Best Of The Best Rocklin - 2009

2 • August 6, 2009

BEST

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Best Lube & Oil Change

Monday-Saturday 7:30AM-6:00PM Sundays 9:00AM-4:00PM

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

2009 Best of the Best Winners – Placer Herald ALTERATIONS Park Drive Cleaners

AUTO DEALER Mercedes Benz

Doug’s Cut Christmas Trees

FOREIGN FOOD

COACH

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

Coach Steve RHS Basketball

Taylor,

AUTO REPAIR Five Star Auto Care

COFFEE SHOP

Thai Chili

Jamba Juice

Wells Fargo Bank

BBQ RESTAURANT Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ

CONSIGNMENT STORE Bon Bon Boutique

DAY CARE DAY SPA

CATERER

Beach Hut Deli

Verizon Wireless

SPECIALTY STORE

Mike Nottoli, Crime Prevention

PAINTER

LOCAL WEBSITE

PEST CONTROL

McClaine Painting

Whitney Oaks Golf Club

City of Rocklin

Rocklin Pest Control

GROCERY STORE

SteinMart

SPORTS TEAM Whitney High School Football

STORAGE FACILITY Placer Self Storage

LODGING Staybridge Suites

PET GROOMING Wags to Riches

GYM California Family Fitness

LUBE/OIL

HAIR SALON

MAIL/PACKAGE CENTER

Jiffy Lube

PET STORE

SUSHI RESTAURANT Izumi Japanese Restaurant

Petco

TACK & FEED Brockway Hair Design

PIZZA RESTAURANT

TANNING SALON

UPS

HAIR STYLIST/ BARBER Michelle – Barber Bill’s

MARTIAL ARTS Owings Martial Arts

Foothill Feed & Gift

Pizza Place

PLACE TO TAKE A DATE Rubino’s

California Sun Centers

TAX SERVICES H & R Block

DENTAL OFFICE Dr. Elizabeth RoullierBunz

HAMBURGER PLACE Wood’ys Grill & Bar

DENTIST Dr. Elizabeth RoullierBunz

MASSAGE Sunset Wellness

Elliott’s Natural Foods

HEATING & AIR

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Icing on the Cupcake

Ace Hardware

TIRE STORE

HOME ACCESSORIES RC Willey

POOL & SPA Spa/Pool Emporium

TRAVEL AGENCY

Rudy’s Gourmet Mexican Cuisine

PRINCIPAL

MINISTER

Jim Trimble, Rocklin Elementary

VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Father Dillon, St. Peter & Paul

R.V. REPAIR

Willow Rock Pet Hospital

Brower Mechanical

DESSERT RESTAURANT

PLUMBING SUPPLY Les Schwab Tires

HEALTH FOOD

Randy Peters

CELLULAR SERVICE

Carte Jewelers

RC Willey

Selah Salon & Day Spa

CAR WASH Five Star Car Wash

PAINT STORE

JEWELRY

KinderCare

DELI Rudy’s Gourmet Mexican Cuisine

Heidi Little, Rocklin Academy

LAW ENFORCEMENT

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Venita Rhea’s

BURRITO RESTAURANT

TEACHER

Cater Galante Orthodontic Specialist

FURNITURE

Bel Air

BOWLING

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

ORTHODONTIST

GOLF COURSE

Bel Air Strikes Family Entertainment

Rubino’s Ristorante

Kelly-Moore

Starbucks

BANK

RANT

AAA Travel

Camping World

CHINESE RESTAURANT

DOCTOR Dr. Tuan Doan, M.D.

Chang Brothers

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Better Health Chiropractic

Park Drive Cleaners

NAIL SALON ICE CREAM/YOGURT

FAST FOOD McDonald’s

INSURANCE AGENT

Dr. Gary Gade

FIREFIGHTER Jim Summers

CHRISTMAS TREE LOT

FLORIST Rocklin Florist

NON-PROFIT AGENCY Rocklin History Museum

Dr. Bruce Carstens

VOLUNTEER Rocklin Ambassadors

Chamber

Thai Chili Restaurant

WAITER/WAITRESS SALAD RESTAURANT Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ

OPTOMETRIST Eye Center Optometric

ITALIAN RESTAU-

Epic Skatepark

RESTAURANT

INTERNET PROVIDER Wave Broadband

VETERINARIAN RECREATION FACILITY

Tresor

Tops Yogurt

Jerry Dizon - State Farm

CHIROPRACTOR

The Music Store

Ace Hardware

DRY CLEANER CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE

MUSIC STORE

Michelle, Venita Rhea’s

WINDOW/GLASS Rocklin Glass & Mirror

SCHOOL Rocklin Academy

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

What is Best of the Best? Best of the Best is an annual readers’ choice awards contest run by The Placer Herald of Rocklin and the Loomis News newspapers. Winners are celebrated with this publication, a guide to the businesses, services, restaurants and activities that make the Rocklin and Loomis area awesome places to live, work and play.

How are winners chosen? You chose the winners by voting for your favorite businesses in dozens of categories. This year we had our highest voter turnout yet. Readers filled out ballots printed in The Placer Herald and Loomis News or voted online at placerherald.com or theloomisnews.com.

How accurate is it? Only one online or paper entry is allowed per person, so “ballot stuffing” is curtailed.

