Chamber News T h e G r e a t e r C o n n e l l s v i l l e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

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1 Chamber News T h e G r e a t e r C o n n e l l s v i l l e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e Inside this issue: Chamber of Commerce Annual Mixer Holiday Spirit Visits Connellsville January 2014 Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Mixer at the Cochran House Chamber of Commerce Donates Coats 3 A Caroling We Will Go... 4 Chamber Hosts Holiday Open House 5 Welcome New Members 6 Atkins Music Center Rocks the Porter Theater Christian W. Klay Winery Annual Awards Nomination Form 7-8 The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce was busy spreading the holiday Valentine s Dance 14 Business Resources 15 spirit in The Annual Holiday Mixer was held at the Cochran House, on December 13. Members of the Chamber and the Connellsville Rotary came to celebrate the season with friends while enjoying the food and sharing the laughter. Eugene and Patty Lint graciously opened their doors to their home for the celebration. The house was decorated with such detail that even Santa Clause would have been proud. Guests had a smorgasbord of food to choose from, and the guests were even treated to music from a local group of carolers. A special thanks goes out to Eugene and Patty Lint and the staff that helped make the night a memorable one. Chamber Information 16 Community Calendar 17 Save the Date Where in Connellsville? 18 Special points of interest: Winter Wonderland Dinner will be recognizing Pechin Superfood Market for their 66 years of service to the community on January 18, Deadline for the Awards Nominations for the annual banquet is Friday, January 24, Please pick up a nomination form at the Chamber Office or visit the Chamber Facebook page to view the categories. Contact the Chamber Office at if you have any questions. Holiday Spirit Visits Connellsville Connellsville was alive with celebration during the 2013 holiday season. The Believe in Connellsville holiday decorating contest showcased the beautiful decorations of many of Connellsville s businesses. These decorations enhanced the annual It s a Connellsville Christmas which took place on December 7-8. Connellsville looked like it stepped back in time to its heyday when people window shopped along the streets. People were everywhere admiring the decorations, touring the churches, looking at the live nativity, and ice skating near the Connellsville Canteen. The Greater Connellsville Community Center, the Free Library of Connellsville, the Canteen and Artworks provided additional activities to participate in during the day. Continues on page 2

2 Holiday Spirit visits Connellsville cont d The Carnegie Free Library not only had a vendor show full of holiday crafts, but they also had a one day opening of the Carnegie Café which is scheduled to open in early The Café had some of the drinks and food items that will be sold when it opens. The Connellsville Community Center also had a vendor show during the It s a Connellsville Christmas. The Center was busy that day because in addition to all the visitors to the vendor show, the Porter Theater also was hosting A Christmas Spectacular which showcased the singing and dancing of many of our local citizens. Many favorite Christmas songs were performed to the delight on onlookers during the show. Artworks was involved in spreading the holiday magic as well. They provided crafts for the children during the events. As you walked by the ice rink, the Canteen, and Artworks, the crowd was laughing and enjoying the efforts made by the City of Connellsville, its businesses and community members. Finally, throughout Connellsville, many churches were decorated for the season and offered tours to the visitors. Some of the churches were having cookie sales and vendor shows as well. On Crawford Avenue, next to the Community Ministries, there were several individuals that weathered the cold temperatures as a live nativity to the delight of the those that were passing. The Canteen also had many activities for everyone to enjoy. The Canteen also had a one day opening for visitors to see the new café. There were many wonderful things taking place here, but the children were especially fond of Breakfast with Santa. The children also had an opportunity to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas as well. As if that was not enough fun for the day, anyone could go next door to the H & R parking lot and ice skate...yes you heard me right, ice skate. Café Carnegie Special thanks to Linda Ruth of the Friends of the Carnegie Free Library for the above photographs.

