Category Archives: Small Business Spotlight

Small Business Spotlight: Clary Trucking

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!  

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Talk to Dan Clary about his family’s business for very long and it’s easy to understand the company’s values. Family, hard work, honesty and fairness are not just words in a mission statement but a way of life for the owners and employees of Clary Trucking.

The company is now celebrating its 71st year in business and has grown by leaps and bounds since Dan’s grandpa Jesse Clary, Sr. bought his first truck to haul school coal in 1947. Today the fourth generation family business has an impressive fleet of iconic red Kenworth trucks but they maintain a strong connection to where they have come from and the values that have made them successful.

It all started in 1947 when Jesse Clary Sr. bought that first truck to haul school coal. The next year he bought an International wrecker truck to use for towing services. Then in 1956, on his sixteenth birthday, Jesse Clary, Jr. acquired his driver’s license and began hauling aggregate material and household coal. “Grandpa was a mechanic and happy to do what he did. He was comfortable in his own skin but he didn’t want to deal much with people,” Dan explained. “But he told dad, if he wanted to deal with people, he could do more.”

That’s when the company began to grow. When Jesse Sr. passed away in 1970, the company was hauling coal and was transporting base material for the construction of Route 32, the Appalachian Highway, which cuts through several southern Ohio counties.

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Jesse and Patricia Clary are revered by their family for the work they have done to grow the business.

His dad Jesse and mom Patricia grew the business to fifteen trucks that hauled coal, foundry sand and asphalt. Their three children, Rick, Dan and Jackie all joined the family business in the seventies and, by 1978, Clary Trucking had outgrown their location, causing them to move into a new, larger facility in Richmond Dale.

“Mom and Dad did everything by themselves for years, until us kids came of age and could help,” Dan recalled with admiration. “Mom did the bookkeeping at the house and answered the phone. All while they were raising the kids. Dad likes to tell the story that he had six dollars in his pocket when they got married and that’s all the money they had.”

Dan credits his hardworking parents for building the business on a strong foundation and for instilling in their kids and grandkids the value of hard work and growing the business smartly. Jesse Jr. and Patricia have been married for sixty years and, as a team, helped the business grow to what it is today.

And what it is today is impressive.

In 2003 the company had grown so much it moved to a new, larger facility on Eastern Avenue in Chillicothe. Among other things, the facility has a welcoming office space, warehousing and cross-docking capabilities.

With more than fifty trucks and over 130 trailers, Clary Trucking now employs 54 people, including ten who are Clary family. Dan’s sister Jackie, wife Jody, nephew Ben and son’s Scott and John are all part of the operation.

Many of their employees have been with the company for decades, others have retired from there, while some even have grown children who now work for the company. Many employees have been there so long they are like family. They have four employees with a combined total of 175 years working with the company. “Carol, Ron, Wayne and David are very much appreciated. We don’t know what we’d do without them,” Dan said as he talked about folks who have spent their careers with the company.

“We have a good crew of people here. We couldn’t do it without them,” Dan continued. “We have good people and good customers and we learn how to get along with everyone to make it work. One of the best parts of the business is having the family here and that we get along. We don’t fuss and fight. We all pitch in and, for the most part, we’re all pretty universal. We can do each other’s jobs. If it takes extra effort to make something work, you’ve just gotta do it.”

Dan talked about the effect this attitude has on the morale of employees. The drivers notice that the family shows up and works just like they do. “One guy told me once ‘you work with us. You don’t just show up and go home.’ And that’s true. We aren’t living a high life. We live pretty modestly and we work hard to be where we are. We’re not out buying race cars or anything like that,” he laughed.

Dan takes pride in how they do everything in-house. From accounting to mechanics to technology and everything in between, they are completely self-sufficient. “We want things to be done right. It’s that simple. We have found that if we want it done our way, it’s a lot easier to just do it,” Dan observed.

He also emphasized the importance of the company’s good reputation and of doing the right thing, pointing out that they have worked hard to diversify the business and investments to stay on firm financial ground. “You never want to find yourself in the position that you can’t afford to do the right thing. It hasn’t always been easy but we do our best to do the right thing,” he emphasized. “I tell our drivers, it’s not a sin to make a mistake. It is a sin to not own up to it so we can make it right with the customer.”

While some might say they are old fashioned, the Clary family stands by the values that got them to where they are today.

“I want to see us get to a hundred years. But that won’t happen without work. When I was eighteen, I thought growing the business was the hard part and it would be easy once we got there,” Dan reminisced. “I know now it takes as much effort to stay here as it took to get here and we are grateful every day.”

Today, about fifty percent of their business is outside of Ohio and their regular routes include Louisville, Detroit, Charleston, South Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia. “We have grown a lot through our customers because they need something and you have to take care of your customers. You never want to say no if you don’t have to,” Dan explained.

