2009 Catskill Mountain News Best Service Award winners announced
The Catskill Mountain News and Columnist Margaret S. Inge are pleased to announce the 12th annual Catskill Best Service Awards. Readers selected those businesses and individuals who consistently deliver extraordinary service via ballots submitted during the months of November and December.
The tally of the over 500 ballots received includes more than 450 different businesses and 520 individual service providers in 78 categories. They are located across the region, giving testimony to the fact that customers will travel far and wide for quality service.
Among the individuals, two awards, both for health care related services, deserve a special mention. Chuck Roth, PA, who this year retired from his years at Margaretville Memorial Hospital and Family Health Center, is honored by the many he served. Edith Gilham is posthumously honored for her work at McLaughlin Family Health Practice in Roxbury.
Congratulations to the 2009 honorees in the Catskill Best Service Awards!
(To see features on some of the first-place winners, check out the accompanying feature story, "Great service helps you stand out from the crowd.")
BUSINESSES
Home Services
Businesses in this category include those who come to your home in order to meet your needs for trade and building services. These are the service providers that our readers depend upon for quality work and excellent service.
Cleaning Services
1 — Maid My Day – Vicki Jorgensen and Don Mead, Roxbury
2 — Laura O’Connor — Green Cleaning, Margaretville
3 — Time to Tidy — Becky Hubbell, Fleischmanns
Contractors
1 — Eric & Kane Fronckowiak, Fleischmanns
2 — Phil & Nick Finch Land Sculpting — Excavating, Roxbury
3 — Bill Cowan Excavating, Margaretville
Electrical
1 — Hinkley Electric, Roxbury
2 — Blizzard Electric, Arkville
3 — C & J Electric, Andes
Landscaping & Yard
1 — Sunshine Valley Landscaping – Dave DiBenedetto, Roxbury
2 — J & M Lawn Care — Jason York, Margaretville
2 — Jim Whitney, Roxbury
3 — Jenkins Lawn Service — Harley Jenkins, Margaretville
Painters
1 — Z Painting, Margaretville
2 — Marty Finch, Roxbury
3 — R. D. Painting — Rob Dee, Roxbury
3 — Tony DeLuca, New Kingston
Plumbing & Heating
1 — Harold Peters, Roxbury
2 — TNT Plumbing — Tom Vitro, Fleischmanns
3 — Kurt Flachs, Roxbury
Utilities & Energy
1 — MTC, Margaretville
2 — Warren Bender, Margaretville
3 — Gary’s Fuel Oil, Inc. — Gary Cooper, Roxbury
3 — Jeff Bruno, Fleischmanns
Other
1 — Elegant Installations — Tile, Big Indian
2 — Hemlock Ridge Tree Service, Carl E. Grocholl, Fleischmanns
3 — Country Home Security, Fleischmanns
Professional Services
Businesses nominated in this category include those services that give a different and very personal meaning to the phrase “home/land security.”
Financial Services
1 — NBT Bank, Margaretville
2 — Sterling Manor Financial
3 — Molnar Financial Services, Margaretville
Insurance Providers
1 — Mang Insurance, Fleischmanns
2 — Morse-Wilson, Roxbury
3 — Sluiter Agency, Margaretville
Real Estate Firms
1 — Timberland/Coldwell Banker, Margaretville
2 — Country Pride, Roxbury
3 — Belleayre Realty, Fleischmanns
Veterinarians/Animal Care
1 — Grand Gorge Animal Hospital – Daniel Sullivan, DVM
2 — Delhi Animal Hospital — David Evans, DVM
3 — Crossroads Animal Hospital – Kevin Oppenheimer, DVM, Arkville
Other
Mark Wilsey, Gormley Funeral Home, Phoenicia
Health Care
When it comes to our personal well-being, these are the people and organizations we depend upon for their caring and expertise.
