Category Archives: Small Business Spotlight

Small Business Spotlight: Sweet William Blossom Boutique

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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! 

Nestled in historic downtown Chillicothe, Ohio is a boutique shop unlike any other. While some may call it a flower shop, using only that title underestimates the range of specialty products they are known to carry.

Opened in August 2011 by co-owners Anni McDonald and her Aunt Lori Botchie, Sweet William Blossom Boutique is truly a family affair. Anni attended Ohio University in Athens and while there worked for a florist learning many of the techniques used in the shop today. After graduating with a degree in Communications and Marketing she held a couple of jobs while searching for her passion. Feeling unfulfilled from those jobs, she approached Lori with the idea to open a flower shop. Lori was inspired by the idea but visualized a store that sold more than just flowers. She proposed adding fruit arrangements and sweet confectioneries to the line of products. Lori’s degrees in Business Management and Communications, also from Ohio University, make them the perfect pair for this venture.

Sweet William Blossom Boutique offers fresh seasonal flower arrangements custom designed to suit their client’s needs. Focusing on the flowers and not fillers to create eye-catching collages, their works of art are identifiable as SWBB creations due to their distinctive design. They specialize in floral arrangements for weddings, sympathy, and proms/homecomings. Located inside the boutique is a self-serve floral area called the Blossom Bar. Accessible as a grab ‘n’ go option, the Blossom Bar offers a selection of different styles of flowers and vases in different price points so customers can design their own bouquets for less.

One aspect of the business that sets them apart from other flower shops is their fruit arrangements. Using apples, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, blueberries and other assorted fruits, they cut and shape the produce to create one-of-a kind edible art.

Another edible aspect to the business is their gourmet caramel apples and specialty strawberries. The apples come in nine signature flavors such as salty caramel, buckeye, and their best seller apple crisp. All apples are Granny Smith in variety and are the perfect size for sharing, although they are so delicious you many not want to. Strawberries come in three different forms: chocolate-covered, crème-filled, and chocolate cheesecake. Orders can be all of one type or any combination of the three. McDonald says that their strawberries were a top seller this past Valentine’s Day.

McDonald and Botchie are committed to providing local products whenever possible and even sell candles in store made by another local company. These candles, produced by Small Batch Candle Company, are showcased in repurposed glass bottles. Pair one of these candles with flowers or confections and you have the perfect gift for any occasion.

Sweet William Blossom Boutique is located in the heart of downtown Chillicothe at 90 West Second Street. Visit them from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You can also call them at 740.779.9600. Follow them on Facebook or on Instagram.

 

Small Business Spotlight: Hocking Hills Moonshine

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This 1930 Plymouth is a rare classic car that was made  during the Prohibition era. Today the company sometimes uses this car to delivery product to stores. Don’t worry though – the bullet holes on the door are just stickers!

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! 

The Hocking Hills region has long been known for its moonshine. Once illegally produced in the hills by bootleggers, now the infamous drink is being made legally in the heart of Logan.

Hocking Hills Moonshine is a relatively young company that uses old time techniques to make a timeless drink. “If you think Moonshine is supposed to taste bad and burn all the way down, you’ve never had good moonshine,” exclaimed Brian St. Clair, who co-owns the business with his brother Eric and cousin Ray.

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Brian St. Clair explained the recipe and the manufacturing process while he stirred.

Brian gave VCNB a tour of the distillery and retail store in Logan, providing a combination history lesson and chemistry class. He demonstrated how their award winning moonshine is made, starting with a recipe of cracked corn, sugar, yeast, syrup and fresh water from the family farm.

It’s the water and the small batch production that give their product the sweet, smooth flavor that has made it increasingly popular. Brian indicated that it’s the local water that helped the nearby town New Straitsville claim the title Moonshine Capital of the World back during the Prohibition years.

Brian actually got to meet and learn from some of the old timers who perfected the craft when he started out as a volunteer at the New Straitsville Moonshine Festival in the eighties. “The Moonshine Festival Committee needed volunteers. The festival had a permit to make moonshine whiskey for display purposes only and they needed help,” Brian explained. “I learned from Prohibition era old timers who did it for years,” he said, explaining that until 2010, it was illegal to produce Moonshine in Ohio.

In 2015, Brian, Eric and Ray opened their business and have worked constantly to improve their product and grow the business. Today, their bestseller is 120 proof Buckeye Lightening. They also offer 45 Proof Granny Apple, 45 Proof Blackberry, 45 Proof Peach and 90 Proof. Efforts are underway to offer additional flavors.

Ohio law limits sales to state liquor stores in Ohio and their products are currently available in over 200 stores across the state. Their product can also be purchased in their store. When you visit, allow a little extra time to take a free tour of the facility and to look around. Both the tour and store are family friendly. Speaking of family, the business is a family run affair with help from Ray’s mom Cheryl as well as Brian and Eric’s sister Tammy.

