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Main Street welcomes new leaders, new members

Fayetteville’s Main Street Board held its monthly meeting and yearly strategic planning meeting Jan. 11. The agenda for the January meeting began with election of officers for the 2005 year.

The board elected existing members Lane Brown as the new board chairman, Cam Williams as vice chairman and Al Hovey-King as secretary/treasurer. Additional board members include Scott Burrell, Patsy Gullett and Gary Baumgardner. Ron Feldner was appointed as the newest member to the Main Street Board by Mayor Ken Steele and the Fayetteville City Council, during their regular-scheduled meeting Jan. 6.

Brown will replace previous Chairman Robert Sprayberry, who resigned from the Main Street Board after serving four years as chairman. He has been involved with Main Street since its inception in 1996.

“Sprayberry is recognized as leading the effort to make Fayetteville a Main Street city,” Main Street Director Nancy Price said. “He also was instrumental in creating the first Christmas Tree Lighting in Fayetteville, which has been a popular holiday event for the past 12 years. His long-standing dedication to the City of Fayetteville and the Main Street program will always be valued.”

Hovey-King, who also holds a city council seat, echoed Price’s sentiments.

“If it wasn’t for Robert, there would not be a Main Street program in Fayetteville” said Al Hovey-King, Downtown Development Authority Chairman, of Sprayberry’s efforts in the early 90s. “Robert was a vital part of the organization for many years.”

Brown contributed to the Main Street effort as vice chairman of the board in 2004 by spearheading the Fayetteville Celebrates America campaign, which ran from March through Sept. 11, and through his monetary contribution to enhance the city’s holiday decorations on the square, Price said.

“He has been a board member and an integral part of the Main Street effort since 1994,” Price added.

Ron Feldner, the newly appointed member to the Main Street Board, has been involved with the Main Street program for the past few years and has taken an active role in the annual golf tournament, the largest fundraiser for the organization, Price said. Mr. Feldner has also been a great supporter of the Villages Amphitheater and was pivotal in securing the largest sponsor, which has renewed sponsorship for the three years of operation, Price said.

“The Main Street Board and staff are extremely pleased with the Mayor and Council’s appointment of Ron Feldner as our new board member,” Brown said. “Now, we are all set and ready to work toward a successful 2005 and continue plans for our vision of the years ahead.”

The mission of the Main Street program is to market and preserve Fayetteville’s downtown district through historical preservation and revitalization efforts by creating a synergy between business, government, and the citizens of the community, Price said.

“The Main Street Board members and staff work to reestablish the downtown area as the cultural center of the county, thus creating a vibrant, thriving destination where culture, history and commerce coexist. Fayetteville is the 37th Main Street city,” Price said.