Best of the Valley is an annual tradition for the Valley Record. Since 2004, we’ve asked our readers to pick their favorite local businesses and residents in our online poll.
The poll gives residents the opportunity to pick their favorites in over 60 categories, across five groups, including: community, health, professional, restaurant and shopping. Over the years, the poll has become a fun opportunity for bragging rights and a cheerful showdown among local businesses.
In the months that follow, our reporter will highlight the Best of the Valley winners, getting insight on their philosophies, motivations and why they think they are the Best of the Valley.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Photographer
Winner: Mary J. Miller Photography
Finalists: Dan and Cicely Williams; Travis Weatherbee
Professional Services /Storage Facility
Winner: Carnation Storage
Finalists: Snoqualmie Ridge Storage; Ole Cedar Mill Storage
Tax Services
Winner: Krona and Krona
Finalists: Brown and Sterling; H and R Block, North Bend
Home Based Business
Winner: Blue Streak Chocolates
Finalists: Sweet Honey Esthetics; Jessica Lengtis / Studio J
Hair Salon / Spa
Winner: Ageless Esthetics Botox Boutique
Finalists: Forever Allure Salon and Northwest Roots Wellness Center (Tie); Hair Inc.
Pet Grooming
Winner: Dog Valley Grooming
Finalists: Mount Si Pet Grooming; Snoqualmie Valley Pet Parlor
Hardware/ Home and Garden
Winner: Carmichael’s TruValue
Finalists: Westlake Ace Hardware North Bend; Carnation Ace Hardware
Real Estate Agent
Winner: Jonathan Pearlstein JD, Engel & Volkers Snoqualmie Valley & Kelli Berlin, Riverview Realty LLC (A Tie!)
Finalists: Tonya Eliason, Cascade Team Real Estate; Jane Hartwell, Valley Homes and Land
Insurance
Winner: Kevin Hauglie Agency/Farmers Insurance
Finalists: Ken Rustad, State Farm Insurance; Jeff Warren, State Farm Insurance
Professional Services / Law Firm
Winner: Brown and Sterling
Finalists: Gerald A. Sprute Law Office; The Pearson Law Firm, P.S.
Veterinarian/Pet Care
Winner: Salish Veterinary Hospital
Finalists: Snoqualmie Ridge Veterinary Hospital; Dr. Mike Treuting / Treuting Veterinary House Calls
Financial Services
Winner: Kevin Hauglie Agency & Bryan Pitman / Edward Jones (Tie)
Finalists: Chris Bruntz / Edward Jones and Sno-Falls Credit Union (Tie); J and S Accounting Services
Construction/Remodel/Handyman
Winner: Handy In the Valley
Finalists: Mr. K’s Construction; Josh’s Handyman Services LLC
Senior Facility
Winner: Sno-Valley Senior Center, Carnation
Finalists: Mount Si Senior Center, North Bend; Red Oak Residence, North Bend
Auto Services
Winner: Gere Automotive
Finalists: King’s Quality Auto; North Bend Chevrolet Service Department
SHOPPING
Brewery
Winner: Volition Brewing Company
Finalists: Snoqualmie Falls Brewery; No Boat Brewery
New Business
Winner: South Fork
Finalist: Saints and Scholars Irish Pub; Pearl and Stone Winery
Retail Shopping Area
Winner: Historic Downtown Snoqualmie
Finalists: North Bend Premium Outlets; Downtown North Bend
Store Owner or Manager
Winner: Wendy and Brian Thomas at Carmichael’s True Value Hardware
Finalists: Ayla Lukascik, Volition Brewery; Aaron Raff, North Bend Bakery
Antiques
Winner: Wild Hare Antiques
Finalists: The Blue Iris, Carnation; The Vintage Flea in Fall City
Shopping
Winner: Down to Earth Floral in Snoqualmie
Finalists: Carousel in North Bend; Westlake Ace Hardware, North Bend
Grocery Store
Winner: North Bend QFC
Finalists: Snoqualmie Ridge Safeway; Fall City Farmhouse Market
Unique Gifts
Winner: Birches Habitat in North Bend
Finalists: Carousel in Snoqualmie; Down to Earth Floral and Snoqualmie Trading Company (Tie)
RESTAURANTS
Mexican Cuisine
Winner: Rio Bravo
Finalists: Caadxi Oaxaca; Ixtapa (Carnation)
Breakfast
Winner: Mount Si Golf Course
Finalists: North Bend Bar and Grill; Twede’s Cafe
Hamburger
Winner: Scott’s Dairy Freeze
Finalists: The Iron Duck Public House; North Bend Bar and Grill
Asian/Thai Cuisine
Winner: Thai Eatery
Finalists: UnPhogettable; I Luv Teriyaki
Italian Cuisine and Pizza
Winner: Il Paesano Ristorante Italiano
Finalists: Gianfranco Ristorante Italiano; Frankie’s Pizza
Live Music
Winner: Miller’s: A Gathering Place in Carnation
Finalists: Black Dog Arts Cafe; Sigillo Cellars Snoqualmie
Dinner
Winner: North Bend Bar and Grill
Finalists: The Iron Duck Public House in North Bend; Francesco Ristorante Italiano on The Ridge
Coffee Shop/Barista
Winner: Huxdotter Coffee
Finalists: The Trail Youth; Aroma Coffee Co.
