The top 5 nominees in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Best of the Valley contest are shown with the winners designated in red.
CAR CARE SERVICES
AUTO BODY SHOP
W&L COLLISION
Keller’s Auto Body
Nye’s Collision Repair
Selinsgrove Ford Collision Center
Swartz Ultimate Collision Repair
AUTO DETAILING
KLEEN MIST CAR WASH
Colby Co Service Center
Jettpure
Lewisburg Auto Detailing
Proper Corrections LLC
CAR WASH
KLEEN MIST CAR WASH
Flood Zone
Mifflinburg Buggy Wash
Ultimate Express Car Wash
University Car Wash
MECHANIC
W&L SUBARU
Bing’s Auto LLC
Brubaker’s Auto Repair LLC
Sunbury Motor Company
Weavers Tire Service, Inc.
QUICK AUTO SERVICE
STEVE SHANNON TIRE & AUTO CENTER
Bastian Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane at Selinsgrove Ford
Quick Lane at Sunbury Motor Company
Valvoline Instant Oil Change
TIRE SHOP
WEAVER’S TIRE SERVICE INC.
Bastian Tire & Auto Center
Kost Tire & Auto Center
Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Center
Sunbury Motor Company
TOWING
AURAND’S TOWING
A1 Towing & Recovery
Buck’s Tow & Auto Service, LLC
Keller’s Auto Body Towing & Recovery
Taylor’s Garage, Inc
ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION
CAMPGROUND
KNOEBELS CAMPGROUND
Fantasy Island Campground
Little Mexico Campground
Raymond B. Winter State Park
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
GOLF COURSE
SHADE MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE
Bucknell Golf Club
Sunny Hill Golf Course
Susquehanna Valley Country Club
Three Ponds Golf Club
FOOD & DINING
ASIAN CUISINE
CHINA HOUSE BUFFET
Fuji Steakhouse
Star Garden
Sushi Masa
Yung Ting Chinese Restaurant
BAKERY
HEIMBACH’S COUNTRY STORE
Dough C Dough
Gable House Bakery
Sweet Chaos
Weaver’s Market & Bakery
BREAKFAST
GRAM’S EATERY
Allenwood Café
All Star Bagels
Banty Rooster
Jay’s Tiffany’s Northside
BURGER
PENN’S TAVERN HISTORICAL WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Americus Hose Co Grill
Boondocks Wood Fire and Grill
Brendan’s Towne Tavern
The Patty Wagon
FINE DINING
PENN’S TAVERN HISTORICAL WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Boondocks Wood Fired Grill
Elizabeth’s An American Bistro
Ghezzi’s Restaurant & Lounge
Isabella Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge
HOAGIE/SUBS ON A ROLL
Amato’s Pizza & Family Restaurant, North’d Jersey Mikes
Marlin’s Sub Shop
Giugi’s Pizzeria and Restaurant
HOME COOKING
PENN’S TAVERN HISTORICAL WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Allenwood Café
Country Creamery
Good Wil’s Restaurant and Bakery
Hotel Middleburger
ICE CREAM
OLD MILL CREAMERY
Country Creamery
Becky’s Soft-Serve
Dairy Queen
The Purple Cow
ITALIAN CUISINE
LA PRIMAVERA ITALIANO RISTORANTE
Amato’s Pizza & Family Restaurant, Selinsgrove
Ciro’s Ristorante Italiano
Ghezzi’s Restaurant & Lounge
Isabella Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge
PIZZA
AMATO’S PIZZA & FAMILY
RESTAURANT, Northumberland
Giugi’s Pizzeria and Restaurant
La Casa de Pizza
Original Italian Pizza, Lewisburg
Original Italian Pizza, Sunbury
SPORTS BAR
MATTY’S SPORTSHOUSE GRILL
Boondocks Wood Fired Grill
