Best of the Valley - Readers' Choice Awards 2022

The Results Are In !

BEST EMPLOYER

EVangElical community Hospital, Lewisburg

On A Roll, Northumberland

Geisinger, Danville

La Belle Toi Lounge, Lewisburg Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

Wagging tail coffEE co., Allenwood

Cole’s Hardware, Northumberland

La Belle Toi Lounge, Lewisburg

On A Roll, Northumberland Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury

BEST NEW BUSINESS

old mill crEamEry, Mifflinburg

Free Fallin’’ Grill, Sunbury

La Belle Toi Lounge, Lewisburg

Midtown Bistro, Sunbury Sweet Chaos, Sunbury

BUSINESSES & RETaILERS

aNTIQUES/COLLECTIBLES

lEWisBurg antiquE mall, Lewisburg Norry Treasures, Northumberland

PA Collector’s Society, Selinsgrove Roller Mills, Lewisburg Sunbury Station, Sunbury

BEER DISTRIBUTOR

KEllEr’s BEEr, Selinsgrove Brewer’s Outlet, Sunbury Knarr’s Beverage, Milton Load & Go Beverage, Milton W&S Distributors, Northumberland

BRIDaL SHOP

Bridals By J, Selinsgrove

Bride’s Bouquet, Selinsgrove Exclusively You, Bloomsburg Fusion, Lewisburg Glamsbridal, Danville

CaR DEaLERSHIP

W&l suBaru, Northumberland

Blaise Alexander Family Dealership

Selinsgrove Ford, Selinsgrove Sunbury Motors, Sunbury Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury

CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

milliE’s BoutiquE & JEWElry Bar, Northumberland

Daisylace Boutique, Lewisburg Dwellings, Lewisburg

Jordanna Adams, Lewisburg Retrah, Lewisburg

FLOORING

garVEy’s flooring amErica, Northumberland Carpetman, Milton Frye’s Interiors, Northumberland MVT Flooring, Sunbury Oberdorf’s Carpet One, Lewisburg

FLORIST

graci’s floWErs & gifts, Selinsgrove Gilly’s Lilies, Mifflinburg Graceful Blossoms, Northumberland Scott’s Floral, Danville Stein’s Flowers, Lewisburg

FURNITURE STORE

BEnJamin t. moyEr furniturE, Sunbury Bader’s Fine Furniture, Shamokin Beiter’s, Sunbury Plaza House, Selinsgrove Silvermoon Furniture, Lewisburg

GIFT SHOP

tHE mErcantilE, Lewisburg Dwellings, Lewisburg

The English Garden, Danville Graci’s Flowers & Gifts, Selinsgrove Old Time Traditions, Sunbury

HOME BUILDER

t-ross BrotHErs construction, Montandon Brookside Homes, Hummels Wharf Fine Line Homes, Winfield Martin’s Construction, Mifflinburg River Valley Builders, Selinsgrove

JEWELRY STORE

foss JEWElErs, Selinsgrove Black Dog Jewelers, Lewisburg Fedder’s Jewelers, Milton Island Park Jewelers, Sunbury Williams & Williams, Lewisburg

NURSERY & GaRDEN CENTER

rEiff’s grEEnHousEs & nursEry, Mifflinburg Brookside Acres, Mifflinburg Engle’s Farm & Greenhouse, Middleburg Hawk’s Landscaping, Selinsgrove Lloyd’s Landscape, Sunbury

TaTTOO SHOP

totEm tattoo, Shamokin Dam Acacia Tattoo Company, Lewisburg Body Mods, Sunbury Enchanted Images Tattoo, Mifflinburg Knuckles & Needles, Sunbury

The top 5 nominees in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Best of the Valley contest are shown with the winners designated in red.

CaR CaRE SERVICES

aUTO BODY SHOP

sunBury motors, Sunbury Budman Auto Body, Milton Nye’s Body Shop, Sunbury Swartz Ultimate Collision, Danville Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury

aUTO DETaILING

KlEEn mist car WasH, Shamokin Dam Jettpure Auto Detailing, Sunbury Keystone Auto Detailing, Milton Showroom Shine Detailing, Milton Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury CaR WaSH

KlEEn mist car WasH, Shamokin Dam 5 Star Car Wash, Sunbury Mifflinburg Buggy Wash, Mifflinburg Ultimate Express Car Wash, Hummels Wharf University Car Wash, Lewisburg

MECHaNIC

sunBury motor company, Sunbury Bastian Tire & Auto, Lewisburg Ebright’s Garage, Middleburg Hollenbach’s Automotive, Mifflinburg Tim Latsha - Zimmerman Motors, Sunbury

QUICK aUTO SERVICE

quicK lanE at sunBury motors, Sunbury Bastian Tire & Auto, Lewisburg Valvoline Xpress Lube, Selinsgrove Steve Shannon Tire & Auto, Danville Weaver’s Tire Service, Northumberland

TIRE SHOP

WEaVEr’s tirE sErVicE, Northumberland Bastian Tire & Auto, Lewisburg Jack Williams Tire & Auto, Lewisburg Kost Tire, Lewisburg Steve Shannon Tire & Auto, Danville

TOWING

KEllEr’s toWing & rEcoVEry, Selinsgrove Aurand’s Towing, Sunbury Bailey’s Towing, Allenwood Buck’s Tow & Auto Service, Lewisburg Taylor’s Garage, Milton

