West Seattle Chamber of Commerce award winners announced: Nancy Woodland, Colin Slingsby, and WSB (which means *you*)

On April 7, bright and early in the morning, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce will gather to honor this year’s award winners. They’ve just been announced: Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby is the Community Hero of the Year, Chief Sealth High School boys’ basketball coach Colin Slingsby is Westsider of the Year … and we are extremely honored and humbled to say that WSB has been chosen as Business of the Year … which means it’s an award YOU share in, no matter how you’ve contributed – even “just” reading is contributing. Here’s the official news release just sent around by the WS C of C:

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the winners for Business of the Year, Community Hero and Westsider of the Year awards.

Each year, the Chamber recognizes one business which best exemplifies West Seattle’s high standards of excellence. Five finalists rose to the top, and the award for the 2009 West Seattle Business of the Year goes to the West Seattle Blog. Runners up included the West Seattle Farmers Market, Visiting Angels, Ventana Construction, and Alki Kayak Tours. The West Seattle Blog receives this honor for their commitment to covering West Seattle news in an innovative way, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. The West Seattle Blog connects our community and is recognized as an industry leader in both journalism and blogging. They’ll keep good company with past winners Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub (2008), Tom’s Automotive Service (2007), and Avalon Glassworks (2006).

The Community Hero Award has been presented to an individual who has continually contributed selflessly to West Seattle. Past recipients have included Jerry Robinson (2008), Warren Lawless (2007), and Earl Cruzen (2006). Joining these heroes will be another great contributor: Nancy Woodland, executive director for WestSide Baby, the 2009 recipient. Runners up for the Community Hero award who also continue to give their time and energy, included Tracy Record and Patrick Sand of the West Seattle Blog, Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Printing, Amy Lee Derenthal of The Kenney, Karen Sisson of the Senior Center of West Seattle, and Steve Shay of the West Seattle Herald.

The Westsider of the Year is a new award designed to honor fresh faces who are improving West Seattle. Congratulations to Coach Colin Slingsby of Chief Sealth High School. This boys’ basketball coach has led by example, shows success comes from hard work, and has quantifiably improved the programs with which he is involved. Runners-up for the Westsider of the Year included Patrick Sand and Tracy Record of the West Seattle Blog and Greg Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours.

The community is invited to celebrate these winners and network withlocal businesspeople at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Breakfast to be held April 7, 2010 at Salty’s on Alki. Awards will be presented by Senator Joe McDermott, with a special thanks to Nucor Steel for once again sponsoring the event. For tickets to the Awards Breakfast, contact the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 206-932-5685, or http://www.wschamber.com.

Congratulations to all the nominees from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

And we too congratulate the nominees and winners.

Personal aside: Both of us are children of people who tried their hand at entrepreneurialism and realized it just wasn’t working out; we have been together 25 years and remember saying at times over those years “We’ll never start a business – we just couldn’t do it.” But then … we found ourselves doing it after all … and besides being hard work, it is pure joy, with your support and collaboration, and we are deeply honored that WSB would be recognized in this way. Thank you again – Tracy and Patrick

25 Replies to "West Seattle Chamber of Commerce award winners announced: Nancy Woodland, Colin Slingsby, and WSB (which means *you*)"

  • WSMom March 11, 2010 (5:36 pm)

    You’re “personal aside” really touched my heart! Congratulations to both of you! You deserve every accolade as you have both worked so hard and given 100% to our community! Thank you!!!

  • Diane March 11, 2010 (4:47 pm)

    Congrats WSB; long overdue, well deserved is HUGE understatement; love you guys!!!
    ~
    and so endearing to include all of us

  • westseattledood March 11, 2010 (5:03 pm)

    Bravo, Tracy and Patrick and JMOT!

    Thank you for your professionalism and your tireless efforts.

    We are beholden for all you have done for this community.

    A virtual lifting of the glass to you!

    And congratulations and thanks to all of the other nominees and winners!

  • Garden_nymph March 11, 2010 (5:14 pm)

    Congratulations to all the winners! WSB, you make West Seattle a better place to live. Our community is stronger and our lives richer because of the hard work you do. Thank you!!!

  • David March 11, 2010 (5:18 pm)

    Well done and richly deserved. As a former journalist, I feel lucky to have such a quality media outlet covering our neighborhood.

  • 35this35mph March 11, 2010 (5:23 pm)

    Huzzah! Well deserved and wildly accurate!

  • miws March 11, 2010 (5:30 pm)

    Yet again, you try to blame your success on all of us! ;)

    .

    As I’ve said before, there would be no “us”, if it weren’t for TR, Patrick, and JMoT implementing this valuable community asset.

    .

    Alot of credit must go to the other regular contributors, such as Christopher Boffoli, Keri DeTore, Johnathon Fitzpatrick, Randall G. Hauk, and others whose names escape me right now. (And apologies if I misspelled any of the above names.)

    .

    And yes, the WSB community as a whole, from everyone that reports or even inquires about an incident that they may have witnessed, reports of prowls/break-ins, right on down to the occasional helicopter sighting, are an important part of this as well.

    .


    :cool:*********************
    Congratulations WSB!!
    *********************
    :cool:

    .

