BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED — During Tuesday’s Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce members meeting and awards banquet, chamber officials recognized several area businesses for their years of operation, ranging from five years to more than 200 years. The dinner was held at the Lauttamus Event Center. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Close to 200 representatives of the local business community gathered Tuesday to celebrate the accomplishments of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, while learning about some of the plans the organization has for the future.

The chamber held its 88th membership meeting and awards banquet, with members coming together at the Lauttamus Event Center. The meal was catered by Giometti Catering.

“I am beyond excited to see so many of you here tonight,” Chamber President Brenda Mull said in greeting those in attendance.

Mull explained the goal of the chamber of commerce is to provide support to its member businesses in an effort to help them grow, through various programs and networking activities.

In the last year, the Weirton Chamber welcomed 40 new members, with continuing programs including Youth Leadership Weirton and Leadership Ohio Valley, and the Dr. Barbara A. Matey High School Business Symposium. The second-annual Friday Night Out event is planned for April 11, the annual Surf and Herf event also is in the works, as is the Christmas in July Golf Tournament, as well as Business After Hours and Leads to Success activities.

Mull announced plans for a Tri-Chamber Business After Hours, with members from the Weirton Area, Brooke County Area, and Jefferson County chambers of commerce coming together, at 7 Ranges Entertainment in June.

Another annual project is the Weirton community Christmas lights, which includes a large display along Three Springs Drive, as well as lights installed along Main Street each holiday season.

“This is something that’s become personal to all of us,” Mull said, explaining the chamber was given the lights by Weirton Steel, and has worked to maintain them ever since, refurbishing dozens of pieces.

She offered appreciation to the City of Weirton’s Public Works Department for assisting in the installation of the lights each year, as well as the Holiday Inn and First Choice America Credit Union for allowing the use of property, and to the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center for assistance in upgrading portions of the large display.

“Working together, and supporting each other, is how we get things done,” Mull said.

During the evening, the chamber recognized several businesses for their longevity, including A Child’s Place CASA; Crown Cork and Seal; First Energy; Gus’s Goodies; Huntington Bank; Iannetti’s Garden Center; Kensington Investments; Michael G. DiDomenico, CPA; P.S. Marketing; United Bank; Puskarich Accounting and Tax LLC; The Fiesta Tableware Co.; Trinity Health System; Wayne Door Sales Inc.; The Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times; WVU Medicine-Weirton Medical Center; and WesBanco.

Special recognitions were made for former member of the chamber’s board of directors Joyia Lytle, and to Brandon Palmeri, in recognition of his widespread volunteer efforts in the community.

Sponsorships for the dinner included: The College of St. Joseph the Worker, platinum level; West Virginia Northern Community College, DeeJay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille, JJ Guida Airport Realty, Crown Cork and Seal, Hancock County Savings Bank, Trinity Health System, and WVU Medicine-Weirton Medical Center, gold level; True North, Starvaggi, and First Energy, silver level; Form Energy, Frontier Group of Companies, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Mountaineer Casino Resort, and The Thrasher Group Inc., bronze level.