Downtown Farmington Programs, Volunteers Win Awards

Downtown Farmington is fortunate to have wonderful volunteers and events – in fact, award-winning ones in 2012.

Main Street Oakland County Awards

At the recent Main Street Oakland County Main Event Awards Presentation, Downtown Farmington was honored with two awards. Rhythmz in Riley Park, the free, summer Friday night live concert series produced by Scott Freeman was recognized as a 2012 Outstanding Event Series. Janet Bloom, DDA Events Planner, and Kristin Curle, Events Coordinator, proudly received the award. Under Freeman’s management, Rhythmz in Riley Park has consistently drawn increased numbers of attendees since its inception in 2008. Freeman passed the baton for chairmanship of this event to Kyle Kubitskey this season.

The second MSOC honor was bestowed on the Wish List Window promotion campaign as a 2012 Outstanding Retail Event. A committee, spearheaded by Frankie DeBasco, was represented at the presentation by Frankie, Val Hoffman, Marley Theobald and Pat Shelton. Fourth committee member, Audrey Moffat was unable to attend. Under DeBasco’s guidance, in 2012 this committee more than doubled the number and value of donations for the annual Wish List Window, which, in turn, produced nearly $90,000 in downtown revenue during the event.

Farmington DDA Awards

Further accolades go to Frankie DeBasco as the recipient of the Downtown Farmington DDA 2012 Mary Martin Service Award bestowed in recognition of an exemplary commitment to Downtown Farmington. DeBasco received her award at the recent Farmington DDA Volunteer Appreciation Evening, where she happily commented, “I was honored to be named the award recipient this year, especially when you consider the quality of the other volunteers nominated.  Working with my team on the Wish List Window was a lot of work but very rewarding and enjoyable.  We accomplished fantastic results and being named the volunteer of the year was the icing on the cake.”

In addition to her efforts on the Wish List Window project, DeBasco regularly volunteers at the Farmington Farmers Market, Holly Days, Harvest Moon Celebration and art on the Grand. Not one to sit on her laurels, DeBasco is already working on an upcoming new event for Downtown Farmington, the April 25 Ladies Night Out.

Other nominees for the award included Peggy Castine, Sarah Dickey and Bill McNeil. Castine expertly provides the design and layout of the Main St. Messenger, the Farmington DDA newsletter acknowledged as an exemplary publication by MSOC, Dickey has scheduled and coordinated the live entertainment for the Downtown Farmington Founders Festival for the past seven years, and McNeil is instrumental in keeping the Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market and the Harvest Moon Celebration, among other Downtown Farmington annual events, running smoothly.

Commenting on the strong slate of 2012 Mary Martin nominees, Annette Knowles, DDA Executive Director, said, “This year, we had an amazing slate of nominees. The decision was difficult. Each nominee contributed fantastic energy and commitment.”

Visit downtownfarmington.org or call 248-473-7276 for additional information.

--by Pat Shelton, Farmington DDA Press Corps volunteer