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In addition to moonshine, the store sells locally made items and has a number of antiques on display.

The store features some locally made items as well as Hocking Hills Moonshine shirts and other merchandise. They also have a load of interesting antiques to look at and photograph. One wall is actually constructed of wood siding and a door from a nineteenth century grain bin from the family farm. Brian said that he, Eric and Ray used it as a club house when they were kids and that it seemed appropriate to incorporate into the décor.

They even have a backdrop, complete with antiques, that is perfect for group pictures. An old pot, antique farm implements, milk cans and even a coal miner’s bucket are among the unique items on display. Visitors can also see the awards they brought home from the Denver Spirits International Competition. Over three hundred competitors were judged and their Buckeye Lightening took the Bronze Medal while their 90 Proof brought home the Silver. Earlier this month, the business was recognized as the Hocking Hills Chamber of Commerce’s New Business of the Year.

If you can’t make it in to their Logan location, look for them at some events in 2017 including a bike rally in Ironton and the Sam Jam bluegrass festival in Pike County. Follow them on Facebook to learn about new products and to keep up with new locations where their moonshine is sold.

Hocking Hills Moonshine is located at 519 E Front Street in Logan. Call them at 740. 603.4483 or check out their website.

Small Business Spotlight: The Well

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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! 

A business in downtown Lancaster with a passionate following is getting ready to celebrate their third anniversary. It is a spot that was created for families to come and eat clean, wholesome foods, gather for coffee and conversation, and have a little fun. To call it a restaurant would be misleading; to simply call it a coffee shop wouldn’t be enough. Introducing: The Well.

What would you call The Well? “That’s a good question,” says Adam Leu, who owns the business along with his brother Aaron. “We’re a place to gather; a restaurant, a retail shop, a coffee shop, a place to bring your family in to play. We’re here to teach and educate, to service, and to build relationships and be a light in our community.” The words on the glass along the entryway say it best: “A Modern Gathering Place.”

The Leus’ intent was always to create a business with a family atmosphere that their own relatives and friends would want to enjoy; a modern place to eat, drink, play and live. “You see it too much that a small business consumes you. We didn’t want that,” Adam says. He continued, “Our priorities were always very clear – we have families and we wanted them to be involved, to come around and to enjoy this place. We wanted to do that for others.”

The idea for “the Modern Gathering Place” came about after Adam and Aaron held discussions about their next move in business. Inspired by several family play cafés the brothers had seen, Adam and Aaron came out of their discussions realizing they felt it was an exciting idea and something they thought the public would enjoy as well.

The search for a location began in 2013, and when scouting locations in Lancaster, they came across the old Hammond’s Clothier building at 203 S. Broad Street. It was pretty clear from first sight that it would be perfect. Hammond’s had been open since the early 1900’s and the building and its décor reflected so much of that history.

Plus, with the added bonus of empty gallery space below and above the storefront, Aaron felt it’d be a perfect spot to renovate and create a home for him and his family. After several meetings with the Lancaster-Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Destination Downtown Lancaster, the decision to purchase of the building was made, and in May 2013 the plans of opening in time for The Lancaster Festival’s Art Walk in July were laid out. And once work began, those hopes were quickly dashed. “We were pretty ambitious. We worked on the living space first, and Aaron wasn’t able to move in until December of that year- and the shop wasn’t opened until March of 2014,”

Adam laughed as he recalled. “But we did most of the work ourselves. We added the kitchen area and the bathroom, but the building was in good shape. It was mostly cosmetics.”

Now filled with self-constructed décor, hand-made crafts and goods, organic snacks and sweets, art, and a play area the family built taking up a large portion of the rear, The Well has blossomed into a popular place for locals and out-of-towners alike. And the word of these loyal visitors has been key to their success.

“We really haven’t had to pay for advertising.” Adam revealed. “The Eagle-Gazette ran an article the week we opened, which we didn’t plan on, and the Dispatch called right after that for another piece. And it’s just grown from there.”

The space, and the menu especially, were originally intended to serve a very niche market. They just didn’t realize how large that niche market was. “After the Eagle-Gazette article, we were slammed. We had lines out the door and we were thinking ‘what are we doing?’ We weren’t ready for this.” Adam looks back. They seemed to have figured it out, though, and the crowds continue to grow.

The rotating menu features organic, gluten free vegetarian foods and smoothies, juices, coffees, and treats utilizing local growers and coffee beans from around the world (and never roasted more than fourteen days prior!). The Buckeye Bar, the sweet specialty of Tim, their father, has proven to be a hit! In fact, VCNB employees may or may not consistently keep a few of them at their desk.

