Tuesday, October 27th, 2015
Rockford Chamber names person, business of the year
By Claire Giesige
Photo by Claire Giesige/The Daily Standard
Brenda Barker accept an award at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Banquet. On Monday night, Barker was recognized as the owner of the 2015 Business of the Year, His-N-Hers Salon.
ROCKFORD - Joyce Ann Price Emans couldn't stop smiling when she was named the 2015 Citizen of the Year.
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet on Monday night honored Emans for her tireless efforts to beautify Shanes Park.
"I'm not one for making speeches," Emans said as she accepted the award. "But I want to say 'thank you all so much.' "
The daughter of a Tennessee coal miner, Emans, whose maiden name was Price, moved to Rockford when she was 21 years old. Four years later, she married Larry Emans. The two have three children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Emans cared for her children while tending to a bountiful garden that was often used to supply the ingredients for happy Sunday meals. She also coaxed beautiful flowers to grow alongside her year-round vegetable garden.
When her children were grown, Emans launched "Clean It All," a commercial cleaning business in Rockford.
Through it all, Emans never stopped gardening. Her love of plants spread to Shanes Park, where some of her varieties grow after being transplanted from her house.
Emans didn't stop at plants. A few years ago she initiated the community effort to decorate Shanes Park for Christmas. She and other Rockford volunteers decorate the park yearly for the holiday season, complete with a lighting ceremony and 12 unique stations. The Rockford Chamber of Commerce helps organize the event.
Ryan Sipe, the 2014 Citizen of the Year, who presented Emans with the award, said it was unusual to arrive at the park and not find her there.
"She always beat me to it," Sipe said.
Emans and her volunteers help maintain the park on a daily basis. They pull weeds, water and rake leaves, among other things. In 2015, she started the Shanes Park Beautification Society.
It was not Emans' first award. She was presented the Volunteer of the Year award in 2013 to recognize her hard work at the park.
On Monday night, Mercer County Commissioners Rick Muhlenkamp and Greg Homan presented her with a proclamation praising her efforts. State Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, also was on hand to congratulate Emans and thank her for the example her volunteerism sets.
The chamber also presented Brenda Barker with the Business of the Year award. She is the owner of His-N-Hers Salon.
Barker graduated from the Ohio State Beauty Academy in 1974. After two years of working for a local salon, she struck out on her own. Originally on Market Street, His-N-Hers Salon now is on Main Street. It has been remodeled several times since moving in 1981. Barker has also increase the shop's services, with nails and massage added to basic beauty salon offerings.
"Thanks a million," Barker said. "I'm excited because Rockford is a small community and I'm still here. That's a plus. I guess hair keeps growing."
Norm VanTilburg and Mike Schuum gave the crowd a Rockford history lesson before sharing plans for the 2020 bicentennial celebration. They said they hope to have a removable mural completed for the firehouse, monthly historical talks during the bicentennial year, a formal New Year's ball to celebrate the town's anniversary and other events.
The pair encouraged any interested residents to attend the next planning meeting, which is 7 p.m. Monday at the village hall.
Photo by Claire Giesige/The Daily Standard
Joyce Ann Price Emans accepts an awards at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Banquet. On Monday night, the chamber named Emans the 2015 Person of the Year for her extensive volunteer work at Shanes Park.