Brendan’s Towne Tavern
Buffalo Wild Wings
Bull Run Taphouse
STEAKHOUSE
OLD TRAIL TAVERN & STEAK
BJ’s Tavern & Oyster Bar
Longhorn Steakhouse
Penn’s Tavern Historical Waterfront Restaurant
Texas Roadhouse
WINGS
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
Banty Rooster
Boondocks Wood Fired Grill
Dynamic Wings
Americus Hose Co. Grill
HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS SERVICES
BEAUTY & HAIR SALON
LASTING IMPRESSIONS BEAUTY SALON LLC
Beautiful Addiction Salon
Blooming Beauty Salon LLC
Gretchen’s Hair Salon
Plush Salon
CHIROPRACTIC
ADVANCED CARE CHIROPRACTIC
Boyer Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Gregory Reese Chiropractorr
Freeburg Family Chiropractic
Watto Chiropractic
4 ● Best of the Valley /// Thursday, November 27, 2025
DENTIST
DENTAL CARE ASSOCIATES
Dr. Ralph A. Cianflone, DDS
Selinsgrove Dental Arts
Susq Valley Dental Health Associates, Kiho Ma, DDS
Valley Dental Group
EYE CARE
HESS FAMILY EYE CARE
Central Pennsylvania Eye Center, Lewisburg
Eyeland Optical
Geisinger Ophthalmology
The Eye Center of Central PA
FITNESS CENTER
STACK’D FIT
Planet Fitness
Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA Sunbury
YMCA at the Miller Center for Recreation and Wellness
Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA
Middlecreek Area Community
HEARING CENTER
GEISINGER AUDIOLOGY/HEARING SERVICES
HearingLife - Lewisburg
Northumberland Hearing Center
Susquehanna Valley Hearing Professionals
WellSpan Evangelical ENT/Audiology
HOSPITAL
WELLSPAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Geisinger Medical Center, Danville
Geisinger Medical Center, Shamokin
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
UPMC Susquehanna
MASSAGE THERAPY
ADVANCED SKIN CARE SPA & SALON
Flip Salon & Spa LLC
Inspire Wellness Studio
Phoenix Physical Therapy
Sunbury Foot Spa
NAIL SALON
TONY’S NAILS & SPAS
Bedda The Beauty Suite
Lasting Impressions Beauty Salon LLC
Paradise Spa & Nails
Star Nails
ORTHODONTIST
LEWISBGURG ORTHODONTIC ASSOCIATES
Dental Care Associates
Susquehanna Orthodontics
David G Wilson, DMD Orthodontists
Aspen Dental
PERMANENT COSMETICS
BEYOND BROWS PERMANENT COSMETICS
Beauty Impressions Studio
Brookpark Farms - Beauty Impressions Studio
Mav & Harp Co Salon
Total Concept Salon
PHYSICAL THERAPY/REHAB
WELLSPAN EVANGELICAL REHABILITATION
Carr Physical Therapy Center
Phoenix Physical Therapy
Shipe Phisical Therapy
CPRS Physical Therapy
PHYSICIAN
DR. JESSICA PAGANA-DEFAZIO, Family Practice Ctr.
Dr. David Kalodner Jr. - Family Practice Ctr.
Dr. Ayn Kerber - Wellspan Evangelical Urgent Care
Ashley Marie Lewis, MD - Geisinger
Dr. James Zola - Geisinger
PLACES FOR DRINKS
BAR/TAVERN
PENN’S TAVERN HISTORICAL WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Axemann Tavern
Boomerangs Bar and Grill
Boondocks Wood Fired Grill
Pineknotter Brewing Company
BREWPUB
RUSTY RAIL BREWING COMPANY
Eclipse Craft Brewing Company
Jackass Brewing Company, LLC
Pineknotter Brewing Company
Selin’s Grove Brewing Company
COFFEE SHOP
WAGGING TAIL COFFEE COMPANY
Eagles Wind Coffee House
IV Coffee Co.
Poppy’s Coffee Co.