What’s in this special section? You’ll find advertisements from many of the winning businesses you voted for. You’ll also find feature stories and photographs of some of the winners from Placer Herald and Loomis News reporters and photographers.

So, did you favorite business make the cut?

If not, make sure to vote in next year’s Best of the Best.

Is there a category you’d like to see in the Best of the Best? Contact Suzanne Stevenson at [email protected]. Congratulations to all the winning businesses and thank you to all those who participated by voting!

ON THE COVER High-Hand Conservatory, Nursery and Art Gallery in Loomis features a plethora of everything for the outdoors as well as distinctive art work and specialty rugs for home interiors. COVER PHOTO BY KARINA WILLIAMS • GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

COURTESY

Night owls can enjoy glow bowling Friday and Saturday nights at Strikes.

Ready to roll in Rocklin Anyone who has visited Strikes Entertainment Center knows it is so much more than a bowling alley. The 65,000 square foot facility boosts dozens of lanes for all levels of bowling . Depending on what time the mood for throwing strikes, spares or even a gutter ball hits you, Strikes offers a variety of leagues and bowling activities throughout the week. Bowlers can get in a game beginning at 9 a.m. For the night owls, Strikes features glow bowling Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Bowling leagues involve teams of four or five bowlers who get together at the same time each week while competing for cash prizes. What a great way to get out with friends or to meet some new people as well. Families on a budget

BEST BOWLING What: Strikes Bowling Where: 5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin Info: 632-8200

will appreciate Strikes’ Family Night Special where six people can participate in 1 ½ hours of bowling, get shoe rental, while munching on a pizza, drinking soda and get in a few arcade games and laser tag, all for $39.99. Strikes is also home to Coach’s Classic Bar & Grill where guests can get a meal, watch their favorite sporting event, listen to live music or celebrate a birthday or special occasion. There’s even a happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday where drinks and food are offered at special prices. The Strikes arcade provides more than 50 of the latest video, virtual, interactive games. If your legs

get tired from playing a real bowling game, Strikes offers online games as well. If the mood to reach higher heights strikes you, try the Strikes rock wall. It features 1,200 square feet of climbing, all the latest safety equipment, and multiple stations on a 28foot tower. But that’s not all. Lazer tag, a fast-paced game of strategy is sure to get your blood pumping. You can maneuver your way through the futuristic arena filled with glow-in-thedark pillars, arches, passageways and swirling fog. According to Strikes coowner Jim Falls, Strikes is a full service facility. “We have corporate meeting rooms, with a full service restaurant,” Falls said. “We can provide our customers everything a hotel can’t do.”

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

BEST

Best Pizza Restaurant

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Best Breakfast/Rocklin A Great Place for Great Food

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

Thank you to our customers for voting us Best Breakfast!

Thank You to the Rocklin Community for all your support! We look forward to serving you for many years to come!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION SPECIAL

Come see our NEW Larger Location in the same shopping center!

$5 Any order of $20 or more OFF

Thank You - The Pizza Place Family

Excludes holidays and alcohol. With this coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 9-30-09.

3221 Stanford Ranch Rd. #200 • Rocklin

(916) 435-3663 www.thepizzaplacerocklin.com

4415 Granite Dr., Rocklin • 916-624-2697

Best Orthodontists

Thank You to all who voted us Best Orthodontists in Rocklin! Creating Smiles that last a lifetime! Now offering Invisalign for teens & adults! 6526 Lone Tree Blvd. #100 • Rocklin, CA

916.435.8000 www.cgbraces.com

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Season to remember

Keeping it fresh, fragrant BY LAUREN WEBER THE PLACER HERALD

For more than 30 years, Rocklin Florist has been providing locals with fresh-cut flowers, floral arrangements and all-occasion gifts in the form of sweet-smelling plants. “We do a little bit of everything,” said co-owner Mona Wooden, who owns the shop with her husband, Paul. With two on-site designers, Wooden said they’re able to work with customers to custom design arrangements for any occasion. Their centerpieces, gift arrangements and poinsettias draw in the crowd during their busiest season – Christmas, Wooden said. But year-round, Rocklin Florist offers centerpieces, plants and bouquets. For the 2009 Best of the Best, Placer Herald readers voted Rocklin Florist best florist in the area, and

BEST FLORIST

BEST COACH

Winner: Rocklin Florist Location: 5885 Pacific St. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday

Winner: Steve Taylor Location: Rocklin High School

through Friday

BY AUTUMN MATZ

Wooden said she thinks it’s stemmed from a number of things. “We’re still here. Longevity, name recognition and customer service” are what sets Rocklin Florist apart from others, Wooden said. One of their popular summer bouquets includes an arrangement called Watercolor Beauty, which include green orchids and purple dahlias, lavender flowers and hydrangeas that translate into the looks of a watercolor painting. One of the store’s best sellers is small red wagon filled with red, white and yellow flowers, welcoming a baby into the world. The arrangement, called Teleflora’s Baby’s First Wagon has either “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”

THE PLACER HERALD

LAUREN WEBER • THE PLACER HERALD

Rocklin Florist has a selection of gifts including teddy bears, cards and plants. written in white on the wagon. Whether it’s for an anniversary, to give thanks or to celebrate a holiday, Rocklin Florist has a bunch from which to choose.