3 The Canteen Special thanks to Dan Cox of Artworks for the above photographs. Chamber of Commerce Donates Coats As a result of the money raised from Christmas in the Park which was on November 23, 2013, the Greater Connellsville Chamber of commerce was able to purchase 66 coats with the help of Walmart and donate them to the Community Ministries. These coats will be given to needy children in the area. This particular fundraiser is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when businesses and organizations in the community come together for a common good.

4 A Caroling We Will Go... Lori Kaczmarek, a Board of Directors member, always wanted to have the Chamber of Commerce go caroling around the City of Connellsville; this year caroling became a reality for her. On December 20, 2013, armed with asong booklet, the Chamber Carolers organized at the Chamber Office to begin their trek around town. The Chamber Carolers consisted of several members of the Board of Directors including Dennis Martin, President; Lori Kaczmarek; Michael Bowman; Joe Klocek; M.J. Winterhalter; and Shirley J. Rosenberger, Chamber Manager. In addition to Chamber Board Members and Manager, staff members from Highland Hospitals Regional Center for Autism joined in the revelry. It was the first annual Chamber Caroling event; however, as successful as it was, many members of the Board of Directors are planning to entertain the city again in From above, counterclockwise, Staff Members from the Highlands Hospital Regional Center for Autism; the Chamber Carolers singing for PNC Bank employees and customers; the Chamber Carolers and Charleroi Federal Savings employees receive a surprise visit from Santa Claus; Joe Mancuso, President of New Haven Hose Company and his customers at his barber shop sing along with the Chamber Carolers; and a little boy receives a special treat from Santa as he passes the Chamber Carolers on their way to City Hall.

5 Chamber Hosts Holiday Open House Following the Chamber Caroling, the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce strolled back to the Chamber Office for a little holiday cheer. Many Chamber Members stopped by to chat with other members and reminisce about the year gone by. There was a lot of chatter about what the Chamber had accomplished in 2013, as well as the direction it needs to go in the new year. The Board of Directors and the Chamber Manager are looking forward to We hope to see all of you next year in the Chamberhood.

6 Welcome New Members to the Chamber of Commerce Martin s Food Mart We welcomed Martin s Food Mart as a 2014 Member. Martin s Food Mart is located at 800 Vanderbilt Road in Connellsville. It has been in operation since October 2005 and has 98 employees. Peter Trancita is the manager of the store; however, they have three other mangers as well. In addition to Mr. Trancita, Gale Price, Customer Operations Manager, Guy Hilderbrand, Nonperishable Manager, and John Emenheiser, the Night Manager help to keep the store running efficiently. Martin s has a Café Deli, a full-service florist, and a full-service bakery. In addition to providing a wide array of items for their customers, Martin s is taking a step toward making shopping easier for their patrons. Recently, they have added gluten-free tagging for many of their items, and plan to add additional tagging such as low-sodium in the future for their customers that are health conscious. The tagging is being used to make finding food items easier for their patrons. Martin s Food Mart is located near the bike trail and their business has been an asset in meeting the needs of the thousands of travelers that pass through our community. Thanks to the help of the Yough River Trail Council, Martin s is more visible from the trail because of the store s sign that hangs from the back of the building. Mr. Trancita noted that the sign has helped to increase the number of trail users that come to his store. Mr. Trancita also mentioned that Marin s Food Mart has a small conference room that seats about 10 people and is available for use for small organizations or business meetings. Please call Martin s for reservation information. The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce is delighted to have Martin s Food Mart as an new member. Member Toni Schiavoni, Lou Durbin, and Chamber Manager Shirley Rosenberger at the Chamber Holiday Party. Lou Durbin Lou Durbin is a native of Connellsville, but he has lived in Pittsburgh for 45 years. Mr. Durbin is a retired sales and sales training executive. He spends a considerable amount of time in Connellsville visiting friends and family. He has also been a guest of several of the events that have been sponsored by the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Durbin stated that, These functions have been both educational and enjoyable for me. The Chamber has many interesting and progressive plans on it s agenda and I would like to be a part of it. The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce welcomes Lou Durbin as a 2014 member.

