THB Community Person of the Year: Sallee finds ways to bring community together

Dec. 28—ANDERSON — When it comes to community events in Anderson, Darla Sallee can get the job done.

For her leadership in efforts to improve the community in 2024, Sallee has been selected by The Herald Bulletin Editorial Board as the community Person of the Year.

Central in those efforts for Sallee and her husband, Gary, was the reopening of the iconic Toast Cafe in downtown Anderson. The Sallees had purchased the restaurant in early 2023 and, over a 19-month period, oversaw a complete gutting and refurbishing of the building’s interior.

“The thing that has stood out to me the most is how important this restaurant is to this community,” Sallee said following an open house to celebrate its grand reopening. “So many people have stopped us and said, ‘I have so many sweet memories of eating with my grandparents here, and now I get to bring my grandchildren in.’ That’s really important to the community, and it’s important to Gary and me.

“We wanted to make sure that tradition continues for families in Anderson.”

The Toast had been a staple of downtown Anderson since 1951 when Ted Demos and Andy Vrouvas opened the restaurant.

It was closed in November 2022 and its fate remained unknown until early 2023, when the Sallees purchased the property.

They spent more than $1.3 million in remodeling the restaurant, including a 1950s-style lunch counter with bar stools and a fountain drink area.

The couple also has additional plans for downtown Anderson, but they’re not ready to announce what they include.

The restaurant reopening was only one example of Darla Sallee’s community involvement.

She was named executive director of the Anderson Symphony Orchestra in 2021 after working for the city of Anderson, where she was the webmaster and oversaw the start of Anderson TV. She is overseeing the search for a new conductor for the symphony following the retirement of Rick Sowers earlier this year.

Sallee also has plans to conduct concerts for area students and to hold special events connected with each symphony performance.

Sallee helped organize pop-up fundraising projects — Jingles and Wrecked eateries — that have breathed new life into local spaces and generated $26,000 donations to area nonprofit art-centered entities.

She was also instrumental in reviving the Gaslight Festival on Historic West Eighth Street in 2023 and helped make the event even larger this past year.

Sallee organizes the annual Independence Day and Christmas parades and the J.T. Menifee Citywide Cleanup.

“My passion is about the people,” Sallee said. “I love Anderson because of the amazing people. There is something special about Anderson folks.”

Sallee worked for CASA and Dove Harbor before going to work for the city in 2007.

“I think Anderson has a self-esteem problem,” she said. “My goal is to collectively bring the community back together. We deserve the nice things that other communities have.”

Sallee said there was a time she considered leaving Anderson.

“There is something about seeing the people you know,” she said. “It’s a beautiful feeling to be among friends.”

Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. said the Sallees have made a personal investment in the community.

“Darla truly cares and loves the community,” Broderick said. “She constantly volunteers for any major event that serves as an outreach to the public.”

He said Sallee has made a huge difference in the Anderson community.

“When she left the city and went to the Symphony Orchestra, she agreed to help us,” Broderick said. “We call on her all the time. She knows how to organize and gets the job done.”

Clayton Whitson, executive director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said Sallee is involved in a number of community events.

“She’s not intimidated by taking on the big projects,” he said. “She’s not afraid to tackle the big problems.”

Whitson said Sallee helps bring the community together for the benefit of all the residents of Anderson and Madison County.

“Gary and Darla Sallee exemplify Anderson’s emerging generation of civic leaders,” said Holly Miller, who nominated the Sallees for the annual Person of the Year honor.

“Personal and professional partners, they are visionary entrepreneurs willing to take risks to positively impact their hometown,” Miller said. “Their success is evident.”

Miller noted that Sallee serves on the Anderson Indiana Main Street Association; she also serves on the boards of the Anderson Housing Authority and Paramount Heritage Foundation.

She said Sallee is working to bring new life to downtown Anderson by forging alliances, creating memorable events and providing gathering spaces where collaborative activities can unfold.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel