The jokes were flying, the drinks were flowing and no elected official was safe as the Keys Weekly and Rotary Club of Marathon welcomed 300 guests to the splendor of Hawks Cay Resort for the 2026 Best of Marathon Awards.
Held to benefit the Rotary Club of Marathon every year since its inception, the annual celebration brought together local business owners, community leaders and residents for a night of well-deserved recognition, fellowship and comedy bits that mercilessly roasted the elected officials and dignitaries brave enough to attend.
Hosts Jason Koler and Alex Rickert began the night with a warning and a promise: “We only roast the ones we love.” From there, it was open season.
But between the punchlines, the evening carried a more meaningful message about the people who make Marathon what it is.
Rotary president Kelly Vaughn Williams highlighted the club’s contributions to the Middle Keys, totaling more than $450,000 from 2021 through 2025. The evening also paid tribute to community pillars Caitrin Piscetello, Ben Daniels and former Marathon mayor Mike Cinque, who passed away this year.
In honor of Piscetello, Rotary pledged $5,000 in seed funding toward a foundation to be established in her name, continuing her legacy of service to the community.
Beyond the awards and tributes, the Sept. 19 gala was a celebration of the businesses, organizations and individuals who give Marathon its character. With plenty of laughs and a shared commitment to giving back, the Best of Marathon once again proved that recognizing the community’s finest can be a whole lot of fun.