Along with that growth has come countless changes, especially in technology used for operations and for managing their fleet of trucks on the road every day. “Dad, he’s amazed by it, by how much has changed and how quickly it changes,” he acknowledged.

But as they say – the more things change, the more they stay the same. Family and hard work are as important today as they were in 1947 when Jesse Sr. bought that first truck.

At 77 years young, Jesse and Patricia are semi-retired but Jesse still drives a truck whenever he can. They spend part of their year in Florida with their pride and joy – their dog Daisy. The pair have six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

“We’re grateful to be here working and for the people we work with. We’re grateful that everyone is healthy and happy and that we can still be here. It’s been a great life,” Dan said.

Learn more about Clary Trucking at their website.

Small Business Spotlight: The Canal Wigwam

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!  

Canal Wigwam

Canal Wigwam has long been a fixture in downtown Canal Winchester.

After celebrating our own 150th anniversary last year, we wanted our first Business Spotlight of 2018 to feature a business with its own rich history and we didn’t have to look far.  Originally opened in 1899, The Canal Wigwam is known throughout the region as the perfect gathering place for locals and visitors in Canal Winchester.  But its century-plus old history has not been without a hitch; a fire in 2014 threatened the existence of our beloved local business.

Owners Mark and Angela Savino purchased Canal Wigwam in 2011, very quickly after learning the business was going up for sale.  Mark had been looking for a business opportunity in the Central Ohio food industry, and the timing couldn’t have been any better.  With his familiarity of the industry, passion for food, and the assistance of our Canal Banking Center, Mark jumped on the opportunity almost immediately.  “I heard about it going up for sale in February (2011), and we actually closed on June 1, 2011!”  Mark said with a smile.

Mark grew up in the food business – his grandfather owned a grocery store in western Ohio, which Mark, his father and family continued and evolved through the years. Mark eventually came to Canal Winchester in the banking industry but he always had his eye on getting back into the industry in which he worked with his family.  The Canal Wigwam opportunity was too good to pass up and it seemed to be smooth sailing once taking ownership.

That was, until Friday, December 5, 2014.  A fire started in the wiring in the ceiling while a packed house enjoyed their food, friends, and conversation.  Mark recounts “It was serious.  We had to go.  We did what we could, but it was time to get out.”  The fire was severe enough to warrant a shut down lasting nearly eight months.  It was devastating to the business and the community alike.  Especially considering the timing.

2017 Staff Christmas Party

The restaurant hosts a Christmas party for employees every year!

“It was Christmas time, obviously.”  Mark recalls.  “And Canal Wigwam had a large catering event that very night.  We had to buy all new inventory and supplies – serving dishes, food, you name it.”  And, in a true show of support, the City of Canal Winchester granted Mark’s crew permission to use the Community Center kitchen to cook and prepare for this event, which unbelievably, given the events of the day was a success.

But that wasn’t the only event impacted.  Mark and Angela annually throw a Christmas party in the restaurant for the employees. Now they had this event to worry about in addition to the status of the business and general well-being of the employees.

“The impact on the employees was significant, and it was important to continue the Christmas gathering so that we could come together and laugh despite the tragedy” explained Mark.  Again, working with the City of Canal Winchester, the Christmas party was moved to the  Community Center.  Because the community was also affected by the fire, Mark and Angela extended an open invitation to join in the festivities.

Everyone associated with the restaurant was overwhelmed by the support they were shown.  The Community Center was filled with friends and enough food to feed a City, as all brought a treat to share.  Canal Winchester Human Services provided Christmas baskets to all of the employees.  A GoFundMe account was set up by a customer, and an account was set up at our Canal Banking Center strictly for Canal Wigwam staff support.  By February, that account had reached over $9,000!  “The support we were shown was unbelievable.  Everyone who works at the Canal Wigwam think of our customers as family, and clearly the community mirrored the sentiment.  All who responded were incredibly generous and kind.  The response was humbling and healing, and continues to have an impact on me and Angela.”

The rebuild was not easy.  Facing multiple difficulties in construction and coding updates, insurance, ownership, etc., the project took longer than expected.  Mark continued to press on, eventually working toward gaining ownership of the building.  After months of delay, Brocon Construction was hired to finish the physical repair and rebuild project.  Finally, the project began to gain traction, and was essentially finished about seven weeks after beginning.  Mark was thrilled, crediting Brocon President, Bud Bropst, who “kept things on track with a dedicated and qualified staff and weekly project meetings.”

Raised ceilings, updated lighting, revamped bathrooms and updated equipment are just some of the physical improvements.  Staff updates were also needed.  Seven months-plus was a long time to be without work, and there were employees that had found good jobs elsewhere.  While Mark hated losing them, he was happy to see them land on their feet.