Dentists
1 — Dr. John Caronia, Margaretville
2 — Dr. Michael Meehan, Stamford
3 — Dr. Thomas Flanders, Delhi
Medical/Nursing Facilities
1 — Mountainside /Margaretville Hospital
2 — A.O. Fox Hospital, Oneonta
3 — Wright’s Adult Home, Margaretville
Personal Counseling
1 — Rev. Richard Dykstra, Roxbury
2 — Deborah Frame, Illuminata, Denver
3 — Bonnie Mitchell, CSW, Margaretville
Physical Therapy/Massage
1 — Hot Stone Massage — Barbara Alyn, ND, Margaretville
2 – Margaretville Hospital Physical Therapy Dept. — Sasha Cyrelson
3 — Bodyworx, Arkville
3 — Elaine Grandy, Andes
Primary Health Care Provider
1 — McLaughlin Family Health Center, Roxbury
2 — Dr. Jai Ravunniarath, Margaretville
3 — Dr. Susan Fiore, Margaretville
Other
1 — Tammy Van Keuren, Mountainside
2 — Lisa Ford — Home Health Aide, US Care Systems
3 — Kathy Roberts, Director of Activities, Mountainside
Retail Services
Retail operations represent a critical segment of our economy and are the places we go to get the things we want and need. The quality of the service these businesses provide keep us coming back again and again.
Antiques
1 — Discoveries, Margaretville
2 — Antiques at Rick’s Barn, Roxbury
3 — McIntosh Auction & Marketplace, Margaretville
Art Galleries
1 — Longyear Gallery, Margaretville
2 — Chace-Randall, Andes
3 — East Branch Art Gallery, Margaretville
Auto Parts
1 — Sanford Auto Parts, Arkville
2 — B & D Motors, Margaretville
3 — JS Auto Parts/Lou John’s, Fleischmanns
Auto Sales & Repair
1 — Brookside, Margaretville
2 — B & D Motors, Margaretville
3 — Shamro’s Tire & Auto Service, Fleischmanns
Clothing & Shoes
1 — Sweet Peas, Margaretville
2 — Foothills Shoe, Margaretville
3 — Red Sparrow, Margaretville
Convenience Stores
1 — Dollar General, Margaretville
2 — Hess Express, Margaretville
3 — Roxbury Convenience, Roxbury
Florists
1 — Wildflowers, Margaretville
2 — The Flower Shop, Fleischmanns
3 — Stamford Greenhouse
Furniture
1 — M. Gerard Country Home, Margaretville
2 — Mattress Barn, Big Indian
3 — Catskill Country Furniture & Flooring, Stamford
Gardening/Nurseries
1 — Quarltere’s Garden & Market Place, Roxbury
2 — Todd’s Nursery, Fleischmanns
3 — The Flower Shop, Fleischmanns
Gift Stores
1 — Discoveries, Margaretville
2 — Village Homemaker, Arkville
3 — Nest Egg, Phoenicia
Grocers
1 — Freshtown, Margaretville
2 — Price Chopper, Delhi
3 — Boiceville Market
3 — Fleischmanns Supermarket
Hardware & Building Supplies
1 — Wadler Bros., Fleischmanns
2 — Brookside Hardware, Margaretville
3 — Ace True Value, Stamford
Housewares
1 — Home Goods of Margaretville
2 — Brookside Hardware, Margaretville
3 — Dollar General, Margaretville
Jewelers
1 — Margaretville Main Street Jewelers
2 — Pearls of Pauline, Arkville
3 — Catskill Mtn. Artisans’ Guild, Margaretville
Pharmacies
1 — Miller’s Drug Store, Margaretville
2 — CVS, Margaretville
3 — Boiceville Pharmacy
Specialty Stores
1 — Cheese Barrel, Margaretville
1 — Now & Then Video, Margaretville
2 — Delaware Valley Medical Supply, Margaretville
3 — Mountain Yarns, Margaretville
Tourist Attractions
1 — DURR, Arkville
2 — Belleayre Ski Center, Highmount
3 — Stone Tavern Farm, Roxbury
3 — Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury
Wine & Liquor
1 — E & D Spirit Shop, Arkville
2 — Margaretville Liquor
3 — Phoenicia Wine & Liquor
Other
1 — Catskill Mtn. Artisans’ Guild, Margaretville
2 — Bibliobarn Too, Margaretville
3 — B & D Auto Rental, Margaretville
Food Services
Tourism is a driving force in our region, which makes Food and Lodging Services vital on many levels. They foster return visits to our area while providing the places for our celebrations and day to day sustenance.
