HOST OF NEW CATEGORIES & WINNERS HIGHLIGHT 2022 BEST OF MARATHON

By
Alex Rickert
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Best Specialty Contractor: Paver Dave Paver Dave secures the win with the inaugural Best Specialty Contractor award. Pictured are Tudi Carlson, left, Mark Keller, Dave Keller, John Keller and John Keller Jr.

You asked, we listened. If we’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s that Marathon residents are extremely passionate about what should – or shouldn’t – constitute a separate category for our city’s annual awards. While the 2021 Best of Marathon awards were distinguished by a staggering number of first-time winners – 28, to be exact – the 2022 iteration of the ceremony saw 11 new categories added at the suggestion of our staff and readers. There’s nothing like winning your first BOM award, or being the first to christen a new category, so without further ado, here are your “new kids on the block.”

NEW CATEGORIES

Best Lender: Keys Federal Credit Union The Keys Federal Credit Union team of Avani George, left, Desiree Perez, Charmel Taylor, Dave Peck and Maggie Sayer ended the night as the year’s Best Lender.
Best Server: Billy Blasingame Billy Blasingame, right, celebrates his Best Server win with Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House owner Maria Ely.
Best Catering: Heather MacDonald ‘Chef Heather’ MacDonald brings the flavor straight to you as 2022’s Best Catering.
Best Volunteer: Megan Hughes Megan Hughes is dressed for the part as her work with Forgotten Felines earns her the inaugural Best Volunteer award.
Best Health & Fitness Coach: Cara O’Neill 2022’s Best Health and Fitness Coach Cara O’Neill will get you in shape in a hurry.
Best Vacation Rental Company: Florida Keys Vacation Rentals Antonette Verna, left, Brian Schmitt and Jessica Borracino of Florida Keys Vacation Rentals earn the first ever crown as the Best Vacation Rental Company.
Best Specialty Contractor: Paver Dave Paver Dave secures the win with the inaugural Best Specialty Contractor award. Pictured are Tudi Carlson, left, Mark Keller, Dave Keller, John Keller and John Keller Jr.
Best Material/Supply Shop: Specialty Hardware Though the store may have passed hands from former owner Pam Daniels, right, to Eric Guzman, Specialty Hardware is still Marathon’s Best Material/Supply Shop.
Best Nail Spa: Marathon Nail Spa Sherry Alana, left, and Lily Loeung accept the first ever Best Nail Spa award on behalf of Marathon Nail Spa.
Best Cook Your Catch: Lazy Days South
Best Burger: Burdines Waterfront

FIRST-TIME WINNERS

Best Place to Have a Wedding: Sunset Park (KCB) Looking to get hitched? Head over to Key Colony Beach’s Sunset Park for the best spot in town. Pictured are KCB commissioners Beth Ramsay-Vickrey, left, and Ron Sutton, right, as they accept the award with city administrator David Turner.
Best Family Owned Business: Marathon Bagel Co. Dan Halladay, left, Samantha Kratzert, Cynthia Paglio-Minni and Michael Minni celebrate Marathon Bagel Co.’s first win as the Best Family Owned Business.
Best Fishing Guide: Blue Magic Charters Blue Magic Charters – represented by Amanda Costantino, left, Nick Caruso, Steve Steenstra, Quinlyn Haddon, Alex Bell and Stacy Caba – is chosen as Marathon’s best option for a fishing trip in 2022.
Best Pizza & Best New Business: Coast to Coast Pizza Company Coast to Coast Pizza Company burst onto the scene and made the most of its first Best of Marathon awards, taking home wins as 2022’s Best Pizza and Best New Business. Pictured are Omar Maldonado, left, Anthony Ludovici-DeBrigida, Nicole Maldonado and Adam Kane.
Keys Weekly was proud to share in the celebration as longtime bartender Shannon Gosselin of Keys Fisheries was posthumously honored as 2022’s Best Bartender. Gosselin tragically passed away in December 2021 after a prolonged battle with cancer, eventually leading fellow Keys Fisheries bartender Rachel Bowman to recruit drink slingers from across the island in a campaign to commemorate a cherished community member gone too soon. Pictured accepting the award for Shannon are her longtime boyfriend Bill Alch, left, and Keys Fisheries bartender Lauren Barbush.
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.

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