Jennifer and Emily Woss from Emerald Isle Step Dancers accept the award for Best Dance Studio at Tuesday’s Best of Greater Pittston Celebration.
Joe Soprano | Times Leader
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Salvatore Infantino, seen here accepting his award, was named Best Dentist in the Best of Greater Pittston voting.
Joe Soprano | Times Leader
PITTSTON — In a year that’s been anything but normal, the Times Leader Media Group’s annual Best of Greater Pittston Reader’s Choice Awards still brought a selection of the area’s finest businesses some well-deserved love, albeit in a much different setting.
While last year’s awards ceremony was held at The Red Mill, the ongoing pandemic meant that indoor gatherings were out of the question.
The Slope Amphitheater, located off Broad Street behind the Pittston Memorial Library, provided a picturesque setting on Tuesday evening as business owners, workers, and the rest of Greater Pittston’s best and brightest stopped by to claim an award and have their photo taken.
“It feels great to be recognized, especially with this year we’ve had,” said Jennifer Woss, who took home “Best Dance Studio” as the head of the Emerald Isle Step Dancers based out of Pittston.
The awards were set up a little differently this year, as circumstances dictated: Honorees accepting the awards showed up, received their plaque, posed for a photo and headed home. It was as quick and as socially distant as possible, while still allowing for some recognition for the hard work local business owners and individuals have put in this year.
“It hasn’t been easy,” said Dr. Salvatore Infantino, who took home the “Best Dentist” award for his practice located in Pittston Township. “The worst part is, no one knows when things will be back to normal.”
About 20 or so awards were claimed on Tuesday, staggered over the course of a two-hour window to avoid having a large gathering of people at one time. In total, over 90 awards were given out.
Some of the recipients included Michaelene Mecadon from the Greater Pittston YMCA (Best Fitness Instructor), Sorick’s Fine Jewelers (Best Jewelry) and Kathy Healey, the longtime girls basketball coach at Pittston Area, took home “Best High School Athletic Coach.”
“It’s always an honor,” said Healey, who’s won this award an impressive nine times in 11 years as the head coach at Pittston Area, a stretch where she won the girls basketball program’s only district title in 2015.
A recurring theme with many of the recipients: strong local ties, which makes this honor even more special.
“We have the best customers around here,” said Sue Guzik, owner of Fly Me Home, a “Best Home Design/Decor” winner. “It feels great to win this right in our own backyard.”
A full list of honorees will appear in an upcoming weekend edition.