ENTERTaINMENT & RECREaTION

CaMPGROUND

KnoEBEl’s campground, Elysburg

Hidden Valley Camping Resort, Mifflinburg

Little Mexico Campground, Winfield

Splash Magic Campgound, Northumberland Yogi Bear Jellystone Park, Milton

Thursday, November 24, 2022 /// Best of the Valley ●

GOLF COURSE

sHadE mountain golf coursE, Middleburg

Bucknell University Golf Course, Lewisburg

Sunny Hills Golf Course, Sunbury

Susquehanna Valley Country Club, Hummels Wharf Wynding Brook Golf Club, Milton

FOOD & DINING

aSIaN CUISINE

fuJi stEaKHousE, Lewisburg Asian Express, Sunbury Siam Restaurant & Bar, Lewisburg Star Garden, Northumberland Sushi Masa, Selinsgrove

BaKERY

gaBlE HousE, Mifflinburg

A Small Good Thing, Selinsgrove Cinn-Ful Treats, Milton Hound & Moon, Selinsgrove Rita’s Bakeshop, Shamokin

BREaKFaST

gram’s EatEry, Lewisburg Good Wil’s Restaurant, Montandon Grindstone Coffee Shop, Northumberland Jay’s Tiffany, Sunbury Lisa’s Milltown Deli, Milton

BURGER

pEnn’s taVErn, Sunbury Americus Hose Company, Sunbury Brendan’s Towne Tavern, Lewisburg Matty’s Sporthouse Grill, Lewisburg The Teek, Watsontown

FINE DINING

pEnn’s taVErn, Sunbury Elizabeth’s American Bistro, Lewisburg Ghezzi’s, Paxinos

Isabella’s Restaurant & Lounge, Selinsgrove Watson Inn, Watsontown

HOaGIE/SUBS

on a roll, Northumberland

Amato’s Pizza & Family Restaurant, Northumberland Breaking Bread Company, Milton Dor-Day’s Sub Shop, Lewisburg Marlin’s Sub Shop, Sunbury

HOME COOKING

good Wil’s rEstaurant, Montandon County Line Restaurant, Richfield El Rancho, Northumberland

Ric Mar Restaurant, Northumberland

The Diner & Bingo, Sunbury

ICE CREaM

tHE purplE coW, Lewisburg

Becky’s Soft Serve, Milton Country Creamery, Kratzerville Old Mill Creamery, Mifflinburg Snyder’s by the Creek, Sunbury

4 ● Best of the Valley /// Thursday, November 24, 2022

ITaLIaN CUISINE

la primaVEra italiano ristorantE, Lewisburg Amato’s Pizza & Family Restaurant, Northumberland Ciro’s Italian Restaurant, Watsontown Isabella’s Restaurant & Lounge, Selinsgrove OIP, Sunbury

PIZZa

amato’s pizza & family rEstaurant, Northumberland Bertonis, Montandon Giugi’s, Sunbury OIP, Sunbury Pizza Town, Milton

SPORTS BaR

matty’s sportsHousE grill, Lewisburg Bot’s Tavern, Selinsgrove Brendan’s Towne Tavern, Lewisburg Brewser’s Sports Grille, Coal Township Scoreboard Sports Tavern, Bloomsburg

STEaKHOUSE

tExas roadHousE, Selinsgrove BJ’s M Street Tavern & Oyster Bar, Selinsgrove Hoss’s Steakhouse, Shamokin Dam Longhorn Steakhouse, Shamokin Dam Turbotville Public House, Turbotville

WINGS

Buffalo Wild Wings, Shamokin Dam Mansion House, Watsontown Sweet Chaos, Sunbury The Den, Sunbury Turbotville Public House, Turbotville

HEaLTH, BEaUTY & WELLNESS SERVICES

BEaUTY & HaIR SaLON

all togEtHEr BEautiful, Lewisburg Flip Salon and Spa, Selinsgrove Head to Toe Salon, Shamokin Dam Shear Delight, Northumberland Untangled Salon, Northumberland

CHIROPRaCTIC

adVancEd carE cHiropractic, Lewisburg Boyer Chiropractic, Northumberland Chiropractic Center of Sunbury Fiedler Chiropractic, Milton Shamokin Dam Health Center, Shamokin Dam

DENTIST

BrooKparK dEntal, Lewisburg Dental Care Associates, Selinsgrove William J. Rumberger Jr, DDS, Sunbury Selinsgrove Dental Arts, Selinsgrove Susquehanna Valley Dental, Middleburg

EYE CaRE

EyE cEntEr of cEntral pa Eyeland Optical, Shamokin Dam Hess Family Eye Care, Middleburg Lipski Eye Center, Lewisburg Mark Hepner OD, Sunbury

FITNESS CENTER

lEWisBurg ymca at tHE millEr cEntEr, Lewisburg Planet Fitness, Shamokin Dam Stack’D Fit, Selinsgrove Titan Tactical Fitness, Selinsgrove YMCA, Sunbury

HEaRING CENTER

nortHumBErland HEaring cEntEr, Northumberland Advanced Tech Hearing Aid Center, Lewisburg Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center, Shamokin Dam PA Hearing & Tinnitus Center, Selinsgrove Susq. Valley Hearing Professionals, Lewisburg