7 Welcome New Members to the Chamber of Commerce cont d. Dunbar Borough The Borough of Dunbar is a small community located southwest of Connellsville. The present mayor is Norman Gordon. Dunbar was named after Colonel Thomas Dunbar who was defeated by the French and Indians. The town was settled in the 1790s, but it was incorporated as a borough in The community started off as an agricultural area, but that soon changed once the region started to produce coke and coal. Large deposits were discovered in the area in the 19th century, and Dunbar prospered during this time coke and coal was the main source of revenue in the area. Dunbar Borough remains a community that is rich in heritage which still can be seen in its architecture, railroad tracks, and through the efforts of the local historical society. In recent years Dunbar has become a thoroughfare for bikers riding the Greater Allegheny Passageway. Sheepskin Trail connects the Passageway at Wheeler Bottom near Connellsville and enters Dunbar near the Dunbar Historical Society. Some of the more active organizations in the community are the Dunbar Library and the Volunteer Fire Department. Dunbar Borough invites everyone to come out on the last Saturday in September for their Community Festival. If any member of the Chamber likes to bike, and yourself in Dunbar, stop by and welcome our new members the Borough of Dunbar. The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Borough of Dunbar to our organization. Atkins Music Center Rocks the Porter Theater Denise Friel, owner of Atkins Music Center, sponsored a Winter Jam Session at the Porter Theater on December 28, The session was used to highlight local talent. Atkins Music Center s teachers, Daniel Quairiere, Stephen Gallo, Sandy Millward, and Gene McFadden had the opportunity to jam with their students. Twenty-five students performed at the Jam Session with music ranging from traditional Christmas music to Rock & Roll. Many of the common instruments were played by the students including the guitar, violin, and banjo; however, there were also acts that featured congo drums and didgeridoo. In addition, there were several vocal performances as well. The Winter Jam Session presented several hours of entertainment that features family duets, bands and solo acts. The talents of Ben Millward, owner of Backwards Sound Studio located on the third floor of the Greater Connellsville Community Center, provided the sound for the Jam Session. The Jam Session provided an afternoon of entertainment for everyone.

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11 Award Nominations It s that time of year again when we nominate individuals and groups for their outstanding work in the City of Connellsville. The descriptions for the award being presented and directions are listed below along with the deadline. Please use additional pages as needed. If you have any questions, please contact Shirley at the Chamber Office at or at info@greaterconnellsville.org. Awards Nominations Community Service (Individual) Include Individual s name and an explanation for the nomination. Community Service (Group) Include Group s name and an explanation for the nomination. Distinguished Citizen Include individual s name and explanation for the nomination. This award is presented to an individual whose efforts improve life in the greater Connellsville area. Beautification Award Include business name and explanation for the nomination. This award is presented to an area business or retailer with a completed project. This project must appropriately add to the appearance of the community in an impressive or attractive manner. Nominee information: Please include names, title or position, company, business address, business phone number, and home phone number. Nominator: Please sign and print name along with company name and phone number. Please complete the following information; use additional pages as needed. BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: List any special recognitions, projects and achievements. Also include business-related affiliations, directorships, trusteeships or other designations. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Describe local, county and state level participation, length of service and offices held in civic and service organizations, charitable activities, political pursuits, religious groups, chamber of commerce, merchants associations, etc. ASSISTED WOMEN IN REACHING THEIR FULL LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL: Provide specific examples of how the nominee has demonstrated support for the advancement and leadership development of business and professional women. OTHER MEMBERSHIPS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS, PUBLICATIONS: Nominees may already have been honored for service to their profession, industry, or community. They also may have publications to their credit or articles published supporting their service to their service to their profession, industry or community. Please list any awards or honors received which support this nomination. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONPERTAINING TO CRITERIA: Discuss briefly any additional factors that you feel are important for consideration of your nominee for the ATHENA Award. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014 Return completed nomination form to : Athena Award Nomination Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce 100 South Arch Street Connellsville, PA Please include name of nominator, address, phone, and with your submission.