The Kind Café
WINERY
SHADE MOUNTAIN WINERY & VINEYARD
Iron Vines Winery
Spyglass Ridge Winery
Union Cellars
Whispering Oaks Vineyard
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ATTORNEY
MATTHEW SLIVINSKI - SLIVINSKI LAW OFFICES LLC
Joel Wiest - Wiest, Wiest Benner & Rice, LLC
Kate Lincoln - Lincoln Law Office, LLC
Greg Stuck, Attorney at Law
Roger Wiest - Wiest, Muolo, Noon, Swinehart & Bathgate
BANK/CREDIT UNION
SERVICE 1ST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Central Penn Bank & Trust
Fulton Bank
M&T Bank
PSECU
CHILDCARE
AGAPELAND
Jenny Baney Family Home Childcare
Kids Korner Learning Center
Summit Early Learning
YMCA Early Learning Daycare
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTOR
T-ROSS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION
Crossroads Construction
Dogtown Contracting
Gray Builders LLC
Zartman Construction
ELECTRICIAN
K&N ELECTRIC
Underdog Electric
SRS Electric, LLC
T-Ross Brothers Construction, Inc.
Wenrich Electric
FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES
SERVICE 1ST RETIREMENT & INVESTMENT CENTER
Buffalo Valley Wealth Plus
Edward Jones - Melissa Bratton
Starr Financial Services
Schlegel Financial Group
HOME HEATING/AC
SJ EATON PLUMBING & HEATING
Comfort Specialists
Keiser’s Plumbing & Heating
McCreary’s HVAC
Shaffer’s Plumbing & Heating
INSURANCE AGENCY (COMPANY)
ALLEN A. SHAFFER INSURANCE
Erie Insurance Group
Sholley Insurance Agency
State Farm - Chris Kenawell
State Farm - Chris Reis
INSURANCE AGENT (PERSON)
CHRIS KENAWELL - STATE FARM
Chris Reis - State Farm
Jon Groninger - Groninger Insurance Agency
Kelly Weller - Lawton Insurance Agency
William Purdy - Purdy Insurance Agency, Inc.
LANDSCAPE SERVICE
LLOYD’S LANDSCAPES INC.
Creative Plantscapes Inc.
Hawk’s Landscaping & Nursery
JC Landscapes LLC
Smitty’s Tree Service & Firewood
PET BOARDING
D & J’S PET LODGE
Brookpark Pet Supply
Paws Inn
Sunbury Animal Hospital
Warrior Run Petcare Center
PET GROOMING
THE PAINTED POOCH GROOMING SALON
Bark N Park
Brookpark Pet Supply
D and J Kennels, LLC
Paws Inn
PHOTOGRAPHER
AMBER G CO. PHOTOGRAPHY
Blue Line Photography
Lewisburg Studio by Melo Foto
Stacy Boyer Photography LLC
Tony Bendele Photography
PRIVATE/RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR
T-ROSS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION INC.
Brookside Homes
Diversified Construction Inc.
Paul Q. Ross Construction Inc.
Tom Mowrey Home Werks, LLC
REAL ESTATE AGENCY/FIRM (COMPANY)
BOWEN AGENCY REALTORS
Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate
eXp Realty LLC
RE/MAX Bridges
Villager Realty Inc., Danville
REAL ESTATE AGENT (PERSON)
DEBBIE BROUSE, SQUARE DIEHL REALTY
Aimee Buehner - Bowen Agency Realtors
Cory Lehman Realtor
Kelly Seigel - Villager Realty Inc., Lewisburg
Kristine Horten - Bowen Agency Realtors
SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
NOTTINGHAM VILLAGE
Brookdale Grayson View
EverTrue Buffalo Valley Lutheran Billage
RiverWoods Senior Living Community
The Manor at Penn Village
TRAVEL AGENCY
LIBERTY TRAVEL
AAA
Boscov’s Travel
Magical Enchanted Vacations by Lisa
Miller Travel Agency
VETERINARIAN
LEWISBURG VETERINARY HOSPITAL
Animal Care Center
Companion Animal Hospital
Sunbury Animal Hospital
Susquehanna Trail Animal Hospital
WEDDING VENUE
STONE BARN FARM & VINEYARD
One Barn Farm
Rusty Rail Brewing Company
Whispering Oaks Vineyard
Willow Stone Farm
BUSINESS ‘A LABOR OF LOVE’ FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
BY JERRI BROUSE FOR THE DAILY ITEM
NORTHUMBERLAND - For generations, the land where W&S Distributors now stands has been home to a family that built its livelihood supplying everything from appliances and furniture to cars and building supplies.
