Last week, the Valley Record wrapped up its sixth annual Best of the Valley competition.
The annual poll asks locals to share their top picks for the best local businesses and officials. Each year, Valley residents go to the polls, so to speak, naming their favorite places to shop, dine, recreate, as well as the top civic employees who impact their lives.
This year, more than a thousand ballots came in for the contest, with winners including both familiar, repeat finishers and some folks new to the top spots.
As always, results show that Valley residents are a passionate lot. In order to ensure a more complete contest, this year we asked residents to fill out at least 15 categories. Most folks complied, but some writers were a bit creative in their responses. Some people simply wrote the name of the business they were promoting on each line, time after time. Others simply played the joker. One booster of an insurance office was certain that the agency had the best coffee in the Valley.
Anti-votes
At the Record office, there were more than a few rounds of laughter for the snarky comments, acid remarks and plain anti-votes that some folks filled in. When asked, for example, what the best place to exercise was, one reader responded, “My couch.”
Another reader wrote that his bathroom was the best place to worship.
A couple of readers, when asked to comment on the best public employee or best police officer, let us know with no words wasted that they didn’t there weren’t any. One reader specifically called out a local mayor. That commentator didn’t share what his specific issue was, however.
But for every troll, there were many hundreds of legitimate votes or positive comments. Occasionally, voters would slip in a side comment sharing their appreciation for the people that serve, help and pamper them.
Business support
Humor and sarcasm aside, it is great to see folks taking such an active interest in their local civic and business communities. The Best of the Valley contest inspires businesses to connect with their customers. Sometimes, competitiveness can bring out good things. If everyone from the city council member to the person who makes your coffee knows that, maybe someday, they will be rewarded with public kudos, maybe that will push them to higher heights of service.
Check out our Best of the Valley results in our special pullout of Snoqualmie Valley Living this month. And when you meet the winners, congratulate them on their dedication to a job well done, and continue your support. Everyone there, from the business owners to the teachers and public employees, is clearly connecting with the people they serve and making this Valley a vibrant place to live and work.
• E-mail Snoqualmie Valley Record Editor Seth Truscott at editor@valleyrecord.com.
