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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