ernest’ attempts to be a look-alike
TDC
Hemingway look-alikes com-pete in 2015.
6B • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
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sports & recreationMARATHON — Armando Alvarez, who was
born in Marathon at Fisherman’s Hospital and raised in Key West, remains undefeated in his boxing career after winning a recent fight in Beniana Del Boxeo in Trinidad, Bolivia.
Alvarez holds the World Boxing Council Latino welterweight title with a 16-0 record. He successfully defended the title when he defeated Jonathan Ramirez with a third round knockout on May 28.
Alvarez now lives in Homestead and trains full-time as a professional boxer. He is ranked 33rd in the world in the welterweight division at 147 pounds by the World Boxing Council.
One of Alvarez’s teammates, super bantam-weight Alexei Collada, also won that night in Bolivia with a knockout of Walter Rojas to extend his record to 22-2.
SOUTH FLORIDA
Local boxer wins in Bolivia
CONTRIBUTED
Armando Alvarez, left, celebrates with teammate Alexei Collado after winning his fight in Bolivia and remaining the World Boxing Council Latino welterweight champion.
MARATHON
CONTRIBUTED
Several players on coach Adam Keaton and coach Mike Dunn’s team were ready to show off their skills on the first night of Summer Soccer last week at Marathon Community Park. The program runs all summer at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Registration is still open for ages 4 to 10. Call the Marathon Parks and Recreation office for more information at 305-743-6598.
UPPER KEYS — With the Coral Shores High School baseball team opening the 2017 campaign on a 10-0 streak, Jose Lima’s senior season seemed to be going better than he could have expected.
Holding a 4-0 record through those first 10 games, the Hurricanes’ pitcher seemed to have his team on track to claim the South Florida Baseball Conference championship and potentially garner a spot in the 4A state tournament.
Down the stretch of the season, Lima continued to do everything in his ability to help his squad pick up victories, finishing the season with a 7-2 record on the mound to go along with a Florida Keys-best 2.54 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 46 innings of work that included three shutout performances.
At the plate Lima was just as dominant, batting a team-high .421 on the season (second best in the Keys) and picking up 24 hits and 21 RBIs, with five doubles and a triple, en route to becoming The Key West Citizen’s All-Monroe County Baseball Player of the Year.
It would still not be enough as injuries, illnesses and internal team issues kept the Hurricanes from reaching Lima’s goal this season of winning the SFBC crown.
“This season was good individ-
ually for me, but it wasn’t good as a team,” Lima said. “I had fun, but, in the end, the team chemis-try just wasn’t there. I really want-ed to win and get that conference championship, and losing like that just puts a dimmer on it.”
After beginning the season on a 10-game win streak, Coral Shores’ first loss of the season came against District 8-4A rival and state-ranked Westminster Christian, and Lima said the wheels came off for the Hurricanes at that point of the season.
“We started pointing fingers and it just started piling on from there,” he said. “By the end of the season, we had Jake [Curry] injured, Aiden [Hawkins] was sick for the playoffs, other guys didn’t show up, and we were just out-manned.”
Even though Lima was unable to drive his team to victory, his talent did not go unnoticed, in part because his mother set up a website for Lima and he drew attention from D-1 schools like Milwaukee and Alabama, where
he had an offer to red shirt as a walk-on freshman.
“There was a scout [from Alabama] at one of the games his summer ball coach was at and they got to talking about Jose,” Coral Shores coach Jorge Bosque said. “It was also when he had a really, really good game, and at the end of the season, they offered him an opportunity to come out and walk on. So he has a lot going on.”
Despite that opportunity in Alabama, Lima’s parents decided
it would be best if he remains in Florida for his college years. So instead, he had a showcase for Florida International University recently and another is planned later this summer at the University of Central Florida. If a scholarship arises from either of those work-outs, then Lima said he will cer-tainly attend the college. If not, he will be heading to Inspirational Baseball Academy in Tampa.
“It’s a one-year thing to get you on the right path,” Lima said about the academy. “A lot of the kids that go there end up going to a D-1 school, and my dad really wants me to stay in Florida, so that’s what we are going to do.
“I want something that is going to help me in the future,” he added. “I also want to go some-where where I like the academics and it’s not all just focused on baseball. I have to like where I’m at.”
All this, of course, is in hopes of accomplishing his ultimate dream of playing baseball profes-sionally, a goal he could still reach — unlike his last one of winning a SFBC championship that he was unable to complete in his final season in the green and gold.
“That’s my dream and I’m going to go hard every day and see if it’s possible,” Lima said. “I’m going to take baseball as far as I can go with it.”
Lima did all he could to power HurricanesBY J.W. COOKEFree Press Staff
KATHY LANCASTER/Contributed
Jose Lima makes the tag on a Marathon High School base runner in this file photo.
FLORIDA KEYS — After stellar seasons for the Key West and Marathon High
School softball teams, two players from each school were named to the 2017 Miracle Sports All-State Softball teams.
Lady Conchs’ shortstop
Four softball players from Keys tapped for All-StateBY RON COOKEFree Press Staff
Ashley Grimanelis was cho-sen as first team All-State for Class 5A, while team-mate and The Key West Citizen’s All-Monroe Player of the Year Kendell Snow was picked for second team Class 5A.
Marathon’s Becca Boucher and Cecily Ozbun were selected second team All-State for Class 3A.