The Leus have taken calls from interested investors looking to add locations and businessmen looking to franchise. “But we’re just not interested in that, that was never the priority.” Adam explained, again citing the desire to have a place for his family. “I’m here, Aaron, our mother (Pat), our father (Tim), Bob’s a friend, and Mary’s helping us too. Our wives help us, our kids come in here and hang out with us. You just can’t do that if we go somewhere else. Our desire wasn’t to come here and be a restaurant, and be hidden back in a kitchen all day. We want to see you and we want you to take some of this with you. We’ll give you any recipe or information you want. We’re a part of this community and we want to be here building relationships with you.”

Visitors can stop by The Well from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on weekdays. The retail and play space can also be rented after hours at $150 for three hours. You can get connected on Facebook or call 740.573.7011.

Small Business Spotlight: Pataskala Meats

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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! 

On a cold and blustery December day, the doors of  Pataskala Meats opened up for a visit from VCNB and a chance to be featured in our Small Business Spotlight series.  As one of the only butcher shops in the area to be built from the ground up in the last thirty years, Pataskala Meats showed itself to be a happening place full of unique eats at great prices.

Pataskala Meats is the project of Kirk Hall, who has spent much of the last twenty years working on his family farm and raising sheep.  With the dream of creating his own butcher shop and market, Kirk spent years looking for existing buildings to renovate to make this idea come to life.  But time and time again, he kept coming back to a lot sitting along Broad Street in Pataskala.  In 2011, Kirk pulled the trigger and purchased the oft-visited lot and went to work.  Instead of renovating a building, he’d be building from scratch.  And after ninety truck-loads of clay were brought in to raise and level the ground and a dilapidated building was demolished, Kirk began work on his shop.  After four years of hard labor, enormous expenses on pavement, cooling racks, and processing equipment, Kirk was ready to open the doors of Pataskala Meats in spring 2016.

Pataskala Meats is a USDA licensed butcher shop first and foremost, working mostly with cows, pigs, sheep, and goat.  With two hanging coolers in the back, Kirk and his crew are able to immediately begin the cooling process and continuously move the meat along for further processing.  With a USDA inspector on hand on a regular basis, the process and the meat itself is inspected and stamped for approval for sale to the general public.  Pataskala Meats also takes orders from private customers and farmers for their own use and consumption as freezer meat.

After the cooling and hanging process, the meat is cut and divided for packaging.  Kirk’s smoked meat is so popular the smoker is nearly pushed to the limit by constant use.  “We’ve found it’s too small really – it’s constantly running!” he says.  Bacon is marinated for five days before being put through the smoker, the ham is injected with a secret mixture before running through, and smoked pork chops are one of Kirk’s personal favorites.  Pulled pork and other meats are smoked by request.

Photos of Kirk’s family farm line the market walls in the front of the building.  The fresh cut steaks, chops, specially blended sausages, and house made jerky make headlines, but there’s more happening here.  With the best prices around on deli meats and specials (seriously –smoked ham was going for $.99/lb at the time of our visit!), house made potato salad and sides, and an incredible variety of cheeses, spices, and condiments, the market clearly has something to offer everyone.  Huge coolers hold everything from specialty items and frozen foods to sweet tea and Monster energy drinks.  Aisles of shelves are lined with sweet treats and salty snacks, including some packaged in bulk.  Pataskala Meats was just awarded with a liquor license as well, and will soon have a selection of wine available.

Whether you are grilling, picnicking or tailgating, you can find all your fixings at Pataskala Meats!

Perhaps the market’s most unique offering is that of a cooler dedicated to your furry friends.  Raw pet food is ground, packaged, and sold either in bulk or in one pound tubes for $.75/lb, and various sizes of smoked bones can be purchased for your pets.  These bones can be as large – or as small – as you request, and can be cut to size if you prefer.

We thank Kirk and his staff for giving us a glimpse into what they have going on during a bitterly cold day, and we look forward to seeing Pataskala Meats grow as they continue settling into their location at 12397 Broad Street. Follow them on Facebook or call  740. 927.3006.

 

Small Business Spotlight: Ravenwood Castle

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Being a small business owner is a tough job. That’s why we spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard. Today we’re visiting Ravenwood Castle in Vinton County. 

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The Great Hall of Ravenwood Castle is a popular destination for weddings, gaming conferences, romantic dinners and more!

If you want to get away from your daily life, Ravenwood Castle offers a unique getaway to guests who seek solace and beauty close to home. Ravenwood is one of Ohio’s most talked about lodging places and is just a few miles outside of McArthur.

The design of Ravenwood was inspired by English castles of the twelfth century but only opened for business in 1995. Its location in the Hocking Hills region provides a beautiful wooded setting and sense of isolation that is craved by many who seek relaxation. Yet it’s close enough to other Hocking Hills attractions including state parks, shopping and dining to be convenient for those who wish to strike out for some adventure.

