March - Juniata River Valley

Chamber of Commerce
& Visitors Bureau
March 20th, 2013 7:30am
7:30am--9:30am
“Health Reform: Looming Deadlines –
Defining Employer Mandate”
Sponsored by: Benefit
Management Group, Inc., Capital
Blue Cross and Emerson, Reid & Co.
Speakers:
 Jeffrey A. Gum, President, Benefit Management Group, Inc.
 David Vassilaros, Esq., Director, Health Reform Compliance, Capital Blue Cross
 Thomas Schimmer, Vice President, Emerson, Reid & Co., Education Chairperson – Central
Pennsylvania Health Underwriters Association
 Shelly Bloom, Manager-Consulting, Emerson, Reid & Co., Legislative Chairperson and Immediate
Past President – Pennsylvania Health Underwriters Association
Expert ad
vice to
help you n
avigate th
e
new health
care law!
FREE Continental Breakfast featuring: Fresh Fruit, Breakfast Breads, Yogurt with toppings, Coffee, Tea and Juice.
RSVP to [email protected] or via Facebook Event!
The Capperella Furniture store was founded by
brothers, Frank & Henry, in 1952 in downtown Bellefonte
as an appliance and television retailer. By 1955 they added
home furnishing to their offerings and in 1957 built a new
building between Bellefonte and Milesburg, allowing room
for bedding & flooring.
Expansions took place in the 1970’s and the early
1990’s bringing the store to 40,000 square feet of space. In 1997,
Capperella Furniture opened a branch store in the former
Kauffman’s Music & Furniture Store in downtown Lewistown.
Capperella Furniture thus followed in the footsteps of Jonas & Jane
Kauffman, a family business with over 80 years of furniture history
Capperella Furniture
145 East Market Street
Lewistown PA 17044
(717)248-0177
[email protected]
www.capperella.com
in the downtown Lewistown location.
Today the Capperella Stores are into their second generation of family ownership, with brother Hours:
Tues, Wed, Thu: 10am - 6pm
and sister, Dave and Carol Capperella, at the helm, offering a vast selection of home furnishings,
Monday & Friday: 10am - 8pm
bedding, flooring and customer services. They proudly feature LaZ-Boy, Catnapper, Thomasville,
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Bassett, Ashley, Flexsteel, Norwalk, and Serta & Tempurpedic.
Sunday: 1pm - 5 pm
Capperella Furniture rests their reputation on exceeding customer’s satisfaction, in both service
and in quality. Add great prices into the equation and you’ll love shopping at either Capperella location. Local Lewistown store manager,
JoAnn Smith, a Reedsville native, is well known throughout the Juniata River Valley. In addition to several years of experience at a local
furniture store she has worked in sales at both the County Observer and Lewistown Sentinel and is a very active member of the Mifflin
County Garden Club and the Mifflin County Pond Club. In their ongoing quest to better serve customer availability, Capperella Furniture is
now open on Mondays and Fridays until 8:00 P.M. and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.
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“More Than an Auction”
Reedsville Youth Park
April 21, 2013 11am-4pm
For 15 years, Sacred Heart
School (SHS) has been hosting a
very special event, “More Than an
Auction”. Through the years, the
location, food, and auction items have changed; however, one
thing has always been the same, the commitment and
dedication of the parents to SHS. With help from local
businesses, parishioners, parents, and community members,
the event is always a huge success, helping to offset the cost
of tuition for SHS families.
A few years ago, the “More Than an Auction”
committee added “A Family Fun Fest” to their logo and have
been striving for that very thing ever since. This year, we are
offering many new fun activities for children including pony
rides. We are also introducing live entertainment on the
outdoor stage. Our menu includes some old favorites like
chicken BBQ and French fries, but this year we’ve added
authentic Spanish cuisine. The cash raffle is always a huge
hit since you have the chance to win $1,000, $500, $250, $150
or $100, and this year, we are adding a 50/50 drawing the
day of the auction.
The parents and students work hard to create unique
raffle baskets filled with exciting gifts as well as items
handmade by each SHS class for the live auction. If bidding
in front of an audience is not your speed, we offer wonderful
items for our silent auction, as well as a basket raffle. As you
can see, there is something for everyone! We hope that you
and your family will join us at the Reedsville Youth Park on
Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 11 am – 4 pm and see for yourself
why this really is “More Than an Auction”!