Last season, Marathon had two players named first team All-State. Dolphins coach Kevin Freeman said
it was an honor to add two more players to that list.
Boucher, a junior during the season, took over the catching duties last year for the Lady Fins. This year she was behind the plate for Ozbun, an eighth-grad-er, who went 11-4 over the season. Boucher caught 23 of the 25 games the Lady Fins played. She struck out only three times and had a .412 batting average.
Ozbun was the youngest player on the second team
All-State squad. She led Marathon to a 20-win sea-son with 11 victories and a 3.14 ERA in 73.2 innings pitched. She gave up just 58 hits and 43 walks with 84 Ks. She also batted .527 with 29 RBIs and struck out just nine times with five hom-ers.
“If you look back over the season both of those girls were an integral part of our success,” Freeman said. “We would not have been where we were if not for those two. What a great honor for them.”
One of five infielders named for the first team, Grimanelis had an .872 fielding percentage on 78
chances, 48 putouts and six double plays. She had an on-base average of .479, with six strikeouts.
Snow led the Lady Conchs to a 19-5 record going 11-4 with a 2.35 earned run aver-age over 98.1 innings.
“I think it has been a while since we had a girl named to the All-State team,” Key West coach Jason Garcia said. “It means a lot to our program to have two girls chosen and we’re looking for more. The girls need to put the work in over the summer to get bigger, faster, stronger to keep the tradition going.”
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MARATHON — The Marathon High School athletic program has received the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship award from the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Marathon was chosen from all of the Florida high schools in the Class 4A division for its “dedication and commitment to sportsmanship” as evidenced by the behavior of its ath-letes, fans and administration.
As part of the award, Marathon High School will receive $2,500 and a plaque to be displayed at the school.
MARATHON
School wins FHSAA award
CONTRIBUTED
The Fighting Manatees team of Islamorada, comprised of Jon Olsen, Eliza Colmes, Beth Kaminstein, Tom Strobel, Rob Dixon and Larry Herlth came in first place in their division in the June 10 Coast Guard-sanctioned Swim Around Key West. Another Fighting Manatees team, comprised of Travis Yednak, Mark Coleman, Tracy Holstein, Rosie Sanchez, Nelson Sanchez and Chris Wilson came in fourth in their division. Sarah Kirschner of Islamorada, who swam 12.5 miles solo, came in first in her division.
ISLAMORADA
Owen Hritz, my buddy Mike Leonard’s grand-
son, came to town recently. Owen is a 15-year-old from Ohio. Last year, Owen came to visit and Mike and I took him offshore. He had a blast. We ran all the way out to the Marathon Hump. Owen was mesmerized just by the fact that we were so
far off-shore. I can tell how a person is going to handle an off-shore trip when we first get too
far from shore to see land. You can see it in their eyes. Either they are happily electrified by the thought of being out there in the “unknown” depths of Davey Jones’ Locker, or they are nervous and uncomfortable. Owen loved every minute of it.
We fished the Hump and caught a mess of blackfins. When Mike and I wore down from fighting the always uncooperative tunas, we decided to keep Owen on the rod. “Hey, get that one, Owen,” Mike would yell. And then, “Hey Owen, get this one, too.” It’s always good to have a young guy on board. The older I get, the more I believe that. I’m surprised that I even said that out loud.
So, this year, when Owen walked over to say hello after just arriving at his grandfather’s house, I had
to smile. Owen had grown since I last saw him. In fact, Owen had really grown.
He’s taller than me now and outweighs me by an easy 20 pounds. “I can’t believe how much you’ve grown,” I said. “I can see how big you are, but are you strong too?” Mike broke in and said, “He is very strong.” I smiled again. It’s good to have a young guy on board, but it is even better to have a young, strong guy on board, I thought to myself. “My goal for today is to wear you out, Owen,” I joked. “Go for it,” he replied.
The next morning, we boarded the EP-2, pushed the remote boat-lift button and lowered the EP-2 into the tranquil canal behind the house. We headed for open water and started final preparations. Frozen baits were placed in water to defrost, the downrigger was attached to its base, the GPS trip calculator
was reset to zero, and the rods and reels for the first trolling spread were put in the appropriate rod hold-ers. Now we had instant offshore fishing — just add water. Deep water. Deep saltwater.
We navigated the no-wake zones. We were psyched to start fishing. We engaged in nervous chat-ter waiting until we could throttle up and head for open water. I love the sense of anticipation and urgency that fills the EP-2 in the early mornings as we head offshore. Owen’s eyes were glued to the water. The morning sun was losing its color and we felt its ener-gizing heat working its way into our skin.
We reached the outer marker, throttled up and I yelped, “I love this stuff!” This is the very early moment in all my fishing ventures when I first leave the restraints of land and work. My heart rate climbs and my mind becomes totally focused on only the task at hand — to find and capture our finned quarry. Mike and Owen share my passion for the ocean. They stood side by side, looking out through the windshield and dreaming about the events ahead.
We stopped two or three times to examine piec-es of floating debris that turned out not to hold any mahi-mahi or other large fish. The Marathon Hump was programmed into the GPS and when we got within about 4 miles of our destination, we saw two birds cartwheeling close to the ocean surface. “Battle stations,” I bellowed. Mike took the wheel. Owen and I started deploying trolling
Young Owen fishes on EP-2 for second timeBY C.J. GEOTIS Fishing Columnist
lines. “Mike, let me know when we get close to those birds,” I called out. “We’re close to those birds,” Mike yelled. With all four pre-arranged lines out, Owen and I returned to the helm, stood next to Mike and pre-pared to do battle.