Bar/Saloon
1 — T-Bar Saloon, Roxbury
2 — Oakley’s Place, Arkville
2 — Village Pub, Margaretville
3 — Public Lounge, Roxbury
Casual Dining
1 — Summerfields, Margaretville
2 — La Cabana, Fleischmanns
2 — Ayla’s, Arkville
3 — Inn Between, Arkville
Caterers
1 — Mary’s Cookin’, Roxbury
2 — Amy’s Take Away — Amy Jackson, Lanesville
3 — Jerry Fronkowiak, Margaretville
3 — Slow Down Food Co., Andes
Diners & Luncheonettes
1 — Harry & the Hippie Chick, Margaretville
2 — Cassie’s Café, Roxbury
3 — Bun n' Cone, Margaretville
Fine Restaurants
1 — Peekamoose, Big Indian
2 — Binnekill Square, Margaretville
3 — Fred’s, Stamford
Pizzerias
1 — Oakley’s, Arkville
2 — Donatello’s, Arkville
3 — East Branch, Roxbury
3 — Portobella’s Pizzeria, Fleischmanns
Other
Ballard’s Honey — Bill Hamil, Roxbury
Market Basket — Butcher, Arkville
The Fish Market, Margaretville
Lodging Services
The places we would stay if we didn’t already live here.
Bed & Breakfasts/Inns
1 — River Run, Fleischmanns
2 — Meadowood B & B, Arkville
3 — Breezy Hill, Fleischmanns
Hotels/Motels
1 — The Roxbury
2 — Phoenicia Village Cottages
3 — Margaretville Motel
Other
The Emerson, Mt. Tremper
New Business
Even in the midst of a troubling economy, several new businesses have opened and readers are more than pleased with the quality of service they are delivering. Special congratulations to the proprietors of these new businesses.
Arkville Bread & Breakfast
Portfolio Café, Margaretville
Dollar General, Margaretville
Freshtown, Margaretville
Bibliobarn Too, Margaretville
Village Homemaker, Arkville
M. Gerard Country Home, Margaretville
Red Sparrow, Margaretville
Roberts’ Auction, Arkville
INDIVIDUALS
Accountants/Tax
1 — Steve Tanzer, Margaretville
2 — Gary Holgate, Shandaken
3 — Dawn Hamil & Gary Buhl, Gardner & Buhl, Roxbury
Attorneys
1 — Dennis Metnick, Margaretville
2 — Gary Rosa, Margaretville
3 — Michael Sheehan, Roxbury
3 — Carey Wagner, Margaretville
Auto Mechanic
1 — Tom Shamro — Shamro’s Tire & Auto Service, Fleischmanns
2 — Hans Hohn — H & H Motors, Arkville
3 — Gene Bubach — The Shop, Roxbury
Bartender
1 — Della Davis, Village Pub, Margaretville
2 — Deanna Miles, Peekamoose, Big Indian
3 — Beth Davis (Herral), Oakley’s, Arkville
Business Owner
1 — Devin & Mary Beth Mills, Peekamoose, Big Indian
2 — Dorothy Maffei, Home Goods of Margaretville
3 — Doug & Tina Brady, Inn Between
Carpenter
1 — Richard Thompson, Roxbury
2 — John Fronckowiak, Fleischmanns
3 — Bill Bergman — Country Carpentry, Margaretville
Chef
1 — Jean Paul Biasutto, Summerfields
2 — Devin Mills, Peekamoose
3 — Doug Brady, Inn Between
3 — Walter Keller, Binnekill
Child Care
1 — Abby Rosa, Margaretville
2 — Stephanie Albano, Grand Gorge
Elected Officials
1 — Glenn George, Judge — Middletown
1 — Steve Schuman, Road Superintendent — Town of Roxbury
2 — Tom Hynes, Supervisor — Town of Roxbury
3 — Len Utter, Supervisor — Town of Middletown
Electricians
1 — Mike Hinkley, Hinkley Electric
2 — Randy von Bernowitz, Blizzard Electric
3 – James Barrett, C & J Electric
Entrepreneurs
1 — Marc Levenshus, Foothills, Red Sparrow & Portfolio
