February 18, 2009

Ohio Wesleyan earned a Downtown Revitalization award from Main Street Delaware for the new campus Memorial Gateway. In 2004, the University was honored for the interior renovations to the Ross Art Museum. See more winners. 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

Photos courtesy of April Nelson

Everyone’s a Winner…
Main Street Delaware presents Downtown Revitalization and Community Awards

Image courtesy of Main Street Delaware

“Everyone who lives, works, or shops in Delaware benefits from efforts to improve the city’s historic downtown,” says Donna Meyer, president of Main Street Delaware.

The awards ceremony, held at The Strand Theatre, honored the following businesses and individuals for their efforts to revitalize the downtown while preserving and enhancing its rich history:

• Leo-Helen Real Estate, for the new paint scheme on the front of the building housing Adecco Employment Services at 45 E. Winter St.
• Jean M. Lane and family, for the new paint scheme on the auto service facility at 7 Spring St.
• Michelle Platt and Martha Marsh, for the window signs on their business, The 12 South Deli, at 12 S. Sandusky St.
• Paul J. Pfeiffer, for the NorthPoint Financial Planning sign at 4 W. Winter St.
• Ohio Wesleyan University, for the Memorial Gateway, its rebuilt pedestrian entrance on South Sandusky Street. In presenting the award, Main Street Delaware Design Committee member April Nelson said: “By defining and refining the main pedestrian entrance, Ohio Wesleyan established a strong visual entranceway for both the college and the downtown. The college has been an increasingly engaged and positive partner in the downtown community over the last decade; this is the second time we have given them a Downtown Revitalization award for a job well done.” The University also was honored in 2004 for the interior renovation of the Richard M. Ross Art Museum.
• The Strand Theatre & Cultural Arts Association, Inc., along with association Chairman Bill Rogers and Joe Diamond and Mike Hoffman, for The Strand’s new concession area and restored upper floor windows.
• Strand Theatre Manager Kara McVay, for outstanding contributions to the Delaware community and the downtown. McVay was honored for numerous ways in which The Strand supports community groups and causes, including the long-running Summer Kids Movie Series.
• Phyllis Walla Catania and Suanne M. Goings, for interior improvements on the second floor of 59 N. Sandusky St. Catania and Goings opened The Art Loft gallery and studio in that space last year. In presenting the award, Nelson described The Art Loft as “an oasis of light and color and tranquility above the streets and the tree line.”
• Lynda Elias, for the large mosaics on the rear exteriors of Not on the Corner Framing and Gallery and Beehive Bookstore, 25 and 27 N. Sandusky St. Elias, a retired Hayes High School art teacher, along with Virginia Corwin and volunteer former students, spent several weeks last summer transforming plain brick walls into an artwork that features hundreds of pieces of mirror, tile, pottery, and dishes. “Lynda through her work has shown us all that great public art is not inaccessible or mysterious, but within the reach and pocketbook of our community,” Nelson said.
• The Delaware Arts Festival Association, which received a Revitalization Award “for bringing art and life and vitality to downtown Delaware year after year” with its weekend festivals every May.
• Main Street Delaware President Donna Meyer and former President Linda Shearer for starting the Main Street Farmers’ Markets and nurturing its growth.
• Local artist Jordan Edwards and Central Ohio Symphony Executive Director Warren Hyer, for the symphony’s distinctive new logo. (Edwards also designed Main Street Delaware’s new logo, unveiled during last week’s meeting. The logo incorporated the distinctive arch outside Bun’s Restaurant on West Winter Street.)
• The Central Ohio Symphony, for drawing thousands of visitors to downtown Delaware with its concerts each year. The Symphony also was recognized for introducing local fourth graders to classical music and for conducting Central Ohio’s largest free outdoor symphony concert every July 4.
• Delaware Mayor Windell Wheeler and fellow City Council members Carolyn Riggle, Gary Milner, Joseph DiGenova, and Andrew Brush, who were presented the Marilyn Cryder Award named after a dedicated longtime local preservationist. The award recognized council’s vote to expand the Downtown Historic District to include the century-old Leffler house on North Sandusky Street. The award is reserved for actions so significant and special that it was last presented in 2004, Nelson said.

Main Street Delaware also honored and thanked the following community supporters and volunteers for their efforts to improve the downtown:

• Cathy and Jim Johnson, for overseeing the Brickscape project.
• Manos, Martin, Pergram & Dietz Co. LPA, for continuing support of Main Street Delaware.
• Attorney Thane Gray, for volunteer service above and beyond the call of duty on the Main Street Delaware Board of Directors.
• Former Brown Jug Restaurant co-owners Bill Stroud and Ed Wolf, for their years of dedication and support to downtown Delaware.
• Developer Scott Blackwell, for continuing downtown’s tradition of placing a community Christmas tree in the open area at William and Sandusky streets.
• Shoreh Elhami of the Delaware County Auditor’s Geographical Information System Office, for mapping assistance with Main Street Delaware’s updated downtown marketing plan.
• Former Main Street Delaware Board Member Roger Koch, for dedication and extraordinary volunteer service.

– Cole Hatcher and Jesse Carter