Boutique’s prices make shopping fun BY AUTUMN MATZ THE PLACER HERALD

AUTUMN MATZ • THE PLACER HERALD

Bon Bon Boutique offers a wide selection of gently used merchandise at great prices.

With a wide range of quality clothing as well as a fun and relaxing atmosphere, Bon Bon Boutique offers a great shopping experience to its customers. Bon Bon Boutique has been voted the Best of the Best consignment store in Rocklin and Loomis for the third year in a row. “It feels great. It’s awesome to know we have loyal customers and consigners who think we are the best out of our competition,” said Bon Bon Boutique owner Jamie Weatherfield. The boutique was established in July 2006 and has since gained a reputation as an affordable way to buy high-end merchandise. “What sets us apart are mostly our prices, Weatherfield said. “They are fair and reasonable all the time.

BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP Winner: Bon Bon Boutique Where: 6848 Five Star Blvd. No. 3 Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Info: 784-1697, bonbonboutique.net

Also, we offer a fun shopping experience.” Bon Bon Boutique accepts clothing for consignment every day of the week. Consigners receive 40 percent of the selling price, while the store keeps 60 percent. Consigners have the option to request their 40 percent in the form of check, or they have option to receive store credit. The boutique does not accept clothing items that are sold at Target, Wal-Mart or Kmart, including brands like Simply Basics, Kathy Ireland and Route 66.

Whether it is during a practice or a championship game, there is something that stands out about coach Steve Taylor. Taylor, head coach of the boy’s basketball team at Rocklin High School has been voted best coach in Rocklin and Loomis for 2009. Taylor has been a coach at Rocklin High School for 13 years and has been able to achieve many things during his time there. In the 2007-08 season Taylor coached his team to a Division II title. This year, he was able to lead his team to a win in the NorCal Division II Championship. With these recent accomplishments, Taylor has been able to lead the Rocklin High School basketball program the farthest it has ever gone. Even though he won the award, Taylor points out that it is a reflection of the entire Rocklin High School coaching staff. “I appreciate the community members of Rocklin recognizing our team’s accomplishments this past season by voting me the best coach for 2009,” said Taylor. “Any personal accolades I

GARY JONES • THEWINNING SHOT.COM

Coach Steve Taylor, the head coach of the boy’s basketball team at Rocklin High School, was recently voted best coach in Rocklin.

receive are a direct reflection of the hard work our entire coaching staff and players put in to make our season a memorable one.” Taylor has one theory about why he was chosen out of all the coaches to be voted the best of the best. “I think I received this award because our team generated a lot of excitement and enthusiasm as we made our run toward the State Championship game,” Taylor said. Among his other accomplishments, during the past school year Taylor was voted best Tri Counties Bank Coach of the Week.

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Best Hair Salon Thank You Rocklin for voting us Best of the Best! We want to give a special thanks to all of our loyal clients You are an inspiration. We are proud to represent such a wonderful community.

2351 Sunset Blvd. (Stanford Ranch) • Rocklin • 624-7675 4787 Granite Drive • Rocklin • 624-0697

Book an appointment today and find out what makes us Best!

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Best Restaurant/Best Foreign Food We are so grateful to those who voted us “Best Restaurant” and “Best Foreign Food”. Thank You.

$$ THAI CHILI Restaurant 2164 Sunset Blvd. #200 Rocklin • 916.780.6555

2 OFF $$ 5 OFF

ANY PURCHASE OF $10 OR MORE Offer good thru 8-31-09

ANY PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE Offer good thru 8-31-09

Best Massage Thank You for voting Sunset Wellness Spa Best Massage! 50 Minute Massage $49

or

Deep Cleanse Facial $49 Offer ends 8/31/09. Bring in ad.

Sunset Wellness Spa 2600 Sunset Blvd., Suite #105 • Rocklin 916-630-7596 • www.sunsetwellness.com

Best Insurance Agency Thank you for voting for us! We enjoy serving our community!

And joining Hebard Ins. is Sabrina Higby, voted Best Accounting & Tax Service. higbytax.com

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Best Storage Facility PLACER SELF STORAGE Celebrating 26 years of business since 1983 “Thank You to all our customers. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the future. You are the “Best of the Best”.

(916) 624-8292

Brian & Valerie

2340 Sierra Meadows Dr. • Rocklin

Best Sandwich Shop/Best Sign Dancer L – PICK-U P – EAT CAL

3589 Taylor Rd., #C • Loomis

916-652-9230 M - F 9am - 5pm Sat. & Sun. 9am - 4pm

Hurry in with your FREE coupons!

Cool Down for Summer! Famous Merlino’s Freezes!

Let Us Thank You for Voting Us #1 Come Try Us Out With This Special Coupon, Just For You!

FREE

CLIP & SAVE

FREE

Buy Any Sandwich and receive 2 oz. bag of Lay’s chips, a 12 oz. drink and a FREE Chocolate Chip Cookie! Expires Sept. 6, 2009. One coupon per person, one coupon per day. Must present coupon.

