Awards bestowed at MSL Annual Meeting

Steve Murray named Volunteer of the Year at Main Street Lansing Annual Meeting ...
During the Main Street Lansing (MSL) annual meeting Tuesday, March 26, MSL Executive Director Andrew Boddicker announced the 2023 Volunteer of the Year is Steve Murray. In his presentation of the award, Boddicker told attendees that “Steve is not able to join us tonight as he tends to much more important matters and takes care of (his wife) Sarah and his family. But that does not stop us from celebrating and recognizing him even at this difficult time. It is also likely that you all are aware that Sarah is a member of our Main Street Lansing Board, as the ex-officio voting board member representing the School District. The Murray family is an integral part of Main Street, and Steve - as Volunteer of the Year - is what I would call, our ‘on-call’ volunteer. There is almost nothing he isn’t willing to do - I’ve yet to hear him complain or say no to a request.
“Some highlights include his leadership as an executive chair during RAGBRAI 2022, filling our new flowerpots with soil, installing the IOWA Love artwork, advocating for public improvements at the city level in his role as a city councilor, picking up or delivering various items across the region on his long drives, and leading the charge to raise the money needed to light the new Black Hawk Bridge. His passion for Lansing is obvious and we all know that passion is met equally by his wife Sarah. If he were here, I know he would say he couldn’t do all he does without her. Let’s congratulate Steve on this award - thank you for all you do and please know we are all thinking about you and pray for comfort and recovery, as swiftly as possible. Congratulations, Steve.”

Red Barn Campground and Restaurant named Main Street Lansing 2023 Business of the Year ...
During the Main Street Lansing (MSL) annual meeting Tuesday, March 26, MSL Executive Director Andrew Boddicker announced the 2023 Business of the Year - awarded this year for the first time - is Red Barn Campground and Restaurant, owned and operated by Jennetta Williams Ely and Terry Ely.
“We decided to start this award to recognize an outstanding business for not only their success as a Lansing business owner, but for their overall spirit and community-minded contributions and efforts,” Boddicker told attendees. “As the economic development arm of Lansing, we thought it appropriate to recognize a business each year for their success and contributions to Lansing as a whole.”
Presenting the award, Boddicker said, “If you are from Lansing, you know that Terry and Jennetta have transformed and uplifted the campground since taking over a few years ago. (Their) passion for the Hawks - both the University of Iowa and the Kee High version - is contagious. Jennetta is involved as well with the Main Street Lansing Promotions team and is always there with a creative idea and energy to execute. Terry is a passionate sports fan and able to make a plan in a heartbeat and carry out that plan with enthusiasm and tenacity. Thank you, Terry and Jennetta for all of your efforts - we are so fortunate to have you in our community, and congratulations on being our Business of the Year for 2023.”