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Spotlight on Paragon Tempered Glass Specialists 

Paragon Tempered Glass is a specialty custom glass fabricator. Based in Antwerp, OH the business began in 1977 in Paulding, OH in a horse barn by brothers George and Don Rhonehouse. Their father, George Sr, had worked with the famous Harold McMaster, the inventor of tempered glass. Fortune 500 magazine called Mr. McMaster “The Glass Genius”. Mr. McMaster was from the Henry County area and graduated from Defiance College and The Ohio State University. Tempered glass is widely used around the world and almost everyone has benefitted and observed the world through this amazing invention.  

Within the first year of business, the Rhonehouse brothers were given the opportunity to build a tempering furnace for a customer. In 1978, due to lack of space for this furnace, the site was moved to Antwerp and the original building still exists in the northeast corner of the complex. In 1980, the business was purchased by Glasstech, Inc. out of Perrysburg. During the next decade the company experienced steady growth, turning out quality products and gaining the respect throughout the industry. This growth was spurred by the surging recreational vehicle industry in Elkhart Indiana where 80% of the RV’s in the US are manufactured.  By 1987 the company boasted almost $13 million in sales and employed 200. The plant grew in stages during this time but by the end of the 1980’s the competition for this glass tempering became intense. It was at this time that Glasstech decided to focus on building tempering furnaces. In 1990, the company changed its name to Spec Temp- specializing in fine tempered glass.  Spec Temp focused on cutting edge equipment and became ISO: 9002 certified in 1995. Since then the company has gone through several plant renovations and multiple owners until it merged with Tem-Pace, located in Niles, MI., in 2012 and became known as Paragon Tempered Glass. 

Paragon produces both flat and bent tempered glass as well as insulated glass, to meet the demands for strength, thermal and aesthetic quality glass products. You can find tempered glass in architectural doors and windows, vending machines and laboratory equipment, solar panels, refrigeration, food service equipment, home appliances, shower enclosures and aquariums. You can find it in aircrafts, boats, construction, ATV, military and agricultural equipment as well as cars, truck caps, heavy duty trucks and limousines. All glass is made and sold in the U.S.  

“What separates us from our competition is our customer service and timeliness.” stated Dan Wright, President of Paragon Tempered Glass. Paragon prides themselves in providing quality glass products and on-time performance. They have scored a 98% in customer surveys and boast of nearly 40 years’ experience in glass fabrication and each product is reinforced by their product warranty. Quality is measured on 3 levels including: customer satisfaction, on-time delivery and defect rate which is monitored by the in-house quality lab.  

Paragon has a second plant in Niles, Michigan employing 87. It is smaller than the Antwerp facility which employs 104 people. Paragon runs three shifts and they are always looking for quality, creative and independent thinking workers that desire to work close to home. Paragon offers health insurance, profit sharing and cross training. The administration is committed to investing in this plant ($3 million in capital investments over the last 3 years) and look forward to being part of the community for a long, long time. A commitment to this plant is a commitment to the Antwerp community.  

We, the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, look forward to working with Paragon Tempered Glass for many years to come.  

In 1964, William S. Bricker, DDS opened a dental office at 203 S. Cleveland St. in Antwerp.  As he approached retirement, he began looking for a like-minded provider to take over his practice. This person had to be someone who was comfortable working in a small town, would carry on the practice that he had built, and would come to love this small town as much as he did. Lucky for Dr. Bricker’s patients, and the residents of Antwerp, he found that provider in Sarah Mowery. As Sarah took over the business, the name became Sarah J. Mowery, DDS.  

Sarah had grown up with many dental issues of her own, some of them good and some of them not so good. She knows firsthand how important is it to have a good relationship with your dentist and she genuinely wants to provide a positive experience for her patients. After completing her undergraduate studies at Butler University, she continued her studies and graduated from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2008. Eventually she, along with her husband Tyson, took advantage of the opportunity presented to them and moved to Antwerp where they live with their two daughters, Annabelle and Lillian. 

Sarah and her team specialize in beautifying smiles, maintaining your dental health and helping you improve your appearance. Whether you need a veneer, crown, filling or bridge, they promise to make your teeth look as good as or better than the teeth that Mother Nature gave you. You can expect them to spend much individual time with you, educating you on good oral hygiene and addressing any concerns you or your family may have. They strive to provide a stress-free environment and you can expect to hear her staff and their patients laughing during their dental appointment as it happens multiple times each day.  This is exactly the reason people travel from Fort Wayne, Toledo, Lima and Indianapolis to her practice right here in Antwerp. 