For more information, call 717-527 - 4869. For a sneak peak at
auction items and updates, visit us on Facebook at “More Than an
Auction”.
EXPO Hosts
Wanted!
, 2013
MAY 22nd M
5-7:30 P
Date & Time:
May 22nd, 2013 5-7:30pm
Where:
Brookmere Winery &
Vineyard Inn Pavilion
What you get:
10x10 Exhibitor Space with 2
Chairs & Electricity (bring your
own cord)
Live Music by Bernie Rich
Fully catered by Abe’s Cafe
Wine Sampling with Brookmere
Winery
Event Promotion
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Schedule of Events
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RECURRING EVENTS
March 21 - Amtrak Rally at the
Belleville Sale & Livestock Auction Junction Train Station
Wednesdays – All year (unless a
holiday) in Belleville, PA. 7am-3pm. March 26 - Employer Seminar by
Amish & Mennonite baked goods,
the Juniata Valley Employer
produce, quilts, antiques, livestock,
Advisory Council "Navigating
& wares. Large flea market & food Workplace Legal Issues" with Guest
vendors. 717.935.2146
Speaker Angela Thomas,
Attorney at the Lewistown
Dairyland Flea Market - March thru
CareerLink 8-11:45AM.
December on Wednesdays (weather Employers: Get the latest on these
permitting.) Beside the Dairyland
topics: Social Media Update,
Complex in Reedsville, PA.
Conducting Effective Workplace
Investigations, Handling Employee
March Events
Terminations, Hot Topics in
Mar 9 - Mifflin Juniata Special
Employment and Labor Laws.
Needs Center 26th Annual Lip Sync
Registration Contact
Contest @6pm MC High School.
Information: Margaret Winters 717.248.6261
[email protected] or (717)2489849
Mar 10 - 3:30pm-5:30pm - Mifflin
County High School Indoor
April Events
Competitive group Zumbathon®
Belleville Civic Club Annual Antique
Come join the fun as we party
Show & Sale – held annually at the
Zumba(r) style. Proceeds will benefit
Belleville Community Hall, 11
the Mifflin County High School's
Walnut Street, Belleville, PA the 1st
Indoor Competitive groups:
or 2nd weekend in April depending
Drum Line , Guard , and Majorettes. on when Easter Falls. Friday 10amDoor Prizes, Raffles and 50/50 will
7pm & Saturday 10am-4pm.
be available. Tickets are $10 in
717.935.2550
advance and $12 at the door and
are available through any student or
April 9 - Kilnformed and Mosaic
advisor with the group or at TAZ
Glass Artist in residency Reception.
Fitness. Or by calling 717-994-6904 6:30-8pm. Held at the Mifflin County
Middle School Lobby. “Kids and the
Sunday March 10 - Embassy
Arts”
Theatre Community Night at JP
Edwards. 11am to close. J.P.
April 12-13 - 2nd annual Home and
Edward’s will be donating 15% of
Garden Show is coming back to the
your purchase to your organization. Youth Park in Reedsville on Friday,
* Donation not applicable for
April 12th and Saturday, April 13th!
purchase of alcohol.
Door prizes, delicious food,
seminars, vendors and return of the
Saturday, March 16 - Breakfast with Dr. Lori Antiques Appraisal show on
the Easter Bunny. 8:30-10:00am or
Saturday.
10:30 - 12pm at the Lewistown
Country Club. Tickets: Children $5 April 21 - Sacred Heart of Jesus
Adults $10, Children 3 and under
Parish and School presents More
free. Ticket Includes: Photo with
Than An Auction: A Family Fun
Easter Bunny, Buffet breakfast
Fest. 11AM at the Reedsville Youth
including scrambled eggs, home
Park. www.sacredheartschool.com.
fries, bacon, sausage, toast, silver
dollar pancakes, juice and coffee.