“Nice job helping to get those lines out, Owen.” I said. “No problem ... FISH ON!” Owen yelled out mid-sentence. “It’s about time, sorry it took so
long,” I spit out the “fake” apology. Owen jumped to the screeching reel. Mike slowed the boat and Owen started deftly lifting, drop-ping and reeling, lifting, dropping and reeling. “I see you didn’t forget how to do that,” I said. Rightfully ignoring me, he kept his concentration on the feisty, flailing fish. A pulsating electric-blue mahi broke the surface and headed skyward. Shards of glisten-
ing saltwater littered the air and fell, pelting the top of the endless Atlantic Ocean. Owen drew the fish closer to the boat. Slowly and gen-tly he prodded the reluc-tant quarry toward us.
Mike and I looked for other mahi that might be following the hooked fish. We threw several pieces of cut bait behind the boat. We saw nothing. “Maybe
CONTRIBUTED
Owen Hritz, 15, of Ohio, caught this mahi-mahi with his grand-father aboard columnist C.J. Geotis’ boat.
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Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 9B
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horoscopesKEY
JUNE 21 – JUNE 28
GEMINI – MAY 22/JUN 21The last few weeks have been good for you, Gemini. Others have had the chance to see what you are capable of accomplishing, and your confidence and ego are soaring as a result.
CANCER – JUN 22/JUL 22Cancer, you may be called on to host family or friends and will have to arrange all of those details. Recognize your strengths and delegate what you can’t handle.
LEO – JUL 23/AUG 23Leo, if you have been hesitant about being in the spotlight, times are about to change. There are no more excuses this week. Dive head first into everything.
VIRGO – AUG 24/SEPT 22It’s time to pull your head out of the clouds and get back to business, Virgo. The real world is beckoning, so get your mind straight and return to form.
LIBRA – SEPT 23/OCT 23Libra, when speaking with others, take a more serious tone than you are used to. You don’t want to come off as if this is just a big joke. Something important is happening.
SCORPIO – OCT 24/NOV 22Consider listening rather than gossiping about others, Scorpio. Sit back and enjoy the conversation as it unfolds around you. You might be surprised by what you hear.
SAGITTARIUS – NOV 23/DEC 21People around you may seem extra passionate about their beliefs this week, Sagittarius. But you can still take things lightly if those same fires are not stoked in you.
CAPRICORN – DEC 22/JAN 20This week you may pick up some skills you never thought possible, Capricorn. It may be computer-related, or you may even begin to learn a foreign language.
AQUARIUS – JAN 21/FEB 18Aquarius, you may finally arrive at a destination only to discover you really didn’t want to go to this place after all. Sometimes, you learn through discovery.
PISCES – FEB 19/MAR 20Pisces, get outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible. The great outdoors can provide a welcome respite from the daily grind.
ARIES – MAR 21/APR 20You may find yourself easily annoyed this week, Aries. Surround yourself with positive people so you’re not pulled into the doldrums. You will snap out of this funk.
TAURUS – APR 21/MAY 21Taurus, when others call on you to police a situation, you might be stuck between doing the right thing and taking the side of a friend. Do your best to remain impartial.
crossword
KEY
ACROSS 1 “All ___ are off!” 5 First-rate 9 Coaster 13 ___ vera 14 Deadly snake 15 A fisherman may spin one 16 Table accessory 18 Brook 19 Armageddon 20 Beldam 21 Compunction 23 “The Open Window” writer 24 “My boy” 25 Computer artist 33 Abnormal respiratory sound 34 Casting need 35 “Much ___ About Nothing” 36 Auditory 37 Kid 39 Cornstarch brand 40 Top secret? 41 Grimace 42 Philosopher William of ___ 43 Not helpful 47 ___ grass
48 Camp beds 49 Error 53 Female sheep 54 Marienbad, for one 57 ... 58 Plot 61 Balcony section 62 Buttinsky 63 “B.C.” cartoonist 64 Bow 65 Spanish appetizer 66 Also known as a levee
DOWN 1 Bottom 2 Brio 3 “I ___ you!” 4 Undertake, with “out” 5 Calamitous 6 Common deciduous tree 7 Dock 8 Under pressure 9 Undiluted 10 Den 11 Building additions 12 Drop 14 Uniform shade
17 Persian potentates 22 Churn 23 Particular, for short 25 Adult 26 4:1, e.g. 27 Adjust, in a way 28 Washer and ____ 29 Moray, e.g. 30 Slang for narcotics agent 31 First name in mystery 32 Spacious 37 State of being despised
38 QB’s cry 39 “Hamlet” has five 41 Alternative to a fence 42 Exterior 44 Baby 45 Summer cooler 46 Shady spot 49 Draw out 50 “Pumping ___” 51 ___ lily 52 Legal prefix 54 Cut down 55 Skate ____ 56 A chip, maybe 59 Bit of a draft 60 High degree
s&r continued
we should boat this fish right away,” Mike said. “That’ll be Owen’s first mahi-mahi of the day.” We all agreed that seemed like a good idea. Taking no
chances, we gaffed the fish and brought her onboard. The three of us whooped and hollered. We all man hugged and high-fived. The mahi was submerged in ice and we returned to fishing.
