austintown Event benefits brewery owner

December 12, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

By AMANDA TONOLI

AUSTINTOWN

Paladin Brewing patrons raised their glasses to cancer survivor and brewery owner John Chandler during Friday’s “Become a Heroic Beer Drinker” benefit.

Chandler and father-in-law Mike Tarantino, owner of iM Image Marketing, launched a grand opening of Paladin’s in August, about a month after Chandler’s diagnosis of an aggressive tumor in his sinus cavity.

“It’s been a struggle for him. ... Between surgery and chemo we had the grand opening,” Tarantino said. “The support from community around town has been pretty amazing.”

Tarantino said a lot of people wanted to do something for the Chandlers in their time of need. “After more and more people offered to lend a hand, we saw the perfect opportunity to put together this benefit. ... We were really blessed with a lot of donations and people donating help and their time.”

Chelsie Hazenstab, iM Image Marketing project manager, said with Chandler being in Tarantino’s family, the company was more than on board to help. Organizers found a band, an opening act and started collecting donations.

“The community has just circled around them. ... John and Abby [John’s wife] have a great support system,” Hazenstab said.

Authors of “Recipes of Youngstown” provided food for the benefit, donating all of the proceeds to the Chandlers. There was also a bake sale, a magician, comedian Eric Thompson and the Old Goats band.

“It’s definitely been a rocky road. But this is a celebration of getting things back on track again,” Tarantino said.

To make a donation, contact Mike Tarantino at 330-272-1493 or mike@imimagemarketing.com.