By Kathy Kurtz Ferrari
Staff Writer
3/17/11
The voters have spoken. The ballots have been counted. It’s that time of year again: time to announce the winners in our “Best in Milton” reader’s choice competition.

Once again, an enthusiastic voting block has cast votes in support of their favorite businesses, events and aspects of the town. Readers of the Times have continued to express their opinions and ideas about Milton by casting votes, and this year’s results include old favorites along with some new entries in the competition.

The award for Best Shopping Area goes to The Milton Marketplace, including The Fruit Center and several stores upstairs. East Milton Square also “has everything,” according to one voter, while Central Avenue has a diversity of shops, voters note.

Best Annual Event had many entries from voters, but the winner is Thayer Nursery’s Holiday Boutique. Also receiving quite a few votes is ¡Celebrate Milton!

Voters give a large victory to Mr. Chan’s for Best Ethnic Restaurant, a perennial favorite.

Best Real Estate Company is always highly contested, and this year, Coldwell Banker takes the prize for “knowledgeable agents who are involved in the town.” Honorable mention goes to Keating Brokerage, GKR Residential, and Laura Cahill, of Cahill Properties.

With so many hair salons in town, Best Hair Stylist is a hotly contested category. Voters helped sort out winners by sending in additional comments about their favorite stylists.

Best Overall Stylist goes to Mellie Hair Design, while Best Current Trends Cut goes to stylists at Eclipse Salon. Best Cut and Color goes to Salon D’Alessandro. The Milton Barbershop wins the award for Best Barbershop, where voters say they receive “a great haircut and a fun atmosphere.”

Best Massage Service goes to Body Benefits, and Belle Visage gets the nod for Best Day Spa.

The Nutshell is the runaway winner for Best Children’s Clothing and Gifts.

A category that always gets many entries, and receives enthusiastic comments, is Best Neighborhood. Voters sent in entries from all across town, with one voter simply saying, “all neighborhoods.” While it is clear from hearing from our voters that most residents love where they live, those living in the Columbines, Milton Village, West Milton, Huntington Road/Plymouth Avenue and many others took time to cast their votes. Some point out the Audubon Road “strip,” where they hold an annual cleanup of the brook, block parties and holiday light displays. Residents from Plymouth Avenue to Cunningham Park “can walk to almost everywhere.”

Once again Dependable Cleaners wins the award for Best Dry Cleaner, for “quick, quality service.”

In a town like Milton, with many dedicated town workers, the category for Best Town Department is always a tight race. This year, the School Department gets the award, with one voter commenting, “Mary Gormley is the best superintendent we’ve had in years.” Another added that the Town Clerk’s Office is helpful.

With a number of banks in town, Citizens Bank edges out Sovereign Bank for Best Bank.

The Milton Times was chosen as Best Newspaper, because of its “community involvement.” Another reader noted the paper’s “nice layout.”

There are quite a few choices for coffee around town, but voters choose Bruegger’s as the Best Coffee Shop. Starbuck’s receives an honorable mention.

Furry Tails is the reader’s choice for Best Pet Service.

And once Fido gets groomed, he might enjoy a trip to Cunningham Park, which wins the award for Best Passive Recreation Area. One voter commented, “how lucky we are to have the park.” Honorable mention goes to the Blue Hills Ski Area.

Voters find the Forbes House Museum as the Best Museum in town, because it is “rich in history” and “interesting.”

With many new restaurants on the scene locally, a hotly contested category is Best Restaurant, with Abby Park claiming that title this year. Also deserving accolades is 88 Wharf, which earns the award for Best Atmosphere. Readers note the spot’s “local crowd,” “good food” and “awesome steaks.” Stella’s receives the award for Best Breakfast.

Shoppers around town find The Gift Garden deserves the title Best Gift Shop, where there are “always new things,” and they have “great handbags.”

After all that shopping, readers like to stop by Milton House of Pizza, winner of the award for Best Sandwich Shop. Honorable mention goes to Bent’s.

With several important spots from history around town, readers find the Suffolk Resolves House as the Best Historical Site.

And virtually every school in town receives votes for Best School. But it seems a block vote got together to back the Campbell School for Best School, receiving the most votes in any category.

Best Overall Business award goes to The Fruit Center, where voters note the fresh produce and friendly people. Receiving honorable mention is Thayer Nursery, along with Thatcher Farm for its home delivery service.

The award for Best Health Facility goes to Milton Hospital, with Milton Hill Sport & Spa receiving honorable mention because it “appeals to all.”

Always receiving many votes annually for Best Fitness Club is Fitness Unlimited, where readers note “lots of good classes.”

Flashing a bit of bling with the award for Best Jewelry Store is Grono & Christie Jewelers. Readers find the store to be “most affordable” with “great owners.”

Another annual favorite wins the award for Best Teacher. Ann MacIntire, of Collicot Elementary School, is noted for being a “hard worker” who is “funny” and even “awesome.” She must be, because she is a past winner of this award. Teachers from the Campbell School are also recognized.

A business that always receives votes in several categories is Thayer Nursery, winner of this year’s Best Landscaper award.

Splitting the vote for Best Civic Organization is the Milton Junior Woman’s Club, for its “many contributions to the town,” and the Tucker Parent Teacher Organization. One voter also sent in a vote for “all organizations, none better than others.”

Readers also created a couple of categories that we didn’t think of. A.F. MacIsaac Contracting is noted as the Best Contractor.

As far as the overall feel of the town, voters send us comments about what they like about Milton. Readers note the nice neighborhoods, the residential feel of town, and the fact that the Young Musicians Festival has been happening for 25 years.

Readers were asked what could be improved in town, and comments are concentrated on East Milton. Many mention the lack of parking, and the need for more stores. One reader made a baffling request to our staff at the paper. “The water fountain on the East Milton Square deck should be finished and turned on.” We might send out an investigative team on that one.

Readers also have suggestions for what a local paper should do. Those responding ask for “more local detailed news,” for the paper to “always be fair and remain impartial,” and “provide a forum for differing opinions.”