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Lucille’s the place for BBQ Family

Fitness has it all

BY AUTUMN MATZ THE PLACER HERALD

With its apple butter and biscuits, tender baby back ribs and juicy barbecue chicken, it’s no wonder people come back to eat at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que. Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que won the title of Best of the Best for barbeque and salad restaurant in this year’s Rocklin competition. The restaurant was started in Long Beach by Lucille Buchanan and has since grown to include 13 locations in California, Arizona and Nevada. The Rocklin smokehouse is located in the Blue Oaks Town Center. Lucille’s offers a menu filled with barbecue items such as baby back ribs, smoked barbecue chicken and barbecue tri tip. On top of the barbecue items, diners can also enjoy sandwiches, soups, salads and specialty items. The restaurant serves up a wide variety of barbecue items that are all initially slow-smoked with hickory wood. The St. Louis spare ribs, which are juicy pork ribs seasoned with a special rub only offered at Lucille’s, while the barbecue tri-tip is smoked all day and served with a savory sauce. Lucille’s has managed to incorporate barbecue into its salads as well. The barbecue chicken salad includes a grilled chicken breast tossed with a variety of other ingredients

BY SUSAN BELKNAP THE PLACER HERALD

AUTUMN MATZ • THE PLACER HERALD

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que employee Zack Shiner said the success of the eatery is the barbecue variety and customer service. The restaurant earned best restaurant for salads and barbecue for Rocklin’s Best of the Best.

BEST RESTAURANT Winner: Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Where: 6628 Lonetree Blvd. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

including ranch dressing, fresh greens, diced tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Another salad that is offered at Lucille’s is the blackened shrimp salad, which includes blackened shrimp on mixed green lettuce tossed with barbecue ranch dressing and

topped with sweet corn, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, avocado and shredded jack and cheddar cheese. What separates Lucille’s from its competition is the variety of food it offers and its approach to customer service, said Lucille’s employee Zack Shiner. “We offer a lot of food that other barbecue places can’t compete with. Outside of the quality food we offer, we practice team service so it helps add to the whole Lucille’s experience,” Shiner said.

Anyone who thinks working out is boring hasn’t been to Rocklin’s California Family Fitness. Encompassing 50,000 square feet, the facility features a fitness center, pools, basketball facilities, climbing wall, dry sauna, group exercise, racquetball steam room, and a plethora of activities for the kids as well. “There’s definitely something for everyone,” said Heidi Cser, director of communications. “We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a family atmosphere.” In order to maintain a high quality of care for the children of their clients, Cser said the Rocklin Family Fitness Center offers three separate children’s areas: elementary, toddler and infant. An interactive three-story playscape, homework areas, arts and crafts, storytelling, pool tables and air hockey are just a few of the amenities available for children at the center. During the summer months, a variety of camps and swim lessons are available. For the adults more than 100 group fitness classes are offered each week including yoga, kickboxing and spinning.

COURTESY • THE PLACER HERALD

The California Family Fitness in Rocklin offers multitude of activities, including the climbing wall.

BEST GYM Winner: California Family Fitness Where: 2165 Sunset, Blvd., Rocklin Contact: 435-2141 KIDZ KLUB HOURS • Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CLUB HOURS • Monday-Thursday — 4:30 a.m. to midnight Friday 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For those members who prefer to work out on a more individualized level, Cser said Family Fitness personal trainers take pride in their work and pay individual attention to each client, no matter what their needs. “We want our clients to

always feel comfortable,” Cser said. “Our trainers are enthusiastic and offer specialized training. We even have a boot camp training that people love.” Randy Karr, president of California Family Fitness said all the focus is on the members and treating each one like family. “We take pride in our level of service and program offerings so every member of the family remains active and entertained. We offer more than just a membership. We provide a path to a healthy lifestyle,” Karr said. “We are very proud to be voted Best Gym by the readers of the Placer Herald and look forward to many more years of providing exceptional service and unique programs for the Rocklin community to enjoy.”

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Best Florist

Best Veterinary Clinic

LOOMIS BASIN VETERINARY CLINIC

THANK Y OU FOR VOTING US T HE BEST!

Dr. Rick Frey & Dr. Marcia Smith & Associates would like to Thank You for voting us Best Veterinary Hospital & Best Veterinarian Dr. Corey Cherrstrom Small Animals & Exotics

Same location for over 30 years. We deliver to:

Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Penryn, Loomis and most of So. Placer County.

“Caring for your family pets has been our concern for over 30 years.”

Full Service Veterinary Hospital and 24 Hour Emergency Care

916-652-5816 3901 Sierra College Blvd. • Loomis, CA 95650

Rocklin Florist 5885 Pacific St., Rocklin

624-1651

w w w. r o c k l i n f l o r i s t . c o m

Open Mon. - Fri. 9a.m. - 6p.m.

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Best Nail Salon Lo NAIL omis

Best Winery Thank You for Voting us the Best Winery!

SAL ON

Fine Wines from locally grown grapes OPEN Sat. & Sun. • Noon to 4pm 4390 Gold Trail Way • Loomis, CA (916) 652-6015 • secretravine.com

Best Cleaners & Alterations Thank you for voting Loomis Nails as Best Nail Salon in Loomis!

Thank You To Our Customers For Voting Us The Best! John & Mira Kim

Nails & Waxing

Park Drive Cleaners

Mon.-Fri. 9:30 - 7 Sat. 9:30 - 6 Sun. 10 - 5

6100 Horseshoe Bar Rd., Ste. 2, Loomis

916-652-0906

Best Chinese Restaurant

2221 Sunset Blvd. #107 Rocklin

Best Heating & Air Contractor

Thank You, Rocklin, for voting us Best of the Best!

