Springville Area Chamber of Commerce puts on gala for award recipients

In a tradition that has spanned the past several years and has become a way for the local community to honor its own, the Springville Chamber of Commerce held the annual Chamber Awards Gala on Saturday evening, Jan. 14.

Following a buffet dinner catered by Chanderson’s Restaurant and a performance by solo musician Lindsay Burgio, three awards were presented to area individuals and businesses. “We are recognizing outstanding contributions to the community,” said Chamber President David Field. “Choosing a recipient is always difficult due to the quality of those nominated.”

Many individuals were suggested for consideration as citizens of the year, including Virginia Krebs, Lisa Heiler, Grover Riefler, Ellen Chamberlin and Karen O’Hara. But taking home the honor this year was Jim Oatman, who the chamber said has been an “active and important member of the Springville community since 1977,” when he bought and merged two funeral homes into one – the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home.

Presenting Oatman’s award was Oatman’s longtime friend, Mike Benson. “We can all agree that Jim Oatman is a great guy,” Benson said, sharing anecdotes he remembered from growing up knowing Oatman. He cited a scene from the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in which lead character George Bailey is told by his father that he was “born old.” Benson added, “Jim was born old. It was always either Jim’s way or no way. Look what this guy has done.”

Oatman has been a member of the Springville Volunteer Fire Department and the Springville Lions Club. Benson said that the Springville resident was always supportive of local young people and was kind to those he came in contact with. “I think the world of you,” Benson said. “When it comes to community service, you define it. You do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

In honor of Oatman and his dedication to the community, the Jim Oatman Community Service Scholarship has been set up at Springville-GI. “You will choose a kid that’s like you,” Benson said, “who’s done good for the community because it’s the right thing to do.”

Oatman, in accepting the award, said, “I always believed that it’s not what you do in business, it’s what you do for others while you’re in business.”

Chamber Executive Director Kate Moody presented the Business of the Year Award. Those receiving nominations were Julie’s Pizzeria, Concord Land Realty, Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, Springville Hardware and Homewear, Mortons Corners Bed & Breakfast and Southtowns Route 219 Antiques. This year’s recipient, S&N/Eileen’s Greenhouse & Flower Shoppe, has been in business for 50 years.

“That’s five decades,” Moody said. “What an example! These ladies are a great example for other businesses; they’re always willing to try something new.”

According to the chamber, the business is a derivative of the combining of Smith and Nunweiler’s and Eileen Clark’s Flower Shoppe. Moody cited the owners, Diane Klingensmith’s and Marian Nunweiler’s, example of utilizing social media to “capture and draw others’ attention. Your team spirit and support of one another are an inspiration to us all.”

Springville Mayor William Krebs thanked these business owners for “making all the family occasions even more special.” Klingensmith said that she has been “amazed” to see so much growth in the community over the 50 years she has been in business. “It would never have been possible without all of you,” she said, of the time spent in the local area.

While the Springville Food Pantry, the Trading Post and the Kiwanis Club were all nominated for outstanding organization of the year, the nod went to the Springville Crossing, a non-denominational Christian church that gathers on Sundays at the Joylan Theater. Field said that the 4 1/2-year-old ministry “uses its talents to bless others. They take loving the community at heart.”

The Springville Crossing’s Pastor Keith Clark said, “We firmly believe the church of America needs to be seen as a beacon of hope and encouragement to the general public. For the Crossing, our little piece of America is Springville, and so we will prayerfully and tenaciously strive to keep up with and come alongside our God, who is already at work within the community.”

Also recognized were the Springville Crossing’s ministries, the Caring Crew (a group of people with light carpentry skills who identify things throughout the community that they can do to beautify the area), Hang-Time (free after-school programs for sixth – 12th grade students), a community potluck and the recently-created Fifth Grade Fun Night.

“God is at work in this community outside the four walls of the church,” Clark said, as he accepted the award. “We want to represent him well.” Also in attendance with Clark were Tim Frank, who leads the Caring Crew, and Jeremy Krzemien, another member of the Crossing. “We are trying to build a legacy,” Clark said. “We love this community and we want to bless the community in the name of Christ.”

Krebs said, “There is a time for every purpose under heaven. Thank you for your support to the area’s young people.”

Many sponsors contributed to the chamber’s silent auction, and Chamber Board of Directors Member Tom Dinse announced the evening’s winners of the various packages: Linda Drumsta, Michelle Oatman, Craig Wiede, Don Wiebel, Karen O’Hara, Michelle Oatman again, Mike Benson and Mary Hannon.

In all, $935 was raised in the silent auction.

Rounding out the evening was a performance by Chicago native, Comedian Jeff Allen.