It was time for a celebration last week when the Jefferson Township Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner at Casa Bianca last week.

The chamber honored Eric Wilsusen, captain of the Jefferson Township police department, as its public servant of the year.

Wilsusen was a firefighter for Jefferson Fire Company No. 2, is active at Our Lady Star of the Sea church, particularly the church’s annual carnival, has facilitated the child ID program in town as well as youth and adult substance abuse programs. He is also a soccer coach.

Wilsusen purchased his parents’ home in Lake Shawnee, where he lives with his wife Kristine and daughters Carly and Katie.

“I’m honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Wilsusen, who received his plaque from chamber president Dr. Bret Hartman of Family Chiropractic. “I’m much better at watching other people receive awards than I am at getting them.”

Stickle Soltesz Funeral Home was honored as the business of the year. Owners Todd and Joyce Soltesz accepted a plaque from chamber vice president Ali Lohr of Ali’s Photograhy.

“The Solteszs’ are helpful wonderful people,” Lohr said. “They are very heartwarming, and are definitely comforting during a family’s painful times.”

Assemblywoman Betty Lou DeCroce also presented both winners with a proclamation from the state.

Jefferson Patch editor Sue Toth received the Jefferson Highlights President’s Award from Art Bonito for the web site’s support and dedication to Jefferson Highlights, a township organization that presents a full schedule of summer concerts at Camp Jefferson.

In his opening remarks, Hartman discussed the chamber’s goals to step up and give back to the township.

“We want to keep supporting the scholarship fund and the Camp Jefferson fund, where we help pay for children to go to Camp Jefferson in the summer,” he said. “We have 70 members so far, and we need to keep growing.

“I’d really like for all of us to think about what we can do for the town, rather than what the town can do for us,” he said. “If we think that way, we can all help each other grow.”