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Kane Chamber honors 'Citizen-of-Year,' 'Business-of-Year' |
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Written by Publisher
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
The Kane Chamber of Commerce has honored Steve Chittester as its "Citizen-of-the-Year." Taking part in the award presentation Friday at the Chamber banquet at the Kane Country Club are, left to right, seated: Steve Chittester Jr., Katie Smith, Erin Lundeen and Meagan Chittester, the citizen-of-the-year's four children; and standing: Norm Chittester, father of the citizen-of-the year; Amber Hancharick, executive director of the Kane Area Development Center; Citizen-of-the-Year Steve Chittester; and Julie Chittester, wife of the honoree.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
The Kane Chamber of Commerce honored its "Citizen-of-the-Year" and "Business-of-the-Year" at a banquet Friday at the Kane Country Club.
A total of 111 attended the fete to honor Steve Chittester as the "outstanding citizen" and Zook Motors as the "outstanding company."
"This is really, really humbling," Chittester said in accepting his award.
Sam and Carol Moran of James City nominated Chittester for the honor. Reading from the nominating letter, Sam Moran said Chittester is "one of the most thoughtful, decent and genuinely good guys that we know."
Moran said his grandsons participated in wrestling when Chittester served as a coach and as president of the Kane Wrestling Club. Chittester served as club president for a decade.
"We have seen what a good job he did and his rapport with the teams he worked with," Moran said.
"Steve also quietly gives of his time and money to many other causes unknown to most of us."
Moran pointed out that Chittester Excavating has sponsored many events and activities involving Kane athletics. The "Citizen-of-the-Year" formed the company in 1986, 10 years after graduating from Kane Area High School where he played football and wrestled.
Moran said the nominating letter was "very easy to write because of the character of this gentleman." Chittester was one of six nominees for the annual "Citizen-of-the-Year" honor.
Meagan Chittester, one of four children of Steve and Julie Rich Chittester, said her father is "truly a great guy" and is "deserving of this" award.
She attended the fete along with her siblings Erin Lundeen, Katie Smith and Steve Jr., their mother and other family members.
Jill Thompson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, saluted Zook Motors as the "Business-of-the-Year."
She said Zook customers are "treated like family." "Everybody gets extra special treatment," she said. Thompson said Zook Motors "always" steps forward to help the Kane community.
John Zook, who has worked for the company for 60 years and is the co-owner with his son, Ken Zook and daughter, Sue Zook Wilson, said Zook Motors is "very honored and proud" to be chosen as Kane's "Business-of-the-Year."
His daughter said Zook Motors "wouldn't be the business-of-the-year" without "our top-notch team" of employees.
Chittester called Zook Motors "a great company" that goes "above and beyond" to serve its customers.
Thompson, who is a legislative aide to State Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and is based at Rapp's Kane office, presented certificates to the honorees from the borough of Kane and from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Amber Hancharick, executive director of the Kane Area Development Center, presented plaques to Zook Motors and Chittester.
Thompson served as the master-of-ceremonies at the banquet. Hancharick gave the invocation.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 July 2009 )
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