We fished the area for a while and then turned back toward the Marathon
Hump. All three of us expected the Hump to be a sure thing. Sadly, the only consistent thing about fishing is inconsistency. For only the second time in my life we could not locate a fish on the Hump. There were no birds, no surface-breaking tunas, no bent rods on neighbor-ing boats. As we passed close by other boats we all shrugged our shoul-ders to each other. This is the universal language of fishermen meaning we are having no luck.
After an hour of fruitless trolling over and around the Hump, I decided to head out deeper.
I had been calling out, and showing Owen our depth on the GPS chart-plotter. His eyes spar-kled as I called out steadily higher numbers. “OK, Owen,” I called out, “You have now been to 1,000 feet of water in the middle of the ocean.” He came to the helm and looked at the GPS. “Do you think you are the only person in your class that has been in 1,000 feet of water?” I asked. “Probably,” he answered.
Surprisingly, we found no fish in the deeper water. We run-and-gunned 30 miles back to shore, stopping every now and then, but we still found no fish. We were all very happy that we boated the only hook-up of the day. We all had same-day mahi for dinner. I was very pleased that Owen had a great day. He is welcome on my boat anytime. He worked hard in the cock-pit. He learned a lot and he gained new memories that will last his lifetime. And, bottom line, as usual, life is good in the Florida Keys; life is very good in the Florida Keys.
C.J. Geotis is a life-long fisherman who followed his dream 15 years ago to live in the Florida Keys. His book, “Florida Keys Fish Stories,” is available at amazon.com. He lives in Marathon with his wife, Loretta, and her Coca-Cola collection. His email is [email protected].
GeotisContinued from page 7B
ISLAMORADA — When the weigh scales closed at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10, Islamorada Capt. Justin Matson, skippering the Islamorada Beer Co. boat, had led his anglers to victory in the fifth annual Ladies Dolphin Tournament.
Rebecca Brito of Tavernier landed a tournament-record dol-phin fish weighing 45.6 pounds.
Overall, she and teammates Jen Brito of Tavernier, Stephanie Harper of Islamorada and Julia Lozano of Key Largo, scored a winning three-fish tally of 86.6 pounds.
First-place tiaras and trophies as well as $3,000 in cash were awarded. Rebecca Brito earned an additional $1,000 and a dolphin pendant custom crafted by a Keys
jeweler for her record dolphin.Team Bali Hai, captained by
Islamorada’s Brooks Gregory, took second place and $1,500 for a combined 62.8 pounds of dolphin. Anglers Julie Landau of Tavernier and Amie Smith and Jennifer Alexander of Islamorada weighed in a large dolphin of 40 pounds plus a 12.8- and a 10-pounder.
Caribsea’s Casey Spaulding and Conan Yates led anglers Jessica Ellis, Tracy McCandless and Lita Russo, all from Islamorada, to third place and $1,000 with fish weighing 21.4, 21.3 and 13 pounds for a total of 55.7 pounds.
Twelve-year-old Peyton Zuloaga of Stuart caught an 18.5-pound fish to earn the junior angler title and her own tiara. Zuloaga fished
aboard the Contagious with Capt. Brian Cone of Islamorada.
Organizers reported that 83 anglers aboard 37 boats compet-ed in the annual day of fishing that helps Florida Keys Elks Lodge charities.
The tournament was headquar-tered at Florida Keys Elks Lodge 1872, mile marker 92.5 bayside.
Ladies dolphin event winners land tournament record
CONTRIBUTED
The Islamorada Beer Co. boat led its anglers to victory in the fifth annual Ladies Dolphin Tournament. Rebecca Brito, right, landed a tournament-record-setting dolphin fish weighing 45.6 pounds. Overall, she and teammates Jen Brito of Tavernier, Stephanie Harper of Islamorada and Julia Lozano of Key Largo, cored a winning three-fish tally of 86.6 pounds.
10B • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
EXPERIENCED FORKLIFT DRIVERFull-time; benefits.
Valid Driver’s License andGood Communication Skills Required
Drug-Free WorkplaceWeekends and Holidays RequiredPick up application at MM 90.8
5038
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OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Only if you have a proven record as a
positive, extremely reliable, self-starter capable of interacting with and supporting a wide range of individuals and diverse job requirements. Strong computer knowledge
and competency required.
Full Time Position.
Please email resume to [email protected]
Reference #1288 in email 503925
PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANTSunday, Monday, Tuesday
Responsibilities include general office work, answering phones, and customer service, focused on calling out boat launches and confirming such launches are made. Good communications skills and proper phone etiquette a must. Should be computer literate. Knowledge of QuickBooks will be a real plus.
5039
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GENERAL MAINTENANCEDaily maintenance of marina grounds.
Knowledge of basic plumbing and electrical work a plus.
Pick up application at 90800 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier.
TELLERS, Full-timein Marathon & Key Largo
TELLERS, Full and Part-timein Islamorada
We are looking for experienced, friendly, outgoing applicants with excellent customer service skills to assist customers in handling transactions. Must be flexible and able to work Saturdays. Teller experience and/or excellent customer service skills required.