HOSPITaL

EVangElical community Hospital, Lewisburg Geisinger, Danville Geisinger, Shamokin UPMC, Muncy UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport

MaSSaGE THERaPY

adVancEd sKin carE spa & salon, Lewisburg Back in Balance Massage, Sunbury Gina’s Massage Therapy, Northumberland La Belle Toi Lounge Spa, Lewisburg Shamokin Dam Health Center, Shamokin Dam NaIL SaLON tony’s nails, Selinsgrove Sun Nails, Lewisburg Elite Nails, Lewisburg Star Nails, Lewisburg VIP Nails and Spa, Selinsgrove

ORTHODONTIST

alBErt m. stusH, ortHo, Lewisburg Dental Care Associates, Selinsgrove Dr. John Brady, Spark Orthodontics, Danville Susquehanna Orthodontics, Selinsgrove Smiles by Wilson, Dr. David Wilson, Hummels Wharf

PERMaNENT COSMETICS

BEyond BroWs pErmanEnt cosmEtics, Lewisburg A New You Salon, Sunbury Permanent Cosmetic by Tina Persing, Sunbury Susq. Valley Permanent Cosmetics, Selinsgrove Temptations Brow and Beyond, Northumberland

PHYSICaL THERaPY/REHaB

pHysical tHErapy of EVangElical, Lewisburg

Kieffer Physical Therapy, Selinsgrove Phoenix Rehabilitation, Selinsgrove Shamokin Dam Health Center, Shamokin Dam Shipe Physical Therapy, Sunbury

PHYSICIaN

dr. JamEs pattErson, Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg

Jessica Pagana-DeFazio, Family Practice, Sunbury Dr. John Kemberling, Geisinger-65 Forward Dr. Pedro Servano, Geisinger-Selinsgrove

Dr. Charles C. Pagana, Family Practice, Selinsgrove

PLaCES FOR DRINKS

BaR/TaVERN

pEnn’s taVErn, Sunbury

Bot’s Tavern, Selinsgrove

Brendan’s Towne Tavern, Lewisburg

Pineknotter Brewing, Northumberland The Teek, Watsontown

BREWPUB

rusty rail BrEWing company, Mifflinburg Jackass Brewing Company, Lewisburg

Pineknotter Brewing Company, Northumberland

Selin’s Grove Brewing Company, Selinsgrove

Three Beards Brewing, Sunbury

COFFEE SHOP

Wagging tail coffEE co., Allenwood Eagles Wind Coffee Shop, Shamokin Dam

Grindstone Coffee Shop, Northumberland Kind Cafe’, Selinsgrove Little Addy’s, Sunbury

WINERY

sHadE mountain WinEry, Middleburg

Fero Vineyards & Winery, Lewisburg

Spyglass Ridge Winery, Sunbury Union Cellars, Lewisburg

Whispering Oaks, Sunbury

PROFESSIONaL SERVICES

aTTORNEY

JoEl WiEst, WiEst, WiEstBEnnEr & ricE, Sunbury

Gregory Stuck, Northumberland

Kathleen Lincoln, Esquire, Lewisburg

Matt Slivinski, Slivinski Law Firm, Selinsgrove

Tony Michetti, Diehl Dluge Michetti & Michetti, Sunbury

BaNK/CREDIT UNION

sErVicE 1st fEdEral crEdit union, Danville

Fulton Bank, Shamokin Dam

Mifflinburg Bank and Trust, Mifflinburg

Northumberland National Bank, Northumberland Susquehanna Community Bank, West Milton

CHILDCaRE ymca, Sunbury

Busy Little Beavers, Danville

Danville Area Child Development Center, Danville Kids Korner, Sunbury Summit Early Learning, Mifflinburg

COMMERCIaL CONTRaCTOR t-ross BrotHErs construction, Montandon Gray Builders, Danville

HEPCO Construction, Selinsgrove Paul Q. Ross Construction, Sunbury Zartman Construction, Northumberland

ELECTRICIaN

K&n ElEctric, Sunbury AMK Electric, Milton Gass Electric, Sunbury Shively Electric, Watsontown SRS Electric, Hummels Wharf

FINaNCIaL PLaNNING SERVICES

sErVicE 1st rEtirEmEnt & inVEstmEnt cEntEr, Danville

Edward Jones, Sheri Foura Purdy, Hummels Wharf Janney Montgomery Scott, Sunbury

Laura Shrawder-Miles Riverfront Financial, Sunbury Starr Financial Services, Winfield

HOME HEaTING/aC

sJ Eaton plumBing & HEating, Freeburg Comfort Specialists, Selinsgrove McCreary’s HVAC, Sunbury Mid-Penn Energy, Sunbury Tweeds HVAC, Northumberland

INSURaNCE aGENCY statE farm - cHris rEis, Sunbury Stettler Insurance Associates, Danville Lawton Insurance, Mifflinburg Purdy Insurance, Sunbury Sholley Agency, Lewisburg

INSURaNCE aGENT adam purdy, purdy insurancE, Sunbury Allan A. Shaffer, Erie Insurance, Shamokin Dam Chris Reis, State Farm, Sunbury Karen Buttorf, State Farm, Watsontown Matt Frye, State Farm, Milton

