Downtown Inc. commemorates York's movers & shakers with 20th annual 'Downtown First' awards

York Daily Record

Downtown Inc celebrated its 20th annual Downtown First Awards this evening.

And while the annual awards ceremony was a virtual one, this year's edition still kept the featured spotlight on downtown York and the perseverance several downtown businesses have shown over the last calendar year.

This year's winners (in bold) and nominees are below:

Outstanding Large Business, sponsored by Susquehanna Real Estate LP

Barley Snyder, winner
O.N.E. Hospitality
Royal Square Development
Insurance Services United
Sapio Sciences

The notable law firm, which employs over 100 attorneys, won this year's "Outstanding Large Business" award.

Outstanding Small Business, sponsored by Stock and Leader, Attorneys at Law

Cupcakes N’ More
DesignBots Media Firm
Victrola Dance Hall, winner
Sniffany’s of York
Washington Winnona Photography

The downtown dance institution, which once helped stage shows and supply dancers at the Valencia Ballroom, has helped teach hundreds of Yorkers and youth the ins and outs of swing, blues, and salsa. TheVictrola Dance Hall was honored with this year's "Outstanding Small Business" award.

The Change Maker Award, sponsored by C.S. Davidson, Inc.

Annabell Bonita
Arlette Morales and Tzipporah Goins, winners
Astha Ray
Jamiel Alexander
June Wise
LaQuinn Thompson
Sharee McFadden

17-year-old best friends, Arlette Morales, left, and Tzipporah Goins, led a peaceful demonstration in York city's Continental Square, as protesters took to the streets of York for a second consecutive day, Tuesday, June 2. Emotions around the country continued to boil over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and the state of policing in America.

The intrepid pair of teenagers Arlette Morales and Tzipporah Goins won this year's inaugural "Change Maker" Award for their work organizing one of the largest peaceful protests in downtown York earlier this year. The protest was in response to the killing of George Floyd and on-going Black Lives Matter movement.

Outstanding New Business/Merchant, sponsored by York City Independent Restaurant Association

Cornerstone Barbershop and Shave Parlour
Prince Street Café
Wise Sauce, winner
Annabel Bonita
T. Brown Inc.
The Curious Little Playhouse
Sniffany’s of York

The BBQ vendor, with a pun-tastic wise men logo, won this year's "Outstanding New Business/Merchant" award.

2019 award winners:Downtown First Awards recognize outstanding contributors to York city

Outstanding Merchant, sponsored by CGA Law Firm

Cupcakes N’ More
Ewe and Me Yarn Shop
Fig & Barrel Pub
GUSA by Victoria
J.R.’s Fries
LettUsKnow
Molly’s Courtyard Café
My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe
Pippi’s Pen Shoppe, winner
Sniffany’s of York
Wise Sauce

Outstanding Nonprofit Organization, sponsored by Met-Ed, a FirstEnergy Company

Community Progress Council
Family First Health, Friends and Neighbors
Future Leaders of York of Leadership York
Goodridge Freedom Center
Lifepath Christian Ministries
The Movement of York
Parliament Arts Organization
York YMCA
York Fresh Food Farms
York County Food Bank, winner

The York County Food Bank was honored with this year's "Outstanding Nonprofit Organization." The Food Bank has helped supply residents with groceries during the government shutdown in early 2019 and has helped organize several pop-ups, drive-thru food banks around the region in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Volunteers load cars with an assortment of foods during the York County Food Bank's Pop-Up Drive-Thru Food Distribution at the John Wright Restaurant Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Better York Appell Beautification Award, sponsored by Better York

Collin Holder
Corey Wolfe
Garden Club of York
Gift Horse Brewing Company
Parliament Arts Organization
Penn Street Art Bridge, winner
Rotary Club of York
Sharee McFadden
Mayor Michael Helfrich

The Penn Street Art Bridge is this year's "Better York Appell Beautification" award winner. The art bridge project began in 2017, but has recently taken flight thanks to the help and organization of local artist Jeremy "Jay Rock" Wibel and his artist collective known as "York City Bomb Squad." The group has routinely transformed the Penn Street Art Bridge often focusing on vital social themes such as the BLM movement and a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.

The York Bomb Squad, a local street art crew, created this detailed mural with prom and graduation essentials for the Class of 2020.

Outstanding Individual, sponsored by PeoplesBank, a Codorus Valley Company

Aimee Lewis
Annalisa Gojmerac
Dr. Felicia Dennis, winner
Majela Burg
Dr. Matthew Howie
Michael Hady
Robin Ann Shearer
Ruby Martim
Sabrina Thomas
Sandra Thompson

Call to Action Worldwide spokesperson Dr. Felicia Dennis leads the crowd in chants as they march through York City to celebrate the Life and Legacy of Lillie Belle Allen, Tuesday, July 21, 2020. The march started at Penn Park and ended at the train tracks on Newberry Street where Allen was murdered 51 years ago.

Dr. Felicia Dennis was award this year's "Outstanding Individual" award for her community efforts organizing several peaceful BLM protests at Penn Park and a memorial for Lillie Belle Allen, a 27-year-old who was murdered on Newberry Street in 1969.

Neil Strebig is a journalist for the York Daily Record and curator for the York on the Move newsletter. He can be reached at nstrebig@ydr.com, 717-825-6582 or via Twitter @neilStrebig.

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