Heart heroes: Downtown contributors recognized with annual Main Street awards
Published 11:04 am Tuesday, May 28, 2019
- The first concert of the Heart of Danville's Main Street Live series drew a large crowd to Weisiger Park Thursday evening. The local band Powerplay entertained the audience with "rock, soul and funk."
The Heart of Danville presented five annual awards Thursday night during it’s summer concert series, Main Street Live, at Weisiger Park.
The five downtown businesses, property owners and volunteers were recognized as going “above and beyond to contribute to the revitalization of the downtown district,” said HOD Interim Executive Director Dustin Duval.
Michael Hughes smiles with Sara Lamb after she presented him with the Heart and Soul Award from the Heart of Danville.
The Heart and Soul award was presented to Michael Hughes by Sara Lamb. This award goes to the person or business who puts their “heart and soul” into preserving the downtown area, Lamb said.
Hughes has worked to develop the Soul of Second Street Festival, which celebrates the African American business district that once thrived in that area of downtown, Lamb said. He also has an expansive collection of historical photographs of the African American community that “he shares with the community whenever possible,” Lamb said.
Logan Germann presents the Renovation Award to Tim Montgomery.
The King of Heart was given to Tim Montgomery. HOD chair Logan Germann said Montgomery has “taken action and invested his own time, talent and capital into the renovation and restoration of two downtown projects this past year.
John and Martha Caywood smile for the camera with Kate Snyder who had just presented them and their business The Derby Shoppe one of the two Creativity and Innovation Awards. Elmwood Inn Teas received the second award.
There were two Heart on Fire awards given this year to the businesses who “demonstrated a willingness to embrace creativity, innovation and all around awesomeness by offering up their walls as a service for public art,” said Kate Snyder, referring to the public murals that were created in 2018.
Martha and John Caywood, owners of Raggs and The Derby Shoppe allowed the HOD to commission Andee Rudloff to create a color mural on the side of their building on Third Street.
At right, Heart of Danville Interim Executive Director Dustin Duvall congratulates Bruce and Shelli Richardson, owners of Elmwood Inn Teas for receiving one of the two Creativity and dInnovation Awards Thursday night. The second award was given to The Derby Shoppe.
Another Heart on Fire award was presented to Bruce and Shelli Richardson, owners of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas on Second Street who allowed the mural “Diversitea” to be installed on the side of their building. The artist, Dee Craig was commissioned by the Sister Cities Commission.
The Big Heart Award was given to Jimmy and Denise Wade, parents of the former Heart of Danville executive director Nick Wade. This award is given to the person (or people) who “puts in the most hours promoting downtown” and volunteers for all of the Heart’s events including the Main Street Live summer concert series, the holiday ice skating rink, Harvest Fest and Lawnchair theater.
