IN PICTURES: MARATHON ELKS LODGE HOSTS ANNUAL CASINO NIGHT

From roulette to blackjack and Texas Hold ’Em, Elks Lodge gamblers stacked chips all night in the hopes of claiming one of the evening’s grand prizes. CONTRIBUTED

A second Marathon venue in as many weeks welcomed the vibes of Vegas, as the Marathon Elks Lodge played host to its annual Casino Royale charity fundraiser. With heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a musical backdrop by John Bartus, gamblers tried their luck all night at Sin City’s most popular table games en route to raising nearly $8,000 for local scholarships, youth camps and youth services.

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.