April 27th - Kid Connection. Last
Ticket deadline is March 8. Tickets
Saturday in April. Free Fun and
can be purchased in Community
Activities for Children. Activities and
Relations, Monday - Friday, 9am Entertainment all day in downtown
4pm, or by calling 717-242-7464
Lewistown, PA. 717.247.5255
Add your EVENT to our calendar!
WWW. JUN IATARIV ERVALL EY.ORG
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Please join us in welcoming our newest member by patronizing their businesses! Just
as the Chamber is important to our community, they are important to the Chamber. Their investment means an investment in our community. Their membership reflects their integrity as a responsible business owner
and demonstrates their commitment to the area.
Bonfatto's Spice Cream
MCIDC Plaza, 6395 SR 103N
Bldg 15
Lewistown PA 17044
David Letterman
Phone: (814)574-4339
www.spicecream.com
[email protected]
Bonfatto’s Spice Cream Scoops Up 4 Medals at Nationally
Renown Spicy Food Convention ZestFest
STATE COLLEGE, PA—A trio of locally-invented sweet and savory
desserts made a lasting impression on judges recently at a national spicy food convention and expo in Irving, Texas.
Bonfatto’s Spice Cream products earned 4 medals in the
ZestFest 2013 Fiery Food Challenge at the end of January, including a first place Best Zesty Sweets Award for Rolling Berry Blastoff, and a third place category award for Best New Product: Consumer Ready Food.
ZestFest is one of the most prestigious trade shows for
zesty products nationwide with over 100 judges and 700 products
entered, and open to consumers, retail buyers and restaurant professionals. The Fiery Food Challenge kicks off the event each year
and attracts hundreds of spicy food innovators putting their
unique concoctions and products to the test.
“We set out to create a dessert treat for fans of spicy,
zesty foods that’s become the best thing to happen to ice cream
since the cone,” said Dave Letterman, President of Letterman Enterprises Inc. and creator of the Bonfatto’s line of wing sauces
and marinades. “Judging from our performance at ZestFest, we
accomplished our goal and then some.”
Letterman, also the proprietor and owner of Bonfatto’s
restaurant in Bellefonte, PA, cites his experience with his awardwinning line of hot sauces and marinades (winners at ZestFest
2012 and more) as an inspiration for becoming part of the “savory
dessert” craze popularized recently by cable cooking shows.
“This is a different sort of combination that people are
amazed by…amazed that it actually works and tastes great,” said
Letterman. “Really. Who would have thought of combining hot
sauce with ice cream"?
Bonfatto’s Spice Cream is available in three deviously
tasty flavors—Jumpin’ Jack Apple Splash, Sweet Peachy Heat
Wave and Rolling Berry Blastoff. Each unique product combination features a hint of fruit-based hot sauce combined with all
natural ingredients infused into premium French vanilla ice
cream.
“I like to sum up the experience of trying Spice Cream
this way,” Letterman added, “Your mind says ‘no’. But your taste
buds say ‘Oh!’.”
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 Aiken, LLC/EMS
 All American Cruizers
 Association of Mifflin
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County Educators
Big Valley Fastener &
Supply
Black Leaf Studio, LLC
Brookline
Central PA Dock &
Door LLC
Class 1 Transport, Inc.
Drayer Physical
Therapy Institute
Falkner Technologies,
LLC
G.E. Inspection
Technologies, LP
HealthSouth Mifflintown Clinic
Juniata Business and
Industry, Inc.
Keystone Complex LLC
Keystone Payroll LLC
Kishacoquillas Valley
National Bank
Lamar Advertising of
Williamsport
Laurel Rock Farm LLC
Lewistown Paper
Company
Mattress World
Mifflin County
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Industrial Development
Corporation
Mifflin County Model
Railroad Club
Mifflin-Juniata Special
Needs Center, Inc.
Moosewood Laser
Creations
Nittany Media Inc.
NuVisions Center
Office Imaging
Solutions, LLC
PA Cleanways of Mifflin
County
Penn State University,
Lewistown Learning
Center
Sandy Bend, Inc.
SUM Child
Development, Inc.
SUN Home Health &
Hospice
The Sentinel Lewistown
United Way of MifflinJuniata
Visiting Mifflin County
Walnut Springs
Racquet Club
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In Home Services Mission Statement: a company of
caring, conscientious, dedicated Team Members,
(service providers) whose goal is to “make life easier” for
our clients by providing outstanding in home services with a sincere commitment to customer service.