Owners Jim and Pam Reed purchased Ravenwood in 2012 after visiting many times since the mid- nineties. Jim’s twenty years of business experience are put to work managing operations while Pam’s knack for event planning and guest relations have brought new life to the facility.

“This is a great place to get away and to relax. The castle is all about putting the technology down and talking to each other. There’s no WIFI here and there are no tvs in most of the rooms. My kids actually play together and have a great time when we’re here and we hear often that guests like that they can relax and be themselves here. You don’t have to be dressed up. We just want you to feel at home,” she said.

Guests can choose from several lodging options including a Castle suite, a cottage in a medieval village or cabin in Huntsman’s Hollow. All are well appointed and designed with the privacy and comfort of the guest in mind. Guests are treated to breakfast in the Castle’s Great Hall every morning.

Pam noted that the public can enjoy a buffet dinner by reservation most Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, Raven’s Roost Pub provides great atmosphere with a menu of pub fare and selection of hand crafted beers, wines and mixed drinks. It is open most Friday and Saturday nights.

She also discussed the success Ravenwood has enjoyed with a variety of events. She said Murder Mystery Weekends are scripted specifically for Ravenwood and are held, not just for an evening, but for an entire weekend. The experience begins with an email prior to arrival and clues left in the rooms when guests check-in.  Activities take place throughout the weekend until the identity of the murderer is learned on Sunday. “It’s written exclusively for us. You can’t get this experience anywhere else and I think that’s why we have so many repeat guests. People love it so much they come back time after time,” Pam said.

Ravenwood also hosts events throughout the year including beer and wine tastings, a Tudor Christmas and a celebration of Edgar Allen Poe’s birthday. In recent years they have hosted gaming events including a summer gaming convention called Con in the Castle. This event features three days and two nights of gaming activities related to role playing and board games.

Their Hoop and Stick Con is a winter weekend of gaming fun and fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network. This year, Ravenwood is on track to donate $10,000 to this charity which benefits Children’s Hospital. Pam said that she and her husband have been supporters of Children’s Hospital since their newborn child required some care at Children’s several years ago. “They were so wonderful, especially for first time parents. We’ve just always wanted to give back and realized that we could use this place to pay it forward,” she said.

Those planning weddings should note that Ravenwood also offers a number of wedding packages that range from a wedding of fifty inside the castle to a 150 person outdoor wedding.

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Pam added that they see many repeat guests and that the staff works hard to make every guest want to come back. “Our goal always is to make sure our guests have the best experience they can.  And we always ask ourselves how what we are doing will impact our guests. We have an amazing staff and wonderful innkeepers. They work like a team and it’s truly amazing how much they get done,” Pam said.

The Reeds are continually making improvements at Ravenwood and she indicated their work is not done. “We’ve been working to improve the property. Refurbishing the rooms has been an ongoing process and we plan to continue working on projects and investing in the property,” she noted. “This has been such an experience, truly a leap of faith, but it has been so rewarding to see it pay off.”

Ravenwood Castle operates every day of the year except for Wednesday and Thursday for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The public is welcome to visit the public areas of the Castle during the day. Ravenwood is located just off St. Rt. 93 at 65666 Bethel Rd., New Plymouth. Call 740.596.2606, click here to visit their website, or here to follow them on Facebook.

 

 

 

Small Business Spotlight: Rushcreek Feed & Supply

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Being a small business owner is a tough job. That’s why we spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.

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Rushcreek Feed & Supply is a landmark in Bremen that has been evolving to meet the needs of customers for over fifty years.

“You have to change with the times,” Rushcreek Feed & Supply owner Bob Pontious repeated.  “You have to.”

This gentleman would know. He has weathered much change in his business, his town and the economy for over five decades. In 1961, Bob and four other Bremen area farmers partnered to purchase the Brown-Burnworth Company, which included office space and a mill that operated out of facilities constructed in the mid and late 1800’s.  The five farmers organized and began operating what is now known as Rushcreek Feed & Supply, a mill that processes and creates seed and mix for the agricultural community.

The business has seen various incarnations of the ownership group but Bob, who just celebrated his 92nd birthday, has remained the only constant and is the sole owner to this day.  His business has continuously evolved, installing new machinery, adopting new processes, and acquiring property to allow growth and efficiency, allowing them to stand out as a staple in rural small town living.

