Winter 2023

The Circle

Winter 2023 Edition

Reflecting Back and Looking Forward - A Year in Review and the Year Ahead

Happy 2023! It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone so quickly. The New Oxford Chamber had a successful 2022 and is looking forward to another year of growth in 2023. Thank you to all of our members, from our businesses and organizations to our individual and honorary members, for your continued support.

Before we look forward, let’s take a minute to reflect back on some of the Chamber’s milestones and major events in 2022. In 2022, the New Oxford Chamber:

• Welcomed 44 new member businesses and organizations. Members were introduced at our three new member breakfasts.

• Held the following community events: 66th Annual Market on the Square (June 18th), 15th Annual Harvest Day Festival & Parade (October 22nd), 3rd Annual Harvest Hunt (October), 100th Annual New Oxford Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday (November 26th) and the 3rd Annual Light Up New Oxford (December).

• Welcomed new full-time staff member Jennifer Smith (who took over for former Director of Membership & Marketing Michaela Shaffer).

• Hosted 10 mixers at member businesses. Thank you to our 2022 hosts: Furs by Susan, Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, Scott & Co. Fine Jewelers, Zelma’s Emporium, New Oxford Library, New Oxford Antique Center, Yazoo Mills, Inc., Harvest Barn Country Market, Unique Upscale Resale and Elite Therapy Solutions.

• Held two Lunch & Learns, presented by UPMC Hanover and WellSpan Health, on health-related topics.

• Celebrated 11 member anniversaries (based on continuous years of membership).

• Hosted our first Annual Awards Banquet to honor members with anniversaries and award winners in the following categories: Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Community Impact Award, Educator of the Year and Student Achievement Award.

Looking forward to 2023, the Chamber is excited to continue to develop our existing initiatives as well as expand our offerings and benefits for our members and community. As we kick off 2023, we’d like to introduce you to your 2023 Board of Directors, elected at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting in October. The 2023 board has 13 members, including three new board members: Jimmy Akinrosotu (Jimmy Akinrosotu Agency Farmers Insurance), Matthew Muller (Conewago Valley School District) and Heidi Wrights (Traditions Bank).

Jimmy Akinrosotu, owner of Jimmy Akinrosotu Agency Farmers Insurance in Hanover, has lived in New Oxford for over 17 years with his wife Marsha and two sons, Elijah and Jacob. Before becoming an insurance agent, Jimmy spent over 20 years in the restaurant industry in various managerial roles. He decided to become an insurance agent because he cares deeply about the people in his community. It is Jimmy’s goal to help his clients navigate the insurance selection process smoothly and help them understand which policies fit their needs.

continued on pg. 4

Members of the New Oxford Chamber Board of Directors pose with representatives from the newest Chamber member businesses and organizations at the Fall Breakfast

Board of Directors:

Ashley Hershey, President

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz CPAs & Business Advisors

Lyle Pitner, Vice President

Lyle R Pitner State Farm

Jennifer Meckley, Secretary

Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Christina Palermo, Treasurer

M&T Bank

Dorothy Robinson, Borough Liaison

New Oxford Borough

Jimmy Akinrosotu

Jimmy Akinrosotu Agency Farmers Insurance

Janise Bankard

YWCA Hanover

Chad Collie

Allied Plaster & Construction

Heather Laughman

HD Entertainment

April Majka

Individual Member

Matthew Muller

Conewago Valley School District

Janice Swartz

WellSpan Health

Heidi Wrights

Traditions Bank

Chamber Staff:

Jennifer Smith

Marketing & Membership Coordinator

Michaela Shaffer

Editor & Advisor

“The Circle” is a quarterly publication of the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce. Members interested in submitting news for future issues are encouraged to contact the Chamber at info@newoxford.org

The New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization.

Board meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month and are open to Chamber members. For additional details, please contact us at info@newoxford.org.

2nd Annual Awards Banquet

Wednesday, January 18, 5:30 p.m. Inn 94, 4805 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford

February Membership Mixer

Wednesday, February 15, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

(Inclement weather date: Wednesday, February 22) Select Physical Therapy, 5815 York Rd., New Oxford

Winter 2023 Lunch & Learn presented by the Adams County Community Foundation

Wednesday, March 8 Location TBA

March Membership Mixer

Wednesday, March 22, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Trina Kay Weddings, Location TBA

A full events calendar, featuring both Chamber and member events can be found at www.newoxford.org/events. Members can submit event details directly through the Chamber website.

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership for 2023!

The beginning of the year means it is time for membership renewal! Membership renewal packets were sent to all members via email or mail in early January.

At just $100/annually for business/professional membership and $30/annually for individual membership, your investment in the New Oxford Chamber remains a great deal. Need a refresher on the benefits of your membership? Be sure to check out the updated Member Benefits Guide, available on the Chamber website at www.newoxford.org under the Membership tab. Benefits include: promotion on the Chamber website and social media pages, networking opportunities, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, insurance coverage and much more.