Minimum $15 00 Limited Area

435-4818

M - F 7am - 6:30pm Sat. 9am - 3pm

Thank you for voting

• Commercial • New Construction • Residential Replacement Lic. #877345

Best of The Best! FREE Service Call $35 Tune Up

Save on Energy Bills & Prevent Break Downs

6160 Stanford Ranch Rd., #100, Rocklin

www.changbros.com

916.771.9838

Visit Our Auburn Location 530-885-9781

www.familycomfortheatingandcooling.com

FREE ESTIMATES

916-459-0405

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BEST

Best Stove/Fireplace Store

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BEST

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Best Mexican Food/Loomis

Thanks for voting us the Best Stove/Fireplace Store!

Thank you for voting us Best Mexican Food!

The Stove Connection

Proudly Serving our Customers for over 30 years!

3719 Taylor Rd., Loomis 652-4560 VISIT US ON THE WEB

www.stoveconnection.com

HOURS: MON - FRI 10AM - 5PM, SAT - SEASONAL

Best Antique Store

Thank You Loomis!

1/2

Vintage Charm Antiques & Collectibles

OFF

When you buy one dinner or lunch at regular price, get 2nd for 50% off! Expires 12-31-09.

Lorenzo’s Original

Buy • Sell • Estates • Piece • Lot Diane Felion & Ann Fleming, owners

MEXICAN CUISINE

3722 Taylor Road, Loomis • 916-652-9000 vintagechar [email protected]

3883 Taylor Rd., Loomis • 652-6218

Best Dessert

Best Website Thank You, Rocklin!

Rhona Wu

Dayna Amboy

Admin. Assistant

Website Admin.

For Voting City Of Rocklin The “Best Website” Visit us at www.rocklin.ca.us Recreation Guide & Registration Online

www.rocklin.ca.us/RecDirect

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Always a matter of principal

Best Painter

BY SUSAN BELKNAP

BEST PRINCIPAL

PLACER HERALD EDITOR

Many thanks to our valued customers for voting us Best of the Best 2009!

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a good school principal. For Rocklin Elementary School Principal Jim Trimble, his high level of enthusiasm and energy has earned him the “best” school principal by Placer Herald readers. Entering his ninth year at the helm of Rocklin Elementary, after 25 years in the Sacramento City School District, Trimble said his goal as principal each school year is to “make every student successful” and to spend as much time as he can with all the students. “I get out into the classrooms and I’m on the school yard. I make

Winner: Jim Trimble Location: Rocklin Elementary

PLACER HERALD FILE PHOTO

Rocklin Elementary School Principal Jim Trimble. myself visible,” Trimble said. “I also like to make home visits to many of my kids.” By taking the extra effort to call upon a family at home, Trimble said he can better understand what makes individual

students tick. “Anything we can do to help, we’ll try it,” he said. Even with the school budget cutbacks, Trimble said he is looking forward to the beginning of a new school year on Aug. 17. There are more than 35 after-school clubs he hopes will be able to continue, and some new field trips planned for the kindergarten through sixth-grade student body. “We’re going to work with whatever the budget throws our way and make it better,” Trimble said of the upcoming year.

Best Italian Restaurant/Best Place to Take a Date

Thank You to our customers for voting us Best in Rocklin

AND RECEIVE A FREE

FRIED RISOTTO APPETIZER

(916) 624-3401 5015 Pacific Street • Rocklin www.rubinosrestaurant.com

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Best Teacher

Best Chiropractic Office

Safe, effective care for the entire family

4700 Rocklin Road, Rocklin

916-632-2676

www.bhchiro.com

Consultation, chiropractic, orthopedic and neurological examination, x-rays (if needed) and a report of findings for only Dr. Marianne Abate Dr. Scott Beavers

$$

4 9 00

(a value of $29500)

Offer expires 8-14-09.

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Valerie’s Gallery has the right creative touch JOYIA EMARD GOLD COUNTRY NES MEDIA

KARINA WILLIAMS • LOOMIS NEWS

Valerie Shields, interior designer and owner of Valerie’s Gallery, puts the finishing touches on a silk flower arrangement in her Loomis gift shop.

Valerie Shields uses her creative eye to fill Valerie’s Gallery with unique gifts and her talents haven’t gone unnoticed. She was voted Best Gift Store by our readers in the 2009 Best of the Best contest. Shields’ small store is packed with an eclectic mix of items for the home, including furniture and gifts. She recently added special order flesh flower arrangements to her list of services. Now, with advance orders, she fashions bouquets and arrangements for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. She also offers interior design consulting services and can add her decorating touch to anything

BEST GIFT STORE Winner: Valerie’s Gallery Location: 5913 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis

Phone: (916) 652-8257

from a single room to an entire villa. That includes choosing new furniture, flooring and window coverings, as well as picking colors, crown molding and other design elements, and even repainting. Shields is also experienced at reworking a customer’s favorite pieces and using them in the new décor. Art pieces can be enhanced to make them work. “Customers bring in something they love that we refashion to their new style,” Shields said. The refashioning can

include new paint, upholstery and hardware. Shields also said there seems to be a “new movement” of clients wanting to “redo” home décor items to work them into what they have. She said she’s doing more consultations on regrouping or rearranging a customer’s furnishings, and advising clients on work they can do themselves. “People are looking for things they can do themselves without spending a lot of money,” she said. Shields’ shop is jampacked with ideas for those seeking to freshen up their home décor. Many items such as vases, candles, rugs, ceramics, hand-blown glass and wrought iron also make great gifts.

