It’s National Mojito Day! 1¢ FREEBEE STAYING ON THE Company unveils plan to transport guests in MOVE Islamorada | P. 4 Nuñez talks legislative wins COMMUNITY and the work ahead | P. 8 CLEANUP Sheriffs, residents pickup garbage in Key Largo | P. 17 Securities oered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services oered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Chapman & Cardwell Capital Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. 2 UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 11, 2019 Independence Day Celebration Founders Park, MM87, Islamorada THANK YOU! SPONSORED BY Upper Keys Rotary Club Tap Johnson Jon & Julie Landau WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU! Rocket Launcher Sponsors Whistling Sponsors Pete & Megan Ihrig Roman Candle Sponsors DeMoss Financial • Centennial Bank • Florida Keys Pediatric & Adolescent Center And thanks also to our vendors, food trucks, and musicians: The Carousers and Leah Sutter. See you next year! www.KeysRotary.org UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 11, 2019 3 Islamorada, Florida Bayfront Estate with Guest House I 1.46 Acres 120’ of Deepwater Dockage Oered at $7,950,000 305.712.8888 | oceanssir.com Each oce is independently owned and operated. 4 ISLAMORADA UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 11, 2019 NUMBER OF THE WEEK ON THE COVER The number of Volkswagen Beetles Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez recently imported to the U.S. in 1968, or 40% of toured the Keys to talk about the production. This week, Volkswagen will issues and re-cap the legislative cease production of the last version of session. Read more about Nuñez’s its Beetle made at a plant in Puebla, take on session on page 8. CON- 91760 Overseas Hwy. Mexico. The car has been in produc- TRIBUTED Tavernier, FL 33070 563,522 Office: 305.363.2957 tion for eight decades, since 1938. www.keysweekly.com Publisher SAVE THE DATE Jason Koler [email protected] Publishing Partner Thursday, July 11 Britt Myers • National Mojito Day [email protected] Editor Thursday, July 11 Jim McCarthy • Marrvelous Pet Rescues Yappy [email protected] Hour from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cheeca Copy Editor Lodge, Islamorada. Mike Howie [email protected] July 12-13 Account Executives • Underwater music festival at Nola Acker Looe Key Reef Resort. [email protected] Ted Fackler Saturday, July 13 [email protected] • Shoreline cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Sea Oats Beach, MM Staff Writers 74. Sara Matthis [email protected] MORE FREEBEE Tuesday, July 16 Sarah Thomas [email protected] Larger vehicles to serve all islands • The Anne McKee Artists fundrais- ing event, African dance and drum JIM McCARTHY workshop at 10:30 a.m. at MARC Office/Circulation Manager [email protected] Charlotte Hruska House, Tavernier. [email protected] idership continues to grow Spiegel said operating gas or with the free, door-to-door hybrid vehicles would cost more July 16-July 21 Production Manager Anneke Patterson Freebee service on Upper than electric with maintenance and • Hemingway Days. See full sched- [email protected] Matecumbe Key. With its gas expenses. Spiegel said they’d ule at keysweekly.com Rsuccess, Islamorada Village Council seek a grant opportunity from the Design / Web Master Florida Department of Transporta- Travis Cready is directing village staff to create a Wednesday, July 17 [email protected] contract with Freebee for two larger tion to fund 50 percent of the cost of • Mothers in Paradise: Moms electric vans to service all islands. the operation for three years. Spiegel Support Group meets from 10 to 11 Design / Pre-Press During council’s June 27 meet- recommended the village look at a.m. at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Javier Reyes ing, Freebee co-founder and manag- service that runs at a minimum 70 conference room, Tavernier. [email protected] ing partner Jason Spiegel provided hours per week. • Immerse Yourself Presentation Irene de Bruijn a brief synopsis of the program “We’re committed to long-term featuring Scott Fowler, of Mariners [email protected] and his recommendation to extend success of the program,” he said. Hospital, on hyperbaric medicine and Freebee to all islands in Islamorada. “We’ll continue to guarantee a sub- dive safety at 7 p.m. at History of Div- Classifieds Anneke Patterson Today, the Miami-based company, sidy of $40,000 per vehicle.” ing Museum, Islamorada. [email protected] with its two electric vehicles, trans- Councilman Ken Davis said he 305.743.0844 ports visitors and locals to and from loves the service, and he thinks it Thursday, July 18 Se habla español hotels, restaurants and other busi- should be expanded to go full-time. • Third Thursday Morada Art Walk THE UPPER KEYS WEEKLY (ISSN nesses. In May, Spiegel said, they “Your service provides safety to at 6 p.m. on Morada Way, Islamorada. 