Best of Roanoke 2012

From doggie daycare to retirement homes, from biggest brain to biggest clown, from worst moment of 2011 to best new idea for 2012, our readers have picked the best – and a few not-so-bests – of the valley. Our thanks to those readers for more than 30,000 individual votes cast in 153 categories, resulting in the following 465 Platinum, Gold and Silver awards.

• Pop Out People
• On the Web / TV & Radio
• Live & Learn
• What Happened What’s Happenin’
• Where to Go, What to Do
• Wheels
• Shop Til You Drop
• Home, Sweet Home
• Best in Services

Pop Out People

Your Local Hero

• PLATINUM: Ed Walker, area developer
• GOLD: Pearl Fu, Local Colors executive director

Most Brilliant Mind

• PLATINUM: Ed Walker
• GOLD: Randy Leftwich (WFIR image director)

Government Person Who Gets It

• PLATINUM: Bob Goodlatte, Congressman, 6th District
• GOLD: Court Rosen, City Council Member
• SILVER: Chris Morrill, City Manager

Government Person with Foot in Mouth

• PLATINUM: David Bowers, Mayor
• GOLD: Joseph B. Church, Catawba Supervisor
• SILVER: Bob Goodlatte

Crown This Person King (or Queen) of the Valley

• PLATINUM (tie): Ed Walker, Zack Jackson K92
• SILVER: Pearl Fu

Takes the Best Pictures in Town

• PLATINUM: Tina Holtzlander Photography
• GOLD: Kevin Hurley Photography
• SILVER: David Hungate / Dominion Images

Most Inspiring Teacher

• PLATINUM: Erin Jones (North Cross Middle School)
• GOLD: Ashley Williams (Goodspeed Learning Consultants)

Easiest to Look at (Female)

• PLATINUM: Jean Jadhon, WDBJ 7
• GOLD: Karen McNew, WSLS 10
• SILVER: Natalie Faunce, Our Blue Ridge (WSLS)

Easiest to Look at (Male)

• PLATINUM: Brent Watts, WDBJ 7
• GOLD: Robin Reed, WDBJ 7
• SILVER (tie): Court Rosen; Jeff Philips of Fit Food Inc.

Best Local Singer / Musical Group

• PLATINUM: Hoppie Vaughan and the Ministers of Soul
• GOLD: The Worx
• SILVEr (tie): Corey Hunley; Polychrome    

Local Celeb You’d Want for Your Charity Event

• PLATINUM: Danny Meyers, Zack Jackson and Monica Brooks, K92 Mornin’ Thang
• GOLD: Robin Reed
• SILVER: Brett Sharp, 94.9 FM Star Country