[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE OUTSTANDING AWARD FOR THE SPRINGVILLE 
                        AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2008

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2008 
recipients of the outstanding award for the Springville Area Chamber of 
Commerce in New York State. Grace Gentner, the Johnson Family of 
Dealerships, and Meals on Wheels. Their dedication and commitment to 
the community should be applauded. The awards are presented to 
individuals, businesses, and non- profits that exemplify outstanding 
service and involvement in the Springville area.
  As one of western New York's outstanding citizens, Grace Gentner is a 
role model for Americans. Grace's kind spirit and dedication to helping 
others has made her community a better place. Grace has spent countless 
hours volunteering at several organizations in the Springville area as 
well as serving as a leader in the community. Due to her commitment to 
community service Grace was honored with this year's Citizen of the 
Year award by the Springville Chamber of Commerce. Among the many 
service organizations Grace spends most of her time contributing to the 
Historical Society, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, Springville Food Pantry, 
Meals on Wheels and she served as an Extraordinary Minister at St. 
Aloysius Catholic Church. In addition, Grace has been an elected leader 
by serving many years as Town Clerk and tax collector for the Town of 
Concord as well as president of the Senior Citizens. As someone who has 
blessed me with her friendship I am fortunate to have been a 
beneficiary of Grace's wisdom, counsel and guidance. I am pleased that 
her hard work helping people has been recognized by the Springville 
Area Chamber of Commerce.
  Springville's Johnson Family of Dealerships takes great pride in its 
tradition of contributing to the community. The family dealership was 
founded by Bob and Bernice Johnson in 1951, and continues to be run and 
operated by Mike and Tom Johnson along with General Managers Darin and 
Derek Johnson. The Johnson Family of Dealerships has been a cornerstone 
of the Springville business community. This family owned and operated 
business and its employees have contributed countless hours of 
community service from helping with the Dairy Festival, to the Annual 
Golf Tournament which benefits Chaffee Hospital. A true neighborhood 
business, they host annual Christmas and Halloween parties, events that 
all members of the community look forward to. It is because of their 
long standing tradition of service to the community that they have been 
awarded Business of the Year by the Springville Chamber of Commerce.
  Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization whose volunteers are the 
unsung heroes of the Village of Springville and the Town of Concord. 
This organization specializes in bringing warm meals to the citizens of 
Springville and the Town of Concord who are unable to leave their 
homes. The Meals on Wheels volunteers also provide much needed 
companionship and deserve the recognition of Not-for-Profit 
Organization of the Year awarded by the Springville Chamber of 
Commerce.
  Thus, Madam Speaker in recognition of their service to the 
Springville Area, I ask that this honorable body join me in honoring 
Grace Gentner, the Johnson Family Dealership, and Meals on Wheels.

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