Businesses, preservationist receive awards at dinner

Two downtown Cape Girardeau businesses -- the Southeast Missourian and Renaissance -- and historic preservationist Terri Foley received awards Tuesday at the fifth annual Old Town Cape Dinner.

The event at First Presbyterian Church drew 130 people. The event had been moved to the church because of the recent fire at Bella Italia.

Mike and Sherry Yaeger, owners of Renaissance, a home decor shop, were presented with the second John Boardman Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation Award. The Southeast Missourian received the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award.

The Boardman Award was established by his widow, Councilwoman Evelyn Boardman, and is named for the late architect who renovated many downtown buildings. The Hutson Award is named for the downtown merchant and civic leader who died in 2003.

Foley received the volunteer of the year award. Outgoing president Dr. Steven Hoffman welcomed incoming president, Tom Higgins.

The guest speaker was Jeremi Griggs of Northstar Destination Strategies, a group hired two years ago to help the city come up with a brand for itself.

"The city of Cape Girardeau has found its brand in this historic downtown," Griggs said. "Cape Girardeau is one of the best we've seen at preserving that."

Higgins, in a ceremony of passing the gavel, said that Old Town Cape is driven by volunteers.

"This group is driven from the ground up, not the top down," he said. "These are dedicated people who want to make the city better."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137