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Chamber announces ‘Best of Citrus Heights’ business winners for 2021

Tara Taylor, right, of the local nonprofit Single Mom Strong, accepts an award from the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. // M. Hazlip

By Mike Hazlip—
The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce held its annual Best of Citrus Heights award ceremony at R Vida Cantina Tuesday night, recognizing dozens of local businesses for earning the most votes in a recent contest.

Over 6,500 votes from the community were cast online in more than 40 categories, according to Executive Director Diane Ebbitt. Each winner was given a plaque and a discount offer to have a banner printed at All Star Printing.

Several dozen business owners and representatives gathered in a back room of the restaurant to participate in the awards ceremony, including the city’s vice mayor, Porsche Middleton.

“This is a great opportunity for us to acknowledge the businesses in our community who have gone above and beyond and really provided a service for our community and helped our community to be more well-knit,” Middleton said.

Winners include Dutch Bros for best “Beverage & Food,” Texas Roadhouse for best restaurant, Safe Credit Union for best in the banking/financial category, Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team for best community organization, and Heights Church for best in the church category. Bauer’s Car Wash also won in the car wash and detailing category and the Citrus Heights Sentinel won in the category for best publication.

Almond Orchard Dental was voted best dental service and Dr. Kevin Tanner accepted the award with his staff for the family owned business. Almond Orchard Dental has been in Citrus Heights for over 40 years, Tanner said.

“My wife was actually president of the Carmichael Chamber for quite a few years and she encouraged me to join the chamber and I thought it would be a nice way to get a little more active with the community,” he said, noting he joined the chamber two years ago.

Another winner, Allen Lee of Honest Lee Handyman said he had been out of town and was unaware his business had been nominated.

“I didn’t even know that the Best of Citrus Heights was happening,” Lee said. “Kay reached out to me and told me and I was just blown away. I didn’t even know how we got nominated, and feel honored that we won.”

Citrus Heights Police Chief Ronald Lawrence was also on hand to accept the award for “best government agency,” telling The Sentinel he was honored to accept the award on behalf of his department.

Unlike prior awards ceremonies held by the chamber, organizers planned this year’s awards with 30-minute time slots to reduce the number of people in the room at one time in an effort to limit potential exposure to COVID.

A complete list of winners is available from the chamber’s website.

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