LaNDSCaPE SERVICE crEatiVE plantscapEs, Northumberland Bigfoot Crossing, Allenwood Bower Landscaping, Selinsgrove Hawk’s Landscape, Selinsgrove Lloyd’s Landscapes, Sunbury

PET BOaRDING paWs inn, Selinsgrove D & J Pet Lodge, Freeburg Greenbrier Grooming & Pet Resort, Dornsife Sudol’s Boarding & Grooming Kennels, Watsontown Sunbury Animal Hospital, Sunbury

PET GROOMING paW’s inn, Selinsgrove Pampered Paws Pet Grooming, Northumberland Sunbury Animal Hospital, Sunbury The Painted Pooch, Sunbury Warrior Run Pet Care, Watsontown

PHOTOGRaPHER lEWisBurg studio, Lewisburg Dave Cooney, Mifflinburg Schindler’s Studio, Sunbury Stacy Boyer Photography, Middleburg Tara Lerch Photography, Port Trevorton

PRIVaTE/RESIDENTIaL CONTRaCTOR cam sHaffEr carpEntry, Middleburg Diversified Construction, Selinsgrove Jeff Heim, Sunbury My Favorite Handyman Inc., Northumberland Tom Mowrey Home Werks, Northumberland

REaL ESTaTE aGENT aimEE BuEHnEr, BoWEn agEncy, Sunbury Debbie Brouse, Square Diehl, Sunbury Doug Wertz, Coldwell Banker, Lewisburg Pam Whitenight, Villager, Northumberland Sabra Karr, Villager, Lewisburg

REaL ESTaTE aGENCY

BoWEn agEncy, Selinsgrove Century 21 Mertz Associates, Lewisburg Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate, Lewisburg ReMax Bridges, Northumberland Villager Realty, Northumberland

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

nottingHam VillagE, Northumberland Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg Brookdale Grayson View, Selinsgrove Emmanuel Home, Northumberland RiverWoods, Lewisburg

TRaVEL aGENCY

liBErty traVEl, Hummels Wharf AAA, Sunbury Boscov’s Travel, Selinsgrove Miller Travel, Middleburg Nittany Travel, Shamokin Dam

VETERINaRIaN

sunBury animal Hospital, Sunbury Animal Care Center, Danville Companion Animal Hospital, Selinsgrove Furry Friends, Northumberland Susquehanna Trail Animal Hospital, Watsontown

WEDDING VENUE

stonE Barn farm & VinEyard, Selinsgrove Barn Appetit, Milton Rusty Rail Brewing Company, Mifflinburg Spyglass Ridge Winery, Sunbury Whispering Oaks Vineyard, Sunbury

Thursday, November 24, 2022 /// Best of the Valley

Keller’s Auto Body Inc. Celebrates Another Decade

By Jerri Brouse, For The Daily Item

SelinSGRoVe - on the brink of celebrating another decade in business, Keller’s auto body inc., towing and Recovery, owned by cody and Matt Keller, has been voted best towing company in the best of the Valley competition held by the Daily item.

according to Sara arbogast, office administrator, Keller’s auto body inc., towing and Recovery has been providing superior towing and recovery services since 1953.

“it’s definitely rewarding to know that the customers went out of their way to vote for us and it is really appreciated,” said arbogast.

Keller’s auto body inc., towing and Recovery is a third generation family owned business.

“We are going to be celebrating 70 years in 2023,” said arbogast.

Keller’s auto body inc., towing and Recovery offers 24/7 towing and recovery, and emergency response services and is a certified provider for the pa State police, is a member in good standing with the pa towing association, as well as a roadside service assistant with aaa

“We offer a ton of different services including towing and recovery for light, medium and heavy duty/commercial trucks.”

the company provides service for all major insurance companies.

in addition to towing, Keller’s offers the following services to customers: tractor swap outs, load shifts, flat bed service, lowboy service, lock out service, jumpstart service; recovery of tractors and trailers, 60-ton rotator service, recovery down embankments, accident scene clean up, skid steer service, tele-handler service, freight liner box truck equipped for motor vehicle accidents, full auto body repair, full truck body repair, dent and scratch removal.

“Recovery usually entails larger tractor trailer trucks or a regular passenger car,” explained arbogast. “that service is geared more for accidents.”

arbogast said that recovery and “emergency response service” basically goes hand in hand.

“We work with fire companies and police offers, so whenever they’re called to a scene, we are usually called after that.”

the company has three locations - with Selinsgrove being the first and the headquarters.

“We also have a towing location in northumberland and a location in Duncannon,” said arbogast.

Keller’s auto body, inc. employs roughly 10-15 employees, some part and some full time.

arbogast said she believes customers voted for the business for a variety of reasons, including their professionalistm.

“We offer a friendly and professional face when arrive on a scene,” she said. “When i look through our Google reviews, the most common reviews state that people appreciate that we are friendly, professional and on time.”

for more information on Keller’s, visit kellersautobodyandtowing.com or call the Selinsgrove location at 570-374-4333; the northumberland location at 570-5684333, or the Duncannon location at 717-444-3303.

Making a Positive Impact

By Cindy O. Herman, For The Daily Item

leWiSbuRG – the dress, the hair, the shoes – they can all make people feel better about their appearance. but knowing their face is looking its best can give individuals a feeling of confidence and quiet competence.

perhaps this is why beyond brows permanent cosmetics won the best of the Valley award for best permanent cosmetics for the second year in a row, because owner Marlana lenker understands the power customers feel in putting their best face forward.