To apply, please go to www.my100bank.com, then click Careers
or contact [email protected]/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disabled
Centennial Bank is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protect veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
5039
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Patch Man (Gelcoat Repair) & Boat Painters
Needed98640 Overseas Hwy MM98 • Oceanside
305.852.1300512917
Busy Key Largo Dive Center has immediate openings for
Boat CaptainsExperience Required. Paid per trip plus
Call 305-834-4001Send résumé to [email protected] 51
2923
ISLAND VILLA CONSTRUCTIONNow Hiring Full Time,
experienced Carpenters, Painters, and Plumbers.
Please Call to Apply: (305) 664-8900
5038
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY UPPER KEYS RESTORE ASSISTANT MANAGER
Habitat is seeking an organized multi-tasker to work
36 hours a week as a ReStore Assistant Manager.
Great hours, good pay, relaxed work environment.
Some retail experience preferred.
Call Jack at 305-453-0050 to pick up an application.
5129
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Full time A/C Tech’s,
Installers, Helpers needed
305-852-4555 5039
16
IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS!We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Email resumes to [email protected] can also apply here:
https://recruiting.adp.com/srccar/public/RTI.home?d=Cheeca-External&c=1066841
For food and beverage positions, candidates with at least 1 year of fine dining experience will be considered competitive candidates. 503926
• Room Attendant• Turndown Attendant• Sales Administrative
Assistant• Director of eCommerce and
Marketing Communications• Reservations Agent• Housekeeping Dispatch AM• Guest Services Operator
• Banquet On-Call Staff• Public Area Attendant• Bellman• Bartender• Steward/Dishwasher• Engineer• Sous Chef• Retail Attendant• Concierge
Fulltime HousekeeperSe esta buscando una persona dinamica que nos pueda ayudar con la limpieza de las habitaciones del Hotel. La persona a aplicar debe poder subir y bajar escaleras, tener una comunicacion basica de ingles es de gran ayuda. Se ofrece un minimo de 40 horas semanales, con posibles beneficios de Retiro Privado (401K) y vacaciones pagas.
Por favor los interesados deberan buscar y completer la solicitud de empleo en la recepcion del hotel Creekside Inn Islamorada, MM90.6 Old Hwy. 503935
Join the Keys Top Name
in Boating!
Accepting applications for the following:
EXPERIENCED MARINA
FORKLIFTOPERATOR
Excellent BenefitsApply in person
MM 81.5, Islamorada or email resume to
DFWP 503940
Line Cook AM & PMApply In Person.
Hungry Tarpon Restaurant MM77.5 Islamorada
503934
MECHANICS HELPERValid Driver’s License & VehicleMust Pass Background Check
Call 305.451.1864 Ask for Greg or Carl
5129
5651
2962
Immediate Openings for Customer Relations/Sales
& Marketing StaffCome to work with a busy and exciting dive center here in the heart of the Dive Capital! Duties include checking-in guests, answering phones, taking reservations, invoicing, and equipment sales. Computer and scuba diving experience are required. This is a salaried position which includes profit sharing and sales commission.
Send résumé to [email protected]
Part/Full Time
Medical Assistant position available
Call Alex @ 305-529-9901 512967
Two Oceans Digital is seeking a Project Manager for our Tavernier Office. Ideal candidate is energetic, proficient in Microsoft Office, has exceptional organization and communication skills and is self-motivated.
The Project Manager is responsible for managing multiple client accounts while adhering to strict campaign deadlines. This position is multi-faceted, with the ideal candidate being able to effectively manage their time while working on multiple projects in different stages.
Core Responsibilities:• Collaborate and communicate with our team of
Account Managers, Designers and Developers to ensure client expectations and deadlines are met.
• Maintain relationships with our diverse client base through day to day communication via phone, email and other methods.
• Additional duties include light office responsibilities.
Additional Information:$15/hour plus benefits to start with growth opportunities. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9-5. Join our team and learn all about Internet marketing!
Send resumes to: [email protected]
510062
000ANNOUNCEMENTS
100SERVICES
200EMPLOYMENT
300MERCHANDISE
400RENTALS
500REAL ESTATE
600TRANSPORTATION
AUTOS/
WEDNESDAY FREE PRESS: NOON MONDAYFOR LINE ADS ONLY
CALL SABRINA AT 305-292-7777 EXT. 208MON-FRI 8AM-3PM
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERSIn case of errors, please check your ad the first day it appears.
In the event of an error, we are responsible for the first incorrect insertion of an ad. The Citizen does not assume responsibility for
any reason beyond the cost of the ad itself.
CANCELLATIONSAll word rates are placement fees and non-refundable
(for frequency days canceled). Ads may be removed frompublication with placement fee remaining.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORSMonroe County requires that Contractors that advertise must include
their permanent certificate of competency number. If you havequestions concerning requirements, please call the Monroe County
Building Department at (305) 292-4491.
0010 Public Notice
NOTICE TOADVERTISERS
In case of errors,please check your adthe first day it ap-pears. In the event ofan error, we are re-sponsible for the firstincorrect insertion ofan ad. The Citizendoes not assume re-sponsibility for any
0010 Public Notice
reason beyond thecost of the ad itself.
CANCELLATIONSAll word ad rates areplacement fees andnon-refundable (forfrequency days can-celed). Ads may beremoved from public-ation with placementfee remaining.