A brand new business has
opened its doors in the Juniata
River Valley, providing much
needed services to a fast growing
percentage of our central
Pennsylvania population; in-home
assistance and care.
CEO Kenton Stuck is quick to point out that this new endeavor does
not deliver medical services, but rather, creature comfort assistance right in
the client’s own home. Such things as housekeeping, cleaning, food prep,
personal shopping, gardening, morning & evening care; plus transportation
to medical appointments, hair care appointments, grocery shopping & other local out of In Home Services of Central PA
20 Windmill Hill, Suite 7
home destinations.
The first step in the process is to call Lori Pfiester, the director of operational services.
Burnham, PA 17009
Her skills are in developing a plan for the specific needs of the client. Once determined, Ruth
Phone: 888-881-2046
Ann Kephart, director of client services, selects a team member she feels is a good match for
Fax: 814-414-0135
the client. She and the member make a home visit to introduce the member to the client and [email protected]
www.InHomeServicesofCentralPa.com
to make sure the plan is totally satisfactory. If the team member isn’t a good match with the
client, another team member is brought in who is compatible.
In Mifflin and Juniata Counties the senior citizens
make up about 35% of the population. With the large
amount of Baby Boomers reaching senior citizen status, the
potential client base is growing daily. In Home Services of
Central PA will make it possible for seniors to stay in their
homes as opposed to moving to assisted living facilities or
nursing homes before they really want or need to.
It is the goal of Stuck, Pfiester and Kephart to hire
people who are dedicated to serving others, who will bring
pleasure to the clients by making their time in client’s homes
a joy and time looked forward to each and every visit. Merely
assisted in designated chores is far from the only task at
hand, brightening the lives of clients is extremely important.
Team members are subjected to background and
criminal checks and are bonded. The business carries both
professional and general liability insurance. Service is
provided for people of all ages in Mifflin, Juniata and Centre
Counties. Team members are available for as little or as
much as you need them, be it day, night or weekend. It can
be primary care or respite care.
Management is dedicated to exceeding client’s
expectations and team members are trained to make the goal
to stay in your home both attainable and consistently
enjoyable.
by:
d
e
ost
H
March 28th, 2013
5:30-7:30pm
Held at the Blossom Hill Development model home
147 Cambridge Lane, Lewistown PA
WWW. JUN IATARIV ERVALL EY.ORG
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Attendees at the most resent Business
After Hours Event celebrated their Valentine’s
Day week with a reminder why so many
have “Fallen In Love” with Sacred Heart
School. Classrooms were open with student
projects on display and the halls were filled
with the sounds of student musicians.
The area’s newest winery, The Juniata Valley Winery, was on hand offering samplings of their wines and The Wilson House Bed & Breakfast had a spectacular dessert display that was almost too pretty to eat! The Main Street Market was there to ensure that
no one walked away hungry with a variety of foods from their new Tapas Menu.
Thank you Sacred Heart School for opening your doors and once again reminding
us why we should consider Sacred Heart for an “Excellence in Faith-Filled Education”!
UPCOMING AFTER HOURS:
2013 After Hours:
March 28th:
Stone Arch Real Estate
April 24th: Z Wireless
Center
May 22nd: Business After
Hours Expo at Brookmere
Winery & Vineyard Inn
Pavilion
2014 After Hours:
January: Rotary Club of
Lewistown
February: PA CareerLink of
Mifflin County
March: Energex
April: Juniata Valley Bank
May: Business After Hours
Expo
June: Abe’s Cafe
June: Brookline
July: GE Inspection
July: Capperella Furniture
Technologies
August 28th: First National
August: OPEN
Bank of Mifflintown
September: OPEN
September: Hartman
October: OPEN
Center
November: OPEN
October: South Hills
December: Holiday
School of Business &
Gathering hosted by:
Technology
Juniata Valley Winery &
November 20th: EXTRAVA
Wilson House B&B
Market & Rich Coast Coffee
Showcase your business or
December 18th: Holiday
organization.