Bremen has seen much change during the last several decades and much of the change has resulted in loss. Bob said that several auto dealers have come and gone and the rail system that once rolled within ten feet of Rushcreek Feed’s building has disappeared.   The cheese factory that existed years ago that was supplied by local dairy farms is long gone.  The number of dairy farms in the area has dwindled from thirty or forty in the 1960’s and 70’s to just two. The number of local hog farms is now down to about ten.  As more folks have moved toward green farming and the landscape of the agricultural industry changes, the needs of the customer have changed.  “It used to be cattle, chickens, and pigs.  Everything was operated by hand,” Manager Terry Bell said matter-of-factly.  “But you have to meet the needs of your clientele.  You really have to diversify.”

“We used to have folks bring in truckloads or trailers of whole ears of corn, which we’d unload by shovel or hand.”  Terry explained.  “Now there’s a hoist and dump pit.  We used to bag feed by hand in 100 pound bags.  That was it – that was all we had.  But we’ve installed a bagging system for 50 pound bags.”

By streamlining seemingly simple processes and taking the “work smarter” approach, Terry says Rushcreek Feed and Supply has been able to expand their facilities, services and offerings.  For example, a warehouse was constructed and a neighboring plot of land was purchased, which included several buildings that now serve as workshops and storage for equipment and inventory.  The old mill was just redone this summer, and within the last five years they’ve added to their custom fertilization capabilities with a new truck and a new sprayer.  Last summer, they installed seventy foot scales to better accommodate semis upon weighing in/out.  Their secret Rushcreek Deer Plot Mix was created and is a hit for deer season, with customers from as far as Pennsylvania and New York ordering regularly.  And recently, they became a licensed dealer for “The Stump,” a long-window weather resistant hunting blind by Banks Outdoors.  As only one of a handful of dealers in the state, they actually keep them in stock so they are ready to go out the door upon purchase.  Terry said that none of this would be possible without their expanded facilities.  “We were running out of room.”

The expansion and rock-steady quality service are due in large part to a great group of people working for their team, Terry said.  “We’ve got our locals (customers).  But we’ve also got people from Franklin, Licking, Meigs, Athens, Muskingum Counties that are regulars.”   Customers are getting quality products, but it’s the quality service from the twelve Rushcreek Feed & Supply employees that make the sustained success possible.  “It works because we’ve got a great staff” Terry added.

If you’d like to visit Rushcreek Feed & Supply, they’re located at 103 S. Broad Street in Bremen, just across the parking lot from our Friendly Bremen Banking Center.  They can be contacted at 740.569.4105 and can be found on Facebook and at their own website  http://www.rushcreekfeed.com/.

See more images from our visit to Rushcreek Feed & Supply in the slideshow below.

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Community Spotlight: Camp Oty’Okwa

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Camp Oty’Okwa is located in the heart of the Hocking Hills region and provides both solace and adventure for young campers and adult visitors alike.

You can tell a lot about a place by the sounds it makes. At first Camp Oty’Okwa seems quiet. There are no cars whizzing by and no dogs barking. Instead, there’s wind rustling in the trees, birds chattering and the distant sound of locusts coming together to create a chorus of summer. But leave the parking lot and walk closer to the camp and you’ll hear music and laughter: the happy, carefree sounds of children at summer camp.

For some kids who attend camp here, it’s a life changing experience they will never forget. Built in 1942, the camp began as a 165 acre farm that was operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters, primarily to serve the sons of soldiers lost in World War II.  Today the camp is 730 acres and offers a year-round experience for boys and girls. In addition to regular summer camp, there are camps with varying focuses including Science Camp, Grief Camp, Literacy Camp, Seasonal Environmental Education and Girls Week.

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Summer camp provides lots of opportunities to make new friends!

David Schirner began his career here as a lifeguard in 1971. Today he serves as Camp Director and Executive Vice President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio. “I started as a lifeguard and I just never left,” David said with an easy laugh.

He explained there are many things that make this place unique. To start, it is one of only two remaining Big Brothers Big Sisters camps left in the United States. Moreover, Camp Oty’Okwa gives kids the opportunity to experience and explore nature in the breathtaking natural environment of the Hocking Hills where rock outcrops, woodlands and hiking trails abound. At camp, they make new friends and learn lots of skills including how to work with others and even how to deal with adversity.

At regular summer camp, structure exists mainly at mealtimes and there is no set program for the rest of the day. Instead, kids live and play in a setting where a small group and counselor decide what to do each day, considering the needs, interests and limitations of each child in the group. Hiking, swimming, art projects, bird watching and canoeing are just a few of the possibilities. The day VCNB visited, a large group was enjoying a spirited session of Zumba.

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David Schirner, pictured here with kids at Holiday Camp, is Camp Director and Executive Vice President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.

Cathy Knoop serves as Business Development Coordinator for Camp Oty’Okwa and her devotion to camp shows in the hugs she happily accepts and the interest she takes in what the kids are doing. “They learn to compromise and to work with others. Sometimes a member of the group has a physical limitation and the others have an opportunity to learn empathy and compassion because that child isn’t great at what the others want to do,” Cathy explained.