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13 Business Resources This section of the newsletters provides businesses and individuals with information that can be used as resources for networking, communicating, and educating. The following information is not produced by the Greater Chamber of Commerce, but instead, the information has been given to us so that we can pass it on to our members. If a member has any resources that they would like to add to this segment of the newsletter, please contact the Chamber Office at Spring 2014 Penn State Fayette Eberly Campus has just published their schedule for Outreach & Continuing Education Credit & Non-Credit Schedule. Contact or for more information. You can also visit their website ate Saturday, January 25, Ready to Run Campaign Training for Women $ Chatham University Mellon Board Room Pittsburgh, PA Contact the Center at or pcwp@chatham.edu Saturday, January 18, Small Business Basics Workshop $ The Center for Women s Entrepreneurship Chatham University Mellon Board Room Pittsburgh, PA Visit For all business owners, or for individuals that are planning to start a business, please keep in mind that the St. Vincent University Small Business Development Center is a good source of information for starting a business, business plan development, finances and much, much more. Visit their website at:

14 2014 Membership Dues Membership applications were sent out last month. Please submit membership dues along with the new application to the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce so you do not miss out on the Membership Benefits. Also, if you are interested in participating in the Membership Discount Program, please contact the Chamber Office. Windows Available for Displays The Chamber invites Members to take advantage of our windows for displaying information about upcoming events. Please contact Shirley at the Chamber Office for more information. Request for Updated Information for Website The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce plans to update itswebsite. We want to make sure all information is accurate and up-to-date. Please review the content on our present website, and s any changes that need to be made to: or mail to: The Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce 100 South Arch Street Connellsville, PA Like us on Facebook Like us on Facebook at Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce, and keep up-to-date with happenings in the Chamberhood. Winter Wonderland Winter Wonderland is the Chamber s annual event that honors a business that has served the community for many years. This year Winter Wonderland will honor Pechin Superfood Store on January 18, 2014 at Murphy s Hall in Connellsville. The cost of the meal is $40.00 per person; you may bring your own liquor or favorite spirit to this event. Invitations were sent out to the members last month. If for some reason you did not receive an invitation, but you are interested in attending, please contact the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce at or at

15 Chamber CALENDAR of EVENTS January 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Fundraiser for Friends of Library & Garden Club Connellsville B & B (9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.) Last Day to RSVP for Winter Wonderland Winter Wonderland Book Club Carnegir Free Library Tottie Awards 19 Fundraiser for Friends of Library & Garden Club Connellsville B & B (9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.) 20 The Faces & Voices of Connellsville - Interviews Carnegie Free Library 20 The Faces & Voices of Connellsville - Interviews Carnegie Free Library 20 The Faces & Voices of Connellsville - Interviews Carnegie Free Library Deadline for Awards Nominations Fundraiser for Friends of Library & Garden Club Connellsville B & B (9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.) Book Club Carnegie Free Library New Yoga Class at Carnegie Free Library Starting Wednesday, February 19, 2014 Six-week session Contact Gathy Kumor at kumor49@hotmail.com or to register.

16 The Gr eat er Co nnel lsville Chamber of Commerce 100 South Arch Street Connellsville, PA Phone: Fax: Quote of the Month: An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage. Jack Welch SAVE THESE DATES February 6-9, 2014 Geyer Performing Arts Center Presents Oliver February 25, 2014 Awards Banquet at Bell s Banquet Hall Connellsville is a beautiful city full of wonderful parks, the bike trail, and magnificent architecture. How many of us actually pay attention to the details of our skyline? There are numerous church steeples, interesting artwork, and ornate rooftops. For the next 12 issues of the newsletter, I am hoping everyone will start looking up to try to identify the what building or object the photo is depicting. It is like an architectural scavenger hunt. I will provide the answer in the following issue of the Chamber News Good Luck!! Can you identify this building?