Community Corner

South End Business and Volunteer Honored by Boston Main Streets

M. Flynn and Michael Semizoglou were honored this week by the Boston Main Streets organization.

A local South End business and a South End volunteer were honored this week when they were named winners of the Boston Main Street Awards.

M. Flynn Accessories, a jewelry store at 40 Waltham St. in the South End was named Washington Main Street's Business of the Year, and Michael Semizoglou, Vice President at MutualOne Bank was named Volunter of the Year, during the 17th annual Boston Main Street awards ceremony. 

Held at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester on June 20, Department of Neighborhood Development Director Sheila Dillon and WPLM Easy 99.1’s “Strictly Sinatra” host Ron Della Chiesa presented awards to the 2012 Boston Main Streets Volunteers of the Year and Businesses of the Year. Featured entertainment included the Boston Latin School Wolftones and Cornell Conley’s AfroLatin Jazz Band.

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The Boston Main Streets Foundation also announced raising $200,000 for the Main Streets program, to "ensure the sustainability of the program" that runs throughout all of Boston's major neighborhood business districts.

“Boston Main Streets has had tremendous success helping revitalize our neighborhood commercial districts, and there are many people here tonight to thank for all their hard work in and dedication to their neighborhood commercial districts,” said Mayor Menino in a statement. "This event is special because we get to honor the people in the neighborhoods who are making our local commercial districts vibrant and welcoming places to shop and do business. I’m proud to say that the funds raised by the Foundation will help us continue to support new businesses and create jobs in our Main Street Districts.”

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The Foundation also announced the launch of its first Innovation & Impact grants that provide as much as $5,000 for proposals that "provide new or enhanced programming, services, or partnership opportunities that benefit of Main Streets commercial districts and small businesses." 

Foundation president Joel Sklar said the Foundation will award 10 Innovation & Impact grants, totaling almost $50,000 that will go to Main Streets districts.

"The grant proposals have been as diverse as way-finding signage to ESL training for small businesses. We are so excited to see how these funds will empower Main Streets organizations to produce exciting new outcomes in our neighborhoods,” said Sklar.

The Boston Main Streets initiative was created by Menino in 1995 to empower those in the small business sector to have a direct role in the economic health, physical appearance, and development of their own community. As of today, Boston Main Streets provides funding and technical assistance to 20 neighborhood-based Main Streets districts throughout Boston, and has been replicated as a national model for urban areas seeking to revitalize neighborhood commercial districts including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

This year’s Outstanding Volunteers are:

Allston Village                                 Daniel Toffling  

Bowdoin/Geneva                            Claire Gooden and Yvonne Ruggles

Brighton                                         Sue Tufts            

Chinatown                                      Jing Wu

Dudley Square                                Renee Jolley     

East Boston                                    Rosa Dominguez

Egleston Square                              George Anastos              

Fields Corner                                   Ed Geary, Jr.

Four Corners                                   Sharhea Wade

Greater Grove Hall                          Roberta Young                 

Hyde/Jackson Square                      Gretchen Van Ness

Hyde Park                                       Debbie Leuth 

JP Centre/South                               Brian Allieri        

Mission Hill                                       Michael Soltani

Roslindale Village                             Wayne Beitler  

St. Mark’s Area                                 Michael Soucy

Mattapan Square                              Nicole Echemendia

Upham’s Corner                               Nick Chernoff   

Washington Gateway                        Michael Semizoglou

West Roxbury                                  Andrew Dean

 

The 2012 Outstanding Businesses are:

Allston Village                                Refuge Cafe

Bowdoin/Geneva                            Rodriguez Barbershop  

Brighton                                        Treats on Washington   

Chinatown                                      Burbor Cha Cha Restaurant

Dudley Square                                Arthur J. Hurley Company

East Boston                                     Las Palmas         

Egleston Square                              Millennium Restaurant

Fields Corner                                   A Sweet Place

Four Corners                                   Down Home Delivery & Catering

Greater Grove Hall                          GotSole

Hyde/Jackson                                  Tremendous Maid

Hyde Park                                        Zaz Restaurant & Catering

JP Centre/South                               Salmagundi

Mattapan Square                             Mattapan Community Health Center

Mission Hill                                      Green T Coffee Shop    

Roslindale Village                             Sophia’s Grotto

St. Mark’s Area                                Tavolo Ristorante            

Upham’s Corner                               Paraiso Restaurant

Washington Gateway                        M. Flynn

West Roxbury                                  Top it Off Accessories




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