“It was like the Lowe’s of the 1950s,” Craig Specht, owner, said.
In fact, they sold just about everything but beer, Specht joked.
Today, that same patch of ground is where the community’s favorite beer distributor, voted Best in the Valley, continues a tradition of hard work and family pride.
“More than 100 years ago, Samuel Arthur Stuck, our great-grandfather, purchased the property in Point Township,” Specht explained. “On the property, through the years, the Stuck brothers built homes, sold building supplies, furniture, appliances, televisions, radios, cars and even ran a restaurant.”
In 2011, George Stuck’s daughter, Kathy Specht, her husband, Jeff, and their sons, Craig and George, all pitched in to renovate the property. They opened their doors in 2012.
“My grandfather saw the store open in 2012,” Specht said. “We took half the building for the beer store and he continued to operate the appliance store until he passed in 2016. We then renovated and turned the store into office space.”
Specht calls the property a labor of love for the entire family.
“This has been my family’s home for so many generations and we are proud to serve the Susquehanna Valley and be a part of this community,” he said.
W&S stocks the finest selection of beer in all of Pennsylvania. From imports to sours, they have it all. They carry IPAs, stouts, porters, Belgians, classics, beers of the world, lagers and pilsners.
Being named Best of the Valley is an honor for the family.
“It’s really our honor for me to see my grandfather’s property come back to life when so many businesses are struggling,” Specht said.
What keeps the customers coming through the door? Specht believes a big part of it is their customer service.
“When people come in they feel like they’re part of the family,” he said. “We are really customer service oriented and that’s really rare in the world of corporate business.”
The distributor, he said, has a small, hometown feel and focuses on the
● Best of the Valley /// Thursday, November 27, 2025
little things like carrying order to the car, and just being friendly.
“People know your name and come in talking about what’s happening in the township and community,” he said.
They also come in to see the highly-popular Uncle Bob and Uncle Gordy.
“Uncle Gordy ran a gun shop for years, so people come in to chat with him,” Specht said. “And Uncle Bob is my grandfather’s brother, one of the original Stuck Brothers Appliance and Contractors and then Stuck Brother’s Restaurant. He is an eternal bachelor, 90 years old and sort of like our mascot.”
The Spechts themselves are Northumberland natives and have deep roots, another reason Specht believes they find so much support within their community.
“I think people like to see local people running local businesses, supporting scholarships and those sorts of things,” he said.
Until recently, the family business included only family members, but in the past five years, they’ve expanded to include a small group of employees.
“When we really expanded during the pandemic we started hiring a bunch of part-time employees - most are college students or retired friends of parents,” Specht said.
Still, it’s the core family that runs the day to day operations - most still live on the property, too.
Specht said he is grateful for the support of the local community and the award as Best of the Valley.
“Thank you for supporting our family business and all small businesses in the valley,” he said. “Thanks for supporting small business.”
W&S Distributor is located at 884 Susquehanna Trail, Northumberland. For more information, visit wands distributors.wixstudio.com.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
‘YOU CAN’T GO WRONG’
BY CINDY O. HERMAN FOR THE DAILY ITEM
SELINSGROVE – Puree some acai berries or dragon fruit, add granola, berries or bananas, nuts and drizzles, and you’ve got a bowl of refreshing, nutritious goodness that keeps people coming back for more.
That’s what Amsa Courtney, 21, has learned after opening Simply Bowls, which was voted Best New Business.
Courtney got the idea for the business when she and her family enjoyed acai bowls in places like Florida and Tennessee.
“I was, like, why don’t we have them? They’re so good, so healthy. That would be such a great addition,” Courtney said. “So then I researched it for a year or so. At the time I was working at Chipotle as a manager, so I learned management and I really enjoyed it.”
She saved enough money to buy a food truck, dubbed it Simply Bowls and, starting in June last year, traveled around Central Pennsylvania, gathering rave reviews.
“I talked to my parents and they were like, if you want to do it, go right ahead. It’s obviously a risk but I figured I’m young, so why not take the risk now?” Courtney said. “When we first started, it was my mom and my aunt. I asked them to help me in the truck.”
