Downtown Helena, Inc. celebrated its 45th anniversary at the Annual Townie Awards on Tuesday, naming its business and person of the year awards as well as highlighting a number of other honors.

The Parrot Confectionary won the Downtown Business of the Year award.

The Downtown Person of the Year award went to Sandy Shull of Birds & Beasleys.

Other 2009 Townie Awards winners are:

• Best TV advertisement n Park Avenue Bakery

• Best Radio advertisement n The Bagel Co.

• Best print advertisement n Lewis and Clark Library

• Best print brochure or poster n St. Peter's Hospital

• Best Web site n Ghost Art Gallery

• Best merchandising and window display n Sole Sisters

DHI also recognized outgoing board members Crystal Kelly of the Red Lion Colonial Hotel and Jennifer Harris of Outdoor Kidfitters.

Newly inducted board members include Ben Palmer of KXLH-TV and Sarah Cook of Pipsqueaks Second Chance Boutique, along with re-elected members Patricia Spencer of the Lewis and Clark Library and Rick Davis of Capers Catering.

Over the past few months, DHI has established a scholarship fund to recognize graduating high school seniors and Carroll and the University of Montana-Helena College of Technology students for their academic success, community service and employment within the Helena business community.

The scholarship is named for Betty DeWolf, who has spent more than 40 years working downtown.

She was surprised with the honor at the Townies. Monies for the Betty DeWolf Scholarship Fund will be raised through private contributions and proceeds from the Jorud Photo Exhibit Auction celebrating Helena's 145th birthday. The first scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2010.

DHI is a nonprofit organization with 145 member businesses that provides marketing, events and promotional programs to support businesses' sales within the downtown area.