After time spent learning the new equipment and adjusting everything within the diner to their liking, it was time for a grand re-opening on July 31, 2015.  It was a tremendous success.  “We were swamped!  And we stayed swamped for two months straight!” Mark recalls.  “The community support during and after has been awesome!”

Since the re-opening, business is up dramatically.  Canal Wigwam employs about eighteen employees, its catering business is continually increasing, and the diner continues to serve up incredibly delicious, simple, affordable meals for breakfast and lunch daily, and dinner on Fridays.

Dinner at the Diner

Have breakfast and lunch at the Wigwam most days but enjoy dinner on Friday night!

A visitor recently stopped Mark to shake his hand in the middle of the restaurant one afternoon.  “I assume you’re the owner?  I see you here all the time…” the gentleman started.  “I just want to commend you for the way you run your business.  You don’t know me, but I came across town, across the county to eat here and I wanted to tell you this.  You don’t cut corners.  Everything you serve is top notch – from the potatoes on down.  I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate that.  You don’t cut corners and I know it’s hard to run a small business.  I wanted you to know that.”
“Thank you.  My father would kill me if I didn’t do it right!”  Mark responded with a smile.

In 2001, 102 years after their original opening, it was written that “Canal Winchester just wouldn’t be the same without the Wigwam Restaurant.” Another seventeen years later, and the statement is still so very true.  Canal Wigwam is an icon in this tight knit Central Ohio community, and we’re thrilled to have their business!

Like Canal Wigwam on Facebook, or for a full menu, contact information or for more on the history of Canal Wigwam, visit http://www.canalwigwam.com/.

Small Business Spotlight: Creature Comforts Veterinary Center

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!  

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With Fairfield County roots and a deep devotion to their patients, it’s no wonder that Creature Comforts Veterinary Center outgrew their old location. It’s been a busy year for the full service independent veterinary care facility as they have undergone some exciting changes that have helped the business grow.

Creature Comforts was a long time neighbor to our Friendly Bremen Banking Center on West Fair Avenue in Lancaster.  After many years in this spot, it was becoming increasingly apparent that advancements in the facility and the processes necessary to run a clinic were much needed.

They simply had outgrown their space.

With a need for more parking and more room throughout the clinic, owner Dr. Libby Kinsel said that all options were on the table. The Canal Winchester native and Ohio State University graduate began scouting new locations after realizing that a new facility was the best option. “We knew we were going to stay local, but we really wanted to help bridge the gap between Canal Winchester and Lancaster while better serving the community of Carroll.”

After visits to several properties, a chance pass by a vacant property that had recently gone up for sale caught Libby’s eye. “Once I saw the building and the space, I knew this was it.”  Libby’s father, Tom, is a structural engineer by trade and gave his stamp of approval. 

Plans formed quickly and the sale was final in June 2016. Later, Libby purchased additional land around the original parcel. They broke ground in November 2016 for the planned additions and moved into the new space this Spring. In all, the tripled their work area, created a full waiting room and they gained an incredible amount of outdoor space for walks and exercise.  There is also an additional building on the grounds that will eventually be rented out.

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Going from one exam room in the old building to six new exam rooms has meant a more efficient use of time and space. It has also meant more availability for surgical and dental care.  This is a great “problem” to have, and it was clear as the transition was happening that Creature Comforts was ready to bring on an additional doctor.  Libby didn’t have to look far.

“Tiffany (Elgersma) actually worked with us for ten years, starting in the kennels.  She returned to school and graduated and we brought her in as our second doctor right away.”  Dr. Elgersma is a Bremen native who graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May.

The transition has been very smooth.  Going from hundreds of clients to more than 6,000 over the years has forced the increase of staff size in other areas as well.  Registered Veterinary Technicians, an Office Manager, and four support staff members have all been added along with Dr. Elgersma since the new facility opened.  And perhaps most exciting for the entire Creature Comforts staff is the ability to use a real break room!  “It was kind of a free-for-all before” Libby joked.  “Lunch break meant eating in your cars, the back room, the parking lot, you name it.”  In fact, the staff recently got together to have Thanksgiving dinner together in the new space, an act that was physically impossible before the move.  And maybe just as exciting?  A brand new washer and dryer system that will suit the needs of the clinic perfectly.  “Before, we were going through washers and driers by the month!”

Clients are constantly being added from Fairfield, Franklin, Hocking, and Perry Counties.  Libby explained that they even work directly with the dog shelters in those counties. “We strive to be a very active part of our community.”

As for the future?  Be on the lookout for a planned “Community Canine Easter Egg Hunt” in the Spring, and for further planned updates and additions to the Creature Comforts facilities.  Dr. Kinsel, Dr. Elgersma, and staff will continue to insure that Creature Comforts acts as “your family’s other doctor!”

For a full list of services, contact information, and staff profiles, visit https://www.creaturecomfortsvc.com/. 

