MULTIPLE HONORS — Mrs. West Virginia Lacy Ferguson, left, presented one of three awards for Pastaio Trattoria Italiana to Gia Di Gristina, who accepted on behalf of the family-run restaurant owned by her father, Chef Guiseppe Di Gristina, during the Herald-Star and Weirton Daily Times’ Best of the Best Readers’ Choice awards presentation Wednesday at the St. Florian Event Center. The Wintersville business was named best Italian restaurant, best overall restaurant and best outdoor dining and was one of many businesses to be recognized for excellence during the event. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — The owners and staff of a wide variety of businesses were acknowledged for their hard work through the presentation Wednesday of awards in 156 categories in the Herald-Star and Weirton Daily Times’ Best of the Best Readers’ Choice competition.

Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the two newspapers, told the many business owners and professionals attending the event at the St. Florian Event Center, “We’re here for a very simple reason, and that’s to recognize the businesses that truly excel in what they do.

Gallabrese said what makes the night’s awards special is that they were determined through votes by the business’ own customers who also are readers of the two newspapers.

He noted the categories encompassed a broad range of goods and services but the award recipients all have something in common.

“They all work very hard every day to provide the best goods and services and the best experience to every customer,” said Gallabrese.

He added they also have supported their communities in various ways, from donating a gift card or basket for an event supporting a local charity to sponsoring a youth sports league or team or school program.

Gallabrese told the honorees they may think their efforts go unnoticed, but “Believe me, area residents notice. Just look at how they stepped up to support you.”

He said the newspapers received 137,829 votes from 6,304 voters in the competition’s first round and 95,258 votes from 2,087 voters in its second round.

The tallies led to three top winners being named in each of the categories.

Many of the recipients were named the best in multiple categories.

They included: TEAM Automotive, Lyle’s Auto, Shear Perfection, 7 Ranges Entertainment, Puskarich Accounting, the law firm of Rokisky, McCune, Wilharm, Blair and Risovich; State Farm agent Casie Johnson, Gus’s Goodies, the Caffeinated Cow, Pastaio Trattoria Italiana, Murray’s Restaurant, Chico Fiesta Mexican Grill, Federico Foods, Fresh Twist, Marks’ Carry Out, Valley Hospice, Trinity Health System, Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration, Fuscardo Concrete, Exquisite Creations by Joel, J.J. Guida Airport Realty, Kroger stores, M&M Hardware and Ferguson’s House of Furniture.

A complete list of the award recipients appears in today’s issue.

The awards program, which included food and live music by Twice as Nice, was attended by more than 300 people.