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Each year, the Suffolk News-Herald staff works diligently to put together and host the Locals Choice Awards. An online contest goes up for nominations in the spring and then again for voting in the summer. Tens of thousands of votes are cast, calculated and tallied determining our winners, who are then announced in a special section at the end of September. The contest is open to any business in Suffolk that has been nominated by our readers and makes it to the top three to five spots in the nomination round. At the end of each year, we round out the awards with a much needed winners party for those who have won gold in their respective categories.

With the help of our sponsors LandWerks Contracting Inc., Ellen Drames – Realtor, Tidewater Tire Center, Bayview Physicians Group, Art’s Kitchen, Sugar Mama’s Bakeshoppe & Ice Cream, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and Major Signs, this year’s party was a huge success. The decorative balloons from Backroad Peaches Events were larger than life and the centerpieces of autumn flora and fauna made by my very own mother, Susan Andrews, were extraordinary. Barbeque sliders, bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers and crab stuffed mushrooms, along with a spread of delicious small bites were in abundance from Art’s Kitchen. Tasty treats from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshoppe & Ice Cream were nearly non-existent at the end of the evening, they were that good! 

For fun, throughout the night there were door prizes every ten to fifteen minutes. Among some of the prizes were two overnight stays at The Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, gift certificates from Art’s Kitchen and Miss Lilly’s Trading Post, gift baskets, goodie bags and books from Visit Suffolk, Dr. Lisa D. Burrell and Sugar Mama’s Bakeshoppe & Ice Cream. There was also a full page ad in the Suffolk News-Herald and one month of digital advertising on suffolknewsherald.com. If you are ever in need, stop by and see some of these amazing businesses that made our party possible. I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to thank all those at the party who participated in our 50/50 raffle. The raffle was held to raise money for the Suffolk News-Herald’s Cheer Fund, which provides Christmas gifts to families who are in need, right here in Suffolk.

The Locals Choice Awards and the Locals Choice Awards Gold Winners Party are definitely a labor of love and we enjoy hosting them year after year. Local business owners and operators who are working tirelessly day in and day out to provide for our community deserve to be recognized for their efforts. As someone who operates a local business in Suffolk, it gives me great pride to be able to stand with, celebrate and honor those who serve the residents of our great city. In the coming year, as the Suffolk News-Herald enters our 10th year of the Locals Choice Awards contest, I am reminded that while there are many other “best of” contests throughout the area, there is only one Locals Choice Awards. Made for locals, brought to you by locals and celebrated by locals. I hope to see and celebrate with your business next year. Stay tuned or give us a call in April for more details on the 2025 Locals Choice Awards!