Awards banquet uncovers chance for Clatskanie to shop in-county

The South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebration of Excellence Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 29, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. The event included a time for cocktails and mingling, a four-course dinner, and an awards ceremony that honored local businesses, non-profits, and citizens who have impacted the community. Along with a chance for business owners to network and dine together, the banquet also provided the opportunity to learn about some of the small businesses in South Columbia County that the people of Clatskanie may not know about and the benefits of supporting local businesses.

Clatskanie residents looking to shop local and who would like to keep their business to Columbia County have a wealth of options in St. Helens. Many companies in the southern part of the county, including Western Heating & Cooling, charge no extra fee for traveling to Clatskanie. Owned and operated by Melissa and Todd Knudtson, Western Heating & Cooling offers HVAC services, installation, repair, maintenance, and more. For more info, visit http://www.westernheating.com

For homeowners and business owners in Clatskanie, Teyama’s Touch LLC provides exterior cleaning services, including window cleaning, pressure washing, gutter and roof cleaning, light hanging, and more. Owners Victoria and Cody Teyama believe in giving back to the community and were recipients of the Small Business of the Year Award. In addition, Cody received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. No additional charge is applied for Teyama’s Touch to travel to Clatskanie. In fact, if Clatskanie customers schedule them to come on a day they have other jobs planned in the area, Teyama’s Touch will knock $50 off the service. For more information or to schedule, call (503) 396-0440 or visit http://www.teyemastouch.com.

LifeEmpowered is a non-profit organization that runs seven group homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The individuals in their care are given the support to live the life they choose by providing them daily support with activities of daily living, opportunities to socialize, planned activities, and more. LifeEmpowered was awarded Big Business of the Year and could be an option for Clatskanie families who may be facing decisions regarding the placement of beloved family members. For more info, visit http://www.lifeemp.org.

For pet lovers, Wiggle Butz Dog Bakery is a local gourmet pet bakery founded by Jessica Anderson. Along with baking dog treats, Anderson also collaborates with local animal organizations. Recently, she helped facilitate an initiative that resulted in 13 cats being adopted. Additionally, Anderson partners with a pet-food distributor to assist low-income pet owners in Columbia County to obtain food for their furry companions.Wiggle Butz dog Bakery is located at 1945 Columbia Blvd in Saint Helens. For more information or to make an order, visit wigglebutzdogbakery.org.

Located at 245 S 1st St. in St. Helens, Black Wing Body Work just opened in March. Owner Mandy Hawkins runs the shop with her veteran husband. The two offer deep tissue massage and specialize in helping those who work hard-labor jobs and struggle with muscle stiffness and aches. For appointments, call (971) 757-0306.

For anyone passing through St. Helens, consider some of the family-owned businesses. Owned by Kim Preston, Sweet Starling Co specializes in custom tumblers and tumbler accessories. The shop is located at 430 Columbia Blvd. in St. Helens and has bath and body items, books, and jewelry. Almost everything sold in Sweet Starling Co comes from women-owned businesses, is made in the U.S., and ships worldwide. Check out Kim’s TikTok @sweetstarlingco and order from her TikTok shop, or go to sweetstarlingco.com to place an order.

Another place to add to your list of stops is the Klondike Tavern, a historical, rustic restaurant that offers “finer dining.” Located at 71 Cowlitz St. in St. Helens, this restaurant boasts a menu of fresh and hearty cuisine, offers dinner during the week, and brunch, lunch, and dinner on weekends. For reservations, visit http://www.klondiketavern.com or call (503) 396-5036.

Located at 343 S. 1st in St. Helens, Crooked Creek Brewery is putting its own spin on classic brew styles using PNW-grown ingredients. They have a full-service kitchen and host events throughout each month, including Bingo, Cribbage, and Trivia Night. For more information, visit http://www.crookedcreekbrewery.com or call (971) 203-4082.

Anyone planning events this summer should consider looking into Vintage Snaps Photo Booth. Owned by Hadley Hokkanen, Vintage Snaps provides events with a “personalized photobooth experience” with props and personalized backdrops/backgrounds for reunions, weddings, birthday parties, company parties, etc. Visit http://www.vintagesnapsphotobooth.com to book or check them out on Instagram at @vintagesnapsphotobooth.