Butler Downtown celebrates successes
Butler Downtown celebrated another year's worth of the efforts of the city's downtown businesses Thursday night at its annual public meeting.
The Main Street Program highlighted the accomplishments of the past year and revealed its goals for 2014.
“We're going to be doing so many things in 2014,” said Chelynne Curci, the program's Main Street manager.
Curci said the program will continue its West New Castle Street Plaza next summer, help coordinate the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, and work with the city to improve the appearance of downtown businesses.
But the program also will move into new ventures, including the development of new fundraising events and conducting a market study of the downtown.
While the future looks bright for the program, the meeting also was about honoring the accomplishments in the city this past year.
“2012 was a year of huge growth for us,” Curci said. “2013 was a year of refining.”
Curci called the facade grants given out to local businesses, a Pop-Up shop contest, and a thriving West New Castle Street Plaza as the program's biggest successes.
The program gave out four facade grants during the year, each for $5,000. The Pop-Up contest was a business proposal contest held in May. It was won by Margie Bowser and Tracy LeFevre, who will be opening their design store Renovo Design at 125 W. New Castle St. on Nov. 23.
Mayor Maggie Stock said the program has been a huge part of the city's revitalization efforts.
“Butler Downtown is the pride and joy of the city of Butler,” she said. “I love the enthusiasm they have generated through the Main Street district.”
Stock was honored by the program with a certificate for the work she had done with it during her two terms as mayor. She was greeted with a standing ovation when she accepted the award.
“I was really touched,” she said. “I really appreciate what these people have done. And I'm glad I didn't have to talk at that moment because I was really moved.”
Tom Donaldson, the city's mayor-elect, was in attendance and met with the program's board. He said he looks forward to working with them.“We've got a good buzz going downtown, and we've got to keep it that way,” he said.The program's board of directors also will have a new face in charge next year.Bob Dandoy will take over as president of the board for Tom Panei.“I'm a lifelong city resident, so you can say I have an invested and selfish interest in making sure Butler stays strong,” he joked.Dandoy, who taught English at Karns City High School and Slippery Rock University, has served on the board of directors for two years.Butler Downtown awarded its business of the year to Cummings Candy and Coffee.Thomas and Barry Cummings, the father and son owners of the shop, accepted the award.Barry Cummings said it was an honor to receive the award and a joy to work in the city.“It's awesome to get to know the people,” he said. “We're all throwing down our roots here together.”Cummings, whose business has been in the family since 1905, said the Main Street Program has done a lot to keep small businesses thriving.Richard “Utah” Burgess was named the program's volunteer of the year. Curci said Burgess, who works with Shady Lady Productions of Sarver, devoted many hours to the West New Castle Street Plaza.Burgess was grateful for the award and said the program was very beneficial to the community.The night concluded with a presentation by Debra Matonak, the owner of Miller's Quality Meats on Main Street.Matonak, whose butcher shop received a facade grant from the program this year, offered insight on what it's like to be a downtown business in the city.“If you don't have passion, you can't be a small-business owner,” she said. “Everyone knows how hard it is for us to compete with big businesses.
