Valley Vibes Avon-Canton Chamber of Commerce

Where is the best place to meet, greet, and eat, all for a good cause? At the Big Green EGGfest of course, hosted by Carr Hardware in Avon. The Big Green EGGfest is part grilling competition, part food fest, and part fundraiser, all rolled into one. It all started back in 1998, the brainchild of the Atlanta-based Big Green Egg Company, as a way to bring communities together and to say 'thank you' to the people that had come to appreciate the versatility of this ceramic charcoal cooker, and who are affectionately known as 'EGGheads'.



Join Tom Yankura, store manager of Carr Hardware in Avon, as he chats with hosts Dan Callahan from Acadia ActionCOACH and Gena Hamilton of Exact Media Services about their upcoming Farmington Valley EGGfest/CarrBQ -- where there will be cooking demonstrations using the Big Green Egg, swag bags, tastings and samples, and the chance to rub elbows with other barbecue enthusiasts. 100% of the proceeds from tickets sold benefit Avon/Canton Chamber member Gifts of Love and the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.



More Information/Advance Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carr-bq-eggfest-2023-tickets-519015839347

Carr Hardware/Avon

For many, cars are not a luxury but a necessity. They are the means by which you get to work, go to the doctor, run errands, or take a trip. Over the past few years, however, the costs of buying, owning, repairing and maintaining a car have all gone up. People are hanging onto their cars for much longer. And when you finally do go to check out a replacement ride, supply chain shortages have led to tightening inventory for dealers resulting in fewer cars on the lot. To top it off, how do all the new tech and safety features available, along with options and alternatives for fuel efficiency, affect maintenance of your vehicle?



Join Guests Jim McCard, Service Manager at Canton Midas, and Eric Reese, General Sales Manager at O'Neill's Chevrolet in Avon as they break down some of the latest trends happening with autos today with hosts Christine Buhler of the Talcott Mountain Science Center & Academy and Adam Horelik. Listen as they chat about the challenges of purchasing a car today from years past; changes in inventory levels; the differences between gas-powered, hybrid (gas engine with battery power), and fully electric vehicles and their current demand; what repairs are common with certain types of vehicles and the cost to maintain them; and how best to prepare your vehicle for New England's unpredictable weather conditions.

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From its beginnings long ago as a blacksmith shop, O'Neill's Chevrolet has grown to one of the oldest Chevrolet dealers in the state. In business since 1920, it is the oldest continuously-operating business in the Farmington Valley. O'Neill's is a full-service dealership and is the flagship of what is known now as Sullivan Automotive Group; part of a larger family of dealerships including Sullivan Honda and Northwest Hills Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, all in Torrington. They offer a complete line of Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, Jeep Chrysler, Dodge Ram, and Honda. The Sullivan family is keenly aware that a successful business begins with a rock solid reputation. They believe that trust and honesty are the keys to having a good reputation -- it’s not something you can create, it has to be earned.

https://www.oneillschevrolet.com/



Canton Midas is your one-stop shop for brakes, oil changes, tires and all your auto repair needs. Canton Midas is locally owned and operated by Brian O'Donnell. He and his staff are dedicated to providing high quality auto repair service at a fair price; and their work is backed by the famous Midas guarantee*. Whether you need an oil change or tires, factory recommended maintenance, or brake repair, your local Midas has you covered.

https://www.midas.com/store/ct/canton/66-albany-turnpike-06019?shopnum=4289

Being in business means you wear many hats. Your days are filled with the needs of your employees, customers, along with marketing and maintaining the products or services you provide. Another element that's equally as critical to thriving businesses but which many overlook, is building a good working relationship with your local legislators. If you have thought about taking action on a bill that may impact your business but have struggled making time to get your thoughts heard, then we have some great tips for you.

Guest Eric Gjede, Vice President of Government Affairs at CBIA, chats with Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Lisa Bohman, about the easiest and best methods for connecting with your state legislators. Eric shares simple ways to learn about and track proposed bills, how to automate following a committee or individual legislator's bills, easy ways to craft and provide testimony in-person or virtually, along with general do's and don'ts to effectively communicate and build a relationship with local lawmakers.

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Eric Gjede is vice president for public policy with CBIA, Connecticut’s leading business organization. He represents the views of Connecticut businesses on labor, employment, and transportation issues. He serves as CBIA’s state ethics compliance counsel. He also directs CBIA’s Labor and Employment Law Council and helps support the organization’s Taxation and Finance Committee. Gjede serves as an appointed member of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Employment Security Advisory Board. He also serves on the Second Injury Fund Advisory Board. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the Association of Connecticut Lobbyists. Prior to CBIA, Gjede was an associate legislative attorney with the Legislative Commissioners’ Office, the nonpartisan legal office of the Connecticut General Assembly. In that position, he provided legal counsel to the members of the General Assembly’s committees on Commerce and Labor and Public Employees. He also drafted all the legislation and amendments considered by those committees. Gjede earned his J.D. at the University of Connecticut School of Law and also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

Eric’s handles:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/egjede

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-gjede-b4ba0b138/



Website: https://www.cbia.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbianews/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CBIAfb

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@CBIAvideos



Additional Resources:

CBIA Membership benefits: https://www.cbia.com/benefits/

CBIA Events: https://www.cbia.com/events/

CBIA Action Center: https://cbia.com/action-center/

Thinking about getting a dog?  Have a dog?  Love all things dog?  Whatever the case you will want to 'come', 'sit', and 'stay' for this episode which is 'packed' full of information about dogs.  It's the perfect blend of 'pup' talk and expert advice.  

