Tonawandas Chamber Honors DeGraff, Ramblin’ Lou, Saltarelli and Zonta Club

Edmund Maziarz, father of State Senator George Maziarz, in the boiler room of DeGraff Hospital. During its century of service the hospital has not only cared for the sick but employed countless thousands of residents. (Photo courtesy North Tonawanda History Museum).

The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas is announcing that DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda has been named 2014 Business of the Year.

The hospital is celebrating 100 years in the Twin Cities and is one of the area’s largest employers.

In addition, Tonawanda resident, Mark Saltarelli, has been named 2014 Citizen of the Year for his work and membership in many organizations in the community including the Kiwanis Club of the Tonawandas, the Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center, St. Francis of Assisi, the Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce.

Saltarelli is a former acting City Court judge and currently practices law in the City of Tonawanda. He has recently worked to keep St. Francis of Assisi School open.

Also, being given the Lifetime Achievement Award will be “Ramblin’ Lou” Schriver. Schriver, born and raised on Young Street in Tonawanda, has, through his radio show and by hosting and performing at benefits, contributed to his community, along with spotlighting his home town. He is a lifetime member of the Musician Local #209/106 of Tonawanda, was awarded the Tonawanda High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002, inducted into the “Walkway of Stars” in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN in 1978 and in 1996 was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. He has performed at Canal Fest every year since 1983 and served as the parade’s Grand Marshall in 2007. In 1996 he was honored with a Distinguished Broadcaster Award by the Buffalo Broadcaster Pioneers. In 2010 he was elected to the NYS Country Music Hall of Fame.

Also recognized will be Zonta Club of the Tonawandas. The local group was chartered April 15th, 1931 and was part of a global organization to advance the status of women. The local group made donations to the YWCA of the Tonawandas, the Salvation Army, and the Interchurch Food Pantry and developed the ZAP Program to teach local women computer skills through the YWCA.

The Awards Reception will be part of the Chamber’s Annual Dinner to be held on Wednesday, Nov. at Banchetti by Rizzo’s. The public is invited to join in celebrating the accomplishments of the honorees. For more information, please contact the Chamber at 692-5120.

Ramblin’ Lou Schriver