Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Collette Travel and Destiny Travel, will be providing an informational seminar for chamber members, family members, employees and the general public, on a trip to Costa Rica.  The trip will take place from November 16th, 2013 through November 24th, 2013.  Trip highlights will include nine days with fourteen meals (eight breakfasts and six dinners).  Highlights of the tour will include Day 1: San Jose where you will see lush forests, stunning waterfalls, exotic wildlife and endless coastlines. Day 2: San Jose-Doka Coffee Estate and Guanacaste region. Day 3: Tamarindo Beach. Day 4: Monteverde Cloud Forest. Day 5: Selvatura Park; enjoy a guided, leisurely-paced “Hanging Bridges” walking tour and learn about the cloud forest’s unique ecosystem, its mammals, birds, plants and flora. Day 6: Lake Arenal Cruise, the largest and most important lake in Costa Rica. Later on, check in for a two night stay at a typical lodge overlooking the majestic Arenal Volcano which has been generating lava for the past 30 years.  Day 7: Embark on a Cano Negro guided river boat trip in a panga (covered canoe) making frequent stops to watch and photograph the wildlife around you which may include crocodiles, river otters, cloths, river turtles, exotic birds and rare butterflies.  The Arenal Volcano area is also known as the land of the spas and hot springs.  Day 8: Arenal-Zareco-Grecia-National Theatre-San Jose. Day 9: San Jose tour ends.  Hotels include: Doubletree Cariari Hotel, San Jose; Tamarindo Diria Beach and Golf Resort, Guanacaste; and El Establo, Monteverde; Arenal Springs Resort

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce recently recognized one of Downtown Hazleton’s longest-standing members of the community.  Fellin’s Jewelers was presented a special Certificate of Achievement for their 90 years of conducting business in Downtown Hazleton.

Atty. Elizabeth Maguschak, Chamber Chair, accompanied by Donna Palermo, Chamber President, made the presentation at the business location at 14 E. Broad Street, Downtown Hazleton.  She recognized the outstanding contribution that Fellin’s Jewelers has made not only to the Greater Hazleton community but also to the Chamber.  Fellin’s joined the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce in 1976 with Celeste Kosko serving on the Chamber’s board of directors from 1982 to 1985.  She also served on the Executive Committee from 1993-1995.  Mary Celeste Kosko served as a director on the board of the Chamber from 1988 to 1991. Andrea Kosko served as a director on the board from 1999-2002 and on the Executive committee of the Chamber from 2002-2005.  

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the third season of the Downtown Hazleton Farmers’ Market.  According to Bill Spear, chairman of the Chamber’s Downtown committee, “We are looking forward to our third year with the Downtown Hazleton Farmer’s Market and are looking to expand with additional farmers and vendors for this year. We are also looking for musicians and artists who might want to volunteer their time in participating as well.  Anyone who feels that they might provide a benefit to the Market can call the Chamber office and the committee will decide if it is something that we feel would be a good fit.”

The Downtown Hazleton Farmers’ Market ran from July 15th to October 6th last year and the committee will be meeting on January 15th at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the agenda for this year.  The past two years, the event took place in the Citiscape upper parking lot located behind the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce building at 20 W. Broad Street, courtesy of the Hayden Family and we expect to conduct it in the same location again this year.

For the last couple of years, homeowners have had the option to shop between third party suppliers for residential electricity savings.  Whether you’ve realized it or not, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce’s ChamberChoice Energy program, managed by OnDemand Energy Solutions, has continuously been negotiating with suppliers to bring the best possible solutions to our members. Last week, representatives struck a phenomenal deal.  If everyone in Luzerne County took advantage of the fixed rate, the result would be that county residents would realize a total savings of nearly $14 Million annually.

The current price to compare for residential meters is 7.533 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the lowest price in quite some time as energy markets have continued to weaken; however, the low utility rates do not provide a guaranteed rate for more than 90 days.  The Greater Hazleton, Greater Pittston, and Greater Wilkes-Barre Chambers are pleased to announce that our new Chamber rate being offered through FirstEnergy Solutions is 6.45 cents/kwh fixed for two years until December 2014.  The rate, which was initially exclusive to Chamber members and their employees, has now been extended to the friends and family of Chamber members.