Please take a few minutes to review the 2023 Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities Guide to see what the Chamber has in store for this year. Interested in any of the opportunities? Simply select the option(s) you are interested in on the form you received with your 2023 membership renewal letter and send the completed form back with your 2023 investment.

If you have not submitted your membership renewal form and payment yet, please be sure to send it in soon! We use the annual renewal forms to ensure that your business listing is up-to-date on our website and directory. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@newoxford.org or (717) 624-2800. Thank you for your continued membership and support!

Welcome New Members!

Cynthia Forry - Realtor

570 Carlisle St.

Hanover, PA 17331

(717) 457-6786

bhhs.com

Real Estate

Embark Property Management

210 Marsh Creek Heights Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325

(570) 534-3992

embarkpropertymanagementllc.com

Real Estate

Homestead Funding Corp.

120 North Pointe Blvd.

Lancaster, PA 17601

(717) 435-9972

homesteadfunding.com

Financial Services

Miracle Ear 99 W. Eisenhower Dr. Hanover, PA 17331

(717) 637-9899

miracle-ear.com

Health & Wellness

Open Book Construction LLC

255 Turkey Pit Rd. New Oxford , PA 17350

(717) 224-7172

openbookconst.com

Construction, Contracting & Engineering

Penn’s Youth Initiative

983 Lincoln Way E. Ste. C

Chambersburg, PA 17201

(484) 729-6884

pennsyouth.org

Community & Non-Profit Organizations

Matthew Muller has been a life-long resident of Adams County and Conewago Valley School District (CVSD) for nearly 50 years, graduating from New Oxford High School in 1989. He has worked for CVSD for 27 years, serving in various capacities, including social studies teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal. Matthew is currently transitioning into the role of Director of Safety & Communications for CVSD. Matthew also served as the head football coach for many years. He has been married to Donna for 28 years, and they have three adult children, Conrad, Hannah, and Caleb, all CVSD graduates

Heidi Wrights is the branch manager of Traditions Bank in Hanover. Heidi and her husband moved to the local area in February 2022 from State College. Heidi has a unique background with experience in the financial industry, senior living and in higher education. Originally from Perry County, she began her career as a sales intern at PSECU, while attending and obtaining two associate degrees from Harrisburg Area Community College. From there, she worked for Eastern University as an academic advisor and recruiter while completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She found herself back at PSECU from 2014 to 2021 as their business development manager and State College financial center manager. In May 2021, Heidi decided to pursue a new adventure within the senior living industry. She was a sales counselor for Foxdale Village, a retirement community in State College. Heidi started at Traditions in late March 2022 and is enjoying her new role. She is looking forward to creating new contacts while serving her new community.

In addition to the election of Jimmy, Matthew and Heidi to the board, Jennifer Meckley (Members 1st Federal Credit Union) and Janice Swartz (WellSpan Health) were both elected to their second term on the board and Christina Palermo (M&T Bank) was elected to her second full term after fulfilling the remainder of a term created by a vacancy during her first two years on the board (2018 and 2019).

The board is rounded out by Janise Bankard (YWCA Hanover), Chad Collie (Allied Plaster & Construction), Ashley Hershey (BSSF CPAs & Business Advisors), Heather Laughman (HD Entertainment), April Majka (individual member), Lyle Pitner (Lyle R Pitner State Farm) and Dorothy Robinson (New Oxford Borough Liasion).

The Chamber staff and board are looking forward to expanding membership offerings in 2023 and growing the Chamber’s annual events including the 67th Annual Market on the Square (Saturday, June 17, 2023) and 16th Annual Harvest Day Festival & Parade (Saturday, October 28, 2023). With a passionate and hardworking board and staff in place, the Chamber looks forward to serving members and the community in 2023 and beyond.

If there is ever anything that the Chamber can do to assist you, please reach out to us at info@newoxford.org or (717) 624-2800. Members and the community can also stop by the Chamber office at 27 Center Square in New Oxford. Don’t forget to take full advantage of your member benefits this year! Need a refresher on what is included in your membership? A full list can be found at www.newoxford.org.

We wish our members and community a happy and healthy 2023 and look forward to seeing you soon!

Lights, Camera, Action: Snapshots of Your Chamber on the Move!

October - 3rd Annual Harvest Hunt

November 3rd - Membership Mixer at Unique Upscale Resale

November 20th - Decorating the Circle

Fiddlestix Mercantile’s entry for the Harvest Hunt pumpkin decorating contest secured their first place tie with Aero Energy in the business decorating division.

October 22nd - 15th Annual Harvest Day Festival & Parade

November 26th - Annual Tree Lighting

Volunteers, including incoming board member Jimmy Akinrosotu (Jimmy Akinrosotu Farmers Insurance Agency) and students from CVSD, decorate the New Oxford Circle for the holidays.

Event attendees enjoyed browsing vendor booths, eating delicious food and watching the parade.

December 7th - Membership Mixer at Elite Therapy Solutions

Unique Upscale Resale was the perfect place for some early Christmas shopping!

