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PITTSTON — The Red Mill was the site for the ninth Best of Greater Pittston Awards Tuesday evening where over 90 Greater Pittston businesses and individuals took home awards ranging from best attorney to best wings.
“The Times Leader Media Group is proud to be associated with the Sunday Dispatch who have been printing newspapers since 1947,” said Mike Murray, Times Leader publisher. “We are very happy to honor nearly 100 business and entrepreneurs in Greater Pittston tonight. This area has such a great sense of community; it’s an honor to service all the towns encompassing Greater Pittston.”
There were two big winners in the 2019 polling, Knights Home Association and Fuji, each winning four categories.
The Knights took home best bar, best bar food, best bartender and best place for nighttime entertainment while Fuji earned awards in the categories of best ethnic food, best healthy meal, best seafood, and best restaurant atmosphere/décor.
“This is amazing for us because this is the first time we ever got an award,” Lee Monteforte, secretary of the Knights, said. “Board members and regular members have a common goal to make it (Knights) thrive in downtown Pittston in the heart of the city. It’s nice meeting place.”
Double winners include Fly Me Home (home design/décor, gift store), Sabatelle’s Market (butcher, family market), Town Tavern (wings/bites, happy hour), Napoli’s Pizza (take out, waiter/waitress), Sapphire Salon (hair salon, spa), Mad Tees (printing & graphics company, embroidery shop), Albert’s Pharmacy (local pharmacy and pharmacist) and Fred Orkwis (chef, caterer).
Bob Dellarte, owner of Golden Photo Studios, West Pittston, was voted Best Photographer for the ninth time
“Honestly, you’re thrilled to death and it never gets old, I’ll tell you that much,” Dellarte said upon receiving his award. “You’re always excited to see it and I still feel is, I always want to exceed my customer’s expectations.”
“No matter how big or how small the job and if I’m happy with the job, I know my customer will love it,” Dellarte added.
Six-time recipient The Cookie Corner Child Care Center, West Wyoming, accepted the award for Best Childcare Program.
Approximately 130 pre-school students participate in a toddler program, nursery school, preschool daycare and kindercamp.
“It’s wonderful, it’s always exciting and if it wasn’t for the parents for sharing their kids with us we wouldn’t be in this position,” Toni Tabone, director/owner/teacher, of The Cookier Corner, said. “It’s very heartfelt and grateful for those that voted for us and a big thank you to the parents that trust their kids here at Cookie Corner. We love what we do.”
Business newcomers, Broadway on the Boulevard and Boozy B’s, garnered Best Dance Studio and Best New Business, respectively. Boozy B’s, an alcohol-infused ice cream parlor, has only been in business for three months.
“I was ecstatic and I work really hard to provide the kids with a good solid dance education,” Rachel Leandri, co-founder Broadway on the Boulevard, said. “I want them to grow academically and artistically and to be recognized publicly, I just feel so humble about it. It shows people are paying attention to what we’re doing.”
Charles Adonizio, proprietor of Atlas Realty Inc., was on hand with his wife Karen to receive their award of Best Real Estate Agency. According to Adonizio, his firm is undefeated in the category since 2010.
“It’s nice that people recognize that we’re trying to do the right thing and the thrust of our business is in Greater Pittston,” Adonizio said. “We’re all Greater Pittston people and that’s the nice thing about it, people recognize it.”
THE WINNERS
Attorney – Girard J. Mecadon, Esq.
Auto Repair/service – R&M Collision Services
Bank – FNCB Bank
Barber – Lyons Barber Shop
Bazaar – Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Dupont
Beer Distributor – Plaza Beverage Inc.
Butcher – Sabatelle’s Market
Childcare Program – The Cookie Corner Child Care Center
Chiropractor – Eugene R. DeMinico, DC
Community Event – Pittston Tomato Festival
Consignment Shop – The Eclectic Contessa
Contemporary Artist – Sue Manganiello
Credit Union – UFCW Federal Credit Union
Dance Studio – Broadway on the Boulevard
Dentist – Salvatore J. Infantino, DMD
Elected Official – Michael Lombardo, Pittston City mayor
Embroidery Shop – Mad Tees
Eye Care Center/Optometrist – Robert Blase, OD
Family Market – Sabatelle’s Market
Fitness Facility – ZFlexFitness
Fitness Instructor – Michaelene Mecadon
Flooring Store – Color World
Florist – Robin Hill Florist
Funeral Director – Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home
Garden Center – Bloomin’ Idiots Floral and Garden Center
Gift Store – Fly Me Home
Golf Course – Fox Hill Country Club
Grocery Store – Gerrity’s Supermarket
Gymnastics Studio – Greater Pittston YMCA
Hair Salon – The Sapphire Salon
Healthcare Mobility Products/Retail Store – Revelation Lifestyle & Mobility Center
Hearing Specialist – Samuel V. Rizzo, MD
Heating Oil Company – Capozucca Brothers Plumbing & Heating
Heating/AC Service – Valley Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
High School Athletic Coach – Kathy Healey, Pittston Area
High School Teacher – Amy Esposito, Wyoming Area
Home Design/Décor – Fly Me Home
Home Health Agency – Bayada
Home Improvement Center – Petro Hardware and Supply
Insurance Agency – Joyce Insurance Group
Jeweler – Soricks Fine Jewelers
Kept Secret – CrossFit Blarney Stone
Kids Birthday Place – Skyzone
Local Pharmacy – Albert’s Pharmacy
Medical Doctor – Martin J. Moran Sr., DO
Music Store – Rock Street Music
Nail Salon – Just You Salon
New Business – Boozy B’s
Nursing/Retirement Home – Wesley Village
Pediatrician – Michael Imbrogno, MD
Pet Care Services – Maxwell’s House Resort
Pet Store – The Pet Zone
Pharmacist – Joseph Albert, RPh
Photographer – Golden Photo Studio
Physical Therapy Facility – Cawley Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Place for Family Fun – Skyzone
Podiatrist – Michael C. Baloga, DPM
Printing & Graphics Company – Mad Tees
Real Estate Agency – Atlas Realty Inc.
Roofing Company/Roofer – Smith & Miller Roofing
Spa – The Sapphire Salon
Tanning Salon – Abbronzatura Tanning
Tire Store – Jack Williams Tire & Auto Service Center
Towing – Lokuta’s Garage
Veterinarian – Sara McGarry, DVM, Shoemaker Avenue Animal Hospital
Yoga Studio – Home Yoga and Barre
Bar – Knights Home Association
Bar Food – Knights Home Association
Barbeque – B3Q Smokehouse
Bartender – Marina Wheeler, Knights Home Association
Beer Selection – Sabatini’s Bottleshop and Bar
Breakfast/Brunch – Agolino’s Restaurant
Burger – American Grill
Caterer – JustFred Custom Catering
Cheesesteak – Bobby O’s
Chef – Fred Orkwis
Dinner/Casual Dining – Avenue Diner
Ethnic – Fuji
Fine Dining – Valenti’s Restaurant
Happy Hour – Town Tavern
Healthy Meal – Fuji
Hoagie/Sub – Lombardo’s Market
Ice Cream – Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy
Italian Food – Cafe Italia
Pastries/Desserts – Royal Bake Shop
Pizza – Sabatini’s Pizza
Place for Nighttime Entertainment – Knights Home Association
Restaurant Atmosphere/Décor – Fuji
Romantic Restaurant – Grico’s
Sauce – Marianacci’s Restaurant
Seafood – Fuji
Take Out – Napoli’s Pizza
Waiter/Waitress – Napoli’s Pizza
Wings/Bites – Town Tavern