Lunch
Winner: North Bend Bar and Grill
Finalists: The Black Dog Arts Cafe; Rio Bravo in North Bend and Rio Bravito in Snoqualmie (Tie)
Happy Hour
Winner: Sigillo Cellars
Finalists: The Pour House in North Bend; Volition Brewing Co. and The Attic at Salish Lodge (Tie).
Dining Ambience
Winner: Salish Lodge
Finalists: Saints and Scholars Irish Pub, South Fork and The Iron Duck Public House (three-way tie)
Favorite Restaurant
Winner: North Bend Bar and Grill
Finalists: The Iron Duck Public House; Rio Bravo in North Bend
COMMUNITY
Organization to Join
Winner: The Trail Youth Coffee
Finalists: Carnation Farmers Market, Snoqualmie Valley Rotary and I Love Snoqualmie Valley (Tie).
Local Farmers Market
Winner: North Bend Farmers Market
Finalists: Carnation Farmers Market; Aroma Coffee Co. Farmers Market in Fall City
Golf Course
Winner: Mount Si Golf Course
Finalists: The Blue Heron Golf Course; Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course
Teacher
Winner: Heather Randall
Finalists: Raleigh Wilson; Katie Black
Park
Winner: Si View Metro Parks
Finalists: Tolt MacDonald Park; Jeanne Hansen Community Park
Children’s Activity
Winner: Ignite Dance and Yoga
Finalists: Remlinger Farms; Power of Produce (PoP) Kids Club at Carnation Farmers Market
Most Inspiring Valley Resident
Winner: Burt Mann
Finalists: Tonya Guinn, Morgan Henley and Angela Donaldson
Local Nonprofit
Winner: Empower Youth Network
Finalists: The Trail Youth Coffee; Carnation Farmers Market
Place to Meet Friends
Winner: Volition Brewing Company
Finalists: South Fork; Huxdotter Coffee
Favorite Valley Event / Festival
Winner: Brodie Nation Music Festival in Carnation and Festival at Mount Si (Tie).
Finalists: North Bend Farmers Market and Carnation Farmers Market (Tie); North Bend Block Party
Best Place for a Family Outing
Winner: Rattlesnake Lake
Finalists: Snoqualmie Falls; Remlinger Farms and Brewery
Best Local Artist
Winner: Sorcia
Finalists: Joe Lee Davidson, Todd Gamble and Erika Laureano (Tie)
Daycare or Preschool
Winner: North Bend Montessori
Finalists: Tolt Montessori; Encompass Early Learning Center
Best City Staffer
Winner: Bre Keverin, City of North Bend Communications Manager
Finalists: Tom Meagher, City of North Bend Permit Coordinator, Bart Kelly, City of North Bend Parks Department, and Nicole Weibe, City of Snoqualmie Community Liaison (Tie).
Best Place to Work
Winner: Snoqualmie Valley Hospital
Finalists: Park Street Healing Arts; Mount Si Sports and Fitness
Best Community Volunteer
Winner: Lindsay Gilliam, Carnation Farmers Market
Finalists: Angela Donaldson, Kevin Hauglie Agency and Morgan Henley, Morgan Henley Presents (Tie); Rob Wotton, Umpqua Bank, North Bend.
First Responders
Winner: Eastside Fire and Rescue
Finalists: Snoqualmie Fire Department; Fall City Fire Department
City Councilmember or Mayor
Winner: Mary J. Miller, North Bend City Council
Finalists: Chris Garcia, North Bend City Council; Rob Wotton, Snoqualmie City Council. (Honorable Mention: Angela Donaldson, FCCA President)
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Fitness Venue or Gym/ CrossFit
Winner: Mount Si Sports and Fitness
Finalists: SnoRidge Crossfit; BasePoint Fitness and the Workshop (Tie).
Physical Therapy
Winner: SnoValley Physical Therapy
Finalists: North Bend Physical Therapy; Peak Sports and Spine Snoqualmie and Edge Physical therapy (Tie).
Yoga
Winner: Pineapple Life and Barre Studio on Snoqualmie Ridge
Finalists: Ignite Dance and Yoga in North Bend; Mount Si Sports and Fitness, and Two Rivers Yoga in Carnation
Alternative Medicine Practitioner
Winner: Dr. Alyssa DiRienzo, Mt View Wellness Center
Finalists: Bluewater Medical – Naturopathic & Regenerative Medicine; Jill Massengill, DC, Straight Chiropractic
Licensed Massage Therapist
Winner: Northwest Roots Wellness Center, Snoqualmie
Finalists: Healing Garden, Heather Ryan, LMT; Wellness Massage by Martina, Martina Kowalke, LMT
Doctor
Winner: Dr. Neeta Jain, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital
Finalists: Dr. Dean W. Steele, Meadowbrook Care and Urgent Center; Drs. Lisa McCoy and Jacob Deno, Mount Si Family Dentistry
Chiropractic
Winner: Dr. Jill Massengill, Straight Chiropractic
Finalists: Dr. Matt Miller, North Bend Chiropractic; Dr. Benjamin Britton, Snoqualmie Ridge Chiropractic
Dentist
Winner: Mount Si Family Dentistry, Drs. Lisa McCoy and Jacob Deno
Finalists: Dr. Kelly R. Garwood, North Bend; River Tree Dental, Dr. David Primrose and North Bend Family Dentistry, Dr. Rodger A. Galloway (Tie).
Martial Arts
Winner: DMW Martial Arts, Snoqualmie
Finalists: Gracie Barra Snoqualmie Valley; Mt. Si School of Karate and Kung Fu Club Fall City/Issaquah, Sifu Johann Sasynuik (Tie).