Santa rode on United Hook & Ladder 33’s antique fire truck during the parade.

Cub Scout Troop #125 served hot cocoa and cookies to the community at this beloved event.

L to R: Lyle R Pitner, Chamber Vice President (Lyle R Pitner State Farm), Ryan Starner (Elite), Jennifer Smith, Membership & Marketing Coordinator (NOACC), Paige Harget (Elite) and Joel Huck (Elite)

Remembering Bryn Jarusewski

New Oxford suddenly lost a beloved member of its community on December 17, 2022 with the passing of Bryn Ann Jarusewski. Many will recognize Bryn from the New Oxford Library, where she has served as the branch manager since 2021. Bryn was a 2010 graduate of Big Springs High School. She earned her associate degree from Penn State University and recently graduated summa cum laude from Clarion University. She planned on starting her Master’s of Science in library science for local and archival studies in the honors program at Penn West Clarion. Before coming to New Oxford, she was the assistant director at the John Graham Public Library in Newville.

The Chamber is deeply saddened by Bryn’s passing. Bryn’s passion for the New Oxford Library and her belief in the importance of early learning was evident in Bryn’s dedication to her library patrons. She was also active in the Chamber, regularly attending events and even hosting the June 2022 mixer at the New Oxford Library. Bryn was a joy to be around, always welcoming, smiling and quick with jokes. She will be missed deeply by her friends at the Chamber and in the New Oxford community.

Our staff and board is grateful to have had the chance to get to know Bryn over the last year and a half. We extend our deepest sympathies to Bryn’s family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time.

The Adams County Library System’s Board of Trustees, library staff and friends of the New Oxford branch plan to create an endowment that will continue the work Bryn began at the library with the Early Reader Collection. Bryn pioneered the color-coded system that indicates the reading level of the book which has been very well received by parents. If you would like to contribute toward her endowment, please make a donation online at www.adamslibrary.org/support-library/ support-library or send your donation to the ACLS at 140 Baltimore St. Gettysburg, PA 17325. If you have any questions, please contact Erica Duffy at ericad@adamslibrary.org or (717) 334-0136.

Member News

Destination Gettysburg Welcomes New Staff Member

Destination Gettysburg recently welcomed Mary Grace Kauffman to their staff. Kauffman is the organization’s new social media and communications manager. She will be in charge of developing content for Destination Gettysburg’s numerous social media channels and assisting with efforts to connect with media. In addition to social media and communications work, Kauffman will also play an integral role in the organization’s blog writing, photography and story-telling.

Prior to joining the Destination Gettysburg staff, Kauffman was a reporter for multiple local newspapers including the Gettysburg Times, Carroll County Times and Frederick News-Post.

BSSF Announces New Additions to Team

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz (BSSF) recently announced new additions to their team.

Matthew R. Harvey, CPA, MSPA has joined BSSF as a senior manager within the BSSF Insurance Practice. Harvey has over eight years of experience providing tax compliance and consulting services to both publicly and privately held corporations with a specialization in insurance taxation. He also has significant expertise in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Statement of Statutory Accounting Principles No. 101 and multistate taxation compliance.

Harvey is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association (IASA) and the Insurance Tax Conference (ITC). He earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting and Finance and his Master of Science degree in Management – Professional Accounting (MSPA) from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He will be working remotely from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He will travel to provide on-site tax compliance and advisory services to BSSF clients.

In addition to Harvey, Jessica A. Elder has also joined BSSF as a Small Business Accounting Services (SBAS) associate. Prior to joining BSSF, she worked at a local credit union. Elder is located in the BSSF office in Hanover.

New Gettysburg Museum to Display Rare Civil War Images

William A. Frassanito, a renowned historian who pioneered the study of Civil War photography, is preparing to share his rare private collection of Gettysburg images with the public for the first time. The special exhibition, entitled “Early Photography at Gettysburg – The Frassanito Collection,” will debut at the Adams County Historical Society’s new museum, Gettysburg Beyond the Battle, opening on April 15th.

Frassanito’s private collection includes rare images of Gettysburg taken both before and after the battle. The new exhibit will include stereographic images of dead soldiers on the battlefield, a series of rare views captured at Devil’s Den in November 1863, one of the first outdoor photographs taken in the town of Gettysburg and the only existing photographic print from the Gettysburg Address ceremonies. The exhibit will also feature some of Frassanito’s biggest discoveries –the moving of a dead “sniper” at Devil’s Den, the location where bodies were photographed en masse at the George Rose Farm and the elusive “Harvest of Death” photographic series.

Located less than one mile from the Gettysburg town square, ACHS’s new complex includes the highly anticipated museum (Gettysburg Beyond the Battle), a large event center, a research room and archives. For more information, visit www.achs-pa.org and follow the Adams County Historical Society at Gettysburg on Facebook and YouTube.

William A. Frassanito holds a rare image taken near Devil’s Den in 1863.

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