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200,000 plus votes cast in Best of Manteca 2009 contest
AWARDS8-5-16-09
Ayla Fleming (Best Youth Volunteer), Miss Teen Manteca and Shim Lacy (Best Adult Volunteer) pose with their 2009 awards. - photo by HIME ROMERO

More than 200,000 votes were cast by people who voiced their opinion on everything from the best car wash in Manteca to the best boss.

Those who garnered the most votes were more than happy to take the stroll to the podium Friday night at the Best of Manteca Awards held at Manteca Trailer & Camper.

Hosted by the Manteca Convention and Visitors Bureau, the event included several distinct changes this year over the previous endeavors including announcing the winners prior to the actual night of the event – something that CVB Executive Director Linda Abeldt says might have been the key to the massive turnout.

“We’ve got about twice as many people as we normally do at this event, and a lot of that might have to do with the announcing of who the winners were prior to the event,” Abeldt said. “The online voting was something that was new this year and we got an amazing response from the community.”

With KCRA reporter Rich Ibarra tackling the MC duties, the event was basically just a who’s who of local businesses and persons being honored for their achievements over the course of the last year.

Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Mike Mallory brought the bulk of his staff with him up to receive the award for best non-profit agency – with the audience dutifully applauding the sheer numbers that the agency is able to serve in a given week.

“I think that getting this award from the community is fitting because without the community we really couldn’t operate,” Mallory said. “We’re so grateful to Manteca for everything that they’ve done for us and that they continue to do.

“This is by far the most giving place that I’ve ever been, and even though our needs have increased by 25 percent, people still continue to give – that says a lot.”

Former Manteca Idol Cheyenne Miligan – who sang the Star Spangled Banner to kick off the festivities – was beaming as she accepted the award for best female singer.

“I think that it’s really cool that all of the people voted to support me in this,” Milligan said. “It’s the people that I perform for, and I’m just happy to be taking this home.”

In all roughly 90 awards were given out to businesses, non-profit agencies, and persons in a multitude of topics.

This winners in this year’s competition by category are:
Accountant: Newman & Jones
Agribusiness: George Perry & Sons
Auto Dealer: Manteca Trailer & Camper
Auto/RV Repair: Precision Automotive
Bakery: Raley’s Bakery
Bank/Credit Union: Delta Bank
Barber/Hair Stylist: Patti Flatter
Bartender: Jennifer Brown (Tommy’s)
Beauty Salon: Sadie’s Styling Salon
Bike Shop: Anderson’s Mower & Bike
Boss/Supervisor: Toinette Rossi (Delta Bank)
Burger: In-N-Out Burger
Car Wash: Quicki Kleen Car Wash
Caterer: Fagundes Meats & Catering
Chiropractor: David Cox, D.C.
Christmas Display: The Langum House
Church Choir: Calvary Community Church
Cleanest Restrooms: Target
Coffee Shop: Bean & Leaf Café
Customer Service: Phyllis Abram (Delta Bank)
Dance Studio: Universal Dance
Day Spa: Mimosa Spa
Dentist/Orthodontist: Dr. Sean Sangalang
Dessert: Baskin Robbins
Dining Establishment: Kelley Bros. Brickyard Oven
Drinking Establishment/Bar: Kelley Bros. Brickyard Oven
Dry Cleaners: Mainz Cleaners
Family Entertainment: Manteca Bowl & Family Fun Center
Financial Planner: Randy Knodt
Floral Shop: Manteca Floral
Furniture Store: Manteca Bedquarters
Grocery Store: Save Mart
Health/Fitness Center: 24 Hour Fitness
Hospital/Clinic: Doctors Hospital of Manteca
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Ice Cream/Sundae: Baskin Robbins
Instructor/Personal Trainer: Keri Tapia
Insurance Agent: Debra Van Essen
Loan Officer: Matt Ridge
Local Attraction: Bass Pro Shops
Local Band: East Union High School Band

Local Chef: Isadore Fang (Isadore’s)
Local Event: Crossroads Street Faire
Local Female Singer: Cheyenne Milligan
Local Male Singer: Matt Vaughan
Local Youth Football Team: Manteca Jr. Buffaloes
Mailman/Mailwoman: Katy Mattingly
Manicure/Pedicure: Sadie’s Styling Salon
Margarita: Las Casuelas
Martial Arts Studio: Taberna’s Tae Kwon Do
Martini: Isadore’s
Massage Therapist: Marla Nunes
Mattress Store: Manteca Bedquarters
Meat Department: Fagundes Meats
Milkshakes: Baskin Robbins
Nachos: Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
New Business (Large): Costco
New Business (Small): Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Non-Profit Business: Second Harvest Food Bank
Omelet: The Waffle Shop
Optometrist: Dr. Greg Miller
Pet Groomer: Jackie’s Dog Grooming
Pharmacy: Bob’s Pharmacy
Photographer: Chris Leonard
Physician: Moosa M. Lunat, MD
Pizza: Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Place For A Child’s Party: Manteca Bowl & Family Fun Center
Private School: Manteca Christian School
Product Made In Manteca: Delicato Vineyards Wine
Pub Grub: Tommy’s Beach Bar & Grill
Public Elementary School: Shasta Elementary School
Public High School: Manteca High School
Realtor: Glenda Herrera
Restaurant (American Food): Chili’s
Restaurant (Asian Food): Yukimi
Restaurant (Italian Food): DeVega Brothers
Restaurant (Mexican Food): Taqueria Yvette’s
Retail Store: Target
Retirement Community: Woodbridge by Del Webb
School Administrator: Steve Winter – Manteca High
Service Club: Manteca Lions Club
Sporting Goods Store: Big 5 Sporting Goods
Taco: Taqueria Yvette
Take Out: In-N-Out Burger
Tow Service: Vern’s AAA Towing
Volunteer (Adult): Shim Lacy
Volunteer (Youth): Ayla Fleming
Waffle: The Waffle Shop
Waiter(tress): Lacey Silveria - Kelley Bros.
Youth Organization: Boys & Girls CLUB