Listen to this lively conversation as Dr. Arnie Goldman from the Canton Animal Hospital talks with Christine Buhler from the Talcott Mountain Science Center & Academy and Lisa Bohman, Executive Director of the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce about:  The stages of a dog's life;  Choosing the right breed for your family & lifestyle; The importance of training for a well-mannered, happier household member;  Feeding and nutrition recommendations; Tips on vaccinations, general health & overall canine well-being. 

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Dr. Goldman, a Canton veterinarian, is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Dr. Goldman founded Canton Animal Hospital at 198 Albany Turnpike, Canton in 1995. In addition, he has led Connecticut's disaster response planning for domestic animals for >15 years. In that realm he founded the Connecticut State Animal Response Team program under the auspices of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation, and was founding president of the National Alliance of State Animal & Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) which shares information and best practices across all the states. He successfully advocated for passage of Connecticut Public Act 07-11, mandating safe management of household pets with their owners during disasters. For this he was honored as the 2008 Connecticut-Veterinarian-of-the-Year. Dr. Goldman currently serves as treasurer of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the nation's largest professional society for veterinarians, with over 100,000 members.

Canton Animal Hospital treats cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and other pet species. It is equipped for both outpatient and inpatient care giving and internal medicine, surgery and animal dentistry are routinely offered. In the surgical realm, Dr. Goldman is often sought out for some less common reproductive surgeries such as vasectomy and hysterectomy, as alternatives to the more common and traditional castration ("neuter") and ovariohysterectomy ("spay") procedures that pets often have. A growing body of literature has questioned the timing for sterilization surgeries for many breeds, and therefore more nuanced options are now offered to animal owners who come to us with reproductively intact animals. This is a growing interest area among some animal owners.

www.cantonanimalhospital.com



ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Resources for Animal Owners:  https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners

VETERINARY PARTNER, for Accurate Animal Illness Information:  https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=

A home is probably the largest purchase a person will make.  It is even more daunting when you consider that Interest rates continue to rise, there are fewer homes on the market currently, yet home prices continue to rise year-over-year.  

Our guests -- Lori Macgowan from Coldwell Banker Realty/Avon and Adam Horelik from Norcom Mortgage -- bring clarity to this process by providing tips to help you navigate this complicated and oftentimes stressful process.  From financing options, to applying for a mortgage, knowing how to find the right real estate agent, to staging your home and pricing it right, this episode covers some of those crucial considerations you need to know before buying or selling a home.

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Adam Horelik is a loan officer with Norcom Mortgage. He assists people with all their home financing needs. Whether it’s a purchase, refinance, investment or reverse mortgage, Adam has the specific mortgage product to get the deal closed. www.AdamsHomeLoan.com

Lori Macgowan is a seasoned Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty/Avon.  Having been a top-producing full time residential Realtor since 1992, Lori is committed to her fiduciary responsibility to her clients, and finds there is never a dull moment. She is always happy to offer complimentary market analysis for folks looking to sell their home. In addition to being a Notary Public for many years, Lori serves on the membership committee of the Avon/Canton Chamber of Commerce, is an active associate member of The Prince Thomas Savoy Italian Club in Avon, and heads up the membership and hospitality committees of the Nutmeg State Orchid Society.  www.ctrealtorLoriMacgowan.com

You may have heard about Autism, but do you really know what it means?  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. It's a lifelong disorder that can cause significant behavioral, social, and communication challenges. And while those with Autism share certain common characteristics, no two individuals are the same.  

In this show Yvonne and Lauren Gardner of FOCUS Center For Autism discuss with show hosts Dan Callahan of Acadia ActionCOACH and Adam Horelik of Norcom Mortgage: Autism throughout the lifespan, the early signs of Autism, the importance of getting an early diagnosis, how to help parents find the right services and support, and how a program targeted toward your child's particular needs can help reduce isolation and help them achieve both acceptance and social support. 

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FOCUS Center for Autism is a nonprofit organization based in Canton, Connecticut that provides a continuum of care to children and adults with autism and their families. FOCUS Center for Autism services currently include: FOCUS Spectrum Unplugged Panels, three residential programs, adult support services and CT state approved special education program, Fresh Start School.

Yvonne Gardner is the HR and Operations Coordinator who is in her 20th year working with FOCUS Center for Autism.

Lauren Gardner is the Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for FOCUS Center for Autism. This past May, Lauren earned her master’s degree in social work policy practice from the University of Connecticut. She has been working with FOCUS since 2009. 



www.focuscenterforautism.org | https://www.instagram.com/focusautism/ | https://www.facebook.com/FOCUSAUTISM

For A Comprehensive List of Resources for Autism in Connecticut Go To:  http://www.ct-asrc.org