The Stars of Monterey County make us all feel proud.

The Weekly’s Best of Monterey County star logo has been a familiar sight in the area’s finest businesses and institutions for more than a decade, adorning the walls of award-winning restaurants, spas, coffee shops, etc.

The star, one of the Weekly’s trademarks, refers to a starfish, and also to the obvious (but until now unstated) stellar aspect of top-quality stuff. This year, we finally connect the dots—recognizing the winners themselves as the stars that they are.

Throughout this thick issue (our biggest ever) you will find some of these stars given the treatment they deserve, captured in glamour shots by our photographer Jane Morba (lit and designed by her husband and partner-in-art, Kevin Gould). Accompanying these portraits are two lists: The winners of our annual Readers Poll, and some illuminating Editors’ Picks.

If you feel as I do, I trust you will find that the whole package will remind you why you love this place. It will make you feel happy, and also proud. After all, this is our slice of paradise; these are our favorite things; these are our stars.

PHOTOS BY Jane Morba and Kevin Gould; amazingjane.com

TROPHY BY Winners Awards and Engraving

GUEST-EDITED BY Traci Hukill

BALLOTS TALLIED BY Xualan Lonsinger, Kristin Esteves and Mary Russo, from Universal Staffing

This year’s Best of Monterey County Readers’ and Editors’ Picks were written by Mark C. Anderson, Crystal Barnes, Michelle Caldwell, Sophia DeMartini, Jeanne Howard, Traci Hukill, Eric Johnson, Justin Klineman, Penelope LaFontaine, Jessica Lyons, Ryan Masters, Ray Napolitano, Stuart Thornton and Raul Vasquez.