This August she opened the Simply Bowls café at 209 West Pine Street. She still travels with the food truck four to five days a week and runs the café Monday through Saturday. She credits her five “amazing employees” for maintaining both businesses.
“I could not do it without them,” she said. “I’m always in the truck, and one of my employees is always with me. And I have my mom with me sometimes
in here, and then two of my employees, and we all kind of switch around and make it happen.”
Traveling to towns like Williamsport, Danville, Sunbury and State College, the Simply Bowls truck found almost instant success. Some of their regular customers even showed up at the different towns.
“People really loved it. I mean you’re getting natural things that are good for you and that taste really good, and it’s refreshing,” Courtney said.
She created seasonal bowls that include ingredients like apples, pecans, and pumpkin spice granola, and even a Holiday Flight Night with Christmas Cookie, Holiday Fruit Salad bowls.
The Simply Bowls truck is painted a bright yellow, and the café combines yellow, purple and green, with lots of plants, sunshine and even a board with “Kind Words” from customers. Some comments read, “The most friendly people and the highest quality,” “Favorite Feature: The kind employees and great taste,” and “Best Memory: Coming at least 3 times a week.”
“We wanted to make it nice and homey and make people feel comfortable when they come here,” Courtney said.
She didn’t know about the Best of the Valley contest until she received an email. She was delighted to hear they had won.
“I’m super thankful. I couldn’t believe it. I’m super grateful for the fact that people took the time out of their day to vote for us,” she said. “I feel blessed and thankful, for sure.”
Between running the food truck and the café, pureeing fruit bases, slicing fresh strawberries and mangos, drizzling bowls with anything from lime juice to honey to peanut butter sauce, and creating new flavor combinations, Courtney’s favorite aspect is her customers.
“I love getting to know them and just making them feel like they’re part of the business, because honestly without the support of the community we wouldn’t be where we are today,” she said. “I love going to new places, meeting new people, making connections with them.”
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item) Simply Bowls fruit bowls consist of a pureed fruit base, a variety of granolas, and toppings that can include fresh fruits, nuts, drizzles, candy bits and more.
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item) Amsa Courtney started with her Simply Bowls food truck last year and opened Simply Bowls café, in Selinsgrove, this past August.
As for future plans, she’s hoping to add to the menu, but everything has happened so fast that for now, she’s trying not to rush too much. And she continues to enjoy the fruits of her labor, making her own bowls every day.
“I love them,” she said with a smile. “My favorite bases are passion fruit and coconut. I just kind of do my own thing on it, but they’re all good. You can’t go wrong.”
For more information, call 570-917-3469.
n Cindy O. Herman lives in Snyder County. Email comments to her at CindyOHerman@gmail.com
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item) A Simply Bowls creation with an acai base, strawberries, bananas and coconut.
QUALITY INGREDIENTS AS WELL AS SUPERIOR SERVICE DRAWS CUSTOMERS
BY JERRI BROUSE FOR THE DAILY ITEM
LIVERPOOL - Old Trail Tavern and Steak launched in 2020 during one of the most uncertain times for the restaurant industry - or any small business.This year, the local eatery earned its first Best in the Valley recognition, voted the region’s best steakhouse by our newspaper readers.
Owner Devon Lawrence believes it’s both the quality of the ingredients he uses as well as superior service that draws customers through his doors.
“We just really try to focus on putting quality ingredients and quality food out for our guests,” Lawrence said. “That’s at the center of everything that we do.”
Lawrence began the process to purchase the property in February 2020, just one month before the world shut down for two weeks to “flatten the curve,” he recalled. He signed and closed on the property in June and was finally able to open the doors in August. Had he known then that he would face years of COVID restrictions, it may have swayed his decision to follow through on his dream, he said.
that probably would have swayed my decision,” he said. “Everybody was still saying two weeks to flatten the curve when we signed the sales agreement.”
There were lots of delays getting things up and running, he said, due to a lot of federal workers being furloughed and many places being shut down entirely.
“I was horrible,” he recalled. “I mean, seriously tough. We couldn’t have any, any dining inside so in between the two buildings in the parking lot we had a tent put up. We put picnic tables outside and did that all the way until the cold started coming.”
