This week’s edition of Snoqualmie Valley Record celebrates what’s Best in the Valley, as voted by our loyal digital and print readers.
Since 2004, Valley residents have picked their top local businesses, public servants, educators — and their favorite people, along with places to shop, eat and play. When we recently conducted the online poll, we had nearly 800 local residents cast a total of 7,785 votes for their favorite businesses, services and public officials in the Valley and more.
As many businesses are still struggling during these challenging times, I hesitated in unveiling the contest results. But as I connected with more and more local retailers about the popular contest, I was inspired by their great feedback and comments to keep the event going.
The Best of the Valley is one of the more popular initiatives that we do, and with reason. The online poll gives residents the opportunity to make their picks in nearly 60 categories, which is a fun opportunity for bragging rights from a cheerful showdown among local businesses. It’s also a good snapshot of our community and its movers and shakers.
The Best of the Valley is also a way to gauge buzz for the best non-profit, the best Valley event, the best volunteer, firefighter, national treasure, police officer and city employee. Public servants and business people with a lot of friends, family and local connections also typically get a good showing, but newcomers and that hidden Valley treasure — both business or person — can often shine too!
In addition to the top three or four vote-getters, I was impressed by the depth and breadth of votes cast for many other businesses in each category. You all have a strong following of happy and loyal customers!
In the following months, we’ll be spotlighting the people behind the Best of the Valley businesses and share their goals, lessons and philosophies that keep them going and their customers smiling. How did your favorites do?
If you are interested in thanking our Valley readers in our print or digital advertising venues, please feel free to drop me a line.
BEST OF THE VALLEY 2021 RESULTS
Business category
Financial Services
Sno Falls Credit Union – Winner
Chase Bank – Finalist
Umpqua Bank – Finalist
Hauglie Insurance Agency – Finalist
–
Handyman
Handy in the Valley – Winner
Mr. K’s Construction – Finalist
Tim Westerlund – Finalist
–
Hardware/Home & Garden
North Bend Ace Hardware – Winner
Carmichael’s Hardware – Finalist
Allscapes NW – Finalist
–
Home-based business
Forever Allure – Winner
Salon 13 – Finalist
Allscapes NW – Finalist
–
Insurance
Tennyson Jacobson Agency – Winner
Hauglie Insurance Agency – Finalist
Jeff Warren Agency – Finalist
–
Real Estate Agent
Daniel Skagen – Winner
Kelli Berlin – Finalist
Hailey Miller – Finalist
–
Retailer
Birches Habitat – Winner
North Bend Ace Hardware – Finalist
QFC North Bend – Finalist
Down to Earth Flowers and Gifts – Finalist
–
Storage
Ole Cedar Mill Storage – Winner
Cascade Heating & Storage – Finalist
Snoqualmie Ridge Storage – Finalist
–
Tax Services
Brown and Sterling – Winner
Krona & Krona – Finalist
Gold Creek CPA – Finalist
–
Unique Gifts
Birches Habitat – Winner
DT Vintage – Finalist
Carousel Favorites – Finalist
–
Children’s Activity
Ignite Dance & Yoga – Winner
Mt. Si Gymnastics – Finalist
KidsBounce – Finalist
–
Golf
Mt. Si Golf Course – Winner
The Club at Snoqualmie – Finalist
Twin Rivers Golf Course – Finalist
Sno Falls Golf Course – Finalist
–
Organization to Join
The Trail Youth – Winner
Moose Lodge – Finalist
100 Women Who Care – Finalist
–
Place for Family Outing
North Bend Farmer’s Market – Winner
Rattlesnake Lake – Finalist
Snoqualmie Falls – Finalist
–
Food/Entertainment Category
Bar
North Bend Bar & Grill – Winner
Iron Duck – Finalist
Mt. Si Pub – Finalist
–
Brunch
Mt. Si Golf Course – Winner
Salish Lodge – Finalist
North Bend Bar & Grill – Finalist
–
Coffee
Huxdotter Coffee – Winner
Starbucks – Finalist
The Trail Youth – Finalist
–
Dessert
The Swirl – Winner
North Bend Bakery – Finalist
Snoqualmie Falls Candy Shoppe – Finalist
–
Hamburger
Scott’s Dairy Freeze – Winner
North Bend Bar & Grill – Finalist
