The nominations are finalized and voting begins July 14 for the Best of the Valley. On this year’s ballot are:
Best Celebration/Festival: Osceola Community Fair, Wannigan days, Polk County Fair, Wheels and Wings
Local Band/Musician: Samantha Grimes, Scalded Hounds, The swongos, GEL, F'N Radio
Best Local Fine Artist: Mary Pettis, Jenna Wojan, John Schletty Photography, Meg Luers -Bjornstad St Croix Pottery, Peg Medcraft (crafty)
Best Outdoor Event: Osceola Community Fair, Rib Fest, Scandia Taco Daze, Wheels & Wings
Best Appetizer: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Cascade Bar & Grill
Best Bar: P Y's Bar, Tippy Canoes, Osceola Lanes, Ward's Bar, Brookside Bar & Grill
Best BBQ Ribs: Tippy Canoes, Sir Smoke A Lot's BBQ Barn, U W Wanderoos
Best Beer Selection: Tippy Canoes, Trap Rock Brewing Company, Inc., Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Brookside Bar & Grill, P Y's Bar
Best Bloody Mary: Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Osceola Lanes, Kassel Tap, Woodhill Bar & Grill
Best Breakfast: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Waynes Cafe, Cascade Bar & Grill, Dalles Cafe and Coffee House
Best Cheese Curds: Tippy Canoes, Loggers Bar & Grill, Meister's Bar & Grill, Osceola Lanes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge
Best Chicken: Tippy Canoes, Sir Smoke A Lot's BBQ Barn, Osceola Lanes, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Dick’s Fresh Market
Best Church Meal: Alliance Church of the Valley, Zion Lutheran Church, Peace Lutheran Church
Best Cup of Coffee: Caribou Coffee, The Watershed Cafe, 3 Arrows Coffee Company, Marine General Store, Joyful morning
Best Deli: Dick's Fresh Market, Juneberry Cafe, Marine General Store, Marketplace Foods, Horse Creek Store
Best Fast Food: Thiel's American Pie, Dairy Queen, Sir Smoke A Lot's BBQ Barn, Poco Loco Mexican Grill
Best First Date Restaurant: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Brookside Bar & Grill
Best Fish Fry: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Brookside Bar & Grill, Howlin’ Wolf Creek Bar
Best French Fries: Tippy Canoes, P Y's Bar, The Drive In Restaurant, Osceola Lanes, Thiel's American Pie
Best Hamburger: Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Meister's Bar & Grill, Osceola Lanes, PY’s, Woodhill Bar & Grill
Best Happy Hour: Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Cascade Bar, PY's Bar
Best Ice Cream Cone: Valley Sweets, The Looking Glass , Ellie's Ice Cream & Coffee, Nelson's Ice Cream, Thiel's American Pie
Best Laundromat/Dry Cleaner: Osceola Cleaners, St Croix Laundry & Carwash, Valley Suds
Best Lunch: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Sir Smoke A Lot's BBQ Barn, Dalles Cafe and Coffee House, Village Pizzeria of Dresser
Best Outdoor Dining/Patio: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Miki Jo's Mix Up, Brookside Bar & Grill, Osceola Lanes
Best Photographer: Wendy Maybury, John Schletty Photography, K. Noel Photography, Jeremiah Stavne photography, TellaStory Photography
Best Pizza: Scandia Pizzeria, Tippy Canoes, Thiel's American Pie, Pizza Planet, Village Pizzeria of Dresser
Best Place to Watch a Sports Game: Not Justa Bar & Cafe, Osceola Lanes, Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge
Best Restaurant: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Brookside Bar & Grill, Village Pizzeria of Dresser
Best Salad: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Village Pizzeria of Dresser
Best Soup: The Watershed Cafe, Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Village Pizzeria of Dresser
Best Steak Dinner: Tippy Canoes, Tangled Up In Blue Restaurant, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge
Best Stir Fry: Lucky Panda, The Vegetarian, Panda King
Best Sub/Sandwich: Tippy Canoes, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Subway
Best Tacos: Cascade BP Deli, Fiesta Loca, Poco Loco Mexican Grill, Osceola Lanes
Best Take Out Restaurant: Tippy Canoes, Sir Smoke A Lot's BBQ Barn, Poco Loco Mexican Grill, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Thiel's American Pie
Best Walleye Dinner: Tippy Canoes, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, U W Wanderoos, The Watershed Cafe
Best Wine Selection: Valley Spirits, Tippy Canoes, Dancing Dragonfly Winery, Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge, Rustic Roots Winery
Best Assisted Living/Senior Care Facility: Christian Community Home of Osceola, Comforts of Home Advanced Assisted Living and Memory Care, Day Friends Endeavors ADC, Eagle Ridge, Royal Oaks
Best Chiropractor: Greg Kumlien, St Croix chiropractic wellness Dr Joy, Truhlsen Chiropractic, Olson Chiropractic Dr David Olson, Bont Chiropractic
Best Dentist: Tom Hauge, Dr. Kristina Noding of Osceola Family Dental, Dr. Udin/ St Croix Family Dentistry
Best Doctor: Tony Nguyen, Melissa Hall, MD SCRMC, Erika Helgerson, Dr Nicole Smith OMC, Jennifer Belisle
Best Eye Doctor: Dr. Sandra Dolphin, Dr. Larry Tran, Dr. April Smith
