Central Oregonian

Congratulations to all the Chamber award winners

Teresa Tooley

The Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center held its Annual Award Dinner this past Saturday night at the Carey Foster Hall.

In celebration of their 60th anniversary, they themed the event, “A Blast from the Past,” with attendees encouraged to dress in 50s and 60s fashions. I was unable to attend the event because of a prior commitment, but have been told that Steve Holliday of Prineville Disposal and Chamber President dressed as The Fonz — but he looked more like Squiggy? Kim Hicks of Western Title and a Chamber board member was dressed as LaVerne with Linda Cross of the Associates Real Estate Inc,. and Past President dressing up as her sidekick Shirley.

The evening started off with the presentation of this year’s presenting sponsor Evergreen Home Loans. Holliday presented the bulk of this year’s awards including:

• The Community Enrichment award went to the OSU/COCC Committee. Jeff Papke and Scott Cooper where on hand to accept the award.

• Longtime residents and local business owners Craig and Lucy Woodward received the Exception Entrepreneurship award.

• The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Karole Stockton, who was not in attendance. Her children accepted the award on her behalf and I hear that she received a standing ovation for all that she has done for our community.

• Ellen Krider accepted the Visual Enhancement award for Krider Law Offices for going back in time, doing the research to accurately restore her building, and making it happen.

• Walt Blind, local manager of Ray’s Food Place accepted the Large Business of the Year award.

• Joe and Kara Becker of Book and Bean received the Small Business of the Year award. They also host the merchant’s group monthly meetings at their store.

• The Citizen/Volunteer of the year award was presented by Kim Hicks and Linda Cross to Holly Imbach, who wore her husband’s letterman’s jacket in honor of him.

• The Cecil Sly award, presented by Bill Gowen on behalf of the Kiwanis was given to Scott Copper, for his long and continuing service to our community.

• The Youth of the Year award was presented to Brady Slater, a senior at Crook County High School, who was out of town for a tennis competition; therefore Brenda Comini gave and accepted the award on his behalf.

It sounds like everyone had a wonderful time and our congratulations to all of the nominees for this year.

•

Erickson’s Thriftway is celebrating their 97th Anniversary this Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12. Check out their ad on page A5 of today’s Central Oregonian.

•

Crook County Kids Club will be holding an art mosey in Prineville on Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are looking for funky, beautiful, fantastic arts and crafts to be displayed on Prineville’s busiest sidewalks. The art mosey will benefit the Crook County Kids Club who serve the youth of Crook County. Please contact Ashley Thrasher, Executive Director of CCKC at 541-447-7661 or director@crookcountykids.org for more information or to fill out a registration form due by June 1. Support Crook County’s youth while displaying and selling your masterpieces.

•

“What’s Brewing?” will be held Wednesday, May 9, from 7 to 8 a.m. It will include three speakers this week: Jason Carr, Prineville manager of EDCO, Jeff Papke, Coordinator of Crook County Open Campus, and Patti Norris, COCC Small Business Development Center instructor. They will be discussing how Open Campus is helping grow Crook County small businesses. Breakfast is available.

•

Dee Langford has joined Carriage House as their administrator. She is looking forward to becoming an active member in the Prineville community. Carriage House is a senior living community located at 150 S.E. Williamson Drive, in Prineville. They can be reached at 541-416-0500.

•

All members of the community are invited to attend the One Makes Many – Crook County Volunteer Fair at the Crook County Public Library on Monday, May 14, from 3 to 6 p.m. It will be held in the Broughton Room. If you are looking for opportunities to serve your community, you don’t want to miss One Makes Many – Crook County Volunteer Fair.

The Fair is free and open for the public to attend with no registration required.

Volunteer Fair organizers Big Brothers Big Sisters, Crook County DHS, and Volunteer Connect hope interested citizens will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn about volunteer opportunities in Crook County and the invaluable services that organizations provide in our community.

For more information about this and other volunteer events, please call Volunteer Connect at 541-385-8977.

This column was written by the Central Oregonian’s general manager Teresa Tooley. If you have something that you would like to have included in the Central Oregonian’s business briefs, e-mail it to business@centraloregonian.com