Beth DiDonato working up new programs as Twin City Chamber of Commerce director
UHRICHSVILLE – Longtime educator Beth DiDonato is getting acclimated to her new job as executive director of the Twin City Chamber of Commerce.
She began her duties on Oct. 3.
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"Right now, I'm visiting businesses," she said. "The Chamber of Commerce is to help businesses be the best they can be and to work for the businesses and try to help with growth in the communities. So I'm going around visiting businesses right now."
The Chamber has around 200 members in Uhrichsville, Dennison and the surrounding area. She has visited about 40 of them so far.
DiDonato is working on several programs for the coming year, including bringing back Business After Hours events in January and sponsoring two business networking lunches and a breakfast for members.
Plans are also being developed for some lunch-and-learn events, where members would have the opportunity to hear from experts who could help them with their operation. One will be a speaker who will talk about a workers' compensation consortium. If a business owner is a member of the Chamber, that business would get a discount on its workers compensation insurance. Another would focus on business marketing.
She is helped with her work by Nacole Moreland, her administrative assistant.
Projects on tap from the Twin City Chamber
One of the major projects DiDonato is focusing on is further development of the Panhandle Park, a small park between Center Street and E. Fourth Street along Little Stillwater Creek on the border between Uhrichsville and Dennison. The Chamber is working with the Dennison Rotary Club, the Clayland Lions Club and the 922 Initiative on the project.
Plans call for a sensory garden, sponsored by the 922 Initiative, a flagpole and new lighting. The idea of establishing a kayak ramp on the creek is being explored. There are also plans to light the two bridges on either side of the park.
"Those bridges are gorgeous," she said. "If you look at them when you go by there, they're arched. They're beautiful, they really are."
She thanked workers from the Dennison street department and Mill Township for cleaning up the area. Mill Township employees removed a large tree stump from the property.
The park upgrade is still in the planning stages.
"We'd love to have it done by the end of next summer, but we definitely are going to be working on it next year," she said.
The groups involved in the project are looking at funding options.
Who is Beth DiDonato?
DiDonato is a native of the Twin Cities. She grew up in Uhrichsville and graduated from Claymont High School in 1968. She now lives in Dennison.
She spent 31 years as an educator in Claymont City Schools. She started out as a fourth grade teacher at the former Rush Elementary School and then moved to Eastport Avenue Elementary School (now Claymont Primary School) in Uhrichsville. She eventually became building principal there. She spent the last four years of her career as principal of Claymont Intermediate School in Dennison.
DiDonato retired in June.
"Sitting around drove me nuts. I couldn't stand just sitting around," DiDonato said. "When this job became available, I thought, I'll apply. All they can do is tell me no. But I applied and they liked my ideas, what I wanted to try to do, and here I am."
She added, "I've been here all my life, and I want to see it (the community) grow. I want to see it continue to thrive. I just want to give back, continue to give back. I gave back by working in the schools. This is a way to continue to do that."
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Beth DiDonato becomes new director of Twin City Chamber of Commerce