Best Healthcare Facility: Osceola Medical Center, St. Croix Regional Medical Center, Amery Hospital and Clinic
Best Massage Therapist: Jennifer Putz, Cindy Anderson at St Croix Chiropractic & Wellness, Krystal Stage, Hit the Stage Day Spa, Leah Gilker, Danielle Palmsteen
Best Nurse: Kimberly Wellumson, Amy Clark, Janice Haley, Erica Seibenthal, SCRMC, Margie Johnson
Best Pharmacist: Osceola Medical Center Pharmacy, St Croix Regional, Tangen Drug
Best Manufacturer: Bending Branches, Marine and Auto Custom interiors, Industrial Tool & Plastics Inc, Polaris Industries Inc, C-Aire Compressors
Best Place to Get Married: Big Rock Creek, DD Kennedy Environmental Area, Croix-View Farm, Sunflower Hill Wedding & Event Venue, Eko Backen Country Weddings
Best Place to Work, Large (>50 employees): Osceola Medical Center, CarQuest, Bending Branches, Marketplace Foods, St. Croix Regional Medical Center
Best Place to Work, Small (<50 employees: The Watershed Cafe, OSCEOLA AUTO SALES AND SERVICE, Tippy Canoes, Marine General Store, Christian Community Home of Osceola
Best Scenic Spot: Wilke Glen and Cascade Falls, Marine Landing b.o.t.m., Osceola Picnic Bluff, Interstate State Park, Big Rock Creek
Best Swimming Beach: Big Lake, Sand Lake, Dalles lake, Balsam Lake Beach, Interstate State Park
Best Teacher: Denise Sinclair-Todd, Annie Beck at River Grove, Lisa Richert, Peg Medcraft, Josh Marincel
Best Website (local): myomc.org, www.flexgymnastics.com, Osceola Sun, Festival theater St Croix falls, Material Jane
Best Auto Repair: Denny's Auto of Osceola, Peterson Repairs, OSCEOLA AUTO SALES AND SERVICE, Miller Brothers Auto Repair, Complete Automotive
Best Bank/Financial Institution: Royal Credit Union - Osceola, Hiawatha National Bank, First National Community Bank, MidWestOne Bank, Security State Bank of Marine
Best Bed & Breakfast: Pleasant Lake B and B, Dr. Combacker’s Airbnb on 3rd Ave, St. Croix Valley Inn
Best Car Wash: St Croix Laundry & Carwash, Valley Suds, Holiday Station stores
Best Childcare: Little Saints Daycare, The Clubhouse Childcare and Preschool, Bee Haven Childcare
Best Customer Service from a Local Business: OSCEOLA AUTO SALES AND SERVICE, The Chocolate Gnome, Village Pizzeria of Dresser, Bill's Ace Hardware, J & S General Contracting
Best Financial Planner: Tim Pauley, Matt Fisk, Rebecca Berg Edward Jones St Croix Falls
Best Hair Stylist: Kate Erikson - East Ave Hair, Krystal Stage, Hit the Stage Day spa, Morgan Olson, Krista Timm, Kim's Clips
Best Heating/Air Conditioning Company: Scandia Heating & Air Conditioning, Young & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning, Torch Heating & Air Conditioning LLC., Furnace Doctors
Best Insurance Agent: John Gauper, Lee Urhammer, Scott Henningsguard Noah ins, Jason Mork Stein Insurance
Best Jeweler: La Jewelry LaDy, J. Kessler Jewelry, Mueller Jewelers
Best Lawyer: Katie Murtaugh, Moria Sirovatka, Kathy Gionis, Priscilla Dorn-Cutler
Best Mechanic: Bob Peterson, Grant Buck, Scandia Auto, Justin Taylor, Jake Rodke
Best Paint Store: Bill's Ace Hardware, Menards, Lampert's
Best Pet Groomer: St Croix Tails Alisa, Heidi's Paw Spa, Pinky’s Dog Grooming, Pretty Paws Dog Grooming
Best Realtor: Sheri Steel Edina Reality, The Brunfelts, Keller Williams, Illean Weber, Jean Lungren, Brenda Johnson Edina Realty
Best Recreation Outfitter: St Croix Outdoors, Bending Branches, Erik's Canoe Rental, Riverwood Canoe Rental
Best Retirement/Independent Living Facility: Christian Community Home of Osceola, Forest Heights, Royal Oaks
Best Server: Amy Hanson Dalles House, Sonya Fry Dallas House, Valerie VanderBent, Janelle Torgerson, Christine Osceola lanes
Best Title Company: Polk County Abstract, Ancona Title & Escrow, Oakey and Oakey Abstract
Best Veterinarian: Valley View Veterinary St Croix Falls, Scandia Veterinary, Osceola Veterinarian Service
Best Antique Shop: Adoray's Treasures From The Heart, The Looking Glass , Treasure Alley
Best Butcher: Swank's Meats, Dick's Fresh Market, Marketplace Foods, Brine's Meat Market
Best Flooring/Carpet Store: Floorworks, LLC, Cascade Flooring, D.K.'s Kitchen & Bath
Best Florist, Wildwood Flowers And All Things, My Own Creations Flower Shop, Distracted by FlowersBest Gift Shop: Coming Home, Crabtree's Garden Gate, The Chocolate Gnome, The Unique Boutique SCF, The Sleepy Thicket
Best Greenhouse/Nursery: Abrahamson Nurseries, Lake Kountry Inc., Bill's Ace Hardware, The shed
Best Liquor Store: Valley Spirits, Scandia Olde Towne Liquor, Marketplace Liquor
Best Bike Trail: Stower Seven Lakes Trail, Woolly Bike Trail, Gandy Dancer Trailhead
Best Gym: Wild River Fitness, Flex Gymnastics, LLC, Snap Fitness St. Croix Falls, Snap Fitness Osceola, Kyuki-Do Martial Arts
Best Local Park: Standing Cedars, Lions Park, Oakey, Interstate State Park
Best Local Sports Team: Flex Gymnastics, Osceola Braves, CHIEFTAINS
To vote, starting July 14, go to countrymessenger.com/best of
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