1944-0812) IS PUBLISHED transported 1,300 passengers — the every one in this community, includ- • Village council meeting at 5:30 WEEKLY FOR $125 PER YEAR BY WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS, INC., 9709 second highest ridership seen since ing visitors,” he said. “Taking people p.m. at Founders Park Community OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, MARA- Freebee started out late last year. across the village will be an attrac- Center. THON FL 33050. APPLICATION Spiegel gave council two sce- tion to bring more people to Islamo- TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POST- AGE RATES IS PENDING AT FORT narios: The first entailed two electric rada.” Saturday, July 20 LAUDERDALE FL AND ADDITION- vans providing service on all islands Councilman Jim Mooney shared • PADI Women Dive Day from 10 AL MAILING OFFICES. with one to two of the smaller similar sentiments regarding the a.m. to 5 p.m. at History of Diving Mu- All stories, photos, and graphics are copyrighted vehicles currently operating on Up- service, the numbers and feedback seum, Islamorada. materials. per Matecumbe. The second option from riders. • Lobsterpalooza beginning at 11 detailed just two electric vans on all “I think if you get on it and get a.m. at World Wide Sportsman, Islamo- islands. those vehicles on the road, I think rada. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE “In both scenarios, we believe you’ll be very successful,” Mooney KEYS WEEKLY, 9709 OVERSEAS that operating the system as fully said. July 24-25 HIGHWAY, MARATHON FL 33050. on demand, door-to-door solution The fleet on Upper Matecumbe Lobste Mini Season. would provide the highest level of will continue until the vans come News Deadline service to the area,” Spiegel said. in so there’s no gap in ridership. To see Keyswide events, sign up Tuesday Noon “I’m confident that our service will Spiegel said vans should be arriving for The Weekly’s e-mail at keysweekly. Advertising Deadline continue to provide great benefits to and ready to service all islands by fall com. Tuesday 2 p.m. the village.” or winter. UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / JULY 11, 2019 STATE NEWS 5 SIGNED! BUDGET, NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING AMONG BILLS INKED JIM McCARTHY [email protected] ith legislative session over, a flurry of bills are making their way to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here CYBERSECURITY TASK FORCE Ware a few notable measures that have House Bill 5301, signed by DeSan- been inked recently by the governor. tis on June 25, establishes a cybersecu- rity task force to be chaired by Lt. Gov. Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a transportation bill. CONTRIBUTED Jeanette Nuñez. The task force will bring together law enforcement, infor- mation technology, emergency man- SHARK FISHING agement, legislative and private-sector FROM SHORE partners to research best practices Anglers who and recommend solutions to enhance plan to target Florida’s cybersecurity infrastructure. sharks from shore, “The Florida Cybersecurity Task Force or a bridge, now will bring cutting-edge ideas and best need to take an practices to Florida,” Nuñez said. “I look online class. Upon forward to collaborating with stake- BRIGHTER FUTURE BUDGET completion, they holders to research and recommend A budget totaling $90.9 billion for get a no-cost permit that must be best practices to protect our state’s the 2019-20 fiscal year was signed renewed annually. The class is re- digital footprint.” by the governor in late June. With quired for anglers ages 16 and up; the increased investment for the environ- TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR VETS young anglers don’t need the permit, ment also came funds to support On June 26, DeSantis signed House but must complete the class unless transportation and infrastructure Bill 501 to provide alternative treat- they are fishing with an educated and projects and money that areas hit by ment options for veterans. Specifically, permitted adult. The new law also hurricanes Irma and Michael have legislation creates a $200,000 pilot applies to fishermen in kayaks and been waiting for. Notably, Everglades program that’s focused on treating requires the use of non-offset, non- restoration and initiatives to protect post-traumatic stress and traumatic stainless-steel circle hooks, and the the state’s water resources received brain injuries in veterans using alterna- anglers must have a tool that can cut more than the governor’s $625 million tive therapies. It also expands avail- the leader or hook. ask — $682 million. A total of $2.7 able therapies for eligible veterans to billion is provided for highway con- include accelerated resolution therapy, struction, which includes 125.7 new equine therapy, music therapy, service lane miles to expand transportation animal training therapy and hyperbaric CAREER READINESS & capacity. As for hurricane recovery, the oxygen therapy at registered facilities. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES state is projected to spend $2.9 billion The bill passed unanimously in the DeSantis signed legislation that on preparedness and recovery, $1.1 Senate and House.