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Columbiana honors its difference makers

Nicole Ice, co-owner of Sundog Ciderhouse and Winery, shows off her Harvey S. Firestone Statue. The statues were a new addition to the banquet.

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce last weekend presented awards to what City Manager Lance Willard described as the “difference makers.”

WFMJ meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo presented awards celebrating the entrepreneurial resiliency of businesses throughout Columbiana. The 68th annual awards banquet also celebrated the contributions of citizens, educators and community leaders.

Mayor Rick Noel said that he was proud to see community rally together to save events, and re-invent activities that kept Columbiana unified.

“We all know that we can all be successful together, as we work together, and that goes from government to schools the whole deal,” said Noel.

Terry Shaffer, superintendent of Firestone Park and Cemetery, was awarded a Lifetime Service Award. Shaffer has been with Columbiana for 44 years and said it has been a journey but it doesn’t seem like 44 years.

Shaffer said his favorite part of his job has been the pool. “You can’t take the boy totally out of the man,” Shaffer said while explaining that the pool has kept him young.

Shaffer said he enjoyed teaching lifeguarding, CPR and first aid

Harmony Offenburg was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year award. Offenburg described being inspired by her brother who volunteered as an EMT in New Jersey during 2020.

Offenburg paired together with her mother to make masks. The two spent two months accomplishing a pattern that gave a perfect fit.

“Things like that were really important with a medical background, it was important to have a perfectly fitting mask so we weren’t spreading germs to everybody.”

Mayor Rick Noel gives a speech at the annual awards banquet presented by the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce last weekend.

Offenburg eventually upgraded from her mother’s old sewing machine to a new one and has since sent masks to 30 states.

Heidi Dattilio, Chamber of Commerce president, recognized the camaraderie among businesses. Dattilio said the chamber will start offering classes on QuickBooks, social media marketing etc.

Dattilio said the classes are being taught by multi-talented business owners.

Eric Offenburg, Chamber of Commerce executive director, said that the businesses at the awards banquet raised a light during a dark year and moved forward.

“I’m going to say that in this room here there are so many people that have risen up to this past year, people that have adapted and have been very successful,” said Offenburg.

Andrew DiPaolo, WFMJ meteorologist, conducted the presentation of the awards Saturday, saying that Columbiana has been an example of adaptation and innovation.

Vari-Wall Tube was recognized for development and expansion during 2020.

Chris Vorwald, sales manager, said the company added in-house aluminum heat treatment and expanded the building.

Vorwald explained that while he is looking forward to Covid being over for personal reasons, he is also looking forward to the opportunities the expansion will bring.

Vorwald said the company has obtained accreditation that will allow the business to heat treat aerospace parts.

“We are hoping that it not only expands within our current customers but also our new customers and hopefully brings some more jobs to the area as well,” said Vorwald.

ABL Wholesale accepted an award for adaptive reuse and upgrades.

Kim Sharshan, member of the chamber board of directors, said, “I think what businesses accomplished this year is their perseverance and their grit to keep our community going and moving.”

Nicole Ice, also on the board and co-owner of Sundog Ciderhouse and Winery, said she is proud of the continuous development of businesses and community. Ice has termed the phrase “Columbiana Strong” to describe the perseverance she has witnessed in the community.

Ice said the saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” was reversed in 2020 because the young adults in Tricia Missos’s class at the high school “raised our village and inspired us. That type of stuff was so inspiring and it’s so cool to see that happening in Columbiana,” she said.

Sponsors for the awards ceremony included Best Western Dutch Haus Inn, LiB’s Market, Shaker Woods Village, Legacy Christian Homecare, Homestead Kitchen and Cocktails, Holloway Insurance, Firestone Farms Town Center, Birdfish Brewing Company, Humtown Products, Pineapple POS, Premier Bank, Salem Regional Medical Center, SERVPRO, Sierra Blue Photography and Sundog Ciderhouse and Winery.

The Awards

Chris Vorwald, sales manager of Vari-Wall Tube, accepts the Business Expansion Award. Vorwald recognized the team at Vari-Wall Tube for all its hard work.

The Wish List – Best Ribbon Cutting

Park Avenue Marketplace – Frequent Flier

Youst Insurance/ Dave Yost – New Construction

ABL Wholesale – Adaptive Reuse and Upgrade Award

Vari-Wall Tube – Business Expansion

Tricia Missos and the Creative Entrepreneur Class – Young Entrepreneur Award

Noah Clark – Young Citizen of the Year

Harmony Offenburg – Young Citizen of the Year

The Wild Herb Company – Best Kept Secret

Sundog Ciderhouse and Winery – Feet on the Street

Leslie Costal – Outstanding Community Service

Larry Webber – Outstanding Community Service

Rhonda Pahanish – Outstanding Community Service

Andrew Dobson – Outstanding Community Service

Betsy Lariccia – Educator of the Year

Maryann’s Homemade Chocolates – Best Up and Coming Business

Homestead Kitchen and Cocktails – Business of Year

Rob and Lana Wilt – Business Person of the Year

Terry Shaffer – Lifetime of Service

Morning Journal/Danielle Garner Harmony Offenburg accepts her award as Young Citizen of the Year . “It was a blessing to see all of the people I have helped” she said.

The Wild Herb Company was awarded as Columbiana’s Best Kept Secret.

Terry Schaffer, superintendent at Firestone Park and Cemetery, presents an Outstanding Community Service Award to Larry Webber, foreman of the Joy of Christmas. Webber joked that 40 displays turned into 45 and then 90 displays. Webber was recognized for his attentive attitude and the time and effort he applies to the event every year.

Heidi Dattilio, Chamber of Commerce president, Lance Willard, city manager, and Rhonda Pahanish, who was presented with an award for Outstanding Community Service. Pahanish was recognized for her encouragement to other businesses and her skills as a liaison between the historic downtown district shops and the chamber.

Terry Shaffer (center) is presented with the Lifetime of Service Award. After 44 years, Shaffer thanks his family and retold the guidance he received growing up. “Delegate, don’t try to do it all.”

Noah Clark is presented with the Young Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of volunteering and helping neighbors.

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