6-26-2024 4:49am

Building a Better Boyertown Brings Home Two Townie Awards

Lesley Misko Editor

by Jane Stahl

Perhaps you've seen Building a Better Boyertown's (BaBB) mascot Bearianne at festivals around the community. Perhaps you've invited her to a special event your business or non-profit is holding. But Boyertown's Bearianne, named after the late, beloved Mayor Marianne Deery is fast becoming a star around town while having fun herself and bringing smiles and laughter to others.

This week BaBB's Main Street Manager Ellen Martignetti; Events Planner Krista Gross; and Assistant Main Street Manager Kim Evans received two Townie Awards at the PA Downtown Center's Annual Premier Revitalization Conference. Both awards were deemed excellent in promotion and marketing under the Marketing and Promotions category. The Retail Promotion award was given to Bearianne herself who was on hand to accept it.

Awarded was BaBB's pre-Christmas promotion titled "Bearianne Gets Her Holiday Shopping Done" in which “Bearianne” visited several dozen businesses or non-profits in Boyertown to "purchase" items as holiday gifts. Her visits were recorded and shared on social media to encourage folks to "buy local."

The second award fell under Special or Neighborhood Events and was presented for the community's first Pokémon Go Tournament. BaBB collaborated with two young men--Randy Renninger and Jake McCoach--both Boyertown graduates who belong to the e-sport business Team Asylum.

Both Randy and Jake were featured on episodes of "B Inspired" podcast and articles in The Boyertown Area Expression. There's much to learn from the articles about the growing e-sports world. "Meet" Randy and Jake by visiting the links provided.

Randy shows off a players' table at the tournament.

Jake is happy to showcase the team's specially-designed shirt during our "b Inspired" episode.

BaBB sent the following message: "We were honored to receive two Townie Awards for Marketing and Promotions at Pennsylvania Downtown Center's Annual Premier Revitalization Conference. PDC recognized our Pokémon Go event in the 'Special or Neighborhood Events' category and our Bearianne's holiday shopping reels in the 'Retail Promotions' category. We are pleased to accept these awards and want to thank all the volunteers and board members for helping to make it all possible."

The Expression previously provided extensive coverage of the community's first ever Pokémon Go Tournament. If you missed it, you can read about the event by clicking here.

You can find an additional article by clicking here.