On the evening of November 10^th over 30 people attended the first annual Volunteer Appreciation Event hosted by Wayne Main Street. The event was held at Helium Studio days before their grand opening to serve as a preview party and special treat for all who have worked so hard to revitalize Wayne this past year. The event was catered a by locally owned home-based business, Victoria’s Tea Salon.

This past year, Wayne Main Street volunteers logged 2,715 hours of blood, sweat, and tears to make this city vibrant again, which is valued at over $56,000.

Those efforts included the Design Committee creating the facade grant incentive program and six businesses receiving complimentary design services provided through Michigan Main Street. Other projects included relationship building with downtown business owners by hosting several free workshops, special events including Small Business Saturday, and the brand new Shopping & Dining Guide.

For this first volunteer recognition program, Main Street decided to honor not one volunteer of the year but two – Carolyn Marnon and Cynthia McClure.

“These are two individuals who have gone above and beyond. They work but also found time to do lots of volunteering,” Wayne Main Street Board President, Cynthia Schofield said.

Design Committee chairperson, Marnon was described as a driving force in the holiday window display contest and attended the National Main Street conference in Detroit last year.

Having attended multiple training sessions in other communities and a member of the Wayne Main Street Board of Directors, McClure took on the project of placing benches along Michigan Avenue, which was the number one item on the community’s wish list.

Along with certificates of appreciation presented by Barbara Morocco signed by State Representative Robert Kosowski and Governor Rick Snyder, Marnon and McClure received gift certificates donated by Phoenix State Wayne Theater, Wayne Bowl, and other local businesses.