The Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, while honoring area businesses and individuals making strides in our community, had reason to commemorate its own milestone.

The chamber, founded in 1948, now in its 70th year, continues its goal to support area businesses, offer educational opportunities and ultimately advocate for community develop in a way that reaches everyone.

It’s easy to recognize its logo: the outline of Virginia with a heart signaling Farmville and Cumberland’s placement near the geographical center.

Even easier to recognize is the Chamber’s activity at area businesses. They host ribbon cutting ceremonies, give shout outs to companies on social media and hold events such as Leadership Farmville and the New Year’s Eve Eve celebration.

Those who won were well deserving of doing so. Members of the community chose well in nominating Kerby Moore for Citizen of the Year, Toby Towler for Chamber Member of the Year, Pat Payne with Heart of Virginia Free Clinic for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

On the business side, there was Rochette’s Florist for Business of the Year, One19 for New Business of the Year, Southside Family YMCA for Nonprofit of the Year and High Bridge Lofts | Walk2Campus Properties for the Looking Our Best award.

That’s not to mention those who were involved in the thick of the event, such as Game Day Weddings & Events with the decor, the En’Novation band, Jimmy McDilda of MCD Construction with the open bar, Johnny Ellington with Fuqua Catering, and the approximately 40 organizations that sponsored the banquet. Luck Stone was the lead sponsor of the event and Letterpress Communications sponsored the photo booth.

The organizations noted make concrete differences in the economic vitality of the area, and have the added privilege of having its impact extend far beyond that.

The Heart of Virginia Free Clinic provides medicine and preventative health care to those who fall through the cracks of federal and state health insurance plans. Rochette’s Florist will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in September, with the original owner, 83-year-old Rochette “Rochie” Allen, still at the helm.

2018 was certainly cause for reflection, to remember loss, to see clearly that there’s challenges that will carry into 2019. The Chamber also ensured 2018 would be cause for celebration, by remembering and honoring businesses and individuals making the Heart of Virginia a better place to live.

Let’s continue to celebrate any and all people and businesses that do the same in 2019.