To Market We Go | Up The Alley, Down The Street
Our Local Meteorologist
On a typical day {what are those anymore?!} Rick Dickert travels to a local airport and begins his workday in an office 1000 feet above us. His office is the SkyFOX helicopter where he reports the weather, traffic and breaking news for FOX 11 Morning News and Good Day LA. as an Emmy winning meteorologist. Pretty sweet, huh?! He is currently grounded, working from home, like the rest of us stiffs. But that hasn’t kept him from sharing his positivity and highlighting our first responders. I follow him on Instagram and love watching his stories where he focuses on these heroes, but also mentions local, small businesses that so desperately need our help to survive right now. I reached out to him to solicit this interview and he immediately responded with, “Absolutely!”
My Q & A With Rick
You are South Bay born and raised. What was it like for you growing up in this community?
I’m so grateful to have been raised in the South Bay. My first home was on Prospect Avenue across the street from the RUHS baseball field. I’ve been fortunate to have called Redondo Beach my home for 46 of my 52 years.
I’ve loved the causal, warm beach vibe my whole life - the bubble that it is and the environment that helped foster all of my interests. From when I was a grom until now, surfing, skateboarding, running and watching the South Bay ocean and atmosphere as a scientist has fulfilled me.
You have an obvious love for the South Bay and have been doing more than your fair share of supporting local businesses. Can you tell us why this is such a priority for you?
I feel so strongly how important it is to support our local businesses. Even in good times, running a profitable mom and pop shop in the South Bay is a challenge. I worry for them and my friends who own or work for these establishments. I know so many can’t help now with the COVID crisis or with the economic uncertainty need to be financially conservative. All I can do it share the need to support them if we are able to.
Please share some of your favorite local businesses and what you love about them.
My go to restaurants - El Gringo, Ragin Cajun, HT Grill (live music), Chart House, Redondo Beach Brew Co, Baleen Kitchen (the view and the music) and of course Old Tony’s on the Pier (parents took me there all the time as a little kid #crowsnest)
Small businesses - Spyder Surf (Dennis shaped the board I learned to surf on and still does), ET Surfboards (that’s where my parents purchased my first board for me when Dennis was a shaper there), Dive N’ Surf (took a snorkeling class there at 10 - love the Meistrell family and all that they have done for the surf and ocean community), Village Runner (my running shoes!), Super Sports (great family owned small business that supports all of the outdoor South Bay activities), Riviera Barbershop (they keep me high and tight always and Norm, the owner, is my high school friend). I could go on and on…
You have been highlighting first responders in your newscasts and giving shoutouts to them on social media. What is a feel good story that you’d like to share?
The highlight of my workday on FOX 11 during these times has been highlighting our first responders. Prior to the pandemic, I created a segment on our morning snow called “Firehouse Friday”. We fly our helicopter over a Southern California fire station and honor them from above for all that they do. We have expanded this segment to include ALL first responders and all the risks they take during these unprecedented times.
And in these stories, watching police and fire come together to honor the medical professionals on the frontlines is so inspiring. The officers and firefighters lining up (6’ apart) to cheer on the doctors and nurses as they show up for work or end their 12-14+ hour shifts. Wow! We run from fires, threats and stay safe at home from COVID while these heroes run straight at it. We can’t say enough or do enough to honor these brave women and men who are putting their own health and lives at risk. I’m so proud that we at FOX 11 are showcasing these wonderful humans.
As a public figure, you have a large following on your social media pages. How have you been using these platforms to help people out during this crazy time we are living in?
Social media is becoming the only media for many. With all the streaming services now available for entertainment, more and more people are dropping traditional cable and are getting their news online or from social media. There are days when I likely reach more on my online platforms than I do during my 430am report on FOX 11 And with that, I know how important it is to post useful information and inspiring information. As a scientist I love to share my passion for the ocean and the atmosphere and try to educate when there is a teachable moment. During COVID times, I’ve been honoring our first responders and have been showcasing our local small businesses that need support more than ever. Speaking of which, on my morning run I saw that Mama D’s (my favorite pizza) has some great takeout specials!
What are you doing for yourself to stay sane as we are under stay-at-home orders?
It’s been a challenge like it has for many. I haven’t been able to sit still since I was a kid! But this has been good for me. It forced me to slow down. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in the garage working out, running the alleys and hills of our beach town at least two times a day. At home I’ve been reading a lot more, writing, participating in webinars for professional development and I’m so grateful for Netflix and Tiger King!
Now that you are working from home, what has been the biggest challenge?
I’m so missing my “corner office at 1000” and sharing the views of our beautiful Southern California environment from above. I love flying, showing the sunrise and surf, our mountains and helping people wake up with those scenes from SkyFOX. I miss my colleagues a lot too.
Who or what are you missing the most at this time?
My beautiful daughters (except for an ultra distance hello on Easter). No hang outs or hugs. I miss being up close and personal with my pops and his beautiful gal Jacque. I miss the Riviera on a Friday night. I miss getting on a plane and taking off from LAX and I miss the sand and salt water.
Once we are free to move about, what is the first thing you are going to do?
I’ll be one of the first ones paddling out at Avenue A when this is done 🌊🤙🏽 (I have not been in the water since early March and have not travelled up or down the highway to different counties). Stay safe and home everyone, as hard as it is! We are just a couple of weeks away 🙏🏼
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