Small Business Spotlight: Big Woods Woodworking

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!  

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Big Woods Woodworking is located on State Route 56, just outside Laurelville.

Spend some time talking to Marcus Mast about his business Big Woods Woodworking and one word consistently comes to mind.

That word is “quality.”

It clearly is important to Marcus that he provide a quality product and quality service to his customer as well as a good quality of life for his family. He is very quiet in the way he describes his products but the wood furniture and other items created at Big Woods Woodworking speak volumes.

This is the place to go when you are in search of just the right piece of wood furniture for the home or outdoors. That’s because each piece is handmade with care and to suit the needs of the buyer. It is so well made that it is easy to imagine that much of his work will be passed down through generations and will someday be considered heirlooms.

The showroom is packed with samples of the furniture he makes along with some smaller pieces that are available for sale. But the real draw is the fact he makes each order by hand, specifically to suit the needs of his customer.

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The showroom at Big Woods Woodworking is packed with samples of handmade items that can be adapted for the customers’ needs.

Log beds and log furniture to complete a bedroom suit are among his most sought after pieces. Dining room tables and chairs, desks, coffee tables, side tables, armoires, bar tops, chess tables and lamps are also popular. Slab tables and bar tops have live edges, lending a sense of rustic charm and natural beauty that would be appropriate in many settings.

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Log beds and the dressers and nightstands that match are among their most popular items.

For the outdoors, Big Woods makes custom porch swings, arbors, tables and chairs.

His wife Rochelle does wood burning on some pieces and their children sometimes pitch in to make small items that are sold in the shop.

The lumber he uses most comes from all over the region and the country. Aspen, with its worm holes and beautiful color, is often used in slab tables. He also uses red cedar from Missouri, pine from Ohio and Michigan, hickory, and walnut from around Ohio.

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This chess/checkers table has two drawers to contain the pieces when not in use.

“I like to say that God makes the trees and He makes the beauty. We just go find it, we find the beauty,” Marcus explained.

In addition to the pieces he regularly makes, Marcus said that customers often come with ideas of their own. He can design furniture to suit their needs. An example is a cupboard he designed that features a cutting board top and adjustable book stand for cookbooks. He is currently working on an enormous bar top designed to suit a specific space in a customer’s home. Another project is an armoire he is building with walnut that the customer brought to him. “Some people just can’t visualize what they want but they can describe their needs. Their eyes light up when they see the finished product and they say it’s just what they wanted. That’s good to see,” he said.

Marcus said he learned his trade through years of experience. “All my life I’ve done little projects, things for the home, things for us,” he said. He went on to explain that he worked in someone else’s shop prior to opening his own. “There’s been some trial and error and some trial and success. It’s the kind of thing you learn as you go.”

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This child sized table and chairs would be perfect for any youngster’s playroom!

It is clear that while he is intent on creating a quality product for his customers, he also focuses much on providing a good life for his family. “It has always been my dream to work at home where the children can come down and be with me. My wife enjoys dropping in too. This business is a way to do that and to provide for my family,” he said.

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This table was made using logs from the property.

It’s also a way to teach his children valuable skills. “Just the ability to use your hands, that’s what I enjoy and that’s what I want for my children. I want them to have a broader experience than I can provide for  them through my shop here and so by teaching them to use their hands, to think things through, to plan and to connect everything together, to have a finished product . . . those are skills they can use their entire lives,” he said.

Wait times for custom orders vary depending on current workload. At this time the wait is approximately four weeks but can be longer. He said they work hard to accommodate the scheduling needs of the customer. A discount is available for the purchase of a four piece log bedroom suit.

Call Big Woods Woodworking at 740.607.8184. The showroom/shop is open Monday through Saturday and is located at 1577 St. Rt. 56 East, just outside of Laurelville. They accept cash, check or credit card.

See below for additional pictures from Big Woods Woodworking.

Wall art featuring bears.
A welcome home sign.
The workshop where merchandise is created.
Coffee tables in production.
This slab will be a bar in someone’s home!
Napkin Holder
Bedroom furniture in production
A finished dresser.
A finished coffee table.

 

 

Small Business Spotlight: Totem Supply Company

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month! 

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Chillicothe is for Dreamers.  That’s the phrase printed on one of the most popular custom t-shirts at Totem Supply Co. Store owner Courtney Lewis is one of those dreamers.

After growing up in Chillicothe and graduating from Ohio University in Athens, Courtney Lewis decided she wanted to live in a big city.  She moved to Cleveland with a sense of adventure and excitement.  She found inspiration while living there for five years.  The majority of people she met were proud to be from Cleveland.  They held the city and its landmarks in high regard.  She began to miss her hometown and found that she had much pride in her hometown as well.  Realizing that small towns sometimes get a bad rap, she wanted to encourage the same pride in Chillicothe that she had witnessed in Cleveland.

