Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.
BABY CORALS COME HOME FROM FLORIDA AQUARIUM
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, baby corals from the Florida Aquarium have made their way home to waters off the Middle Keys.
In a joint effort to promote reef restoration and combat a stony coral tissue loss disease outbreak that has ravaged Florida’s coral reef tract...
MARATHON ROTARY PARK REBUILD SEEKS VOLUNTEER TEAMS
The old park is closed, the designs are in and the dates are set. It’s time to rebuild Rotary Park.
The build is set for Monday, June 20 through Sunday, June 26. Working with Marathon’s foremost design experts in the classrooms of Stanley Switlik Elementary School in 2021, playground experts...
UPDATED: RUMORS OVER SOCIAL MEDIA OF VIOLENCE AT CORAL SHORES UNSUBSTANTIATED
Escalating rumors of violence between students circulated on social media on Thursday night left the halls of Coral Shores High School largely empty on Friday, May 13.
In a statement eventually released by the school at 2 p.m. on Friday, administrators said they were made aware the day before of...
IN PICTURES: LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL IN MARATHON
The Marathon Youth Club baseball and softball leagues are in full swing at the Marathon Community Park. May 3 brought a battle of often-confused sea creatures as the Dolphins took on the Mahi for supremacy on the diamond in a hard-fought 9-9 tie.
Majors and minors baseball games will continue...
IN PICTURES: MOTHER’S DAY DOLPHIN TOURNEY RAISES $65K FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Tight lines and good times were had by all on May 7 at the 16th annual Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament presented by Keys All Area Roofing. Forty boats carrying 156 anglers headed offshore in the hopes of tipping the scales at the evening weigh-in at Curly’s Coffee and Marina...
IN PICTURES: PRODIGY DANCE CENTER STUDENTS ACE SPRING SHOWCASE
Friends and families filled the Stanley Switlik cafetorium on May 7, eager to watch a host of talented junior dancers in “Small Town, Big Dreams,” Prodigy Dance Center’s recital following its most recent 12-week session of classes. Fifty-two performers from ages 3 to 14 took to the stage for...
FWC ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES FOR 4 KEYS SPECIES
At its meeting on May 3 and 4 in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a number of immediate and potential rule changes for species commonly harvested both recreationally and commercially in the Florida Keys. A rule change for recreationally harvested dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) approved at...
BIZ FEATURE: MARATHON MERMAID CHARTERS TURNED A DREAM INTO CUSTOM-BUILT REALITY
For most, the phrase “do it yourself” might refer to painting a room, doing some light landscaping, or maybe even some minor auto repairs and maintenance.
For Angela Tizzano and John Strama, owners of Marathon Mermaid Charters, DIY means building five 50-foot catamarans from the ground up.
The couple met in...
CONTRACTORS SEEK ANSWERS AS MARATHON PERMITS AGREEMENT NEARS FINISH LINE
Contractors were notably present in Marathon City Hall for the city council’s May 10 meeting, eager for an update on the progress made by the city in its negotiations with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to adopt a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and shorten wait times...
IN PICTURES: COUNTY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE COLDIRON HOSTS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY
Campaign season officially began on April 28 for County Commissioner Michelle Coldiron, who hosted a kickoff party that drew dozens of supporters to Boondocks Grille and Drafthouse. Coldiron is the incumbent and is so far the only candidate for the District 2 seat, which covers from Boca Chica Key...
IN PICTURES: CAREER DAY DELIGHTS SWITLIK ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Career and Truck Day returned to Stanley Switlik Elementary School on April 29. Now in its 46th year, the annual event drew professionals from all ends of Monroe County. From indoor presentations by county officials and restaurant owners to outdoor demonstrations by bus drivers and law enforcement officers, students...
IN PICTURES: AUTISM AWARENESS GOLF TOURNAMENT NETS $20K FOR AUTISM SOCIETY OF THE KEYS
Celebrating the end of World Autism Month, the Florida Keys Country Club played host to the inaugural Light It Up Blue golf tournament to benefit the Autism Society of the Keys (ASK) on April 30. Clear and breezy conditions rewarded golfers from Key Largo to Key West as the...
