Bella Fresca named 2014 business of year

Award winners pose for pictures at Wednesday's business awards fete. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Nearly 100 volunteers and guests gathered to celebrate at Rochester Main Street's 8^th Annual Meeting and 2014 Awards Breakfast held on Wednesday at Frisbie Community Education Conference Center.

Sponsored by Frisbie Memorial Hospital, the guests enjoyed a breakfast and "State of Downtown" presentation before moving on towards the awards. After a brief welcome and recap of the year by Executive Director Michael Provost and president David Meulenbroek, acting treasurer Jeffrey Bisson was called to the podium to give the financial report. Next on the agenda was the presentation of the 2014 downtown Awards by Meulenbroek.

Bella Fresca was named as 2014 Business Of the Year. Other award winners were: Best New Sign- Laurel Mae's Cottage, Stewardship Award-Elm Grove Companies, Golden Hammer Award (for Investment)-Revolution Taproom and Grill, Volunteer of the year was Samantha Kelley, and Board Member of the year was Jeffrey Bisson of Happy pappy's Country Store, while the Youth Volunteer Award was bestowed upon Venture Crew 55. In addition, outgoing 2014 board President Meulenbroek was recognized for his leadership and services.

We are pleased to announce that the 2014 Rochester downtown awards were truly a Rochester award as each one was designed and made by students of Jason Eberl's Engineering Class at the RW Creteau Technology Center at Spaulding High School. Receiving Presidential Volunteer citations were: Jeffrey Bisson, Samantha Kelley, David Meulenbroek, Laura Ring, Susan Roy, Kevin Ryan, and Heather Tacconi-Cremmen for garnering more than 100 hours of volunteering in 2014. 2015 Board President Jeffrey Bisson was introduced and thanked all those that attended and congratulated the winners.