“it’s not about what everybody else thinks. it’s about how (the client) feels,” lenker said.

She talked about how women have been taught to put aside their own needs to care for the people around them, even though they too need to feel valued. Something as simple as applying eyeliner or lipstick can brighten their outlook.

Some women have told her they don’t start their day until they have done their makeup, even if they live alone. one client who had gone through a contentious divorce said the elegant eyebrows lenker created “made me feel like me again.”

“as wives and daughters, we put ourselves last. but why do we do that? Why do we teach our daughters to put everyone else first?” lenker asked. “i was determined to teach my daughter that we have as much value as our husbands, children and pets.”

friends tammy Schaeffer, tammy Smeltz and Dione Sowers travelled from tower city recently for retouch appointments and talked about their appreciation for the permanent brows lenker created.

“it makes me feel great,” Smeltz said. “a lot of people don’t know i had anything done.”

“i used to spend most of my makeup routine trying to put my eyebrows on,” Sowers said. “now, i just go.”

as Schaeffer sat with a numbing solution on her eyebrows waiting for her procedure to begin, she shared that she never would have considered permanent cosmetics if she hadn’t seen how good her two friends looked.

the women have sent other friends and family members to beyond brows, too.

“You send your family to the person you believe in,” Sowers said. “it’s fun. You feel you’re here with a friend. i would recommend her to my own daughter.”

probably 90 percent of lenker’s business comes through word of mouth, she said, adding that she has treated clients from out of state as well as groups of friends and colleagues. as she worked on Shaeffer’s brows, she talked about neutralizing and refreshing the color of the tattoos to match the pigmentation of the skin, which can change as people age.

She compared permanent cosmetics to wearing a beautiful, perfectly tailored dress.

“You are going to be carrying yourself differently because you know,” she said. Similarly, “permanent cosmetics change the way people carry themselves, but yet nobody knows they had anything done.”

lenker has had extensive training and continues to learn new techniques for working with eyes, eyebrows and lips. She said the training never stops.

“if you stop, you’re doing a disservice to people,” she said. “You’re not progressing with the evolution of permanent cosmetics,”

Her training has allowed her to help clients with special situations like alopecia, intermittent hair loss, people coming back from chemotherapy treatments, and multiple sclerosis patients whose hands have grown too shaky too apply makeup.

“You can do so much for them, and no one else will ever know,” she said.

that is one of the main reasons she chose a profession that helps people look their best no matter what they’re dealing with in their lives.

“i wanted to be able to make a positive impact on people instead of running that hamster wheel of jobs,” she said. “i wanted to do something positive with my life.”

Winning the best of the Valley award for the second year makes her feel grateful.

“it’s very humbling to know people feel that way,” she said, “and that they’ll take the time to vote for small businesses they believe in.”

for more information: www.beyond-brows-permanent-cosmetics.business.site/ or 570-768-6787.

cindy o. Herman lives in Snyder county. email comments to her at cindyoHerman@gmail.com

Marlana Lenker, owner of Beyond Brows Permanent Cosmetics, in Lewisburg, understands the power customers feel in putting their best face forward.

Wine can wait

By Cindy O. Herman, For The Daily Item

SelinSGRoVe – the original plan for Stone barn farm & Vineyard was a winery with a little space for weddings, but then the wedding business flourished.

“the weddings just took off,” said Kim erdley, co-owner with her husband, Shane erdley. “i said, nix the winery. We’re going to stick with weddings.”

for the third year in a row, Stone bone farm & Vineyard won the best of the Valley award for best Wedding Venue.

“We never thought we’d get it three years in a row,” Kim said. “When i told Shane, he thought i was joking.”

the erdleys purchased the former adam Sebastian fisher farm in 2010 and worked like crazy to renovate it. among other things, Shane levelled a grass slope in front of the barn, built wooden benches for the open-air chapel, and insulated behind wood planks in the barn then put each one back in place.

“She’s got a lot of heart,” he said, gazing at the barn’s exposed stone walls.

“He’s done 90 percent of the work himself. He’s self-taught,” Kim said, explaining that Shane was injured while serving in the military in iraq. When he came home, the couple decided to start their business. a large part of their success lies in their approach to their clients.

“We do listen to our brides and grooms,” Kim said. “they pull at my heart. We treat them as if they’re our kids.”

“We really do think of them like it’s our own daughter and our own son getting

Kim and Shane Erdley stand in front of Stone Barn Farm & Vineyard, which they renovated in 2011 to serve as a wedding venue in Selinsgrove.

married,” Shane agreed. “We do it every weekend. they’re only doing it once. We make it easy for them. they can relax and enjoy the day.”

a fulltime nurse at Geisinger, Kim said her background kicks in when dealing with wedding couples.

“When a patient needs something, i figure it out,” she said. “it’s the same thing with our brides and grooms.”

coViD-19 certainly took some figuring out at the farm.

“i had brides crying, and i was crying with them,” Kim said.

they were able to tweak plans, serving smaller groups in the barn and renting a tent for well-ventilated dining. they did not charge extra for the tent, nor did they change original price agreements for the couples who postponed their big day.

