Alden Chamber of Commerce

Alden Chamber's Signature Events

Business of the Year Luncheon

Chamber Holds Fall Luncheon

Wagner's Agway Awarded Business of the Year

Members and guests of the Alden Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Whistle Stop Inn on Tuesday, October 16, for the Chamber’s 11^th annual “Business of the Year” Luncheon. Among the guests were family, friends, and staff of Wagner's Agway, the recipient of the 2012 Alden Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award. A beautiful plaque, from Laser Ace Custom Engraving, was presented to owner Bryan Wagner by Chamber Vice President Brooks Bowman.

L to R, Previous owners Leonard and Kathy Wagner and present owner Bryan Wagner

Wagner's Agway has been a familiar sight on Sandridge Road in Alden and certainly filled the stringent criteria for being named the area’s most outstanding business of 2012, including promoting community involvement, being a good business role model, establishing good working conditions and involvement of employees, good quality service and product reputation in the area, and being recognized for consistent, fair, and honest business practices. Bryan Wagner thanked everyone for attending and cited the personal attention and superior customer service Wagner's provides its customers as a key to its sucess and longevity.

After Chamber President Christopher Gust asked for a moment of silence to remember and honor the contributions made to the Chamber and the community by recently deceased businessman and former Town of Alden Supervisor Ronald Smith, the luncheon featured two speakers, which educated and entertained the attendees. Karen Muchow, Curator of the Alden Historical Society, gave a fascinating look back at the history of the Sandridge/Alden Center part of town, with facts and anecdotes about some of the early settlers. She brought a display of photos depicting earlier times. Featured speaker, Buffalo News staff cartoonist Adam Zyglis, an Alden Central High School graduate, gave his views on the role of cartoonists in today's newspaper industry and credited his upbringing with the small-town values found in Alden for some of his award-winning success.

Adam Zyglis

President Gust concluded the luncheon by noting the recently-concluded 10th anniversary season of the Alden Farmers Market, which is sponsored and operated by the Chamber. The Chamber recently received proclamations from the local, county, state and federal levels congratulating the Market on its success. It was also announced that the Chamber's annual Christmas in the Park will be held on Saturday, December 1.

The Chamber would like to thank sponsors Greatbatch Medical, Alden State Bank, Carbone’s Pizzeria, Kis 'N Greens Golf Course, David Pajak Attorney and Cooke & Steffan Attorneys for helping to make the luncheon possible. For information on the Alden Chamber of Commerce and its activities, visit them at www.facebook.com/aldenchamber for up-to-date announcements of local activities.