Iron Duck – Finalist
–
Happy Hour
Little Si Rest. & Lounge – Winner
The Attic at Salish Lodge – Finalist
Iron Duck – Finalist
–
International Cuisine
Il Paesano Ristorante – Winner
Caadxi Oaxaca – Finalist
Rio Bravo – Finalist
–
Live Music
Black Dog – Winner
Sigillo Cellars – Finalist
Mt. Si Pub – Finalist
–
Pizza
Frankie’s Pizza – Winner
Mod Pizza (Snoqualmie) – Finalist
Iron Duck – Finalist
–
Restaurant
Il Paesano Ristorante – Winner
North Bend Bar & Grill – Finalist
Caadxi Oaxaca – Finalist
Gianfranco Ristorante Italiano – Finalist
Iron Duck – Finalist
–
Romantic Place
The Attic at Salish Lodge – Winner
Salish Lodge – Finalist
Snoqualmie Falls – Finalist
–
Health category
Chiropractic
Park St. Healing Arts – Winner
Brad Kaasa Chiropractic – Finalist
Snoqualmie Ridge Chiropractic – Finalist
–
Dentist
Mt. Si Family Dentistry – Winner
Dr. Garwood – Finalist
Snoqualmie Falls Dental, Dr. Calderwood – Finalist
–
Doctor
Dr. Doerfler – Winner
Dr. Steele – Finalist
Dr. Aarti Deshpande – Finalist
–
Fitness Venue
Mt. Si Sports and Fitness – Winner
Base Point Fitness – Finalist
Ignite Dance & Yoga – Finalist
–
Licensed Massage Therapist
Heather Ryan, Healing Garden – Winner
Northwest Roots Wellness Center – Finalist
North Bend Therapeutic Massage – Finalist
–
Physical Therapy
Edge Physical Therapy – Winner
Peak Sports & Spine – Finalist
North Bend Physical Therapy – Finalist
–
Living category
Local Farm
Remlinger Farms – Winner
Nursery at Mt. Si – Finalist
Bybee Farms – Finalist
–
Best Park
Si View – Winner
Fisher St. Park (Seahawks Park on Ridge) – Finalist
Tollgate Farm Park – Finalist
–
Favorite Event
North Bend Farmer’s Market – Winner
Festival at Mt. Si – Finalist
North Bend Block Party – Finalist
–
Place of Worship
Snoqualmie Valley Alliance – Winner
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church – Finalist
Cascade Covenant Church – Finalist
–
Place to Work
Encompass – Winner
Frankie’s Pizza – Finalist
Snoqualmie Casino – Finalist
–
Preschool
Mount Si Montessori – Winner
Encompass – Finalist
Little University of Dreams – April Littlejohn – Finalist
–
People category
City Councilor or Mayor
Mary Miller – Winner
Chris Garcia – Finalist
Sean Sundwall – Finalist
–
City Employee
Loraine Neal – Winner
Larry Shaw, North Bend Public Works – Finalist
Kevin Halbert, City of Snoqualmie – Finalist
–
Community Volunteer
Chris Garcia – Winner
Fritz Ribary – Finalist
Jill Massengill – Finalist
–
Firefighter
Kyle Jacobson – Winner
Darby Summers – Finalist
Rocky Martinez – Finalist
–
Grocery or Store Clerk
Kevin Shadow, Bartell’s – Winner
Roger Clevan, North Bend QFC – Finalist
Jeff Lewis, QFC – Finalist
–
Local Non-Profit
The Trail Youth – Winner
Encompass – Finalist
Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank – Finalist
–
Police Officer
Bob Keaton, Snoqualmie PD – Winner
Paul Graham, Snoqualmie PD – Finalist
Robert Robinson – Finalist
–
Store Owner
Chris Garcia – Winner
Gianfranco Bafaro – Finalist
Nancy Wray – Finalist
–
Teacher
Anne Wiseman – Winner
Jennifer Gjurasic – Finalist
Katie Black – Finalist
–
Services category
Auto Services
North Bend Auto Parts – NAPA – Winner
GearHead Garage – Finalist
Model Garage – Finalist
Michael’s Auto Repair – Finalist
–
Hair Salon
Forever Allure – Winner
Hair Ink – Finalist
Studio 13 – Cheyenne LittleJohn-Fay – Finalist
–
Law Firm
Brown and Sterling – Winner
Pierson Law Firm – Finalist
Tom Watson Law Firm – Finalist
Kelly Burdette – Burdette Law – Finalist
–
Nail Salon
Nice Nails – Winner
Envy Nails – Finalist
Tip Top Nails – Finalist
–
Pet Grooming
Dirty Doggone – Winner
Mt. Si Pet Salon – Finalist
Snoqualmie Pet Parlor – Finalist
–
Photographer
Mary Miller – Winner
Don Detrick – Finalist
Tiffany Rosendahl – Finalist
–
Senior Health Care Center
Mt. Si Senior Center – Winner
Red Oak Senior Center – Finalist
Regency North Bend – Finalist
–
Service Station
Crescent Market at Snoqualmie Casino – Winner
North Bend Shell at North Bend Way – Finalist
TA Travel Center at North Bend – Finalist
–
Veterinarian
Dr. Mike Treuting – Winner
Salish Vet Hospital – Finalist
Dr. Taylor, North Bend Animal Clinic – Finalist