0010 Public Notice
CHANGESOnce an ad has beenplaced only accept-able minor changescan be made to thead.
0220 Help Wanted Lower Keys
A-PLUS ROOFINGExperience Roofers
Wanted. Will train. Payequal to experience
level. Apply 8am-Noon Monday - Friday
5686 Maloney Ave.305-296-2568.
ExperiencedVeterinarianTechnician/
Tech AssistantPart time, available
Saturday's. Physicalwork involved. Email
resume [email protected]
or stop in at 1456Kennedy Drive,
Key West.
Armored CarDriver/Messenger
Par-time Must possessor able to obtain "D"Security Guard & "G"Firearm License. For
more information.Call 305-797-2791.
Electricians andExperienced
Helpers WantedWork available in KeyWest, Marathon and
Tavernier. Call:305-292-3369
Start Immediately.
0220 Help Wanted Lower Keys
EXPERIENCEPAINTERS WANTEDMust be able to lift and
work with extensionladders up to 28 ft. Nodrugs or alcohol. Call
305-304-2930.
Full-time PhysicalTherapist
Director of PhysicalTherapy needed for
busy Key Westpractice.
email or fax resume [email protected]
305-296-2209.
JourneymanPlumbers andExperienced
Apprentice NeededImmediate
employment.Top wages and
benefits! 305-296-6013or apply in person at6409 2nd Terrace.
Key West Hammocksis looking for great
Sales people. Hourlypay plus commission.
You should bemotivated, proactive .
Will train the rightperson. Apply in
person before Noon at719 Duval St.
Maintenance PositionGalleon Resort is hiring
a maintenance tech.Experience in
plumbing, electricaland A/C at least 5
years experience inthese fields. Militarywelcome to apply.
Must be able to workweekends and eveningshifts (3) 1-9 and (2) 8-4. Full benefit packageavailable. Please applyin person at 617 Front
Street.
MONROECOUNTY BOCCSenior Plumber,
Corrections FacilitiesKey West
High School Diplomaor GED 5 to 7 years
0220 Help Wanted Lower Keys
minimum amount ofprior related work with
Monroe Countyexperience. Primary
function to repair,maintain and performall tasks associated
with installing plumbingfacilities in all countybuildings, includingBradley Electronic
Plumbing fixtures at theMonroe County
Detention Facility. Maybe required to provide
disaster assistanceduring time of
emergency in anycapacity deemed
appropriate. Salarydepends on
qualifications. Pleasecontact John Lewinskihr@monroecounty-flgov
or apply atwww.monroecounty-flgovVeterans preference
available, EOE.
As Mount Sinaicontinues to grow,
so does our legacy ofcaring. We are lookingfor top talent to join our
Key West team.This facility has
exciting openings for:*Practice Manager*Medical Assistant*Registered NurseQualified candidatesplease send resume
to:brenda.salazarreyes@
msmc.comWe offer a competitive
benefits package.Learn more at:
www.msmc.com
OFFICE ASSISTANT(Full Time – 40 hours
per week)The Monroe CountyTourist DevelopmentCouncil (TDC) has animmediate opening for
a full-time OfficeAssistant to support the
Administrative, Salesand Finance staff. This
0220 Help Wanted Lower Keys
person should haveexperience in Microsoft
Office, specificexperience with
Microsoft Access willbe an advantage; haveexcellent organizationsskills; be able to multi-task; enjoy answeringphone calls; enteringdata into a data base;
be available to assist atscheduled meetingsthroughout the Keys
when required.Successful candidatesshould be prepared to
take a typing test.Previous applicantsshould not reapply.
Starting Salarycommensurate with
experience andincludes excellentbenefit package.Email resume to
[email protected] phone calls please.
Sales AssociatesDion C-Stores is
currently acceptingapplications for both
full and part-time for allshifts at our Key West
locations andIslamorada. Applicantsmust be able to worknights and weekendsand have 1 - 2 yearprevious retail. All
interested candidatescan stop by any Dion’s
or send resume [email protected]
EOE/ DFW/ M/D/V.
The Pier HouseIs hiring smiling faces
for the followingpositions:
*Spa Receptionist*Engineer II*Engineer I*Painter II,
*PT PM Line CookTemporary on callNight Auditor (with
previous experience)Please come to HR
located at 1 Duval St.and complete anapplication. EOE
Overseas LumberSupply Is Now
AcceptingApplications For TheFollowing Positions:
YARD WORKERSAND DRIVERS.
Driver applicant musthave a valid Class B
CDL License. Applicantmust be able to
load/unload buildingmaterials and workdaily outside. This
position is full-time withcompetitive pay and
benefits.RETAIL SALES
Applicant must bedependable, have a
neat, clean appearanceand be customerservice oriented.
Experience in lumber
0220 Help Wanted Lower Keys
and building materialshardware and paint aplus. Position is full-time with competitive
pay and benefits.Please apply inperson at 30251
Overseas Hwy, BigPine Key. EOE.
