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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 cityGet the York on the Move newsletter in your inbox.

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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.

Related:Meet the artists behind some of downtown York’s murals and growing street art scene

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. 

Find the full article: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/08/14/downtown-inc-announces-winners-downtown-first-2020-awards/3368676001/