*= multiple award recipient
Best Place to People Watch
*Sombrero Beach
Best Place to take the Kids
Aquarium Encounters
Best Event
Seafood Festival
Best Park
*Sombrero Beach
Best Sunset
*Sunset Grille
Best Place to Have a Wedding
Hawks Cay
Best Neighborhood
Behind the Airport
Best Local Celebrity
*John Bartus
Best Non-Profit Organization/Foundation
Habitat for Humanity
Best Place to Take a Date
Butterfly Cafe
Best Band
Stone Crabs
Best Elected Official
*John Bartus
Best Tourist Attraction
Dolphin Research Center
Best Key Lime Pie
Sweet Savannah’s
Best Fish Sandwich
Keys Fisheries
Best Fine Dining
Hideaway Cafe
Best Ethic Food
Frank’s Grill
Best Cup of Coffee
Curly’s
Best Bartender
*Holly (Sparky’s)
Best Happy Hour
*Sparky’s Landing
Best Live Music Venue
*Hurricane
Best Pizza
*Hurricane
Best Margarita
The Island
Best Late Night Spot
*Ale House
Best Breakfast
Stuffed Pig
Best Lunch
Key Colony Inn
Best Bar
*Overseas Lounge
Best Waterfront Dining
Lazy Day’s
Best Overall Restaurant
*Castaway
Best Resort/Hotel
*Hawks Cay
Best Accounting Firm
Bishop and Rosasco
Best Gift Shop
Marooned in Marathon
Best Fishing Guide
Capt. Jack Carlson
Best Dive Shop
Tildens
Best Bait & Tackle Shop
Capt. Hooks
Best Customer Service
Publix
Best New Business
*Overseas Lounge
Best Doctor
Doctor John O’Conner
Best Landscape Company
Gonzalez Landscaping
Best Auto Repair
Andy and Dave’s
Best Family Owned Business
Royal Furniture
Best Photographer
*Maggie Sayer
Best Marina
Hyatt/Faro Blanco
Best Veterinarian
Doctor Mike Dunn of Keys Animal Hospital
Best Salon
Salon Blanco
Best Contractor
Keys Contracting Services
Best Jewelry Store
Midas Touch
Best Clothing Store/Boutique
DK’s Style Hut
Best Place to Work Out
Keys Fitness
Best Pool
*Hawks Cay
Best Law Firm/Lawyer
Thomas Wright
Best Bank
Keys Federal Credit Union
Best Realtor
Brian Schmitt
Best Real Estate Office
American Caribbean
Best Business
D’Asign Source
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Henry Flagler Settler Award
Presented to a resident whose vision and determination has made Marathon a better place to live. (past honorees: Dan Samess, Clyde Burnett, Bernard Spinrad, Hal Leftwich)
Tim O’Connell
Marathon’s late historian Dan Gallagher said in his “Marathon 1906-1950” book that Ernest Hemingway frequented Overseas, a place where local fishermen, lobstermen, and shrimpers spent their off time. A lot can happen in a little town in 79 years. Overseas Pub and Grill, established in 1937, has seen most of it during its arc which included highs and lows. Since purchasing the Overseas in late 2013, owners Tim and Kathy O’Connell say the historic landmark now has all the grandeur it deserves.
Kay Gradick Woman of the Year Award
(past honorees: Charlotte Quinn, Dianne Weitz, Ginger Snead, Deborah MacConaughey, Shelia Cook, Holly Raschein, Sherry Popham)
Maggie Sayer
This year’s Kay Gradick Woman on of the Year Award is no stranger to many of us in this room. She can coach a group of 5 year olds into thinking they have the ball handing skills of LeBron James and the moxie of David Beckam. She has is helping chronicle the growth of our kids through her camera lens. She is a coach, wife, mother, photographer – but mostly importantly a friend to Marathon – and since her name graces most of the trophies in the Kay Gradick Gynmasium, we couldn’t think of a better Woman of the Year recipient than Maggie Sayer.
“I awakened this morning feeling both flattered and humbled at being named the Kay Graddick Woman of the Year at last night’s Best of Marathon awards. To be mentioned in the same breath as Mrs. Graddick is an honor in itself. Among other things, she was a pioneer, a teacher, a coach, and an athlete. As a lifelong member of our community, growing up in Marathon and playing on the first Girl’s Basketball team at MHS, I knew and felt Mrs. Graddick’s impact on local girls’ sports, and will be forever thankful for the road she paved. At last night’s dinner, sitting among locals who regularly volunteer and work toward making our community better, I was reminded again of what a great decision my family made in choosing Marathon as the place to raise our boys.”
Steve Hawes
How many names can you remember? The recipient of this year’s Mike Puto man of the year award knows them all. All of the names of the students at Stanley Switlik elementary school. Not only that, he welcomes each one with a high five and a compliment each morning on their way in to school. I get to witness the impact he has on the kids each day as I walk my own son, Jack to his first grade class. My biggest motivation for being on time is so that Jack can get his high five and I can hear the latest news on the Patriots and Red Sox. He is one of the only people that I know that can wear a Dolphins hat with a Patriots jersey without getting into trouble. His accent sounds like home. It is a great honor to present this year’s man of the year award to Stephen Hawes. Congratulations.