2 — Dean Gitter, The Emerson
3 — Greg Henderson & Joe Mazzo, The Roxbury
Hair Stylists
1 — Kathy Johnson, Country Cutting Gallery
2 — Barbara Sprague Jester, Margaretville
2 — Skip Jester, Margaretville
3 — Karen Neblung, Roxbury
Highway Employee
1 — Bucky Manon, Middletown
2 — Dave Knapp, Middletown
2 — Leland “Corky” Johnson III, Fleischmanns
3 — Charles Storms, Hardenburgh
3 — Harley Jenkins, Middletown
Interior Design
1 — Gerry Murphy, M. Gerard Home, Margaretville
2 — Ted C. C. Odom, Margaretville
3 — Donald Hill, Margaretville
Nurse/Assistant
Diana Engelhardt, CNA, Mountainside
Linda Platt, LPN, Mountainside
Sue Jenkins, RN, MH
Debra Caronia, RN, MH
Mary Lou Oliver, RN, Delaware County Public Health
Nurse Practitioners
1 — Joanne McLaughlin, NP-C, Roxbury
2 — Connie Spielman, FNP, Roscoe
Physicians
1 — Dr. Jai Ravunniarath, Margaretville
2 — Dr. Margeurite Collins, Shandaken
3 — Dr. Susan Fiore, Margaretville Family Health Center
Physician’s Assistant
1 — Eileen King, RPA-C, Bassett Health Care, Stamford
2 — Chuck Roth, PA, Margaretville Family Health — retired
3 — Katherine Uphoff, PA, Margaretville Family Health
Postal Workers
1 — Ellen Gray, Margaretville
2 — Lori Camillone, Halcottsville
2 — Rosie Bush, Margaretville
3 — Virginia Ashby, Roxbury
3 — Mel Ruff, Andes
Realtor
1 — Joe Aulino, Country Pride
1 — Eric Wedemeyer, Coldwell Banker
2 — Sue Doig, Coldwell Banker
3 — Ben Fenton, Coldwell Banker
3 — Patty Kelley, Belleayre
Retail Clerk
1 — Joann Maggio, CVS
2 — Karen Kolar, Foothills
3 — Rick Osterhout, Wadler’s, Fleischmanns
Roofer
1 — Tom Tompkins, Elite Construction
2 — Mike George, Leprechaun Roofing
3 — Louis Georgi, New Kingston
Seamstress
1 — Luana Bullock, Roxbury
2 — Janet Winnie, Margaretville
3 — Harriet Merkle, Arkville
Secretary/Assistant
1 — Edith Gilham, Roxbury
2 — Lisa Labumbard, Caldwell Banker Timberland Properties
3 — Kristen Huggins, Hinkley Electric
Teachers
1 — Bill Fiedler, MCS
2 — Adelia Hunter, MCS
2 — Joy Engler Holden, MCS
3 — Jen Leaver, MCS
3 — Tina Peters, RCS
Volunteers
Ronicka Manon, Fleischmanns Fire
Andes EMS, Andes
Terry Cohen, Margaretville
Sue Ihlo, Margaretville
Eleanor Mayer, Arkville
Doug Reeser, Foothills Performing Arts Center
Robert Sweeney, Arkville Fire
Adele Siegel, MH Aux.
Bill Stanton, Margaretville
Christina Amundsen, EMS
David & Eve Smith, Pine Hill
Iris Mead, MARK Project
Jen Clark, MCS PTA
Ken Davie, Roxbury Fire
Margaretville Fire Dept.
Marilee Asher, Fleischmanns Library
Martie Gailes, Big Indian
Michelle Sidrane, Fleischmanns First, Belleayre Conservatory
Nancy Reynolds, Pine Hill Fire Dept
Rev. R. Dykstra, Roxbury Ambulance
Roxbury Ambulance Squad
Sue Adams, MH Aux.
Todd Wickham, Fleischmanns Fire
Tom Miner Sr., Grand Gorge
Waiter/Waitress
1 — Kathy Carr, East Branch Café
2 — Sue Misner, Bun n' Cone
3 — Marguerite Bertrand, Peekamoose
3 — Liz Wickham, Summerfields
Other
Pat Berghammer, Wilber Bank
Ronicka Manon, ARC Arkville
Carl P. Davis — Code Enforcer, Middletown
Harry Fox — Police Officer, Margaretville
Floyd Knapp, MCS