    Mike

  • LTF March 11, 2010 (5:52 pm)

    Congratulations to the five finalists & especially WSB! This award is well deserved as your business indeed “exemplifies West Seattle’s high standards of excellence.”

    While words of congratulations and thanks are in order, the best way I can thank you is by continuing to support WSB’s sponsors and thanking them for their partnership with you.

    Congrats WSB!

  • Babs March 11, 2010 (6:00 pm)

    I have a hardcore addiction to the WSB for my community news fix, there is no cure. I have Tracy and her cast to thank for feeding my addiction via the fantastic work they do with this amazing site. BIG KUDOS to you guys and WOO HOO on this Business of the Year award! High five to the other winners too. From major stories all the way down to the simple, you keep it and us real.
    Congrats! :)

  • koni March 11, 2010 (7:01 pm)

    We love you guys! One of the many reasons we are telling our friends to move to West Seattle is the amazing community here…including the great West Seattle Blog…a truly special asset to all of West Seattle!

  • Carter March 11, 2010 (7:27 pm)

    Congratulations! You deserve all the accolades that come your way. As a business, web resource/documenter, and news gatherer, you are an important part of what makes the West Seattle community so vibrant.

  • charlabob March 11, 2010 (7:59 pm)

    Major congratulations to all, including especially WSB. Whenever anyone asks me a question about WS, I ask if they know of the blog…If they don’t, we look there for the answer and always find it. Very impressive proof of the value of real community journalism!

  • DBurns March 11, 2010 (8:15 pm)

    Congratulations WSB! Please take time to celebrate yourselves and all the hard work that you do! Congratulations also, for finding “pure joy” in your careers; this alone is worth celebrating daily!

    Congratulations to Coach Slingsby as well ~ he does everything that this award describes. Please don’t forget to support his summer basketball program for kids, which has been under-attended the last couple of years. Through the news on this blog, folks should have faith that his programs are top quality and really well done. (And affordable!!)

    Congratulations to Nancy Woodland and Westside Baby! Again, please take time to celebrate yourselves and know that this community is proud of you!

  • lg March 11, 2010 (8:42 pm)

    congrats, WSB, and thank you for all you do for the community. You make a great neighborhood even better.

  • Ebaer March 11, 2010 (9:13 pm)

    A well deserved award. There are a lot of great businesses in West Seattle, but none have made the incredible impact you have, WSB. You are, in so many ways, the glue that holds us together – whether it is getting us through snowy streets, gathering volunteers to clean, celebrating our schools’ victories, or helping us mourn our quiet leaders – you make me and so many others a real part of this community.

  • The Velvet Bulldog March 11, 2010 (9:37 pm)

    It’s an honor to be nominated, but it kicks a$$ when you win! Congratulations to you both for creating a public forum that has become very personal for many of us.

  • Renee Maher March 11, 2010 (10:14 pm)

    Bravo, WSB! What an incredible service you do for so many. How I wish we had something like you here in Federal Way!

  • Click! March 11, 2010 (11:24 pm)

    I would actually suggest that WSB surpasses West Seattle’s standards of excellence more so than just “exemplifying” them. You do what you do in a way that makes the rest of us look like total slackers.

  • sun*e March 12, 2010 (12:08 am)

    Congrats West Seattle Blog!!! You really are the best!!! I have a very long list of reasons (too many to mention) why. However, I will say how much I appreciate it when I wonder what I just heard or saw and all I have to do is check the WS Blog to learn what’s going on. I also love how you always give me a chuckle – like the gardening goats that got loose or the recent decked out floating cow (only in West Seattle). And of course I would be amiss not to mention us – the dedicated bloggers whose comments either get my “goat”, make me smile or give me something to really think about. You’re my favorite place to visit with my cup of coffee in the morning and/or my night cap before bed. I’m so glad that you tried your hand at entrepreneurialism… what a great success you are! :)

  • k March 12, 2010 (6:00 am)

    a big congratulations! i wasn’t sure which category fit you best, so i nominated you in all 3! well deserved and thrilled you were chosen!

  • Altadenablog March 12, 2010 (7:19 am)

    I bask in your awesomeness! Congratulations, and keep doin’ what you do so well!

  • Paula T March 12, 2010 (7:33 am)

    Way to go, WSB! I’m a born and raised West Seattle girl, and this blog is the first and last thing I read everyday to find out what’s going on in our neighborhood. Thank you for all your hard work and for keeping us informed!

  • Kelly March 12, 2010 (8:11 am)

    Congratulations, WSB!!!!!!!!!!! {Envision Wayne and Garth} We’re not worthy . . . we’re not worthy! :)

  • GD March 12, 2010 (9:16 am)

    A heartfelt second all the above congratulations and comments for WSB. I don’t know how you guys do it, but keep on. I hope you realize how many of us depend on you and appreciate your daily news and information content, as well as all the other features in the WSB.
    Bravo!!

  • mnmom March 12, 2010 (1:07 pm)

    Congratulations Nancy Woodland! This is a well deserved honor, fantastic to read about this from afar. The work you and WSB have done directly imapcts this community, it’s incredible work that you do and that you will continue to do.

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