Driven to succeed BY JOYIA EMARD GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Readers voted Loomis Automotive Services as the Best of the Best Auto Repair. While many businesses are experiencing a slump during the recession, Loomis Automotive has actually seen an increase in business. Dan Slivyak, owner of Loomis Automotive Services, said he has increased his marketing and advertising and his

business is up 12 percent over last year. “We’ve had some quiet times, but people aren’t buying new cars, they’re sticking with what they have,” Slivyak said. The Swetzer Road business owner said he offers competitive prices and gets lots of referrals. He is also getting customers who’ve switched from the higher-priced dealer service centers. Slivyak attributes his success to being involved in the communi-

BEST AUTO REPAIR Winner: Loomis Automotive Services

Location: 3220 Swetzer Road #B-1, Loomis

Phone: (916) 660-1693

ty, freezing his labor charges and prioritizing repairs for people who are on a budget. “We give people value for what they spend and try to offer old-fashioned service,” Slivyak said.

KARINA WILLIAMS • LOOMIS NEWS

From left, Neal Lewis, service advisor for Loomis Automotive Services, helps company owners Susan and Dan Slivyak provide the kind of service that earned the Loomis shop the most Best Auto Repair votes.

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

BEST

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August 6, 2009 • 21

Best Burrito Restaurant/Best Mexican Restaurant/Rocklin Family owned with a family atmosphere

CELEBRATING OUR 2ND YEAR!

Catering • To Go • Pick-Up

THANK YOU

“The

to all our customers for voting us Best of the Best!” for the second year in a row!

COUPON

Customer Appreciation

FREE Cup of Soup or Dessert

With this coupon. One per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires 8-31-09.

AUGUST DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS $ $ 95 95 Includes a small drink.

5

Monday - Regular Burrito w/small drink. $1.00 more for S uper. Tuesday - 4 Street Tacos (any meat), w/small drink. Wednesday - Taco Salad w/small drink. Thursday - El Chico Platter, one item combination w/small drink. Friday - Chicken and Guacamole Salad w/small drink.

TUESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST, KIDS 12 & UNDER EAT FREE!

6011 Stanford Ranch Road Ste. 107, Rocklin (Corner of Stanford Ranch and Sunset Bld.)

(916) 435-4050

22 • August 6, 2009

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

High-Hand is a favorite spot in the community JOYIA EMARD GOLD COUHTRY NEWS SERVICE

KARINA WILLIAMS • LOOMIS NEWS

Scott Paris, High-Hand owner, holds flowers from the nursery. The High-Hand restaurant, nursery and art gallery received top votes in a number of categories in the Best of the Best contest.

High-Hand in Loomis is a local favorite and was voted Best of the Best 2009 in eight different categories. They rated the best for art gallery, best company to work for, landscaping, nursery/garden supply, place to enjoy lunch, restaurant, salad restaurant and wedding location. Jan at High-Hand was also named the best wait person. When you ask people what they like best about the restaurant at HighHand Nursery they all agree it is the setting, along with the food. High-Hand Conservatory serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch in a greenhouse setting with the nursery’s gardens in

BEST ART GALLERY, COMPANY TO WORK FOR, LANDSCAPING, NURSERY, PLACE TO ENJOY LUNCH, RESTAURANT, WAIT PERSON, WEDDING LOCATION Winner: High-Hand Conservatory, Nursery and Art Gallery Location: 3790 Taylor Road, Loomis Phone: (916) 652-2065

view. “It’s like eating out in the garden,” said Kathy Pittman, who recently enjoyed lunch at the eatery with her husband, Chuck. “It’s delightful, the openness. Everyone is friendly and the food is excellent,”

Chuck Pittman added. The restaurant was the vision of High-Hand owner, Scott Paris, of Loomis. According to Michele Parry, company spokesperson, Paris designed the 2,500-square-foot conservatory so nursery visitors could dine while enjoying the garden. Parry said Paris is very committed to preserving the historic fruit shed that High-Hand calls home. The lunch menu features handcrafted sandwiches, salads and soups, while dinner offers a selection of items such as tritip, pork loin, salmon, crab and scallops. The weekend brunch also includes delicious selections. The restaurant, nursery and gallery are located on the grounds of the original fruit packing shed.

Experienced in flooring MARTHA GARCIA GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Best Outdoor Sporting Goods Store Thank you for all your votes, from our family to yours. We look forward to seeing you soon! 3587 Taylor Rd. Loomis (across from the Blue Goose)

916-652-2327

Tony Bosserman has operated his Flooring America store for more than 10 years. In all that time he has worked with many Tony Bosserman loyal customers who have now voted him

the Best Carpet/Flooring Store in the 2009 Best of the Best contest. Flooring America offers carpet, tile, wood, laminate and vinyl/linoleum. The family-run store can also install everything they sell and turn any size carpet in the store into a throw rug by binding the edges. Carpet cleaning is also available. Bosserman keeps up with the latest trends in flooring, including thirdgeneration laminate that

BEST CARPET/ FLOORING Winner: Flooring America Address: 5825 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis Phone: (916) 652-1003

simulates real wood very realistically. He’s also knowledgeable about hardwoods that are handscraped to give new wood an antique look. Flooring America offers old-fashioned service to Loomis Basin customers.