Sarah is most proud of her staff because they are the “salt of the earth” type of women who care about their patients and their well-being.  They have all been in the chair and they know how it feels and how stressful it can be.  None of them EVER want to be the reason that a child or an adult are afraid to come back to the dentist.

Sarah also enjoys working with children, often treating children as young as a few months. Children should begin seeing a dentist at age 1 or when their first tooth comes in.  Many times, these visits are done with the child sitting on the mother’s lap in the dentist chair. She loves to coach anxious children through their fears and leave the office with bright happy smiles. Sarah likes to tell the story of when she was a child and was having some crown work done. When her dentist pulled his hands out of her mouth, his gloves were red. Having some unhappy experiences in the past, Sarah was concerned about all of the red. Her dentist told her that when the crown is put on, it turns your spit red for a short time. Well, that settled that!

She appreciates when the whole family is involved in healthy dental habits. She believes that if everyone in the household is on board with good dental hygiene habits, then great smiles will come easily. 

One of the new investments that the Mowery’s have made in the practice was the purchase of a Solea CO2 laser unit. The laser makes it possible to cut or vaporize many types of tissue around the teeth and gums to perform reliably anesthesia free treatments that help to make patients more comfortable during procedures. Blood free, suture free, and pain free treatments make fillings, root canals and biopsies extremely easy and with a shorter recovery time. Lasers are used to remove decay within a tooth prior to a filling procedure. Lasers are also used to reshape gums and remove bacteria during root canals. 

One other aspect of Sarah’s business is the identification and release of tongue-tie. Tongue-tie is a hereditary condition marked by thickening or tightening of the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth thus restricting the movement of the tongue. A tongue-tie can often be the reason that some babies have difficulty breast feeding. Tongue-tie can also cause improper speech development, especially with articulating the letters “r” and “l”. A tongue-tie is treated by a minor surgical procedure called a frenectomy that can be performed quickly, with a laser, in the dentist office.

The dentistry can also make custom mouth guards for sports activities. A mold is cast from a soft rubber/gum-like material that the person bites into. After the cast hardens it will be put into a machine that will heat a clear or colored rubberized plastic and then vacuum fit to the cast so it is always a perfect fit! Companies or schools can even have their logo formed into the mouth guard at the same time, completely customized for the end user!

One tip that she wants to share with you to improve your experience is do not lie about flossing! They know and they can tell from the other side of the room whether or not you are a flosser. 

One little known secret about the field of dentistry that most of you do not know is that Gatorade, energy drinks, and soda pop are nearly as corrosive as battery acid! It doesn’t take long or with much exposure to damage teeth and cause other health problems with these drinks.

Sarah J. Mowery, DDS is a member of the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, which seeks the betterment of the community through strong businesses such as this. If you would like to know more about the Antwerp Chamber, please visit our Facebook page. If you would like to join, email at antwerpchamber@gmail.com

Sarah wants to leave you with this: Life is short, smile while you still have your teeth!

Our spotlight on business this month are the shops at SHOP 302 aka Barnwood Creations and & Junque.

Barnwood Creations is the brain child of Eric Gillespie. What started out as a hobby (and still is) has

turned into a nice side business for him. Eric began his hobby renting booths at festivals and fairs where

people would constantly tell him that he needs his own store so they could visit anytime. Eric was able

to access the building across from Dr. Mowery’s dental office and next to the Dance Dolls studio for his

store and has been there for about a year now. He was previously only open one or two nights a week

as this was all his day job schedule allowed. What is so unique about Barnwood Creations is that Eric

uses actual old barnwood in his work. This is not new wood made to look old but old wood that he has

salvaged from barns and businesses in the area. For instance, the curve frame stand in his store is from

the old Panico building downtown. So, his items are not only one of a kind but also they have a story to

tell. Many people will come in with a picture or an idea and ask Eric if he can make that for them, he is

only too happy to oblige! When Eric was starting out he had a lot of items that were stuffed and his

Uncle decided he needed a stuffed armadillo. Yes folks, you can see Eric’s armadillo in the store

perched on a shelf behind the desk. Eric also wanted to promote local artists by giving them a place to

display and sell their goods as well. You can find candles, jewelry, artwork and other items in Barnwood

Creations so stop in soon!

& Junque was a dream of 3 Antwerp ladies for many years now. All three worked full time and did not

really have time to take on an antique/vintage shop. After two retired and the young one was ready for  

a new adventure, thus & Junque was born. Anne Cline, Jennifer Ramsier and Suzanne Hollabaugh went

out on a limb, thanks to Anne, and decided to give it a go. Putting these two generations together into a

business venture was not all fun and games. The paper vs electronic tablet debate has created and still

continues to generate laughs and eye rolls as when the three began! & Junque is a vintage handmade

antique boutique that occupies the back half (and shares the front window) with Barnwood Creations

thus creating Shop 302, as in 302 main street. When you walk in you can be greeted with a friendly face

and a “hello, can I help you?” The ladies have had a lot fun times shopping for their new shop and

Anne has learned how to decorate vertically because of the limited space. They are constantly scouring

shops and sales so their inventory is always changing. You are guaranteed to find something new and

different every time you visit. Anne shared a funny story of a 75 year old lady (here comes the

generation thing again) who asked her “Do you take debit?”

Stop in Shop 302 and see the unique and beautiful things that Barnwood Creations and & Junque have to

offer. Hours for both shops are Wednesday 10-5, Thursday 10-7:30, Friday 10:00-5:00 And Saturday 10-2.

The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce business spotlight for February is Petals and Vines.  The Chamber would also like to welcome the owners Denise and Dave Coleman to the Antwerp business community. 

The business was formerly Marilyn’s Petals and Vines which Denise purchased from Marilyn Provines in 2017.  Located in the heart of town (110 S. Main St), Petals and Vines offers beautiful flower arrangements for any occasion.  When you step into her shop you will also notice the wide variety of items that she has in her business.  

Not just a flower shop, although her passion is the beautiful and unique arrangements and sprays she has made for funerals, you can also find many gifts, Home Décor and a little bit of Junque. Candles, soaps, memory stones, wind chimes, blankets, lanterns, grave blankets and headstone arrangements, handbags, antique maps, stuffed animals, repurposed furniture and even some clothing (Lula Roe).  

Denise has a wistful look when asked what motivated her to buy this business.  She claims that she was just in the right place at the right time.  She has a creative side to her which shows in her work and at the same time she realizes how important it was to preserve this service to our community.  Her shop is a welcoming place that brings the timeless nature of plants and flowers into everyday life and special occasions. 

Good customer service is the feeling that you get when you walk into the business.  She has many unique items and she prides herself in having good quality products. She takes a unique approach to her floral arrangements using the freshest flowers to ensure that your arragnment will last.  From the moment you open the door, you can expect to be greeted with a smile and a helping hand.  The friendly atmosphere and every changing treasures that she finds to bring into her shop keeps her customers coming back. “We treat our customers like they are part of our family, taking the time to get to know them, their needs and their budget.”  Satisfaction is guaranteed at Petals and Vines. 

Petals and Vines mainly serves the Antwerp Community and surrounding area but if you need an arrangement sent to someone out of town or anywhere in the country, Denise is able to do that also though a program she participates in called Shop to Shop.  If you need flowers sent to your sweetheart in another state for Valentine’s Day or a birthday she can do that for you.  

One of her fond memories in the short time she has been open was the time that a young man ordered flowers to be delivered to his girlfriend, to her mother and to her sisters, then he went and proposed to her. She was thrilled to be a small part in the beginning of this bride and groom’s life together.

As the seasons change and occasions arise, you will find the shop stocked with holiday themed gifts and floral arrangements. The large front window beckons you to come inside and see what treasures you may find. And guys, remember when prom time comes, call Denise and order that perfect corsage for your date. 

If you are looking for a gift for that special someone that will last all year long, consider joining the Flower Arrangement of the Month club. Your special someone will get a floral arrangement each month for a full year.  You decide the price and we will deliver on a set date each month. Deliveries can be made to schools, assisted living/nursing homes, businesses as well as homes. 

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner watch the front window and the Facebook page Petals and Vines for beautiful and unique gifts for your Valentine.  Roses, floral arrangements, chocolates and balloons will be available to you with just a phone call.  Shop Small and Shop Local.  You won’t regret it. 

Business hours are Monday-Tuesday-Thursday and Friday 9-5.  Wednesday and Saturday 9-12.  Call Denise at 419-258-4005 with orders and like them on Facebook.