Shane and Kim handle everything themselves, from planning to cleanup. no one else would meet their expectations, Kim said, adding that on muddy days Shane has mopped the barn floor three times before being satisfied.

“i tell our couples they do not need an onsite coordinator,” Kim said. “We will run circles around them. Save your money. i have fluffed many a train.”

the erdleys transformed the original milk house into the cottage for the bridal party and a former chicken coop called the Shack for the groom. eventually, they hope to invite all of their couples back to see the place.

“essentially, they buy the wood. i’m just swinging at the nails,” Shane said. “We want to let them see what they’ve helped to restore.”

after each wedding, Kim sends a personal, handwritten card thanking couples for choosing Stone barn. one couple returned recently to have photos taken for their 10th anniversary and hopes to come back for their 40th. a father of another bride gave the erdleys a weather vane.

“He handed it to us with tears in his eyes and said he was so thankful for his daughter’s day,” Kim said.

it now tops a cupola Shane built.

Stone barn farm is frequently chosen by out-of-the-area couples, sometimes because it’s a convenient midpoint between the home states of the bride and groom. Most customers find it at wedding sites like the Knot.

every Saturday it brings 150 people into Selinsgrove. they stay at places like the Selinsgrove inn and eat at local pubs and restaurants. nearby Weikel busing provides shuttle services.

“What helps us is the town,” Shane said. “Having the quaintness of Selinsgrove, with plenty of places to eat, plus the strip, is definitely a draw.”

Saying they are humbled that people voted for the Stone barn farm, the erdleys rattled off memories of their many couples.

“they just tell us their stories,” Kim said.

“it’s one of the most important days of their lives,” Shane said, “and we’re honored they’re here.”

for more information: www.stonebarnweddings.com or 570-336-7085.

cindy o. Herman lives in Snyder county. email comments to her at cindyoHerman@gmail.com

Shane Erdley built sturdy wooden benches to seat guests in the open-air chapel at the Stone Barn Farm & Vineyard, in Selinsgrove.

For the third year in a row, Stone Barn Farm & Vineyard, in Selinsgrove, won the Best of the Valley Award for Best Wedding Venue. Owners Shane and Kim Erdley did most of the renovations themselves.

Best New Business: The Old Mill Creamery, Mifflinburg

By Cindy O. Herman, For The Daily Item

MifflinbuRG – it’s as if people were waiting for a place like this. as soon as customers tasted the old Mill creamery’s ice cream, they had to hurry back for more.

Small wonder, then, that old Mill creamery won the best of the Valley award for best new business.

the creamery, in a 190-year-old former flour mill at the crossroads of buffalo Road (Route 192) and church Road, opened in June. owner John nolt started it after plenty of research, an ice cream-making course at penn State and massive building restoration efforts by him and his family.

“it’s the summer not to be forgotten,” he said. “We ran some crazy hours till i had people trained.”

a dairy farmer, nolt had been wishing since the early 1990s that he could sell directly to his community. after the mill sat unused for a while, he decided in 2017 to buy it and start a milk processing and ice cream manufacturing business.

three sons, aged 15 to 18, did the bulk of the restoration, which would not have been feasible otherwise. in the first weeks of operation, he and his 13-year-old daughter spent many nighttime hours freezing ice cream for the day’s demand.

“those are my work horses,” nolt said with a smile.

His goal is to keep his family farm going.

“We’re still operating as the same size for five generations,” he said. “the cows know us by name. We know their temperaments. the kids take care of the calves.”

He also likes that, while the average gallon of milk can travel 300 miles from cow to table, his comes from his farm half a mile away.

When told old Mill creamery had won the best new business award, nolt’s first response was gratitude.

“We feel honored that the community is appreciating and supporting our new business,” he said. “that’s speaking from heart. the heart is to have someplace for the community to have something to enjoy. that’s our passion.”

Walking into the creamery, customers might be surprised to smell waffles – the popular waffle cones are freshly made on the premises. nolt plans to keep the creamery small enough to respond to customers.

“Developing ice cream and the flavors people request, that has been the fun part,” he said. “i love that part of it.”

a big part of old Mill creamery’s appeal is the simplicity of its base ingredients: cream, milk, sugar, powdered milk and a stabilizer package to hold the ice cream together on a cone. this makes it more appealing to people with corn sugar allergies, which is used in most commercial recipes, nolt said.

“We are a very basic, old-fashioned recipe with a high cream content,” he said, adding that he likes to let the product speak for itself.

He plans to switch to cows with the a2-a2 gene, which tends to be better tolerated by people with moderate dairy sensitivity. He’s also looking into sugarless ice cream recipes.

“anything that helps people enjoy dairy products is something i want to do,” he said.

along with freshly bottled milk (white, chocolate, strawberry and orange cream), old Mill’s ice cream flavors can range from vanilla, chocolate and strawberry to raspberry, strawberry cheesecake, butter pecan, peanut butter oreo, mint oreo and more. pumpkin butter swirl recently joined the lineup.

The Old Mill Creamery, located in Cowan between Mifflinburg and Lewisburg, won the Best of the Valley award for Best New Business.

nolt started a latte and espresso bar featuring caramel Macchiato, mocha, white chocolate mocha, vanilla latte and hazelnut latte. He appreciates being able to collaborate with other local businesses, including Homingford creamery’s cheese curds and Mammy’s Donut Shop, in Rebersburg, where he buys donuts frozen fresh the day they are made.

