28 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2019
SPOTLIGHT ON WINNERS
2019 CONTEST
NEW WINNERS TBA
The winners of the wildly popular
2019 Bethpage Best of Long Island
contest are slated to be announced
in February, the competition’s organizers
say.
The contest, now running 14
years strong, spotlights winners in
dozens of categories including food
and drink, health care, arts and
entertainment, automotive, clothing,
education, home and garden,
nightlife and spirits, pets, services,
shopping, sports and activities,
and weddings. The list of winners
can be found at bestoflongisland.
com, where nominations for the
2020 contest are currently being
accepted.
“If you want to be the best, you’ve
got to beat the best,” as the saying
goes.
Hundreds of businesses, people,
charities, and other entities
brought that same fighting spirit
to the latest round of competition,
which settles once and for all who is
best in their given category.
Upon conclusion of the 75-day
voting period on Dec. 15, the
contest organizers began tallying
the votes, weeding out fraudulent
activity, and having an independent
auditor certify the fairness
and accuracy of the results so the
winners can then tout their titles
with confidence.
Evidence of the contest’s validity
and ability to inspire friendly competition
can be found in the number
of votes that rolled in this year. More
than 1.3 million votes were recorded
in the latest contest, which is even
more than the number of ballots cast
on LI in the 2018 midterm elections.
What’s more, the latest contest had
nearly a half million more votes — a
46 percent increase over the previous
round.
The contest, sponsored by Bethpage
Federal Credit Union, also had
65,287 nominations.
Those users cast their voters in
dozens of categories, ranging from
the long list of restaurant styles
judged to the wide array of other
business sectors the public ranked
in the contest.
Now that the numbers have been
crunched, winners can bask in their
glory at the Best of LI party, details of
which will be announced. Tickets can
be purchased at bestoflongisland.com.
And just like with political elections,
voters began looking ahead to
the next contest as soon as the voting
ended. Those who didn’t see their
favorite business, person or place
on the ballot this time can nominate
them in the 2020 Best of LI contest.
Nominations are accepted through
August 31.
Supporters can cast their votes
next fall when the polls open again,
from October 1 through December 15.
Voters are allowed one vote per email
address per day for each category.
More information can be found at
bestoflongisland.com.
Remember, these winners couldn’t
be called “the best” without the hundreds
of thousands of votes received.
When it’s all over, it was Long Islanders,
not the contest organizers, who
awarded these honors to the local
businesses that call Long Island
home.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
Nominate your favorite businesses, people, charities, and
entities in the 2020 Bethpage Best of Long Island program
through August 31. Winners of the 2019 contest have been
contacted and will be announced in February.
Step 1: Visit bestoflongisland.com
Step 2: Click “Nominates”
Step 3: Fill out form
Step 4: Select a category and enter nominee's information
Step 5: Repeat for all your favorite people and businesses.
To find other Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit
bestoflongisland.com
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