76 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2020
SPOTLIGHT ON 2020 WINNERS
2020 CONTEST
CELEBRATING LI’S BEST
Everyone eagerly waiting to find out
who won the 2020 Bethpage Best of
Long Island contest will learn the
results in February, according to the
contest’s organizers.
The 15th annual contest, the largest
of its kind on Long Island, celebrates
dozens of categories ranging from
a wide range of genres from arts
and entertainment to weddings,
with food and drink being among
the fiercest competition. The list of
winners will be found at bestoflongisland.
com, where nominations for
the 2021 contest are currently being
accepted.
“You’ve got to test yourself against
the best to know you are the best,”
British soccer player Declan Rice
famously said.
Hundreds of businesses, people,
charities, and other entities faced off
in the latest round of competition.
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.
The popularity of the contest, which
originated in the Long Island Press
and is sponsored by Bethpage Federal
Credit Union, continues to grow each
year. There were once again more
than 1 million votes cast last fall —
nearly double the amount of ballots
counted in the November elections
in Nassau and Suffolk counties. And
there was a 9 percent increase in
registered voters from last year.
Those users cast their votes in dozens
of categories, ranging from the long
list of restaurant cuisines 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 on March 24 at Chateau
Briand in Carle Place. Tickets can be
purchased at bestoflongisland.com.
And not unlike the presidential elections,
voters were already looking
ahead to the next contest as soon as
the voting ended. Anyone who didn’t
see their favorite business, person,
or place on the ballot this time can
nominate them in the 2021 Best of LI
contest. Nominations are accepted
through Aug. 31.
Supporters can then cast their votes
next fall when the polls open again
Oct. 1 through Dec. 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 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island program through Aug
31. Winners of the 2020 contest have been contacted and will be
announced in February.
Step 1: Visit bestoflongisland.com
Step 2: Click “2021 Nominates” and select category
Step 3: Fill out form
Step 4: 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
Brought to you by Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Bethpage Best of Long Island can be reached at 516-962-3700.
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