Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas to honor four

The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas will hold its annual dinner and installation of officers at the Rescue Firehall, 1241 Strad Ave., North Tonawanda, on Nov. 10.

During the dinner, honorees for business, citizen, and not-for-profit of the year will be celebrated.

The chamber also created a new category this year, titled, Volunteer Organization of the Year, to honor the Exchange Club of the Tonawandas and the Erie-Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club, the two organizations responsible for the North Tonawanda community Healing Fields flag display in September.

The two organizations came together to host the display of 3,000 U.S. flags for residents of Western New York on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11. The scene drew over 5,000 visitors from the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan community.

Other honorees include:

Business of the Year: Pane's Restaurant, 984 Payne Ave, North Tonawanda. Pane's Restaurant has been a place to enjoy not just a good meal, but a full dining experience over 50 years in the making. The Pane family has owned the restaurant since 1959, and helped it grow from an eight-table tavern to a 350-seat full service establishment. It is a place where a love of the community and tried-and-true family recipes melds to become so much more than food. Pane's has been a contributor to and supporter of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas for many years.

Citizen of the Year: Jim Fingerlow. Fingerlow is a lifelong resident of North Tonawanda and a 1982 graduate of North Tonawanda High School. Currently, his main business is co-owner with his partner Dan Quigley for the past 26 years of Just Say Cheesecake on Sheridan Drive in Amherst, as well as the executive caterer of the Rescue Firehall banquet facility. He has also helped open many local restaurants, including Crazy Jake's and Webster's Bistro & Bar in North Tonawanda; The Frog Grill and Richards on Main (now closed), both in Tonawanda. Fingerlow is a vendor at the North Tonawanda Farmers Market and a continuous supporter of the YWCA and the SPCA. He is also a former board member of the Rivera Theatre. Additionally, Fingerlow has hosted many of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas' events in the past few years.

Not-for-Profit of the Year: The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda. The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum shares the history of carrousel and band organ production in North Tonawanda with visitors from around the world. It is currently celebrating the 100th birthday of the Allan Herschell No. 1 Special Carrousel (March 1916-2016). This carrousel was among the first to be produced by the Allan Herschell Company, which celebrated 100 years of continuous operation in October 2015.

To purchase tickets, call 716-692-5120 or visit the chamber at 254 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda.