The Best of voting for our fair city of Federal Way has turned sweet 16. Like every other 16-year-old that you know, this one has had its ups and downs.

Fortunately, it can’t get pregnant and we don’t have to buy it a college education or a new car. Through the years, you have helped us raise this from an infant of just a few categories, to its adolescent years when everything was a free for all and we included every category under the sun so as to avoid monumental meltdowns, bad hair days and an order of magnitude in sulking. Around rolls year 16 and all is bliss, at least for one year.

Or so it may seem.

There is trouble lurking under the soft exterior of this sweet baby. This year we had our first-ever three-way tie for first place. This is the indecisiveness a teenager would be proud of.

Over the years we have received some incredible comments for some of the categories only a teenager could appreciate.

In the category best cop – check the donut shops; city leader – we have one?; best education – Ross Dress for Less – I suppose there is math to be learned during retail therapy; voters were asked what country they were from and answered with King and Pierce rather than the United States; some had car companies listed as best adult care; an entry for a car dealer listed pygmy goats as a selling point.

Hopefully they weren’t referring to the staff; the Washington State Liquor Board was listed a number of times as their favorite wine store, followed closely by the entire city of Federal Way; and the list goes on.

Sometimes the best part of this entire process is reading through the comments of the voters.

It is with great pride I present to you the winning votes for our sweet 16 teenager. Thanks for taking the time to vote.

I welcome your continued help in rearing this sweet baby into its adult years.

SERVICE

Adult in-Home Care

FIRST PLACE|

COMFORT KEEPERS

2nd Home Instead Senior Care

3rd Emeritus of Federal Way

Attorney

FIRST PLACE|

HERMAN C. BREWER IV

2nd [tie] Gary Slater

Joe McGoran

Auto Body/Collision

FIRST PLACE|

BOB BJORNEBY’S CARSTAR FEDERAL WAY COLLISON

2nd Blackstone’s Collision

3rd Precision Collision Auto Body

Auto Repair Shop

FIRST PLACE|

SPARKS CAR CARE

2nd Bob Bjorneby’s CARSTAR Federal Way Collison

3rd Eagle Tire

Bank/Credit Union

FIRST PLACE|

HERITAGE BANK

2nd BECU

3rd [Home Street] Bank

Barber Shop

FIRST PLACE|

GENTS FINE GROOMING FOR MEN

2nd SportClips

3rd Twin Lakes Hair Salon

Barista/Location

FIRST PLACE|

MARIA KUEHLTHAU/MARISTA’S

2nd Julie Walkup/Starbucks at Dash Point

3rd Emma Gremer/Starbucks on 320th

Bartender/Location

FIRST PLACE|

JASON BOSSHART/RJAY’S SCOREBOARD

2nd Ryan Gray/Time Out Ale House

3rd Lacey Johnson/R-Jay’s Scoreboard

Chiropractor

FIRST PLACE|

DR. DEBORAH KLOBY

2nd Wolf Chiropractic Center

3rd Ball Chiropractic Center

Clinic/Hospital

FIRST PLACE|

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

2nd Virginia Mason Medical Center

3rd Group Health Federal Way Medical Center

Day Care

FIRST PLACE|

KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS

2nd La Petite Academy

3rd Spring Valley Montessori School

Day Spa

FIRST PLACE|

TWIN LAKES HAIR SALON

2nd MeMe & Company

3rd 8th Day Spa

Dentist

FIRST PLACE|

DR. STACY R. KANDA, DDS

2nd Dr. Kenneth Brossel, DDS

3rd Dodobaras, DDS

Financial Advisor

FIRST PLACE|

CHAD STALDER

2nd Dan Altmayer

3rd Doug Legg

Fitness Facility/Location

FIRST PLACE|

LA FITNESS

2nd FW Community Center

3rd 24 Hour Fitness

Hair Salon

FIRST PLACE|

TWIN LAKES HAIR SALON

2nd MeMe & Company

3rd The Hair Joint

Healthcare Professionals

FIRST PLACE|

JADE RIVER ACUPUNCTURE

2nd Virginia Mason Medical Center

3rd Group Health Federal Way Medical Center

Insurance Agent/Company

FIRST PLACE|

JEFF BURNETT/ALLSTATE

2nd Carrie Kuhel/State Farm

3rd Karl Kuntz/American Family Insurance

Nail Salon

FIRST PLACE|

Twin Lakes Hair Salon

2nd Cute Nails & Waxing

3rd MeMe & Company

Pet Groomer

FIRST PLACE|

BISCUITS FEDERAL WAY

2nd Simply Paws

3rd Designs in Fur

Photographer/Videographer

FIRST PLACE|

ED STREIT IMAGES

2nd [tie] Battan Photography

Bruce Honda

Real Estate Agent/Company

FIRST PLACE|

DEBI BRAULIK/KELLER WILLIAMS

2nd Jackie King/Better Properties

3rd Lori DeVore/John L Scott

Senior Living Facility

FIRST PLACE|

VILLAGE GREEN RETIREMENT CAMPUS

2nd Foundation House of Federal Way

3rd Emeritus at Federal Way

Tutor

FIRST PLACE|

SYLVAN LEARNING OF FEDERAL WAY

2nd Treehouse

3rd Math Prep Academy

Veterinarian

FIRST PLACE|

SACAJAWEA HEALTHCARE FOR PETS

2nd Cascade Veterinary Hospital

3rd Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital

Waiter/Location

FIRST PLACE [tie]

DUSTIN VISTANTE/PUERTO VALLARTA

MIKE JONES/BLACK ANGUS

ROBERT THOMPSON/TIME OUT ALE HOUSE

Waitress/Location

FIRST PLACE|

FRANCES HERRING/BLACK BEAR

2nd Maria Roman/Vince’s

3rd [tie] Cassandra Mangialardi/Applebees

Em Ketusiri/Thai Bistro

SHOPPING

Auto Parts

FIRST PLACE|

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS

2nd AutoZone Auto Parts

3rd G&M Honest Performance

Beer/Wine/Spirits Store

FIRST PLACE|

99 BOTTLES

2nd Costco Wholesale

3rd Trader Joe’s

Clothing Store

FIRST PLACE|

MACY’S

2nd Ross Dress for Less

3rd T.J. Maxx

Discount Store

FIRST PLACE|

TARGET

2nd Walmart

3rd Costco Wholesale

Hardware/Lumber Store

FIRST PLACE|

NEW LUMBER & HARDWARE CO.

2nd Lowe’s

3rd Home Depot

Jewelry Store

FIRST PLACE|

JEFFREY’S JEWELERS

2nd Fred Meyer

3rd Federal Way Custom Jewelers

Nursery & Garden Store

FIRST PLACE|

BRANCHES GARDEN CENTER

2nd Home Depot

3rd Lowe’s

Pet Store

FIRST PLACE|

MUD BAY

2nd Petsmart

3rd Petco

Second Hand Store

FIRST PLACE|

GOODWILL

2nd Deseret Industries

3rd Heaven Sent Children’s Resale

Tire Store

FIRST PLACE|

LES SCHWAB

2nd Eagle Tire

3rd Discount Tire

FOOD

Asian

FIRST PLACE|

INDOCHINA SEAFOOD AND SATAY BAR

2nd Garden Korean Cuisine

3rd Thai Bistro

Bakery

FIRST PLACE|

GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO.

2nd Panera Bread

3rd Wild Wheat Bakery Café & Restaurant

Barbeque

FIRST PLACE|

JIMMY MAC’S ROADHOUSE

2nd Billy McHale’s

3rd Pitmaster’s BBQ

Brunch/Breakfast

FIRST PLACE|

BLACK BEAR DINER

2nd Salty’s

3rd IHOP

Buffet

FIRST PLACE|

OLD COUNTRY BUFFET

2nd Salty’s

3rd Mika Japanese Buffet

Coffee Shop

FIRST PLACE|

POVERTY BAY COFFEE COMPANY

2nd Marista’s

3rd Starbucks

Deli / Sandwich

FIRST PLACE|

JOE’S DELI

2nd Subway

3rd Poverty Bay Coffee Company

Family

FIRST PLACE|

BLACK BEAR DINER

2nd Red Robin

3rd Applebee’s

Hamburger

FIRST PLACE|

RED ROBIN

2nd Burger Express

3rd Fatburger

Ice Cream

FIRST PLACE|

SUBZERO

2nd Cold Stone Creamery

3rd Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

Indian

FIRST PLACE|

EAST INDIA GRILL

2nd Taste of India

3rd Indochina Seafood & Satay Bar

Italian

FIRST PLACE|

VINCE’S

2nd Verrazanos Italian Restaurant

3rd Olive Garden

Lunch

FIRST PLACE|

BLACK BEAR DINER

2nd Denny’s

3rd Applebee’s

Mexican

FIRST PLACE|

AZTECA

2nd Puerto Vallarta Family Mexican Restaurants

3rd Chipotle Mexican Grill

Pizza

FIRST PLACE|

ROUND TABLE PIZZA

2nd The Rock

3rd Vince’s

Seafood

FIRST PLACE|

SALTY’S

2nd McGrath’s

3rd Red Lobster

Steakhouse

FIRST PLACE|

Outback Steakhouse

2nd Black Angus Steakhouse

3rd Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse

LIVING

Best Cop

FIRST PLACE|

ANDY HWANG

2nd Brian Wilson

3rd Officer, Keith Pon

Best Firefighter

FIRST PLACE|

GORDON OLSON

2nd Al Church

3rd Ryan Herrera

City Leader

FIRST PLACE|

JIM FERRELL

2nd Jeanne Burbidge

3rd Skip Priest

Community Volunteer

FIRST PLACE|

CINDY DUCICH

2nd Janice Siebenaler

3rd Doug Nelson

Educational Facility

FIRST PLACE|

SYLVAN LEARNING OF FEDERAL WAY

2nd Highline Community College

3rd DeVry University

Kid’s Activity

FIRST PLACE|

WILD WAVES THEME PARK

2nd Federal Way Community Center

3rd Marine Hills Swim & Tennis Club

Local Charity

FIRST PLACE|

MULTISERVICE CENTER

2nd Communities in Schools

3rd FUSION

Teacher/Elementary

FIRST PLACE|

TRISA DIXON/BRIGADOON ELEMENTARY

2nd Denita Blount/Chinook Elementary

3rd Cheryl Stark/Panther Lake Elementary

Teacher/Middle School

FIRST PLACE [tie]

CHRISTOPHER LEZCANO/ILLAHEE MIDDLE SCHOOL

YVETTE GREGG/ILLAHEE MIDDLE SCHOOL

3rd Kelsey Alig/Saghalie Middle School

Teacher/High School

FIRST PLACE|

Luke Thompson/Decatur High School

2nd Linda Morris or Michele Morris/Auburn HS

3rd [tie] Numerous teachers

Tourist Attraction

FIRST PLACE|

FARMER’S MARKET

2nd Wild Waves Theme Park

3rd Dash Point State Park

NIGHTLIFE

Bar/Night Club

FIRST PLACE|

RJAY’S SCOREBOARD

2nd Time Out Ale House

3rd Muckleshoot Casino

Casino

FIRST PLACE|

MUCKLESHOOT CASINO

2nd Iron Horse Casino

3rd Emerald Queen Casino

Local Arts Group

FIRST PLACE|

CENTERSTAGE THEATRE

2nd Federal Way Symphony

3rd Rosebud Children’s Theatre Conservatory

Movie Theatre

FIRST PLACE|

CENTURY 16 MOVIE THEATRE

2nd Gateway Movies 8

3rd Regal Auburn Stadium 17

Special thanks to Bruce Honda for contributing some of the photos in the slideshow. Bruce also placed second as the Best Photographer in the annual Best of 2014 contest.