Regardless of how one might feel about the results of Tuesday's election, all can rejoice that the campaign season is over, for now, and we are freed of the incessant pounding of partisan ads. On to other things, less dramatic choices. Among those are the results of the first annual Isthmus Independent Business Awards, an undemocratic but reputable selection of local lights on the local scene.
We asked for your nominees in eight categories some weeks ago. A panel of judges was tasked with reviewing the nominees and choosing the winners. Their selections are revealed in this issue and will be feted at an awards ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, at Eldorado Grill.
Isthmus borrowed the Indie Awards idea from sister paper East Bay Express, in Oakland, Calif. It's a way of recognizing the entrepreneurial spirit and community awareness that invigorates a local economy. The eight categories up for consideration were Market Spark, Fresh Food Friend, Neighborhood Notable, Dynamic Developer, Green Angel, Dane and Beyond, Bridge Builder and Heartland Hipster. We garnered 87 contenders from the nominating process, a number we consider not bad for the first time out.
We owe our thanks to the judges who sifted through the nominees to come up with the winners. They were Ellen Meany, creative director at Isthmus; Sally Dischler, president and CEO of Heartland Credit Union (a sponsor); Buzz Kemper of Audio for the Arts; Gage Mitchell of Gage Mitchell Design; and Yvette Jones of Design Craft Advertising.
So much for the process; now for the party at Eldorado Grill. A limited number of tickets are available for the general public. They cost $25 and are obtainable only at the Isthmus office at 101 King St., or by phone at 608-251-5627. Hobnob with decidedly local players and enjoy the delectables en buffet from the kitchen of chef Kevin Tubbs. (Yes, you could make a meal of them.)
