Alex Rickert

Warning coordination meteorologist Jon Rizzo shows off the county Emergency Operations Center’s new state-of-the-art equipment at the building’s grand opening in September. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Overseas Pub and Grill will contend with finding a new crew after a near-complete staff walkout just before New Year’s Eve. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Though a new study shows that many brain and boulder corals survived 2023’s extreme marine heat wave, scorching water temps caused significant partial or complete deaths for several monitored colonies, concentrated at two highly-affected inshore sites. KAREN NEELY/Nova Southeastern University

Just in time for Christmas, members of the Key Colony Beach Fishing and Boating Club embodied the holiday spirit with a series of toy and grocery giveaways on Dec. 20 and 21. Beginning on Friday, supported by donations from club members and others, KCB Mayor Freddie Foster and John Fruhmorgen combined forces to distribute Winn-Dixie gift cards to fund holiday meals for 50 local families at Marathon’s La Niña Restaurant. That same day, the club filled tables with milk and donated toys, given for free to families with children under 12. The following day, Foster and his wife Cheryl, along with Fruhmorgen and Steve Sorbara, paid a visit to local veterans and families in need as well as Keys Area Interdenominational Resources’ food pantry to distribute 30 donated turkeys.

Irish and Scottish tunes floated through the air as kilts in every direction heralded the return of the Florida Keys Celtic Festival on Jan. 11 and 12 at Marathon Community Park. Thunderous drumbeats, feats of strength in the Highland Games, herding dog demonstrations and copious amounts of frothy adult beverages are annual highlights of the […]

Fire Chief James Muro, City Manager George Garrett and the Marathon City Council honor Marathon Fire Rescue veterans Chris Cameron and Joe Forcine for 10 and 20 years of service, respectively, on Jan. 14. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

Folks, we’ve got a full-blown crisis going on in the exercise world. No, I’m not talking about a stampede of newcomers banging down the doors on Jan. 1 because it’s a “new year, new me.” The cool part about living in a small town is you won’t get the hordes you see on the mainland, […]

The Florida State Capitol. State legislators will convene for a 60-day session on March 4. CONTRIBUTED

Already a lightning rod of debate, a homeless encampment on 20th Street in Marathon is the target of a new lawsuit filed last week. MORGAN GOTTI/Contributed

From left, Jackson Snowden, Jazmine Zapata-Lebo, Skylor Willis and Everett Widney of Marathon-based Ruckus Robotics will head to Orlando for the First Lego League’s state meet in early February. CONTRIBUTED