Strasburg chamber recognizes Rutherford

Beauty shop, bank honored

By Ben Orcutt — Daily Staff Writer

STRASBURG — More than the food, fellowship and fun, Saturday’s Strasburg Chamber of Commerce 2008 awards banquet will be remembered for the high regard the organization holds for two of the town’s most distinguished businessmen.

In 2000, Gary Rutherford urged his chamber colleagues to begin giving out the Leo M. Bernstein award to recognize the business person of the year as a tribute to the Washington-based banker and local real estate developer.

Rutherford died last January at the age of 62, and Bernstein succumbed at 93 in August.

On Saturday, chamber President Richard A. Orndorff Jr. was overcome with emotion as he announced to those assembled in the Valley Room of the Hotel Strasburg that the group’s 2008 Leo award winner was Rutherford.

Orndorff said Rutherford, a close friend who would have owned the hotel with wife Carol for 19 years in May, had never won the award that he was so instrumental in creating.

Mrs. Rutherford accepted the award on behalf of her late husband.

“Gary would just be so proud,” Mrs. Rutherford said of the award, which resembles an Oscar. Mrs. Rutherford said she’ll put it “probably in the den at home.”

On hand for the ceremony were the Rutherfords’ son, Brad, 38, his wife, Kerrie, and their two daughters, Hannah, 9, and Chloe, 6. The family lives in Michigan.

Mari-Ane Fowler, a member of the chamber’s board of directors, had the honor of announcing Clip & Curl Beauty Shop as the small business of the year.

“Clip & Curl is an icon in Strasburg,” Fowler said.

Clip & Curl owner Jane Lambert, 61, said the shop has been in business for 37 years.

“It’s great to be known in the community as something positive,” Lambert said.

First Bank won the chamber’s award for large business of the year.

“Their slogan now is, “There’s power in one,’ and they believe that,” Orndorff said. “For many, many years, First Bank has been the title sponsor for Mayfest. First Bank is truly a community bank.”

Chamber director Bill Foster gave a presentation on the organization’s new Web site.

In addition to Orndorff, 2009 officers installed on Saturday were Jay Winkfield, vice president; Jackie Thompson, secretary; Dan Kitzmiller, treasurer; and Dee Morrissey, tourism chairman.

Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com

List of winners

• Leo M. Bernstein award: Gary Rutherford
• Large business of the year: First Bank
• Small business of the year: Clip & Curl Beauty Shop
• Sandy Hook teacher of the year: Melinda Sparacio
• Signal Knob teacher of the year: Heather Davis
• Strasburg High teacher of the year: Clarisse Bushman
• New business of the year: Hogfish Tatoo & Piercing
• Civic organization of the year: Strasburg Youth in Arts
• President’s award: Jackie Thompson