Chamber celebrates contributions to Milan

MILAN — The people honored by the Milan Chamber of Commerce Tuesday all call the village home."I've helped put this together for 20 years and it's a great event for the community," said Pam Crosby, the chamber president and owner of Crosby Antique's Antiques in the village.The chamber hosted its annual awards banquet at the Milan Township Hall on Thomas Edison's birthday to celebrate the famous Milan native. Among the guests was Robert Wheeler, Edison's great-great-grand nephew."We celebrate Edison anytime we turn on a light switch," Wheeler said. "But I believe the phonograph was his most important invention. The recordings gave people a way to hear the past and in an essence, he created a time machine of sorts."State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, made her first trip to Milan since being sworn in last week. She and state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, presented commendations to all the honorees. "I want to thank you for welcoming me here tonight, what a wonderful community," Gavarone said. "I am looking very much forward to spending more time in Milan and serving you."Business of the Year — Samaha Antiques and the Kelley BuildingDan Frederick, a past chamber president, presented the award to George William "Bill" Samaha Jr. Samaha purchased and restored the Kelley Building — built in 1870 by Captain Henry Kelley — in 1976. Since it opened there's rarely been a vacant space in the building."When visitors say that our square is so beautiful, many are thinking of the Kelley Building," Frederick said. "Historical tourism will play an increasingly important role in Milan's future and our community is very grateful for the solid foundation provided by our 2019 Business of the Year."Organization of the year — The Mid-Summer Antique FestivalCrosby accepted the award for the annual event she was instrumental in developing. She thanked everyone who helps the festival be successful year after year.She saw the potential the square had for a yearly antique festival when she moved her shop to Milan 38 years ago. When she became a member of the chamber, she was able to spearhead the creation of the event."Now after 25 years of success, every second Sunday in July, this event has become a much-anticipated event on our village's summer calendar," chamber board member Cindy Norcross said as she presented the award.Youth Service Award — Edison SchoolsThe award was presented to the school district as it prepares to graduate its 50th class this year. The district's first superintendent, C.J. Lindecamp, past administrators, teachers and a graduate of Edison's first class all spoke."I look back at folks coming out of Edison and I have to admit neither Milan nor Berlin Heights could provide the experience or opportunities they got at (Edison)," Lindecampe said.Lindecamp said he was 50 years old when the first class graduated and he never thought he'd be celebrating the 50th anniversary. He presented the award to the current Edison superintendent Tom Roth."For 50 years we've been a part of the community not only educating the students but helping them become successful adults and members of the community," Roth said.Citizen of the Year — Dan FrederickFrederick's family moved to Milan when he was in middle school, where he made lifelong friends, many of whom came from out-of-town for the banquet. He thanked his mother for the move and said how much he missed his father."I think he'd be proud of me tonight ... I'm going to share some advice that my dad use to pass on to us and then I passed on to my boys. He said 'the harder you work the luckier you get,'" Frederick said.Frederick and his wife, Tina, moved back to Milan when they decided to start a family. A move he described as the best decision they made as parents for their sons Zach and Nick.He owns Daniel Frederick Architects, was elected township trustee in 2011 and has done numerous pro bono projects for the community. He credits those accomplishments as his efforts to be a good father and help the community where his sons were growing up."Watching them thrive as fine young men is all the reward I ever wanted," Frederick said.Frederick said people always tell him how lucky he is to live in a community like Milan, but just like his father, he believes luck comes from hard work."Remember, I moved here twice so my family could be a part of Milan," Frederick said. "The people in Milan seem so nice because we genuinely care."Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThe Milan Chamber of Commerce presented awards to Edison superintendent Tom Roth (left), chamber president Pam Smith (center) and township trustee Dan Frederick (right) at the Milan Township Hall Monday, Feb. 11.Pam Crosby, the owner of Crosby's Antiques and president of the Milan Chamber of Commerce, accepts the Organization of the Year Award Monday, Feb. 11, at the Milan Township Hall for her part in developing the Mid-Summer Antique Festival.C.J. Lindecamp, Berlin-Milan Local School Districts first superintendent, presents current Edison superintendent Tom Roth with the Youth Service award from the Milan Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Feb. 11 at the township hall.Milan Chamber of Commerce board member Matt Erhardtt (right) presents Dan Frederick with the chamber's Citizen of the Year award on Monday, Feb. 11, in the Milan Township Hall.Milan Chamber of Commerce's citizen of the year, Dan Frederick, gives a speech at the chamber's awards banquet Monday, Feb. 11, at the Milan Township Hall.Thomas Edison's great-great grand nephew Robert Wheeler poses between a portrait of his distant relative and one of Edison's most famous inventions at the Milan Chamber of Commerce's banquet Monday, Feb. 11, on Edisons birthday.The first superintendent of Berlin-Milan local schools (now known as Edison Local Schools), C.J. Lindecamp, talks about the school's founding as Edison High School prepares to graduate its 50th class. The school was awarded the Milan Chamber of Commerce's Youth Service Award Monday night at the township hall.The first superintendent C.J. Lindecamp looks on with pride as Don Gurney, a graduate of Edison Schools' first class, speaks at the Milan Chamber of Commerce's banquet as the school is awarded the Youth Service Award after 50 years.Edison High School teacher Shirley Wallrabenstein hugs the school districts first superintendent after telling a story about how he helped introduce her to her husband when he hired them both. Edison schools was awarded the Youth Service Award for 50 years of educating students Monday, Feb. 11.State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, made her first trip to Milan as a senator for the Milan Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet Monday, Feb. 11.