The time for nominations has ended. It’s now time to vote, through Sept. 30, for The Westside Express Readers’ Choice 2026 Awards.
Readers can vote for their favorites in nine general categories, with many specific areas under each category.
The same awards that publisher Gene Lieb coordinated in Los Banos for many years are back and include Dos Palos and Firebaugh nominees as well as those for Los Banos.
The awards, as many long-time local newspaper readers will remember, are designed to honor businesses, schools, organizations and individuals that have gone above and beyond with service to their communities.
Nominations in all nine categories were open during the last two months, but they closed on Aug. 31. Now, effective Sept. 1, readers will have the chance to vote for their favorites.
“We received a lot of nominations,” said Lieb. “I’m really pleased with the response.”
To cast votes, readers should go to this website: wexreaderschoice.com.
On the website you will find nine general categories: academic, automotive, community, food and beverage, health and fitness, home, professional services, real estate and shopping.
Under each general category are a number of specific categories. Under automotive, for example, are auto body and collision, automotive maintenance and repair, auto salesperson, car wash, oil change, smog, tire stores, towing service and windshield glass/repair.
Voting ends Sept. 30. Then votes will be tabulated and the winners announced in October.