After moving home in 2009 and while working in graphic design, she noticed there was no place to purchase Chillicothe memorabilia.  In 2012 Lewis started to sell custom t-shirts while working at her former career.  All shirts featured logos of former local businesses whose memory lives on in the community.

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In November 2013, with her t-shirt sales doing well, she decided to take a leap of faith and open Totem Supply Co.  Her vision of the nostalgia-based business was to highlight the small town and service the townspeople who enjoy being from the area.

Located in the historic district of downtown Chillicothe, Totem Supply Co is a retail store filled with merchandise created by local authors, designers, and artisans.  Memorabilia with references to Chillicothe are of the upmost popularity.  Everything from Chillicothe logoed coffee mugs to Ohio patterned pillows are arranged beautifully in clusters of like items making it easy to shop.  Some of the other items available include handmade deodorants, greeting cards, jewelry and sustainable toys for children.

T-shirt sales have flourished in the store and remain one of the top selling items.  Lewis often looks back into her childhood memories for which former business logos to use next but she’s also been contacted by families requesting her to make their families’ former businesses into shirts.

Printed on soft cotton tees, these shirts are comfortable to wear and tug at many people’s heartstrings.  Recently, Lewis was contacted by a customer who had purchased a Schachne’s t-shirt for her elderly mother.  Her mother had worked at this popular downtown clothing store in her earlier years.  The customer told Lewis that her mother lit up when she was given the shirt.  This gift sparked a lengthy conversation about her time working at Schachne’s and other stories from her youth.  “It’s so cool to spark memories,” Lewis says.  “There’s something so special for generations to share stories.”

Totem Supply Co. is open Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 pm. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.  Visit them at 11 West 2nd Street in Chillicothe or follow them on Facebook.

 

 

Small Business Spotlight: PBJ Connections

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!

PBJ Connections provides professional behavioral health therapy for children, adults and families through horses, counseling and nature and is one of just a handful of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) providers Ohio.

Headquartered in Pataskala, PBJ has two full time employees in Holly Jedlicka, Executive Director, and Erica Lewis, Assistant Director. The organization contracts with licensed mental health therapists and trained equine specialists.  Because they partner with four locations, the program works with upwards of 45 equines.  Home base, though, is in rural Pataskala, an ideal location offering serenity and peace as well as ease of access from anywhere in central and eastern Ohio.  This location houses nine horses and two donkeys.

Erica and Holly

PBJ Connections is operated by Executive Director Holly Jedlicka and Assistant Director Erica Lewis. They are pictured here with one of the horses they use as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy providers.

PBJ Connections is modeled after EAGALA model of therapy, which uses a team of a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and the animal (horses or donkeys) for mental health therapy. The model follows a strict code of ethics, and contrary to popular misconceptions, the model is completely non-riding.

“Horses are honest and completely reactive to their environment 100 percent of the time,”  Holly explained while referencing other common household pets. “Compare it to a dog or a cat – which make great pets, but they are natural predators that hunt, and there has to be a bit of deception in the hunt.  Horses don’t have that; there is no deception.  It’s immediate, honest feedback.”

Horses seek three things – “Safety, Comfort, and Companionship, in that order” she explained.  So the response of the animal to the environment and the signals that are being presented by the client are key to the therapy sessions.  “We get to observe the client’s interpretations of what they’re seeing and feeling from these animals,” Holly explained, before adding “The interpretation of the horse’s actions and demeanor are absolutely key to the experience.”

PBJ Connections’ clientele comes from a variety of sources. Holly indicated that word of mouth has been incredibly important, but community partnerships and referrals from insurance companies are as valuable as it gets.  As a non-profit entity, there’s little budget for traditional marketing channels.  So they do what they can online, like a fantastic website and periodic electronic newsletter, and they’re active on Facebook,  from which they do get referrals.  You can even keep up with client favorite, Rocky the Horse.

Recently, PBJ has partnered with The Ohio State University on an ongoing research project, providing intervention services for the study while OSU collects the data.  Multiple research papers will be published as the project moves forward.  With Holly and Erica’s background with Ohio State (Holly and Erica both hold degrees from the school – Holly with her Masters in Social Work and Erica with her BS in Agriculture), connections through other community partners, and the positive reputation of PBJ Connections, the partnership with OSU was a natural fit.

The amount of additional programs offered by PBJ Connections is staggering.  The CONNECT Program provides Equine-assisted Psychotherapy for youth ages 6-18 and their families as well as adult sessions.  The A PONY Program partners with school systems and serves at-risk and high-risk students in ten week sessions.  Family Coaching offers six week sessions for the entire family, covering communication skills, coping strategies, problem solving, and more.  ON MISSION partners horses with veterans and is free to Franklin County Veterans struggling with substance use through the Access to Recovery Grant.  There group sessions for youth in the PEERS program, offering group sessions on a quarterly basis, and Summer Group sessions.