0230 Help Wanted Middle Keys
Stuck In The WrongJob, At Last, Your
Search Is Over! ComeWork For HDR/ICAAs A Maintenance
TechnicianDue to the closing
of the Big Pine RoadPrison, HDR/ICA, anAsset MaintenanceCompany, now has
several exciting entrylevel opportunities foryou to join our teamworking out of ourMarathon officemaintaining the
Florida Departmentof Transportation’sassets throughoutthe Florida Keys
as a MaintenanceTechnician. We are
looking for applicantsliving in the Florida
Keys from Key Westto Key Largo withexperience in the
construction and/orlandscaping trades andclean driving records to
fill these positions.We are an Employee
Owned Companyoffering a competitive
salary starting at$16/hr. based on
experience, medical,dental and vision
insurance, 401k withemployer matching,paid holidays, sick
leave, vacation and lifeinsurance. All positions
are full-time with aMonday-Fridayworkweek and
overtime/weekendsas required. All toolsand equipment areprovided. If you are
interested in workingfor a worldwide
company that has aproven track record
and has been inbusiness for over 100
years with greatopportunities for
advancementplease apply at
www.hdrinc.com/careersselect “Search for aJob”, and enter the
following job number:144673. Please call
Michelle Lee305-289-4360 or [email protected]
HDR is an EqualOpportunity Employer
and a Drug FreeWorkplace.
0240 Help Wanted Upper Keys
CIL OF THE KEYSAccounting Position
Must have knowledgeof Quick Books Pro,
Xcel. Must pass a level5 backgroundscreening. Fax
or email resume305-453-3488,
LICENSE CAPTAINWANTED
Part-time and fill inoff season, full-timepossible in season.
Must be fulltimeresident in the Key
Largo area. CallCaptain Sterling305-395-0033.
PART-TIMEAccounts Receivable
Position$15.00 per hour
UPPER KEYS SeriousInquiries Only
Please email resume [email protected]
SHELL WORLDKEY LARGO
Seeking engaging,dependable,
experienced person(s)to work with the team
has Part and Full time,the Mile Marker 106
has Part-timeopportunities available,
some weekend andevening hours.
Opportunities foradvancement, greatbenefits, competitive
salary and flexiblehours. Please stop byand fill out application
or Fax resume to305-451-9798.
0332 Yard Sales Upper Keys
YARD SALESat. June 24th.
8-noon.No Early Birds!
Lots of Teak. Lots ofhousehold goods
Moving Sale.
0416 Furn. Condos Lower Keys
SMATHERS BEACH1 & 2 Bedroom fullyfurnished condos
on 8 acres of gatedseclusion, 2 pools &tennis courts. All youneed are clothes and
groceries. Available for6 to 9 month leases.Monthly rates range
from $1,600 to $1,850.Some Utilities included.Gale Shepard, Broker
305-294-6069
KEY WEST REALTY2/2 Solana Village.
Large private yard &hot tub. No pets.
$2,400/mo. $4,800security deposit.
Pictures & more atKeyWestRealty.com
305-294-7368.
0417 Unfurn. Condos Lower Keys
2BR/2BA NEWLYRENOVATED
Salt Ponds Condo.Private cover parking,
storage unit, W/D,D/W, pool, tennis
courts. $2,200 monthplus utilities, F/L/S, 1or 2 year lease. Sorry
no pets. 305-304-8947.
0420 Condos Upper Keys
Furnished 2/2 MM87$1,800/mo. Oceanside,
pool, pier,laundry.No pets.
305-852-5337.
0428 Unfurnished Apts. Lower Keys
AT HOME INKEY WEST, INCYearly & MonthlyRentals Available
AthomeKeyWest.com305-296-6996
Mid-Flagler1BR/1BA with
AC, W/D, $1,800 mo.Incl. elec., water,
sewer. F/L/S305-304-2986.
0432 Unfurnished Apts Upper Keys
MM95 1 Bedroomincludes water and
sewer. F/L/S$950 a month
Call 305-731-0109.
0440 Unfurn. Houses Lower Keys
3Br/2BA Big PineW/D, A/C, fenced yard,
includes appliances.$1,800 mo., F/L/S.
305-304-2986.
KEYSNEWS.COM
KEYSWIDE CLASSIFIED Florida Keys Free Press • June 21, 2017 • 11B
512448
SERVICEDIRECTORY
Advertise Today! Call 305.292.7777 ext. 204 • [email protected]
Complete MaintenanceI like to keep my
customers satisfied with my work!
Call for a FREE Estimate
305-394-2430FULLY INSURED
No. 011A00003965
CHAGO LAWN MAINTENANCE
SERVICE
5128
02
5038
25
Marine Repair & RiggingDockside Service
Waverunners & Jetboats
Henry Panse
305-852-4320 orCell: 305-451-7850
503823
JEFF’SCOMPLETE HOME REPAIR305-393-1807
LICENSED & INSUREDARCHITECTURAL WOODWORK
INTERIOR • EXTERIORPLASTER • STUCCO
CEMENT • BRICK & BLOCKSTEEL & ALUMINUM
FABRICATIONSEAMLESS REPAIRS
24-Hour ServiceIslamorada, FL 33036
SP-4180, SP-4183, SP-4187, SP-4185, SP-4181, SP-4182, SP-4184, SP-4186
5038
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Commercial PrintingOn Quality NewsprintTabloids • Booklets • Newsletters • Info Guides
Paul DonnellyCooke Communications
[email protected] • 305-292-7777 Ext.216PROMO
G & S LANDSCAPING
FULL LAWN SERVICE • WEEKLY & BIWEEKLYLicensed & Insured • Residential & Commercial
Locally Owned
Gunter Bloy305-664-1233
Contractor # SP 4017
AUGER SERVICE • BOBCAT SERVICE • EXCAVATOR SERVICEBOULDERS • PEAROCK • SAND
DEBRIS
REMOVAL
503862
FLORIDA KEYS FREE PRESS • KEYSNEWS.COM • THE #1 WEEKLY IN THE KEYS!
