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Six Columbia businesses vie for Golden Apple
Mar 03, 2011 8:35 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Columbia County Council on the Arts' annual Arts Walk, as captured in a WGXC Newsroom image by John Lopez last December."]
[/caption]Six businesses are up for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's Crystal Apple Award, to be announced at a gala affair on Friday, March 11 at the Columbia Golf & Country Club in Claverack. The Register-Star focuses on nominee Columbia County Council on the Arts, which is one of two not-for-profits up for the award, alongside the Chatham Film Club. Other nominees include the Hudson-Chatham Winery, Helsinki Hudson, First Niagara Bank and American Glory BBQ Restaurant, all expect for the bank being cultural- or tourism-related businesses, reflecting recent shifts in the local demographics, as well as the Chamber's focus. The Crystal Apple Award is given to one business a year by the Chamber. The annual honor goes to businesses that have demonstrated significant improvement of community services, expanded educational opportunities, private investment, job creation and distinguished involvement in civic affairs, among other areas. Candidate recommendations are first reviewed by the Chamber’s Board of Directors, with the six candidates selected by them. The chamber’s member businesses then vote on the winner, which receives a crystal apple symbolizing Columbia County’s “simple beauty, agricultural heritage and quality of life,” according to the Chamber’s website. The CCCA, founded in 1965, has gone through several upheavals in recent years but has recently started to revive itself with a strengthened board, new executive director, and increasing programs including the annual Arts Walk.
[/caption]Six businesses are up for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's Crystal Apple Award, to be announced at a gala affair on Friday, March 11 at the Columbia Golf & Country Club in Claverack. The Register-Star focuses on nominee Columbia County Council on the Arts, which is one of two not-for-profits up for the award, alongside the Chatham Film Club. Other nominees include the Hudson-Chatham Winery, Helsinki Hudson, First Niagara Bank and American Glory BBQ Restaurant, all expect for the bank being cultural- or tourism-related businesses, reflecting recent shifts in the local demographics, as well as the Chamber's focus. The Crystal Apple Award is given to one business a year by the Chamber. The annual honor goes to businesses that have demonstrated significant improvement of community services, expanded educational opportunities, private investment, job creation and distinguished involvement in civic affairs, among other areas. Candidate recommendations are first reviewed by the Chamber’s Board of Directors, with the six candidates selected by them. The chamber’s member businesses then vote on the winner, which receives a crystal apple symbolizing Columbia County’s “simple beauty, agricultural heritage and quality of life,” according to the Chamber’s website. The CCCA, founded in 1965, has gone through several upheavals in recent years but has recently started to revive itself with a strengthened board, new executive director, and increasing programs including the annual Arts Walk.