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 | Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce Weekly Update
Mission statement: The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce promotes economic and community development by addressing issues important to business.
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Volume 4, Issue 14 Friday, November 18, 2005 This Week's Sponsors
(Your ad here for just $30 per edition. Email us by clicking here.) Community events calendar from the visitors bureau Chamber Calendar Tuesday, November 22: The Bike Shop ribbon cutting, 51 E. Main St., 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 22: Leadership Chillicothe Ross Steering Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber. Tuesday, November 22: Finance Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber. Thursday and Friday, November 24-25: Office closed for Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday, November 30: Networking Luncheon featuring Brad Cosenza on his work for the American Red Cross in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, 11:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club, Networking Luncheon reservations Tuesday, December 6: Governmental Affairs Committee, 3:30 p.m., chamber. Wednesday, December 14: "How to Start Your Own Business" seminar by the Small Business Development Center of the OSU South Centers; 9-11 a.m., $40 registration fee (limited scholarships available), contact Kelly O'Bryant 740-289-3727, Ext. 111 or obryant5@ag.osu.edu Wednesday, December 21: Business After Business, Citizens National Bank, West Main Street, co-sponsored by USEC, 5-7 p.m. BAB registration
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Annual Expo draws a good crowd
About 200 attend Wednesday for chance to win door prizes While the weather outside turned a little chilly, the Sugarloaf Conference Room of the Best Western Adena Inn was warm and cozy for the combined Annual Expo and Business After Business. Twenty-nine members, including Connie Smart of Panther Publishing shown in photo, displayed their products and services and made new contacts while donating the door prizes that were given away at the end of the evening. Check out all the action from the 35 photos available on the chamber website by clicking here. DOWNTOWN OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND: Merchants downtown will be open 10-5 Saturday and noon-4 Sunday for their annual open house that includes walking tours, carriage rides, pictures with Santa at the Majestic Theatre and other entertainment. HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES NOTED: While the continued rising cost of health insurance is a concern for all businesses, some are finding relief in the form of the relatively new health savings account plans. The Kiplinger Letter reports 25 percent of companies will offer the HSAs to employees next year, up from 8 percent this year and 4 percent a year ago. Locally, Jerry Phillips of Network Financial Services reports 35-40 percent of smaller employers are changing to either HSAs or its cousin, the health reimbursement account. And, 65-70 percent on individual medical plans are going the HSA route. HSAs normally put more of the cost burden on the employee while keeping premiums on the high-deductible plans lower than full-service plans. In another health care development, the 10-year battle in Congress to allow associations to band together to offer group plans might move forward now that a proposal would allow these plans to self-insure. The House has approved the measure eight times, but it's never made it past the Senate due to opposition from state insurance commissioners, consumer groups and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. The U.S. chamber has been a strong advocate for the plans for the years.
ONE OPENING SCHEDULED, ANOTHER DELAYED: Alan Jordan will make it official Tuesday morning at 10 when the chamber conducts the official ribbon-cutting at The Bike Shop at 51 E. Main St., just east of the chamber office. All members are invited to attend. The Old Home Place at U.S. 35 at the exit to Frankfort won't be open this weekend as originally planned. No new date has been set for the bakery, deli and general store. OWNER CREDITS EMPLOYEE FOR AWARD: Chris Hanners gave all the credit to his employees for winning the Chillicothe Gazette/Rotary Business Ethics Award this year. Hanners cited President Shirley Bandy, General Manager Bryan Wickline, Director of Sales and Marketing John Wend and Stadium Superintendent and Head Groundskeeper Jim Miner. "That's who's in the forefront, and that's who people see conducting business in an ethical way in the community," Hanners said. NEWEST MEMBERS: Here's who's joined the chamber recently:
EMPLOYEES HOLDING BAZAAR: The 1,000-plus workforce at the VA Medical Center is holding its annual holiday bazaar Saturday, Nov. 26. It's 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the recreation hall (Building 9) and will include a silent auction. NOTABLE MILESTONES: Rick Marriott noted his 25th year as superintendent of the Ross County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities on Nov. 10 which prompted one of his employees to note "he's as excited about his job today as he was 25 years ago." Also, Chillicothe and southern Ohio has a real advocate on the state level with the appointment by Gov. Taft of Linda Herrnstein to the board of the Ohio Historical Society. The Herrnsteins have been actively involved with the Adena Mansion and Gardens for years. LIBRARY TAKING BRICK DONATIONS: Individual donations of $100 will help fund the Carnegie Plaza portion of the major renovations at the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library. Work already is well under way at the library, especially on the Paint and Sixth streets boundary area which will result in a 100-space parking lot plus green space. Applications for the donations are at all of the seven library locations throughout the county. VENDORS LICENSES: Here's who's received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:
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For previous editions, click here Copyright 2005 Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
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HATZEL
GETS GOOD NEWS -- TWICE: Strong business locally and in the country
helped propel Hatzel & Buehler Inc. to number 38 on the list of
Engineering News' Top 50 Electrical Contractors in the U.S., according
to James "Butch" Ivey, vice president at the Pickaway County office on
U.S. 23. In addition to working on the stadiums in Philadelphia for
both the Phillies and Eagles, the company also kept busy with
work at Kenworth, the GE jet engine plant near Peebles, AEP's power
station in Cheshire and DP&L's stations in Aberdeen and Manchester.
Hatzel's Patty Novak, left, was the winner at last week's Ross County
Safety Council luncheon of the automatic external defibrillator, valued
at $1,400. Patty accepts
the device from the council's co-chairman, Mary Charney of Adena Health
System.
LEADERSHIP
AT THE LIGHTHOUSE: Last week's session of the Leadership Chillicothe
Ross class took it to the Lighthouse Youth Center just outside
Bainbridge on Tong Hollow Road. In addition to modules on anger
management and conflict resolution, the class toured the facility for
troubled teens that's been there now for 20 years.