Indoor dining was permitted again for a short time, before being banned again.
“Right at Christmas, they closed it again,” he said. “So then we had propane heaters out in the tent all winter long just
trying to keep us going.”
Finally, spring came and Lawrence found himself on the other side of the worst of it.
Now, he said, he is excited to have been recognized as the Best of the Valley.
“It’s great,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in what we do and definitely a lot of work goes into this little place. So, it’s really nice to see people recognizing us and definitely feels great. It is such an honor.”
In addition to great service, Lawrence said it’s the food that is the real draw.
The menu at Old Trail Tavern includes seven different cuts and steaks (Angus and Wagu as well), crab cakes, fresh seafood, fried chicken wings and more.
“We are always rotating through doing a lot of different specials,” he said. “We use fresh crabmeat in our crab cakes when we can, we have fresh salmon and a lot of your tavern staples.” That includes fresh hand-battered fish and chips.
“We try to stay true to our tavern roots, but also, give people a nice selection of steakhouse offerings,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence is hopeful the honor of being named Best of the Valley may draw in even more new
“Word of mouth is huge,” he said. “And you know, that’s the number one way people find us is by someone recommending they come here. It really makes all the difference in the world and so I sincerely appreciate it.”
The Old Trail Tavern and Steak is located at 120 Old Trail Road, Liverpool. For more information or to browse their menu, visit oldtrailtavern.com.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Owner, Devon Lawrence
Agapeland instills love and generosity in children
BY CINDY O. HERMAN FOR THE DAILY ITEM
SELINSGROVE – In November, Agapeland Preschool asks community members to make stockings, which they fill with Christmas donations. Last year they gathered items like toothbrushes, granola bars and coloring books requested by local families.
“It used to be we would gather donations, but that meant nothing to the kids. So what we do now is have the children stuff the stockings,” Michele Hoch, director and teacher, said.
Last year, after contemplating why someone would ask for something like a toothbrush, one little boy said, “Can I just take whoever this is home with
me? And he can live in my house, and sleep in my bed, and I will sleep on the floor, and my mommy and daddy will take care of him.”
That’s the kind of generosity of spirit the preschool hopes to foster. It’s also the kind of spirit that apparently led people to vote Agapeland the Best Child Care in the Best of the Valley contest.
Agapeland was started in 1996 by Laurie Kirchner and Cathy Atchison, both members of Christ United Methodist Church, which started them with a $500 donation. Hoch came on board in 1999.
The preschool is a mission of the church; the pastor teaches some lessons. The school has a capacity for 76 children, with two pre-kindergarten classes for 4 to 5-year-olds and two younger classes for 3 to 4-year-olds.
“I’m hoping people chose us because we try to cover the whole realm of the child and not just focus on educational needs,” Hoch said.
Hoch and her staff – Veronica Hornberger, teacher and aide, and Wanda Heimbach and Samantha Hoover, aides –teach the preschoolers how much they are loved by families, teachers and God. Volunteers round out the staff, as needed, and parents are welcome to attend as long as they have statemandated clearances.
“We want to make sure the parents feel welcome to come in and do activities with their children,” Hoch said.
She thrives on working with youngsters, even during the bleakest moments.
“I wouldn’t trade it,” she said, “because for our kids, everything is rainbows, butterflies, race cars and dinosaurs. You feed off of their joy.”
She emphasized the importance of connecting with the children’s families. In the hallway, people can post anonymous prayer requests at the Pause to Pray board, where preschool staff members pray at the end of the day.
“We strive to keep our preschoolers happy, healthy and learning while sharing in God’s love,” Hoch said.
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item)
Wild animals crawl over blocks at Agapeland Preschool , located at Christ United Methodist Church, 145 Disciple Drive, in Selinsgrove.
She attends high school sports, plays and other events where her former preschoolers are involved. A few weeks ago, watching former students at a Selinsgrove field hockey game, a senior ran over to give her a hug right in
front of his friends.
Preschoolers graduating from high school have organized “class photos” in their caps and gowns, calling Hoch and other staffers to join them.
“There is no better gift than to know that we’ve made enough of an impression on them that they want to do that,” she said.
