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
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