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Washington Gateway Main Street business, volunteer honored

Print | Comments () Posted by Johanna Kaiser May 23, 2012 02:28 PM

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(Photo courtesy City of Boston)

Scott Gasparello (center) receives the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Washington Gateway Main Street district from Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Department of Neighborhood Development Director Evelyn Friedman.

By Johanna Kaiser, Town Correspondent

One business and one volunteer have been chosen by the South End’s Washington Gateway Main Street as the outstanding business and volunteer for the neighborhood’s business district.

Scott Gasparello and Stella restaurant were awarded the 2011 Boston Main Streets Volunteer of the Year and Business of the Year awards for the Washington Gateway Main Street at the Boston Main Streets 16th Annual Awards Ceremony last week.

The awards were presented to one business and volunteer in each of the city’s 19 districts in the Boston Main Streets program, an initiative started in 1995 to establish and revitalize commercial districts throughout the city. Each district chose the award winners for their district.

“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 Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino at the awards ceremony, according to a statement.

The program provides funding and assistance to the districts and the city’s Boston Main Streets Foundation non-profit works to advance development, create jobs, and improve storefront in Boston’s neighborhood commercial districts.

In 2011, 151 new businesses opened in the Main Street Districts, creating 716 new jobs.

"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,” said Menino.

(Photo courtesy City of Boston)

The restaurant Stella receives the Washington Gateway Main Street district's Business of the Year Award from Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Department of Neighborhood Development Director Evelyn Friedman.

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E-mail: johanna.yourtown@gmail.com