Calera presents Dennis Torrealba with the key to the city
Published 2:53 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2025
The Calera City Council presented Calera Main Street President Dennis Torrealba with the key to the city during a meeting on Monday, May 19. (Reporter photos/Noah Wortham)
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor
CALERA – The Calera City Council presented Calera Main Street President Dennis Torrealba with the key to the city and expressed their gratitude for all the work he has done in the downtown area during a meeting on Monday, May 19.
In addition to the key to the city, Mayor Jon Graham presented Torrealba with a proclamation recognizing his efforts in improving Calera Main Street and the city’s downtown area.
“Dennis has been very instrumental in bringing Main Street together,” Graham said. “Dennis had the vision and the wherewithal to get us all in gear and get the community in gear and lead us in the direction of revitalizing our downtown and that’s been a very difficult, very expensive ordeal for all involved but we are confident that this will pay off.”
The city of Calera has seen its Main Street transform from being used by the Alabama League of Municipalities as a poster-child of what a bad downtown looks like to becoming the hub of community events in the city—sporting new businesses with infrastructural and aesthetic improvements as well as a courtyard and playground.
“We know where we came from and it’s with your vision and wisdom and dedication that you brought what we see today,” Graham said. “I hope we can partner and continue to work together to make this just phenomenal. I can only imagine what phase two or maybe three would be like.”
Torrealba expressed that he was honored to receive the key to the city and said it was overwhelming and that he was truly humbled.
“It takes a lot of people to get us where we are today,” Torrealba said. “We’ve come a very long way. So, I’m very proud of the city, of the administration (and) of the dignitaries of the council. You as individuals have supported team Main Street and myself to the fullest.”
One by one, Torrealba expressed his gratitude to every member of the Calera City Council as well as the mayor for the support they have leveraged to Main Street in helping make the vision possible. Torrealba also thanked the entire Calera Main Street Board and gave special recognition to Alicia Anderson, Dee Starkey and Jackie Batson.
“These are the real stars,” Torrealba said. “I’m very appreciate and grateful to work with you guys. We’ve come a long way, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t be here without you. We couldn’t do it without you.”
Torrealba also extended his thanks to the local business owners on Calera Main Street who pour their time, effort and funds into the downtown area.
“These guys put everything that they have, their hearts, their time, their finances into our city,” Torrealba said. “They could choose another one but they chose to be here with us and it’s our pleasure to have you guys and (we) hope that your businesses will grow and flourish here in the city.”
Torrealba was first nominated to receive the key to the city at the council’s last meeting on May 5 where Council member Calvin Morgan made the proposal.
“I was thinking about an individual who has done so much for the city—and there’s a number of people who have done so much,” Morgan said. “This individual that I am nominating to receive this prestigious award… (and) to receive a key to the city would be Dennis in as far as what he has done and what he has brought to the city and his leadership over the Main Street board of directors.”
More Calera
-
-
-
Polls
Loading ...