HelloThe aforementioned partnership with Ohio State is not the only instance of their working relationship; they also partner with them in the James Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Survivorship Program, offering family equine therapy sessions.  And as if that’s not enough, there is the PBJ@WORK program, which PBJ Connections offers “a rich set of corporate leadership and teamwork options that are suitable for work and social teams of all sizes.”

While the EAGALA model of therapy that PBJ Connections follows is non-riding, they commonly co-refer clients looking to local therapeutic riding programs if that is the appropriate fit.

Even with all of this going on, they’re still in the midst of putting the finishing touches on their biggest event of the year – the annual “Helping Horses Help Kids” Charity Event, which celebrates “the many Great Pairings of PBJ Connections and our community.”  This year’s event is a special one, as it’s the tenth annual edition, and will again feature a huge silent auction featuring some exclusive one of a kind items and experiences.  The event is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, September 21, from 6pm-9pm at The Annunciation Banquet and Conference Center at The Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 555 N. High St. in Columbus.  Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available, so check out the website for more information.

Holly said her passion for her work is rooted in her own upbringing. “I was one of two children who grew up in a good home.  We had horses, but my family worked really hard to make that happen.  My father insured that we knew what we had and that we appreciated it, and he’s convinced that’s what kept me out of trouble.  And I just wanted to share that passion and responsibility and that’s kind of how this came to be,” she said.

To learn more about many of the topics discussed, please view the list of links below.  Additionally, PBJ Connections is always looking for passionate folks to join their loyal team of volunteers.  They can be contacted at 740.924.7543 or via email at info@pbjconnections.org.

Learn More:
PBJ Connections: http://www.pbjconnections.org
PBJ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBJ.Connections/
Rocky on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rocky.of.PBJ.Connections/
Helping Horses Help Kids Event: http://www.helpinghorseshelpkids.org/
EAGALA: https://www.eagala.org/

Small Business Spotlight: Holzapfel Family Health Care/Urgent Care

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!

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Vicki Holzapfel is pictured in an exam room at Holzapfel Family Health Care/Urgent Care in Jackson.

Jackson County’s newest health care facility offers patients a place to go for quick but compassionate health care from a local professional. Holzapfel Family Health Care/Urgent Care opened on July 10 with a ribbon cutting by the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and the longtime desire of one local woman to own her own business.

Owner Vicki Holzapfel is a Nurse Practitioner with over thirty years of experience in the health care field. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in 1983 after earning an Associates Degree at the University of Rio Grande. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Capitol University to become an RN while a working mom. In 2001, she graduated from Wright State University with a Master’s Degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Holzapfel explained that her thirty plus years in the medical field have given her the knowledge, connections, love for her work and confidence needed to strike out on her own. She has worked as an intensive care nurse, an emergency room nurse and in nursing management. Since becoming a Nurse Practitioner, she also has worked in pediatrics for eleven years, the ER for two years and internal medicine for two years.

“I have done a lot of different things,” Holzapfel exclaimed.  She went on to discuss some of the benefits of her varied career. “Since 1983, I’ve met a lot of people in my field and I’ve maintained good relationships with them. Even if I don’t know the answer to a question, I am always able to refer patients to someone who will be able to address their unique situation.”

When longtime friend and colleague Sherry Russell invited Holzapfel to join her at Russell Family Health Care in Jackson, she thought it was the right move. Then when Russell offered to sell the business to Holzapfel earlier this year, she knew the time was right. “Everything just fell into place. My husband Rex has wanted me to have my own practice for a long time. It just felt like it was the right time to stretch my wings a bit,” she said.

The waiting room is comfortable and welcoming.
The Clinic is located on Main St. in Jackson.

In addition to employing her decades of medical experience, Holzapfel said she is thrilled to use her people skills and the business knowledge she learned from her late father Sam Hatley. Her father was the Vice President of Manufacturing for Austin Powder Company in Vinton County. She credits him for much of her personal development and caring for others. “Dad taught me to appreciate people, to take care of people. The employees and the people around you are the most important thing,” she said. “He instilled in me to be good to people, to be kind to people.”

At this time, Holzapfel employs three people and is able to provide care for all ages by appointment or by walking in. They can perform sports physicals, do lab draws, administer medication, do flu/strep and mono testing, drain abscesses, give flu shots, EKGs, referrals and more.

Construction for a planned expansion will start in August and will provide for growth in both space and services. The two room clinic will grow to six rooms and will allow them to perform Department of Transportation physicals and aesthetic services like Botox injections and Dermal Filler injections.

“I’m just so happy to be here, to be taking care of people the way they need to be taken care of. I want to treat them right,” she said.