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

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Thank You for voting us

Best Christmas Tree Lot

Best of the Best in 2009!

DOUG’S CUT CHRISTMAS TREES

M E NTION TH IS AD TO RECEIVE

Locally owned for 28 years • “Best Quality Trees”

DISCOUNT PRICES!

Sheared Douglas Fir • Noble Fir • Silver Tip Grand Fir • Wreaths • Table Tops • Tall Trees

10% OFF $100 & $$10 OFF Smog

“WE THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR VOTING US THE BEST CHRISTMAS TREE LOT!”

MANDARIN

HEADQUARTERS

Buy Placer County Grown Mandarin Oranges Here. Sweet And Seedless!

916-521-7846 Rocklin Road, Rocklin Next to Kelly Moore Paints

916-652-6196 Best Fast Food

Thank You Rocklin! For voting us Best of the Best! COUPON

FREE Ice Cream Cone One per customer per visit. Limited time. Offer good thru 8-31-09. Offer only good at 2172 Sunset Blvd. • Rocklin, CA.

McDonald’s 2172 Sunset Blvd. #D Rocklin, CA

24 • August 6, 2009

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

Black Bear Outdoors finds success in Loomis BY JOYIA EMARD GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Dreams are coming true for a former Alaskan bush pilot and survival skills trainer. Not only did he open his own business with his two sons, but his outdoor shop was also selected as the Best Outdoor Shop in Loomis. Dan Abdon, of Penryn, and sons Tate and Blair, banded together and opened Black Bear Outdoors this past spring. Abdon said he’s always dreamed of having his own business that he could run with his sons. “To be able to work with your sons – it’s a dream,” he said. The three men share a

BEST OUTDOOR SHOP Winner: Black Bear Outdoors

Location: 2587 Taylor Road, Loomis

Phone: (916) 652-2327

love of the outdoors that, between them, encompasses those activities along with fishing, hunting, disk golf, mountain climbing and rock climbing. They carry products for all of those sports. “My sons are quintessential outdoorsmen, talented and skillful. They just eat it up,” Dan Abdon said. Abdon is a former Alaskan bush pilot who taught survival skills to

KARINA WILLIAMS • LOOMIS NEWS

Blair Abdon, left, and his brother, Tate Abdon, help run the family-owned Black Bear Outdoors sports store in Loomis. pilots. He also was in the Air Force, where he taught pilots cold weather sur-

vival skills. Now, he is an aviation safety inspector with the Federal Aviation

Administration and spends his evenings and Saturday at the business.

The family patriarch said the business fills a niche that no other outdoor store occupies because their products are so diversified. That diversity includes sports gear for all seasons and equipment sales and rentals. They also offer bike servicing and tuneups, dry suit and raft repair and special training classes. Rentals are available for inflatable rafts, kayaks and canoes along with camping, cycling and backpacking gear. “We hope to be the outdoor store everyone comes to ... The staff are experts and helpful, and you can really get service,” Dan said.

Stove Connection heats up votes BY JOYIA EMARD GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

KARINA WILLIAMS • LOOMIS NEWS

Stove Connection owner Bob Kendrick checks out one of the wood-burning stoves in his Loomis shop. Jeannie Kendrick, left, manages the store for her brother.

The Stove Connection has been named the Best Fireplace/Stove business by our readers. Bob Kendrick, owner, and his sister, Jeannie, both of Loomis, run the business, which sells wood, pellet and gas stoves, fireplaces and inserts plus accessories. Kendrick began as a chimney sweep and then 15 years ago opened his own store. He still provides chimney sweeping, but now he has someone

else do the actual work. “Having a professional chimney sweep do the cleaning is the only way to remove the creosote. There are safety issues with the creosote,” Kendrick said. His store charges $139 for the service. According to Bob Kendrick gas is the most popular fireplace option for home use, and cleanly creates heat. From 60 to 70 percent of the stoves and fireplaces he sells are either propane or natural gas. He also sells fireplace

inserts. Kendrick said newer EPA certified stoves burn 100 times cleaner than old ones. Some have catalytic combusters or noncatalytic options and can include blowers to move the heat. Newer fireplace inserts produce less emissions and more heat with less wood. He said they are more attractive, and an air wash system keeps the glass doors cleaner. The Stove Connection carries a number of products that meet the federal government standards for

BEST FIREPLACE/ STOVE BUSINESS Winner: Stove Connection Location: 3719Taylor Road, Loomis

Phone: (916) 652-4560

a consumer tax credit of 30 percent, or up to $1,500. The tax credit is good for the purchase of 75 percent efficient biomass-burning (either pellet or wood) freestanding stoves, fireplaces and fireplace inserts that are EPA certified by their manufacturer.

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

BEST

Best Drug Store & Ice Cream Shop

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August 6, 2009 • 25

Best Appliance Store

Thank you for voting us Best Drug Store and Best Ice Cream Shop! And thank you for voting our pharmacist, Gordon Takemoto, Best of the Best.

