Several Jamaica Plain volunteers and businesses were chosen as business and volunteer of the year at the 20th annual Boston Main Streets awards ceremony last month, according to a press release.
Karen Sama of Egleston Square Main Street and Arno Puskar of Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street were celebrated as volunteers of the year, and Anique Nicole Hair Salon of Egleston Square Main Street and Tails of Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street were chosen as businesses of the year.
“Boston Main Streets has had tremendous success in helping to revitalize our community and highlight the role our small businesses play in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Walsh at the ceremony, according to the press release. “I want to congratulate all of this year’s volunteers and businesses of the year, who represent some of the best and brightest leaders who have gone out of their way to help not only their organization thrive, but their entire commercial district and city thrive as well.”
From the hundreds of Main Streets volunteers who gave more than 26,000 hours of time in 2015, each district has chosen one volunteer to honor as “Volunteer of the Year.” Since the start of the program in 1995, volunteers have contributed over 375,000 hours to Main Street efforts.
This year’s volunteers of the year are:
Allston Village Main Streets – Rebecca Corso
Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets – Paulo DeBarros
Brighton Main Streets – Danita Jo Talbot
Chinatown Main Street – Shi Lan Liang
Dudley Square Main Streets – Settenah Wright
East Boston Main Streets – Veronica Robles
Egleston Square Main Street – Karen Sama
Fields Corner Main Street – Lee Adelson
Four Corners Main Street – Michelle Merrit
Greater Ashmont Main Street – Erica Mattison
Greater Grove Hall Main Streets – Andre Barbour
Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street – Arno Puskar
Hyde Park Main Streets – Cathy Horn
Mattapan Square Main Streets – Cynthia Lewis
Mission Hill Main Streets – Alison Pultinas
Roslindale Village Main Street – Marna Persechini
Upham’s Corner Main Street – Nicole Chandler
Washington Gateway Main Street – Kristin Phelan
West Roxbury Main Streets – Dominic Rebelo
In addition to the volunteers, each Main Streets district also has chosen one business to honor as Business of the Year. In 2015, over 2,100 businesses have received business assistance through their local Main Streets organizations. In his remarks to the awardees, Mayor Walsh referred to Boston’s small businesses as “economic engines for their district,” providing products and services to the people who live and work in the neighborhoods.
This year’s Businesses of the Year include:
Allston Village Main Streets – Whole Heart Provisions – Rebecca Arnold & James DiSabatino
Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets – Bobby Fish Market – Maria Ramos & Omar Lawren
Brighton Main Streets – The Green Briar – The Briar Group
Chinatown Main Street – Jook Sing Cafe – Jadine Soo Hoo & Hing Soo Hoo
Dudley Square Main Streets – Dudley Cafe – Solomon & Royeka Chowdhury
East Boston Main Streets – Dough East Boston – Kevin Curley and Michael Sanchez
Egleston Square Main Street – Anique Nicole Hair Salon – Anique Nicole
Fields Corner Main Street – Antonio’s Pizza – Brian Chavez
Four Corners Main Street – Sustainability Guild – Jhana Senxian
Greater Ashmont Main Street – The Modern Dog Boston – Charles Maneikis
Greater Grove Hall Main Streets – Covenant Creations Salon – Lakeisha Gillard
Hyde/Jackson Square Main Street – Tails – Yessy Feliz
Hyde Park Main Streets – Ron’s Gourmet Ice Cream – Ron Covitz
Mattapan Square Main Streets – Auto Service & Tire – Ward & Chris McKeen
Mission Hill Main Streets – The Puddingstone Tavern – Harry Walsh
Roslindale Village Main Street – Boston Cheese Cellar – Adam Shutes
Upham’s Corner Main Street – Boston Pizza and Grill – Aycan “John” Gencoglu
Washington Gateway Main Street – Anita Kurl Salon – Kandace Cummings
West Roxbury Main Streets – B & M Auto – Mark Karafotias & Bruce Lovely