Sign up today
Gathering hosted by…
for
the
OPEN
After Hours
Seven Mountains Wine
Months! For more
Cellars
information:
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G o o d
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The Alleghenies is excited to announce new & updated sample
itineraries to TourTheAlleghenies.com.
MARK your calendars….
June 29th, 2013
Victory Park, Lewistown PA
11am—11pm!
River Rampage 5k, Community Float & Raft Regatta,
Vendors, Rockin’ by the River, RiverFEST Idol,
Activities and FIREWORKS!
RiverFEST is a community effort and our sponsors will
play a huge role. Without sponsors, we cannot pro-
duce the high quality, exciting event we are striving
for. We have many different levels of sponsorship
available. Sponsorship opportunities will give your organization/business the chance to support our annual
4th of July Juniata RiverFEST Event! Email [email protected] to get involved!
Whether your group travel plans call for a single day, a
weekend or a week, check out www.tourthealleghenies.com for
sample itineraries that are designed to help you choose the perfect
trip quickly and easily. Grouped together by theme, you’ll find what
to see, where to stay and where to find a great meal all right here
at your fingertips. Just click, choose, book and enjoy.
Take a journey with the heroes of a nation– from Flight 93
National Memorial & Chapel, to the expansion of American fuel
ingenuity at the Wind Farm Project, see the site where 9 miners
were rescued in 2002, and finish your day at the sipping the wines
that have kept a family in business for generations on our tour of
American Heroes.
Bundles of Fun will enable tours to visit local businesses
and manufacturers and sample their products or receive a
remembrance gift. See how local favorites are made in The
Alleghenies' version of a multi-factory tour.
Bedford County is blessed with 14 covered bridges. Few
places have covered bridges set in more picturesque settings and
with more variety than in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Built
approximately 100 years ago by craftsmen who worked almost
entirely by hand, these structures withstand the rain, snow and
hard use of the travelling public. Covered Bridges of Bedford County
will take tours to see 8 of the remarkable structures.
Creation 2013- Visitors can join thousands of other
Christian music enthusiast at the Nation’s Largest Christian Music
Festival; June 26-29, 2013 at the Agape Farm in Mount Union,
PA. An Alleghenies' representative will help tour planners/
operators to build itineraries through The Alleghenies focused
around Creation 2013!
Cruisin’ by Land & “Sea” will help tours take on The
Alleghenies by land and “sea”, well, lake more like it & travel the
historic lines of the East Broad Top Railroad.
The Historic Bedford Dine Around will stimulate travelers’
appetites and expand their minds while visiting Bedford County,
PA…The costumed guide will meet tours upon arrival in Bedford for
a progressive “eating” tour that will include visits to several
different restaurants while learning and visiting fun and historic
sites in the Bedford area.
Take the time to "LIKE" Tour The Alleghenies on Facebook
as an easy way to get current tips and travel ideas to The
Alleghenies. Tour The Alleghenies' Facebook page is a great way to
learn of events and travel deals within the region.
Get YOUR business involved with TheAlleghenies as
well! More info? Contact us! 717.248.6713 or
[email protected].
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Schedule of Events
(continued from Page 2)
PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS at Lincoln
Caverns. Wednesdays, July 10,
May 22nd - Business After Hours
July 24, Aug. 7 6:30 – 9:00 PM
EXPO held at Brookmere Winery & Bring your tripod, your cameras, and
Vineyard Inn Pavilion. 5-7:30pm
lights. First time opportunity for
717.248.6713
camera buffs! $25.00/person.
Advance ticket purchase required.
May 25th - Country Memories Day.
Ages 10+ only. Visit
Always the Saturday before
www.lincolncaverns.com
Memorial Day. McVeytown, PA
9:30am-4pm. 717.899.7450
FLASHLIGHT ADVENTURES at
Lincoln Caverns Wednesdays, July
June Events
17, July 31, August 14 6:30 – 9:00
Lincoln Caverns Events in June:
PM Bring your flashlight and sense
KIDS CAVE KAMP June 2013 A
of adventure. After an informal
unique & exciting educational day
presentation of our pre-tour
camp! With adventure caving for
program, Intro. to Speleology – The
grades 3+ Entering Grades 6, 7, 8,
Study of Caves, see Lincoln
9: June 12 - 15, 9 - 12 Each Day Caverns & Whisper Rocks much like
and All Day Friday—Entering
the early cave explorers did!
Grades 3, 4, 5, 6: June 17 - 20, 9 –
$16.00/person. Advance ticket
12 Each Day—Entering Grades 1. 2. purchase required. Ages 10+ only.
3: June 24 - 27, 9 – 12 Each Day
Visit www.lincolncaverns.com
Creative activities, crafts, learning,
fun and friendship! Learn about
July 11-14 - Annual Remington
caves, bats, rocks, and fossils.
Ryde Bluegrass Festival - Held at
Included are Cavern tours, panning the Grange Fairgrounds. The event
for gems, snacks, T-shirts, Kamp
will feature once again 25 bands
Photos, etc Pre-registration
including Goldwing Express,
required.
Bluegrass Brothers, Hillbilly
Gypsies, James King, The
Saturday & Sunday, June 22–23, Bluegrass Mountaineers, Remington
2013 9th Annual Discovery Days
Ryde, and more to be announced.
Celebrate 80 years of discovery at www.remingtonryde.com to view the
Lincoln Caverns. Just once a year, festival information and how to order
enjoy special historic tours, free
advanced tickets.
workshops and children's activities.
Fun for the entire family! At special
August Events
prices too! 9 AM – 5 PM each day
Mifflin County Youth Fair - Mifflin
No advance tickets/registration
County Youth Park - Reedsville
required. Visit
(717)248-9618
www.lincolncaverns.com
www.mcyouthfair.com
May Events
S.C.O.R.E. Counselor
Honored Phyllis Palm
Phyllis A. Palm is the
recipient of the 2013 Brother
Citation Award presented
annually by the Mifflin County
Roundtable of Christian and
Jews. Phyllis retired in 2006 as
the Vice President of Operations
at the Lewistown Hospital. Her
career path took her from
graduation at the Lewistown
Hospital School of Nursing in
1963 to supervisory positions in
Virginia Beach, Lewistown
Hospital, and Brookline Manor,
instructor in the LPN program at
the Mifflin Juniata Career and
Technology Center and many management positions at
the Lewistown Hospital.
Phyllis’s list of volunteer services is
overwhelming. Highlights include past president of the
Lewistown Kiwanis Club, member of United Way Board,
Kish Bank Board, current chair of the Mifflin County
Industrial Development Corporation, Penn State
Extension Board, advisor for the FAME EMS, serves on
several scholarship committees and was a S.C.O.R.E.
counselor.
Following retirement, the chamber recruited
Phyllis to serve as a S.C.O.R.E. counselor, a mentoring
service provided at no charge to small business owners.
One of our chamber members she mentored was
anxious to do a testimonial in her honor at the banquet
but wasn’t able to attend due to illness.
Chamber President, Jim Tunall, considered it a
great honor to be chosen to serve as master of
ceremonies for the presentation.
For
information on free mentoring by S.C.O.R.E.
retired professionals, visit: www.scorecpa.org
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June 29th - Juniata RiverFEST –
11pm @ Victory Park, Lewistown
PA. River Rampage 5k, Raft
Regatta, Community Float,
Rockin’ by the River, Food, Fun,
Fireworks at dusk.
July Events
Embassy Theatre Concert - held in
front of the Embassy Theatre on
South Main Street with the
Lewistown Community Band.
717.248.0321
G o o d
Na tu re !
September Events
Sept 29th – Goose Day in the
Juniata River Valley! Otherwise
known as St. Michaelmas Day.
717.248.6713
October Events
HarvestFEST held at the Mifflin
County Youth Park, Reedsville, PA.
717.935.5011 or
www.visitbigvalley.com
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Catch phrases come and go, some stick in our vocabulary longer than others.
Some drop off the face of the English language and are forgotten forever. Five are currently
riding the waves across the top of my mind.
“Mom & Pop”, “Chain Stores”, “Shopping Centers”, “Strip Malls”, and “Big Box
Stores” are monopolizing my attention. What brought this to focus was a recent phone call from
the manager of a national chain store with a branch in Burnham. The corporation was a long time member of
the chamber of commerce, as a matter of fact a past manager served on our board for many years, including a term as Chair. The current
manager stated the corporation was dropping all chamber memberships nationally and were terminating their policy of paying manager’s dues
for service club memberships.