She also proudly mentioned that teacher Veronica Hornberger was once one of her preschoolers.
“I feel like she is the greatest gift I’ve had, simply because she felt enough compassion, that she loved it enough to want to give back to others what was given to her,” Hoch said.
The staff was “ecstatic” about Agapeland’s award, especially because it’s a smaller preschool, although their students come from several school districts.
“It’s truly an honor, and it speaks volumes not just of what we do here but of our families,” Hoch said, adding with a smile, “I cried because I didn’t expect we would win this.”
She works closely with school districts to make sure Agapeland is hitting target marks and is grateful to Christ United Methodist Church for continuing to house the preschool. Over the years, Agapeland’s December donations have been distributed to local schools. This year they’ll go to ARC (Advocacy and Resources for Citizens) in Sunbury.
“The community supports us. I don’t even know most of the people who are making hats and stockings. I post it on Facebook, everyone shares it, and suddenly they’re just pouring in,” Hoch said. “Agapeland is what it is because of the families we have, the church base we have, and because of the families that are the communities around us. We’re grateful to be here every day.”
She wouldn’t trade her job for any other.
“It’s not a job you make a ton of money in, but that’s not the reward,” she said. “The reward is the smiles and the laughter and those kids coming back.”
For more information, call 570-374-8539.
n Cindy O. Herman lives in Snyder County. Email comments to her at CindyOHerman@gmail.com
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item)
Agapeland Preschool teachers and aides pose in the school’s puppet theater. Michele Hoch, left, Veronica Hornberger, Wanda Heimbach and Samantha Hoover.
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Bride’s Bouquet offers personal attention and advice
BY CINDY O. HERMAN FOR THE DAILY ITEM
SELINSGROVE – Buy a dress from a chain store, and you end up with a dress. Buy one from the Bride’s Bouquet, and you end up with experienced guidance that ensures you look your best for your special occasion.
“We’ve always had excellent seamstresses, and I think that’s extremely important,” Cindy Chappell, owner of the Bride’s Bouquet, said. “And we care. Basically, I say, I’m the last eyes that see your dress before it goes out, before you wear it, and I want to make sure that things are all good. I don’t want anything to go wrong with anybody’s day.”
The Bride’s Bouquet was voted Best Bridal Shop in “The Daily Item’s” Best of the Valley contest.
Kay Koch, Chappell’s cousin, started the shop in 1971 with formal dresses and 10 bridal dresses. About 40 years later she began focusing on the bridal business. Chappell has worked there since graduating from high school. She’s seen vendors go out of business, largely due to online buying, although she thinks that trend may be reversing.
“A lot more people seem to be wanting to have personal service and alterations,” she said. “It’s a special time: your first prom, your first homecoming, your wedding. You want that interaction with other people and with family and friends.”
The Bride’s Bouquet staff are friends as well as colleagues. From left, Cindy Chappell, owner, with Jessi Cooper and Keisha
The Bride’s Bouquet has shared in its customers’ most special moments. Chappell recalled a young woman planning her wedding only to have her fiancé diagnosed with cancer and told he had just a few weeks to live. The dress she had ordered wasn’t scheduled to arrive for a couple more months.
“We found her a different dress and got it altered and she got married,
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item)
Cindy Chappell, owner of the Bride’s Bouquet, which has been guiding women to find the best formal and wedding dresses for 54 years.
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item)
Gemberling.
and I think he passed within the next week,” Chappell said, frowning at the memory. “That one sticks out in my mind.”
On a happier note, she remembered a Hispanic gentleman asking for bridal magazines. A few weeks later he ordered a wedding gown and veil for his niece in Brazil, who wanted an American wedding dress. She sent her measurements to the shop, in centimeters.
“We altered the dress, not even seeing her,” Chappell said. “Her uncle bought it for her, took it to Brazil, and then months later came back and showed us the pictures, and it was just wonderful.”
She’s become close to customers who return for prom and wedding dresses then become mothers and bring their daughters in for prom and homecoming dresses. She recently had two families where the grandmother, the mother and the daughter all bought wedding dresses from her.