David said the camp has evolved over the decades to suit the needs of the kids. It began serving kids who lost dads in the war but by the sixties, the camp was evolving as divorce and single parent homes became more common. “The challenge has been changing, adapting to the needs of families and remaining current through 2016. A lot of what we do is social work,” David said.

He indicated that many kids are referred by schools and organizations locally and across Ohio while other children attend simply because they desire a camp experience.

David said that a fair number of campers are from the immediate area. “We’ve found from working with kids in this area that local kids need this place as much as city kids. We are finding they just don’t get outside much. They’re playing video games and watching tv as much as any other kid in America despite having nature so close,” he said.

Cathy and her husband Paul have volunteered at the camp for about six years. Now retired, Paul was Education Director at Aullwood Audubon Nature Center and Cathy was an elementary science teacher. “My husband and I volunteer here because we enjoy getting to know the kids, teaching them, seeing them grow up and being part of their lives,” she said. “Environmental education is important to us and we enjoy sharing that.”

They extend environmental education into all areas of the camp including through a recycling and composting program that prevents most waste. They also buy locally produced food at the Chesterhill Produce Auction as much as possible.

David said there is much work that needs done to keep the camp operating. “We are here to be good stewards for the property and to send kids to camp,” he said. “We have a strategic plan designed to make facility improvements and to keep this camp running for another seventy years. Fortunately, we have a lot of amazing people who like this place and who are willing to give of themselves and to provide funding to send kids to camp. We couldn’t do it without them,” he added.

One of the newest additions to the camp is the Discovery Center. The dining hall is located inside and the walls are lined with stations that use artwork and interactive pieces to teach about the area’s native plants and animals, about recycling and a number of other topics. Outside the building there is a pond, native garden and a compost station.

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The camp hosts many events that are open to the public. Michelle Stitzlein will give a presentation on art inspired by nature with recycled materials on November 13, 2016. Tickets for the presentation including soup, salad bar and dessert cost just $20 but advance registration is required at http://www.campotyokwa.org.

All this work is not just for campers. Camp Oty’Okwa encourages community involvement through community events and hikes, school group visits, adult education workshops for teachers and naturalists and a host of other events. For a fee, they also teach adult education classes like one on preserving produce and even a weekend survival workshop. Their next free Community Hike will be on October 1. Reserve your spot for this or learn about other events by contacting Al Marietta at amarietta@bbbscentralohio.org or by calling 740-975-6384. Click here for a full list of upcoming events.

Organizations and businesses that need retreat or conference space often use the camp as well. Facilities, food and programming are available for small groups of up to twenty and large groups up to 200.

Volunteers are welcome for trail repair, camp winterization and other project work days. The public is also encouraged to attend events at the camp and cash donations are always appreciated. “We value our community and the partnerships we have here.  The volunteers, the donors, the wonderful people who support what we do. We couldn’t do it without them.”

Camp Oty’Okwa is located at 24799 Purcell Rd., just a few miles from the Old Man’s Cave Visitors’ Center.  Click here for more information.

Click through the slide show below for more images from Camp Oty’Okwa.

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Small Business Spotlight: Hillside Country Store

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Being a small business owner is a tough job. That’s why we spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.

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Hillside Country Store offers an array of baked goods, bulk food items, wind chimes, wood furniture, candles, outdoor furniture and much more.

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Hillside Country Store carries seasonal bedding plants, vegetable plants and other supplies to help both the advanced and novice gardener. They currently have a selection of fall mums.

The owner of Hillside Country Store calls his business “an old fashioned store in the middle of God’s country.” Perched on a hill overlooking St. Rt. 180, Hillside is close to Adelphi and not far from Lancaster, Chillicothe or the Hocking Hills State Park. The store smells divine and is a feast for the eyes, nose and taste buds, making it worth the drive into the country.

It is a family run business where the employees are friendly and helpful and many of the customers are regulars. Owner Michael Martin says he opened the store in September 2014 “because the Lord gave me mostly girls and it made a lot of sense.” He grew up in Wisconsin where his father runs a bulk food store but he married a Zanesville girl and moved to Ohio where his own store is filling a real need in the rural community.

Hillside is packed with all sorts of goodies including bulk snacks, candy making supplies, baking and cooking ingredients. Jams, jellies, salsas, pickled foods and maple syrup are popular as well.  An extensive deli offers approximately 35 different kinds of cheeses and at least that many kinds of meats. A popular service of the deli is the made-to-order sandwiches which are delicious and generous in portion. Being close to the Tar Hollow and Hocking Hills State Parks, it’s a good place to pick up sandwiches, cold drinks and snacks for a picnic. Soft serve ice cream makes a delicious treat for a hot day too.

