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‘Best Of’: Better than ever during pandemic Trying times bring out top qualities in merchants By Laura B. Hayden While 2021 has not been the best of times for area businesses due to the continued limitations caused by COVID-19, stellar local merchants are more appreciated than ever. By the high measure of customer satisfaction, here are the results of area businesses that have best served the community, determined by you — the readers —in the annual Best Of North Central Connecticut 2021 Readers’ Poll. Special thanks to our contest ballot
sponsors as well: T-Square Builders, New England Air Museum, Homestead, The Barn Yard, The Geryk Team and Mr. T’s Powerwash. And away we go! HALL OF FAME AWARD Vernon Poolman 540 Talcottville Rd (Route 83) Vernon 06066 (860) 872-1926 vernonpoolman.com Vernon Poolman rose to the very top of the 2021 list — the Best of the Best — earning this year’s Hall of Fame Award. Every year this high distinction goes to a local business that has been voted a NCN “Best of” for at least five years.
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Inaugural NCN Readers Poll Hall-of-Famer Harry Kent, right, of Kent Financial Services presents the 2021 inductees Debbie Kaczmarcyzk, left, and Kate Bombara. Photo by Josh Esan
Vernon Poolman joins these businesses in the NCN Hall of Fame: The Barnyard, 2020; Johnson Memorial, 2019; Budget Blinds, 2018; Lori Spielman Landscaping, 2017; Geisslers, 2016; Sonny’s Place, 2015; Harry Kent/Kent Financial, 2014. For over 40 years Vernon Poolman has specialized in in-ground pool installation and sales. “We actually started this business in 1989,” said Debbie Kaczmarczyk who, together with her husband Walter, own Vernon Poolman. Kaczmarczyk added that COVID-19
greatly increased the demand for pools last year. While this sounds like a plus, it created challenges when it came to meeting the ever-increasing supply needs of their customers. “The main hurdle we faced was the chlorine shortage. I did not receive the orders I placed and had to ration customers,” Kaczmarczyk said. “We continue to work harder than ever to meet the demand,” Kaczmarczyk said.
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