This came as no shock to us in the office, we have found that many of the biggest players in our retail market place are not members of the
chamber, and most fail to support any and all community activities. They certainly take their profits out of the community, but feel no
responsibility to share any return to benefit our local citizens.
I won’t list the non-members by name, I’d rather make note of the businesses that are members and support our
communities. I am referencing major chains and franchises only. Our members include Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Sheetz, Tractor Supply,
Giant Foods, McDonalds, Hoss’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Remember, I am limiting this list to large retailers
and food & restaurant chains. As you can see, the vast majority of national companies are not involved with chambers and with
community activities. It is sad. Go to www.juniatarivervalley.org to check on individual large corporate memberships. If they
aren’t listed, they are not a member. Chances are great that if they don’t belong to the chamber they probably don’t
support community activities.
Doing the math, there is a total of nine of our 550 members I am talking about. Make a list of the stores in
our “Strip Malls”: the Mifflin County Commons, the Burnham Shopping Center and the Wal-Mart Center plus our free
standing “box stores”. Cross reference that list with the membership list on our web site. Now you know which
ones are community supporters. This is not to say the employees and managers in these businesses don’t want to
be participants in the community, it means they aren’t authorized to spend money or make merchandise or cash
donations. To take it a step further, it’s almost impossible to reach a decision maker at most corporate
headquarters. They have insolated themselves from any local requests.
Years ago chain stores were in the vast minority. Business districts were populated with mostly “Mom
& Pops”, owned and operated by our friends and neighbors. Exceptions were the Five & Dimes, major drug
stores and a few regional chains. The hub of every downtown was the local department store, usually multistories high, offering a vast selection of both soft goods and hard goods. In Lewistown we had the E.E. McMeen
Department Store and Danks & Company, both owned and operated by local families that resided in Lewistown.
The department stores supported the community in dozens of ways, from parades & festivals to high
school yearbooks and sporting events. They proudly waved the community flag and gave back to the very
customers who supported the store. Managers from the “Mom & Pops” served on school boards, municipal
authorities and governing boards, belonged to service clubs, served on church boards and were among the most
respected residents of the communities.
I have always believed that businesses have an obligation to work together to better the area, improve
business relationships and support the group effort. In all my years in retail I was a chamber member, often a chamber
board member. I understood the importance of having an organization serve as the voice of the business community, a
referral agency, a networking organization, a clearing house to stand alongside the membership.
So what happened? Big business grew and small business was eaten up. Chains and big box stores first
appeared in the heavily populated areas and when they ran out of areas to expand into they learned how to do business
in the rural areas. Usually that meant putting “Mom & Pop” out of business.
Sadly, “Mom & Pop” were the community, the new chains from their corporate headquarters in some distant city
never have to face us one on one. They don’t have children attending our schools, they don’t watch our parades, they
don’t cheer at our sporting events, they don’t walk beside us when we face disasters. They don’t feel the need to connect
to the people that spend their hard earned local money in their local branch store.
One chain store told me recently that they have 350 stores; they can’t afford to join 350 chambers of commerce.
Without a doubt they are one of the ten highest dollar volume retailers in our region. Over 500 small businesses have seen
the many reasons to join the chamber and they don’t enjoy anywhere near the profit margin on their financial statements to
work with. This same company stated they don’t have the budget to support local community festivals and events.
When you spend your dollars, think about who you deal with. Are they vested in the welfare of the community?
Are they contributors to our charities, our schools, our festivals and events? Do they foster community spirit and
appreciate collaborating with neighboring businesses to improve the area? Does management serve on boards,
volunteer where needs exist; belong to our churches, our service clubs, work to improve opportunities for our youth?
You have a vote, every time you spend a dollar you are delivering a vote of confidence for the establishment you patronize. Chose
well. Spend intelligently. Think of the return to your community.
Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Historic Courthouse - One West Market Street - Lewistown, PA 17044
Hours: Monday through Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 717.248.6713
Fax: 717.248-6714
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.juniatarivervalley.org