What gives the store its heavenly aroma is the bakery which produces fresh bread daily as well as homemade pies and cookies like the popular Monster Cookie which is packed full of peanut butter, molasses, oatmeal, chocolate chips and M&M candies.

They welcome large orders for weddings and other events and are able to produce large amounts of baked goods as well as meat and cheese trays.

Practical items also line the walls including sewing notions, canning supplies, dish towels, books, bird houses, feeders and bulk bird seed.  An extensive line of poly yard and deck furniture offers maintenance free swings, Adirondack chairs and dining tables and chairs.

In addition, they offer a popular line of gift items like scented candles, windchimes and oak furniture which Michael pointed out are good for any occasion but are especially popular Christmas and Mother’s Day gifts. Backyard gardeners will find hanging baskets, bedding plants, vegetable plants and other seasonal flowers. They currently have a nice assortment of fall mums and Michael said there will be even more in stock soon.

Michael said his family has enjoyed running this business and that he looks forward to the future. “We’re enjoying it. It’s nice to live near the place where you work and we are growing,” he said. In fact, he said they expect to soon add fried pies to the menu, an addition he believes customers will enjoy.

Hillside Market is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They accept cash and plastic and welcome new customers to stop in. Call them at 740.655.3600 or visit them at 10244 St. Rt. 180, Laurelville.

See below for more pictures.

Community Spotlight: Fairfield Area Humane Society

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The Fairfield Area Humane Society is always in need of volunteers and donations including the items pictured outside their building. VCNB employees from our Friendly Bremen Banking Centers donated supplies during a recent facility tour.

If you want to find a group of people whose work is a true labor of love, stop by the Fairfield Area Humane Society and take a look around. This tight-knit community of employees and volunteers is dedicated to protecting the rights of animals and helping them find permanent, loving homes. It grows every year, adding services that help pet owners and growing adoption services to help neglected and abused animals. Much of that work happens because the community supports the cause they champion every day.

“Everything we do is possible with help from the community!” exclaimed Corey Schoonover, Executive Director at the Fairfield Area Humane Society.  “We’ve got seven employees, and some great volunteers.”

Though some may only view the facility as simply a place to drop off or adopt an animal and others consider it similar to a retail pet store, it’s important to realize that there is much more happening than meets the eye. “You could look at that part as retail, but it’s retail with a heartbeat.  And this is so much more.  For those unfamiliar, we do an amazing amount of work.”

Here’s just a portion of services that Fairfield Area Humane Society offers:

  • A monthly spay/neuter clinic (partnering with The RASCAL Unit)
  • Quarterly vaccine clinic
  • Flea treatments
  • Stray cat Trap-Neuter-Return services (which has grown to service over 1,500 cats in the last two years alone)
  • Investigations on animal cruelty complaints (which was solely responsible for over 30,000 miles traveled in 2015).

All of these activities occur in addition to the well-known adoption services, which grew to over 800 animals last year. “Adoptees come from all around, not just Fairfield County.  All over Ohio, from Columbus to Toledo to Cincinnati.  We’ve even had adoptions from the Northeast US, like Conneticut!” Corey explained.

Along with growing adoptions and services, the facility continues to grow. For example, in late 2014, the Humane Society constructed a new dog park, dramatically increasing the traffic coming in the facility’s front door and providing a much needed service to pet owners. “It’s become a great marketing tool for us.” Corey said.  “We used to have five, six visitors a day coming in.  But just in the last ten minutes, we’ve had four.  And the park isn’t just here for the new pet owners that come in, but for current pet owners.  Sometimes we’ll hear someone say they have to give up their animal because they moved into smaller living arrangements or because they just don’t have enough room to play.  But we hate to see that as their solution.  So this is a solution for those in that situation too,” he added.

Another important new addition to the grounds is the Barney Wears Memorial Building, a newly erected quarantine facility located behind the main building.  It officially opened on April 1 and provides space for new animals to be inspected and reside while being administered proper medications.  Animals that are too young to be adopted or those from animal cruelty cases may be housed here for a period of time as well.  In fact, 32 cats were just placed in the new building from one seizure in the last week.

“The costs for the services we offer continue to rise and have increased by nearly four times in the last six years.  And our facilities have been improved and expanded,” Corey said noting that the staff and payroll have not increased.  “So it’s really the great community support we have that has allowed us to expand our services and facilities.”

“One of our goals is that our adoption fees recoup the cost of the medical bills.  We’d love it to work out that way, but it doesn’t.  The costs are enormous.  But the ultimate goal is doing what’s best for the animal and keeping them in good homes, and unfortunately it isn’t free.  We’re so thankful for the support,” he added.

