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Publisher’s Perspective: Best of Tahoe amid a pandemic (Opinion)

Rob Galloway
Publisher’s Perspective
Rob Galloway
Tribune photo

Whether you have noticed or not, by this time in the year we would have already crowned the winners to our annual Best of Tahoe contest. Instead, when we would have normally been nominating and voting for our favorite businesses, we were knee deep in uncertainty with COVID-19.

Rather than launch a contest that celebrated our businesses with many of them closed at the time, we felt it was better to wait until things started opening back up and we had a better grasp of how we’d be living our lives.

Fast forward three months and while, for the most part, we have seen many of our businesses back open for business, we are in a similar place as far as the pandemic is concerned.



It may be confusing to then see the nominations for the 2020 Best of Tahoe starting this Friday, July 31. Why launch them now if things are similar to what they were in April? Well, not everything is the same.

“In a time like this, having something to focus on, a diversion, something positive, that rallies support for our local businesses seems like it’s needed. If you’re like me, you’re tired of the negativity and disruption this pandemic has caused.”

The pandemic has taught us many things. One of which is that our local businesses need our support. Yes, that support could come in many ways and I’m certain all businesses are appreciative of everything you have provided during these past few months — but this specific support only happens once a year.



In a time like this, having something to focus on, a diversion, something positive, that rallies support for our local businesses seems like it’s needed. If you’re like me, you’re tired of the negativity and disruption this pandemic has caused.

Let’s channel that energy into something more encouraging. Let’s give businesses a boost of confidence to help them get through these tough times and show them hope is on the horizon. It may be exactly what they need to help them fight another day and let them know the community supports them.

That doesn’t mean support comes without competition. Many of you know winning is something these businesses look forward to every year. Why? Because it shows there’s support amongst their peers and customers for what they’re doing.

No business owner wants to feel unsupported. That’s why many of them get behind this and encourage their friends, family and customers to vote. It’s those votes that provide the drive for them to keep delivering their services that make the communities we live in so unique.

It’s also those votes that make this contest so fun each year. Will my favorite sushi place win this year? Will my vet ever get the recognition they deserve? It all starts with the nominations.

Just like last year, the contest will have an entire month for people to submit their nominations in over 100 categories. The top nominated businesses in each category will move to the finals where over the span of two weeks (Sept. 14 – 28), voting will determine the champion. One nomination doesn’t guarantee you a spot so it’s critical to amass as many as possible.

I realize this year has caused many businesses and community members to change they way they go about their day. We have added some 2020 specific categories to help recognize some of you that have had to pivot in unusual, albeit successful, ways.

Look, we understand this contest can get spirited. We urge you this year to use this as a way to look for the positive in the community. Use this as an option to get away from the bad and focus on your favorites. I’m certain the businesses you support will be appreciative and it may, at least for a moment, put a smile on your face — something we all can use more of these days, even if behind a mask.

To make your nominations, visit us at tinyurl.com/bestoftahoe2020.

Publisher Rob Galloway can be reached at rgalloway@tahoedailytribune.com or 530-542-8046.

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