Holzapfel and her husband Rex have two children and four grandkids. They enjoy breeding German Shepherds and are excited to soon have puppies.

Holzapfel Family Medical Clinic/Urgent Care is located at 345 East Main Street in Jackson. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. Walk in or call 740-577-3043. Learn more at their website and follow them on Facebook.

Small Business Spotlight: Stoer Farm Market

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!

Jim and Donna

Donna and Jim Stoer of Stoer Farm Market are pictured with a Barn Quilt painted by their daughter Candy Stoer.

A visit to Stoer Farm Market is a little like coming home. Here, friends and strangers alike are greeted by the smiling faces of people who are genuinely happy you stopped by to shop and visit. Located just off of St. Rt. 104 in Pickaway County, it’s an easy drive for quality products and for a truly special experience.

What makes this place most memorable is husband and wife team Jim and Donna Stoer who operate the farm and market. The pair were childhood friends and high school sweethearts. They have been married 56 years but still seem like a couple of youngsters when discussing life together.

Jim said they both were farm kids and that Donna actually grew up on this farm where her father ran a dairy and raised other animals. After Jim’s lengthy career in corporate America and more than forty years living in Grove City, they came back to Donna’s home place in 2014. “This all started when Donna started selling sweet corn under a tree in the front yard. She moved into the garage when she outgrew the tree,” Jim explained with a chuckle.

“It’s so nice having our friends stop by and meeting new people,” she elaborated. “I really do enjoy it!”

corn

Sweet corn is a summer staple that keeps customers coming back to the market throughout the season.

The Market has grown significantly since that first table of sweet corn in the Stoer’s front yard. Now the market offers a range of in-season produce throughout the growing season. The June day VCNB visited, they offered tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, eggs and some late season strawberries. Soon, their ever popular sweet corn will fly out the door along with a host of other delicious summer favorites. Other times of the year, they sell asparagus, rhubarb, blackberries, raspberries, pumpkins, gourds and an array of other produce.

Their most sought after product is their line of honey, straight from hives on the farm. “Bees are having some trying times now and we wanted to help them out,” Jim said as he explained that their daughter Candy had encouraged them to try working with bees. “Many crops depend on bees for pollination. If they go away, our agriculture will be in a lot of trouble,” he said.

They have a complete line of honey products that includes various size bottles of their wildflower and clover honey, natural honey candy, honey straws, and an all natural creamed honey spread that Donna makes homemade.

Jim and Donna take their job very seriously, practicing natural beekeeping that they hope to pass on to others. “Every beekeeper has different wisdom and different ways of doing things.  You have to put all these ideas together and figure out what really works” Donna explained. “We want to help potential beekeepers get started. There’s knowledge that can be passed down.”

In addition to providing education and honey, they also are available to safely relocate honeybee swarms. A swarm is when a group of honeybees attaches itself to a structure or tree while it looks for a more permanent home. Jim said they often receive calls for assistance and Donna shared a picture of a swarm on their own property. Experts say this swarm on a tiny peach tree was one of the largest this area has seen.

Peach tree swarm

Experts say the swarm on this tiny peach tree on the Stoer farm is the largest this area has seen.

As part of their natural beekeeping, Jim and Donna began growing flowers. “We started growing lots of flowers to help bees get their food. That means we also have flowers to sell,” Donna said.

They use a mixture of six kinds of fertilizer to enrich the soil and to grow a large selection of healthy, beautiful flowers for cutting including Peonies, Larkspur, Snapdragons, Hydrangeas, Zinnias, Celosia, Dahlias and Lisianthus. We have two plots of wildflowers that are strictly for the bees,” Jim said.

“Of all the work on the farm, there is nothing more gratifying that filling a bucket with flowers and bringing them into the market,” Donna said.

They sell other things at the market including gourmet mustard and jams, lip balm and homemade soaps. They also take weekly orders for Der Dutchman bakery items such as donuts, pies and apple fritters. Their daughter Candy makes custom wood painted quilt blocks for outdoor display and Jim and Donna can put customers in touch with Candy for a consultation.

Donna said she will soon offer salsa, cheese and kettle corn for summer visitors and the pair are already thinking about their plans for another fall event. Last year, the farm hosted weekly events in October that featured fun activities for the family including hay rides, music, dancing and a plethora of fall décor including pumpkins, gourds and straw.

They invite visitors to enjoy the farm. “I just love our customers. They’re our lifeline,” Donna said with pure joy. “So many come here and say they love the farm and we say it’s here for them to enjoy.”

Jim emphasized that his wife is the heart and soul of the market. “Donna IS the market. We would have nothing if it weren’t for her,” he said.

