Ah, yes – another edition of editor wanderings…
As you’ve hopefully noticed, we’ve started our annual Best of the Best process in which we eventually will publish the best our city and county have to offer.
And, this year is our silver anniversary as we’ve sponsored this fun and friendly competition since 1997.
Each July, your Star publishes its annual – and the county’s original – Best of the Best section that features the top businesses and professionals in our area as determined by our tens of thousands of subscribers and readers.
Beginning last week, the ballot is published in The Star, your favorite community newspaper, and you get the opportunity to write in your selections in well over 100 categories. Those categories cover food and beverage, business and financial services, apparel and jewelry, automotive, hospitality, residential services, home and family services, home furnishing, outdoor farm and ranch, elder care, health and wellness and community service.
In the first round, your votes whittle down each category to a top five. Then the second round begins where readers select their specific favorites. We list the top three in our special section that will be published at the end of July.
It remains a great honor for each business or individual honored through our competition, whether they earn first, second or third place. In fact, it remains an honor just to be nominated.
And why shouldn’t it be an honor? After all, we’re the original, most prestigious and truest Best of the Best in these parts. Don’t be fooled by any imitators. The Boerne Star is the best, and we do it right.
And this is another fine example of community partnerships as we continue to serve our readership, city and county.
So, come by our office and pick up your ballot today. We have plenty available!
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I’ve said it before, but one of the neatest things about being in the community newspaper business is the people you meet as you go about doing your job. I’m very fortunate to have met an incredible number of truly wonderful people who have become not only my colleagues, but my friends.
I could list you all here, but you already know who you are. Thanks.
But along with that, it’s also very cool to be recognized on a first-name basis when you walk into one of our fine establishments.
Let me take that one step further. We have a ton of great dining options here, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of them in my nearly three years at the helm of your favorite newspaper. And, of course, I have my favorites – as I’m sure you do, depending on your tastes.
Recently, a truly great restaurant opened across the street from us on North School Street. Gather Boerne now is operating in the old Holiday Farms Pet Resort that has been revamped into a beautiful setting owned and operated by some truly great people.
First, it’s outstanding that we now have a place we can walk to for a good cup of coffee or a good meal. And, owners Amy Brand and Paul and Jessica Carey are tremendous people who are doing it right and offering extremely good food and drink and equally extremely good service – all with a big smile.
They truly are a welcome addition to our neighborhood, and I’ve already been a regular customer.
Anyway, when I stopped in for the first time on the first day they were officially open, I joked with Jessica that I’m going to come in so often they’re going to ask me if I want “my usual.”
That “usual” is a specialty cup of coffee. I also usually get a scone or sweet roll or two to take back to the office for my staff to enjoy, or get something for my wife to take home to her at the end of the day.
(I still don’t eat a lot of sweets after shedding the 75 or so pounds, but I sure can tell you everything always smells sooooo good in there.)
A week ago – last Friday – I walked over there shortly after they opened. I was greeted by Jessica and her warm, friendly smile. I asked her what the scone of the day was, but almost before I was finished, Erin, one of the courteous and friendly employees and the barista, asked me if I wanted my usual.
I said yes. She recited back, without any prompting, “A vanilla latte extra hot.”
My smile was very apparent. I’m hooked.
Yes, of course, I still will always visit my other favorite places in and around Boerne – and there are a lot of them. But I also will frequent Gather Boerne regularly to get my usual, and/or whatever else that always will be served in the friendliest fashion.
And a final note on that great place. It’s been awesome to see its parking lot so full during the day. Being overly busy couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of people.
Gather Boerne, welcome to the neighborhood. We’re so very glad you’re here!
And, I’m glad you’re all here, too. Maybe someday we can meet at Gather Boerne, or one of our other fine restaurants, for a Coffee with Keith!
As always, thanks for reading.
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