Thank You, Loomis Community!

Main Drug Store 3685 Taylor Rd., Loomis

652-7265

Best Law Enforcement

Michael Nottoli

I would like to thank the Rocklin community Placer Herald readers for selecting me as the Best of the Best in the Law Enforcement category. I am honored to be the recipient of this award. I am also very grateful that the Placer Herald has provided me with an opportunity to write a monthly crime prevention and safety column for the past seven years. It is important to keep community members informed about current crime trends and ways to reduce their vulnerability to such activity. The Placer Herald has always been willing to help me and the Rocklin Police Department disseminate timely information. I again thank the Placer Herald and its readers for their support.

Nelthorpe & Son wants to thank the community for voting for us. We appreciate your continued support!

3650 TAYLOR ROAD, LOOMIS • 916-652-4560

Best Yogurt Shop

Thank You to the Rocklin Community for voting us “Best Yogurt Shop” • 14 Flavors Every Day • Fresh Fruit • 100 Toppings • Indoor & Outdoor Seating • Real, gourmet whipped cream

3291 Stanford Ranch Road Rocklin, CA • 916.625.1003

26 • August 6, 2009

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Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

2009 Best of the Best Winners – Loomis News ACCOUNTING/PAYROLL SERVICE

CARPET/FLOORING

GAS STATION

Flooring America

USA Gas

CARPET CLEANING

GIFT STORE

Sabrina Higby

ANTIQUE STORE Vintage Charm

APPLIANCE STORE Nelthorpe’s ART GALLERY High-Hand

ASIAN RESTAURANT Loomis Chinese AUTO BODY SHOP Sierra Auto Care AUTO MECHANIC Jack Kreiss, Fox Auto Care AUTO REPAIR Loomis Automotive

BANK Wells Fargo

BARBER SHOP Loomis Family Barber

BARTENDER Charlotte, Wild Chicken

BEAUTY SALON Hair Apparent

BEAUTY SUPPLY Loomis Beauty Supply

BED & BREAKFAST Flower Farm Inn

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT Ugly Mug

BUILDING SUPPLIES Homewood Lumber

CAR WASH Unocal – Penryn

The Cleaning People

CHIROPRACTOR Loomis Basin Chiropractic

CLOTHING STORE Christensen’s

COFFEE SHOP Wild Chicken

COMPANY TO WORK FOR High-Hand

CREDIT UNION America’s Christian C.U.

DAY SPA Rejuvenate!

DELI Mr. Pickles

DENTIST Dr. Barry Mercer

DESSERT Divine Desserts

DOCTOR Dr. Graham

DRUG STORE Main Drug Store

DRY CLEANER Loomis Park

ELECTED OFFICIAL Ed Bonner, Sheriff

FAST FOOD

Valerie’s Gallery

MASSAGE THERAPIST Cynthia Watkins, Cynthia’s Massage & Bodyworks

MEXICAN RESTAURANT Lorenzo’s

Indian Creek

GROCERY STORE Raley’s

GYM Curves

MOST COLORFUL CHARACTER Joseph Hancock, Teacher at Del Oro High

NAIL SALON Loomis Nails

High-Hand

SANDWICH Mr. Pickles

SCHOOL TEACHER Joseph Hancock,

Sherri Donnallan, Hair Apparent

HAMBURGER PLACE Taylor’s

HEATING & AIR Family Comfort Heating & Cooling

NIGHT SPOT Horseshoe Bar Grill

NURSERY/GARDEN SUPPLY High-Hand

PEST CONTROL Pest Detective

PET GROOMING ICE CREAM SHOP Main Drug

PHARMACIST INSURANCE AGENT Hebard Insurance

SIGN DANCER Mr. Pickles

SPORTING GOODS Black Bear Outdoors

SUSHI Raley’s

Top Notch

Gordon Takemoto, Main Drug

TACK & FEED STORE Foothill Feed & Gift

TOWING INTERIOR DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHER

Valerie’s Gallery

Simply Portraits

INVESTMENT COMPANY Edward Jones

ITALIAN RESTAURANT Zorro’s

PIZZA Pizza Factory

PLACE TO ENJOY LUNCH High-Hand

Sierra Auto

VET HOSPITAL Loomis Basin Vet Hospital

VETERINARIAN Corey Cherrstrom, LBVH

JEWELRY STORE Kokopelli Rocks

LANDSCAPING

PLACE TO PICNIC Loomis Park

PRODUCE Blue Goose Produce

FIREFIGHTER

LAW ENFORCEMENT

PROPANE SUPPLIER

Stove Connection

SALAD RESTAURANT

Del Oro High

HAIR STYLIST

High-Hand Nursery

FIREPLACE/STOVE

High-Hand

GOLF COURSE

Taco Bell

Capt. Darrell Jones

RESTAURANT

WAIT PERSON Jan, High-Hand

WEDDING LOCATION Bob Brodovsky

LIQUOR Stonetree Market

Loomis RV Park

REAL ESTATE AGENT Leslie Griffith

High-Hand

WINERY Secret Ravine

Supplement to the Placer Herald and Loomis News

BEST

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BEST

Best School

August 6, 2009 • 27