The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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July 24, 2008

Main Street Enid hands out its awards at banquet

By Cass Rains, staff writer

Friends and members of Main Street Enid gathered Thursday evening at Park Avenue Thrift for the organization’s annual awards banquet.

Awards were given to Main Street members for the dedication shown to revitalizing downtown Enid and the hard work and sacrifices made by individuals.

Park Avenue Thrift co-founder Paula Nightengale welcomed those in attendance to the store.

“We are so excited to be here in the downtown corridor and do the things that make Enid grand,” she said.

Nightengale said she and co-founder David Hume took the former Locke Supply Co. warehouse and “turned it into 20,000 square feet of shopping fun.”

Main Street Enid Director Lindy Chambers said Nightengale and Hume’s store was a perfect example of downtown economic development and adaptive reuse and called the store a “role model for Enid.”

Tom Boepple was awarded for creating Main Street Enid’s signature Christmas cards, featuring historic Enid landmarks for the past 14 years.

Larry’s Home Oxygen received an award for best business practices. The business also was named a statewide finalist in the best business practices category by Oklahoma Main Street.

Awards also were given to Eagle Market-ing for its E-Town magazine and “Main Street Enid is ...” promotion. The Enid News & Eagle also was honored for its support of the organization.

U.S. Cellular was named Main Street Enid’s Sponsor of the Year for Enid Lights Up the Plains. Ward Petroleum was awarded for its Oktoberfest sponsorship. Park Avenue Thrift was awarded as a Friend of Main Street. The city of Enid also was honored for its support of the group.

Kay Ferrell was named the group’s Volunteer of the Year for her work on projects throughout the year.

Individual members and committee members also were recognized for their dedication, as were the organization’s board members.

“We had a great (fiscal) year in 2007-2008 and we’re really looking forward to the next year of fulfilling our Main Street mission of revitalizing downtown Enid,” Chambers said.

She said Main Street Enid uses a four-prong approach to revitalizing downtown, using four committees: one each for design, promotion, organization and economic restructuring.

“We have new businesses moving in and people planning to live in upper-story lofts,” Chambers said of downtown. “There is a saying in Main Street that retail follows residential and so we have hopes that with the added downtown residents it will spur new retail growth.”

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