Nearly 700 businesses in Greater Hazleton know the direct benefits of how being involved with the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce can help their business and community, and they want to help pass along that message to additional businesses in the Greater Hazleton area.

To start off the New Year in January, volunteers from the Chamber board of directors, committee members, and others will take part in a membership campaign to help spread the word about the great work that is being done by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. Co-chairs for the membership campaign are Atty. George Hludzik, Hludzik Law Office and Atty. Lorine Ogurkis, American Abstractors, Inc. and Eagle Rock Resort.

According to Gary Danish, Past Chairman of the Chamber and current Marketing Chairman, “My business has worked closely with leaders of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce for many years and has reaped the direct benefits that Chamber membership provides not only for my business but for the community at-large. I have taken advantage of the numerous programs and services of the Chamber and want to assist in passing along these benefits to other businesses as well. ”

Standing from left: Judiann McGrogan, Funfest Executive Director; Nancy Zolota, Bookkeeper; Donna Palermo, President; Dan Guydish, Membership Director. Sitting from left: Linda Mantush, Marketing Assistant; Leann Fallabel, VP of Marketing and Julie Ferry, Executive Secretary and Funfest Public Relations Coordinator

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Women’s Networking Committee recently announced the 8th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest winners at a Social held on Wednesday, December 13th which was hosted and sponsored by Leonard’s Fine Dining. Proceeds from the event benefited the Women’s Empowerment Grant Fund, which is provided each year to a woman who is furthering her education or her business career.

The Holiday Decorating Contest was open to all Chamber member businesses.  Judges from the Women’s Networking Committee visited each of the 19 entries the first week of December.  The Chamber would like to commend the committee for an excellent job.  According to VP of Marketing Leann Fallabel, “The volunteer committee spent a great deal of time visiting businesses and judging was extremely difficult, but they did a superb job in selecting their winners.”  Members of committee who visited businesses, which is spearheaded by Fallabel at the Chamber include: Julie Ferry, Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce; Donna Barna, Billig Helmes Insurance; Betty Corcoran; Anne Frey, DeAngelo Brothers and DeAnn Miller, HawkMtn Labs Inc.

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce will hold an exclusive Networking Mixer for their members, employees, co-workers and guests. The mixer is being hosted and sponsored by Fritzingertown Senior Living Community on Monday, December 17th from 5 pm to 7 pm at their facility located at 159 S. Old Turnpike Road in Drums.

This mixer is being held to help celebrate Fritzingertown Senior Living Communities 25th Anniversary. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with one another, meet Chamber Ambassadors as well as the newest members of the Chamber. Complimentary hors d' oeuvres and dessert and various beers & wines will be provided. Door prize drawings will take place and facility tours will be offered.

Reservations for the mixer are required by contacting the Chamber at 455-1509 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by registering online at hazletonchamber.org.

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Women’s Holiday Social will take place on Wednesday, December 13th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This event is being hosted and sponsored by Leonard’s Fine Dining, located at Rear 615 E. Broad Street in Hazleton.

The winners of the 8th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest will be announced. Prizes will be awarded to the judges choice and will include free commercial production and an advertising package courtesy of WYLN TV 35. This is the sixth year in a row WYLN TV 35 has provided a prize for the Chambers annual decorating contest. Panorama Magazine will provide a 1/3 page ad in Panorama Magazine and the Chamber will offer a 6-month website banner advertisement. Each business who participated in the contest will also be recognized with a special certificate.

The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce is offering a seminar titled Disaster Planning for Businesses this Thursday, December 6th from 8:30 am to 10 am at the Chamber office, located at 20 W. Broad Street in Downtown Hazleton.

The only thing harder than planning for an emergency is explaining why you didn't. Disaster planning is an important factor in the recovery of a business that has experienced any kind of business disruption. Whether or not you have a comprehensive disaster plan, the initial response can make the difference between business survival and business devastation. This one and a half hour session will provide you with information and tools you need to create an effective business disaster plan.