He praised his front of store employees, saying they make a great team and he appreciates their help in creating an award-winning business.

“i see it as a gift,” he said, “from my community to my family and our workers’ efforts.”

Winter hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for more information, visit “the old Mill creamery” on facebook or call 570-966-4143.

cindy o. Herman lives in Snyder county. email comments to her at cindyoHerman@gmail.com

John Nolt opened the Old Mill Creamery, outside of Mifflinburg, in June. The milk processing and ice cream manufacturing business won the Best of the Valley’s Best New Business award.

Lewisburg YMCA welcomes all ages, abilities

By Cindy O. Herman, For The Daily Item

leWiSbuRG – When Kyle Snyder watched his 5-year-old daughter in a talent show at the lewisburg YMca at the Miller center, he was impressed with the actions of the older children.

“it warmed my heart to see older kids supporting the younger kids and cheering them on,” said Snyder, associate executive director there.

the scene illustrates one of the reasons the lewisburg YMca at the Miller center won the best of the Valley award for best fitness center. it offers a multitude of programs for all ages, interests and abilities.

as expected, members can lift weights, improve speed and agility, and work with certified personal trainers to reach individual fitness goals. Small group sessions are available for anyone looking for community and accountability to help them stay on track. More than 60 group classes a week encompass anything from body balance, to Silver Sneakers, to Zumba.

“but this is not just for people working out, but also for people with medical problems,” said bonnie McDowell, ceo of the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMca

a cardiac rehabilitation program helps patients who have graduated from hospital rehab and want to continue improving their heart health.

individuals with parkinson’s disease can benefit from classes to strengthen muscles and improve hand-eye coordination and cognitive abilities. free Singercise classes help improve speech, respiration and swallowing.

“Music therapy helps vocal cords and speech,” McDowell said. “We’re really proud of that program.”

last December the center opened a golf simulator program where people can play 18 holes on almost any golf course in the world. fitness activities offered throughout the day, evening and weekend include cycling, with music blaring and colored lights pumping to energize up to 22 cyclists.

“probably one of the best parts of the YMca is, we’ve got the best instructors in the area,” said Drew Kauffman, communications manager at the Miller center. “they have to be certified, which is important to keep people injury free.”

four full-sized courts along with a turf area offer space for soccer, field hockey, basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball and even roller derby. the courts can also host banquets and community events – the floors were made to take it. a mezzanine above offers bleachers for cheering on the athletes below.

“What separates us is, we have a track that goes around all four courts where members can walk,” Snyder said.

in line with welcoming all ages and abilities, when staffers saw 30 to 50 students stopping in after school they hired a youth development coordinator to create engaging programs.

“We’re hoping to start volunteer opportunities with the kids,” Snyder said, noting that the YMca’s counselor in training program teaches older kids to be counselors and to volunteer in the center’s childcare program.

The Lewisburg YMCA at the Miller Center won the Best of the Valley award for Best Fitness Center.

the center’s licensed summer camp and after-school programs offer oodles of activities, including sports, SteM programs, health classes hosted by Geisinger or evangelical community Hospital, snacks and quiet time for homework.

parents can also work out while their children play at the YMca’s KidSpace, free for members.

With thoughtful planning, multi-purpose rooms are used not only for childcare programs but also birthday parties, community gatherings and corporate meetings. a well-insulated room offers quiet space for yoga and qi gong classes. Recently the boston university women’s soccer team rented a room for meetings and film reviews.

“it’s just a room, but so much happens in a day’s time here,” McDowell said.

Weekend events bring athletes and their families from surrounding states, all patronizing local businesses.

“people don’t think of the YMca as a big driver of economic impact, but it is,” McDowell said.

“nobody comes alone,” Kauffman said, noting that gymnastics events can bring

in 600 athletes plus parents and grandparents. at the request of parents, the lewisburg YMca at the Miller center is looking into starting volleyball for kids.

“We’re always identifying needs in the community,” Kauffman said. they are especially grateful for the best of the Valley award because the YMca has only been involved at the Miller center since right before coViD-19 and had to close shortly afterward.

“it’s awesome to have this recognition. it shows we’ve really done our job,” McDowell said. “Who knows where we’d be now if (the shutdown) hadn’t happened?”

“We wouldn’t get the award if people didn’t come in our door,” Snyder said. “We’re grateful people are returning and recognizing the hard work we put into it.”

for more information: www.gsvymca.org/lewisburg-ymca or 570-556-4191. cindy o. Herman lives in Snyder county. email

to her at cindyoHerman@gmail.com

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Colleagues at the Lewisburg YMCA at the Miller Center worked hard to win the Best of the Valley award for Best Fitness Center. From left are Kyle Snyder, associate executive director of the Lewisburg YMCA at the Miller Center; Bonnie McDowell, CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA; and Drew Kauffman, communications manager, at the Miller Center.

Participants in the cycle classes are energized with music blaring and colored lights pumping. From left are Kyle Snyder, associate executive director of the Lewisburg YMCA at the Miller Center; Drew Kauffman, communications manager, at the Miller Center; and Bonnie McDowell, CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA.

The Lewisburg YMCA at the Miller Center won the Best of the Valley award for Best Fitness Center.