Volunteers are not only accepted, they are encouraged as they play a key role in the generous community support that Corey praises.   That’s why VCNB employees consistently donate their time to this non-profit, and even serve or have served on their board. In fact, Corey and his staff hosted nearly 20 of our employees on a sunny Wednesday morning to share a little bit about what they do. They also shared how the Friendly Bremen Banking Center and VCNB financial family have been instrumental in their growth.

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While touring the facility, our employees donated items on the Humane Society’s list of critical need, which includes things not generally considered top-of-mind when donating to an animal shelter or humane society.  These items included paper towels, bleach and HE laundry detergent, dish soap, hand sanitizer, Pine-Sol and kitty litter.

The work for this staff of seven goes far beyond working directly with the animals and is clearly a labor of love. In fact, you’ll often see the Humane Society crew out and about around Fairfield County, sharing information and drumming up membership and support.  In one week in July, they were on hand at the Lancaster Festival’s Art Walk and Festival Fair Day, hosting the aforementioned group of VCNB employees, doing interviews, and filming TV segments for a television station in Central Ohio.

This week, they will host their annual WOOFSTOCK event at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.  This two day event features a family fun and adoption event on Saturday, August 6 from 11am-8pm. The public is encouraged to attend and the day will feature fun for all ages, including live music, inflatables, laser tag, raffles, food and craft vendors, and wiener dog races.  Most importantly, adoptable dogs needing homes will be on hand.  On Sunday, August 7 from 11am-4pm, they’re hosting day two of Woofstock, which is a low cost vaccination clinic featuring $10 vaccines, $15 micro-chips, $5 nail trims, and $10 dog baths.

To find out more about the Fairfield Area Humane Society, Woofstock, visit them online at www.fairhumane.org or visit them on Facebook. Here you’ll also find pictures of pets available for adoption.

Click here to learn how you can help including information on  or more information on membership or volunteering.

Small Business Spotlight: Loose Rail Brewing

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Being a small business owner is a tough job. That’s why we spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.

Loose Rail - LogoThere’s a new business coming to Canal Winchester that has been generating excitement since it was announced last year. That’s when we learned the number one craft beer maker in the United Kingdom will construct its USA headquarters in Canal Winchester. While Brewdog’s new 40-acre campus is a few months from opening, we thought craft beer aficionados and small business enthusiasts would enjoy learning about another much anticipated local brewery prepping to open in the heart of Canal Winchester.

Nathan and Kelley Doerfler, owners of the Canal Winchester landmark Harvest Moon Craft Kitchen and the Garden Herb Shop, originally intended to expand Harvest Moon to a second location but plans changed when another opportunity presented itself. Approximately 18 months ago, the plans shifted toward building a brewery. In a whirlwind time period for the couple and with help from the Canal Banking Center, the perfect location – a former power substation for a rail line that ran until the early 1900s – was targeted and purchased.

Joined by business partners Jonathan Woodruff and Dennis Smalley, the newly minted “Loose Rail Brewing” operation began to take form. The building is located just walking distance from Harvest Moon in downtown Canal Winchester.  What this means for the brewery is that while they won’t have a full kitchen and menu  in the beginning, they will offer a food shuttle service from the Harvest Moon for limited menu items.

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Loose Rail will be a seven barrel brew house, with four fermenters, a taproom, a patio, a bar, and first and second floor seating.  Five beer recipes are being brewed – the craft brew standard India Pale Ale, a Session IPA, an Amber, a Pilsner, and a Stout.  Nathan said it was important to offer something for everyone.  Loose Rail hopes to separate itself by being created as a family-friendly space, in which families large and small can stop in to listen to live music on the weekends, host gatherings, and bring food in to sit outside on the patio to enjoy an evening open-air dining.

The excitement is growing and the promotion of the brewery is well underway.  Buzz is growing on social media and merchandise and apparel are being printed and sold at Harvest Moon.  They’ve already been featured in Columbus CEO magazine, The Dispatch, Columbus Underground, and Columbus Business Monthly.  They also are being added to various Ohio beer trail maps and look forward to bridging the gap between Central Ohio breweries and the growing craft brew hotbed that is Southern and Southeastern Ohio.

The old railroad building at 37 Waterloo Street is really starting to take a life of its own as Loose Rail Brewing and though adding a brewery to their business portfolio has been an exciting process so far, it hasn’t all gone smoothly.  Nathan says Loose Rail was originally targeted to open this summer but an overwhelming amount of nationwide permit requests within The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has caused the opening to be delayed.  It’s now tentatively slated to open on Labor Day Weekend but, at this point, they are playing a waiting game as it’s out of their hands.  The good news?  There are a host of people anticipating the grand opening, anxiously awaiting the official announcement.  “This community has been really supportive and there is a lot of excitement for this,” Nathan says.  “We can’t wait to get going!”

Click here to visit them on Facebook!