Stoer Farm Market is located at 5823 Durrett Rd, Orient, Ohio. They are located just off Rt. 104, approximately 20 minutes north of Circleville. Market hours vary some with the seasons. During the summer, hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. They accept cash, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Have questions? Call 614-419-2952 and be sure to follow them on Facebook!  Flip through the slideshow to see more pictures!

 

 

Small Business Spotlight: Lilly’s Kitchen Table

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Small businesses are important to communities and running a small business is tough work. That’s why we feature a small business in one of our communities every month!

Lilly’s Kitchen Table has been a staple of the Grove City Town Center district for years, and is now the reigning two-time Grove City Business of the Year as decided by popular vote and awarded by the Grove City Chamber of Commerce. The breakfast and lunch diner is beloved by the Grove City community and has quite a story to tell.

For the past seven years Lilly’s has been under the ownership and guidance of Tracey Cope, a one-time server for the diner who jumped at the opportunity to purchase the business when the opportunity arose. “So many people were so happy to see Tracey move up and rise to become owner” Manager Sarah Cope explained. “We have so many long-time customers. Some drifted away and have come back to be regulars since Tracey took ownership.”

And take ownership she did. Sarah tells a story of a one night “extreme makeover” seven years ago before the first day of business under Tracey’s leadership. “When it looked like (Tracey) was going to have the opportunity to buy the business, she had a vision for it and started collecting and purchasing items and décor for the restaurant” Sarah said.

“The basement of her home housed all of this stuff. All of it. And once she signed the papers, the night before the farmer’s market, which is our busiest time of year, she and Todd (husband) pulled it all out started bringing it over and they went to work!” In one night, Tracey and family cleaned, painted, and decorated the diner to match the home town diner look and feel of Tracey’s vision moving forward. By morning, they were ready to open the doors with a new look inside. People were amazed at what Tracey and her crew had pulled off and admired their drive and dedication. “She truly took ownership from day one and really hit the ground running” said Sarah.

The diner specializes in breakfast and lunch, soups, and daily specials. Breakfast standards fill the menu alongside specialties like Lilly’s Big Breakfast and the Broadway Buster while sandwiches, subs, wraps, salads, handmade specialty burgers and more round out the lunch menu.

Ask a regular what’s best on the menu and their answer usually is ‘everything!’ Special dishes change daily and Ohio-made products like J.C. Steel pickles and condiments are used in house and sold at the front counter. Tracey’s decorative dishes and displays line the interior, and the back wall features a detailed mural hand painted by local artist David Maple.

Grove City locals have proven to be big fans of Lilly’s, as evidenced by the dramatic growth of their business throughout the past seven years and the aforementioned vote of “Business of the Year” for the second time. Nothing says “community” better than friendly faces and simply being there for one another. And there is never a time to need community more than in the face of tragedy.

Unfortunately, tragedy found this beloved community business in February when Chef and Back of House Manager Chris Cope died in an accident on I-71. Chris was the backbone of the business, not just because of the job he did there, but because he was Tracey’s son and Sarah’s husband. Known for his homemade soups and creative take on old standards, Chris was loved by all who met him. He left behind six children, all of whom are regulars around the restaurant and are well known to customers. “This was his place. He loved it here. This was family, home,” Sarah said.

Tracey, Sarah, and crew have faced these unfortunate circumstances with admirable grace and have received tremendous support from the community. A memorial fund was established at our Franklin County Banking Center and the Grove City Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Year” award is being renamed in Chris’s honor. “We’re still figuring out how to do this. But this community is the best. How do we even say how much this has all meant to us?” Sarah recalled, graciously.

The Cope family is beyond thankful for the support the community has shown throughout this time of incomprehensible loss, and says they are still putting the pieces together on moving forward. Thanks to the outpouring of support, they also have an excellent staff they can rely upon to keep the business moving. “We have amazing servers and a great team!” Sarah said of the crew of fourteen. “This is our family business and Tracey considers this her legacy. My kids are already asking to help out and they love to come in here. Visitors know them and love to see them – two of them are actually in that painting on the wall. So maybe someday they’ll be here alongside us.”

It’s easy to see why you can expect Lilly’s to be a staple of the Grove City community for years to come.

“One time visitors turn into lifetime customers. It’s not just a place to eat when you come here. People know our names, and not because of our shirts (which include names). They know our stories and we know them. We know their families, their kids, their orders. These are our friends and family, not just customers.”

Lilly’s Kitchen Table, open daily at 7a.m.-2p.m., is located at 4008 Broadway, Grove City and can be found online or on Facebook. Contact them at (614) 801-0771 or stop by for a good meal and friendly conversation!

Those looking to donate to the Christopher Cope Memorial Fund can contact the Franklin County Banking Center via phone at 614.875.8700, in person at 2250 Stringtown Road, Grove City, and contributions are being accepted via mail at Franklin County Banking Center, P.O. Box 201, Grove City, Ohio 43123.