Congratulations to the more than 600 individuals and establishments who were selected as gold, silver or bronze medalists in The Pueblo Chieftain’s Best of Pueblo contest. Many of the winners were on hand last week for a celebration held in their honor at the Pueblo Convention Center.

The real winners, however, are the Chieftain readers who voted for their favorites in various categories. More than 326,000 votes were tallied in the competition, which is a great participation rate. The contest, in its sixth year, is a fun way for local residents to show appreciation to the people who cut their hair, do their nails, serve them food and drinks and provide other goods and services throughout the community.

While the polling isn’t scientific, it can be helpful as a guide to let newcomers know where they might go if they have car trouble or need a trustworthy plumber, for example. It’s like getting recommendations not just from one neighbor, but thousands of them.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.