Downtown Ashland Association was proud to present a "You've Been Noticed" Award to Ashland Coffee & Tea and Center of the Yarniverse at 100 N. Railroad Avenue on Wednesday, February 19. The presentation was attended by community members and Ashland Town Council representatives.

Back row: Mayor Steve Trivett, Cary Moore, Town Council Member Dan McGraw, Paul Warren, VIce Mayor John Hodges, own Council Member George Spagna, Bob BrownFront row: Cate Hawks, Suzanne Wolstenholme, Annette Schanz, Maggie Longest, Lauren Thompson, … — *Back row: Mayor Steve Trivett, Cary Moore, Town Council Member Dan McGraw, Paul Warren, VIce Mayor John Hodges, own Council Member George Spagna, Bob Brown*
*Front row: Cate Hawks, Suzanne Wolstenholme, Annette Schanz, Maggie Longest, Lauren Thompson, Jenna Hycner, Eileen McMahon, Stacey Williamson*

The "You've Been Noticed" Award included this statement of recognition:

Downtown Ashland Association would like to congratulate you on the remarkable accomplishments that you have created. Suddenly we have two thriving businesses and a newly opened storefront, all at the main corner of our beloved downtown. The lights are now really on at this special corner. Such a gift to all of us who love Ashland!

We admire that both places have been transformed to expand your commercial and civic offerings, and that they are both better than ever. As Mike and Cate have written, “the cafe gives us an opportunity to have a business that can give back to the community it serves.” To us, that seems to apply to both places: Yarniverse is wide open to the street, and we all can see all the gathering of people inside; ACT is creating new venues, new menus, and new music. And the two work together! It is easy to imagine people coming to knit, and then walking through the door to get a fine meal. Amazing may be the perfect word.

Knitters, cyclists, neighbors, visitors all as diners…. diners as knitters…. And it all spills outside into Downtown Ashland, with new outdoor café (“Rosalie Joan’s”), with the knitters’ lights on at Railroad Ave., and with all those knitters and diners coming and going. You are having a transforming effect on how we live and shop at the heart of Ashland, and we can’t thank you enough for this gift.

For all these many reasons, we would like everyone to know that “You Have Indeed Been Noticed”. Thus our Thank You sign will be placed here today, and our press release has been sent out. We wish you well, and know you will thrive. Bless you for doing what you are doing for all of us in our beloved and flourishing Downtown Ashland.