Celebrate local: Highlights from the 2024 Best of the Best gala

Over 100 people were present at City Flats Hotel on Wednesday eagerly awaiting to hear which businesses won in this year's Community Choice Awards: Best of the Blue Water Area.

LocaliQ and the Times Herald held the fourth annual Best of the Best gala on Wednesday evening. The community was able to vote on their favorite businesses and organizations in over 81 categories. This year, there were 71,170 votes casted from over 4,400 readers.

The full list of winners will be announced through a special section in the Monday print edition of the Times Herald. Additionally, a photo gallery of the event and the online version of winners list can be accessed at www.yourchoiceawards.com/bluewaterarea.

Community leaders were also at the event this year, including city council members, the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce and county commissioners. City Manager James Freed said the Best of the Best Awards is a fun event for the community. He said it was great to see so many community members showing support for local businesses.

"Anytime you get an opportunity to gather with the community to celebrate the hard work and successes of our businesses is a really good time," Freed said.

Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce President Thelma Castillo said many chamber members were nominated for awards and that the chamber was excited to share in and celebrate those successes. She said it's always exciting for businesses to win awards because it adds to its credibility and integrity.

Port Huron Museums Community Engagement Manager Andrew Kercher won Person of the Year. He said it's an honor to receive this recognition from a community that he cares a lot about.

"I like to view myself as a champion in supporting the Blue Water Area," Kercher said. "I'm very humbled and honored to be recognized in this way."

Kercher said the Best of the Best Awards is a great way to showcase and recognize the businesses and organizations around the Port Huron Area.

Another local winner was Kelly Torres, who won the Best Photographer category. She said she is very thankful to the people who nominated her and voted for her to win. She said she loves the community and the support it has shown her.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Best of the Best gala awards 2024