She’s surmounted a number of challenges over the years, including a longshoremen’s strike in California that resulted in bridesmaids’ dresses sitting on a ship in the harbor. The dresses arrived about a week before the wedding, alterations were quickly made, and the wedding went on.
In dire situations, she hands the problems to God and, somehow, always finds a way.
“You can’t say, oh sorry, it didn’t work out. You can’t ruin somebody’s prom or somebody’s wedding,” Chappell said. “We’ve never one time told somebody they couldn’t go down the aisle because their dress didn’t fit. We always make them fit, one way or another.”
She loves being part of Selinsgrove’s downtown business community and is adamant about supporting local stores.
The Bride’s Bouquet employs three seamstresses and two associates, Jessi Cooper and Keisha Gemberling.
“I have wonderful employees, and that is really important to a business,” Chappell said. “They’re not just my employees, they’re my friends. We share a lot together.”
The thing she most enjoys is getting to know her customers and helping
(Cindy O. Herman/For The Daily Item) Cindy Chappell, owner of the Bride’s Bouquet, in Selinsgrove, stands in the room where brides receive professional guidance in choosing the dress for their big day.
them find creative ways to navigate ticklish situations. She considers her work a blessing.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people,” she said. “I see them having children, and it makes me happy because you feel a connection to them. And I have always had wonderful staff. To this day, if somebody needs something, we’re here for them.”
For more information, call 570-374-9150.
n Cindy O. Herman lives in Snyder County. Email comments to her at CindyOHerman@gmail.com
THE KEY HAS BEEN STAYING FOCUSED ON PEOPLE RATHER THAN NUMBERS
“I think a lot of the times, honesty, even if it hurts, is necessary. Buyers need to know that I’m by their side till the day they get the keys.
DEBBIE BROUSE
By Jerri Brouse For The Daily Item
SUNBURY - With 49 years in the real estate business under her belt, Debra Brouse has seen the housing market through countless changes, from interest rate surges and new technology to the shifting needs of local families. Through it all, she says the key has been staying focused on people rather than numbers.
“It’s the people who have made my career,” Brouse said.
Brouse started her real estate career with Art Bowen at the Bowen Agency.
“He was the best teacher, mentor, role model ever,” she said. “Then I moved on to Apfelbaum Realty before eventually landing here with Bob Diehl at Square Diehl Realty.”
In that time, Brouse said she has seen a lot of changes in the industry - most notably the amount of paperwork that goes into a sale.
“When I first started there was one piece of paper for an agreement of sale, one for a listing agreement, and now you could be up to 40-50 pages depending on the contract,” she explained. “The paperwork has really increased.”
Still, she enjoys what she does, helping people and families find the right home.
“It’s almost like solving a puzzle,” she said. “I am helping them put pieces of their lives together like a puzzle.”
And, every day is unique, she said.
Brouse noted she’s been in real estate so long she’s now seeing return clients and a younger generation of homebuyers.
“Of course there are people I worked with way back when, and now I get to work with their children and grandchildren,” she sad.
Brouse has won Best of the Valley in her category twice before, and said she is enjoying the third time around and thanked the community for voting for her once again.
“Well it’s nice and lovely,” she said. “I’m enjoying it.”
Brouse said she believes clients choose her as their agent because of her experience.
“I try to be totally honest with people,” she said. “I think a lot of the times, honesty, even if it hurts, is necessary. Buyers need to know that I’m by their side till the day they get the keys.
Sellers know I’m by their side till the day they get the proceeds check.”
Brouse is a past president of the Central Susquehanna Valley Board of
20 ● Best of the Valley /// Thursday, November 27, 2025
Realtors and is a member of the National Association of Realtors.
In 2023, Brouse was named as one of the people who Make a Difference in the Valley. She is known to make weekly stops at the post office, the police department, the fire companies, Elijah Bowl, Haven Ministry, and many other places dropping off snacks and gift certificates. She also makes goodie bags of various treats and drinks for people she feels aren’t thanked enough for what they do.
Square Diehl Realty is located at 800 North Fourth St., Sunbury. To get in contact with Brouse, call 570-286-6344, or email her at dbrouse1@hotmail. com.