Weavers keeps the wheels rolling

By Jerri Brouse, For The Daily Item

noRtHuMbeRlanD - they “strive to do the absolute best,” and that’s likely why the readers of the Daily item have named Weavers t ire Service inc. as the best of the Valley for the second year in a row.

Weavers is located at 411 point township Drive, northumberland and employs 16 people. it is owned by Ron Weaver, Sr. and Ron Weaver, Jr.

Weaver’s is the place to go for all of your tire needs, said Ron Jr.

“We are a full service tire sales and repair facility,” he said. “We service everything from small mower tires, passenger and light truck, large truck, agricultural, and off-road tires.”

the business is a leader in offering name brand tires, wheels, auto repair and brake services for customers located in and around the northumberland. custom wheels are available as well as special wheels and rims to compliment any tire or customer vehicle. complete under-car services, such as oil changes, brakes, shocks, struts, alignment, and transmission fluid flush for both foreign and domestic vehicles are readily available at competitive prices

Weavers has two service trucks that provide on site tire service to its customers.

a wide range of quality mechanical repairs is also available at Weavers t ire Service, inc. napa-certified technicians can perform axle/cV joint/driveshaft repair, belt and hose replacement, brakes, cooling system and radiator repairs, diesel engine system maintenance, differential repair, engine diagnostics and performance, exhaust system maintenance, four wheel drive system maintenance, lube and oil changes, preventive maintenance, state inspection work, steering and

suspension and tpMS.

“We also offer alignments, state inspection and all mechanical services associated with these services,” he said.

it’s because of their dedication to doing the best they can that Ron Jr. credits their winning in this category.

“We always strive to do the absolute best we can for our customers in every

situation,” he explained. “customer service is our number one priority, and everyone here has that in mind.”

Weaver said he also believes they offer an inviting atmosphere and are friendly, professional, and provide a high level of trust in their customer base.

being named best of the Valley validates “that we are hitting our goals to be the best and provide the best for our customers, which is why we are here,” said Weaver. “it means the world to us and our staff to be voted best for the second year in a row, as we all take a lot of pride in what we do. We really have the best customer base.”

again, customer service and also the wide variety of services that we provide to be a one stop shop as much as possible again, we just want to thank all of our customers and as always look forward to taking care of their tire and vehicle needs in the future.

Weavers has been in business since 2010 and is a family owned and operated business that has served the communities of Selinsgrove, northumberland, lewisburg, bloomsburg, and their surrounding areas with “great customer service, high quality products, and professional installations.”

Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - friday. for more information about Weavers, visit weaverstires.com. call 570-473-3380 for all of your vehicle needs.

Animal Hospital still going strong after 70 years

By Jerri Brouse, For The Daily Item

SunbuRY - the staff at Sunbury animal Hospital is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its patients, clients, and employees - and that commitment has paid off as the veterinary provider has once again been named best of the Valley by the readership of the Daily item.

Sunbury animal Hospital is a fullservice and 24/7 emergency animal hospital located at 3920 State Route 890 in Sunbury. it is opened/operated by James W. temple, DVM and beverly l. Shaw, DVM. they employ approximately 80 people.

Sunbury animal Hospital was started in 1952 by Donald c. Kamsler, VMD. it started on catawissa Street in Sunbury. in 1971 Dr. Kamsler built a new building by the Shamokin creek. in 1972 there was a hurricane which destroyed the animal hospital and the doctors practiced at a warehouse until the hospital on State Street was completed in 1973. Sunbury animal Hospital now has flourished into an 24 hour, eight-doctor practice in a 18,000 square foot building. they have been in their current building since January 2013.

according to their website, the businesses mission is to provide the highest standard of veterinary care to clients, their pets, and the agricultural community.

“We provide a wide variety of services from routine wellness to surgery to emergency services for both small animal and large animal (farm animals),” said Jamie Doering, executive director. “the bulk of the business is made up of dogs

and cats but we see a wide variety from pocket pets, birds to cats/dogs, rabbits, goats/sheep, horses and cattle.”

Doering believes the longevity of the business and their continued support of the surrounding community drove readers to vote for them.

“We have been a staple in the community since 1952,” said Doering. “along with SaH being a full service veterinary practice, we also support many community events/services and offer opportunities for students in our community to explore the veterinary field.”

She believes it’s very important to offer these opportunities as there is a shortage of veterinarian professionals.

“We want to do our part to make sure our community pets will have access to the veterinary care they need,” said Doering.

this isn’t the first time SaH has been recognized by readers. they were also voted best of the Valley in 2016.

“it’s a great feeling and it means even more during the difficult times our country is going through,” said Doering. “Despite the hardships out there, it gives us the reassurance that we are doing good and the community appreciates all that we offer.”

Doering acknowledged that there are several other veterinary clinics in our area that provide great services “so it means a lot to know the readers chose us.”

if you’re considering a new veterinary office, there are lots of reasons to check out SaH.

“We strived to stay open and provide the best service possible through some very challenging years as of late,” said Doering. “SaH is aaHa accredited which means we have to meet certain standards of care and are checked/tested on that regularly.”

in addition, the staff at SaH genuinely cares about your pets and all animals. it’s staff is passionate about veterinary medicine and are extremely well trained.

for more information about SaH, visit sunburyanimalhospital.com or call 570286-5131.