"Three hundred and one thousand votes says a lot, but it doesn’t say it all. Not even by a long shot. The community’s participation in Cityview‘s Best of the Best voting is just one of the ways people support this effort. For weeks prior to the beginning of the voting, we get calls of all sorts: When will the voting begin? Can I nominate someone in advance? My friend’s name is spelled wrong, can you fix that? This has turned into something with a life of its own, and it makes us proud to see how important this poll has become to Knoxville.
Most people who participated this year voted around 35 times; the top voter placed 324 votes. All but three of the top 26 most-voted categories came from the dining section, with the remaining three being hair salon, stylist, and colorist. Clearly, we want to look good when we are out eating at restaurants. We added numerous categories this year, and still, we received requests for many more. It’s a never-ending process to keep it all current, but it is no doubt a labor of love for all of us here.
There is no better way to start the holiday season then by being the bearer of such good news to all the winners. To see the delight in their eyes or hear the joy in their voices as they receive the news that they’ve won is like experiencing Christmas morning over and over again.
This is especially true for the first-time winners and those who didn’t even realize they were nominated. Perhaps they did something for someone without thinking about how it would benefit themselves. Perhaps they simply shared the joy of their work in such a humble way that it spoke to the person they were helping. After all, this is the south, the land of hospitality, where people help each other just because it is the right thing to do. And those sort of selfless acts, not matter how big or small, make all the difference in the world.
So, for those who didn’t make the top three this year, remember, there is always a way to be the best of the best. Do something unexpected and kind for someone around you. Go above and beyond just because. And who knows, you just might find yourselves on the list in 2022."
Copier Company
- RJ Young