CLEANING SERVICES REPAIRS
MARINE SERVICES
LAWN CARE
CONTRACTORS
MAINTENANCE
Sunshine Home Service & Maintenance, Inc.*Doors*Cabinets*Custom Closets*Tile*Painting
*Shutters*Windows & Impacts*Decks & Docks*Pressure Cleaning*Framing & Forming
Licensed & Insured
Gary Lentzwww.sunshinekeys.com • [email protected]/Fax (305)853-0511 Mobile 393-6758
SP2388SP2397
SP2396SP3001
503827
Don’t Waste Your Warranty!
•Yamaha •Mercury •Minn Kota
Factory Authorized Service Appointments this week!305.664.0064
81954 Overseas Highway• Islamorada
www.islamoradaboats.com503917
Tom Domiano President
New Docks • Dock RepairPile Driving • Boat Lifts
Bulk Heads • Basin DredgingBeach Restoration
aCell: 305.923.6338Office: 305.853.2662
5038
63
Lic. no. ENG II 303C
PRINTING
PEST CONTROL
“The Termite Professionals”Roberto (Bob) Lozano
Manager104615 Overseas Hwy #4
Key Largo, FL 33037Key West: 305.294.8770 • Tavernier: 305.852.0099Dade: 305.234.5122 • Key Largo: 305.451.1105
Fax: 305.451.1107Email: [email protected]
• Whitefly Control• Mosquito Control
• Complete Pest Control Service• Lawn & Ornamental Care 512800
Screen RepairStorm Shutters
RescreensNew Screen Rooms
Frame RepairAccordion ShuttersStorm Panels, Etc
FREE ESTIMATES
Bob Eyster: 664-9243
License # SP1993 5039
29
CONTRACTORS
NOW ACCEPTING
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
LICENSED & INSUREDCGC062399 CBC055266 CFC1428220✔✔ ✔
5038
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SEWER CONNECTIONS MCF Construction, Inc
• Completed more Sewer Connections than any other company in the Keys
• Serving the Keys over 30 years• Starts & finishes jobs faster than
any other company• No other company has a better
warranty
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES REQUIRING DEP PERMITS: MCF can provide complete design / build service including
engineering, permitting, & installation.
786-351-0098 [email protected]
w w w . t i k i h u t s . c o m
503918
786-255-1820
Bobcat ServiceHurricane Shutters
RemodelingNew Construction
Lic & Ins. CGC 1511836
5038
64
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5129
37
BIG KAHUNATIKI HUTS
NEW BUILDSTIKI BARS • RETHATCHING
(305) 340-5007FL Contractor Lic. CBC1259971 Insured • Seminole Exemption
PalmHuts.com • Big Kahuna Tiki Huts
KEYSWIDE CLASSIFIED12B • June 21, 2017 • Florida Keys Free Press
2 Bed 2 Bath Clean Modern Upstairs Apt., MM 95
Central Air, Tile, Dishwasher, Washer-Dryer, No Pets, No Smokers, 2 Adults Max,
$1,250 month + utilities F/L/SPlease call 305.394.0411 for more information
5038
80
5039
13
RV SITES FOR RENTMM 113
Daily • Weekly • MonthlyFull Hookup
305.522.6598 5128
05
KEYS WIDE CLASSIFIED
FIND WHATyou’re looking for.you’re looking for.
Advertise your House for Salein the Keyswide Classifi eds
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0440 Unfurn. Houses Lower Keys 0444 Unfurn. Houses
Upper Keys
2/2, MM 103 BaysideDouble lot, W/D.
$1,700/mo. F/L/S.Call Kristen
305-451-4100
0451 Mobile Home/ RV Sites
RV LOTS FOR RENTMM 81.6 Bayside
IslamoradaDock space available.
305-393-3377.
0534 Commercial Property
2 Story Bar &Restaurant Front &
Simonton corner.524 Front/UpstairsLease office spacesfrom $650 to $5,750.
Conch HarborRetail Center
2 left! 1,200 & 115 sfAll Major KW
Shopping Centers1,400 sf to 6,500 sf.Claude Gardner Jr
305-766-3133Will Langley305-394-9020
Keysrealestate.com#1 in KEY WEST
Sold over $1 Billion
0534 Commercial Property
330 Julia St. Pricenow $2,650,000.
Mix-use 2 res units &gallery space.
718-720 CarolineHistoric seaport area
retail shops.1,281 sf & 1,331 sf.Profitable Duval StBusiness. Licensedto sell cigars, beer,wine, carryout food.Claude Gardner Jr
305-766-3133Will Langley305-394-9020
Keysrealestate.com#1 in KEY WEST
Sold over $1 Billion
0662 Power Boats
30 ft Private DiveBoat
350 Crusader engine,200 hrs. 6 tank racks,
dive ladder, diveplatform. electric
anchor puller.Appointment only.$6500. Bad health
must sell.305-393-0234
SELL YOUR BOAT
KEYSWIDE CLASSIFIEDS305.292.7777
KeyswideClassifi eds305-292-7777
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