Linda Koniar is the recipient of Main Street Alabama’s Main Street Hero Award

 November 10 2022 -  Linda Koniar was awarded the Main Street Alabama Hero Award for the Downtown Foley District by Tricia Black, Main Street Alabama Assistant State Coordinator. Linda was presented her award at the Foley Main Street’s winter volunteer appreciation reception, held at Copper Kettle Cottage.

The Main Street Hero award recognizes one community leader, public figure or an or an organization who has made an outstanding contribution to the  local Main Street organization program. Recipients may be a public or private individual, non-profit organization, a for-profit business or a government entity. This year Foley Main Street’s Hero is Linda Koniar.

Linda Koniar is no ordinary woman. She is a woman who has been a wife of a community focused man - former Foley Mayor John Koniar. She supported him for his 40 years of service as a city councilman, mayor pro tem and mayor. She was the first lady of Foley for fourteen of those years and has served her community in a multitude of ways then and now. Linda Koniar loves Foley and shows such a warm welcome to our visitors. The reach of her efforts cannot be measured, the results of her fundraising will be felt for generations, her ability to bring together a community is unbelievable.

Linda's work with the Art in the Park has improved the downtown district by helping to grow and preserve a quality event which has a direct economic impact on downtown Foley.  The Art in the Park plays a direct role in promotion - not only shining a spotlight on Downtown Foley, but also bringing people to downtown. 30,000 people attend Art in the Park.  Linda has been the co-chair of the Foley Art in the Park for over 42 years and as a Foley Art Center board member since the 90’s   Linda's work has improved the downtown by growing a quality event which has a direct economic impact.  Her work, along with the other board members of the Foley Art Center has helped preserve the historic Claude Pierre building, where the Art Center Gallery resides, and is a daily addition to our downtown retail..

Throughout the years, this event has raised funds to support cultural enrichment in South Baldwin County including the Foley School feeder pattern. From scholarships, live performances of poetry, funding art programs and art classes, to opening the Art Center Gallery in Downtown Foley to promote local artists year round… This event has been the heartbeat of the art culture in South Baldwin County for 50 years.

 CAPTION: Seated: John and Linda Koniar. Standing LtoR: Trisha Black Assistant State Coordinator Main Street Alabama; Todd Konair, Board of Directors Foley Main Street and Chad Watkins, President of Foley Main Street.